Table of Contents

 

 

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, 2011

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                     

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number 1- 32479

 

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Republic of The Marshall Islands

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

4 th Floor, Belvedere Building, 69 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda

(Address of principle executive offices)

 

Mark Cave

4 th Floor, Belvedere Building, 69 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda

Telephone: (441) 298-2530

Fax: (441) 292-3931

(Contact information for 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      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 issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

64,857,900 Common Units

Indicate by check mark whether 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 ¨   No x

Indicate by check mark if 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.  Yes x   No ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant (1) 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).  Yes x   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   x                  Accelerated Filer   ¨                  Non-Accelerated Filer   ¨

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 International Accounting Standards Board   ¨

   Other   ¨

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 ¨   No x

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P.

INDEX TO REPORT ON FORM 20-F

 

         Page  

PART I.

    

Item 1.

 

Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisors

     5   

Item 2.

 

Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

     5   

Item 3.

 

Key Information

     5   
 

Selected Financial Data

     5   
 

Risk Factors

     9   

Item 4.

 

Information on the Partnership

     22   
 

A. Overview, History and Development

     22   
 

B. Operations

     23   
 

Our Charters

     23   
 

Liquefied Gas Segment

     23   
 

Conventional Tanker Segment

     26   
 

Business Strategies

     26   
 

Safety, Management of Ship Operations and Administration

     27   
 

Risk of Loss, Insurance and Risk Management

     28   
 

Flag, Classification, Audits and Inspections

     28   
 

C. Regulations

     29   
 

D. Properties

     32   
 

E. Organizational Structure

     32   

Item 4A.

 

Unresolved Staff Comments

     32   

Item 5.

 

Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

     33   
 

General

     33   
 

Significant Developments in 2011 and Early 2012

     33   
 

Important Financial and Operational Terms and Concepts

     34   
 

Results of Operations

     35   
 

Year Ended December 31, 2011 versus Year Ended December 31, 2010

     36   
 

Year Ended December 31, 2010 versus Year Ended December 31, 2009

     40   
 

Liquidity and Cash Needs

     44   
 

Credit Facilities

     46   
 

Contractual Obligations and Contingencies

     46   
 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

     47   
 

Critical Accounting Estimates

     47   
 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

     49   
 

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

     50   

Item 6.

 

Directors, Senior Management and Employees

     50   
 

Management of Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

     50   
 

Directors, Executive Officers and Key Employees

     50   
 

Reimbursement of Expenses of Our General Partner

     51   
 

Annual Executive Compensation

     52   
 

Compensation of Directors

     52   
 

2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan

     52   
 

Board Practices

     52   

 

2


Table of Contents
 

Crewing and Staff

     53   
 

Unit Ownership

     53   

Item 7.

 

Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions

     54   
 

Major Unitholders

     54   
 

Related Party Transactions

     54   

Item 8.

 

Financial Information

     57   
 

Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes

     57   
 

Legal Proceedings

     57   
 

Cash Distribution Policy

     57   
 

Significant Changes

     58   

Item 9.

 

The Offer and Listing

     58   

Item 10.

 

Additional Information

     58   
 

Memorandum and Articles of Association

     58   
 

Material Contracts

     58   
 

Exchange Controls and Other Limitations Affecting Unitholders

     60   
 

Taxation

     60   
 

Marshall Islands Tax Consequences

     60   
 

United States Tax Consequences

     60   
 

Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences

     70   
 

Documents on Display

     70   

Item 11.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     70   

Item 12.

 

Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities

     72   

PART II.

    

Item 13.

 

Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

     72   

Item 14.

 

Material Modifications to the Rights of Unitholders and Use of Proceeds

     72   

Item 15.

 

Controls and Procedures

     72   

Item 16A.

 

Audit Committee Financial Expert

     73   

Item 16B.

 

Code of Ethics

     73   

Item 16C.

 

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

     73   

Item 16D.

 

Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

     73   

Item 16E.

 

Purchases of Units by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

     73   

Item 16F.

 

Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

     73   

Item 16G.

 

Corporate Governance

     74   

Item 16H.

 

Mine Safety Disclosure

     74   

PART III.

    

Item 17.

 

Financial Statements

     74   

Item 18.

 

Financial Statements

     74   

Item 19.

 

Exhibits

     74   

Signature

       76   

 

3


Table of Contents

PART I

This Annual Report should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in this report.

Unless otherwise indicated, references in this prospectus to “Teekay LNG Partners,” “we,” “us” and “our” and similar terms refer to Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and/or one or more of its subsidiaries, except that those terms, when used in this Annual Report in connection with the common units described herein, shall mean specifically Teekay LNG Partners L.P. References in this Annual Report to “Teekay Corporation” refer to Teekay Corporation and/or any one or more of its subsidiaries.

In addition to historical information, this Annual Report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events and our operations, objectives, expectations, performance, financial condition and intentions. When used in this Annual Report, the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this Annual Report include, in particular, statements regarding:

 

   

our ability to make cash distributions on our units or any increases in quarterly distributions;

 

   

our future financial condition and results of operations and our future revenues and expenses;

 

   

growth prospects of the liquefied natural gas (or LNG ) and liquefied petroleum gas (or LPG ) shipping and oil tanker markets;

 

   

LNG, LPG and tanker market fundamentals, including the balance of supply and demand in the LNG, LPG and tanker markets;

 

   

our ability to conduct and operate our business and the business of our subsidiaries in a manner than minimizes taxes imposed upon us and our subsidiaries;

 

   

the expected lifespan of a new LNG carrier, LPG carrier and conventional tanker;

 

   

the expected source of funds for short-term and long-term liquidity needs;

 

   

estimated capital expenditures and our ability to fund them;

 

   

our ability to maintain long-term relationships with major LNG and LPG importers and exporters and major crude oil companies;

 

   

our ability to leverage to our advantage Teekay Corporation’s relationships and reputation in the shipping industry;

 

   

our continued ability to enter into long-term, fixed-rate time-charters with our LNG and LPG customers;

 

   

our expectation of not earning revenues from voyage charters in the foreseeable future;

 

   

the economic downturn and financial crisis in the global market and potential negative effects on our customers’ ability to charter our vessels and pay for our services;

 

   

obtaining LNG and LPG projects that we or Teekay Corporation bid on or that Teekay Corporation has been awarded;

 

   

our ability to maximize the use of our vessels, including the re-deployment or disposition of vessels no longer under long-term charter;

 

   

expected purchases and deliveries of newbuilding vessels and commencement of service of newbuildings under long-term contracts;

 

   

the expected timing, amount and method of financing for the purchase of five of our leased Suezmax tankers;

 

   

our expected financial flexibility to pursue acquisitions and other expansion opportunities;

 

   

our ability to continue to obtain all permits, licenses, and certificates material to our operations;

 

   

the expected cost of, and our ability to comply with, governmental regulations and maritime self-regulatory organization standards applicable to our business;

 

   

the expected cost to install ballast water treatment systems on our tankers in compliance with IMO proposals;

 

   

the expected impact of heightened environmental and quality concerns of insurance underwriters, regulators and charterers;

 

   

the adequacy of our insurance coverage for accident-related risks, environmental damage and pollution;

 

4


Table of Contents
   

the future valuation of goodwill;

 

   

our expectations as to any impairment of our vessels;

 

   

anticipated taxation of our partnership and its subsidiaries; and

 

   

our business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations.

Forward-looking 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 those factors discussed in Item 3: “Key Information – Risk Factors”, and other factors detailed from time to time in other reports we file with or furnish to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (or the SEC ).

We do not intend to revise any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any change in our expectations or events or circumstances that may subsequently arise. You should carefully review and consider the various disclosures included in this Annual Report and in our other filings made with the SEC that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business prospects and results of operations.

 

Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisors

Not applicable.

 

Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

Not applicable.

 

Item 3. Key Information

Selected Financial Data

Set forth below is selected consolidated financial and other data of Teekay LNG Partners and its subsidiaries for the fiscal years 2007 through 2011, which have been derived from our consolidated financial statements. The following table should be read together with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, (a) Item 5. “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects,” included herein, and (b) the historical consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes and the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm therein (which are included herein), with respect to the consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

From time to time we purchase vessels from Teekay Corporation. In 2008 and 2010, we acquired two LNG carriers and three conventional tankers from Teekay Corporation, respectively. These transactions were deemed to be business acquisitions between entities under common control. Accordingly, we have accounted for these transactions in a manner similar to the pooling of interest method whereby our financial statements prior to the date these vessels were acquired by us are retroactively adjusted to include the results of these acquired vessels. The periods retroactively adjusted include all periods that we and the acquired vessels were both under the common control of Teekay Corporation and had begun operations. As a result, our consolidated statements of income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007 reflect the results of operations of these five vessels, referred to herein as the Dropdown Predecessor , as if we had acquired them when each respective vessel began operations under the ownership of Teekay Corporation, which were December 13 and 14, 2007 for the two LNG carriers, and between May 2009 to September 2009 for the three conventional tankers. Please refer to Item 5 – “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects: Results of Operations – Items Your Should Consider When Evaluating Our Results of Operations”.

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (or GAAP ).

 

5


Table of Contents
    Year Ended
December 31,
2007

$
    Year Ended
December 31,
2008

$
    Year Ended
December 31,
2009

$
    Year Ended
December 31,
2010

$
    Year Ended
December 31,
2011

$
 
    (in thousands, except per unit and fleet data)  

Income Statement Data:

 

Voyage revenues

    257,769        314,404       343,048       374,008       379,975  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

         

Voyage expenses (1)

    1,197        3,253       2,034       2,042       1,387  

Vessel operating expenses (2)

    56,863        77,113       82,374       84,577       89,046  

Depreciation and amortization

    66,017        76,880       82,686       89,347       91,919  

General and administrative

    15,186        20,201       19,764       23,247       24,120  

Gain on sale of vessel

    —          —          —          (4,340     —     

Restructuring charge

    —          —          3,250       175       —     

Goodwill impairment

    —          3,648       —          —          —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    139,263        181,095       190,108       195,048       206,472  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

    118,506        133,309       152,940       178,960       173,503  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Interest expense

    (145,073 )       (138,317     (60,457     (49,019     (49,880

Interest income

    68,329        64,325       13,873       7,190       6,687  

Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments (3)

    9,816        (99,954     (40,950     (78,720     (63,030

Foreign currency exchange (loss) gain (4)

    (41,241 )       18,244       (10,806     27,545       10,310  

Equity (loss) income (5)

    (130 )       136       27,639       8,043       20,584  

Other (expense) income

    (129 )       1,250       392       615       (37

Income tax expense

    (1,155 )       (205     (694     (1,670     (781
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

    8,923        (21,212     81,937       92,944       97,356  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-controlling interest in net income (loss)

    (16,739 )       (40,698     29,310       3,062       7,508  

Dropdown Predecessor’s interest in net income (loss)

    520        894       5,302       2,258       —     

General Partner’s interest in net income (loss)

    9,752        11,989       5,180       8,896       11,474  

Limited partners’ interest in net income (loss)

    15,390        6,603       42,145       78,728       78,374  

Limited partners’ interest in net income (loss) per:

         

Common unit (basic and diluted)

    0.64        0.63       0.86       1.46       1.33  

Subordinated unit (basic and diluted)

    0.66        (0.29     0.80       2.04       —     

Total unit (basic and diluted)

    0.65        0.36       0.85       1.48       1.33  

Cash distributions declared per unit

    1.98        2.18       2.28       2.37       2.52  

Balance Sheet Data (at end of period):

         

Cash and cash equivalents

    91,891        117,641       108,350       81,055       93,627  

Restricted cash (6)

    679,229        642,949       611,520       572,138       495,634  

Vessels and equipment (7)

    2,065,572        2,207,878       2,077,604       2,019,576       2,021,125  

Net investments in direct financing leases (8)

    —          —          421,441       415,695       409,541  

Total assets (6)

    3,818,616        3,432,849       3,578,411       3,547,395       3,582,200  

Total debt and capital lease obligations (6)

    2,582,991        2,199,952       2,257,604       2,137,249       1,962,278  

Partners’ and Dropdown Predecessor equity

    709,292        805,851       903,231       896,200       1,113,467  

Common units outstanding

    22,540,547        33,338,320       44,972,563       55,106,100       64,857,900  

Subordinated units outstanding

    14,734,572        11,050,929       7,367,286       —          —     

Cash Flow Data:

         

Net cash provided by (used in):

         

Operating activities

    115,450        149,570       171,384       174,970       122,046  

Financing activities

    630,395        403,262       (10,060     (167,746     7,174  

Investing activities

    (683,242 )       (527,082     (170,615     (34,519     (116,648

Other Financial Data:

         

Net voyage revenues (9)

    256,572        311,151       341,014       371,966       378,588  

EBITDA (10)

    152,839        129,865       211,901       225,790       233,249  

Adjusted EBITDA (10)

    182,333        206,603       255,031       277,334       291,706  

Capital expenditures:

         

Expenditures for vessels and equipment (11)

    160,757        172,093       134,926       26,652       64,685  

Expenditures for dry docking

    3,724        11,966       9,729       12,727       19,638  

Liquefied Gas Fleet Data: (12)

         

Calendar-ship-days (13)

    2,897        3,701       4,637       5,051       5,126  

Average age of our fleet (in years at end of period)

    4.3        4.4       4.6       5.3       5.8  

Vessels at end of period

    10        11       14       13       16  

Conventional Fleet Data:

         

Calendar-ship-days (13)

    2,920        2,928       3,448       4,015       4,015  

Average age of our fleet (in years at end of period)

    4.5        5.5       5.1       6.1       6.9  

Vessels at end of period

    8        8       11       11       11  

 

(1) Voyage expenses are all expenses unique to a particular voyage, including any bunker fuel expenses, port fees, cargo loading and unloading expenses, canal tolls, agency fees and commissions.
(2) Vessel operating expenses include crewing, repairs and maintenance, insurance, stores, lube oils and communication expenses.

 

6


Table of Contents
(3) We entered into interest rate swaps to mitigate our interest rate risk from our floating-rate debt, leases and restricted cash. We also have entered into an agreement with Teekay Corporation relating to the Toledo Spirit time-charter contract under which Teekay Corporation pays us any amounts payable to the charterer as a result of spot rates being below the fixed rate, and we pay Teekay Corporation any amounts payable to us as a result of spot rates being in excess of the fixed rate. Changes in the fair value of our derivatives are recognized immediately into income and are presented as realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments in the consolidated statements of income (loss). Please see Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 13 – Derivative Instruments.
(4) Substantially all of these foreign currency exchange gains and losses were unrealized and not settled in cash. Under GAAP, all foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities, such as cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, restricted cash, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, unearned revenue, advances from affiliates, long-term debt and capital lease obligations, are revalued and reported based on the prevailing exchange rate at the end of the period. Our primary source for the foreign currency exchange gains and losses is our Euro-denominated term loans, which totaled 304.3 million Euros ($444.0 million) at December 31, 2007, 296.4 million Euros ($414.1 million) at December 31, 2008, 288.0 million Euros ($412.4 million) at December 31, 2009, 278.9 million Euros ($373.3 million) at December 31, 2010 and 269.2 million Euros ($348.9 million) at December 31, 2011.
(5) Equity (loss) income includes unrealized (losses) gains on derivative instruments of ($5.8) million, ($6.5) million and $10.9 million, for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and nil for all the preceding periods.
(6) We operate certain of our LNG carriers under tax lease arrangements. Under these arrangements, we borrow under term loans and deposit the proceeds into restricted cash accounts. Concurrently, we enter into capital leases for the vessels, and the vessels are recorded as assets on our consolidated balance sheets. The restricted cash deposits, plus the interest earned on the deposits, will equal the remaining amounts we owe under the capital lease arrangements, including our obligations to purchase the vessels at the end of the lease term where applicable. Therefore, the payments under our capital leases are fully funded through our restricted cash deposits, and our continuing obligation is the repayment of the term loans. However, under GAAP we record both the obligations under the capital leases and the term loans as liabilities, and both the restricted cash deposits and our vessels under capital leases as assets. This accounting treatment has the effect of increasing our assets and liabilities by the amount of restricted cash deposits relating to the corresponding capital lease obligations.
(7) Vessels and equipment consist of (a) our vessels, at cost less accumulated depreciation, (b) vessels under capital leases, at cost less accumulated depreciation and (c) advances on our newbuildings.
(8) The external charters that commenced in 2009 with The Tangguh Production Sharing Contractors have been accounted for as direct financing leases. As a result, the two LNG vessels chartered to The Tangguh Production Sharing Contractors are not included as part of vessels and equipment.
(9) Consistent with general practice in the shipping industry, we use net voyage revenues (defined as voyage revenues less voyage expenses) as a measure of equating revenues generated from voyage charters to revenues generated from time-charters, which assists us in making operating decisions about the deployment of our vessels and their performance. Under time-charters the charterer pays the voyage expenses, whereas under voyage charter contracts the ship owner pays these expenses. Some voyage expenses are fixed, and the remainder can be estimated. If we, as the ship owner, pay the voyage expenses, we typically pass the approximate amount of these expenses on to our customers by charging higher rates under the contract or billing the expenses to them. As a result, although voyage revenues from different types of contracts may vary, the net voyage revenues are comparable across the different types of contracts. We principally use net voyage revenues, a non-GAAP financial measure, because it provides more meaningful information to us than voyage revenues, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Net voyage revenues are also widely used by investors and analysts in the shipping industry for comparing financial performance between companies and to industry averages. The following table reconciles net voyage revenues with voyage revenues.

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2007
    Year Ended
December 31,
2008
    Year Ended
December 31,
2009
    Year Ended
December 31,
2010
    Year Ended
December 31,
2011
 

Voyage revenues

     257,769       314,404       343,048       374,008       379,975  

Voyage expenses

     (1,197     (3,253     (2,034     (2,042     (1,387
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net voyage revenues

     256,572        311,151       341,014       371,966       378,588  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(10) EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are used as a supplemental financial measure by management and by external users of our financial statements, such as investors, as discussed below:

 

   

Financial and operating performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA assist our management and investors by increasing the comparability of our fundamental performance from period to period and against the fundamental performance of other companies in our industry that provide EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA information. This increased comparability is achieved by excluding the potentially disparate effects between periods or companies of interest expense, taxes, depreciation or amortization and realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments relating to interest rate swaps, 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 (loss) between periods. We believe that including EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as financial and operating measures benefits investors in (a) selecting between investing in us and other investment alternatives and (b) monitoring our ongoing financial and operational strength and health in assessing whether to continue to hold our common units.

 

   

Liquidity. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA allow us to assess the ability of assets to generate cash sufficient to service debt, pay distributions and undertake capital expenditures. By eliminating the cash flow effect resulting from our existing capitalization and other items such as dry-docking expenditures, working capital changes and foreign currency exchange gains and losses, EBITDA and Adjusted

 

7


Table of Contents
 

EBITDA provides a consistent measure of our ability to generate cash over the long term. Management uses this information as a significant factor in determining (a) our proper capitalization (including assessing how much debt to incur and whether changes to the capitalization should be made) and (b) whether to undertake material capital expenditures and how to finance them, all in light of our cash distribution policy. Use of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as liquidity measures also permits investors to assess the fundamental ability of our business to generate cash sufficient to meet cash needs, including distributions on our common units.

Neither EBITDA nor Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP measures, should be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), income from vessel operations, cash flow from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA exclude some, but not all, items that affect net income (loss) and operating income, and these measures may vary among other companies. Therefore, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as presented in this Annual Report may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

The following table reconciles our historical consolidated EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), and our historical consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to net operating cash flow.

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2007
    Year Ended
December 31,
2008
    Year Ended
December 31,
2009
    Year Ended
December 31,
2010
    Year Ended
December 31,
2011
 

Reconciliation of “EBITDA” and “Adjusted EBITDA” to “Net income (loss)”:

          

Net income (loss)

     8,923       (21,212     81,937       92,944       97,356  

Depreciation and amortization

     66,017       76,880       82,686       89,347       91,919  

Interest expense, net of interest income

     76,744       73,992       46,584       41,829       43,193  

Income tax expense

     1,155       205       694       1,670       781  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

     152,839       129,865       211,901       225,790       233,249  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Restructuring charge

     —          —          3,250       175       —     

Foreign currency exchange loss (gain)

     41,241       (18,244     10,806       (27,545     (10,310

Gain on sale of vessel

     —          —          —          (4,340     —     

Goodwill impairment

     —          3,648       —          —          —     

Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments

     (10,941     84,546       3,788       34,306       277  

Realized (gain) loss on interest rate swaps

     (806     6,788       36,222       42,495       62,660  

Unrealized (gain) loss on interest rate swaps in joint ventures included in equity income

     —          —          (10,936     6,453       5,830  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

     182,333       206,603       255,031       277,334       291,706  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reconciliation of “Adjusted EBITDA” to “Net operating cash flow”:

          

Net operating cash flow

     115,450       149,570       171,384       174,970       122,046  

Expenditures for dry docking

     3,724       11,966       9,729       12,727       19,638  

Interest expense, net of interest income

     76,744       73,992       46,584       41,829       43,193  

Income tax expense

     1,155       205       694       1,670       781  

Accrued interest and other

     (907     (2,488     (1,800     (3,628     24  

Change in operating assets and liabilities

     (12,313     (31,962     (26,988     (3,029     33,434  

Equity (loss) income from joint ventures

     (130     136       27,639       8,043       20,584  

Restructuring charge

     —          —          3,250       175       —     

Realized loss (gain) on interest rate swaps

     (806     6,788       36,222       42,495       62,660  

Unrealized (gain) loss on interest rate swaps in joint ventures included in equity (loss) income

     —          —          (10,936     6,453       5,830  

Dividends received from joint ventures

     —          —          —          —          (15,340

Other, net

     (584     (1,604     (747     (4,371     (1,144
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

     182,333       206,603       255,031       277,334       291,706  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(11) Expenditures for vessels and equipment excludes non-cash investing activities. Please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 15 – Supplemental Cash Flow Information.
(12) Fleet data does not include four LNG carriers (or the RasGas 3 LNG Carriers ) relating to our joint venture with QGTC Nakilat (1643-6) Holdings Corporation, three LNG carriers relating to the Angola Project (or the Angola LNG Carriers ) and two LNG carriers relating to our joint ventures with Exmar NV (or the Exmar LNG Carriers ), all of which are accounted for under the equity method.

 

8


Table of Contents
(13) Calendar-ship-days are equal to the aggregate number of calendar days in a period that our vessels were in our possession during that period (including five vessels deemed to be in our possession for accounting purposes as a result of the impact of the Dropdown Predecessor prior to our actual acquisition of such vessels).

RISK FACTORS

We may not have sufficient cash from operations to enable us to pay the current level of quarterly distributions on our common units following the establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses.

We may not have sufficient cash available each quarter to pay the current level of quarterly distributions on our common units. The amount of cash we can distribute on our common units principally depends upon the amount of cash we generate from our operations, which may fluctuate based on, among other things:

 

   

the rates we obtain from our charters;

 

   

the level of our operating costs, such as the cost of crews and insurance;

 

   

the continued availability of LNG and LPG production, liquefaction and regasification facilities;

 

   

the number of unscheduled off-hire days for our fleet and the timing of, and number of days required for, scheduled dry docking of our vessels;

 

   

delays in the delivery of newbuildings and the beginning of payments under charters relating to those vessels;

 

   

prevailing global and regional economic and political conditions;

 

   

currency exchange rate fluctuations; and

 

   

the effect of governmental regulations and maritime self-regulatory organization standards on the conduct of our business.

The actual amount of cash we will have available for distribution also will depend on factors such as:

 

   

the level of capital expenditures we make, including for maintaining vessels, building new vessels, acquiring existing vessels and complying with regulations;

 

   

our debt service requirements and restrictions on distributions contained in our debt instruments;

 

   

fluctuations in our working capital needs;

 

   

our ability to make working capital borrowings, including to pay distributions to unitholders; and

 

   

the amount of any cash reserves, including reserves for future capital expenditures and other matters, established by Teekay GP L.L.C., our general partner (or the General Partner ) in its discretion.

The amount of cash we generate from our operations may differ materially from our 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.

We make substantial capital expenditures to maintain the operating capacity of our fleet, which reduce our cash available for distribution. In addition, each quarter our General Partner is required to deduct estimated maintenance capital expenditures from operating surplus, which may result in less cash available to unitholders than if actual maintenance capital expenditures were deducted.

We must make substantial capital expenditures to maintain, over the long term, the operating capacity of our fleet. These maintenance capital expenditures include capital expenditures associated with dry docking a vessel, modifying an existing vessel or acquiring a new vessel to the extent these expenditures are incurred to maintain the operating capacity of our fleet. These expenditures could increase as a result of changes in:

 

   

the cost of labor and materials;

 

   

customer requirements;

 

   

increases in the size of our fleet;

 

   

governmental regulations and maritime self-regulatory organization standards relating to safety, security or the environment; and

 

   

competitive standards.

Our significant maintenance capital expenditures reduce the amount of cash we have available for distribution to our unitholders.

In addition, our actual maintenance capital expenditures vary significantly from quarter to quarter based on, among other things, the number of vessels dry docked during that quarter. Our partnership agreement requires our General Partner to deduct estimated, rather than actual, maintenance capital expenditures from operating surplus (as defined in our partnership agreement) each quarter in an effort to reduce fluctuations in

 

9


Table of Contents

operating surplus. The amount of estimated maintenance capital expenditures deducted from operating surplus is subject to review and change by the conflicts committee of our General Partner’s board of directors at least once a year. In years when estimated maintenance capital expenditures are higher than actual maintenance capital expenditures – as we expect will be the case in the years we are not required to make expenditures for mandatory dry dockings – the amount of cash available for distribution to unitholders will be lower than if actual maintenance capital expenditures were deducted from operating surplus. If our General Partner underestimates the appropriate level of estimated maintenance capital expenditures, we may have less cash available for distribution in future periods when actual capital expenditures begin to exceed our previous estimates.

We will be required to make substantial capital expenditures to expand the size of our fleet. We generally will be required to make significant installment payments for acquisitions of newbuilding vessels prior to their delivery and generation of revenue. Depending on whether we finance our expenditures through cash from operations or by issuing debt or equity securities, our ability to make required payments on our debt securities and cash distributions on our common units may be diminished or our financial leverage could increase or our unitholders could be diluted.

We make substantial capital expenditures to increase the size of our fleet. For example, on February 28, 2012, we acquired, through a joint venture with Marubeni Corporation (or the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture ) a 100% interest in six LNG carriers (or the Maersk LNG Carriers ) from Denmark-based A.P. Moller-Maersk (or Maersk ) (or the Maersk LNG Acquisition ). We and Marubeni Corporation have a 52% and 48% economic interest in the joint venture, respectively, but share control. Please read Item 5 – Operating and Financial Review and Prospects, for additional information about this acquisition. In addition, we are obligated to purchase five of our leased Suezmax tankers upon the termination of the related capital leases, which may occur at various times during 2012 and 2013 and which have an aggregate purchase price of approximately $175.7 million at December 31, 2011.

We and Teekay Corporation regularly evaluate and pursue opportunities to provide the marine transportation requirements for new or expanding LNG and LPG projects. The award process relating to LNG transportation opportunities typically involves various stages and takes several months to complete. Neither we nor Teekay Corporation may be awarded charters relating to any of the projects we or it pursues. If any LNG and LPG project charters are awarded to Teekay Corporation, it must offer them to us pursuant to the terms of an omnibus agreement entered into in connection with our initial public offering. If we elect pursuant to the omnibus agreement to obtain Teekay Corporation’s interests in any projects Teekay Corporation may be awarded, or if we bid on and are awarded contracts relating to any LNG and LPG project, we will need to incur significant capital expenditures to buy Teekay Corporation’s interest in these LNG and LPG projects or to build the LNG and LPG carriers.

To fund the remaining portion of existing or future capital expenditures, we will be required to use cash from operations or incur borrowings or raise capital through the sale of debt or additional equity securities. Use of cash from operations will reduce cash available for distributions to unitholders. Our ability to obtain bank financing or to access the capital markets for future offerings 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 and contingencies and uncertainties that are beyond our control. Our failure to obtain the funds for necessary future capital expenditures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and on our ability to make cash distributions. Even if we are successful in obtaining necessary funds, the terms of such 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 maintain our level of quarterly distributions to unitholders, which could have a material adverse effect on our ability to make cash distributions.

A shipowner typically is required to expend substantial sums as progress payments during construction of a newbuilding, but does not derive any income from the vessel until after its delivery. If we were unable to obtain financing required to complete payments on any future newbuilding orders, we could effectively forfeit all or a portion of the progress payments previously made.

Our ability to grow 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.

Our substantial debt levels may limit our flexibility in obtaining additional financing and in pursuing other business opportunities.

As at December 31, 2011, our consolidated debt, capital lease obligations and advances from affiliates totaled $2.0 billion and we had the capacity to borrow an additional $445.1 million under our credit facilities. These facilities may be used by us for general partnership purposes. If we are awarded contracts for new LNG or LPG projects, our consolidated debt and capital lease obligations will increase, perhaps significantly. We will continue to have the ability to incur additional debt, subject to limitations in our credit facilities. 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 impaired or such financing may not be available on favorable terms;

 

   

we will need a substantial portion of our cash flow 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 may make us more vulnerable than our competitors with less debt to competitive pressures or a downturn in our industry or the economy generally; and

 

   

our debt level may limit our flexibility in responding to changing business and economic conditions.

Our ability to service our debt depends upon, among other things, our future financial and operating performance, which is 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 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 or refinancing 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.

 

10


Table of Contents

Financing agreements containing operating and financial restrictions may restrict our business and financing activities.

The operating and financial restrictions and covenants in our financing arrangements and any future financing agreements for us could adversely affect our ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to engage, expand or pursue our business activities. For example, the arrangements may restrict our ability to:

 

   

incur or guarantee indebtedness;

 

   

change ownership or structure, including mergers, consolidations, liquidations and dissolutions;

 

   

make dividends or distributions when in default of the relevant loans;

 

   

make certain negative pledges and grant certain liens;

 

   

sell, transfer, assign or convey assets;

 

   

make certain investments; and

 

   

enter into a new line of business.

Some of our financing arrangements require us to maintain a minimum level of tangible net worth, to maintain certain ratios of vessel values as it relates to the relevant outstanding principal balance, a minimum level of aggregate liquidity, a maximum level of leverage and require one of our subsidiaries to maintain restricted cash deposits. Our ability to comply with covenants and restrictions contained in debt instruments may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. If market or other economic conditions deteriorate, compliance with these covenants may be impaired. If restrictions, covenants, ratios or tests in the financing agreements 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 might not have or be able to obtain sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments. In addition, our obligations under our existing credit facilities are secured by certain of our vessels, and if we are unable to repay debt under the credit facilities, the lenders could seek to foreclose on those assets.

Restrictions in our debt agreements may prevent us from paying distributions.

The payment of principal and interest on our debt and capital lease obligations reduces cash available for distribution to us and on our units. In addition, our financing agreements prohibit the payment of distributions upon the occurrence of the following events, among others:

 

   

failure to pay any principal, interest, fees, expenses or other amounts when due;

 

   

failure to notify the lenders of any material oil spill or discharge of hazardous material, or of any action or claim related thereto;

 

   

breach or lapse of any insurance with respect to vessels securing the facility;

 

   

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;

 

   

bankruptcy or insolvency events;

 

   

failure of any representation or warranty to be materially correct;

 

   

a change of control, as defined in the applicable agreement; and

 

   

a material adverse effect, as defined in the applicable agreement.

We derive a substantial majority of our revenues from a limited number of customers, and the loss of any customer, time-charter or vessel could result in a significant loss of revenues and cash flow.

We have derived, and believe that we will continue to derive, a significant portion of our revenues and cash flow from a limited number of customers. Please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 5 Segment Reporting.

We could lose a customer or the benefits of a time-charter if:

 

   

the customer fails to make charter payments because of its financial inability, disagreements with us or otherwise;

 

   

the customer exercises certain rights to terminate the charter, purchase or cause the sale of the vessel or, under some of our charters, convert the time-charter to a bareboat charter (some of which rights are exercisable at any time);

 

11


Table of Contents
   

the customer terminates the charter because we fail to deliver the vessel within a fixed period of time, the vessel is lost or damaged beyond repair, there are serious deficiencies in the vessel or prolonged periods of off-hire, or we default under the charter; or

 

   

under some of our time-charters, the customer terminates the charter because of the termination of the charterer’s sales agreement or a prolonged force majeure event affecting the customer, including damage to or destruction of relevant facilities, war or political unrest preventing us from performing services for that customer.

If we lose a key LNG or LPG time-charter, we may be unable to re-deploy the related vessel on terms as favorable to us due to the long-term nature of most LNG and LPG time-charters and the lack of an established LNG spot market. If we are unable to re-deploy a LNG carrier, we will not receive any revenues from that vessel, but we may be required to pay expenses necessary to maintain the vessel in proper operating condition. In addition, if a customer exercises its right to purchase a vessel, we would not receive any further revenue from the vessel and may be unable to obtain a substitute vessel and charter. This may cause us to receive decreased revenue and cash flows from having fewer vessels operating in our fleet. Any compensation under our charters for a purchase of the vessels may not adequately compensate us for the loss of the vessel and related time-charter.

If we lose a key conventional tanker customer, we may be unable to obtain other long-term conventional charters and may become subject to the volatile spot market, which is highly competitive and subject to significant price fluctuations. If a customer exercises its right under some charters to purchase or force a sale of the vessel, we may be unable to acquire an adequate replacement vessel or may be forced to construct a new vessel. Any replacement newbuilding would not generate revenues during its construction and we may be unable to charter any replacement vessel on terms as favorable to us as those of the terminated charter.

The loss of certain of our customers, time-charters or vessels, or a decline in payments under our charters, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and our ability to make cash distributions.

We depend on Teekay Corporation to assist us in operating our business, competing in our markets, and providing interim financing for certain vessel acquisitions.

Pursuant to certain services agreements between us and certain of our operating subsidiaries, on the one hand, and certain subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation, on the other hand, the Teekay Corporation subsidiaries provide to us administrative services and to our operating subsidiaries significant operational services (including vessel maintenance, crewing for some of our vessels, purchasing, shipyard supervision, insurance and financial services) and other technical, advisory and administrative services. Our operational success and ability to execute our growth strategy depend significantly upon Teekay Corporation’s satisfactory performance of these services. Our business will be harmed if Teekay Corporation fails to perform these services satisfactorily or if Teekay Corporation stops providing these services to us.

Our ability to compete for the transportation requirements of LNG, LPG and oil projects and to enter into new time-charters and expand our customer relationships depends largely on our ability to leverage our relationship with Teekay Corporation and its reputation and relationships in the shipping industry. If Teekay Corporation 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 during periods of shipyard construction constraints;

 

   

obtain financing on commercially acceptable terms; or

 

   

maintain satisfactory relationships with our employees and suppliers.

If our ability to do any of the things described above is impaired, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and our ability to make cash distributions.

Teekay Corporation has incurred all costs for the construction and delivery of certain newbuildings, which we refer to as “warehousing.” Upon their delivery, we have purchased all of the interest of Teekay Corporation in the vessels at a price that reimburses Teekay Corporation for these costs and compensate it for its average weighted cost of capital on the construction payments. We may enter into this type of arrangement with Teekay Corporation or third parties in the future. If Teekay Corporation or any such third party fails to make construction payments for these newbuildings or other vessels warehoused for us, we could lose access to the vessels as a result of the default or we may need to finance these vessels before they begin operating and generating voyage revenues, which could harm our business and reduce our ability to make cash distributions.

Our main growth depends on continued growth in demand for LNG and LPG shipping.

Our growth strategy focuses on continued expansion in the LNG and LPG shipping sectors. Accordingly, our growth depends on continued growth in world and regional demand for LNG and LPG shipping, which could be negatively affected by a number of factors, such as:

 

   

increases in the cost of natural gas derived from LNG relative to the cost of natural gas generally;

 

   

increase in the cost of LPG relative to the cost of naphtha and other competing petrochemicals;

 

12


Table of Contents
   

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;

 

   

additional sources of natural gas, including shale gas;

 

   

availability of new, alternative energy sources, including compressed natural gas; and

 

   

negative global or regional economic or political conditions, particularly in LNG and LPG consuming regions, which could reduce energy consumption or its growth.

Reduced demand for LNG and LPG shipping would have a material adverse effect on our future growth and could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Changes in the oil markets could result in decreased demand for our conventional vessels and services in the future.

Demand for our vessels and services in transporting oil depends upon world and regional oil markets. Any decrease in shipments of crude oil in those markets could have a material adverse effect on our conventional tanker business. Upon completion of the remaining charter terms for our conventional tankers, any adverse changes in the oil markets may affect our ability to enter into long-term fixed-rate contracts for our conventional tankers. Historically, those markets have been volatile as a result of the many conditions and events that affect the price, production and transport of oil, including competition from alternative energy sources. Past slowdowns of the U.S. and world economies have resulted in reduced consumption of oil products and decreased demand for our vessels and services, which reduced vessel earnings. Additional slowdowns could have similar effects on our operating results.

Growth of the LNG market may be limited by infrastructure constraints and community environmental group resistance to new LNG infrastructure over concerns about the environment, safety and terrorism.

A complete LNG project includes production, liquefaction, regasification, storage and distribution facilities and 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 or disrupt the supply of LNG, including:

 

   

increases in interest rates or other events that may affect 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 LNG carrier; and

 

   

labor or political unrest affecting existing or proposed areas of LNG production.

If the LNG supply chain is disrupted or does not continue to grow, or if a significant LNG explosion, spill or similar incident occurs, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and our ability to make cash distributions.

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, fixed-rate LNG, LPG and oil charters. The process of obtaining new long-term charters is highly competitive and generally involves an intensive screening process and competitive bids, and often extends for several months. Shipping contracts are awarded based upon a variety of factors relating to the vessel operator, including:

 

   

shipping industry relationships and reputation for customer service and safety;

 

   

shipping experience and quality of ship operations (including cost effectiveness);

 

   

quality and experience of seafaring crew;

 

   

the ability to finance carriers 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 vessels 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

 

13


Table of Contents
   

competitiveness of the bid in terms of overall price.

We compete for providing marine transportation services for potential energy projects with a number of experienced companies, including state-sponsored entities and major energy companies affiliated with the energy project requiring energy shipping services. Many of these competitors have significantly greater financial resources than we do or Teekay Corporation does. We anticipate that an increasing number of marine transportation companies – including many with strong reputations and extensive resources and experience – will enter the energy transportation sector. 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 business, results of operations and financial condition and our ability to make cash distributions.

Delays in deliveries of newbuildings could harm our operating results and lead to the termination of related charters.

We expect to order additional vessels in the future. The delivery of newbuildings we may order or otherwise acquire, could be delayed, which would delay our receipt of revenues under the charters for the vessels. In addition, under some of our charters if delivery of a vessel to our customer is delayed, we may be required to pay liquidated damages in amounts equal to or, under some charters, almost double, the hire rate during the delay. For prolonged delays, the customer may terminate the time-charter and, in addition to the resulting loss of revenues, we may be responsible for additional, substantial liquidated damages.

Our receipt of newbuildings could be delayed because of:

 

   

quality or engineering problems;

 

   

changes in governmental regulations or maritime self-regulatory organization standards;

 

   

work stoppages or other labor disturbances at the shipyard;

 

   

bankruptcy or other financial crisis of the shipbuilder;

 

   

a backlog of orders at the shipyard;

 

   

political or economic disturbances where our vessels are being or may be built;

 

   

weather interference or catastrophic event, such as a major earthquake or fire;

 

   

our requests for changes to the original vessel specifications;

 

   

shortages of or delays in the receipt of necessary construction materials, such as steel;

 

   

our inability to finance the purchase of the vessels; or

 

   

our inability to obtain requisite permits or approvals.

If delivery of a vessel is materially delayed, it could adversely affect our results or operations and financial condition and our ability to make cash distributions.

We may have more difficulty entering into long-term, fixed-rate LNG time-charters if an active short-term, medium-term or spot LNG shipping market develops.

LNG shipping historically has been transacted with long-term, fixed-rate time-charters, usually with terms ranging from 20 to 25 years. One of our principal strategies is to enter into additional long-term, fixed-rate LNG time-charters. In recent years the number of spot, short-term and medium-term LNG charters of under four years has been increasing. In 2010, they accounted for approximately 19% of global LNG trade.

If an active spot, short-term or medium-term market continues to develop, we may have increased difficulty entering into long-term, fixed-rate time-charters for our LNG carriers and, as a result, our cash flow may decrease and be less stable. In addition, an active short-term, medium-term or spot LNG market may require us to enter into charters based on changing market prices, as opposed to contracts based on a fixed rate, which could result in a decrease in our cash flow in periods when the market price for shipping LNG is depressed.

Over time vessel values may fluctuate substantially and, if these values are lower at a time when we are attempting to dispose of a vessel, we may incur a loss.

Vessel values for LNG and LPG carriers and conventional tankers can fluctuate substantially over time due to a number of different factors, including:

 

   

prevailing economic conditions in natural gas, oil and energy markets;

 

   

a substantial or extended decline in demand for natural gas, LNG, LPG or oil;

 

   

increases in the supply of vessel capacity; and

 

   

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 regulation or standards, or otherwise.

 

14


Table of Contents

Vessel values have declined over the past few years. If a charter terminates, we may be unable to re-deploy the vessel at attractive rates and, rather than continue to incur costs to maintain and finance it, may seek to dispose of it. Our inability to dispose of the vessel at a reasonable value could result in a loss on its sale and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

We may be unable to make or realize expected benefits from acquisitions, and implementing our growth strategy through acquisitions may harm our business, financial condition and operating results.

Our growth strategy includes selectively acquiring existing LNG and LPG carriers or LNG and LPG shipping businesses. Historically, there have been very few purchases of existing vessels and businesses in the LNG and LPG shipping industries. Factors that may contribute to a limited number of acquisition opportunities in the LNG and LPG industries in the near term include the relatively small number of independent LNG and LPG fleet owners and the limited number of LNG and LPG carriers not subject to existing long-term charter contracts. In addition, competition from other companies could reduce our acquisition opportunities or cause us to pay higher prices.

Any acquisition of a vessel or business may not be profitable to us at or after the time we acquire it and may not generate cash flow sufficient to justify our investment. In addition, our acquisition growth strategy exposes us to risks that may harm our business, financial condition and operating results, including risks that we may:

 

   

fail to realize anticipated benefits, such as new customer relationships, cost-savings or cash flow enhancements;

 

   

be unable to hire, train or retain qualified shore and seafaring personnel to manage and operate our growing business and fleet;

 

   

decrease our liquidity by using a significant portion of our available cash or borrowing capacity to finance acquisitions;

 

   

significantly increase our interest expense or financial leverage if we incur additional debt to finance acquisitions;

 

   

incur or assume unanticipated liabilities, losses or costs associated with the business or vessels acquired; or

 

   

incur other significant charges, such as impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets, asset devaluation or restructuring charges.

Unlike newbuildings, existing vessels typically do not carry warranties as to their condition. While we generally inspect existing vessels prior to purchase, such an inspection would normally not provide us with as much knowledge of a vessel’s condition as we would possess if it had been built for us and operated by us during its life. Repairs and maintenance costs for existing vessels are difficult to predict and may be substantially higher than for vessels we have operated since they were built. These costs could decrease our cash flow and reduce our liquidity.

Risks associated with the acquisition of six LNG carriers from Maersk.

The Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture acquired a 100% interest in six LNG carriers from Maersk. Risks related to this acquisition, include, among others:

 

   

our ability to obtain new charters for two of the LNG carriers which have charters expiring in 2013 and 2015;

 

   

our ability to integrate Maersk’s LNG business successfully into our organization; and

 

   

our exposure to political and economic stability as a result of having two of the LNG carriers’ chartered to Yemen LNG Company Limited.

Terrorist attacks, piracy, increased hostilities or war could lead to further economic instability, increased costs and disruption of our business.

Terrorist attacks, piracy, and the current conflicts in the Middle East, and other current and future conflicts, may adversely affect our business, operating results, financial condition, 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 to economic instability and disruption of LNG, LPG and oil production and distribution, which could result in reduced demand for our services.

In addition, LNG, LPG and oil facilities, shipyards, vessels, pipelines and oil and gas fields could be targets of future terrorist attacks and our vessels could be targets of pirates or hijackers. 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, LPG and oil to or from certain locations. Terrorist attacks, war, piracy, hijacking or other events beyond our control that adversely affect the distribution, production or transportation of LNG, LPG or oil to be shipped by us could entitle our customers to terminate our charter contracts, which would harm our cash flow and our business.

Terrorist attacks, or the perception that LNG or LPG facilities and carriers are potential terrorist targets, could materially and adversely affect expansion of LNG and LPG infrastructure and the continued supply of LNG and LPG to the United States and other countries. Concern that LNG or LPG facilities may be targeted for attack by terrorists has contributed to significant community and environmental resistance to the construction of a number of LNG or LPG facilities, primarily in North America. If a terrorist incident involving an LNG or LPG facility or LNG or LPG carrier did occur, in addition to the possible effects identified in the previous paragraph, the incident may adversely affect construction of additional LNG or LPG facilities in the United States and other countries or lead to the temporary or permanent closing of various LNG or LPG facilities currently in operation.

Acts of piracy on ocean-going vessels have recently increased in frequency, which could adversely affect our business.

Acts of piracy have historically affected ocean-going vessels trading in regions of the world such as the South China Sea and the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia. In recent years, the frequency and severity of piracy incidents has significantly increased, particularly in the Gulf of Aden and

 

15


Table of Contents

Indian Ocean. If these 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 coverage can increase significantly and such insurance coverage may be more difficult to obtain. In addition, crew costs, including costs which 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, detention 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

Our substantial operations outside the United States expose us to political, governmental and economic instability, which could harm our operations.

Because our operations are primarily conducted outside of the United States, they may be affected by economic, political and governmental conditions in the countries where we engage in business or where our vessels are registered. Any disruption caused by these factors could harm our business, including by reducing the levels of oil exploration, development and production activities in these areas. We derive some of our revenues from shipping oil, LNG and LPG from politically unstable regions. Conflicts in these regions have included attacks on ships and other efforts to disrupt shipping. Hostilities or other political instability in regions where we operate or where we may operate could have a material adverse effect on the growth of our business, results of operations and financial condition and ability to make cash distributions. In addition, tariffs, trade embargoes and other economic sanctions by the United States or other countries against countries to which we trade may limit trading activities with those countries, which could also harm our business and ability to make cash distributions. Finally, a government could requisition one or more of our vessels, which is most likely during war or national emergency. Any such requisition would cause a loss of the vessel and could harm our cash flow and financial results.

We are exposed to the political and economic instability in Angola, and assume a credit risk by entering a charter agreement with Angola LNG Supply Services LLC, an unrated entity who pays us from revenue generated from its sale of gas, through our interest in the four LNG carriers chartered to the Angola LNG Project.

We have acquired Teekay Corporation’s 33% ownership interest in the four Angola LNG Carriers that will be used to collect and transport gas from offshore production facilities to an onshore LNG processing plant in Angola. This is our first long-term project in Angola. Angola is affected by political instability, a poor economy, poor infrastructure and high unemployment. These factors may disrupt the LNG carriers’ charters with the Angola LNG Project, including as a result of attacks on our vessels or the project, political unrest, strikes, hostile actions in the region, tariffs, trade embargoes and other economic sanctions by the United States or other countries and the Angola government requisitioning our ships. Any of these or other similar actions could harm our ability to realize the expected economic benefit from our acquisition of this interest in these LNG carriers.

In addition, the four LNG carriers are chartered to Angola LNG Supply Services LLC, an unrated entity. Angola LNG Supply Services LLC will use revenue generated from the sale of the shipped gas to pay its shipping and other operating expenses, including the charter fees. The price of the gas is subject to market fluctuations. If the revenue generated by the charterer is insufficient to pay the charter fees, we may be unable to realize the expected economic benefit from our acquisition of the interest in the LNG carriers.

 

16


Table of Contents

Marine transportation is inherently risky, and an incident involving significant loss of or environmental contamination by any of our vessels could harm our reputation and business.

Our vessels and their cargoes are at risk of being damaged or lost because of events such as:

 

   

marine disasters;

 

   

bad weather or natural disasters;

 

   

mechanical failures;

 

   

grounding, fire, explosions and collisions;

 

   

piracy;

 

   

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;

 

   

delays in the delivery of cargo;

 

   

loss of revenues from or termination of charter contracts;

 

   

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 operating results.

Our insurance may be insufficient to cover losses that may occur to our property or result from our operations.

The operation of LNG and LPG carriers and oil tankers is inherently risky. Although we carry hull and machinery (marine and war risks) and protection and indemnity insurance, all risks may not be adequately insured against, and any particular claim may not be paid. In addition, only certain of our LNG carriers carry insurance covering the loss of revenues resulting from vessel off-hire time based on its cost compared to our off-hire experience. 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 catastrophic oil spill, marine disaster or natural disasters could result in losses that exceed our insurance coverage, which could harm our business, financial condition and operating results. 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.

Changes in the insurance markets attributable to terrorist attacks may also make certain types of insurance more difficult for us to obtain. In addition, the insurance that may be available may be significantly more expensive than our existing coverage.

The marine energy transportation industry is subject to substantial environmental and other regulations, which may significantly limit our operations or 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. 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 regulations, including expenses for vessel modifications and changes in operating procedures.

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. 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 petroleum or other 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

 

17


Table of Contents

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. For further information about regulations affecting our business and related requirements on us, please read Item 4 – Information on the Partnership: C. 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 have adopted, or are considering the adoption of, regulatory frameworks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These regulatory measures include, among others, adoption of cap and trade regimes, carbon taxes, increased efficiency standards, and incentives or mandates for renewable energy. Compliance with changes in laws, regulations and obligations relating to climate change could increase our costs related to operating and maintaining our vessels and require us to install new emission controls, acquire allowances or pay taxes related to our greenhouse gas emissions, or administer and manage a greenhouse gas emissions program. Revenue generation and strategic growth opportunities may also be adversely affected.

Adverse effects upon the oil and gas industry relating to climate change may also adversely affect demand for our services. Although we do not expect that demand for oil and gas will lessen dramatically over the short term, in the long term climate change may reduce the demand for oil and gas or increased regulation of greenhouse gases may 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.

Exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations will result in fluctuations in our cash flows and operating results.

We are paid in Euros under some of our charters, and certain of our vessel operating expenses and general and administrative expenses currently are denominated in Euros, which is primarily a function of the nationality of our crew and administrative staff. We also make payments under two Euro-denominated term loans. If the amount of our Euro-denominated obligations exceeds our Euro-denominated revenues, we must convert other currencies, primarily the U.S. Dollar, into Euros. An increase in the strength of the Euro relative to the U.S. Dollar would require us to convert more U.S. Dollars to Euros to satisfy those obligations, which would cause us to have less cash available for distribution. In addition, if we do not have sufficient U.S. Dollars, we may be required to convert Euros into U.S. Dollars for distributions to unitholders. An increase in the strength of the U.S. Dollar relative to the Euro could cause us to have less cash available for distribution in this circumstance. We have not entered into currency swaps or forward contracts or similar derivatives to mitigate this risk.

Because we report our operating results in U.S. Dollars, changes in the value of the U.S. Dollar relative to the Euro also result in fluctuations in our reported revenues and earnings. In addition, under U.S. accounting guidelines, all foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities such as cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, restricted cash, accounts payable, long-term debt and capital lease obligations, are revalued and reported based on the prevailing exchange rate at the end of the period. This revaluation historically has caused us to report significant non-monetary foreign currency exchange gains or losses each period. The primary source for these gains and losses is our Euro-denominated term loans.

Many of our seafaring employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements and the failure to renew those agreements or any future labor agreements may disrupt our operations and adversely affect our cash flows.

A significant portion of our seafarers, and the seafarers employed by Teekay Corporation and its other affiliates that crew some of our vessels, are employed under collective bargaining agreements. While some of our labor agreements have recently been renewed, crew compensation levels under future collective bargaining agreements may exceed existing compensation levels, which would adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows. We may be subject to labor disruptions in the future if our relationships deteriorate with our seafarers or the unions that represent them. Our collective bargaining agreements may not prevent labor disruptions, particularly when the agreements are being renegotiated. Any labor disruptions could harm our operations and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and our ability to make cash distributions.

Teekay Corporation may be unable to attract and retain qualified, skilled employees or crew necessary to operate our business, or may have to pay substantially increased costs for its employees and crew.

Our success depends in large part on Teekay Corporation’s ability to attract and retain highly skilled and qualified personnel. In crewing our vessels, we require technically skilled employees with specialized training who can perform physically demanding work. The ability to attract and retain qualified crew members under a competitive industry environment continues to put upward pressure on crew manning costs.

If we are not able to increase our charter rates to compensate for any crew cost increases, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected. Any inability we experience in the future to hire, train and retain a sufficient number of qualified employees could impair our ability to manage, maintain and grow our business.

Due to our lack of diversification, adverse developments in our LNG, LPG or oil marine transportation businesses could reduce our ability to make distributions to our unitholders.

We rely exclusively on the cash flow generated from our LNG and LPG carriers and conventional oil tankers that operate in the LNG, LPG and oil marine transportation business. Due to our lack of diversification, an adverse development in the LNG, LPG or oil shipping industry would have a significantly greater impact on our financial condition and results of operations than if we maintained more diverse assets or lines of business.

Teekay Corporation and its affiliates may engage in competition with us.

Teekay Corporation and its affiliates, including Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. (or Teekay Offshore ), may engage in competition with us. Pursuant to an omnibus agreement between Teekay Corporation, Teekay Offshore, us and other related parties, Teekay Corporation, Teekay Offshore and their respective controlled affiliates (other than us and our subsidiaries) generally have agreed not to own, operate or charter LNG carriers without the consent of our General Partner. The omnibus agreement, however, allows Teekay Corporation, Teekay Offshore or any of such controlled affiliates to:

 

   

acquire LNG carriers and related time-charters as part of a business if a majority of the value of the total assets or business acquired is not attributable to the LNG carriers and time-charters, as determined in good faith by the board of directors of Teekay Corporation or the board of directors of Teekay Offshore’s general partner; however, if at any time Teekay Corporation or Teekay Offshore completes such an acquisition, it must offer to sell the LNG carriers and related time-charters to us for their fair market value plus any additional tax or other similar costs to Teekay Corporation or Teekay Offshore that would be required to transfer the LNG carriers and time-charters to us separately from the acquired business; or

 

18


Table of Contents
   

own, operate and charter LNG carriers that relate to a bid or award for a proposed LNG project that Teekay Corporation or any of its subsidiaries has submitted or hereafter submits or receives; however, at least 180 days prior to the scheduled delivery date of any such LNG carrier, Teekay Corporation must offer to sell the LNG carrier and related time-charter to us, with the vessel valued at its “fully-built-up cost,” which represents the aggregate expenditures incurred (or to be incurred prior to delivery to us) by Teekay Corporation to acquire or construct and bring such LNG carrier to the condition and location necessary for our intended use, plus a reasonable allocation of overhead costs related to the development of such a project and other projects that would have been subject to the offer rights set forth in the omnibus agreement but were not completed.

If we decline the offer to purchase the LNG carriers and time-charters described above, Teekay Corporation or Teekay Offshore may own and operate the LNG carriers, but may not expand that portion of its business.

In addition, pursuant to the omnibus agreement, Teekay Corporation, Teekay Offshore or any of their respective controlled affiliates (other than us and our subsidiaries) may:

 

   

acquire, operate or charter LNG carriers if our General Partner has previously advised Teekay Corporation or Teekay Offshore that the board of directors of our General Partner has elected, with the approval of the conflicts committee of its board of directors, not to cause us or our subsidiaries to acquire or operate the carriers;

 

   

acquire up to a 9.9% equity ownership, voting or profit participation interest in any publicly traded company that owns or operate LNG carriers; and

 

   

provide ship management services relating to LNG carriers.

If there is a change of control of Teekay Corporation or Teekay Offshore, the non-competition provisions of the omnibus agreement may terminate, which termination could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and our ability to make cash distributions.

Our General Partner and its other affiliates have conflicts of interest and limited fiduciary duties, which may permit them to favor their own interests to those of unitholders.

Teekay Corporation, which owns and controls our General Partner, indirectly owns our 2% General Partner interest and as at December 31, 2011 owned a 38.1% limited partner interest in us. Conflicts of interest may arise between Teekay Corporation 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 may favor its own interests and the interests of its affiliates 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 Teekay Corporation to pursue a business strategy that favors us or utilizes our assets, and Teekay Corporation’s officers and directors have a fiduciary duty to make decisions in the best interests of the stockholders of Teekay Corporation, which may be contrary to our interests;

 

   

the executive officers and three of the directors of our General Partner also currently serve as executive officers or directors of Teekay Corporation;

 

   

our General Partner is allowed to take into account the interests of parties other than us, such as Teekay Corporation, in resolving conflicts of interest, which has the effect of limiting its fiduciary duty to our unitholders;

 

   

our General Partner has limited its liability and reduced its 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, all as set forth in our partnership agreement;

 

   

our General Partner determines the amount and timing of our asset purchases and sales, capital expenditures, borrowings, issuances of additional partnership securities and reserves, each of which can affect the amount of cash that is available for distribution to our unitholders;

 

   

in some instances our General Partner may cause us to borrow funds in order to permit the payment of cash distributions, even if the purpose or effect of the borrowing is to make incentive distributions to affiliates to Teekay Corporation;

 

   

our General Partner determines which costs incurred by it and its affiliates are reimbursable by us;

 

   

our partnership agreement does not restrict our General Partner from causing us to pay it 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;

 

19


Table of Contents
   

our General Partner controls the enforcement of obligations owed to us by it and its affiliates; and

 

   

our General Partner decides whether to retain separate counsel, accountants or others to perform services for us.

Certain of our lease arrangements contain provisions whereby we have provided a tax indemnification to third parties, which may result in increased lease payments or termination of favorable lease arrangements.

We and a joint venture partner are the lessee under 30-year capital lease arrangements with a third party for three LNG carriers. Under the terms of these capital lease arrangements, the lessor claims tax depreciation on the capital expenditures it incurred to acquire these vessels. As is typical in these leasing arrangements, tax and change of law risks are assumed by the lessee. The rentals payable under the lease arrangements are predicated on the basis of certain tax and financial assumptions at the commencement of the leases. If an assumption proves to be incorrect or there is a change in the applicable tax legislation or the interpretation thereof by the United Kingdom (U.K.) taxing authority, the lessor is entitled to increase the rentals so as to maintain its agreed after-tax margin. We do not have the ability to pass these increased rentals onto our charter party. However, the terms of the lease arrangements enable us and our joint venture partner jointly to terminate the lease arrangement on a voluntary basis at any time. In the event of an early termination of the lease arrangements, the joint venture may be obliged to pay termination sums to the lessor sufficient to repay its investment in the vessels and to compensate it for the tax effect of the terminations, including recapture of tax depreciation, if any. Although the exact amount of any such payments upon termination would be negotiated between us and the lessor, we expect the amount would be significant.

Recently, the U.K. taxing authority has been urging lessors under capital lease arrangements that have tax benefits similar to the ones provided by the capital lease arrangements for our LNG carriers to terminate such capital lease arrangements and has in other circumstances challenged the use of similar tax structures, although under facts we believe are different from ours. As a result, our lessor has requested that we enter into negotiations for a mutually agreed upon termination of these leases. We have declined the request to negotiate. While, based on discussions with our counsel, we do not believe that the U.K. taxing authority would be able to successfully challenge the availability to the lessor of these benefits. This assessment is partially based on a January 2012 court decision, regarding a similar financial lease of an LNG carrier that was ruled in favor of the taxpayer. However, it is possible that the U.K. taxing authority may appeal that decision. If the U.K. taxing authority were able to successfully challenge our leases, the joint venture, in which we own a 70% interest, could be subject to significant costs associated with the termination of the lease or increased lease payments to compensate the lessor for the lost tax benefits. The estimate of our 70% share of the potential exposure ranges from $54 million to $77 million.

In addition, the subsidiaries of another joint venture formed to service the Tangguh LNG project in Indonesia have entered into lease arrangements with a third party for two LNG carriers. We purchased Teekay Corporation’s interest in this joint venture in 2009. The terms of the lease arrangements provide similar tax and change of law risk assumption by this joint venture as we have with the three LNG carriers above.

Our joint venture arrangements impose obligations upon us but limit our control of the joint ventures, which may affect our ability to achieve our joint venture objectives.

For financial or strategic reasons, we conduct a portion of our business through joint ventures. Generally, we are obligated to provide proportionate financial support for the joint ventures although our control of the business entity may be substantially limited. Due to this limited control, we generally have less flexibility to pursue our own objectives through joint ventures than we would with our own subsidiaries. There is no assurance that our joint venture partners will continue their relationships with us in the future or that we will be able to achieve our financial or strategic objectives relating to the joint ventures and the markets in which they operate. In addition, our joint venture partners may have business objectives that are inconsistent with ours, experience financial and other difficulties that may affect the success of the joint venture, or be unable or unwilling to fulfill their obligations under the joint ventures, which may affect our financial condition or results of operations.

TAX RISKS

United States common unitholders will be required to pay U.S. taxes on their share of our income even if they do not receive any cash distributions from us.

U.S. citizens, residents or other U.S. taxpayers will be required to pay U.S. federal income taxes and, in some cases, U.S. state and local income taxes on their share of our taxable income, whether or not they receive cash distributions from us. U.S. common unitholders may not receive cash distributions from us equal to their share of our taxable income or even equal to the actual tax liability that results from their share of our taxable income.

Because distributions may reduce a common unitholder’s tax basis in our common units, common unitholders may realize greater gain on the disposition of their units than they otherwise may expect, and common unitholders may have a tax gain even if the price they receive is less than their original cost.

If common unitholders sell their common units, they will recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is equal to the difference between the amount realized and their tax basis in those common units. Prior distributions in excess of the total net taxable income allocated decrease a common unitholder’s tax basis and will, in effect, become taxable income if common units are sold at a price greater than their tax basis, even if the price received is less than the original cost. Assuming we are not treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a substantial portion of the amount realized on a sale of units, whether or not representing gain, may be ordinary income.

The decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Tidewater Inc. v. United States creates some uncertainty as to whether we will be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

In order for us to be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, more than 90.0 percent of our gross income each year must be “qualifying income” under Section 7704 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code ). For this purpose, “qualifying income” includes income from providing marine transportation services to customers with respect to crude oil, natural gas and certain products thereof but does not include rental income from leasing vessels to customers.

The decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Tidewater Inc. v. United States, 565 F.3d 299 (5th Cir. 2009) held that income derived from certain time chartering activities should be treated as rental income rather than service income for purposes of a foreign sales corporation provision of the Code. However, the Internal Revenue Service (or IRS ) stated in an Action on Decision (AOD 2010-001) that it disagrees with, and will not acquiesce to, the way that the rental versus services framework was applied to the facts in the Tidewater decision, and in its discussion stated that the time charters at issue in Tidewater would be treated as producing services income for purposes of the passive foreign investment company provisions of the Code. The IRS’s statement with respect to Tidewater cannot be relied upon or otherwise cited as precedent by taxpayers. Consequently, in the absence of any binding legal authority specifically relating to the statutory provisions governing “qualifying income” under Section 7704 of the Code, there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court would not follow the Tidewater decision in interpreting the “qualifying income” provisions under Section 7704 of the Code. Nevertheless, we intend to take the position that our time charter income is

 

20


Table of Contents

“qualifying income” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code. No assurance can be given, however, that the IRS, or a court of law, will accept our position. As such, there is some uncertainty regarding the status of our time charter income as “qualifying income” and therefore some uncertainty as to whether we will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Please read “Item 10 – Additional Information – Taxation – United States Tax Consequences – Classification as a Partnership.”

The after-tax benefit of an investment in the common units may be reduced if we are not treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

The anticipated after-tax benefit of an investment in common units may be reduced if we are not treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If we are not treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we would be treated as a corporation for such purposes, and common unitholders could suffer material adverse tax or economic consequences, including the following:

 

   

The ratio of taxable income to distributions with respect to common units would increase because items would not be allocated to account for any differences between the fair market value and the basis of our assets at the time our common units are issued.

 

   

Common unitholders may recognize income or gain on any change in our status from a partnership to a corporation that occurs while they hold units.

 

   

We would not be permitted to adjust the tax basis of a secondary market purchaser in our assets under Section 743(b) of the Code. As a result, a person who purchases common units from a common unitholder in the secondary market may realize materially more taxable income each year with respect to the units. This could reduce the value of common unitholders’ common units.

 

   

Common unitholders would not be entitled to claim any credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability for non-U.S. income tax liabilities incurred by us.

 

   

As to the U.S. source portion of our income attributable to transportation that begins or ends (but not both) in the United States, we will be subject to U.S. tax on such income on a gross basis (that is, without any allowance for deductions) at a rate of 4.0 percent. The imposition of this tax would have a negative effect on our business and would result in decreased cash available for distribution to common unitholders.

 

   

We also may be considered a passive foreign investment company (or PFIC) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. U.S. shareholders of a PFIC are subject to an adverse U.S. federal income tax regime with respect to the income derived by the PFIC, the 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.

Please read “Item 10 – Additional Information – Taxation – United States Tax Consequences – Possible Classification as a Corporation.”

U.S. tax-exempt entities and non-U.S. persons face unique U.S. tax issues from owning common units that may result in adverse U.S. tax consequences to them.

Investments in common units by U.S. tax-exempt entities, including individual retirement accounts (known as IRAs ), other retirements plans and non-U.S. persons raise issues unique to them. Assuming we are classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, virtually all of our income allocated to organizations exempt from U.S. federal income tax will be unrelated business taxable income and generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax. In addition, non-U.S. persons may be subject to a 4.0 percent U.S. federal income tax on the U.S. source portion of our gross income attributable to transportation that begins or ends (but not both) in the United States, or distributions to them may be reduced on account of withholding of U.S. federal income tax by us in the event we are treated as having a fixed place of business in the United States or otherwise earn U.S. effectively connected income, unless an exemption applies and they file U.S. federal income tax returns to claim such exemption.

The sale or exchange of 50.0 percent or more of our capital or profits interests in any 12-month period will result in the termination of our partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

We will be considered to have been terminated for U.S. federal income tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50.0 percent or more of the total interests in our capital or profits within any 12-month period. Our termination would, among other things, result in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders and could result in a deferral of depreciation deductions allowable in computing our taxable income. Please read “Item 10 – Additional Information – Taxation – United States Tax Consequences – Disposition of Common Units – Constructive Termination.”

Some of our subsidiaries that are classified as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes might be treated as “passive foreign investment companies,” which could result in additional taxes to our unitholders.

Certain of our subsidiaries that are classified as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes could be treated as “passive foreign investment companies” (or PFICs ) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. U.S. shareholders of a PFIC are subject to an adverse U.S. federal income tax regime with respect to the income derived by the PFIC, the 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. We have received a ruling from the IRS that our subsidiary Teekay LNG Holdco L.L.C. will be classified as a CFC rather than a PFIC as long as it is wholly-owned by a U.S. partnership and we have restructured our subsidiaries Arctic Spirit L.L.C. and Polar Spirit L.L.C. such that they are also owned by our U.S. partnership. We intend to take the position that these subsidiaries should also be treated as CFCs rather than PFICs following this restructuring. Moreover, we believe and intend to take the position that these subsidiaries were not PFICs at any time prior to the restructuring. No assurance can be given, however, that the IRS, or a court of law, will accept this position. Please read “Item 10 – Additional Information – Taxation – United States Tax Consequences – Taxation of our Subsidiary Corporations.”

 

21


Table of Contents

Teekay Corporation owns less than 50.0 percent of our outstanding equity interests, which could cause certain of our subsidiaries and us to be subject to additional tax.

Certain of our subsidiaries are classified as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, these subsidiaries will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the U.S. source portion of our income attributable to transportation that begins or ends (but not both) in the United States if they fail to qualify for an exemption from U.S. federal income tax (the Section 883 Exemption ). Teekay Corporation indirectly owns less than 50.0 percent of certain of our subsidiaries’ and our outstanding equity interests. Consequently, we expect these subsidiaries failed to qualify for the Section 883 Exemption in 2011 and will fail to qualify for the Section 883 Exemption in subsequent tax years. Any resulting imposition of U.S. federal income taxes will result in decreased cash available for distribution to common unitholders. Please read “Item 10 – Additional Information – Taxation – United States Tax Consequences – Taxation of our Subsidiary Corporations.”

In addition, if we are not treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we expect that we also would fail to qualify for the Section 883 Exemption in subsequent tax years and that any resulting imposition of U.S. federal income taxes would result in decreased cash available for distribution to common unitholders.

The Internal Revenue Service (or IRS) may challenge the manner in which we value our assets in determining the amount of income, gain, loss and deduction allocable to the unitholders, which could adversely affect the value of the common units.

A unitholder’s taxable income or loss with respect to a common unit each year will depend upon a number of factors, including the nature and fair market value of our assets at the time the holder acquired the common unit, whether we issue additional units or whether we engage in certain other transactions, and the manner in which our items of income, gain, loss and deduction are allocated among our partners. For this purpose, we determine the value of our assets and the relative amounts of our items of income, gain, loss and deduction allocable to our unitholders and our general partner as holder of the incentive distribution rights by reference to the value of our interests, including the incentive distribution rights. The IRS may challenge any valuation determinations that we make, particularly as to the incentive distribution rights, for which there is no public market. In addition, the IRS could challenge certain other aspects of the manner in which we determine the relative allocations made to our unitholders and to the general partner as holder of our incentive distribution rights. A successful IRS challenge to our valuation or allocation methods could increase the amount of net taxable income and gain realized by a unitholder with respect to a common unit. Any such IRS challenge, whether or not successful, could adversely affect the value of our common units.

Common unitholders may be subject to income tax in one or more non-U.S. countries, including Canada, as a result of owning our common units if, under the laws of any such country, we are considered to be carrying on business there. Such laws may require common unitholders to file a tax return with, and pay taxes to, those countries. Any foreign taxes imposed on us or any of our subsidiaries will reduce our cash available for distribution to common unitholders.

We intend that our affairs and the business of each of our subsidiaries is conducted and operated in a manner that minimizes foreign income taxes imposed upon us and our subsidiaries or which may be imposed upon you as a result of owning our common units. However, there is a risk that common unitholders will be subject to tax in one or more countries, including Canada, as a result of owning our common units if, under the laws of any such country, we are considered to be carrying on business there. If common unitholders are subject to tax in any such country, common unitholders may be required to file a tax return with, and pay taxes to, that country based on their allocable share of our income. We may be required to reduce distributions to common unitholders on account of any withholding obligations imposed upon us by that country in respect of such allocation to common unitholders. The United States may not allow a tax credit for any foreign income taxes that common unitholders directly or indirectly incur. Any foreign taxes imposed on us or any of our subsidiaries will reduce our cash available for common unitholders.

 

Item 4. Information on the Partnership

A. Overview, History and Development

Overview and History

Teekay LNG Partners L.P. is an international provider of marine transportation services for LNG, LPG and crude oil. We were formed in 2004 by Teekay Corporation (NYSE: TK), the world’s largest owner and operator of medium sized crude oil tankers, to expand its operations in the LNG shipping sector. Our primary growth strategy focuses on expanding our fleet of LNG and LPG carriers under long-term, fixed-rate charters. In executing our growth strategy, we may engage in vessel or business acquisitions or enter into joint ventures and partnerships with companies that may provide increased access to emerging opportunities from global expansion of the LNG and LPG sectors. We seek to leverage the expertise, relationships and reputation of Teekay Corporation and its affiliates to pursue these opportunities in the LNG and LPG sectors and may consider other opportunities to which our competitive strengths are well suited. Although we may acquire additional crude oil tankers from time to time, we view our conventional tanker fleet primarily as a source of stable cash flow as we seek to continue to expand our LNG and LPG operations.

As of December 31, 2011, our fleet, excluding newbuildings, consisted of 20 LNG carriers (including the four RasGas 3 LNG Carriers, the three Angola LNG Carriers and the two Exmar LNG carriers that are all accounted for under the equity method), ten Suezmax-class crude oil tankers, five LPG carriers and one Handymax product tanker, all of which are double-hulled. Our fleet is young, with an average age of approximately six years for our LNG carriers, approximately seven years for our conventional tankers (Suezmax and Handymax), and approximately one year for our LPG carriers, compared to world averages of 10, 8 and 16 years, respectively, as of December 31, 2011.

Our vessels mainly operate under long-term, fixed-rate charters primarily with major energy and utility companies and Teekay Corporation. The average remaining term for these charters is approximately 16 years for our LNG carriers, approximately 8 years for our conventional tankers (Suezmax and Handymax), and approximately 14 years for our LPG carriers, subject, in certain circumstances, to termination or vessel purchase rights.

 

22


Table of Contents

Our fleets of LNG and LPG carriers currently have approximately 3.1 million and 0.1 million cubic meters of total capacity, respectively. The aggregate capacity of our conventional tanker fleet is approximately 1.6 million deadweight tonnes ( dwt ).

Subsequent to December 31, 2011, we acquired the fourth and last Angola LNG Carrier and an ownership interest in six LNG carriers from A.P. Moller-Maresk A/S (or the Maersk LNG Carriers ).

We were formed in connection with our initial public offering on May 10, 2005 and began trading as a publicly-traded limited partnership. Upon our formation, we acquired Teekay Corporation’s LNG business which it acquired in 2004 from Naviera F. Tapias S.A.

We are incorporated under the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands as Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and maintain our principal executive headquarters at 4 th Floor, Belvedere Building, 69 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda. Our telephone number at such address is (441) 298-2530.

B. Operations

Our Charters

We generate revenues by charging customers for the transportation of their LNG, LPG and crude oil using our vessels. These services are provided through either a time-charter or bareboat charter contract, where vessels are chartered to customers for a fixed period of time at rates that are generally fixed but may contain a variable component based on inflation, interest rates or current market rates.

Currently, all our vessels are employed on long-term charters. However, two of the Maersk LNG Carriers have charters expiring in 2013 and 2015.

“Hire” rate refers to the basic payment from the customer for the use of a vessel. Hire is payable monthly, in advance, in U.S. Dollars or Euros, as specified in the charter. The hire rate generally includes two components – a capital cost component and an operating expense component. The capital component typically approximates the amount we are required to pay under vessel financing obligations and, for five of our existing Conventional tankers, adjusts for changes in the floating interest rates relating to the underlying vessel financing. The operating component, which adjusts annually for inflation, is intended to compensate us for vessel operating expenses.

In addition, we may receive additional revenues beyond the fixed hire rate when current market rates exceed specified amounts under our time-charter for four Suezmax tankers.

Hire payments may be reduced or, under some charters, we must pay liquidated damages, if the vessel does not perform to certain of its specifications, such as if the average vessel speed falls below a guaranteed speed or the amount of fuel consumed to power the vessel under normal circumstances exceeds a guaranteed amount. Historically, we have had few instances of hire rate reductions and none that have had a material impact on our operating results.

When a vessel is “off-hire” – or not available for service – the customer generally is not required to pay the hire rate and we are responsible for all costs. Prolonged off-hire may lead to vessel substitution or termination of the time-charter. A vessel will be deemed to be off-hire if it is in dry dock. We must periodically dry dock each of our vessels for inspection, repairs and maintenance and any modifications to comply with industry certification or governmental requirements. In addition, a vessel generally will be deemed off-hire if there is a loss of time due to, among other things: operational deficiencies; equipment breakdowns; delays due to accidents, crewing strikes, certain vessel detentions or similar problems; or our failure to maintain the vessel in compliance with its specifications and contractual standards or to provide the required crew.

Liquefied Gas Segment

LNG Carriers

The LNG carriers in our liquefied gas segment compete in the LNG market. LNG carriers are usually chartered to carry LNG pursuant to time-charter contracts, where a vessel is hired for a fixed period of time, usually between 20 and 25 years, and the charter rate is payable to the owner on a monthly basis. LNG shipping historically has been transacted with long-term, fixed-rate time-charter contracts. LNG projects require significant capital expenditures and typically involve an integrated chain of dedicated facilities and cooperative activities. Accordingly, the overall success of an LNG project depends heavily on long-range planning and coordination of project activities, including marine transportation. Most shipping requirements for new LNG projects continue to be provided on a long-term basis, though the level of spot voyages (typically consisting of a single voyage), short-term time-charters and medium-term time-charters have grown in the past few years.

In the LNG market, we compete principally with other private and state-controlled energy and utilities companies that generally operate captive fleets, and independent ship owners and operators. Many major energy companies compete directly with independent owners by transporting LNG for third parties in addition to their own LNG. Given the complex, long-term nature of LNG projects, major energy companies historically have transported LNG through their captive fleets. However, independent fleet operators have been obtaining an increasing percentage of charters for new or expanded LNG projects as some major energy companies have continued to divest non-core businesses.

LNG carriers transport LNG internationally between liquefaction facilities and import terminals. After natural gas is transported by pipeline from production fields to a liquefaction facility, it is supercooled to a temperature of approximately negative 260 degrees Fahrenheit. This process reduces its volume to approximately 1/600 th of its volume in a gaseous state. The reduced volume facilitates economical storage and transportation by ship over long distances, enabling countries with limited natural gas reserves or limited access to long-distance transmission pipelines to import natural gas. LNG carriers include a sophisticated containment system that holds the LNG and provides insulation to reduce the amount of LNG that boils off naturally. The natural boil off is either used as fuel to power the engines on the ship or it can be reliquefied and put back into the tanks. LNG is transported overseas in specially built tanks on double-hulled ships to a receiving terminal, where it is offloaded and stored in insulated tanks. In regasification facilities at the receiving terminal, the LNG is returned to its gaseous state (or regasified ) and then shipped by pipeline for distribution to natural gas customers.

 

23


Table of Contents

With the exception of the Arctic Spirit and Polar Spirit which are the only two ships in the world that utilise the IHI SPB independent tank technology, the remainder of our fleet makes use of one of the GTT membrane containment systems. The GTT membrane systems are used in the majority of LNG tankers now being constructed. New LNG carriers are generally expected to have a lifespan of approximately 35 to 40 years. Unlike the oil tanker industry, there currently are no regulations that require the phase-out from trading of LNG carriers after they reach a certain age. As at December 31, 2011 our LNG carriers had an average age of approximately six years, compared to the world LNG carrier fleet average age of approximately 10 years. In addition, as at that date, there were approximately 373 vessels in the world LNG fleet and approximately 60 additional LNG carriers under construction or on order for delivery through 2015.

The following table provides additional information about our LNG vessels as of December 31, 2011 and excludes our interests in seven LNG carriers subsequently acquired.

 

Vessel

   Capacity      Delivery    Our Ownership    

Charterer

  

Remaining
Charter Term
(1)

     (cubic meters)                       
Operating LNG carriers:              

Hispania Spirit

     137,814      2002      100 %     Repsol YPF    11 years (3)

Catalunya Spirit

     135,423      2003      100 %     Gas Natural SDG    12 years (3)

Galicia Spirit

     137,814      2004      100 %     Uniòn Fenosa Gas    18 years (4)

Madrid Spirit

     135,423      2004      100 %     Repsol YPF    13 years (3)

Al Marrouna

     149,539      2006      Capital  lease (2)     Ras Laffan Liquefied    15 years (5)
           Natural Gas Company Ltd.   

Al Areesh

     148,786      2007      Capital  lease (2)     Ras Laffan Liquefied    15 years (5)
           Natural Gas Company Ltd.   

Al Daayen

     148,853      2007      Capital  lease (2)     Ras Laffan Liquefied    15 years (5)
           Natural Gas Company Ltd.   

Tangguh Hiri

     151,885      2008      69 %     The Tangguh Production    17 years
           Sharing Contractors   

Tangguh Sago

     155,000      2009      69 %     The Tangguh Production    17 years
           Sharing Contractors   

Al Huwaila

     214,176      2008      40 % (6)     Ras Laffan Liquefied    21 years (3)
           Natural Gas Company Ltd.   

Al Kharsaah

     214,198      2008      40 % (6)     Ras Laffan Liquefied    21 years (3)
           Natural Gas Company Ltd.   

Al Shamal

     213,536      2008      40 % (6)     Ras Laffan Liquefied    21 years (3)
           Natural Gas Company Ltd.   

Al Khuwair

     213,101      2008      40 % (6)     Ras Laffan Liquefied    22 years (3)
           Natural Gas Company Ltd.   

Arctic Spirit

     87,305      1993      99 %     Teekay Corporation    6 years (5)

Polar Spirit

     87,305      1993      99 %     Teekay Corporation    6 years (5)

Excelsior

     138,087      2005      50 % (7)     Excelerate Energy LP    13 years (3)

Excalibur

     138,000      2002      50 % (7)     Excelerate Energy LP    10 years

Soyo

     160,400      2011      33 % (8)     Angola LNG Supply Services LLC    20 years (3)

Malanje

     160,400      2011      33 % (8)     Angola LNG Supply Services LLC    20 years (3)

Lobito

     160,400      2011      33 % (8)     Angola LNG Supply Services LLC    20 years (3)
  

 

 

            

Total Capacity:

     3,087,445             
  

 

 

            

 

(1) Each of our time-charters are subject to certain termination and purchase provisions.
(2) We lease the vessel under a tax lease arrangement and have an ownership interest of 70%. Please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 6 – Leases and Restricted Cash.
(3) The charterer has two options to extend the term for an additional five years each.
(4) The charterer has one option to extend the term for an additional five years.
(5) The charterer has three options to extend the term for an additional five years each.
(6) The RasGas 3 LNG Carriers are accounted for under the equity method.
(7) The Exmar LNG Carriers are accounted for under the equity method.
(8) The Angola LNG Carriers are accounted for under the equity method.

 

24


Table of Contents

The following table presents the percentage of our consolidated voyage revenues from LNG customers that accounted for more than 10% of our consolidated voyage revenues during 2011, 2010 and 2009.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2011     2010     2009  

Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Ltd.

     18     18     20

Repsol YPF, S.A.

     14     14     15

The Tangguh Production Sharing Contractors

     12     11     Less than 10

Teekay Corporation

     Less than 10     10     11

No other LNG customer accounted for 10% or more of our revenues during any of these periods. The loss of any significant customer or a substantial decline in the amount of services requested by a significant customer could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Each LNG carrier that is owned by us is encumbered by a mortgage relating to the vessel’s financing. Each of the Al Marrouna, Al Areesh and Al Daayen is considered to be subject to a capital lease. Please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 6 – Leases and Restricted Cash.

LPG Carriers

LPG shipping involves the transportation of three main categories of cargo: liquid petroleum gases including propane, butane and ethane; petrochemical gases including ethylene, propylene and butadiene; and ammonia.

As of December 31, 2011, the worldwide LPG tanker fleet consisted of approximately 1,219 vessels with an average age of approximately 16 years and approximately 80 additional LPG vessels were on order for delivery through 2014. LPG carriers range in size from approximately 250 to approximately 85,000 cubic meters. Approximately 54% of the number of vessels in the worldwide fleet are less than 5,000 cubic meters in size. New LPG carriers are generally expected to have a lifespan of approximately 30 to 35 years.

LPG carriers are mainly chartered to carry LPG on time-charters, on contracts of affreightment or spot voyage charters. The two largest consumers of LPG are residential users and the petrochemical industry. Residential users, particularly in developing regions where electricity and gas pipelines are not developed, do not have fuel switching alternatives and generally are not LPG price sensitive. The petrochemical industry, however, has the ability to switch between LPG and other feedstock fuels depending on price and availability of alternatives.

The following table provides additional information about our LPG carriers as of December 31, 2011:

 

Vessel

   Capacity      Delivery    Ownership    

Charterer

   Remaining Charter Term
     (cubic meters)                       
Operating LPG carriers:              

Norgas Pan

     10,000      2009      99   I.M. Skaguen ASA    12 years

Norgas Cathinka

     10,000      2009      99   I.M. Skaguen ASA    13 years

Norgas Camilla

     10,000      2011      99   I.M. Skaguen ASA    15 years

Norgas Unikum

     12,000      2011      99   I.M. Skaguen ASA    15 years

Norgas Vision

     12,000      2011      99   I.M. Skaguen ASA    15 years
  

 

 

            

Total Capacity:

     54,000             
  

 

 

            

 

25


Table of Contents

Conventional Tanker Segment

Oil has been the world’s primary energy source for decades. Seaborne crude oil transportation is a mature industry. The two main types of oil tanker operators are major oil companies (including state-owned companies) that generally operate captive fleets, and independent operators that charter out their vessels for voyage or time-charter use. Most conventional oil tankers controlled by independent fleet operators are hired for one or a few voyages at a time at fluctuating market rates based on the existing tanker supply and demand. These charter rates are extremely sensitive to this balance of supply and demand, and small changes in tanker utilization have historically led to relatively large short-term rate changes. Long-term, fixed-rate charters for crude oil transportation, such as those applicable to our conventional tanker fleet, are less typical in the industry. As used in this discussion, “conventional” oil tankers exclude those vessels that can carry dry bulk and ore, tankers that currently are used for storage purposes and shuttle tankers that are designed to transport oil from offshore production platforms to onshore storage and refinery facilities.

Oil tanker demand is primarily a function of several factors, primarily the locations of oil production, refining and consumption and world oil demand and supply, while oil tanker supply is primarily a function of new vessel deliveries, vessel scrapping and the conversion or loss of tonnage.

The majority of crude oil tankers range in size from approximately 80,000 to approximately 320,000 dwt. Suezmax tankers, which typically range from 120,000 to 200,000 dwt, are the mid-size of the various primary oil tanker types. As of December 31, 2011, the world tanker fleet included 410 conventional Suezmax tankers, representing approximately 13% of worldwide oil tanker capacity, excluding tankers under 10,000 dwt.

As of December 31, 2011, our conventional tankers had an average age of approximately seven years, compared to the average age of eight years for the world conventional tanker fleet. New conventional tankers generally are expected to have a lifespan of approximately 25 to 30 years, based on estimated hull fatigue life.

The following table provides additional information about our conventional oil tankers as of December 31, 2011:

 

Tanker (1)

   Capacity      Delivery    Our Ownership    

Charterer

   Remaining
Charter Term
     (dwt)                       
Operating Conventional tankers:              

Tenerife Spirit

     149,999      2000      Capital lease  (2)     CEPSA    9 years (3)

Algeciras Spirit

     149,999      2000      Capital lease  (2)     CEPSA    9 years (3)

Huelva Spirit

     149,999      2001      Capital lease  (2)     CEPSA    9 years (3)

Teide Spirit

     149,999      2004      Capital lease  (2)     CEPSA    13 years (3)

Toledo Spirit

     159,342      2005      Capital lease  (2)     CEPSA    14 years (3)

European Spirit

     151,849      2003      100 %     ConocoPhillips Shipping LLC    4 years (4)

African Spirit

     151,736      2003      100 %     ConocoPhillips Shipping LLC    4 years (4)

Asian Spirit

     151,693      2004      100 %     ConocoPhillips Shipping LLC    4 years (4)

Bermuda Spirit

     159,000      2009      100 %     Centrofin Management Inc.    10 years (5)

Hamilton Spirit

     159,000      2009      100 %     Centrofin Management Inc.    10 years (5)

Alexander Spirit

     40,083      2007      100 %     Caltex Australian Petroleum Pty Ltd.    8 years
  

 

 

            

Total Capacity:

     1,572,699             
  

 

 

            

 

(1) The conventional tankers listed in the table are all Suezmax tankers, with the exception of the Alexander Spirit which is a Handymax tanker.
(2) We are the lessee under a capital lease arrangement and are required to purchase the vessel after the end of the lease terms for a fixed price. Please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 6 – Leases and Restricted Cash.
(3) Compania Espanole de Petroleos, S.A. (or CEPSA ) has the right to terminate the time-charter 13 years after the original delivery date.
(4) The term of the time-charter is 12 years from the original delivery date, which may be extended at the customer’s option for up to an additional six years. In addition, the customer has the right to terminate the time-charter upon notice and payment of a cancellation fee. Either party also may require the sale of the vessel to a third party at any time, subject to the other party’s right of first refusal to purchase the vessel.
(5) Centrofin Management Inc. has the option to purchase the two vessels, which right is exercisable after the end of five years and every year thereafter until the end of the charter agreement. Each purchase option ranges between $53.8 million after five years to $29.4 million at the end of the charter.

CEPSA accounted for 12%, 12% and 13% of our 2011, 2010 and 2009 consolidated voyage revenues, respectively. No other conventional tanker customer accounted for 10% or more of our revenues during any of these periods. The loss of any significant customer or a substantial decline in the amount of services requested by a significant customer could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Business Strategies

Our primary business objective is to increase distributable cash flow per unit by executing the following strategies:

 

26


Table of Contents
   

Expand our LNG and LPG business globally . We seek to capitalize on opportunities emerging from the global expansion of the LNG and LPG sectors by selectively targeting:

 

   

projects which involve medium-to long-term, fixed-rate charters;

 

   

joint ventures and partnerships with companies that may provide increased access to opportunities in attractive LNG and LPG importing and exporting geographic regions;

 

   

strategic vessel and business acquisitions; and

 

   

specialized projects in adjacent areas of the business, including floating storage and regasification units (or FSRUs ).

 

   

Provide superior customer service by maintaining high reliability, safety, environmental and quality standards. LNG and LPG project operators seek LNG and LPG transportation partners that have a reputation for high reliability, safety, environmental and quality standards. We seek to leverage our own and Teekay Corporation’s operational expertise to create a sustainable competitive advantage with consistent delivery of superior customer service.

 

   

Manage our conventional tanker fleet to provide stable cash flows. The remaining terms for our existing long-term conventional tanker charters are 4 to 14 years. We believe the fixed-rate time-charters for our tanker fleet provide us stable cash flows during their terms and a source of funding for expanding our LNG and LPG operations. Depending on prevailing market conditions during and at the end of each existing charter, we may seek to extend the charter, enter into a new charter, operate the vessel on the spot market or sell the vessel, in an effort to maximize returns on our conventional tanker fleet while managing residual risk.

Safety, Management of Ship Operations and Administration

Teekay Corporation, through its subsidiaries, assists us in managing our ship operations. Safety and environmental compliance are our top operational priorities. We operate our vessels in a manner intended to protect the safety and health of the employees, the general public and the environment. We seek to manage the risks inherent in our business and are committed to eliminating incidents that threaten the safety and integrity of our vessels, such as groundings, fires, collisions and petroleum spills. In 2007, Teekay Corporation introduced a behavior-based safety program called “Safety in Action” to further enhance the safety culture in our fleet. We are also committed to reducing our emissions and waste generation. In 2008, Teekay Corporation introduced the Quality Assurance and Training Officers (or QATO ) Program to conduct rigorous internal audits of our processes and provide the seafarers with onboard training.

Teekay Corporation has achieved certification under the standards reflected in International Standards Organization’s (or ISO ) 9001 for Quality Assurance, ISO 14001 for Environment Management Systems, Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Services 18001 for Occupational Health and Safety, and the IMO’s International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and Pollution Prevention on a fully integrated basis. As part of Teekay Corporation’s compliance with the International Safety Management (or ISM ) Code, all of our vessels’ safety management certificates are maintained through ongoing internal audits performed by our certified internal auditors and intermediate external audits performed by the classification society Det Norske Veritas. Subject to satisfactory completion of these internal and external audits, certification is valid for five years.

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.

In addition to our operational experience, Teekay Corporation’s in-house global shore staff performs, through its subsidiaries, the full range of technical, commercial and business development services for our LNG and LPG operations. This staff also provides administrative support to our operations in finance, accounting and human resources. We believe this arrangement affords a safe, efficient and cost-effective operation.

Critical ship management functions that Teekay Corporation provides to us through its Teekay Marine Management (or TMM ) and Innovation, Technology and Projects (or ITP ) divisions located in various offices around the world include:

 

   

vessel maintenance;

 

   

crewing;

 

   

purchasing;

 

   

shipyard supervision;

 

   

insurance; and

 

   

financial management services.

These functions are supported by onboard and onshore systems for maintenance, inventory, purchasing and budget management.

In addition, Teekay Corporation’s day-to-day focus on cost control is applied to our operations. In 2003, Teekay Corporation and two other shipping companies established a purchasing cooperation agreement called the TBW Alliance, which leverages the purchasing power of the combined fleets, mainly in such commodity areas as marine lubricants, coatings and chemicals and gases. Through our arrangements with Teekay Corporation, we benefit from this purchasing alliance.

 

27


Table of Contents

We believe that the generally uniform design of some of our existing and newbuilding vessels and the adoption of common equipment standards provides operational efficiencies, including with respect to crew training and vessel management, equipment operation and repair, and spare parts ordering.

Risk of Loss, Insurance and Risk Management

The operation of any ocean-going vessel carries an inherent risk of catastrophic marine disasters, death or injury of persons and property losses caused by adverse weather conditions, mechanical failures, human error, war, terrorism, piracy and other circumstances or events. In addition, the transportation of crude oil, petroleum products, LNG and LPG is subject to the risk of spills and to business interruptions due to political circumstances in foreign countries, hostilities, labor strikes and boycotts. The occurrence of any of these events may result in loss of revenues or increased costs.

We carry hull and machinery (marine and war risks) and protection and indemnity insurance coverage to protect against most of the accident-related risks involved in the conduct of our business. Hull and machinery insurance covers loss of or damage to a vessel due to marine perils such as collision, grounding and weather. Protection and indemnity insurance indemnifies us against liabilities incurred while operating vessels, including injury to our crew or third parties, cargo loss and pollution. The current available amount of our coverage for pollution is $1 billion per vessel per incident. We also carry insurance policies covering war risks (including piracy and terrorism) and, for some of our LNG carriers, loss of revenues resulting from vessel off-hire time due to a marine casualty. We believe that our current insurance coverage is adequate to protect against most of the accident-related risks involved in the conduct of our business and that we maintain appropriate levels of environmental damage and pollution insurance coverage. However, we cannot guarantee that all covered risks are adequately insured against, that any particular claim will be paid or that we will be able to procure adequate insurance coverage at commercially reasonable rates in the future. More stringent environmental regulations have resulted in increased costs for, and may result in the lack of availability of, insurance against risks of environmental damage or pollution.

We use in our operations Teekay Corporation’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 believe we benefit from Teekay Corporation’s commitment to safety and environmental protection as certain of its subsidiaries assist us in managing our vessel operations.

Flag, Classification, Audits and Inspections

Our vessels are registered with reputable Flag states, and the hull and machinery of all of our vessels have been “Classed” by one of the major classification societies and members of International Association of Classification Societies ltd (IACS): DNV, Lloyd’s Register of Shipping or American Bureau of Shipping.

The applicable classification society certifies that the vessel’s design and build conforms to the applicable Class rules and meets the requirements of the applicable rules and regulations of the country of registry of the vessel and the international conventions to which that country is a signatory. Class also verifies throughout the vessel’s life that it continues to be maintained in accordance with those rules. In order to validate this, the vessels are surveyed by the class society (under Authority of the Flag state), in accordance to the classification society rules, which in the case of our vessels follows a comprehensive five year Special Survey cycle, renewed every fifth year. During each five-year period the vessel undergoes Annual and Intermediate surveys, the scrutiny and intensity of which is primarily dictated by the age of the vessel. As our vessels are modern and we have enhanced the resiliency of the underwater coatings of each vessel hull and marked the hull to facilitate underwater inspections by divers, their underwater areas are inspected in a dry-dock at five year intervals. In-water inspection is carried out during the second or third annual inspection (i.e. during an Intermediate Survey ).

In addition to Class surveys, the vessel’s Flag state also verifies the condition of the vessel during annual Flag state inspections, either independently or by additional authorization to Class. Also, port state authorities of a vessel’s port of call are authorized under international conventions to undertake regular and spot checks of vessels visiting their jurisdiction.

Processes onboard followed are audited by either the State Flag or classification society acting on behalf of the Flag state to ensure that they meet the requirements of the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (ISM Code). In our case, DNV as the certifying authority of our Safety Management System typically carries out this task. We also follow an internal process of internal audits undertaken at each office and vessel annually.

We follow a comprehensive inspections scheme supported by our sea staff, shore-based operational and technical specialists and members of our QATO program. We carry out a minimum of two such inspections, which helps us to ensure that our vessels and operations

 

   

adhere to our operating standards;

 

   

the structural integrity of the vessel is being maintained; for this we use a comprehensive “Structural Integrity Management System” we developed. The system closely monitors the condition of the hulls of our vessels to ensure that structural strength and integrity are maintained throughout a vessel’s life;

 

   

machinery and equipment is being maintained to give full reliability in service;

 

   

we are optimizing performance in terms of speed and fuel consumption; and

 

   

the vessel’s appearance supports our brand and meets customer expectations.

 

28


Table of Contents

Our customers also often carry out vetting inspections under the Ship inspection Report Program, which is a significant safety initiative introduced by Oil Companies International Marine Forum to specifically address concerns about sub-standard shipping. The inspection results permit charterers to screen a vessel to ensure that it meets their general and specific risk-based shipping requirements.

We believe that the heightened environmental and quality concerns of insurance underwriters, regulators and charterers will generally lead to greater scrutiny, inspection and safety requirements on all vessels in the oil tanker and LNG and LPG carrier markets and will accelerate the scrapping or phasing out of older vessels throughout these markets.

Overall we believe that our relatively new, well-maintained and high-quality vessels provide us with a competitive advantage in the current environment of increasing regulation and customer emphasis on quality of service.

C. Regulations

General

Our business and the operation of our vessels are significantly affected by international conventions and national, state and local laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which our vessels operate, as well as in the country or countries of their registration. Because these conventions, laws and regulations change frequently, we cannot predict the ultimate cost of compliance or their impact on the resale price or useful life of our vessels. Additional conventions, laws, and regulations may be adopted that could limit our ability to do business or increase the cost of our doing business and that may materially adversely affect our operations. We are required by various governmental and quasi-governmental agencies to obtain permits, licenses and certificates with respect to our operations. Subject to the discussion below and to the fact that the kinds of permits, licenses and certificates required for the operations of the vessels we own will depend on a number of factors, we believe that we will be able to continue to obtain all permits, licenses and certificates material to the conduct of our operations.

International Maritime Organization (or IMO)

The IMO is the United Nations’ agency for maritime safety. IMO regulations relating to pollution prevention for oil tankers have been adopted by many of the jurisdictions in which our tanker fleet operates. Under IMO regulations and subject to limited exceptions, a tanker must be of double-hull construction, be of a mid-deck design with double-side construction or be of another approved design ensuring the same level of protection against oil pollution. All of our tankers are double hulled.

Many countries, but not the United States, have ratified and follow the liability regime adopted by the IMO and set out in the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969, as amended (or CLC ). Under this convention, a vessel’s registered owner is strictly liable for pollution damage caused in the territorial waters of a contracting state by discharge of persistent oil (e.g. crude oil, fuel oil, heavy diesel oil or lubricating oil), subject to certain defenses. The right to limit liability to specified amounts that are periodically revised is forfeited under the CLC when the spill is caused by the owner’s actual fault or when the spill is caused by the owner’s intentional or reckless conduct. Vessels trading to contracting states must provide evidence of insurance covering the limited liability of the owner. In jurisdictions where the CLC has not been adopted, various legislative regimes or common law governs, and liability is imposed either on the basis of fault or in a manner similar to the CLC.

IMO regulations also include the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (or SOLAS ), including amendments to SOLAS implementing the International Security Code for Ports and Ships (or ISPS ), the ISM Code, the International Convention on Load Lines of 1966, and, specifically with respect to LNG and LPG carriers, the International Code for Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (the IGC Code ). SOLAS provides rules for the construction of and equipment required for commercial vessels and includes regulations for safe operation. Flag states which have ratified the convention and the treaty generally employ the classification societies, which have incorporated SOLAS requirements into their class rules, to undertake surveys to confirm compliance.

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. Non-compliance with IMO regulations, including SOLAS, the ISM Code, ISPS and the IGC Code, 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 will be prohibited from trading in U.S. and European Union ports. The ISM Code requires vessel operators to obtain a safety management certification for each vessel they manage, evidencing the shipowner’s development and maintenance of an extensive safety management system. Each of the existing vessels in our fleet is currently ISM Code-certified, and we expect to obtain safety management certificates for each newbuilding vessel upon delivery.

LNG and LPG carriers are also subject to regulation under the IGC Code. Each LNG and LPG carrier must obtain a certificate of compliance evidencing that it meets the requirements of the IGC Code, including requirements relating to its design and construction. Each of our LNG and LPG carriers is currently IGC Code certified.

Annex VI to the IMO’s International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (or Annex VI ) sets limits on sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from ship exhausts and prohibits emissions of ozone depleting substances, emissions of volatile compounds from cargo tanks and the incineration of specific substances. Annex VI also includes a world-wide cap on the sulfur content of fuel oil and allows for special areas to be established with more stringent controls on sulfur emissions.

In addition, the IMO has proposed that all tankers of the size we operate that are built starting in 2012 contain ballast water treatment systems, and that all other similarly sized tankers install treatment systems by 2016. This convention has not yet been ratified, but when it becomes effective, we estimate that the installation of ballast water treatment systems on our tankers may cost between $2 million and $3 million per vessel.

 

29


Table of Contents

European Union (or EU)

Like the IMO, the EU has adopted regulations phasing out single-hull tankers. All of our tankers are double-hulled. On May 17, 2011 the European commission carried out a number of “dawn raids”, or unannounced inspections, at the offices of some of the world’s largest container line operators starting an antitrust investigation. We are not directly affected by this investigation and believe that we are compliant with antitrust rules. Nevertheless, it is possible that the investigation could be widened and new companies and practices come under scrutiny within the EU.

The EU has also adopted legislation (directive 2009/16/Econ Port State Control) which is in force from January 1, 2011 that: bans from European waters manifestly sub-standard vessels (defined as vessels that have been detained twice by EU port authorities, in the preceding two years, after July 2003); creates obligations on the part of EU member port states to inspect at least 24% of vessels using these ports annually; provides for increased surveillance of vessels posing a high risk to maritime safety or the marine environment; and provides the EU with greater authority and control over classification societies, including the ability to seek to suspend or revoke the authority of negligent societies. Two new regulations were introduced by the European Commission in September 2010, as part of the implementation of the Port State Control Directive. These came into force on January 1, 2011 and introduce a ranking system (published on a public website and updated daily) displaying shipping companies operating in the EU with the worst safety records. The ranking is judged upon the results of the technical inspections carried out on the vessels owned be a particular shipping company. Those shipping companies that have the most positive safety records are rewarded by subjecting them to fewer inspections, whilst those with the most safety shortcomings or technical failings recorded upon inspection will in turn be subject to a greater frequency of official inspections to their vessels.

The EU has, by way of Directive 2005/35/EC, which has been amended by Directive 2009/123/EC created a legal framework for imposing criminal penalties in the event of discharges of oil and other noxious substances from ships sailing in its waters, irrespective of their flag. This relates to discharges of oil or other noxious substances from vessels. Minor discharges shall not automatically be considered as offences, except where repetition leads to deterioration in the quality of the water. The persons responsible may be subject to criminal penalties if they have acted with intent, recklessly or with serious negligence and the act of inciting, aiding and abetting a person to discharge a polluting substance may also lead to criminal penalties.

The EU Directive 33/2005 (or the Directive ) came into force on January 1, 2010. Under this legislation, vessels are required to burn fuel with sulfur content below 0.1% while berthed or anchored in an EU port. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) requires vessels to burn fuel with 0.1% sulfur content or less within 24 nautical miles of California as of January 1, 2014; as of January 1, 2015, all vessels operating within Emissions control Areas (ECA) worldwide must comply with 0.1% sulfur requirements. Currently, the only grade of fuel meeting this low sulfur content requirement is low sulfur marine gas oil (or LSMGO ). Since July 1, 2010, the applicable sulfur content limits in the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and the English Channel sulfur control areas have been 0.1%. Certain modifications were completed on our Suezmax tankers in order to optimize operation on LSMGO of equipment originally designed to operate on Heavy Fuel Oil (or HFO ), and to ensure our compliance with the Directive. In addition, LSMGO is more expensive than HFO and this impacts the costs of operations. However, for vessels employed on fixed-term business, all fuel costs, including any increases, are borne by the charterer.

United States

The United States has enacted an extensive regulatory and liability regime for the protection and cleanup of the environment from oil spills, including discharges of oil cargoes, bunker fuels or lubricants, primarily through the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (or OPA 90 ) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (or CERCLA ). OPA 90 affects all owners, bareboat charterers, and operators whose vessels trade to the United States or its territories or possessions or whose vessels operate in United States waters, which include the U.S. territorial sea and 200-mile exclusive economic zone around the United States. CERCLA applies to the discharge of “hazardous substances” rather than “oil” and imposes strict joint and several liability upon the owners, operators or bareboat charterers of vessels for cleanup costs and damages arising from discharges of hazardous substances. We believe that petroleum products and LNG and LPG should not be considered hazardous substances under CERCLA, but additives to oil or lubricants used on LNG or LPG carriers might fall within its scope.

Under OPA 90, vessel owners, operators and bareboat charters are “responsible parties” and are jointly, severally and strictly liable (unless the oil spill results solely from the act or omission of a third party, an act of God or an act of war and the responsible party reports the incident and reasonably cooperates with the appropriate authorities) for all containment and cleanup costs and other damages arising from discharges or threatened discharges of oil from their vessels. These other damages are defined broadly to include:

 

   

natural resources damages and the related assessment costs;

 

   

real and personal property damages;

 

   

net loss of taxes, royalties, rents, fees and other lost revenues;

 

   

lost profits or impairment of earning capacity due to property or natural resources damage;

 

   

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.

OPA 90 limits the liability of responsible parties in an amount it periodically updates. The liability limits do not apply if the incident was proximately caused by violation of applicable U.S. federal safety, construction or operating regulations, including IMO conventions to which the United States is a signatory, or 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 oil removal activities. Liability under CERCLA is also subject to limits unless the incident is caused by gross negligence, willful misconduct or a violation of certain regulations. We currently maintain for each of our vessel’s pollution liability coverage in the maximum coverage amount of $1 billion per incident. A catastrophic spill could exceed the coverage available, which could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

30


Table of Contents

Under OPA 90, with limited exceptions, all newly built or converted tankers delivered after January 1, 1994 and operating in U.S. waters must be double-hulled. All of our tankers are double-hulled.

OPA 90 also requires owners and operators of vessels to establish and maintain with the United States Coast Guard (or Coast Guard ) evidence of financial responsibility in an amount at least equal to the relevant limitation amount for such vessels under the statute. The Coast Guard has implemented regulations requiring that an owner or operator of a fleet of vessels must demonstrate evidence of financial responsibility in an amount sufficient to cover the vessel in the fleet having the greatest maximum limited liability under OPA 90 and CERCLA. Evidence of financial responsibility may be demonstrated by insurance, surety bond, self-insurance, guaranty or an alternate method subject to approval by the Coast Guard. Under the self-insurance provisions, the shipowner or operator must have a net worth and working capital, measured in assets located in the United States against liabilities located anywhere in the world, that exceeds the applicable amount of financial responsibility. We have complied with the Coast Guard regulations by using self-insurance for certain vessels and obtaining financial guaranties from a third party for the remaining vessels. If other vessels in our fleet trade into the United States in the future, we expect to provide guaranties through self-insurance or obtain guaranties from third-party insurers.

OPA 90 and CERCLA permit individual U.S. states to impose their own liability regimes with regard to oil or hazardous substance pollution incidents occurring within their boundaries, and some states have enacted legislation providing for unlimited strict liability for spills. Several coastal states, such as California and Alaska require state-specific evidence of financial responsibility and vessel response plans. We intend to comply with all applicable state regulations in the ports where our vessels call.

Owners or operators of vessels, including tankers operating in U.S. waters are required to file vessel response plans with the Coast Guard, and their tankers are required to operate in compliance with their Coast Guard approved plans. Such response plans must, among other things:

 

   

address a “worst case” scenario and identify and ensure, through contract or other approved means, the availability of necessary private response resources to respond to a “worst case discharge”;

 

   

describe crew training and drills; and

 

   

identify a qualified individual with full authority to implement removal actions.

We have filed vessel response plans with the Coast Guard and have received its approval of such plans. In addition, we conduct regular oil spill response drills in accordance with the guidelines set out in OPA 90. The Coast Guard has announced it intends to propose similar regulations requiring certain vessels to prepare response plans for the release of hazardous substances.

OPA 90 and CERCLA do not preclude claimants from seeking damages resulting from the discharge of oil and hazardous substances under other applicable law, including maritime tort law. Such claims could include attempts to characterize the transportation of LNG or LPG aboard a vessel as an ultra-hazardous activity under a doctrine that would impose strict liability for damages resulting from that activity. The application of this doctrine varies by jurisdiction.

The United States Clean Water Act also prohibits the discharge of oil or hazardous substances in U.S. navigable waters and imposes strict liability in the form of penalties for unauthorized discharges. The Clean Water Act imposes substantial liability for the costs of removal, remediation and damages and complements the remedies available under OPA 90 and CERCLA discussed above.

Our vessels that discharge certain effluents, including ballast water, in U.S. waters must obtain a Clean Water Act permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (or EPA ) titled the “Vessel General Permit” and comply with a range of best management practices, reporting, inspections and other requirements. The Vessel General Permit incorporates Coast Guard requirements for ballast water exchange and includes specific technology-based requirements for vessels. Several U.S. states have added specific requirements to the Vessel General Permit and, in some cases, may require vessels to install ballast water treatment technology to meet biological performance standards. We believe that the EPA may add requirements related to ballast water treatment technology to the Vessel General Permit requirements between 2012 and 2016 to correspond with the IMO’s adoption of similar requirements as discussed above.

Since 2009, several environmental groups and industry associations have filed challenges in U.S. federal court to the EPA’s issuance of the Vessel General Permit. The EPA issued a revised draft Vessel General Permit in 2011, and has stated that it expects to take final action with respect to the revised Vessel General Permit issued by November 2012.

Greenhouse Gas Regulation

In February 2005, the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (or 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, entered into the Copenhagen Accord. The Copenhagen Accord is non-binding, but is intended to pave the way for a comprehensive, international treaty on climate change. 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 EU also has indicated that it intends to propose an expansion of an existing EU emissions trading regime to include emissions of greenhouse gases from vessels, and individual countries in the EU may impose additional requirements. In the United States, the EPA issued an “endangerment finding” regarding greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. While this finding in itself does not impose any requirements on our industry, it authorizes the EPA to regulate directly greenhouse gas emissions through a rule-making process. In addition, climate change initiatives are being considered in the United States Congress and by individual states. Any passage of new climate control legislation or other regulatory initiatives by the IMO, EU, the United States or other countries or states where we operate that restrict emissions of greenhouse gases could have a significant financial and operational impact on our business that we cannot predict with certainty at this time.

 

31


Table of Contents

Vessel Security

The ISPS was adopted by the IMO in December 2002 in the wake of heightened concern over worldwide terrorism and became effective on July 1, 2004. The objective of ISPS is to enhance maritime security by detecting security threats to ships and ports and by requiring the development of security plans and other measures designed to prevent such threats. The United States implemented ISPS with the adoption of the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (or MTSA ), which requires vessels entering U.S. waters to obtain certification by the Coast Guard of plans to respond to emergency incidents there, including identification of persons authorized to implement the plans. Each of the existing vessels in our fleet currently complies with the requirements of ISPS and MTSA.

D. Properties

Other than our vessels, we do not have any material property.

E. Organizational Structure

Our sole general partner is Teekay GP L.L.C., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Teekay Corporation (NYSE: TK). Teekay Corporation also controls its public subsidiaries Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. (NYSE: TOO) and Teekay Tankers Ltd. (NYSE: TNK).

The following is a list of our significant subsidiaries as at December 31, 2011:

 

Name of Significant Subsidiary

   Ownership    

State or Jurisdiction of Incorporation

Teekay LNG Operating L.L.C.

     100   Marshall Islands

Teekay Luxembourg S.a.r.l.

     100   Luxembourg

Teekay Spain S.L.

     100   Spain

Teekay II Iberia S.L.

     100   Spain

Teekay Shipping Spain S.L.

     100   Spain

Teekay LNG Holdings L.P.

     99   United States

Teekay Nakilat Holdings Corporation

     100   Marshall Islands

Teekay Nakilat Corporation

     70   Marshall Islands

Teekay Nakilat (III) Holdings Corporation

     100   Marshall Islands

 

Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable.

 

32


Table of Contents
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

General

Teekay LNG Partners L.P. is an international provider of marine transportation services for liquefied natural gas (or LNG ), liquefied petroleum gas (or LPG ) and crude oil. We were formed in 2004 by Teekay Corporation, the world’s largest owner and operator of medium sized crude oil tankers, to expand its operations in the LNG shipping sector. Our primary growth strategy focuses on expanding our fleet of LNG and LPG carriers under long-term, fixed-rate charters. In executing our growth strategy, we may engage in vessel or business acquisitions or enter into joint ventures and partnerships with companies that may provide increased access to emerging opportunities from global expansion of the LNG and LPG sectors. We seek to leverage the expertise, relationships and reputation of Teekay Corporation and its affiliates to pursue these opportunities in the LNG and LPG sectors and may consider other opportunities to which our competitive strengths are well suited. Although we may acquire additional crude oil tankers from time to time, we view our conventional tanker fleet primarily as a source of stable cash flow as we seek to expand our LNG and LPG operations.

SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN 2011 AND EARLY 2012

Maersk LNG Carriers

On October 12, 2011, we and the Marubeni Corporation (or Marubeni ) entered into an agreement to acquire, through a joint venture, ownership interests in six LNG carriers from Denmark-based A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S (or Maersk ) for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.3 billion (or the Maersk LNG Acquisition ). We and Marubeni have 52% and 48% economic interests, respectively, but share control in the joint venture (or the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture ) that we have formed to hold the ownership interests in these LNG carriers. On February 28, 2012, Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture acquired a 100% interest in the six LNG carriers (or the Maersk LNG Carriers ). Four of the six Maersk LNG Carriers are currently operating under long-term, fixed-rate time-charter contracts, with an average remaining firm contract period of approximately 17 years, plus extension options. The other two vessels are currently operating under medium-term, fixed-rate time-charters with an average remaining firm contract period of approximately three years. Since control of the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture will be shared jointly between Marubeni and us, we expect to account for the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture using the equity method.

The Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture financed approximately $1.06 billion of its acquisition from secured loan facilities, and $266 million from equity contributions from us and Marubeni Corporation. We have a 52% economic interest in the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture and consequently, our share of the equity contribution was approximately $138 million. We financed this equity contribution by drawing on our existing credit facilities.

Teekay Corporation will take over technical management of the acquired vessels after a transition period. For more information, please read Item 1 – Financial Statements: Note 14(c) – Commitments and Contingencies.

Skaugen Carriers

In July 2008, subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation (or the Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries ) signed contracts for the purchase from I.M. Skaugen ASA (or Skaugen ) of two technically-advanced 12,000-cubic meter newbuilding Multigas vessels (or the Skaugen Multigas Carriers ) capable of carrying LNG, LPG or ethylene. We, in turn, agreed to acquire the Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries from Teekay Corporation upon delivery of the vessels. The Skaugen Multigas Carriers were delivered on June 15, 2011 and October 17, 2011. Concurrently with these deliveries, we acquired Teekay Corporation’s 100% ownership interest in both Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries for a total purchase price of approximately $110 million. Upon delivery, each vessel commenced service under a 15-year, fixed-rate charter to Skaugen.

On September 15, 2011, we acquired an LPG carrier from Skaugen for $33.4 million. Upon delivery, this vessel was chartered to Skaugen at fixed rates for a period of 15 years.

Angola LNG Project

In December 2007, a consortium in which Teekay Corporation had a 33% ownership interest agreed to charter four newbuilding 160,400-cubic meter LNG carriers (or the Angola LNG Carriers ) to the Angola LNG Project. Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and NYK Bulkship (Europe) have 34% and 33% ownership interests in the consortium, respectively. The Angola LNG Project involves the collection and transportation of gas from offshore production facilities to an onshore LNG processing plant at Soyo, located in northwest Angola. The project is being developed by subsidiaries of Chevron Corporation, Sociedade Nacional de Combustiveis de Angola EP, BP Plc, Total S.A., and Eni SpA.

Teekay Corporation had offered to us, and we agreed to purchase, its 33% ownership interest in these vessels and related charter contracts at a total equity purchase price of approximately $76 million (net of assumed debt of approximately $258 million) subject to adjustment based on actual costs incurred at the time of delivery. We acquired the ownership interests and paid a proportionate share of the purchase price as each vessel delivered. The LNG carriers delivered on August 30, 2011, September 30, 2011, October 31, 2011 and January 12, 2012, and in turn, we acquired Teekay Corporation’s 33% ownership interest.

Each of the four newbuilding LNG carriers are chartered at fixed rates, subject to inflation adjustments, to the Angola LNG Project for a period of 20 years upon delivery from the shipyard, with two extension periods for five years each. The charterer has the option to terminate the charter upon 120 days notice and payment of an early termination fee, which would equal approximately 50% of the fully built-up cost of the vessel. The charterer may also terminate the charter under other circumstances typical in our long-term charters, such as excessive off-hire during which we do not provide a replacement vessel, or certain force majeure events. For more information, please read Item 1 – Financial Statements: Note 14(b) – Commitments and Contingencies.

 

33


Table of Contents

Equity Offerings

On April 8, 2011, we completed a public offering of 4.3 million common units (including 551,800 common units issued upon exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) at a price of $38.88 per unit, for gross proceeds of approximately $168.7 million (including our general partner’s 2% proportionate capital contribution). We used the net proceeds from the offering of approximately $161.7 million to repay our outstanding debt under two of our revolving credit facilities which was then drawn to fund the equity purchase price of our acquisition of Teekay Corporation’s 33% interest in three of the four Angola LNG Carriers, the purchase price of the two Skaugen Multigas Carriers from Teekay Corporation and the purchase price of the third LPG Carrier from Skaugen. We borrowed under our credit facilities to fund the equity purchase price of our acquisition of the last Angola LNG Carrier in early 2012.

On November 2, 2011, we completed a public offering of 5.5 million common units at a price of $33.40 per unit, for gross proceeds of approximately $187.4 million (including our general partner’s 2% proportionate capital contribution). We used the net proceeds from the offering of approximately $179.5 million to prepay the outstanding debt under one of our revolving credit facilities. We borrowed under our credit facilities to fund the equity purchase price of our ownership interest in the six Maersk LNG Carriers in February 2012.

Important Financial and Operational Terms and Concepts

We use a variety of financial and operational terms and concepts when analyzing our performance. These include the following:

Voyage Revenues . Voyage revenues currently include revenues only from charters accounted for under operating and direct financing leases. Voyage revenues are affected by hire rates and the number of calendar-ship-days a vessel operates. Voyage revenues are also affected by the mix of business between time and voyage charters. Hire rates for voyage charters are more volatile, as they are typically tied to prevailing market rates at the time of a voyage.

Voyage Expenses . Voyage expenses are all expenses unique to a particular voyage, including any bunker fuel expenses, port fees, cargo loading and unloading expenses, canal tolls, agency fees and commissions. Voyage expenses are typically paid by the customer under charters and by us under voyage charters.

Net Voyage Revenues . Net voyage revenues represent voyage revenues less voyage expenses. Because the amount of voyage expenses we incur for a particular charter depends upon the type of the charter, we use net voyage revenues to improve the comparability between periods of reported revenues that are generated by the different types of charters. We principally use net voyage revenues, a non-GAAP financial measure, because it provides more meaningful information to us about the deployment of our vessels and their performance than voyage revenues, the most directly comparable financial measure under GAAP .

Vessel Operating Expenses . Under all types of charters and contracts for our vessels, except for bareboat charters, we are responsible for vessel operating expenses, which include crewing, repairs and maintenance, insurance, stores, lube oils and communication expenses. The two largest components of our vessel operating expenses are crew costs and repairs and maintenance. We expect these expenses to increase as our fleet matures and to the extent that it expands.

Income from Vessel Operations . To assist us in evaluating our operations by segment, we sometimes analyze the income we receive from each segment after deducting operating expenses, but prior to the deduction of interest expense, taxes, foreign currency and derivative gains or losses and other (expense) income. For more information, please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 5 – Segment Reporting.

Dry docking . We must periodically dry dock each of our vessels for inspection, repairs and maintenance and any modifications required to comply with industry certification or governmental requirements. Generally, we dry dock each of our vessels every two and a half to five years, depending upon the type of vessel and its age. In addition, a shipping society classification intermediate survey is performed on our LNG carriers between the second and third year of a five-year dry-docking period. We capitalize a substantial portion of the costs incurred during dry docking and for the survey and amortize those costs on a straight-line basis from the completion of a dry docking or intermediate survey over the estimated useful life of the dry dock. We expense as incurred costs for routine repairs and maintenance performed during dry docking or intermediate survey that do not improve or extend the useful lives of the assets. The number of dry dockings undertaken in a given period and the nature of the work performed determine the level of dry-docking expenditures.

Depreciation and Amortization . Our depreciation and amortization expense typically consists of the following three components:

 

   

charges related to the depreciation of the historical cost of our fleet (less an estimated residual value) over the estimated useful lives of our vessels;

 

   

charges related to the amortization of dry-docking expenditures over the useful life of the dry dock; and

 

   

charges related to the amortization of the fair value of the time-charters acquired in a 2004 acquisition of LNG carriers (over the remaining terms of the charters).

Revenue Days . Revenue days are the total number of calendar days our vessels were in our possession during a period less the total number of off-hire days during the period associated with major repairs, dry dockings or special or intermediate surveys. Consequently, revenue days represents the total number of days available for the vessel to earn revenue. Idle days, which are days when the vessel is available to earn revenue, yet is not employed, are included in revenue days. We use revenue days to explain changes in our net voyage revenues between periods.

Calendar-Ship-Days . Calendar-ship-days are equal to the total number of calendar days that our vessels were in our possession during a period. As a result, we use calendar-ship-days primarily in explaining changes in vessel operating expenses and depreciation and amortization.

Utilization . Utilization is an indicator of the use of our fleet during a given period, and is determined by dividing our revenue days by our calendar-ship-days for the period.

 

34


Table of Contents

Restricted Cash Deposits . Under capital lease arrangements for four of our LNG carriers, we (a) borrowed under term loans and deposited the proceeds into restricted cash accounts and (b) entered into capital leases, also referred to as “bareboat charters,” for the vessels. The restricted cash deposits, together with interest earned on the deposits, will equal the remaining amounts we owe under the lease arrangements, including our obligation to purchase the vessels at the end of the lease terms, where applicable. During vessel construction, we borrowed under the term loans and made restricted cash deposits equal to construction installment payments. In December 2011 the capital lease on one of the four LNG carriers expired and the purchase obligation was fully funded with restricted cash deposits. For more information, please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 6 – Leases and Restricted Cash.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Items You Should Consider When Evaluating Our Results of Operations

Some factors that have affected our historical financial performance and may affect our future performance are listed below:

 

   

Our financial results reflect the results of the interests in vessels acquired from Teekay Corporation for all periods the vessels were under common control. In March 2010, we acquired interests in two Suezmax vessels, the Bermuda Spirit and the Hamilton Spirit (collectively, the Centrofin Suezmaxes ), and a Handymax product tanker, the Alexander Spirit , from Teekay Corporation. These transactions were deemed to be business acquisitions between entities under common control. Accordingly, we have accounted for these transactions in a manner similar to the pooling of interest method whereby our financial statements prior to the date these vessels were acquired by us are retroactively adjusted to include the results of these acquired vessels. The periods retroactively adjusted include all periods that we and the acquired vessels were both under common control of Teekay Corporation and had begun operations. As a result, our financial statements reflect these vessels and their results of operations (referred to herein as the Dropdown Predecessor ) as if we had acquired them when each respective vessel began operations under the ownership of Teekay Corporation, which were May 27, 2009 ( Bermuda Spirit ), June 24, 2009 ( Hamilton Spirit ) and September 3, 2009 ( Alexander Spirit ).

 

   

Our financial results reflect the consolidation of Teekay Tangguh and the Skaugen Multigas Carriers prior to our purchase of interests in those entities that own those vessels. In November 2006, we entered into an agreement with Teekay Corporation to purchase its 100% interest in Teekay Tangguh Borrower LLC (or Teekay Tangguh ), which owns a 70% interest in Teekay BLT Corporation (or Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture ). We ultimately acquired 99% of Teekay Corporation’s interest in Teekay Tangguh, essentially giving us a 69% interest in the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture which owns two LNG carriers. We were required to consolidate Teekay Tangguh in our consolidated financial statements since November 1, 2006, even before we acquired this entity on August 10, 2009, as it was a variable interest entity and we were its primary beneficiary.

On July 28, 2008, the Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries signed contracts for the purchase of the two Skaugen Multigas Carriers from subsidiaries of Skaugen. As described above, we have agreed to acquire the Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries that own the Skaugen Multigas Carriers from Teekay Corporation upon delivery of the vessels. Subsequent to July 2008 and prior to the delivery of the vessels, we consolidated the Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries as they were variable interest entities and we were the primary beneficiary during this period. We acquired 100% of the shares of the two Skaugen Multigas Carriers on June 15, 2011 and October 17, 2011, respectively.

Please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Notes 12(f) and 12(h) – Related Party Transactions and Note 14(a) – Commitments and Contingencies.

 

   

Our financial results are affected by fluctuations in the fair value of our derivative instruments. The change in fair value of our derivative instruments is included in our net income as our derivative instruments are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. These changes may fluctuate significantly as interest rates and spot tanker rates fluctuate relating to our interest rate swaps and to the agreement we have with Teekay Corporation relating to the time charter contract for the Toledo Spirit Suezmax tanker. Please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 12(g) – Related Party Transactions and Note 13 – Derivative Instruments. The unrealized gains or losses relating to changes in fair value of our derivative instruments do not impact our cash flows.

 

   

Our financial results are affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Under GAAP, all foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities (including cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, unearned revenue, advances from affiliates, obligations under capital lease and long-term debt) are revalued and reported based on the prevailing exchange rate at the end of the period. These foreign currency translations fluctuate based on the strength of the U.S. dollar relative mainly to the Euro and are included in our results of operations. The translation of all foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities at each reporting date results in unrealized foreign currency exchange gains or losses but do not impact our cash flows.

 

   

The size of our fleet changes . Our historical results of operations reflect changes in the size and composition of our fleet due to certain vessel deliveries. Please read “Liquefied Gas Segment” below and “Significant Developments in 2011” above for further details about certain prior and future vessel deliveries.

 

   

Four of our Suezmax tankers earn revenues based partly on spot market rates. The time-charter for four Suezmax tankers, the Teide Spirit , Algeciras Spirit , Huelva Spirit and Tenerife Spirit contain a component providing for additional revenues to us beyond the fixed-hire rate when spot market rates exceed certain threshold amounts. Accordingly, even though declining spot market rates will not result in our receiving less than the fixed-hire rate, our results at the end of each fiscal year may continue to be influenced, in part, by the variable component of the charters.

 

   

Vessel operating and other costs are facing industry-wide cost pressures. The oil shipping industry continues to experience a global manpower shortage of qualified seafarers due to growth in the world fleet, which in turn has resulted in upward pressure on manning costs. Going forward we expect that there will be increases in crew compensation which will result in higher crewing costs as we keep pace with market conditions. In addition, factors such as pressure on raw material prices and changes in regulatory requirements could also increase operating expenditures. Although we continue to take measures to improve operational efficiencies and mitigate the impact of inflation and price escalations, future increases to operational costs are likely to occur.

 

35


Table of Contents
   

The amount and timing of dry docking of our vessels can significantly affect our revenues between periods.  Our vessels are off-hire at various points of time due to scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, we had 133, 197 and 70 off-hire days relating to dry docking, respectively. The financial impact from these periods of off-hire, if material, is explained in further detail below. Two vessels, where there will be associated off-hire, are scheduled for dry docking in 2012.

Year Ended December 31, 2011 versus Year Ended December 31, 2010

Liquefied Gas Segment

As of December 31, 2011, our fleet (in which our interests ranged from 33% to 100%) included 20 LNG carriers and five LPG/Multigas carriers. Our partial interests in LNG carriers included our 33% interest in three of the Angola LNG Carriers, a 40% interest in Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation, which owns four LNG carriers (or the RasGas 3 LNG Carriers ), our 50% interest in our joint ventures with Exmar NV (the Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures ), which own two LNG carriers (the Excalibur and Excelsior LNG Carriers ), our 69% interest in the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture, which owns the Tangguh Hiri and the Tangguh Sago (or the Tangguh LNG Carriers ), our 70% interest in Teekay Nakilat Corporation (or Teekay Nakilat ), which is the lessee under 30-year capital lease arrangements relating to three LNG carriers (or the RasGas II LNG Carriers ), our 99% interest in the Arctic Spirit and Polar Spirit LNG carriers (or the Kenai LNG Carriers ) and our 99% interest in five LPG/Multigas carriers. All of our LNG and LPG carriers operate under long-term, fixed-rate charters. The number of vessels in our liquefied gas segment will increase from our 52% interest in the six Maersk LNG carriers we acquired on February 28, 2012, and the delivery of the fourth and last Angola LNG Carrier on January 12, 2012.

The following table compares our liquefied gas segment’s operating results for 2011 and 2010, and compares its net voyage revenues (which is a non-GAAP financial measure) for 2011 and 2010, to voyage revenues, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. The following table also provides a summary of the changes in calendar-ship-days and revenue days for our liquefied gas segment:

 

(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except revenue days,

calendar-ship-days and percentages)

   Year Ended December 31,     % Change  
   2011     2010    

Voyage revenues

     269,408        264,816       1.7  

Voyage (recoveries) expenses

     (87 )       29       (400.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net voyage revenues

     269,495        264,787       1.8  

Vessel operating expenses

     47,773        46,496       2.7  

Depreciation and amortization

     62,889        60,954       3.2  

General and administrative (1)

     13,385        12,239       9.4  

Gain on sale of vessel

     —          (4,340     100.0  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Income from vessel operations

     145,448        149,438       (2.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Data:

      

Revenue Days (A)

     5,061        5,005       1.1  

Calendar-Ship-Days (B)

     5,126        5,051       1.5  

Utilization (A)/(B)

     98.7 %       99.1  

 

(1)

Includes direct general and administrative expenses and indirect general and administrative expenses (allocated to each segment based on estimated use of resources).

Our liquefied gas segment’s operating results for 2011 included 11 LNG (excluding the three Angola LNG Carriers, the four RasGas 3 LNG Carriers and the Excalibur and Excelsior Carriers that are accounted for under the equity method) and five LPG carriers. Our total calendar-ship-days increased by 1% to 5,126 days in 2011 from 5,051 days in 2010, as a result of the delivery of two Skaugen Multigas Carriers, the Norgas Unikum and Norgas Vision , on June 15, 2011 and October 17, 2011, respectively, and the delivery of an LPG carrier, the Norgas Camilla , on September 15, 2011, partially offset by the sale of an LPG carrier, the Dania Spirit , on November 5, 2010.

During 2011, two of our LNG carriers, the Arctic Spirit and Polar Spirit , were off-hire for approximately 11 days and 50 days, respectively, relating to scheduled dry dockings, compared to 22 off-hire days in 2010.

Net Voyage Revenues . Net voyage revenues increased during 2011 compared to 2010, primarily as a result of:

 

 

an increase of $5.3 million due to the deliveries of the Norgas Unikum , Norgas Camilla and Norgas Vision on June 15, 2011, September 15, 2011 and October 17, 2011, respectively;

 

 

an increase of $4.1 million due to the effect on our Euro-denominated revenues from the strengthening of the Euro against the U.S. Dollar compared to the prior year;

 

 

an increase of $1.1 million due to the Arctic Spirit being off-hire for 22 days in the first quarter of 2010 for a scheduled dry dock;

 

 

an increase of $0.9 million, due to operating expense recovery adjustments during 2011 in the charter-hire rates for the Tangguh LNG Carriers; and

 

 

an increase of $0.6 million due to an increase in the hire rates for the Arctic Spirit and Polar Spirit during 2011 as compared to prior year as a result of crewing rate adjustments;

 

36


Table of Contents

partially offset by

 

 

a decrease of $4.0 million due to the sale of the Dania Spirit on November 5, 2010; and

 

 

a decrease of $3.2 million due to the Arctic Spirit and Polar Spirit being off-hire for 11 days and 50 days, respectively, for scheduled dry dockings during 2011.

Vessel Operating Expenses . Vessel operating expenses increased during 2011 compared to 2010, primarily as a result of:

 

 

an increase of $2.9 million due to the scope and extent of service and maintenance activities performed and an increase in manning costs for certain of our LNG carriers;

 

 

an increase of $0.8 million due to the charterer, Teekay Corporation, not being able to find employment for the Arctic Spirit for most of 2010 and, as a result, we were able to operate the vessel throughout 2010 with a reduced average number of crew on board and reduction in the amount of repair and maintenance activities performed; and

 

 

an increase of $0.7 million due to the effect on our Euro-denominated crew manning expenses from the strengthening of the Euro against the U.S. Dollar during 2011 compared to 2010 (a portion of our vessel operating expenses are denominated in Euros, which is primarily due to the nationality of our crew);

partially offset by

 

 

a decrease of $2.3 million due to the sale of the Dania Spirit on November 5, 2010; and

 

 

a decrease of $1.0 million due to lower insurance rates upon renewal in 2011.

Depreciation and Amortization . Depreciation and amortization increased during 2011 compared to 2010, primarily as a result of:

 

 

an increase of $1.5 million due to the deliveries of the Norgas Unikum , Norgas Camilla and Norgas Vision on June 15, 2011, September 15, 2011 and October 17, 2011; and

 

 

an increase of $1.2 million as a result of amortization of dry-dock expenditures incurred during 2011;

partially offset by

 

 

a decrease of $0.9 million due to the sale of the Dania Spirit on November 5, 2010.

Gain on sale of vessel . The $4.3 million gain on sale of vessel in 2010 relates to the sale of the Dania Spirit on November 5, 2010 for proceeds of $21.5 million.

Conventional Tanker Segment

As at December 31, 2011, our fleet included ten Suezmax-class double-hulled conventional crude oil tankers and one Handymax product tanker. All of our conventional tankers operate under long-term, fixed-rate time-charters.

 

37


Table of Contents

The following table compares our conventional tanker segment’s operating results for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, and compares its net voyage revenues (which is a non-GAAP financial measure) for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 to voyage revenues, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. The following table also provides a summary of the changes in calendar-ship-days and revenue days for our conventional tanker segment:

 

(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except revenue days,

calendar-ship-days and percentages)

   Year Ended December 31,     % Change  
   2011     2010    

Voyage revenues

     110,567       109,192       1.3  

Voyage expenses

     1,474       2,013       (26.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net voyage revenues

     109,093       107,179       1.8  

Vessel operating expenses

     41,273       38,081       8.4  

Depreciation and amortization

     29,030       28,393       2.2  

General and administrative (1)

     10,735       11,008       (2.5

Restructuring charge

     —          175       (100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

     28,055       29,522       (4.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Data:

      

Revenue Days (A)

     3,941       3,864       2.0  

Calendar-Ship-Days (B)

     4,015       4,015       —     

Utilization (A)/(B)

     98.2     96.2  

 

(1)

Includes direct general and administrative expenses and indirect general and administrative expenses (allocated to each segment based on estimated use of corporate resources).

Net Voyage Revenues . Net voyage revenues increased during 2011 compared to 2010, primarily as a result of:

 

   

an increase of $3.8 million due to the Tenerife Spirit, Algeciras Spirit and Toledo Spirit being off-hire for 73, 63 and 15 days, respectively, during 2010 for scheduled dry dockings;

 

   

an increase of $2.2 million due to adjustments to the daily charter rates based on inflation and an increase in interest rates in accordance with the time-charter contracts for five Suezmax tankers (however, under the terms of these capital leases, we had corresponding increases in our lease payments, which are reflected as increases to interest expense; therefore, these and future similar interest rate adjustments did not and will not affect our cash flow or net income); and

 

   

increases of $1.0 million relating to crew manning adjustments in the charter-hire rates in order to recognize the foreign exchange impact on Australian-denominated crew manning expenses which flow through to the charterer; the crew manning adjustments increased due to the strengthening of the Australian Dollar against the U.S Dollar during 2011 compared to the prior year;

partially offset by

 

   

a decrease of $1.8 million as only a nominal amount of additional revenue was earned by the Toledo Spirit in 2011 compared to 2010, relating to the agreement between us and Teekay Corporation for the Toledo Spirit time-charter contract (however, we had a corresponding decrease in our realized loss on derivatives; therefore this increase and future increases or decreases related to this agreement did not and will not affect our cash flow or net income);

 

   

a decrease of $1.7 million due to the Huelva Spirit being off-hire for 72 days in the second quarter of 2011 for a scheduled dry dock; and

 

   

a decrease of $1.6 million as only a nominal amount of additional revenue was earned on the four Suezmax tankers, the Teide Spirit , Algeciras Spirit , Huelva Spirit and Tenerife Spirit in 2011 as market rates did not exceed the specified amounts under our time charter, as they did in 2010 (the time charter for the four Suezmax vessels contain a component providing for additional revenues to us beyond the fixed hire rate when spot market rates exceed threshold amounts).

Vessel Operating Expenses . Vessel operating expenses increased during 2011 compared to 2010, primarily as a result of:

 

   

an increase of $1.9 million due to the scope and extent of service and maintenance activities performed and an increase in manning costs for certain of our conventional tankers;

 

   

an increase of $1.0 million due to the effect on our Australian-denominated crew manning expenses from the strengthening of the Australian Dollar against the U.S Dollar during 2011 compared to the prior year (however, we had a corresponding increase in our net revenue as the foreign exchange impact on crew manning expenses flow through to the charterer); and

 

   

an increase of $0.8 million due to the effect on our Euro-denominated crew manning expenses from the strengthening of the Euro against the U.S. Dollar during 2011 compared to the prior year (a portion of our vessel operating expenses are denominated in Euros, which is primarily due to the nationality of our crew);

partially offset by

 

   

a decrease of $0.4 million due to lower insurance rates upon renewal in 2011.

 

38


Table of Contents

Depreciation and Amortization . Depreciation and amortization increased during 2011 compared to 2010, as a result of a full year of amortization of dry-dock expenditures incurred in the fourth quarter of 2010 and a partial year of amortization of dry-dock expenditures incurred in the second quarter of 2011.

Other Operating Results

General and Administrative Expenses . General and administrative expenses increased 4% to $24.1 million for 2011, from $23.2 million for 2010, primarily as a result of:

 

   

an increase of $0.9 million relating to the one-time management fee charged to us by Teekay Corporation associated with the portion of stock-based compensation grants to Teekay Corporation’s former Chief Executive Officer that had not yet vested prior to the date of his retirement on March 31, 2011;

 

   

an increase of $0.8 million related to a greater amount of corporate services provided to us by Teekay Corporation to support our growth;

 

   

an increase of $0.7 million related to a charge for depreciation of office wide systems allocated by Teekay Corporation, commencing in 2011; and

 

   

an increase of $0.6 due to more consulting fees incurred by us related to higher levels of business development activity in 2011;

partially offset by

 

   

a decrease of $2.0 million relating to a 2010 payment to Teekay Corporation for its support in successfully acquiring interests in the Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures.

Interest Expense . Interest expense increased to $49.9 million for 2011, from $49.0 million for 2010. Interest expense primarily reflects interest incurred on our capital lease obligations and long-term debt. This increase was primarily the result of:

 

   

an increase of $2.8 million due to increased EURIBOR rates relating to Euro-denominated debt;

 

   

an increase of $1.2 million due to an interest rate adjustment on our five Suezmax tanker capital lease obligations (however, as described above, under the terms of the time-charter contracts for these vessels, we have a corresponding increase in charter receipts, which are reflected as an increase to voyage revenues); and

 

   

an increase of $0.8 million due to a draw on our Skaugen debt facilities upon delivery of vessels during the third and fourth quarters of 2011;

partially offset by

 

   

a decrease of $2.1 million due to principal debt repayments made during 2011 and decreases of the LIBOR rates relating to our variable-rate debt; and

 

   

a decrease of $1.8 million from the scheduled capital lease repayments on the LNG carrier Madrid Spirit (the Madrid Spirit was financed pursuant to a Spanish tax lease arrangement, under which we borrowed under a term loan and deposited the proceeds into a restricted cash account and entered into a capital lease for the vessel; as a result, this decrease in interest expense from the capital lease is offset by a corresponding decrease in the interest income from restricted cash). During the fourth quarter of 2011, the Madrid Spirit lease expired and the purchase obligation was fully funded with restricted cash deposits.

Interest Income . Interest income decreased to $6.7 million in 2011, from $7.2 million for 2010. Interest income primarily reflects interest earned on restricted cash deposits that approximate the present value of the remaining amounts we owe under lease arrangements on four of our LNG carriers. This decrease was primarily the result of scheduled capital lease repayments on one of our LNG carriers, the Madrid Spirit , which was funded from restricted cash.

 

39


Table of Contents

Realized and Unrealized Loss on Derivative Instruments . Net realized and unrealized losses on derivative instruments decreased to a loss of ($63.0) million for 2011, from a loss of ($78.7) million for 2010 as set forth in the table below.

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2011
    Year Ended
December 31, 2010
 
     Realized
gains
(losses)
    Unrealized
gains
(losses)
    Total     Realized
gains
(losses)
    Unrealized
gains
(losses)
    Total  

Interest rate swap agreements

     (62,660     (9,677     (72,337     (42,495     (34,906     (77,401

Toledo Spirit time-charter derivative

     (93     9,400       9,307       (1,919     600       (1,319
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (62,753     (277     (63,030     (44,414     (34,306     (78,720
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

During 2011 and 2010, we had interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate average net outstanding notional amount of approximately $0.9 billion and average fixed rates of 4.6% and 4.9%, respectively. The increase in realized losses from 2010 to 2011 relating to our interest rate swaps was primarily due to the settlement of our interest rate swaps relating to the debt on the Madrid Spirit for $22.6 million, partially offset by higher short-term variable benchmark interest rates in 2011 compared to 2010.

Long-term benchmark interest rates declined in 2011 and 2010, causing us to incur unrealized losses of $9.7 million and $34.9 million, respectively, for our interest rate swap agreements. Please see Item 5 – Operating and Financial Review and Prospects: Valuation of Derivative Instruments, which explains how our derivative instruments are valued, including the significant factors and uncertainties in determining the estimated fair value and why changes in these factors result in material variances in realized and unrealized (losses) gains on derivative instruments.

Spot rates in the tanker market declined in 2011 which resulted in an increase in an unrealized gain of $8.8 million relating to our Toledo Spirit time charter derivative. The Toledo Spirit time charter derivative is the agreement with Teekay Corporation under which Teekay Corporation pays us any amounts payable to the charterer of the Toledo Spirit as a result of spot rates being below the fixed rate, and we pay Teekay Corporation any amounts payable to us by the charterer of the Toledo Spirit as a result of spot rates being in excess of the fixed rate (see Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 13 – Derivative Instruments).

Foreign Currency Exchange Gains . Foreign currency exchange gains were $10.3 million and $27.5 million for 2011 and 2010, respectively. These foreign currency exchange gains, substantially all of which were unrealized, are due primarily to the relevant period-end revaluation of our Euro-denominated term loans, capital leases and restricted cash for financial reporting purposes. Gains reflect a strengthening U.S. Dollar against the Euro on the date of revaluation. Losses reflect a weaker U.S. Dollar against the Euro on the date of revaluation.

Equity Income. Equity income was $20.6 million for 2011, compared to $8.0 million for 2010, primarily as a result of:

 

   

an increase of $9.3 million relating to a full year of equity income from our 50% investments in the Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures that we acquired in November 2010;

 

   

an increase of $2.9 million due to a decrease in unrealized losses on derivative instruments for 2011 compared to the prior year in our 40% investment in Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation;

 

   

an increase of $2.3 million relating to equity income from our 33% investment in the Angola LNG Project that we acquired upon delivery of three of the four Angola LNG Carriers in August, September and October 2011; and

 

   

an increase of $1.3 million relating to our 40% investment in Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation primarily due to increased charter-hire rates on the four RasGas 3 LNG Carriers, lower interest expense as a result of debt repayments made during 2011 and lower LIBOR rates during 2011;

partially offset by

 

   

a decrease of $2.3 million relating to unrealized losses on derivatives within our 33% investment in the Angola LNG Project that we acquired upon delivery of three of the four Angola LNG Carriers in August, September and October 2011; and

 

   

a decrease of $0.9 million due to expenses incurred during 2011 relating to acquisition costs of our 52% investment in the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture.

Year Ended December 31, 2010 versus Year Ended December 31, 2009

Liquefied Gas Segment

As at December 31, 2010, our liquefied gas segment’s operating results included 11 LNG carriers (excluding the four RasGas 3 LNG Carriers and the Excalibur and Excelsior LNG carriers) and three LPG carriers (including the Dania Spirit that was sold on November 5, 2010). Our total calendar-ship-days increased by 9% to 5,051 days in 2010 from 4,637 days in 2009 as a result of the Tangguh Sago , Norgas Pan and Norgas Cathinka deliveries in March, April and November 2009, respectively, partially offset by the sale of the Dania Spirit in November 2010.

 

40


Table of Contents

The following table compares our liquefied gas segment’s operating results for 2010 and 2009, and compares its net voyage revenues (which is a non-GAAP financial measure) for 2010 and 2009, to voyage revenues, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. The following tables also provide a summary of the changes in calendar-ship-days and revenue days for our liquefied gas segment:

 

(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except revenue days,

calendar-ship-days and percentages)

   Year Ended December 31,     % Change  
   2010     2009    

Voyage revenues

     264,816       252,854       4.7  

Voyage expenses

     29       1,018       (97.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net voyage revenues

     264,787       251,836       5.1  

Vessel operating expenses

     46,496       50,919       (8.7

Depreciation and amortization

     60,954       59,088       3.2  

General and administrative (1)

     12,239       11,033       10.9  

Gain on sale of vessel

     (4,340     —          100.0  

Restructuring charge

     —          1,381       (100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

     149,438       129,415       15.5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Data:

      

Revenue Days (A)

     5,005       4,491       11.4  

Calendar-Ship-Days (B)

     5,051       4,637       8.9  

Utilization (A)/(B)

     99.1     96.9  

 

(1)

Includes direct general and administrative expenses and indirect general and administrative expenses (allocated to each segment based on estimated use of resources).

During 2010, three of our gas carriers, the Arctic Spirit, Dania Spirit and Hispania Spirit were off-hire for approximately 22 days, 22 days and 2 days, respectively, relating to scheduled dry dockings and in-water surveys, compared to 71 off-hire days in 2009.

Net Voyage Revenues . Net voyage revenues increased during 2010 compared to 2009, primarily as a result of:

 

   

an increase of $11.0 million due to the commencement of the time-charter for the Tangguh Sago in May 2009 and an increase in the time-charter rate for the Tangguh Hiri relating to the operating element of the time-charter;

 

   

an increase of $4.1 million due to the commencement of the time-charters for the Norgas Pan and the Norgas Cathinka in April and November 2009, respectively; and

 

   

an increase of $4.0 million due to the Galacia Spirit and Madrid Spirit not having any off-hire days in 2010, compared to 53 off-hire days in 2009 relating to scheduled dry dockings;

partially offset by

 

   

a decrease of $2.9 million, due to the effect on our Euro-denominated revenues from the weakening of the Euro against the U.S. Dollar during 2010 compared to 2009;

 

   

a decrease of $1.2 million due to a decrease in the hire rates for the Arctic Spirit and Polar Spirit during 2010 as compared to 2009 as a result of crewing rate adjustments;

 

   

a decrease of $1.1 million due to the Arctic Spirit being off-hire for 22 days in the first quarter of 2010 for a scheduled dry dock; and

 

   

a decrease of $0.7 million due to the sale of the Dania Spirit on November 5, 2010.

Vessel Operating Expenses . Vessel operating expenses decreased during 2010 compared to 2009, primarily as a result of:

 

   

a decrease of $1.7 million due to (a) the charterer, Teekay Corporation, not being able to find employment for the Arctic Spirit for most of 2010 and, as a result, we were able to operate the vessel throughout 2010 with a reduced average number of crew on board and reduce the amount of repair and maintenance activities performed and (b) decreased crew and manning costs upon the change of manning agency services of the Kenai LNG Carriers in October 2009;

 

   

a decrease of $1.8 million due to our electing to cancel our loss-of-hire insurance in 2009 and self insuring and a reduction in manning levels for certain of our LNG carriers;

 

   

a decrease of $1.1 million due to the effect on our Euro-denominated expenses from the weakening of the Euro against the U.S. Dollar during 2010 compared to 2009; and

 

   

a decrease of $0.7 million due to the sale of the Dania Spirit on November 5, 2010;

partially offset by

 

   

an increase of $0.9 million due to additional crew training expenses and crew manning relating to the delivery of the Tangguh Sago in March 2009 and commencement of its time-charter contract in May 2009.

 

41


Table of Contents

Depreciation and Amortization . Depreciation and amortization increased during 2010 compared to 2009, primarily as a result of:

 

   

an increase of $1.9 million relating to depreciation of dry-dock expenditures incurred during the third and fourth quarters of 2009 and the first quarter of 2010; and

 

   

an increase of $1.1 million from the deliveries of the Norgas Pan and Norgas Cathinka in April and November 2009, respectively;

partially offset by

 

   

a decrease of $1.1 million from the delivery of the Tangguh Sago in March 2009, prior to the commencement of the external time-charter contract in May 2009 which is accounted for as a direct financing lease.

Gain on sale of vessel . The $4.3 million gain on sale of vessel in 2010 relates to the sale of the Dania Spirit on November 5, 2010 for proceeds of $21.5 million.

Conventional Tanker Segment

As at December 31, 2010, our fleet included ten Suezmax-class double-hulled conventional crude oil tankers and one Handymax product tanker. On March 17, 2010, we purchased from Teekay Corporation the two 2009-built Centrofin Suezmaxes and a 2007-built Handymax product tanker, the Alexander Spirit . These vessels have been included in our results as if they were acquired on May 27, 2009 ( Bermuda Spirit ), June 24, 2009 ( Hamilton Spirit ) and September 3, 2009 ( Alexander Spirit ). As a result of these acquisitions, our total conventional tanker segment calendar ship days increased by 16% to 4,015 days for 2010 from 3,448 days for 2009. All of our conventional tankers operate under long-term, fixed-rate time-charters.

The following table compares our conventional tanker segment’s operating results for 2010 and 2009, and compares its net voyage revenues (which is a non-GAAP financial measure) for 2010 and 2009, to voyage revenues, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. The following table also provides a summary of the changes in calendar-ship-days and revenue days for our conventional tanker segment:

 

(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except revenue days,

calendar-ship-days and percentages)

   Year Ended December 31,     % Change  
   2010     2009    

Voyage revenues

     109,192       90,194       21.1  

Voyage expenses

     2,013       1,016       98.1  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net voyage revenues

     107,179       89,178       20.2  

Vessel operating expenses

     38,081       31,455       21.1  

Depreciation and amortization

     28,393       23,598       20.3  

General and administrative (1)

     11,008       8,731       26.1  

Restructuring charge

     175       1,869       (90.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

     29,522       23,525       25.5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Data:

      

Revenue Days (A)

     3,864       3,426       12.8  

Calendar-Ship-Days (B)

     4,015       3,448       16.4  

Utilization (A)/(B)

     96.2     99.4  

 

(1)

Includes direct general and administrative expenses and indirect general and administrative expenses (allocated to each segment based on estimated use of corporate resources).

Net Voyage Revenues . Net voyage revenues increased during 2010 compared to 2009, primarily as a result of:

 

   

an increase of $10.2 million due to the commencement of the time-charters for the two Centrofin Suezmaxes in May and June 2009;

 

   

an increase of $9.2 million due to the acquisition of the Alexander Spirit in September 2009 by Teekay Corporation;

 

   

an increase of $1.2 million relating to higher revenues earned on four Suezmax tankers ( Teide Spirit , Algeciras Spirit , Huelva Spirit and Tenerife Spirit ) due to market rates exceeding specified amounts under our time charter (the time charter for the four Suezmax vessels contain a component providing for additional revenues to us beyond the fixed hire rate when spot market rates exceed threshold amounts); and

 

   

an increase of $1.0 million relating to higher revenues earned by the Toledo Spirit relating to the agreement between us and Teekay Corporation for the Toledo Spirit time-charter contract (however, we had a corresponding increase in our realized loss on derivatives; therefore this increase and future increases or decreases related to this agreement did not and will not affect our cash flow or net income);

partially offset by

 

   

a decrease of $3.8 million due to the Tenerife Spirit, Algeciras Spirit and Toledo Spirit being off-hire for 73, 63 and 15 days, respectively, during 2010 for scheduled dry dockings.

 

42


Table of Contents

Vessel Operating Expenses . Vessel operating expenses increased during 2010 compared to 2009, primarily as a result of:

 

   

an increase of $7.2 million for 2010 from the delivery of the two Centrofin Suezmaxes in May and June 2009 and the acquisition of the Alexander Spirit by Teekay Corporation in September 2009;

partially offset by

 

   

a decrease of $0.6 million due to the change in nationality of some of the seafarers on certain of our vessels during 2010 and 2009 as part of our restructuring plan.

Depreciation and Amortization . Depreciation and amortization increased during 2010 compared to 2009, primarily as a result of the delivery of the two Centrofin Suezmaxes in May and June 2009 and the acquisition of the Alexander Spirit by Teekay Corporation in September 2009.

Other Operating Results

General and Administrative Expenses . General and administrative expenses increased 18% to $23.2 million for 2010 from $19.8 million for 2009, primarily as a result of:

 

   

an increase of $2.0 million paid to Teekay Corporation for its support of the successful purchase of the Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures on November 4, 2010; and

 

   

an increase of $0.8 million attributable to the operations of the Centrofin Suezmaxes and the Alexander Spirit for a full year, which vessels were acquired from Teekay Corporation in early 2010;

partially offset by

 

   

a decrease of $0.5 million due to lower expenses incurred in our Spain office as a result of our 2009 restructuring plan.

Restructuring Charge . During 2009, we restructured certain ship management functions from our office in Spain to a subsidiary of Teekay Corporation and changed the nationality of certain seafarer positions. During 2009, we incurred $3.3 million in connection with these restructuring plans compared to a nominal amount for 2010.

Interest Expense . Interest expense decreased 19% to $49.0 million for 2010, from $60.5 million for 2009, primarily as a result of:

 

   

a decrease of $7.8 million from the scheduled loan payments on the LNG carrier Catalunya Spirit , and scheduled capital lease repayments on the LNG carrier Madrid Spirit (the Madrid Spirit is financed pursuant to a Spanish tax lease arrangement, under which we borrowed under a term loan and deposited the proceeds into a restricted cash account and entered into a capital lease for the vessel; as a result, this decrease in interest expense from the capital lease is offset by a corresponding decrease in interest income from restricted cash);

 

   

a decrease of $4.3 million due to principal debt repayments made during 2010 and the third and fourth quarters of 2009 and a decrease of the LIBOR rates relating to our variable-rate debts; and

 

   

a decrease of $1.2 million due to the effect on our Euro-denominated debt from the weakening of the Euro against the U.S. Dollar during 2010 compared to 2009;

partially offset by

 

   

an increase of $0.4 million relating to the interest expense attributable to a full year of operations of the Centrofin Suezmaxes and the Alexander Spirit compared to a partial year during 2009;

 

   

an increase of $1.1 million relating to higher amortization of deferred debt issuance costs; and

 

   

an increase of $0.5 million relating to one of our debt facilities which became available in October 2009.

Interest Income. Interest income decreased 48% to $7.2 million for 2010, from $13.9 million in 2009, primarily as a result of:

 

   

a decrease of $4.8 million due to scheduled capital lease repayments during 2009 on one of our LNG carriers which was funded from restricted cash; and

 

   

a decrease of $1.5 million due to decreases in LIBOR rates relating to the restricted cash in Teekay Nakilat that is used to fund capital lease payments for the RasGas II LNG Carriers.

 

43


Table of Contents

Realized and Unrealized Loss on Derivative Instruments . Net realized and unrealized losses on derivative instruments increased 92% to ($78.7) million in 2010, from a loss of ($41.0) million for 2009 as set forth in the table below.

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2010
    Year Ended
December 31, 2009
 
     Realized
gains
(losses)
    Unrealized
gains
(losses)
    Total     Realized
gains
(losses)
    Unrealized
gains
(losses)
    Total  

Interest rate swap agreements

     (42,495     (34,906     (77,401     (36,222     (11,143     (47,365

Toledo Spirit time-charter derivative

     (1,919     600       (1,319     (940     7,355       6,415  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (44,414     (34,306     (78,720     (37,162     (3,788     (40,950
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

During 2010 and 2009, we had interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate average net outstanding notional amount of approximately $0.9 billion and $1.0 billion, respectively, and an average fixed rate of 4.9%. Short-term variable benchmark interest rates during these periods were generally less than 1.0% and, as such, we incurred realized losses of $42.5 million and $36.2 million, respectively, during 2010 and 2009 for our interest rate swap agreements. The increase in realized losses from 2009 to 2010 was due to lower short-term variable benchmark interest rates in 2010 compared to 2009.

Long-term benchmark interest rates declined in 2010, causing us to incur unrealized losses of $34.9 million in 2010. Benchmark interest rates increased in 2009. The increase in rates in 2009 resulted in $124.1 million of unrealized gains from our interest rates swaps associated with our long-term debt and capital lease obligations, which were more than offset by $135.2 million of unrealized losses from our interest rate swaps associated with our restricted cash deposits.

Foreign Currency Exchange Gains (Losses) . Foreign currency exchange gains (losses) were $27.5 million and ($10.8) million for 2010 and 2009, respectively. These foreign currency exchange gains and losses, substantially all of which were unrealized, are due primarily to the relevant period-end revaluation of our Euro-denominated term loans, capital leases and restricted cash for financial reporting purposes. Gains reflect a strengthening U.S. Dollar against the Euro on the date of revaluation. Losses reflect a weaker U.S. Dollar against the Euro on the date of revaluation.

Equity Income. Equity income was $8.0 million for 2010, compared to $27.6 million for 2009. This change is primarily due to the RasGas 3 Joint Venture’s unrealized losses on derivatives for 2010 as compared to unrealized gains for 2009, and an increase in equity income relating to the Excelsior and Excalibur Joint Ventures which were acquired in November 2010. The unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate swaps included in equity income for 2010 and 2009 was ($6.5) million and $10.9 million, respectively.

Liquidity and Cash Needs

Our business model is to employ our vessels on fixed-rate contracts with major oil companies, with original terms typically between 10 to 25 years. The operating cash flow our vessels generate each quarter, excluding a reserve for maintenance capital expenditures and debt repayments, are generally paid out to our unitholders within approximately 45 days after the end of each quarter. Our primary short-term liquidity needs are to pay these quarterly distributions on our outstanding units, payment of operating expenses, dry-docking expenditures, debt service costs and to fund general working capital requirements. We anticipate that our primary sources of funds for our short-term liquidity needs will be cash flows from operations.

Our long-term liquidity needs primarily relate to expansion and maintenance capital expenditures and debt repayment. Expansion capital expenditures primarily represent the purchase or construction of vessels to the extent the expenditures increase the operating capacity or revenue generated by our fleet, while maintenance capital expenditures primarily consist of dry-docking expenditures and expenditures to replace vessels in order to maintain the operating capacity or revenue generated by our fleet. Our primary sources of funds for our long-term liquidity needs are from cash from operations, long-term bank borrowings and other debt or equity financings, or a combination thereof. Consequently, our ability to continue to expand the size of our fleet is dependent upon our ability to obtain long-term bank borrowings and other debt, as well as raising equity.

Our revolving credit facilities and term loans are described in Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 10 – Long-Term Debt. They contain covenants and other restrictions typical of debt financing secured by vessels, that restrict the ship-owning subsidiaries from; incurring or guaranteeing indebtedness; changing ownership or structure, including mergers, consolidations, liquidations and dissolutions; making dividends or distributions if we are in default; making capital expenditures in excess of specified levels; making certain negative pledges and granting certain liens; selling, transferring, assigning or conveying assets; making certain loans and investments; and entering into a new line of business. Certain of our revolving credit facilities and term loans require us to maintain financial covenants. If we do not meet these financial covenants, the lender may accelerate the repayment of the revolving credit facilities and term loans, thus having a significant impact our short-term liquidity requirements. As at December 31, 2011, we and our affiliates were in compliance with all covenants relating to our credit facilities and term loans.

As at December 31, 2011, our cash and cash equivalents were $93.6 million, compared to $81.1 million at December 31, 2010. Our total liquidity which consists of cash, cash equivalents and undrawn medium-term credit facilities, was $538.7 million as at December 31, 2011, compared to $459.7 million as at December 31, 2010. The increase in total liquidity is primarily due to receipt of proceeds from our public equity offerings in April and November 2011; partially offset due to funds used to partially finance the acquisition from Teekay Corporation of its 100% ownership interest in the two Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries in June and November 2011, its 33% ownership interest in three of the Angola LNG Carriers in August, September and October 2011, the acquisition of an LPG carrier from Skaugen, repayments of long-term debt and repayments to affiliates and dry-docking expenditures.

As of December 31, 2011, we had a working capital deficit of $107.3 million. The working capital deficit includes a $39.0 million lease obligation for one Suezmax tanker that we are obligated to purchase upon the termination of the lease agreement, which may occur in 2012. While this is unlikely to occur in 2012, as we do not expect the lessor to exercise its right to terminate the leases, such exercise would require us to satisfy the purchase price either by assuming the existing vessel financing, if the lender consents, or by financing the purchase using existing liquidity or by obtaining new debt or equity financing. We expect to manage the remaining working capital deficit primarily with net operating cash flow generated in 2012 and, to a lesser extent, existing undrawn revolving credit facilities.

 

44


Table of Contents

As of December 31, 2011, we had an agreement with Marubeni Corporation to acquire, through the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture, ownership interests in the six Maersk LNG Carriers from Maersk for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.3 billion. The Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture financed approximately $1.06 billion of the purchase price through secured loan facilities, and the remaining $266 million through equity contributions from the joint venture partners in proportion to their economic interest in the joint venture. We own 52% of the joint venture which holds 100% ownership interests in the six LNG carriers. The transaction closed on February 28, 2012. In addition, we acquired from Teekay Corporation its 33% ownership interest in the final Angola LNG Carrier that delivered on January 12, 2012, for a total equity purchase price of approximately $19 million (net of assumed debt). We financed these purchases from our existing liquidity. Please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies.

As described under “Item 4 – Information on the Company: C. Regulations – Other Environmental Initiatives,” passage of any climate control legislation or other regulatory initiatives that restrict emissions of greenhouse gases could have a significant financial and operational impact on our business, which we cannot predict with certainty at this time. Such regulatory measures could increase our costs related to operating and maintaining our vessels and require us to install new emission controls, acquire allowances or pay taxes related to our greenhouse gas emissions, or administer and manage a greenhouse gas emissions program. In addition, increased regulation of greenhouse gases may, in the long term, lead to reduced demand for oil and gas and reduced demand for our services.

Cash Flows. The following table summarizes our cash flow for the periods presented:

 

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)    Year Ended December 31,  
     2011     2010     2009  

Net cash flow from operating activities

     122,046       174,970       171,384  

Net cash flow used for financing activities

     7,174       (167,746     (10,060

Net cash flow used for investing activities

     (116,648     (34,519     (170,615

Operating Cash Flows. Net cash flow from operating activities decreased to $122.0 million in 2011 from $175.0 million in 2010, primarily due to the settlement of our interest rate swaps relating to the debt on the Madrid Spirit upon the refinancing of this debt, increased dry-docking expenditures related to scheduled dry dockings in 2011 and repayment of amounts owing to affiliates relating to operating activities, partially offset by higher operating cash flows related to the deliveries of the Norgas Unikum , Norgas Camilla and Norgas Vision in June September, and October 2011, respectively, and dividends we received during 2011 from our equity investments. Net cash flow from operating activities increased to $175.0 million in 2010 from $171.4 million in 2009, primarily due to the increase in operating cash flows from the Tangguh Sago having commenced its charter in May 2009, the deliveries of the Norgas Pan and Norgas Cathinka in April 2009 and November 2009, respectively, and the acquisitions of the Centrofin Suezmaxes and the Alexander Spirit in 2010. This increase was partially offset by the increased number of off-hire days and dry-docking expenses related to scheduled dry dockings in 2010, compared to 2009, the timing of lease receipts from the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture’s operating leases and changes in working capital due to the timing of our cash receipts and payments. Net cash flow from operating activities depends upon the timing and amount of dry-docking expenditures, repairs and maintenance activity, vessel additions and dispositions, foreign currency rates, changes in interest rates, fluctuations in working capital balances and spot market hire rates (to the extent we have vessels operating in the spot tanker market or our hire rates are partially affected by spot market rates). The number of vessel dry dockings tends to vary each period.

Financing Cash Flows. Our investments in vessels and equipment are financed primarily with term loans and capital lease arrangements. Proceeds from long-term debt were $600.9 million, $100.9 million and $220.1 million, respectively, for 2011, 2010 and 2009. From time to time we refinance our loans and revolving credit facilities. During 2011, we refinanced the debt relating to the Madrid Spirit upon acquisition of the vessel when its capital lease ended, we also used the proceeds from long-term debt primarily to fund the acquisition of the first three Angola LNG Carriers, the acquisition of the two Skaugen Multigas Carriers and the last Skaugen LPG carrier. During 2010, we used proceeds from long-term debt primarily to fund a portion of the acquisition of the Centrofin Suezmaxes, the Alexander Spirit, and the Excelsior and Excalibur Joint Ventures. During 2009, we used $68.4 million of our proceeds from long-term debt primarily to fund LNG newbuilding construction payments in the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture. The remainder of the proceeds were used to acquire the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture and the first two Skaugen LPG carriers.

On November 2, 2011, we completed a public equity offering of approximately 5.5 million common units at a price of $33.40 per unit, for net proceeds of $179.5 million. On April 8, 2011, we completed a public equity offering of approximately 4.3 million common units at a price of $38.88 per unit, for net proceeds of $161.7 million. On July 15, 2010, we completed a direct equity placement of approximately 1.7 million common units at a price of $29.18 per unit, for net proceeds of approximately $50.9 million. On November 20, 2009, we completed a follow-on equity offering of 4.0 million common units at a price of $24.40 per unit, for net proceeds of approximately $93.7 million. On March 30, 2009, we completed a follow-on equity offering of 4.0 million common units at a price of $17.60 per unit, for net proceeds of approximately $68.7 million. All such amounts of proceeds include our general partners’ 2% contribution. Please read item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 16 – Total Capital and Net Income Per Unit.

Cash distributions paid during 2011 increased to $159.4 million from $135.5 million for the prior year. This increase was the result of:

 

   

an increase in the number of units eligible to receive the cash distribution as a result of the two public equity offerings during 2011; and

 

   

an increase in our quarterly distribution to $0.63 per unit from $0.60 per unit starting with the February 2011 distribution.

Cash distributions paid during 2010 increased to $135.5 million from $114.5 million for the same period in 2009. This increase was the result of:

 

   

an increase in the number of units eligible to receive the cash distribution as a result of equity offerings during 2009 and the direct equity placement in 2010 and as a result of common unit issuance as part of the acquisition of the Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures; and

 

45


Table of Contents
   

an increase in our quarterly distribution to $0.60 per unit from $0.57 per unit starting with the May 2010 distribution.

Subsequent to December 31, 2011, a cash distribution totaling $44.3 million was declared with respect to the fourth quarter of 2011, which was paid in February 2012.

Investing Cash Flows During 2011, we incurred $64.7 million of capital expenditures for vessels and equipment. These expenditures represent construction payments for the two Skaugen Multigas Carrier newbuildings, the vessel addition for the delivery of the Norgas Camilla in September 2011 and capital modifications for certain of our vessels. In addition, during 2011 we used $57.3 million for the purchase of Teekay Corporation’s 33% ownership interest in three of the Angola LNG Carriers. During 2010, we incurred $26.7 million in expenditures for vessels and equipment. These expenditures represent construction payments for the two Skaugen Multigas Carrier newbuildings and capital modifications for certain of our vessels. Also during 2010, we received proceeds of $21.6 million from the sale of the Dania Spirit and used $35.2 million for the purchase of the Excelsior and Excalibur Joint Ventures. During 2009, we incurred $134.9 million in expenditures for vessels and equipment. These expenditures represent construction payments for the two Skaugen Multigas Carrier newbuildings, the vessel additions for the deliveries of the Norgas Pan and Norgas Cathinka, and one of the Tangguh LNG Carriers which delivered in March 2009.

Credit Facilities

Our revolving credit facilities and term loans are described in Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 10 – Long-Term Debt. Our term loans and revolving credit facilities contain covenants and other restrictions typical of debt financing secured by vessels, including, among others, one or more of the following that restrict the ship-owning subsidiaries from:

 

   

incurring or guaranteeing indebtedness;

 

   

changing ownership or structure, including mergers, consolidations, liquidations and dissolutions;

 

   

making dividends or distributions if we are in default;

 

   

making capital expenditures in excess of specified levels;

 

   

making certain negative pledges and granting certain liens;

 

   

selling, transferring, assigning or conveying assets;

 

   

making certain loans and investments; and

 

   

entering into a new line of business.

Certain loan agreements require a) that minimum levels of tangible net worth and aggregate liquidity be maintained, b) that we maintain certain ratios of vessel values as it relates to the relevant outstanding loan principal balance, c) that we provide for a maximum level of leverage and d) one of our subsidiaries to maintain restricted cash deposits. Our ship-owning subsidiaries may not, among other things, pay dividends or distributions if we are in default under its term loans or revolving credit facilities. One of our term loans is guaranteed by Teekay Corporation and contains covenants that require Teekay Corporation to maintain the greater of a minimum liquidity (cash and cash equivalents) of at least $50.0 million and 5.0% of Teekay Corporation’s total consolidated debt which has recourse to Teekay Corporation. As at December 31, 2011, we and our affiliates were in compliance with all covenants relating to our credit facilities and capital leases.

Contractual Obligations and Contingencies

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as at December 31, 2011:

 

     Total      2012      2013
and
2014
     2015
and
2016
     Beyond
2016
 
     (in millions of U.S. Dollars)  

U.S. Dollar-Denominated Obligations:

  

Long-term debt (1)

     966.3        71.2        143.9        195.6        555.6  

Commitments under capital leases (2)

     201.1        58.9        108.2        7.1        26.9  

Commitments under capital leases (3)

     1,001.1        24.0        48.0        48.0        881.1  

Commitments under operating leases (4)

     431.4        25.0        50.0        50.0        306.4  

Purchase obligations (5)

     19.0        19.0        —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total U.S. Dollar-denominated obligations

     2,618.9         198.1        350.1        300.7        1,770.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Euro-Denominated Obligations: (6)

              

Long-term debt (7)

     348.9        13.5        30.1        34.6        270.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Euro-denominated obligations

     348.9        13.5        30.1        34.6        270.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Totals

     2,967.8        211.6        380.2        335.3        2,040.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

46


Table of Contents
(1 )  

Excludes expected interest payments of $19.7 million (2012), $34.3 million (2013 and 2014), $26.4 million (2015 and 2016) and $30.8 million (beyond 2016). Expected interest payments are based on the existing interest rates (fixed-rate loans) and LIBOR at December 31, 2011, plus margins on debt that has been drawn that ranged up to 2.75% (variable-rate loans). The expected interest payments do not reflect the effect of related interest rate swaps that we have used as an economic hedge of certain of our variable-rate debt. One of our term loans require us to have a minimum balance of $3.0 million in a restricted cash account at all times until maturity of the loan.

(2 )  

Includes, in addition to lease payments, amounts we are required to pay to purchase certain leased vessels at the end of the lease terms. The lessor has the option to sell the vessels to us at anytime during the remaining lease term however, they have agreed to delay their option to sell these vessels to us until at least 2013. During 2011, the lessor extended four of the five leases. The purchase price will be based on the unamortized portion of the vessel construction financing costs for the vessels, which are included in the table above. We expect to satisfy the purchase price by assuming the existing vessel financing, although we may be required to obtain separate debt or equity financing to complete the purchases if the lenders do not consent to our assuming the financing obligations. Please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 6 – Leases and Restricted Cash.

(3)

Existing restricted cash deposits of $476.1 million, together with the interest earned on these deposits, are expected to be sufficient to repay the remaining amounts we currently owe under the lease arrangements.

(4)

We have corresponding leases whereby we are the lessor and expect to receive approximately $390.3 million for these leases from 2012 to 2029. Please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 6 – Leases and Restricted Cash.

(5)

In March 2011, we entered into an agreement to acquire Teekay Corporation’s 33% interest in four Angola LNG Carriers. Three of the four carriers delivered in 2011. The last carrier delivered in January 2012 for an approximate equity purchase price of $19 million (net of assumed debt of approximately $65 million). Subsequent to December 31, 2011, we and Marubeni Corporation acquired, through the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture, a 100% interest in six Maersk LNG Carriers for approximately $1.3 billion. We have a 52% interest in the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture. Please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 21 – Subsequent Events.

(6)  

Euro-denominated obligations are presented in U.S. Dollars and have been converted using the prevailing exchange rate as of December 31, 2011.

(7)  

Excludes expected interest payments of $9.4 million (2012), $17.7 million (2013 and 2014), $15.9 million (2015 and 2016) and $18.3 million (beyond 2016). Expected interest payments are based on EURIBOR at December 31, 2011, plus margins that ranged up to 2.25%, as well as the prevailing U.S. Dollar/Euro exchange rate as of December 31, 2011. The expected interest payments do not reflect the effect of related interest rate swaps that we have used as an economic hedge of certain of our variable-rate debt. We maintain restricted cash deposits relating to certain of our Euro-denominated term loans which cash totalled 10.7 million Euros ($13.9 million) as at December 31, 2011.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements. The details of our equity accounted investments are shown in Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 19 – Equity Method Investments.

Critical Accounting Estimates

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, which require us to make estimates in the application of our accounting policies based on our best assumptions, judgments and opinions. On a regular basis, management reviews the accounting policies, assumptions, estimates and judgments to ensure that our consolidated financial statements are presented fairly and in accordance with GAAP. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from our assumptions and estimates, and such differences could be material. Accounting estimates and assumptions discussed in this section are those that we consider to be the most critical to an understanding of our financial statements, because they inherently involve significant judgments and uncertainties. For a further description of our material accounting policies, please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 1 – Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies.

Vessel Lives and Impairment

Description. The carrying value of each of our vessels represents its original cost at the time of delivery or purchase less depreciation and impairment charges. We depreciate the original cost, less an estimated residual value, of our vessels on a straight-line basis over each vessel’s estimated useful life. The carrying values of our vessels may not represent their market value at any point in time because the market prices of second-hand vessels tend to fluctuate with changes in charter rates and the cost of newbuildings. Both charter rates and newbuilding costs tend to be cyclical in nature.

We review vessels and equipment for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset, including the carrying value of the charter contract, if any, under which the vessel is employed, may not be recoverable, which occurs when the asset’s carrying value is greater than the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate over its remaining useful life plus its residual value. For a vessel under charter, the discounted cash flows from that vessel may exceed its market value, as market values may assume the vessel is not employed on an existing charter. If the estimated future undiscounted cash flows of an asset exceeds the asset’s carrying value, no impairment is recognized even though the fair value of the asset may be lower than its carrying value. If the estimated future undiscounted cash flows of an asset is less than the asset’s carrying value and the fair value of the asset is less than its carrying value, the asset is written down to its fair value. Fair value is calculated as the net present value of estimated future cash flows, which, in certain circumstances, will approximate the estimated market value of the vessel.

Our business model is to employ our vessels on fixed-rate contracts with major oil companies. These contracts generally have original terms between 10 to 25 years in length. Consequently, while the market value of a vessel may decline below its carrying value, the carrying value of a vessel may still be recoverable based on the future undiscounted cash flows the vessel is expected to obtain from servicing its existing contract.

 

47


Table of Contents

Judgments and Uncertainties. Depreciation is calculated using an estimated useful life of 25 years for conventional tankers, 30 years for LPG Carriers and 35 years for LNG carriers, commencing at the date the vessel was originally delivered from the shipyard. However, the actual life of a vessel may be different than the estimated useful life, with a shorter actual useful life resulting in an increase in the quarterly depreciation and potentially resulting in an impairment loss. The estimated useful life of our vessels takes into account design life, commercial considerations and regulatory restrictions. Our estimates of future cash flows involve assumptions about future charter rates, vessel utilization, operating expenses, dry-docking expenditures, vessel residual values and the remaining estimated life of our vessels. Our estimated charter rates are based on rates under existing vessel contracts and market rates at which we expect we can re-charter our vessels. Our estimates of vessel utilization, including estimated off-hire time, are based on historical experience. Our estimates of operating expenses and dry-docking expenditures are based on historical operating and dry-docking costs and our expectations of future inflation and operating requirements. Vessel residual values are a product of a vessel’s lightweight tonnage and an estimated scrap rate. The remaining estimated lives of our vessels used in our estimates of future cash flows are consistent with those used in the calculation of depreciation.

Certain assumptions relating to our estimates of future cash flows are more predictable by their nature in our historical experience, including estimated revenue under existing contract terms, on-going operating costs and remaining vessel life. Certain assumptions relating to our estimates of future cash flows require more discretion and are inherently less predictable, such as future charter rates beyond the firm period of existing contracts and vessel residual values, due to factors such as the volatility in vessel charter rates and vessel values. We believe that the assumptions used to estimate future cash flows of our vessels are reasonable at the time they are made. We can make no assurances, however, as to whether our estimates of future cash flows, particularly future vessel charter rates or vessel values, will be accurate.

Effect if Actual Results Differ from Assumptions. If we conclude that a vessel or equipment is impaired, we recognize a loss in an amount equal to the excess of the carrying value of the asset over its fair value at the date of impairment. The written-down amount becomes the new lower cost basis and will result in a lower annual depreciation expense than for periods before the vessel impairment.

Dry docking Life

Description . We capitalize a portion of the costs we incur during dry docking and for an intermediate survey and amortize those costs on a straight-line basis over the useful life of the dry dock. We expense costs related to routine repairs and maintenance incurred during dry docking that do not improve operating efficiency or extend the useful lives of the assets.

Judgments and Uncertainties. Amortization of capitalized dry-dock expenditures requires us to estimate the period of the next dry docking and useful life of dry-dock expenditures. While we typically dry dock each vessel every five years and have a shipping society classification intermediate survey performed on our LNG and LPG carriers between the second and third year of the five-year dry-docking period, we may dry dock the vessels at an earlier date, with a shorter life resulting in an increase in the amortization.

Effect if Actual Results Differ from Assumptions. If we change our estimate of the next dry-dock date for a vessel, we will adjust our annual amortization of dry-docking expenditures. Amortization expense of capitalized dry-dock expenditures for 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $9.6 million, $7.3 million and $4.5 million. As at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 our capitalized dry-dock expenditures were $19.6 million, $12.7 million and $9.7 million, respectively. A one-year reduction in the estimated useful lives of capitalized dry-dock expenditures would result in an increase in our current annual amortization by approximately $3.5 million.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Description . We allocate the cost of acquired companies, including acquisitions of equity accounted investments, to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets and liabilities acquired, with the remaining amount being classified as goodwill. Certain intangible assets, such as time-charter contracts, are being amortized over time. Our future operating performance will be affected by the amortization of intangible assets and potential impairment charges related to goodwill and intangibles. Accordingly, the allocation of purchase price to intangible assets and goodwill may significantly affect our future operating results. Goodwill and indefinite lived assets are not amortized, but reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. The process of evaluating the potential impairment of goodwill and intangible assets is highly subjective and requires significant judgment at many points during the analysis. A fair value approach is used to identify potential goodwill impairment and, when necessary, measure the amount of impairment. We use a discounted cash flow model to determine the fair value of reporting units, unless there is a readily determinable fair market value.

Judgments and Uncertainties . The allocation of the purchase price of acquired companies to intangible assets and goodwill requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions, including estimates of future cash flows expected to be generated by the acquired assets and the appropriate discount rate to value these cash flows. In addition, the process of evaluating the potential impairment of goodwill and intangible assets is highly subjective and requires significant judgment at many points during the analysis. The fair value of our reporting units was estimated based on discounted expected future cash flows using a weighted-average cost of capital rate. The estimates and assumptions regarding expected cash flows and the discount rate require considerable judgment and are based upon existing contracts, historical experience, financial forecasts and industry trends and conditions.

At December 31, 2011, we had one reporting unit with goodwill attributable to it. As of the date of this filing, we do not believe that there is a reasonable possibility that the goodwill attributable to this reporting unit might be impaired within the next year. However, certain factors that impact this assessment are inherently difficult to forecast and as such we cannot provide any assurances that an impairment will or will not occur in the future. An assessment for impairment involves a number of assumptions and estimates that are based on factors that are beyond our control. These are discussed in more detail in the following section entitled in Part I – Forward-Looking Statements.

Amortization expense of intangible assets for each of the years 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $9.1 million. If actual results are not consistent with our estimates used to value our intangible assets, we may be exposed to an impairment charge and a decrease in the annual amortization expense of our intangible assets.

 

48


Table of Contents

Valuation of Derivative Instruments

Description. Our risk management policies permit the use of derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate risk. Changes in fair value of derivative financial instruments that are not designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes are recognized in earnings.

Judgments and Uncertainties. A substantial majority of the fair value of our derivative instruments and the change in fair value of our derivative instruments from period to period result from our use of interest rate swap agreements. The fair value of our interest rate swap agreements is the estimated amount that we would receive or pay to terminate the agreements at the reporting date, taking into account current interest rates and the current credit worthiness of both us and the swap counterparties. The estimated amount is the present value of estimated future cash flows, being equal to the difference between the benchmark interest rate and the fixed rate in the interest rate swap agreement, multiplied by the notional principal amount of the interest rate swap agreement at each interest reset date.

The fair value of our interest rate swap agreements at the end of each period is most significantly affected by the interest rate implied by the benchmark interest yield curve, including its relative steepness. Interest rates have experienced significant volatility in recent years in both the short and long term. While the fair value of our interest rate swap agreements is typically more sensitive to changes in short-term rates, significant changes in the long-term benchmark interest rate also materially impact our interest rate swap agreements.

The fair value of our interest rate swap agreements is also affected by changes in our specific credit risk included in the discount factor. We discount our interest rate swap agreements with reference to the credit default swap spreads of similarly rated global industrial companies and by considering any underlying collateral. The process of determining credit worthiness requires significant judgment in determining which source of credit risk information most closely matches our risk profile.

The benchmark interest rate yield curve and our specific credit risk are expected to vary over the life of the interest rate swap agreements. The larger the notional amount of the interest rate swap agreements outstanding and the longer the remaining duration of the interest rate swap agreements, the larger the impact of any variability in these factors will be on the fair value of our interest rate swaps. We economically hedge the interest rate exposure on a significant amount of our long-term debt and for long durations. As such, we have historically experienced, and we expect to continue to experience, material variations in the period-to-period fair value of our derivative instruments.

The fair value of our derivative instrument relating to the agreement between us and Teekay Corporation for the Toledo Spirit time-charter contract is the estimated amount that we would receive or pay to terminate the agreement at the reporting date. This amount is estimated using the present value of our projected future spot market tanker rates, which has been derived from current spot market rates and long-term historical average rates.

Effect if Actual Results Differ from Assumptions. Although we measure the fair value of our derivative instruments utilizing the inputs and assumptions described above, if we were to terminate the agreements at the reporting date, the amount we would pay or receive to terminate the derivative instruments may differ from our estimate of fair value. If the estimated fair value differs from the actual termination amount, an adjustment to the carrying amount of the applicable derivative asset or liability would be recognized in earnings for the current period. Such adjustments could be material. See Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 13 – Derivative Instruments for the effects on the change in fair value of our derivative instruments on our consolidated statements of income.

Taxes

Description . We record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.

Judgments and Uncertainties . The future realization of deferred tax assets depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income of the appropriate character in either the carryback or carryforward period. This analysis requires, among other things, the use of estimates and projections in determining future reversals of temporary differences, forecasts of future profitability and evaluating potential tax-planning strategies.

Effect if Actual Results Differ from Assumptions. If we determined that we were able to realize a net deferred tax asset in the future, in excess of the net recorded amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax assets would typically increase our net income (or decrease our loss) in the period such determination was made. Likewise, if we determined that we were not able to realize all or a part of our deferred tax asset in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax assets would typically decrease our net income (or increase our loss) in the period such determination was made. As at December 31, 2011, we had a valuation allowance of $89.2 million (2010 – $66.8 million).

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2011, we adopted an amendment to Financial Accounting Standards Board (or FASB ) Accounting Standards Codification (or ASC ) 605, Revenue Recognition , that provides for a new methodology for establishing the fair value for a deliverable in a multiple-element arrangement. When vendor specific objective or third-party evidence for deliverables in a multiple-element arrangement cannot be determined, we will be required to develop a best estimate of the selling price of separate deliverables and to allocate the arrangement consideration using the relative selling price method. The adoption of this amendment did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

On September 30, 2011, we adopted an amendment to FASB ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other , that provides entities with the option of performing a qualitative assessment before performing the first step of the current two-step goodwill impairment test. If entities determine, on the basis of qualitative factors, it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying amount, then performing the two-step impairment test is not required. However, if an entity concludes otherwise, the existing two-step goodwill impairment test is performed. ASU 2011-08 also provides entities with the option to bypass the qualitative assessment for any reporting unit in any period and proceed directly to the first step of the two-step impairment test. The adoption of this amendment did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

49


Table of Contents

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In May 2011, the FASB issued amendments to FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement , which clarify or change the application of existing fair value measurements, including: that the highest and best use and valuation premise in a fair value measurement are relevant only when measuring the fair value of nonfinancial assets; that a reporting entity should measure the fair value of its own equity instrument from the perspective of a market participant that holds that instrument as an asset; to permit an entity to measure the fair value of certain financial instruments on a net basis rather than based on its gross exposure when the reporting entity manages its financial instruments on the basis of such net exposure; that in the absence of a Level 1 input, a reporting entity should apply premiums and discounts when market participants would do so when pricing the asset or liability consistent with the unit of account; and that premiums and discounts related to size as a characteristic of the reporting entity’s holding are not permitted in a fair value measurement. These amendments were effective for us on January 1, 2012. We are currently assessing the potential impact, if any, of these amendments on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees

Management of Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

Teekay GP L.L.C., our General Partner, manages our operations and activities. Unitholders are not entitled to elect the directors of our General Partner or directly or indirectly participate in our management or operation.

Our General Partner owes a fiduciary duty to our unitholders. Our General Partner is liable, as general partner, for all of our debts (to the extent not paid from our assets), except for indebtedness or other obligations that are expressly nonrecourse to it. Whenever possible, our General Partner intends to cause us to incur indebtedness or other obligations that are nonrecourse to it.

The directors of our General Partner oversee our operations. The day-to-day affairs of our business are managed by the officers of our General Partner and key employees of certain of our operating subsidiaries. Employees of certain subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation provide assistance to us and our operating subsidiaries pursuant to services agreements. Please read Item 7 – Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions.

The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of our General Partner, Peter Evensen, allocates his time between managing our business and affairs and the business and affairs of Teekay Corporation and its subsidiaries Teekay Offshore (NYSE: TOO) and Teekay Tankers Ltd. (NYSE: TNK) (or Teekay Tankers ). Mr. Evensen is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Teekay Corporation. He also holds the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Teekay Offshore’s general partner, Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C. The amount of time Mr. Evensen allocates between our business and the businesses of Teekay Corporation and Teekay Offshore varies from time to time depending on various circumstances and needs of the businesses, such as the relative levels of strategic activities of the businesses. We believe Mr. Evensen devotes sufficient time to our business and affairs as is necessary for their proper conduct.

Officers of Teekay LNG Projects Ltd., a subsidiary of Teekay Corporation, allocate their time between providing strategic consulting and advisory services to certain of our operating subsidiaries and pursuing LNG and LPG project opportunities for Teekay Corporation, which projects, if awarded to Teekay Corporation, are offered to us pursuant to the non-competition provisions of the omnibus agreement. This agreement has previously been filed with the SEC. Please see Item 19 – Exhibits.

Officers of our General Partner and those individuals providing services to us or our subsidiaries may face a conflict regarding the allocation of their time between our business and the other business interests of Teekay Corporation or its affiliates. Our General Partner seeks to cause its officers to devote as much time to the management of our business and affairs as is necessary for the proper conduct of our business and affairs.

Directors, Executive Officers and Key Employees

The following table provides information about the directors and executive officers of our General Partner and a key employee of our operating subsidiary Teekay Shipping Spain SL Directors are elected for one-year terms. The business address of each of our directors and executive officers listed below is c/o 4 th Floor, Belvedere Building, 69 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda. The business address of our key employee of Teekay Shipping Spain SL. is Musgo Street 5 – 28023, Madrid, Spain. Ages of the individuals are as of March 1, 2012.

 

Name

  

Age

  

Position

C. Sean Day

   62    Chairman

Peter Evensen

   53    Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director

Robert E. Boyd

   73    Director (1) (2)

Kenneth Hvid

   43    Director

Ida Jane Hinkley

   61    Director (1)

Ihab J.M. Massoud

   44    Director (2)

George Watson

   64    Director (1) (2)

Michael Balaski

   55    Vice President (3)

Andres Luna

   55    Managing Director, Teekay Shipping Spain SL

 

(1) Member of Audit Committee and Conflicts Committee.
(2) Member of Corporate Governance Committee.
(3) Effective December 6, 2011.

 

50


Table of Contents

Certain biographical information about each of these individuals is set forth below:

C. Sean Day has served as Chairman of Teekay GP L.L.C. since it was formed in November 2004. Mr. Day has also served as Chairman of the Board for Teekay Corporation since September 1999, Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C. since it was formed in August 2006, and Teekay Tankers Ltd. since it was formed in October 2007. From 1989 to 1999, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Navios Corporation, a large bulk shipping company based in Stamford, Connecticut. Prior to this, Mr. Day held a number of senior management positions in the shipping and finance industry. He is currently serving as a Director of Kirby Corporation and Chairman of Compass Diversified Holdings. Mr. Day is engaged as a consultant to Kattegat Limited, the parent company of Teekay Corporation’s largest shareholder, to oversee its investments, including that in the Teekay group of companies.

Peter Evensen has served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Teekay GP L.L.C. since it was formed in November 2004 and as a Director since January 2005. He has also served as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, a Director of Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C., formed in August 2006 and as a Director of Teekay Tankers Ltd., formed in October 2007. Effective April 1, 2011, he assumed the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Teekay Corporation and also became a Director of Teekay Corporation. Mr. Evensen joined Teekay Corporation in May 2003 as Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. He was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Teekay Corporation in February 2004. Mr. Evensen has over 20 years experience in banking and shipping finance. Prior to joining Teekay Corporation, Mr. Evensen was Managing Director and Head of Global Shipping at J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., and worked in other senior positions for its predecessor firms. His international industry experience includes positions in New York, London and Oslo.

Robert E. Boyd has served as a Director of Teekay GP L.L.C. since January 2005. From May 1999 until his retirement in March 2004, Mr. Boyd was employed as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Teknion Corporation, a company engaged in the design, manufacture and marketing of office systems and office furniture products. From 1991 to 1999, Mr. Boyd was employed by The Oshawa Group Limited, a company engaged in the wholesale and retail distribution of food products and real estate activities, where his positions included Executive Vice President-Financial and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to 1991, Mr. Boyd held senior financial positions with several major companies, including Gulf Oil Corporation.

Kenneth Hvid became a director of Teekay GP L.L.C. on April 1, 2011. He joined Teekay Corporation in October 2000 and was responsible for leading its global procurement activities until he was promoted in 2004 to Senior Vice President, Teekay Gas Services. During this time, Mr. Hvid was involved in leading Teekay Corporation through its entry and growth in the LNG business. He held this position until the beginning of 2006, when he was appointed President of the Teekay Shuttle and Offshore division of Teekay Corporation. In this role, he is responsible for Teekay Corporation’s global shuttle tanker business as well as initiatives in the floating storage and offtake business and related offshore activities. Mr. Hvid has 18 years of global shipping experience, 12 of which were spent with A.P. Moller in Copenhagen, San Francisco and Hong Kong. Mr. Hvid was appointed to Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President of Teekay Corporation effective April 1, 2011.

Ida Jane Hinkley has served as a Director of Teekay GP L.L.C. since January 2005. From 1998 to 2001, she served as Managing Director of Navion Shipping AS, a shipping company at that time affiliated with the Norwegian state-owned oil company Statoil ASA (and subsequently acquired by Teekay Corporation in 2003). From 1980 to 1997, Ms. Hinkley was employed by the Gotaas-Larsen Shipping Corporation, an international provider of marine transportation services for crude oil and gas (including LNG), serving as its Chief Financial Officer from 1988 to 1992 and its Managing Director from 1993 to 1997. She currently serves as a non-executive director on the Board of Premier Oil plc, a London Stock Exchange listed oil exploration and production company. From 2007 to 2008 she served as a non-executive director on the Board of Revus Energy ASA, a Norwegian listed oil company.

I. Joseph Massoud has served as a Director of Teekay GP L.L.C. since January 2005. Mr. Massoud is also Managing Member of Compass Group Management L.L.C., a position he has held since 1998. Since 2006, he has also served as Chief Executive Officer of Compass Diversified Holdings (CODI), a NYSE-listed company based in Westport, Connecticut. Mr. Massoud is currently on leave of absense from this position. Prior to 1998, Mr. Massoud was employed by Petroleum Heat and Power, Inc., Colony Capital, Inc., and McKinsey & Company.

George Watson has served as a Director of Teekay GP L.L.C. since January 2005. He currently serves as Executive Chairman of Critical Control Solutions Inc. (formerly WNS Emergent), a provider of information control applications for the energy sector. He held the position of CEO of Critical Control from 2002 to 2007. From February 2000 to July 2002, he served as Executive Chairman at VerticalBuilder.com Inc. Mr. Watson served as President and Chief Executive Officer of TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. from 1993 to 1999 and as its Chief Financial Officer from 1990 to 1993.

Michael Balaski has served as Vice President of Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C. since December 6, 2011. He was also appointed Vice President of Teekay GP L.L.C on December 6, 2011. In 2011, he retired as a partner in the Tax Services Group of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) in Vancouver, where he was a member of the International Tax Group specializing in the transportation industry, in particular, the international shipping sector. Mr. Balaski was a partner of PwC Canada for over ten years. During his time as a partner, Michael worked closely with Teekay, spending much of his working time at the Teekay office.

Andres Luna has served as the Managing Director of Teekay Shipping Spain SL since April 2004. Mr. Luna joined Alta Shipping, S.A., a former affiliate company of Naviera F. Tapias S.A., in September 1992 and served as its General Manager until he was appointed Commercial General Manager of Naviera F. Tapias S.A. in December 1999. He also served as Chief Executive Officer of Naviera F. Tapias S.A. from July 2000 until its acquisition by Teekay Corporation in April 2004, when it was renamed Teekay Shipping Spain S.L. (or Teekay Spain ). Mr. Luna’s responsibilities with Teekay Spain have included business development, newbuilding contracting, project management, development of its LNG business and the renewal of its tanker fleet. He has been in the shipping business since his graduation as a naval architect from Madrid University in 1981.

Reimbursement of Expenses of Our General Partner

Our General Partner does not receive any management fee or other compensation for managing us. Our General Partner and its other affiliates are reimbursed for expenses incurred on our behalf. These expenses include all expenses necessary or appropriate for the conduct of our business and allocable to us, as determined by our General Partner. During 2011, these expenses were comprised of a portion of compensation earned by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of our General Partner, directors’ fees and travel expenses, as discussed below. Please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 12(b) – Related Party Transactions.

 

51


Table of Contents

Annual Executive Compensation

Because the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of our General Partner, Peter Evensen, is an employee of Teekay Corporation, his compensation (other than any awards under the long-term incentive plan described below) is set and paid by Teekay Corporation, and we reimburse Teekay Corporation for time he spends on partnership matters. Please read Item 7 – Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions.

The aggregate amount of (a) reimbursements we made to Teekay Corporation for time our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer spent on our partnership matters and (b) compensation earned by the one key employee of Teekay Spain listed above (collectively, the Officers ) for 2011 was $0.8 million. This amount includes base salary ($0.5 million), annual bonus ($0.2 million) and pension and other benefits ($0.1 million). These amounts were paid primarily in Canadian Dollars or in Euros, but are reported here in U.S. Dollars using an exchange rate of 1.0213 Canadian Dollars for each U.S. Dollar and 0.7715 Euro for each U.S. Dollar, the exchange rates on December 31, 2011. Teekay Corporation’s annual bonus plan, in which each of the Officers participates, considers both company performance, through comparison to established targets, and individual performance.

Compensation of Directors

Officers of our General Partner or Teekay Corporation who also serve as directors of our General Partner do not receive additional compensation for their service as directors. Effective January 1, 2011, each non-employee director received compensation for attending meetings of the Board of Directors, as well as committee meetings. Non-employee directors receive a director fee of $50,000 for the year and common units with a value of approximately $50,000 for the year. The Chairman of the Board of Directors receives an annual fee of $87,500 and common units with a value of approximately $87,500 for the year. Members of the Audit Committee and the Conflicts Committees each receive a committee fee of $5,000 for the year and the chairs of the Audit Committee and Conflicts Committee receive a fee of $10,000. The Corporate Governance Committee chairman receives a fee of $5,000 for serving in that role. In addition, each director is reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses in connection with attending meetings of the 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.

During 2011, the five non-employee directors received, in the aggregate, $332,500 in cash fees for their services as directors, plus reimbursement of their out-of-pocket expenses. In March 2011, our general partner’s Board of Directors granted to the five non-employee directors an aggregate of 7,285 common units.

2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan

Our General Partner adopted the Teekay LNG Partners L.P. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan for employees and directors of and consultants to our General Partner and employees and directors of and consultants to its affiliates, who perform services for us. The plan provides for the award of restricted units, phantom units, unit options, unit appreciation rights and other unit or cash-based awards. Other than the previously mentioned common units awarded to our General Partner’s directors, we did not make any awards in 2011 under the 2005 long-term incentive plan.

Board Practices

Teekay GP L.L.C., our General Partner, manages our operations and activities. Unitholders are not entitled to elect the directors of our General Partner or directly or indirectly participate in our management or operation.

Our General Partner’s board of directors (or the Board ) currently consists of seven members. Directors are appointed to serve until their successors are appointed or until they resign or are removed.

There are no service contracts between us and any of our directors providing for benefits upon termination of their employment or service.

The Board has the following three committees: Audit Committee, Conflicts Committee, and Corporate Governance Committee. The membership of these committees and the function of each of the committees are described below. Each of the committees is currently comprised of independent members and operates under a written charter adopted by the Board. The committee charters for the Audit Committee, the Conflicts Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee are available under “Other Information – Partnership Governance” in the Investor Centre of our web site at www.teekaylng.com. During 2011, the Board held seven meetings. Each director attended all Board meetings and each committee member attended all applicable committee meetings.

Audit Committee . The Audit Committee of our General Partner is composed of three or more directors, each of whom must meet the independence standards of the New York Stock Exchange (or NYSE) and the SEC. This committee is currently comprised of directors Robert E. Boyd (Chair), Ida Jane Hinkley and George Watson. All members of the committee are financially literate and the Board has determined that Mr. Boyd qualifies as an audit committee financial expert.

The Audit Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities for general oversight of:

 

   

the integrity of our financial statements;

 

   

our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;

 

   

the independent auditors’ qualifications and independence; and

 

   

the performance of our internal audit function and independent auditors.

 

52


Table of Contents

Conflicts Committee. The Conflicts Committee of our General Partner is composed of the same directors constituting the Audit Committee, being George Watson (Chair), Robert E. Boyd and Ida Jane Hinkley. The members of the Conflicts Committee may not be officers or employees of our General Partner or directors, officers or employees of its affiliates, and must meet the heightened NYSE and SEC director independence standards applicable to audit committee membership and certain other requirements.

The Conflicts Committee:

 

   

reviews specific matters that the Board believes may involve conflicts of interest; and

 

   

determines if the resolution of the conflict of interest is fair and reasonable to us.

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 General Partner of any duties it may owe us or our unitholders. The Board is not obligated to seek approval of the Conflicts Committee on any matter, and may determine the resolution of any conflict of interest itself.

Corporate Governance Committee . The Corporate Governance Committee of our General Partner is composed of at least two directors, a majority of whom must meet the director independence standards established by the NYSE. This committee is currently comprised of directors Ihab J.M. Massoud (Chair), Robert E. Boyd and George Watson.

The Corporate Governance Committee:

 

   

oversees the operation and effectiveness of the Board and its corporate governance;

 

   

develops and recommends to the Board corporate governance principles and policies applicable to us and our General Partner and monitors compliance with these principles and policies and recommends to the Board appropriate changes; and

 

   

oversees director compensation and the long-term incentive plan described above.

Crewing and Staff

As of December 31, 2011, approximately 1,320 seagoing staff served on our vessels and approximately 16 staff served on shore in technical, commercial and administrative roles in various countries. Certain subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation employ the crews, who serve on the vessels pursuant to agreements with the subsidiaries, and Teekay Corporation subsidiaries also provide on-shore advisory, operational and administrative support to our operating subsidiaries pursuant to service agreements. Please read Item 7 – Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions.

We regard attracting and retaining motivated seagoing personnel as a top priority. Like Teekay Corporation, we offer our seafarers competitive employment packages and comprehensive benefits and opportunities for personal and career development, which relates to a philosophy of promoting internally.

Teekay Corporation has entered into a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Philippine Seafarers’ Union, an affiliate of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (or ITF ), and a Special Agreement with ITF London, which cover substantially all of the officers and seamen that operate our Bahamian-flagged vessels. Our Spanish officers and seamen for our Spanish-flagged vessels are covered by two different collective bargaining agreements (one for Suezmax tankers and one for LNG carriers) with Spain’s Union General de Trabajadores and Comisiones Obreras, and the Filipino crewmembers employed on our Spanish-flagged LNG and Suezmax tankers are covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Philippine Seafarer’s Union. We believe Teekay Corporation’s and our relationships with these labor unions are good.

Our commitment to training is fundamental to the development of the highest caliber of seafarers for our marine operations. Teekay Corporation has agreed to allow our personnel to participate in its training programs. Teekay Corporation’s cadet training approach is designed to balance academic learning with hands-on training at sea. Teekay Corporation has relationships with training institutions in Canada, Croatia, India, Latvia, Norway, Philippines, Turkey and the United Kingdom. After receiving formal instruction at one of these institutions, our cadets’ training continues on board on one of our vessels. Teekay Corporation also has a career development plan that we follow, which was designed to ensure a continuous flow of qualified officers who are trained on its vessels and familiarized with its operational standards, systems and policies. We believe that high-quality crewing and training policies will play an increasingly important role in distinguishing larger independent shipping companies that have in-house or affiliate capabilities from smaller companies that must rely on outside ship managers and crewing agents on the basis of customer service and safety.

Unit Ownership

The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership, as of March 1, 2012, of our units by all directors and officers of our General Partner and key employees of Teekay Spain as a group. The information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under SEC rules a person or entity beneficially owns any units that the person has the right to acquire as of April 30, 2012 (60 days after March 1, 2012) through the exercise of any unit option or other right. Unless otherwise indicated, each person has sole voting and investment power (or shares such powers with his or her spouse) with respect to the units set forth in the following table. Information for all persons listed below is based on information delivered to us.

 

Identity of Person or Group

   Common Units
Owned
     Percentage of
Common Units
Owned (3)
 

All directors and officers as a group (9 persons) (1) (2)

     159,888         0.25

 

53


Table of Contents
(1) Excludes units owned by Teekay Corporation, which controls us and on the board of which serve the directors of our General Partner, C. Sean Day and Peter Evensen. Peter Evensen is the Chief Executive Officer of Teekay Corporation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C., and a director of Teekay GP L.L.C., Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C. and Teekay Tankers Ltd. Kenneth Hvid is a director of Teekay GP L.L.C. and Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C. Mr. Hvid is also Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President of Teekay Corporation. Please read Item 7 – Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions for more detail.
(2) Each director, executive officer and key employee beneficially owns less than one percent of the outstanding common units. Under SEC rules a person beneficially owns any units as to which the person has or shares voting or investment power.
(3) Excludes the 2% general partner interest held by our General Partner, a wholly owned subsidiary of Teekay Corporation.

 

Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions

Major Unitholders

The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership, as of March 1, 2012, of our common units by each person we know to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding common units. The number of units beneficially owned by each person is determined under SEC rules and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under SEC rules a person beneficially owns any units as to which the person has or shares voting or investment power. In addition, a person beneficially owns any units that the person or entity has the right to acquire as of April 30, 2012 (60 days after March 1, 2012) through the exercise of any unit option or other right. Unless otherwise indicated, each unitholder listed below has sole voting and investment power with respect to the units set forth in the following table.

 

Identity of Person or Group

   Common Units
Owned
     Percentage of
Common  Units

Owned (1)
 

Teekay Corporation (1)

     25,208,274         38.9

 

(1) Excludes the 2% general partner interest held by our General Partner, a wholly owned subsidiary of Teekay Corporation.

Teekay Corporation has the same voting rights with respect to common units it owns as our other unitholders. We are controlled by Teekay Corporation. We are not aware of any arrangements, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of us.

Related Party Transactions

 

  a) We have entered into an amended and restated omnibus agreement with Teekay Corporation, our General Partner, our operating company, Teekay LNG Operating L.L.C., Teekay Offshore and related parties. The following discussion describes certain provisions of the omnibus agreement.

Noncompetition . Under the omnibus agreement, Teekay Corporation and Teekay Offshore have agreed, and have caused their controlled affiliates (other than us) to agree, not to own, operate or charter LNG carriers. This restriction does not prevent Teekay Corporation, Teekay Offshore or any of their controlled affiliates (other than us) from, among other things:

 

   

acquiring LNG carriers and related time-charters as part of a business and operating or chartering those vessels if a majority of the value of the total assets or business acquired is not attributable to the LNG carriers and related time-charters, as determined in good faith by the board of directors of Teekay Corporation or the conflict committee of the board of directors of Teekay Offshore’s general partner; however, if at any time Teekay Corporation or Teekay Offshore completes such an acquisition, it must offer to sell the LNG carriers and related time-charters to us for their fair market value plus any additional tax or other similar costs to Teekay Corporation or Teekay Offshore that would be required to transfer the LNG carriers and time-charters to us separately from the acquired business;

 

   

owning, operating or chartering LNG carriers that relate to a bid or award for a proposed LNG project that Teekay Corporation or any of its subsidiaries has submitted or hereafter submits or receives; however, at least 180 days prior to the scheduled delivery date of any such LNG carrier, Teekay Corporation must offer to sell the LNG carrier and related time-charter to us, with the vessel valued at its “fully-built-up cost,” which represents the aggregate expenditures incurred (or to be incurred prior to delivery to us) by Teekay Corporation to acquire or construct and bring such LNG carrier to the condition and location necessary for our intended use, plus a reasonable allocation of overhead costs related to the development of such project and other projects that would have been subject to the offer rights set forth in the omnibus agreement but were not completed; or

 

   

acquiring, operating or chartering LNG carriers if our General Partner has previously advised Teekay Corporation or Teekay Offshore that the board of directors of our General Partner has elected, with the approval of its conflicts committee, not to cause us or our subsidiaries to acquire or operate the carriers.

In addition, under the omnibus agreement we have agreed not to own, operate or charter crude oil tankers or the following “offshore vessels” – dynamically positioned shuttle tankers, floating storage and off-take units or floating production, storage and off-loading units, in each case that are subject to contracts with a remaining duration of at least three years, excluding extension options. This restriction does not apply to any of the conventional tankers in our current fleet, and the ownership, operation or chartering of any oil tankers that replace any of those oil tankers in connection with certain events. In addition, the restriction does not prevent us from, among other things:

 

   

acquiring oil tankers or offshore vessels and any related time-charters or contracts of affreightment as part of a business and operating or chartering those vessels, if a majority of the value of the total assets or business acquired is not attributable to the oil

 

54


Table of Contents
 

tankers and offshore vessels and any related charters or contracts of affreightment, as determined by the conflicts committee of our General Partner’s board of directors; however, if at any time we complete such an acquisition, we are required to promptly offer to sell to Teekay Corporation the oil tankers and time-charters or to Teekay Offshore the offshore vessels and time-charters or contracts of affreightment for fair market value plus any additional tax or other similar costs to us that would be required to transfer the vessels and contracts to Teekay Corporation or Teekay Offshore separately from the acquired business; or

 

   

acquiring, operating or chartering oil tankers or offshore vessels if Teekay Corporation or Teekay Offshore, respectively, has previously advised our General Partner that it has elected not to acquire or operate those vessels.

Rights of First Offer on Suezmax Tankers, LNG Carriers and Offshore Vessels. Under the omnibus agreement, we have granted to Teekay Corporation and Teekay Offshore a 30-day right of first offer on any proposed (a) sale, transfer or other disposition of any of our conventional tankers, in the case of Teekay Corporation, or certain offshore vessels in the case of Teekay Offshore, or (b) re-chartering of any of our conventional tankers or offshore vessels pursuant to a time-charter or contract of affreightment with a term of at least three years if the existing charter expires or is terminated early. Likewise, each of Teekay Corporation and Teekay Offshore has granted a similar right of first offer to us for any LNG carriers it might own. These rights of first offer do not apply to certain transactions.

 

  b) C. Sean Day is the Chairman of our General Partner, Teekay GP L.L.C. He also is the Chairman of Teekay Corporation, Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C. (the general partner of Teekay Offshore Partners L.P., a publicly held partnership controlled by Teekay Corporation) and Teekay Tankers Ltd., a publicly held corporation controlled by Teekay Corporation.

Bjorn Moller was the Vice Chairman of Teekay GP L.L.C. and Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C. until April 1, 2011. He also was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Teekay Corporation as well as the Chief Executive Officer of Teekay Tankers Ltd. until April 1, 2011. He remains a director of Teekay Corporation and Teekay Tankers Ltd.

Peter Evensen is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and a director of Teekay GP L.L.C. and Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C. On April 1, 2011, Mr. Evensen was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Teekay Corporation and became a director of Teekay Corporation. Mr. Evensen is also a director of Teekay Tankers Ltd. and was the Executive Vice President of Teekay Tankers Ltd. until April 1, 2011.

Effective April 1, 2011, Kenneth Hvid was appointed director of Teekay GP L.L.C. and Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C. Mr. Hvid was also appointed to Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Teekay Corporation effective April 1, 2011.

Because Mr. Evensen is an employee of Teekay Corporation or another of its subsidiaries, his compensation (other than any awards under our long-term incentive plan) is set and paid by Teekay Corporation or such other applicable subsidiary. Pursuant to our partnership agreement, we have agreed to reimburse Teekay Corporation or its applicable subsidiary for time spent by Mr. Evensen on our management matters as our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

 

  c) On March 17, 2010, we acquired from Teekay Corporation two 2009-built Suezmax tankers, the Bermuda Spirit and the Hamilton Spirit , and a 2007-built Handymax product tanker, the Alexander Spirit , and the associated long-term fixed-rate time-charter contracts for a total cost of $160 million. For more information, please read Item 18 – Financial Statement: Note 12(a) – Related Party Transactions.

 

  d) The two Kenai LNG Carriers are employed on long-term charter contracts with subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation. In addition, we and certain of our subsidiaries have entered into services agreements with subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation pursuant to which the Teekay Corporation subsidiaries have agreed to provide (a) certain non-strategic administrative services to us, (b) crew training, (c) advisory, technical and administrative services that supplement existing capabilities of the employees of our operating subsidiaries and (d) strategic consulting and advisory services to our operating subsidiaries relating to our business, unless the provision of those services would materially interfere with Teekay Corporation’s operations. These services are to be provided in a commercially reasonably manner and upon the reasonable request of our General Partner or our operating subsidiaries, as applicable. The Teekay Corporation subsidiaries that are parties to the services agreements may provide these services directly or may subcontract for certain of these services with other entities, including other Teekay Corporation subsidiaries. We pay a reasonable, arm’s-length fee for the services that include reimbursement of the reasonable cost of any direct and indirect expenses the Teekay Corporation subsidiaries incur in providing these services. Finally, we reimburse our General Partner for expenses incurred by our General Partner that are necessary for the conduct of our business. Such related party transactions, excluding expenses allocated to us as part of the result of the Dropdown Predecessor, were as follows for the periods indicated:

 

     Year Ended  
     December 31,
2011
$
     December 31,
2010
$
     December 31,
2009
$
 

Revenues (1)

     35,068        36,512         38,860   

Vessel operating expenses (2)

     33,135        30,556         27,428   

General and administrative (3) (4) (5)

     15,468        14,919         11,403   

 

(1) Commencing in 2008, the two Kenai LNG Carriers were time-chartered to Teekay Corporation at a fixed-rate for a period of ten years, (plus options exercisable by Teekay Corporation to extend up to an additional 15 years).
(2) Teekay Corporation’s crew salaries and training.
(3) Teekay Corporation’s administrative, advisory, technical and strategic management fees.
(4) Includes $1.0 million, $0.8 million and $0.8 million of reimbursed costs incurred by the General Partner during 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

55


Table of Contents
(5) Amounts are net of $1.0 million, $1.0 million and $0.7 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, which consist of the amortization of $3.0 million paid to us by Teekay Corporation in March 2009 for the right to provide ship management services to certain of our vessels.

 

  e) As at December 31, 2011 and 2010, crewing and manning costs of $4.1 million and $3.6 million, respectively, were payable to affiliates and were included as part of accounts payable and accrued liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. In addition, as at December 31, 2011 and 2010, non-interest bearing advances to affiliates totaled $11.9 million and $6.1 million, respectively, and non-interest bearing advances from affiliates totaled $17.4 million and $133.4 million, respectively. These advances are unsecured and have no fixed repayment terms, however, we expect these amounts to be repaid during 2012.

 

  f) We had entered into an agreement with Teekay Corporation pursuant to which Teekay Corporation provided us with off-hire insurance for certain of our LNG carriers. We did not renew this off-hire insurance with Teekay Corporation, which expired during the second quarter of 2009 and incurred $0.5 million of these costs in 2009. We currently obtain third-party off-hire insurance for certain of our LNG carriers and self-insure the remaining vessels in our fleet.

 

  g) On August 10, 2009 we purchased 99% of Teekay Corporation’s 70% interest in the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture for a purchase price of $69.1 million (net of assumed debt). For more information, please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 12(f) – Related Party Transactions.

 

  h) Our Suezmax tanker, the Toledo Spirit , operates pursuant to a time-charter contract that increases or decreases the fixed rate established in the charter, depending on the spot charter rates that we would have earned had we traded the vessel in the spot tanker market. The remaining term of the time-charter contract was 15 years as of December 31, 2011, although the charterer has the right to terminate the time-charter in July 2018. We entered into an agreement with Teekay Corporation such that Teekay pays us any amounts payable to the charter party as a result of spot rates being below the fixed rate, and we pay Teekay Corporation any amounts payable to us as a result of spot rates being in excess of the fixed rate. During 2011, 2010 and 2009, we incurred $0.1 million, $1.9 million and $0.9 million, respectively, of amounts owing to Teekay Corporation as a result of this agreement.

 

  i) On July 28, 2008, Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries signed contracts for the purchase of two technically advanced 12,000-cubic meter newbuilding Multigas vessels from subsidiaries of Skaugen and we agreed to acquire the Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries from Teekay Corporation upon delivery.

On June 15, 2011 and October 17, 2011, the two Skaugen Multigas Carriers were delivered and commenced service under 15-year, fixed-rate charters to Skaugen. On delivery, we concurrently acquired Teekay Corporation’s 100% ownership interests in the Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries for a purchase price of $114.5 million. These transactions were concluded between entities under common control and, thus, the assets acquired were recorded at historical book value. The excess of the combined purchase price over the combined book value of the assets of $8.2 million was accounted for as an equity distribution to Teekay Corporation.

 

  j) In June and November 2009, in conjunction with the acquisition of two LPG carriers from Skaugen (or the Skaugen LPG Carriers ), Teekay Corporation novated interest rate swaps, each with a notional amount of $30.0 million, to us for no consideration. During 2010, we agreed to acquire an interest rate swap, with a notional amount of $30.0 million, relating to the third Skaugen LPG Carrier from Teekay Corporation for no consideration and we accounted for this swap during 2010. The actual acquisition of this interest rate swap was concurrent with the delivery of the third Skaugen LPG Carrier on September 15, 2011. These transactions were concluded between related parties and thus the interest rate swaps were recorded at their carrying values which were equal to their fair values. The excess of the liabilities assumed over the consideration paid amounting to $1.5 million and $4.8 million were charged to equity during 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

  k) In November 2009, we sold 1% of our interest in the Kenai LNG Carriers to our General Partner for approximately $2.3 million.

 

  l) During September and October 2011, we sold 1% of our ownership interest in our Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries and the Skaugen LPG Carriers to our General Partner for approximately $1.8 million.

 

  m) In December 2007, a consortium in which Teekay Corporation had a 33% ownership interest agreed to charter the four Angola LNG Carriers for a period of 20 years to Angola LNG Supply Services LLC. The consortium entered into agreements to construct the four LNG carriers at a total cost of approximately $906.0 million (of which Teekay Corporation’s 33% portion was $299.0 million), excluding capitalized interest. The vessels are chartered at fixed rates, with inflation adjustments, commencing upon delivery of the vessels. In March 2011, we agreed to acquire Teekay Corporation’s 33% ownership interest in these vessels and related charter contracts upon delivery of each vessel.

During August, September and October 2011, three of the Angola LNG Carriers delivered and commenced their 20-year, fixed-rate charter to Angola LNG Supply Services. Concurrently, we acquired Teekay Corporation’s 33% ownership interest in these three vessels and related charter contracts for a total equity purchase price of $57.3 million (net of assumed debt of $193.8 million). This transaction was concluded between entities under common control and, thus, the assets acquired were recorded at historical book value. The excess of the purchase price over the book value of the assets of $46.2 million was accounted for as an equity distribution to Teekay Corporation. Our investments in the Angola LNG Carriers are accounted for using the equity method. The remaining Angola LNG Carrier delivered in January 2012 for an aggregate equity purchase price of approximately $19 million (net of assumed debt of approximately $65 million) subject to adjustment based on actual costs incurred at the time of delivery.

 

56


Table of Contents
Item 8. Financial Information

Consolidated Financial Statements and Other Financial Information

Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes

Please see 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.

Cash Distribution Policy

Rationale for Our Cash Distribution Policy

Our partnership agreement requires us to distribute all of our available cash (as defined in our partnership agreement) within approximately 45 days after the end of each quarter. This cash distribution policy reflects a basic judgment that our unitholders are better served by our distributing our cash available after expenses and reserves rather than our retaining it. Because we believe we will generally finance any capital investments from external financing sources, we believe that our investors are best served by our distributing all of our available cash.

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 distribution policy is subject to restrictions on distributions under our credit agreements. Specifically, our credit agreements contain material financial tests and covenants that we must satisfy. Should we be unable to satisfy these restrictions under our credit agreements, we would be prohibited from making cash distributions to unitholders notwithstanding our stated cash distribution policy.

 

   

The board of directors of our General Partner has the authority to establish reserves for the prudent conduct of our business and for future cash distributions to our unitholders, and the establishment of those reserves could result in a reduction in cash distributions to unitholders from levels we anticipate pursuant to our stated distribution policy.

 

   

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 General Partner, taking into consideration the terms of our partnership agreement.

 

   

Under Section 51 of the Marshall Islands Limited Partnership Act, we may not make a distribution to unitholders if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets.

 

   

We may lack sufficient cash to pay distributions to our unitholders due to increases in our general and administrative expenses, principal and interest payments on our outstanding debt, tax expenses, the issuance of additional units (which would require the payment of distributions on those units), working capital requirements and anticipated cash needs.

 

   

While our partnership agreement requires us to distribute all of our available cash, our partnership agreement, including provisions requiring us to make cash distributions, may be amended. Our partnership agreement can be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding common units, voting as a class (including common units held by affiliates of our General Partner).

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

Common unitholders are entitled under our partnership agreement to receive a minimum quarterly distribution of $0.4125 per unit, or $1.65 per year, prior to any distribution on our subordinated units to the extent we have sufficient cash from our operations after establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses, including payments to our General Partner. Our General Partner has the authority to determine the amount of our available cash for any quarter. This determination must be made in good faith. There is no guarantee that we will pay the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units in any quarter, and we will be prohibited from making any distributions to unitholders if it would cause an event of default, or an event of default is existing, under our credit agreements.

Our cash distributions were $0.57 per unit in 2009, then increased to $0.60 per unit effective for the first quarter of 2010 which was maintained throughout 2010 and further increased to $0.63 per unit in the first quarter of 2011.

Incentive Distribution Rights

Incentive distribution rights represent the right to receive an increasing percentage of quarterly distributions of available cash from operating surplus (as defined in our partnership agreement) after the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels have been achieved. Our General Partner currently holds the incentive distribution rights, but may transfer these rights separately from its general partner interest, subject to restrictions in our partnership agreement.

 

57


Table of Contents

The following table illustrates the percentage allocations of the additional available cash from operating surplus among the unitholders and our General Partner 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 our General Partner 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 our General Partner for the minimum quarterly distribution are also applicable to quarterly distribution amounts that are less than the minimum quarterly distribution. The percentage interests shown for our General Partner include its 2% general partner interest and assume the General Partner has not transferred the incentive distribution rights.

 

     Quarterly Distribution Target Amount (per unit)   Marginal Percentage Interest In Distributions  
         Unitholders     General Partner  

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

   $0.4125     98     2

First Target Distribution

   Up to $0.4625     98     2

Second Target Distribution

   Above $0.4625 up to $0.5375     85     15

Third Target Distribution

   Above $0.5375 up to $0.65     75     25

Thereafter

   Above $0.65     50     50

Significant Changes

Please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 21 – Subsequent Events.

 

Item 9. The Offer and Listing

Our common units are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “TGP”. The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices for our common units on the NYSE for each of the periods indicated.

 

Oct. 31, Oct. 31, Oct. 31, Oct. 31, Oct. 31,
Years Ended    Dec. 31,
2011
     Dec. 31,
2010
     Dec. 31,
2009
     Dec. 31,
2008
     Dec. 31,
2007
 

 

High

   $ 41.30       $ 38.01       $ 25.92       $ 31.69       $ 39.94   

Low

     29.75        24.91        13.97        9.96        28.76  

 

Oct. 31, Oct. 31, Oct. 31, Oct. 31, Oct. 31, Oct. 31, Oct. 31, Oct. 31,
Quarters Ended    Mar. 31,
2012
     Dec. 31,
2011
     Sept. 30,
2011
     June 30,
2011
     Mar. 31,
2011
     Dec. 31,
2010
     Sept. 30,
2010
     June 30,
2010
 

 

High

   $ 40.33       $ 36.32       $ 38.25       $ 40.50       $ 41.30       $ 38.01       $ 35.23       $ 30.97   

Low

     33.83         30.07        29.75        34.16        34.44        31.88        29.13        26.57  

 

Oct. 31, Oct. 31, Oct. 31, Oct. 31, Oct. 31, Oct. 31, Oct. 31,
Months Ended    Mar. 31,
2012
     Feb. 29,
2012
     Jan. 31,
2012
     Dec. 31,
2011
     Nov. 30,
2011
     Oct. 31,
2011
     Sept. 30,
2011
 

 

High

   $ 40.00       $ 40.33       $ 37.51       $ 33.83       $ 34.60       $ 36.32       $ 33.83   

Low

     38.65         36.79        33.83        32.09        30.92        30.07        31.12  

 

Item 10. Additional Information

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/A filed with the SEC on September 29, 2006.

Material Contracts

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:

 

  (a) Agreement, dated February 21, 2001, for a U.S. $100,000,000 Revolving Credit Facility between Naviera Teekay Gas S.L., J.P. Morgan plc and various other banks. This facility was refinanced in 2006.

 

  (b) Agreement dated December 7, 2005, for a U.S. $137,500,000 Revolving Credit Facility between Asian Spirit L.L.C., African Spirit L.L.C., and European Spirit L.L.C., Den Norske Bank ASA and various other banks. This facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 0.50%. The amount available under the facility reduces by $4.4 million semi-annually, with a bullet reduction of $57.7 million on maturity in April 2015. The credit facility may be used for general partnership purposes and to fund cash distributions. Our obligations under the facility are secured by a first-priority mortgage on three of our Suezmax tankers and a pledge of certain shares of the subsidiaries operating the Suezmax tankers.

 

58


Table of Contents
  (c) Amended and Restated Omnibus agreement with Teekay Corporation, Teekay Offshore, our General Partner and related parties Please read Item 7 – Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

  (d) We and certain of our operating subsidiaries have entered into services agreements with certain subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation pursuant to which the Teekay Corporation subsidiaries provide us and our operating subsidiaries with administrative, advisory, technical and strategic consulting services for a reasonable fee that includes reimbursement of the reasonable cost of any direct and indirect expenses they incur in providing these services. Please read Item 7 – Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

  (e) Syndicated Loan Agreement between Naviera Teekay Gas III, S.L. (formerly Naviera F. Tapias Gas III, S.A.) and Caixa de Aforros de Vigo Ourense e Pontevedra, as Agent, dated as of October 2, 2000, as amended. This facility was used to make restricted cash deposits that fully fund payments under a capital lease for one of our LNG carriers, the Catalunya Spirit . Interest payments are based on EURIBOR plus a margin. The term loan matures in 2023 with monthly payments that reduce over time.

 

  (f) Credit Facility Agreement between Naviera Teekay Gas IV, S.L. (formerly Naviera F. Tapias Gas IV, S.A.) and Chase Manhattan International Limited, as Agent, dated as of December 21, 2001, as amended. This facility was used to make restricted cash deposits that fully fund payments under a capital lease for one of our LNG carriers, the Madrid Spirit . Interest payments are based on EURIBOR plus a margin. The term loan was terminated in 2011.

 

  (g) Teekay LNG Partners L.P. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Please read Item 6 – Directors, Senior Management and Employees for a summary of certain plan terms.

 

  (h) Agreement dated August 23, 2006, for a U.S. $330,000,000 Secured Revolving Loan Facility between Teekay LNG Partners L.P., ING Bank N.V. and other banks. This facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 0.55%. The amount available under the facility reduces semi-annually by amounts ranging from $4.3 million to $8.4 million, with a bullet reduction of $188.7 million on maturity in August 2018. The revolver is collateralized by first-priority mortgages granted on two of our LNG carriers. The credit facility may be used for general partnership purposes and to fund cash distributions.

 

  (i) Agreement dated June 30, 2008, for a U.S. $172,500,000 Secured Revolving Loan Facility between Arctic Spirit L.L.C., Polar Spirit L.L.C and DnB Nor Bank A.S.A. and other banks. This facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 0.80%. The amount available under the facility reduces by $6.1 million semi-annually, with a balloon reduction of $56.6 million on maturity in June 2018. The revolver is collateralized by first-priority mortgages granted on two of our LNG carriers. The credit facility may be used for general partnership purposes and to fund cash distributions.

 

  (j) Deed of Amendment and Restatement dated October 10, 2008, relating to a Loan Agreement for a U.S. $92,400,000 Buyer Credit and a U.S. $117,600,000 Commercial Loan between MiNT LNG I, Ltd., BNP Paribas S.A., and other banks and financial institutions. The Buyers Credit bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 0.78% and the Commercial Loan bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.30%. In addition, a commitment fee will be charged at the rate of 0.25% and 0.45% on undrawn and uncancelled amounts of the Buyer Credit and Commercial Loan, respectively. The amount available under the facilities reduces quarterly by amounts ranging from $1.2 million to $2.5 million. The Commercial Loan is due by one installment on maturity in 2023.

 

  (k) Deed of Amendment and Restatement dated October 10, 2008, relating to a Loan Agreement for a U.S. $92,400,000 Buyer Credit and a U.S. $117,600,000 Commercial Loan between MiNT LNG II, Ltd., BNP Paribas S.A., and other banks and financial institutions. The Buyers Credit bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 0.78% and the Commercial Loan bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.30%. In addition, a commitment fee will be charged at the rate of 0.25% and 0.45% on undrawn and uncancelled amounts of the Buyer Credit and Commercial Loan, respectively. The amount available under the facilities reduces quarterly by amounts ranging from $1.2 million to $2.5 million. The Commercial Loan is due by one installment on maturity in 2023.

 

  (l) Deed of Amendment and Restatement dated October 10, 2008, relating to a Loan Agreement for a U.S. $92,400,000 Buyer Credit and a U.S. $117,600,000 Commercial Loan between MiNT LNG III, Ltd., BNP Paribas S.A., and other banks and financial institutions. The Buyers Credit bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 0.78% and the Commercial Loan bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.30%. In addition, a commitment fee will be charged at the rate of 0.25% and 0.45% on undrawn and uncancelled amounts of the Buyer Credit and Commercial Loan, respectively. The amount available under the facilities reduces quarterly by amounts ranging from $1.2 million to $2.5 million. The Commercial Loan is due by one installment on maturity in 2023.

 

  (m) Deed of Amendment and Restatement dated October 10, 2008, relating to a Loan Agreement for a U.S. $92,400,000 Buyer Credit and a U.S. $117,600,000 Commercial Loan between MiNT LNG IV, Ltd., BNP Paribas S.A., and other banks and financial institutions. The Buyers Credit bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 0.78% and the Commercial Loan bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.30%. In addition, a commitment fee will be charged at the rate of 0.25% and 0.45% on undrawn and uncancelled amounts of the Buyer Credit and Commercial Loan, respectively. The amount available under the facilities reduces quarterly by amounts ranging from $1.2 million to $2.5 million. The Commercial Loan is due by one installment on maturity in 2024.

 

  (n) Agreement dated October 27, 2009, for a U.S. $122,000,000 million credit facility that is secured by the Skaugen LPG Carriers and the Skaugen Multigas Carriers. Interest payments under the facility are based on three months LIBOR plus 2.75% and require quarterly payments. This loan facility is collateralized by first priority mortgages on the five vessels to which the loans relate to, together with certain other related security and is guaranteed by us. The loans have varying maturities through 2018.

 

  (o)

Agreement dated March 17, 2010, for a U.S. $255,528,228 million senior loan and U.S. $80,000,000 million junior loan secured loan agreement between Bermuda Spirit L.L.C., Hamilton Spirit L.L.C, Summit Spirit L.L.C., Zenith Spirit L.L.C., and Credit Agricole CIB Bank. At December 31, 2010, we had $120.6 million of the U.S. Dollar-denominated term loan outstanding. The facility was used to finance up to 80% of the shipyard contract price for the Bermuda Spirit and the Hamilton Spirit . Interest payments on one tranche under the loan facility

 

59


Table of Contents
  are based on six month LIBOR plus 0.30%, while interest payments on the second tranche are based on six-month LIBOR plus 0.70%. One tranche reduces in semi-annual payments while the other tranche correspondingly is drawn up every six months with a final $20 million bullet payment per vessel due 12 years and six months from each vessel delivery date. This loan facility is collateralized by first-priority mortgages on the two vessels to which the loan relates, together with certain other related security and is guaranteed by Teekay Corporation.

 

  (p) Agreement dated September 30, 2011, for a EURO €149,933,766 Credit Facility between Naviera Teekay Gas IV S.L.U., ING Bank N.V. and other banks and financial institutions. This facility bears interest at EURIBOR plus a margin of 2.25%. The amount available under the facility reduces monthly by amounts ranging from $0.4 million to $0.7 million, with a bullet reduction of $104.4 million on maturity in 2018. The loan facility is guaranteed by us.

 

  (q) Agreement dated February 17, 2012, for a US$553,280,000 loan facility between Malt LNG Holdings ApS, DNB Bank ASA, ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Development Bank of Japan Inc., and various lenders. The loan bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.4% for the twelve months after execution and interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 3.0% for the remainder of the facility period. In addition, a commitment fee will be charged at the rate of 30% of the margin on undrawn and uncancelled amounts. The full amount of the loan is due on maturity in 2013.

 

  (r) Agreement dated February 17, 2012, for a US$510,720,000 loan facility between Malt LNG Holdings ApS, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., and various lenders. The loan bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 0.35% and provides a commitment fee that will be charged at the rate of 0.1% on the undrawn and uncancelled amounts. The full amount of the loan is due on maturity in 2013.

 

  (s) Agreement dated February 28, 2012; Teekay LNG Operating LLC and Marubeni Corporation entered into an agreement to acquire, through the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture, 100% ownership of six LNG carriers from Maersk. Please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 21 – Subsequent Events.

Exchange Controls and Other Limitations Affecting Unitholders

We are not aware of any governmental laws, decrees or regulations, including foreign exchange controls, in the Republic of The Marshall Islands that restrict the export or import of capital, or that affect the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to non-resident holders of our securities.

We are not aware of any limitations on the right of non-resident or foreign owners to hold or vote our securities imposed by the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands or our partnership agreement.

Taxation

Marshall Islands Tax Consequences . Because we and our subsidiaries do not, and we do not expect that we and our subsidiaries will, conduct business or operations in the Republic of The Marshall Islands, neither we nor our subsidiaries will be subject to income, capital gains, profits or other taxation under current Marshall Islands law. As a result, distributions by our subsidiaries to us will not be subject to Marshal Islands taxation. In addition, because all documentation related to our initial public offering and follow-on offerings were executed outside of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, under current Marshall Islands law, no taxes or withholdings are imposed by the Republic of The Marshall Islands on distributions, including upon a return of capital, made to unitholders, so long as such persons do not reside in, maintain offices in, nor engage in business in the Republic of The Marshall Islands. Furthermore, no stamp, capital gains or other taxes are imposed by the Republic of The Marshall Islands on the purchase, ownership or disposition by such persons of our common units.

United States Tax Consequences . The following discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to common unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the United States is based upon provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the Code ), legislative history, applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations (or Treasury Regulations ), judicial authority and administrative interpretations, as of the date of this Annual Report, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section “we,” “our” or “us” are references to Teekay LNG Partners, L.P.

This discussion is limited to unitholders who hold their units as capital assets for tax purposes. This discussion does not address tax considerations that may be important to a particular unitholder in light of their individual circumstances, or to certain categories of unitholders that may be subject to special tax rules, such as:

 

   

dealers in securities or currencies,

 

   

traders in securities that have elected the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities,

 

   

persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar,

 

   

persons holding our units as part of a hedge, straddle, conversion or other “synthetic security” or integrated transaction,

 

   

certain U.S. expatriates,

 

   

financial institutions,

 

   

insurance companies,

 

   

persons subject to the alternative minimum tax,

 

   

persons that actually or under applicable constructive ownership rules own 10.0 percent or more of our units; and

 

   

entities that are tax-exempt for U.S. federal income tax purposes

 

60


Table of Contents

If a partnership (including any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our common units, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership holding our common units, you should consult your own tax advisor about the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing the common units.

This discussion does not address any U.S. estate tax considerations or tax considerations arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. jurisdiction. Each 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 our common units.

Classification as a Partnership.

For purposes of U.S. federal income taxation, a partnership is not a taxable entity, and although it may be subject to withholding taxes on behalf of its partners under certain circumstances, a partnership itself incurs no U.S. federal income tax liability. Instead, each partner of a partnership is required to take into account his share of items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the partnership in computing his U.S. federal income tax liability, regardless of whether cash distributions are made to him by the partnership. Distributions by a partnership to a partner generally are not taxable unless the amount of cash distributed exceeds the partner’s adjusted tax basis in his partnership interest.

Section 7704 of the Code provides that publicly traded partnerships generally will be treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, an exception, referred to as the “Qualifying Income Exception,” exists with respect to publicly traded partnerships whose “qualifying income” represents 90.0 percent or more of their gross income for every taxable year. Qualifying income includes income and gains derived from the transportation and storage of crude oil, natural gas and products thereof, including liquefied natural gas. Other types of qualifying income include interest (other than from a financial business), dividends, gains from the sale of real property and gains from the sale or other disposition of capital assets held for the production of qualifying income, including stock. We have received a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (or IRS ) that we requested in connection with our initial public offering that the income we derive from transporting LNG and crude oil pursuant to time charters existing at the time of our initial public offering is qualifying income within the meaning of Section 7704. A ruling from the IRS, while generally binding on the IRS, may under certain circumstances be revoked or modified by the IRS retroactively.

We estimate that less than 5.0 percent of our current income is not qualifying income and therefore we believe that we will be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, this estimate could change from time to time for various reasons. Because we have not received an IRS ruling or an opinion of counsel that any (1) income we derive from transporting LPG, petrochemical gases and ammonia pursuant to charters that we have entered into or will enter into in the future, (2) income we derive from transporting crude oil, natural gas and products thereof, including LNG, pursuant to bareboat charters or (3) income or gain we recognize from foreign currency transactions, is qualifying income, we are currently treating income from those sources as non-qualifying income. Under some circumstances, such as a significant change in foreign currency rates, the percentage of income or gain from foreign currency transactions in relation to our total gross income could be substantial. We do not expect income or gains from these sources and other income or gains that are not qualifying income to constitute 10.0 percent or more of our gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, it is possible that the operation of certain of our vessels pursuant to bareboat charters could, in the future, cause our non-qualifying income to constitute 10.0 percent or more of our future gross income if such vessels were held in a pass-through structure. In order to preserve our status as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we have received a ruling from the IRS that effectively allows us to conduct our bareboat charter operations, as well as our LPG operations, in a subsidiary corporation.

Status as a Partner

The treatment of unitholders described in this section applies only to unitholders treated as partners in us for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Unitholders who have been properly admitted as limited partners of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. will be treated as partners in us for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In addition, assignees of common units who have executed and delivered transfer applications, and are awaiting admission as limited partners and unitholders whose common units are held in street name or by a nominee and who have the right to direct the nominee in the exercise of all substantive rights attendant to the ownership of their common units will be treated as partners in us for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

The status of assignees of common units who are entitled to execute and deliver transfer applications and thereby become entitled to direct the exercise of attendant rights, but who fail to execute and deliver transfer applications, is unclear. In addition, a purchaser or other transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver a transfer application may not receive some U.S. federal income tax information or reports furnished to record holders of common units, unless the common units are held in a nominee or street name account and the nominee or broker has executed and delivered a transfer application for those common units.

Under certain circumstances, a beneficial owner of common units whose units have been loaned to another may lose his status as a partner with respect to those units for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

In general, a person who is not a partner in a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not required or permitted to report any share of the partnership’s income, gain, deductions or losses for such purposes, and any cash distributions received by such a person from the partnership therefore may be fully taxable as ordinary income. Unitholders not described here are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to their status as partners in us for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Consequences of Unit Ownership

Flow-through of Taxable Income. Each unitholder is required to include in computing his taxable income his allocable share of our items of income, gains, loss, deductions and credit for our taxable year ending with or within his taxable year, without regard to whether we make corresponding cash distributions to him. Our taxable year ends on December 31. Consequently, we may allocate income to a unitholder as of December 31 of a given year, and the unitholder will be required to report this income on his tax return for his tax year that ends on or includes such date, even if he has not received a cash distribution from us as of that date.

 

61


Table of Contents

In addition, certain U.S. unitholders who are individuals, estates or trusts will be required to pay an additional 3.8 percent tax on, among other things, the income allocated to them for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, subject to certain exceptions. Unitholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this tax on their ownership of our common units.

Treatment of Distributions. Distributions by us to a unitholder generally will not be taxable to the unitholder for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent of his tax basis in his common units immediately before the distribution. Our cash distributions in excess of a unitholder’s tax basis generally will be considered to be gain from the sale or exchange of the common units, taxable in accordance with the rules described under “– Disposition of Common Units” below. Any reduction in a unitholder’s share of our liabilities for which no partner, including the general partner, bears the economic risk of loss, known as “nonrecourse liabilities,” will be treated as a distribution of cash to that unitholder. A decrease in a unitholder’s percentage interest in us because of our issuance of additional common units will decrease his share of our nonrecourse liabilities, and thus will result in a corresponding deemed distribution of cash. To the extent our distributions cause a unitholder’s “at risk” amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year, he must recapture any losses deducted in previous years.

A non-pro rata distribution of money or property may result in ordinary income to a unitholder, regardless of his tax basis in his common units, if the distribution reduces the unitholder’s share of our “unrealized receivables,” including depreciation recapture, and/or substantially appreciated “inventory items,” both as defined in the Code (or, collectively, Section 751 Assets ). To that extent, he will be treated as having been distributed his proportionate share of the Section 751 Assets and having exchanged those assets with us in return for the non-pro rata portion of the actual distribution made to him. This latter deemed exchange will generally result in the unitholder’s realization of ordinary income, which will equal the excess of (1) the non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (2) the unitholder’s tax basis for the share of Section 751 Assets deemed relinquished in the exchange.

Basis of Common Units. A unitholder’s initial U.S. federal income tax basis for his common units will be the amount he paid for the common units plus his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will be increased by his share of our income and by any increases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities and decreased, but not below zero, by distributions from us, by the unitholder’s share of our losses, by any decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities and by his share of our expenditures that are not deductible in computing taxable income and are not required to be capitalized. A unitholder will have no share of our debt that is recourse to the general partner, but will have a share, generally based on his share of profits, of our nonrecourse liabilities.

Limitations on Deductibility of Losses. The deduction by a unitholder of his share of our losses will be limited to the tax basis in his units and, in the case of an individual unitholder or a corporate unitholder more than 50.0 percent of the value of the stock of which is owned directly or indirectly by five or fewer individuals or some tax-exempt organizations, to the amount for which the unitholder is considered to be “at risk” with respect to our activities, if that is less than his tax basis. In general, a unitholder will be at risk to the extent of the tax basis of his units, excluding any portion of that basis attributable to his share of our nonrecourse liabilities, reduced by any amount of money he borrows to acquire or hold his units, if the lender of those borrowed funds owns an interest in us, is related to the unitholder or can look only to the units for repayment. A unitholder must recapture losses deducted in previous years to the extent that distributions cause his at risk amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year. Losses disallowed to a unitholder or recaptured as a result of these limitations will carry forward and will be allowable to the extent that his tax basis or at risk amount, whichever is the limiting factor, is subsequently increased. Upon the taxable disposition of a unit, any gain recognized by a unitholder can be offset by losses that were previously suspended by the at risk limitation but may not be offset by losses suspended by the basis limitation. Any excess suspended loss above that gain is no longer utilizable.

The passive loss limitations generally provide that individuals, estates, trusts and some closely-held corporations and personal service corporations can deduct losses from a passive activity only to the extent of the taxpayer’s income from the same passive activity. Passive activities generally are corporate or partnership activities in which the taxpayer does not materially participate. The passive loss limitations are applied separately with respect to each publicly traded partnership. Consequently, any passive losses we generate only will be available to offset our passive income generated in the future and will not be available to offset income from other passive activities or investments, including our investments or investments in other publicly traded partnerships, or salary or active business income. Passive losses that are not deductible because they exceed a unitholder’s share of income we generate may be deducted in full when he disposes of his entire investment in us in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party. The passive activity loss rules are applied after other applicable limitations on deductions, including the at risk rules and the basis limitation.

Dual consolidated loss restrictions also may apply to limit the deductibility by a corporate unitholder of losses we incur. Corporate unitholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the applicability and effect to them of dual consolidated loss restrictions.

Limitations on Interest Deductions. The deductibility of a non-corporate taxpayer’s “investment interest expense” generally is limited to the amount of that taxpayer’s “net investment income.” For this purpose, investment interest expense includes, among other things, a unitholder’s share of our interest expense attributed to portfolio income. The IRS has indicated that net passive income earned by a publicly traded partnership will be treated as investment income to its unitholders. In addition, the unitholder’s share of our portfolio income will be treated as investment income.

Entity-Level Collections. If we are required or elect under applicable law to pay any U.S. federal, state or local or foreign income or withholding taxes on behalf of any present or former unitholder or the general partner, we are authorized to pay those taxes from our funds. That payment, if made, will be treated as a distribution of cash to the partner on whose behalf the payment was made. If the payment is made on behalf of a person whose identity cannot be determined, we are authorized to treat the payment as a distribution to all current unitholders. We are authorized to amend the partnership agreement in the manner necessary to maintain uniformity of intrinsic tax characteristics of units and to adjust later distributions, so that after giving effect to these distributions, the priority and characterization of distributions otherwise applicable under the partnership agreement are maintained as nearly as is practicable. Payments by us as described above could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf of an individual partner, in which event the partner would be required to file a claim in order to obtain a credit or refund of tax paid.

Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss, Deduction and Credit. In general, if we have a net profit, our items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit will be allocated among the general partner and the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us. At any time that incentive distributions are made to the general partner, gross income will be allocated to the general partner to the extent of these distributions. If we have a net loss for the entire year, that loss generally will be allocated first to the general partner and the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us to the extent of their positive capital accounts and, second, to the general partner.

 

62


Table of Contents

Specified items of our income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated to account for any difference between the tax basis and fair market value of any property held by the partnership immediately prior to an offering of common units, referred to in this discussion as “Adjusted Property.” The effect of these allocations to a unitholder purchasing common units in an offering essentially will be the same as if the tax basis of our assets were equal to their fair market value at the time of the offering. In addition, items of recapture income will be allocated to the extent possible to the partner who was allocated the deduction giving rise to the treatment of that gain as recapture income in order to minimize the recognition of ordinary income by some unitholders. Finally, although we do not expect that our operations will result in the creation of negative capital accounts, if negative capital accounts nevertheless result, items of our income and gain will be allocated in an amount and manner to eliminate the negative balance as quickly as possible.

An allocation of items of our income, gain, loss, deduction or credit, other than an allocation required by the Code to eliminate the difference between a partner’s “book” capital account, which is credited with the fair market value of Adjusted Property, and “tax” capital account, which is credited with the tax basis of Adjusted Property, referred to in this discussion as the “Book-Tax Disparity,” generally will be given effect for U.S. federal income tax purposes in determining a partner’s share of an item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit only if the allocation has substantial economic effect. In any other case, a partner’s share of an item will be determined on the basis of his interest in us, which will be determined by taking into account all the facts and circumstances, including:

 

   

this relative contributions to us;

 

   

the interests of all the partners in profits and losses;

 

   

the interest of all the partners in cash flow; and

 

   

the rights of all the partners to distributions of capital upon liquidation.

A unitholder’s taxable income or loss with respect to a common unit each year will depend upon a number of factors, including (1) the nature and fair market value of our assets at the time the holder acquired the common unit, (2) whether we issue additional units or we engage in certain other transactions and (3) the manner in which our items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit are allocated among our partners. For this purpose, we determine the value of our assets and the relative amounts of our items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit allocable to our unitholders and our general partner as holder of the incentive distribution rights by reference to the value of our interests, including the incentive distribution rights. The IRS may challenge any valuation determinations that we make, particularly as to the incentive distribution rights, for which there is no public market. Moreover, the IRS could challenge certain other aspects of the manner in which we determine the relative allocations made to our unitholders and to the general partner as holder of our incentive distribution rights. A successful IRS challenge to our valuation or allocation methods could increase the amount of net taxable income and gain realized by a unitholder with respect to a common unit.

Section 754 Election. We have made an election under Section 754 of the Code to adjust a common unit purchaser’s U.S. federal income tax basis in our assets (or inside basis ) to reflect the purchaser’s purchase price (or a Section 743(b) adjustment ). The Section 743(b) adjustment belongs to the purchaser and not to other unitholders and does not apply to unitholders who acquire their common units directly from us. For purposes of this discussion, a unitholder’s inside basis in our assets will be considered to have two components: (1) his share of our tax basis in our assets (or common basis ) and (2) his Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis.

In general, a purchaser’s common basis is depreciated or amortized according to the existing method utilized by us. A positive Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis generally is depreciated or amortized in the same manner as property of the same type that has been newly placed in service by us. A negative Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis generally is recovered over the remaining useful life of the partnership’s recovery property.

The calculations involved in the Section 743(b) adjustment are complex and will be made on the basis of assumptions as to the value of our assets and in accordance with the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations. We cannot assure you that the determinations we make will not be successfully challenged by the IRS and that the deductions resulting from them will not be reduced or disallowed altogether. Should the IRS require a different basis adjustment to be made, and should, in our judgment, the expense of compliance exceed the benefit of the election, we may seek consent from the IRS to revoke our Section 754 election. If such consent is given, a subsequent purchaser of units may be allocated more income than he would have been allocated had the election not been revoked.

Treatment of Short Sales.  A unitholder whose units are loaned to a “short seller” who sells such units may be considered to have disposed of those units. If so, he would no longer be a partner with respect to those units until the termination of the loan and may recognize gain or loss from the disposition. As a result, any of our income, gain, loss, deduction or credit with respect to the units may not be reportable by the unitholder who loaned them and any cash distributions received by such unitholder with respect to those units may be fully taxable as ordinary income.

Unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition from a loan to a short seller are urged to ensure that any applicable brokerage account agreements prohibit their brokers from borrowing their units.

Tax Treatment of Operations

Accounting Method and Taxable Year. We use the calendar year as our taxable year and the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Each unitholder will be required to include in income his share of our income, gain, loss, deduction and credit for our taxable year ending within or with his taxable year. In addition, a unitholder who disposes of all of his units must include his share of our income, gain, loss, deduction and credit through the date of disposition in income for his taxable year that includes the date of disposition, with the result that a unitholder who has a taxable year ending on a date other than December 31 and who disposes of all of his units following the close of our taxable year but before the close of his taxable year must include his share of more than one year of our income, gain, loss, deduction and credit in income for the year of the disposition.

Asset Tax Basis, Depreciation and Amortization. The tax basis of our assets will be used for purposes of computing depreciation and cost recovery deductions and, ultimately, gain or loss on the disposition of these assets. The U.S. federal income tax burden associated with any difference between the fair market value of our assets and their tax basis immediately prior to any offering of common units will be borne by the general partner and the existing limited partners.

 

63


Table of Contents

To the extent allowable, we may elect to use the depreciation and cost recovery methods that will result in the largest deductions being taken in the earliest years after assets are placed in service. Property we subsequently acquire or construct may be depreciated using any method permitted by the Code.

If we dispose of depreciable property by sale, foreclosure or otherwise, all or a portion of any gain, determined by reference to the amount of depreciation previously deducted and the nature of the property, may be subject to the recapture rules and taxed as ordinary income rather than capital gain. Similarly, a unitholder who has taken cost recovery or depreciation deductions with respect to property we own likely will be required to recapture some or all of those deductions as ordinary income upon a sale of his interest in us.

The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of units will depend in part on our estimates of the relative fair market values, and the tax bases, of our assets at the time the holder acquired the common unit, we issue additional units or we engage in certain other transactions. Although we may from time to time consult with professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, we will make many of the relative fair market value estimates ourselves. These estimates and determinations of basis are subject to challenge and will not be binding on the IRS or the courts. If the estimates of fair market value or basis are later found to be incorrect, the character and amount of items of income, gain, loss, deductions or credits previously reported by unitholders might change, and unitholders might be required to adjust their tax liability for prior years and incur interest and penalties with respect to those adjustments.

Disposition of Common Units

Recognition of Gain or Loss. In general, gain or loss will be recognized on a sale of units equal to the difference between the amount realized and the unitholder’s tax basis in the units sold. A unitholder’s amount realized will be measured by the sum of the cash, the fair market value of other property received by him and his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. Because the amount realized includes a unitholder’s share of our nonrecourse liabilities, the gain recognized on the sale of units could result in a tax liability in excess of any cash or property received from the sale.

Prior distributions from us in excess of cumulative net taxable income for a common unit that decreased a unitholder’s tax basis in that common unit will, in effect, become taxable income if the common unit is sold at a price greater than the unitholder’s tax basis in that common unit, even if the price received is less than his original cost. Except as noted below, gain or loss recognized by a unitholder on the sale or exchange of a unit generally will be taxable as capital gain or loss. Capital gain recognized by an individual on the sale of units held more than one year generally will be taxed at a maximum rate of 15.0 percent under current law.

A portion of a unitholder’s amount realized may be allocable to “unrealized receivables” or to “inventory items” we own. The term “unrealized receivables” includes potential recapture items, including depreciation and amortization recapture. A unitholder will recognize ordinary income or loss to the extent of the difference between the portion of the unitholder’s amount realized allocable to unrealized receivables or inventory items and the unitholder’s share of our basis in such receivables or inventory items. Ordinary income attributable to unrealized receivables, inventory items and depreciation or amortization recapture may exceed net taxable gain realized upon the sale of a unit and may be recognized even if a net taxable loss is realized on the sale of a unit. Thus, a unitholder may recognize both ordinary income and a capital loss upon a sale of units. Net capital losses generally may only be used to offset capital gains. An exception permits individuals to offset up to $3,000 of net capital losses against ordinary income in any given year.

The IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a partnership in separate transactions must combine those interests and maintain a single adjusted tax basis for all those interests. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of those interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated to the interests sold using an “equitable apportionment” method. Treasury Regulations under Section 1223 of the Code allow a selling unitholder who can identify common units transferred with an ascertainable holding period to elect to use the actual holding period of the common units transferred. Thus, according to the ruling, a common unitholder will be unable to select high or low basis common units to sell as would be the case with corporate stock, but, according to the regulations, may designate specific common units sold for purposes of determining the holding period of units transferred. A unitholder electing to use the actual holding period of common units transferred must consistently use that identification method for all subsequent sales or exchanges of common units. A unitholder considering the purchase of additional units or a sale of common units purchased in separate transactions is urged to consult his tax advisor as to the possible consequences of this ruling and application of the regulations.

Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees. In general, our taxable income or loss will be determined annually, will be prorated on a monthly basis and will be subsequently apportioned among the unitholders in proportion to the number of units owned by each of them as of the opening of the applicable exchange on the first business day of the month. However, gain or loss realized on a sale or other disposition of our assets other than in the ordinary course of business will be allocated among the unitholders on the first business day of the month in which that gain or loss is recognized. As a result of the foregoing, a unitholder transferring units may be allocated income, gain, loss, deduction and credit realized after the date of transfer. A unitholder who owns units at any time during a calendar quarter and who disposes of them prior to the record date set for a cash distribution for that quarter will be allocated items of our income, gain, loss and deductions attributable to months within that quarter in which the units were held but will not be entitled to receive that cash distribution.

Transfer Notification Requirements. A unitholder who sells any of his units, other than through a broker, generally is required to notify us in writing of that sale within 30 days after the sale (or, if earlier, January 15 of the year following the sale). A unitholder who acquires units generally is required to notify us in writing of that acquisition within 30 days after the purchase, unless a broker or nominee will satisfy such requirement. We are required to notify the IRS of any such transfers of units and to furnish specified information to the transferor and transferee. Failure to notify us of a transfer of units may lead to the imposition of substantial penalties.

Constructive Termination. We will be considered to have been terminated for U.S. federal income tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50.0 percent or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a 12-month period. A constructive termination results in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders. In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than a calendar year, the closing of our taxable year may result in more than 12 months of our taxable income or loss being includable in his taxable income for the year of termination. We would be required to make new tax elections after a termination, including a new election under Section 754 of the Code, and a termination would result in a

 

64


Table of Contents

deferral of our deductions for depreciation. A termination could also result in penalties if we were unable to determine that the termination had occurred. Moreover, a termination might either accelerate the application of, or subject us to, tax legislation applicable to a newly formed partnership.

Foreign Tax Credit Considerations

Subject to detailed limitations set forth in the Code, a unitholder may elect to claim a credit against his liability for U.S. federal income tax for his share of foreign income taxes (and certain foreign taxes imposed in lieu of a tax based upon income) paid by us. Income allocated to unitholders likely will constitute foreign source income falling in the passive foreign tax credit category for purposes of the U.S. foreign tax credit limitation. The rules relating to the determination of the foreign tax credit are complex and unitholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors to determine whether or to what extent they would be entitled to such credit. A unitholder who does not elect to claim foreign tax credits may instead claim a deduction for his share of foreign taxes paid by us.

Tax-Exempt Organizations and Non-U.S. Investors

Investments in units by employee benefit plans, other tax-exempt organizations and non-U.S. persons, including nonresident aliens of the United States, non-U.S. corporations and non-U.S. trusts and estates (collectively, non-U.S. unitholders ) raise issues unique to those investors and, as described below, may result in substantially adverse tax consequences to them.

Employee benefit plans and most other organizations exempt from U.S. federal income tax, including individual retirement accounts and other retirement plans, are subject to U.S. federal income tax on unrelated business taxable income. Virtually all of our income allocated to a unitholder that is such a tax-exempt organization will be unrelated business taxable income to it subject to U.S. federal income tax.

A non-U.S. unitholder may be subject to a 4.0 percent U.S. federal income tax on his share of the U.S. source portion of our gross income attributable to transportation that begins or ends (but not both) in the United States, unless either (a) an exemption applies and he files a U.S. federal income tax return to claim that exemption or (b) that income is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States (or U.S. effectively connected income ). For this purpose, transportation income includes income from the use, hiring or leasing of a vessel to transport cargo, or the performance of services directly related to the use of any vessel to transport cargo. The U.S. source portion of our transportation income is deemed to be 50.0 percent of the income attributable to voyages that begin or end in the United States. Generally, no amount of the income from voyages that begin and end outside the United States is treated as U.S. source, and consequently none of our transportation income attributable to such voyages is subject to U.S. federal income tax. Although the entire amount of transportation income from voyages that begin and end in the United States would be fully taxable in the United States, we currently do not expect to have any transportation income from voyages that begin and end in the United States; however, there is no assurance that such voyages will not occur.

A non-U.S. unitholder may be entitled to an exemption from the 4.0 percent U.S. federal income tax or a refund of tax withheld on U.S. effectively connected income that constitutes transportation income if any of the following applies: (1) such non-U.S. unitholder qualifies for an exemption from this tax under an income tax treaty between the United States and the country where such non-U.S. unitholder is resident; (2) in the case of an individual non-U.S. unitholder, he qualifies for the exemption from tax under Section 872(b)(1) of the Code as a resident of a country that grants an equivalent exemption from tax to residents of the United States; or (3) in the case of a corporate non-U.S. unitholder, it qualifies for the exemption from tax under Section 883 of the Code (or the Section 883 Exemption ) (for the rules relating to qualification for the Section 883 Exemption, please read below under “– Possible Classification as a Corporation – The Section 883 Exemption”).

We may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax, computed at the highest statutory rate, from cash distributions to non-U.S. unitholders with respect to their shares of our income that is U.S. effectively connected income. Our transportation income generally should not be treated as U.S. effectively connected income unless we have a fixed place of business in the United States and substantially all of such transportation income is attributable to either regularly scheduled transportation or, in the case of income derived from bareboat charters, is attributable to the fixed place of business in the United States. While we do not expect to have any regularly scheduled transportation or a fixed place of business in the United States, there can be no guarantee that this will not change. Under a ruling of the IRS, a portion of any gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of a unit by a non-U.S. unitholder may be treated as U.S. effectively connected income to the extent we have a fixed place of business in the United States and a sale of our assets would have given rise to U.S. effectively connected income. A non-U.S. unitholder would be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return to report his U.S. effectively connected income (including his share of any such income earned by us) and to pay U.S. federal income tax, or claim a credit or refund for tax withheld on such income. Further, unless an exemption applies, a non-U.S. corporation investing in units may be subject to a branch profits tax, at a 30.0 percent rate or lower rate prescribed by a treaty, with respect to its U.S. effectively connected income.

Non-U.S. unitholders must apply for and obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number in order to file U.S. federal income tax returns and must provide that identification number to us for purposes of any U.S. federal income tax information returns we may be required to file. Non-U.S. unitholders are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state and local tax consequences of an investment in units and any filing requirements related thereto.

Functional Currency

We are required to determine the functional currency of any of our operations that constitute a separate qualified business unit (or QBU ) for U.S. federal income tax purposes and report the affairs of any QBU in this functional currency to our unitholders. Any transactions conducted by us other than in the U.S. dollar or by a QBU other than in its functional currency may give rise to foreign currency exchange gain or loss. Further, if a QBU is required to maintain a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, a unitholder may be required to recognize foreign currency translation gain or loss upon a distribution of money or property from a QBU or upon the sale of common units, and items or income, gain, loss, deduction or credit allocated to the unitholder in such functional currency must be translated into the unitholder’s functional currency.

For purposes of the foreign currency rules, a QBU includes a separate trade or business owned by a partnership in the event separate books and records are maintained for that separate trade or business. The functional currency of a QBU is determined based upon the economic environment in which the QBU operates. Thus, a QBU whose revenues and expenses are primarily determined in a currency other than the U.S. dollar will have a non-U.S. dollar functional currency. We believe our principal operations constitute a QBU whose functional currency is the U.S. dollar, but certain of our operations constitute separate QBUs whose functional currencies are other than the U.S. dollar.

 

65


Table of Contents

Proposed regulations (or the Section 987 Proposed Regulations ) provide that the amount of foreign currency translation gain or loss recognized upon a distribution of money or property from a QBU or upon the sale of common units will reflect the appreciation or depreciation in the functional currency value of certain assets and liabilities of the QBU between the time the unitholder purchased his common units and the time we receive distributions from such QBU or the unitholder sells his common units. Foreign currency translation gain or loss will be treated as ordinary income or loss. A unitholder must adjust the U.S. federal income tax basis in his common units to reflect such income or loss prior to determining any other U.S. federal income tax consequences of such distribution or sale. A unitholder who owns less than a 5.0 percent interest in our capital or profits generally may elect not to have these rules apply by attaching a statement to his tax return for the first taxable year the unitholder intends the election to be effective. Further, for purposes of computing his taxable income and U.S. federal income tax basis in his common units, a unitholder will be required to translate into his own functional currency items of income, gain, loss or deduction of such QBU and his share of such QBU’s liabilities. We intend to provide such information based on generally applicable U.S. exchange rates as is necessary for unitholders to comply with the requirements of the Section 987 Proposed Regulations as part of the U.S. federal income tax information we will furnish unitholders each year. However, a unitholder may be entitled to make an election to apply an alternative exchange rate with respect to the foreign currency translation of certain items. Unitholders who desire to make such an election should consult their own tax advisors.

Based upon our current projections of the capital invested in and profits of the non-U.S. dollar QBUs, we believe that unitholders will be required to recognize only a nominal amount of foreign currency translation gain or loss each year and upon their sale of units. Nonetheless, the rules for determining the amount of translation gain or loss are not entirely clear at present as the Section 987 Proposed Regulations currently are not effective. Unitholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors for specific advice regarding the application of the rules for recognizing foreign currency translation gain or loss under their own circumstances. In addition to a unitholder’s recognition of foreign currency translation gain or loss, the U.S. dollar QBU will engage in certain transactions denominated in the Euro, which will give rise to a certain amount of foreign currency exchange gain or loss each year. This foreign currency exchange gain or loss will be treated as ordinary income or loss.

Information Returns and Audit Procedures

We intend to furnish to each unitholder, within 90 days after the close of each calendar year, specific U.S. federal income tax information, including a document in the form of IRS Form 1065, Schedule K-1, which sets forth his share of our items of income, gain, loss, deductions and credits as computed for U.S. federal income tax purposes for our preceding taxable year. In preparing this information, which will not be reviewed by counsel, we will take various accounting and reporting positions, some of which have been mentioned earlier, to determine his share of such items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit. We cannot assure you that those positions will yield a result that conforms to the requirements of the Code, Treasury Regulations or administrative interpretations of the IRS. We can not assure unitholders that the IRS will not successfully contend that those positions are impermissible. Any challenge by the IRS could negatively affect the value of the units.

We will be obligated to file U.S. federal income tax information returns with the IRS for any year in which we earn any U.S. source income or U.S. effectively connected income. In the event we were obligated to file a U.S. federal income tax information return but failed to do so, unitholders would not be entitled to claim any deductions, losses or credits for U.S. federal income tax purposes relating to us. Consequently, we may file U.S. federal income tax information returns for any given year. The IRS may audit any such information returns that we file. Adjustments resulting from an IRS audit of our return may require each unitholder to adjust a prior year’s tax liability, and may result in an audit of his return. Any audit of a unitholder’s return could result in adjustments not related to our returns as well as those related to our returns. Any IRS audit relating to our items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit for years in which we are not required to file and do not file a U.S. federal income tax information return would be conducted at the partner-level, and each unitholder may be subject to separate audit proceedings relating to such items.

For years in which we file or are required to file U.S. federal income tax information returns, we will be treated as a separate entity for purposes of any U.S. federal income tax audits, as well as for purposes of judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS and tax settlement proceedings. For such years, the tax treatment of partnership items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit will be determined in a partnership proceeding rather than in separate proceedings with the partners. The Code requires that one partner be designated as the “Tax Matters Partner” for these purposes. The partnership agreement names Teekay GP L.L.C. as our Tax Matters Partner.

The Tax Matters Partner will make some U.S. federal tax elections on our behalf and on behalf of unitholders. In addition, the Tax Matters Partner can extend the statute of limitations for assessment of tax deficiencies against unitholders for items reported in the information returns we file. The Tax Matters Partner may bind a unitholder with less than a 1.0 percent profits interest in us to a settlement with the IRS with respect to these items unless that unitholder elects, by filing a statement with the IRS, not to give that authority to the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner may seek judicial review, by which all the unitholders are bound, of a final partnership administrative adjustment and, if the Tax Matters Partner fails to seek judicial review, judicial review may be sought by any unitholder having at least a 1.0 percent interest in profits or by any group of unitholders having in the aggregate at least a 5.0 percent interest in profits. However, only one action for judicial review will go forward, and each unitholder with an interest in the outcome may participate.

A unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the treatment of any item on his U.S. federal income tax return that is not consistent with the treatment of the item on an information return that we file. Intentional or negligent disregard of this consistency requirement may subject a unitholder to substantial penalties

Special Reporting Requirements for Owners of Non-U.S. Partnerships.

A U.S. person who either contributes more than $100,000 to us (when added to the value of any other property contributed to us by such person or a related person during the previous 12 months), or following a contribution owns, directly, indirectly or by attribution from certain related persons, at least a 10.0 percent interest in us, is required to file IRS Form 8865 with his U.S. federal income tax return for the year of the contribution to report the contribution and provide certain details about himself and certain related persons, us and any persons that own a 10.0 percent or greater direct interest in us. We will provide each unitholder with the necessary information about us and those persons who own a 10.0 percent or greater direct interest in us along with the Schedule K-1 information described previously.

 

66


Table of Contents

In addition to the foregoing, a U.S. person who directly owns at least a 10.0 percent interest in us may be required to make additional disclosures on IRS Form 8865 in the event such person acquires, disposes or has his interest in us substantially increased or reduced. Further, a U.S. person who directly, indirectly or by attribution from certain related persons, owns at least a 10.0 percent interest in us may be required to make additional disclosures on IRS Form 8865 in the event such person, when considered together with any other U.S. persons who own at least a 10.0 percent interest in us, owns a greater than 50.0 percent interest in us. For these purposes, an “interest” in us generally is defined to include an interest in our capital or profits or an interest in our deductions or losses.

Significant penalties may apply for failing to satisfy IRS Form 8865 filing requirements and thus unitholders are advised to contact their tax advisors to determine the application of these filing requirements under their own circumstances.

Accuracy-related Penalties.

An additional tax equal to 20.0 percent of the amount of any portion of an underpayment of U.S. federal income tax attributable to one or more specified causes, including negligence or disregard of rules or regulations and substantial understatements of income tax, is imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. No penalty will be imposed, however, for any portion of an underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause for that portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith regarding that portion.

A substantial understatement of income tax in any taxable year exists if the amount of the understatement exceeds the greater of 10.0 percent of the tax required to be shown on the return for the taxable year or $5,000. The amount of any understatement subject to penalty generally is reduced if any portion is attributable to a position adopted on the return:

 

  (1) for which there is, or was, “substantial authority”; or

 

  (2) as to which there is a reasonable basis and the pertinent facts of that position are disclosed on the return.

More stringent rules, including additional penalties and extended statutes of limitations, may apply as a result of our participation in “listed transactions” or “reportable transactions with a significant tax avoidance purpose.” While we do not anticipate participating in such transactions, if any item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit included in the distributive shares of unitholders for a given year might result in an “understatement” of income relating to such a transaction, we will disclose the pertinent facts on a U.S. federal income tax information return for such year. In such event, we also will make a reasonable effort to furnish sufficient information for unitholders to make adequate disclosure on their returns and to take other actions as may be appropriate to permit unitholders to avoid liability for penalties.

Possible Classification as a Corporation

If we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception described above with respect to our classification as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, other than a failure that is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after discovery, we will be treated as a non-U.S. corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If previously treated as a partnership, our change in status would be deemed to have been effected by our transfer of all of our assets, subject to liabilities, to a newly formed non-U.S. corporation, in return for stock in that corporation, and then our distribution of that stock to our unitholders and other owners in liquidation of their interests in us. Unitholders that are U.S. persons would be required to file IRS Form 926 to report these deemed transfers and any other transfers they made to us while we were treated as a corporation and may be required to recognize income or gain for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent of certain prior deductions or losses and other items. Substantial penalties may apply for failure to satisfy these reporting requirements, unless the person otherwise required to report shows such failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect.

If we were treated as a corporation in any taxable year, either as a result of a failure to meet the Qualifying Income Exception or otherwise, our items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit would not pass through to unitholders. Instead, we would be subject to U.S. federal income tax based on the rules applicable to foreign corporations, not partnerships, and such items would be treated as our own. Any distribution made to a unitholder would be treated as taxable dividend income to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of the unitholder’s tax basis in his common units, and taxable capital gain thereafter. Section 743(b) adjustments to the basis of our assets would no longer be available to purchasers in the marketplace.

Taxation of Operating Income . We expect that substantially all of our gross income and the gross income of our corporate subsidiaries will be attributable to the transportation of LNG, LPG, crude oil and related products. For this purpose, gross income attributable to transportation (or Transportation Income ) includes income derived from, or in connection with, the use (or hiring or leasing for use) of a vessel to transport cargo, or the performance of services directly related to the use of any vessel to transport cargo, and thus includes both time charter and bareboat charter income.

Transportation Income that is attributable to transportation that begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in the United States will be considered to be 50.0 percent derived from sources within the United States (or U.S. Source International Transportation Income ). Transportation Income attributable to transportation that both begins and ends in the United States will be considered to be 100.0 percent derived from sources within the United States (or U.S. Source Domestic Transportation Income ). Transportation Income attributable to transportation exclusively between non-U.S. destinations will be considered to be 100.0 percent derived from sources outside the United States. Transportation Income derived from sources outside the United States generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.

Based on our current operations and the operations of our subsidiaries, we expect substantially all of our Transportation Income to be from sources outside the United States and not subject to U.S. federal income tax. However, if we or any of our subsidiaries does earn U.S. Source International Transportation Income or U.S. Source Domestic Transportation, our income or our subsidiaries income may be subject to U.S. federal income taxation under one of two alternative tax regimes (the 4.0 percent gross basis tax or the net basis tax, as described below), unless the exemption from U.S. taxation under Section 883 of the Code (or the Section 883 Exemption ) applies.

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 the regulations thereunder (or the Section 883 Regulations), it will not be subject to the 4.0 percent gross basis tax or the net basis tax and branch profits taxes described below on its U.S. Source International Transportation Income. The Section 883 Exemption does not apply to U.S. Source Domestic Transportation Income.

 

67


Table of Contents

A non-U.S. corporation will qualify for the Section 883 Exemption if, among other things, it is organized in a jurisdiction outside the United States that grants an equivalent exemption from tax to corporations organized in the United States (or an Equivalent Exemption ); it meets one of three ownership tests described in the Section 883 Regulations (or the Ownership Test ) and it meets certain substantiation, reporting and other requirements (or the Substantiation Requirements ).

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. We also believe that we will be able to satisfy the Substantiation Requirements necessary to qualify for the Section 883 Exemption. Consequently, our U.S. Source International Transportation Income (including for this purpose, any such income earned by our subsidiaries that have properly elected to be treated as partnerships or disregarded as entities separate from us for U.S. federal income tax purposes) would be exempt from U.S. federal income taxation provided we could satisfy the Ownership Test. However, we do not believe that we met the Ownership Test in 2011 and we do not expect to meet the Ownership in all succeeding years. As a result, in the event we were treated as a corporation, we would not qualify for the Section 883 Exemption and our U.S. Source International Transportation Income would not be exempt from U.S. federal income taxation.

The 4.0 Percent Gross Basis Tax. If we were to be treated as a corporation and if the Section 883 Exemption described above and the net basis tax described below does not apply, we would be subject to a 4.0 percent U.S. federal income tax on our U.S. Source International Transportation Income, without benefit of deductions. We estimate that, in this event, we would be subject to less than $200,000 of U.S. federal income tax in 2012 and in each subsequent year (in addition to any U.S. federal income taxes on our subsidiaries, as described below) based on the amount of U.S. Source International Transportation Income we earned for 2011 and our expected U.S. Source International Transportation Income for subsequent years. The amount of such tax for which we would be liable for any year in which we were treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would depend upon the amount of income we earn from voyages into or out of the United States in such year, however, which is not within our complete control.

Net Basis Tax and Branch Profits Tax. We currently do not expect to have a fixed place of business in the United States. Nonetheless, if this were to change or we otherwise were treated as having such a fixed place of business in the United States, our U.S. Source International Transportation Income may be treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States (or Effectively Connected Income ) if substantially all of our U.S. Source International Transportation Income is attributable to regularly scheduled transportation or, in the case of income derived from bareboat charters, is attributable to the fixed place of business in the United States. Based on our current operations, none of our potential U.S. Source International Transportation Income is attributable to regularly scheduled transportation or is derived from bareboat charters attributable to a fixed place of business in the United States. As a result, if we were classified as a corporation, we do not anticipate that any of our U.S. Source International Transportation Income would be treated as Effectively Connected Income. However, there is no assurance that we would not earn income pursuant to regularly scheduled transportation or bareboat charters attributable to a fixed place of business in the United States in the future, which would result in such income being treated as Effectively Connected Income if we were classified as a corporation. Any income that we earn that is treated as Effectively Connected Income would be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax (the highest statutory rate currently is 35.0 percent), unless the Section 883 Exemption (as discussed above) applied. The 4.0 percent U.S. federal income tax described above is inapplicable to Effectively Connected Income.

Unless the Section 883 Exemption applied, a 30.0 percent branch profits tax imposed under Section 884 of the Code also would apply to our earnings that result from Effectively Connected Income, and a branch interest tax could be imposed on certain interest paid or deemed paid by us.

On the sale of a vessel that has produced Effectively Connected Income, we could be subject to the net basis corporate income tax and to the 30.0 percent branch profits tax with respect to our gain not in excess of certain prior deductions for depreciation that reduced Effectively Connected Income. Otherwise, we would not expect to be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to the remainder of any gain realized on sale of a vessel because it is expected that any sale of a vessel will be structured so that it is considered to occur outside of the United States and so that it is not attributable to an office or other fixed place of business in the United States.

Consequences of Possible PFIC Classification.

A non-United States entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be a passive foreign investment company (or PFIC ) in any taxable year in which, after taking into account the income and assets of the corporation and certain subsidiaries pursuant to a “look through” rule, either (i) at least 75.0 percent of its gross income is “passive” income or (ii) at least 50.0 percent of the average value of its assets is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. For purposes of these tests, “passive income” includes dividends, interest, and 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. For purposes of these tests, income derived from the performance of services does not constitute “passive income.”

Based upon our current assets and operations, we do not believe that we would be considered to be a PFIC even if we were treated as a corporation. No assurance can be given, however, that the IRS would accept this position or that we would not constitute a PFIC for any future taxable year if we were treated as a corporation and there were to be changes in our assets, income or operations. In addition, the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Tidewater Inc. v. United States. 565 F.3d 299 (5th Cir. 2009) held that income derived from certain time chartering activities should be treated as rental income rather than services income for purposes of a foreign sales corporation provision of the Code. However, the IRS stated in an Action on Decision (AOD 2010-001) that it disagrees with, and will not acquiesce to, the way that the rental versus services framework was applied to the facts in the Tidewater decision, and in its discussion stated that the time charters at issue in Tidewater would be treated as producing services income for PFIC purposes. The IRS’s statement with respect to Tidewater cannot be relied upon or otherwise cited as precedent by taxpayers. Consequently, in the absence of any binding legal authority specifically relating to the statutory provisions governing PFICs, there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court would not follow the Tidewater decision in interpreting the PFIC provisions under the Code. Nevertheless, based on our current assets and operations , we believe that we would not now be nor would have ever been a PFIC even if we were treated as a corporation.

 

68


Table of Contents

If we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a unitholder owns units, a unitholder generally would be subject to special rules (regardless of whether we continue thereafter to be a PFIC) resulting in increased tax liability with respect to (1) any “excess distribution” (i.e., the portion of any distributions received by a unitholder on our common units in a taxable year in excess of 125.0 percent of the average annual distributions received by the unitholder in the three preceding taxable years or, if shorter, the unitholder’s holding period for the units) and (2) any gain realized upon the sale or other disposition of units. Under these rules:

 

   

the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over the unitholder’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 unitholder would be taxed as ordinary income in the current taxable year;

 

   

the amount allocated to each of the other taxable years would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the highest rate in effect for the applicable class of taxpayer for that year; and

 

   

an interest charge for the deemed deferral benefit would be imposed with respect to the resulting tax attributable to each such other taxable year.

In addition, if a unitholder were subject to the above rules for any taxable year after 2010, a unitholder would be required to file an annual report with the IRS for that year with respect to the unitholder’s common units.

Certain elections, such as a qualified electing fund (or QEF ) election or mark to market election, may be available to a unitholder if we were classified as a PFIC. If we determine that we are or will be a PFIC, we will provide unitholders with information concerning the potential availability of such elections.

Under current law, dividends received by individual citizens or residents of the United States from domestic corporations and qualified foreign corporations generally are treated as net capital gains and subject to U.S. federal income tax at reduced rates (currently 15.0 percent). However, if we were classified as a PFIC for our taxable year in which we pay a dividend, we would not be considered a qualified foreign corporation, and individuals receiving such dividends would not be eligible for the reduced rate of U.S. federal income tax.

Consequences of Possible Controlled Foreign Corporation Classification. If we were to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and if CFC Shareholders (generally, U.S. Holders who each own, directly, indirectly or constructively, 10.0 percent or more of the total combined voting power of our outstanding shares entitled to vote) own directly, indirectly or constructively more than 50.0 percent of either the total combined voting power of our outstanding shares entitled to vote or the total value of all of our outstanding shares, we generally would be treated as a controlled foreign corporation (or a CFC ).

CFC Shareholders are treated as receiving current distributions of their shares of certain income of the CFC without regard to any actual distributions and are subject to other burdensome U.S. federal income tax and administrative requirements but generally are not also subject to the requirements generally applicable to shareholders of a PFIC. In addition, a person who is or has been a CFC Shareholder may recognize ordinary income on the disposition of shares of the CFC. Although we do not believe we are or will become a CFC even if we were to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, U.S. persons purchasing a substantial interest in us should consider the potential implications of being treated as a CFC Shareholder in the event we become a CFC in the future.

The U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders who are not CFC Shareholders would not change in the event we become a CFC in the future.

Taxation of Our Subsidiary Corporations

Our subsidiaries Arctic Spirit L.L.C., Polar Spirit L.L.C. and Teekay LNG Holdco L.L.C. are classified as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes and are subject to U.S. federal income tax based on the rules applicable to foreign corporations described above under “Possible Classification as a Corporation – Taxation of Operating Income,” including, but not limited to, the 4.0 percent gross basis tax or the net basis tax if the Section 883 Exemption does not apply. We believe that the Section 883 Exemption would apply to our corporate subsidiaries only to the extent that it would apply to us if we were to be treated as a corporation. As such, we believe that the Section 883 Exemption did not apply for 2011 and would not apply in subsequent years and therefore, the 4.0 percent gross basis tax applied to our subsidiary corporations in 2011 and will apply to our subsidiary corporations in subsequent years. In this regard, we estimate that we will be subject to approximately $100,000 or less of U.S. federal income tax in 2012 and in each subsequent year based on the amount of U.S. Source International Transportation Income these subsidiaries earned for 2011 and their expected U.S. Source International Transportation Income for 2012 and subsequent years. The amount of such tax for which they would be liable for any year will depend upon the amount of income they earn from voyages into or out of the United States in such year, which, however, is not within their complete control.

As non-U.S. entities classified as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, our subsidiaries Arctic Spirit L.L.C., Polar Spirit L.L.C. and Teekay LNG Holdco L.L.C. could be considered PFICs. We received a ruling from the IRS that our subsidiary Teekay LNG Holdco L.L.C. will be classified as a CFC rather than a PFIC as long as it is wholly-owned by a U.S. partnership.

We have restructured our subsidiaries Arctic Spirit L.L.C. and Polar Spirit L.L.C. such that they are also owned by our U.S. partnership. We intend to take the position that these subsidiaries should also be treated as CFCs rather than PFICs following this restructuring. Moreover, we believe and intend to take the position that these subsidiaries were not PFICs at any time prior to the restructuring. No assurance can be given, however, that the IRS, or a court of law, will accept this position or would not follow the Tidewater decision in interpreting the PFIC provisions under the Code (as discussed above). In the event that either of these subsidiaries were treated as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. unitholder held common units, such unitholder would be subject to potentially adverse tax consequences to the extent his common units relate to these

 

69


Table of Contents

subsidiaries, as described above. Certain elections, such as a QEF election may be available to a unitholder if these subsidiaries were classified as PFICs. If we determine that any of these subsidiaries were or will be a PFIC, we will provide unitholders with information concerning the potential availability of such elections.

Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences. The following discussion is a summary of the material Canadian federal income tax consequences under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (or the Canada Tax Act ) that we believe are relevant to holders of common units who, for the purposes of the Canada Tax Act and the Canada-United States Tax Convention 1980 (or the Canada-U.S. Treaty ), are at all relevant times resident in the United States and entitled to all of the benefits of the Canada – U.S. Treaty and who deal at arm’s length with us and Teekay Corporation (or U.S. Resident Holders ). This discussion takes into account all proposed amendments to the Canada Tax Act and the regulations thereunder that have been publicly announced by or on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Canada) prior to the date hereof and assumes that such proposed amendments will be enacted substantially as proposed. However, no assurance can be given that such proposed amendments will be enacted in the form proposed or at all. This discussion assumes that we are, and will continue to be, classified as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes.

A U.S. Resident Holder will not be liable to tax under the Canada Tax Act on any income or gains allocated by us to the U.S. Resident Holder in respect of such U.S. Resident Holder’s common units, provided that for purposes of the Canada-U.S. Treaty, (a) we do not carry on business through a permanent establishment in Canada and (b) such U.S. Resident Holder does not hold such common units in connection with a business carried on by such U.S. Resident Holder through a permanent establishment in Canada.

A U.S. Resident Holder will not be liable to tax under the Canada Tax Act on any income or gain from the sale, redemption or other disposition of such U.S. Resident Holder’s common units, provided that, for purposes of the Canada-U.S. Treaty, such common units do not, and did not at any time in the twelve-month period preceding the date of disposition, form part of the business property of a permanent establishment in Canada of such U.S. Resident Holder.

In this regard, we believe that our activities and affairs can be conducted in a manner that we will not be carrying on business in Canada and that U.S. Resident Holders should not be considered to be carrying on business in Canada for purposes of the Canada Tax Act or the Canada-U.S. Treaty solely by reason of the acquisition, holding, disposition or redemption of common units. We intend that this is and continues to be the case, notwithstanding that Teekay Shipping Limited (a subsidiary of Teekay Corporation that is resident and based in Bermuda) provides certain services to Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and obtains some or all such services under subcontracts with Canadian service providers. However, we cannot assure this result.

Other Taxation

We and our subsidiaries are subject to taxation in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions because we or our subsidiaries are either organized, or conduct business or operations, in such jurisdictions. We intend that our business and the business of our subsidiaries will be conducted and operated in a manner that minimizes taxes imposed upon us and our subsidiaries. However, we cannot assure this result as tax laws in these or other jurisdictions may change or we may enter into new business transactions relating to such jurisdictions, which could affect our tax liability. Please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 11 – Income Tax.

Documents on Display

Documents concerning us that are referred to herein may be inspected at our principal executive headquarters at 4 th Floor, Belvedere Building, 69 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda. Those documents electronically filed via the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (or EDGAR ) 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 rooms may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to the impact of interest rate changes primarily through our borrowings that require us to make interest payments based on LIBOR or EURIBOR. Significant increases in interest rates could adversely affect our operating margins, results of operations and our ability to service our debt. We use interest rate swaps to reduce our exposure to market risk from changes in interest rates. The principal objective of these contracts is to minimize the risks and costs associated with our floating-rate debt.

We are exposed to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the counterparties to the interest rate swap agreements. In order to minimize counterparty risk, we only enter into derivative transactions with counterparties that are rated A- or better by Standard & Poor’s or A3 or better by Moody’s at the time of the transactions. In addition, to the extent practical, interest rate swaps are entered into with different counterparties to reduce concentration risk.

 

70


Table of Contents

The table below provides information about our financial instruments at December 31, 2011, that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. For long-term debt and capital lease obligations, the table presents principal payments and related weighted-average interest rates by expected maturity dates. For interest rate swaps, the table presents notional amounts and weighted-average interest rates by expected contractual maturity dates.

Expected Maturity Date

 

       2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     There-
after
    Total     Fair
Value
Liability
    Rate  (1)  
     (in millions of U.S. dollars, except percentages)  

Long-Term Debt:

                  

Variable-Rate ($U.S.) (2)

     46.3       46.8       47.3       97.2       48.6       488.2       774.4       (684.6     1.3

Variable-Rate (Euro) (3) (4)

     13.5       14.5       15.6       16.7       17.9       270.7       348.9       (312.7     2.7

Fixed-Rate Debt ($U.S.)

     24.9       24.9       24.9       24.9       24.9       67.4       191.9       (193.8     5.4

Average Interest Rate

     5.4     5.4     5.4     5.4     5.4     5.3     5.4    

Capital Lease Obligations (5)

                  

Variable-Rate ($U.S.) (6)

     47.2       68.3       29.6       2.3       2.3       26.0       175.7       (175.7     7.4

Average Interest Rate (7)

     6.7     9.1     7.8     4.4     4.4     4.4     7.4    

Interest Rate Swaps:

                  

Contract Amount ($U.S.) (5) (8)

     18.9       19.4       19.9       20.6       21.2       518.6       618.6       (158.4     5.5

Average Fixed-Pay Rate (2)

     5.5     5.6     5.6     5.6     5.6     5.5     5.5    

Contract Amount (Euro) (4) (9)

     13.5       14.5       15.6       16.7       17.9       270.7       348.9       (25.8     3.1

Average Fixed-Pay Rate (3)

     3.1     3.1     3.1     3.1     3.1     3.1     3.1    

 

(1) Rate refers to the weighted-average effective interest rate for our long-term debt and capital lease obligations, including the margin we pay on our floating-rate debt and the average fixed pay rate for our interest rate swap agreements. The average interest rate for our capital lease obligations is the weighted-average interest rate implicit in our lease obligations at the inception of the leases. The average fixed pay rate for our interest rate swaps excludes the margin we pay on our drawn floating-rate debt, which as of December 31, 2011 ranged from 0.3% to 2.75%. Please read Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 10 – Long-Term Debt.
(2) Interest payments on U.S. Dollar-denominated debt and interest rate swaps are based on LIBOR.
(3) Interest payments on Euro-denominated debt and interest rate swaps are based on EURIBOR.
(4) Euro-denominated amounts have been converted to U.S. Dollars using the prevailing exchange rate as of December 31, 2011.
(5) Under the terms of the capital leases for the RasGas II LNG Carriers (see Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 6 – Leases and Restricted Cash), we are required to have on deposit, subject to a variable rate of interest, an amount of cash that, together with interest earned on the deposit, will equal the remaining amounts owing under the variable-rate leases. The deposits, which as at December 31, 2011 totaled $476.1 million, and the lease obligations, which as at December 31, 2011 totaled $471.4 million, have been swapped for fixed-rate deposits and fixed-rate obligations. Consequently, Teekay Nakilat is not subject to interest rate risk from these obligations and deposits and, therefore, the lease obligations, cash deposits and related interest rate swaps have been excluded from the table above. As at December 31, 2011, the contract amount, fair value and fixed interest rates of these interest rate swaps related to Teekay Nakilat’s capital lease obligations and restricted cash deposits were $423.7 million and $470.2 million, ($119.9) million and $159.6 million, and 4.9% and 4.8%, respectively.
(6) The amount of capital lease obligations represents the present value of minimum lease payments together with our purchase obligation, as applicable.
(7) The average interest rate is the weighted-average interest rate implicit in the capital lease obligations at the inception of the leases. Interest rate adjustments on these leases have corresponding adjustments in charter receipts under the terms of the charter contracts to which these leases relate to.
(8) The average variable receive rate for our U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps is set quarterly at 3-month LIBOR.
(9) The average variable receive rate for our Euro-denominated interest rate swaps is set monthly at 1-month EURIBOR.

Spot Market Rate Risk

One of our Suezmax tankers, the Toledo Spirit , operates pursuant to a time-charter contract that increases or decreases the otherwise fixed-rate established in the charter depending on the spot charter rates that we would have earned had we traded the vessel in the spot tanker market. The remaining term of the time-charter contract was 14 years as of December 31, 2011, although the charterer has the right to terminate the time-charter in July 2018. We have entered into an agreement with Teekay Corporation under which Teekay Corporation pays us any amounts payable to the charterer as a result of spot rates being below the fixed rate, and we pay Teekay Corporation any amounts payable to us from the charterer as a result of spot rates being in excess of the fixed rate. The amounts payable to or receivable from Teekay Corporation are settled at the end of each year. At December 31, 2011, the fair value of this derivative liability was $0.6 million and the change from reporting period to period has been reported in realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments.

 

71


Table of Contents

Foreign Currency Fluctuations

Our functional currency is U.S. dollars. Our results of operations are affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The volatility in our financial results due to currency exchange rate fluctuations is attributed primarily to foreign currency revenues and expenses and our Euro-denominated loans, capital leases and restricted cash deposits. A portion of our voyage revenues are denominated in Euros. A portion of our vessel operating expenses and general and administrative expenses are denominated in Euros, which is primarily a function of the nationality of certain of our crew and administrative staff. We also have Euro-denominated interest expense and interest income related to our Euro-denominated loans, Euro-denominated capital leases and Euro-denominated restricted cash deposits, respectively. As a result, fluctuations in the Euro relative to the U.S. Dollar have caused, and are likely to continue to cause, fluctuations in our reported voyage revenues, vessel operating expenses, general and administrative expenses, interest expense, interest income and realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments.

 

Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities

Not applicable.

PART II

 

Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

None.

 

Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Unitholders and Use of Proceeds

Not applicable.

 

Item 15. Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or the Exchange Act )) that are designed to ensure that (i) information required to be disclosed in our reports that are filed or submitted under the Exchange Act, are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (ii) information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

We conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based on the evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of December 31, 2011.

During 2011, there were no changes in our internal controls that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer do not expect that our disclosure controls or internal controls will prevent all error and all fraud. Although our disclosure controls and procedures were designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, a control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within us have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based partly on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining for us adequate internal controls over financial reporting.

Our internal controls are designed to provide reasonable assurance as to the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation and presentation of the consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Our internal controls over financial reporting include those policies and procedures that: 1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; 2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made in accordance with authorizations of management and the directors; and 3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

We conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based upon the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. This evaluation included review of the documentation of controls, evaluation of the design effectiveness of controls, testing of the operating effectiveness of controls and a conclusion on this evaluation.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements even when determined to be effective and can only provide reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies and procedures may deteriorate. Based on the evaluation, management has determined that the internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2011.

 

72


Table of Contents

Our independent auditors, KPMG LLP, a registered public accounting firm, has audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements and our internal control over financial reporting. Their attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting can be found on page F-2 of this Annual Report.

 

Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert

The Board of Directors of our General Partner has determined that director Robert E. Boyd qualifies as an audit committee financial expert and is independent under applicable NYSE and SEC standards.

 

Item 16B. Code of Ethics

We have adopted Standards of Business Conduct that include a Code of Ethics for all our employees and the employees and directors of our General Partner. This document is available under “About Us – Partnership Governance” from the Home Page of our web site ( www.teekaylng.com ). We intend to disclose, under “About us – Partnership Governance” in the About Us section of our web site, any waivers to or amendments of our Standards of Business Conduct for the benefit of any directors and executive officers of our General Partner.

 

Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Our principal accountant for 2011 was KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants and for 2010 was Ernst & Young LLP, Chartered Accountants. The following table shows the fees we paid or accrued for audit and audit-related services provided by KPMG LLP and Ernst & Young LLP for 2011 and 2010.

 

Fees (in thousands of U.S. dollars)    2011 
$
     2010
$
 

Audit Fees (1)(2)

     688          996  

Audit-Related Fees (3)

     16          59  

Tax Fees (4)

     13          55  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     717          1,110  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Audit fees represent fees for professional services provided in connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements, review of our quarterly consolidated financial statements, audit services provided in connection with other statutory audits and professional services in connection with the review of our regulatory filings for our equity offerings.
(2) Total audit fees incurred with respect to KPMG LLP were approximately $642 thousand and nil for 2011 and 2010, respectively. Total audit fees incurred with respect to Ernst & Young LLP were approximately $46 thousand and $996 thousand for 2011 and 2010, respectively.
(3) Audit-related fees relate primarily to Dropdown Predecessor transactions and other accounting consultations.
(4) Tax fees relate primarily to corporate tax compliance fees.

No fees for other services were provided to the Company by the relevant auditors during the terms of their appointments in 2011 and 2010.

The Audit Committee of our General Partner’s Board of Directors has the authority to pre-approve permissible audit-related and non-audit services not prohibited by law 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 2011.

 

Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

Not applicable.

 

Item 16E. Purchases of Units by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

Not applicable.

 

Item 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

Ernst & Young LLP was previously the principal accountants for the Partnership. In 2011, Teekay Corporation, along with its subsidiaries, including us, decided to seek proposals from several independent accounting firms, including Ernst & Young LLP, to provide audit and other principal accounting services. On June 1, 2011, we engaged KPMG LLP as our principal accountants. The decision to change accountants was approved by the Audit Committee and our Board of Directors.

During the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2010, and the subsequent interim period through March 31, 2011, there were no: (1) disagreements with Ernst & Young LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements if not resolved to their satisfaction would have caused them to make reference in connection with their opinion to the subject matter of the disagreement, or (2) reportable events.

 

73


Table of Contents

The audit reports of Ernst & Young LLP on the consolidated financial statements of the Partnership as of and for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.

 

Item 16G. Corporate Governance

There are no significant ways in which our corporate governance practices differ from those followed by domestic companies under the listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.

 

Item 16H. Mine Safety Disclosure

Not applicable.

PART III

 

Item 17. Financial Statements

Not applicable.

 

Item 18. Financial Statements

The following financial statements, together with the related reports of KPMG LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, and Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, thereon, are filed as part of this Annual Report:

 

     Page  

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms

     F-1, F-2, F-3   

Consolidated Financial Statements

  

Consolidated Statements of Income

     F-4   

Consolidated Balance Sheets

     F-5   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

     F-6   

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Total Equity

     F-7   

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-8   

All 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 Consolidated Financial Statements and therefore have been omitted.

 

Item 19. Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed as part of this Annual Report:

 

  1.1    Certificate of Limited Partnership of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. (1)
  1.2    First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Teekay LNG Partners L.P., as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of May 31, 2006 and Amendment No. 2 as of January 1, 2007. (2)
  1.3    Certificate of Formation of Teekay GP L.L.C. (1)
  1.4    Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Teekay GP L.L.C. (3)
  4.1    Agreement, dated February 21, 2001, for a U.S. $100,000,000 Revolving Credit Facility between Naviera Teekay Gas S.L., J.P. Morgan plc and various other banks (3)
  4.2    Teekay LNG Partners L.P. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan (3)
  4.3    Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement (4)
  4.4    Administrative Services Agreement with Teekay Shipping Limited (3)
  4.5    Advisory, Technical and Administrative Services Agreement (3)
  4.6    LNG Strategic Consulting and Advisory Services Agreement (3)
  4.7    Syndicated Loan Agreement between Naviera Teekay Gas III, S.L. (formerly Naviera F. Tapias Gas III, S.A.) and Caixa de Aforros de Vigo Ourense e Pontevedra, as Agent, dated as of October 2, 2000, as amended (3)
  4.8    Bareboat Charter Agreement between Naviera Teekay Gas III, S.L. (formerly Naviera F. Tapias Gas III, S.A.) and Poseidon Gas AIE dated as of October 2, 2000 (3)
  4.9    Credit Facility Agreement between Naviera Teekay Gas IV, S.L. (formerly Naviera F. Tapias Gas IV, S.A.) and Chase Manhattan International Limited, as Agent, dated as of December 21, 2001, as amended (3)
  4.10    Bareboat Charter Agreement between Naviera Teekay Gas IV, S.L. (formerly Naviera F. Tapias Gas IV, S.A.) and Pagumar AIE dated as of December 30, 2003 (3)
  4.11    Agreement, dated December 7, 2005, for a U.S. $137,500,000 Secured Reducing Revolving Loan Facility Agreement between Asian Spirit L.L.C., African Spirit L.L.C., European Spirit L.L.C., DNB Nor Bank ASA and other banks (5)
  4.12    Agreement, dated August 23, 2006, for a U.S. $330,000,000 Secured Revolving Loan Facility between Teekay LNG Partners L.P., ING Bank N.V. and other banks (6)
  4.13    Purchase Agreement, dated November 2005, for the acquisition of Asian Spirit L.L.C., African Spirit L.L.C. and European Spirit L.L.C. (7)
  4.14    Agreement, dated June 30, 2008, for a U.S. $172,500,000 Secured Revolving Loan Facility between Arctic Spirit L.L.C., Polar Spirit L.L.C and DnB Nor Bank A.S.A. (8)
  4.15    Credit Facility Agreement between Taizhou L.L.C. and DHJS L..L.C and Calyon, as Agent, dated as of October 27, 2009 (9)
  4.16    Credit Facility Agreement between Bermuda Spirit L.L.C., Hamilton Spirit L.L.C., Zenith Spirit L.L.C., Summit Spirit L.L.C. and Credit Argicole CIB, dated March 17, 2010 (10)

 

74


Table of Contents
  4.17    Credit Facility Agreement between Great East Hull No. 1717 L.L.C., Great East Hull No. 1718 L.L.C., H.S.H.I Hull No. S363 L.L.C., H.S.H.I Hull No. S364 L.L.C. and Calyon, dated December 15, 2006 (10)
  4.18    Agreement, dated September 30, 2011, for a EURO €149,933,766 Credit Facility between Naviera Teekay Gas IV S.L.U., ING Bank N.V. and other banks and financial institutions (10)
  4.19    Deed of Amendment and Restatement dated October 10, 2008, relating to a Loan Agreement for a U.S. $92,400,000 Buyer Credit and a U.S. $117,600,000 Commercial Loan between MiNT LNG I, Ltd., BNP Paribas S.A., and other banks and financial institutions.
  4.20    Deed of Amendment and Restatement dated October 10, 2008, relating to a Loan Agreement for a U.S. $92,400,000 Buyer Credit and a U.S. $117,600,000 Commercial Loan between MiNT LNG II, Ltd., BNP Paribas S.A., and other banks and financial institutions.
  4.21    Deed of Amendment and Restatement dated October 10, 2008, relating to a Loan Agreement for a U.S. $92,400,000 Buyer Credit and a U.S. $117,600,000 Commercial Loan between MiNT LNG III, Ltd., BNP Paribas S.A., and other banks and financial institutions.
  4.22    Deed of Amendment and Restatement dated November 10, 2008, relating to a Loan Agreement for a U.S. $92,400,000 Buyer Credit and a U.S. $117,600,000 Commercial Loan between MiNT LNG IV, Ltd., BNP Paribas S.A., and other banks and financial institutions.
  4.23    Agreement dated February 17, 2012, for a US$553,280,000 loan facility between Malt LNG Holdings ApS, DNB Bank ASA, ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Development Bank of Japan Inc., and various lenders.
  4.24    Agreement dated February 17, 2012, for a US$510,720,000 loan facility between Malt LNG Holdings ApS, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., and various lenders.
  4.25    Share purchase agreement dated February 28, 2012 to purchase Maersk LNG A/S through the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture from Maersk.
  8.1    List of Subsidiaries of Teekay LNG Partners L.P.
12.1    Rule 13a-15(e)/15d-15(e) Certification of Teekay LNG Partners L.P.’s Chief Executive Officer
12.2    Rule 13a-15(e)/15d-15(e) Certification of Teekay LNG Partners L.P.’s Chief Financial Officer
13.1    Teekay LNG Partners L.P. Certification of Peter Evensen, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
15.1    Consent of KPMG LLP, as independent registered public accounting firm, for Teekay LNG Partners L.P.
15.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, as former independent registered public accounting firm, for Teekay LNG Partners L.P.
15.3    Consolidated Financial Statements of Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation

 

(1) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Partnership’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-120727), filed with the SEC on November 24, 2004, and hereby incorporated by reference to such Annual Report.
(2) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Partnership’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on August 17, 2006, and hereby incorporated by reference to such Report.
(3) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Partnership’s Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-120727), filed with the SEC on April 11, 2005, and hereby incorporated by reference to such Registration Statement.
(4) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 20-F (File No. 1-32479), filed with the SEC on April 19, 2007 and hereby incorporated by reference to such report.
(5) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 20-F (File No. 1-32479), filed with the SEC on April 14, 2006 and hereby incorporated by reference to such report.
(6) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Partnership’s Report on Form 6-K (File No. 1-32479), filed with the SEC on December 21, 2006 and hereby incorporated by reference to such report.
(7) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Partnership’s Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-129413), filed with the SEC on November 3, 2005, and hereby incorporated by reference to such Registration Statement.
(8) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Partnership’s Report on Form 6-K (File No. 1-32479), filed with the SEC on March 20, 2009 and hereby incorporated by reference to such report.
(9) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Partnership’s Report on Form 20F (File No. 1-32479), filed with the SEC on April 26, 2010 and hereby incorporated by reference to such report.
(10) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Partnership’s Report on Form 6-K (File No. 1-32479), filed with the SEC on June 1, 2010 and hereby incorporated by reference to such report.
(11) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Partnership’s Report on Form 6-K (File No. 1-32479), filed with the SEC on December 1, 2011 and hereby incorporated by reference to such report.

 

75


Table of Contents

SIGNATURE

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.

 

    TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P.
    By:   Teekay GP L.L.C., its General Partner
Date: April 11, 2012    
    By:  

/s/ Peter Evensen

    Peter Evensen
    Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

76


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Unitholders of

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and subsidiaries (the “Partnership”) as of December 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows, and changes in total equity for the year then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Partnership’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit. The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Partnership as of December 31, 2010 and for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, were audited by other auditors whose report thereon dated April 1, 2011, expressed an unqualified opinion on those statements.

We conducted our audit 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. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the 2011 consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Partnership as of December 31, 2011, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated April 11, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Vancouver, Canada     /s/ KPMG LLP
April 11, 2012     Chartered Accountants

 

F-1


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Unitholders of

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and subsidiaries (or the Partnership ) as of December 31, 2010 and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in total equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2010. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Partnership’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements 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. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as 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 financial position of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and subsidiaries at December 31, 2010 and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2010 in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Vancouver, Canada     /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
April 1, 2011     Chartered Accountants

 

F-2


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Unitholders of

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P.

We have audited Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and subsidiaries (“the Partnership”)’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Partnership’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting in the accompanying Form 20-F. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit 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 effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that, (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Partnership maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 based on the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of the Partnership as at December 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows, and changes in total equity for the year then ended, and our report dated April 11, 2012, expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

 

Vancouver, Canada     /s/ KPMG LLP
April 11, 2012     Chartered Accountants

 

F-3


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES (Notes 1 and 2)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2011

$
    Year Ended
December 31,
2010

$
    Year Ended
December 31,
2009

$
 

VOYAGE REVENUES (note 12b)

     379,975       374,008       343,048  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES (note 12b)

      

Voyage expenses

     1,387       2,042       2,034  

Vessel operating expenses

     89,046       84,577       82,374  

Depreciation and amortization

     91,919       89,347       82,686  

General and administrative (notes 12a and 12b)

     24,120       23,247       19,764  

Gain on sale of vessel (note 17a)

     —          (4,340     —     

Restructuring charge (note 18)

     —          175       3,250  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     206,472       195,048       190,108  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

     173,503       178,960       152,940  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

OTHER ITEMS

      

Interest expense (notes 6, 10 and 12a)

     (49,880     (49,019     (60,457

Interest income (note 6)

     6,687       7,190       13,873  

Realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments (note 13)

     (63,030     (78,720     (40,950

Foreign currency exchange gain (loss) (note 10)

     10,310       27,545       (10,806

Equity income (note 19)

     20,584       8,043       27,639  

Other (expense) income

     (37     615       392  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other items

     (75,366     (84,346     (70,309
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income before income tax expense

     98,137       94,614       82,631  

Income tax expense (note 11)

     (781     (1,670     (694
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     97,356       92,944       81,937  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-controlling interest in net income

     7,508       3,062       29,310  

Dropdown Predecessor’s interest in net income (note 2)

     —          2,258       5,302  

General Partner’s interest in net income

     11,474       8,896       5,180  

Limited partners’ interest in net income

     78,374       78,728       42,145  

Limited partners’ interest in net income per unit (note 16)

      

• Common unit (basic and diluted)

     1.33       1.46       0.86  

• Subordinated unit (basic and diluted)

     —          2.04       0.80  

• Total unit (basic and diluted)

     1.33       1.48       0.85  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of units outstanding:

      

• Common units (basic and diluted)

     59,147,422       51,481,035       40,912,100  

• Subordinated units (basic and diluted)

     —          1,816,591       8,760,006  

• Total units (basic and diluted)

     59,147,422       53,297,626       49,672,106  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash distributions declared per unit

     2.52       2.37       2.28  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

F-4


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES (Notes 1 and 2)

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

     As at
December 31,
2011

$
     As at
December 31,
2010

$
 

ASSETS

     

Current

     

Cash and cash equivalents

     93,627        81,055  

Restricted cash - current (note 6)

     —           82,576  

Accounts receivable, including non-trade of $10,011 (2010 - $12,832)  (note 13)

     13,921        19,362  

Prepaid expenses

     4,916        5,911  

Current portion of derivative assets (note 13)

     15,608        16,758  

Current portion of net investments in direct financing leases (note 6)

     6,074        5,635  

Advances to affiliates (note 12c)

     11,922        6,133  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current assets

     146,068        217,430  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Restricted cash – long-term (note 6)

     495,634        489,562  

Vessels and equipment

     

At cost, less accumulated depreciation of $291,689 (2010 - $200,676)

     1,339,571        1,059,465  

Vessels under capital leases, at cost, less accumulated depreciation of $163,926 (2010 – $169,274) (note 6)

     681,554        880,576  

Advances on newbuilding contracts (note 14)

     —           79,535  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total vessels and equipment

     2,021,125        2,019,576  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Investments in and advances to joint ventures (note 19)

     191,448        172,898  

Net investments in direct financing leases (note 6)

     403,467        410,060  

Advances to joint venture partner (note 8)

     10,200        10,200  

Other assets (note 11)

     24,560        22,967  

Derivative assets (note 13)

     139,651        45,525  

Intangible assets – net (note 7)

     114,416        123,546  

Goodwill (note 7)

     35,631        35,631  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

     3,582,200        3,547,395  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

     

Current

     

Accounts payable (includes $556 and $567 for 2011 and 2010, respectively, owing to related parties) (note 12c)

     3,302        4,355  

Accrued liabilities (includes $3,550 and $3,020 for 2011 and 2010, respectively, owing to related parties) (notes 9, 12c and 13)

     46,740        38,672  

Unearned revenue

     9,988        13,944  

Current portion of long-term debt (note 10)

     84,722        76,408  

Current obligations under capital lease (note 6)

     47,203        267,382  

Current portion of derivative liabilities (note 13)

     43,973        50,603  

Advances from affiliates (note 12c) and joint venture partner of nil (2010 - $59)

     17,400        133,410  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     253,328        584,774  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-term debt (note 10)

     1,230,509        1,322,707  

Long-term obligations under capital lease (note 6)

     599,844        470,752  

Long-term unearned revenue

     40,003        41,700  

Other long-term liabilities (note 6)

     69,562        64,777  

Derivative liabilities (note 13)

     249,245        149,362  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     2,442,491        2,634,072  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (notes 6, 8, 10, 13 and 14)

     

Equity

     

Non-controlling interest

     26,242        17,123  

Partners’ equity

     1,113,467        896,200  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity

     1,139,709        913,323  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and total equity

     3,582,200        3,547,395  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidation of variable interest entities (note 14)

Subsequent events (note 21)

The accompanying notes are integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

F-5


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES (Notes 1 and 2)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2011

$
    Year Ended
December 31,
2010

$
    Year Ended
December 31,
2009

$
 

Cash and cash equivalents provided by (used for)

      

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

      

Net income

     97,356       92,944       81,937  

Non-cash items:

      

Unrealized loss on derivative instruments (note 13)

     277       34,306       3,788  

Depreciation and amortization

     91,919       89,347       82,686  

Unrealized foreign currency exchange (gain) loss

     (10,221     (26,700     9,532  

Equity based compensation

     95       151       361  

Equity income, net of dividends received of $15,340 (2010 and 2009 - nil)

     (5,244     (8,043     (27,639

Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs and other

     960       3,375       1,660  

Gain on sale of vessel (note 17a)

     —          (4,340     —     

Accrued interest and other - net

     (24     3,628       1,800  

Change in operating assets and liabilities (note 15a)

     (33,434     3,029       26,988  

Expenditures for dry docking

     (19,638     (12,727     (9,729
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net operating cash flow

     122,046       174,970       171,384  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

      

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     600,862       100,945       220,050  

Debt issuance costs

     (2,578     (137     (1,281

Scheduled repayments of long-term debt

     (290,940     (76,018     (80,301

Prepayments of long-term debt

     (383,000     (72,000     (185,900

Scheduled repayments of capital lease obligations and other long-term liabilities

     (89,350     (39,147     (37,437

Proceeds from equity offerings net of offering costs (note 16)

     341,178       50,921       162,559  

Advances to and from affiliates

     27,048       16,545       24,041  

Advances to and from joint venture partners

     —          (10,200     —     

Repayment of joint venture partners’ advances

     —          (1,235     —     

Decrease in restricted cash

     76,249       30,741       30,710  

Cash distributions paid

     (159,380     (135,514     (114,539

Excess of purchase price over the contributed basis of Teekay Tangguh Borrower LLC (note 12f)

     —          —          (31,829

Equity contribution from Teekay Corporation to Dropdown Predecessor (note 2)

     —          466       1,567  

Purchase of Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries (note 12h)

     (114,466     —          —     

Proceeds on sale of 1% interest in Kenai LNG Carriers (note 12j)

     —          —          2,300  

Proceeds on sale of 1% interest in Skaugen LPG Carriers and Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries (note 12k)

     1,812       —          —     

Distribution to Teekay Corporation for the acquisition of Alexander Spirit LLC, Bermuda Spirit LLC and Hamilton Spirit LLC (note 2)

     —          (33,997     —     

Other

     (261     884       —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net financing cash flow

     7,174       (167,746     (10,060
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

      

Purchase of Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures (note 17)

     —          (35,169     —     

Purchase of equity investment in three Angola LNG Carriers (note 12l)

     (57,287     —          —     

Proceeds received from the sale of Dania Spirit (note 17a)

     —          21,556       —     

Advances to joint venture

     (830     —          (2,856

Purchase of Teekay Tangguh Borrower LLC (note 12f)

     —          —          (37,259

Receipts from direct financing leases

     6,154       5,746       4,426  

Expenditures for vessels and equipment

     (64,685     (26,652     (134,926
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investing cash flow

     (116,648     (34,519     (170,615
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     12,572       (27,295     (9,291

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year

     81,055       108,350       117,641  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year

     93,627       81,055       108,350  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental cash flow information (note 15)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

F-6


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES (Notes 1 and 2)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TOTAL EQUITY

(in thousands of U.S. dollars and units)

 

     TOTAL EQUITY  
     Dropdown
Predecessor
Equity
    Partners’ Equity     Non-
controlling
Interest
       
           Common     Subordinated     General
Partner
          Total  
     $     Units      $     Units     $     $     $     $  

Balance as at December 31, 2008

     —          33,338        634,212       11,051       134,291       37,348       2,862       808,713  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in parent’s equity in Dropdown Predecessor (note 2)

     37,711       —           —          —          —          —          —          37,711  

Net income and comprehensive income

     5,302       —           35,108       —          7,037       5,180       29,310       81,937  

Cash distributions

     —          —           (87,051     —          (20,997     (6,491     —          (114,539

Proceeds from follow-on public offering of units, net of offering costs of $7.6 million (note 16)

     —          7,951        159,155       —          —          3,404       —          162,559  

Re-investment tax credit (note 11)

     —          —           (3,795     —          (813     (92     —          (4,700

Equity based compensation

     —          —           292       —          61       8       —          361  

Conversion of subordinated units to common units (note 16)

     —          3,684        42,010       (3,684     (42,010     —          —          —     

Acquisition of interest rate swaps (note 12i)

     —          —           (3,839     —          (872     (99     —          (4,810

Purchase of Teekay Tangguh Borrower LLC from Teekay Corporation (note 12f)

     —          —           (21,678     —          (8,952     (1,199     (20,665     (52,494

Sale of 1% interest in Kenai LNG Carriers to General Partner (note 12j)

     —          —           —          —          —          —          2,300       2,300  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as at December 31, 2009

     43,013       44,973        754,414       7,367       67,745       38,059       13,807       917,038  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in parent’s equity in Dropdown Predecessor (note 2)

     466       —           —          —          —          —          —          466  

Net income and comprehensive income

     2,258       —           75,028       —          3,700       8,896       3,062       92,944  

Cash distributions

     —          —           (118,114     —          (8,620     (8,780     —          (135,514

Equity based compensation

     —          —           148       —          —          3       —          151  

Additional offering costs related to November 2009 follow-on equity offering (note 16)

     —          —           (111     —          (18     (2     —          (131

Acquisition of Alexander Spirit LLC, Bermuda Spirit LLC and Hamilton Spirit LLC from Teekay Corporation (note 12a)

     (45,737     —           (2,471     —          (1,020     (148     —          (49,376

Conversion of subordinated units to common units

     —          7,367        61,787       (7,367     (61,787     —          —          —     

Acquisition of interest rate swap (note 12i)

     —          —           (1,470     —          —          (30     —          (1,500

Direct equity placement, net of offering costs of $0.1 million (note 16)

     —          1,713        49,901       —          —          1,020       —          50,921  

Purchase of Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures (notes 16 and 17c)

     —          1,053        37,309       —          —          761       254       38,324  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as at December 31, 2010

     —          55,106        856,421       —          —          39,779       17,123       913,323  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income and comprehensive income

     —          —           78,374       —          —          11,474       7,508       97,356  

Cash distributions

     —          —           (146,903     —          —          (12,477     (201     (159,581

Equity based compensation

     —          —           93       —          —          2       —          95  

Proceeds from follow-on public offering of units, net of offering costs of $14.9 million (note 16)

     —          9,752        334,056       —          —          7,122       —          341,178  

Acquisition of Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries (note 12h)

     —          —           (7,852     —          —          (379     —          (8,231

Acquisition of equity investment in three Angola LNG Carriers (note 12l)

     —          —           (44,123     —          —          (2,120     —          (46,243

Sale of 1% interest in Skaugen LPG and Multigas subsidiaries to General Partner (note 12k)

     —          —           —          —          —          —          1,812       1,812  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as at December 31, 2011

     —          64,858        1,070,066       —          —          43,401       26,242       1,139,709  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

F-7


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

1. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (or GAAP ). These financial statements include the accounts of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. (or the Partnership ), which is a limited partnership organized under the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands, its wholly owned or controlled subsidiaries, the Dropdown Predecessor, as described below in Note 2, and certain variable interest entities (see Note 14). Significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Foreign currency

The consolidated financial statements are stated in U.S. Dollars and the functional currency of the Partnership and its subsidiaries is the U.S. Dollar. Transactions involving other currencies during the year are converted into U.S. Dollars using the exchange rates in effect at the time of the transactions. At the balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar are translated to reflect the year-end exchange rates. Resulting gains or losses are reflected separately in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

Operating revenues and expenses

The lease element of time-charters and bareboat charters accounted for as operating leases are recognized by the Partnership daily over the term of the charter as the applicable vessel operates under the charter. The lease element of the Partnership’s time-charters that are accounted for as direct financing leases are reflected on the balance sheets as net investments in direct financing leases. The lease revenue is recognized over the lease term using the effective interest rate method and is included in voyage revenues. The Partnership recognizes revenues from the non-lease element of time-charter contracts daily as services are performed. The Partnership does not recognize revenues during days that the vessel is off-hire.

Voyage expenses are all expenses unique to a particular voyage, including bunker fuel expenses, port fees, cargo loading and unloading expenses, canal tolls, agency fees and commissions. Vessel operating expenses include crewing, repairs and maintenance, insurance, stores, lube oils and communication expenses. Voyage expenses and vessel operating expenses are recognized when incurred.

Cash and cash equivalents

The Partnership classifies all highly-liquid investments with a maturity date of three months or less when purchased as cash and cash equivalents.

Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Partnership’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in existing accounts receivable. The Partnership determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience and customer economic data. The Partnership reviews the allowance for doubtful accounts regularly and past due balances are reviewed for collectability. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Partnership believes that the receivable will not be recovered.

Loan receivables

The Partnership’s loan receivables are recorded at cost. The premium paid over the outstanding principal amount, if any, is amortized to interest income over the term of the loan using the effective interest rate method. The Partnership analyzes its loans for impairment during each reporting period. A loan is impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Partnership will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors the Partnership considers in determining that a loan is impaired include, among other things, an assessment of the financial condition of the debtor, payment history of the debtor, general economic conditions, the credit rating of the debtor, and any information provided by the debtor regarding their ability to repay the loan. When a loan is impaired, the Partnership measures the amount of the impairment based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate and recognizes the resulting impairment in earnings.

 

F-8


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

The following table contains a summary of the Partnership’s loan receivables and other financing receivables by type of borrower and the method by which the Partnership monitors the credit quality of its financing receivables on a quarterly basis:

 

 

Class of Financing Receivable

   Credit Quality Indicator    Grade    December  31,
2011

$
     December  31,
2010

$
 

Direct financing leases

   Payment activity    Performing      409,541        415,695  

Other receivables

           

Long-term receivable included in other assets

   Payment activity    Performing      786        410  

Advances to joint venture included in investment in and advances to joint ventures

   Payment activity    Performing      830        —     

Advances to joint venture partner (Note 8)

   Other internal metrics    Performing      10,200        10,200  
        

 

 

    

 

 

 
           421,357        426,305  
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

Vessels and equipment

All pre-delivery costs incurred during the construction of newbuildings, including interest and supervision and technical costs, are capitalized. The acquisition cost and all costs incurred to restore used vessels purchased by the Partnership to the standards required to properly service the Partnership’s customers are capitalized.

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 25 years for conventional tankers, 30 years for liquefied petroleum gas (or LPG ) carriers and 35 years for liquefied natural gas (or LNG ) carriers, from the date the vessel is delivered from the shipyard, or a shorter period if regulations prevent the Partnership from operating the vessels for 25 years, 30 years, or 35 years, respectively. Depreciation of vessels and equipment (including depreciation attributable to the Dropdown Predecessor) for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 aggregated $73.2 million, $72.8 million and $69.0 million, respectively. Depreciation and amortization includes depreciation on all owned vessels and amortization of vessels accounted for as capital leases.

Vessel capital modifications include the addition of new equipment or can encompass various modifications to the vessel which are aimed at improving or increasing the operational efficiency and functionality of the asset. This type of expenditure is amortized over the estimated useful life of the modification. Expenditures covering recurring routine repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

Interest costs capitalized to vessels and equipment for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 aggregated $3.1 million, $4.2 million and $10.8 million, respectively.

Gains on vessels sold and leased back under capital leases are deferred and amortized over the remaining estimated useful life of the vessel. Losses on vessels sold and leased back under capital leases are recognized immediately to the extent that the fair value of the vessel at the time of sale-leaseback is less than its book value.

Generally, the Partnership dry docks each of its vessels every five years. In addition, a shipping society classification intermediate survey is performed on the Partnership’s LNG and LPG carriers between the second and third year of the five-year dry-docking period. The Partnership capitalizes certain costs incurred during dry docking and for the survey and amortizes those costs on a straight-line basis from the completion of a dry docking or intermediate survey over the estimated useful life of the dry dock. The Partnership includes in capitalized dry docking those costs incurred as part of the dry docking to meet regulatory requirements, or expenditures that either add economic life to the vessel, increase the vessel’s earning capacity or improve the vessel’s operating efficiency. The Partnership expenses costs related to routine repairs and maintenance performed during dry docking that do not improve operating efficiency or extend the useful lives of the assets.

Dry-docking activity for the three years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 is summarized as follows:

 

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2011
$
    2010
$
    2009
$
 

Balance at January 1,

     24,393       20,477       15,257  

Cost incurred for dry docking

     19,638       12,727       9,729  

Sale of vessel

     —          (1,477     —     

Dry-dock amortization

     (9,582     (7,334     (4,509
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31,

     34,449       24,393       20,477  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Vessels and equipment that are “held and used” are assessed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. If the asset’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. Estimated fair value is determined based on discounted cash flows or appraised values.

 

F-9


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

Investments in joint ventures

The Partnership’s 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 subsequent additional investments and the Partnership’s proportionate share of earnings or losses and distributions. The Partnership evaluates its investment in joint ventures 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 Partnership’s statement of income.

Debt issuance costs

Debt issuance costs, including fees, commissions and legal expenses, are presented as other assets and are deferred and amortized on an effective interest rate method over the term of the relevant loan. Amortization of debt issuance costs is included in interest expense.

Goodwill and intangible assets

Goodwill is not amortized, but reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. A fair value approach is used to identify potential goodwill impairment and, when necessary, measure the amount of impairment. The Partnership uses a discounted cash flow model to determine the fair value of reporting units, unless there is a readily determinable fair market value.

The Partnership’s finite life intangible assets consist of acquired time-charter contracts and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining term of the time-charters. Finite life intangible assets are assessed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.

Derivative instruments

All derivative instruments are initially recorded at fair value as either assets or liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets regardless of the purpose or intent for holding the derivative. The method of recognizing the resulting gain or loss is dependent on whether the derivative contract is designed to hedge a specific risk and also qualifies for hedge accounting. The Partnership currently does not apply hedge accounting to its derivative instruments.

As we do not apply hedge accounting, the changes in the fair value of the derivative financial instruments are recognized in earnings. Gains and losses from the Partnership’s non-designated interest rate swaps and the Partnership’s agreement with Teekay Corporation for the Suezmax tanker the Toledo Spirit are recorded in realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments in the Partnership’s consolidated statements of income (see Note 12g).

Income taxes

The Partnership accounts for income taxes using the liability method. All but two of the Partnership’s Spanish-flagged vessels are subject to the Spanish Tonnage Tax Regime (or TTR ). Under this regime, the applicable tax is based on the weight (measured as net tonnage) of the vessel and the number of days during the taxable period that the vessel is at the Partnership’s disposal, excluding time required for repairs. The income the Partnership receives with respect to the remaining two Spanish-flagged vessels is taxed in Spain at a rate of 30%. However, these two vessels are registered in the Canary Islands Special Ship Registry. Consequently, the Partnership is allowed a credit, equal to 90% of the tax payable on income from the commercial operation of these vessels, against the tax otherwise payable. This effectively results in an income tax rate of approximately 3% on income from the operation of these two Spanish-flagged vessels.

The Partnership recognizes the benefits of uncertain tax positions when it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. If a tax position meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, it is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements.

Guarantees

Guarantees issued by the Partnership, excluding those that are guaranteeing its own performance, are recognized at fair value at the time the guarantees are issued and are presented in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets as other long-term liabilities. The liability recognized on issuance is amortized to other (expense) income on the Partnership’s consolidated statements of income as the Partnership’s risk from the guarantees declines over the term of the guarantee. If it becomes probable that the Partnership will have to perform under a guarantee, the Partnership will recognize an additional liability if the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.

 

F-10


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

2. Dropdowns

The Partnership has accounted for the acquisition of interests in vessels from Teekay Corporation as a transfer of a business between entities under common control. The method of accounting for such transfers is similar to the pooling of interests method of accounting. Under this method, the carrying amount of net assets recognized in the balance sheets of each combining entity are carried forward to the balance sheet of the combined entity, and no other assets or liabilities are recognized as a result of the combination. The excess of the proceeds paid, if any, by the Partnership over Teekay Corporation’s historical cost is accounted for as an equity distribution to Teekay Corporation. In addition, transfers of net assets between entities under common control are accounted for as if the transfer occurred from the date that the Partnership and the acquired vessels were both under the common control of Teekay Corporation and had begun operations. As a result, the Partnership’s financial statements prior to the date the interests in these vessels were actually acquired by the Partnership are retroactively adjusted to include the results of these vessels during the periods they were under common control of Teekay Corporation and had begun operations.

On March 17, 2010, the Partnership acquired two 2009-built Suezmax tankers, the Bermuda Spirit and the Hamilton Spirit (or the Centrofin Suezmaxes ), and a 2007-built Handymax product tanker, the Alexander Spirit , from Teekay Corporation and the related long-term, fixed-rate time-charter contracts. These transactions were deemed to be business acquisitions between entities under common control. As a result, the Partnership’s consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 reflect these three vessels and their results of operations, referred to herein as the Dropdown Predecessor , as if the Partnership had acquired them when each respective vessel began operations under the ownership of Teekay Corporation. These vessels began operations under the ownership of Teekay Corporation on May 27, 2009 ( Bermuda Spirit ), June 24, 2009 ( Hamilton Spirit ) and September 3, 2009 ( Alexander Spirit ). The effect of adjusting the Partnership’s financial statements to account for these common control exchanges up to March 17, 2010, increased the Partnership’s net income by $2.3 million and $5.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The Partnership’s consolidated financial statements include the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Dropdown Predecessor. In the preparation of these consolidated financial statements, general and administrative expenses and interest expense were not identifiable as relating solely to the vessels. General and administrative expenses (consisting primarily of salaries and other employee related costs, office rent, legal and professional fees, and travel and entertainment) were allocated based on the Dropdown Predecessor’s proportionate share of Teekay Corporation’s total ship-operating (calendar) days for the period presented during which the vessels were owned by Teekay Corporation. In addition, the Dropdown Predecessor was capitalized in part with non-interest bearing loans or equity from Teekay Corporation and its subsidiaries. These intercompany loans and equity were generally used to finance the acquisition of the vessels. Interest expense includes the allocation of interest to the Dropdown Predecessor from Teekay Corporation and its subsidiaries based upon the weighted-average outstanding balance of these intercompany loans and equity and the weighted-average interest rate outstanding on Teekay Corporation’s loan facilities that were used to finance these intercompany loans and equity. Management believes these allocations reasonably present the general and administrative expenses and interest expense of the Dropdown Predecessor (see Note 12a).

 

3. Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2011, the Partnership adopted an amendment to Financial Accounting Standards Board (or FASB ) Accounting Standards Codification (or ASC ) 605, Revenue Recognition , that provides for a new methodology for establishing the fair value for a deliverable in a multiple-element arrangement. When vendor specific objective or third-party evidence for deliverables in a multiple-element arrangement cannot be determined, the Partnership will be required to develop a best estimate of the selling price of separate deliverables and to allocate the arrangement consideration using the relative selling price method. The adoption of this amendment did not have an impact on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements.

On September 30, 2011, the Partnership adopted an amendment to FASB ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other , that provides entities with the option of performing a qualitative assessment before performing the first step of the current two-step goodwill impairment test. If entities determine, on the basis of qualitative factors, it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying amount, then performing the two-step impairment test is not required. However, if an entity concludes otherwise, the existing two-step goodwill impairment test is performed. ASU 2011-08 also provides entities with the option to bypass the qualitative assessment for any reporting unit in any period and proceed directly to the first step of the two-step impairment test. The adoption of this amendment did not have an impact on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements.

 

F-11


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

4. 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 Partnership’s cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash approximates its carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets.

Long-term debt – The fair values of the Partnership’s fixed-rate and variable-rate long-term debt are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on rates currently available for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities.

Advances to and from affiliates and joint venture – The fair value of the Partnership’s advances to and from affiliates and joint venture approximates their carrying amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets due to the current nature of the balances.

Advances to and from joint venture partners – The fair value of the Partnership’s advances to and from its joint venture partner as at December 31, 2011 and 2010 is not determinable given the related party nature of the balance.

Interest rate swap agreements – The Partnership transacts all of its interest rate swap agreements through financial institutions that are investment-grade rated at the time of the transaction and requires no collateral from these institutions. The fair value of the Partnership’s interest rate swaps is the estimated amount that the Partnership would receive or pay to terminate the agreements at the reporting date, taking into account the fixed interest rate in the interest rate swap, current interest rates and the current credit worthiness of either the Partnership or the swap counterparties depending on whether the swaps are in asset or liability position. The estimated amount is the present value of future cash flows.

Other derivative – The Partnership’s other derivative agreement is between Teekay Corporation and the Partnership and relates to hire payments under the time-charter contract for the Suezmax tanker Toledo Spirit (see Note 12g). The fair value of this derivative agreement is the estimated amount that the Partnership would receive or pay to terminate the agreement at the reporting date, based on the present value of the Partnership’s projection of future spot market tanker rates, which have been derived from current spot market tanker rates and long-term historical average rates.

The Partnership categorizes the fair value estimates 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 estimated fair value of the Partnership’s financial instruments and categorization using the fair value hierarchy for those financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis is as follows:

 

 

         December 31, 2011     December 31, 2010  
       Fair
Value
Hierarchy
Level (1)
  Carrying
Amount
Asset
(Liability)

$
    Fair
Value
Asset
(Liability)

$
    Carrying
Amount
Asset
(Liability)

$
    Fair
Value
Asset
(Liability)

$
 

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash

       589,261       589,261        653,193       653,193   

Advances to and from affiliates and joint venture

       (5,478     (5,478 )       (127,218     (127,218 )  

Long-term debt (note 10)

       (1,315,231     (1,191,117     (1,399,115     (1,292,026

Advances to and from joint venture partners (note 8)

       10,200       —   (2)       10,141       —   (2)  

Derivative instruments (note 13)

          

Interest rate swap agreements – assets

   Level 2     159,603       159,603        66,870       66,870   

Interest rate swap agreements – liabilities

   Level 2     (304,066     (304,066 )       (201,463     (201,463 )  

Other derivative

   Level 3     (600     (600 )       (10,000     (10,000 )  

 

(1) The fair value hierarchy level is only applicable to each financial instrument on the consolidated balance sheets that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.
(2) The fair value of the Partnership’s advances to and from its joint venture partners as at December 31, 2011 and 2010 was not determinable given the amounts are non-current with no fixed repayment terms (see Note 8).

 

F-12


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

Changes in fair value during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 for assets (liabilities) that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) are as follows:

 

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2011
$
    2010
$
 

Fair value at January 1

     (10,000     (10,600

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) included in earnings

     9,307       (1,319

Settlements

     93       1,919  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair value at December 31

     (600     (10,000
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

No non-financial assets or non-financial liabilities were carried at fair value at December 31, 2011 or December 31, 2010.

 

5. Segment Reporting

The Partnership has two reportable segments, its liquefied gas segment and its conventional tanker segment. The Partnership’s liquefied gas segment consists of LNG and LPG carriers subject to long-term, fixed-rate charters to international energy companies and Teekay Corporation (see Note 12b). As at December 31, 2011, the Partnership’s liquefied gas segment consisted of 20 LNG carriers (including nine LNG carriers included in joint ventures that are accounted for under the equity method), three LPG carriers and two Multigas carriers. The Partnership’s conventional tanker segment consisted of ten Suezmax-class crude oil tankers and one Handymax product tanker operating on long-term, fixed-rate time-charter contracts to international energy and shipping companies. Segment results are evaluated based on income from vessel operations. The accounting policies applied to the reportable segments are the same as those used in the preparation of the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements.

The following table presents voyage revenues and percentage of consolidated voyage revenues for customers that accounted for more than 10% of the Partnership’s consolidated voyage revenues during any of the periods presented.

 

 

(U.S. dollars in millions)    Year Ended
December 31, 2011
  Year Ended
December 31, 2010
  Year Ended
December 31, 2009

Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Ltd. (1)

   $68.8 or 18%   $68.7 or 18%   $68.7 or 20%

Repsol YPF, S.A. (1)

   $53.9 or 14%   $51.9 or 14%   $51.5 or 15%

Compania Espanola de Petroleos (2)

   $44.4 or 12%   $44.0 or 12%   $44.5 or 13%

The Tangguh Production Sharing Contractors (1)

   $43.7 or 12%   $42.8 or 11%   Less than 10%

Teekay Corporation (1)

   Less than 10%   $36.5 or 10%   $38.9 or 11%

 

(1)  

Liquefied gas segment

(2)  

Conventional tanker segment

 

F-13


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

The following tables include results for these segments for the years presented in these financial statements.

 

 

       Year Ended December 31, 2011  
     Liquefied Gas
Segment
$
    Conventional
Tanker
Segment

$
     Total
$
 

Voyage revenues

             269,408       110,567        379,975  

Voyage (recoveries) expenses

     (87     1,474        1,387   

Vessel operating expenses

     47,773       41,273        89,046  

Depreciation and amortization

     62,889       29,030        91,919  

General and administrative (1)

     13,385       10,735        24,120  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

     145,448       28,055        173,503  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity income

     20,584       —           20,584  

Investment in and advances to joint ventures

     191,448       —           191,448  

Total assets at December 31, 2011

     2,911,659       546,155        3,457,814  

Expenditures for vessels and equipment

     63,686       999        64,685  

Expenditures for dry docking

     13,831       5,807        19,638  

 

     Year Ended December 31, 2010  
     Liquefied Gas
Segment
$
    Conventional
Tanker
Segment

$
     Total
$
 

Voyage revenues

             264,816       109,192        374,008  

Voyage expenses

     29       2,013        2,042  

Vessel operating expenses

     46,496       38,081        84,577  

Depreciation and amortization

     60,954       28,393        89,347  

General and administrative (1)

     12,239       11,008        23,247  

Gain on sale of vessel

     (4,340     —           (4,340

Restructuring charge

     —          175        175  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

     149,438       29,522        178,960  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity income

     8,043       —           8,043  

Investment in and advances to joint ventures

     172,898       —           172,898  

Total assets at December 31, 2010

     2,866,541       568,393        3,434,934  

Expenditures for vessels and equipment

     24,095       2,557        26,652  

Expenditures for dry docking

     2,014       10,713        12,727  

 

     Year Ended December 31, 2009  
     Liquefied Gas
Segment
$
    Conventional
Tanker
Segment

$
     Total
$
 

Voyage revenues

             252,854        90,194        343,048   

Voyage expenses

     1,018       1,016        2,034  

Vessel operating expenses

     50,919       31,455        82,374  

Depreciation and amortization

     59,088       23,598        82,686  

General and administrative (1)

     11,033       8,731        19,764  

Restructuring charge

     1,381       1,869        3,250  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

     129,415       23,525        152,940  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity income

     27,639       —           27,639  

Investment in and advances to joint venture

     93,320       —           93,320  

Total assets at December 31, 2009

     2,846,685       583,525        3,430,210  

Expenditures for vessels and equipment

     133,563       1,363        134,926  

Expenditures for dry docking

     8,409       1,320        9,729  

 

(1) Includes direct general and administrative expenses and indirect general and administrative expenses (allocated to each segment based on estimated use of corporate resources).

 

F-14


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

A reconciliation of total segment assets presented in the consolidated balance sheet is as follows:

 

 

     December  31,
2011

$
     December  31,
2010

$
 

Total assets of the liquefied gas segment

     2,911,659        2,866,541  

Total assets of the conventional tanker segment

     546,155        568,393  

Cash and cash equivalents

     93,627        81,055  

Accounts receivable and prepaid expenses

     18,837        25,273  

Advances to affiliates

     11,922        6,133  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated total assets

     3,582,200        3,547,395  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

6. Leases and Restricted Cash

Capital Lease Obligations

 

 

     December  31,
2011

$
     December  31,
2010

$
 

RasGas II LNG Carriers

     471,397        470,752  

Spanish-Flagged LNG Carrier

     —           81,881  

Suezmax Tankers

     175,650        185,501  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     647,047        738,134  

Less current portion

     47,203        267,382  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     599,844        470,752  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

RasGas II LNG Carriers. As at December 31, 2011, the Partnership owned a 70% interest in Teekay Nakilat Corporation (or Teekay Nakilat ), which is the lessee under 30-year capital lease arrangements relating to three LNG carriers (or the RasGas II LNG Carriers ) that operate under time-charter contracts with Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Co. Limited (II), a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil RasGas Inc., a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation. All amounts below and in the table above relating to the RasGas II LNG Carriers capital leases include the Partnership’s joint venture partner’s 30% share.

Under the terms of the RasGas II LNG Carriers capital lease arrangements, the lessor claims tax depreciation on the capital expenditures it incurred to acquire these vessels. As is typical in these leasing arrangements, tax and change of law risks are assumed by the lessee. Lease payments under the lease arrangements are based on certain tax and financial assumptions at the commencement of the leases. If an assumption proves to be incorrect, the lessor is entitled to increase or decrease the lease payments to maintain its agreed after-tax margin. The Partnership’s carrying amount of the tax indemnification guarantee as at December 31, 2011 was $16.1 million and is included as part of other long-term liabilities in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets.

The tax indemnification is for the duration of the lease contract with the third party plus the years it would take for the lease payments to be statute barred, and ends in 2041. Although there is no maximum potential amount of future payments, Teekay Nakilat may terminate the lease arrangements on a voluntary basis at any time. If the lease arrangements terminate, Teekay Nakilat will be required to pay termination sums to the lessor sufficient to repay the lessor’s investment in the vessels and to compensate it for the tax effect of the terminations, including recapture of any tax depreciation (see Note 14d).

At their inception, the weighted-average interest rate implicit in these leases was 5.2%. These capital leases are variable-rate capital leases. As at December 31, 2011, the commitments under these capital leases approximated $1.0 billion, including imputed interest of $529.7 million, repayable as follows:

 

 

Year

   Commitment  

2012

   $ 24,000   

2013

   $ 24,000   

2014

   $ 24,000   

2015

   $ 24,000   

2016

   $ 24,000   

Thereafter

   $ 881,128   

As the payments in the next five years only cover a portion of the estimated interest expense, the lease obligation will continue to increase.

 

F-15


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

Starting in 2024, the lease payments will increase to cover both interest and principal to commence reduction of the principal portion of the lease obligations.

Spanish-Flagged LNG Carrier . The Partnership’s capital lease on one LNG carrier, the Madrid Spirit , expired and the Partnership purchased the vessel at the end of the lease term in December 2011. The purchase obligation was fully funded with restricted cash deposits.

Suezmax Tankers. As at December 31, 2011, the Partnership was a party to capital leases on five Suezmax tankers. Under the terms of the lease arrangements the Partnership is required to purchase these vessels after the end of their respective lease terms for a fixed price. During the year, the lessor extended four of the five leases and have delayed their option to sell these vessels to the Partnership until 2013. At the inception of these leases, the weighted-average interest rate implicit in these leases was 7.4%. These capital leases are variable-rate capital leases; however, any change in the lease payments resulting from changes in interest rates is offset by a corresponding change in the charter hire payments received by the Partnership. As at December 31, 2011, the remaining commitments under these capital leases, including the purchase obligations, approximated $201.1 million, including imputed interest of $25.5 million, repayable during 2012 through 2017.

 

 

Year

   Commitment  

2012

   $ 58,893   

2013

   $ 76,443   

2014

   $ 31,728   

2015

   $ 3,593   

2016

   $ 3,551   

Thereafter

   $ 26,908   

The Partnership’s capital leases do not contain financial or restrictive covenants other than those relating to operation and maintenance of the vessels.

Restricted Cash

Under the terms of the capital leases for the RasGas II LNG Carriers, the Partnership is required to have on deposit with financial institutions an amount of cash that, together with interest earned on the deposits, will equal the remaining amounts owing under the leases. These cash deposits are restricted to being used for capital lease payments and have been fully funded primarily with term loans (see Note 10).

As at December 31, 2011 and 2010, the amount of restricted cash on deposit for the three RasGas II LNG Carriers was $476.1 million and $477.2 million, respectively. As at December 31, 2011 and 2010, the weighted-average interest rates earned on the deposits were 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively. These rates do not reflect the effect of related interest rate swaps that the Partnership has used to economically hedge its floating-rate restricted cash deposit relating to the RasGas II LNG Carriers (see Note 13).

The restricted cash relating to the Madrid Spirit LNG carrier was used to fund the purchase obligation relating to the capital lease in 2011. As at December 31, 2011 and 2010, the amount of restricted cash on deposit for the Madrid Spirit was nil and 61.7 million Euros ($82.6 million), respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the weighted-average interest rates earned on these deposits were 5.0%.

The Partnership maintains restricted cash deposits relating to certain term loans, which cash totaled $16.9 million and $12.3 million as at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, of which a majority of these deposits are denominated in Euros.

The Partnership maintains restricted cash deposits relating to amounts received from the charterer to be used only for dry-docking expenditures and emergency repairs, which totaled $2.6 million as at December 31, 2011.

Operating Lease Obligations

Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture.

The Partnership owns a 99% interest in Teekay Tangguh Borrower LLC (or Teekay Tangguh ), which owns a 70% interest in Teekay BLT Corporation (or the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture ), essentially giving the Partnership a 69% interest in the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture. As at December 31, 2011, the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture was a party to operating leases whereby it is leasing its two LNG carriers (or the Tangguh LNG Carriers ) to a third party company (or Head Leases ). The Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture is then leasing back the LNG carriers from the same third party company (or Subleases ). Under the terms of these leases, the third party company claims tax depreciation on the capital expenditures it incurred to lease the vessels. As is typical in these leasing arrangements, tax and change of law risks are assumed by the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture. Lease payments under the Subleases are based on certain tax and financial assumptions at the commencement of the leases. If an assumption proves to be incorrect, the lease payments are increased or decreased under the Sublease to maintain the agreed after-tax margin. The Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture’s carrying amount of this tax indemnification is $9.9 million and is included as part of other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of the Partnership. The tax indemnification is for the duration of the lease contract with the third party plus the years it would take for the lease payments to be statute barred, and ends in 2033. Although there is no maximum potential amount of future payments, the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture may terminate the lease arrangements on a voluntary basis at any time. If the lease arrangements terminate, the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture will be required to pay termination sums to the third party company sufficient to repay the third party company’s investment in the vessels and to compensate it for the tax effect of the terminations, including recapture of any tax depreciation. The Head Leases and the Subleases have 20 year terms and are classified as operating leases. The Head Lease and the Sublease for the two Tangguh LNG Carriers commenced in November 2008 and March 2009, respectively.

 

F-16


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

As at December 31, 2011, the total estimated future minimum rental payments to be received and paid under the lease contracts are as follows:

 

 

Year

   Head Lease
Receipts
(1)
     Sublease
Payments  
(1)(2)
 

2012

   $ 28,859       $ 24,999   

2013

   $ 28,843       $ 24,999   

2014

   $ 28,828       $ 24,999   

2015

   $ 22,188       $ 24,999   

2016

   $ 21,242       $ 24,999   

Thereafter

   $ 260,306       $ 306,356   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 390,266       $ 431,351   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)  

The Head Leases are fixed-rate operating leases while the Subleases have a small variable-rate component. As at December 31, 2011, the Partnership had received $120.1 million of aggregate Head Lease receipts and had paid $66.0 million of aggregate Sublease payments. Head Lease receipts are deferred and amortized on a straight line basis over the lease terms and as at December 31, 2011, $35.3 million of Head Lease receipts had been deferred and included in other long-term liabilities in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets.

(2)  

The amount of payments under the Subleases are updated annually to reflect any changes in the lease payments due to changes in tax law.

Net Investments in Direct Financing Leases

The Tangguh LNG Carriers commenced their time-charters with The Tangguh Production Sharing Contractors in January and May 2009, respectively. Both time-charters are accounted for as direct financing leases with 20-year terms and the following table lists the components of the net investments in direct financing leases:

 

 

     December  31,
2011

$
    December  31,
2010

$
 

Total minimum lease payments to be received

     662,912       701,442  

Estimated unguaranteed residual value of leased properties

     194,965       194,965  

Initial direct costs

     554       587  

Less unearned revenue

     (448,890     (481,299
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     409,541       415,695  

Less current portion

     6,074       5,635  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     403,467       410,060  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

As at December 31, 2011, estimated minimum lease payments to be received by the Partnership under the Tangguh LNG Carrier leases in each of the next five succeeding fiscal years were approximately $38.5 million per year for 2012 through 2016. Both leases are scheduled to end in 2029.

Operating Leases

As at December 31, 2011, the minimum scheduled future revenues in the next five years to be received by the Partnership for the lease and non-lease elements under charters that were accounted for as operating leases were approximately $350.9 million (2012), $349.9 million (2013), $349.9 million (2014), $346.7 million (2015) and $321.6 million (2016). Minimum scheduled future revenues do not include revenue generated from new contracts entered into after December 31, 2011, revenue from unexercised option periods of contracts that existed on December 31, 2011, or variable or contingent revenues. Therefore, the minimum scheduled future revenues should not be construed to reflect total charter hire revenues for any of the years.

 

F-17


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

7. Intangible Assets and Goodwill

As at December 31, 2011 and 2010 intangible assets consisted of time-charter contracts with a weighted-average amortization period of 19.2 years. The carrying amount of intangible assets for the Partnership’s reportable segments is as follows:

 

 

     December 31, 2011     December 31, 2010  
     Liquefied  Gas
Segment

$
    Conventional
Tanker
Segment

$
    Total
$
    Liquefied  Gas
Segment

$
    Conventional
Tanker
Segment

$
    Total
$
 

Gross carrying amount

     179,813       2,739       182,552       179,813       2,739       182,552  

Accumulated amortization

     (65,599     (2,537     (68,136     (56,743     (2,263     (59,006
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net carrying amount

     114,214       202       114,416       123,070       476       123,546  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Amortization expense of intangible assets is $9.1 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. Amortization of intangible assets in each of the five years following 2011 is approximately $9.1 million per year.

The carrying amount of goodwill as at each of December 31, 2011 and 2010 for the Partnership’s liquefied gas segment was $35.6 million. In 2011 and 2010, the Partnership conducted a goodwill impairment review of its liquefied gas segment and concluded that no impairment had occurred.

 

8. Advances to Joint Venture Partner

Advances to the Partnership’s joint venture partner in the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture of $10.2 million as at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are non-interest bearing without specific terms of repayment and unsecured. Subsequent to December 31, 2011, this joint venture partner’s parent company, PT Berlian Laju Tanker, suspended trading on the Jakarta Stock Exchange and filed for bankruptcy protection in order to restructure its debts. The Partnership believes the advances to the joint venture partner, BLT LNG Tangguh Corporation, are still collectible given the expected cash flows anticipated to be generated by the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture that can be used to repay the advance.

 

9. Accrued Liabilities

 

 

       December 31, 2011
$
     December 31, 2010
$
 

Voyage and vessel expenses

     10,891        4,579  

Audit, legal and other general expenses

     8,435        6,595  

Interest including interest rate swaps

     19,606        19,912  

Payroll and benefits (1)

     6,877        6,534  

Income taxes payable and other

     931        1,053  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     46,740        38,673  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)  

As at December 31, 2011 and 2010, $3.6 million and $3.0 million, respectively, of accrued liabilities related to crewing and manning costs payable to the subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation (see Note 12c).

 

F-18


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

10. Long-Term Debt

 

 

     December  31,
2011

$
     December  31,
2010

$
 

U.S. Dollar-denominated Revolving Credit Facilities due through 2018

     49,274        188,000  

U.S. Dollar-denominated Term Loan due through 2018

     120,796        —     

U.S. Dollar-denominated Term Loan due through 2019

     346,768        371,685  

U.S. Dollar-denominated Term Loan due through 2021

     321,337        332,248  

U.S. Dollar-denominated Term Loan due through 2021

     114,868        120,599  

U.S. Dollar-denominated Unsecured Demand Loan

     13,282        13,282  

Euro-denominated Term Loans due through 2023

     348,906        373,301  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     1,315,231        1,399,115  

Less current portion

     84,722        76,408  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     1,230,509        1,322,707  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As at December 31, 2011, the Partnership had three long-term revolving credit facilities available, which, as at such date, provided for borrowings of up to $494.4 million, of which $445.1 million was undrawn. Interest payments are based on LIBOR plus margins. The amount available under the revolving credit facilities reduces by $32.9 million (2012), $33.7 million (2013), $34.5 million (2014), $84.1 million (2015), $27.3 million (2016) and $281.9 million (thereafter). All the revolving credit facilities may be used by the Partnership to fund general partnership purposes and to fund cash distributions. The Partnership is required to repay all borrowings used to fund cash distributions within 12 months of their being drawn, from a source other than further borrowings. The revolving credit facilities are collateralized by first-priority mortgages granted on seven of the Partnership’s vessels, together with other related security, and include a guarantee from the Partnership or its subsidiaries of all outstanding amounts.

At December 31, 2011, the Partnership had a U.S Dollar-denominated term loan outstanding in the amount of $120.8 million. Interest payments on this loan are based on LIBOR plus 2.75% and require quarterly payments and a bullet repayment of approximately $50.7 million due at maturity in 2018. This loan facility is collateralized by first-priority mortgages on the five vessels to which the loan relates to, together with certain other related security and is guaranteed by the Partnership.

The Partnership has a U.S. Dollar-denominated term loan outstanding, which, as at December 31, 2011, totaled $346.8 million, of which $178.6 million bears interest at a fixed-rate of 5.39% and requires quarterly payments. The remaining $168.2 million bears interest based on LIBOR plus 0.68% and will require bullet repayments of approximately $56.0 million per vessel due at maturity in 2018 and 2019. The term loan is collateralized by first-priority mortgages on three vessels to which the loan relates, together with certain other related security and certain guarantees from the Partnership.

The Partnership owns a 69% interest in the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture. The Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture has a U.S. Dollar-denominated term loan outstanding, which, as at December 31, 2011, totaled $321.3 million. Interest payments on the loan are based on LIBOR plus margins ranging between 0.30% and 0.63%. Interest payments on one tranche under the loan facility are based on LIBOR plus 0.30%, while interest payments on the second tranche are based on LIBOR plus 0.63%. One tranche (total value of up to $324.5 million) reduces in quarterly payments while the other tranche (total value of up to $190.0 million) correspondingly is drawn up with a final $95.0 million bullet payment per vessel due in 12 years and three months from each vessel delivery date. This loan facility is collateralized by first-priority mortgages on the two vessels to which the loan relates, together with certain other security and is guaranteed by the Partnership.

At December 31, 2011, the Partnership had a U.S. Dollar-denominated term loan outstanding in the amount of $114.9 million. Interest payments on one tranche under the loan facility are based on LIBOR plus 0.30%, while interest payments on the second tranche are based on LIBOR plus 0.70%. One tranche reduces in semi-annual payments while the other tranche correspondingly is drawn up every six months with a final $20 million bullet payment per vessel due at maturity in 2021. This loan facility is collateralized by first-priority mortgages on the two vessels to which the loan relates, together with certain other related security and is guaranteed by Teekay Corporation.

The Partnership has a U.S. Dollar-denominated demand loan outstanding owing to Teekay Nakilat’s joint venture partner, which, as at December 31, 2011, totaled $13.3 million. Interest payments on this loan, which are based on a fixed interest rate of 4.84%, commenced in February 2008. The loan is repayable on demand no earlier than February 27, 2027.

The Partnership has two Euro-denominated term loans outstanding, which as at December 31, 2011 totaled 269.2 million Euros ($348.9 million). Interest payments are based on EURIBOR plus a margin, which margins ranged from 0.60% to 2.25% as of December 31, 2011. The term loans have varying maturities through 2023. The term loans are collateralized by first-priority mortgages on two vessels to which the loans relate, together with certain other related security and guarantees from one of the Partnership’s subsidiaries.

The weighted-average effective interest rate for the Partnership’s long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010 was 2.3% and 1.7%, respectively. This rate does not reflect the effect of related interest rate swaps that the Partnership has used to economically hedge certain of its floating-rate debt (see Note 13). At December 31, 2011, the margins on the Partnership’s outstanding long-term debt ranged from 0.3% to 2.75%.

 

F-19


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

All Euro-denominated term loans are revalued at the end of each period using the then-prevailing Euro/U.S. Dollar exchange rate. Due primarily to the revaluation of the Partnership’s Euro-denominated term loans, capital leases and restricted cash, the Partnership recognized a foreign exchange gain (loss) of $10.3 million, $27.5 million and ($10.8) million, of which these amounts are primarily unrealized, for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The aggregate annual long-term debt principal repayments required for periods subsequent to December 31, 2011 are $84.7 million (2012), $86.2 million (2013), $87.8 million (2014), $138.8 million (2015) $91.4 million (2016) and $826.3 million (thereafter).

Certain loan agreements require a) that minimum levels of tangible net worth and aggregate liquidity be maintained, b) the Partnership to maintain certain ratios of vessel values as it relates to the relevant outstanding loan principal balance, c) the Partnership to provide for a maximum level of leverage, and d) one of the Partnership’s subsidiaries to maintain restricted cash deposits. The Partnership’s ship-owning subsidiaries may not, among other things, pay dividends or distributions if the Partnership is in default under its term loans or revolving credit facilities. One of the Partnership’s term loans is guaranteed by Teekay Corporation and contains covenants that require Teekay Corporation to maintain the greater of a minimum liquidity (cash and cash equivalents) of at least $50.0 million and 5.0% of Teekay Corporation’s total consolidated debt which has recourse to Teekay Corporation. As at December 31, 2011, the Partnership and its affiliates were in compliance with all covenants relating to the Partnership’s credit facilities and capital leases.

 

11. Income Tax

The components of the provision for income taxes were as follows:

 

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2011

$
    Year Ended
December 31,
2010

$
     Year Ended
December 31,
2009

$
 

Current

     2,297       1,340        500  

Deferred

     (1,516     330        194  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income tax expense

     781       1,670        694  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Partnership operates in countries that have differing tax laws and rates. Consequently, a consolidated weighted average tax rate will vary from year to year according to the source of earnings or losses by country and the change in applicable tax rates. Reconciliations of the tax charge related to the relevant year at the applicable statutory income tax rates and the actual tax charge related to the relevant year are as follows:

 

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2011

$
    Year Ended
December 31,
2010

$
    Year Ended
December 31,
2009

$
 

Net income before income tax expenses

     98,137       94,614       82,631  

Net (income) loss not subject to taxes

     (205,363     (138,951     7,563  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income subject to taxes

     (107,226     (44,337     90,194  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

At applicable statutory tax rates

      

Amount computed using the standard rate of corporate tax

     (30,548     (14,115     25,089  

Adjustments to valuation allowance and uncertain tax position

     25,361       19,980       (25,704

Permanent and currency differences

     (2,540     (4,195     1,309  

Change in tax rate

     8,508       —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Tax expense charge related to the current year

     781       1,670       694  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-20


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

The significant components of the Partnership’s deferred tax assets (liabilities) included in other assets were as follows:

 

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2011

$
    Year Ended
December 31,
2010

$
 

Derivative instruments

     59,724       32,996  

Taxation loss carryforwards

     35,554       38,914  

Vessels and equipment

     2,178       2,182  

Capitalized interest

     (3,123     (3,604
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     94,333       70,488  

Valuation allowance

     (89,236     (66,841
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

     5,097       3,647  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Partnership had tax losses in the United Kingdom (or UK ) of $26.8 million as at December 31, 2011 that are available indefinitely for offset against future taxable income in the UK. The Partnership had tax losses in Spain of 63.6 million Euros (approximately $82.4 million) as at December 31, 2011 that are available to be carried forward for 15 years for offset against future taxable income in Spain. The Partnership also had tax losses in Luxembourg of 71.2 million Euros (approximately $92.3 million) as at December 31, 2011 that are available indefinitely for offset against taxable future income in Luxembourg. Certain of the balances in the comparative columns above have been adjusted with no impact on the amount of the net deferred tax assets.

As of December 31, 2007, the Partnership had unrecognized tax benefits of 3.4 million Euros (approximately $5.4 million) relating to a re-investment tax credit related to a 2005 annual tax filing. During the third quarter of 2008, the Partnership received the refund on the re-investment tax credit and met the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold. As a result, the Partnership reflected this refund as a credit to equity as the original vessel sale transaction was a related party transaction reflected in equity. The relevant tax authorities have challenged the eligibility of the re-investment tax credit. As a result, the Partnership believed the more-likely-than-not threshold was no longer met and recognized a liability of 3.4 million Euros (approximately $4.7 million) and reversed the benefit of the refund against equity as of December 31, 2009. As at December 31, 2011, a liability of 4.2 million Euros (approximately $5.5 million) relating to the re-investment tax credit is included in other long-term liabilities. Subsequent to December 31, 2011, the relevant tax authorities accepted the Partnership’s claim on its re-investment tax credit.

The Partnership recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Partnership incurred $0.3 million, $1.0 million and $0.5 million, respectively, of accrued interest and penalties relating to income taxes. The tax years 2005 through 2011 currently remain open to examination by the major tax jurisdictions to which the Partnership is subject.

 

12. Related Party Transactions

a) On March 17, 2010, the Partnership acquired from Teekay Corporation the two 2009-built Centrofin Suezmaxes and the Alexander Spirit and the associated long-term fixed-rate time-charter contracts for a total cost of $160 million. As described in Note 2, the acquisition was accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control and accounted for on a basis similar to the pooling of interest basis. The Partnership financed the acquisition by assuming $126 million of debt, drawing $24 million on its existing revolving credit facilities and using $10 million of cash. In addition, the Partnership acquired approximately $15 million of working capital in exchange for a short-term vendor loan from Teekay Corporation. The excess of the purchase price over the historical carrying value of the assets acquired was $3.6 million and is reflected as a distribution of capital to Teekay Corporation.

During the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, $0.7 million and $1.6 million, respectively, of general and administrative expenses attributable to the operations of the Centrofin Suezmaxes and Alexander Spirit were incurred by Teekay Corporation and have been allocated to the Partnership as part of the results of the Dropdown Predecessor.

During the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, $0.3 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of interest expense attributable to the operations of the Alexander Spirit was incurred by Teekay Corporation and has been allocated to the Partnership as part of the results of the Dropdown Predecessor.

 

F-21


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

b) Two of the Partnership’s LNG carriers, the Arctic Spirit and Polar Spirit (or the Kenai LNG Carriers ), are employed on long-term charter contracts with subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation. In addition, the Partnership and certain of its operating subsidiaries have entered into services agreements with certain subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation pursuant to which the Teekay Corporation subsidiaries provide the Partnership and its subsidiaries with administrative, crew training, advisory, technical and strategic consulting services. Finally, the Partnership reimburses the General Partner for expenses incurred by the General Partner that are necessary for the conduct of the Partnership’s business. Such related party transactions, excluding expenses allocated to the Partnership as part of the result of the Dropdown Predecessor, were as follows for the periods indicated:

 

 

     Year Ended  
     December  31,
2011

$
     December 31,
2010

$
     December 31,
2009

$
 

Revenues (1)

     35,068        36,512         38,860   

Vessel operating expenses (2)

     33,135        30,556         27,428   

General and administrative (3) (4) (5)

     15,468        14,919         11,403   

 

(1) Commencing in 2008, the Kenai LNG Carriers were time-chartered to Teekay Corporation at a fixed-rate for a period of ten years, (plus options exercisable by Teekay Corporation to extend up to an additional 15 years).
(2) Teekay Corporation’s crew salaries and training.
(3) Teekay Corporation’s administrative, advisory, technical and strategic management fees.
(4) Includes $1.0 million, $0.8 million and $0.8 million of reimbursed costs incurred by Teekay GP L.L.C. during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
(5) Amounts are net of $1.0 million, $1.0 million and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, which consist of the amortization of $3.0 million paid to the Partnership by Teekay Corporation in March 2009 for the right to provide ship management services to certain of the Partnership’s vessels.

c) As at December 31, 2011 and 2010, crewing and manning costs of $4.1 million and $3.6 million, respectively, were payable to affiliates and were included as part of accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets. In addition, as at December 31, 2011 and 2010, non-interest bearing advances to affiliates totaled $11.9 million and $6.1 million, respectively, and non-interest bearing advances from affiliates totaled $17.4 million and $133.4 million, respectively. These advances are unsecured and have no fixed repayment terms, however, they are expected to be settled within the next fiscal year.

d) The Partnership was a party to an agreement with Teekay Corporation pursuant to which Teekay Corporation provided the Partnership with off-hire insurance for certain of its LNG carriers. The Partnership did not renew this off-hire insurance with Teekay Corporation, which expired during the second quarter of 2009 and incurred $0.5 million of these costs in 2009. The Partnership currently obtains third-party off-hire insurance for certain of its LNG carriers and self-insures the remaining vessels in its fleet.

e) In connection with the Partnership’s initial public offering in May 2005, the Partnership entered into an omnibus agreement with Teekay Corporation, the General Partner and other related parties governing, among other things, when the Partnership and Teekay Corporation may compete with each other and certain rights of first offer on LNG carriers and Suezmax tankers. In December 2006, the omnibus agreement was amended in connection with the initial public offering of Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. (or Teekay Offshore ). As amended, the agreement governs, among other things, when the Partnership, Teekay Corporation and Teekay Offshore may compete with each other and certain rights of first offer on LNG carriers, oil tankers, shuttle tankers, floating storage and offtake units and floating production, storage and offloading units.

f) On August 10, 2009, the Partnership acquired 99% of Teekay Corporation’s 70% ownership interest in the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture (giving the Partnership a 69% interest in the joint venture) for a purchase price of $69.1 million (net of assumed debt). This transaction was concluded between two entities under common control and, thus, the assets acquired were recorded at historical book value. The excess of the purchase price over the book value of the assets of $31.8 million was accounted for as an equity distribution to Teekay Corporation. The remaining 30% interest in the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture is held by BLT LNG Tangguh Corporation.

g) The Partnership’s Suezmax tanker the Toledo Spirit operates pursuant to a time-charter contract that increases or decreases the otherwise fixed-hire rate established in the charter depending on the spot charter rates that the Partnership would have earned had it traded the vessel in the spot tanker market. The remaining term of the time-charter contract was 15 years as of December 31, 2011, although the charterer has the right to terminate the time-charter in July 2018. The Partnership has entered into an agreement with Teekay Corporation under which Teekay Corporation pays the Partnership any amounts payable to the charterer as a result of spot rates being below the fixed rate, and the Partnership pays Teekay Corporation any amounts payable to the Partnership as a result of spot rates being in excess of the fixed rate.

During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Partnership realized losses of $0.1 million, $1.9 million and $0.9 million, respectively, for amounts paid to Teekay Corporation as a result of this agreement (see Note 13). The amounts payable or receivable from Teekay Corporation are settled at the end of each year.

h) In July 2008, subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation (or the Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries ) signed contracts to purchase from I.M. Skaugen ASA (or Skaugen ) two multigas carriers (or the Skaugen Multigas Carriers ), which are two technically advanced 12,000-cubic meter newbuilding ships capable of carrying LNG, LPG or ethylene. The Partnership agreed to acquire the Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries from Teekay Corporation upon delivery of the vessels.

On June 15, 2011 and October 17, 2011, the two Skaugen Multigas Carriers, the Norgas Unikum and the Norgas Vision, were delivered and commenced service under a 15-year, fixed-rate charters to Skaugen. On delivery, the Partnership concurrently acquired Teekay Corporation’s 100% ownership interests in the Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries for a purchase price of $114.5 million. These transactions were concluded between entities under common control and, thus, the assets acquired were recorded at historical book value. The excess of the combined purchase price over the combined book value of the assets of $8.2 million was accounted for as an equity distribution to Teekay Corporation.

i) In June and November 2009, in conjunction with the acquisition of two LPG carriers from Skaugen (or the Skaugen LPG Carriers ), Teekay Corporation novated interest rate swaps, each with a notional amount of $30.0 million, to the Partnership for no consideration. During 2010, the Partnership agreed to acquire an interest rate swap, with a notional amount of $30.0 million, relating to the third Skaugen LPG Carrier from

 

F-22


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

Teekay Corporation for no consideration and the Partnership accounted for this swap during 2010. The actual acquisition of this interest rate swap was concurrent with the delivery of the third Skaugen LPG Carrier on September 15, 2011. These transactions were concluded between related parties and thus the interest rate swaps were recorded at their carrying values which were equal to their fair values. The excess of the liabilities assumed over the consideration paid amounting to $1.5 million and $4.8 million were charged to equity during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

j) In November 2009, the Partnership sold 1% of its interest in the Kenai LNG Carriers to Teekay GP L.L.C. (or the General Partner ) for approximately $2.3 million.

k) During September and October 2011, the Partnership sold 1% of its ownership interest in its Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries and the Skaugen LPG Carriers to the General Partner for approximately $1.8 million.

l) In December 2007, a consortium in which Teekay Corporation had a 33% ownership interest agreed to charter four newbuilding 160,400-cubic meter LNG carriers (or the Angola LNG Carriers ) for a period of 20 years to Angola LNG Supply Services LLC. The consortium entered into agreements to construct the four LNG carriers at a total cost of approximately $906.0 million (of which Teekay Corporation’s 33% portion was $299.0 million), excluding capitalized interest. The vessels were chartered at fixed rates, with inflation adjustments, commencing upon delivery of the vessels. In March 2011, the Partnership agreed to acquire Teekay Corporation’s 33% ownership interest in these vessels and related charter contracts upon delivery of each vessel.

During August, September and October 2011, three of the Angola LNG Carriers delivered and commenced their 20-year, fixed-rate charter to Angola LNG Supply Services. Concurrently, the Partnership acquired Teekay Corporation’s 33% ownership interest in these three vessels and related charter contracts for a total equity purchase price of $57.3 million (net of assumed debt of $193.8 million). This transaction was concluded between entities under common control and, thus, the assets acquired were recorded at historical book value. The excess of the purchase price over the book value of the assets of $46.2 million was accounted for as an equity distribution to Teekay Corporation. The Partnership’s investments in the Angola LNG Carriers are accounted for using the equity method. The remaining Angola LNG Carrier delivered in January 2012 for an aggregate equity purchase price of approximately $19 million (net of assumed debt of $65 million), subject to adjustment based on actual costs incurred at the time of delivery.

 

13. Derivative Instruments

The Partnership uses derivative instruments in accordance with its overall risk management policy. The Partnership has not designated these derivative instruments as hedges for accounting purposes.

The Partnership enters into interest rate swaps which either exchange a receipt of floating interest for a payment of fixed interest or a payment of floating interest for a receipt of fixed interest to reduce the Partnership’s exposure to interest rate variability on its outstanding floating-rate debt and floating-rate restricted cash deposits. As at December 31, 2011, the Partnership was committed to the following interest rate swap agreements:

 

 

     Interest
Rate

Index
   Principal
Amount

$
     Fair Value /
Carrying
Amount of
Assets
(Liability)
$
    Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Term
(years)
     Fixed
Interest
Rate
(%) (1)
 

LIBOR-Based Debt:

             

U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps (2)

   LIBOR      423,748        (119,895     25.1        4.9   

U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps (2)

   LIBOR      209,812        (60,441     7.2        6.2   

U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps

   LIBOR      90,000        (18,183     6.7        4.9   

U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps

   LIBOR      100,000        (21,755     5.0        5.3   

U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps (3)

   LIBOR      218,750        (57,996     17.0        5.2   

LIBOR-Based Restricted Cash Deposit:

             

U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps (2)

   LIBOR      470,199        159,603       25.1        4.8   

EURIBOR-Based Debt:

             

Euro-denominated interest rate swaps (4)

   EURIBOR      348,905        (25,796     12.5        3.1   
        

 

 

      
           (144,463     
        

 

 

      

 

(1)  

Excludes the margins the Partnership pays on its drawn floating-rate debt, which, at December 31, 2011, ranged from 0.3% to 2.75%.

(2)

Principal amount reduces quarterly.

(3)  

Principal amount reduces semi-annually.

(4)  

Principal amount reduces monthly to 70.1 million Euros ($90.9 million) by the maturity dates of the swap agreements.

The Partnership is exposed to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the counterparties to the interest rate swap agreements. In order to minimize counterparty risk, the Partnership only enters into derivative transactions with counterparties that are rated A- or better by Standard & Poor’s or A3 by Moody’s at the time of the transactions. In addition, to the extent practical, interest rate swaps are entered into with different counterparties to reduce concentration risk.

 

F-23


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

In order to reduce the variability of its revenue, the Partnership has entered into an agreement with Teekay Corporation under which Teekay Corporation pays the Partnership any amounts payable to the charterer of the Toledo Spirit as a result of spot rates being below the fixed rate, and the Partnership pays Teekay Corporation any amounts payable to the Partnership by the charterer of the Toledo Spirit as a result of spot rates being in excess of the fixed rate. The fair value of the derivative at December 31, 2011 was a liability of $0.6 million (December 31, 2010 – a liability of $10.0 million).

The following table presents the location and fair value amounts of derivative instruments, segregated by type of contract, on the Partnership’s balance sheets.

 

 

     Accounts
receivable
     Current
portion of
derivative
assets
     Derivative
assets
     Accrued
liabilities
    Current
portion of
derivative
liabilities
    Derivative
liabilities
 

As at December 31, 2011

               

Interest rate swap agreements

     4,344        15,608        139,651        (11,448     (43,973     (248,645

Toledo Spirit time-charter derivative

     —           —           —           —          —          (600
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     4,344        15,608        139,651        (11,448     (43,973     (249,245
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As at December 31, 2010

               

Interest rate swap agreements

     4,587        16,758        45,525        (11,498     (50,603     (139,362

Toledo Spirit time-charter derivative

     —           —           —           —          —          (10,000
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     4,587        16,758        45,525        (11,498     (50,603     (149,362
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table presents the gains (losses) for those derivative instruments not designated or qualifying as hedging instruments. All gains (losses) are presented as realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments in the Partnership’s consolidated statements of income.

 

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2011     2010     2009  
     Realized
gains
(losses)
    Unrealized
gains
(losses)
    Total     Realized
gains
(losses)
    Unrealized
gains
(losses)
    Total     Realized
gains
(losses)
    Unrealized
gains
(losses)
    Total  

Interest rate swap agreements

     (62,660     (9,677     (72,337     (42,495     (34,906     (77,401     (36,222     (11,143     (47,365

Toledo Spirit time-charter derivative

     (93 )       9,400       9,307       (1,919     600       (1,319     (940     7,355       6,415  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (62,753     (277     (63,030     (44,414     (34,306     (78,720     (37,162     (3,788     (40,950
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

14. Commitments and Contingencies

a) The Partnership consolidates certain variable interest entities ( or VIEs ) within its consolidated financial statements. In general, a VIE is a corporation, partnership, limited-liability company, trust or any other legal structure used to conduct activities or hold assets that either (1) has an insufficient amount of equity to carry out its principal activities without additional subordinated financial support, (2) has a group of equity owners that are unable to make significant decisions about its activities, or (3) has a group of equity owners that do not have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns generated by its operations. A party that is a variable interest holder is required to consolidate a VIE if the holder has both (a) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

In July 2008, the Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries signed contracts for the purchase of the Skaugen Multigas Carriers from Skaugen. The Partnership agreed to acquire the Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries from Teekay Corporation upon delivery of the vessels. Each vessel is scheduled to commence service under 15-year, fixed-rate charters to Skaugen upon delivery. Subsequent to July 2008 and prior to the delivery of the vessels in June and October 2011, the Partnership consolidated the Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries as they were VIEs and the Partnership was the primary beneficiary during this period. The Partnership acquired 100% of the shares of the two Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries on June 15, 2011 and October 17, 2011, respectively.

 

F-24


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

The following table summarizes the balance sheet of the Skaugen Multigas Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2010:

 

 

     December  31,
2010

$
 

ASSETS

  

Vessels and equipment

  

Advances on newbuilding contracts

     79,535  

Other assets

     651  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     80,186  
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND DEFICIT

  

Accrued liabilities and other

     587  

Advances from affiliates

     79,612  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     80,199  

Total deficit

     (13
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and total deficit

     80,186  
  

 

 

 

b) In December 2007, a consortium in which Teekay Corporation had a 33% ownership interest agreed to charter the four newbuilding Angola LNG Carriers for a period of 20 years to Angola LNG Supply Services. The consortium entered into agreements to construct the four LNG carriers at a total cost of approximately $906.0 million (of which Teekay Corporation’s 33% portion was $299.0 million), excluding capitalized interest. As at December 31, 2011, payments made towards these commitments by the joint venture companies totaled $770.1 million (of which Teekay Corporation’s 33% contribution was $254.1 million), excluding capitalized interest and other miscellaneous construction costs. As at December 31, 2011, the remaining payments required to be made in early 2012 under these contracts was $135.9 million, of which Teekay Corporation’s share was 33% of this amount. The vessels are chartered at fixed rates, with inflation adjustments, upon deliveries of the vessels.

In March 2011, the Partnership agreed to acquire Teekay Corporation’s 33% ownership interest in these vessels and related charter contracts for a total equity purchase price of approximately $76 million (net of assumed debt of approximately $258 million) subject to adjustment based on actual costs incurred at the time of delivery. During August, September and October 2011, three of the Angola LNG Carriers delivered and commenced their 20-year, fixed-rate charters to Angola LNG Supply Services, at which time the Partnership took ownership of the investment (see note 12l). The remaining Angola LNG Carrier delivered in January 2012 for a cost of approximately $19 million (net of assumed debt of approximately $65 million) subject to adjustment based on actual costs incurred at the time of delivery. It was determined that these vessel companies were VIEs; however, the Partnership was not the primary beneficiary.

c) In October 2011, the Partnership entered into an agreement with Marubeni Corporation to acquire, through a joint venture, ownership interests in six LNG carriers from A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.3 billion. The Partnership owns 52% of the joint venture which has a 100% ownership interest in the six LNG carriers. The transaction was completed on February 28, 2012 (see Note 21).

d) As described in Note 6, Teekay Nakilat is the lessee under 30-year capital lease arrangements with a third party for the RasGas II LNG carriers (or RasGas II Leases ). The UK taxing authority, (or HMRC ), has been urging our lessor as well as other lessors under capital lease arrangements that have tax benefits similar to the ones provided by the RasGas II Leases, to terminate such finance lease arrangements and has in other circumstances challenged the use of similar structures. As a result, the lessor has requested that Teekay Nakilat enter into negotiations to terminate the RasGas II Leases . Teekay Nakilat has declined this request as it does not believe that HRMC would be able to successfully challenge the availability of the tax benefits of these leases to the lessor. This assessment is partially based on a January 2012 court decision, regarding a similar financial lease of an LNG carrier, that ruled in favor of the taxpayer. However, it is possible that the HMRC may appeal that decision. If the HMRC were able to successfully challenge the RasGas II Leases, Teekay Nakilat could be subject to significant costs associated with the termination of the lease or increased lease payments to compensate the lessor for the lost tax benefits. The Partnership estimates its 70% share of the potential exposure to range from $54 million to $77 million.

 

F-25


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

15. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

a) The changes in operating assets and liabilities for years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:

 

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2011

$
    Year Ended
December 31,
2010

$
    Year Ended
December 31,
2009

$
 

Accounts receivable

     5,698       (8,442     3,888  

Prepaid expenses and other operating assets

     619       4,018       5,677  

Accounts payable

     (1,054     (326     (6,203

Accrued liabilities

     8,374       (6,222     9,504  

Unearned revenue and other operating liabilities

     (1,876     2,767       10,301  

Restricted cash

     (2,644     —          —     

Advances to and from affiliates and joint venture partners

     (42,551     11,234       3,821  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     (33,434     3,029       26,988  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

b) Cash interest paid (including interest paid by the Dropdown Predecessor and realized losses on interest rate swaps) on long-term debt, advances from affiliates and capital lease obligations, net of amounts capitalized, during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 totaled $154.3 million (including a termination fee of $22.6 million), $135.5 million and $105.0 million, respectively.

c) The Partnership’s consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 reflect the Dropdown Predecessor as if the Partnership had acquired the Dropdown Predecessor when the vessels began operations under the ownership of Teekay Corporation.

d) During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 cash paid for corporate income taxes was $1.5 million, $0.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

e) During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Tangguh LNG Carriers commenced their external time-charter contracts under direct financing leases. The initial recognition of the net investments in direct financing leases for both vessels of $425.9 million were treated as non-cash transactions in the Partnership’s consolidated statements of cash flows.

f) In June and November 2009, Teekay Corporation novated interest rate swaps, each with a notional amount of $30.0 million, to the Partnership for no consideration. During 2010, the Partnership agreed to acquire an interest rate swap from Teekay Corporation for no consideration and this interest swap was acquired by the Partnership in 2011. These transactions were concluded between related parties and thus the interest rate swaps were recorded at their carrying value. The excess of the liabilities assumed over the consideration received, amounting to $1.5 million and $4.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, were charged to equity and treated as non-cash transactions in the Partnership’s consolidated statements of cash flows.

g) In November 2010, the $37.3 million portion of the purchase price relating to the Partnership’s 50% acquisition of the Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures through the issuance of 1.1 million common units was treated as a non-cash transaction in the Partnership’s consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

16. Total Capital and Net Income Per Unit

The following table summarizes the issuances of common units over the three years ending December 31, 2011:

 

 

Date

   Number of
Common
Units

Issued
    Offering
Price
     Gross
Proceeds  (1)
    Net
Proceeds
     Teekay
Corporation’s
Ownership
After the
Offering (2)
   

Use of Proceeds

March 2009

     4,000,000      $ 17.60         71,800        68,691        53.10   Prepayment of revolving credit facilities

November 2009

     3,950,600      $ 24.40         98,400        93,737        49.20   Prepayment of revolving credit facilities

July 2010

     1,713,502      $ 29.18         51,000        50,921        47.70   Prepayment of revolving credit facilities and general corporate purposes

November 2010

     1,052,749      $ 35.44         38,070        38,070        46.83   Acquisition of Excelsior Joint Venture

April 2011

     4,251,800      $ 38.88         168,684        161,655        43.62   Prepayment of revolving credit facilities

November 2011

     5,500,000      $ 33.40         187,449        179,523        40.09   Prepayment of revolving credit facilities

 

F-26


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

(1) Including General Partner’s 2% proportionate capital contribution
(2) Including Teekay Corporation’s indirect 2% general partner interest

During 2011, the board of directors of the General Partner authorized the award by the Partnership of 1,267 common units to each of the four non-employee directors with a value of approximately $50,000 for each award. The Chairman was awarded 2,217 common units with a value of approximately $87,500. These common units were purchased by the Partnership in the open market in May 2011 and were fully vested upon grant. During 2010 and 2009, the Partnership awarded 1,007 and 1,644 common units, respectively, as compensation to each of the four non-employee directors. The awards were fully vested in May 2010 and September 2009, respectively. The compensation to the non-employee directors is included in general and administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of income.

Limited Total Rights

Significant rights of the Partnership’s limited partners include the following:

 

   

Right to receive distribution of available cash within approximately 45 days after the end of each quarter.

 

   

No limited partner shall have any management power over the Partnership’s business and affairs; the General Partner shall conduct, direct and manage Partnership’s activities.

 

   

The General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by unitholders holding at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding units voting as a single class, including units held by our General Partner and its affiliates.

Subordinated Units

All of the Partnership’s subordinated units, which were issued in connection with the Partnership’s initial public offering in 2005, were held by a subsidiary of Teekay Corporation. Under the partnership agreement, during the subordination period applicable to the Partnership’s subordinated units, the common units had the right to receive distributions of available cash from operating surplus in an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.4125 per quarter, 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 was to increase the likelihood that during the subordination period there would be available cash to be distributed on the common units.

On May 19, 2009, 3.7 million subordinated units were converted into an equal number of common units as provided for under the terms of the partnership agreement and began participating pro rata with the other common units in distributions of available cash commencing with the August 2009 distribution. The price of the Partnership’s units at the time of conversion was $17.66.

The subordination period ended on April 1, 2010 and the remaining 7.4 million subordinated units converted into an equal number of common units. The price of the Partnership’s units at time of conversion was $29.95.

Incentive Distribution Rights

The General Partner is entitled to incentive distributions if the amount the Partnership distributes to unitholders with respect to any quarter exceeds specified target levels shown below:

 

 

Quarterly Distribution Target Amount (per unit)

   Unitholders     General Partner  

Minimum quarterly distribution of $0.4125

     98     2

Up to $0.4625

     98     2

Above $0.4625 up to $0.5375

     85     15

Above $0.5375 up to $0.65

     75     25

Above $0.65

     50     50

During 2011, cash distributions exceeded $0.4625 per unit and, consequently, the assumed distribution of net income resulted in the use of the increasing percentages to calculate the General Partner’s interest in net income for the purposes of the net income per unit calculation.

In the event of a liquidation, all property and cash in excess of that required to discharge all liabilities will be distributed to the unitholders and the General Partner in proportion to their capital account balances, as adjusted to reflect any gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of the Partnership’s assets in liquidation in accordance with the partnership agreement.

Net Income Per Unit

Net income per unit is determined by dividing net income, after deducting the amount of net income attributable to the Dropdown Predecessor, the non-controlling interest and the General Partner’s interest, by the weighted-average number of units outstanding during the period.

 

F-27


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

The General Partner’s, common unitholders’ and subordinated unitholder’s interests in net income are calculated as if all net income was distributed according to the terms of the Partnership’s 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, which is a contractually defined term that generally means all cash on hand at the end of each quarter after establishment of cash reserves determined by the Partnership’s board of directors to provide for the proper conduct of the Partnership’s business including reserves for maintenance and replacement capital expenditure and anticipated credit needs. In addition, the General Partner is entitled to incentive distributions if the amount the Partnership distributes to unitholders with respect to any quarter exceeds specified target levels. Unlike available cash, net income is affected by non-cash items, such as depreciation and amortization, unrealized gains or losses on non-designated derivative instruments and foreign currency translation gains (losses).

Pursuant to the Partnership agreement, allocations to partners are made on a quarterly basis.

 

17. Other Information

a) On November 5, 2010, the Partnership sold one of its LPG carriers, the Dania Spirit, for proceeds of $21.5 million, resulting in a gain of $4.3 million.

b) The Partnership had an agreement to acquire the three Skaugen LPG Carriers from Skaugen upon delivery for approximately $33 million. The first two vessels delivered in 2009 and the remaining vessel in 2011. Upon deliveries, the vessels were chartered to Skaugen at fixed rates for a period of 15 years.

c) On November 4, 2010, the Partnership acquired a 50% interest in the Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures from Exmar NV for a total equity purchase price of approximately $72.5 million (net of assumed debt). The Partnership financed $37.3 million of the purchase price by issuing to Exmar NV approximately 1.1 million new common units with the balance financed by drawing on one of the Partnership’s revolving credit facilities. As part of the transaction the Partnership agreed to guarantee its 50% share of the $206 million of debt secured by the Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures. The excess of the Partnership’s investment in the Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures over its underlying equity in the net assets, which amounts to approximately $51 million, has substantially been accounted for as an increase to the carrying value of the vessels of the Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures, in accordance with the finalized purchase price adjustments.

 

18. Restructuring Charge

During 2009, the Partnership restructured certain ship management functions from the Partnership’s office in Spain to a subsidiary of Teekay Corporation and changed the nationality of certain seafarer positions. During the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Partnership incurred expenses of $0.2 million and $3.3 million, respectively, in connection with these restructuring plans. The carrying amount of the liability as at December 31, 2011 and 2010 was nil.

 

19. Equity Method Investments

The Partnership has a 40% interest in the Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation (or RasGas 3 Joint Venture ) and a 50% interest in the Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures (see Note 17c). During August, September and October 2011, three of the Angola LNG Carriers delivered and commenced their 20-year, fixed-rate charters to Angola LNG Supply Services (or the Angola Joint Venture ). Concurrently, the Partnership acquired Teekay Corporation’s 33% ownership interest in these three vessels and related charter contracts (see Note 12l).

These joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method. The RasGas 3 Joint Venture, the Excelsior Joint Venture and the Angola Joint Venture are considered VIEs; however, the Partnership is not the primary beneficiary and consolidation is not required. The Partnership’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its investment in the RasGas 3 Joint Venture, the Excelsior Joint Venture and three of the Angola LNG Carriers is the amount it has invested in these joint ventures, which were $97.4 million, $56.1 million and $12.8 million respectively, as at December 31, 2011. In addition the Partnership also guarantees its portion of the Excelsior Joint Venture’s debt of $45.4 million and the Angola Joint Venture’s debt and swaps of $218.0 million.

 

F-28


Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit data or unless otherwise indicated)

 

The following table presents aggregated summarized financial information assuming a 100% ownership interest in the Partnership’s equity method investments and excluding the impact from purchase price adjustments arising from the acquisition of the Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures.

 

 

     Years ended December 31,  
     2011  (1)
$
    2010  (2)
$
    2009
$
 

Current assets

     128,608       97,605    

Non-current assets

     2,121,408       1,424,450    

Current liabilities

     140,899       88,990    

Non-current liabilities

     1,798,946       1,162,556    

Voyage revenues

     167,094       106,371       99,593   

Income from vessel operations

     124,553       83,992       80,951   

Realized and unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments

     (41,622     (35,173     10,692   

Net Income

     51,492       20,092       59,918   

 

(1)

The results included for the Angola Joint Venture were from the time the vessels delivered from August, September and October 2011 to December 31, 2011.

(2)  

The results included for the Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures were from November 4, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

 

20. Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In May 2011, the FASB issued amendments to FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement , which clarify or change the application of existing fair value measurements, including: that the highest and best use and valuation premise in a fair value measurement are relevant only when measuring the fair value of nonfinancial assets; that a reporting entity should measure the fair value of its own equity instrument from the perspective of a market participant that holds that instrument as an asset; to permit an entity to measure the fair value of certain financial instruments on a net basis rather than based on its gross exposure when the reporting entity manages its financial instruments on the basis of such net exposure; that in the absence of a Level 1 input, a reporting entity should apply premiums and discounts when market participants would do so when pricing the asset or liability consistent with the unit of account; and that premiums and discounts related to size as a characteristic of the reporting entity’s holding are not permitted in a fair value measurement. These amendments are effective for the Partnership on January 1, 2012. The Partnership is currently assessing the potential impact, if any, of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements.

 

21. Subsequent Events

On February 28, 2012, a joint venture (or Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture) between the Partnership and Marubeni Corporation acquired a 100% interest in six LNG carriers from Denmark-based A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S for approximately $1.3 billion. The Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture financed this acquisition with $1.06 billion from secured loan facilities and $266 million from equity contributions from the Partnership and Marubeni Corporation. The Partnership has a 52% economic interest in the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture and consequently its share of the equity contribution was approximately $138 million. The Partnership financed this equity contribution by borrowing under its existing credit facilities.

 

F-29

Exhibit 4.19

EXECUTION VERSION

 

Dated 10 October 2008   
MiNT LNG I, LTD.      (1
(as Borrower)   
The Banks and Financial Institutions listed      (2
in Annex 1   
(as Lenders)   
The Banks and Financial Institutions listed      (3
in Annex 1   
(as Swap Providers)   
BNP PARIBAS S.A.      (4
(as Agent)   
BNP PARIBAS S.A.      (5
(as Security Trustee)   
and   
BNP PARIBAS S.A.      (6
(as KEIC Agent)   

 

 

 

DEED OF AMENDMENT AND   
RESTATEMENT   
relating to a Loan Agreement of   
US$92,400,000 Buyer Credit and   
$117,600,000 Commercial Loan for one   
160,000 cbm LNG carrier Hull No. 1810 at   
Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.   

 

 

 

LOGO


CONTENTS

 

Clause

   Page  
1  

Definitions

     1   
2  

Amendments to the Loan Agreement

     1   
3  

Miscellaneous

     2   

Annex 1

     6   


THIS DEED is made on 10 October 2008 BETWEEN :

 

(1) MiNT LNG I, LTD. , being a company organised and existing under the laws of the Bahamas whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB - 13937, Nassau, The Bahamas (the “ Borrower ”); and

 

(2) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 Part 1 in Annex 1, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 Part 1 in Annex 1 (together the “ Lenders ” and each a “ Lender ”); and

 

(3) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 Part 2 in Annex 1, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 Part 2 in Annex 1 (together the “ Swap Providers ” and each a “ Swap Provider ”); and

 

(4) BNP PARIBAS S.A. , acting as agent with its registered office at 16 boulevard des Italiens 75009 Paris and registration number 662 042 449 RSC Paris for the Lenders and the Swap Providers (in that capacity the “ Agent ”); and

 

(5) BNP PARIBAS S.A. , acting as security trustee through its office at 16 boulevard des Italiens 75009 Paris and registration number 662 042 449 RSC Paris for the Lenders and the Swap Providers (in that capacity the “ Security Trustee ”); and

 

(6) BNP PARIBAS S.A. , acting as agent through its office at 24/F, Taepyeongno Building 310, Taepyeongno 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-767, for the Lenders under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy (as this term is defined in Annex 1) (in that capacity the “ KEIC Agent ”).

WHEREAS:

 

(A) By a loan agreement (the “ Loan Agreement ”) dated 11 September 2008 and made between the Borrower, the Lenders, the Agent, the KEIC Agent, the Security Trustee and the Swap Providers, pursuant to which the Lenders agreed (inter alia) to loan to the Borrower, upon the terms and conditions therein contained, a buyer credit tranche of up to the lesser of (i) forty-four per cent. (44%) of eighty per cent. (80%) of the Total Project Cost (as defined in Annex 1) and (ii) ninety two million four hundred thousand Dollars ($92,400,000) and a commercial tranche of up to the lesser of (i) fifty-six per cent. (56%) of eighty per cent. (80%) of the Total Project Cost (as defined in Annex 1) and (ii) one hundred and seventeen million six hundred thousand Dollars ($117,600,000) to assist in financing the 160,000 cbm LNG carrier with hull number 1810 at Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.

 

(B) The parties to this Deed wish to amend and restate the Loan Agreement, as set out herein, to take effect from the date of this Deed.

NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:

 

  1 Definitions

 

1.1 In this Deed:

Dollars ” and “ $ ” means the lawful currency of the United States of America from time to time; and

Restated Loan Agreement ” means the agreement as set out in Annex 1.

 

  2 Amendments to the Loan Agreement

 

2.1 The parties to this Deed hereby confirm that with effect from the date of this Deed, but without prejudice to any accrued rights and obligations, the Loan Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety by and shall be construed in accordance with the Restated Loan Agreement and the parties to this Deed agree that they are and shall be bound by all of the provisions of the Restated Loan Agreement.

 

1


  3 Miscellaneous

 

3.1 Clauses 14 and 17 of the Loan Agreement shall, mutatis mutandis, be incorporated in this Deed as if set out herein.

 

3.2 This Deed may be executed in any number of counterparts, to the effect that any single counterpart or set of counterparts taken together executed and delivered by all of the parties shall constitute one and the same instrument.

IN WITNESS whereof this Deed is executed by the parties on the day and year first above written.

 

2


EXECUTION PAGE—AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AGREEMENT

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED   )  
by and on behalf of   )  
MiNT LNG I, LTD.   )  

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

(as Borrower)   )  
by YUJI ISHIMARU   )  
in the presence of:    

[ILLEGIBLE]

   

1-12-32 Akasaka

   

Tokyo Japan

   

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED   )  
by and on behalf of   )  
BNP PARIBAS S.A.   )  

/s/ Patricia Lormeau

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)   )   Patricia LORMEAU
by   )  

in the presence of:

 

/s/ A. Renaudin Durand-Ruel

   

A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

 

   

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED   )  
by and on behalf of   )  
CALYON   )  

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)   )  
by   )  
in the presence of:    

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED   )  
by and on behalf of   )  
DNB NOR BANK ASA   )  

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)   )   [ILLEGIBLE]
by   )  
in the presence of:    

/s/ Eliza Mason

   

ELIZA MASON

   

 

3


EXECUTED AS A DEED   )  
by and on behalf of   )  
SOCIETE GENERALE   )  

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)   )  
by   )  
in the presence of:  ELSA GAMBARDELLA    

  SG HOUSE,41 TOWER HILL

   

  LONDON EC3[ILLEGIBLE]

   

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED   )  
by and on behalf of   )  
THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.   )  

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)   )   [ILLEGIBLE]
by   )  
in the presence of: MASAYUKI FUJIKI    

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED   )  
by and on behalf of   )  
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION   )  
BRUSSELS BRANCH   )  

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

(as a Lender)   )  
by   )  

in the presence of:

 

/s/ Eliana Miliou

   

ELIANA MILIOU

   

NORTON ROSE LLP

   

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED   )  
by and on behalf of   )  
SMBC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.   )  

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

(as a Swap Provider)   )  
by   )  

in the presence of:

 

/s/ Eliana Miliou

   

ELIANA MILIOU

   

NORTON ROSE LLP

   

 

4


EXECUTED AS A DEED   )  
by and on behalf of   )  
BNP PARIBAS S.A.   )  

/s/ Patricia Lormeau

(as Agent)   )   Patricia LORMEAU
by   )  
in the presence of:    

/s/ A. Renaudin Durand-Ruel

   

A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

   

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED   )  
by and on behalf of   )  
BNP PARIBAS S.A.   )  

/s/ Patricia Lormeau

(as the Security Trustee)   )   Patricia LORMEAU
by   )  
in the presence of:    

/s/ A. Renaudin Durand-Ruel

   

A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

   

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED   )  
by and on behalf of   )  
BNP PARIBAS S.A.   )  

/s/ Patricia Lormeau

(as the KEIC Agent)

  )   Patricia LORMEAU
by   )  
in the presence of:    

/s/ A. Renaudin Durand-Ruel

   

A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

   

 

5


Annex 1

RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT

 

6


Dated 11 September 2008

(as amended and restated by a Deed of Amendment

and Restatement dated 10 October 2008)

MiNT LNG I, LTD.

(as Borrower)

and

The Banks and Financial Institutions listed herein as Lenders

(as Lenders)

and

The Banks and Financial Institutions listed herein

(as Swap Providers)

and

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

(as Agent)

and

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

(as Security Trustee)

and

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

(as KEIC Agent)

US$92,400,000 BUYER CREDIT AND

US$117,600,000 COMMERCIAL LOAN for one

160,000 cbm LNG CARRIER Hull No 1810 at

SAMSUNG HEAVY INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.

 

LOGO

 


CONTENTS    Page  

1

       Definitions and Interpretation      2   

2

       The Loan and its Purpose      19 20   

3

       Conditions precedent and subsequent for the Loan      23   

4

       Representations and Warranties      25   

5

       Repayment and Prepayment      30   

6

       Interest      35   

7

       Fees      36   

8

       Security, Accounts and Application of Moneys      38   

9

       Covenants      41   

10

       Events of Default      64 66   

11

       Set-Off and Lien      68 70   

12

       Assignment and Transfer      69 71   

13

       Payments, Reserve Requirements and Illegality      71 73   

14

       Communications      75 77   

15

       General Indemnities      76 78   

16

       Miscellaneous      78 80   

17

       Law and Jurisdiction      84 85   

Schedule 1 Part I: The Lenders, the Commitments and the Proportionate Shares

    
85 87
  

Schedule 2 The Vessel

     92 94   

Schedule 3 Documents and evidence required as conditions precedent

     93 95   

Schedule 4 Form of Transfer Certificate

     101 1113   

Schedule 5 Form of Drawdown Notice

     103 115   

Schedule 6 Calculation of the Mandatory Cost

     105 117   

Schedule 7 Contract Instalments and Repayment Profile

     107 119   

Schedule 8 Form of Compliance Certificate

     108 121   

Exhibit A

     109 122   

 


LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”)

Dated:                          2008

BETWEEN:

 

(1) MiNT LNG I, LTD ., being a company organised and existing under the laws of the Bahamas whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB—13937, Nassau, The Bahamas (the “ Borrower ”); and

 

(2) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 Part 1, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 Part 1 (together the “ Lenders ” and each a “ Lender ”); and

 

(3) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 Part 2, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 Part 2 (together the “ Swap Providers ” and each a “ Swap Provider ”); and

 

(4) BNP PARIBAS S.A ., acting as agent with its registered office at 16 boulevard des Italiens 75009 Paris and registration number 662 042 449 RSC Paris for the Lenders and the Swap Providers (in that capacity the “ Agent ”); and

 

(5) BNP PARIBAS S.A. , acting as security trustee through its office at 16 boulevard des Italiens 75009 Paris and registration number 662 042 449 RSC Paris for the Lenders and the Swap Providers (in that capacity the “ Security Trustee ”); and

 

(6) BNP PARIBAS S.A ., acting as agent through its office at 24/F, Taepyeongno Building 310, Taepyeongno 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-767, for the Lenders under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy (in that capacity the “ KEIC Agent ”).

WHEREAS:

 

(A) The Borrower has agreed to purchase the Vessel from the Builder on the terms of the Building Contract and will register the Vessel on delivery on Bahamas flag.

 

(B) Each of the Lenders has agreed to advance to the Borrower its Buyer Credit Commitment (aggregating, with all the other Buyer Credit Commitments from the Lenders, up to an amount equal to the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount) to finance part of the Contract Price (the “ Buyer Credit ”, as more particularly defined in clause 1.1 below).

 

(C) Each of the Lenders has agreed to advance to the Borrower its Commercial Loan Commitment (aggregating, with all the other Commercial Loan Commitments from the Lenders, up to an amount equal to the Commercial Loan Maximum Amount) to finance part of the Contract Price and, subject to clause 2.3.3, 100% of the Ancillary Costs (the “ Commercial Facility ”, as more particularly defined in clause 1.1 below).

 

(D) The Borrower has agreed to time charter the Vessel to Angola LNG Supply Services LLC, a limited liability company duly organised under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA (the “ Time Charterer ”), pursuant to the terms of the Time Charter (as defined below).

 

(E) Pursuant to (inter alia) this Agreement, and as a condition precedent to the several obligations of the Lenders to make the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan available to the Borrower, the Borrower has, amongst other things agreed to execute and deliver a first priority mortgage over the Vessel as security for the payment of the Indebtedness.

 

(F) The Lender Finance Parties (as defined below) have agreed to enter into an Intercreditor Deed amongst, inter alios, themselves and the Borrower to, inter alia, regulate the priorities in respect of each of them under the Security Documents.

 

1


IT IS AGREED as follows:-

 

    1 Definitions and Interpretation

 

1.1 Definitions

In this Agreement:-

Account Bank ” means BNP Paribas S.A., London Branch.

Account Bank Fee Letter ” means the fee letter in respect of the fee referred to in clause 7.5 and made between the Borrower and the Account Bank.

Accounts ” means all of the Revenue Account, the Dry Docking Reserve Account, the Retention Account, the Debt Service Reserve Account, the Dividend Lock-up Account and the Distribution Account.

Account Charge ” means the deed of charge over the Revenue Account, the Dry Docking Reserve Account, the Retention Account, the Debt Service Reserve Account and the Dividend Lock-up Account in respect of the Vessel, as referred to in clause 8.1.4.

Additional Shareholders Equity ” has the meaning given to that term in the Letter of Sponsors Undertaking.

Affiliate ” means in relation to any entity, a Subsidiary of that entity, a Holding Company of that entity or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company.

Agency Fee Letter ” means the fee letter in respect of the fee referred to in clause 7.3 and made between the Borrower and the Agent.

Ancillary Costs ” means costs accruing or incurred or repayments or reimbursements to be made by the Borrower up to and upon the Delivery Date, or consequent upon Delivery, in respect of:

 

  (a) the supervision by the Supervisor or its employees of the construction of the Vessel by the Builder which are payable pursuant to the Supervision Agreement or any other amount payable pursuant to the Supervision Agreement;

 

  (b) the acquisition of spare parts under the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement;

 

  (c) all interest, arrangement fees, commitment fees and agency fees in respect of the Loan falling due for payment and/or accruing on or before the Delivery Date;

 

  (d) corporate management fees payable to Mitsui by the Borrower under the Corporate Management Agreement;

 

  (e) all costs and fees payable by the Borrower in connection with the arrangement of the facility evidenced by this Agreement and the negotiation and finalisation of the Security Documents to which the Borrower is, or is to be, a party and in relation to the facility generally (including costs and expenses in connection with the registration of the Vessel);

 

  (f) all costs and expenses incurred by the Borrower in connection with modifications made to the Vessel prior to delivery of the Vessel pursuant to and in accordance with the Building Contract and the Time Charter;

 

  (g) all costs and expenses incurred by the Borrower in connection with the Angolanization Agreement;

 

  (h) the KEIC Insurance Premium; and

 

  (i) any other costs approved by the Agent in writing (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders),

 

2


but, for the avoidance of doubt, Ancillary Costs shall never cover any item, element or service to be provided by the Builder pursuant to the Building Contract and which is included in the Contract Price.

Ancillary Costs Advance ” means a Drawing for the purpose of paying Ancillary Costs incurred by the Borrower and for the purpose more particularly described in clause 2.3.

Angola LNG ” means Angola LNG Ltd, a company established and existing under the laws of Bermuda.

Angola LNG Project ” means the construction and operation of the approximately one-train liquefaction plant of 5 Mtpa of LNG production capacity constructed or (as the context may require) to be constructed in the vicinity of Kwanda Island in the Zaire Province of Angola, the purchase by the Time Charterer of LNG from Angola LNG for transportation on the Vessel and the sale of the regasified LNG transported on the Vessel pursuant to the Gas Sales and Purchase Agreements and the purchase of feed gas by Angola LNG from the Gas Suppliers under the Gas Supply Agreements.

Angolanization Agreement ” means the Angolanization Agreement dated 18 December 2007 between the Borrower and the Time Charterer.

Arrangement Fee Letter ” means the fee letter in respect of the fee referred to in clause 7.1 and made between the Borrower and the Agent.

Assignment ” means the deed of assignment of Insurances, Earnings and Requisition Compensation in respect of the Vessel as referred to in clause 8.1.3.

Authorisation ” means an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration.

Authorised Investments ” means deposits and/or investments with the Account Bank with varying minimum amounts and periods applying for each case and subject to the prior written approval from the Account Bank.

Availability Period ” means the period from and including the Execution Date to and including the Availability Termination Date.

Availability Termination Date ” means, the earlier of (a) the date falling 290 days after the Scheduled Delivery Date of the Vessel, (b) the date falling thirty (30) days after the Delivery Date of the Vessel, (c) the date on which the Time Charterer gives written consent to the Borrower permitting the Borrower to cancel the Building Contract in accordance with its terms and (d) the date on which the Total Commitments are reduced to zero pursuant to any term of this Agreement, or such other date as may be agreed in writing by the Agent acting on the instructions of all Lenders and KEIC.

Borrower Priority Payments ” means (a) any duly evidenced payments made pursuant to the Insurances in respect of repairs to the Vessel paid for by the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower (to the extent it is permitted to do so pursuant to clause 9.5) prior to the receipt of such Insurance proceeds and (b) any duly evidenced payments received by the Borrower from the Time Charterer which reimburse the Borrower for the costs incurred by the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower in relation to modifications to the Vessel which have been requested by the Time Charterer pursuant to the Time Charter and which are reimbursed by the Time Charterer in a lump-sum manner and not through an adjustment to the payment of charterhire under the Time Charter.

Borrower Shareholders ” means at any time from and including the Delivery Date means, Mitsui, NYK LNG and Teekay or in any case, any other person who has become a Borrower Shareholder in place of any of them as permitted by and pursuant to clause 9.2.17 and “ Borrower Shareholder ” means any one of them.

 

3


Break Costs ” means the amount (if any) by which:

 

  (a) the interest which a Lender Finance Party should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in the Loan or any 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 Finance Party 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.

and “ Break Gains ” means the amount (if any) by which the amount in (b) exceeds the amount in (a).

Builder ” means Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., a company incorporated in the Republic of Korea with its registered office at 34th Fl., Samsung Insurance Seocho Tower 1321-15, Seocho-Dong, Seocho-Gu, Seoul, Korea 137-857.

Building Contract ” means the contract dated 18 December 2007 on the terms and subject to the conditions of which the Builder has agreed to construct the Vessel for, and deliver the Vessel to the Borrower.

Building Contract Assignment Consent and Acknowledgement ” means in relation to the Building Contract, the acknowledgement of notice of and consent to, the assignment of the Building Contract to be given by the Builder in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee.

Business Day ” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for business in London, Paris, Seoul, Tokyo and New York.

Buyer Credit ” means the aggregate amount of all the Buyer Credit Commitments advanced or to be advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower under clause 2 or, where the context requires, the aggregate amounts advanced and for the time being outstanding.

Buyer Credit Commitments ” means the aggregate of the Commitments of the Lenders for the Vessel as shown in the column headed “ Buyer Credit ” in Schedule 1, Part 1 as the same is reduced by the relevant clauses of this Agreement and which shall at no time exceed the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount.

Buyer Credit Margin ” means zero point seven eight per cent (0.78%) per annum.

Buyer Credit Maximum Amount ” means the lesser of (a) forty four per cent. (44%) of eighty per cent. (80%) of the Total Project Cost and (b) ninety two million four hundred thousand Dollars ($92,400,000).

Calyon ” means Calyon, a credit institution established under the laws of France, acting through its office at 9 quai du Président Paul Doumer, 92920 Paris, La Défense Cédex, France.

Change of Control ” means either (i) in respect of the Borrower that the Borrower Shareholders either together or any one or more of them shall cease, for any reason whatsoever, to own or control directly or indirectly, sixty-six per cent. (66%) of the shares of the Borrower or, (ii) in respect of Teekay LNG that as from Delivery and provided that Teekay has transferred its shares in the Borrower to Teekay LNG, Teekay ceases to hold, directly or indirectly at least fifty-one per cent. (51%) of the voting power from time to time in Teekay GP LLC, the general partner in Teekay LNG.

 

4


Classification ” means the classification referred to in and as required by, clause 9.6.3(b).

Classification Society ” means the American Bureau of Shipping or such other classification society which is a member of the International Association of Classification Societies and which the Agent shall at the Borrower’s request have agreed in writing shall be treated as the Classification Society for the Vessel for the purpose of the Security Documents.

Commercial Facility ” means, the credit facility made available by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement and more particularly described in clause 2.1.2.

Commercial Loan ” means the aggregate amount advanced or to be advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower under clause 2 or, where the context requires, the aggregate amounts advanced and for the time being outstanding.

Commercial Loan Maximum Amount ” means the lesser of (a) fifty six per cent. (56%) of eighty per cent. (80%) of the Total Project Cost and (b) one hundred and seventeen million six hundred thousand Dollars ($117,600,000).

Commercial Loan Margin ” means (i) during the Pre-Delivery Period one point zero zero per cent. (1.00%) per annum and (ii) during the Post-Delivery Period one point three zero per cent. (1.30%) per annum.

Commitment ” means, in relation to a Lender, the amount of the Loan which that Lender agrees under clause 2.1 to advance to the Borrower as its several liability as indicated against the name of that Lender in Schedule 1 Part I and/or Schedule 1 Part II as reduced by any relevant term of this Agreement and “ Commitments ” means all or more than one of them.

Commitment Fee ” means the commitment fee to be paid by the Borrower to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders pursuant to clause 7.2.

Communication ” means any notice, approval, demand, request or other communication from one party to this Agreement to any other party to this Agreement.

Company ” means at any given time the company responsible for the Vessel’s compliance with (i) the ISM Code under paragraph 1.1.2 of the ISM Code and/or (ii) the ISPS Code (as the case may be).

Compliance Certificate ” means a certificate in the form set out in Schedule 8.

Compulsory Acquisition ” means requisition for title or other compulsory acquisition, 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 facto but shall exclude requisition for use or hire not involving requisition for title.

Contract Instalment Advance ” means subject always to the provisions of this Agreement, Drawings in the maximum amount not exceeding the relevant instalment amount of the Contract Price set out in each– column (3) of Part A of Schedule 7 (as such sums instalment amount may be adjusted as permitted under the Building Contract) which shall be applied in payment of part of the instalment of the Contract Price payable by the Borrower at the completion of the relevant stage of construction of the Vessel pursuant to the Building Contract.

Contract Price ” means the actual amount payable for the Vessel pursuant to the Building Contract.

Corporate Management Agreement ” means the Corporate Management and Services Agreement executed or (as the context may require) to be executed between the Borrower and Mitsui.

 

5


Credit Support Document ” means any document described as such in the Swap Agreements and where the context permits, any other document referred to in any Credit Support Document which has the effect of creating an Encumbrance in favour of any of the Lender Finance Parties.

Currency of Account ” means, in relation to any payment to be made to a Lender Finance Party pursuant to any of the Security Documents, the currency in which that payment is required to be made by the terms of the relevant Security Document.

Debt Service Amount ” means in relation to any period all interest, principal and fees payable by the Borrower during that period under or pursuant to this Agreement, the Swap Agreements and any transactions under the Swap Agreements less any amounts receivable by the Borrower during that period under or pursuant to the Swap Agreements.

Debt Service Reserve Account ” means the account numbered 09618 078600 00481 USD and designated the “Debt Service Reserve Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Debt Service Reserve Account and any other account of the Borrower with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Debt Service Reserve Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee ” means the deed of assignment referred to in clause 8.1.1.

Deed of Assignment of Contracts ” means the deed of assignment referred to in clause 8.1.5.

Deed of Covenants ” means the deed of covenants referred to in clause 8.1.2.

Default Rate ” means the rate which is the aggregate of LIBOR, any Mandatory Cost, the Margin and one point zero zero per cent. (1.00%) per annum.

Delivery Date ” means the date on which the Vessel is actually delivered by the Builder to the Borrower under the Building Contract and accepted by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter.

Delivery Date Advance ” means a Drawing made, or to be made to finance the instalment of the Contract Price falling due on the Delivery Date.

Depot Spare Parts ” has the meaning given to that term in the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement.

Depot Spares Sharing Agreement ” means the agreement between, amongst others, the Borrower and the Time Charterer in respect of spare parts for, inter alia, the Vessel.

Distribution Account ” means the account numbered 09618 078600 006 75 USD and designated the “Distribution Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank.

Dividend Lock-up Account ” means the account numbered 09618 078600 005 78 USD and designated the “Dividend Lock-up Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Dividend Lock-up Account and any other account of the Borrower with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Dividend Lock-up Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

 

6


Dividend Restriction Event ” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events:

 

  (a) the Agent has not received payment in full of the first Repayment Instalment under the Buyer Credit when due;

 

  (b) an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived which has a Material Adverse Effect;

 

  (c) any charterhire under the Time Charter has not been paid when due and such charterhire together with interest thereon remains unpaid;

 

  (d) the Borrower has failed to demonstrate that the average DSCR for the then immediately preceding four (4) quarters is lower than 1.13x;

 

  (e) any of the Accounts (excluding the Distribution Account) is not fully funded to the amount required at that time as required pursuant to clause 8 (provided that this shall not apply to the Debt Service Reserve Account to the extent that the Borrower’s obligation to retain the DSRA Amount in the Debt Service Reserve Account is satisfied by means of the DSRA Letter of Credit and provided further that this shall not apply to the Dry Docking Reserve Account to the extent that, for the then applicable period, amounts have been deposited into the Dry Docking Reserve Account in accordance with clause 8.3.2);

 

  (f) a Total Loss has occurred, unless the Borrower has complied with its prepayment obligations under clause 5.5; or

 

  (g) the credit rating of an L/C Issuer falls below the Minimum Credit Rating applicable to it as described in clause 9.1.20 . 9.1.20 where (i) a demand has been made under the DSRA Letter of Credit in accordance with clause 8.5 and (ii) the L/C Issuer has failed to pay the full amount so demanded.

Documentation Agency Fee Letter ” means the fee letter in respect of the fee referred to in clause 7.4 and made between the Borrower and Calyon.

Dollars ” “ US$ ” and “ $ ” each means available and freely transferable and convertible funds in lawful currency of the United States of America.

Dollar Equivalent ” of an amount in a currency other than Dollars for any day means the amount of Dollars required to purchase that amount at the spot rate of exchange of the Agent for the purchase of the applicable currency with Dollars in the London foreign exchange market at 11.00 a.m. for delivery on that day.

Drawdown Date ” means the date on which a Drawing is advanced.

Drawdown Notice ” means a notice substantially in the form set out in the relevant part of Schedule 5.

Drawing ” means each borrowing of a proportion of the Commitment by the Borrower pursuant to clause 2 whether as a Contract Instalment Advance and/or an Ancillary Cost Advance and/or the Delivery Date Advance or (as the context may require) the principal amount of such borrowing.

Dry Docking Reserve Account ” means the account numbered 09618 078600 002 87 USD and designated the “Dry Docking Reserve Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Dry Docking Reserve Account and any other account of the Borrower with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Dry Docking Reserve Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

Dry Docking Reserve Account Payments ” means the sum calculated by the Borrower which should be reserved in order to meet the costs in respect of the next scheduled dry docking of the Vessel (including, without limitation, the costs in respect of the long term maintenance and repair of the Vessel), each such calculation shall be demonstrated as being fair and reasonable to the Agent’s satisfaction not later than the date falling, in respect of the first scheduled dry docking date, three (3) Months prior to the Scheduled Delivery Date and, in respect of each subsequent scheduled dry docking date, not later than the date falling three (3) Months prior to the immediately preceding scheduled dry docking date of the Vessel.

 

7


DSCR ” means in relation to any period the ratio which the Revenues less Operating Costs during that period bear to the Debt Service Amount paid or payable in relation to that period.

DSRA Amount ” has the meaning given to that term in clause 9.1.18.

DSRA Letter of Credit ” means an irrevocable letter of credit in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent which, if issued, shall be issued by an L/C Issuer for an original amount determined by the Agent to be equal whether alone or in aggregate to 6 Months principal and interest repayments under this Agreement or such other amounts as referred to in clause 9.1.18 and for a period of not less than 1 year or, during the final year before the Maturity Date, such other period of less than 1 year with the prior written consent of the Agent.

Earnings ” means all hires including (without limitation) all time charter hire and bareboat charter hire, freights, pool income and other sums payable to or for the account of the Borrower in respect of the Vessel including (without limitation) all remuneration for salvage and towage services, demurrage and detention moneys, contributions in general average, compensation in respect of any requisition for hire and damages and other payments (whether awarded by any court or arbitral tribunal or by agreement or otherwise) for breach, termination or variation of any contract for the operation, employment or use of the Vessel.

Encumbrance ” means any mortgage, charge (whether fixed or floating), pledge, lien, assignment, hypothecation, preferential right, option, title retention or trust arrangement or any other agreement or arrangement which, in any of the aforementioned instances, has the effect of creating security.

Environmental Affiliate ” means an agent or employee of the Borrower or a person in a contractual relationship with the Borrower or any sub-lessee in respect of the operation, management or maintenance of the Vessel (including without limitation, the operation of or the carriage of cargo of the Vessel).

Environmental Approval ” means any permit, licence, ruling, variance, exemption, certificate, filing, comment, Authorisation or other approval, required at any time under any applicable Environmental Law.

Environmental Claim ” means any claim by any person which arises out of or in connection with an Environmental Incident or any alleged Environmental Incident or any breach of, or non-compliance with, or otherwise relates to any Environmental Law or Environmental Approval.

Environmental Incident ” means:

 

  (a) any release, discharge or emission of Environmentally Sensitive Material from the Vessel; or

 

  (b) any incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released, discharged or emitted from a vessel other than the Vessel and which involves a collision between the Vessel and such other vessel or some other incident of navigation or operation, in either case, in connection with which the Vessel is actually and/or is reasonably likely to be arrested, attached, detained or injuncted and/or where the Borrower, or any Environmental Affiliate or any of their respective officers, employees or other persons retained or instructed by them are finally determined to be at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action; or

 

  (c) any other incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released otherwise than from the Vessel and in connection with which the Vessel is actually or is reasonably likely to be arrested, attached, detained or injuncted and/or where the Borrower or any Environmental Affiliate or any of their respective officers, employees or other persons retained or instructed by them are finally determined to be at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action.

 

8


“Environmental Law” means any or all laws applicable or relating to pollution or contamination or protection of the environment, to the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use or misuse, treatment, storage, disposal, carriage or holding of Environmentally Sensitive Material or to actual or threatened emissions, releases, spillages or discharges of Environmentally Sensitive Material.

“Environmentally Sensitive Material” means liquefied natural gas, oil, oil products and any other element or substance whether natural or artificial and whether consisting of gas, liquid, solid or vapour (including any chemical, gas or other hazardous or noxious substance) which is or is capable of becoming polluting, toxic, hazardous, harmful or damaging to mankind or the environment or any living organism.

“Event of Default” means any of the events set out in clause 10.2.

“Execution Date” means the date on which this Agreement is executed by each of the parties hereto.

“Facility Period” means the period beginning on the Execution Date and ending on the date when the whole of the Loan Outstandings and all other amounts due and owing under this Agreement have been repaid in full and the Borrower has ceased to be under any further actual liability to the Lender Finance Parties under or in connection with the Security Documents.

“Fee Letters” means the Arrangement Fee Letter, the Agency Fee Letter, the Documentation Agency Fee Letter and the Account Bank Fee Letter.

“Financial Indebtedness” means, in relation to a person (the debtor ”), a liability of the debtor:

 

  (a) for principal, interest or any other sum payable in respect of any moneys borrowed or raised by the debtor;

 

  (b) under any loan stock, bond, note or other security issued by the debtor;

 

  (c) under any acceptance credit, guarantee or letter of credit facility issued for the account of the debtor;

 

  (d) under a lease or any other agreement having the commercial effect of a borrowing or raising of money by the debtor;

 

  (e) under any foreign exchange transaction, any interest or currency swap or any other kind of derivative transaction entered into by the debtor or, if the agreement under which any such transaction is entered into requires netting of mutual liabilities, the liability of the debtor for the net amount; or

 

  (f) under a guarantee, indemnity or similar obligation entered into by the debtor in respect of a liability of another person which would fall within paragraphs (a) to (e) if the references to the debtor referred to the other person,

provided that, Financial Indebtedness shall exclude (a) any shareholder loans and/or other debt instruments of the Borrower to the Borrower Shareholders which are fully subordinated to the Loan in accordance with clause 2.1.1 of the Letter of Sponsors Undertaking and (b) any shareholder loans which are repaid pursuant to clause 2.3.4.

“Flag State” means the Bahamas.

“GAAP” means, with respect to a person, the generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied by such person in preparation of its financial statements.

 

9


“Gas Sales and Purchase Agreements” means the agreements entered into or (as the context may require) to be entered into between the Time Charterer and one or more affiliates of the Gas Suppliers for the sale and purchase of the LNG transported on the Vessel to the Gulf LNG Clean Energy regasification terminal located at the Port of Pascagoula, Mississippi.

“Gas Suppliers” means the suppliers of feed gas to Angola LNG pursuant to the Gas Supply Agreements.

“Gas Supply Agreements” means the gas supply agreements entered into or (as the context may require) to be entered into between each of the Gas Suppliers and Angola LNG for the supply by the Gas Suppliers of feed gas to Angola LNG for the purpose of liquefaction at the Angola LNG liquefaction plant and the subsequent sale of LNG by Angola LNG to the Time Charterer pursuant to the LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement.

“Government Entity” means and includes (whether having a distinct legal personality or not) any national or local government authority, board, commission, department, division, organ, instrumentality, court or agency.

Guarantee Bond ” has the meaning given to that term in the Building Contract.

“Holding Company” means, in relation to any entity (the first entity ”), any other entity in respect of which the first entity is a Subsidiary.

“Indebtedness” has the meaning given to that term in the Intercreditor Deed.

“Insurances” means all policies and contracts of insurance (including but not limited to hull and machinery, all entries in protection and indemnity or war risks associations) which are from time to time taken out or entered into in respect of or in connection with the Vessel or her increased value and her Earnings and (where the context permits) all benefits thereof, including all claims of any nature and returns of premium.

“Insured Loss Value” means, at any relevant time, 110% of the aggregate from time to time of the Lender Indebtedness.

“Intercreditor Deed” means an intercreditor deed to be entered into between (1) the Agent, (2) the Security Trustee, (3) the Borrower, (4) the Lenders, (5) the KEIC Agent and (6) the Swap Providers.

“Interest Payment Date” means each date for the payment of interest in accordance with clause 6.

“Interest Period” means each interest period selected pursuant to clause 6.

“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) and incorporated into SOLAS as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time and all further resolutions, circulars, codes, guidelines, regulations and recommendations which are now or may in the future be issued by or on behalf of the International Maritime Organisation or any other entity with responsibility for implementing the ISM Code.

“ISSC” means a valid international ship security certificate for a Vessel issued under the ISPS Code.

“ISPS Code” means the International Vessel and Port Facility Security Code adopted by the International Maritime Organisation Assembly as the same may have been or may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

“KEIC” means Korea Export Insurance Corporation of 2-16 Floors, Seoul Central Building, 136 Seorin Dong, Jongro-ku, Seoul 110-729, Korea.

 

10


KEIC Acceptance Letter means the letter or letters to be entered into from KEIC to, amongst others, the KEIC Agent.

KEIC Buyer Credit Policy means the Medium and Long Term Export Insurance Policy, the General Terms and Conditions of Medium and Long Term Export Insurance (Buyer’s Credit, Standard Type) and the special policy attached thereto to be issued by KEIC in respect of 95% of the Buyer Credit in relation to political and commercial risks.

KEIC Insurance Premium means Four four point Five five per cent. (4.5%) of the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount.

law or Law means any law, statute, treaty, convention, regulation, instrument or other subordinate legislation or other legislative or quasi-legislative rule or measure, or any order or decree of any government, judicial or public or other body or authority, or any directive, code of practice, circular, guidance note or other direction issued by any competent authority or agency (whether or not having the force of law).

L/C Issuer means a financial institution issuing the DSRA Letter of Credit and having a Minimum Credit Rating.

Lender Finance Parties means the Lenders, the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent and the Swap Providers.

Lender Indebtedness means the Buyer Credit Liabilities and the Commercial Liabilities (each as defined in the Intercreditor Deed).

Letter of Sponsors Undertaking means the undertaking referred to in clause 8.1.7 and executed or (as the context may require) to be executed by each of the Sponsors on a several basis in favour of the Security Trustee in form and substance acceptable to the Lenders.

“Leverage Ratio” means the ratio of the Loan Outstandings to the aggregate of (without duplication) the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity, the Additional Shareholders’ Equity (to the extent the same has been advanced) and the issued share capital of the Borrower, shareholder loans and/or other debt instruments of the Borrower to the Borrower Shareholders and the amounts standing to the credit of its capital and revenue reserves (including any share premium account or capital redemption reserve but excluding any re-evaluation reserve).

“LIBOR” means, in relation to a particular period:

 

  (a) the offered rate for deposits of Dollars for a period equal to such period and in an amount approximately equal to the amount in relation to which LIBOR is to be determined at 11.00 a.m. (London time) two (2) London Business Days prior to the first day of such period as displayed on Reuters Page LIBOR 01 on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates (the “Screen Rate”) Service or such other page as may replace such page on such system or on any other system for the time being displaying the rate so designated and if no such rate is available for any such period the rate shall be determined by interpolating between rates for such periods as are so available; or

 

  (b) if no Screen Rate is available for Dollars for any Interest Period, LIBOR for such period shall be the arithmetic mean (rounded upwards if necessary to five decimal places) of the rates respectively quoted to the Agent or any successor entity thereto by each of the Reference Banks (or, if not all the Reference Banks provide a quotation when requested, the arithmetic mean of the rates which are quoted) as such Reference Banks’ offered rates for deposits of Dollars in an amount approximately equal to the amount in relation to which LIBOR is to be determined for a period equivalent to such period to prime banks in the London Interbank Market at 11.00 a.m. (London time) two (2) London Business Days prior to the first day of such period; or

 

  (c) if on such date no such rate can be ascertained pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this definition, LIBOR for such period shall be the rate, determined by the Agent at which the Agent or any successor entity thereto is able to obtain deposits of Dollars in an amount approximately equal to the amount in respect of which LIBOR is to be determined, from whatever source it may select for a period equivalent to such period at 11.00 a.m. (London time) two (2) London Business Days prior to the first day of such period.

 

11


“LNG” means liquefied natural gas.

“LNG Agreement” means the LNG Sales and Purchase Agreement entered or (as the context may require) to be entered into between Angola LNG and the Time Charterer pursuant to which Angola LNG will supply to the Time Charterer and the Time Charterer will purchase from Angola LNG, LNG for transportation on the Vessel from the Angola LNG liquefaction plant to the Gulf LNG Clean Energy regasification terminal located at the Port of Pascagoula, Mississippi.

“Loan” means the aggregate amount advanced or to be advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower under clause 2 or, where the context requires, the aggregate amounts advanced and for the time being outstanding.

“Loan Outstandings” at any time means the total of all Drawings made at that time, to the extent not reduced by repayments, prepayments and voluntary reductions.

“London Business Days” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for business in London.

“Majority Lenders” means a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments in respect of the Loan aggregate more than sixty six point six seven per cent (66.67%) of the aggregate of all the Commitments in respect of the Loan.

“Manager” means Teekay Shipping Ltd. or one of its Affiliates, or another management company approved by the Agent (acting under the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC).

“Management Agreement” means, in respect of the Vessel, the management agreement, to be in form and substance acceptable to the Lenders acting reasonably, entered into, or as the case may be, to be entered into between the Borrower and the Manager providing for the Manager to manage the Vessel.

“Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement” means the acknowledgement of notice and consent to be given by the Manager in respect of the Management Agreement in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Contracts.

“Manager’s Undertaking” means an undertaking referred to in clause 8.1.8 executed or (as the context may require) to be executed by the Manager in favour of the Security Trustee as a condition precedent to the approval of the Management Agreement, such undertakings to be in a form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders in all respects.

“Mandatory Cost” means for each Lender to which it applies, the cost imputed to that Lender of compliance with the mandatory liquid asset requirements of the Bank of England and/or the banking supervision or other costs imposed by the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank, determined in accordance with Schedule 6 (Calculation of the Mandatory Cost).

“Mandatory Prepayment Event” means any of the events set out in clauses 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8 or 5.9.

“Margin” means the Buyer Credit Margin or the Commercial Loan Margin as applicable.

“Master” means the master of the Vessel from time to time.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the Borrower’s financial or operating condition or (b) the Borrower’s or any other Security Party’s ability to comply with its material obligations under any of the Security Documents or (c) the validity or enforceability of any of the Security Documents or (d) the rights and remedies of the Lender Finance Parties under the Security Documents.

 

12


“Maturity Date” means the date falling twelve (12) years after the Delivery Date of the Vessel.

“Maximum Loan Amount” means two hundred and ten million Dollars ($210,000,000).

“Minimum Credit Rating” means (a) in relation to any L/C Issuer either a minimum Standard and Poors corporate rating of AA- or a minimum Moodys long term credit rating of Aa3 and (b) in relation to the Refund Guarantor a minimum long term credit rating of A- or equivalent by either Standard and Poors or Fitch.

“Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity” means subject always to the provisions of the Letter of Sponsors Undertaking, a sum equal to no less than the lesser of 20% of the Scheduled Vessel Project Cost (being $52,500,000) and 20% of the Total Project Cost, made or (as the context may require) to be made available to the Borrower whether directly or indirectly by way of contributions to the ordinary, preferential or other class of share capital of the Borrower or by way of shareholder loans and/or debt instruments of the Borrower which shareholder loans and/or debt instruments shall be subordinated in all respects to the amounts due or owing to the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Swap Providers or the Lenders under the Security Documents on terms acceptable to them, to be applied on a pro-rata basis with the Drawings in respect of the costs to be funded by the Loan.

“Mitsui” means Mitsui & Co., Ltd. a Japanese corporation with its registered office at 2-1, Ohtemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan.

“Moodys” means Moodys’ Investors Service of 99 Church Street, New York, NY 10007, USA and includes its successors in title.

“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) 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; and

 

  (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.

The above rules will only apply to the last Month of any period, and “Monthly” shall be construed accordingly.

“Mortgage” means together the first priority statutory ship mortgage together with the Deed of Covenants collateral thereto over the Vessel made or to be made between the Borrower and the Security Trustee referred to in clause 8.1.2 (the “Mortgage”).

“NYK” means Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, a Japanese corporation with its registered office at 3-2, Marunouchi 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0005, Japan.

“NYK LNG” means NYK LNG (Atlantic) Ltd., a company incorporated in England and Wales with its registered office at Citypoint, 1 Ropemaker Street, London EC2Y 9NY.

“Operating Costs” means in relation to any period, the Borrower’s operating costs in respect of the Vessel, but excluding any unanticipated costs of a non-recurring and extraordinary nature which have not been reimbursed but which are to be reimbursed to the Borrower (and in respect of which the Borrower shall provide such evidence as the Agent may require) and no amount in respect of which is included in the Revenues for such period.

 

13


“Operator” means any person concerned in the operation of the Vessel and falling within the definitions of “Company” set out in the ISM Code.

“Permitted Encumbrance” means:

 

  (a) Encumbrances created or contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Relevant Documents;

 

  (b) liens for unpaid crew’s wages;

 

  (c) liens for salvage;

 

  (d) liens arising by operation of law for not more than 2 Months’ prepaid hire under any charter in relation to a Vessel not prohibited by the Relevant Documents;

 

  (e) liens for Master’s disbursements incurred in the ordinary course of trading;

 

  (f) other liens arising by operation of law or otherwise in the ordinary course of the operation, repair or maintenance of the Vessel and which secure amounts not exceeding the Threshold Amount where the Borrower 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 Borrower finally has to pay such claim so long as any such proceedings shall not, and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of the Vessel, or any interest in the Vessel;

 

  (g) any security interest created over the Depot Spare Parts by a sister vessel in favour of its lenders;

 

  (h) any security interest created in favour of a claimant or defendant in any action of the court or tribunal before whom such action is brought as security for costs and expenses where the Borrower 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 continued existence of such security interest shall not and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of, the Vessel or any interest in the Vessel; and

 

  (i) security interests 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 security interest shall not and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of a Vessel, or any interest in the Vessel.

“Post-Delivery Period” means the period from and including the date falling immediately after the Delivery Date up to and including the last day of the Facility Period.

“Potential Event of Default” means any event which, with the giving of notice and/or the passage of time and/or the satisfaction of any materiality test, would constitute an Event of Default.

“Pre-Delivery Period” means the period from and including the Execution Date up to and including the Delivery Date.

“Project Co-ordination Agreement” means the project co-ordination agreement entered or, as the case may be, to be entered into between the Borrower, the Time Charterer and the Security Trustee to be in form and substance satisfactory to all Lenders.

“Project Documents” means the Building Contract, the Refund Guarantee, the Management Agreement, the Corporate Management Agreement, the Supervision Agreement, the Tripartite Agreement, the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement, and the Time Charter and any other agreements or documents which the Agent and the Borrower agree shall be a “Project Document”.

 

14


“Proportionate Share” in respect of a Loan means, for each Lender, the percentage that its Commitment relating to that Loan bears to the aggregate Commitments of all Lenders for that Loan from time to time, being initially the percentage indicated against the name of that Lender in Schedule 1.

“Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance” has the meaning given to that term in the Building Contract.

“Qualifying Entity” means a person having a long term corporate credit rating of at least BBB-with Standard and Poors or Baa3 with Moodys;

“Reference Banks” means, in relation to LIBOR, the principal London offices of the Agent, HSBC Bank plc, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and Barclays Bank plc and such other banks as may be appointed by the Agent in consultation with the Borrower.

“Refund Guarantee” means the refund guarantee dated 20 December 2007 and issued by the Refund Guarantor in favour of the Borrower.

“Refund Guarantee Consent and Acknowledgement” means the acknowledgement of notice of and consent to, the assignment in respect of the Refund Guarantee to be given by the Refund Guarantor in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee.

“Refund Guarantor” means New Hampshire Insurance Company (a wholly owned subsidiary of American International Companies) Hulls 1810 a Pennsylvania corporation and having its registered office at Principal Bond Office, 175 Water Street—26th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10038.

“Relevant Documents” means the Security Documents, the Project Documents and the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy.

“Relevant Jurisdiction” means any jurisdiction in which or where any Security Party is incorporated, resident, domiciled, has a permanent establishment, carries on, or has a place of business or is otherwise effectively connected.

“Repayment Date” means any date for payment of a Repayment Instalment in accordance with clause 5.

“Repayment Instalment” means any instalment of a Loan to be repaid by the Borrower in accordance with clause 5.

“Requisition Compensation” means all compensation or other money which may from time to time be payable to the Borrower as a result of the Compulsory Acquisition of the Vessel.

“Retention Account” means the account numbered 09618 078600 003 84 USD and designated the “Retention Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Retention Account and/or any other account of the Borrower, with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Retention Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

 

15


“Retention Amount” means, in relation to any Retention Date, such sum as shall be the aggregate of:

 

  (a)

one-third ( 1/ 3 ) of the Repayment Instalment falling due for payment pursuant to clause 5.1 (as the same may have been reduced by any permitted or required prepayment) on the next Repayment Date after the relevant Retention Date other than in the case of the final Repayment Instalment in respect of which no retention shall be made; and

 

  (b)

one-third ( 1/ 3 ) of the aggregate amount of interest falling due for payment in respect of the Loan during and at the end of each Interest Period current at the relevant Retention Date as reduced or, as the case may be, increased by the amounts (if any) to be paid or, as the case may be, to be received by the Borrower under the Swap Agreements.

“Retention Dates” means in relation to the Loan, the date falling one (1) Month after the Delivery Date and each of the dates falling at Monthly intervals after such date and prior to the final Repayment Date.

“Revenue Account” means the account numbered 09618 078600 001 90 USD and designated the “Revenue Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Revenue Account and/or any other account of the Borrower with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Revenue Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

“Revenues” means, in relation to any period, all moneys received or receivable by the Borrower in relation to that period including:

 

  (a) moneys received or receivable pursuant to the Time Charter;

 

  (b) amounts representing interest on the Accounts; and

 

  (c) all other amounts received or receivable by the Borrower during the relevant period, but excluding Drawings paid to the Borrower under this Agreement.

“Revised Delivery Date” means any Revised Delivery Date as defined in Article V(d) of the Building Contract and pursuant to which the Borrower is entitled to delay delivery of the Vessel by notice in writing to the Builder on two occasions and by up to 45 days on each occasion.

“Scheduled Delivery Date” means 30 August 2011 or any Revised Delivery Date.

“Scheduled Vessel Project Cost” means two hundred and sixty two million five hundred thousand Dollars ($262,500,000).

“Security Documents” means this Agreement, the Swap Agreement, any other Credit Support Documents, the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee, the Assignment, the Deed of Assignment of Contracts, the Letter of Sponsors Undertaking, the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants, the Share Pledges Charges , the Account Charge, the Project Co-ordination Agreement, the Building Contract Assignment Consent and Acknowledgement, the Refund Guarantee Consent and Acknowledgement, the Supervision Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement, the Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement, the Sub-Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement, the Intercreditor Deed, the Manager’s Undertaking, the Fee Letters or (where the context permits) any one of them and any other agreement or document which may at any time be executed to guarantee or as security for the payment or repayment of all or any part of the Indebtedness and which the Borrower and the Agent agree to be a Security Document.

“Security Parties” means, at any relevant time, the Borrower, the Sponsors, the Borrower Shareholders, the Supervisor, the Manager and, with the consent of the Borrower, any other party who may at any time during the Facility Period be liable for, or provide security for, all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness, and “Security Party” means any one of them.

“Security Trustee” means BNP Paribas S.A. in its capacity as security trustee for the purposes of the Security Documents.

 

16


“Share Pledges Charges means the share pledges charge over shares from each Borrower Shareholder in respect of the shares in the Borrower as referred to in clause 8.1.6.

“SOLAS” means International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, with Protocol 1978 and Amendments of 1981, 1983, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004 as the same may be further amended or supplemented, consolidated or replaced from time to time.

“Sponsors” means Mitsui, NYK and Teekay, or in any case, any other person who has acceded to the Security Documents as a Sponsor in place of any of them as permitted by and pursuant to clause 9.2.17 and “Sponsor” means any one of them.

“Standard & Poors” means Standard & Poors Rating Services of 25 Broadway, New York, NY 10004, USA and includes its successors in title.

“Subsidiary” means a subsidiary undertaking, as defined in section 736 Companies Act 1985 or any analogous definition under any other relevant system of law.

“Supervision Agreement” means the supervision agreement to be entered into between the Borrower and the Supervisors as supervisors in respect of, inter alia, the Vessel.

“Supervision Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement” means the acknowledgement of notice of and consent to, the assignment in respect of the Supervision Agreement to be given by the Supervisor in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Contracts.

“Supervisors” means Teekay Shipping Limited and NYK or any one of their respective Affiliates who are parties to the Supervision Agreement and “Supervisors” means either of them;

“Swap Agreement” means each ISDA Master Agreement and each confirmation issued thereunder between a Swap Provider and the Borrower together with any novation documentation entered into in relation to swap arrangements relating to this Agreement entered into prior to the date hereof (together the “Swap Agreements”).

“Swap Margin” means the Swap Margin applicable to each Swap Agreement as set out in the Swap Margin Side Letters.

“Swap Margin Side Letters” means the letter agreement to be entered into between the Swap Providers and the Borrower setting out the Swap Margin in form and substance satisfactory to each of the Swap Providers and the Borrower.

“Swap Providers” means each of the Lenders (including, for_the avoidance of doubt, any entity which has ceased to be a Lender pursuant to clause 12) or their respective affiliate acting in its capacity as a swap provider pursuant to a Swap Agreement and “Swap Provider” means any one or more of them.

“Tax” includes all present and future taxes, levies (whether by deduction, withholding or otherwise), imposts, duties, or charges of a similar nature (or any amount payable on account of or as security for any of the foregoing), including, but not limited to, income tax, corporation tax, VAT, stamp duty, customs and other impost or export duty or excise duty, imposed by any statutory, governmental, national, international, state or local taxing or fiscal authority, body or agency or department whatsoever or any central bank, monetary agency or European Union institution, whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere together with interest thereon and any additions, fines, surcharges, penalties in respect thereof or relating thereto and “Taxes” and “Taxation” shall be construed accordingly.

“Teekay” means Teekay Corporation a company incorporated in the Marshall Islands with its registered office at c/o Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH 96960.

 

17


“Teekay LNG” means Teekay LNG Partners L.P. a limited partnership formed in the Marshall Islands with its registered office at c/o Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960.

“Teekay Shipping Limited” means Teekay Shipping Limited, a Bermuda company constituted from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas with its registered office at 4th Floor, Belvedere Building, 69 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton, HM 09, Bermuda.

“Threshold Amount” means two million Dollars ($2,000,000) or its Dollar Equivalent.

“Time Charter” means in respect of the Vessel, the time charter dated 18 December 2007 between the Borrower and the Time Charterer.

“Time Charterer” has the meaning ascribed to that term in Recital D above.

“Total Loss” means:-

 

  (a) an actual, constructive or compromised or arranged total loss of the Vessel; or

 

  (b) any Compulsory Acquisition of the Vessel; or

 

  (c) the hijacking, theft, condemnation, capture, seizure, arrest, detention or confiscation of the Vessel (other than where the same amounts to the Compulsory Acquisition of the Vessel) by any person or entity, including any Government Entity, or by persons acting or purporting to act on behalf of any Government Entity, unless the Vessel is released and restored to the Borrower from such hijacking, theft, condemnation, capture, seizure, arrest, detention or confiscation within thirty (30) days after the occurrence thereof or where such event is an insured risk under the Insurances, six (6) Months or such lesser period as is stipulated in the relevant Insurances as being required to elapse before a Total Loss of the Vessel shall be deemed as having occurred.

“Total Project Cost” means a sum equal to the aggregate amount in Dollars of the Contract Price and Ancillary Costs.

“Transfer Certificate” means a certificate materially in the form set forth in Schedule 4 or any other form agreed by the Borrower and the Agent signed by a Lender and a Transferee whereby:-

 

  (a) such Lender procures the transfer to such Transferee of all or a part of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement upon and subject to the terms and conditions set out in clause 12; and

 

  (b) such Transferee undertakes to perform the obligations it will assume as a result of delivery of such certificate to the Agent as is contemplated in clause 12.

“Transfer Date” means, in relation to any Transfer Certificate, the date for the making of the transfer specified in the schedule to such Transfer Certificate.

“Tripartite Agreement” means the Tripartite Agreement dated 18 December 2007 and made between the Builder, the Borrower and the Time Charterer.

“Tripartite Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement” means the acknowledgement of and consent to, the assignment in respect of the Tripartite Agreement to be given by the Builder and the Time Charterer in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Contracts.

“Transferee” means a bank or other financial institution to which a Lender transfers all or part of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

“Unpaid Sum” means any sum due and payable but unpaid by a Security Party under the Security Documents.

 

18


“Value Added Tax” or “VAT” means:

 

  (a) value added tax of the United Kingdom as provided for in the VATA including legislation (delegated or otherwise) supplementary thereto, and any similar or substituted tax, or any tax imposed, levied or assessed in the United Kingdom on added value or turnover; and

 

  (b) any similar tax imposed, levied or assessed in any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.

“VATA” means the Value Added Tax Act 1994.

“Vessel” means the Vessel listed in Schedule 2 and everything now or in the future belonging to it on board and ashore.

“Vessel Registry” means the Bahamas Vessel Registry.

“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” has the meaning given to the term “wholly-owned subsidiary” in section 736 of the Companies Act 1985.

 

   1.2 Headings

clause headings and table of contents are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

   1.3 Construction of certain terms

In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:

 

1.3.1 references to clauses and schedules are to be construed as references to the clauses of, and schedules to, this Agreement and references to this Agreement include its schedules;

 

1.3.2 references to (or to any specified provision of) this Agreement or any other document shall be construed as references to this Agreement, that provision or that document as in force for the time being and as amended or supplemented in accordance with the terms thereof, or, as the case may be, with the agreement of the relevant parties;

 

1.3.3 references to a “regulation” include any present or future regulation, rule, directive, requirement, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law) of any agency, authority, central bank or government department or any self-regulatory or other national or supra-national authority;

 

1.3.4 words importing the plural shall include the singular and vice versa;

 

1.3.5 references to a time of day are to London time;

 

1.3.6 references to a “person” shall be construed as including references to an individual, firm, company, corporation, unincorporated body of persons or any Government Entity and includes its successors and permitted transferees and assigns;

 

1.3.7 references to a “guarantee” include references to an indemnity or other assurance against financial loss including, without limitation, an obligation to purchase assets or services as a consequence of an event of default by any other person to pay any Indebtedness and “guaranteed” shall be construed accordingly;

 

1.3.8 references to any enactment shall be deemed to include references to such enactment as re-enacted, amended or extended; and

 

1.3.9 references to any of the Lender Finance Parties includes its successors and permitted transferees and assigns.

 

19


1.3.10 references to “indebtedness” means any obligation for the payment or repayment of money, whether as principal or as surety and whether present, future, actual or contingent.

 

        2 The Loan and its Purpose

 

       2.1 Agreement to lend

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in reliance on each of the representations and warranties made or to be made in or in accordance with each of the Security Documents:

 

  2.1.1 each of the Lenders agrees to advance to the Borrower its Commitment of an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount to be used by the Borrower for the purposes referred to in Recital (B); and

 

  2.1.2 each of the Lenders agrees to advance to the Borrower its Commitment of an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the Commercial Loan Maximum Amount to be used by the Borrower for the purposes referred to in Recital (C).

 

      2.2 Drawdown Request

The Borrower may request a Drawing to be advanced in one amount on any Business Day prior to the relevant Availability Termination Date by delivery to the Agent of a duly completed Drawdown Notice not later than 10 a.m. (Paris time) on a Business Day falling not more than ten (10) and not fewer than three (3) Business Days before the proposed Drawdown Date. A Drawdown Notice shall be effective on actual receipt by the Agent and, once given, shall, subject as provided in clause 13.8, be irrevocable.

 

      2.3 Drawings

 

  2.3.1 The amount of each Drawing shall, subject to the following provisions of this clause 2.3, be for such amount as is specified in the Drawdown Notice for that Drawing.

 

  2.3.2 Drawings may only be made on Business Days falling within the Availability Period.

 

  2.3.3 Ancillary Cost Advances shall, subject to clause 3, only be available in minimum amounts of one million Dollars ($1,000,000 ) (provided that this threshold shall not apply to Ancillary Cost Advances drawn to pay the Ancillary Costs described in part (c) of the definition thereof ) and shall only be available for application in or towards payment of expenditure which the Borrower has certified and evidenced in accordance with clause 3.1.4 and in any event an Ancillary Cost Advance shall only be available if such Ancillary Cost Advance will not, when aggregated with all previous Ancillary Cost Advances, equal a sum in excess of $36,000,000.

 

  2.3.4 The Borrower shall be entitled to draw an Ancillary Cost Advance on the first Drawdown Date up to a maximum amount of $ 16,750,000 21,200,000 for the purpose of repaying shareholder loans to the extent required to achieve a Borrower’s Leverage Ratio of 4:1.

 

  2.3.5 Each Ancillary Cost Advance may be made on any date.

 

  2.3.6 Contract Instalment Advances shall, subject always to clauses 2.1 and 3, be in the maximum amount not exceeding the relevant instalment amount of the Contract Price set out in each column (3)  of Part A of Schedule 7 as such sums instalment amounts may be amended following any permitted increase in the Contract Price and shall only be available for application (a) in or towards payment of instalments of the Contract Price which have become due and payable by the Borrower pursuant to the Building Contract or (b) in or towards reimbursement to the Borrower of such part of any instalment amount of the Contract Price as set out in column (3)  of Part A of Schedule 7 which has become due and payable by the Borrower pursuant to the Building Contract and which the Borrower has satisfied the Agent has been paid by the Borrower or by the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower.

 

20


  2.3.7 No Drawing shall be available to the Borrower unless (a) the Agent or the Borrower shall have first received such amount (the “Relevant Amount”) by way of contributions of Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity which, when aggregated with the amounts received by the Agent from the Lenders in respect of such Drawing (and in the case of amounts received by the Borrower, the Agent is satisfied that such amount is or has been or is to be applied in meeting the instalments of Contract Price or Ancillary Cost in respect of which the relevant Drawing is to be applied (and for the avoidance of doubt the instalments of Ancillary Costs in respect of which Drawings are to be applied shall not when aggregated with all Ancillary Costs in respect of which an Ancillary Cost Advance has been made exceed $36,000,000)) is equal to or greater than one fifth (1/5th) of the Total Project Cost as at the date of the relevant Drawing (and including such Drawing) and (b) the aggregate of the Drawing and the Relevant Amount shall be not less than the total amount of the relevant Ancillary Costs and/or the relevant instalment of the Contract Price in respect of which the relevant Drawing is to be applied.

 

  2.3.8 The aggregate amount which may be drawn down under this Agreement shall never exceed the lesser of (a) 80% of the Total Project Cost and (b) $210,000,000.

 

  2.3.9 Each Drawing (together with the Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity paid to the Agent pursuant to clause 2.9 in respect of that Drawing) shall unless the Agent shall determine otherwise be paid by the Agent on behalf of the Borrower directly to the payee(s) in respect of which such Drawing is made provided that in respect of any Ancillary Cost in respect of which an Ancillary Cost Advance may be made under this Agreement (excluding for these purposes the KEIC Insurance Premium) of less than $1,000,000 in aggregate or where the Agent is satisfied that the Borrower has settled the amount due to any such payee(s) in full the Agent shall pay that part of the relevant Drawing directly to the Borrower.

 

2.3.10 The Subject to clause 2.3.14, the Agent shall be entitled to set off from any Drawing any interest, fees or commissions or other sums due and payable by the Borrower to the Lenders or any of them and/or to the Agent and/or to the Security Trustee and/or to the KEIC Agent and/or to the Swap Providers under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents and to apply the same in settlement of such interest, fees or commissions or other sums so due and payable.

 

2.3.11 The first Drawing (which includes the first Contract Instalment Advance) shall be pro-rated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan PROVIDED THAT any Ancillary Cost Advance included in such Drawing, including but not limited to the KEIC Premium, shall be funded 100% by the portion of such Drawing funded by the Commercial Loan. The remaining components of such Drawing shall be funded by the such percentage of the Buyer Credit and Commercial Loan as is required to ensure that such Drawing, taken as a whole, is pro-rated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan.

 

2.3.11 2.3.12 The first Drawing (which includes the first Contract Instalment Advance) shall be pro-rated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan PROVIDED THAT any Ancillary Cost Advance included in such Drawing, including but not limited to the KEIC Premium, shall be funded 100% by the portion of such Drawing funded by the Commercial Loan. The remaining components of such Drawing shall be funded by such percentage of the Buyer Credit and Commercial Loan as is required to ensure that such Drawing, taken as a whole, is pro-rated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan.

 

2.3.12 2.3.13 Further Drawings (excluding the Drawing due on the Delivery Date) shall each be funded (a) in respect of a Contract Instalment Advance, by the Buyer Credit in an amount equal to the lesser of US$ 9,240,000 and 50% of the amount of such Contract Instalment Advance with the remainder of such Contract Instalment Advance funded by the Commercial Loan and (b) in respect of any Ancillary Costs Advance included in such Drawing, 100% by the Commercial Loan.

 

2.3.13 2.3.14 The Drawing due on the Delivery Date (which includes the Delivery Date Advance) shall be funded (a) in respect of any Ancillary Costs Advance included in such Drawing, 100% by the Commercial Loan and (b) in respect of the Delivery Date Advance, by such percentage of the Buyer Credit and Commercial Loan as is required to ensure that, on the Delivery Date, the Loan Outstandings are pro-rated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan.

 

21


2.3.14 Where an Ancillary Costs Advance is drawn to pay interest on the Loan (whether the Commercial Loan or the Buyer Credit) falling due for payment and/or accruing on or before the Delivery Date, the portion of such Ancillary Costs Advance corresponding to such interest shall be funded 100% by the Commercial Loan in accordance with clauses 2.3.11 to 2.3.13 (inclusive) and shall be applied by the Agent in satisfaction of the Borrower’s obligation to pay such interest (and the Borrower’s obligation to pay such interest shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon the making of such Ancillary Costs Advance).

 

     2.4 Lenders’ participation

Subject to clauses 2 and 3, the Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender of the receipt of a Drawdown Notice and of the date on which the Drawing is to be made, following which each relevant Lender shall advance its proportionate share of the relevant Drawing to the Borrower through the Agent on the relevant Drawdown Date.

 

     2.5 Availability Termination Date

No Lender shall be under any obligation to advance all or any part of its Commitment after the relevant Availability Termination Date.

 

     2.6 Several obligations

 

  2.6.1 The obligations of each Lender Finance Party under this Agreement are several. No Lender Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Lender Finance Party. Even if one or more Lender Finance Parties fails to perform its obligations, the other Lender Finance Parties will continue to perform their obligations and will be able to enforce their rights in respect of the other parties to this Agreement.

 

  2.6.2 The obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement are as follows:

 

  (a) the Borrower will pay to the Security Trustee, when they are due for payment, the full amount of the Loan and all other amounts (including any amounts payable under the Swap Agreements or any of them, interest, commission and expenses) payable by the Borrower under the Security Documents;

 

  (b) the Borrower will pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender, when they are due for payment, that proportion of the Loan which was lent by that Lender and all interest, commission and other amounts payable in relation to it;

 

  (c) the Borrower will pay to the Agent, when they are due for payment, all amounts owing to it under the Security Documents;

 

  (d) the Borrower will pay to the KEIC Agent, when they are due for payment, all amounts owing to it under the Security documents;

 

  (e) the obligations of the Borrower to (on the one hand) the Security Trustee and (on the other hand) each other Lender Finance Party are several;

 

  (f) payment either to the Security Trustee or to another Lender Finance Party of an amount which is due to both of them will reduce both of those liabilities by that amount; and

 

  (g) if an amount would otherwise be payable under this clause 2.6 to the same person in two different capacities, the Borrower will only have an obligation to pay that amount once.

 

22


2.6.3 Each Lender Finance Party can enforce its rights without joining the Security Trustee or any other Lender Finance Parties. However, the Security Documents listed in clause 8.1 below can only be enforced by the Security Trustee.

 

   2.7 Application of Loan

Without prejudice to the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement, no Lender Finance Party shall be obliged to concern itself with the application of the Loan by the Borrower.

 

   2.8 Loan facility and control accounts

The Agent will open and maintain such loan facility account or such other control accounts as the Agent shall in its discretion consider necessary or desirable in connection with the Loan.

 

   2.9 Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and Additional Shareholders’ Equity

The Borrower hereby agrees with the Agent that notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement subject as contemplated in clause 2.3.7 each Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity shall be paid to the Agent and each such Relevant Amount paid shall be aggregated with each relevant Drawing and paid by the Agent pursuant to the provisions of clause 2.3.9.

 

      3 Conditions precedent and subsequent for the Loan

 

   3.1 Conditions precedent

 

3.1.1 Before any Lender shall have any obligation to advance the first Drawing under the Loan the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to or to the order of the Agent all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part I of Schedule 3 which shall be delivered not later than 4 Business Days before the day on which the Drawdown Notice for the first Drawing is given save for those documents or other evidence which are expressly required to be provided on the first Drawdown Date which shall be delivered on such first Drawdown Date.

 

3.1.2 The obligation of the Lenders to make any Contract Instalment Advance shall be subject to the further condition that the Agent shall have received not later than 4 Business Days before the day on which that Contract Instalment Advance is intended to be made, the documents and evidence specified in Part 2 of Schedule 3 in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent (save for the invoice and the Drawdown Notice referred to in paragraphs (a) and (e) of Part 2 of Schedule 3 which shall be provided not later than 3 Business Days prior to the relevant Drawdown Date).

 

3.1.3 The obligation of the Lenders to make the Delivery Date Advance shall be subject to the condition that the Agent, shall have received, on or prior to the relevant Delivery Date, the documents and evidence specified in Part 3 of Schedule 3 in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

 

3.1.4 The obligation of the Lenders to make any Ancillary Cost Advance shall be subject to the further condition that the Agent shall have received not later than 4 Business Days before the drawdown of any Ancillary Cost Advance, invoices or pro-forma invoices or, (save in respect of Ancillary Costs as described in sub-paragraph (f) of the definition thereof in respect of which invoices shall be required) where invoices or pro-forma invoices cannot be made available by the Borrower, a certificate from the Borrower in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, in each case evidencing the Ancillary Costs incurred or, in the case of pro-forma invoices or certificates from the Borrower, to be incurred within the next following period not exceeding 3 Months or other written evidence in each case substantiating to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent that the Ancillary Costs in respect of which such Ancillary Cost Advance is requested have been incurred and discharged or will be discharged following the drawdown of the Ancillary Cost Advance.

 

23


   3.2 Further conditions precedent

The Lenders will only be obliged to advance a Drawing in respect of the Vessel specified in any Drawdown Notice if on the date of the Drawdown Notice and on the proposed Drawdown Date:

 

3.2.1 no Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Mandatory Prepayment Event is continuing unremedied or unwaived or would result from the advance of that Drawing;

 

3.2.2 the representations made by the Borrower under clause 4 are true in all material respects;

 

3.2.3 that Drawing will not, when aggregated with all previous Drawings, increase the outstanding amount of the Loan to a sum in excess of the Maximum Loan Amount and will not increase the outstanding amount of the Buyer Credit to a sum in excess of the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount or of the Commercial Loan to a sum in excess of the Commercial Loan Maximum Amount; and

 

3.2.4 the Borrower shall have on or prior to the First Drawing, entered into one or more 12 year forward starting Swap Agreements in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent with each of the Swap Providers pursuant to which it will hedge not less than one hundred and ninety million Dollars ($190,000,000) of the Loan (representing approximately ninety per cent (90%) of its interest rate exposure under the Loan) for the period from and including the Delivery Date up to and including the Maturity Date. The Swap Margin applicable to each Swap Agreement entered into between any of the Swap Providers and the Borrower shall be as set out in the Swap Margin Side Letter.

 

   3.3 Delivery conditions precedent

 

3.3.1 Whether or not a Drawing is advanced on the Delivery Date, the Borrower undertakes to deliver or to cause to be delivered to the Agent on the Delivery Date the additional documents and other evidence listed in Part 3 of Schedule 3.

 

3.3.2 The Borrower shall on the Delivery Date enter into a spot start Swap Agreement or Swap Agreements with each of the Swap Providers to ensure that, together with the forward starting swap agreements, no less than ninety-five per cent (95%) of its interest rate exposure under the Loan is hedged.

 

   3.4 No Waiver

If the Lenders in their sole discretion agree to advance a Drawing to the Borrower before all of the documents and evidence required by clause 3.1, clause 3.3 and/or clause 3.5 have been delivered to or to the order of the Agent, the Borrower undertakes to deliver all outstanding documents and evidence to or to the order of the Agent no later than ten (10) Business Days after the Drawdown Date or such other date specified by the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders.

The advance of a Drawing under this clause 3.4 shall not be taken as a waiver of the Lenders’ right to require production of all the documents and evidence required by clauses 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3.

 

   3.5 Form and content

All documents and evidence delivered to the Agent under this clause 3 shall:

 

3.5.1 be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent; and

 

3.5.2 if required by any vessel or security registry or in connection with any legal opinion to be provided pursuant to Schedule 3, be certified, notarised, legalised or attested in a manner acceptable to such registry or person providing the legal opinion.

 

24


   3.6 Waiver of conditions precedent

The conditions specified in this clause 3 are inserted solely for the benefit of the Lenders and may be waived by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) in whole or in part with or without conditions.

 

      4 Representations and Warranties

 

   4.1 Representations and Warranties

The Borrower represents and warrants to each of the Lender Finance Parties as follows:

 

4.1.1 Due Incorporation

Each of the Security Parties is a corporation or limited liability company duly organised or formed under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organisation or formation (as the case may be) with power to carry on their respective business as they are now being conducted and to own their respective property and other assets.

 

4.1.2 Corporate Power

The Borrower has power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and each of the other Relevant Documents to which it is a party and to borrow the Commitments and each of the other Security Parties has power to enter into the Relevant Documents to which it is a party and to exercise its rights and perform its obligations under such Relevant Documents; all corporate and other action required by each of the Security Parties to authorise its execution of the Relevant Documents to which it is a party and the performance by it of its obligations thereunder has been duly taken.

 

4.1.3 Binding Obligations

The obligations expressed to be assumed by each of the Security Parties in the Relevant Documents to which it is a party are legal, valid and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with the terms of the Relevant Documents and no limit on any of their powers will be exceeded as a result of the borrowings, granting of security or giving of guarantees contemplated by the Relevant Documents or the performance by any of them of any of their obligations thereunder.

 

4.1.4 No conflict with other obligations

The execution and delivery of, the performance of its obligations under, and compliance with the provisions of the Relevant Documents to which each is a party by the relevant Security Parties will not:

 

  (a) contravene any existing applicable law, statute, rule or regulation or any judgment, decree or permit to which the Borrower or, any other Security Party is subject;

 

  (b) conflict with, or result in any breach of any of the terms of, or constitute a Potential Event of Default under, any agreement or other instrument to which the Borrower or, any other Security Party is a party or is subject or by which it or any of its property is bound;

 

  (c) contravene or conflict with any provision of the constitutional documents of the Borrower or, any other Security Party; or

 

  (d) result in the creation or imposition of or oblige the Borrower or any other Security Party, to create any Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) on any of their respective undertakings, assets, rights or revenues.

 

25


4.1.5 No Litigation

No litigation, arbitration or administrative proceeding is taking place, pending or, to the knowledge of the officers of the Borrower, threatened in writing against any of the Security Parties which, in respect of the Security Parties other than the Borrower, has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.1.6 Accounts

The certified true and complete copies of the audited annual accounts and unaudited semi-annual accounts (as applicable) of the Borrower for the period ending on 31 December 2007 and of each Sponsor for the most recent financial year of each such Sponsor and delivered to the Agent on or prior to the date of this Agreement pursuant to Schedule 3, Part 1, were prepared in accordance with GAAP, give (in conjunction with the notes thereto) a true and fair view of the financial condition of each such party at the date as of which they were prepared and the results of that party’s operations during the financial period then ended.

 

4.1.7 No Filing or Stamp Taxes

It is not necessary to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any of the Relevant Documents that they or any other instrument be notarised, filed, recorded, registered or enrolled with any court, public office or elsewhere in any Relevant jurisdiction the jurisdiction of Incorporation of the Borrower (other than the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales, or the relevant maritime registry, to the extent applicable) or that any stamp, registration or similar tax or charge be paid on or in relation to any of such Relevant Documents and each of the Relevant Documents is in the proper form for enforcement in each Relevant Jurisdiction the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Borrower .

 

4.1.8 No Immunity

None of the Security Parties or any of their respective assets is entitled to immunity on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise from any legal action or proceeding including, without limitation, suit, attachment prior to judgement, execution or other enforcement.

 

4.1.9 Choice of Law and Judgments

The choice of English law to govern the Security Documents (other than the Mortgage and, in the event that the Share Charges are not governed by English law, the Share Charges) and the laws of the Flag State to govern the Mortgages and, in the event that the Share Charges are not governed by English law, the governing law of the Share Charges and the submission by the Security Parties to the jurisdiction of the English courts in respect of the Security Documents (other than the Mortgage and, in the event that the Share Charges are not governed by English law, the Share Charges) are valid and binding.

 

4.1.10 Consents Obtained

Every consent, Authorisation, licence or approval of, or registration with or declaration to, governmental or public bodies or authorities or courts required by any Security Party to authorise, or required by each such party in connection with, the execution, delivery, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of each of the Relevant Documents or the performance by each such party of its obligations under the Relevant Documents to which each is a party has been obtained or made (other than consents, Authorisations, licences, approvals, registrations or declarations that, as at the date of the representation, are not required to be obtained) and is in full force and effect and there has been no default in the observance of any of the conditions or restrictions (if any) imposed in, or in connection with, any of the same.

 

4.1.11 No Undisclosed Liabilities

The Borrower has no material liabilities (contingent or otherwise) which were not disclosed in the accounts referred to in clause 4.1.6 (or by the notes thereto) or reserved against therein nor any unrealised or anticipated losses arising from commitments entered into by it which were not so disclosed or reserved against therein.

 

26


4.1.12 Money Laundering

No breach of any law or regulatory measure relating to “money laundering” as defined in Article 1 of the Directive (91/308/EEC) of the Council of the European Communities will result from the borrowing of the Loan by the Borrower or from the performance by any of the Security Parties of any of their obligations under any of the Relevant Documents to which each is a party.

 

4.1.13 Financial Indebtedness

Except as set forth in Exhibit A, other than in respect of the Loan pursuant to this Agreement or as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, it has not created, incurred, assumed or allowed to exist any Financial Indebtedness, entered into any finance lease or undertaken any capital commitment.

 

4.1.14 Environmental Matters

Except as may already have been disclosed by the Borrower to the Agent in writing:

 

  (a) all Environmental Laws applicable to the Vessel have been complied with by each Environmental Affiliate and all consents, licences and approvals required under such Environmental Laws have been obtained and complied with by each Environmental Affiliate (other than such consents, licences and approvals that, as at the date of the representation, are not required to be obtained); and

 

  (b) no Environmental Claim has been made or threatened against the Borrower or the Vessel and no Environmental Claim in respect of the Vessel has been made or threatened against any other Environmental Affiliate or is pending against any such Environmental Affiliate or the Vessel and which has not been fully satisfied and which would or might reasonably result in liabilities in excess of an aggregate of $1,000,000; and

 

  (c) there has been no Environmental Incident which could or might reasonably result in claims in excess of an aggregate of $1,000,000.

 

4.1.15 Pari Passu

The obligations of the Security Parties under the Security Documents are direct, general and unconditional obligations and rank at least pari passu with all the Security Parties’ other present and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness other than obligations mandatorily preferred by law and not contract.

 

4.1.16 No Deductions or Withholding

No Taxes are imposed by way of or withholding or otherwise from any payment to be made by any Security Party under any of the Security Documents to which it is a party.

 

4.1.17 Information

The information, exhibits and reports furnished by any Security Party to any of the Lender Finance Parties in connection with the negotiation and preparation of the Security Documents are true and accurate in all material respects and not misleading, do not omit material facts and all reasonable enquiries have been made to verify the facts and statements contained therein and the Borrower is not aware of any material facts or circumstances which have not been disclosed and which might, if disclosed, have reasonably been expected to adversely affect the decision of a person considering whether or not to make loan facilities of the nature contemplated by this Agreement available to the Borrower and/or to enter into the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the other Security Documents, Provided that, the Borrower does not make the representations in this clause 4.1.17 in respect of information, exhibits or reports regarding Angola LNG, the Angola LNG Project or the Time Charterer save that such information, exhibits or reports which have been provided by the Borrower to the Lender Finance Parties have been provided by the Borrower in good faith.

 

27


4.1.18 Solvency

 

  (a) None of the Security Parties is unable, or admits or has admitted its inability, to pay its debts or has suspended making payments in respect of any of its debts.

 

  (b) None of the Security Parties by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, has commenced, or intends to commence, negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness.

 

  (c) No moratorium has been, or may, in the reasonably foreseeable future be, declared in respect of any indebtedness of any Security Party.

 

4.1.19 No Winding-up

None of the Security Parties has taken any corporate action nor have any other steps been taken or legal proceedings been started or (to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief) threatened against any Security Party for its winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation or for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, trustee or similar officer of it or of any or all of its assets or revenues which (in relation to Security Parties other than the Borrower) might have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.1.20 Event of Default/no other Defaults

 

  (a) None of the Security Parties is in material breach of or in default under any agreement to which it is a party or which is binding on it or any of its assets.

 

  (b) No Event of Default or Potential Event of Default is continuing unremedied or unwaived.

 

4.1.21 Ownership of the Borrower

The Sponsors, directly or indirectly, legally and beneficially own all of the shares in the Borrower and will (subject to the provisions of clause 9.2.17) continue to, directly or indirectly, own all of the shares in the Borrower in the following percentages:

 

Teekay :-

     33

NYK:-

     33

Mitsui :-

     34

 

4.1.22 No Default under Building Contract or Refund Guarantee

The Borrower is not in default of any of its obligations under the Building Contract or any of its obligations upon the performance or observance of which depend the continued liability of the Refund Guarantor in accordance with the terms of the Refund Guarantee.

 

4.1.23 No Encumbrance in respect of pre-delivery security

The Borrower has not previously charged, encumbered or assigned the benefit of any of its rights, title and interest in or to the Building Contract, the Refund Guarantee, the Supervision Agreement, the Swap Agreements or the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement and such benefit and all such rights, title and interest are freely assignable and chargeable in the manner contemplated by the Security Documents.

 

28


4.1.24 The Vessel

The Vessel will on the Delivery Date be:

 

  (a) in the absolute ownership of the Borrower who will on and after the Delivery Date thereof be the sole, legal and beneficial owner of the Vessel;

 

  (b) registered in the name of the Borrower under the laws and flag of the Bahamas;

 

  (c) operationally seaworthy and in every way fit for service; and

 

  (d) classed with the classification referred to in clause 9.6.3(b) free of any overdue recommendations and conditions affecting the Vessel’s class of the Classification Society.

 

4.1.25 Vessel’s employment

The Vessel will not on or before the Delivery Date thereof be subject to any charter or contract other than the Time Charter or to any agreement to enter into any charter or contract which, if entered into after the date of the Mortgage would have required the consent of the Agent or Security Trustee and on the Delivery Date thereof there will not be any agreement or arrangement whereby the Earnings may be shared with any other person.

 

4.1.26 Freedom from Encumbrances

Neither the Vessel nor its Earnings, Insurances or Requisition Compensation, the Time Charter, the Accounts, nor the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement, nor any other properties or rights which are, or are to be, the subject of any of the Security Documents nor any part thereof will be, on the Delivery Date of the Vessel, subject to any Encumbrance other than any Permitted Encumbrance.

 

4.1.27 Copies true and complete

The copies of each of the Time Charter, the Building Contract, the Refund Guarantee, the Supervision Agreement, the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement, the Tripartite Agreement and the Management Agreement delivered or to be delivered to the Agent are or will when delivered be, a true and complete copies of such documents, will when delivered constitute valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto enforceable in accordance with its terms and there have been no material amendments or variations to or defaults under the Building Contract and there have been no amendments or variations to or defaults under the Time Charter.

 

    4.2 Repetition of representations and warranties

On the Execution Date and, in respect of the Relevant Documents other than this Agreement on the execution date of such other Relevant Document, and as of each Drawdown Date and on each Interest Payment Date the Borrower shall (a) be deemed to repeat the representations and warranties in clause 4.1 as if made with reference to the facts and circumstances existing on such day and (b) in respect of clause 4.1.6 shall be deemed to refer to the then latest audited financial statements delivered to the Agent pursuant to clause 9.1.5.

 

    4.3 Representations Limited

The representations and warranties of the Borrower in this clause 4 are subject to:

 

4.3.1 the principle that equitable remedies are remedies which may be granted or refused at the discretion of the court;

 

4.3.2 the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation, court schemes, moratoria, administration and other laws generally affecting or limiting the rights of creditors;

 

29


4.3.3 the time barring of claims under any applicable limitation acts;

 

4.3.4 the possibility that a court may strike out provisions for a contract as being invalid for reasons of oppression, undue influence or similar;

 

4.3.5 any other reservations or qualifications of law expressed in the legal opinions obtained by the Agent as referred to in Schedule 3 Part 1, paragraph (I) in connection with this Agreement or the Security Documents; and

 

4.3.6 the representations and warranties made on the Execution Date in respect of the Relevant Documents shall expressly be limited to this Agreement (and none of the other Security Documents) and only those Project Documents which, as at the Execution Date, have been executed by the Borrower.

 

      5 Repayment and Prepayment

 

   5.1 Repayment of Loan

The Borrower agrees:

 

5.1.1 to repay the Buyer Credit to the Agent for the account of the Lenders by forty eight (48) consecutive annuity style quarterly Repayment Instalments in the amounts, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, set out in Part B of Schedule 7. The first Repayment Instalment will fall due on the date falling three (3) Months after the Delivery Date and each succeeding Repayment Instalment shall be payable quarterly in arrears at three (3) Monthly intervals thereafter save for the final Repayment Instalment which shall be payable on the Maturity Date; and

 

5.1.2 to repay the Commercial Loan by one (1) instalment to be paid on the Maturity Date.

 

   5.2 Reduction of Repayment Instalments

If, following the Availability Termination Date, the aggregate amount advanced to the Borrower under the Buyer Credit is less than the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount, the amount of each Repayment Instalment of the Buyer Credit shall be reduced pro rata so that the aggregate sum of all such Repayment Instalments shall be equal to the aggregate amount of the Buyer Credit actually advanced.

 

   5.3 Reborrowing

The Borrower may not reborrow any part of the Loan which is repaid or prepaid.

 

   5.4 Prepayment and Cancellation

 

5.4.1 The Borrower may prepay, without premium or penalty but subject to clause 5.10, the Loan Outstandings in whole or in part, or cancel the Loan in whole or in part, in each case in a minimum amount of five million Dollars ($5,000,000) or any larger sum which is an integral multiple of one million Dollars ($1,000,000) (or in either case as otherwise may be agreed by the Agent) and provided that the Borrower has first given to the Agent not fewer than ten (10) days prior written notice in respect of a prepayment of all or part of the Loan Outstandings or fifteen (15) days in respect of a cancellation in whole or part of the Commitment in each such case expiring on a Business Day of their intention to do so. Any notice pursuant to this clause 5.4 once given shall be irrevocable and shall (in the case of a prepayment) oblige the Borrower to make the prepayment referred to in the notice on the Business Day specified in the notice, together with all interest accrued on the amount prepaid and all accrued and unpaid Commitment Fees up to and including that Business Day and any and all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement and any of the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any sums payable under the indemnity in clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements. Any cancellation of part (but not the whole) of the Commitment shall be subject to the condition that the Borrower has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Agent (acting reasonably) that it will have sufficient funds to comply with its obligations under the Relevant Documents following any such cancellation.

 

30


    5.5 Mandatory Prepayment on Total Loss

In the event that the Vessel becomes a Total Loss on or following the Delivery Date thereof, on the earlier to occur of (a) the date of receipt of the proceeds of the Total Loss and (b) the date falling one hundred and eighty (180) days after the occurrence of the Total Loss (the “Reduction Date”), the Borrower shall prepay the Loan together with all interest accrued thereon up to and including the day of prepayment and all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any sums payable under the indemnity in clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements.

 

    5.6 Prepayment on Non Delivery/Building Contract default/termination

In the event that there is a material breach by the Builder of the Building Contract that has not been cured within the applicable grace period provided therein, or the Building Contract is cancelled, terminated, rescinded or frustrated for any reason that has not been cured within the applicable grace period provided therein or if the Builder assigns, transfers, sells or otherwise disposes of any of its right, title or interest in or to the Building Contract or the Vessel or purports to do so or takes any action to so assign, transfer, sell or otherwise dispose of any or all such rights, title or interest or, prior to the Delivery Date the Vessel becomes a Total Loss the Borrower shall, if so requested by the Agent in writing, and without prejudice to the Agent’s rights pursuant to clause 10.1 and/or the rights of the Security Trustee under the Security Documents where any of the events described above constitute an Event of Default, be obliged to prepay the Loan immediately together with all interest accrued thereon up to and including the day of prepayment and all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any sums payable under the indemnity in clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements and the undrawn Commitments shall be cancelled.

 

    5.7 Prepayment on Termination of Refund Guarantee

If, prior to the delivery to and acceptance by the Borrower from the Builder of the Vessel, the Refund Guarantee is repudiated, cancelled, amended without the Agent’s prior written consent (acting on the Instructions of all Lenders), rescinded or otherwise terminated, the Loan shall become prepayable and shall be prepaid immediately and without demand together with all interest accrued thereon up to and including the date of prepayment and all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any sums payable under the indemnity in clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements.

 

     5.8 Additional Mandatory Prepayment Events

Upon the occurrence of any of the following events the Loan shall immediately become repayable and the Borrower shall immediately prepay the Loan together with all interest accrued thereon up to and including the date of prepayment together with all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement and the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any indemnity sums payable under clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements.

 

5.8.1 Non-Delivery of the Vessel: the Vessel is not delivered to, and accepted by, the Borrower under the Building Contract and/or by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter prior to the date falling 290 days after the Scheduled Delivery Date (or such later date as the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders (acting in their absolute discretion), may agree in writing); or

 

5.8.2 Sale/Early Termination: the Vessel is sold or the chartering of the Vessel is terminated early pursuant to the exercise by the Time Charter of its rights under the Time Charter; or

 

31


5.8.3 Invalidity: (i) any of the Security Documents or the Refund Guarantee shall at any time and for any reason become invalid, illegal or unenforceable or impossible to perform or cease to remain in full force and effect; or (ii) any of the Project Documents shall at any time and for any reason become invalid, illegal or unenforceable or impossible to perform or cease to remain in full force and effect unless (A) in respect of the Security Documents, the relevant Security Document is amended or replaced to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent acting on the instructions of all of the Lenders forthwith in the case of this Agreement, the Mortgage, the Refund Guarantee and the Deed of Covenants or within 14 days in the case of any other Security Document and (B) where any such events have occurred in respect of the Time Charter, the Borrower has, within 30 days of the occurrence of such events entered into a new time charter and with a new time charterer in each case in all respects satisfactory to the Agent acting on the instructions of all the Lenders and to KEIC; or

 

5.8.4 Termination of Time Charter: the Time Charter is terminated by the Borrower or the Time Charterer following the occurrence of a breach of the Time Charter entitling it to take such action or is cancelled or becomes frustrated for any reason whatsoever unless the Borrower has within 30 days of the date of such occurrence entered into a replacement time charter and with a new time charterer in each case in all respects satisfactory to the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders); or

 

5.8.5 Time Charterer failure to pay: the Time Charterer fails to pay any sum due and payable by it to any of the Lender Finance Parties or to the Borrower under any of (a) the Security Documents or (b) the Project Documents to which it is a party at the time, in the currency and in the manner stipulated thereunder unless, where such failure to pay is a failure to pay any sum due and payable by it under any Project Document, following expiry of any applicable grace period thereunder, such failure in the opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders (acting reasonably)) does not and will not be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

5.8.6 Time Charter’s breach: the Time Charterer commits any breach of or omits to observe any of its obligations or undertakings expressed to be assumed by it under (a) any of the Security Documents (and such failure is not remedied within fifteen (15) days after the date the Agent has given notice thereof to the Borrower and the Time Charterer) and/or (b) any of the Project Documents to which it is a party (other than those referred to in clause 5.8.5) unless, where such breach or omission has occurred under a Project Document following expiry of any applicable grace period therein, such breach or omission, in the opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders (acting reasonably)), does not and will not be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.8.7 War: if the country of registration of the Vessel becomes involved in war (whether or not declared) or civil war or is occupied by any other power and the Agent reasonably considers that, as a result, the security conferred by the Security Documents is materially prejudiced.

 

5.8.8 Failure to Pay: the Builder or the Refund Guarantor fails to pay any amount payable by it under any of the Security Documents or the Refund Guarantee at the time, in the currency and otherwise in the manner specified therein (and so that, for this purpose, sums payable on demand shall be treated as having been paid at the stipulated time if paid within five (5) days of demand) unless in respect of scheduled payments the Borrower demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Agent that such failure has occurred by reason solely of banking error and such sum remains unpaid for no longer than five (5) days after the date on which it receives notice from the Agent of such failure; or

 

5.8.9 Other Obligations: the Builder or the Refund Guarantor fails duly to perform or comply with any other term or condition of any other Security Document to which it is a party when such failure is in the opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) remediable (other than those referred to in clauses 5.8.7, 5.8.8, 5.8.21 or 5.8.22) and such failure is not remedied within fifteen (15) days after the Agent has given notice thereof to the Builder or the Refund Guarantor, as the case may be (or such longer period as the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) may specify or agree); or

 

32


5.8.10 Litigation: any litigation, arbitration or administrative action or proceeding is commenced prior to Delivery against the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or any of their property, undertakings or assets before any court, arbitrator or administrative agency or authority which, if adversely determined, would have in the reasonable opinion of the Agent a Material adverse Effect material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Builder or, as the case may be, the Refund Guarantor or their ability to comply with their material obligations under the Relevant Documents to which they are party unless:

 

  (a) the Borrower demonstrates in writing to the Agent (who shall act reasonably in considering such matters) to the Agent’s satisfaction, that such litigation, arbitration or administrative action or proceeding is or may reasonably be considered to be vexatious or frivolous; or

 

  (b) it is dismissed or irrevocably stayed within thirty (30) days of commencement;

 

5.8.11 Legal process:

 

  (a) any final judgment or order greater than two million Dollars ($($2,000,000) made prior to the Delivery Date against the Builder or the Refund Guarantor is not stayed or complied with within twenty (20) Business Days or a creditor attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or other process is levied or enforced upon or sued out against, all or a substantial part of (in the reasonable opinion of the Agent) the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues prior to delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor and is not discharged within twenty (20) Business Days and, in each such case above, the event described above has or might reasonably be likely to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Builder or , as the case may be, the Refund Guarantor or their ability to comply with their material obligations under the Relevant Documents to which they are party ; or

 

  (b) any final judgment or order made against any Security Party (other than the Borrower and (following the Delivery Date) the Supervisor) is not stayed or complied with within twenty (20) Business Days or a creditor attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or other process is levied or enforced upon or sued out against, all or substantially all of (in the reasonable opinion of the Agent) the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues of any Security Party (other than the Borrower and (following the Delivery Date) the Supervisor) and is not discharged within twenty (20) Business Days and, in each such case above, the event described above has or might reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

5.8.12 Insolvency: prior to the Delivery Date, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due; suspends making payments on any of its debts or announces an intention to do so; becomes insolvent; has assets the value of which is less than the value of its liabilities; or suffers the declaration of a moratorium in respect of any of its indebtedness; or

 

5.8.13 Winding up: any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken for the purpose of winding up prior to Delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or an order is made or resolution passed for the winding up, prior to Delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or a notice is issued convening a meeting for the purpose of passing any such resolution, provided however that, in the case only of an order for winding-up, the occurrence of such event shall not constitute a mandatory prepayment event if such winding-up has commenced as part of a process of a fully-solvent reorganisation, previously approved by the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and which shall not have a Material Adverse Effect material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Builder or, as the case may be, the Refund Guarantor or their ability to comply with their material obligations under the Relevant Documents to which they are party; or

 

5.8.14 Administration: any petition is presented, notice given or other step is taken for the purpose of the appointment of an administrator prior to Delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or an administration order is made prior to Delivery in relation to the Builder or the Refund Guarantor; or

 

33


5.8.15 Appointment of receivers and managers: any administrative or other receiver is appointed prior to Delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or any part of its assets and/or undertaking or any other steps are taken to enforce any Encumbrance over all or any part of the assets prior to delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor; or

 

5.8.16 Compositions: any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedures or steps are taken, or negotiations commenced prior to Delivery, by the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or by any of its creditors with a view to the general readjustment or rescheduling of all or a material part of its indebtedness or to proposing any kind of composition, compromise or arrangement involving such company and any of its creditors; or

 

5.8.17 Analogous proceedings: there occurs, prior to Delivery in relation to the Builder or the Refund Guarantor, in any country or territory in which any of them carries on business or to the jurisdiction of whose courts any part of their assets is subject, any event which, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent, appears in that country or territory to correspond with, or have an effect equivalent or similar to, any of those mentioned in clauses 10.2.9 to 10.2.15 (inclusive) (other than clause 10.2.10) or prior to Delivery the Builder or the Refund Guarantor otherwise becomes subject, in any such country or territory, to the operation of any law relating to insolvency, bankruptcy or liquidation; or

 

5.8.18 Repudiation: the Supervisor, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor repudiates any Security Document or Project Document to which it is a party or does or causes to be done any act or thing evidencing an intention to repudiate any such Security Document or the Project Document if the validity or enforceability of any of the Security Documents and the Project Documents (other than the Refund Guarantee) shall at any time and for any reason be contested by the Supervisor, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor which is a party thereto, or if the Supervisor, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor shall deny that it has any, or any further, liability thereunder; or

 

5.8.19 Cessation of business: prior to Delivery, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor suspends or ceases to carry on its business; or

 

5.8.20 Seizure: all or a material part of the undertaking, assets, rights or revenues of, or shares or other ownership interests, prior to Delivery, in the Builder and the Refund Guarantor are seized, nationalised, expropriated or compulsorily acquired by or under the authority of any government; or

 

5.8.21 Arrest: the Vessel is arrested, confiscated, seized, taken in execution, impounded, forfeited, detained in exercise or purported exercise of any possessory lien or other claim or otherwise taken from the possession of the Borrower and the Borrower shall fail to procure the release of the Vessel within a period of 30 days thereafter; or

 

5.8.22 Supervision Agreement: notice of termination under the Supervision Agreement is served for any reason whatsoever or the Supervision Agreement is varied in any manner not permitted pursuant to the Security Documents unless (a) in the case of termination the same is replaced with a supervision agreement on substantially the same or other terms acceptable to the Agent or (b) in the case of variation the same is revised, or amended on terms acceptable to the Agent, and in any such case under (a) or (b) within 30 days.

 

    5.9 Cessation of KEIC Buyer Credit Policy

If, for any reason (other than as referred to in clause 10.2.25), the obligations of KEIC under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy shall terminate, become unenforceable or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect and the Borrower has not replaced the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy with similar insurance on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders in their sole and absolute discretion) forthwith upon receipt of written notice of such termination, unenforceability or cessation of effectiveness, the Borrower shall prepay the Loan in full together with accrued interest to the date of prepayment and all other sums then due and payable, any portion of the KEIC premium which is then due and payable and all other sums then due and payable under this Agreement and the other Security Documents or any of them including without limitation any sum payable under the indemnity in clause 15).

 

34


5.10 Prepayment indemnity

If the Borrower shall make a prepayment on a Business Day other than the last day of an Interest Period, it shall pay to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders any amount which is necessary to compensate the Lenders for any Break Costs incurred by the Agent or any of the Lenders as a result of the prepayment in question but otherwise without penalty or premium, Provided always that the Borrower shall be entitled to payment by the Lenders of any Break Gains while no Event of Default has occurred which is continuing unremedied or unwaived.

 

5.11 Application of prepayments

Any prepayment in an amount less than the Lender Indebtedness shall be applied pro-rata between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan and, in the case of the Buyer Credit shall be applied in reducing the then future Repayment Instalments in inverse order of maturity.

 

5.12 Effect of Prepayment/Cancellation on Swap Agreements

In the event of any prepayment or, as the case may be, cancellation of the Loan, the exposure of the Swap Providers under the Swap Agreements shall, if the Loan Outstandings is less than the aggregate of the notional amounts of the Swap Agreements, be reduced by an equivalent amount.

 

     6 Interest

 

  6.1 Interest Periods

The period during which any Drawing shall be outstanding pursuant to this Agreement shall be divided into consecutive Interest Periods of three (3) Months’ duration or such other duration as may be agreed by the Borrower and the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders).

 

  6.2 Beginning and end of Interest Periods

The first Interest Period in respect of the first Drawing shall begin on the Drawdown Date of that Drawing and shall end on the last day of the Interest Period. The first Interest Period in respect of each subsequent Drawing shall begin on the Drawdown Date of that Drawing and end on the last day of the current Interest Period of the Loan. Any subsequent Interest Period in respect of each Drawing shall commence on the day following the last day of its previous Interest Period and shall end on the last day of its current Interest Period.

 

  6.3 Interest Periods to meet Repayment Date and Maturity Date

If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a date after the next Repayment Date, that Interest Period shall end on the next Repayment Date. If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a date after the Maturity Date, that Interest Period shall end on the Maturity Date.

 

  6.4 Interest rate

During each Interest Period, interest shall accrue on the Loan at the rate determined by the Agent to be the aggregate of (a) the relevant Margin and (b) LIBOR determined at 11:00 am (London time) on the second London Business Day prior to the beginning of the Interest Period. The Agent shall notify the Borrower in writing of the applicable interest rate for the relevant Interest Period on the date of determination.

 

35


6.5 Accrual and payment of interest

During the Facility Period, interest shall accrue from day to day, shall be calculated on the basis of a 360 day year and the actual number of days elapsed (or, in any circumstance where market practice differs, in accordance with the prevailing market practice) and shall be paid by the Borrower to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders on the last day of each Interest Period and additionally, during any Interest Period exceeding three Months, on the last day of each successive three Month period after the beginning of that Interest Period.

 

6.6 Ending of Interest Periods

Subject to clause 6.3, if any Interest Period would end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest Period shall end on the next succeeding Business Day (unless the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar Month, in which event the Interest Period in question shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day).

6.7 Consolidation and division of Loans

If two or more Interest Periods:

 

  (a) relate to Loans; and

 

  (b) end on the same date,

those loans will be consolidated into, and treated as, a single Loan on the last day of the Interest Period.

 

6.8 Default Rate

Each Unpaid Sum shall, from the date of the non-payment, bear interest up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at the Default Rate, compounded at such intervals as the Agent shall in its reasonable discretion determine, which interest shall be payable from time to time by the Borrower to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders on demand.

 

6.9 Determinations conclusive

Each determination of an interest rate made by the Agent in accordance with clause 6 shall (save in the case of manifest error or on any question of law) be final and conclusive.

 

6.10 Mandatory Costs

The Borrower shall reimburse the Agent on demand for any Mandatory Costs relating to the Loan incurred by a Lender as a result of funding its Commitment of the Loan.

 

     7 Fees

The Borrower shall pay the following fees:

 

36


   7.1 Arrangement fee

The Borrower shall pay to the Agent, for the account of the Lenders, arrangement fees in the amounts and at the times agreed in the Arrangement Fee Letter.

 

   7.2 Commitment fee

The Borrower shall pay to the Agent:

 

7.2.1 (for the account of the Lenders in proportion to their Buyer Credit Commitments) a commitment fee computed at the rate of zero point two five per cent (0.25%) per annum on the daily undrawn and uncancelled amount of the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount from time to time; and

 

7.2.2 for the account of the Lenders (in proportion to their Commercial Loan Commitments) a commitment fee computed at the rate of zero point four five per cent (0.45%) per annum on the daily undrawn and uncancelled amount of the Commercial Loan Maximum Amount from time to time,

in each case from the date of this Agreement until the earlier to occur of the Drawdown Date in respect of the final Drawing and the Availability Termination Date. The accrued commitment fees are payable in arrears on the last day of each successive period of three Months from the date of this Agreement and on such Availability Termination Date.

 

   7.3 Agency fee

The Borrower shall pay to the Agent, the Security Trustee and the KEIC Agent (in each case, for its own account) an agency fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the Agency Fee Letter.

 

   7.4 Documentation Agency Fee

The Borrower shall pay to Calyon (for its own account) a documentation agency fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the Documentation Agency Fee Letter.

 

   7.5 Account Bank Fee

The Borrower shall pay to the Account Bank (for its own account) an account bank fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the Account Bank Fee Letter.

 

   7.6 KEIC Insurance Premium

 

7.6.1 The Borrower agrees that it shall pay to the KEIC Agent, on the date of the first Drawing under the Commercial Loan, an amount equal to the KEIC Insurance Premium to be paid by the KEIC Agent to KEIC.

 

7.6.2 The Borrower agrees that its obligation to make the payment described in clause 7.6.1 above or any part of it shall be an absolute obligation and without limitation, shall not be affected by any failure to draw down funds under this Agreement or the prepayment or acceleration of any Loan. Neither the KEIC Insurance Premium nor any part of it shall be refundable to the Borrower under any circumstances. If and to the extent that the KEIC Agent subsequently receives from KEIC a refund of the KEIC Insurance Premium or any part thereof, the KEIC Agent shall account to the Agent for the amount of the refund received by the KEIC Agent less any costs and expenses suffered or incurred by the KEIC Agent in recovering and/or transferring such refunded amount to the Agent for application by the Agent in prepayment of the Commercial Loan Outstandings in whole or in part.

 

7.6.3 Without prejudice to the Borrower’s obligations under clauses 7.6.1 and 7.6.2, the Lender Finance Parties and the Borrower acknowledge that the first Drawdown under the Commercial Loan shall be utilised, inter alia, to enable the Borrower to satisfy its obligation under clause 7.6.1. The Borrower instructs the Agent, in accordance with clause 2.3.9, to pay an amount equal to the KEIC Insurance Premium from the first Drawing under the Commercial Loan to the KEIC Agent. Upon receipt by the KEIC Agent of such amount, the Borrower shall have satisfied its obligation under clause 7.6.1.

 

37


      8 Security, Accounts and Application of Moneys

 

   8.1 Security Documents

As security for the repayment of the Indebtedness, the Borrower shall, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, execute and deliver to the Security Trustee or cause to be executed and delivered to the Security Trustee the following documents in such forms and containing such terms and conditions as the Security Trustee shall require:

 

8.1.1 first priority deed of assignment of the Building Contract and Refund Guarantee;

 

8.1.2 a first priority statutory mortgage over the Vessel together with a collateral deed of covenants;

 

8.1.3 a first priority tripartite deed of assignment of the Insurances, Earnings and Requisition Compensation of the Vessel from the Borrower and the Manager;

 

8.1.4 first priority deed of charge over each of:

(a) the Revenue Account;

(b) the Dry Docking Reserve Account;

(c) the Retention Account;

(d) the Debt Service Reserve Account; and

(e) the Dividend Lock-up Account;

 

8.1.5 first priority deed of assignment over each of:

(a) the Supervision Agreement;

(b) the Time Charter;

(c) the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement;

(d) the Management Agreement;

(e) the Swap Agreements;

(f) the Tripartite Agreement;

 

8.1.6 a first priority charge over the entire issued share capital of the Borrower;

 

8.1.7 the Letter of Sponsors Undertakings; and

 

8.1.8 the Manager’s Undertaking.

 

   8.2 Accounts

 

8.2.1 General

The Borrower undertakes with each of the Lenders, the Agent, the Account Bank and the Security Trustee that it will:

 

  (a) on or before the first Drawing open the Accounts with the Account Bank; and

 

38


  (b) procure that all moneys payable to the Borrower including, without limitation, in respect of the Earnings of the Vessel (including all hire and early termination fees payable to it under the Time Charter, all payments made under any letters of credit or insurance policies issued in favour of the Borrower pursuant to the Time Charter and pursuant to the Insurances but excluding any Borrower Priority Payments) shall, unless and until the Agent directs to the contrary pursuant to the Security Documents be paid to the Revenue Account;

 

   8.3 Revenue Account: withdrawals

Unless the Agent otherwise agrees in writing (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Revenue Account at any time other than for the following purposes and in the following order of priority:

 

8.3.1 to pay the proper and reasonable operating expenses (including costs of insuring, repairing and maintaining the Vessel) of the Vessel, including amounts properly due to the Manager under the Management Agreement, the Supervisors under the Supervision Agreement and Mitsui under the Corporate Management Agreement, the proper and reasonable expenses of administering the affairs of the Borrower and the Taxes of the Borrower;

 

8.3.2

to transfer to the Dry Docking Reserve Account, first time three (3) months after the Delivery Date and at three (3) Monthly intervals thereafter up to and including the date upon which the Vessel completes each such scheduled dry docking, an amount equal to 1 / 20 of the total Dry Docking Reserve Account Payments in respect of such next scheduled dry docking;

 

8.3.3 to transfer to the Retention Account on the next following Retention Date all or part of the Retention Amount for such Retention Date;

 

8.3.4 to pay any other amounts payable under the Security Documents (including payments to the Swap Providers under any of the Swap Agreements and in case of partial payments the Swap Providers will be paid pro-rata);

 

8.3.5 to transfer to the Debt Service Reserve Account all or part of the DSRA Amount if any remains unpaid; and

 

8.3.6 to transfer any surplus to the Distribution Account unless at any relevant time a Dividend Restriction Event has occurred which is continuing unremedied or unwaived in which case any surplus shall be transferred to the Dividend Lock-Up Account, Provided that where such Dividend Restriction Event has ceased to be continuing and in circumstances where there is no Potential Event of Default or Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived such surplus may be transferred from the Dividend Lock-Up Account to the Distribution Account.

 

   8.4 Dry Docking Reserve Account: withdrawals

 

8.4.1 Unless the Agent otherwise agrees in writing, the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Dry Docking Reserve Account other than to meet dry-docking costs which shall have been advised to and the aggregate amount of which shall have been approved by the Agent (acting reasonably and without delay) and in respect of which the Borrower shall have provided to the Agent reasonably satisfactory documentary evidence that such dry-docking costs have been incurred or will be incurred provided however that the Borrower shall be entitled to request the Agent by notice in writing to release any balance standing to the credit of the Dry Docking Reserve Account, after reimbursement to the Borrower from the Dry Docking Reserve Account of all dry docking costs and expenses paid by it, immediately following completion of a scheduled dry docking of the Vessel and the Agent shall transfer any such balance to the Distribution Account provided that the Agent is satisfied that:

 

  (a) all amounts then required to be paid to the Retention Account have been so paid;

 

  (b) the DSRA Amount has been paid in full and is standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account or has been replaced by the DSRA Letter of Credit; and

 

39


  (c) at such time no Dividend Restriction Event has occurred which is continuing unremedied or unwaived in which case any such balance shall be transferred to and retained in the Dividend Lock-up Account.

 

   8.5 Debt Service Reserve Account: withdrawals

Without prejudice to the rights of the Lender Finance Parties under clause 9.1.18 (particularly, without limitation, the right of the Lender Finance Parties to use the amounts standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account to service any Loan repayments which have become due), the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Debt Service Reserve Account at any time from the date of this Agreement and so long as moneys are owing under the Security Documents save that, unless and until a Potential Event of Default or an Event of Default shall occur (which is continuing unremedied or unwaived) and the Agent shall direct to the contrary in accordance with the Security Documents, the Borrower may withdraw moneys from the Debt Service Reserve Account provided that a DSRA Letter of Credit is issued in an amount sufficient to constitute security at least of an equivalent Dollar for Dollar value as the amount withdrawn (and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement in relation to the DSRA Letter of Credit). In the event that the credit rating of an L/C Issuer falls below the Minimum Credit Rating applicable to it as described in clause 9.1.20, the Borrower shall immediately credit the Debt Service Reserve Account with an amount equal to the amount covered by the DSRA Letter of Credit provided by such L/C Issuer until the conditions set out in clauses 9.1.18 and 9.1.20 have been satisfied in full, and clause 9.1.18 shall apply as if the reference in such clause to “the date falling twenty seven (27) months after the Delivery Date” were a reference to the date the Borrower so credited the Debt Service Reserve Account and, to the extent that the Borrower is in breach of its obligations to so credit the Debt Service Reserve Account, the Lender Finance Parties shall immediately be entitled in their absolute discretion to make a demand under the DSRA Letter of Credit for the full amount in respect of which such DSRA Letter of Credit has issued.

 

   8.6 Dividend Lock-Up Account: withdrawals

The Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Dividend Lock-Up Account except if there are no Dividend Restriction Events continuing.

 

   8.7 Distribution Account: withdrawals

The Borrower shall be entitled to withdraw and freely apply all moneys standing to the credit of the Distribution Account from time to time.

 

   8.8 Retention Account: credits and withdrawals

 

8.8.1 Unless and until there shall occur an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived (whereupon the provisions of clause 8.12 shall apply and subject to the Security Documents), all Retention Amounts credited to the Retention Account together with interest from time to time accruing or at any time accrued thereon shall be applied by the Account Bank (and the Borrower undertakes to give an irrevocable and unconditional instruction to the Account Bank so to apply the same) in the following manner:

 

  (a) upon each Repayment Date in or towards payment to (i) the Agent of the instalment then falling due for repayment and the amount of interest then due and (ii) to the Swap Providers of amounts then falling due under the Swap Agreements (if any). 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 and the Swap Agreements 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; and

 

  (b) following any application by the Account Bank pursuant to sub-clause (a) above, in transfer to the Revenue Account of any moneys standing to the credit of the Retention Account.

 

40


8.8.2 Unless the Agent otherwise agrees in writing and subject to clause 8.8.1, the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Retention Account at any time from the date of this Agreement and so long as any moneys are owing under the Security Documents.

 

   8.9 Application of accounts

At any time after the Agent has exercised its rights pursuant to clause 10.1, the Agent may, without notice to the Borrower but subject to the terms of the Security Documents, instruct the Account Banks to apply all moneys then standing to the credit of the Accounts (other than the Distribution Account) (together with interest from time to time accruing or accrued thereon) in payment to the Security Trustee and the Security Trustee shall apply the same in or towards satisfaction of any sums due to the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Swap Providers and the Lenders under the Security Documents in the manner specified in the Intercreditor Deed.

 

   8.10 Interest and surpluses

 

8.10.1 Each of the Accounts shall bear interest upon the Account Bank’s standard terms for Dollar deposits in similar amounts and for periods comparable for which such balances appear to the Account Bank likely to remain on the relevant Account and any interest credited to the Accounts (other than the Distribution Account) shall, unless and until an Event of Default (which is continuing unremedied or unwaived) shall occur in which case, subject to the Security Documents, the provisions of clause 8.9 shall apply, be paid to the Revenue Account.

 

   8.11 Charging of accounts

The Accounts (other than the Distribution Account) 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 relevant Security Documents.

 

   8.12 General application of moneys

Whilst an Event of Default is continuing unremedied or unwaived the Borrower irrevocably authorises the Agent and the Security Trustee to apply all sums which either of them may receive:

 

8.12.1 pursuant to a sale or other disposition of the Vessel or any right, title or interest in the Vessel; or

 

8.12.2 by way of payment of any sum in respect of the Insurances, Earnings, or Requisition Compensation; or

 

8.12.3 otherwise arising under or in connection with any Security Document, in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Deed.

 

       9 Covenants

The Borrower covenants with the Lender Finance Parties in the following terms.

 

   9.1 General

The Borrower undertakes with the Lender Finance Parties that, from the date of this Agreement and so long as any moneys are owing under any of the Security Documents and while all or any part of the Commitments remains outstanding, it will:

 

9.1.1 Notice of Default

 

  (a)

promptly inform the Agent in writing of any occurrence of which it becomes aware which might materially and adversely affect the ability of any Security Party, the Time

 

41


  Charterer, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor to perform its obligations under any of the Relevant Documents to which it is a party and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, will inform the Agent of any Event of Default or Potential Event of Default or Mandatory Prepayment Event forthwith upon becoming aware thereof and will from time to time, if so requested by the Agent, confirm to the Agent in writing that, save as otherwise stated in such confirmation, no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived;

 

  (b) promptly inform the Agent of any occurrence of which it becomes aware which might materially adversely effect the ability or rights of the Borrower to make any claims under any of the Refund Guarantee or which might reduce or release any of the obligations of any Refund Guarantor under any of its Refund Guarantee;

 

9.1.2 Consents and licences

obtain or cause to be obtained, maintain in full force and effect and comply in all material respects with the conditions and restrictions (if any) imposed in, or in connection with, every consent, Authorisation, licence or approval of governmental or public bodies or authorities or courts, the failure of which has or might be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, and do, or cause to be done, all other acts and things which may from time to time be necessary under applicable law for the continued due performance of all the obligations of the Security Parties under each of the Security Documents;

 

9.1.3 Use of proceeds

use the Loan exclusively for the purpose specified in the Recitals and/or clause 2.3.4;

 

9.1.4 Pari passu

ensure that its obligations under this Agreement and the other Security Documents shall, without prejudice to the security intended to be created by the Security Documents, at all times rank at least pari passu with all its other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness with the exception of any obligations which are mandatorily preferred by law and not by contract;

 

9.1.5 Financial statements

prepare financial statements of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP in respect of each financial year and cause the same to be reported on by its auditors and prepare semi-annual (i.e two (2) sets of accounts to be provided each year) unaudited accounts (without accounting notes) and deliver as many copies of the same and copies of each Sponsor’s annual audited financial statements as the Agent may reasonably require not later than one hundred and twenty (120) days (in the case of the Borrower’s audited financial statements), sixty (60) days (in the case of semi-annual unaudited accounts) or one hundred and eighty (180) days (in the case of the Sponsors’ annual audited financial statements), in each case after the end of the financial period to which they relate;

 

9.1.6 Information

deliver to the Agent or procure that there is delivered to the Agent:

 

  (a) at the time of issue thereof, as many copies as the Agent may reasonably require of written communications made by any Security Party to its shareholders or creditors generally which may reasonably be considered material in the context of this Agreement (other than copies of reports or other notices, statements or circulars sent or delivered to the Borrower Shareholders by the Borrower, which shall be sent to the Security Trustee pursuant to clause 6.2.11 of the Share Charges) ;

 

  (b) from time to time as the Agent and/or KEIC may reasonably require:

 

42


  (i) such financial or other information concerning any Security Party and its affairs which may reasonably be considered material in the context of this Agreement;

 

  (ii) such information relating to the progress of construction of the Vessel, or otherwise in relation to the construction of the Vessel and performance by the Builder of its obligations under the Building Contract; and

 

  (iii) such information in connection with the operation, position and condition of the Vessel;

 

  (c) at the time of each such communication, copies of all material written communications between the Borrower or any other Security Party and:

 

  (i) the approved brokers; and

 

  (ii) the approved protection and indemnity and/or war risks associations; and

 

  (iii) the approved insurance companies and/or underwriters;

which relate directly or indirectly to:

 

  (A) the Vessel and the obligations of the Borrower or any other Security Party relating to the Insurances including, without limitation, all requisite declarations and payments of additional premiums or calls and all communication relating to non-payment of premiums or calls and cancellation of any of the Insurances or relating to the imposition of any new or modified condition, warranty, exclusion or qualification or the material alteration of the Insurances; and

 

  (B) any credit arrangements made between the Borrower or any other Security Party and any of the persons referred to in clauses 9.5.7(a) to 9.5.7(c) relating wholly or partly to the effecting or maintenance of the Insurances.

 

9.1.7 Vessel Annual Operating Budget

prior to the commencement of each budget year, submit to the Agent the annual operating budget of the Vessel for such budget year for approval by the Agent (acting on the instruction of the Majority Lenders and such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);

 

9.1.8 Obligations under Security Documents

duly and punctually perform each of the obligations expressed to be assumed by it under the Security Documents to which it is a party;

 

9.1.9 Certificate of Financial Responsibility

obtain and maintain a certificate of financial responsibility in relation to the Vessel if it is to call at the United States of America;

 

9.1.10 ISM and ISPS Compliance

ensure that the relevant Company and any Environmental Affiliate complies in all material respects with the ISM Code and the ISPS Code or any replacements thereof and in particular (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) shall ensure that the Company holds (i) a valid and current Document of Compliance issued pursuant to the ISM Code, (ii) a valid and current Safety Management Certificate issued in respect of the Vessel pursuant to the ISM Code, and (iii) an ISSC in respect of the Vessel, and the Borrower shall promptly, upon request, supply the Agent with copies of the same;

 

43


9.1.11 Compliance with Applicable Laws

comply with all applicable laws to which it may be subject from time to time;

 

9.1.12 Further Assurance

at its own expense, promptly take all such action as the Agent may reasonably require for the purpose of perfecting or protecting any Lender Finance Party’s rights with respect to the security created or evidenced (or intended to be created or evidenced) by the Security Documents;

 

9.1.13 “Know your customer” Checks

if:

 

  (a) 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;

 

  (b) any change in the status of the Borrower after the date of this Agreement; or

 

  (c) a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer,

obliges the Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of (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, 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 any Lender) or any Lender for itself (or, in the case of (c) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent or that Lender (or, in the case of (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 Relevant Documents, Provided that, the obligations set forth in this clause shall not apply to information in respect of Angola LNG, the Angola LNG Project (in any respect), the Time Charterer, the Builder, the Refund Guarantor or the L/C Issuer unless such information is required by Law;

 

9.1.14 Management Fees

pay all amounts due to the Manager under the Management Agreement when the same become due and payable;

 

9.1.15 Time Charters

ensure that:

 

  (a) the Vessel is constructed pursuant to the Building Contract so that on the Delivery Date the Vessel is accepted by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter;

 

  (b) from the Delivery Date and throughout the Facility Period:

 

  (i) subject to clauses 5.8.3 and 5.8.4, the Vessel shall be chartered to the Time Charterer under the Time Charter or (subject to clause 9.2.18) a bareboat charter unless the Agent, acting on the instruction of all the Lenders (acting reasonably and without delay) otherwise agrees;

 

  (ii)

no amendments are made to (aa) the Time Charter (other than in respect of technical and/or operational matters which shall have no material adverse financial effect upon the Borrower, no adverse effect upon the security rights of the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Lenders or the Swap Providers, which shall not have the effect of reducing the rate of hire payable under the Time Charter or amending the dates on which such hire is payable or

 

44


  reducing the period of the Time Charter itself and which shall in any event be promptly notified to the Agent) or (bb) to any letters of credit or insurance policies to be issued under the Time Charter, in each case without the consent of the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); and

 

  (iii) all licenses, consents and Authorisations necessary to permit the proper and lawful operation of the Vessel pursuant to the Time Charter in any Relevant Jurisdiction to which the Vessel may be ordered or trade are complied with and ensure that each such licence, consent and Authorisation has been properly and validly obtained; and

 

  (c) upon the occurrence of any force majeure as set out in the Time Charter or any incident or other occurrence of which it is aware which may reasonably be expected to become a force majeure upon the giving of notice or lapse of time the Borrower shall forthwith advise the Agent of such force majeure or incident or occurrence which may become a force majeure and keep the Agent up to date in respect of all matters and/or developments in respect of such force majeure and/or incident and/or occurrence;

 

9.1.16 Use of Ancillary Cost Advances

procure that each Ancillary Cost Advance and the proceeds thereof are used only for the purpose of paying and discharging Ancillary Costs, reimbursing Ancillary Costs already paid by the Borrower, as contemplated by clause 2.3.4 and paying the KEIC Insurance Premium and for no other purpose;

 

9.1.17 Management

ensure that following Delivery the Vessel is managed throughout the Facility Period by the Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement or such party as may replace the Manager in accordance with clause 9.2.18 and 10.3 of this Agreement;

 

9.1.18 DSRA Letter of Credit/Debt Service Reserve Account

 

  (a) on or before the date falling twenty seven (27) Months after the Delivery Date procure that as a result of either:

 

  (i) the issue of the DSRA Letter of Credit; and/or

 

  (ii) sums standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account,

the aggregate of the amounts standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account and/or the amount of the DSRA Letter of Credit shall, subject to clause (b) below, be equal to or not less than such amount as the Agent shall determine to be 6 Months’ principal and interest repayments under this Agreement (the DSRA Amount ”) Provided Always that:

 

  (A) the sum standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account shall, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Security Documents, be freely available to the Lender Finance Parties (a) upon the acceleration of the Loan after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived and (b) to service any Loan repayments which have become due in the circumstances set out in clause 9.1.18(b) below; and

 

  (B) in relation to any DSRA Letter of Credit the Borrower shall provide the Agent with such evidence as the Agent may reasonably require to satisfy the Agent that such DSRA Letter of Credit has been duly and validly issued (including, without limitation, a signing authority authorising the L/C Issuer to provide the DSRA Letter of Credit and a legal opinion from counsel in the jurisdiction of the L/C Issuer in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent),

 

45


and in the event that the Borrower elects to issue the DSRA Letter of Credit the Borrower shall ensure that (A) all sums payable under such DSRA Letter of Credit shall, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Security Documents, be freely available to the Lender Finance Parties (a) upon the acceleration of the Loan after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing, (b) to service any Loan repayments which have become due in the circumstances set out in clause (b) below and where there are insufficient amounts standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account to service such Loan repayments and (c) in the circumstances set out in clause 8.5 and (B) any DSRA Letter of Credit shall be renewed or replaced for a period being not less than 12 Months to such value as may be required to satisfy the provisions of this clause 9.1.18 not later than 30 days prior to the scheduled date of its expiry. If the Borrower fails to so renew or replace the DSRA Letter of Credit, the Borrower agrees that the Security Trustee shall have the right upon written notice to the Borrower to draw the entire amount available under such DSRA Letter of Credit and deposit such amount in the Debt Service Reserve Account for application in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Security Trustee shall at any time drawdown the entire amount available under any DSRA Letter of Credit and deposit the same in the Debt Service Reserve Account, such drawdown and deposit shall be deemed to remedy any Event of Default which shall have arisen as a result of the Borrower’s failure to renew or replace such DSRA Letter of Credit for a period of not less than 12 Months in accordance with the provisions of this clause 9.1.18;

 

  (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clauses 8.5 and 9.1.18(a) above, the Lender Finance Parties shall, in their absolute discretion, be entitled to:

 

  (i) use the sum standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account from time to time; and/or

 

  (ii) make a demand under the DSRA Letter of Credit,

in each case to satisfy the Borrower’s obligation to pay a Repayment Instalment or Repayment Instalments which have become due and such sums and/or (as the case may be) the DSRA Letter of Credit shall be freely available to the Lender Finance Parties for these purposes.

In the event that the Lender Finance Parties elect to exercise their rights under this clause 9.1.18(b) the Borrower shall have sixty (60) days to restore the aggregate of the amounts standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account and/or the amount of the DSRA Letter of Credit to an amount equal to the DSRA Amount.

 

9.1.19 Financial covenants

provide the Agent at the same time it provides its audited financial statements and unaudited semi-annual accounts in accordance with clause 9.1.5 with a Compliance Certificate signed by an authorised officer of the Borrower (i) that the average DSCR in respect of the immediately preceding four (4) financial quarters is equal to or above 1:10x, (ii) that the average DSCR in respect of the immediately preceding two (2) financial quarters is equal to or above 1.06x and (iii) its Leverage Ratio for the immediately preceding four (4) financial quarters does not exceed 4:1. Such Compliance Certificate shall also attach full details of how the said DSCR and Leverage Ratio was calculated;

 

9.1.20 Minimum Credit Rating

in the event that the credit rating of an L/C Issuer falls below the Minimum Credit Rating applicable to it, then the Borrower shall immediately (a) inform the Agent and (b) credit the Debt Service Reserve Account in accordance with clause 8.5;

 

46


9.1.21 Supervision Agreement

 

  (a) ensure that throughout the period prior to Delivery of the Vessel the construction of the Vessel is supervised by the Supervisor pursuant to the Supervision Agreement and will not agree to any material variation of the Supervision Agreement or any sum payable by the Borrower to the Supervisor under the Supervision Agreement; and

 

  (b) at all times enforce all of its rights under the Supervision Agreement;

 

9.1.22 Developments regarding the Angola LNG Project

as soon as reasonably practicable but subject to any confidentiality restrictions and limitations in the Time Charter and any other agreements of the Borrower, notify the Agent of any material developments notified to it by the Time Charterer regarding the Angola LNG Project or the Time Charterer, including, but not limited to, decisions regarding the rollover of the Gas Supply Agreement, the identity of the LNG gas buyers and any force majeure event under the Gas Supply Agreement, the LNG Agreement, the Time Charter or the Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement, Provided always that (subject to clause 9.1.15) the Borrower shall not have or be deemed to have any obligation under this Agreement or any Security Documents to request any information from the Time Charterer or any of its members, shareholders, directors, officers, employees or representatives regarding the Angola LNG Project or the Time Charterer;

 

9.1.23 Registration

ensure that the Vessel shall on and from the Delivery Date be registered under the laws of the flag of the Flag State (or the flag of such other state as the Agent may consent to in writing, acting on the instruction of the Majority Lenders and KEIC);

 

9.1.24 Project Co-ordination Agreement

 

  1.1.1 Prior to the first Drawing, procure the execution of the Project Co-ordination Agreement in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to KEIC and to the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders.

 

    9.2 Negative undertakings

The Borrower undertakes with the Agent that, from the date of this Agreement and so long as any moneys are owing under the Security Documents and while all or any part of the Commitments remain outstanding, it will not without the prior written consent of the Agent:

 

9.2.1 Negative pledge

permit any Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) to subsist, arise or be created or extended over all or any part of its present or future undertakings, assets, rights or revenues (including, without limitation to the generality of the foregoing, over the Vessel, the Time Charter, Earnings, Insurances and/or Accounts) to secure or prefer any present or future indebtedness or other liability or obligation of it or any other person;

 

9.2.2 No merger

without the prior written consent of the Agent acting on the instructions of all Lenders merge or consolidate with any other person unless such merger or consolidation does not result in a Change of Control;

 

9.2.3 Disposals

Subject to the rights of the Time Charterer under the Time Charter;

 

  (a)

sell, transfer, abandon, lend or otherwise dispose of or cease to exercise direct control over any part (being either alone or when aggregated with all other disposals falling to

 

47


  be taken into account pursuant to this clause 9.2.3 material in the opinion of the Agent (acting reasonably and without unreasonable delay) in relation to the combined undertakings, assets, rights and revenues of the Borrower) of its present or future undertaking, assets, rights or revenues (otherwise than by transfers, sales or disposals for full consideration in the ordinary course of trading or otherwise in accordance with the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement) whether by one or a series of transactions related or not; or

 

  (b) sell, transfer, abandon, lease or otherwise dispose of or part with possession of the Vessel other than pursuant to clause 9.6.14 or with the prior written consent of the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC;

 

9.2.4 Other business

undertake any business other than the ownership, financing (including the refinancing of the Vessel at the Maturity Date), maintenance and operation of the Vessel, the Depot Spare Parts, the chartering of the Vessel for the Time Charterer and making Authorised Investments as permitted by the Security Documents;

 

9.2.5 Acquisitions

acquire any further assets other than Authorised Investments, the Vessel, the Depot Spare Parts and other assets and rights arising under contracts entered into by it in the ordinary course of its business of owning, operating, maintaining and chartering the Vessel or in refinancing the Vessel at the Maturity Date, provided always that the Loan Outstandings shall be repaid in full from the proceeds of such refinancing of the Vessel at the Maturity Date;

 

9.2.6 Other obligations

incur any obligations except for obligations arising under the Relevant Documents to which it is a party or contracts entered into by it in the ordinary course of its business of owning, operating, maintaining and chartering the Vessel;

 

9.2.7 Guarantees

issue any guarantees or indemnities or otherwise become directly or contingently liable for the obligations of any person, firm, or corporation except for guarantees or indemnities from time to time required in the ordinary course by any protection and indemnity or war risks association with which the Vessel is entered, guarantees required to procure the release of the Vessel from any arrest, detention, attachment or levy or guarantees or undertakings required for the salvage of the Vessel and except pursuant to the Security Documents;

 

9.2.8 Loans

make any loans or grant any credit (save for normal trade credit in the ordinary course of business) to any person or agree to do so;

 

9.2.9 No borrowing

incur any Financial Indebtedness or undertake any material capital commitment except:

 

  (a) for trade credit in the ordinary course of business and Financial Indebtedness pursuant to the Security Documents (including the Swap Agreements); and

 

  (b) the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and Additional Shareholders’ Equity contributed by way of subordinated debt and subordinated to the amounts due and owing to the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Swap Providers and the Lenders under the Security Documents;

 

48


9.2.10 Repayment of borrowings

repay the principal of, or pay interest on or any other sum in connection with any of its Financial Indebtedness except such Financial Indebtedness as is permitted by the Security Documents or with the prior written consent of the Agent;

 

9.2.11 Sureties

permit any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower to any person (other than the Lenders and/or the Agent and/or the Security Trustee and/or the Swap Providers under the Swap Agreements to be guaranteed by any person (save for guarantees or indemnities from time to time required in the ordinary course by any protection and indemnity or war risks association with which the Vessel is entered, guarantees required to procure the release of the Vessel from any arrest, detention, attachment or levy or guarantees or undertakings required for the salvage of the Vessel;

 

9.2.12 Share capital and distribution

purchase or otherwise acquire for value any shares of its capital or declare or pay any dividends or distribute any of its present or future assets, undertakings, rights or revenues to any of its shareholders, save that the Borrower shall be permitted to declare or pay dividends provided that no Event of Default or Dividend Restriction Event has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived or would occur as a result;

 

9.2.13 Subsidiaries

form or acquire any Subsidiaries;

 

9.2.14 Constitutional documents

agree to any material change of its memoranda and articles of association or other constitutional documents;

 

9.2.15 Project Documents

subject to clause 9.1.15(b)(ii) (which provides, for the avoidance of doubt, that amendments to the Time Charter in respect of technical and/or operational matters which shall have no material adverse financial effect upon the Borrower, no adverse effect upon the security rights of the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Lenders or the Swap Providers, which shall not have the effect of reducing the rate of hire payable under the Time Charter or amending the dates on which such hire is payable or reducing the period of the Time Charter itself and which shall in any event be promptly notified to the Agent, may be made or permitted by the Borrower without the consent of the Agent) , materially amend, modify or waive any provision of the Project Documents to which it is a party or agree to materially amend, modify or waive any provision of the Project Documents to which it is not a party but which requires its consent without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders);

 

9.2.16 Borrower’s other documents

enter in to any other material documents or agreements relating to the Angola LNG Project (other than such documents or agreements contemplated by the Time Charter) (such other material documents or agreements, Borrower’s Other Documents ) and, if the Agent shall consent to the Borrower’s entry into any Borrower’s Other Documents (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed but the giving of which consent may be subject to the Borrower assigning or otherwise charging all its rights, title, benefits and interests under such Borrower’s Other Documents in favour of the Security Trustee as security for the Loan and any other sums payable under the other Security Documents), the Borrower shall not agree to any material change to the Borrower’s Other Documents without the prior written consent of the Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed);

 

49


9.2.17 Ownership of Borrower

permit any change in the shareholders or their respective (direct or indirect) shareholdings in the Borrower as at the date hereof being:

 

  (i) Mitsui—34%;

 

  (ii) NYK—33%; and

 

  (iii) Teekay 33%.

Provided however that (a) on Delivery, Teekay or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shallmay, subject to the Agent having confirmed to Teekay in writing (not to be unreasonably delayed) that it is satisfied, acting reasonably that no material adverse effect on Teekay LNG’s consolidated financial position or Teekay LNG’s ability to comply with its material obligations under any of the Security Documents has occurred and is continuing with respect to Teekay LNG, transfer all of its shares in the Borrower to Teekay LNG or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary and Teekay LNG or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (as applicable) shall become a Borrower Shareholder in place of Teekay or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; (b) any of the Borrower Shareholders may at any time but subject always to the requirements of paragraph (c) below, transfer all or part of its shareholding in the Borrower to:-

 

  (aa) a Qualifying Entity, provided that such Qualifying Entity accedes to the Security Documents as a Sponsor and a Borrower Shareholder in respect of its proportionate interest in the Borrower;

 

  (bb) a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of any Qualifying Entity provided that, (a) such Wholly-Owned Subsidiary accedes to the Security Documents as a Borrower Shareholder in respect of its proportionate ownership interest in the Borrower, and (b) the Qualifying Entity accedes to the Security Documents as a Sponsor in respect of its proportionate indirect ownership interest in the Borrower;

 

  (cc) a Sponsor, another Borrower Shareholder or to an Affiliate of a Sponsor or a Borrower Shareholder, provided that, such Affiliate or Sponsor (as the case maybe) accedes to the Security Documents as a Borrower Shareholder in respect of its proportionate ownership interest in the Borrower; or

 

  (dd) any other person approved by the Agent acting on the instructions of all of the Lenders, provided that such approved person accedes to the Security Documents as a Sponsor and/or Borrower Shareholder (as applicable) in respect of its proportionate direct or indirect ownership interest in the Borrower;

PROVIDED THAT

 

  (ee) in each case, in order to satisfy the requirement to accede to the Security Documents and as a condition precedent to the transfer of any shares to such party, such Qualifying Entity, Affiliate or other approved person, as the case maybe, shall in each case, have first entered into such documents including where it becomes a Borrower Shareholder, a share charge in favour of the Security Trustee in the same form as the Share Pledges Charges and in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and as shall deem necessary provide the Agent with such evidence including corporate authorities and such legal opinions as the Agent shall require in order for the Agent to be satisfied that such party has acceded to the Security Documents as a Borrower Shareholder and/or Sponsor as the case maybe; and

(c) provided that at all times during the Facility Period one or more of Mitsui, NYK, Teekay or (following any transfer permitted and as referred to in (a) above) Teekay LNG or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shall directly or indirectly maintain a shareholding in the Borrower of an amount in aggregate which shall not be less than sixty six per cent (66%) of the full issued and outstanding share capital of the Borrower from time to time; and

 

50


9.2.18 Replacement of Manager

without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and KEIC replace the Manager, provided that (a) the Agent’s consent shall not be required if the Manager is replaced by NYK LNG with the management of the Vessel further subcontracted to NYK Shipmanagement (UK) Ltd. and (b) the Agent’s consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed where the Time Charterer has exercised its option pursuant to clause 29.6 of the Time Charter to convert the Time Charter into a bareboat charter of the Vessel;

 

     9.3 Pre-delivery positive undertakings

The Borrower, hereby undertakes and agrees with each of the Lender Finance Parties that from the date of this Agreement until the Delivery Date or, if earlier, the date upon which no moneys are owing under the Security Documents and no Commitments remain outstanding, that it will:

 

  9.3.1 Document of title to the Vessel

give irrevocable instructions to the Builder that at any time upon which title to the Vessel shall be or become transferable and be capable of transfer to hold the Vessel and the Builder’s Certificates and any other document of title to the Vessel to the order and at the disposal of the Security Trustee and use its best endeavours to ensure that the Builder complies with such instructions;

 

  9.3.2 Performance of the Building Contracts

duly and punctually observe and perform all the conditions and obligations imposed on it by the Building Contract;

 

  9.3.3 Performance by Builder

exercise best endeavours to ensure that the Builder observes and performs all conditions and obligations imposed on it by the Building Contract and take all steps within its power to ensure that the Builder proceeds with the construction of the Vessel with due diligence and despatch in accordance with the Building Contract;

 

  9.3.4 Arbitration under the Building Contract

in the event that the Builder and/or the Borrower resort to arbitration as provided in Article XXVII of the Building Contract, immediately notify the Agent in writing that such arbitration has been initiated, advise the Agent in writing of the identity of the appointed arbitrators and upon termination of the arbitration notify the Agent in writing to that effect and supply the Agent with a copy of the arbitration award and a certified English translation thereof (if the award is not in English);

 

  9.3.5 Conveyance on default

where the Vessel is (or is to be) sold in exercise of any power contained in the Security Documents or otherwise conferred on the Security Trustee, to execute, forthwith upon request by the Agent, such form of conveyance of the Vessel as the Agent may require;

 

  9.3.6 Enforcement of Borrower’s rights

do or permit to be done each and every act or thing which the Agent and/or the Security Trustee may from time to time require to be done in accordance with the terms of the Security Documents for the purpose of enforcing the Borrower’s rights (which the Borrower have failed to enforce or to enforce in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Security Trustee) under or pursuant to the Building Contract;

 

51


  9.3.7 Notification of rejection of Vessel

notify the Agent and the Security Trustee immediately if the Builder exercises, or purports to exercise or gives notice (written or oral) of its intention to exercise any right to cancel, rescind, repudiate or otherwise terminate the Building Contract or to render a performance materially different from that which the Building Contract obliges it to render or (with the prior written consent of the Agent given pursuant to clause 9.4.6) the Borrower cancels, rescinds, repudiates or otherwise terminates the Building Contract or purports to do so or (with the prior written consent of the Agent given pursuant to clause 9.4.6) the Borrower rejects the Vessel or purports to do so or if the Vessel shall become a Total Loss or partial loss or shall be damaged in a manner affecting its Classification or the Refund Guarantor cancels, rescinds, repudiates or otherwise terminates the Refund Guarantee or purports to do so;

 

  9.3.8 Vessel name and registration

register the Vessel under the laws and flag of the Flag State immediately upon its Delivery and keep the Vessel so registered at all times from the Delivery Date in accordance with clause 9.1.23;

 

  9.3.9 Non-compliance with Time Charter

provide the Agent with full details of any matter relating to the construction of the Vessel which could result in the Vessel not being in compliance with the Time Charter within 30 days of such matter coming to the attention of or being brought to the attention of the Borrower;

 

9.3.10 Delays

provide the Agent with full details regarding any delays which arise or may arise with respect to the Scheduled Delivery Date of the Vessel under the Building Contract promptly upon such delays or possible delays coming to the attention of or being brought to the attention of the Borrower; and

 

9.3.11 Mortgage

execute, and procure the registration of, the Mortgage under the laws and flag of the Flag State and the Deed of Covenant immediately upon the Delivery.

 

     9.4 Pre-delivery negative undertakings

The Borrower, hereby further undertakes and agrees with each of the Lender Finance Parties that from the date of this Agreement until the Delivery Date or, if earlier, the date upon which no moneys are owing under the Security Documents and no Commitments remain outstanding, it will not without the prior written consent of the Agent (and then only subject to such conditions as the Agent may impose) acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC:

 

  9.4.1 Sale or other disposal

sell or agree to sell, transfer, abandon or otherwise dispose of the Vessel or any share or interest therein;

 

  9.4.2 Creation of Encumbrances

create or agree to create or permit to exist any Encumbrance over the Vessel (or any share or interest therein) or over the Building Contract, the Guarantee Bond or the Refund Guarantee other than the Encumbrances created or to be created pursuant to or as contemplated by the Security Documents and Permitted Encumbrances;

 

52


9.4.3 Variation of Contracts

agree to any variation of the Building Contract or any substantial variation of the specification of the Vessel (and for the purpose of this paragraph any extras, additions or alterations which the Borrower may desire to effect in the building of the Vessel shall be deemed to constitute a substantial variation of the specification of the Vessel if the cost thereof (which shall in every case be agreed in writing between the Borrower and the Builder before the work in respect of such variation is put in hand irrespective of whether the prior consent thereto of the Agent be required hereunder) or if the cost of the modification causes or will cause the Total Project Cost (estimated by the Borrower as of such date and notified to the Agent) to exceed one hundred and ten per cent. (110%) of the Scheduled Vessel Project Cost, Provided always that the Agent shall not unreasonably withhold or delay its consent if the Borrower shall evidence to the Agent that the Borrower is in a position to fund any sums from shareholders funds without prejudicing the Borrower’s ability to complete the construction and delivery of the Vessel in accordance with the Building Contract Provided further that, nothing in this clause 9.4.3 shall prohibit the Borrower from varying the specification of the Vessel to the extent the Borrower has an obligation to make such variation of the Vessel pursuant to clause 5.1 of the Time Charter or if such variation is required by applicable Law or the Classification Society. If the Borrower has an obligation to make such variation to the Vessel pursuant to clause 5.1 of the Time Charter, the Borrower shall notify the Agent in writing of such variation and shall provide the Agent, from time to time at the Agent’s reasonable request, information regarding the variation;

 

9.4.4 Releases and waivers of Building Contract

release the Builder from any of its obligations under the Building Contract or waive any breach of the Builder’s obligations thereunder or consent to any such act or omission of the Builder as would otherwise constitute such breach;

 

9.4.5 Delays

without prejudice to clause 9.4.3, agree to any variation of the Building Contract or the specification of the Vessel which would delay the time for delivery of the Vessel and be likely in the opinion of the Agent (acting reasonably) to put at risk the acceptance of the Vessel by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter unless the prior written consent to such variation given in writing by the Time Charterer shall have been provided to the Agent;

 

9.4.6 Rejection and cancellation

either exercise or fail to exercise any right which the Borrower may have to reject the Vessel or cancel or rescind or otherwise terminate the Building Contract Provided always that any such rejection of the Vessel or cancellation, rescission or other termination of the Building Contract by the Borrower after such consent is given shall be without responsibility on the part of the Agent which shall be under no liability whatsoever to the extent that such rejection, rescission, cancellation or termination is thereafter adjudged to constitute a repudiation or other breach of the Building Contract by the Borrower Provided always that if the Agent shall not respond (whether in the positive or the negative) within 30 days of any request for such consent being made the Agent shall be deemed to have consented to such request;

 

9.4.7 Assignment of Earnings

assign or agree to assign otherwise than to the Security Trustee the Earnings or any part thereof;

 

9.4.8 Variation of and demands under the Refund Guarantee

agree to any variation of the Refund Guarantee nor make any demand for payment under the Refund Guarantee;

 

53


  9.4.9 Release and waiver of Refund Guarantee

release the Refund Guarantor from any of its obligations under the Refund Guarantee or waive any breach of the Refund Guarantor’s obligations thereunder or consent to any such act or omission of the Refund Guarantor as would otherwise constitute such breach; and

 

9.4.10 Chartering

except pursuant to the Time Charter, let or agree to let the Vessel on demise charter for any period, or by any time or consecutive voyage charter.

 

     9.5 Insurances

 

  9.5.1 The Borrower covenants to ensure and procure at its own expense (and for the avoidance of doubt at no cost and expense to the Lender Finance Parties) that the following provisions of this clause 9.5 are complied with at all times during the Facility Period in respect of the Vessel. The Borrower confirms that throughout the Facility Period, the Vessel shall be in every respect at the risk of the Borrower.

 

  9.5.2 Maintenance of Insurances

The Vessel shall be kept insured at no cost to the Lender Finance Parties against:

 

  (a) fire and usual marine risks (including excess risks) and war risks (including terrorism, sabotage, vandalism, malicious mischief, blocking and trapping);

 

  (b) protection and indemnity risks (including pollution risks) and excess war protection and indemnity risks, on “full entry” terms;

 

  (c) in respect of such other matters of whatsoever nature and howsoever arising in respect of which insurance would be maintained by a prudent owner or operator of vessels of a similar age, condition and type as the Vessel; and

 

  (d) loss of hire for a minimum cover period of (i) one hundred and eighty (180) days, with a maximum deductible of fourteen (14) days or (ii) following receipt of a written request from the Agent, such longer period as may from time to time be reasonably and commercially available in the insurance market for vessels of similar age, size and type as the Vessel, and for a rate of hire at least equal to the rate set out in the Time Charter.

 

  9.5.3 Terms of Insurances

Such Insurances shall be effected:

 

  (a) in Dollars or such other currency as the Agent and the Borrower may agree;

 

  (b) in the case of fire and usual marine risks and war risks (on an agreed value basis) in an amount equal to the Insured Loss Value applicable on the first day of the period for which the insurances are renewed;

 

  (c) in the case of protection and indemnity risks (including pollution liability risks), in an amount equal to the highest amount in respect of which cover is in accordance with customary insurance market practice taken out by prudent owners or operators of vessels of a similar type, size, age, condition and flag as the Vessel with protection and indemnity risks associations that are members of the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Associations (but in the case of pollution risks, for a minimum amount of one billion Dollars ($1,000,000,000) or where cover for such risks is not available in such an amount, such lesser amount as is the best level of cover available in the market at the applicable time, having regard to the cover being taken out by prudent owners or operators of similar vessels to the Vessel;

 

54


  (d) in the case of loss of hire insurances in such amounts and upon such terms as shall from time to time be approved in writing by the Agent;

 

  (e) on terms approved under clause 9.5.18, but subject to a minimum requirement of the scope of coverage of that provided by the Institute Time Clauses and Additional Perils Clause with their War and Strikes sister clauses extended as necessary or as provided by the equivalent full conditions forms of other nationality (so far as can be reasonably obtained in the market at the applicable time); and

 

  (f) through brokers and with insurance companies and/or underwriters or, in the case of war risks and protection and indemnity risks, in war risks and protection and indemnity risks associations, in each case approved under clause 9.5.18.

 

9.5.4 Further protection for Agent

In addition to the terms set out in clause 9.5.3, the Insurances effected under such clause shall:

 

  (a) in the case of the Insurances in respect of marine risks and war risks, be endorsed by way of a loss payable clause to the effect that:

 

  (i) payment of a claim for a Total Loss will be made to the Security Trustee (and shall be applied in accordance with the relevant provisions clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed); and

 

  (ii) payment of a claim for an amount which equals or exceeds the Threshold Amount ten. million Dollars ( $ 10,000 , 0 00) shall be paid to the Security Trustee and shall be applied in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Intercreditor Deed; and as follows:

 

  (A) Subject to (aa) there being no Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under clause 10.2.1 (Failure to pay) which has occurred due to the Vessel being off-hire in order for the necessary repair work to be completed) and (bb) clause 9.5.4(a)(v) below, in the event that the Borrower (or the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower) have instructed a shipyard to commence the repair works, which shipyard and repair works are acceptable to the Security Trustee acting reasonably and promptly (and, to the extent that the shipyard and repair works have been approved or nominated by the Time Charterer, such shipyard and repair works shall be deemed to be acceptable to the Security Trustee for these purposes), and paid for the repairs (such payments to be duly evidenced), to the Borrower (or, as the case may be, the Sponsors) upon resumption of the Vessel into service under the Time Charter, to reimburse the Borrower (or, as the case may be, the Sponsors) for the amounts so paid; or

 

  (B) Subject to (aa) there being no Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under clause 10.2.1 (Failure to Pay) which has occurred due to the Vessel being off-hire in order for the necessary repair work to be completed) and (bb) clause 9.5.4(a)(v) below, in the event that the Time Charterer has instructed a shipyard to commence the repair works, which shipyard and repair works are acceptable to the Security Trustee acting reasonably and promptly (and, to the extent that the shipyard and repair works have been approved or nominated by the Time Charterer, such shipyard and repair works shall be deemed to be acceptable to the Security Trustee for these purposes), and paid for part or the whole of the repairs and in respect of which the Borrower is required to reimburse the Time Charterer pursuant to paragraph 2.3 of Schedule XI to the Time Charter, to the Time Charterer to reimburse the Time Charterer for the amounts so paid (and in satisfaction of the Borrower’s obligation to reimburse the Time Charterer pursuant to clause 2.3 of Schedule XI to the Time Charter), with the balance to be paid to the relevant shipyard conducting such repairs (in

 

55


or towards payment of any repairs in respect of which payment is outstanding) PROVIDED THAT, where such repairs will require the Vessel to remain off-hire for more than 120 days, the Security Trustee has received prior written confirmation from the Time Charterer that the Time Charterer will not exercise its rights under clause 22.4 of the Time Charter in respect of such off-hire period; and

 

  (C) If neither the Borrower (nor the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower) nor the Time Charterer have instructed a shipyard and paid for the repairs (or, in the case of the Time charterer, part thereof) as described in clauses 9.5.4(a)(ii)(A) or 9.5.4(a)(ii)(B) above, or the conditions attached to the payment of the amounts to the Borrower, Sponsors or, as the case may be, Time Charter (being, in the case of the Borrower, the requirement that that Vessel has resumed service under the Time Charter and, in the case of the Time Charter, the requirement that where such repairs will require the Vessel to remain off-hire for more than 120 days, the Security Trustee has received prior written confirmation from the Time Charter that the Time Chartrer will not exercise its rights under clause 22.4 of the Time Charter in respect of such off-hire period) are not satisfied within forty five (45) days of the completion of the repair works, the Security Trustee shall, acting upon the instruction of the Majority Lenders, have the option to either (a) apply such amounts in repairing the damage or (b) apply such amounts in accordance with clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed; and

 

  (iii) Subject to no Event of Default having occurred which is continuing unremedied and unwaived, payment of a claim for an amount which is less than ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be made to the Borrower who shall apply the same (a) in or toward making good the loss and fully repairing all damage in respect whereof such payment shall have been made or (b) to the Time Charterer to reimburse the Time Charter for amounts paid by the Time Charter in relation to the repair of the Veessel pursuant to paragraph 2.3 of Schedule XI to the Time Charter; and

 

  (iv) where there is any surplus after the Insurance proceeds have been applied pursuant to this clause 9.5.4(a) in respect of the relevant repairs, such surplus Insurance proceeds shall be paid to the Security Trustee for application in accordance with clause 6 of the Intercreditor deed); and

 

  (v) the application of clause 9.5.4(a)(ii) above is the subject to the Borrower being in compliance with its obligation to maintain loss of hire insurance in accordance with clause 9.5.2(d); and

 

  ( vi) (iii) as long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived, payment of any other claim shall be made to the Borrower or, as applicable, such other Security Party, who shall apply the same in or towards making good the loss and fully repairing all damage in respect whereof such payment shall have been made and after the occurrence of an Event of Default and whilst itif an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under clause 10.2.1 (Failure to Pay) which has occurred due to the Vessel being off-hire in order for the necessary repair work to be completed), has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived, and following notification by the Security Trustee to the approved brokers, payment of any such claim shall be made to the Security Trustee, and shall be applied in accordance with the relevant provisions clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed;

 

  (b) in the case of the Insurances in respect of protection and indemnity risks, be endorsed by way of a loss payable clause to the effect that moneys payable thereunder shall be paid in reimbursement of the assured which has settled the liability to which the relevant claim relates or, if so agreed by the relevant insurers, be paid directly to the person to whom was incurred the liability in respect of which the relevant money was paid unless

 

56


  and until the Security Trustee, following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived, shall direct that they shall be paid to the Security Trustee whereupon they shall be paid to the Security Trustee and shall be applied in accordance with the relevant provisions clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed;

 

  (c) in the case of Insurances in respect of loss of hire be endorsed by way of a loss payable clause to the effect that all moneys payable thereunder shall, be paid to the Borrower, unless and until the Security Trustee, following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived, shall direct that these shall be paid to the Security Trustee whereupon they shall be paid to the Security Trustee and shall be applied in accordance with the relevant provisions clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed.

 

9.5.5 Renewals

 

  (a) As soon as possible, but in any case not less than fourteen (14) days before the expiry of any of the policies, entries or contracts forming part of the Insurances or if there is a change in the insurers and/or markets through whom the Insurances are placed, the Borrower shall notify the Agent of the names of the brokers (or other insurers) and any protection and indemnity and/or war risks association through or with whom such Insurances are proposed to be renewed and (if any material change is proposed) of the proposed terms and amounts of renewal. The Borrower shall also promptly notify the Agent of any material change in the information notified to the Agent pursuant to this clause 9.5.5 and shall provide the Agent with particulars of such changes. If at any time the terms and amounts on and for which the Insurances are proposed to be renewed or the identity of the broker or war or protection and indemnity risks associations with whom the Insurances are proposed to be renewed are not approved by the Agent, as contemplated by clause 9.5.18, the Agent shall notify the Borrower promptly in writing of the withdrawal of its approval, and the Borrower shall procure that the Insurances are renewed or replaced on terms satisfactory to the Agent (acting reasonably);

 

  (b) Before the expiry of any Insurances the Borrower shall procure that such relevant Insurances are renewed and shall confirm to the Agent that such renewals have been effected or shall procure that such confirmation is given to the Agent before the expiry of any such Insurances; and

 

  (c) Promptly after each such renewal, the Borrower shall procure that the Agent is provided with the details of the terms and conditions and amounts on which and for which such Insurances have been renewed.

 

  (d) If, after renewal and after review by the Agent of the terms and conditions of renewal, the Agent advises the Borrower that the terms and conditions of such Insurances as renewed, do not conform with the requirements of this clause 9.5.5 (which advice shall specify in reasonable detail the particular discrepancies) then, after consultation with the Agent, the Borrower shall ensure that any such discrepancies are corrected promptly.

 

9.5.6 Custody of Policy Documents/Loss Payable Clauses

The Borrower shall procure that there shall be deposited with the brokers and/or insurers through which the Insurances are arranged from time to time copies of all slips, cover notes, policies certificates of entry or other instruments of insurance from time to time issued in connection with such of the Insurances referred to in this clause 9.5.6 as are effected through such brokers and/or the war risks and protection and indemnity association approved in accordance with clause 9.5.18 and shall also procure that, in the case of the Insurances referred to in clause 9.5.2(a), the relevant loss payable clause shall be incorporated on the relevant cover note or policy and, in the case of the protection and indemnity Insurances referred to in clause 9.5.2(b), the relevant loss payable clause shall be incorporated on the relevant certificate of entry or policy, and the Borrower shall procure that the Agent shall be furnished with certified copies of the relevant cover note or policy or certificate of entry or policy, duly endorsed.

 

57


  9.5.7 Letters of undertaking

In relation to all Insurances effected from time to time under and in accordance with this clause 9.5.7, the Borrower shall ensure that all brokers and/or insurers and any protection and indemnity or war risks associations in which the Vessel is entered, in each case being approved under clause 9.5.18, provide the Agent with letters of undertaking:

 

  (a) in the case of an approved broker in the form of the L.I.B.C. Recommended Brokers’ Letter of Undertaking of October 1984 or, if such form no longer represents the then current market practice in the insurance market in which the approved broker operates, in such form as the Agent and the Borrower shall agree, having regard to the then current market practice in the insurance market in which the approved broker operates, and any professional association of which that approved broker is a member; and

 

  (b) in the case of a protection and indemnity association, having regard to the current market practice and the practices prescribed by the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Associations or, if the relevant protection and indemnity association is not a member of the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Associations but has otherwise been approved by the Agent in accordance with clause 9.5.18, the current practice of that association (and which will for all purposes provide for notification to the Agent prior to the cancellation of any such entry); and

 

  (c) in the case of a war risks association, having regard to the current market practice in the insurance market in which such association operates.

 

  9.5.8 Fleet Cover

If any of the Insurances referred to in clauses 9.5.2(a) and/or 9.5.2(b) form part of a fleet cover, the Borrower will procure that (a) any letter of undertaking referred to in clause 9.5.7 is amended to provide that the relevant brokers shall undertake to the Lender Finance Parties that they shall neither set-off against any claims in respect of the Vessel any premiums due in respect of other vessels under such fleet cover or any premiums due for other insurances, nor cancel the insurance for reason of non-payment of premiums for other vessels under such fleet cover or of premiums for such other insurance or (b) that the applicable policy documents are endorsed to the effect that the applicable insurers shall neither set-off against any claims in respect of the Vessel any premiums due in respect of other vessels under such fleet cover or any premiums due for other insurances, nor cancel the insurance for reason of non-payment of premiums for other vessels under such fleet cover or of premiums for such other insurance or (c) that the Lender Finance Parties receive other comfort that this will not occur or arranges separate policies for the Vessel.

 

  9.5.9 No material adverse alteration

The Borrower shall comply with the terms and conditions of the Insurances and shall not do and shall ensure that there is no act or omission which would give rise to a right to cancel any Insurances or render any Insurances, or any policy or policies or certificate or certificates of entry invalid, void, or unenforceable or render any sum paid out under any policy or policies or certificate or certificates of entry or the Insurances evidenced thereby repayable in whole or in part. The Borrower will not make, and shall procure that there is not made, any material alteration to the terms of any of the Insurances without the prior written consent of the Agent.

 

9.5.10 Operation outside terms of Insurances

The Borrower will take all steps necessary so that:

 

  (a) the Vessel is not operated in any way inconsistent with the provisions or warranties of or implied in, or in contravention of the cover provided by, any Insurance taken out in accordance with this clause 9.5;

 

58


  (b) the Vessel is not engaged in any voyage or to carry any cargo not permitted by any Insurance, in each case without first obtaining the consent (if necessary) of the insurers to such operation or engagement and complying with such requirements as to extra premium or otherwise as the insurers may prescribe; or

 

  (c) all requisite certificates of financial responsibility and/or other consents, licences, approvals or Authorisations as may from time to time be required are obtained and maintained if the Vessel is likely to be operating in or into or off-shore from the United States of America.

 

9.5.11 Payment of premiums and calls

The Borrower shall procure that (taking account of any applicable grace period) all premiums, calls, contributions or other sums of money from time to time due in respect of any Insurance are paid punctually and in full.

 

9.5.12 Notification of Total Loss

The Borrower shall procure that the Agent is notified of:

 

  (a) the levy of any distress on the Vessel or its arrest, detention, seizure, condemnation as prize, Compulsory Acquisition or requisition for title or use; and

 

  (b) (save in the case of Compulsory Acquisition or requisition for title or use or any capture, seizure, arrest, detention or confiscation of the Vessel by any government, or by persons acting or purporting to act on behalf of any government) any accident, casualty or other event which has caused or resulted in or is likely to cause or result in the Vessel being or becoming a Total Loss.

 

9.5.13 Settlement of claims

 

  (a) The Borrower shall do all things necessary and provide all documents, evidence and information to enable the Lender Finance Parties to collect or recover any moneys which at any time become due and payable to the Lender Finance Parties or otherwise in respect of the Insurances.

 

  (b) Subject to the Borrower having provided any necessary security in a timely manner so as to prevent the actual or continued arrest of the Vessel and provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Agent agrees that the Borrower shall have the right to settle, compromise or abandon any claim under the Insurances for Total Loss or in respect of claims in excess of the Threshold Amount or to give notice of abandonment of the Vessel to the insurers and/or to claim a constructive Total Loss upon the prior written approval of the Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, the Borrower acknowledging (without limitation) that it shall be reasonable for the Agent to withhold its consent if required to do so pursuant to the Relevant Documents or any of them) but that the Agent itself shall not settle, compromise or abandon any such claim without reference to the Borrower prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default. After the occurrence of any Event of Default while it is continuing unremedied or unwaived, the Security Trustee alone shall have the right to settle, compromise or abandon any claims under the Insurances and/or give notice of abandonment of the Vessel to the insurers and/or claim a constructive Total Loss.

 

9.5.14 P & I guarantees

The Borrower shall arrange for the execution and delivery of all guarantees and indemnities as may from time to time be required by the Vessel’s protection and indemnity or war risks association.

 

59


9.5.15 Additional Insurance

Nothing in this clause 9.5.15 shall prohibit the Borrower from placing additional insurance on the Vessel at its own expense and for its sole benefit provided however that:

 

  (a) such insurance shall not prejudice the Insurances or recovery thereunder or exceed the amount permitted by warranties or other conditions contained in the Insurances without the written consent of the insurers of the Insurances;

 

  (b) where the written consent of the insurers as referred to in clause 9.5.15(a) is required, the Borrower shall procure that there shall be immediately furnished to the Agent a copy of such consent and, in all cases, with particulars of any additional insurance effected including copies of any cover notes or policies and of the written consent of the insurers of the required insurance in any case where such consent is necessary; and

 

  (c) any insurance payments received by the Agent arising solely from additional insurance effected by the Borrower under this clause 9.5.15(a) less amounts due (if any) by the Agent in respect of Taxes in relation to the sums received shall be paid by the Agent to the Borrower promptly after receipt thereof.

 

9.5.16 No Security Interest

The Borrower shall not, and shall procure that no Security Party will, create or permit to exist any security interest over or in respect of the Insurances save for the approved brokers’ or insurers’ right of set off and lien for unpaid premiums to the extent permitted by clause 9.5.8 and the Encumbrances created by the Assignment.

 

9.5.17 Insurance reports and provision of information

 

  (a) The Borrower shall procure that there shall be provided promptly any information reasonably required for the purpose of the Agent obtaining or preparing any report from a reputable international independent marine insurance broker or adviser appointed by the Agent as to the adequacy of the Insurances effected or proposed to be effected, and the Borrower shall, promptly upon demand, indemnify the Agent in respect of reasonable fees incurred by or for the account of the Agent in connection with one such report prepared immediately prior to the Delivery Date and at annual intervals thereafter, but in the case of each annual report only following either any material change to the terms of any of the Insurances or a change in the identity of the approved brokers, the approved protection and indemnity and/or war risks association or the approved insurance companies and/or underwriters.

 

  (b) The Borrower shall also, on the Agent’s request (not more frequently than annually and, in case of a policy period of more than 12 Months, not more than once in each policy period), provide to the Agent and the Security Trustee certified copies of all policy documents and certificates of entry relating to the Insurances which are in the possession of the Borrower, its agents or managers or the approved brokers.

 

9.5.18 Approval process

The Agent’s written approval acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC’s written approval must be obtained in relation to the initial placement of Insurances, particularly with respect to requirements as to amounts and terms of insurance and identity of brokers and the identity and credit standing of the insurers. The Agent’s written approval acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC’s written approval must also be obtained in relation to any material changes to the amounts and terms of insurance or the identity of the brokers or the identity and credit standing of the insurers on renewal. The Agent will act promptly and will not act unreasonably in relation to giving its approval in relation to these matters.

 

60


9.5.19 Mortgagee’s interest insurance/Mortgagee’s additional perils insurance

Nothing contained in this clause 9.5 shall affect the Security Trustee’s rights to take out mortgagee’s interest insurance, mortgagee’s additional perils insurance and/or contingent liability insurance in relation to the insurances of the Vessel for its own account save that mortgagee’s interest insurance in respect of the Buyer Credit (and taken for the sole benefit of the Buyer Credit only) will be affected at the expense of the Borrower.

 

9.5.20 Insurance review

From time to time during any period of insurance cover the Agent may review the terms of and identity of brokers, insurance companies and underwriters and war risks or protection and indemnity associations through which the Vessel is insured under this clause 9.5.20. Such review shall be made in consultation with the Borrower. After consultation, the Borrower shall implement such modifications as the Agent may reasonably request in order to seek to ensure that such insurances at all times cover all risks which may customarily and generally be covered in transactions similar to that covered by this Agreement and that the terms of such insurances and the identity of brokers, underwriters, insurance companies and associations will continue to be approved by the Agent, as provided for in clause 9.5.18.

 

9.5.21 Insurances effected by the Agent

If the Borrower fails to effect or keep in force the Insurances, the Agent may (but shall not be obliged to) effect and/or keep in force such insurances on the Vessel and such entries in protection and indemnity or war risks associations as the Agent in its discretion considers desirable having regard to the types of insurances that are required pursuant to this clause 9.5, and the Agent may (but shall not be obliged to) pay any unpaid premiums, calls or contributions. The Borrower will reimburse the Agent from time to time on demand for all such premiums, calls or contributions paid by the Agent, together with interest at the Default Rate from the date of payment by the Agent until the date of reimbursement

 

9.5.22 Environmental

The Borrower shall comply strictly with the requirements of any legislation relating to pollution or protection of the environment which may from time to time be applicable to the Vessel in any jurisdiction in which the Vessel shall trade and in particular (if a Vessel is to trade in the United States of America and Exclusive Economic Zone (as defined in the Act)) the Borrower shall comply strictly with the requirements of the United States Oil Pollution Act 1990 (“ the Act ”). Before any such trade is commenced and during the entire period during which such trade is carried on, the Borrower shall:-

 

  (a) pay any additional premiums and satisfy such other conditions required to maintain protection and indemnity cover for oil pollution up to the limit available to the Borrower for the Vessel in the market; and

 

  (b) make all such quarterly or other voyage declarations as may from time to time be required by the Vessel’s protection and indemnity association in order to maintain such cover; and

 

  (c) in addition to the foregoing (if such trade is in the United States of America and Exclusive Economic Zone):

 

  (i) obtain and retain a certificate of financial responsibility under the Act in form and substance satisfactory to the United States Coast Guard and upon request provide the Agent with a copy; and

 

  (ii) procure that the protection and indemnity insurances do not contain a US Trading Exclusion Clause or any other provision analogous thereto and upon request provide the Agent with evidence that this is so; and

 

61


  (iii) comply strictly with any operational or structural regulations issued from time to time by any relevant authorities under the Act so that at all times the Vessel falls within the provisions which limit strict liability under the Act for oil pollution.

 

   9.6 Operation and Maintenance

 

9.6.1 General

The Borrower undertakes in favour of the Lender Finance Parties to comply with the following provisions at all times during the Facility Period until such time as the Vessel is sold except as the Agent may otherwise permit in writing.

 

9.6.2 Supply and crewing

Throughout the Facility Period the Borrower shall procure that the Vessel is manned, victualled, navigated, operated, supplied, fuelled, maintained and repaired, all at no cost to the Agent.

 

9.6.3 Condition of the Vessel

The Borrower shall procure that the Vessel and every part thereof is kept in a good and safe condition and state of repair, ordinary wear and tear excepted and shall ensure that all repairs to the Vessel or replacements of lost, damaged or worn parts and equipment in respect of the Vessel, are effected in such a manner so as not to diminish the value of the Vessel and in any event:

 

  (a) consistent with first-class ship ownership, operation and management standards in relation to ships of the Vessel’s age and type;

 

  (b) so as to maintain the Vessel’s present class, namely 1+HULL+MACH+Liquefied gas carrier/LNG, Shiptype 2G (-163°C, 500 kg/m3., 0.25 bar unrestricted navigation + VeriSTAR-HULL, + AUT-UMS,+SYS-NEQ-1,+MON-SHAFT, INWATERSURVEY, with the American Bureau of Shipping or the equivalent with another Classification Society approved by the Majority Lenders in writing and in each case free from any overdue recommendations and conditions affecting the Vessel’s class; and

 

  (c) so as to comply with the material provisions of all laws and regulations applicable to the Vessel, including, without limitation, Environmental Law and Environmental Approval, and to maintain all certificates, licences and permits applicable to vessels registered in the state of registration for the time being of the Vessel and to vessels trading to any jurisdiction to which the Vessel may trade from time to time in any such case.

 

9.6.4 Master, officers and crew

The Master, officers and crew of the Vessel shall be the servants of the Borrower for all purposes whatsoever. The Borrower shall ensure that the wages and allotments and the insurance and pension contributions as appropriate of the Master, officers and crew shall be paid when due and all deductions from their wages in respect of tax liability shall be properly accounted for and the Master shall have no valid claim for disbursements other than those incurred by him in the ordinary course of trading of the Vessel.

 

9.6.5 Modifications

The Borrower shall procure that no modification is made to the Vessel, unless such modification is required to be made by the Borrower pursuant to clause 5.1 of the Time Charter or is otherwise required under applicable Law or by the Classification Society, which would:

 

  (a) materially and adversely alter the structure, type or performance characteristics of the Vessel; or

 

  (b) reduce the value of the Vessel, and the Borrower shall notify the Agent of any modifications which are made to the Vessel the cost of which exceeds or will when completed exceed two million Dollars ($2,000,000).

 

62


  9.6.6 Surveys

The Borrower shall procure that the Vessel is submitted to such periodical or other surveys as may be required by the Flag State or for classification purposes and shall comply with all conditions and recommendations affecting the Vessel’s class of the relevant Classification Society of the Vessel from time to time in accordance with their terms unless waived and the Borrower shall supply copies of any survey reports to the Agent upon request from the Agent.

 

  9.6.7 Drydocking

The Borrower shall procure that the Vessel is drydocked as often as may be required to ensure that the Vessel maintains its Classification with its relevant Classification Society and otherwise in accordance with good commercial practice. If the Borrower fails to comply with the requirements of the relevant Classification Society, the Agent may inspect the Vessel in accordance with clause 9.6.12. If requested by the Agent, the Borrower shall give the Agent reasonable prior written notice of any intended drydocking of the Vessel.

 

  9.6.8 Release from arrest

The Borrower shall promptly pay and discharge all debts, damages, liabilities and outgoings whatsoever which have given or which may reasonably be expected to give rise to maritime, statutory or possessory liens on, or claims enforceable against, the Vessel or the Insurances or any part thereof. If at any time during the Facility Period any writ or equivalent claim or pleading in admiralty is filed against the Vessel or the Insurances or any part thereof, or the Vessel or the Insurances or any part thereof is arrested or detained or attached or levied upon pursuant to legal process or purported legal process or in the event of the detention of the Vessel in the exercise or the purported exercise of any such lien or claim as aforesaid (other than by reason of a Compulsory Acquisition), the Borrower shall procure the release of the Vessel and the Insurances from such arrest, detention, attachment or levy or, as the case may be, the discharge of the writ or equivalent claim or pleading in admiralty as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within fourteen (14) days (or such longer period as the Agent may agree acting reasonably) of receiving notice thereof by providing bail or procuring the provision of security or otherwise as circumstances may require.

 

  9.6.9 Manuals and technical records

The Borrower shall procure that:

 

  (a) all such records, logs, manuals, technical data and other materials and documents which are required to be maintained in respect of the Vessel to comply with any applicable laws or the requirements of the Flag State and Classification Society are maintained;

 

  (b) accurate, complete and up-to-date logs and records of all voyages made by the Vessel and of all maintenance, repairs, alterations, modifications and additions to the Vessel are kept in accordance with good industry practice; and

 

  (c) following the occurrence of an Event of Default and for as long as it is continuing unremedied or unwaived on reasonable advance notice from the Agent, the Agent or its representatives is permitted at any time to examine and take copies of such logs and records and other records.

 

9.6.10 Vessel’s Software

 

  (a) The Borrower shall obtain and maintain and procure that there are obtained and maintained all licences and permits (without liability on the part of the Agent for the payment of any royalties as may be required from time to time in respect of the computer software which is required for the operation of the Vessel, including, but not limited to, navigation software) and shall procure that all such licences and permits are granted without any limitation or expiry (or are renewed prior to any such expiry).

 

63


  (b) The Borrower shall use its best endeavours to extend to the Security Trustee the benefit of all software licences and permits in respect of the Vessel which are available to the Borrower.

 

9.6.11 Manager

Other than the Manager, and subject to clause 9.2.18 above, the Borrower shall procure that no commercial or technical manager or construction supervisor of the Vessel is appointed without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and KEIC, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and the Borrower shall ensure that the Vessel is at all times under such commercial and technical management.

 

9.6.12 Inspection

The Borrower shall ensure that the Agent, its surveyors or other persons appointed by it will be permitted to inspect the Vessel (provided that, if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived, the Agent may not inspect the Vessel more than once annually), upon reasonable notice and without interfering with the Vessel’s operation. Such inspections shall be without cost or risk to the Borrower unless an inspection made after the occurrence of an Event of Default that is continuing unremedied or unwaived, in which case the inspections shall be at the cost of the Borrower and the risk of the Agent.

 

9.6.13 Notification of certain events

The Borrower shall, immediately upon the same coming to its attention and to the best of its then current knowledge, notify the Agent by electronic mail of:

 

  (a) any casualty or damage in respect of the Vessel which is or is likely to give rise to a loss or cost or repairs of two million Dollars ($2,000,000) or more;

 

  (b) any occurrence as a result of which the Vessel has become or is, by the passing of time or otherwise, likely to become a Total Loss;

 

  (c) any requirement or recommendation made by any insurer or Classification Society or by any competent authority which is not complied with within any applicable time period for compliance stipulated by such authority;

 

  (d) any arrest or detention of the Vessel, any exercise or purported exercise of any lien on the Vessel or its Earnings or any requisition of the Vessel for hire;

 

  (e) any Environmental Claim made against the Agent of which it is or becomes aware or in connection with the Vessel, or any Environmental Incident or Environmental Claim in an amount in excess of one million Dollars ($1,000,000) or the Dollar Equivalent (in the case of a claim in any other currency) made against the Borrower, any other Security Party or the Time Charterer in connection with the Vessel;

 

  (f) any claim for breach of the ISM Code or the ISPS Code being made against the Borrower, any other Security Party or the Time Charterer in connection with the Vessel;

 

  (g) any other matter, event or incident which will or is reasonably likely to lead to the ISM Code or the ISPS Code not being complied with;

 

  (h) any claims made in connection with a bodily injury to a third party involving amounts in excess of an amount of one million Dollars ($1,000,000) or the Dollar Equivalent (in the case of a claim in any other currency);

 

64


  (i) any requisition of the Vessel for hire;

 

  (j) any security interest (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) arising over the Vessel or the Insurances or Requisition Compensation; and

 

  (k) any other event in respect of the Vessel or the Insurances or Requisition Compensation which could reasonably be expected to involve the Agent in any loss or liability,

and the Borrower shall keep the Agent advised in writing on a regular basis and in such reasonable detail as the Agent shall require in respect of those events or matters and/or of the response to any of those events or matters by the Borrower or the applicable Security Party, the Time Charterer or any other person.

 

9.6.14 Restrictions on chartering or parting with possession

The Borrower shall not, without the prior written consent of the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably, and without unreasonable delay):

 

  (a) let or otherwise charter the Vessel to any other party or allow the Vessel to be used by or available to any other party, except pursuant to the Time Charter or except as required by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter;

 

  (b) make any amendment to the Time Charter (other than as permitted under clause 9.1.15(b)), or waive any material provision of such Time Charter, or terminate such Time Charter;

 

  (c) put the Vessel into the possession of any person for the purpose of work being done upon it in an amount exceeding or likely to exceed two million Dollars ($2,000,000) or the equivalent in any other currency (in the case of a claim in any other currency) unless either:

 

  (i) the cost of such work is covered by Insurances; or

 

  (ii) the Borrower establishes to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent that it has sufficient funds to pay for the cost of such work.

Provided always that this clause 9.6.14(c) shall not apply in respect of the regularly scheduled dry docking of the Vessel for which the Borrower has reserved amounts in accordance with clause 8.2.

 

9.6.15 Additional Vessel Covenants

The Borrower further covenants with the Agent in respect of the Vessel:-

 

  (a) at and from the Delivery Date to effect and maintain registration of the Mortgage at the Vessel’s Vessel Registry; and not cause nor permit to be done any act or omission as a result of which that registration or the registration set out in clause 9.1.23 above might be defeated or imperilled; and

 

  (b) in the event of any requisition or seizure of the Vessel, to take all lawful steps to recover possession of the Vessel as soon as it is entitled to do so; and

 

  (c) to give to the Agent from time to time during the Facility Period on request such information as the Agent may reasonably require with regard to the Vessel’s employment, position and state of repair; and

 

  (d)

not during hostilities (whether or not a state of war shall formally have been declared and including, without limitation, any civil war) to permit the Vessel to be employed in carrying any goods which may be declared to be contraband of war or which may render that Vessel liable to confiscation, seizure, detention or destruction, nor to permit

 

65


  the Vessel to enter any area which is declared a war zone by any governmental authority or by the Vessel’s insurers unless the Borrower has effected at its own expense such additional insurances as shall be necessary or customary for first class ship owners. The Borrower shall promptly notify the Agent thereof and, if required by the Agent, specifically assign those insurances to the Security Trustee by such documents as the Agent, acting reasonably, may require; and

 

  (e) not without the prior written consent of the Agent to enter into any agreement or arrangement for sharing the Earnings; and

 

  (f) to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any infringements of any anti drug legislation in any jurisdiction in which the Vessel shall trade and in particular (if the Vessel is to trade in the United States of America) to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any infringements of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 of the United States of America and for this purpose, if required, to enter into a “Carrier Initiative Agreement” with the United States’ Customs Service and to procure that the same or a similar agreement is maintained in full force and effect and that the Borrower’s obligations thereunder are performed in respect of the Vessel.

 

     10 Events of Default

 

  10.1 The Agent’s rights

If any of the events set out in clause 10.2 occurs, the Agent may at its discretion (and, on the instructions of the Majority Lenders, will):

 

10.1.1 by notice to the Borrower declare the Lenders to be under no further obligation to the Borrower under or pursuant to this Agreement and may (and, on the instructions of the Majority Lenders, will) declare all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness (including such unpaid interest and Commitment Fees as shall have accrued and any Break Costs incurred by the Lender Finance Parties) to be immediately payable, whereupon the Lender Indebtedness (or the part of the Lender Indebtedness referred to in the Agent’s notice) shall immediately become due and payable without any further demand or notice of any kind; and/or

 

10.1.2 declare that any undrawn portion of the Loan shall be cancelled, whereupon the same shall be cancelled and the corresponding Commitment of each Lender shall be reduced to zero; and/or

 

10.1.3 exercise any rights and remedies in existence or arising under the Security Documents.

 

  10.2 Events of Default

The events referred to in clause 10.1 are:-

 

10.2.1 Failure to Pay: any Security Party fails to pay any amount payable by it under this Agreement or any of the Security Documents at the time, in the currency and otherwise in the manner specified herein or therein (and so that, for this purpose, sums payable on demand unscheduled amounts shall be treated as having been paid at the stipulated time if paid within five (5) days of demand) unless in respect of scheduled payments the Borrower demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Agent that such failure has occurred by reason solely of banking error and such sum remains unpaid for no longer than five (5) days after the date on which it receives notice from the Agent of such failure; or

 

10.2.2 if any of the Borrower, the Sponsors or the Borrower Shareholders fails to pay when due any amount payable by it under any of the Project Documents to which it is a party at any time, in the currency and otherwise in the manner specified therein subject to expiry of any applicable grace periods specified therein and if such failure in the reasonable opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) has or may be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

66


10.2.3 Insurances: any of the Insurances required to be placed and maintained in respect of the Vessel in accordance with clause 9.5 are not so placed and/or maintained or if at any time any of the Insurances either:

 

  (a) lapse before the time of scheduled renewal without being renewed in accordance with clause 9.5; or

 

  (b) are not renewed at the time of scheduled renewal in accordance with the requirements of clause 9.5; or

 

  (c) are cancelled or rendered invalid, void or unenforceable,

any sums recovered under any of the Insurances for the Vessel are or become repayable in whole or in part and an equivalent amount is not paid by the Borrower within 2 Business Days; or

 

10.2.4 Misrepresentation: any representation or statement made by any Security Party in favour of a Lender Finance Party in this Agreement or any Security Document to which it is a party or, in each case, in any notice or other document, certificate or statement delivered by it pursuant thereto or in connection therewith is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made and in each case where the incorrectness is in the opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) remediable and the relevant Security Party shall have failed to remedy it within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the relevant Security Party of a written notice from the Agent of such failure (or such longer period as the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) may specify or agree); or

 

10.2.5

Specific Covenants: the Borrower fails duly to perform or comply with any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by or procured by it under clauses 9.1.4, 9.1.15, 9.1.15(a), 9.1.15(b)(i), 9,1.15(b)(ii) 9.1.18, 9.1.19, 9.1.19, 9.2.17, 9.4.7, 9.4.8, 9.4.9 or 9.4.10 at any time; or

 

10.2.6 Other Obligations: (a) a Security Party fails duly to perform or comply with any other term or condition of any other Security Document to which it is a party (other than those referred to in clauses 10.2.1, 10.2.2, 10.2.4, 10.2.5, 10.2.23, 10.2.24 or 10.2.25) and such failure is not remedied within fifteen (15) days after the Agent has given written notice thereof to the relevant Security Party (or such longer period as the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) may specify or agree) or (b) any Security Party fails duly to perform or comply with any other term or condition of any Project Document to which it is a party subject to expiry of any applicable grace period therein and if the failure to perform in the reasonable opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) has or may be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

10.2.7 Cross-Default: any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower in an amount greater than two hundred and fifty thousand Dollars ($250,000) is not paid when due or becomes (whether by declaration or automatically in accordance with the relevant agreement or instrument constituting the same and following expiry of any applicable grace period for payment thereof) due and payable prior to the date when it would otherwise have become due (unless as a result of the exercise by the Borrower of a voluntary right of prepayment), or any creditor of the Borrower becomes entitled to declare any such Financial Indebtedness due and payable or any facility or commitment available to the Borrower relating to such Financial Indebtedness is withdrawn, suspended or cancelled by reason of any default (however described) of the Borrower concerned; or

 

10.2.8 Litigation: any litigation, arbitration or administrative action or proceeding is commenced against any Security Party or , prior to Delivery, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or any of their its property, undertakings or assets before any court, arbitrator or administrative agency or authority which, if adversely determined, would have in the reasonable opinion of the Agent a Material Adverse Effect unless:

 

  (a) the relevant Security Party demonstrates in writing to the Agent (who shall act reasonably in considering such matters) to the Agent’s satisfaction, that such litigation, arbitration or administrative action or proceeding is or may reasonably be considered to be vexatious or frivolous; or

 

  (b) it is dismissed or irrevocably stayed within thirty (30) days of commencement;

 

67


 10.2.9 Legal process:

 

  (a) any final judgment or order greater than two hundred and fifty thousand Dollars ($250,000) made against the Borrower is not stayed or complied with within twenty (20) Business Days or a creditor attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or other process is levied or enforced upon or sued out against, all or a substantial part of (in the reasonable opinion of the Agent) the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues of the Borrower and is not discharged within twenty (20) Business Days; or

 

  (b) any final judgment or order made against any Security Party (other than the Borrower and (following the Delivery Date) the Supervisor) is not stayed or complied with within twenty (20) Business Days or a creditor attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or other process is levied or enforced upon or sued out against, all or substantially all of (in the reasonable opinion of the Agent) the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues of any Security Party (other than the Borrower and (following the Delivery Date) the Supervisor) and is not discharged within twenty (20) Business Days and, in each such case above, the event described above has or might reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

10.2.10 Insolvency: any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due; suspends making payments on any of its debts or announces an intention to do so; becomes insolvent; has assets the value of which is less than the value of its liabilities; or suffers the declaration of a moratorium in respect of any of its indebtedness; or

 

10.2.11 Reduction or loss of capital: a meeting is convened by any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) for the purpose of passing any resolution to purchase, reduce or redeem any of its share capital (other than a stock buy-back of any Sponsor); or

 

10.2.12 Winding up: any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken for the purpose of winding up any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or an order is made or resolution passed for the winding up of any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or a notice is issued convening a meeting for the purpose of passing any such resolution, provided however that, in the case only of an order for winding-up, the occurrence of such event shall not constitute an Event of Default if such winding-up has commenced as part of a process of a fully-solvent reorganisation, previously approved by the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and which shall not have a Material Adverse Effect, provided further that the Agent shall not have the right to approve a fully-solvent reorganisation of any of the Sponsors, the Borrower Shareholders, the Manager; or

 

10.2.13 Administration: any petition is presented, notice given or other step is taken for the purpose of the appointment of an administrator of any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or an administration order is made in relation to any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only); or

 

10.2.14 Appointment of receivers and managers: any administrative or other receiver is appointed of any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or any part of its assets and/or undertaking or any other steps are taken to enforce any Encumbrance over all or any part of the assets of any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only); or

 

68


10.2.15 Compositions: any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedures or steps are taken, or negotiations commenced, by any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or by any of its creditors with a view to the general readjustment or rescheduling of all or a material part of its indebtedness or to proposing any kind of composition, compromise or arrangement involving such company and any of its creditors; or

 

10.2.16 Analogous proceedings: there occurs, in relation to any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) in any country or territory in which any of them carries on business or to the jurisdiction of whose courts any part of their assets is subject, any event which, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent, appears in that country or territory to correspond with, or have an effect equivalent or similar to, any of those mentioned in clauses 10.2.9 to 10.2.15 (inclusive) (other than clause 10.2.10) or any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) otherwise becomes subject, in any such country or territory, to the operation of any law relating to insolvency, bankruptcy or liquidation; or

 

10.2.17 Environmental Incidents: there is an Environmental Incident which gives rise, or may be likely to give rise, to Environmental Claims which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

10.2.18 Repudiation: any Security Party repudiates any Security Document or Project Document to which it is a party or does or causes to be done any act or thing evidencing an intention to repudiate any such Security Document or the Project Document, or if the validity or enforceability of any of the Security Documents and the Project Documents shall at any time and for any reason be contested by any Security Party which is a party thereto, or if any such Security Party shall deny that it has any, or any further, liability thereunder; or

 

10.2.19 Cessation of business: any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) suspends or ceases (or, in the case of the Borrower, any of the Borrower Shareholders and/or any of the Sponsors threatens to suspend or cease) to carry on its business (or, in the case of the Sponsors a substantial part of its business where the suspension or cessation of such substantial part of its business has or might have a Material Adverse Effect) except (in the case of the Security Parties (which shall not for this purpose include the Borrower for the purposes of and followed by a reconstruction, amalgamation, reorganisation, merger or consolidation which shall be undertaken and concluded in such manner as in the reasonable opinion of the Agent will enable such Security Party to perform its obligations pursuant to the Security Documents or Project Documents to which it is a party; or

 

10.2.20 Seizure: all or a material part of the undertaking, assets, rights or revenues of, or shares or other ownership interests in, any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) are seized, nationalised, expropriated or compulsorily acquired by or under the authority of any government; or

 

10.2.21 Encumbrances enforceable: any Encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrance) in respect of any of the property which is the subject of any of the Security Documents becomes enforceable; or

 

10.2.22 Challenge to Registration: if the registration of the Vessel or the Mortgage becomes void or voidable or subject to cancellation or termination; or

 

10.2.23 Swap Agreements: (a) an Event of Default (in each case as defined in any of the Swap Agreements) on the part of the Borrower has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived under any of the Swap Agreements or (b) an Early Termination Date (as defined in any of the Swap Agreements) has occurred or been or become capable of being effectively designated under any of the Swap Agreements or (c) a person entitled to do so gives notice of an Early Termination Date under any of the Swap Agreements or (d) any of the Swap Agreements is terminated, cancelled, suspended, rescinded or revoked or otherwise ceases to remain in full force and effect for any reason; or

 

69


10.2.24 Material Events: save (in respect of the security interests created by any of the Security Documents) where the Borrower has taken such action as the Agent requires pursuant to clause 9.1.12 (Further Assurance) to adequately protect the security interests created by the Security Documents, any other event occurs or circumstance arises which materially and adversely affects the security interests created by any of the Security Documents or the Refund Guarantee unless the relevant Security Document(s) and/or the Refund Guarantee is replaced or amended to the satisfaction of the Agent forthwith in the case of this Agreement, the Mortgage, the Refund Guarantee and the Deed of Covenants or within 21 days in the case of the other Security Documents; or

 

10.2.25 KEIC Buyer Credit Policy: The obligation of KEIC under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy shall terminate, become unenforceable or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect as a result of the acts or omissions of the Borrower.

 

     10.3 Replacement of Manager or Supervisor:

notwithstanding any other provision of the Security Documents, no action or omission by or other matter relating to the Manager or the Supervisor shall result in a misrepresentation, breach of warranty, breach of undertaking, Potential Event of Default or Event of Default hereunder if:

 

  (a) such misrepresentation, breach of warranty, breach of undertaking, Potential Event of Default or Event of Default is cured or waived; or

 

  (b) subject to clause 9.2.18 the Manager or Supervisor is replaced by another person reasonably acceptable to the Agent,

in either case within 30 days of the date upon which such action, omission or matter would otherwise have been a misrepresentation, breach, Potential Event of Default or Event of Default and if the Manager or Supervisor is replaced as set out above they shall be replaced on similar terms to the Management Agreement or Supervision Agreement as appropriate subject always to any misrepresentation, breach, Potential Event of Default or Event of Default being remedied within a reasonable period by such replacement.

 

      11 Set-Off and Lien

 

   11.1 Set-off

 

11.1.1 The Borrower irrevocably authorises each of the Lender Finance Parties at any time after all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness shall have become due and payable to set off any liability of the Borrower to any of the Lender Finance Parties (whether present or future, actual or contingent, and irrespective of the branch or office, currency or place of payment) against any credit balance from time to time standing on any account of the Borrower (whether current or otherwise and whether or not subject to notice) with any branch of any of the Lender Finance Parties in or towards satisfaction of the Lender Indebtedness and, in the name of that Lender Finance Party or the Borrower, to do all acts (including, without limitation, converting or exchanging any currency) and execute all documents which may be required to effect such application. The relevant Lender Finance Party will notify the Borrower forthwith upon the exercise or purported exercise of any rights under this clause 11.1.

 

11.1.2 For such purposes, each Lender Finance Party is authorised to purchase with the moneys standing to the credit of such account such other currencies as may be necessary to effect such application. No Lender Finance Party shall be obliged to exercise any right given to it by this clause 11.1. The Lender Finance Party shall notify the Borrower forthwith upon the exercise or purported exercise of any right of set-off giving full details in relation thereto.

 

11.1.3 Without prejudice to their rights hereunder and/or under any of the Swap Agreements, the Swap Providers may at the same time as, or at any time after, any Event of Default under this Agreement or the Borrower’s default under any of the Swap Agreements set-off any amount due now or in the future from the Borrower to the Swap Providers under this Agreement against any amount due from the Swap Providers to the Borrower under any of the Swap Agreements and apply the first amount in discharging the second amount. The effect of any set-off under this clause 11.1.3 shall be effective to extinguish or, as the case may require, reduce the liabilities of the Swap Providers under any of the Swap Agreements.

 

70


  11.2 Lien

If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, unremedied or unwaived, each Lender Finance Party shall have a lien on and be entitled to retain and realise as additional security for the repayment of the Lender Indebtedness any cheques, drafts, bills, notes or negotiable or non-negotiable instruments and any stocks, shares or marketable or other securities and property of any kind of the Borrower (or of that Lender Finance Party as agent or nominee of the Borrower) from time to time held by that Lender Finance Party, whether for safe custody or otherwise.

 

  11.3 Restrictions on withdrawal

Despite any term to the contrary in relation to any deposit or credit balance at any time on any account of the Borrower with any of the Lender Finance Parties, no such deposit or balance shall be repayable or capable of being assigned, mortgaged, charged or otherwise disposed of or dealt with by the Borrower in question after an Event of Default has occurred and while such Event of Default is continuing unremedied or unwaived, but any Lender Finance Party may from time to time permit the withdrawal of all or any part of any such deposit or balance without affecting the continued application of this clause. Provided always that this clause 11.3 shall not apply to the Distribution Account or any credit balance therein.

 

     12 Assignment and Transfer

 

   12.1 Right to assign

 

12.1.1 Subject to clause 12.9, each of the Lenders may (a) assign or transfer all or any of its rights and/or obligations under or pursuant to the Security Documents or (b) assign or transfer all or any part of its Commitment any such part being at least US $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of US $1,000,000, (i) to any other branch or Affiliate of that Lender (provided that such Affiliate shall have the same or a better credit rating than the Lender making the assignment or transfer) to another Lender or (ii) above with the prior written consent of the Agent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and the Borrower (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and shall not be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived) to any other bank or financial institution provided that in relation to any transfer or any assignment under this clause 12.1:

 

  (i) any transferee under this clause 12.1(a) shall assume all of the relevant Lender’s obligations;

 

  (ii) the Borrower shall not be liable to pay any costs, charges or expenses of or in connection with the implementation of completion of the assignment or transfer;

 

  (iii) the Borrower shall not, as at the time of any such assignment or transfer, be liable to pay any additional or increased amounts or taxes or suffer a reduction in any amounts receivable by it under this Agreement for which it would not have been liable or would not have suffered but for such assignment or transfer having then taken place; and

 

  (iv) the relevant Lender shall give the Borrower five (5) Business Days prior written notice of any intended transfer of obligations.

 

12.1.2 Each of the Lenders may, without being restricted or otherwise being bound by clause 12.1.1, assign or transfer all or any part of its rights under or pursuant to this Agreement and/or any of the other Security Documents to KEIC following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived or otherwise if required to do so by KEIC pursuant to the terms of the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy provided that KEIC pays first the insurance proceeds in accordance with the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy.

 

71


  12.2 Borrower’s co-operation

The Borrower will, at no cost to the Borrower, co-operate fully and will procure that the other Security Parties co-operate fully with the Lender Finance Parties in connection with any assignment or transfer pursuant to clause 12.1; will execute and procure the execution of such documents as the Lender Finance Parties may reasonably require in connection therewith; and irrevocably authorise each of the Lender Finance Parties to disclose to any proposed assignee or transferee (whether before or after any assignment or transfer and whether or not any assignment or transfer shall take place) all information relating to the Security Parties, the Time Charterer, the Loan or the Relevant Documents which each such Lender Finance Party may in its discretion consider necessary to implement such assignment or transfer (subject to any duties of confidentiality applicable to the Borrower and/or Lender Finance Parties).

 

  12.3 Rights of assignee

Any assignee or transferee of a Lender shall (unless limited by the express terms of the assignment or transfer) take the full benefit of every provision of the Security Documents benefiting that Lender. Such transfer shall not directly result in an increased cost to, or liability of, the Borrower at the time of transfer.

 

  12.4 Transfer Certificates

If any Lender wishes to transfer all or any of its Commitment as contemplated in clause 12.1 then such transfer may be effected by the delivery to the Agent of a duly completed and duly executed Transfer Certificate in which event, on the later of the Transfer Date specified in such Transfer Certificate and the fifth (5 th ) Business Day after the date of delivery of such Transfer Certificate to the Agent:

 

12.4.1 to the extent that in such Transfer Certificate the Lender which is a party thereto seeks to transfer its Commitment in whole, the Borrower and such Lender shall be released from further obligations towards each other under this Agreement and their respective rights against each other shall be cancelled other than existing claims against such Lender for breach of this Agreement (such rights, benefits and obligations being referred to in this clause 12.4 as “discharged rights and obligations”);

 

12.4.2 the Borrower and the Transferee which is a party thereto shall assume obligations towards each other and/or acquire rights against each other which differ from such discharged rights and obligations only insofar as the Borrower and such Transferee have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of the Borrower and such Lender;

 

12.4.3 the Lender Finance Parties and the Transferee shall acquire the same rights and benefits and assume the same obligations between themselves as they would have acquired and assumed had such Transferee been an original party to this Agreement as a Lender with the rights, benefits and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of such transfer; and

 

12.4.4 as between the Agent and the Transferee, the Transferee shall pay to the Agent a transfer fee of three thousand Dollars ($3,000).

 

  12.5 Power of Attorney

In order to give effect to each Transfer Certificate the Lender Finance Parties and the Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally appoint the Agent as its true and lawful attorney with full power to execute on their respective behalves each Transfer Certificate delivered to the Agent pursuant to clause 12.4 without the Agent being under any obligation before doing so to take any further instructions from or give any prior notice to, any of the Lender Finance Parties or, subject to the Borrower’s rights under clause 12.1, the Borrower. The Agent shall so execute each such Transfer Certificate on behalf of the other Lender Finance Parties and the Borrower immediately on receipt of the same by the Agent pursuant to clause 12.4.

 

72


  12.6 Notification

The Agent shall promptly notify the other Lender Finance Parties, the Transferee and the Borrower on the execution by it of any Transfer Certificate together with details of the amount transferred, the Transfer Date and the parties to such transfer.

 

  12.7 No Assignment or transfer by the Borrower

The Borrower may not assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Security Documents without the prior written consent of the Lenders and KEIC.

 

  12.8 KEIC Buyer Credit Policy

Not withstanding any provisions to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event KEIC pays the insurance proceeds in full or in part in accordance with the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy, (i) the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement shall not be reduced or affected in any manner, (ii) KEIC shall be entitled to exercise the rights of the Lenders in accordance with clause 9.2 of the Intercreditor Deed, (iii) the provisions of clause 9.1 of the Intercreditor Deed shall apply and (iv) with respect to the obligations of the Borrower owed to the Agent, the Security Trustee and/or the Lenders under the Security Documents (or any of them) such obligations shall additionally be owed to KEIC to the extent of its interest by way of subrogation of the rights of the Lenders.

 

  12.9 KEIC Consent

A Lender may not assign or transfer its portion of the Buyer Credit or any part thereof without the consent of KEIC (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

     13 Payments, Reserve Requirements and Illegality

 

  13.1 Payments

All amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to any of the Security Documents shall be paid to such accounts at such banks as the Agent may from time to time direct to the Borrower and shall be paid in Dollars in same day funds (or such funds as are required by the authorities in the United States of America for settlement of international payments for immediate value). Payments shall be deemed to have been received by the Agent on the date on which the Agent receives authenticated advice of receipt, unless that advice is received by the Agent on a day other than a Business Day or at a time of day (whether on a Business Day or not) when the Agent in its reasonable discretion considers that it is impossible or impracticable for the Agent to utilise the amount received for value that same day, in which event the payment in question shall be deemed to have been received by the Agent on the Business Day next following the date of receipt of advice by the Agent.

 

  13.2 No deductions or withholdings

All payments (whether of principal or interest or otherwise) to be made by the Borrower to the Lender Finance Parties pursuant to the Security Documents shall, subject only to clause 13.3, be made free and clear of and without deduction for or on account of any Taxes or other deductions, withholdings, restrictions, conditions or counterclaims of any nature, and the Borrower will not claim any equity in respect of any payment due from them to the Lender Finance Parties under or in relation to any of the Security Documents.

 

  13.3 Grossing-up

 

13.3.1 If at any time any law requires (or is interpreted by any relevant fiscal authority to require) the Borrower to make any deduction or withholding from any payment, or to change the rate or manner in which any required deduction or withholding is made, the Borrower will promptly notify the Agent and, simultaneously with making that payment, will pay to the Agent whatever additional amount (after taking into account any additional Taxes on, or deductions or withholdings from, or restrictions or conditions on, that additional amount) is necessary to ensure that, after making the deduction or withholding, the Agent and the Lenders receive a net sum equal to the sum which they would have received had no deduction or withholding been made.

 

73


13.3.2 If following the making of any such increased payment by the Borrower pursuant to clause 13.3.1, the Agent or any Lender determines that:

 

  (a) a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of any Tax (a “Tax Credit”) is attributable to any deduction or withholding or increased payment made by the Borrower; and

 

  (b) it has obtained, utilised and retained that Tax Credit,

the Agent or Lender (as appropriate) shall pay an amount to the Borrower which the Agent or the Lender (as appropriate) determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been had the deduction or withholding or additional payment not been required to be made.

 

    13.4 Evidence of deductions

If at any time the Borrower is required by law to make any deduction or withholding from any payment to be made by it to the Lender Finance Parties pursuant to any of the Security Documents, the Borrower will pay the amount required to be deducted or withheld to the relevant authority within the time allowed under the applicable law and will, no later than thirty (30) days after making that payment, deliver to the Agent an original receipt issued by the relevant authority, or other evidence reasonably acceptable to the Agent, evidencing the payment to that authority of all amounts required to be deducted or withheld. If the Borrower makes any deduction or withholding from any payment to the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to any of the Security Documents, and a Lender subsequently receives a refund or allowance from any tax authority which that Lender at its sole discretion (acting reasonably and in good faith) identifies as being referable to that deduction or withholding, that Lender shall within five (5) Business Days of receipt of the same, pay to the Borrower an amount equal to the amount of the refund or allowance received, if and to the extent that it may do so without prejudicing its right to retain that refund or allowance and without putting itself in any worse financial position than that in which it would have been had the deduction or withholding not been required to have been made. Nothing in this clause 13.4 shall be interpreted as imposing any obligation on any Lender to apply for any refund or allowance nor as restricting in any way the manner in which any Lender organises its tax affairs, nor as imposing on any Lender any obligation to disclose to the Borrower any information regarding its tax affairs or tax computations. All costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in obtaining or seeking to obtain a refund or allowance from any tax authority pursuant to this clause 13.4 shall be for the Borrower’s account.

 

    13.5 Adjustment of due dates

If any payment to be made to the Lender Finance Parties under any of the Security Documents, other than a payment of interest on the Loan (to which clause 6.7 applies), shall be due on a day which is not a Business Day, that payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day (unless the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar Month in which event the payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day). Any such variation of time shall be taken into account in computing any interest in respect of that payment.

 

74


    13.6 Change in law

If, by reason of the introduction of any law, or any change in any law, or the interpretation by the relevant fiscal authority or administration of any law, or in compliance with any request or requirement from any central bank or any fiscal, monetary or other authority:-

 

13.6.1 any Lender Finance Party (or the Holding Company of any Lender Finance Party) shall be subject to any Tax with respect to payments of all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness; or

 

13.6.2 the basis of Taxation of payments to any Lender Finance Party in respect of all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness shall be changed (other than as a result of any change in the applicable tax rate in the jurisdiction in which its lending office is based); or

 

13.6.3 any reserve requirements shall be imposed, modified or deemed applicable against assets held by or deposits in or for the account of or loans by any branch of any Lender Finance Party or its direct or indirect Holding Company; or

 

13.6.4 any ratio (whether cash, capital adequacy, liquidity or otherwise) which any Lender Finance Party or its direct or indirect Holding Company is required or requested to maintain shall be affected; or

 

13.6.5 there is imposed on any Lender Finance Party (or on the direct or indirect Holding Company of any Lender Finance Party) any other condition in relation to the Lender Indebtedness or the Security Documents (other than as a result of any change in the applicable tax rate in the jurisdiction in which its lending office is based);

and the result of any of the above shall be to increase the cost to any Lender (or to the direct or indirect Holding Company of any Lender) of that Lender making or maintaining its Commitment or its Drawing, or to cause any Lender Finance Party to suffer (in its reasonable opinion) a material reduction in the rate of return on its overall capital below the level which it reasonably anticipated at the Execution Date and which it would have been able to achieve but for its entering into this Agreement and/or performing its obligations under this Agreement, the Lender Finance Party affected shall notify the Agent and, on demand to the Borrower by the Agent, the Borrower shall from time to time pay to the Agent for the account of the Lender Finance Party affected the amount which shall compensate that Lender Finance Party or the Agent (or the relevant Holding Company) for such additional cost or reduced return. A certificate signed by an authorised signatory of the Agent or of the Lender Finance Party affected setting out the amount of that payment and the basis of its calculation shall be submitted to the Borrower and shall be conclusive evidence of such amount save for manifest error or on any question of law.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this clause 13.6 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) fully compensated for by clause 15.7 (or would have been compensated for under clause 15.7 but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in clause 15.7 applied) or fully compensated for under any other provision of this Agreement; or

 

  (c) attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Lender Finance Party (or the Holding Company of any Lender Finance Party) or any of its or their Affiliates of any law.

 

    13.7 Illegality and impracticality

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Security Documents, the obligations of a Lender to advance or maintain its Commitment shall terminate in the event that a change in any law or in the interpretation of any law by any authority charged with its administration shall make it unlawful for that Lender to advance or maintain its Commitment. In such event the Lender affected shall notify the Agent and the Agent shall, by written notice to the Borrower, declare that Lender’s obligations to be immediately terminated. If all or any part of the Loan shall have been advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower, the portion of the Lender Indebtedness (including all accrued interest and Commitment Fees) advanced by the Lender so affected shall be prepaid on the next Interest Payment Date, or sooner if illegality is determined (but no sooner than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law). Clause 5.4 shall apply to that prepayment if it is made on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period.

 

75


  13.8 Changes in market circumstances

If at any time a Lender determines (which determination shall be final and conclusive and binding on the Borrower) that, by reason of changes affecting the London Interbank market, adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the rate of interest on the Loan or any part thereof pursuant to this Agreement:

 

13.8.1 that Lender shall give notice to the Agent and the Agent shall give notice to the Borrower of the occurrence of such event; and

 

13.8.2 the Agent shall as soon as reasonably practicable certify to the Borrower in writing the effective cost to that Lender of maintaining its Commitment for such further period as shall be selected by that Lender and the rate of interest payable by the Borrower for that period; or, if that is not acceptable to the Borrower,

 

13.8.3 the Agent in accordance with instructions from that Lender and subject to that Lender’s approval of any agreement between the Agent and the Borrower, will negotiate with the Borrower in good faith with a view to modifying this Agreement to provide a substitute basis for that Lender’s Commitment which is financially a substantial equivalent to the basis provided for in this Agreement.

If, within thirty (30) days of the giving of the notice referred to in clause 13.8.1, the Borrower and the Agent fail to agree in writing on a substitute basis for such Lender’s Commitment the Borrower will immediately prepay the amount of such Lender’s Commitment and the Maximum Loan Amount will automatically decrease by the amount of such Commitment and such decrease shall not be reversed. Clause 5.4 shall apply to that prepayment if it is made on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period.

 

  13.9 Non-availability of currency

If a Lender is for any reason unable to obtain Dollars in the London Interbank market and is, as a result, or as a result of any other contingency affecting the London Interbank market, unable to advance or maintain its Commitment in Dollars, that Lender shall give notice to the Agent and the Agent shall give notice to the Borrower and that Lender’s obligations to make the Loan available shall immediately cease. In that event, if all or any part of the Loan shall have been advanced by that Lender to the Borrower, the Agent in accordance with instructions from that Lender and subject to that Lender’s approval of any agreement between the Agent and the Borrower, will negotiate with the Borrower in good faith with a view to establishing a mutually acceptable basis for funding the Loan or relevant part thereof from an alternative source. If the Agent and the Borrower have failed to agree in writing on a basis for funding the Loan or relevant part thereof from an alternative source by 11.00 a.m. on the second Business Day prior to the end of the then current relevant Interest Period, the Borrower will (without prejudice to its other obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, its obligation to pay interest on the Loan, arising on the expiry of the then relevant Interest Period) prepay the Lender Indebtedness (or relevant part thereof) to the Agent on behalf of that Lender on the expiry of the then current relevant Interest Period.

 

  13.10 Mitigation

 

13.10.1 Each Lender Finance Party shall, subject to clause 13.10.2 below, 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 13.3, clause 13.6 or clause 13.7 including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the Security Documents to an Affiliate.

 

13.10.2 The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender Finance Party for all costs and expenses properly incurred by that Lender Finance Party as a result of steps taken by it under clause 13.10.1. A Lender Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under clause 13.10.1 if, in the opinion of that Lender Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it.

 

76


      14 Communications

 

  14.1 Method

Any communication may be given, delivered, made or served (as the case may be) under or in relation to this Agreement by letter or fax or (subject to clause 14.3) electronic mail and shall be in the English language and sent addressed:-

 

14.1.1 in the case of any of the Lenders to the Agent at the address specified for BNP Paribas S.A. in Schedule 1;

 

14.1.2 in the case of the Agent, at the address specified for BNP Paribas S.A. in Schedule 1;

 

14.1.3 in the case of the Security Trustee, at the address specified for BNP Paribas S.A. in Schedule 1;

 

14.1.4 in the case of the KEIC Agent, at the address specified for BNP Paribas S.A. in Schedule 1;

 

14.1.5 in the case of the Borrower at:

Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

2-1, Ohtemachi 1-chome,

Chiyoda-ku,

Tokyo, 100-0004,

Japan

Fax:           81-3-3285-9838

Attention:     General Manager, LNG Project Department,

              Second Ship & Marine Project Division

Email:       tkmyj@dg.mitsui.com

or to such other address or fax number as any of the above parties may designate for themselves by written notice to the others.

 

   14.2 Timing

A Communication shall be deemed to have been duly given, delivered, made or served to or on, and received by a party to this Agreement:-

 

14.2.1 in the case of a fax when the sender receives one or more transmission reports showing the whole of the Communication to have been transmitted to the correct fax number;

 

14.2.2 if delivered to an officer of the relevant party or left at the address of the relevant party specified in clause 14.1; or

 

14.2.3 if posted, at 9.00 a.m. on the fifth Business Day after posting by prepaid first class post. PROVIDED ALWAYS that communications to the Agent and (to the extent that they relate to the matters specified in clause 4.10.2 of the Intercreditor Deed only) the Lenders and the Borrower shall be effective only upon receipt; or

 

14.2.4 if by electronic mail, in accordance with clause 14.3;

Any Communication by fax shall be promptly confirmed in writing by post or hand delivery.

 

77


   14.3 Electronic communication

 

14.3.1 Any communication to be made in connection with this Agreement may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means, if the Borrower and the relevant Lender Finance Party:

 

  (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.

 

14.3.2 Any electronic communication made between the Borrower and the relevant Lender Finance Party will be effective only when actually received in readable form and acknowledged by the recipient (it being understood that any system generated responses do not constitute an acknowledgement) and in the case of any electronic communication made by the Borrower to a Lender Finance Party only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Lender Finance Party shall specify for this purpose.

 

14.3.3 Any electronic communication made in accordance with this clause 14.3 shall be confirmed in writing as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.

 

      15 General Indemnities

 

   15.1 Currency

In the event of any Lender Finance Party receiving or recovering any amount payable under any of the Security Documents in a currency other than the Currency of Account, and if the amount received or recovered is insufficient when converted into the Currency of Account at the date of receipt to satisfy in full the amount due, the Borrower shall, on the Agent’s written demand, pay to the Agent such further amount in the Currency of Account as is sufficient to satisfy in full the amount due and that further amount shall be due to the Agent on behalf of the Lender Finance Parties as a separate debt under this Agreement.

 

   15.2 Costs and expenses

The Borrower will, on the earlier of (a) the date falling thirty (30) days from the date of the Agent’s written demand and (b) the date of the next following payment of charterhire under the Time Charter, reimburse the Agent (on behalf of each of the Lender Finance Parties and KEIC) for all reasonable out of pocket expenses including internal and external legal costs (including stamp duty, Value Added Tax or any similar or replacement tax if applicable but excluding income tax) of and incidental to:-

 

15.2.1 the negotiation, preparation, execution and registration of the Security Documents (whether or not any of the Security Documents are actually executed or registered and whether or not all or any part of the Loan is advanced);

 

15.2.2 any amendments, addenda or supplements to any of the Security Documents (whether or not completed);

 

15.2.3 any other documents (including legal opinions) which may at any time be required by any Lender Finance Party to give effect to any of the Security Documents or which any Lender Finance Party is entitled to call for or obtain pursuant to any of the Security Documents; and

 

15.2.4 without prejudice to clauses 15.3 and 15.5, the exercise of the rights, powers, discretions and remedies of the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to the Security Documents.

 

78


   15.3 Events of Default

The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender Finance Parties from time to time on demand against all losses and costs incurred or sustained by any Lender Finance Party as a consequence of any Event of Default, including (without limitation) any Break Costs.

 

   15.4 Funding costs

The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender Finance Parties from time to time on demand against all losses and costs incurred or sustained by any Lender Finance Party if, for any reason due to a Potential Event of Default or other action by the Borrower, any Drawing is not advanced to the Borrower after the relevant Drawdown Notice has been given to the Agent, or is advanced on a date other than that requested in the Drawdown Notice, including (without limitation), any Break Costs.

 

   15.5 Protection and enforcement

 

15.5.1 The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender Finance Parties and KEIC from time to time on demand against all losses, costs and liabilities which any Lender Finance Party or KEIC may from time to time sustain, incur or become liable for in or about the protection, maintenance or enforcement of the rights conferred on the Lender Finance Parties and KEIC by the Security Documents or in or about the exercise or purported exercise by the Lender Finance Parties or KEIC of any of the rights, powers, discretions or remedies vested in them under or arising out of the Security Documents, including (without limitation) any losses, costs and liabilities which any Lender Finance Party or KEIC may from time to time sustain, incur or become liable for by reason of any Lender Finance or KEIC Party being mortgagees of the Vessel, assignees of any Mortgage and/or a Lender to the Borrower, or by reason of any Lender Finance Party or KEIC being deemed by any court or authority to be an operator or controller, or in any way concerned in the operation or control, of the Vessel. No such indemnity will be given to a Lender Finance Party or KEIC where any such loss, cost or liability has occurred due to wilful misconduct or recklessness with knowledge of the probable consequences on the part of that Lender Finance Party or KEIC; however this shall not affect the right of any other Lender Finance Party or KEIC to receive any such indemnity.

 

15.5.2 The Agent shall:

 

  (a) notify the Borrower in writing of any claim made against it of which it is aware which is likely to give rise to such losses, costs and liabilities;

 

  (b) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, consult, in good faith with the Borrower, in respect of such claim until such date as the Lender Finance Party is obliged to satisfy or discharge such claim and not enter into any settlement or other compromise in respect of such claim without the prior written consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), unless the Lender Finance Parties expressly waive in writing their right to be indemnified in respect of such losses, costs and liabilities;

 

  (c) so long as it is indemnified to its satisfaction against costs or liabilities that may be incurred, use reasonable endeavours to defend such claim and to avoid or reduce the losses, costs and liabilities which may be incurred; and

 

  (d) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, give the Borrower a reasonable opportunity to take such action, at the Borrower’s cost, as the Borrower deems fit to defend or avoid any liability being incurred or to take action against a third party in respect of any losses (provided that the Borrower may not take any action in the name of the Lender Finance Party without that Lender Finance Party’s prior written consent nor may the Borrower take any action which would involve risk of criminal or civil liability to the Lender Finance Parties or any material risk of the sale, loss or forfeiture of the Vessel).

 

79


15.5.3 The indemnities in this clause 15.5 shall not extend to any claim or liability of a Lender Finance Party to the extent that such claim or liability arises from an act or omission on the part of that Lender Finance Party which constitutes gross negligence or wilful misconduct on the part of such Lender Finance Party.

 

   15.6 Liabilities of Lender Finance Parties

The Borrower will from time to time reimburse the Lender Finance Parties on demand for all sums which any Lender Finance Party may pay on account of any of the Security Parties or in connection with the Vessel (whether alone or jointly or jointly and severally with any other person) including (without limitation) all sums which any Lender Finance Party may pay or guarantees which any Lender Finance Party may give in respect of the Insurances, any expenses incurred by any Lender Finance Party in connection with the maintenance or repair of the Vessel or in discharging any lien, bond or other claim relating in any way to the Vessel, and any sums which any Lender Finance Party may pay or guarantees which they may give to procure the release of the Vessel from arrest or detention.

 

   15.7 Taxes

The Borrower shall pay all Taxes imposed on the Lender Finance Parties in respect of the Security Documents or to which all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness or any of the Security Documents or the Project Documents may be at any time subject and shall indemnify the Lender Finance Parties on demand against all liabilities, costs, claims and expenses incurred in connection therewith, including but not limited to any such liabilities, costs, claims and expenses resulting from any omission to pay or delay in paying any such Taxes. Provided that the indemnification in this clause 15.7 shall not apply to the extent that the Taxes imposed on a Lender Finance Party arose directly or indirectly from the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Lender Finance Party. The indemnity contained in this clause 15.7 shall survive the repayment of the Lender Indebtedness.

 

   15.8 Value Added Tax

All amounts set out, or expressed to be payable by the Borrower to the Lender Finance Parties pursuant to the Security Documents which (in whole or in part) constitute consideration for a supply for Value Added Tax purposes shall be deemed to be exclusive of any Value Added Tax which is chargeable on such supply, and accordingly, if Value Added Tax is chargeable on any supply made by any Lender Finance Party to a Borrower under a Security Document, that Borrower shall pay to the Lender Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying the consideration) an amount equal to the amount of the Value Added Tax.

 

   15.9 KEIC Indemnity

The Borrower shall indemnify the KEIC Agent and each Lender from time to time on demand against any duly evidenced additional premium, cost or expense as provided for under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy, which KEIC may charge, invoice, or set-off against amounts owing to the KEIC Agent and/or the Lenders, including without limitation as a result of a change of the delivery schedule of the Vessel, a change to Schedule 7 (Contract Instalments and Repayment Profile) of this Agreement or otherwise, properly incurred by the KEIC Agent or a Lender in connection with their compliance with the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy.

 

      16 Miscellaneous

 

   16.1 Tax Lease

 

16.1.1 The Lender Finance Parties agree that the Loan may be refinanced to incorporate a lease financing structure with the prior written consent of each Lender Finance Party. Each Lender Finance Party agrees that it shall not unreasonably withhold or delay its consent to the implementation of a lease financing structure, provided that:

 

  (a) it is satisfied that its security position will not be materially and adversely affected;

 

  (b) it has received agreed and executed documentation acceptable to it in all respects;

 

  (c) the lease financing structure is not, in its reasonable opinion, unduly onerous in terms of documentation and time;

 

  (d) it has received credit approval for such lease financing; and

 

  (e) it has received legal opinions satisfactory to it in relation to jurisdictions reasonably required by it.

 

 

80


16.1.2 No Lender Finance Party shall be entitled to any additional fees from the Borrower in connection with the implementation of a lease financing structure.

 

16.1.3 The Borrower shall pay the reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of outside legal counsel engaged by the Lender Finance Parties) incurred by the Lender Finance Parties in connection with the implementation of the lease finance structure.

 

   16.2 Waivers

No failure or delay on the part of any Lender Finance Party in exercising any right, power, discretion or remedy under or pursuant to any of the Security Documents, nor any actual or alleged course of dealing between any Lender Finance Party and any of the Security Parties, shall operate as a waiver of, or acquiescence in, any default on the part of any Security Party, unless expressly agreed to do so in writing by the Agent, nor shall any single or partial exercise by any Lender Finance Party of any right, power, discretion or remedy preclude any other or further exercise of that right, power, discretion or remedy, or the exercise by a Lender Finance Party of any other right, power, discretion or remedy.

 

   16.3 No variations

No variation or amendment of any of the Security Documents shall be valid unless made by each party thereto and in accordance with the terms thereof and consented to in writing by KEIC.

 

   16.4 Severability

If at any time any provision of any of the Security Documents is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect that provision shall be severed from the remainder and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected or impaired in any way.

 

   16.5 Successors etc.

The Security Documents shall be binding on the Security Parties and on their successors and permitted transferees and assignees, and shall inure to the benefit of the Lender Finance Parties and KEIC in respect of their rights and their respective successors, transferees and assignees.

 

   16.6 Further assurance

If any provision of the Security Documents shall be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part by reason of any present or future law or any decision of any court, then from time to time the Borrower will promptly, following a demand by the Agent, execute or procure the execution of such further documents as in the reasonable opinion of the Lenders are necessary to provide valid and enforceable security for the repayment of the Lender Indebtedness, provided that with respect to any further document relating to the Time Charter, the Borrower shall only be required to procure the execution of such documents on a reasonable endeavours basis.

 

81


   16.7 Other arrangements

The Lender Finance Parties may, without prejudice to their rights under or pursuant to the Security Documents, at any time and from time to time, on such terms and conditions as they may in their discretion determine, and with notice to the Borrower, grant time or other indulgence to, or compound with, any other person liable (actually or contingently) to the Lender Finance Parties or any of them in respect of all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness, and may release or renew negotiable instruments and take and release securities and hold funds on realisation or suspense account without affecting the liabilities of the Borrower or the rights of the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to the Security Documents.

 

   16.8 Advisers

The Borrower irrevocably authorises the Agent, at any time and from time to time during the Facility Period, to consult insurance advisers on any matters relating to the Insurances, including, without limitation, the collection of insurance claims, and from time to time to consult or retain advisers or consultants to monitor or advise on any other claims relating to the Vessel. Subject to clause 9.1.22 the Borrower will provide such advisers and consultants with all information and documents which they may from time to time reasonably require. In the event that such advisers or consultants discover that the Borrower is in breach of its obligations in relation to the Insurances or at the time of or during such consultation or retention there occurs an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived, then the Borrower will reimburse the Agent on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses properly incurred by the Agent in connection with the consultation or retention of such advisers or consultants, but such consultation or retention shall otherwise be at the Lender Finance Parties’ own cost and expense.

 

   16.9 Delegation

The Lender Finance Parties may at any time and from time to time delegate to any person any of their rights, powers, discretions and remedies pursuant to the Security Documents, other than rights relating to actions to be taken by the Majority Lenders or the Lenders as a group, on such terms as they may consider appropriate (including the power to sub-delegate).

 

 16.10 Rights etc. cumulative

Every right, power, discretion and remedy conferred on the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to the Security Documents shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right, power, discretion or remedy to which they may at any time be entitled by law or in equity. The Lender Finance Parties may exercise each of their rights, powers, discretions and remedies as often and in such order as they deem appropriate subject to obtaining the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders. The exercise or the beginning of the exercise of any right, power, discretion or remedy shall not be interpreted as a waiver of the right to exercise any other right, power, discretion or remedy either simultaneously or subsequently.

 

 16.11 No enquiry

The Lender Finance Parties shall not be concerned to enquire into the powers of the Security Parties or of any person purporting to act on behalf of any of the Security Parties, even if any of the Security Parties or any such person shall have acted in excess of their powers or if their actions shall have been irregular, defective or informal, whether or not any Lender Finance Parties had notice thereof.

 

 16.12 Continuing security

The security constituted by the Security Documents shall be continuing and shall not be satisfied by any intermediate payment or satisfaction until the Indebtedness shall have been repaid in full and none of the Lender Finance Parties shall be under any further actual or contingent liability to any third party in relation to the Vessel, the Insurances, Earnings or Requisition Compensation or any other matter referred to in the Security Documents.

 

82


16.13 Security cumulative

The security constituted by the Security Documents shall be in addition to any other security now or in the future held by the Lender Finance Parties or any of them for or in respect of all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness, and shall not merge with or prejudice or be prejudiced by any such security or any other contractual or legal rights of any of the Lender Finance Parties, nor affected by any irregularity, defect or informality, or by any release, exchange or variation of any such security. Section 93 of the Law of Property Act 1925 and all provisions which the Agent considers analogous thereto under the law of any other relevant jurisdiction shall not apply to the security constituted by the Security Documents.

 

16.14 No liability

None of the Lender Finance Parties, nor any agent or employee of any Lender Finance Party, nor any receiver and/or manager appointed by the Agent, shall be liable for any losses which may be incurred in or about the exercise of any of the rights, powers, discretions or remedies of the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to the Security Documents nor liable as mortgagee in possession for any loss on realisation or for any neglect or default of any nature for which a mortgagee in possession might otherwise be liable unless such Lender Finance Party’s action constitutes wilful misconduct or recklessness with knowledge of the probable consequences.

 

16.15 Rescission of payments etc.

Any discharge, release or reassignment by any of the Lender Finance Parties of any of the security constituted by, or any of the obligations of any Security Party contained in, any of the Security Documents shall be (and be deemed always to have been) void if any act (including, without limitation, any payment) as a result of which such discharge, release or reassignment was given or made is subsequently wholly or partially rescinded or avoided by operation of any law, unless such Lender Finance Party’s action constitutes wilful misconduct or recklessness with knowledge of the probable consequences.

 

16.16 Subsequent Encumbrances

If the Agent receives notice of any subsequent Encumbrance (other than any Permitted Encumbrance) affecting the Vessel or all or any part of the Insurances, Earnings or Requisition Compensation, the Agent may open a new account in its books for the Borrower. If the Agent does not open a new account, then (unless the Encumbrance is a Permitted Encumbrance or the Agent gives written notice to the contrary to the Borrower) as from the time of receipt by the Agent of notice of such subsequent Encumbrance, all payments made to the Agent shall be treated as having been credited to a new account of the Borrower and not as having been applied in reduction of the Lender Indebtedness.

 

16.17 Releases

If any Lender Finance Party shall at any time in its discretion release any party from all or any part of any of the Security Documents or from any term, covenant, clause, condition or obligation contained in any of the Security Documents, the liability of any other party to the Security Documents shall not be varied or diminished.

 

16.18 Certificates

Any certificate or statement signed by an authorised signatory of the Agent purporting to show the amount of the Lender Indebtedness (or any part of the Lender Indebtedness) or any other amount referred to in any of the Security Documents shall, save for manifest error or on any question of law, be conclusive evidence as against the Borrower of that amount.

 

83


   16.19 Survival of representations and warranties

The representations and warranties on the part of the Borrower contained in this Agreement shall survive the execution of this Agreement and the advance of the Loan or any part thereof.

 

   16.20 Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be original but which shall together constitute the same instrument.

 

  16.21 Third Party Rights

Notwithstanding the provisions of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, no term of this Agreement is enforceable by a person who is not a party to it other than (a) KEIC in respect of its rights under this Agreement and (b) the Account Bank in respect of its rights under clause 7.5.

 

   16.22 Building Contract Disputes

The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that its obligations under this Agreement are independent from the Building Contract and that the performance of these obligations shall in no event be affected by any dispute whatsoever that may arise between the Builder and the Borrower in relation to the Building Contract or in any other respect.

 

   16.23 Confidentiality

At all times during the Facility Period, the Borrower shall keep confidential any Confidential Information (as defined below) relating to the Relevant Documents (other than the Project Documents) and each of the Lender Finance Parties shall keep confidential any Confidential Information (as defined below) relating to the Relevant Documents, and none of the Borrower or the Lender Finance Parties shall, without the prior written consent of the other(s):

 

16.23.1 issue any press release or make any other public announcement or statement in relation to the transactions evidenced by this Agreement and the other Relevant Documents; or

 

16.23.2 disclose to any other person (i) any information or document relating to the Angola LNG Project in general, including but not limited to, technical and schedule requirements, and progress and status of the Angola LNG Project; (ii) financial details of this Agreement or any other Relevant Document or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Relevant Document or any other agreement after the date of this Agreement by the Borrower or the Lender Finance Parties in connection with this Agreement or any other Relevant Document or (iii) any information provided pursuant to any of the Relevant Documents; or

 

16.23.3 release copies of drafts of this Agreement or any other Relevant Document which disclose or reveal the identity of the parties (or any of them),

the information contemplated by clauses 16.23.1 to 16.23.3 above being “Confidential Information”.

Provided that notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this clause 16.22 the parties shall be entitled, without any such consent, to disclose such Confidential Information:

 

  (a) if the same is already known to the receiving person at the time of disclosure as shown by the receiving person’s files and records immediately prior to that disclosure or is developed by the receiving person independently of such disclosure; or

 

  (b) in connection with any proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Relevant Documents; or

 

84


  (c) if required to do so by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction whether in pursuance of any procedure for discovery of documents or otherwise; or

 

  (d) pursuant to any applicable law, stock exchange regulations or by a governmental order, decree, regulation or rule, provided however that a party which has received Confidential Information which they are obliged to disclose as contemplated by this clause (d) shall use reasonable efforts to inform the person who provided them with the Confidential Information prior to making such disclosure; or

 

  (e) to any fiscal, monetary, tax, governmental or other competent authority; or

 

  (f) to the auditors, legal or professional or insurance advisors, underwriters or brokers of the Borrower or the relevant Lender Finance Party, who (A) shall have a need to have such knowledge of the same in connection with carrying out work related to the transaction contemplated by this Agreement and the other Relevant Documents and (B) shall be advised of the confidential nature of any such information supplied to them and shall be instructed to maintain the confidentiality of any information supplied to them; or

 

  (g) in any manner contemplated by any of the Relevant Documents; or

 

  (h) if the same is in the public domain or shall become publicly known otherwise than as a result of a breach by such party or by the receiving person or any other person to whom disclosure is made of this clause 16.23.1; or

 

  (i) if the same is acquired independently from a third party without breach of that third party’s obligations of confidentiality; or

 

  (j) in the case of the Borrower, to any Borrower Shareholder or Sponsor or the Time Charterer, to the extent the Borrower reasonably believes necessary for the purpose of the Time Charterer to perform, fulfil its obligations or exercise its rights in accordance with the terms of the Time Charterer, Charter, or to any member of the Time Charterer, any of such member’s affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, employees or contractors in each case to the extent the Borrower reasonably believes necessary for the performance of the Security Documents and/or the project Documents and in the case of the Lender Finance Parties, to any member of their respective groups or any potential transferee, assignee, successor, any rating agency or any financial institutions, special purpose securitisation vehicles and their managements, all investors, agents, arrangers, dealers who are or might wish to be involved in securitisation schemes, hedging agreements, participation or other risk transfer agreements (or any director, officer or employee of the foregoing) , provided that in each case the Borrower or the Lender Finance Party shall procure that the party to whom such disclosure is made shall comply with the requirements of this clause and provided further that the Lender Finance Parties shall not disclose any information regarding the Angola LNG Project to any of the foregoing persons except to a member of their respective groups, any potential transferee, assignee, successor or financial institution on a need-to-know basis and solely for carrying out the purpose of and exercising their rights under this Agreement and the other Security Documents; or

 

  (k) to KEIC,

provided that if the Confidential Information is provided by a party on the basis that it is to be kept confidential, but the party providing the information discloses it to another person on a non-confidential basis, then the receiving party or parties shall no longer be obliged to treat such information as confidential.

 

16.23.4 The Borrower and the Lender Finance Parties shall be responsible for ensuring that where Confidential Information is disclosed to persons under clause 16.23.3 such persons shall keep the information confidential in accordance with and subject to this clause 16.23.

 

85


   17 Law and Jurisdiction

 

17.1 Governing law

This Agreement shall in all respects be governed by and interpreted in accordance with English law.

 

17.2 Jurisdiction

For the exclusive benefit of the Lender Finance Parties, the parties to this Agreement irrevocably agree that the English courts are to have jurisdiction to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement and that any legal actions or proceedings may be brought in those courts. The Borrower irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or in the future have to the laying of the venue of any legal actions or proceedings in any court referred to in this clause 17.2, and any claim that such legal actions or proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient or inappropriate forum. The Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and shall within five (5) Business Days of the date hereof irrevocably designate, appoint and empower an agent to receive for it and on its behalf, service of process issued out of the English courts in any such legal actions or proceedings and shall provide the- Facility Agent with details of such agent. The submission to such jurisdiction shall not (and shall not be construed so as to) limit the right of any of the Lender Finance Parties to take legal actions or proceedings against the Borrower in the courts of any other competent jurisdiction nor shall the taking of legal actions or proceedings in any one or more jurisdictions preclude the taking of legal actions or proceedings in other jurisdiction, whether concurrently or not.

The parties further agree that only the courts of England and not those of any other state or jurisdiction shall have jurisdiction to determine any claim which the Borrower may have against any of the Lender Finance Parties arising out of or in connection with this Agreement.

IN WITNESS of which the parties to this Agreement have executed this Agreement the day and year first before written.

 

86


Schedule 1

Part I: The Lenders, the Commitments and the Proportionate Shares

Part 1: the Lenders

 

The Lenders

  

Contact Details

   Commitments
      Buyer Credit    Commercial Loan
    

For commercial matters:

CIB - Transportation Group

16 rue de Hanovre

75078 Paris Cedex 02 -France

Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 55

         
  

Attention: Shipping Finance

Alice Renaudin Durand-Ruel

     
  

For Security Trustee matters:

CIB - Transportation Group

16 rue de Hanovre

75078 Paris Cedex 02 -France

Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 55

     
  

Attention: Shipping Asset

Monitoring Jean-Marc Morant

     

BNP Paribas S.A.

  

For Agency matters:

CIB -Agency -European Group

21 Place du Marche Saint Honore

75031 Paris Cedex 01 - CHA02A1

Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 17

   $15,400,000    $19,600,000
  

Attention: European Group

Claire-Marie Rochette

     
  

For KEIC Agent matters:

BNP Paribas S.A., Seoul Branch

24/F, Taepyeongno 2-ga, Jung-gu

Seoul 100-767 Korea

Fax no. 82 2 757 2530

     
   Attention: Jae Seung / Myung Shim Kwon      

 

87


The Lenders

  

Contact Details

  

Commitments

     

Buyer Credit

  

Commercial Loan

  

For administration matters:

9 Quai, du President Paul Doumer

92920 Paris La Défence Cédex

France

 

     
  

Fax no: +33 141 89 19 34

Attention: Middle Office/Shipping/

Ms Marie-Claire Vanderperre/

M. Godet-Couery

     

Calyon

      $15,400,000    $19,600,000
  

For credit matters:

Broadwalk House

5 Appold Street

London

EC2A 2DA

 

     
  

Fax no: +44 207 214 6689

Attention: Thibaud Escoffier/Jerome Duval

     
  

For administrative matters:

20 St. Dunstan’s Hill

London

EC3R 8HY

     
  

Fax no. +44 207 283 4430

Attention: Loans Administration

Mr Renato Mariano

     

DnB NOR Bank ASA

      $15,400,000    $19,600,000
  

For credit matters:

20 St. Dunstan’s Hill

London

EC3R 8HY

     
  

Fax no. +44 207 626 5956

Attention: Omar Sekkat and David

Grant

     
  

For operational matters:

OPER / CAF / DMT6

17 Cours Valmy

Paris La Defense 7

 

     
  

Fax no. +331 46 92 45 98

Attention: Viengkham LAY and

Chantal Alcaras

 

     

Société Générale,

  

For credit matters:

SG House

41 Tower Hill

London

EC3N 4SG

 

   $15,400,000    $19,600,000
  

Fax no. +44 207 667 2499

Attention: Gareth-Lon Williams

 

     
  

Copy to: Pierre Baud and Laurence

 

     
  

Alloiteau OPER/CAF/AFI 17

Cours Valmy Paris La

Défence 7

 

Fax no. 01.46.92.46.22

     
        
   Copy to: Guylaine Labidurie OPER/CAF.EXT      
   Fax no. 01.46.92.45.97      

 

88


The Lenders

  

Contact Details

   Commitments  
      Buyer Credit      Commercial Loan  
  

For operational matters:

99 Queen Victoria Street

London

EC4V 4EH

     
   Fax no. +44 207 786 1569 Attention: David Griffiths/Jo Dunnage      
  

For credit matters:

99 Queen Victoria Street

London

EC4V 4EH

     

Sumitomo Mitsui

Banking

Corporation,

Brussels Branch

  

Fax no. +44 207 786 101 Attention: Robert

Taylor/Cyrille Martin

 

Copy to: Guillaume

Dufour/Touf-itri Akdime

20 rue de la ville I’evêque

75008 Paris

 

Fax no. +33 1 44 71 40 50

 

Copy to: Françoise

Bouchat/Nadine Boudart

Avenue des Arts 58,

Box 18

1000 Brussels

Belgium

 

Fax no. +32 2 502 07 80

     $15,400,000         $19,600,000   

 

89


The Lenders

  

Contact Details

  

Commitments

     

Buyer Credit

  

Commercial Loan

   For administrative matters:      
   12-15 Finsbury Circus      
   London      
  

EC2M 7BT

 

     
   Fax no. +44 207 577 1559      
  

Attention: Daniel Bryan

 

     

The Bank of Tokyo - Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd .

  

For credit matters;

12-15 Finsbury Circus

London

EC2M 7BT

 

Fax no. +44 207 577 1755

   $15,400,000    $19,600,000
   Attention: Grahame Hunt      
      $92,400,000    $117,600,000

 

90


Part 2:

the Swap Providers

 

The Lenders

  

Contact Details

   For commercial matters:
  

CIB - Transportation Group

16 rue de Hanovre

   75078 Paris Cedex 02 - France
   Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 55
   Attention: Shipping Finance
   Alice Renaudin Durand-Ruel
  

For Security Trustee matters:

CIB - Transportation Group

16 rue de Hanovre

   75078 Paris Cedex 02 - France
   Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 55
   Attention: Shipping Asset Monitoring Jean-Marc Morant
BNP Paribas S.A.   

For Agency matters:

CIB - Agency - European Group

21 Place du Marche Saint Honore

   75031 Paris Cedex 01 - CHA02A1
   Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 17
   Attention: European Group Claire-Marie Rochette
   For KEIC Agent matters:
   BNP Paribas S.A., Seoul Branch
  

24/F, Taepyeongno 2-ga, Jung-gu

Seoul 100-767 Korea

   Fax no. 82 2 757 2530
   Attention: Jae Seung / Myung Shim Kwon

 

91


The Lenders

  

Contact Details

   For administration matters:
   9 Quai. du President Paul Doumer
   92920 Paris La Défence Cédex
  

France

 

   Fax no:+33 141 89 19 34
   Attention: Middle Office/Shipping/
   Ms Marie-Claire Vanderperre/
   M. Godet-Couery
  
Calyon    For credit matters:
   Broadwalk House
   5 Appold Street
   London
   EC2A 2DA
  
   Fax no: +44 207 214 6689
   Attention: Thibaud Escoffier/Jerome Duval
  
   For administrative matters:
   20 St. Dunstan’s Hill
   London
   EC3R 8HY
   Fax no. +44 207 283 4430
   Attention: Loans Administration
   Mr Renato Mariano
  
DnB NOR Bank ASA    For credit matters:
   20 St. Dunstan’s Hill
   London
   EC3R 8HY
   Fax no. +44 207 626 5956
  

Attention: Omar Sekkat and David Grant

 

   For operational matters
   OPER / CAF / DMT6
   17 Cours Valmy
  

Paris La Defense 7

 

   Fax no. +331 46 92 45 98
   Attention: Viengkham LAY and
  

Chantal Alcaras

 

Société Générale,    For credit matters
  

London

 

   Fax no. +44 207 667 2499
  

Attention: Gareth-Lon Williams

 

   Copy to: Pierre Baud and Laurence Alloiteau
   OPER/CAF/AFI
  

17 Cours Valmy

 

  

Paris La Défence 7

 

  

Fax no. 01.46.92.46.22

 

  

Copy to: Guylaine Labidurie OPER/CAF.EXT

 

   Fax no. 01.46.92.45.97

 

92


The Lenders

  

Contact Details

SMBC Capital Markets, Inc.   

277 Park Avenue

Fifth Floor

New York

10172

USA

 

  

Attention: President

Fax no. (212) 224-4948

 

  

For administrative matters:

12-15 Finsbury Circus

London

EC2M 7BT

 

The Bank of Tokyo - Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.   

Fax no. +44 207 577 1559

Attention: Daniel Bryan

 

For credit matters;

12-15 Finsbury Circus

London

EC2M 7BT

 

  

Fax no. +44 207 577 1755

Attention: Grahame Hunt

 

93


Schedule 2

The Vessel

 

Owner    Hull No    Flag    Vessel Type
MiNT I LNG Ltd    1810 at Samsung    Bahamas    160,000 cubic meter single
   Heavy Industries Co. Ltd.       screw electric motor driven
liquefied natural gas carrier

 

94


Schedule 3

Documents and evidence required as conditions precedent

(referred to in clause 3.1)

Part I 1 : Commitment and first Drawing

(a) Constitutional documents

 

  (i) copies, certified by an officer of each Security Party the Borrower, NYK LNG and Teekay as true, complete and up to date copies of all documents which contain or establish the constitution of that Security Party it including the Articles of Incorporation; or

 

  (ii) with respect to Mitsui and NYK, in lieu of the document described in clause (a)(i) above, a certified copy of the current Commercial Register ( genzai jiko zenbu shomeisho ) of Mitsui and NYK issued by the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau no earlier than 10 days prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

(b) Corporate authorisations authorizations

 

  (i) copies of resolutions of the directors and/or such other corporate approvals or authorisations and, to the extent required to obtain any opinion set out in this Schedule 3, Part 1, the shareholders of each Security Party the Borrower, NYK LNG and Teekay approving such of the Project Documents (with respect to the Borrower only) and the Security Documents to which it is, or is to be, party and authorising the signature, delivery and performance of its obligations thereunder, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than 10 Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement) by an officer of it as:

 

  1. (i) being true and correct;

 

  2. (ii) being duly passed by the directors or such other persons as permitted by the organisational documents of such Security Party it and (if necessary) shareholders of such Security Party it ;

 

  3. (iii) not having been amended, modified or revoked; and

 

  4. (iv) being in full force and effect,

 

       together with originals or certified copies of any powers of attorney issued by it pursuant to such resolutions; or

 

  (ii) with respect to Mitsui and NYK, in lieu of the document described in clause (b)(i) above; (1) a power of attorney, executed using the registered seal of the president or representative director of Mitsui or NYK, authorizing the signatory or signatories of the Security Documents to which Mitsui or NYK is a party to execute such documents on behalf of Mitsui or NYK; and (2) a seal certificate ( inkan shoumei ), issued by the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau no earlier than 10 days prior to the date of this Agreement, in respect of the registered seal used to execute the power of attorney described in clause (b)(ii)(2).

 

(c) Specimen signatures

copies of the signatures of the persons who have been authorised on behalf of each Security Party to sign such of the Project Security Documents referred to in paragraph (g ) of this Schedule 3, part 1 and the Security Documents referred to in paragraph (h ) of this Schedule 3, part 1 to which such Security Party is, or is to be, party and to give notices and communications, including notices of drawing, under or in connection with the Security Documents, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than 10 Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement) by an officer or such other authorised persons of such Security Party as being the true signatures of such persons;

 

95


(d) Certificates of incumbency

a list of directors and officers of the Borrower, the Borrower Shareholders and the Sponsors specifying the names and positions of such persons, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than 10 Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement) by an officer or such other authorised person of it to be true, complete and up to date;

 

(e) Time Charterer’s consents and approvals

evidence in a form and substance acceptable to the Agent that the Time Charterer shall have consented (so far as may be necessary) to the execution of the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants, the Deed of Assignment of Contracts and the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee and other necessary documents hereunder in accordance with the Time Charter;

 

(f) Certified Project Documents

a copy, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than 5 Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement) as a true and complete copy by an officer of the Borrower of each of the Project Documents (other than the Management Agreement) each duly executed and in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent together with the original executed copies of the Refund Guarantee;

 

(g) Security Documents and Fee Letters

the Swap Agreements, any other Credit Support Documents, the Deed of Assignment of Contracts, the Assignment, the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee, the Account Charge, the Sponsors’ Undertaking, the Arrangement Fee Letter, the Agency Fee Letter, the Account Bank Fee Letter, the Documentation Agency Fee Letter and the Swap Margin Side Letter each duly executed;

 

(h) Notices of assignment and acknowledgements

the Building Contract Assignment Consent and Acknowledgement, the Refund Guarantee Assignment Consent and Acknowledgement , and the Supervision Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement, the Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement duly executed and bearing formal date stamps and originals of duly executed notices of assignment together with original duly executed acknowledgements thereof (to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date) required by the terms of the Deed of Assignment of Contracts and the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee respectively in the forms prescribed by such Security Documents;

 

(i) Share Pledges Charges

(i) the Share Pledges Charges duly executed by all parties thereto (other than the Security Trustee) and all requirements thereunder fully satisfied including, without limitation, the delivery of the Borrower’s share certificates and all irrevocable proxies to the Security Trustee;

 

(j) Accounts

evidence that the Accounts have been opened;

 

(k) Bahamas opinion

opinions (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of the Agent’s special legal advisers in the Bahamas to the Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

96


(l) Delaware opinion

opinion (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of special legal advisers in the State of Delaware in relation to (a) the due authorisation, execution, delivery and performance of the Time Charter, the Tripartite Agreement, the Angolanisation Agreement, the Project Co-ordination Agreement and the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement by the Time Charterer and such documents constituting the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Time Charterer , (b) the execution, delivery and performance of the Time Charter, the Tripartite Agreement, the Angolanisation Agreement, the Project Co-ordination Agreement and the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement by the Time Charterer not conflicting with Delaware law and (c) the execution, delivery and performance of the Time Charter by the Time Charterer not conflicting with its constitutional documents to be received prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(m) Korean opinion

opinions (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of Kim & Chang special legal advisers in Korea to the Agent and KEIC Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(n) Japanese opinion

opinions (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of Nishimura & Asahi special legal advisers in Japan to the Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(o) Marshall Islands opinion

opinions (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of the Agent’s special legal advisors in the Marshall Islands to the Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(p) English opinion

opinion of Norton Rose LLP special legal advisors in England to the Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to KEIC to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(q) Further opinions/report

(ii) an opinion from Norton Rose as to the legality, validity and enforceability of the Security Documents so far as they are governed by the laws of England and Wales and in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent;

 

(r) Borrower’s process agent

a copy, certified as a true copy by the Borrower’s solicitors or other person acceptable to the Agent of a letter from the Borrower’s agent for receipt of service of proceedings referred to in clause 17.2 accepting its appointment under the said clause and under each of the other Security Documents in which it is or is to be appointed as the Borrower’s agent;

 

(s) Process agent

a copy, certified as a true copy by the Borrower’s solicitors or other person acceptable to the Agent of a letter from the Sponsors’ and any other Security Party’s agent for receipt of service of proceedings accepting its appointment under each of the relevant Security Documents in which it is or is to be appointed as the Sponsors’ or such Security Party’s agent;

 

97


(t) Drawdown Notice

the Drawdown Notice in respect of the first Drawing duly executed and delivered in accordance with clause 2 of this Agreement;

 

(u) Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity / Additional Shareholders’ Equity

receipt of the Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity by the Borrower or the Agent in accordance with clause 2.3.7 and, insofar as such Relevant Amount is Indebtedness of the Borrower, any subordination agreement required by the Agent in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders) in connection therewith;

 

(v) Minimum Credit Rating

evidence from either Standard and Poors or Fitch on or after the date falling 5 Business Days prior to the Drawdown Date that the Refund Guarantor still maintains the required Minimum Credit Rating;

 

(w) Ownership

evidence satisfactory in all respects to the Agent that the Sponsors are, directly or indirectly the legal and beneficial owner of all of the issued share capital of the Borrower, (whether ordinary, preferential or other class of share capital (including, without limitation, subordinated debt)) other than as permitted pursuant to clause 9.2.17;

 

(x) Fees and commissions

evidence of payment or evidence that payment will be made from the first Drawing of any fees and commissions due and payable from the Borrower to the Agent, the Security Trustee, Calyon or the Account Banks pursuant to clause 7 or any other provision of the Security Documents;

 

(y) KEIC Buyer Credit Policy

in respect of the first Drawing the prior receipt by the Agent of an original counterpart of the relevant KEIC Buyer Credit Policy, duly executed by KEIC (together with a copy of the signing authority of the relevant officer of KEIC) and certified copy of the KEIC Acceptance Letter, such KEIC Buyer Credit Policy to be in full force and effect;

 

(z) Project Co-ordination Agreement

evidence that the Project Co-ordination Agreement has been executed in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent acting on the instructions of all Lenders;

 

(aa) KYC documentation

receipt by each Lender of “know-your-client” documentation satisfactory to it; and

 

(bb) Accounts

the certified true and complete copies of the most recent audited annual financial statements of each Sponsor and the unaudited semi-annual accounts of the Borrower for the period ending on 31 December 2007.

 

98


Part 2

Contract Instalment Advances

 

(a) Invoice

a certified copy of the invoice in respect of which payment is due to the Builder from the Borrower;

 

(b) Fees and commissions

(other than in respect of a Contract Instalment Advance which is the first Drawing) evidence of payment or evidence that payment will be made from the Contract Instalment Advance of any fees and commissions due from the Borrower to the Agent, Calyon, the Security Trustee or the Account Bank pursuant to the terms of clause 7 or any other provision of the Security Documents;

 

(c) Conditions precedent

confirmation from the Borrower or its legal advisers that the conditions precedent set out in Part 1 to Schedule 3 remain satisfied and to the extent necessary are satisfied and confirmation from the Borrower that no further consents and approvals are required;

 

(d) Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity / Additional Shareholders’ Equity

receipt of the Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity by the Agent in accordance with clauses 2.3.7 and 2.9 and any subordination agreement required by the Agent in connection therewith;

 

(e) Drawdown Notice

the Drawdown Notice in respect of the relevant Contract Instalment Advance duly executed and delivered in accordance with clause 2 of this Agreement;

 

(f) No claim

evidence satisfactory to the Agent in the form of a declaration of warranty from the Builder that the Builder (and any other party who may have a claim pursuant to the Building Contract) has no claims against the Vessel or the Borrower;

 

(g) No variations to Building Contract

confirmation from the Borrower that save as permitted by this Agreement there have been no amendments or variations agreed to the Building Contract that have not been agreed by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and that no action has been taken by either the Builder or the Borrower which might in any way render the Building Contract inoperative or unenforceable, in whole or in any part; and

 

(h) No encumbrance

confirmation from the Borrower that there is no Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) of any kind created or permitted by any person on or relating to the Building Contract or in relation to the Vessel.

 

99


Part 3

Delivery Date Advance

 

(a) Export Licence(s)

a copy, certified as a true and complete copy by an officer of the Borrower of all consents, authorisations, licences and approvals required by the Borrower and the Builder (if any) in connection with the export by the Builder of the Vessel;

 

(b) Vessel conditions

evidence that the Vessel:

 

  (i) Registration and Encumbrances

is or simultaneously with the Delivery of the Vessel shall be registered in the name of the Borrower through the Bahamas Registry under the laws and flag of the Bahamas and confirmation from the Borrower that the Vessel and its Earnings, Insurances and Requisition Compensation (as defined in the Deed of Covenants) are free of Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances);

 

  (ii) Classification

has the classification referred to in clause 9.6.3(b) free of all overdue requirements and recommendations of the Classification Society;

 

  (iii) Insurance

is insured in accordance with the provisions of the Security Documents and all requirements of the Security Documents in respect of such insurance have been complied with (including without limitation, (A) confirmation from the protection and indemnity association or other insurer with which the Vessel is, or is to be, entered for insurance or insured against protection and indemnity risks (including oil pollution risks) that any necessary declarations required by the association or insurer for the removal of any oil pollution exclusion have been made and that any such exclusion does not apply to the Vessel and (B) receipt by the Agent of pro-forma letters of undertaking from the Approved Brokers (as defined in the relevant Deed of Covenant ) approved brokers in such form as the Agent may reasonably require); and

 

  (iv) Delivery under Time Charter

has been or on the Delivery Date will be delivered to, and accepted by, the Time Charterer for service under the Time Charter;

 

(c) Deletion

evidence that any prior registration of the Vessel in the name of the Builder has been cancelled (or confirmation from the Builder that there was no such prior registration) and that no Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances are registered against the Vessel on such register;

 

(d) Security and delivery documents

certified true copies of the Management Agreement, the Builder’s Certificate and the Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance and originals of the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants, the Assignment and , the Manager’s Undertaking and the Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement each duly executed;

 

100


(e) Borrower’s further corporate authorisations

copies of the resolutions of the Borrower’s directors and (if necessary) shareholders evidencing authorisation of the acceptance of the delivery of the Vessel and authorisation and approval of the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants and the transactions contemplated therein and any other documents issued or to be issued pursuant thereto and authorising its appropriate officer or other representative to execute the same on its behalf certified in the manner referred to in paragraph (b) of Part 1 of this Schedule (or other evidence of such authorisation, approval and/or ratification) and any power of attorney issued pursuant to the said resolutions (such resolutions and power of attorney to be notarised (and, to the extent required by applicable Law, apostiled) and in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent);

 

(f) Mortgage registration

evidence that the Mortgage has been registered against the Vessel through the Bahamas Registry under the laws and flag of the Bahamas;

 

(g) Notices of assignment and acknowledgements

originals of duly executed notices of assignment required by the terms of the Deed of Covenants and the Assignment together with original duly executed acknowledgements thereof required by the terms of such Security Documents and in the form(s) prescribed by such Security Documents and, in the case of the Assignment;

 

(h) Insurance opinion

an opinion from Bankserve, or such other insurance consultants as the Agent may instruct, on the insurances effected or to be effected in respect of the Vessel upon and following the Delivery Date in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders;

 

(i) Bahamas opinion

an opinion of the Agent’s special legal advisers in the Bahamas to the Agent in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders;

 

(j) Korean opinion

an opinion of Kim & Chang special legal advisers in Korea to the KEIC Agent and the Agent in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders;

 

(k) Further opinions

any such further opinion as may reasonably be required by the Agent to evidence the legality, validity and/or enforceability of the obligations of the Borrower and/or any Security Party under this Agreement, each of the other Security Documents and each of the Project Documents to which it is a party;

 

(I) Process agent

a copy, certified as a true copy by the Borrower’s solicitors or other person acceptable to the Agent of a letter from the Borrower’s agent for receipt of service of proceedings referred to in clause 17.2 accepting its appointment under the said clause and under each of the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants, the Assignment and also in respect of the relevant Manager’s Undertaking in which it is or is to be appointed as agent;

 

(m) Fees and commission

evidence that the fees and commissions due under clause 7 have been paid in full (or upon drawdown of the Delivery Date Advance will have been paid);

 

111


(n) Payment of Contract Price

evidence from the Builder that the Contract Price has been (or upon drawdown of the relevant Delivery Date Advance will have been) paid in full and a certified copy of the invoice in respect of the payment due to the Builder from the Borrower on the Delivery Date;

 

(o) Drawdown Notice

the Drawdown Notice in respect of the relevant Delivery Date Advance duly executed and delivered to the Agent in accordance with clause 2 of this Agreement;

 

(p) Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance

copies, certified as true copies by a director or officer of the Borrower, of the Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance and any other documents issued by the Builder in connection with the construction and delivery of the Vessel as the Builder shall be obliged to provide pursuant to the Building Contract;

 

(q) ISM compliance

evidence that the Operator has applied to the relevant Regulatory Agency for a DOC for itself and an SMC for the Vessel to be issued pursuant to the Code within any time limit required or recommended by such Regulatory Agency;

 

(r) Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity / Additional Shareholders’ Equity

receipt of the Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity by the Agent in accordance with sub-clauses 2.3.7 and 2.9 and any subordination agreement required by the Agent in connection therewith; and

 

(s) Conditions precedent

confirmation from the Borrower or their legal advisers that the conditions precedent set out in Parts 1 and 2 of Schedule 3 remain satisfied and to the extent necessary are satisfied and confirmation from the Borrower that no further consents and approvals are required.

 

112


Schedule 4

Form of Transfer Certificate

To: BNP Paribas S.A. as agent (the “Agent”)

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE

This transfer certificate relates to a facility agreement (as the same may be from time to time amended, varied, novated or supplemented, the “Loan Agreement”) dated 2008 whereby a credit facility of up to $210,000,000 was made available to Mint LNG I, Ltd (the “Borrower”) by a group of banks on whose behalf the Agent acts as agent and security trustee.

 

1 Terms defined in the Loan Agreement shall, subject to any contrary indication, have the same meanings herein. The terms “Lender” and “Transferee” are defined in the schedule to this transfer certificate .

 

2 The Lender (i) confirms that the details in the Schedule hereto next to the heading “Commitment” accurately summarises its Commitment in the Loan Agreement and (ii) requests the Transferee to accept and procure the transfer to the Transferee of the portion of such Commitment specified in the Schedule hereto next to the heading “Portion Transferred” by counter-signing and delivering the Transfer Certificate to the Agent at its address for the service of communications specified in the Loan Agreement.

 

3 The Transferee requests the Agent to accept this Transfer Certificate as being delivered to the Agent pursuant to and for the purposes of clause 12.4 of the Loan Agreement so as to take effect in accordance with the terms thereof on the Transfer Date or on such later date as may be determined in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

4 The Transferee confirms that it has received a copy of the Loan Agreement together with such other information as it has required in connection with this transaction and that it has not relied and will not in the future rely on the Lender or any other party to the Loan Agreement to check or enquire on its behalf into the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any such information and further agrees that it has not relied and will not rely on the Lender or any other party to the Loan Agreement to access or keep under review on its behalf the financial condition, creditworthiness, condition, affairs, status or nature of the Borrower or any other party to the Loan Agreement.

 

5 Execution of this Transfer Certificate by the Transferee constitutes its representation to the Transferor and all other parties to the Loan Agreement that it has power to become a party to the Loan Agreement as a Lender on the terms herein and therein set out and has taken all steps to authorise execution and delivery of this Transfer Certificate.

 

6 The Transferee undertakes with the Lender and each of the other parties to the Loan Agreement that it will perform in accordance with their terms all those obligations which by the terms of the Loan Agreement will be assumed by it after delivery of this Transfer Certificate to the Agent and satisfaction of the conditions (if any) subject to which the Transfer Certificate is expressed to take effect.

 

7 The Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the Loan Agreement or any document relating thereto and assumes no responsibility for the financial condition of the Borrower or for the performance and observance by the Borrower of any of its obligations under the Loan Agreement or any document relating thereto and any and all such conditions and warranties, whether express or implied by law or otherwise, are hereby excluded.

 

113


8 The Lender gives notice that nothing in this transfer certificate or in the Loan Agreement (or any document relating thereto) shall oblige the Lender to (i) accept a re-transfer from the Transferee of the whole or any part of its rights, benefits and/or obligations under the Loan Agreement transferred pursuant hereto or (ii) support any losses directly or indirectly sustained or incurred by the Transferee for any reason whatsoever including, without limitation, the non-performance by the Borrower or any other party to the Loan Agreement (or any document relating thereto) of its obligations under any such document. The Transferee acknowledges the absence of any such obligation as is referred to in (i) or (ii) above.

 

9 The Security Trustee’s rights under the Security Documents remain in full force and effect and are not affected by this transfer.

 

10 This Transfer Certificate and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with English law.

THE SCHEDULE

 

1 Lender:

 

2 Transferee:

 

3 Transfer Date:

 

4 Commitment:

 

5 Portion Transferred:

 

6 Transferee’s Administration Details:

 

[Transferor Bank]    [Transferee Bank]
By:    By:
Date:    Date:

BNP Paribas S.A.

As agent for and on behalf of itself,

the Borrower and the other Lender Finance Parties in the presence of:-

By:

Date: [         ]

 

114


Schedule 5

Form of Drawdown Notice

To:   BNP Paribas S.A.

Attention: [•]

Fax : [•]

Copy to: [•]

Fax: [•]

Date [•]

Loan facility of up to United States Dollars $210,000,000 in respect of

Hull No 1 1810 (the “Vessel”)

Loan Agreement dated     2008

We refer to the above Loan Agreement and hereby give you notice that we wish to drawdown the following Drawing:

[a Contract Instalment Advance amounting to $[•];]

[a Delivery Date Advance amounting to $[•];]

[an Ancillary Cost Advance [in respect of the KEIC Insurance Premium for the Vessel] amounting to $[•];]

Interest Period from [•] to [•];

on [•] 20[•] the funds should be credited to [name and number of account] with [details of bank [in New York City]].

[The Vessel is scheduled to be delivered on [•].]

We confirm that:

 

  (i) no event or circumstance has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived which constitutes a Potential Event of Default;

 

  (ii) the representations and warranties contained in clauses [4] of the Loan Agreement are true and correct at the date hereof as if made with respect to the facts and circumstances existing at the date hereof;

 

  (iii) the borrowing of the Loan will be within our corporate powers, has been validly authorised by appropriate corporate action and will not cause any limit on our borrowings (whether imposed by statute, regulation, agreement or otherwise) to be exceeded; [and]

 

  (iv) there has been no material adverse change in our financial position from that set forth in the latest financial statements delivered to you under clause 9.1.5 of the Loan Agreement. [;and]

 

  (v) [this Ancillary Cost Advance will not, when aggregated with all Ancillary Cost Advances previously advanced to us, equal a sum in excess of $36,000,000.]

Words and expressions defined in the Loan Agreement shall have the same meanings when used herein.

 

115


For and on behalf of

Mi NT LNG [•] I , LTD

By                                                                                       

Name:

Title:

 

116


Schedule 6

Calculation of the Mandatory Cost

 

1 The Mandatory Cost is an addition to the interest rate to compensate the Lenders for the cost of compliance with (a) the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority (or, in either case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) or (b) the requirements of the European Central Bank.

 

2 On 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 Loan) and will be expressed as a percentage rate per annum.

 

3 The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Loan 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 Loan Office) of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank in respect of loans made from that Loan Office.

 

4 The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Loan Office in the United Kingdom will be calculated by the Agent as follows:

E x 0.01

  300         per cent, per annum.

Where E is the rate of charge payable by a Lender to the Financial Services Authority under the Fees Rules in respect of the relevant financial year of the Financial Services Authority (calculated for this purpose by the Agent as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to that Lender for that financial year). The resulting figure shall be rounded to four (4) decimal places.

 

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) “Loan Office” means the office notified by a Lender to the Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender as the office through which it will perform its obligations under the Agreement;

 

  (c) “Fee 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;

 

  (d) “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 Fee Rules but taking into account any applicable discount rate); and

 

  (e) “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 Union relating to European Monetary Union;

 

  (f) “Parties” means any party to the Agreement, including its successors in title permitted assigns and permitted transferees; and

 

  (g) “Tariff Base” has the meaning given to it in, and will be calculated in accordance with, the Fees Rules.

 

6 If requested by the Agent, each Lender shall, as soon as practicable after publication by the Financial Services Authority, supply to the Agent, the rate of charge payable by that Lender 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 Lender as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to that Lender for that financial year).

 

117


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 Loan 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 percentages of each Lender for the purpose of E above shall be determined by the Agent based upon the information supplied to it pursuant to paragraphs 6 and 7 above and on the assumption that, unless the Lender notifies the 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 Loan Office in the same jurisdiction as in its Loan Office.

 

9 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 pursuant to paragraphs 3, 6 and 7 above is true and correct in all respects.

 

10 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 pursuant to paragraphs 3, 6 and 7 above.

 

11 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.

 

12 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.

 

118


Schedule 7

Contract Instalments and Repayment Profile

Part A

 

Installment

  

Initiating Event

   % of Contract  Price  

First

   December 29, 2007      10 %  

Second

   June 18, 2009      10 %  

Third

  

The later of the actual date of

keel-laying and August 23, 2010

     10 %  

Fourth

   The later of the actual date of launching and October 23, 2010      10 %  

Final

   At Delivery and upon execution of the Acceptance      60 %  

 

119


Part B

 

    

Outstanding

   Repayment Amnt      Repayment %  
Closing    92,400,000      
1    0.63% 91,080,000      1,320,000         1.429%   
2    0.64% 89,741,000      1,339,000         1.449%   
3    0.65% 88,380,000      1,361,000         1.473%   
4    0.66% 86,999,000      1,381,000         1.495%   
5    0.67% 85,597,000      1,402,000         1.517%   
6    0.68% 84,174,000      1,423,000         1.540%   
7    0.69% 82,729,000      1,445,000         1.564%   
8    0.70% 81,262,000      1,467,000         1.588%   
9    0.71% 79,772,000      1,490,000         1.613%   
10    0.72% 78,260,000      1,512,000         1.636%   
11    0.73% 76,725,000      1,535,000         1.661%   
12    0.74% 75,166,000      1,559,000         1.687%   
13    0.75% 73,584,000      1,582,000         1.712%   
14    0.77% 71,977,000      1,607,000         1.739%   
15    0.78% 70,346,000      1,631,000         1.765%   
16    0.79% 68,690,000      1,656,000         1.792%   
17    0.80% 67,009,000      1,681,000         1.819%   
18    0.81% 65,302,000      1,707,000         1.847%   
19    0.83% 63,569,000      1,733,000         1.876%   
20    0.84% 61,809,000      1,760,000         1.905%   
21    0.85% 60,023,000      1,786,000         1.933%   
22    0.86% 58,210,000      1,813,000         1.962%   
23    0.88% 56,369,000      1,841,000         1.992%   
24    0.89% 54,500,000      1,869,000         2.023%   
25    0.90% 52,602,000      1,898,000         2.054%   
26    0.92% 50,676,000      1,926,000         2.084%   
27    0.93% 48,720,000      1,956,000         2.117%   
28    0.95% 46,734,000      1,986,000         2.149%   
29    0.96% 44,718,000      2,016,000         2.182%   
30    0.97% 42,671,000      2,047,000         2.215%   
31    0.99% 40,593,000      2,078,000         2.249%   
32    1.00% 38,483,000      2,110,000         2.284%   
33    1.02% 36,341,000      2,142,000         2.318%   
34    1.04% 34,167,000      2,174,000         2.353%   
35    1.05% 31,959,000      2,208,000         2.390%   
36    1.07% 29,718,000      2,241,000         2.425%   
37    1.08% 27,442,000      2,276,000         2.463%   
38    1.10% 25,132,000      2,310,000         2.500%   
39    1.12% 22,786,000      2,346,000         2.539%   
40    1.13% 20,405,000      2,381,000         2.577%   
41    1.15% 17,987,000      2,418,000         2.617%   
42    1.17% 15,533,000      2,454,000         2.656%   
43    1.19% 13,041,000      2,492,000         2.697%   
44    1.20% 10,511,000      2,530,000         2.738%   
45    1.22% 7,943,000      2,568,000         2.779%   
46    1.24% 5,335,000      2,608,000         2.823%   
47    1.26% 2,688,000      2,647,000         2.865%   
48    1.28% 0      2,688,000         2.909%   
   44.00%         100.000%   

 

120


Schedule 8

Form of Compliance Certificate

To: BNP Paribas S.A. (the “Agent”)

From: [•] (the “[•]”)

Date: [•]

Dear Sirs,

We refer to an agreement (the “Agreement”) dated         and made between (1) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 of the Agreement as lenders and swap providers, (2) yourselves as Agent (3) yourselves as Security Trustee and (4) yourselves as KEIC Agent (as from time to time amended, varied, novated or supplemented).

Terms defined or construed in the Agreement have the same meanings and constructions in this Certificate.

We attach the relevant calculation details applicable to the last four (4) financial quarters ending [•] (the “Relevant Period”) which confirm that:-

 

1 The average DSCR in respect of the immediately preceding four (4) financial quarters [was/was not] equal to or greater than1:10x. Therefore the condition contained in clause 9.1.21 9.1.19 of the Agreement [has/has not] been complied with in respect of the Relevant Period.

 

2 The average DSCR in respect of the immediately preceding two (2) financial quarters [was at all times equal to or greater than/fell below] 1.06x. Therefore the condition contained in clause 9.1.21 9.1.19 of the Agreement [has/has not] been complied with.

 

3 The Leverage Ratio for the immediately preceding four (4) financial quarters did not exceed 4:1. Therefore, the contained in clause 9.1.21 9.1.19 of the Agreement [has/has not] been complied with

Signed:

Duly authorised representative of

Mi NT LNG [ Ÿ ] I , LTD

 

121


Exhibit A

MiNT LNG I

Long-Form Confirmation Letters Letter between the Borrower and BNP Paribas S.A. dated 20 August 2008 and August 2008

MiNT-LNG II - Long Form Confirmation Letters between the Borrower and BNP Paribas S.A. dated 20 August 2008 and 28 August 2008

MiNT LNG III - Long Form Confirmation Letters between the Borrower and BNP Paribas S.A. dated 22 August 2008 and 29 August 2008 2 October 2008 as amended on 9 October 2008

MiNT LNG IV - Long Form Confirmation Letters between the Borrower and BNP Paribas S.A. dated 22 August 2008 and 29 August 2008

 

122


IN WITNESS of which the parties to this Agreement have executed this Agreement the day and year first before written.

 

SIGNED by

duly authorised for and on behalf

of MiNT LNG I, LTD.

  

)

)

)

SIGNED by

duly authorised for and on behalf

of BNP PARIBAS S.A . (as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

  

)

)

)

SIGNED by

duly authorised for and on behalf

of CALYON (as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

  

)

)

)

SIGNED by

duly authorised for and on behalf

of DNB NOR BANK ASA (as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

  

)

)

)

SIGNED by

duly authorised for and on behalf

  

)

)

of SOCIETE GENERALE    )
(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)    )

SIGNED by

duly authorised for and on behalf

  

)

)

of THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.    )
(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)    )

SIGNED by

duly authorised for and on behalf

  

)

)

of SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION    )
BRUSSELS BRANCH    )
(as a Lender)    )

SIGNED by

duly authorised for and on behalf

  

)

)

of SMBC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.    )
(as a Swap Provider)    )

SIGNED by

duly authorised for and on behalf

  

)

)

of BNP PARIBAS S.A.    )
(as Agent)    )

 

123


SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of BNP PARIBAS S.A.    )
(as the Security Trustee)    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of BNP PARIBAS S.A.    )
(as the KEIC Agent)    )

 

124

Exhibit 4.20

EXECUTION VERSION

Dated  10  October 2008

 

MiNT LNG II, LTD.

     (1)   

(as Borrower)

  

The Banks and Financial Institutions listed

     (2)   

in Annex 1

(as Lenders)

  

The Banks and Financial Institutions listed

     (3)   

in Annex 1

(as Swap Providers)

  

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

     (4)   

(as Agent)

  

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

     (5)   

(as Security Trustee)

  

and

  

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

     (6)   

(as KEIC Agent)

  

 

 

DEED OF AMENDMENT AND

RESTATEMENT

relating to a Loan Agreement of

US$92,400,000 Buyer Credit and

$117,600,000 Commercial Loan for one

160,000 cbm LNG carrier Hull No. 1811 at

Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.

 

 

 

 

LOGO


CONTENTS

 

Clause    Page  

1       Definitions

     1   

2       Amendments to the Loan Agreement

     1   

3       Miscellaneous

     2   

Annex 1

     6   


THIS DEED is made on 10 October 2008 BETWEEN :

 

(1) MiNT LNG II, LTD ., being a company organised and existing under the laws of the Bahamas whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB—13937, Nassau, The Bahamas (the “ Borrower ”); and

 

(2) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 Part 1 in Annex 1, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 Part 1 in Annex 1 (together the “ Lenders ” and each a “ Lender ”); and

 

(3) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 Part 2 in Annex 1, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 Part 2 in Annex 1 (together the “ Swap Providers ” and each a “ Swap Provider ”); and

 

(4) BNP PARIBAS S.A ., acting as agent with its registered office at 16 boulevard des Italiens 75009 Paris and registration number 662 042 449 RSC Paris for the Lenders and the Swap Providers (in that capacity the “ Agent ”); and

 

(5) BNP PARIBAS S.A ., acting as security trustee through its office at 16 boulevard des Italiens 75009 Paris and registration number 662 042 449 RSC Paris for the Lenders and the Swap Providers (in that capacity the “ Security Trustee ”); and

 

(6) BNP PARIBAS S.A ., acting as agent through its office at 24/F, Taepyeongno Building 310, Taepyeongno 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-767, for the Lenders under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy (as this term is defined in Annex 1) (in that capacity the “ KEIC Agent ”).

WHEREAS :

 

(A) By a loan agreement (the “ Loan Agreement ”) dated 11 September 2008 and made between the Borrower, the Lenders, the Agent, the KEIC Agent, the Security Trustee and the Swap Providers, pursuant to which the Lenders agreed (inter alia) to loan to the Borrower, upon the terms and conditions therein contained, a buyer credit tranche of up to the lesser of (i) forty-four per cent. (44%) of eighty per cent. (80%) of the Total Project Cost (as defined in Annex 1) and (ii) ninety two million four hundred thousand Dollars ($92,400,000) and a commercial tranche of up to the lesser of (i) fifty-six per cent. (56%) of eighty per cent. (80%) of the Total Project Cost (as defined in Annex 1) and (ii) one hundred and seventeen million six hundred thousand Dollars ($117,600,000) to assist in financing the 160,000 cbm LNG carrier with hull number 1811 at Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.

 

(B) The parties to this Deed wish to amend and restate the Loan Agreement, as set out herein, to take effect from the date of this Deed.

NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:

 

1 Definitions

 

1.1 In this Deed:

 

     Dollars ” and “ $ ” means the lawful currency of the United States of America from time to time; and

 

     Restated Loan Agreement ” means the agreement as set out in Annex 1.

 

2 Amendments to the Loan Agreement

 

2.1 The parties to this Deed hereby confirm that with effect from the date of this Deed, but without prejudice to any accrued rights and obligations, the Loan Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety by and shall be construed in accordance with the Restated Loan Agreement and the parties to this Deed agree that they are and shall be bound by all of the provisions of the Restated Loan Agreement.

 

1


3 Miscellaneous

 

3.1 Clauses 14 and 17 of the Loan Agreement shall, mutatis mutandis , be incorporated in this Deed as if set out herein.

 

3.2 This Deed may be executed in any number of counterparts, to the effect that any single counterpart or set of counterparts taken together executed and delivered by all of the parties shall constitute one and the same instrument.

IN WITNESS whereof this Deed is executed by the parties on the day and year first above written.

 

2


EXECUTION PAGE - AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AGREEMENT

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

MiNT LNG III, LTD.

  ) /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
 

 

(as Borrower)

  )

by YUJI ISHIMARU

  )

in the presence of:

 

Chin Peter

 

1-12-32 Akasaka

 

Tokyo Japan

 

Attorney

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

  ) /s/ Patricia Lormeau
 

 

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

  ) Patricia LORMEAU

by

  )

in the presence of:

 

/s/ A. Renaudin Durand-Ruel

 

 

 

A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

CALYON

  ) /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
 

 

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

  )

by

  )

in the presence of:

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

DNB NOR BANK ASA

  ) /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
 

 

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

  ) [ILLEGIBLE]

by

  )

in the presence of:

 

/s/ Eliza Mason

 

 

 

ELIZA MASON

 

 

3


EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

SOCIETE GENERALE

  ) /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
 

 

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

  )

by

  )

in the presence of: ELSA GAMBARDELLA

  SG HOUSE, 41 TOWER HILL

  LONDON EC3N 4SG

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.

  ) /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
 

 

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

  ) [ILLEGIBLE]

by

  )

in the presence of: MASAYUKI FUJIKI

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION

  ) /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
 

 

BRUSSELS BRANCH

  )

(as a Lender)

  )

by

  )

in the presence of:

 

/s/ Eliana Miliou

 

 

 

ELIANA MILIOU

 

NORTON ROSE LLP

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

SMBC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

  ) /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
 

 

(as a Swap Provider)

  )

by

  )

in the presence of:

 

/s/ Eliana Miliou

 

 

 

ELIANA MILIOU

 

NORTON ROSE LLP

 

 

 

4


EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

  ) /s/ Patricia Lormeau
 

 

(as Agent)

  ) Patricia LORMEAU

by

  )

in the presence of:

 

/s/ A. Renaudin Durand-Ruel

 

 

 

A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

  ) /s/ Patricia Lormeau
 

 

(as the Security Trustee)

  ) Patricia LORMEAU

by

  )

in the presence of:

 

/s/ A. Renaudin Durand-Ruel

 

 

 

A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

  ) /s/ Patricia Lormeau
 

 

(as the KEIC Agent)

  ) Patricia LORMEAU

by

  )

in the presence of:

 

/s/ A. Renaudin Durand-Ruel

 

 

 

A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

 

 

5


Annex 1

RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT

 

6


Dated               11 September             2008

(as amended and restated by a Deed of Amendment )

and Restatement dated 10 October 2008 )

MiNT LNG II, LTD.

(as Borrower)

and

The Banks and Financial Institutions listed herein as Lenders

(as Lenders)

and

The Banks and Financial Institutions listed herein

(as Swap Providers)

and

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

(as Agent)

and

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

(as Security Trustee)

and

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

(as KEIC Agent)

US$92,400,000 BUYER CREDIT AND

US$117,600,000 COMMERCIAL LOAN for one

160,000 cbm LNG CARRIER Hull No 1811 at

SAMSUNG HEAVY INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.

 

LOGO


CONTENTS    Page  

1 Definitions and Interpretation

     2   

2 The Loan and its Purpose

     20   

3 Conditions precedent and subsequent for the Loan

     23   

4 Representations and Warranties

     25   

5 Repayment and Prepayment

     30   

6 Interest

     35   

7 Fees

     36   

8 Security, Accounts and Application of Moneys

     37 38   

9 Covenants

     41   

10 Events of Default

     64 66   

11 Set-Off and Lien

     68 70   

12 Assignment and Transfer

     69 71   

13 Payments, Reserve Requirements and Illegality

     71 73   

14 Communications

     75 77   

15 General Indemnities

     76 78   

16 Miscellaneous

     78 81   

17 Law and Jurisdiction

     84 86   

Schedule 1 Part I: The Lenders, the Commitments and the Proportionate Shares

     85 87   

Schedule 2 The Vessel

     92 94   

Schedule 3 Documents and evidence required as conditions precedent

     93 95   

Schedule 4 Form of Transfer Certificate

     101 103   

Schedule 5 Form of Drawdown Notice

     103 105   

Schedule 6 Calculation of the Mandatory Cost

     105 107   

Schedule 7 Contract Instalments and Repayment Profile

     107 109   

Schedule 8 Form of Compliance Certificate

     108 111   

Exhibit A

     109 112   


LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”)

 

Dated:    2008   

BETWEEN:

 

(1) MiNT LNG II, LTD ., being a company organised and existing under the laws of the Bahamas whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB—13937, Nassau, The Bahamas (the “ Borrower ”); and

 

(2) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 Part 1, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 Part 1 (together the “ Lenders ” and each a “ Lender ”); and

 

(3) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 Part 2, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 Part 2 (together the “Swap Providers” and each a “ Swap Provider ”); and

 

(4) BNP PARIBAS S.A ., acting as agent with its registered office at 16 boulevard des Italiens 75009 Paris and registration number 662 042 449 RSC Paris for the Lenders and the Swap Providers (in that capacity the “ Agent ”); and

 

(5) BNP PARIBAS S.A ., acting as security trustee through its office at 16 boulevard des Italiens 75009 Paris and registration number 662 042 449 RSC Paris for the Lenders and the Swap Providers (in that capacity the “ Security Trustee ”); and

 

(6) BNP PARIBAS S.A ., acting as agent through its office at 24/F, Taepyeongno Building 310, Taepyeongno 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-767, for the Lenders under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy (in that capacity the “ KEIC Agent ”).

WHEREAS:

 

(A) The Borrower has agreed to purchase the Vessel from the Builder on the terms of the Building Contract and will register the Vessel on delivery on Bahamas flag.

 

(B) Each of the Lenders has agreed to advance to the Borrower its Buyer Credit Commitment (aggregating, with all the other Buyer Credit Commitments from the Lenders, up to an amount equal to the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount) to finance part of the Contract Price (the “ Buyer Credit ”, as more particularly defined in clause 1.1 below).

 

(C) Each of the Lenders has agreed to advance to the Borrower its Commercial Loan Commitment (aggregating, with all the other Commercial Loan Commitments from the Lenders, up to an amount equal to the Commercial Loan Maximum Amount) to finance part of the Contract Price and, subject to clause 2.3.3, 100% of the Ancillary Costs (the “ Commercial Facility ”, as more particularly defined in clause 1.1 below).

 

(D) The Borrower has agreed to time charter the Vessel to Angola LNG Supply Services LLC, a limited liability company duly organised under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA (the “ Time Charterer ”), pursuant to the terms of the Time Charter (as defined below).

 

(E) Pursuant to (inter alia) this Agreement, and as a condition precedent to the several obligations of the Lenders to make the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan available to the Borrower, the Borrower has, amongst other things agreed to execute and deliver a first priority mortgage over the Vessel as security for the payment of the Indebtedness.

 

(F) The Lender Finance Parties (as defined below) have agreed to enter into an Intercreditor Deed amongst, inter alios, themselves and the Borrower to, inter alia, regulate the priorities in respect of each of them under the Security Documents.

 

1


IT IS AGREED as follows:-

 

1 Definitions and Interpretation

 

1.1 Definitions

 

     In this Agreement:-

 

     Account Bank ” means BNP Paribas S.A., London Branch.

 

     Account Bank Fee Letter ” means the fee letter in respect of the fee referred to in clause 7.5 and made between the Borrower and the Account Bank.

 

     Accounts ” means all of the Revenue Account, the Dry Docking Reserve Account, the Retention Account, the Debt Service Reserve Account, the Dividend Lock-up Account and the Distribution Account.

 

     Account Charge ” means the deed of charge over the Revenue Account, the Dry Docking Reserve Account, the Retention Account, the Debt Service Reserve Account and the Dividend Lock-up Account in respect of the Vessel, as referred to in clause 8.1.4.

 

     Additional Shareholders’ Equity ” has the meaning given to that term in the Letter of Sponsors Undertaking.

 

     Affiliate ” means in relation to any entity, a Subsidiary of that entity, a Holding Company of that entity or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company.

 

     Agency Fee Letter ” means the fee letter in respect of the fee referred to in clause 7.3 and made between the Borrower and the Agent.

 

     Ancillary Costs ” means costs accruing or incurred or repayments or reimbursements to be made by the Borrower up to and upon the Delivery Date, or consequent upon Delivery, in respect of:

 

  (a) the supervision by the Supervisor or its employees of the construction of the Vessel by the Builder which are payable pursuant to the Supervision Agreement or any other amount payable pursuant to the Supervision Agreement;

 

  (b) the acquisition of spare parts under the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement;

 

  (c) all interest, arrangement fees, commitment fees and agency fees in respect of the Loan falling due for payment and/or accruing on or before the Delivery Date;

 

  (d) corporate management fees payable to Mitsui by the Borrower under the Corporate Management Agreement;

 

  (e) all costs and fees payable by the Borrower in connection with the arrangement of the facility evidenced by this Agreement and the negotiation and finalisation of the Security Documents to which the Borrower is, or is to be, a party and in relation to the facility generally (including costs and expenses in connection with the registration of the Vessel);

 

  (f) all costs and expenses incurred by the Borrower in connection with modifications made to the Vessel prior to delivery of the Vessel pursuant to and in accordance with the Building Contract and the Time Charter;

 

  (g) all costs and expenses incurred by the Borrower in connection with the Angolanization Agreement;

 

  (h) the KEIC Insurance Premium; and

 

2


  (i) any other costs approved by the Agent in writing (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders),

 

     but, for the avoidance of doubt, Ancillary Costs shall never cover any item, element or service to be provided by the Builder pursuant to the Building Contract and which is included in the Contract Price.

 

     Ancillary Costs Advance ” means a Drawing for the purpose of paying Ancillary Costs incurred by the Borrower and for the purpose more particularly described in clause 2.3.

 

     Angola LNG ” means Angola LNG Ltd, a company established and existing under the laws of Bermuda.

 

     Angola LNG Project ” means the construction and operation of the approximately one-train liquefaction plant of 5 Mtpa of LNG production capacity constructed or (as the context may require) to be constructed in the vicinity of Kwanda Island in the Zaire Province of Angola, the purchase by the Time Charterer of LNG from Angola LNG for transportation on the Vessel and the sale of the regasified LNG transported on the Vessel pursuant to the Gas Sales and Purchase Agreements and the purchase of feed gas by Angola LNG from the Gas Suppliers under the Gas Supply Agreements.

 

     Angolanization Agreement ” means the Angolanization Agreement dated 18 December 2007 between the Borrower and the Time Charterer.

 

     Arrangement Fee Letter ” means the fee letter in respect of the fee referred to in clause 7.1 and made between the Borrower and the Agent.

 

     Assignment ” means the deed of assignment of Insurances, Earnings and Requisition Compensation in respect of the Vessel as referred to in clause 8.1.3.

 

     Authorisation ” means an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration.

 

     Authorised Investments ” means deposits and/or investments with the Account Bank with varying minimum amounts and periods applying for each case and subject to the prior written approval from the Account Bank.

 

     Availability Period ” means the period from and including the Execution Date to and including the Availability Termination Date.

 

     Availability Termination Date ” means, the earlier of (a) the date falling 290 days after the Scheduled Delivery Date of the Vessel, (b) the date falling thirty (30) days after the Delivery Date of the Vessel, (c) the date on which the Time Charterer gives written consent to the Borrower permitting the Borrower to cancel the Building Contract in accordance with its terms and (d) the date on which the Total Commitments are reduced to zero pursuant to any term of this Agreement, or such other date as may be agreed in writing by the Agent acting on the instructions of all Lenders and KEIC.

 

     Borrower Priority Payments ” means (a) any duly evidenced payments made pursuant to the Insurances in respect of repairs to the Vessel paid for by the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower (to the extent it is permitted to do so pursuant to clause 9.5) prior to the receipt of such Insurance proceeds and (b) any duly evidenced payments received by the Borrower from the Time Charterer which reimburse the Borrower for the costs incurred by the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower in relation to modifications to the Vessel which have been requested by the Time Charterer pursuant to the Time Charter and which are reimbursed by the Time Charterer in a lump-sum manner and not through an adjustment to the payment of charterhire under the Time Charter.

 

     Borrower Shareholders ” means at any time from and including the Delivery Date means, Mitsui, NYK LNG and Teekay or in any case, any other person who has become a Borrower Shareholder in place of any of them as permitted by and pursuant to clause 9.2.17 and “ Borrower Shareholder ” means any one of them.

 

3


     Break Costs ” means the amount (if any) by which:

 

  (a) the interest which a Lender Finance Party should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in the Loan or any 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 Finance Party 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.

 

     and “ Break Gains ” means the amount (if any) by which the amount in (b) exceeds the amount in (a).

 

     Builder ” means Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., a company incorporated in the Republic of Korea with its registered office at 34th Fl., Samsung Insurance Seocho Tower 1321-15, Seocho-Dong, Seocho-Gu, Seoul, Korea 137-857.

 

     Building Contract ” means the contract dated 18 December 2007 on the terms and subject to the conditions of which the Builder has agreed to construct the Vessel for, and deliver the Vessel to the Borrower.

 

     Building Contract Assignment Consent and Acknowledgement ” means in relation to the Building Contract, the acknowledgement of notice of and consent to, the assignment of the Building Contract to be given by the Builder in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee.

 

     Business Day ” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for business in London, Paris, Seoul, Tokyo and New York.

 

     Buyer Credit ” means the aggregate amount of all the Buyer Credit Commitments advanced or to be advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower under clause 2 or, where the context requires, the aggregate amounts advanced and for the time being outstanding.

 

     Buyer Credit Commitments ” means the aggregate of the Commitments of the Lenders for the Vessel as shown in the column headed “ Buyer Credit ” in Schedule 1, Part 1 as the same is reduced by the relevant clauses of this Agreement and which shall at no time exceed the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount.

 

     Buyer Credit Margin ” means zero point seven eight per cent (0.78%) per annum.

 

     Buyer Credit Maximum Amount ” means the lesser of (a) forty four per cent. (44%) of eighty per cent. (80%) of the Total Project Cost and (b) ninety two million four hundred thousand Dollars ($92,400,000).

 

     Calyon ” means Calyon, a credit institution established under the laws of France, acting through its office at 9 quai du President Paul Doumer, 92920 Paris, La Defense Cedex, France.

 

     Change of Control ” means either (i) in respect of the Borrower that the Borrower Shareholders either together or any one or more of them shall cease, for any reason whatsoever, to own or control directly or indirectly, sixty-six per cent. (66%) of the shares of the Borrower or, (ii) in respect of Teekay LNG that as from Delivery and provided that Teekay has transferred its shares in the Borrower to Teekay LNG, Teekay ceases to hold, directly or indirectly at least fifty-one per cent. (51%) of the voting power from time to time in Teekay GP LLC, the general partner in Teekay LNG.

 

4


     Classification ” means the classification referred to in and as required by, clause 9.6.3(b).

 

     Classification Society ” means the American Bureau of Shipping or such other classification society which is a member of the International Association of Classification Societies and which the Agent shall at the Borrower’s request have agreed in writing shall be treated as the Classification Society for the Vessel for the purpose of the Security Documents.

 

     Commercial Facility ” means, the credit facility made available by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement and more particularly described in clause 2.1.2.

 

     Commercial Loan ” means the aggregate amount advanced or to be advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower under clause 2 or, where the context requires, the aggregate amounts advanced and for the time being outstanding.

 

     Commercial Loan Maximum Amount ” means the lesser of (a) fifty six per cent. (56%) of eighty per cent. (80%) of the Total Project Cost and (b) one hundred and seventeen million six hundred thousand Dollars ($117,600,000).

 

     Commercial Loan Margin ” means (i) during the Pre-Delivery Period one point zero zero per cent. (1.00%) per annum and (ii) during the Post-Delivery Period one point three zero per cent. (1.30%) per annum.

 

     Commitment ” means, in relation to a Lender, the amount of the Loan which that Lender agrees under clause 2.1 to advance to the Borrower as its several liability as indicated against the name of that Lender in Schedule 1 Part I and/or Schedule 1 Part II as reduced by any relevant term of this Agreement and “ Commitments ” means all or more than one of them.

 

     Commitment Fee ” means the commitment fee to be paid by the Borrower to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders pursuant to clause 7.2.

 

     Communication ” means any notice, approval, demand, request or other communication from one party to this Agreement to any other party to this Agreement.

 

     Company ” means at any given time the company responsible for the Vessel’s compliance with (i) the ISM Code under paragraph 1.1.2 of the ISM Code and/or (ii) the ISPS Code (as the case may be).

 

     Compliance Certificate ” means a certificate in the form set out in Schedule 8.

 

     Compulsory Acquisition ” means requisition for title or other compulsory acquisition, 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 facto but shall exclude requisition for use or hire not involving requisition for title.

 

     Contract Instalment Advance ” means subject always to the provisions of this Agreement, Drawings in the maximum amount not exceeding the relevant instalment amount of the Contract Price set out in each column (3) of Part A of Schedule 7 (as such sums instalmen t amount may be adjusted as permitted under the Building Contract) which shall be applied in payment of part of the instalment of the Contract Price payable by the Borrower at the completion of the relevant stage of construction of the Vessel pursuant to the Building Contract.

 

     Contract Price ” means the actual amount payable for the Vessel pursuant to the Building Contract.

 

     Corporate Management Agreement ” means the Corporate Management and Services Agreement executed or (as the context may require) to be executed between the Borrower and Mitsui.

 

5


     Credit Support Document ” means any document described as such in the Swap Agreements and where the context permits, any other document referred to in any Credit Support Document which has the effect of creating an Encumbrance in favour of any of the Lender Finance Parties.

 

     Currency of Account ” means, in relation to any payment to be made to a Lender Finance Party pursuant to any of the Security Documents, the currency in which that payment is required to be made by the terms of the relevant Security Document.

 

     Debt Service Amount ” means in relation to any period all interest, principal and fees payable by the Borrower during that period under or pursuant to this Agreement, the Swap Agreements and any transactions under the Swap Agreements less any amounts receivable by the Borrower during that period under or pursuant to the Swap Agreements.

 

     Debt Service Reserve Account ” means the account numbered 09618 078601 004 72 USD and designated the “Debt Service Reserve Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Debt Service Reserve Account and any other account of the Borrower with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Debt Service Reserve Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

 

     Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee ” means the deed of assignment referred to in clause 8.1.1.

 

     Deed of Assignment of Contracts ” means the deed of assignment referred to in clause 8.1.5.

 

     Deed of Covenants ” means the deed of covenants referred to in clause 8.1.2.

 

     Default Rate ” means the rate which is the aggregate of LIBOR, any Mandatory Cost, the Margin and one point zero zero per cent. (1.00%) per annum.

 

     Delivery Date ” means the date on which the Vessel is actually delivered by the Builder to the Borrower under the Building Contract and accepted by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter.

 

     Delivery Date Advance ” means a Drawing made, or to be made to finance the instalment of the Contract Price falling due on the Delivery Date.

 

     Depot Spare Parts ” has the meaning given to that term in the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement.

 

     Depot Spares Sharing Agreement ” means the agreement between, amongst others, the Borrower and the Time Charterer in respect of spare parts for, inter alia, the Vessel.

 

     Distribution Account ” means the account numbered 09618 078601 006 66 USD and designated the “Distribution Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank.

 

     Dividend Lock-up Account ” means the account numbered 09618 078601 005 69 USD and designated the “Dividend Lock-up Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Dividend Lock-up Account and any other account of the Borrower with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Dividend Lock-up Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

 

     Dividend Restriction Event ” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events:

 

  (a) the Agent has not received payment in full of the first Repayment Instalment under the Buyer Credit when due;

 

6


  (b) an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived which has a Material Adverse Effect;

 

  (c) any charterhire under the Time Charter has not been paid when due and such charterhire together with interest thereon remains unpaid;

 

  (d) the Borrower has failed to demonstrate that the average DSCR for the then immediately preceding four (4) quarters is lower than 1.13x;

 

  (e) any of the Accounts (excluding the Distribution Account) is not fully funded to the amount required at that time as required pursuant to clause 8 (provided that this shall not apply to the Debt Service Reserve Account to the extent that the Borrower’s obligation to retain the DSRA Amount in the Debt Service Reserve Account is satisfied by means of the DSRA Letter of Credit and provided further that this shall not apply to the Dry Docking Reserve Account to the extent that, for the then applicable period, amounts have been deposited into the Dry Docking Reserve Account in accordance with clause 8.3.2);

 

  (f) a Total Loss has occurred, unless the Borrower has complied with its prepayment obligations under clause 5.5; or

 

  (g) the credit rating of an L/C Issuer falls below the Minimum Credit Rating applicable to it as described in clause 9.1.20. 9.1.20 where (i) a demand has been made under the DSRA Letter of Credit in accordance with clause 8.5 and (ii) the L/C Issuer has failed to pay the full amount so demanded .

 

     Documentation Agency Fee Letter ” means the fee letter in respect of the fee referred to in clause 7.4 and made between the Borrower and Calyon.

 

     Dollars ” “ US$ ” and “ $ ” each means available and freely transferable and convertible funds in lawful currency of the United States of America.

 

     Dollar Equivalent ” of an amount in a currency other than Dollars for any day means the amount of Dollars required to purchase that amount at the spot rate of exchange of the Agent for the purchase of the applicable currency with Dollars in the London foreign exchange market at 11.00 a.m. for delivery on that day.

 

     Drawdown Date ” means the date on which a Drawing is advanced.

 

     Drawdown Notice ” means a notice substantially in the form set out in the relevant part of Schedule 5.

 

     Drawing ” means each borrowing of a proportion of the Commitment by the Borrower pursuant to clause 2 whether as a Contract Instalment Advance and/or an Ancillary Cost Advance and/or the Delivery Date Advance or (as the context may require) the principal amount of such borrowing.

 

     Dry Docking Reserve Account ” means the account numbered 09618 078601 002 78 USD and designated the “Dry Docking Reserve Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Dry Docking Reserve Account and any other account of the Borrower with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Dry Docking Reserve Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

 

     Dry Docking Reserve Account Payments ” means the sum calculated by the Borrower which should be reserved in order to meet the costs in respect of the next scheduled dry docking of the Vessel (including, without limitation, the costs in respect of the long term maintenance and repair of the Vessel), each such calculation shall be demonstrated as being fair and reasonable to the Agent’s satisfaction not later than the date falling, in respect of the first scheduled dry docking date, three (3) Months prior to the Scheduled Delivery Date and, in respect of each subsequent scheduled dry docking date, not later than the date falling three (3) Months prior to the immediately preceding scheduled dry docking date of the Vessel.

 

7


     DSCR ” means in relation to any period the ratio which the Revenues less Operating Costs during that period bear to the Debt Service Amount paid or payable in relation to that period.

 

     DSRA Amount ” has the meaning given to that term in clause 9.1.18.

 

     DSRA Letter of Credit ” means an irrevocable letter of credit in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent which, if issued, shall be issued by an L/C Issuer for an original amount determined by the Agent to be equal whether alone or in aggregate to 6 Months principal and interest repayments under this Agreement or such other amounts as referred to in clause 9.1.18 and for a period of not less than 1 year or, during the final year before the Maturity Date, such other period of less than 1 year with the prior written consent of the Agent.

 

     Earnings ” means all hires including (without limitation) all time charter hire and bareboat charter hire, freights, pool income and other sums payable to or for the account of the Borrower in respect of the Vessel including (without limitation) all remuneration for salvage and towage services, demurrage and detention moneys, contributions in general average, compensation in respect of any requisition for hire and damages and other payments (whether awarded by any court or arbitral tribunal or by agreement or otherwise) for breach, termination or variation of any contract for the operation, employment or use of the Vessel.

 

     Encumbrance ” means any mortgage, charge (whether fixed or floating), pledge, lien, assignment, hypothecation, preferential right, option, title retention or trust arrangement or any other agreement or arrangement which, in any of the aforementioned instances, has the effect of creating security.

 

     Environmental Affiliate ” means an agent or employee of the Borrower or a person in a contractual relationship with the Borrower or any sub-lessee in respect of the operation, management or maintenance of the Vessel (including without limitation, the operation of or the carriage of cargo of the Vessel).

 

     Environmental Approval ” means any permit, licence, ruling, variance, exemption, certificate, filing, comment, Authorisation or other approval, required at any time under any applicable Environmental Law.

 

     Environmental Claim ” means any claim by any person which arises out of or in connection with an Environmental Incident or any alleged Environmental Incident or any breach of, or non-compliance with, or otherwise relates to any Environmental Law or Environmental Approval.

 

     Environmental Incident ” means:

 

  (a) any release, discharge or emission of Environmentally Sensitive Material from the Vessel; or

 

  (b) any incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released, discharged or emitted from a vessel other than the Vessel and which involves a collision between the Vessel and such other vessel or some other incident of navigation or operation, in either case, in connection with which the Vessel is actually and/or is reasonably likely to be arrested, attached, detained or injuncted and/or where the Borrower, or any Environmental Affiliate or any of their respective officers, employees or other persons retained or instructed by them are finally determined to be at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action; or

 

  (c) any other incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released otherwise than from the Vessel and in connection with which the Vessel is actually or is reasonably likely to be arrested, attached, detained or injuncted and/or where the Borrower or any Environmental Affiliate or any of their respective officers, employees or other persons retained or instructed by them are finally determined to be at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action.

 

8


     Environmental Law ” means any or all laws applicable or relating to pollution or contamination or protection of the environment, to the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use or misuse, treatment, storage, disposal, carriage or holding of Environmentally Sensitive Material or to actual or threatened emissions, releases, spillages or discharges of Environmentally Sensitive Material.

 

     Environmentally Sensitive Material ” means liquefied natural gas, oil, oil products and any other element or substance whether natural or artificial and whether consisting of gas, liquid, solid or vapour (including any chemical, gas or other hazardous or noxious substance) which is or is capable of becoming polluting, toxic, hazardous, harmful or damaging to mankind or the environment or any living organism.

 

     Event of Default ” means any of the events set out in clause 10.2.

 

     Execution Date ” means the date on which this Agreement is executed by each of the parties hereto.

 

     Facility Period ” means the period beginning on the Execution Date and ending on the date when the whole of the Loan Outstandings and all other amounts due and owing under this Agreement have been repaid in full and the Borrower has ceased to be under any further actual liability to the Lender Finance Parties under or in connection with the Security Documents.

 

     Fee Letters ” means the Arrangement Fee Letter, the Agency Fee Letter, the Documentation Agency Fee Letter and the Account Bank Fee Letter.

 

     Financial Indebtedness ” means, in relation to a person (the “ debtor ”), a liability of the debtor:

 

  (a) for principal, interest or any other sum payable in respect of any moneys borrowed or raised by the debtor;

 

  (b) under any loan stock, bond, note or other security issued by the debtor;

 

  (c) under any acceptance credit, guarantee or letter of credit facility issued for the account of the debtor;

 

  (d) under a lease or any other agreement having the commercial effect of a borrowing or raising of money by the debtor;

 

  (e) under any foreign exchange transaction, any interest or currency swap or any other kind of derivative transaction entered into by the debtor or, if the agreement under which any such transaction is entered into requires netting of mutual liabilities, the liability of the debtor for the net amount; or

 

  (f) under a guarantee, indemnity or similar obligation entered into by the debtor in respect of a liability of another person which would fall within paragraphs (a) to (e) if the references to the debtor referred to the other person,

 

     provided that, Financial Indebtedness shall exclude (a) any shareholder loans and/or other debt instruments of the Borrower to the Borrower Shareholders which are fully subordinated to the Loan in accordance with clause 2.1.1 of the Letter of Sponsors Undertaking and (b) any shareholder loans which are repaid pursuant to clause 2.3.4.

 

     Flag State ” means the Bahamas.

 

     GAAP ” means, with respect to a person, the generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied by such person in preparation of its financial statements.

 

9


     Gas Sales and Purchase Agreements ” means the agreements entered into or (as the context may require) to be entered into between the Time Charterer and one or more affiliates of the Gas Suppliers for the sale and purchase of the LNG transported on the Vessel to the Gulf LNG Clean Energy regasification terminal located at the Port of Pascagoula, Mississippi.

 

     Gas Suppliers ” means the suppliers of feed gas to Angola LNG pursuant to the Gas Supply Agreements.

 

     Gas Supply Agreements ” means the gas supply agreements entered into or (as the context may require) to be entered into between each of the Gas Suppliers and Angola LNG for the supply by the Gas Suppliers of feed gas to Angola LNG for the purpose of liquefaction at the Angola LNG liquefaction plant and the subsequent sale of LNG by Angola LNG to the Time Charterer pursuant to the LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement.

 

     Government Entity ” means and includes (whether having a distinct legal personality or not) any national or local government authority, board, commission, department, division, organ, instrumentality, court or agency.

 

     Guarantee Bond ” has the meaning given to that term in the Building Contract.

 

     Holding Company ” means, in relation to any entity (the “ first entity ”), any other entity in respect of which the first entity is a Subsidiary.

 

     Indebtedness ” has the meaning given to that term in the Intercreditor Deed.

 

     Insurances ” means all policies and contracts of insurance (including but not limited to hull and machinery, all entries in protection and indemnity or war risks associations) which are from time to time taken out or entered into in respect of or in connection with the Vessel or her increased value and her Earnings and (where the context permits) all benefits thereof, including all claims of any nature and returns of premium.

 

     Insured Loss Value ” means, at any relevant time, 110% of the aggregate from time to time of the Lender Indebtedness.

 

     Intercreditor Deed ” means an intercreditor deed to be entered into between (1) the Agent, (2) the Security Trustee, (3) the Borrower, (4) the Lenders, (5) the KEIC Agent and (6) the Swap Providers.

 

     Interest Payment Date ” means each date for the payment of interest in accordance with clause 6.

 

     Interest Period ” means each interest period selected pursuant to clause 6.

 

     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) and incorporated into SOLAS as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time and all further resolutions, circulars, codes, guidelines, regulations and recommendations which are now or may in the future be issued by or on behalf of the International Maritime Organisation or any other entity with responsibility for implementing the ISM Code.

 

     ISSC ” means a valid international ship security certificate for a Vessel issued under the ISPS Code.

 

     ISPS Code ” means the International Vessel and Port Facility Security Code adopted by the International Maritime Organisation Assembly as the same may have been or may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

     KEIC ” means Korea Export Insurance Corporation of 2-16 Floors, Seoul Central Building, 136 Seorin Dong, Jongro-ku, Seoul 110-729, Korea.

 

10


     KEIC Acceptance Letter ” means the letter or letters to be entered into from KEIC to, amongst others, the KEIC Agent.

 

     KEIC Buyer Credit Policy ” means the Medium and Long Term Export Insurance Policy, the General Terms and Conditions of Medium and Long Term Export Insurance (Buyer’s Credit, Standard Type) and the special policy attached thereto to be issued by KEIC in respect of 95% of the Buyer Credit in relation to political and commercial risks.

 

     KEIC Insurance Premium ” means Four four point Five five per cent. (4.5%) of the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount.

 

     “law” or “Law” means any law, statute, treaty, convention, regulation, instrument or other subordinate legislation or other legislative or quasi-legislative rule or measure, or any order or decree of any government, judicial or public or other body or authority, or any directive, code of practice, circular, guidance note or other direction issued by any competent authority or agency (whether or not having the force of law).

 

     L/C Issuer ” means a financial institution issuing the DSRA Letter of Credit and having a Minimum Credit Rating.

 

     Lender Finance Parties ” means the Lenders, the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent and the Swap Providers.

 

     Lender Indebtedness ” means the Buyer Credit Liabilities and the Commercial Liabilities (each as defined in the Intercreditor Deed).

 

     Letter of Sponsors Undertaking ” means the undertaking referred to in clause 8.1.7 and executed or (as the context may require) to be executed by each of the Sponsors on a several basis in favour of the Security Trustee in form and substance acceptable to the Lenders.

 

     Leverage Ratio ” means the ratio of the Loan Outstandings to the aggregate of (without duplication) the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity, the Additional Shareholders’ Equity (to the extent the same has been advanced) and the issued share capital of the Borrower, shareholder loans and/or other debt instruments of the Borrower to the Borrower Shareholders and the amounts standing to the credit of its capital and revenue reserves (including any share premium account or capital redemption reserve but excluding any re-evaluation reserve).

 

     LIBOR ” means, in relation to a particular period:

 

  (a) the offered rate for deposits of Dollars for a period equal to such period and in an amount approximately equal to the amount in relation to which LIBOR is to be determined at 11.00 a.m. (London time) two (2) London Business Days prior to the first day of such period as displayed on Reuters Page LIBOR 01 on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates (the “ Screen Rate ”) Service or such other page as may replace such page on such system or on any other system for the time being displaying the rate so designated and if no such rate is available for any such period the rate shall be determined by interpolating between rates for such periods as are so available; or

 

  (b) if no Screen Rate is available for Dollars for any Interest Period, LIBOR for such period shall be the arithmetic mean (rounded upwards if necessary to five decimal places) of the rates respectively quoted to the Agent or any successor entity thereto by each of the Reference Banks (or, if not all the Reference Banks provide a quotation when requested, the arithmetic mean of the rates which are quoted) as such Reference Banks’ offered rates for deposits of Dollars in an amount approximately equal to the amount in relation to which LIBOR is to be determined for a period equivalent to such period to prime banks in the London Interbank Market at 11.00 a.m. (London time) two (2) London Business Days prior to the first day of such period; or

 

  (c) if on such date no such rate can be ascertained pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this definition, LIBOR for such period shall be the rate, determined by the Agent at which the Agent or any successor entity thereto is able to obtain deposits of Dollars in an amount approximately equal to the amount in respect of which LIBOR is to be determined, from whatever source it may select for a period equivalent to such period at 11.00 a.m. (London time) two (2) London Business Days prior to the first day of such period.

 

11


     LNG ” means liquefied natural gas.

 

     LNG Agreement ” means the LNG Sales and Purchase Agreement entered or (as the context may require) to be entered into between Angola LNG and the Time Charterer pursuant to which Angola LNG will supply to the Time Charterer and the Time Charterer will purchase from Angola LNG, LNG for transportation on the Vessel from the Angola LNG liquefaction plant to the Gulf LNG Clean Energy regasification terminal located at the Port of Pascagoula, Mississippi.

 

     Loan ” means the aggregate amount advanced or to be advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower under clause 2 or, where the context requires, the aggregate amounts advanced and for the time being outstanding.

 

     Loan Outstandings ” at any time means the total of all Drawings made at that time, to the extent not reduced by repayments, prepayments and voluntary reductions.

 

     London Business Days ” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for business in London.

 

     Majority Lenders ” means a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments in respect of the Loan aggregate more than sixty six point six seven per cent (66.67%) of the aggregate of all the Commitments in respect of the Loan.

 

     Manager ” means NYK LNG, or another management company approved by the Agent (acting under the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC). Provided however that NYK LNG shall be entitled to subcontract its technical management function under the Management Agreement to the Sub-Manager provided that the Sub-Manager enters into a Sub-Managers Undertaking and a Sub-Management Agreement Assignment.

 

     Management Agreement ” means, in respect of the Vessel, the management agreement, to be in form and substance acceptable to the Lenders acting reasonably, entered into, or as the case may be, to be entered into between the Borrower and the Manager providing for the Manager to manage the Vessel.

 

     Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement ” means the acknowledgement of notice and consent to be given by the Manager in respect of the Management Agreement in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Contracts.

 

     Manager’s Undertaking ” means an undertaking referred to in clause 8.1.8 executed or (as the context may require) to be executed by the Manager in favour of the Security Trustee as a condition precedent to the approval of the Management Agreement, such undertakings to be in a form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders in all respects.

 

     Mandatory Cost ” means for each Lender to which it applies, the cost imputed to that Lender of compliance with the mandatory liquid asset requirements of the Bank of England and/or the banking supervision or other costs imposed by the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank, determined in accordance with Schedule 6 (Calculation of the Mandatory Cost).

 

     Mandatory Prepayment Event ” means any of the events set out in clauses 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8 or 5.9.

 

     Margin ” means the Buyer Credit Margin or the Commercial Loan Margin as applicable.

 

     Master ” means the master of the Vessel from time to time.

 

12


     Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (a) the Borrower’s financial or operating condition or (b) the Borrower’s or any other Security Party’s ability to comply with its material obligations under any of the Security Documents or (c) the validity or enforceability of any of the Security Documents or (d) the rights and remedies of the Lender Finance Parties under the Security Documents.

 

     Maturity Date ” means the date falling twelve (12) years after the Delivery Date of the Vessel.

 

     Maximum Loan Amount ” means two hundred and ten million Dollars ($210,000,000).

 

     Minimum Credit Rating ” means (a) in relation to any L/C Issuer either a minimum Standard and Poors corporate rating of AA- or a minimum Moodys long term credit rating of Aa3 and (b) in relation to the Refund Guarantor a minimum long term credit rating of A- or equivalent by either Standard and Poors or Fitch.

 

     Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity ” means subject always to the provisions of the Letter of Sponsors Undertaking, a sum equal to no less than the lesser of 20% of the Scheduled Vessel Project Cost (being $52,500,000) and 20% of the Total Project Cost, made or (as the context may require) to be made available to the Borrower whether directly or indirectly by way of contributions to the ordinary, preferential or other class of share capital of the Borrower or by way of shareholder loans and/or debt instruments of the Borrower which shareholder loans and/or debt instruments shall be subordinated in all respects to the amounts due or owing to the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Swap Providers or the Lenders under the Security Documents on terms acceptable to them, to be applied on a pro-rata basis with the Drawings in respect of the costs to be funded by the Loan.

 

     Mitsui ” means Mitsui & Co., Ltd. a Japanese corporation with its registered office at 2-1, Ohtemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan.

 

     Moodys ” means Moodys’ Investors Service of 99 Church Street, New York, NY 10007, USA and includes its successors in title.

 

     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) 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; and

 

  (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.

 

     The above rules will only apply to the last Month of any period, and “ Monthly ” shall be construed accordingly.

 

     Mortgage ” means together the first priority statutory ship mortgage together with the Deed of Covenants collateral thereto over the Vessel made or to be made between the Borrower and the Security Trustee referred to in clause 8.1.2 (the “ Mortgage ”).

 

     NYK ” means Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, a Japanese corporation with its registered office at 3-2, Marunouchi 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0005, Japan.

 

     NYK LNG ” means NYK LNG (Atlantic) Ltd., a company incorporated in England and Wales with its registered office at Citypoint, 1 Ropemaker Street, London EC2Y 9NY.

 

     Operating Costs ” means in relation to any period, the Borrower’s operating costs in respect of the Vessel, but excluding any unanticipated costs of a non-recurring and extraordinary nature which have not been reimbursed but which are to be reimbursed to the Borrower (and in respect of which the Borrower shall provide such evidence as the Agent may require) and no amount in respect of which is included in the Revenues for such period.

 

13


     Operator ” means any person concerned in the operation of the Vessel and falling within the definitions of “ Company ” set out in the ISM Code.

 

     Permitted Encumbrance ” means:

 

  (a) Encumbrances created or contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Relevant Documents;

 

  (b) liens for unpaid crew’s wages;

 

  (c) liens for salvage;

 

  (d) liens arising by operation of law for not more than 2 Months’ prepaid hire under any charter in relation to a Vessel not prohibited by the Relevant Documents;

 

  (e) liens for Master’s disbursements incurred in the ordinary course of trading;

 

  (f) other liens arising by operation of law or otherwise in the ordinary course of the operation, repair or maintenance of the Vessel and which secure amounts not exceeding the Threshold Amount where the Borrower 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 Borrower finally has to pay such claim so long as any such proceedings shall not, and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of the Vessel, or any interest in the Vessel;

 

  (g) any security interest created over the Depot Spare Parts by a sister vessel in favour of its lenders;

 

  (h) any security interest created in favour of a claimant or defendant in any action of the court or tribunal before whom such action is brought as security for costs and expenses where the Borrower 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 continued existence of such security interest shall not and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of, the Vessel or any interest in the Vessel; and

 

  (i) security interests 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 security interest shall not and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of a Vessel, or any interest in the Vessel.

 

     Post-Delivery Period ” means the period from and including the date falling immediately after the Delivery Date up to and including the last day of the Facility Period.

 

     Potential Event of Default ” means any event which, with the giving of notice and/or the passage of time and/or the satisfaction of any materiality test, would constitute an Event of Default.

 

     Pre-Delivery Period ” means the period from and including the Execution Date up to and including the Delivery Date.

 

     Project Co-ordination Agreement ” means the project co-ordination agreement entered or, as the case may be, to be entered into between the Borrower, the Time Charterer and the Security Trustee to be in form and substance satisfactory to all Lenders.

 

     Project Documents ” means the Building Contract, the Refund Guarantee, the Management Agreement, the Corporate Management Agreement, the Supervision Agreement, the Tripartite Agreement, the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement, the Sub-Management Agreement and the Time Charter and any other agreements or documents which the Agent and the Borrower agree shall be a “Project Document”.

 

14


     Proportionate Share ” in respect of a Loan means, for each Lender, the percentage that its Commitment relating to that Loan bears to the aggregate Commitments of all Lenders for that Loan from time to time, being initially the percentage indicated against the name of that Lender in Schedule 1.

 

     Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance ” has the meaning given to that term in the Building Contract.

 

     Qualifying Entity ” means a person having a long term corporate credit rating of at least BBB-with Standard and Poors or Baa3 with Moodys;

 

     Reference Banks ” means, in relation to LIBOR, the principal London offices of the Agent, HSBC Bank plc, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and Barclays Bank pic and such other banks as may be appointed by the Agent in consultation with the Borrower.

 

     Refund Guarantee ” means the refund guarantee dated 20 December 2007 and issued by the Refund Guarantor in favour of the Borrower.

 

     Refund Guarantee Consent and Acknowledgement ” means the acknowledgement of notice of and consent to, the assignment in respect of the Refund Guarantee to be given by the Refund Guarantor in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee.

 

     Refund Guarantor ” means New Hampshire Insurance Company (a wholly owned subsidiary of American International Companies) a Pennsylvania corporation and having its registered office at Principal Bond Office, 175 Water Street—26th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10038.

 

     Relevant Documents ” means the Security Documents, the Project Documents and the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy.

 

     Relevant Jurisdiction ” means any jurisdiction in which or where any Security Party is incorporated, resident, domiciled, has a permanent establishment, carries on, or has a place of business or is otherwise effectively connected.

 

     Repayment Date ” means any date for payment of a Repayment Instalment in accordance with clause 5.

 

     Repayment Instalment ” means any instalment of a Loan to be repaid by the Borrower in accordance with clause 5.

 

     Requisition Compensation ” means all compensation or other money which may from time to time be payable to the Borrower as a result of the Compulsory Acquisition of the Vessel.

 

     Retention Account ” means the account numbered 09618 078601 003 75 USD and designated the “Retention Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Retention Account and/or any other account of the Borrower, with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Retention Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

 

     Retention Amount ” means, in relation to any Retention Date, such sum as shall be the aggregate of:

 

  (a)

one-third ( 1/ 3 ) of the Repayment Instalment falling due for payment pursuant to clause 5.1 (as the same may have been reduced by any permitted or required prepayment) on the next Repayment Date after the relevant Retention Date other than in the case of the final Repayment Instalment in respect of which no retention shall be made; and

 

15


  (b)

one-third ( 1/ 3 ) of the aggregate amount of interest falling due for payment in respect of the Loan during and at the end of each Interest Period current at the relevant Retention Date as reduced or, as the case may be, increased by the amounts (if any) to be paid or, as the case may be, to be received by the Borrower under the Swap Agreements.

 

     Retention Dates ” means in relation to the Loan, the date falling one (1) Month after the Delivery Date and each of the dates falling at Monthly intervals after such date and prior to the final Repayment Date.

 

     Revenue Account ” means the account numbered 09618 078601 001 81 USD and designated the “Revenue Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Revenue Account and/or any other account of the Borrower with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Revenue Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

 

     Revenues ” means, in relation to any period, all moneys received or receivable by the Borrower in relation to that period including:

 

  (a) moneys received or receivable pursuant to the Time Charter;

 

  (b) amounts representing interest on the Accounts; and

 

  (c) all other amounts received or receivable by the Borrower during the relevant period, but excluding Drawings paid to the Borrower under this Agreement.

 

     Revised Delivery Date ” means any Revised Delivery Date as defined in Article V(d) of the Building Contract and pursuant to which the Borrower is entitled to delay delivery of the Vessel by notice in writing to the Builder on two occasions and by up to 45 days on each occasion.

 

     Scheduled Delivery Date ” means 30 September 2011 or any Revised Delivery Date.

 

     Scheduled Vessel Project Cost ” means two hundred and sixty two million five hundred thousand Dollars ($262,500,000).

 

     Security Documents ” means this Agreement, the Swap Agreement, any other Credit Support Documents, the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee, the Assignment, the Deed of Assignment of Contracts, the Letter of Sponsors Undertaking, the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants, the Share Pledges Charges , the Account Charge, the Project Co-ordination Agreement, the Building Contract Assignment Consent and Acknowledgement, the Refund Guarantee Consent and Acknowledgement, the Supervision Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement, the Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement, the Sub-Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement, the Intercreditor Deed, the Manager’s Undertaking, the Sub-Manager’s Undertaking, the Fee Letters or (where the context permits) any one of them and any other agreement or document which may at any time be executed to guarantee or as security for the payment or repayment of all or any part of the Indebtedness and which the Borrower and the Agent agree to be a Security Document.

 

     Security Parties ” means, at any relevant time, the Borrower, the Sponsors, the Borrower Shareholders, the Supervisor, the Manager, the Sub-Manager and, with the consent of the Borrower, any other party who may at any time during the Facility Period be liable for, or provide security for, all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness, and “ Security Party ” means any one of them.

 

     Security Trustee ” means BNP Paribas S.A. in its capacity as security trustee for the purposes of the Security Documents.

 

16


     Share Pledges Charges ” means the share-pledges charge over shares from each Borrower Shareholder in respect of the shares in the Borrower as referred to in clause 8.1.6.

 

     SOLAS ” means International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, with Protocol 1978 and Amendments of 1981, 1983, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004 as the same may be further amended or supplemented, consolidated or replaced from time to time.

 

     Sponsors ” means Mitsui, NYK and Teekay, or in any case, any other person who has acceded to the Security Documents as a Sponsor in place of any of them as permitted by and pursuant to clause 9.2.17 and Sponsor means any one of them.

 

     Standard & Poors ” means Standard & Poors Rating Services of 25 Broadway, New York, NY 10004, USA and includes its successors in title.

 

     Sub - Manager ” means NYK LNG Shipmanagement (UK) Ltd., an English company with its registered office at City Point, 1 Ropemaker Street, London, EC2Y 9NY, United Kingdom.

 

     Sub Management Agreement ” means the management agreement to be entered into between the Manager and the Sub-Manager in respect of the Vessel.

 

     Sub - Manager’s Undertaking ” means an undertaking agreement as referred to in clause 8.1.9 executed or (as the context may require) to be executed by the Sub-Manager in favour of the Security Trustee as a condition precedent to the approval of the Sub-Management Agreement, such undertaking to be in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent in all respects.

 

     Subsidiary ” means a subsidiary undertaking, as defined in section 736 Companies Act 1985 or any analogous definition under any other relevant system of law.

 

     Supervision Agreement ” means the supervision agreement to be entered into between the Borrower and the Supervisors as supervisors in respect of, inter alia, the Vessel.

 

     Supervision Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement ” means the acknowledgement of notice of and consent to, the assignment in respect of the Supervision Agreement to be given by the Supervisor in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Contracts.

 

     Supervisors ” means Teekay Shipping Limited and NYK or any one of their respective Affiliates who are parties to the Supervision Agreement and Supervisors means either of them;

 

     Swap Agreement ” means each ISDA Master Agreement and each confirmation issued thereunder between a Swap Provider and the Borrower together with any novation documentation entered into in relation to swap arrangements relating to this Agreement entered into prior to the date hereof (together the “ Swap Agreements ”).

 

     Swap Margin ” means the Swap Margin applicable to each Swap Agreement as set out in the Swap Margin Side Letters.

 

     Swap Margin Side Letters ” means the letter agreement to be entered into between the Swap Providers and the Borrower setting out the Swap Margin in form and substance satisfactory to each of the Swap Providers and the Borrower.

 

     Swap Providers ” means each of the Lenders (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any entity which has ceased to be a Lender pursuant to clause 12) or their respective affiliate acting in its capacity as a swap provider pursuant to a Swap Agreement and “ Swap Provider ” means any one or more of them.

 

     Tax ” includes all present and future taxes, levies (whether by deduction, withholding or otherwise), imposts, duties, or charges of a similar nature (or any amount payable on account of or as security for any of the foregoing), including, but not limited to, income tax, corporation tax, VAT, stamp duty, customs and other impost or export duty or excise duty, imposed by any statutory, governmental, national, international, state or local taxing or fiscal authority, body or agency or department whatsoever or any central bank, monetary agency or European Union institution, whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere together with interest thereon and any additions, fines, surcharges, penalties in respect thereof or relating thereto and “ Taxes ” and “ Taxation ” shall be construed accordingly.

 

17


     Teekay ” means Teekay Corporation a company incorporated in the Marshall Islands with its registered office at c/o Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH 96960.

 

     Teekay LNG ” means Teekay LNG Partners L.P. a limited partnership formed in the Marshall Islands with its registered office at c/o Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960.

 

     Teekay Shipping Limited ” means Teekay Shipping Limited, a Bermuda company constituted from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas with its registered office at 4th Floor, Belvedere Building, 69 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton, HM 09, Bermuda.

 

     Threshold Amount ” means two million Dollars ($2,000,000) or its Dollar Equivalent.

 

     Time Charter ” means in respect of the Vessel, the time charter dated 18 December 2007 between the Borrower and the Time Charterer.

 

     Time Charterer ” has the meaning ascribed to that term in Recital D above.

 

     Total Loss ” means:-

 

  (a) an actual, constructive or compromised or arranged total loss of the Vessel; or

 

  (b) any Compulsory Acquisition of the Vessel; or

 

  (c) the hijacking, theft, condemnation, capture, seizure, arrest, detention or confiscation of the Vessel (other than where the same amounts to the Compulsory Acquisition of the Vessel) by any person or entity, including any Government Entity, or by persons acting or purporting to act on behalf of any Government Entity, unless the Vessel is released and restored to the Borrower from such hijacking, theft, condemnation, capture, seizure, arrest, detention or confiscation within thirty (30) days after the occurrence thereof or where such event is an insured risk under the Insurances, six (6) Months or such lesser period as is stipulated in the relevant Insurances as being required to elapse before a Total Loss of the Vessel shall be deemed as having occurred.

 

     Total Project Cost ” means a sum equal to the aggregate amount in Dollars of the Contract Price and Ancillary Costs.

 

     Transfer Certificate ” means a certificate materially in the form set forth in Schedule 4 or any other form agreed by the Borrower and the Agent signed by a Lender and a Transferee whereby:-

 

  (a) such Lender procures the transfer to such Transferee of all or a part of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement upon and subject to the terms and conditions set out in clause 12; and

 

  (b) such Transferee undertakes to perform the obligations it will assume as a result of delivery of such certificate to the Agent as is contemplated in clause 12.

 

     Transfer Date ” means, in relation to any Transfer Certificate, the date for the making of the transfer specified in the schedule to such Transfer Certificate.

 

     Tripartite Agreement ” means the Tripartite Agreement dated 18 December 2007 and made between the Builder, the Borrower and the Time Charterer.

 

18


     Tripartite Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement ” means the acknowledgement of and consent to, the assignment in respect of the Tripartite Agreement to be given by the Builder and the Time Charterer in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Contracts.

 

     Transferee ” means a bank or other financial institution to which a Lender transfers all or part of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

 

     Unpaid Sum ” means any sum due and payable but unpaid by a Security Party under the Security Documents.

 

     Value Added Tax ” or “ VAT ” means:

 

  (a) value added tax of the United Kingdom as provided for in the VATA including legislation (delegated or otherwise) supplementary thereto, and any similar or substituted tax, or any tax imposed, levied or assessed in the United Kingdom on added value or turnover; and

 

  (b) any similar tax imposed, levied or assessed in any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.

 

     VATA ” means the Value Added Tax Act 1994.

 

     Vessel ” means the Vessel listed in Schedule 2 and everything now or in the future belonging to it on board and ashore.

 

     Vessel Registry ” means the Bahamas Vessel Registry.

 

     Wholly-Owned Subsidiary ” has the meaning given to the term “wholly-owned subsidiary” in section 736 of the Companies Act 1985.

 

1.2 Headings

 

     clause headings and table of contents are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

1.3 Construction of certain terms

 

     In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:

 

1.3.1 references to clauses and schedules are to be construed as references to the clauses of, and schedules to, this Agreement and references to this Agreement include its schedules;

 

1.3.2 references to (or to any specified provision of) this Agreement or any other document shall be construed as references to this Agreement, that provision or that document as in force for the time being and as amended or supplemented in accordance with the terms thereof, or, as the case may be, with the agreement of the relevant parties;

 

1.3.3 references to a “regulation” include any present or future regulation, rule, directive, requirement, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law) of any agency, authority, central bank or government department or any self-regulatory or other national or supra-national authority;

 

1.3.4 words importing the plural shall include the singular and vice versa;

 

1.3.5 references to a time of day are to London time;

 

1.3.6 references to a “person” shall be construed as including references to an individual, firm, company, corporation, unincorporated body of persons or any Government Entity and includes its successors and permitted transferees and assigns;

 

19


1.3.7 references to a “guarantee” include references to an indemnity or other assurance against financial loss including, without limitation, an obligation to purchase assets or services as a consequence of an event of default by any other person to pay any Indebtedness and “guaranteed” shall be construed accordingly;

 

1.3.8 references to any enactment shall be deemed to include references to such enactment as re-enacted, amended or extended; and

 

1.3.9 references to any of the Lender Finance Parties includes its successors and permitted transferees and assigns.

 

1.3.10 references to “indebtedness” means any obligation for the payment or repayment of money, whether as principal or as surety and whether present, future, actual or contingent.

 

2 The Loan and its Purpose

 

2.1 Agreement to lend

 

     Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in reliance on each of the representations and warranties made or to be made in or in accordance with each of the Security Documents:

 

2.1.1 each of the Lenders agrees to advance to the Borrower its Commitment of an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount to be used by the Borrower for the purposes referred to in Recital (B); and

 

2.1.2 each of the Lenders agrees to advance to the Borrower its Commitment of an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the Commercial Loan Maximum Amount to be used by the Borrower for the purposes referred to in Recital (C).

 

2.2 Drawdown Request

 

     The Borrower may request a Drawing to be advanced in one amount on any Business Day prior to the relevant Availability Termination Date by delivery to the Agent of a duly completed Drawdown Notice not later than 10 a.m. (Paris time) on a Business Day falling not more than ten (10) and not fewer than three (3) Business Days before the proposed Drawdown Date. A Drawdown Notice shall be effective on actual receipt by the Agent and, once given, shall, subject as provided in clause 13.8, be irrevocable.

 

2.3 Drawings

 

2.3.1 The amount of each Drawing shall, subject to the following provisions of this clause 2.3, be for such amount as is specified in the Drawdown Notice for that Drawing.

 

2.3.2 Drawings may only be made on Business Days falling within the Availability Period.

 

2.3.3 Ancillary Cost Advances shall, subject to clause 3, only be available in minimum amounts of one million Dollars ($1,000,000) (provided that this threshold shall not apply to Ancillary Cost Advances drawn to pay the Ancillary Costs described in part (c) of the definition thereof ) and shall only be available for application in or towards payment of expenditure which the Borrower has certified and evidenced in accordance with clause 3.1.4 and in any event an Ancillary Cost Advance shall only be available if such Ancillary Cost Advance will not, when aggregated with all previous Ancillary Cost Advances, equal a sum in excess of $36,000,000.

 

2.3.4 The Borrower shall be entitled to draw an Ancillary Cost Advance on the first Drawdown Date up to a maximum amount of $ 16,750,000 21,200,000 for the purpose of repaying shareholder loans to the extent required to achieve a Borrower’s Leverage Ratio of 4:1.

 

2.3.5 Each Ancillary Cost Advance may be made on any date.

 

20


2.3.6 Contract Instalment Advances shall, subject always to clauses 2.1 and 3, be in the maximum amount not exceeding the relevant instalment amount of the Contract Price set out in each column (3)_ of Part A of Schedule 7 as such sums instalment amounts may be amended following any permitted increase in the Contract Price and shall only be available for application (a) in or towards payment of instalments of the Contract Price which have become due and payable by the Borrower pursuant to the Building Contract or (b) in or towards reimbursement to the Borrower of such part of any instalment amount of the Contract Price as set out in column (3)_ of Part A of Schedule 7 which has become due and payable by the Borrower pursuant to the Building Contract and which the Borrower has satisfied the Agent has been paid by the Borrower or by the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower.

 

2.3.7 No Drawing shall be available to the Borrower unless (a) the Agent or the Borrower shall have first received such amount (the Relevant Amount ) by way of contributions of Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity which, when aggregated with the amounts received by the Agent from the Lenders in respect of such Drawing (and in the case of amounts received by the Borrower, the Agent is satisfied that such amount is or has been or is to be applied in meeting the instalments of Contract Price or Ancillary Cost in respect of which the relevant Drawing is to be applied (and for the avoidance of doubt the instalments of Ancillary Costs in respect of which Drawings are to be applied shall not when aggregated with all Ancillary Costs in respect of which an Ancillary Cost Advance has been made exceed $36,000,000)) is equal to or greater than one fifth (1/5th) of the Total Project Cost as at the date of the relevant Drawing (and including such Drawing) and (b) the aggregate of the Drawing and the Relevant Amount shall be not less than the total amount of the relevant Ancillary Costs and/or the relevant instalment of the Contract Price in respect of which the relevant Drawing is to be applied.

 

2.3.8 The aggregate amount which may be drawn down under this Agreement shall never exceed the lesser of (a) 80% of the Total Project Cost and (b) $210,000,000.

 

2.3.9 Each Drawing (together with the Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity paid to the Agent pursuant to clause 2.9 in respect of that Drawing) shall unless the Agent shall determine otherwise be paid by the Agent on behalf of the Borrower directly to the payee(s) in respect of which such Drawing is made provided that in respect of any Ancillary Cost in respect of which an Ancillary Cost Advance may be made under this Agreement (excluding for these purposes the KEIC Insurance Premium) of less than $1,000,000 in aggregate or where the Agent is satisfied that the Borrower has settled the amount due to any such payee(s) in full the Agent shall pay that part of the relevant Drawing directly to the Borrower.

 

2.3.10 The Subject to clause 2.3.14, the Agent shall be entitled to set off from any Drawing any interest, fees or commissions or other sums due and payable by the Borrower to the Lenders or any of them and/or to the Agent and/or to the Security Trustee and/or to the KEIC Agent and/or to the Swap Providers under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents and to apply the same in settlement of such interest, fees or commissions or other sums so due and payable.

 

2.3.11

The first Drawing (which includes the first Contract Instalment Advance) shall be pro rated between-the-Buyer-Credit-and the Cemmercial Loan PROVIDED THAT any Ancillary Cost Advance included in such Drawing, including but-not limited to the KEIC Premium r shall be funded 100% by the portion of such Drawing funded by the Commercial-Loan. The-remaining components of sueh Drawing shall be funded by such percentage of the Buyer Credit and Commercial Loan as is required to ensure that such Drawing, taken as a whole, is pro-rated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan.

 

2.3 .11 2.3.12 The first Drawing (which includes the first Contract Instalment Advance) shall be prorated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan PROVIDED THAT any Ancillary Cost Advance included in such Drawing, including but not limited to the KEIC Premium, shall be funded 100% by the portion of such Drawing funded by the Commercial Loan. The remaining components of such Drawing shall be funded by such percentage of the Buyer Credit and Commercial Loan as is required to ensure that such Drawing, taken as a whole, is pro-rated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan.

 

21


2.3.12 2.3.13 Further Drawings (excluding the Drawing due on the Delivery Date) shall each be funded (a) in respect of a Contract Instalment Advance, by the Buyer Credit in an amount equal to the lesser of US$ 9,240,000 and 50% of the amount of such Contract Instalment Advance with the remainder of such Contract Instalment Advance funded by the Commercial Loan and (b) in respect of any Ancillary Costs Advance included in such Drawing, 100% by the Commercial Loan.

 

2.3.13 2.3.14 The Drawing due on the Delivery Date (which includes the Delivery Date Advance) shall be funded (a) in respect of any Ancillary Costs Advance included in such Drawing, 100% by the Commercial Loan and (b) in respect of the Delivery Date Advance, by such percentage of the Buyer Credit and Commercial Loan as is required to ensure that, on the Delivery Date, the Loan Outstandings are pro-rated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan.

 

2.3.14 Where an Ancillary Costs Advance is drawn to pay interest on the Loan (whether the Commercial Loan or the Buyer Credit) falling due for payment and/or accruing on or before the Delivery Date, the portion of such Ancillary Costs Advance corresponding to such interest shall be funded 100% by the Commercial Loan in accordance with clauses 2.3.11 to 2.3.13 (inclusive) and shall be applied by the Agent in satisfaction of the Borrower’s obligation to pay such interest (and the Borrower’s obligation to pay such interest shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon the making of such Ancillary Costs Advance) .

 

2.4 Lenders’ participation

 

     Subject to clauses 2 and 3, the Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender of the receipt of a Drawdown Notice and of the date on which the Drawing is to be made, following which each relevant Lender shall advance its proportionate share of the relevant Drawing to the Borrower through the Agent on the relevant Drawdown Date.

 

2.5 Availability Termination Date

 

     No Lender shall be under any obligation to advance all or any part of its Commitment after the relevant Availability Termination Date.

 

2.6 Several obligations

 

2.6.1 The obligations of each Lender Finance Party under this Agreement are several. No Lender Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Lender Finance Party. Even if one or more Lender Finance Parties fails to perform its obligations, the other Lender Finance Parties will continue to perform their obligations and will be able to enforce their rights in respect of the other parties to this Agreement.

 

2.6.2 The obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement are as follows:

 

  (a) the Borrower will pay to the Security Trustee, when they are due for payment, the full amount of the Loan and all other amounts (including any amounts payable under the Swap Agreements or any of them, interest, commission and expenses) payable by the Borrower under the Security Documents;

 

  (b) the Borrower will pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender, when they are due for payment, that proportion of the Loan which was lent by that Lender and all interest, commission and other amounts payable in relation to it;

 

  (c) the Borrower will pay to the Agent, when they are due for payment, all amounts owing to it under the Security Documents;

 

  (d) the Borrower will pay to the KEIC Agent, when they are due for payment, all amounts owing to it under the Security documents;

 

  (e) the obligations of the Borrower to (on the one hand) the Security Trustee and (on the other hand) each other Lender Finance Party are several;

 

 

22


  (f) payment either to the Security Trustee or to another Lender Finance Party of an amount which is due to both of them will reduce both of those liabilities by that amount; and

 

  (g) if an amount would otherwise be payable under this clause 2.6 to the same person in two different capacities, the Borrower will only have an obligation to pay that amount once.

 

2.6.3 Each Lender Finance Party can enforce its rights without joining the Security Trustee or any other Lender Finance Parties. However, the Security Documents listed in clause 8.1 below can only be enforced by the Security Trustee.

 

2.7 Application of Loan

 

     Without prejudice to the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement, no Lender Finance Party shall be obliged to concern itself with the application of the Loan by the Borrower.

 

2.8 Loan facility and control accounts

 

     The Agent will open and maintain such loan facility account or such other control accounts as the Agent shall in its discretion consider necessary or desirable in connection with the Loan.

 

2.9 Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and Additional Shareholders’ Equity

 

     The Borrower hereby agrees with the Agent that notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement subject as contemplated in clause 2.3.7 each Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity shall be paid to the Agent and each such Relevant Amount paid shall be aggregated with each relevant Drawing and paid by the Agent pursuant to the provisions of clause 2.3.9.

 

3 Conditions precedent and subsequent for the Loan

 

3.1 Conditions precedent

 

3.1.1 Before any Lender shall have any obligation to advance the first Drawing under the Loan the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to or to the order of the Agent all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part I of Schedule 3 which shall be delivered not later than 4 Business Days before the day on which the Drawdown Notice for the first Drawing is given save for those documents or other evidence which are expressly required to be provided on the first Drawdown Date which shall be delivered on such first Drawdown Date.

 

3.1.2 The obligation of the Lenders to make any Contract Instalment Advance shall be subject to the further condition that the Agent shall have received not later than 4 Business Days before the day on which that Contract Instalment Advance is intended to be made, the documents and evidence specified in Part 2 of Schedule 3 in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent (save for the invoice and the Drawdown Notice referred to in paragraphs (a) and (e) of Part 2 of Schedule 3 which shall be provided not later than 3 Business Days prior to the relevant Drawdown Date).

 

3.1.3 The obligation of the Lenders to make the Delivery Date Advance shall be subject to the condition that the Agent, shall have received, on or prior to the relevant Delivery Date, the documents and evidence specified in Part 3 of Schedule 3 in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

 

3.1.4 The obligation of the Lenders to make any Ancillary Cost Advance shall be subject to the further condition that the Agent shall have received not later than 4 Business Days before the drawdown of any Ancillary Cost Advance, invoices or pro-forma invoices or, (save in respect of Ancillary Costs as described in sub-paragraph (f) of the definition thereof in respect of which invoices shall be required) where invoices or pro-forma invoices cannot be made available by the Borrower, a certificate from the Borrower in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, in each case evidencing the Ancillary Costs incurred or, in the case of pro-forma invoices or certificates from the Borrower, to be incurred within the next following period not exceeding 3 Months or other written evidence in each case substantiating to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent that the Ancillary Costs in respect of which such Ancillary Cost Advance is requested have been incurred and discharged or will be discharged following the drawdown of the Ancillary Cost Advance.

 

23


3.2 Further conditions precedent

 

     The Lenders will only be obliged to advance a Drawing in respect of the Vessel specified in any Drawdown Notice if on the date of the Drawdown Notice and on the proposed Drawdown Date:

 

3.2.1 no Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Mandatory Prepayment Event is continuing unremedied or unwaived or would result from the advance of that Drawing;

 

3.2.2 the representations made by the Borrower under clause 4 are true in all material respects;

 

3.2.3 that Drawing will not, when aggregated with all previous Drawings, increase the outstanding amount of the Loan to a sum in excess of the Maximum Loan Amount and will not increase the outstanding amount of the Buyer Credit to a sum in excess of the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount or of the Commercial Loan to a sum in excess of the Commercial Loan Maximum Amount; and

 

3.2.4 the Borrower shall have on or prior to the First Drawing, entered into one or more 12 year forward starting Swap Agreements in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent with each of the Swap Providers pursuant to which it will hedge not less than one hundred and ninety million Dollars ($190,000,000) of the Loan (representing approximately ninety per cent (90%) of its interest rate exposure under the Loan) for the period from and including the Delivery Date up to and including the Maturity Date. The Swap Margin applicable to each Swap Agreement entered into between any of the Swap Providers and the Borrower shall be as set out in the Swap Margin Side Letter.

 

3.3 Delivery conditions precedent

 

3.3.1 Whether or not a Drawing is advanced on the Delivery Date, the Borrower undertakes to deliver or to cause to be delivered to the Agent on the Delivery Date the additional documents and other evidence listed in Part 3 of Schedule 3.

 

3.3.2 The Borrower shall on the Delivery Date enter into a spot start Swap Agreement or Swap Agreements with each of the Swap Providers to ensure that, together with the forward starting swap agreements, no less than ninety-five per cent (95%) of its interest rate exposure under the Loan is hedged.

 

3.4 No Waiver

 

     If the Lenders in their sole discretion agree to advance a Drawing to the Borrower before all of the documents and evidence required by clause 3.1, clause 3.3 and/or clause 3.5 have been delivered to or to the order of the Agent, the Borrower undertakes to deliver all outstanding documents and evidence to or to the order of the Agent no later than ten (10) Business Days after the Drawdown Date or such other date specified by the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders.

 

     The advance of a Drawing under this clause 3.4 shall not be taken as a waiver of the Lenders’ right to require production of all the documents and evidence required by clauses 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3.

 

3.5 Form and content

 

     All documents and evidence delivered to the Agent under this clause 3 shall:

 

3.5.1 be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent; and

 

24


3.5.2 if required by any vessel or security registry or in connection with any legal opinion to be provided pursuant to Schedule 3, be certified, notarised, legalised or attested in a manner acceptable to such registry or person providing the legal opinion.

 

3.6 Waiver of conditions precedent

 

     The conditions specified in this clause 3 are inserted solely for the benefit of the Lenders and may be waived by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) in whole or in part with or without conditions.

 

4 Representations and Warranties

 

4.1 Representations and Warranties

 

     The Borrower represents and warrants to each of the Lender Finance Parties as follows:

 

4.1.1 Due Incorporation

 

     Each of the Security Parties is a corporation or limited liability company duly organised or formed under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organisation or formation (as the case may be) with power to carry on their respective business as they are now being conducted and to own their respective property and other assets.

 

4.1.2 Corporate Power

 

     The Borrower has power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and each of the other Relevant Documents to which it is a party and to borrow the Commitments and each of the other Security Parties has power to enter into the Relevant Documents to which it is a party and to exercise its rights and perform its obligations under such Relevant Documents; all corporate and other action required by each of the Security Parties to authorise its execution of the Relevant Documents to which it is a party and the performance by it of its obligations thereunder has been duly taken.

 

4.1.3 Binding Obligations

 

     The obligations expressed to be assumed by each of the Security Parties in the Relevant Documents to which it is a party are legal, valid and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with the terms of the Relevant Documents and no limit on any of their powers will be exceeded as a result of the borrowings, granting of security or giving of guarantees contemplated by the Relevant Documents or the performance by any of them of any of their obligations thereunder.

 

4.1.4 No conflict with other obligations

 

     The execution and delivery of, the performance of its obligations under, and compliance with the provisions of the Relevant Documents to which each is a party by the relevant Security Parties will not:

 

  (a) contravene any existing applicable law, statute, rule or regulation or any judgment, decree or permit to which the Borrower or, any other Security Party is subject;

 

  (b) conflict with, or result in any breach of any of the terms of, or constitute a Potential Event of Default under, any agreement or other instrument to which the Borrower or, any other Security Party is a party or is subject or by which it or any of its property is bound;

 

  (c) contravene or conflict with any provision of the constitutional documents of the Borrower or, any other Security Party; or

 

25


  (d) result in the creation or imposition of or oblige the Borrower or any other Security Party, to create any Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) on any of their respective undertakings, assets, rights or revenues.

 

4.1.5 No Litigation

 

     No litigation, arbitration or administrative proceeding is taking place, pending or, to the knowledge of the officers of the Borrower, threatened in writing against any of the Security Parties which, in respect of the Security Parties other than the Borrower, has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.1.6 Accounts

 

     The certified true and complete copies of the audited annual accounts and unaudited semi-annual accounts (as applicable) of the Borrower for the period ending on 31 December 2007 and of each Sponsor for the most recent financial year of each such Sponsor and delivered to the Agent on or prior to the date of this Agreement pursuant to Schedule 3, Part 1, were prepared in accordance with GAAP, give (in conjunction with the notes thereto) a true and fair view of the financial condition of each such party at the date as of which they were prepared and the results of that party’s operations during the financial period then ended.

 

4.1.7 No Filing or Stamp Taxes

 

     It is not necessary to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any of the Relevant Documents that they or any other instrument be notarised, filed, recorded, registered or enrolled with any court, public office or elsewhere in any Relevant Jurisdiction the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Borrower (other than the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales, or the relevant maritime registry, to the extent applicable) or that any stamp, registration or similar tax or charge be paid on or in relation to any of such Relevant Documents and each of the Relevant Documents is in the proper form for enforcement in each Relevant Jurisdiction the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Borrower .

 

4.1.8 No Immunity

 

     None of the Security Parties or any of their respective assets is entitled to immunity on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise from any legal action or proceeding including, without limitation, suit, attachment prior to judgement, execution or other enforcement.

 

4.1.9 Choice of Law and Judgments

 

     The choice of English law to govern the Security Documents (other than the Mortgage and, in the event that the Share Charges are not governed by English law, the Share Charges) and the laws of the Flag State to govern the Mortgages and, in the event that the Share Charges are not governed by English law, the governing law of the Share Charges and the submission by the Security Parties to the jurisdiction of the English courts in respect of the Security Documents (other than the Mortgage and, in the event that the Share Charges are not governed by English law, the Share Charges) are valid and binding.

 

4.1.10 Consents Obtained

 

     Every consent, Authorisation, licence or approval of, or registration with or declaration to, governmental or public bodies or authorities or courts required by any Security Party to authorise, or required by each such party in connection with, the execution, delivery, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of each of the Relevant Documents or the performance by each such party of its obligations under the Relevant Documents to which each is a party has been obtained or made (other than consents, Authorisations, licences, approvals, registrations or declarations that, as at the date of the representation, are not required to be obtained) and is in full force and effect and there has been no default in the observance of any of the conditions or restrictions (if any) imposed in, or in connection with, any of the same.

 

26


4.1.11 No Undisclosed Liabilities

 

     The Borrower has no material liabilities (contingent or otherwise) which were not disclosed in the accounts referred to in clause 4.1.6 (or by the notes thereto) or reserved against therein nor any unrealised or anticipated losses arising from commitments entered into by it which were not so disclosed or reserved against therein.

 

4.1.12 Money Laundering

 

     No breach of any law or regulatory measure relating to “money laundering” as defined in Article 1 of the Directive (91/308/EEC) of the Council of the European Communities will result from the borrowing of the Loan by the Borrower or from the performance by any of the Security Parties of any of their obligations under any of the Relevant Documents to which each is a party.

 

4.1.13 Financial Indebtedness

 

     Except as set forth in Exhibit A, other than in respect of the Loan pursuant to this Agreement or as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, it has not created, incurred, assumed or allowed to exist any Financial Indebtedness, entered into any finance lease or undertaken any capital commitment.

 

4.1.14 Environmental Matters

 

     Except as may already have been disclosed by the Borrower to the Agent in writing:

 

  (a) all Environmental Laws applicable to the Vessel have been complied with by each Environmental Affiliate and all consents, licences and approvals required under such Environmental Laws have been obtained and complied with by each Environmental Affiliate (other than such consents, licences and approvals that, as at the date of the representation, are not required to be obtained); and

 

  (b) no Environmental Claim has been made or threatened against the Borrower or the Vessel and no Environmental Claim in respect of the Vessel has been made or threatened against any other Environmental Affiliate or is pending against any such Environmental Affiliate or the Vessel and which has not been fully satisfied and which would or might reasonably result in liabilities in excess of an aggregate of $1,000,000; and

 

  (c) there has been no Environmental Incident which could or might reasonably result in claims in excess of an aggregate of $1,000,000.

 

4.1.15 Pari Passu

 

     The obligations of the Security Parties under the Security Documents are direct, general and unconditional obligations and rank at least pari passu with all the Security Parties’ other present and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness other than obligations mandatorily preferred by law and not contract.

 

4.1.16 No Deductions or Withholding

 

     No Taxes are imposed by way of or withholding or otherwise from any payment to be made by any Security Party under any of the Security Documents to which it is a party.

 

4.1.17 Information

 

     The information, exhibits and reports furnished by any Security Party to any of the Lender Finance Parties in connection with the negotiation and preparation of the Security Documents are true and accurate in all material respects and not misleading, do not omit material facts and all reasonable enquiries have been made to verify the facts and statements contained therein and the Borrower is not aware of any material facts or circumstances which have not been disclosed and which might, if disclosed, have reasonably been expected to adversely affect the decision of a person considering whether or not to make loan facilities of the nature contemplated by this Agreement available to the Borrower and/or to enter into the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the other Security Documents, Provided that, the Borrower does not make the representations in this clause 4.1.17 in respect of information, exhibits or reports regarding Angola LNG, the Angola LNG Project or the Time Charterer save that such information, exhibits or reports which have been provided by the Borrower to the Lender Finance Parties have been provided by the Borrower in good faith.

 

27


4.1.18 Solvency

 

  (a) None of the Security Parties is unable, or admits or has admitted its inability, to pay its debts or has suspended making payments in respect of any of its debts.

 

  (b) None of the Security Parties by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, has commenced, or intends to commence, negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness.

 

  (c) No moratorium has been, or may, in the reasonably foreseeable future be, declared in respect of any indebtedness of any Security Party.

 

4.1.19 No Winding-up

 

     None of the Security Parties has taken any corporate action nor have any other steps been taken or legal proceedings been started or (to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief) threatened against any Security Party for its winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation or for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, trustee or similar officer of it or of any or all of its assets or revenues which (in relation to Security Parties other than the Borrower) might have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.1.20 Event of Default/no other Defaults

 

  (a) None of the Security Parties is in material breach of or in default under any agreement to which it is a party or which is binding on it or any of its assets.

 

  (b) No Event of Default or Potential Event of Default is continuing unremedied or unwaived.

 

4.1.21 Ownership of the Borrower

 

     The Sponsors, directly or indirectly, legally and beneficially own all of the shares in the Borrower and will (subject to the provisions of clause 9.2.17) continue to, directly or indirectly, own all of the shares in the Borrower in the following percentages:

 

Teekay :-

     33

NYK:-

     33

Mitsui :-

     34

 

4.1.22 No Default under Building Contract or Refund Guarantee

 

     The Borrower is not in default of any of its obligations under the Building Contract or any of its obligations upon the performance or observance of which depend the continued liability of the Refund Guarantor in accordance with the terms of the Refund Guarantee.

 

4.1.23 No Encumbrance in respect of pre-delivery security

 

     The Borrower has not previously charged, encumbered or assigned the benefit of any of its rights, title and interest in or to the Building Contract, the Refund Guarantee, the Supervision Agreement, the Swap Agreements or the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement and such benefit and all such rights, title and interest are freely assignable and chargeable in the manner contemplated by the Security Documents.

 

28


4.1.24 The Vessel

The Vessel will on the Delivery Date be:

 

  (a) in the absolute ownership of the Borrower who will on and after the Delivery Date thereof be the sole, legal and beneficial owner of the Vessel;

 

  (b) registered in the name of the Borrower under the laws and flag of the Bahamas;

 

  (c) operationally seaworthy and in every way fit for service; and

 

  (d) classed with the classification referred to in clause 9.6.3(b) free of any overdue recommendations and conditions affecting the Vessel’s class of the Classification Society.

 

4.1.25 Vessel’s employment

 

     The Vessel will not on or before the Delivery Date thereof be subject to any charter or contract other than the Time Charter or to any agreement to enter into any charter or contract which, if entered into after the date of the Mortgage would have required the consent of the Agent or Security Trustee and on the Delivery Date thereof there will not be any agreement or arrangement whereby the Earnings may be shared with any other person.

 

4.1.26 Freedom from Encumbrances

 

     Neither the Vessel nor its Earnings, Insurances or Requisition Compensation, the Time Charter, the Accounts, nor the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement, nor any other properties or rights which are, or are to be, the subject of any of the Security Documents nor any part thereof will be, on the Delivery Date of the Vessel, subject to any Encumbrance other than any Permitted Encumbrance.

 

4.1.27 Copies true and complete

 

     The copies of each of the Time Charter, the Building Contract, the Refund Guarantee, the Supervision Agreement, the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement, the Tripartite Agreement and the Management Agreement, and the Sub-Management Agreement delivered or to be delivered to the Agent are or will when delivered be, a true and complete copies of such documents, will when delivered constitute valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto enforceable in accordance with its terms and there have been no material amendments or variations to or defaults under the Building Contract and there have been no amendments or variations to or defaults under the Time Charter.

 

4.2 Repetition of representations and warranties

 

     On the Execution Date and, in respect of the Relevant Documents other than this Agreement on the execution date of such other Relevant Document, and as of each Drawdown Date and on each Interest Payment Date the Borrower shall (a) be deemed to repeat the representations and warranties in clause 4.1 as if made with reference to the facts and circumstances existing on such day and (b) in respect of clause 4.1.6 shall be deemed to refer to the then latest audited financial statements delivered to the Agent pursuant to clause 9.1.5.

 

4.3 Representations Limited

 

     The representations and warranties of the Borrower in this clause 4 are subject to:

 

4.3.1 the principle that equitable remedies are remedies which may be granted or refused at the discretion of the court;

 

29


4.3.2 the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation, court schemes, moratoria, administration and other laws generally affecting or limiting the rights of creditors;

 

4.3.3 the time barring of claims under any applicable limitation acts;

 

4.3.4 the possibility that a court may strike out provisions for a contract as being invalid for reasons of oppression, undue influence or similar;

 

4.3.5 any other reservations or qualifications of law expressed in the legal opinions obtained by the Agent as referred to in Schedule 3 Part 1, paragraph (I) in connection with this Agreement or the Security Documents; and

 

4.3.6 the representations and warranties made on the Execution Date in respect of the Relevant Documents shall expressly be limited to this Agreement (and none of the other Security Documents) and only those Project Documents which, as at the Execution Date, have been executed by the Borrower.

 

5 Repayment and Prepayment

 

5.1 Repayment of Loan

 

     The Borrower agrees:

 

5.1.1 to repay the Buyer Credit to the Agent for the account of the Lenders by forty eight (48) consecutive annuity style quarterly Repayment Instalments in the amounts, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, set out in Part B of Schedule 7. The first Repayment Instalment will fall due on the date falling three (3) Months after the Delivery Date and each succeeding Repayment Instalment shall be payable quarterly in arrears at three (3) Monthly intervals thereafter save for the final Repayment Instalment which shall be payable on the Maturity Date; and

 

5.1.2 to repay the Commercial Loan by one (1) instalment to be paid on the Maturity Date.

 

5.2 Reduction of Repayment Instalments

 

     If, following the Availability Termination Date, the aggregate amount advanced to the Borrower under the Buyer Credit is less than the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount, the amount of each Repayment Instalment of the Buyer Credit shall be reduced pro rata so that the aggregate sum of all such Repayment Instalments shall be equal to the aggregate amount of the Buyer Credit actually advanced.

 

5.3 Reborrowing

 

     The Borrower may not reborrow any part of the Loan which is repaid or prepaid.

 

5.4 Prepayment and Cancellation

 

5.4.1 The Borrower may prepay, without premium or penalty but subject to clause 5.10, the Loan Outstandings in whole or in part, or cancel the Loan in whole or in part, in each case in a minimum amount of five million Dollars ($5,000,000) or any larger sum which is an integral multiple of one million Dollars ($1,000,000) (or in either case as otherwise may be agreed by the Agent) and provided that the Borrower has first given to the Agent not fewer than ten (10) days prior written notice in respect of a prepayment of all or part of the Loan Outstandings or fifteen (15) days in respect of a cancellation in whole or part of the Commitment in each such case expiring on a Business Day of their intention to do so. Any notice pursuant to this clause 5.4 once given shall be irrevocable and shall (in the case of a prepayment) oblige the Borrower to make the prepayment referred to in the notice on the Business Day specified in the notice, together with all interest accrued on the amount prepaid and all accrued and unpaid Commitment Fees up to and including that Business Day and any and all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement and any of the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any sums payable under the indemnity in clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements. Any cancellation of part (but not the whole) of the Commitment shall be subject to the condition that the Borrower has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Agent (acting reasonably) that it will have sufficient funds to comply with its obligations under the Relevant Documents following any such cancellation.

 

30


5.5 Mandatory Prepayment on Total Loss

 

     In the event that the Vessel becomes a Total Loss on or following the Delivery Date thereof, on the earlier to occur of (a) the date of receipt of the proceeds of the Total Loss and (b) the date falling one hundred and eighty (180) days after the occurrence of the Total Loss (the “ Reduction Date ”), the Borrower shall prepay the Loan together with all interest accrued thereon up to and including the day of prepayment and all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any sums payable under the indemnity in clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements.

 

5.6 Prepayment on Non Delivery/Building Contract default/termination

 

     In the event that there is a material breach by the Builder of the Building Contract that has not been cured within the applicable grace period provided therein, or the Building Contract is cancelled, terminated, rescinded or frustrated for any reason that has not been cured within the applicable grace period provided therein or if the Builder assigns, transfers, sells or otherwise disposes of any of its right, title or interest in or to the Building Contract or the Vessel or purports to do so or takes any action to so assign, transfer, sell or otherwise dispose of any or all such rights, title or interest or, prior to the Delivery Date the Vessel becomes a Total Loss the Borrower shall, if so requested by the Agent in writing, and without prejudice to the Agent’s rights pursuant to clause 10.1 and/or the rights of the Security Trustee under the Security Documents where any of the events described above constitute an Event of Default, be obliged to prepay the Loan immediately together with all interest accrued thereon up to and including the day of prepayment and all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any sums payable under the indemnity in clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements and the undrawn Commitments shall be cancelled.

 

5.7 Prepayment on Termination of Refund Guarantee

 

     If, prior to the delivery to and acceptance by the Borrower from the Builder of the Vessel, the Refund Guarantee is repudiated, cancelled, amended without the Agent’s prior written consent (acting on the Instructions of all Lenders), rescinded or otherwise terminated, the Loan shall become prepayable and shall be prepaid immediately and without demand together with all interest accrued thereon up to and including the date of prepayment and all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any sums payable under the indemnity in clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements.

 

5.8 Additional Mandatory Prepayment Events

 

     Upon the occurrence of any of the following events the Loan shall immediately become repayable and the Borrower shall immediately prepay the Loan together with all interest accrued thereon up to and including the date of prepayment together with all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement and the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any indemnity sums payable under clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements.

 

5.8.1 Non-Delivery of the Vessel: the Vessel is not delivered to, and accepted by, the Borrower under the Building Contract and/or by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter prior to the date falling 290 days after the Scheduled Delivery Date (or such later date as the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders (acting in their absolute discretion), may agree in writing); or

 

31


5.8.2 Sale/Early Termination: the Vessel is sold or the chartering of the Vessel is terminated early pursuant to the exercise by the Time Charter of its rights under the Time Charter; or

 

5.8.3 Invalidity: (i) any of the Security Documents or the Refund Guarantee shall at any time and for any reason become invalid, illegal or unenforceable or impossible to perform or cease to remain in full force and effect; or (ii) any of the Project Documents shall at any time and for any reason become invalid, illegal or unenforceable or impossible to perform or cease to remain in full force and effect unless (A) in respect of the Security Documents, the relevant Security Document is amended or replaced to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent acting on the instructions of all of the Lenders forthwith in the case of this Agreement, the Mortgage, the Refund Guarantee and the Deed of Covenants or within 14 days in the case of any other Security Document and (B) where any such events have occurred in respect of the Time Charter, the Borrower has, within 30 days of the occurrence of such events entered into a new time charter and with a new time charterer in each case in all respects satisfactory to the Agent acting on the instructions of all the Lenders and to KEIC; or

 

5.8.4 Termination of Time Charter: the Time Charter is terminated by the Borrower or the Time Charterer following the occurrence of a breach of the Time Charter entitling it to take such action or is cancelled or becomes frustrated for any reason whatsoever unless the Borrower has within 30 days of the date of such occurrence entered into a replacement time charter and with a new time charterer in each case in all respects satisfactory to the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders); or

 

5.8.5 Time Charterer failure to pay: the Time Charterer fails to pay any sum due and payable by it to any of the Lender Finance Parties or to the Borrower under any of (a) the Security Documents or (b) the Project Documents to which it is a party at the time, in the currency and in the manner stipulated thereunder unless, where such failure to pay is a failure to pay any sum due and payable by it under any Project Document, following expiry of any applicable grace period thereunder, such failure in the opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders (acting reasonably)) does not and will not be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

5.8.6 Time Charter’s breach: the Time Charterer commits any breach of or omits to observe any of its obligations or undertakings expressed to be assumed by it under (a) any of the Security Documents (and such failure is not remedied within fifteen (15) days after the date the Agent has given notice thereof to the Borrower and the Time Charterer) and/or (b) any of the Project Documents to which it is a party (other than those referred to in clause 5.8.5) unless, where such breach or omission has occurred under a Project Document following expiry of any applicable grace period therein, such breach or omission, in the opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders (acting reasonably)), does not and will not be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.8.7 War: if the country of registration of the Vessel becomes involved in war (whether or not declared) or civil war or is occupied by any other power and the Agent reasonably considers that, as a result, the security conferred by the Security Documents is materially prejudiced.

 

5.8.8 Failure to Pay: the Builder or the Refund Guarantor fails to pay any amount payable by it under any of the Security Documents or the Refund Guarantee at the time, in the currency and otherwise in the manner specified therein (and so that, for this purpose, sums payable on demand shall be treated as having been paid at the stipulated time if paid within five (5) days of demand) unless in respect of scheduled payments the Borrower demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Agent that such failure has occurred by reason solely of banking error and such sum remains unpaid for no longer than five (5) days after the date on which it receives notice from the Agent of such failure; or

 

5.8.9 Other Obligations: the Builder or the Refund Guarantor fails duly to perform or comply with any other term or condition of any other Security Document to which it is a party when such failure is in the opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) remediable (other than those referred to in clauses 5.8.7, 5.8.8, 5.8.21 or 5.8.22) and such failure is not remedied within fifteen (15) days after the Agent has given notice thereof to the Builder or the Refund Guarantor, as the case may be (or such longer period as the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) may specify or agree); or

 

32


5.8.10 Litigation: any litigation, arbitration or administrative action or proceeding is commenced prior to Delivery against the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or any of their property, undertakings or assets before any court, arbitrator or administrative agency or authority which, if adversely determined, would have in the reasonable opinion of the Agent a Material Adverse Effect material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Builder or, as the case may be, the Refund Guarantor or their ability to comply with their material obligations under the Relevant Documents to which they are party unless:

 

  (a) the Borrower demonstrates in writing to the Agent (who shall act reasonably in considering such matters) to the Agent’s satisfaction, that such litigation, arbitration or administrative action or proceeding is or may reasonably be considered to be vexatious or frivolous; or

 

  (b) it is dismissed or irrevocably stayed within thirty (30) days of commencement;

 

5.8.11 Legal process:

 

  (a) any final judgment or order greater than two million Dollars ($2,000,000) made prior to the Delivery Date against the Builder or the Refund Guarantor is not stayed or complied with within twenty (20) Business Days or a creditor attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or other process is levied or enforced upon or sued out against, all or a substantial part of (in the reasonable opinion of the Agent) the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues prior to delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor and is not discharged within twenty (20) Business Days and, in each such case above, the event described above has or might reasonably be likely to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Builder or, as the case may be, the Refund Guarantor or their ability to comply with their material obligations under the Relevant Documents to which they are party ; or

 

  (b) any final judgment or order made against any Security Party (other than the Borrower and (following the Delivery Date) the Supervisor) is not stayed or complied with within twenty (20) Business Days or a creditor attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or other process is levied or enforced upon or sued out against, all or substantially all of (in the reasonable opinion of the Agent) the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues of any Security Party (other than the Borrower and (following the Delivery Date) the Supervisor) and is not discharged within twenty (20) Business Days and, in each such case above, the event described above has or might reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

5.8.12 Insolvency: prior to the Delivery Date, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due; suspends making payments on any of its debts or announces an intention to do so; becomes insolvent; has assets the value of which is less than the value of its liabilities; or suffers the declaration of a moratorium in respect of any of its indebtedness; or

 

5.8.13 Winding up: any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken for the purpose of winding up prior to Delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or an order is made or resolution passed for the winding up, prior to Delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or a notice is issued convening a meeting for the purpose of passing any such resolution, provided however that, in the case only of an order for winding-up, the occurrence of such event shall not constitute a mandatory prepayment event if such winding-up has commenced as part of a process of a fully-solvent reorganisation, previously approved by the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and which shall not have a Material Adverse Effect material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Builder or, as the case may be, the Refund Guarantor or their ability to comply with their material obligations under the Relevant Documents to which they are party ; or

 

33


5.8.14 Administration: any petition is presented, notice given or other step is taken for the purpose of the appointment of an administrator prior to Delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or an administration order is made prior to Delivery in relation to the Builder or the Refund Guarantor; or

 

5.8.15 Appointment of receivers and managers: any administrative or other receiver is appointed prior to Delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or any part of its assets and/or undertaking or any other steps are taken to enforce any Encumbrance over all or any part of the assets prior to delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor; or

 

5.8.16 Compositions: any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedures or steps are taken, or negotiations commenced prior to Delivery, by the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or by any of its creditors with a view to the general readjustment or rescheduling of all or a material part of its indebtedness or to proposing any kind of composition, compromise or arrangement involving such company and any of its creditors; or

 

5.8.17 Analogous proceedings: there occurs, prior to Delivery in relation to the Builder or the Refund Guarantor, in any country or territory in which any of them carries on business or to the jurisdiction of whose courts any part of their assets is subject, any event which, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent, appears in that country or territory to correspond with, or have an effect equivalent or similar to, any of those mentioned in clauses 10.2.9 to 10.2.15 (inclusive) (other than clause 10.2.10) or prior to Delivery the Builder or the Refund Guarantor otherwise becomes subject, in any such country or territory, to the operation of any law relating to insolvency, bankruptcy or liquidation; or

 

5.8.18 Repudiation: the Supervisor, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor repudiates any Security Document or Project Document to which it is a party or does or causes to be done any act or thing evidencing an intention to repudiate any such Security Document or the Project Document if the validity or enforceability of any of the Security Documents and the Project Documents (other than the Refund Guarantee) shall at any time and for any reason be contested by the Supervisor, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor which is a party thereto, or if the Supervisor, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor shall deny that it has any, or any further, liability thereunder; or

 

5.8.19 Cessation of business: prior to Delivery, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor suspends or ceases to carry on its business; or

 

5.8.20 Seizure: all or a material part of the undertaking, assets, rights or revenues of, or shares or other ownership interests, prior to Delivery, in the Builder and the Refund Guarantor are seized, nationalised, expropriated or compulsorily acquired by or under the authority of any government; or

 

5.8.21 Arrest: the Vessel is arrested, confiscated, seized, taken in execution, impounded, forfeited, detained in exercise or purported exercise of any possessory lien or other claim or otherwise taken from the possession of the Borrower and the Borrower shall fail to procure the release of the Vessel within a period of 30 days thereafter; or

 

5.8.22 Supervision Agreement: notice of termination under the Supervision Agreement is served for any reason whatsoever or the Supervision Agreement is varied in any manner not permitted pursuant to the Security Documents unless (a) in the case of termination the same is replaced with a supervision agreement on substantially the same or other terms acceptable to the Agent or (b) in the case of variation the same is revised, or amended on terms acceptable to the Agent, and in any such case under (a) or (b) within 30 days.

 

34


5.9 Cessation of KEIC Buyer Credit Policy

 

     If, for any reason (other than as referred to in clause 10.2.25), the obligations of KEIC under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy shall terminate, become unenforceable or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect and the Borrower has not replaced the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy with similar insurance on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders in their sole and absolute discretion) forthwith upon receipt of written notice of such termination, unenforceability or cessation of effectiveness, the Borrower shall prepay the Loan in full together with accrued interest to the date of prepayment and all other sums then due and payable, any portion of the KEIC premium which is then due and payable and all other sums then due and payable under this Agreement and the other Security Documents or any of them including without limitation any sum payable under the indemnity in clause 15).

 

5.10 Prepayment indemnity

 

     If the Borrower shall make a prepayment on a Business Day other than the last day of an Interest Period, it shall pay to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders any amount which is necessary to compensate the Lenders for any Break Costs incurred by the Agent or any of the Lenders as a result of the prepayment in question but otherwise without penalty or premium, Provided always that the Borrower shall be entitled to payment by the Lenders of any Break Gains while no Event of Default has occurred which is continuing unremedied or unwaived.

 

5.11 Application of prepayments

 

     Any prepayment in an amount less than the Lender Indebtedness shall be applied pro-rata between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan and, in the case of the Buyer Credit shall be applied in reducing the then future Repayment Instalments in inverse order of maturity.

 

5.12 Effect of Prepayment/Cancellation on Swap Agreements

 

     In the event of any prepayment or, as the case may be, cancellation of the Loan, the exposure of the Swap Providers under the Swap Agreements shall, if the Loan Outstandings is less than the aggregate of the notional amounts of the Swap Agreements, be reduced by an equivalent amount.

 

6 Interest

 

6.1 Interest Periods

 

     The period during which any Drawing shall be outstanding pursuant to this Agreement shall be divided into consecutive Interest Periods of three (3) Months’ duration or such other duration as may be agreed by the Borrower and the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders).

 

6.2 Beginning and end of Interest Periods

 

     The first Interest Period in respect of the first Drawing shall begin on the Drawdown Date of that Drawing and shall end on the last day of the Interest Period. The first Interest Period in respect of each subsequent Drawing shall begin on the Drawdown Date of that Drawing and end on the last day of the current Interest Period of the Loan. Any subsequent Interest Period in respect of each Drawing shall commence on the day following the last day of its previous Interest Period and shall end on the last day of its current Interest Period.

 

6.3 Interest Periods to meet Repayment Date and Maturity Date

 

     If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a date after the next Repayment Date, that Interest Period shall end on the next Repayment Date. If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a date after the Maturity Date, that Interest Period shall end on the Maturity Date.

 

35


6.4 Interest rate

 

     During each Interest Period, interest shall accrue on the Loan at the rate determined by the Agent to be the aggregate of (a) the relevant Margin and (b) LIBOR determined at 11:00 am (London time) on the second London Business Day prior to the beginning of the Interest Period. The Agent shall notify the Borrower in writing of the applicable interest rate for the relevant Interest Period on the date of determination.

 

6.5 Accrual and payment of interest

 

     During the Facility Period, interest shall accrue from day to day, shall be calculated on the basis of a 360 day year and the actual number of days elapsed (or, in any circumstance where market practice differs, in accordance with the prevailing market practice) and shall be paid by the Borrower to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders on the last day of each Interest Period and additionally, during any Interest Period exceeding three Months, on the last day of each successive three Month period after the beginning of that Interest Period.

 

6.6 Ending of Interest Periods

 

     Subject to clause 6.3, if any Interest Period would end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest Period shall end on the next succeeding Business Day (unless the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar Month, in which event the Interest Period in question shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day).

 

6.7 Consolidation and division of Loans

 

     If two or more Interest Periods:

 

  (a) relate to Loans; and

 

  (b) end on the same date,

 

     those loans will be consolidated into, and treated as, a single Loan on the last day of the Interest Period.

 

6.8 Default Rate

 

     Each Unpaid Sum shall, from the date of the non-payment, bear interest up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at the Default Rate, compounded at such intervals as the Agent shall in its reasonable discretion determine, which interest shall be payable from time to time by the Borrower to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders on demand.

 

6.9 Determinations conclusive

 

     Each determination of an interest rate made by the Agent in accordance with clause 6 shall (save in the case of manifest error or on any question of law) be final and conclusive.

 

6.10 Mandatory Costs

 

     The Borrower shall reimburse the Agent on demand for any Mandatory Costs relating to the Loan incurred by a Lender as a result of funding its Commitment of the Loan.

 

7 Fees

 

     The Borrower shall pay the following fees:

 

36


7.1 Arrangement fee

 

     The Borrower shall pay to the Agent, for the account of the Lenders, arrangement fees in the amounts and at the times agreed in the Arrangement Fee Letter.

 

7.2 Commitment fee

 

     The Borrower shall pay to the Agent:

 

7.2.1 (for the account of the Lenders in proportion to their Buyer Credit Commitments) a commitment fee computed at the rate of zero point two five per cent (0.25%) per annum on the daily undrawn and uncancelled amount of the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount from time to time; and

 

7.2.2 for the account of the Lenders (in proportion to their Commercial Loan Commitments) a commitment fee computed at the rate of zero point four five per cent (0.45%) per annum on the daily undrawn and uncancelled amount of the Commercial Loan Maximum Amount from time to time,

 

     in each case from the date of this Agreement until the earlier to occur of the Drawdown Date in respect of the final Drawing and the Availability Termination Date. The accrued commitment fees are payable in arrears on the last day of each successive period of three Months from the date of this Agreement and on such Availability Termination Date.

 

7.3 Agency fee

 

     The Borrower shall pay to the Agent, the Security Trustee and the KEIC Agent (in each case, for its own account) an agency fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the Agency Fee Letter.

 

7.4 Documentation Agency Fee

 

     The Borrower shall pay to Calyon (for its own account) a documentation agency fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the Documentation Agency Fee Letter.

 

7.5 Account Bank Fee

 

     The Borrower shall pay to the Account Bank (for its own account) an account bank fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the Account Bank Fee Letter.

 

7.6 KEIC Insurance Premium

 

7.6.1 The Borrower agrees that it shall pay to the KEIC Agent, on the date of the first Drawing under the Commercial Loan, an amount equal to the KEIC Insurance Premium to be paid by the KEIC Agent to KEIC.

 

7.6.2 The Borrower agrees that its obligation to make the payment described in clause 7.6.1 above or any part of it shall be an absolute obligation and without limitation, shall not be affected by any failure to draw down funds under this Agreement or the prepayment or acceleration of any Loan. Neither the KEIC Insurance Premium nor any part of it shall be refundable to the Borrower under any circumstances. If and to the extent that the KEIC Agent subsequently receives from KEIC a refund of the KEIC Insurance Premium or any part thereof, the KEIC Agent shall account to the Agent for the amount of the refund received by the KEIC Agent less any costs and expenses suffered or incurred by the KEIC Agent in recovering and/or transferring such refunded amount to the Agent for application by the Agent in prepayment of the Commercial Loan Outstandings in whole or in part.

 

7.6.3 Without prejudice to the Borrower’s obligations under clauses 7.6.1 and 7.6.2, the Lender Finance Parties and the Borrower acknowledge that the first Drawdown under the Commercial Loan shall be utilised, inter alia, to enable the Borrower to satisfy its obligation under clause 7.6.1. The Borrower instructs the Agent, in accordance with clause 2.3.9, to pay an amount equal to the KEIC Insurance Premium from the first Drawing under the Commercial Loan to the KEIC Agent. Upon receipt by the KEIC Agent of such amount, the Borrower shall have satisfied its obligation under clause 7.6.1.

 

37


8 Security, Accounts and Application of Moneys

 

8.1 Security Documents

 

     As security for the repayment of the Indebtedness, the Borrower shall, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, execute and deliver to the Security Trustee or cause to be executed and delivered to the Security Trustee the following documents in such forms and containing such terms and conditions as the Security Trustee shall require:

 

8.1.1 first priority deed of assignment of the Building Contract and Refund Guarantee;

 

8.1.2 a first priority statutory mortgage over the Vessel together with a collateral deed of covenants;

 

8.1.3 a first priority tripartite deed of assignment of the Insurances, Earnings and Requisition Compensation of the Vessel from the Borrower and the Manager and the Sub-Manager;

 

8.1.4 first priority deed of charge over each of:

 

  (a) the Revenue Account;

 

  (b) the Dry Docking Reserve Account;

 

  (c) the Retention Account;

 

  (d) the Debt Service Reserve Account; and

 

  (e) the Dividend Lock-up Account;

 

8.1.5 first priority deed of assignment over each of:

 

  (a) the Supervision Agreement;

 

  (b) the Time Charter;

 

  (c) the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement;

 

  (d) the Management Agreement and the Sub-Management Agreement;

 

  (e) the Swap Agreements;

 

  (f) the Tripartite Agreement;

 

8.1.6 a first priority charge over the entire issued share capital of the Borrower;

 

8.1.7 the Letter of Sponsors Undertakings;

 

8.1.8 the Manager’s Undertaking; and

 

8.1.9 the Sub-Manager’s Undertaking.

 

38


8.2 Accounts

 

8.2.1 General

 

     The Borrower undertakes with each of the Lenders, the Agent, the Account Bank and the Security Trustee that it will:

 

  (a) on or before the first Drawing open the Accounts with the Account Bank; and

 

  (b) procure that all moneys payable to the Borrower including, without limitation, in respect of the Earnings of the Vessel (including all hire and early termination fees payable to it under the Time Charter, all payments made under any letters of credit or insurance policies issued in favour of the Borrower pursuant to the Time Charter and pursuant to the Insurances but excluding any Borrower Priority Payments) shall, unless and until the Agent directs to the contrary pursuant to the Security Documents be paid to the Revenue Account;

 

8.3 Revenue Account: withdrawals

 

     Unless the Agent otherwise agrees in writing (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Revenue Account at any time other than for the following purposes and in the following order of priority:

 

8.3.1 to pay the proper and reasonable operating expenses (including costs of insuring, repairing and maintaining the Vessel) of the Vessel, including amounts properly due to the Manager under the Management Agreement, the Supervisors under the Supervision Agreement and Mitsui under the Corporate Management Agreement, the proper and reasonable expenses of administering the affairs of the Borrower and the Taxes of the Borrower;

 

8.3.2

to transfer to the Dry Docking Reserve Account, first time three (3) months after the Delivery Date and at three (3) Monthly intervals thereafter up to and including the date upon which the Vessel completes each such scheduled dry docking, an amount equal to 1 / 20 of the total Dry Docking Reserve Account Payments in respect of such next scheduled dry docking;

 

8.3.3 to transfer to the Retention Account on the next following Retention Date all or part of the Retention Amount for such Retention Date;

 

8.3.4 to pay any other amounts payable under the Security Documents (including payments to the Swap Providers under any of the Swap Agreements and in case of partial payments the Swap Providers will be paid pro-rata);

 

8.3.5 to transfer to the Debt Service Reserve Account all or part of the DSRA Amount if any remains unpaid; and

 

8.3.6 to transfer any surplus to the Distribution Account unless at any relevant time a Dividend Restriction Event has occurred which is continuing unremedied or unwaived in which case any surplus shall be transferred to the Dividend Lock-Up Account, Provided that where such Dividend Restriction Event has ceased to be continuing and in circumstances where there is no Potential Event of Default or Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived such surplus may be transferred from the Dividend Lock-Up Account to the Distribution Account.

 

8.4 Dry Docking Reserve Account: withdrawals

 

8.4.1 Unless the Agent otherwise agrees in writing, the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Dry Docking Reserve Account other than to meet dry-docking costs which shall have been advised to and the aggregate amount of which shall have been approved by the Agent (acting reasonably and without delay) and in respect of which the Borrower shall have provided to the Agent reasonably satisfactory documentary evidence that such dry-docking costs have been incurred or will be incurred provided however that the Borrower shall be entitled to request the Agent by notice in writing to release any balance standing to the credit of the Dry Docking Reserve Account, after reimbursement to the Borrower from the Dry Docking Reserve Account of all dry docking costs and expenses paid by it, immediately following completion of a scheduled dry docking of the Vessel and the Agent shall transfer any such balance to the Distribution Account provided that the Agent is satisfied that:

 

39


  (a) all amounts then required to be paid to the Retention Account have been so paid;

 

  (b) the DSRA Amount has been paid in full and is standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account or has been replaced by the DSRA Letter of Credit; and

 

  (c) at such time no Dividend Restriction Event has occurred which is continuing unremedied or unwaived in which case any such balance shall be transferred to and retained in the Dividend Lock-up Account.

 

8.5 Debt Service Reserve Account: withdrawals

 

     Without prejudice to the rights of the Lender Finance Parties under clause 9.1.18 (particularly, without limitation, the right of the Lender Finance Parties to use the amounts standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account to service any Loan repayments which have become due), the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Debt Service Reserve Account at any time from the date of this Agreement and so long as moneys are owing under the Security Documents save that, unless and until a Potential Event of Default or an Event of Default shall occur (which is continuing unremedied or unwaived) and the Agent shall direct to the contrary in accordance with the Security Documents, the Borrower may withdraw moneys from the Debt Service Reserve Account provided that a DSRA Letter of Credit is issued in an amount sufficient to constitute security at least of an equivalent Dollar for Dollar value as the amount withdrawn (and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement in relation to the DSRA Letter of Credit). In the event that the credit rating of an L/C Issuer falls below the Minimum Credit Rating applicable to it as described in clause 9.1.20, the Borrower shall immediately credit the Debt Service Reserve Account with an amount equal to the amount covered by the DSRA Letter of Credit provided by such L/C Issuer until the conditions set out in clauses 9.1.18 and 9.1.20 have been satisfied in full, and clause 9.1.18 shall apply as if the reference in such clause to “the date falling twenty seven (27) months after the Delivery Date” were a reference to the date the Borrower so credited the Debt Service Reserve Account and, to the extent that the Borrower is in breach of its obligations to so credit the Debt Service Reserve Account, the Lender Finance Parties shall immediately be entitled in their absolute discretion to make a demand under the DSRA Letter of Credit for the full amount in respect of which such DSRA Letter of Credit has issued.

 

8.6 Dividend Lock-Up Account: withdrawals

 

     The Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Dividend Lock-Up Account except if there are no Dividend Restriction Events continuing.

 

8.7 Distribution Account: withdrawals

 

     The Borrower shall be entitled to withdraw and freely apply all moneys standing to the credit of the Distribution Account from time to time.

 

8.8 Retention Account: credits and withdrawals

 

8.8.1 Unless and until there shall occur an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived (whereupon the provisions of clause 8.12 shall apply and subject to the Security Documents), all Retention Amounts credited to the Retention Account together with interest from time to time accruing or at any time accrued thereon shall be applied by the Account Bank (and the Borrower undertakes to give an irrevocable and unconditional instruction to the Account Bank so to apply the same) in the following manner:

 

40


  (a) upon each Repayment Date in or towards payment to (i) the Agent of the instalment then falling due for repayment and the amount of interest then due and (ii) to the Swap Providers of amounts then falling due under the Swap Agreements (if any). 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 and the Swap Agreements 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; and

 

  (b) following any application by the Account Bank pursuant to sub-clause (a) above, in transfer to the Revenue Account of any moneys standing to the credit of the Retention Account.

 

8.8.2 Unless the Agent otherwise agrees in writing and subject to clause 8.8.1, the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Retention Account at any time from the date of this Agreement and so long as any moneys are owing under the Security Documents.

 

8.9 Application of accounts

 

     At any time after the Agent has exercised its rights pursuant to clause 10.1, the Agent may, without notice to the Borrower but subject to the terms of the Security Documents, instruct the Account Banks to apply all moneys then standing to the credit of the Accounts (other than the Distribution Account) (together with interest from time to time accruing or accrued thereon) in payment to the Security Trustee and the Security Trustee shall apply the same in or towards satisfaction of any sums due to the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Swap Providers and the Lenders under the Security Documents in the manner specified in the Intercreditor Deed.

 

8.10 Interest and surpluses

 

8.10.1 Each of the Accounts shall bear interest upon the Account Bank’s standard terms for Dollar deposits in similar amounts and for periods comparable for which such balances appear to the Account Bank likely to remain on the relevant Account and any interest credited to the Accounts (other than the Distribution Account) shall, unless and until an Event of Default (which is continuing unremedied or unwaived) shall occur in which case, subject to the Security Documents, the provisions of clause 8.9 shall apply, be paid to the Revenue Account.

 

8.11 Charging of accounts

 

     The Accounts (other than the Distribution Account) 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 relevant Security Documents.

 

8.12 General application of moneys

 

     Whilst an Event of Default is continuing unremedied or unwaived the Borrower irrevocably authorises the Agent and the Security Trustee to apply all sums which either of them may receive:

 

8.12.1 pursuant to a sale or other disposition of the Vessel or any right, title or interest in the Vessel; or

 

8.12.2 by way of payment of any sum in respect of the Insurances, Earnings, or Requisition Compensation; or

 

8.12.3 otherwise arising under or in connection with any Security Document,

 

     in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Deed.

 

9 Covenants

 

     The Borrower covenants with the Lender Finance Parties in the following terms.

 

41


9.1 General

 

     The Borrower undertakes with the Lender Finance Parties that, from the date of this Agreement and so long as any moneys are owing under any of the Security Documents and while all or any part of the Commitments remains outstanding, it will:

 

9.1.1 Notice of Default

 

  (a) promptly inform the Agent in writing of any occurrence of which it becomes aware which might materially and adversely affect the ability of any Security Party, the Time Charterer, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor to perform its obligations under any of the Relevant Documents to which it is a party and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, will inform the Agent of any Event of Default or Potential Event of Default or Mandatory Prepayment Event forthwith upon becoming aware thereof and will from time to time, if so requested by the Agent, confirm to the Agent in writing that, save as otherwise stated in such confirmation, no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived;

 

  (b) promptly inform the Agent of any occurrence of which it becomes aware which might materially adversely effect the ability or rights of the Borrower to make any claims under any of the Refund Guarantee or which might reduce or release any of the obligations of any Refund Guarantor under any of its Refund Guarantee;

 

9.1.2 Consents and licences

 

     obtain or cause to be obtained, maintain in full force and effect and comply in all material respects with the conditions and restrictions (if any) imposed in, or in connection with, every consent, Authorisation, licence or approval of governmental or public bodies or authorities or courts, the failure of which has or might be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, and do, or cause to be done, all other acts and things which may from time to time be necessary under applicable law for the continued due performance of all the obligations of the Security Parties under each of the Security Documents;

 

9.1.3 Use of proceeds

 

     use the Loan exclusively for the purpose specified in the Recitals and/or clause 2.3.4;

 

9.1.4 Pari passu

 

     ensure that its obligations under this Agreement and the other Security Documents shall, without prejudice to the security intended to be created by the Security Documents, at all times rank at least pari passu with all its other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness with the exception of any obligations which are mandatorily preferred by law and not by contract;

 

9.1.5 Financial statements

 

     prepare financial statements of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP in respect of each financial year and cause the same to be reported on by its auditors and prepare semi-annual (i.e two (2) sets of accounts to be provided each year) unaudited accounts (without accounting notes) and deliver as many copies of the same and copies of each Sponsor’s annual audited financial statements as the Agent may reasonably require not later than one hundred and twenty (120) days (in the case of the Borrower’s audited financial statements), sixty (60) days (in the case of semi-annual unaudited accounts) or one hundred and eighty (180) days (in the case of the Sponsors’ annual audited financial statements), in each case after the end of the financial period to which they relate;

 

9.1.6 Information

 

     deliver to the Agent or procure that there is delivered to the Agent:

 

42


  (a) at the time of issue thereof, as many copies as the Agent may reasonably require of written communications made by any Security Party to its shareholders or creditors generally which may reasonably be considered material in the context of this Agreement (other than copies of reports or other notices, statements or circulars sent or delivered to the Borrower Shareholders by the Borrower, which shall be sent to the Security Trustee pursuant to clause 6.2.11 of the Share Charges) ;

 

  (b) from time to time as the Agent and/or KEIC may reasonably require:

 

  (i) such financial or other information concerning any Security Party and its affairs which may reasonably be considered material in the context of this Agreement ;

 

  (ii) such information relating to the progress of construction of the Vessel, or otherwise in relation to the construction of the Vessel and performance by the Builder of its obligations under the Building Contract; and

 

  (iii) such information in connection with the operation, position and condition of the Vessel;

 

  (c) at the time of each such communication, copies of all material written communications between the Borrower or any other Security Party and:

 

  (i) the approved brokers; and

 

  (ii) the approved protection and indemnity and/or war risks associations; and

 

  (iii) the approved insurance companies and/or underwriters;
  which relate directly or indirectly to:

 

  (A) the Vessel and the obligations of the Borrower or any other Security Party relating to the Insurances including, without limitation, all requisite declarations and payments of additional premiums or calls and all communication relating to non-payment of premiums or calls and cancellation of any of the Insurances or relating to the imposition of any new or modified condition, warranty, exclusion or qualification or the material alteration of the Insurances; and

 

  (B) any credit arrangements made between the Borrower or any other Security Party and any of the persons referred to in clauses 9.5.7(a) to 9.5.7(c) relating wholly or partly to the effecting or maintenance of the Insurances.

 

9.1.7 Vessel Annual Operating Budget

 

     prior to the commencement of each budget year, submit to the Agent the annual operating budget of the Vessel for such budget year for approval by the Agent (acting on the instruction of the Majority Lenders and such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);

 

9.1.8 Obligations under Security Documents

 

     duly and punctually perform each of the obligations expressed to be assumed by it under the Security Documents to which it is a party;

 

9.1.9 Certificate of Financial Responsibility

 

     obtain and maintain a certificate of financial responsibility in relation to the Vessel if it is to call at the United States of America;

 

43


9.1.10 ISM and ISPS Compliance

 

     ensure that the relevant Company and any Environmental Affiliate complies in all material respects with the ISM Code and the ISPS Code or any replacements thereof and in particular (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) shall ensure that the Company holds (i) a valid and current Document of Compliance issued pursuant to the ISM Code, (ii) a valid and current Safety Management Certificate issued in respect of the Vessel pursuant to the ISM Code, and (iii) an ISSC in respect of the Vessel, and the Borrower shall promptly, upon request, supply the Agent with copies of the same;

 

9.1.11 Compliance with Applicable Laws

 

     comply with all applicable laws to which it may be subject from time to time;

 

9.1.12 Further Assurance

 

     at its own expense, promptly take all such action as the Agent may reasonably require for the purpose of perfecting or protecting any Lender Finance Party’s rights with respect to the security created or evidenced (or intended to be created or evidenced) by the Security Documents;

 

9.1.13 “Know your customer” Checks

 

     if:

 

  (a) 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;

 

  (b) any change in the status of the Borrower after the date of this Agreement; or

 

  (c) a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer,

 

     obliges the Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of (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, 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 any Lender) or any Lender for itself (or, in the case of (c) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent or that Lender (or, in the case of (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 Relevant Documents, Provided that, the obligations set forth in this clause shall not apply to information in respect of Angola LNG, the Angola LNG Project (in any respect), the Time Charterer, the Builder, the Refund Guarantor or the L/C Issuer unless such information is required by Law;

 

9.1.14 Management Fees

 

     pay all amounts due to the Manager under the Management Agreement when the same become due and payable;

 

9.1.15 Time Charters

 

     ensure that:

 

  (a) the Vessel is constructed pursuant to the Building Contract so that on the Delivery Date the Vessel is accepted by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter;

 

  (b) from the Delivery Date and throughout the Facility Period:

 

44


  (i) subject to clauses 5.8.3 and 5.8.4, the Vessel shall be chartered to the Time Charterer under the Time Charter or (subject to clause 9.2.18) a bareboat charter unless the Agent, acting on the instruction of all the Lenders (acting reasonably and without delay) otherwise agrees;

 

  (ii) no amendments are made to (aa) the Time Charter (other than in respect of purely technical and/or operational matters which shall have no material adverse financial effect upon the Borrower, no adverse effect upon the security rights of the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Lenders or the Swap Providers, which shall not have the effect of reducing the rate of hire payable under the Time Charter or amending the dates on which such hire is payable or reducing the period of the contract Time Charter itself and which shall in any event be promptly notified to the Agent) or (bb) to any letters of credit or insurance policies to be issued under the Time Charter, in each case without the consent of the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); and

 

  (iii) all licenses, consents and Authorisations necessary to permit the proper and lawful operation of the Vessel pursuant to the Time Charter in any Relevant Jurisdiction to which the Vessel may be ordered or trade are complied with and ensure that each such licence, consent and Authorisation has been properly and validly obtained; and

 

  (c) upon the occurrence of any force majeure as set out in the Time Charter or any incident or other occurrence of which it is aware which may reasonably be expected to become a force majeure upon the giving of notice or lapse of time the Borrower shall forthwith advise the Agent of such force majeure or incident or occurrence which may become a force majeure and keep the Agent up to date in respect of all matters and/or developments in respect of such force majeure and/or incident and/or occurrence;

 

9.1.16 Use of Ancillary Cost Advances

 

     procure that each Ancillary Cost Advance and the proceeds thereof are used only for the purpose of paying and discharging Ancillary Costs, reimbursing Ancillary Costs already paid by the Borrower, as contemplated by clause 2.3.4 and paying the KEIC Insurance Premium and for no other purpose;

 

9.1.17 Management

 

     ensure that following Delivery the Vessel is managed throughout the Facility Period by the Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement or such party as may replace the Manager in accordance with clause 9.2.18 and 10.3 of this Agreement;

 

9.1.18 DSRA Letter of Credit/Debt Service Reserve Account

 

  (a) on or before the date falling twenty seven (27) Months after the Delivery Date procure that as a result of either:

 

  (i) the issue of the DSRA Letter of Credit; and/or

 

  (ii) sums standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account,

 

       the aggregate of the amounts standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account and/or the amount of the DSRA Letter of Credit shall, subject to clause (b) below, be equal to or not less than such amount as the Agent shall determine to be 6 Months’ principal and interest repayments under this Agreement (the “ DSRA Amount ”) Provided Always that:

 

  (A) the sum standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account shall, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Security Documents, be freely available to the Lender Finance Parties (a) upon the acceleration of the Loan after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived and (b) to service any Loan repayments which have become due in the circumstances set out in clause 9.1.18(b) below; and

 

45


  (B) in relation to any DSRA Letter of Credit the Borrower shall provide the Agent with such evidence as the Agent may reasonably require to satisfy the Agent that such DSRA Letter of Credit has been duly and validly and correctly issued (including, without limitation, a signing authority authorising the L/C Issuer to provide the DSRA Letter of Credit and a legal opinion from counsel in the jurisdiction of the L/C Issuer in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent),

 

       and in the event that the Borrower elects to issue the DSRA Letter of Credit the Borrower shall ensure that (A) all sums payable under such DSRA Letter of Credit shall, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Security Documents, be freely available to the Lender Finance Parties (a) upon the acceleration of the Loan after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing, (b) to service any Loan repayments which have become due in the circumstances set out in clause (b) below and where there are insufficient amounts standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account to service such Loan repayments and (c) in the circumstances set out in clause 8.5 and (B) any DSRA Letter of Credit shall be renewed or replaced for a period being not less than 12 Months to such value as may be required to satisfy the provisions of this clause 9.1.18 not later than 30 days prior to the scheduled date of its expiry. If the Borrower fails to so renew or replace the DSRA Letter of Credit, the Borrower agrees that the Security Trustee shall have the right upon written notice to the Borrower to draw the entire amount available under such DSRA Letter of Credit and deposit such amount in the Debt Service Reserve Account for application in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Security Trustee shall at any time drawdown the entire amount available under any DSRA Letter of Credit and deposit the same in the Debt Service Reserve Account, such drawdown and deposit shall be deemed to remedy any Event of Default which shall have arisen as a result of the Borrower’s failure to renew or replace such DSRA Letter of Credit for a period of not less than 12 Months in accordance with the provisions of this clause 9.1.18;

 

  (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clauses 8.5 and 9.1.18(a) above, the Lender Finance Parties shall, in their absolute discretion, be entitled to:

 

  (i) use the sum standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account from time to time; and/or

 

  (ii) make a demand under the DSRA Letter of Credit,

 

       in each case to satisfy the Borrower’s obligation to pay a Repayment Instalment or Repayment Instalments which have become due and such sums and/or (as the case may be) the DSRA Letter of Credit shall be freely available to the Lender Finance Parties for these purposes.

 

       In the event that the Lender Finance Parties elect to exercise their rights under this clause 9.1.18(b) the Borrower shall have sixty (60) days to restore the aggregate of the amounts standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account and/or the amount of the DSRA Letter of Credit to an amount equal to the DSRA Amount.

 

9.1.19 Financial covenants

 

     provide the Agent at the same time it provides its audited financial statements and unaudited semi-annual accounts in accordance with clause 9.1.5 with a Compliance Certificate signed by an authorised officer of the Borrower (i) that the average DSCR in respect of the immediately preceding four (4)  financial quarters is equal to or above 1:1 Ox, (ii) that the average DSCR in respect of the immediately preceding two (2) financial quarters is equal to or above 1.06x and (iii) its Leverage Ratio for the immediately preceding four (4) financial quarters does not exceed 4:1. Such Compliance Certificate shall also attach full details of how the said DSCR and Leverage Ratio was calculated;

 

46


9.1.20 Minimum Credit Rating

in the event that the credit rating of an L/C Issuer falls below the Minimum Credit Rating applicable to it, then the Borrower shall immediately (a) inform the Agent and (b) credit the Debt Service Reserve Account in accordance with clause 8.5;

 

9.1.21 Supervision Agreement

 

  (a) ensure that throughout the period prior to Delivery of the Vessel the construction of the Vessel is supervised by the Supervisor pursuant to the Supervision Agreement and will not agree to any material variation of the Supervision Agreement or any sum payable by the Borrower to the Supervisor under the Supervision Agreement; and

 

  (b) at all times enforce all of its rights under the Supervision Agreement;

 

9.1.22 Developments regarding the Angola LNG Project

 

     as soon as reasonably practicable but subject to any confidentiality restrictions and limitations in the Time Charter and any other agreements of the Borrower, notify the Agent of any material developments notified to it by the Time Charterer regarding the Angola LNG Project or the Time Charterer, including, but not limited to, decisions regarding the rollover of the Gas Supply Agreement, the identity of the LNG gas buyers and any force majeure event under the Gas Supply Agreement, the LNG Agreement, the Time Charter or the Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement, Provided always that (subject to clause 9.1.15) the Borrower shall not have or be deemed to have any obligation under this Agreement or any Security Documents to request any information from the Time Charterer or any of its members, shareholders, directors, officers, employees or representatives regarding the Angola LNG Project or the Time Charterer;

 

9.1.23 Registration

 

     ensure that the Vessel shall on and from the Delivery Date be registered under the laws of the flag of the Flag State (or the flag of such other state as the Agent may consent to in writing, acting on the instruction of the Majority Lenders and KEIC);

 

9.1.24 Project Co-ordination Agreement

 

  1.1.1 Prior to the first Drawing, procure the execution of the Project Co-ordination Agreement in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to KEIC and to the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders.

 

9.2 Negative undertakings

 

     The Borrower undertakes with the Agent that, from the date of this Agreement and so long as any moneys are owing under the Security Documents and while all or any part of the Commitments remain outstanding, it will not without the prior written consent of the Agent:

 

9.2.1 Negative pledge

 

     permit any Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) to subsist, arise or be created or extended over all or any part of its present or future undertakings, assets, rights or revenues (including, without limitation to the generality of the foregoing, over the Vessel, the Time Charter, Earnings, Insurances and/or Accounts) to secure or prefer any present or future indebtedness or other liability or obligation of it or any other person;

 

47


9.2.2 No merger

 

     without the prior written consent of the Agent acting on the instructions of all Lenders merge or consolidate with any other person unless such merger or consolidation does not result in a Change of Control;

 

9.2.3 Disposals

 

     Subject to the rights of the Time Charterer under the Time Charter;

 

  (a) sell, transfer, abandon, lend or otherwise dispose of or cease to exercise direct control over any part (being either alone or when aggregated with all other disposals falling to be taken into account pursuant to this clause 9.2.3 material in the opinion of the Agent (acting reasonably and without unreasonable delay) in relation to the combined undertakings, assets, rights and revenues of the Borrower) of its present or future undertaking, assets, rights or revenues (otherwise than by transfers, sales or disposals for full consideration in the ordinary course of trading or otherwise in accordance with the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement) whether by one or a series of transactions related or not; or

 

  (b) sell, transfer, abandon, lease or otherwise dispose of or part with possession of the Vessel other than pursuant to clause 9.6.14 or with the prior written consent of the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC;

 

9.2.4 Other business

 

     undertake any business other than the ownership, financing (including the refinancing of the Vessel at the Maturity Date), maintenance and operation of the Vessel, the Depot Spare Parts, the chartering of the Vessel for the Time Charterer and making Authorised Investments as permitted by the Security Documents;

 

9.2.5 Acquisitions

 

     acquire any further assets other than Authorised Investments, the Vessel, the Depot Spare Parts and other assets and rights arising under contracts entered into by it in the ordinary course of its business of owning, operating, maintaining and chartering the Vessel or in refinancing the Vessel at the Maturity Date, provided always that the Loan Outstandings shall be repaid in full from the proceeds of such refinancing of the Vessel at the Maturity Date;

 

9.2.6 Other obligations

 

     incur any obligations except for obligations arising under the Relevant Documents to which it is a party or contracts entered into by it in the ordinary course of its business of owning, operating, maintaining and chartering the Vessel;

 

9.2.7 Guarantees

 

     issue any guarantees or indemnities or otherwise become directly or contingently liable for the obligations of any person, firm, or corporation except for guarantees or indemnities from time to time required in the ordinary course by any protection and indemnity or war risks association with which the Vessel is entered, guarantees required to procure the release of the Vessel from any arrest, detention, attachment or levy or guarantees or undertakings required for the salvage of the Vessel and except pursuant to the Security Documents;

 

9.2.8 Loans

 

     make any loans or grant any credit (save for normal trade credit in the ordinary course of business) to any person or agree to do so;

 

48


9.2.9 No borrowing

 

     incur any Financial Indebtedness or undertake any material capital commitment except:

 

  (a) for trade credit in the ordinary course of business and Financial Indebtedness pursuant to the Security Documents (including the Swap Agreements); and

 

  (b) the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and Additional Shareholders’ Equity contributed by way of subordinated debt and subordinated to the amounts due and owing to the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Swap Providers and the Lenders under the Security Documents;

 

9.2.10 Repayment of borrowings

 

     repay the principal of, or pay interest on or any other sum in connection with any of its Financial Indebtedness except such Financial Indebtedness as is permitted by the Security Documents or with the prior written consent of the Agent;

 

9.2.11 Sureties

 

     permit any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower to any person (other than the Lenders and/or the Agent and/or the Security Trustee and/or the Swap Providers under the Swap Agreements to be guaranteed by any person (save for guarantees or indemnities from time to time required in the ordinary course by any protection and indemnity or war risks association with which the Vessel is entered, guarantees required to procure the release of the Vessel from any arrest, detention, attachment or levy or guarantees or undertakings required for the salvage of the Vessel;

 

9.2.12 Share capital and distribution

 

     purchase or otherwise acquire for value any shares of its capital or declare or pay any dividends or distribute any of its present or future assets, undertakings, rights or revenues to any of its shareholders, save that the Borrower shall be permitted to declare or pay dividends provided that no Event of Default or Dividend Restriction Event has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived or would occur as a result;

 

9.2.13 Subsidiaries

 

     form or acquire any Subsidiaries;

 

9.2.14 Constitutional documents

 

     agree to any material change of its memoranda and articles of association or other constitutional documents;

 

9.2.15 Project Documents

 

     subject to clause 9.1.15(b)(ii) (which provides, for the avoidance of doubt, that amendments to the Time Charter in respect of technical and/or operational matters which shall have no material adverse financial effect upon the Borrower, no adverse effect upon the security rights of the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Lenders or the Swap Providers, which shall not have the effect of reducing the rate of hire payable under the Time Charter or amending the dates on which such hire is payable or reducing the period of the Time Charter itself and which shall in any event be promptly notified to the Agent, may be made or permitted by the Borrower without the consent of the Agent), materially amend, modify or waive any provision of the Project Documents to which it is a party or agree to materially amend, modify or waive any provision of the Project Documents to which it is not a party but which requires its consent without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders);

 

49


9.2.16 Borrower’s other documents

 

     enter in to any other material documents or agreements relating to the Angola LNG Project (other than such documents or agreements contemplated by the Time Charter) (such other material documents or agreements, “ Borrower’s Other Documents ”) and, if the Agent shall consent to the Borrower’s entry into any Borrower’s Other Documents (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed but the giving of which consent may be subject to the Borrower assigning or otherwise charging all its rights, title, benefits and interests under such Borrower’s Other Documents in favour of the Security Trustee as security for the Loan and any other sums payable under the other Security Documents), the Borrower shall not agree to any material change to the Borrower’s Other Documents without the prior written consent of the Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed);

 

9.2.17 Ownership of Borrower

 

     permit any change in the shareholders or their respective (direct or indirect) shareholdings in the Borrower as at the date hereof being:

 

  (i) Mitsui - 34%;

 

  (ii) NYK - 33%; and

 

  (iii) Teekay 33%.

 

     Provided however that (a) on Delivery, Teekay or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shall may, subject to the Agent having confirmed to Teekay in writing (not to be unreasonably delayed) that it is satisfied, acting reasonably that no material adverse effect on Teekay LNG’s consolidated financial position or Teekay LNG’s ability to comply with its material obligations under any of the Security Documents has occurred and is continuing with respect to Teekay LNG, transfer all of its shares in the Borrower to Teekay LNG or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary and Teekay LNG or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (as applicable) shall become a “ Borrower Shareholder ” in place of Teekay or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; (b) any of the Borrower Shareholders may at any time but subject always to the requirements of paragraph (c) below, transfer all or part of its shareholding in the Borrower to:-

 

  (aa) a Qualifying Entity, provided that such Qualifying Entity accedes to the Security Documents as a Sponsor and a Borrower Shareholder in respect of its proportionate interest in the Borrower;

 

  (bb) a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of any Qualifying Entity provided that, (a) such Wholly-Owned Subsidiary accedes to the Security Documents as a Borrower Shareholder in respect of its proportionate ownership interest in the Borrower, and (b) the Qualifying Entity accedes to the Security Documents as a Sponsor in respect of its proportionate indirect ownership interest in the Borrower;

 

  (cc) a Sponsor, another Borrower Shareholder or to an Affiliate of a Sponsor or a Borrower Shareholder, provided that, such Affiliate or Sponsor (as the case maybe) accedes to the Security Documents as a Borrower Shareholder in respect of its proportionate ownership interest in the Borrower; or

 

  (dd) any other person approved by the Agent acting on the instructions of all of the Lenders, provided that such approved person accedes to the Security Documents as a Sponsor and/or Borrower Shareholder (as applicable) in respect of its proportionate direct or indirect ownership interest in the Borrower;

 

     PROVIDED THAT

 

  (ee) in each case, in order to satisfy the requirement to accede to the Security Documents and as a condition precedent to the transfer of any shares to such party, such Qualifying Entity, Affiliate or other approved person, as the case maybe, shall in each case, have first entered into such documents including where it becomes a Borrower Shareholder, a share charge in favour of the Security Trustee in the same form as the Share Pledges Charges and in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and as shall deem necessary provide the Agent with such evidence including corporate authorities and such legal opinions as the Agent shall require in order for the Agent to be satisfied that such party has acceded to the Security Documents as a Borrower Shareholder and/or Sponsor as the case maybe; and

 

50


  (c) provided that at all times during the Facility Period one or more of Mitsui, NYK, Teekay or (following any transfer permitted and as referred to in (a) above) Teekay LNG or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shall directly or indirectly maintain a shareholding in the Borrower of an amount in aggregate which shall not be less than sixty six per cent (66%) of the full issued and outstanding share capital of the Borrower from time to time; and

 

9.2.18 Replacement of Manager

 

     without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and KEIC replace the Manager, provided that (a) the Agent’s consent shall not be required if the Manager is replaced by Teekay Shipping Limited (or one of its Affiliates) pursuant to clauses 16.2.4 or 16.6 of the Time Charter and (b) the Agent’s consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed where the Time Charterer has exercised its option pursuant to clause 29.6 of the Time Charter to convert the Time Charter into a bareboat charter of the Vessel;

 

9.3 Pre-delivery positive undertakings

 

     The Borrower, hereby undertakes and agrees with each of the Lender Finance Parties that from the date of this Agreement until the Delivery Date or, if earlier, the date upon which no moneys are owing under the Security Documents and no Commitments remain outstanding, that it will:

 

9.3.1 Document of title to the Vessel

 

     give irrevocable instructions to the Builder that at any time upon which title to the Vessel shall be or become transferable and be capable of transfer to hold the Vessel and the Builder’s Certificates and any other document of title to the Vessel to the order and at the disposal of the Security Trustee and use its best endeavours to ensure that the Builder complies with such instructions;

 

9.3.2 Performance of the Building Contracts

 

     duly and punctually observe and perform all the conditions and obligations imposed on it by the Building Contract;

 

9.3.3 Performance by Builder

 

     exercise best endeavours to ensure that the Builder observes and performs all conditions and obligations imposed on it by the Building Contract and take all steps within its power to ensure that the Builder proceeds with the construction of the Vessel with due diligence and despatch in accordance with the Building Contract;

 

9.3.4 Arbitration under the Building Contract

 

     in the event that the Builder and/or the Borrower resort to arbitration as provided in Article XXVII of the Building Contract, immediately notify the Agent in writing that such arbitration has been initiated, advise the Agent in writing of the identity of the appointed arbitrators and upon termination of the arbitration notify the Agent in writing to that effect and supply the Agent with a copy of the arbitration award and a certified English translation thereof (if the award is not in English);

 

51


9.3.5 Conveyance on default

 

     where the Vessel is (or is to be) sold in exercise of any power contained in the Security Documents or otherwise conferred on the Security Trustee, to execute, forthwith upon request by the Agent, such form of conveyance of the Vessel as the Agent may require;

 

9.3.6 Enforcement of Borrower’s rights

 

     do or permit to be done each and every act or thing which the Agent and/or the Security Trustee may from time to time require to be done in accordance with the terms of the Security Documents for the purpose of enforcing the Borrower’s rights (which the Borrower have failed to enforce or to enforce in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Security Trustee) under or pursuant to the Building Contract;

 

9.3.7 Notification of rejection of Vessel

 

     notify the Agent and the Security Trustee immediately if the Builder exercises, or purports to exercise or gives notice (written or oral) of its intention to exercise any right to cancel, rescind, repudiate or otherwise terminate the Building Contract or to render a performance materially different from that which the Building Contract obliges it to render or (with the prior written consent of the Agent given pursuant to clause 9.4.6) the Borrower cancels, rescinds, repudiates or otherwise terminates the Building Contract or purports to do so or (with the prior written consent of the Agent given pursuant to clause 9.4.6) the Borrower rejects the Vessel or purports to do so or if the Vessel shall become a Total Loss or partial loss or shall be damaged in a manner affecting its Classification or the Refund Guarantor cancels, rescinds, repudiates or otherwise terminates the Refund Guarantee or purports to do so;

 

9.3.8 Vessel name and registration

 

     register the Vessel under the laws and flag of the Flag State immediately upon its Delivery and keep the Vessel so registered at all times from the Delivery Date in accordance with clause 9.1.23;

 

9.3.9 Non-compliance with Time Charter

 

     provide the Agent with full details of any matter relating to the construction of the Vessel which could result in the Vessel not being in compliance with the Time Charter within 30 days of such matter coming to the attention of or being brought to the attention of the Borrower;

 

9.3.10 Delays

 

     provide the Agent with full details regarding any delays which arise or may arise with respect to the Scheduled Delivery Date of the Vessel under the Building Contract promptly upon such delays or possible delays coming to the attention of or being brought to the attention of the Borrower; and

 

9.3.11 Mortgage

 

     execute, and procure the registration of, the Mortgage under the laws and flag of the Flag State and the Deed of Covenant immediately upon the Delivery.

 

9.4 Pre-delivery negative undertakings

 

     The Borrower, hereby further undertakes and agrees with each of the Lender Finance Parties that from the date of this Agreement until the Delivery Date or, if earlier, the date upon which no moneys are owing under the Security Documents and no Commitments remain outstanding, it will not without the prior written consent of the Agent (and then only subject to such conditions as the Agent may impose) acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC:

 

52


9.4.1 Sale or other disposal

 

     sell or agree to sell, transfer, abandon or otherwise dispose of the Vessel or any share or interest therein;

 

9.4.2 Creation of Encumbrances

 

     create or agree to create or permit to exist any Encumbrance over the Vessel (or any share or interest therein) or over the Building Contract, the Guarantee Bond or the Refund Guarantee other than the Encumbrances created or to be created pursuant to or as contemplated by the Security Documents and Permitted Encumbrances;

 

9.4.3 Variation of Contracts

 

     agree to any variation of the Building Contract or any substantial variation of the specification of the Vessel (and for the purpose of this paragraph any extras, additions or alterations which the Borrower may desire to effect in the building of the Vessel shall be deemed to constitute a substantial variation of the specification of the Vessel if the cost thereof (which shall in every case be agreed in writing between the Borrower and the Builder before the work in respect of such variation is put in hand irrespective of whether the prior consent thereto of the Agent be required hereunder) or if the cost of the modification causes or will cause the Total Project Cost (estimated by the Borrower as of such date and notified to the Agent) to exceed one hundred and ten per cent. (110%) of the Scheduled Vessel Project Cost, Provided always that the Agent shall not unreasonably withhold or delay its consent if the Borrower shall evidence to the Agent that the Borrower is in a position to fund any sums from shareholders funds without prejudicing the Borrower’s ability to complete the construction and delivery of the Vessel in accordance with the Building Contract Provided further that, nothing in this clause 9.4.3 shall prohibit the Borrower from varying the specification of the Vessel to the extent the Borrower has an obligation to make such variation of the Vessel pursuant to clause 5.1 of the Time Charter or if such variation is required by applicable Law or the Classification Society. If the Borrower has an obligation to make such variation to the Vessel pursuant to clause 5.1 of the Time Charter, the Borrower shall notify the Agent in writing of such variation and shall provide the Agent, from time to time at the Agent’s reasonable request, information regarding the variation;

 

9.4.4 Releases and waivers of Building Contract

 

     release the Builder from any of its obligations under the Building Contract or waive any breach of the Builder’s obligations thereunder or consent to any such act or omission of the Builder as would otherwise constitute such breach;

 

9.4.5 Delays

 

     without prejudice to clause 9.4.3, agree to any variation of the Building Contract or the specification of the Vessel which would delay the time for delivery of the Vessel and be likely in the opinion of the Agent (acting reasonably) to put at risk the acceptance of the Vessel by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter unless the prior written consent to such variation given in writing by the Time Charterer shall have been provided to the Agent;

 

9.4.6 Rejection and cancellation

 

     either exercise or fail to exercise any right which the Borrower may have to reject the Vessel or cancel or rescind or otherwise terminate the Building Contract Provided always that any such rejection of the Vessel or cancellation, rescission or other termination of the Building Contract by the Borrower after such consent is given shall be without responsibility on the part of the Agent which shall be under no liability whatsoever to the extent that such rejection, rescission, cancellation or termination is thereafter adjudged to constitute a repudiation or other breach of the Building Contract by the Borrower Provided always that if the Agent shall not respond (whether in the positive or the negative) within 30 days of any request for such consent being made the Agent shall be deemed to have consented to such request;

 

53


9.4.7 Assignment of Earnings

 

     assign or agree to assign otherwise than to the Security Trustee the Earnings or any part thereof;

 

9.4.8 Variation of and demands under the Refund Guarantee

 

     agree to any variation of the Refund Guarantee nor make any demand for payment under the Refund Guarantee;

 

9.4.9 Release and waiver of Refund Guarantee

 

     release the Refund Guarantor from any of its obligations under the Refund Guarantee or waive any breach of the Refund Guarantor’s obligations thereunder or consent to any such act or omission of the Refund Guarantor as would otherwise constitute such breach; and

 

9.4.10 Chartering

 

     except pursuant to the Time Charter, let or agree to let the Vessel on demise charter for any period, or by any time or consecutive voyage charter.

 

9.5 Insurances

 

9.5.1 The Borrower covenants to ensure and procure at its own expense (and for the avoidance of doubt at no cost and expense to the Lender Finance Parties) that the following provisions of this clause 9.5 are complied with at all times during the Facility Period in respect of the Vessel. The Borrower confirms that throughout the Facility Period, the Vessel shall be in every respect at the risk of the Borrower.

 

9.5.2 Maintenance of Insurances

 

     The Vessel shall be kept insured at no cost to the Lender Finance Parties against:

 

  (a) fire and usual marine risks (including excess risks) and war risks (including terrorism, sabotage, vandalism, malicious mischief, blocking and trapping);

 

  (b) protection and indemnity risks (including pollution risks) and excess war protection and indemnity risks, on “full entry” terms;

 

  (c) in respect of such other matters of whatsoever nature and howsoever arising in respect of which insurance would be maintained by a prudent owner or operator of vessels of a similar age, condition and type as the Vessel; and

 

  (d) loss of hire for a minimum cover period of (i) one hundred and eighty (180) days, with a maximum deductible of fourteen (14) days or (ii) following receipt of a written request from the Agent, such longer period as may from time to time be reasonably and commercially available in the insurance market for vessels of similar age, size and type as the Vessel, and for a rate of hire at least equal to the rate set out in the Time Charter.

 

9.5.3 Terms of Insurances

 

     Such Insurances shall be effected:

 

  (a) in Dollars or such other currency as the Agent and the Borrower may agree;

 

  (b) in the case of fire and usual marine risks and war risks (on an agreed value basis) in an amount equal to the Insured Loss Value applicable on the first day of the period for which the insurances are renewed;

 

54


  (c) in the case of protection and indemnity risks (including pollution liability risks), in an amount equal to the highest amount in respect of which cover is in accordance with customary insurance market practice taken out by prudent owners or operators of vessels of a similar type, size, age, condition and flag as the Vessel with protection and indemnity risks associations that are members of the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Associations (but in the case of pollution risks, for a minimum amount of one billion Dollars ($1,000,000,000) or where cover for such risks is not available in such an amount, such lesser amount as is the best level of cover available in the market at the applicable time, having regard to the cover being taken out by prudent owners or operators of similar vessels to the Vessel;

 

  (d) in the case of loss of hire insurances in such amounts and upon such terms as shall from time to time be approved in writing by the Agent;

 

  (e) on terms approved under clause 9.5.18, but subject to a minimum requirement of the scope of coverage of that provided by the Institute Time Clauses and Additional Perils Clause with their War and Strikes sister clauses extended as necessary or as provided by the equivalent full conditions forms of other nationality (so far as can be reasonably obtained in the market at the applicable time); and

 

  (f) through brokers and with insurance companies and/or underwriters or, in the case of war risks and protection and indemnity risks, in war risks and protection and indemnity risks associations, in each case approved under clause 9.5.18.

 

9.5.4 Further protection for Agent

 

     In addition to the terms set out in clause 9.5.3, the Insurances effected under such clause shall:

 

  (a) in the case of the Insurances in respect of marine risks and war risks, be endorsed by way of a loss payable clause to the effect that:

 

  (i) payment of a claim for a Total Loss will be made to the Security Trustee (and shall, be applied in accordance with clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed); and

 

  (ii) payment of a claim for an amount which equals or exceeds ten million Dollars ($10,000,000) shall be paid to the Security Trustee and shall be applied as follows:

 

  (A) Subject to (aa) there being no Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under clause 10.2.1 (Failure to Pay) which has occurred due to the Vessel being off-hire in order for the necessary repair work to be completed) and (bb) clause 9.5.4(a)(v) below, in the event that the Borrower (or the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower) have instructed a shipyard to commence the repair works, which shipyard and repair works are acceptable to the Security Trustee acting reasonably and promptly (and, to the extent that the shipyard and repair works have been approved or nominated by the Time Charterer, such shipyard and repair works shall be deemed to be acceptable to the Security Trustee for these purposes), and paid for the repairs (such payments to de duly evidenced), to the Borrower (or, as the case may be, the Sponsors) upon resumption of the Vessel into service under the Time Charter, to reimburse the Borrower (or, as the case may be, the Sponsors) for the amounts so paid; or

 

55


  (B) Subject to (aa) there being no Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under clause 10.2.1 (Failure to Pay) which has occurred due to the Vessel being off-hire in order for the necessary repair work to be completed) and (bb) clause 9.5.4(a)(v) below, in the event that the Time Charterer has instructed a shipyard to commence the repair works, which shipyard and repair works are acceptable to the Security Trustee acting reasonably and promptly (and, to the extent that the shipyard and repair works have been approved or nominated by the Time Charterer, such shipyard and repair works shall be deemed to be acceptable to the Security Trustee for these purposes), and paid for part or the whole of the repairs and in respect of which the Borrower is required to reimburse the Time Charterer pursuant to paragraph 2.3 of Schedule XI to the Time Charter, to the Time Charterer to reimburse the Time Charterer for the amounts so paid (and in satisfaction of the Borrower’s obligation to reimburse the Time Charterer pursuant to clause 2.3 of Schedule XI to the Time Charter), with the balance to be paid to the relevant shipyard conducting such repairs (in or towards payment of any repairs in respect of which payment is outstanding) PROVIDED THAT, where such repairs will require the Vessel to remain off-hire for more than 120 days, the Security Trustee has received prior written confirmation from the Time Charterer that the Time Charterer will not exercise its rights under clause 22.4 of the Time Charter in respect of such off-hire period; and

 

  (C) If neither the Borrower (nor the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower) nor the Time Charterer have instructed a shipyard and paid for the repairs (or, in the case of the Time Charterer, part thereof) as described in clauses 9.5.4(a)(ii)(A) or 9.5.4(a)(ii)(B) above, or the conditions attached to the payment of the amounts to the Borrower, Sponsors or, as the case may be, Time Charterer (being, in the case of the Borrower, the requirement that that Vessel has resumed service under the Time Charter and, in the case of the Time Charterer, the requirement that where such repairs will require the Vessel to remain off-hire for more than 120 days, the Security Trustee has received prior written confirmation from the Time Charterer that the Time Charterer will not exercise its rights under clause 22.4 of the Time Charter in respect of such off-hire period) are not satisfied within forty five (45) days of the completion of the repair works, the Security Trustee shall, acting upon the instruction of the Majority Lenders, have the option to either (a) apply such amounts in repairing the damage or (b) apply such amounts in accordance with clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed; and

 

  (iii) Subject to no Event of Default having occurred which is continuing unremedied and unwaived, payment of a claim for an amount which is less than ten million Dollars ($10,000,000) shall be made to the Borrower who shall apply the same (a) in or toward making good the loss and fully repairing all damage in respect whereof such payment shall have been made or (b) to the Time Charterer to reimburse the Time Charterer for amounts paid by the Time Charterer in relation to the repair of the Veessel pursuant to paragraph 2.3 of Schedule XI to the Time Charter; and

 

  (iv) where there is any surplus after the Insurance proceeds have been applied pursuant to this clause 9.5.4(a) in respect of the relevant repairs, such surplus Insurance proceeds shall be paid to the Security Trustee for application in accordance with clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed); and

 

  (v) the application of clause 9.5.4(a)(ii) above is the subject to the Borrower being in compliance with its obligation to maintain loss of hire insurance in accordance with clause 9.5.2(d); and

 

  (vi) if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under clause 10.2.1 (Failure to Pay) which has occurred due to the Vessel being off-hire in order for the necessary repair work to be completed), has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived, and following notification by the Security Trustee to the approved brokers, payment of any such claim shall be made to the Security Trustee, and shall be applied in accordance with clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed;

 

56


  (b) in the case of the Insurances in respect of protection and indemnity risks, be endorsed by way of a loss payable clause to the effect that moneys payable thereunder shall be paid in reimbursement of the assured which has settled the liability to which the relevant claim relates or, if so agreed by the relevant insurers, be paid directly to the person to whom was incurred the liability in respect of which the relevant money was paid unless and until the Security Trustee, following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived, shall direct that they shall be paid to the Security Trustee whereupon they shall be paid to the Security Trustee and shall be applied in accordance with clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed;

 

  (c) in the case of Insurances in respect of loss of hire be endorsed by way of a loss payable clause to the effect that all moneys payable thereunder shall, be paid to the Borrower, unless and until the Security Trustee, following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived, shall direct that these shall be paid to the Security Trustee whereupon they shall be paid to the Security Trustee and shall be applied in accordance with clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed.

 

9.5.5 Renewals

 

  (a) As soon as possible, but in any case not less than fourteen (14) days before the expiry of any of the policies, entries or contracts forming part of the Insurances or if there is a change in the insurers and/or markets through whom the Insurances are placed, the Borrower shall notify the Agent of the names of the brokers (or other insurers) and any protection and indemnity and/or war risks association through or with whom such Insurances are proposed to be renewed and (if any material change is proposed) of the proposed terms and amounts of renewal. The Borrower shall also promptly notify the Agent of any material change in the information notified to the Agent pursuant to this clause 9.5.5 and shall provide the Agent with particulars of such changes. If at any time the terms and amounts on and for which the Insurances are proposed to be renewed or the identity of the broker or war or protection and indemnity risks associations with whom the Insurances are proposed to be renewed are not approved by the Agent, as contemplated by clause 9.5.18, the Agent shall notify the Borrower promptly in writing of the withdrawal of its approval, and the Borrower shall procure that the Insurances are renewed or replaced on terms satisfactory to the Agent (acting reasonably);

 

  (b) Before the expiry of any Insurances the Borrower shall procure that such relevant Insurances are renewed and shall confirm to the Agent that such renewals have been effected or shall procure that such confirmation is given to the Agent before the expiry of any such Insurances; and

 

  (c) Promptly after each such renewal, the Borrower shall procure that the Agent is provided with the details of the terms and conditions and amounts on which and for which such Insurances have been renewed.

 

  (d) If, after renewal and after review by the Agent of the terms and conditions of renewal, the Agent advises the Borrower that the terms and conditions of such Insurances as renewed, do not conform with the requirements of this clause 9.5.5 (which advice shall specify in reasonable detail the particular discrepancies) then, after consultation with the Agent, the Borrower shall ensure that any such discrepancies are corrected promptly.

 

9.5.6 Custody of Policy Documents/Loss Payable Clauses

 

     The Borrower shall procure that there shall be deposited with the brokers and/or insurers through which the Insurances are arranged from time to time copies of all slips, cover notes, policies certificates of entry or other instruments of insurance from time to time issued in connection with such of the Insurances referred to in this clause 9.5.6 as are effected through such brokers and/or the war risks and protection and indemnity association approved in accordance with clause 9.5.18 and shall also procure that, in the case of the Insurances referred to in clause 9.5.2(a), the relevant loss payable clause shall be incorporated on the relevant cover note or policy and, in the case of the protection and indemnity Insurances referred to in clause 9.5.2(b), the relevant loss payable clause shall be incorporated on the relevant certificate of entry or policy, and the Borrower shall procure that the Agent shall be furnished with certified copies of the relevant cover note or policy or certificate of entry or policy, duly endorsed.

 

57


9.5.7 Letters of undertaking

 

     In relation to all Insurances effected from time to time under and in accordance with this clause 9.5.7, the Borrower shall ensure that all brokers and/or insurers and any protection and indemnity or war risks associations in which the Vessel is entered, in each case being approved under clause 9.5.18, provide the Agent with letters of undertaking:

 

  (a) in the case of an approved broker in the form of the L.I.B.C. Recommended Brokers’ Letter of Undertaking of October 1984 or, if such form no longer represents the then current market practice in the insurance market in which the approved broker operates, in such form as the Agent and the Borrower shall agree, having regard to the then current market practice in the insurance market in which the approved broker operates, and any professional association of which that approved broker is a member; and

 

  (b) in the case of a protection and indemnity association, having regard to the current market practice and the practices prescribed by the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Associations or, if the relevant protection and indemnity association is not a member of the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Associations but has otherwise been approved by the Agent in accordance with clause 9.5.18, the current practice of that association (and which will for all purposes provide for notification to the Agent prior to the cancellation of any such entry); and

 

  (c) in the case of a war risks association, having regard to the current market practice in the insurance market in which such association operates.

 

9.5.8 Fleet Cover

 

     If any of the Insurances referred to in clauses 9.5.2(a) and/or 9.5.2(b) form part of a fleet cover, the Borrower will procure that (a) any letter of undertaking referred to in clause 9.5.7 is amended to provide that the relevant brokers shall undertake to the Lender Finance Parties that they shall neither set-off against any claims in respect of the Vessel any premiums due in respect of other vessels under such fleet cover or any premiums due for other insurances, nor cancel the insurance for reason of non-payment of premiums for other vessels under such fleet cover or of premiums for such other insurance or (b) that the applicable policy documents are endorsed to the effect that the applicable insurers shall neither set-off against any claims in respect of the Vessel any premiums due in respect of other vessels under such fleet cover or any premiums due for other insurances, nor cancel the insurance for reason of non-payment of premiums for other vessels under such fleet cover or of premiums for such other insurance or (c) that the Lender Finance Parties receive other comfort that this will not occur or arranges separate policies for the Vessel.

 

9.5.9 No material adverse alteration

 

     The Borrower shall comply with the terms and conditions of the Insurances and shall not do and shall ensure that there is no act or omission which would give rise to a right to cancel any Insurances or render any Insurances, or any policy or policies or certificate or certificates of entry invalid, void, or unenforceable or render any sum paid out under any policy or policies or certificate or certificates of entry or the Insurances evidenced thereby repayable in whole or in part. The Borrower will not make, and shall procure that there is not made, any material alteration to the terms of any of the Insurances without the prior written consent of the Agent.

 

58


9.5.10 Operation outside terms of Insurances

The Borrower will take all steps necessary so that:

 

  (a) the Vessel is not operated in any way inconsistent with the provisions or warranties of or implied in, or in contravention of the cover provided by, any Insurance taken out in accordance with this clause 9.5;

 

  (b) the Vessel is not engaged in any voyage or to carry any cargo not permitted by any Insurance, in each case without first obtaining the consent (if necessary) of the insurers to such operation or engagement and complying with such requirements as to extra premium or otherwise as the insurers may prescribe; or

 

  (c) all requisite certificates of financial responsibility and/or other consents, licences, approvals or Authorisations as may from time to time be required are obtained and maintained if the Vessel is likely to be operating in or into or off-shore from the United States of America.

 

9.5.11 Payment of premiums and calls

 

   The Borrower shall procure that (taking account of any applicable grace period) all premiums, calls, contributions or other sums of money from time to time due in respect of any Insurance are paid punctually and in full.

 

9.5.12 Notification of Total Loss

The Borrower shall procure that the Agent is notified of:

 

  (a) the levy of any distress on the Vessel or its arrest, detention, seizure, condemnation as prize, Compulsory Acquisition or requisition for title or use; and

 

  (b) (save in the case of Compulsory Acquisition or requisition for title or use or any capture, seizure, arrest, detention or confiscation of the Vessel by any government, or by persons acting or purporting to act on behalf of any government) any accident, casualty or other event which has caused or resulted in or is likely to cause or result in the Vessel being or becoming a Total Loss.

 

9.5.13 Settlement of claims

 

  (a) The Borrower shall do all things necessary and provide all documents, evidence and information to enable the Lender Finance Parties to collect or recover any moneys which at any time become due and payable to the Lender Finance Parties or otherwise in respect of the Insurances.

 

  (b) Subject to the Borrower having provided any necessary security in a timely manner so as to prevent the actual or continued arrest of the Vessel and provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Agent agrees that the Borrower shall have the right to settle, compromise or abandon any claim under the Insurances for Total Loss or in respect of claims in excess of the Threshold Amount or to give notice of abandonment of the Vessel to the insurers and/or to claim a constructive Total Loss upon the prior written approval of the Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, the Borrower acknowledging (without limitation) that it shall be reasonable for the Agent to withhold its consent if required to do so pursuant to the Relevant Documents or any of them) but that the Agent itself shall not settle, compromise or abandon any such claim without reference to the Borrower prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default. After the occurrence of any Event of Default while it is continuing unremedied or unwaived, the Security Trustee alone shall have the right to settle, compromise or abandon any claims under the Insurances and/or give notice of abandonment of the Vessel to the insurers and/or claim a constructive Total Loss.

 

59


9.5.14 P & I guarantees

 

   The Borrower shall arrange for the execution and delivery of all guarantees and indemnities as may from time to time be required by the Vessel’s protection and indemnity or war risks association.

 

9.5.15 Additional Insurance

 

   Nothing in this clause 9.5.15 shall prohibit the Borrower from placing additional insurance on the Vessel at its own expense and for its sole benefit provided however that:

 

  (a) such insurance shall not prejudice the Insurances or recovery thereunder or exceed the amount permitted by warranties or other conditions contained in the Insurances without the written consent of the insurers of the Insurances;

 

  (b) where the written consent of the insurers as referred to in clause 9.5.15(a) is required, the Borrower shall procure that there shall be immediately furnished to the Agent a copy of such consent and, in all cases, with particulars of any additional insurance effected including copies of any cover notes or policies and of the written consent of the insurers of the required insurance in any case where such consent is necessary; and

 

  (c) any insurance payments received by the Agent arising solely from additional insurance effected by the Borrower under this clause 9.5.15(a) less amounts due (if any) by the Agent in respect of Taxes in relation to the sums received shall be paid by the Agent to the Borrower promptly after receipt thereof.

 

9.5.16 No Security Interest

 

   The Borrower shall not, and shall procure that no Security Party will, create or permit to exist any security interest over or in respect of the Insurances save for the approved brokers’ or insurers’ right of set off and lien for unpaid premiums to the extent permitted by clause 9.5.8 and the Encumbrances created by the Assignment.

 

9.5.17 Insurance reports and provision of information

 

  (a) The Borrower shall procure that there shall be provided promptly any information reasonably required for the purpose of the Agent obtaining or preparing any report from a reputable international independent marine insurance broker or adviser appointed by the Agent as to the adequacy of the Insurances effected or proposed to be effected, and the Borrower shall, promptly upon demand, indemnify the Agent in respect of reasonable fees incurred by or for the account of the Agent in connection with one such report prepared immediately prior to the Delivery Date and at annual intervals thereafter, but in the case of each annual report only following either any material change to the terms of any of the Insurances or a change in the identity of the approved brokers, the approved protection and indemnity and/or war risks association or the approved insurance companies and/or underwriters.

 

  (b) The Borrower shall also, on the Agent’s request (not more frequently than annually and, in case of a policy period of more than 12 Months, not more than once in each policy period), provide to the Agent and the Security Trustee certified copies of all policy documents and certificates of entry relating to the Insurances which are in the possession of the Borrower, its agents or managers or the approved brokers.

 

9.5.18 Approval process

 

   The Agent’s written approval acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC’s written approval must be obtained in relation to the initial placement of Insurances, particularly with respect to requirements as to amounts and terms of insurance and identity of brokers and the identity and credit standing of the insurers. The Agent’s written approval acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC’s written approval must also be obtained in relation to any material changes to the amounts and terms of insurance or the identity of the brokers or the identity and credit standing of the insurers on renewal. The Agent will act promptly and will not act unreasonably in relation to giving its approval in relation to these matters.

 

60


9.5.19 Mortgagee’s interest insurance/Mortgagee’s additional perils insurance

 

   Nothing contained in this clause 9.5 shall affect the Security Trustee’s rights to take out mortgagee’s interest insurance, mortgagee’s additional perils insurance and/or contingent liability insurance in relation to the insurances of the Vessel for its own account save that mortgagee’s interest insurance in respect of the Buyer Credit (and taken for the sole benefit of the Buyer Credit only) will be affected at the expense of the Borrower.

 

9.5.20 Insurance review

 

   From time to time during any period of insurance cover the Agent may review the terms of and identity of brokers, insurance companies and underwriters and war risks or protection and indemnity associations through which the Vessel is insured under this clause 9.5.20. Such review shall be made in consultation with the Borrower. After consultation, the Borrower shall implement such modifications as the Agent may reasonably request in order to seek to ensure that such insurances at all times cover all risks which may customarily and generally be covered in transactions similar to that covered by this Agreement and that the terms of such insurances and the identity of brokers, underwriters, insurance companies and associations will continue to be approved by the Agent, as provided for in clause 9.5.18.

 

9.5.21 Insurances effected by the Agent

 

   If the Borrower fails to effect or keep in force the Insurances, the Agent may (but shall not be obliged to) effect and/or keep in force such insurances on the Vessel and such entries in protection and indemnity or war risks associations as the Agent in its discretion considers desirable having regard to the types of insurances that are required pursuant to this clause 9.5, and the Agent may (but shall not be obliged to) pay any unpaid premiums, calls or contributions. The Borrower will reimburse the Agent from time to time on demand for all such premiums, calls or contributions paid by the Agent, together with interest at the Default Rate from the date of payment by the Agent until the date of reimbursement

 

9.5.22 Environmental

 

   The Borrower shall comply strictly with the requirements of any legislation relating to pollution or protection of the environment which may from time to time be applicable to the Vessel in any jurisdiction in which the Vessel shall trade and in particular (if a Vessel is to trade in the United States of America and Exclusive Economic Zone (as defined in the Act)) the Borrower shall comply strictly with the requirements of the United States Oil Pollution Act 1990 (“the Act”). Before any such trade is commenced and during the entire period during which such trade is carried on, the Borrower shall:-

 

  (a) pay any additional premiums and satisfy such other conditions required to maintain protection and indemnity cover for oil pollution up to the limit available to the Borrower for the Vessel in the market; and

 

  (b) make all such quarterly or other voyage declarations as may from time to time be required by the Vessel’s protection and indemnity association in order to maintain such cover; and

 

  (c) in addition to the foregoing (if such trade is in the United States of America and Exclusive Economic Zone):

 

  (i) obtain and retain a certificate of financial responsibility under the Act in form and substance satisfactory to the United States Coast Guard and upon request provide the Agent with a copy; and

 

61


  (ii) procure that the protection and indemnity insurances do not contain a US Trading Exclusion Clause or any other provision analogous thereto and upon request provide the Agent with evidence that this is so; and

 

  (iii) comply strictly with any operational or structural regulations issued from time to time by any relevant authorities under the Act so that at all times the Vessel falls within the provisions which limit strict liability under the Act for oil pollution.

 

9.6 Operation and Maintenance

 

9.6.1 General

 

   The Borrower undertakes in favour of the Lender Finance Parties to comply with the following provisions at all times during the Facility Period until such time as the Vessel is sold except as the Agent may otherwise permit in writing.

 

9.6.2 Supply and crewing

 

   Throughout the Facility Period the Borrower shall procure that the Vessel is manned, victualled, navigated, operated, supplied, fuelled, maintained and repaired, all at no cost to the Agent.

 

9.6.3 Condition of the Vessel

 

   The Borrower shall procure that the Vessel and every part thereof is kept in a good and safe condition and state of repair, ordinary wear and tear excepted and shall ensure that all repairs to the Vessel or replacements of lost, damaged or worn parts and equipment in respect of the Vessel, are effected in such a manner so as not to diminish the value of the Vessel and in any event:

 

  (a) consistent with first-class ship ownership, operation and management standards in relation to ships of the Vessel’s age and type;

 

  (b) so as to maintain the Vessel’s present class, namely 1+HULL+MACH+Liquefied gas carrier/LNG, Shiptype 2G (-163°C, 500 kg/m3., 0.25 bar unrestricted navigation + VeriSTAR-HULL, + AUT-UMS,+SYS-NEQ-1,+MON-SHAFT, INWATERSURVEY, with the American Bureau of Shipping or the equivalent with another Classification Society approved by the Majority Lenders in writing and in each case free from any overdue recommendations and conditions affecting the Vessel’s class; and

 

  (c) so as to comply with the material provisions of all laws and regulations applicable to the Vessel, including, without limitation, Environmental Law and Environmental Approval, and to maintain all certificates, licences and permits applicable to vessels registered in the state of registration for the time being of the Vessel and to vessels trading to any jurisdiction to which the Vessel may trade from time to time in any such case.

 

9.6.4 Master, officers and crew

 

   The Master, officers and crew of the Vessel shall be the servants of the Borrower for all purposes whatsoever. The Borrower shall ensure that the wages and allotments and the insurance and pension contributions as appropriate of the Master, officers and crew shall be paid when due and all deductions from their wages in respect of tax liability shall be properly accounted for and the Master shall have no valid claim for disbursements other than those incurred by him in the ordinary course of trading of the Vessel.

 

62


9.6.5 Modifications

 

   The Borrower shall procure that no modification is made to the Vessel, unless such modification is required to be made by the Borrower pursuant to clause 5.1 of the Time Charter or is otherwise required under applicable Law or by the Classification Society, which would:

 

  (a) materially and adversely alter the structure, type or performance characteristics of the Vessel; or

 

  (b) reduce the value of the Vessel,

 

   and the Borrower shall notify the Agent of any modifications which are made to the Vessel the cost of which exceeds or will when completed exceed two million Dollars ($2,000,000).

 

9.6.6 Surveys

 

   The Borrower shall procure that the Vessel is submitted to such periodical or other surveys as may be required by the Flag State or for classification purposes and shall comply with all conditions and recommendations affecting the Vessel’s class of the relevant Classification Society of the Vessel from time to time in accordance with their terms unless waived and the Borrower shall supply copies of any survey reports to the Agent upon request from the Agent.

 

9.6.7 Drydocking

 

   The Borrower shall procure that the Vessel is drydocked as often as may be required to ensure that the Vessel maintains its Classification with its relevant Classification Society and otherwise in accordance with good commercial practice. If the Borrower fails to comply with the requirements of the relevant Classification Society, the Agent may inspect the Vessel in accordance with clause 9.6.12. If requested by the Agent, the Borrower shall give the Agent reasonable prior written notice of any intended drydocking of the Vessel.

 

9.6.8 Release from arrest

 

   The Borrower shall promptly pay and discharge all debts, damages, liabilities and outgoings whatsoever which have given or which may reasonably be expected to give rise to maritime, statutory or possessory liens on, or claims enforceable against, the Vessel or the Insurances or any part thereof. If at any time during the Facility Period any writ or equivalent claim or pleading in admiralty is filed against the Vessel or the Insurances or any part thereof, or the Vessel or the Insurances or any part thereof is arrested or detained or attached or levied upon pursuant to legal process or purported legal process or in the event of the detention of the Vessel in the exercise or the purported exercise of any such lien or claim as aforesaid (other than by reason of a Compulsory Acquisition), the Borrower shall procure the release of the Vessel and the Insurances from such arrest, detention, attachment or levy or, as the case may be, the discharge of the writ or equivalent claim or pleading in admiralty as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within fourteen (14) days (or such longer period as the Agent may agree acting reasonably) of receiving notice thereof by providing bail or procuring the provision of security or otherwise as circumstances may require.

 

9.6.9 Manuals and technical records

The Borrower shall procure that:

 

  (a) all such records, logs, manuals, technical data and other materials and documents which are required to be maintained in respect of the Vessel to comply with any applicable laws or the requirements of the Flag State and Classification Society are maintained;

 

  (b) accurate, complete and up-to-date logs and records of all voyages made by the Vessel and of all maintenance, repairs, alterations, modifications and additions to the Vessel are kept in accordance with good industry practice; and

 

63


  (c) following the occurrence of an Event of Default and for as long as it is continuing unremedied or unwaived on reasonable advance notice from the Agent, the Agent or its representatives is permitted at any time to examine and take copies of such logs and records and other records.

 

9.6.10 Vessel’s Software

 

  (a) The Borrower shall obtain and maintain and procure that there are obtained and maintained all licences and permits (without liability on the part of the Agent for the payment of any royalties as may be required from time to time in respect of the computer software which is required for the operation of the Vessel, including, but not limited to, navigation software) and shall procure that all such licences and permits are granted without any limitation or expiry (or are renewed prior to any such expiry).

 

  (b) The Borrower shall use its best endeavours to extend to the Security Trustee the benefit of all software licences and permits in respect of the Vessel which are available to the Borrower.

 

9.6.11 Manager

 

   Other than the Manager, and subject to clause 9.2.18 above, the Borrower shall procure that no commercial or technical manager or construction supervisor of the Vessel is appointed without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and KEIC, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and the Borrower shall ensure that the Vessel is at all times under such commercial and technical management.

 

9.6.12 Inspection

 

   The Borrower shall ensure that the Agent, its surveyors or other persons appointed by it will be permitted to inspect the Vessel (provided that, if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived, the Agent may not inspect the Vessel more than once annually), upon reasonable notice and without interfering with the Vessel’s operation. Such inspections shall be without cost or risk to the Borrower unless an inspection made after the occurrence of an Event of Default that is continuing unremedied or unwaived, in which case the inspections shall be at the cost of the Borrower and the risk of the Agent.

 

9.6.13 Notification of certain events

 

   The Borrower shall, immediately upon the same coming to its attention and to the best of its then current knowledge, notify the Agent by electronic mail of:

 

  (a) any casualty or damage in respect of the Vessel which is or is likely to give rise to a loss or cost or repairs of two million Dollars ($2,000,000) or more;

 

  (b) any occurrence as a result of which the Vessel has become or is, by the passing of time or otherwise, likely to become a Total Loss;

 

  (c) any requirement or recommendation made by any insurer or Classification Society or by any competent authority which is not complied with within any applicable time period for compliance stipulated by such authority;

 

  (d) any arrest or detention of the Vessel, any exercise or purported exercise of any lien on the Vessel or its Earnings or any requisition of the Vessel for hire;

 

  (e) any Environmental Claim made against the Agent of which it is or becomes aware or in connection with the Vessel, or any Environmental Incident or Environmental Claim in an amount in excess of one million Dollars ($1,000,000) or the Dollar Equivalent (in the case of a claim in any other currency) made against the Borrower, any other Security Party or the Time Charterer in connection with the Vessel;

 

64


  (f) any claim for breach of the ISM Code or the ISPS Code being made against the Borrower, any other Security Party or the Time Charterer in connection with the Vessel;

 

  (g) any other matter, event or incident which will or is reasonably likely to lead to the ISM Code or the ISPS Code not being complied with;

 

  (h) any claims made in connection with a bodily injury to a third party involving amounts in excess of an amount of one million Dollars ($1,000,000) or the Dollar Equivalent (in the case of a claim in any other currency);

 

  (i) any requisition of the Vessel for hire;

 

  (j) any security interest (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) arising over the Vessel or the Insurances or Requisition Compensation; and

 

  (k) any other event in respect of the Vessel or the Insurances or Requisition Compensation which could reasonably be expected to involve the Agent in any loss or liability,

 

   and the Borrower shall keep the Agent advised in writing on a regular basis and in such reasonable detail as the Agent shall require in respect of those events or matters and/or of the response to any of those events or matters by the Borrower or the applicable Security Party, the Time Charterer or any other person.

 

9.6.14 Restrictions on chartering or parting with possession

 

   The Borrower shall not, without the prior written consent of the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably, and without unreasonable delay):

 

  (a) let or otherwise charter the Vessel to any other party or allow the Vessel to be used by or available to any other party, except pursuant to the Time Charter or except as required by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter;

 

  (b) make any amendment to the Time Charter (other than as permitted under clause 9.1.15(b)), or waive any material provision of such Time Charter, or terminate such Time Charter;

 

  (c) put the Vessel into the possession of any person for the purpose of work being done upon it in an amount exceeding or likely to exceed two million Dollars ($2,000,000) or the equivalent in any other currency (in the case of a claim in any other currency) unless either:

 

  (i) the cost of such work is covered by Insurances; or

 

  (ii) the Borrower establishes to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent that it has sufficient funds to pay for the cost of such work.

 

   Provided always that this clause 9.6.14(c) shall not apply in respect of the regularly scheduled dry docking of the Vessel for which the Borrower has reserved amounts in accordance with clause 8.2.

 

9.6.15 Additional Vessel Covenants

The Borrower further covenants with the Agent in respect of the Vessel:-

 

  (a) at and from the Delivery Date to effect and maintain registration of the Mortgage at the Vessel’s Vessel Registry; and not cause nor permit to be done any act or omission as a result of which that registration or the registration set out in clause 9.1.23 above might be defeated or imperilled; and

 

65


  (b) in the event of any requisition or seizure of the Vessel, to take all lawful steps to recover possession of the Vessel as soon as it is entitled to do so; and

 

  (c) to give to the Agent from time to time during the Facility Period on request such information as the Agent may reasonably require with regard to the Vessel’s employment, position and state of repair; and

 

  (d) not during hostilities (whether or not a state of war shall formally have been declared and including, without limitation, any civil war) to permit the Vessel to be employed in carrying any goods which may be declared to be contraband of war or which may render that Vessel liable to confiscation, seizure, detention or destruction, nor to permit the Vessel to enter any area which is declared a war zone by any governmental authority or by the Vessel’s insurers unless the Borrower has effected at its own expense such additional insurances as shall be necessary or customary for first class ship owners. The Borrower shall promptly notify the Agent thereof and, if required by the Agent, specifically assign those insurances to the Security Trustee by such documents as the Agent, acting reasonably, may require; and

 

  (e) not without the prior written consent of the Agent to enter into any agreement or arrangement for sharing the Earnings; and

 

  (f) to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any infringements of any anti drug legislation in any jurisdiction in which the Vessel shall trade and in particular (if the Vessel is to trade in the United States of America) to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any infringements of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 of the United States of America and for this purpose, if required, to enter into a “Carrier Initiative Agreement” with the United States’ Customs Service and to procure that the same or a similar agreement is maintained in full force and effect and that the Borrower’s obligations thereunder are performed in respect of the Vessel.

 

10 Events of Default

 

10.1 The Agent’s rights

 

   If any of the events set out in clause 10.2 occurs, the Agent may at its discretion (and, on the instructions of the Majority Lenders, will):

 

10.1.1 by notice to the Borrower declare the Lenders to be under no further obligation to the Borrower under or pursuant to this Agreement and may (and, on the instructions of the Majority Lenders, will) declare all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness (including such unpaid interest and Commitment Fees as shall have accrued and any Break Costs incurred by the Lender Finance Parties) to be immediately payable, whereupon the Lender Indebtedness (or the part of the Lender Indebtedness referred to in the Agent’s notice) shall immediately become due and payable without any further demand or notice of any kind; and/or

 

10.1.2 declare that any undrawn portion of the Loan shall be cancelled, whereupon the same shall be cancelled and the corresponding Commitment of each Lender shall be reduced to zero; and/or

 

10.1.3 exercise any rights and remedies in existence or arising under the Security Documents.

 

10.2 Events of Default

The events referred to in clause 10.1 are:-

 

10.2.1 Failure to Pay: any Security Party fails to pay any amount payable by it under this Agreement or any of the Security Documents at the time, in the currency and otherwise in the manner specified herein or therein (and so that, for this purpose, sums payable on demand unscheduled amounts shall be treated as having been paid at the stipulated time if paid within five (5) days of demand) unless in respect of scheduled payments the Borrower demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Agent that such failure has occurred by reason solely of banking error and such sum remains unpaid for no longer than five (5) days after the date on which it receives notice from the Agent of such failure; or

 

66


10.2.2 if any of the Borrower, the Sponsors or the Borrower Shareholders fails to pay when due any amount payable by it under any of the Project Documents to which it is a party at any time, in the currency and otherwise in the manner specified therein subject to expiry of any applicable grace periods specified therein and if such failure in the reasonable opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) has or may be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

10.2.3 Insurances: any of the Insurances required to be placed and maintained in respect of the Vessel in accordance with clause 9.5 are not so placed and/or maintained or if at any time any of the Insurances either:

 

  (a) lapse before the time of scheduled renewal without being renewed in accordance with clause 9.5; or

 

  (b) are not renewed at the time of scheduled renewal in accordance with the requirements of clause 9.5; or

 

  (c) are cancelled or rendered invalid, void or unenforceable,

 

   any sums recovered under any of the Insurances for the Vessel are or become repayable in whole or in part and an equivalent amount is not paid by the Borrower within 2 Business Days; or

 

10.2.4 Misrepresentation: any representation or statement made by any Security Party in favour of a Lender Finance Party in this Agreement or any Security Document to which it is a party or, in each case, in any notice or other document, certificate or statement delivered by it pursuant thereto or in connection therewith is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made and in each case where the incorrectness is in the opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) remediable and the relevant Security Party shall have failed to remedy it within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the relevant Security Party of a written notice from the Agent of such failure (or such longer period as the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) may specify or agree); or

 

10.2.5 Specific Covenants: the Borrower fails duly to perform or comply with any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by or procured by it under clauses 9.1.4, 9.1.15 , 9.1.15(a), 9.1.15(b)(i), 9.1.15(b)(ii) 9.1.18, 9.1.19 , 9.1.19 , 9.2.17, 9.4.7, 9.4.8, 9.4.9 or 9.4.10 at any time; or

 

10.2.6 Other Obligations: (a) a Security Party fails duly to perform or comply with any other term or condition of any other Security Document to which it is a party (other than those referred to in clauses 10.2.1, 10.2.2, 10.2.4, 10.2.5, 10.2.23, 10.2.24 or 10.2.25) and such failure is not remedied within fifteen (15) days after the Agent has given written notice thereof to the relevant Security Party (or such longer period as the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) may specify or agree) or (b) any Security Party fails duly to perform or comply with any other term or condition of any Project Document to which it is a party subject to expiry of any applicable grace period therein and if the failure to perform in the reasonable opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) has or may be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

10.2.7 Cross-Default: any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower in an amount greater than two hundred and fifty thousand Dollars ($250,000) is not paid when due or becomes (whether by declaration or automatically in accordance with the relevant agreement or instrument constituting the same and following expiry of any applicable grace period for payment thereof) due and payable prior to the date when it would otherwise have become due (unless as a result of the exercise by the Borrower of a voluntary right of prepayment), or any creditor of the Borrower becomes entitled to declare any such Financial Indebtedness due and payable or any facility or commitment available to the Borrower relating to such Financial Indebtedness is withdrawn, suspended or cancelled by reason of any default (however described) of the Borrower concerned; or

 

67


10.2.8 Litigation: any litigation, arbitration or administrative action or proceeding is commenced against any Security Party or, prior to Delivery, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or any of their its property, undertakings or assets before any court, arbitrator or administrative agency or authority which, if adversely determined, would have in the reasonable opinion of the Agent a Material Adverse Effect unless:

 

  (a) the relevant Security Party demonstrates in writing to the Agent (who shall act reasonably in considering such matters) to the Agent’s satisfaction, that such litigation, arbitration or administrative action or proceeding is or may reasonably be considered to be vexatious or frivolous; or

 

  (b) it is dismissed or irrevocably stayed within thirty (30) days of commencement;

 

10.2.9 Legal process:

 

  (a) any final judgment or order greater than two hundred and fifty thousand Dollars ($250,000) made against the Borrower is not stayed or complied with within twenty (20) Business Days or a creditor attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or other process is levied or enforced upon or sued out against, all or a substantial part of (in the reasonable opinion of the Agent) the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues of the Borrower and is not discharged within twenty (20) Business Days; or

 

  (b) any final judgment or order made against any Security Party (other than the Borrower and (following the Delivery Date) the Supervisor) is not stayed or complied with within twenty (20) Business Days or a creditor attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or other process is levied or enforced upon or sued out against, all or substantially all of (in the reasonable opinion of the Agent) the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues of any Security Party (other than the Borrower and (following the Delivery Date) the Supervisor) and is not discharged within twenty (20) Business Days and, in each such case above, the event described above has or might reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

10.2.10 Insolvency: any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due; suspends making payments on any of its debts or announces an intention to do so; becomes insolvent; has assets the value of which is less than the value of its liabilities; or suffers the declaration of a moratorium in respect of any of its indebtedness; or

 

10.2.11 Reduction or loss of capital: a meeting is convened by any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) for the purpose of passing any resolution to purchase, reduce or redeem any of its share capital (other than a stock buy-back of any Sponsor); or

 

10.2.12 Winding up: any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken for the purpose of winding up any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or an order is made or resolution passed for the winding up of any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or a notice is issued convening a meeting for the purpose of passing any such resolution, provided however that, in the case only of an order for winding-up, the occurrence of such event shall not constitute an Event of Default if such winding-up has commenced as part of a process of a fully-solvent reorganisation, previously approved by the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and which shall not have a Material Adverse Effect, provided further that the Agent shall not have the right to approve a fully-solvent reorganisation of any of the Sponsors, the Borrower Shareholders, the Manager or the Sub-Manager; or

 

68


10.2.13 Administration: any petition is presented, notice given or other step is taken for the purpose of the appointment of an administrator of any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or an administration order is made in relation to any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only); or

 

10.2.14 Appointment of receivers and managers: any administrative or other receiver is appointed of any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or any part of its assets and/or undertaking or any other steps are taken to enforce any Encumbrance over all or any part of the assets of any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only); or

 

10.2.15 Compositions: any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedures or steps are taken, or negotiations commenced, by any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or by any of its creditors with a view to the general readjustment or rescheduling of all or a material part of its indebtedness or to proposing any kind of composition, compromise or arrangement involving such company and any of its creditors; or

 

10.2.16 Analogous proceedings: there occurs, in relation to any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) in any country or territory in which any of them carries on business or to the jurisdiction of whose courts any part of their assets is subject, any event which, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent, appears in that country or territory to correspond with, or have an effect equivalent or similar to, any of those mentioned in clauses 10.2.9 to 10.2.15 (inclusive) (other than clause 10.2.10) or any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) otherwise becomes subject, in any such country or territory, to the operation of any law relating to insolvency, bankruptcy or liquidation; or

 

10.2.17 Environmental Incidents: there is an Environmental Incident which gives rise, or may be likely to give rise, to Environmental Claims which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

10.2.18 Repudiation: any Security Party repudiates any Security Document or Project Document to which it is a party or does or causes to be done any act or thing evidencing an intention to repudiate any such Security Document or the Project Document, or if the validity or enforceability of any of the Security Documents and the Project Documents shall at any time and for any reason be contested by any Security Party which is a party thereto, or if any such Security Party shall deny that it has any, or any further, liability thereunder; or

 

10.2.19 Cessation of business: any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) suspends or ceases (or, in the case of the Borrower, any of the Borrower Shareholders and/or any of the Sponsors threatens to suspend or cease) to carry on its business (or, in the case of the Sponsors a substantial part of its business where the suspension or cessation of such substantial part of its business has or might have a Material Adverse Effect) except (in the case of the Security Parties (which shall not for this purpose include the Borrower for the purposes of and followed by a reconstruction, amalgamation, reorganisation, merger or consolidation which shall be undertaken and concluded in such manner as in the reasonable opinion of the Agent will enable such Security Party to perform its obligations pursuant to the Security Documents or Project Documents to which it is a party; or

 

10.2.20 Seizure: all or a material part of the undertaking, assets, rights or revenues of, or shares or other ownership interests in, any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) are seized, nationalised, expropriated or compulsorily acquired by or under the authority of any government; or

 

10.2.21 Encumbrances enforceable: any Encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrance) in respect of any of the property which is the subject of any of the Security Documents becomes enforceable; or

 

10.2.22 Challenge to Registration: if the registration of the Vessel or the Mortgage becomes void or voidable or subject to cancellation or termination; or

 

69


10.2.23 Swap Agreements: (a) an Event of Default (in each case as defined in any of the Swap Agreements) on the part of the Borrower has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived under any of the Swap Agreements or (b) an Early Termination Date (as defined in any of the Swap Agreements) has occurred or been or become capable of being effectively designated under any of the Swap Agreements or (c) a person entitled to do so gives notice of an Early Termination Date under any of the Swap Agreements or (d) any of the Swap Agreements is terminated, cancelled, suspended, rescinded or revoked or otherwise ceases to remain in full force and effect for any reason; or

 

10.2.24 Material Events: save (in respect of the security interests created by any of the Security Documents) where the Borrower has taken such action as the Agent requires pursuant to clause 9.1.12 (Further Assurance) to adequately protect the security interests created by the Security Documents, any other event occurs or circumstance arises which materially and adversely affects the security interests created by any of the Security Documents or the Refund Guarantee unless the relevant Security Document(s) and/or the Refund Guarantee is replaced or amended to the satisfaction of the Agent forthwith in the case of this Agreement, the Mortgage, the Refund Guarantee and the Deed of Covenants or within 21 days in the case of the other Security Documents; or

 

10.2.25 KEIC Buyer Credit Policy: The obligation of KEIC under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy shall terminate, become unenforceable or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect as a result of the acts or omissions of the Borrower.

 

10.3 Replacement of Manager or Supervisor:

 

   notwithstanding any other provision of the Security Documents, no action or omission by or other matter relating to the Manager or the Supervisor shall result in a misrepresentation, breach of warranty, breach of undertaking, Potential Event of Default or Event of Default hereunder if:

 

  (a) such misrepresentation, breach of warranty, breach of undertaking, Potential Event of Default or Event of Default is cured or waived; or

 

  (b) subject to clause 9.2.18 the Manager or Supervisor is replaced by another person reasonably acceptable to the Agent,

 

   in either case within 30 days of the date upon which such action, omission or matter would otherwise have been a misrepresentation, breach, Potential Event of Default or Event of Default and if the Manager or Supervisor is replaced as set out above they shall be replaced on similar terms to the Management Agreement or Supervision Agreement as appropriate subject always to any misrepresentation, breach, Potential Event of Default or Event of Default being remedied within a reasonable period by such replacement.

 

11 Set-Off and Lien

 

11.1 Set-off

 

11.1.1 The Borrower irrevocably authorises each of the Lender Finance Parties at any time after all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness shall have become due and payable to set off any liability of the Borrower to any of the Lender Finance Parties (whether present or future, actual or contingent, and irrespective of the branch or office, currency or place of payment) against any credit balance from time to time standing on any account of the Borrower (whether current or otherwise and whether or not subject to notice) with any branch of any of the Lender Finance Parties in or towards satisfaction of the Lender Indebtedness and, in the name of that Lender Finance Party or the Borrower, to do all acts (including, without limitation, converting or exchanging any currency) and execute all documents which may be required to effect such application. The relevant Lender Finance Party will notify the Borrower forthwith upon the exercise or purported exercise of any rights under this clause 11.1.

 

70


11.1.2 For such purposes, each Lender Finance Party is authorised to purchase with the moneys standing to the credit of such account such other currencies as may be necessary to effect such application. No Lender Finance Party shall be obliged to exercise any right given to it by this clause 11.1. The Lender Finance Party shall notify the Borrower forthwith upon the exercise or purported exercise of any right of set-off giving full details in relation thereto.

 

11.1.3 Without prejudice to their rights hereunder and/or under any of the Swap Agreements, the Swap Providers may at the same time as, or at any time after, any Event of Default under this Agreement or the Borrower’s default under any of the Swap Agreements set-off any amount due now or in the future from the Borrower to the Swap Providers under this Agreement against any amount due from the Swap Providers to the Borrower under any of the Swap Agreements and apply the first amount in discharging the second amount. The effect of any set-off under this clause 11.1.3 shall be effective to extinguish or, as the case may require, reduce the liabilities of the Swap Providers under any of the Swap Agreements.

 

11.2 Lien

 

   If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, unremedied or unwaived, each Lender Finance Party shall have a lien on and be entitled to retain and realise as additional security for the repayment of the Lender Indebtedness any cheques, drafts, bills, notes or negotiable or non-negotiable instruments and any stocks, shares or marketable or other securities and property of any kind of the Borrower (or of that Lender Finance Party as agent or nominee of the Borrower) from time to time held by that Lender Finance Party, whether for safe custody or otherwise.

 

11.3 Restrictions on withdrawal

 

   Despite any term to the contrary in relation to any deposit or credit balance at any time on any account of the Borrower with any of the Lender Finance Parties, no such deposit or balance shall be repayable or capable of being assigned, mortgaged, charged or otherwise disposed of or dealt with by the Borrower in question after an Event of Default has occurred and while such Event of Default is continuing unremedied or unwaived, but any Lender Finance Party may from time to time permit the withdrawal of all or any part of any such deposit or balance without affecting the continued application of this clause. Provided always that this clause 11.3 shall not apply to the Distribution Account or any credit balance therein.

 

12 Assignment and Transfer

 

12.1 Right to assign

 

12.1.1 Subject to clause 12.9, each of the Lenders may (a) assign or transfer all or any of its rights and/or obligations under or pursuant to the Security Documents or (b) assign or transfer all or any part of its Commitment any such part being at least US $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of US $1,000,000, (i) to any other branch or Affiliate of that Lender (provided that such Affiliate shall have the same or a better credit rating than the Lender making the assignment or transfer) to another Lender or (ii) above with the prior written consent of the Agent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and the Borrower (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and shall not be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived) to any other bank or financial institution provided that in relation to any transfer or any assignment under this clause 12.1:

 

  (i) any transferee under this clause 12.1 (a) shall assume all of the relevant Lender’s obligations;

 

  (ii) the Borrower shall not be liable to pay any costs, charges or expenses of or in connection with the implementation of completion of the assignment or transfer;

 

  (iii) the Borrower shall not, as at the time of any such assignment or transfer, be liable to pay any additional or increased amounts or taxes or suffer a reduction in any amounts receivable by it under this Agreement for which it would not have been liable or would not have suffered but for such assignment or transfer having then taken place; and

 

71


  (iv) the relevant Lender shall give the Borrower five (5) Business Days prior written notice of any intended transfer of obligations.

 

12.1.2 Each of the Lenders may, without being restricted or otherwise being bound by clause 12.1.1, assign or transfer all or any part of its rights under or pursuant to this Agreement and/or any of the other Security Documents to KEIC following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived or otherwise if required to do so by KEIC pursuant to the terms of the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy provided that KEIC pays first the insurance proceeds in accordance with the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy.

 

12.2 Borrower’s co-operation

 

   The Borrower will, at no cost to the Borrower, co-operate fully and will procure that the other Security Parties co-operate fully with the Lender Finance Parties in connection with any assignment or transfer pursuant to clause 12.1; will execute and procure the execution of such documents as the Lender Finance Parties may reasonably require in connection therewith; and irrevocably authorise each of the Lender Finance Parties to disclose to any proposed assignee or transferee (whether before or after any assignment or transfer and whether or not any assignment or transfer shall take place) all information relating to the Security Parties, the Time Charterer, the Loan or the Relevant Documents which each such Lender Finance Party may in its discretion consider necessary to implement such assignment or transfer (subject to any duties of confidentiality applicable to the Borrower and/or Lender Finance Parties).

 

12.3 Rights of assignee

 

   Any assignee or transferee of a Lender shall (unless limited by the express terms of the assignment or transfer) take the full benefit of every provision of the Security Documents benefiting that Lender. Such transfer shall not directly result in an increased cost to, or liability of, the Borrower at the time of transfer.

 

12.4 Transfer Certificates

 

  

If any Lender wishes to transfer all or any of its Commitment as contemplated in clause 12.1 then such transfer may be effected by the delivery to the Agent of a duly completed and duly executed Transfer Certificate in which event, on the later of the Transfer Date specified in such Transfer Certificate and the fifth (5 th ) Business Day after the date of delivery of such Transfer Certificate to the Agent:

 

12.4.1 to the extent that in such Transfer Certificate the Lender which is a party thereto seeks to transfer its Commitment in whole, the Borrower and such Lender shall be released from further obligations towards each other under this Agreement and their respective rights against each other shall be cancelled other than existing claims against such Lender for breach of this Agreement (such rights, benefits and obligations being referred to in this clause 12.4 as “discharged rights and obligations”);

 

12.4.2 the Borrower and the Transferee which is a party thereto shall assume obligations towards each other and/or acquire rights against each other which differ from such discharged rights and obligations only insofar as the Borrower and such Transferee have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of the Borrower and such Lender;

 

12.4.3 the Lender Finance Parties and the Transferee shall acquire the same rights and benefits and assume the same obligations between themselves as they would have acquired and assumed had such Transferee been an original party to this Agreement as a Lender with the rights, benefits and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of such transfer; and

 

12.4.4 as between the Agent and the Transferee, the Transferee shall pay to the Agent a transfer fee of three thousand Dollars ($3,000).

 

72


12.5 Power of Attorney

 

   In order to give effect to each Transfer Certificate the Lender Finance Parties and the Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally appoint the Agent as its true and lawful attorney with full power to execute on their respective behalves each Transfer Certificate delivered to the Agent pursuant to clause 12.4 without the Agent being under any obligation before doing so to take any further instructions from or give any prior notice to, any of the Lender Finance Parties or, subject to the Borrower’s rights under clause 12.1, the Borrower. The Agent shall so execute each such Transfer Certificate on behalf of the other Lender Finance Parties and the Borrower immediately on receipt of the same by the Agent pursuant to clause 12.4.

 

12.6 Notification

 

   The Agent shall promptly notify the other Lender Finance Parties, the Transferee and the Borrower on the execution by it of any Transfer Certificate together with details of the amount transferred, the Transfer Date and the parties to such transfer.

 

12.7 No Assignment or transfer by the Borrower

 

   The Borrower may not assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Security Documents without the prior written consent of the Lenders and KEIC.

 

12.8 KEIC Buyer Credit Policy

 

   Not withstanding any provisions to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event KEIC pays the insurance proceeds in full or in part in accordance with the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy, (i) the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement shall not be reduced or affected in any manner, (ii) KEIC shall be entitled to exercise the rights of the Lenders in accordance with clause 9.2 of the Intercreditor Deed, (iii) the provisions of clause 9.1 of the Intercreditor Deed shall apply and (iv) with respect to the obligations of the Borrower owed to the Agent, the Security Trustee and/or the Lenders under the Security Documents (or any of them) such obligations shall additionally be owed to KEIC to the extent of its interest by way of subrogation of the rights of the Lenders.

 

12.9 KEIC Consent

 

   A Lender may not assign or transfer its portion of the Buyer Credit or any part thereof without the consent of KEIC (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

13 Payments, Reserve Requirements and Illegality

 

13.1 Payments

 

   All amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to any of the Security Documents shall be paid to such accounts at such banks as the Agent may from time to time direct to the Borrower and shall be paid in Dollars in same day funds (or such funds as are required by the authorities in the United States of America for settlement of international payments for immediate value). Payments shall be deemed to have been received by the Agent on the date on which the Agent receives authenticated advice of receipt, unless that advice is received by the Agent on a day other than a Business Day or at a time of day (whether on a Business Day or not) when the Agent in its reasonable discretion considers that it is impossible or impracticable for the Agent to utilise the amount received for value that same day, in which event the payment in question shall be deemed to have been received by the Agent on the Business Day next following the date of receipt of advice by the Agent.

 

13.2 No deductions or withholdings

 

   All payments (whether of principal or interest or otherwise) to be made by the Borrower to the Lender Finance Parties pursuant to the Security Documents shall, subject only to clause 13.3, be made free and clear of and without deduction for or on account of any Taxes or other deductions, withholdings, restrictions, conditions or counterclaims of any nature, and the Borrower will not claim any equity in respect of any payment due from them to the Lender Finance Parties under or in relation to any of the Security Documents.

 

73


13.3 Grossing-up

 

13.3.1 If at any time any law requires (or is interpreted by any relevant fiscal authority to require) the Borrower to make any deduction or withholding from any payment, or to change the rate or manner in which any required deduction or withholding is made, the Borrower will promptly notify the Agent and, simultaneously with making that payment, will pay to the Agent whatever additional amount (after taking into account any additional Taxes on, or deductions or withholdings from, or restrictions or conditions on, that additional amount) is necessary to ensure that, after making the deduction or withholding, the Agent and the Lenders receive a net sum equal to the sum which they would have received had no deduction or withholding been made.

 

13.3.2 If following the making of any such increased payment by the Borrower pursuant to clause 13.3.1, the Agent or any Lender determines that:

 

  (a) a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of any Tax (a “Tax Credit”) is attributable to any deduction or withholding or increased payment made by the Borrower; and

 

  (b) it has obtained, utilised and retained that Tax Credit,

 

   the Agent or Lender (as appropriate) shall pay an amount to the Borrower which the Agent or the Lender (as appropriate) determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been had the deduction or withholding or additional payment not been required to be made.

 

13.4 Evidence of deductions

 

   If at any time the Borrower is required by law to make any deduction or withholding from any payment to be made by it to the Lender Finance Parties pursuant to any of the Security Documents, the Borrower will pay the amount required to be deducted or withheld to the relevant authority within the time allowed under the applicable law and will, no later than thirty (30) days after making that payment, deliver to the Agent an original receipt issued by the relevant authority, or other evidence reasonably acceptable to the Agent, evidencing the payment to that authority of all amounts required to be deducted or withheld. If the Borrower makes any deduction or withholding from any payment to the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to any of the Security Documents, and a Lender subsequently receives a refund or allowance from any tax authority which that Lender at its sole discretion (acting reasonably and in good faith) identifies as being referable to that deduction or withholding, that Lender shall within five (5) Business Days of receipt of the same, pay to the Borrower an amount equal to the amount of the refund or allowance received, if and to the extent that it may do so without prejudicing its right to retain that refund or allowance and without putting itself in any worse financial position than that in which it would have been had the deduction or withholding not been required to have been made. Nothing in this clause 13.4 shall be interpreted as imposing any obligation on any Lender to apply for any refund or allowance nor as restricting in any way the manner in which any Lender organises its tax affairs, nor as imposing on any Lender any obligation to disclose to the Borrower any information regarding its tax affairs or tax computations. All costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in obtaining or seeking to obtain a refund or allowance from any tax authority pursuant to this clause 13.4 shall be for the Borrower’s account.

 

13.5 Adjustment of due dates

 

   If any payment to be made to the Lender Finance Parties under any of the Security Documents, other than a payment of interest on the Loan (to which clause 6.7 applies), shall be due on a day which is not a Business Day, that payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day (unless the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar Month in which event the payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day). Any such variation of time shall be taken into account in computing any interest in respect of that payment.

 

74


13.6 Change in law

 

   If, by reason of the introduction of any law, or any change in any law, or the interpretation by the relevant fiscal authority or administration of any law, or in compliance with any request or requirement from any central bank or any fiscal, monetary or other authority:-

 

13.6.1 any Lender Finance Party (or the Holding Company of any Lender Finance Party) shall be subject to any Tax with respect to payments of all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness; or

 

13.6.2 the basis of Taxation of payments to any Lender Finance Party in respect of all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness shall be changed (other than as a result of any change in the applicable tax rate in the jurisdiction in which its lending office is based); or

 

13.6.3 any reserve requirements shall be imposed, modified or deemed applicable against assets held by or deposits in or for the account of or loans by any branch of any Lender Finance Party or its direct or indirect Holding Company; or

 

13.6.4 any ratio (whether cash, capital adequacy, liquidity or otherwise) which any Lender Finance Party or its direct or indirect Holding Company is required or requested to maintain shall be affected; or

 

13.6.5 there is imposed on any Lender Finance Party (or on the direct or indirect Holding Company of any Lender Finance Party) any other condition in relation to the Lender Indebtedness or the Security Documents (other than as a result of any change in the applicable tax rate in the jurisdiction in which its lending office is based);

 

   and the result of any of the above shall be to increase the cost to any Lender (or to the direct or indirect Holding Company of any Lender) of that Lender making or maintaining its Commitment or its Drawing, or to cause any Lender Finance Party to suffer (in its reasonable opinion) a material reduction in the rate of return on its overall capital below the level which it reasonably anticipated at the Execution Date and which it would have been able to achieve but for its entering into this Agreement and/or performing its obligations under this Agreement, the Lender Finance Party affected shall notify the Agent and, on demand to the Borrower by the Agent, the Borrower shall from time to time pay to the Agent for the account of the Lender Finance Party affected the amount which shall compensate that Lender Finance Party or the Agent (or the relevant Holding Company) for such additional cost or reduced return. A certificate signed by an authorised signatory of the Agent or of the Lender Finance Party affected setting out the amount of that payment and the basis of its calculation shall be submitted to the Borrower and shall be conclusive evidence of such amount save for manifest error or on any question of law.

 

   Notwithstanding the foregoing, this clause 13.6 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) fully compensated for by clause 15.7 (or would have been compensated for under clause 15.7 but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in clause 15.7 applied) or fully compensated for under any other provision of this Agreement; or

 

  (c) attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Lender Finance Party (or the Holding Company of any Lender Finance Party) or any of its or their Affiliates of any law.

 

75


13.7 Illegality and impracticality

 

   Notwithstanding anything contained in the Security Documents, the obligations of a Lender to advance or maintain its Commitment shall terminate in the event that a change in any law or in the interpretation of any law by any authority charged with its administration shall make it unlawful for that Lender to advance or maintain its Commitment. In such event the Lender affected shall notify the Agent and the Agent shall, by written notice to the Borrower, declare that Lender’s obligations to be immediately terminated. If all or any part of the Loan shall have been advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower, the portion of the Lender Indebtedness (including all accrued interest and Commitment Fees) advanced by the Lender so affected shall be prepaid on the next Interest Payment Date, or sooner if illegality is determined (but no sooner than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law). Clause 5.4 shall apply to that prepayment if it is made on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period.

 

13.8 Changes in market circumstances

 

   If at any time a Lender determines (which determination shall be final and conclusive and binding on the Borrower) that, by reason of changes affecting the London Interbank market, adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the rate of interest on the Loan or any part thereof pursuant to this Agreement:

 

13.8.1 that Lender shall give notice to the Agent and the Agent shall give notice to the Borrower of the occurrence of such event; and

 

13.8.2 the Agent shall as soon as reasonably practicable certify to the Borrower in writing the effective cost to that Lender of maintaining its Commitment for such further period as shall be selected by that Lender and the rate of interest payable by the Borrower for that period; or, if that is not acceptable to the Borrower,

 

13.8.3 the Agent in accordance with instructions from that Lender and subject to that Lender’s approval of any agreement between the Agent and the Borrower, will negotiate with the Borrower in good faith with a view to modifying this Agreement to provide a substitute basis for that Lender’s Commitment which is financially a substantial equivalent to the basis provided for in this Agreement.

 

   If, within thirty (30) days of the giving of the notice referred to in clause 13.8.1, the Borrower and the Agent fail to agree in writing on a substitute basis for such Lender’s Commitment the Borrower will immediately prepay the amount of such Lender’s Commitment and the Maximum Loan Amount will automatically decrease by the amount of such Commitment and such decrease shall not be reversed. Clause 5.4 shall apply to that prepayment if it is made on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period.

 

13.9 Non-availability of currency

 

   If a Lender is for any reason unable to obtain Dollars in the London Interbank market and is, as a result, or as a result of any other contingency affecting the London Interbank market, unable to advance or maintain its Commitment in Dollars, that Lender shall give notice to the Agent and the Agent shall give notice to the Borrower and that Lender’s obligations to make the Loan available shall immediately cease. In that event, if all or any part of the Loan shall have been advanced by that Lender to the Borrower, the Agent in accordance with instructions from that Lender and subject to that Lender’s approval of any agreement between the Agent and the Borrower, will negotiate with the Borrower in good faith with a view to establishing a mutually acceptable basis for funding the Loan or relevant part thereof from an alternative source. If the Agent and the Borrower have failed to agree in writing on a basis for funding the Loan or relevant part thereof from an alternative source by 11.00 a.m. on the second Business Day prior to the end of the then current relevant Interest Period, the Borrower will (without prejudice to its other obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, its obligation to pay interest on the Loan, arising on the expiry of the then relevant Interest Period) prepay the Lender Indebtedness (or relevant part thereof) to the Agent on behalf of that Lender on the expiry of the then current relevant Interest Period.

 

76


13.10 Mitigation

 

13.10.1 Each Lender Finance Party shall, subject to clause 13.10.2 below, 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 13.3, clause 13.6 or clause 13.7 including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the Security Documents to an Affiliate.

 

13.10.2 The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender Finance Party for all costs and expenses properly incurred by that Lender Finance Party as a result of steps taken by it under clause 13.10.1. A Lender Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under clause 13.10.1 if, in the opinion of that Lender Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it.

 

      14 Communications

 

  14.1 Method

 

     Any communication may be given, delivered, made or served (as the case may be) under or in relation to this Agreement by letter or fax or (subject to clause 14.3) electronic mail and shall be in the English language and sent addressed:-

 

14.1.1 in the case of any of the Lenders to the Agent at the address specified for BNP Paribas S.A. in Schedule 1;

 

14.1.2 in the case of the Agent, at the address specified for BNP Paribas S.A. in Schedule 1;

 

14.1.3 in the case of the Security Trustee, at the address specified for BNP Paribas S.A. in Schedule 1;

 

14.1.4 in t he case of the KEIC Agent, at the address specified for BNP Paribas S.A. in Schedule 1;

 

14.1.5 in the case of the Borrower at:

 

     Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
     2-1, Ohtemachi 1-chome,
     Chiyoda-ku,
     Tokyo, 100-0004,
     Japan

 

     Fax:                     81-3-3285-9838

 

     Attention:           General Manager, LNG Project Department,
                                  Second Ship & Marine Project Division

 

     Email:                 tkmyj@dg.mitsui.com

 

     or to such other address or fax number as any of the above parties may designate for themselves by written notice to the others.

 

    14.2 Timing

 

     A Communication shall be deemed to have been duly given, delivered, made or served to or on, and received by a party to this Agreement:-

 

14.2.1 in the case of a fax when the sender receives one or more transmission reports showing the whole of the Communication to have been transmitted to the correct fax number;

 

14.2.2 if delivered to an officer of the relevant party or left at the address of the relevant party specified in clause 14.1; or

 

77


14.2.3 if posted, at 9.00 a.m. on the fifth Business Day after posting by prepaid first class post. PROVIDED ALWAYS that communications to the Agent and (to the extent that they relate to the matters specified in clause 4.10.2 of the Intercreditor Deed only) the Lenders and the Borrower shall be effective only upon receipt; or

 

14.2.4 if by electronic mail, in accordance with clause 14.3;

 

     Any Communication by fax shall be promptly confirmed in writing by post or hand delivery.

 

14.3 Electronic communication

 

14.3.1 Any communication to be made in connection with this Agreement may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means, if the Borrower and the relevant Lender Finance Party:

 

  (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.

 

14.3.2 Any electronic communication made between the Borrower and the relevant Lender Finance Party will be effective only when actually received in readable form and acknowledged by the recipient (it being understood that any system generated responses do not constitute an acknowledgement) and in the case of any electronic communication made by the Borrower to a Lender Finance Party only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Lender Finance Party shall specify for this purpose.

 

14.3.3 Any electronic communication made in accordance with this clause 14.3 shall be confirmed in writing as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.

 

15 General Indemnities

 

15.1 Currency

 

     In the event of any Lender Finance Party receiving or recovering any amount payable under any of the Security Documents in a currency other than the Currency of Account, and if the amount received or recovered is insufficient when converted into the Currency of Account at the date of receipt to satisfy in full the amount due, the Borrower shall, on the Agent’s written demand, pay to the Agent such further amount in the Currency of Account as is sufficient to satisfy in full the amount due and that further amount shall be due to the Agent on behalf of the Lender Finance Parties as a separate debt under this Agreement.

 

15.2 Costs and expenses

 

     The Borrower will, on the earlier of (a) the date falling thirty (30) days from the date of the Agent’s written demand and (b) the date of the next following payment of charterhire under the Time Charter, reimburse the Agent (on behalf of each of the Lender Finance Parties and KEIC) for all reasonable out of pocket expenses including internal and external legal costs (including stamp duty, Value Added Tax or any similar or replacement tax if applicable but excluding income tax) of and incidental to:-

 

15.2.1 the negotiation, preparation, execution and registration of the Security Documents (whether or not any of the Security Documents are actually executed or registered and whether or not all or any part of the Loan is advanced);

 

15.2.2 any amendments, addenda or supplements to any of the Security Documents (whether or not completed);

 

78


15.2.3 any other documents (including legal opinions) which may at any time be required by any Lender Finance Party to give effect to any of the Security Documents or which any Lender Finance Party is entitled to call for or obtain pursuant to any of the Security Documents; and

 

15.2.4 without prejudice to clauses 15.3 and 15.5, the exercise of the rights, powers, discretions and remedies of the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to the Security Documents.

 

15.3 Events of Default

 

     The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender Finance Parties from time to time on demand against all losses and costs incurred or sustained by any Lender Finance Party as a consequence of any Event of Default, including (without limitation) any Break Costs.

 

15.4 Funding costs

 

     The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender Finance Parties from time to time on demand against all losses and costs incurred or sustained by any Lender Finance Party if, for any reason due to a Potential Event of Default or other action by the Borrower, any Drawing is not advanced to the Borrower after the relevant Drawdown Notice has been given to the Agent, or is advanced on a date other than that requested in the Drawdown Notice, including (without limitation), any Break Costs.

 

15.5 Protection and enforcement

 

15.5.1 The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender Finance Parties and KEIC from time to time on demand against all losses, costs and liabilities which any Lender Finance Party or KEIC may from time to time sustain, incur or become liable for in or about the protection, maintenance or enforcement of the rights conferred on the Lender Finance Parties and KEIC by the Security Documents or in or about the exercise or purported exercise by the Lender Finance Parties or KEIC of any of the rights, powers, discretions or remedies vested in them under or arising out of the Security Documents, including (without limitation) any losses, costs and liabilities which any Lender Finance Party or KEIC may from time to time sustain, incur or become liable for by reason of any Lender Finance or KEIC Party being mortgagees of the Vessel, assignees of any Mortgage and/or a Lender to the Borrower, or by reason of any Lender Finance Party or KEIC being deemed by any court or authority to be an operator or controller, or in any way concerned in the operation or control, of the Vessel. No such indemnity will be given to a Lender Finance Party or KEIC where any such loss, cost or liability has occurred due to wilful misconduct or recklessness with knowledge of the probable consequences on the part of that Lender Finance Party or KEIC; however this shall not affect the right of any other Lender Finance Party or KEIC to receive any such indemnity.

 

15.5.2 The Agent shall:

 

  (a) notify the Borrower in writing of any claim made against it of which it is aware which is likely to give rise to such losses, costs and liabilities;

 

  (b) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, consult, in good faith with the Borrower, in respect of such claim until such date as the Lender Finance Party is obliged to satisfy or discharge such claim and not enter into any settlement or other compromise in respect of such claim without the prior written consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), unless the Lender Finance Parties expressly waive in writing their right to be indemnified in respect of such losses, costs and liabilities;

 

  (c) so long as it is indemnified to its satisfaction against costs or liabilities that may be incurred, use reasonable endeavours to defend such claim and to avoid or reduce the losses, costs and liabilities which may be incurred; and

 

  (d) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, give the Borrower a reasonable opportunity to take such action, at the Borrower’s cost, as the Borrower deems fit to defend or avoid any liability being incurred or to take action against a third party in respect of any losses (provided that the Borrower may not take any action in the name of the Lender Finance Party without that Lender Finance Party’s prior written consent nor may the Borrower take any action which would involve risk of criminal or civil liability to the Lender Finance Parties or any material risk of the sale, loss or forfeiture of the Vessel).

 

79


15.5.3 The indemnities in this clause 15.5 shall not extend to any claim or liability of a Lender Finance Party to the extent that such claim or liability arises from an act or omission on the part of that Lender Finance Party which constitutes gross negligence or wilful misconduct on the part of such Lender Finance Party.

 

15.6 Liabilities of Lender Finance Parties

 

     The Borrower will from time to time reimburse the Lender Finance Parties on demand for all sums which any Lender Finance Party may pay on account of any of the Security Parties or in connection with the Vessel (whether alone or jointly or jointly and severally with any other person) including (without limitation) all sums which any Lender Finance Party may pay or guarantees which any Lender Finance Party may give in respect of the Insurances, any expenses incurred by any Lender Finance Party in connection with the maintenance or repair of the Vessel or in discharging any lien, bond or other claim relating in any way to the Vessel, and any sums which any Lender Finance Party may pay or guarantees which they may give to procure the release of the Vessel from arrest or detention.

 

15.7 Taxes

 

     The Borrower shall pay all Taxes imposed on the Lender Finance Parties in respect of the Security Documents or to which all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness or any of the Security Documents or the Project Documents may be at any time subject and shall indemnify the Lender Finance Parties on demand against all liabilities, costs, claims and expenses incurred in connection therewith, including but not limited to any such liabilities, costs, claims and expenses resulting from any omission to pay or delay in paying any such Taxes. Provided that the indemnification in this clause 15.7 shall not apply to the extent that the Taxes imposed on a Lender Finance Party arose directly or indirectly from the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Lender Finance Party. The indemnity contained in this clause 15.7 shall survive the repayment of the Lender Indebtedness.

 

15.8 Value Added Tax

 

     All amounts set out, or expressed to be payable by the Borrower to the Lender Finance Parties pursuant to the Security Documents which (in whole or in part) constitute consideration for a supply for Value Added Tax purposes shall be deemed to be exclusive of any Value Added Tax which is chargeable on such supply, and accordingly, if Value Added Tax is chargeable on any supply made by any Lender Finance Party to a Borrower under a Security Document, that Borrower shall pay to the Lender Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying the consideration) an amount equal to the amount of the Value Added Tax.

 

15.9 KEIC Indemnity

 

     The Borrower shall indemnify the KEIC Agent and each Lender from time to time on demand against any duly evidenced additional premium, cost or expense as provided for under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy, which KEIC may charge, invoice, or set-off against amounts owing to the KEIC Agent and/or the Lenders, including without limitation as a result of a change of the delivery schedule of the Vessel, a change to Schedule 7 (Contract Instalments and Repayment Profile) of this Agreement or otherwise, properly incurred by the KEIC Agent or a Lender in connection with their compliance with the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy.

 

80


16 Miscellaneous

 

16.1 Tax Lease

 

16.1.1 The Lender Finance Parties agree that the Loan may be refinanced to incorporate a lease financing structure with the prior written consent of each Lender Finance Party. Each Lender Finance Party agrees that it shall not unreasonably withhold or delay its consent to the implementation of a lease financing structure, provided that:

 

  (a) it is satisfied that its security position will not be materially and adversely affected;

 

  (b) it has received agreed and executed documentation acceptable to it in all respects;

 

  (c) the lease financing structure is not, in its reasonable opinion, unduly onerous in terms of documentation and time;

 

  (d) it has received credit approval for such lease financing; and

 

  (e) it has received legal opinions satisfactory to it in relation to jurisdictions reasonably required by it.

 

16.1.2 No Lender Finance Party shall be entitled to any additional fees from the Borrower in connection with the implementation of a lease financing structure.

 

16.1.3 The Borrower shall pay the reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of outside legal counsel engaged by the Lender Finance Parties) incurred by the Lender Finance Parties in connection with the implementation of the lease finance structure.

 

16.2 Waivers

 

     No failure or delay on the part of any Lender Finance Party in exercising any right, power, discretion or remedy under or pursuant to any of the Security Documents, nor any actual or alleged course of dealing between any Lender Finance Party and any of the Security Parties, shall operate as a waiver of, or acquiescence in, any default on the part of any Security Party, unless expressly agreed to do so in writing by the Agent, nor shall any single or partial exercise by any Lender Finance Party of any right, power, discretion or remedy preclude any other or further exercise of that right, power, discretion or remedy, or the exercise by a Lender Finance Party of any other right, power, discretion or remedy.

 

16.3 No variations

 

     No variation or amendment of any of the Security Documents shall be valid unless made by each party thereto and in accordance with the terms thereof and consented to in writing by KEIC.

 

16.4 Severability

 

     If at any time any provision of any of the Security Documents is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect that provision shall be severed from the remainder and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected or impaired in any way.

 

16.5 Successors etc.

 

     The Security Documents shall be binding on the Security Parties and on their successors and permitted transferees and assignees, and shall inure to the benefit of the Lender Finance Parties and KEIC in respect of their rights and their respective successors, transferees and assignees.

 

16.6 Further assurance

 

     If any provision of the Security Documents shall be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part by reason of any present or future law or any decision of any court, then from time to time the Borrower will promptly, following a demand by the Agent, execute or procure the execution of such further documents as in the reasonable opinion of the Lenders are necessary to provide valid and enforceable security for the repayment of the Lender Indebtedness, provided that with respect to any further document relating to the Time Charter, the Borrower shall only be required to procure the execution of such documents on a reasonable endeavours basis.

 

81


16.7 Other arrangements

 

     The Lender Finance Parties may, without prejudice to their rights under or pursuant to the Security Documents, at any time and from time to time, on such terms and conditions as they may in their discretion determine, and with notice to the Borrower, grant time or other indulgence to, or compound with, any other person liable (actually or contingently) to the Lender Finance Parties or any of them in respect of all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness, and may release or renew negotiable instruments and take and release securities and hold funds on realisation or suspense account without affecting the liabilities of the Borrower or the rights of the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to the Security Documents.

 

16.8 Advisers

 

     The Borrower irrevocably authorises the Agent, at any time and from time to time during the Facility Period, to consult insurance advisers on any matters relating to the Insurances, including, without limitation, the collection of insurance claims, and from time to time to consult or retain advisers or consultants to monitor or advise on any other claims relating to the Vessel. Subject to clause 9.1.22 the Borrower will provide such advisers and consultants with all information and documents which they may from time to time reasonably require. In the event that such advisers or consultants discover that the Borrower is in breach of its obligations in relation to the Insurances or at the time of or during such consultation or retention there occurs an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived, then the Borrower will reimburse the Agent on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses properly incurred by the Agent in connection with the consultation or retention of such advisers or consultants, but such consultation or retention shall otherwise be at the Lender Finance Parties’ own cost and expense.

 

16.9 Delegation

 

     The Lender Finance Parties may at any time and from time to time delegate to any person any of their rights, powers, discretions and remedies pursuant to the Security Documents, other than rights relating to actions to be taken by the Majority Lenders or the Lenders as a group, on such terms as they may consider appropriate (including the power to sub-delegate).

 

16.10 Rights etc. cumulative

 

     Every right, power, discretion and remedy conferred on the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to the Security Documents shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right, power, discretion or remedy to which they may at any time be entitled by law or in equity. The Lender Finance Parties may exercise each of their rights, powers, discretions and remedies as often and in such order as they deem appropriate subject to obtaining the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders. The exercise or the beginning of the exercise of any right, power, discretion or remedy shall not be interpreted as a waiver of the right to exercise any other right, power, discretion or remedy either simultaneously or subsequently.

 

16.11 No enquiry

 

     The Lender Finance Parties shall not be concerned to enquire into the powers of the Security Parties or of any person purporting to act on behalf of any of the Security Parties, even if any of the Security Parties or any such person shall have acted in excess of their powers or if their actions shall have been irregular, defective or informal, whether or not any Lender Finance Parties had notice thereof.

 

82


16.12 Continuing security

 

     The security constituted by the Security Documents shall be continuing and shall not be satisfied by any intermediate payment or satisfaction until the Indebtedness shall have been repaid in full and none of the Lender Finance Parties shall be under any further actual or contingent liability to any third party in relation to the Vessel, the Insurances, Earnings or Requisition Compensation or any other matter referred to in the Security Documents.

 

16.13 Security cumulative

 

     The security constituted by the Security Documents shall be in addition to any other security now or in the future held by the Lender Finance Parties or any of them for or in respect of all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness, and shall not merge with or prejudice or be prejudiced by any such security or any other contractual or legal rights of any of the Lender Finance Parties, nor affected by any irregularity, defect or informality, or by any release, exchange or variation of any such security. Section 93 of the Law of Property Act 1925 and all provisions which the Agent considers analogous thereto under the law of any other relevant jurisdiction shall not apply to the security constituted by the Security Documents.

 

16.14 No liability

 

     None of the Lender Finance Parties, nor any agent or employee of any Lender Finance Party, nor any receiver and/or manager appointed by the Agent, shall be liable for any losses which may be incurred in or about the exercise of any of the rights, powers, discretions or remedies of the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to the Security Documents nor liable as mortgagee in possession for any loss on realisation or for any neglect or default of any nature for which a mortgagee in possession might otherwise be liable unless such Lender Finance Party’s action constitutes wilful misconduct or recklessness with knowledge of the probable consequences.

 

16.15 Rescission of payments etc.

 

     Any discharge, release or reassignment by any of the Lender Finance Parties of any of the security constituted by, or any of the obligations of any Security Party contained in, any of the Security Documents shall be (and be deemed always to have been) void if any act (including, without limitation, any payment) as a result of which such discharge, release or reassignment was given or made is subsequently wholly or partially rescinded or avoided by operation of any law, unless such Lender Finance Party’s action constitutes wilful misconduct or recklessness with knowledge of the probable consequences.

 

16.16 Subsequent Encumbrances

 

     If the Agent receives notice of any subsequent Encumbrance (other than any Permitted Encumbrance) affecting the Vessel or all or any part of the Insurances, Earnings or Requisition Compensation, the Agent may open a new account in its books for the Borrower. If the Agent does not open a new account, then (unless the Encumbrance is a Permitted Encumbrance or the Agent gives written notice to the contrary to the Borrower) as from the time of receipt by the Agent of notice of such subsequent Encumbrance, all payments made to the Agent shall be treated as having been credited to a new account of the Borrower and not as having been applied in reduction of the Lender Indebtedness.

 

16.17 Releases

 

     If any Lender Finance Party shall at any time in its discretion release any party from all or any part of any of the Security Documents or from any term, covenant, clause, condition or obligation contained in any of the Security Documents, the liability of any other party to the Security Documents shall not be varied or diminished.

 

83


16.18 Certificates

 

     Any certificate or statement signed by an authorised signatory of the Agent purporting to show the amount of the Lender Indebtedness (or any part of the Lender Indebtedness) or any other amount referred to in any of the Security Documents shall, save for manifest error or on any question of law, be conclusive evidence as against the Borrower of that amount.

 

16.19 Survival of representations and warranties

 

     The representations and warranties on the part of the Borrower contained in this Agreement shall survive the execution of this Agreement and the advance of the Loan or any part thereof.

 

16.20 Counterparts

 

     This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be original but which shall together constitute the same instrument.

 

16.21 Third Party Rights

 

     Notwithstanding the provisions of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, no term of this Agreement is enforceable by a person who is not a party to it other than (a) KEIC in respect of its rights under this Agreement and (b) the Account Bank in respect of its rights under clause 7.5.

 

16.22 Building Contract Disputes

 

     The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that its obligations under this Agreement are independent from the Building Contract and that the performance of these obligations shall in no event be affected by any dispute whatsoever that may arise between the Builder and the Borrower in relation to the Building Contract or in any other respect.

 

16.23 Confidentiality

 

     At all times during the Facility Period, the Borrower shall keep confidential any Confidential Information (as defined below) relating to the Relevant Documents (other than the Project Documents) and each of the Lender Finance Parties shall keep confidential any Confidential Information (as defined below) relating to the Relevant Documents, and none of the Borrower or the Lender Finance Parties shall, without the prior written consent of the other(s):

 

16.23.1 issue any press release or make any other public announcement or statement in relation to the transactions evidenced by this Agreement and the other Relevant Documents; or

 

16.23.2 disclose to any other person (i) any information or document relating to the Angola LNG Project in general, including but not limited to, technical and schedule requirements, and progress and status of the Angola LNG Project; (ii) financial details of this Agreement or any other Relevant Document or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Relevant Document or any other agreement after the date of this Agreement by the Borrower or the Lender Finance Parties in connection with this Agreement or any other Relevant Document or (iii) any information provided pursuant to any of the Relevant Documents; or

 

16.23.3 release copies of drafts of this Agreement or any other Relevant Document which disclose or reveal the identity of the parties (or any of them),

 

    

the information contemplated by clauses 16.23.1 to 16.23.3 above being Confidential Information .

 

84


Provided that notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this clause 16.22 the parties shall be entitled, without any such consent, to disclose such Confidential Information:

 

  (a) if the same is already known to the receiving person at the time of disclosure as shown by the receiving person’s files and records immediately prior to that disclosure or is developed by the receiving person independently of such disclosure; or

 

  (b) in connection with any proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Relevant Documents; or

 

  (c) if required to do so by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction whether in pursuance of any procedure for discovery of documents or otherwise; or

 

  (d) pursuant to any applicable law, stock exchange regulations or by a governmental order, decree, regulation or rule, provided however that a party which has received Confidential Information which they are obliged to disclose as contemplated by this clause (d) shall use reasonable efforts to inform the person who provided them with the Confidential Information prior to making such disclosure; or

 

  (e) to any fiscal, monetary, tax, governmental or other competent authority; or

 

  (f) to the auditors, legal or professional or insurance advisors, underwriters or brokers of the Borrower or the relevant Lender Finance Party, who (A) shall have a need to have such knowledge of the same in connection with carrying out work related to the transaction contemplated by this Agreement and the other Relevant Documents and (B) shall be advised of the confidential nature of any such information supplied to them and shall be instructed to maintain the confidentiality of any information supplied to them; or

 

  (g) in any manner contemplated by any of the Relevant Documents; or

 

  (h) if the same is in the public domain or shall become publicly known otherwise than as a result of a breach by such party or by the receiving person or any other person to whom disclosure is made of this clause 16.23.1; or

 

  (i) if the same is acquired independently from a third party without breach of that third party’s obligations of confidentiality; or

 

  (j) in the case of the Borrower, to any Borrower Shareholder or Sponsor or the Time Charterer, to the extent the Borrower reasonably believes necessary for the purpose of the Time Charterer to perform, fulfil its obligations or exercise its rights in accordance with the terms of the Time , Charter, or to any member of the Time Charterer, any of such member’s affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, employees or contractors in each case to the extent the Borrower reasonably believes necessary for the performance of the Security Documents and/or the Project Documents and in the case of the Lender Finance Parties, to any member of their respective groups or any potential transferee, assignee, successor, any rating agency or any financial institutions, special purpose securitisation vehicles and their managements, all investors, agents, arrangers, dealers who are or might wish to be involved in securitisation schemes, hedging agreements, participation or other risk transfer agreements ( or any director, officer or employee of the foregoing ), provided that in each case the Borrower or the Lender Finance Party shall procure that the party to whom such disclosure is made shall comply with the requirements of this clause and provided further that the Lender Finance Parties shall not disclose any information regarding the Angola LNG Project to any of the foregoing persons except to a member of their respective groups, any potential transferee, assignee, successor or financial institution on a need-to-know basis and solely for carrying out the purpose of and exercising their rights under this Agreement and the other Security Documents; or

 

  (k)

to KEIC,

 

85


provided that if the Confidential Information is provided by a party on the basis that it is to be kept confidential, but the party providing the information discloses it to another person on a non-confidential basis, then the receiving party or parties shall no longer be obliged to treat such information as confidential.

 

16.23.4 The Borrower and the Lender Finance Parties shall be responsible for ensuring that where Confidential Information is disclosed to persons under clause 16.23.3 such persons shall keep the information confidential in accordance with and subject to this clause 16.23.

 

17 Law and Jurisdiction

 

17.1 Governing law

 

     This Agreement shall in all respects be governed by and interpreted in accordance with English law.

 

17.2 Jurisdiction

 

     For the exclusive benefit of the Lender Finance Parties, the parties to this Agreement irrevocably agree that the English courts are to have jurisdiction to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement and that any legal actions or proceedings may be brought in those courts. The Borrower irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or in the future have to the laying of the venue of any legal actions or proceedings in any court referred to in this clause 17.2, and any claim that such legal actions or proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient or inappropriate forum. The Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and shall within five (5) Business Days of the date hereof irrevocably designate, appoint and empower an agent to receive for it and on its behalf, service of process issued out of the English courts in any such legal actions or proceedings and shall provide the Facility Agent with details of such agent. The submission to such jurisdiction shall not (and shall not be construed so as to) limit the right of any of the Lender Finance Parties to take legal actions or proceedings against the Borrower in the courts of any other competent jurisdiction nor shall the taking of legal actions or proceedings in any one or more jurisdictions preclude the taking of legal actions or proceedings in other jurisdiction, whether concurrently or not.

 

     The parties further agree that only the courts of England and not those of any other state or jurisdiction shall have jurisdiction to determine any claim which the Borrower may have against any of the Lender Finance Parties arising out of or in connection with this Agreement.

IN WITNESS of which the parties to this Agreement have executed this Agreement the day and year first before written.

 

86


Schedule 1

Part I: The Lenders, the Commitments and the Proportionate Shares

Part 1: the Lenders

 

          Commitments  

The Lenders

  

Contact Details

   Buyer Credit      Commercial Loan  
  

For commercial matters:

CIB - Transportation Group

16 rue de Hanovre

75078 Paris Cedex 02 - France

Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 55

     
  

Attention: Shipping Finance

Alice Renaudin Durand-Ruel

     
  

For Security Trustee matters:

CIB - Transportation Group

16 rue de Hanovre

75078 Paris Cedex 02 - France

Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 55

     
  

Attention: Shipping Asset Monitoring

Jean-Marc Morant

     

BNP Paribas S.A.

   For Agency matters:      $15,400,000         $19,600,000   
  

CIB - Agency - European Group

21 Place du Marche Saint Honore

75031 Paris Cedex 01 - CHA02A1

Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 17

     
  

Attention: European Group

Claire-Marie Rochette

     
  

For KEIC Agent matters:

BNP Paribas S.A., Seoul Branch

24/F, Taepyeongno 2-ga, Jung-gu

Seoul 100-767 Korea

Fax no. 82 2 757 2530

     
  

Attention: Jae Seung / Myung Shim

Kwon

     

 

87


          Commitments  

The Lenders

  

Contact Details

   Buyer Credit      Commercial Loan  
  

For administration matters:

9 Quai, du President Paul Doumer

92920 Paris La Defénce Cédex

France

     
  

Fax no: +33 141 89 19 34

Attention: Middle Office/Shipping/

Ms Marie-Claire Vanderperre/

M. Godet-Couery

     

Calyon

        $15,400,000         $19,600,000   
  

For credit matters:

Broadwalk House

5 Appold Street

London

EC2A 2DA

 

Fax no. +44 207 214 6689

Attention: Thibaud Escoffier/Jerome

Duval

     
  

For administrative matters:

20 St. Dunstan’s Hill

London

EC3R 8HY

     
  

Fax no. +44 207 283 4430

Attention: Loans Administration

Mr Renato Mariano

     

DnB NOR Bank ASA

        $15,400,000         $19,600,000   
  

For credit matters:

20 St. Dunstan’s Hill

London

EC3R 8HY

 

Fax no. +44 207 626 5956

Attention: Omar Sekkat and David

Grant

     
  

For operational matters:

OPER / CAF / DMT6

17 Cours Valmy

Paris La Defense 7

 

Fax no. +331 46 92 45 98

Attention: Viengkham LAY and

Chantal Alcaras

     

Société Générale,

        $15,400,000         $19,600,000   
  

For credit matters:

SG House

41 Tower Hill

London

EC3N 4SG

 

Fax no. +44 207 667 2499

Attention: Gareth-Lon Williams

Copy to: Pierre Baud and Laurence

     

 

88


            Commitments  

The Lenders

  

Contact Details

   Buyer Credit      Commercial Loan  
  

Alloiteau

OPER/CAF/AFI

17 Cours Valmy

Paris La Défence 7

 

Fax no. 01.46.92.46.22

 

Copy to: Guylaine Labidurie

OPER/CAF.EXT

 

Fax no. 01.46.92.45.97

 

For operational matters:

99 Queen Victoria Street

London

EC4V 4EH

 

Fax no. +44 207 786 1569

Attention: David Griffiths/Jo Dunnage

 

For credit matters:

99 Queen Victoria Street

London

EC4V 4EH

     

Sumitomo Mitsui

Banking

Corporation,

Brussels Branch

  

Fax no. +44 207 786 101

Attention: Robert Taylor/Cyrille

Martin

   $ 15,400,000       $ 19,600,000   
  

Copy to: Guillaume Dufour/Touf-itri

Akdime

20 rue de la ville I’evêque

75008 Paris

 

Fax no. +33 1 44 71 40 50

 

Copy to: Françoise Bouchat/Nadine

Boudart

Avenue des Arts 58

Box 18

1000 Brussels

Belgium

 

Fax no. +32 2 502 07 80

     

 

89


          Commitments  

The Lenders

  

Contact Details

   Buyer Credit      Commercial Loan  
  

For administrative matters:

12-15 Finsbury Circus

London

EC2M 7BT

     
  

Fax no. +44 207 577 1559

Attention: Daniel Bryan

     

The Bank of Tokyo -

Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.

   For credit matters;      $15,400,000         $19,600,000   
  

12-15 Finsbury Circus

London

EC2M 7ET

     
  

Fax no. +44 207 577 1755

Attention: Graham Hunt

     
        $92,400,000         $117,600,000   

 

90


Part 2:

the Swap Providers

 

The Lenders

     Contact Details                                                                              
     For commercial matters:
     CIB - Transportation Group
     16 rue de Hanovre
     75078 Paris Cedex 02 - France
     Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 55
     Attention: Shipping Finance
     Alice Renaudin Durand-Ruel
     For Security Trustee matters:
     CIB - Transportation Group
     16 rue de Hanovre
     75078 Paris Cedex 02 - France
     Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 55
     Attention: Shipping Asset Monitoring
     Jean-Marc Morant
BNP Paribas S. A.     
     For Agency matters:
     CIB - Agency - European Group
     21 Place du Marche Saint Honore
     75031 Paris Cedex 01 - CHA02A1
     Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 17
     Attention: European Group
     Claire-Marie Rochette
     For KEIC Agent matters:
     BNP Paribas S.A., Seoul Branch
     24/F, Taepyeongno 2-ga, Jung-gu
     Seoul 100-767 Korea
     Fax no. 82 2 757 2530
     Attention: Jae Seung / Myung Shim
     Kwon

 

91


The Lenders

     Contact Details                                                                          
    

For administration matters:

9 Quai, du President Paul Doumer

92920 Paris La Défence Cédex

France

    

Fax no: +33 141 89 19 34

Attention: Middle Office/Shipping/

Ms Marie-Claire Vanderperre/

M. Godet-Couery

Calyon     
    

For credit matters:

Broadwalk House

5 Appold Street

London

EC2A 2DA

    

Fax no: +44 207 214 6689

Attention: Thibaud Escoffier/Jerome

Duval

    

For administrative matters:

20 St. Dunstan’s Hill

London

EC3R 8HY

 

Fax no. +44 207 283 4430

Attention: Loans Administration

Mr Renato Mariano

DnB NOR Bank ASA     
    

For credit matters:

20 St. Dunstan’s Hill

London

EC3R 8HY

    

Fax no. +44 207 626 5956

Attention: Omar Sekkat and David

Grant

    

For operational matters

OPER / CAF / DMT6

17 Cours Valmy

Paris La Defense 7

    

Fax no. + 331 46 92 45 98

Attention: Viengkham LAY and

Chantal Alcaras

Société Générale,     
     For credit matters
     London
    

Fax no. + 44 207 667 2499

Attention: Gareth-Lon Williams

    

Copy to: Pierre Baud and Laurence

Alloiteau

OPER/CAF/AFI

17 Cours Valmy

 

92


The Lenders

  

Contact Details

  

Paris La Défence 7

 

Fax no. 01. 46. 92. 46. 22

   Copy to: Guylaine Labidurie
   OPER/CAF.EXT
   Fax no. 01. 46. 92. 45. 97
   277 Park Avenue
   Fifth Floor
SMBC Capital    New York
Markets, Inc.    10172
   USA
   Attention: President
   Fax no. (212) 224-4948
   For administrative matters:
   12-15 Finsbury Circus
   London
   EC2M 7BT
  

Fax no. +44 207 577 1559

Attention: Daniel Bryan

The Bank of Tokyo -

Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.

  
   For credit matters;
   12-15 Finsbury Circus
   London
   EC2M 7ET
   Fax no. + 44 207 577 1755
   Attention: Graham Hunt

 

93


Schedule 2

The Vessel

 

Owner    Hull No    Flag    Vessel Type
MiNT II LNG Ltd    1811 at Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd.    Bahamas    160,000 cubic meter single screw electric motor driven liquefied natural gas carrier

 

94


Schedule 3

Documents and evidence required as conditions precedent

(referred to in clause 3.1)

Part I 1 : Commitment and first Drawing

 

(a) Constitutional documents

 

  (i) copies, certified by an officer of the Borrower, NYK LNG and Teekay as true, complete and up to date copies of all documents which contain or establish the constitution of that Security Party it including the Articles of Incorporation; or

 

  (ii) with respect to Mitsui and NYK, in lieu of the document described in clause (a)(i) above, a certified copy of the current Commercial Register ( genzai jiko zenbu shomeisho ) of Mitsui and NYK issued by the Tokyo Leagal Affairs Bureau no earlier than 10 days prior to the date of this Agreement .

 

(b) Corporate authorizations

 

  (i) copies of resolutions of the directors and/or such other corporate approvals or authorisations and, to the extent required to obtain any opinion set out in this Schedule 3, Part 1, the shareholders of t he Borrower, NYK LNG and Teekay approving such of the Project Documents (with respect to the Borrower only) and the Security Documents to which it is, or is to be, party and authorising the signature, delivery and performance of its obligations thereunder, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than 10 Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement) by an officer of it as:

 

  1. (i)  being true and correct;

 

  2. (ii)  being duly passed by the directors or such other persons as permitted by the organisational documents of such Security Party it and (if necessary) shareholders of such Security Party it ;

 

  3. (iii)  not having been amended, modified or revoked; and

 

  4. (iv) -being in full force and effect,
  together with originals or certified copies of any powers of attorney issued by it pursuant to such resolutions; or

 

  (ii) with respect to Mitsui and NYK, in lieu of the document described in clause (b)(i) above; (1) a power of attorney, executed using the registered seal of the president or representative director of Mitsui or NYK, authorizing the signatory or signatories of the Security Documents to which Mitsui or NYK is a party to execute such documents on behalf of Mitsui or NYK; and (2) a seal certificate ( inkan shoumei ), issued by the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau no earlier than 10 days prior to the date of this Agreement, in respect of the registered seal used to execute the power of attorney described in clause (b)(ii)(2) .

 

(c) Specimen signatures

copies of the signatures of the persons who have been authorised on behalf of each Security Party to sign such Security Documents referred to in paragraph ( of this Schedule 3, part 1 to which such Security Party is, or is to be, party and to give notices and communications, including notices of drawing, under or in connection with the Security Documents, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than 10 Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement) by an officer or such other authorised persons of such Security Party as being the true signatures of such persons;

 

95


(d) Certificates of incumbency

a list of directors and officers of the Borrower , the Borrower Shareholders and the Sponsors specifying the names and positions of such persons, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than 10 Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement) by an officer or such other authorised person of it to be true, complete and up to date;

 

(e) Time Charterer’s consents and approvals

evidence in a form and substance acceptable to the Agent that the Time Charterer shall have consented (so far as may be necessary) to the execution of the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants, the Deed of Assignment of Contracts and the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee and other necessary documents hereunder in accordance with the Time Charter;

 

(f) Certified Project Documents

a copy, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than 5 Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement) as a true and complete copy by an officer of the Borrower of each of the Project Documents (other than the Management Agreement) and the Sub Management Agreement each duly executed and in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent together with the original executed copies of the Refund Guarantee;

 

(g) Security Documents and Fee Letters

the Swap Agreements, any other Credit Support Documents, the Deed of Assignment of Contracts, the Assignment, the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee, the Account Charge, the Sponsors’ Undertaking, the Arrangement Fee Letter, the Agency Fee Letter, the Account Bank Fee Letter, the Documentation Agency Fee Letter and the Swap Margin Side Letter each duly executed;

 

(h) Notices of assignment and acknowledgements

the Building Contract Assignment Consent and Acknowledgement, the Refund Guarantee Assignment Consent and Acknowledgement , and the Supervision Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement, duly executed and bearing formal date stamps and originals of duly executed notices of assignment together with original duly executed acknowledgements thereof (to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date) required by the terms of the Deed of Assignment of Contracts and the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee respectively in the forms prescribed by such Security Documents;

 

(i) Share Charges

(i) the Share Pledges Charges duly executed by all parties thereto (other than the Security Trustee) and all requirements thereunder fully satisfied including, without limitation, the delivery of the Borrower’s share certificates and all irrevocable proxies to the Security Trustee;

 

(j) Accounts

evidence that the Accounts have been opened;

 

96


(k) Bahamas opinion

opinions (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of the Agent’s special legal advisers in the Bahamas to the Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(l) Delaware opinion

opinion (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of special legal advisers in the State of Delaware in relation to (a) the due authorisation, execution, delivery and performance of the Time Charter, the Tripartite Agreement, the Angolanisation Agreement, the Project Co-ordination Agreement and the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement by the Time Charterer , (b) the execution, delivery and performance of the Time Charter, the Tripartite Agreement, the Angolanisation Agreement, the Project Co-ordination Agreement and the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement by the Time Charterer not conflicting with Delaware law and (c) the execution, delivery and performance of the Time Charter by the Time Charterer not conflicting with its constitutional documents to be received prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(m) Korean opinion

opinions (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of Kim & Chang special legal advisers in Korea to the Agent and KEIC Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(n) Japanese opinion

opinions (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of Nishimura & Asahi special legal advisers in Japan to the Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(o) Marshall Islands opinion

opinions (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of the Agent’s special legal advisors in the Marshall Islands to the Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(p) English opinion

opinion of Norton Rose LLP special legal advisors in England to the Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to KEIC to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(q) Further opinions/report

(ii) an opinion from Norton Rose as to the legality, validity and enforceability of the Security Documents so far as they are governed by the laws of England and Wales and in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent;

 

(r) Borrower’s process agent

a copy, certified as a true copy by the Borrower’s solicitors or other person acceptable to the Agent of a letter from the Borrower’s agent for receipt of service of proceedings referred to in clause 17.2 accepting its appointment under the said clause and under each of the other Security Documents in which it is or is to be appointed as the Borrower’s agent;

 

(s) Process agent

a copy, certified as a true copy by the Borrower’s solicitors or other person acceptable to the Agent of a letter from the Sponsors’ and any other Security Party’s agent for receipt of service of proceedings accepting its appointment under each of the relevant Security Documents in which it is or is to be appointed as the Sponsors’ or such Security Party’s agent;

 

97


(t) Drawdown Notice

the Drawdown Notice in respect of the first Drawing duly executed and delivered in accordance with clause 2 of this Agreement;

 

(u) Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity / Additional Shareholders’ Equity

receipt of the Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity by the Borrower or the Agent in accordance with clause 2.3.7 and, insofar as such Relevant Amount is Indebtedness of the Borrower, any subordination agreement required by the Agent in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders) in connection therewith;

 

(v) Minimum Credit Rating

evidence from either Standard and Poors or Fitch on or after the date falling 5 Business Days prior to the Drawdown Date that the Refund Guarantor still maintains the required Minimum Credit Rating;

 

(w) Ownership

evidence satisfactory in all respects to the Agent that the Sponsors are, directly or indirectly the legal and beneficial owner of all of the issued share capital of the Borrower, (whether ordinary, preferential or other class of share capital (including, without limitation, subordinated debt)) other than as permitted pursuant to clause 9.2.17;

 

(x) Fees and commissions

evidence of payment or evidence that payment will be made from the first Drawing of any fees and commissions due and payable from the Borrower to the Agent, the Security Trustee, Calyon or the Account Banks pursuant to clause 7 or any other provision of the Security Documents;

 

(y) KEIC Buyer Credit Policy

in respect of the first Drawing the prior receipt by the Agent of an original counterpart of the relevant KEIC Buyer Credit Policy, duly executed by KEIC (together with a copy of the signing authority of the relevant officer of KEIC) and certified copy of the KEIC Acceptance Letter, such KEIC Buyer Credit Policy to be in full force and effect;

 

(z) Project Co-ordination Agreement

evidence that the Project Co-ordination Agreement has been executed in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent acting on the instructions of all Lenders;

 

(aa) KYC documentation

receipt by each Lender of “know-your-client” documentation satisfactory to it; and

 

(bb) Accounts

the certified true and complete copies of the most recent audited annual financial statements of each Sponsor and the unaudited semi-annual accounts of the Borrower for the period ending on 31 December 2007.

 

98


Part 2

Contract Instalment Advances

(a) Invoice

a certified copy of the invoice in respect of which payment is due to the Builder from the Borrower;

 

(b) Fees and commissions

(other than in respect of a Contract Instalment Advance which is the first Drawing) evidence of payment or evidence that payment will be made from the Contract Instalment Advance of any fees and commissions due from the Borrower to the Agent, Calyon, the Security Trustee or the Account Bank pursuant to the terms of clause 7 or any other provision of the Security Documents;

 

(c) Conditions precedent

confirmation from the Borrower or its legal advisers that the conditions precedent set out in Part 1 to Schedule 3 remain satisfied and to the extent necessary are satisfied and confirmation from the Borrower that no further consents and approvals are required;

 

(d) Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity / Additional Shareholders’ Equity

receipt of the Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity by the Agent in accordance with clauses 2.3.7 and 2.9 and any subordination agreement required by the Agent in connection therewith;

 

(e) Drawdown Notice

the Drawdown Notice in respect of the relevant Contract Instalment Advance duly executed and delivered in accordance with clause 2 of this Agreement;

 

(f) No claim

evidence satisfactory to the Agent in the form of a declaration of warranty from the Builder that the Builder (and any other party who may have a claim pursuant to the Building Contract) has no claims against the Vessel or the Borrower;

 

(g) No variations to Building Contract

confirmation from the Borrower that save as permitted by this Agreement there have been no amendments or variations agreed to the Building Contract that have not been agreed by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and that no action has been taken by either the Builder or the Borrower which might in any way render the Building Contract inoperative or unenforceable, in whole or in any part; and

 

(h) No encumbrance

confirmation from the Borrower that there is no Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) of any kind created or permitted by any person on or relating to the Building Contract or in relation to the Vessel.

 

99


Part 3

Delivery Date Advance

(a) Export Licence(s)

a copy, certified as a true and complete copy by an officer of the Borrower of all consents, authorisations, licences and approvals required by the Borrower and the Builder (if any) in connection with the export by the Builder of the Vessel;

 

(b) Vessel conditions

evidence that the Vessel:

 

  (i) Registration and Encumbrances

is or simultaneously with the Delivery of the Vessel shall be registered in the name of the Borrower through the Bahamas Registry under the laws and flag of the Bahamas and confirmation from the Borrower that the Vessel and its Earnings, Insurances and Requisition Compensation (as defined in the Deed of Covenants) are free of Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances);

 

  (ii) Classification

has the classification referred to in clause 9.6.3(b) free of all overdue requirements and recommendations of the Classification Society;

 

  (iii) Insurance

is insured in accordance with the provisions of the Security Documents and all requirements of the Security Documents in respect of such insurance have been complied with (including without limitation, (A) confirmation from the protection and indemnity association or other insurer with which the Vessel is, or is to be, entered for insurance or insured against protection and indemnity risks (including oil pollution risks) that any necessary declarations required by the association or insurer for the removal of any oil pollution exclusion have been made and that any such exclusion does not apply to the Vessel and (B) receipt by the Agent of pro-forma letters of undertaking from ) approved brokers in such form as the Agent may reasonably require); and

 

  (iv) Delivery under Time Charter

has been or on the Delivery Date will be delivered to, and accepted by, the Time Charterer for service under the Time Charter;

 

(c) Deletion

evidence that any prior registration of the Vessel in the name of the Builder has been cancelled (or confirmation from the Builder that there was no such prior registration) and that no Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances are registered against the Vessel on such register;

 

(d) Security and delivery documents

certified true copies of the Management Agreement, the Sub-Management Agreement, the Builder’s Certificate and the Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance and originals of the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants, the Assignment and , the Manager’s Undertaking, the Sub-Manager’s Undertaking and the Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement each duly executed;

 

100


(e) Borrower’s further corporate authorisations

copies of the resolutions of the Borrower’s directors and (if necessary) shareholders evidencing authorisation of the acceptance of the delivery of the Vessel and authorisation and approval of the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants and the transactions contemplated therein and any other documents issued or to be issued pursuant thereto and authorising its appropriate officer or other representative to execute the same on its behalf certified in the manner referred to in paragraph (b) of Part 1 of this Schedule (or other evidence of such authorisation, approval and/or ratification) and any power of attorney issued pursuant to the said resolutions (such resolutions and power of attorney to be notarised (and, to the extent required by applicable Law, apostiled) and in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent);

 

(f) Mortgage registration

evidence that the Mortgage has been registered against the Vessel through the Bahamas Registry under the laws and flag of the Bahamas;

 

(g) Notices of assignment and acknowledgements

originals of duly executed notices of assignment required by the terms of the Deed of Covenants and the Assignment together with original duly executed acknowledgements thereof required by the terms of such Security Documents and in the form(s) prescribed by such Security Documents and, in the case of the Assignment;

 

(h) Insurance opinion

an opinion from Bankserve, or such other insurance consultants as the Agent may instruct, on the insurances effected or to be effected in respect of the Vessel upon and following the Delivery Date in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders;

 

(i) Bahamas opinion

an opinion of the Agent’s special legal advisers in the Bahamas to the Agent in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders;

 

(j) Korean opinion

an opinion of Kim & Chang special legal advisers in Korea to the KEIC Agent and the Agent in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders;

 

(k) Further opinions

any such further opinion as may reasonably be required by the Agent to evidence the legality, validity and/or enforceability of the obligations of the Borrower and/or any Security Party under this Agreement, each of the other Security Documents and each of the Project Documents to which it is a party;

 

(l) Process agent

a copy, certified as a true copy by the Borrower’s solicitors or other person acceptable to the Agent of a letter from the Borrower’s agent for receipt of service of proceedings referred to in clause 17.2 accepting its appointment under the said clause and under each of the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants, the Assignment and also in respect of the relevant Manager’s Undertaking in which it is or is to be appointed as agent;

 

(m) Fees and commission

evidence that the fees and commissions due under clause 7 have been paid in full (or upon drawdown of the Delivery Date Advance will have been paid);

 

101


(n) Payment of Contract Price

evidence from the Builder that the Contract Price has been (or upon drawdown of the relevant Delivery Date Advance will have been) paid in full and a certified copy of the invoice in respect of the payment due to the Builder from the Borrower on the Delivery Date;

 

(o) Drawdown Notice

the Drawdown Notice in respect of the relevant Delivery Date Advance duly executed and delivered to the Agent in accordance with clause 2 of this Agreement;

 

(p) Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance

copies, certified as true copies by a director or officer of the Borrower, of the Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance and any other documents issued by the Builder in connection with the construction and delivery of the Vessel as the Builder shall be obliged to provide pursuant to the Building Contract;

 

(q) ISM compliance

evidence that the Operator has applied to the relevant Regulatory Agency for a DOC for itself and an SMC for the Vessel to be issued pursuant to the Code within any time limit required or recommended by such Regulatory Agency;

 

(r) Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity / Additional Shareholders’ Equity

receipt of the Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity by the Agent in accordance with sub-clauses 2.3.7 and 2.9 and any subordination agreement required by the Agent in connection therewith; and

 

(s) Conditions precedent

confirmation from the Borrower or their legal advisers that the conditions precedent set out in Parts 1 and 2 of Schedule 3 remain satisfied and to the extent necessary are satisfied and confirmation from the Borrower that no further consents and approvals are required.

 

102


Schedule 4

Form of Transfer Certificate

 

To: BNP Paribas S.A. as agent (the “ Agent ”)

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE

This transfer certificate relates to a facility agreement (as the same may be from time to time amended, varied, novated or supplemented, the Loan Agreement ) dated 2008 whereby a credit facility of up to $210,000,000 was made available to Mint LNG [•], Ltd (the Borrower ) by a group of banks on whose behalf the Agent acts as agent and security trustee.

 

1 Terms defined in the Loan Agreement shall, subject to any contrary indication, have the same meanings herein. The terms “Lender” and “Transferee” are defined in the schedule to this transfer certificate .

 

2 The Lender (i) confirms that the details in the Schedule hereto next to the heading Commitment accurately summarises its Commitment in the Loan Agreement and (ii) requests the Transferee to accept and procure the transfer to the Transferee of the portion of such Commitment specified in the Schedule hereto next to the heading Portion Transferred by counter-signing and delivering the Transfer Certificate to the Agent at its address for the service of communications specified in the Loan Agreement.

 

3 The Transferee requests the Agent to accept this Transfer Certificate as being delivered to the Agent pursuant to and for the purposes of clause 12.4 of the Loan Agreement so as to take effect in accordance with the terms thereof on the Transfer Date or on such later date as may be determined in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

4 The Transferee confirms that it has received a copy of the Loan Agreement together with such other information as it has required in connection with this transaction and that it has not relied and will not in the future rely on the Lender or any other party to the Loan Agreement to check or enquire on its behalf into the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any such information and further agrees that it has not relied and will not rely on the Lender or any other party to the Loan Agreement to access or keep under review on its behalf the financial condition, creditworthiness, condition, affairs, status or nature of the Borrower or any other party to the Loan Agreement.

 

5 Execution of this Transfer Certificate by the Transferee constitutes its representation to the Transferor and all other parties to the Loan Agreement that it has power to become a party to the Loan Agreement as a Lender on the terms herein and therein set out and has taken all steps to authorise execution and delivery of this Transfer Certificate.

 

6 The Transferee undertakes with the Lender and each of the other parties to the Loan Agreement that it will perform in accordance with their terms all those obligations which by the terms of the Loan Agreement will be assumed by it after delivery of this Transfer Certificate to the Agent and satisfaction of the conditions (if any) subject to which the Transfer Certificate is expressed to take effect.

 

7 The Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the Loan Agreement or any document relating thereto and assumes no responsibility for the financial condition of the Borrower or for the performance and observance by the Borrower of any of its obligations under the Loan Agreement or any document relating thereto and any and all such conditions and warranties, whether express or implied by law or otherwise, are hereby excluded.

 

8 The Lender gives notice that nothing in this transfer certificate or in the Loan Agreement (or any document relating thereto) shall oblige the Lender to (i) accept a re-transfer from the Transferee of the whole or any part of its rights, benefits and/or obligations under the Loan Agreement transferred pursuant hereto or (ii) support any losses directly or indirectly sustained or incurred by the Transferee for any reason whatsoever including, without limitation, the non-performance by the Borrower or any other party to the Loan Agreement (or any document relating thereto) of its obligations under any such document. The Transferee acknowledges the absence of any such obligation as is referred to in (i) or (ii) above.

 

103


9 The Security Trustee’s rights under the Security Documents remain in full force and effect and are not affected by this transfer.

 

10 This Transfer Certificate and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with English law.

THE SCHEDULE

1 Lender:

 

2 Transferee:

 

3 Transfer Date:

 

4 Commitment:

 

5 Portion Transferred:

 

6 Transferee’s Administration Details:

 

[Transferor Bank]    [Transferee Bank]
By:    By:
Date:    Date:

BNP Paribas S.A.

As agent for and on behalf of itself,

the Borrower and the other Lender Finance Parties in the presence of:-

By:                                                                               

Date: [                     ]

 

104


Schedule 5

Form of Drawdown Notice

 

To: BNP Paribas S.A.

Attention: [•]

Fax : [•]

Copy to: [•]

Fax: [•]

Date [•]

Loan facility of up to United States Dollars $210,000,000 in respect of

Hull No [•] 1811 (the “Vessel”)

Loan Agreement dated         2008

We refer to the above Loan Agreement and hereby give you notice that we wish to drawdown the following Drawing:

[a Contract Instalment Advance amounting to $[•];]

[a Delivery Date Advance amounting to $[•];]

[an Ancillary Cost Advance [in respect of the KEIC Insurance Premium for the Vessel] amounting to $[•];]

Interest Period from [•] to [•];

on [•] 20[•] the funds should be credited to [name and number of account] with [details of bank [in New York City]].

[The Vessel is scheduled to be delivered on [•].]

We confirm that:

 

  (i) no event or circumstance has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived which constitutes a Potential Event of Default;

 

  (ii) the representations and warranties contained in clauses [4] of the Loan Agreement are true and correct at the date hereof as if made with respect to the facts and circumstances existing at the date hereof;

 

  (iii) the borrowing of the Loan will be within our corporate powers, has been validly authorised by appropriate corporate action and will not cause any limit on our borrowings (whether imposed by statute, regulation, agreement or otherwise) to be exceeded; [and]

 

  (iv) there has been no material adverse change in our financial position from that set forth in the latest financial statements delivered to you under clause 9.1.5 of the Loan Agreement. [;and]

 

  (v) [this Ancillary Cost Advance will not, when aggregated with all Ancillary Cost Advances previously advanced to us, equal a sum in excess of $36,000,000.]

Words and expressions defined in the Loan Agreement shall have the same meanings when used herein.

 

105


For and on behalf of

MiNT LNG [•] II , LTD

By    
Name:  
Title:  

 

106


Schedule 6

Calculation of the Mandatory Cost

 

1 The Mandatory Cost is an addition to the interest rate to compensate the Lenders for the cost of compliance with (a) the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority (or, in either case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) or (b) the requirements of the European Central Bank.

 

2 On 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 Loan) and will be expressed as a percentage rate per annum.

 

3 The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Loan 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 Loan Office) of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank in respect of loans made from that Loan Office.

 

4 The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Loan Office in the United Kingdom will be calculated by the Agent as follows:

 

  Ex 0.01       per cent. per annum.
  300  

Where E is the rate of charge payable by a Lender to the Financial Services Authority under the Fees Rules in respect of the relevant financial year of the Financial Services Authority (calculated for this purpose by the Agent as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to that Lender for that financial year). The resulting figure shall be rounded to four (4) decimal places.

 

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) Loan Office means the office notified by a Lender to the Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender as the office through which it will perform its obligations under the Agreement;

 

  (c) Fee 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;

 

  (d) 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 Fee Rules but taking into account any applicable discount rate); and

 

  (e) 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 Union relating to European Monetary Union;

 

  (f) Parties ” means any party to the Agreement, including its successors in title permitted assigns and permitted transferees; and

 

  (g) Tariff Base has the meaning given to it in, and will be calculated in accordance with, the Fees Rules.

 

6 If requested by the Agent, each Lender shall, as soon as practicable after publication by the Financial Services Authority, supply to the Agent, the rate of charge payable by that Lender 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 Lender as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to that Lender for that financial year).

 

107


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 Loan 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 percentages of each Lender for the purpose of E above shall be determined by the Agent based upon the information supplied to it pursuant to paragraphs 6 and 7 above and on the assumption that, unless the Lender notifies the 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 Loan Office in the same jurisdiction as in its Loan Office.

 

9 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 pursuant to paragraphs 3, 6 and 7 above is true and correct in all respects.

 

10 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 pursuant to paragraphs 3, 6 and 7 above.

 

11 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.

 

12 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.

 

108


Schedule 7

Contract Instalments and Repayment Profile

Part A

 

Installment

  

Initiating Event

   % of Contract Price
First    December 29, 2007    10%
Second    June 18, 2009    10%
Third    The later of the actual date of keel-laying and October 25, 2010    10%
Fourth    The later of the actual date of launching and December 25, 2010    10%
Final    At Delivery and upon execution of the Acceptance    60%

 

109


Part B

 

       Outstanding    Repayment Amnt    Repayment %

Closing

               92,400,000      

  1

   91,080,000    1,320,000        1,429%

  2

   89,741,000    1,339,000        1,449%

  3

   88,380,000    1,361,000        1,473%

  4

   86,999,000    1,381,000        1,495%

  5

   85,597,000    1,402,000        1,517%

  6

   84,174,000    1,423,000        1,540%

  7

   82,729,000    1,445,000        1,564%

  8

   81,262,000    1,467,000        1,588%

  9

   79,772,000    1,490,000        1,613%

10

   78,260,000    1,512,000        1,636%

11

   76,725,000    1,535,000        1,661%

12

   75,166,000    1,559,000        1,687%

13

   73,584,000    1,582,000        1,712%

14

   71,977,000    1,607,000        1,739%

15

   70,346,000    1,631,000        1,765%

16

   68,690,000    1,656,000        1,792%

17

   67,009,000    1,681,000        1,819%

18

   65,302,000    1,707,000        1,847%

19

   63,569,000    1,733,000        1,876%

20

   61,809,000    1,760,000        1,905%

21

   60,023,000    1,786,000        1,933%

22

   58,210,000    1,813,000        1,962%

23

   56,369,000    1,841,000        1,992%

24

   54,500,000    1,869,000        2,023%

25

   52,602,000    1,898,000        2,054%

26

   50,676,000    1,926,000        2,084%

27

   48,720,000    1,956,000        2,117%

28

   46,734,000    1,986,000        2,149%

29

   44,718,000    2,016,000        2,182%

30

   42,671,000    2,047,000        2.215%

31

   40,593,000    2,078,000        2.249%

32

   38,483,000    2,110,000        2.284%

33

   36,341,000    2,142,000        2.318%

34

   34,167,000    2,174,000        2.353%

35

   31,959,000    2,208,000        2.390%

36

   29,718,000    2,241,000        2.425%

37

   27,442,000    2,276,000        2.463%

38

   25,132,000    2,310,000        2.500%

39

   22,786,000    2,346,000        2.539%

40

   20,405,000    2,381,000        2.577%

41

   17,987,000    2,418,000        2.617%

42

   15,533,000    2,454,000        2.656%

43

   13,041,000    2,492,000         2.697%

44

   10,511,000    2,530,000         2.738%

45

      7,943,000    2,568,000         2.779%

46

      5,335,000    2,608,000         2.823%

47

      2,688,000    2,647,000         2.865%

48

                    0    2,688,000         2.909%
      100.000%

 

110


Schedule 8

Form of Compliance Certificate

 

To: BNP Paribas S.A. (the “Agent”)
From: [•] (the “[•]”)

Date: [•]

Dear Sirs,

We refer to an agreement (the Agreement ) dated                                     and made between (1) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 of the Agreement as lenders and swap providers, (2) yourselves as Agent (3) yourselves as Security Trustee and (4) yourselves as KEIC Agent (as from time to time amended, varied, novated or supplemented).

Terms defined or construed in the Agreement have the same meanings and constructions in this Certificate.

We attach the relevant calculation details applicable to the last four (4) financial quarters ending [•] (the “Relevant Period”) which confirm that:-

 

1 The average DSCR in respect of the immediately preceding four (4) financial quarters [was/was not] equal to or greater than1:10x. Therefore the condition contained in clause 9.1.19 of the Agreement [has/has not] been complied with in respect of the Relevant Period.

 

2 The average DSCR in respect of the immediately preceding two (2) financial quarters [was at all times equal to or greater than/fell below] 1.06x. Therefore the condition contained in clause 9.1.19 of the Agreement [has/has not] been complied with.

 

3 The Leverage Ratio for the immediately preceding four (4) financial quarters did not exceed 4:1. Therefore, the contained in clause 9.1.19 of the Agreement [has/has not] been complied with

Signed:                                                                                 

Duly authorised representative of

MiNT LNG [•] ll , LTD

 

111


Exhibit A

-

Long-Form Confirmation Letter between the Borrower and BNP Paribas S.A. dated

 

2 October 2088 as amended on 9 October 2008

 

 

112


IN WITNESS of which the parties to this Agreement have executed this Agreement the day and year first before written.

 

SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of MiNT LNG II LTD .    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of BNP PARIBAS S.A. (as a Lender and a Swap Provider)    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of CALYON (as a Lender and a Swap Provider)    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of DNB NOR BANK ASA (as a Lender and a Swap Provider)    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of SOCIETE GENERALE    )
(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD .    )
(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION    )
BRUSSELS BRANCH    )
(as a Lender)    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of SMBC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC .    )
(as a Swap Provider)    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of BNP PARIBAS S.A .    )
(as Agent)    )

 

113


SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of BNP PARIBAS S.A .    )
(as the Security Trustee)    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of BNP PARIBAS S.A.    )
(as the KEIC Agent)    )

 

114

Exhibit 4.21

EXECUTION VERSION

Dated 10 October 2008

 

 

 

  MiNT LNG III, LTD.      (1)
  (as Borrower)     
  The Banks and Financial Institutions listed      (2)
 

in Annex 1

(as Lenders)

    
  The Banks and Financial Institutions listed      (3)
 

in Annex 1

(as Swap Providers)

    
  BNP PARIBAS S.A.      (4)
  (as Agent)     
  BNP PARIBAS S.A.      (5)
  (as Security Trustee)     
  and     
  BNP PARIBAS S.A.      (6)
  (as KEIC Agent)     

 

 

DEED OF AMENDMENT AND

RESTATEMENT

relating to a Loan Agreement of

US$92,400,000 Buyer Credit and

$117,600,000 Commercial Loan for one

160,000 cbm LNG carrier Hull No. 1812 at

Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.

 

 

 

LOGO


CONTENTS

 

Clause    Page  

1 Definitions

     1   

2 Amendments to the Loan Agreement

     1   

3 Miscellaneous

     2   

Annex 1

     6   


THIS DEED is made on 10 October 2008 BETWEEN:

 

(1) MiNT LNG III, LTD., being a company organised and existing under the laws of the Bahamas whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB—13937, Nassau, The Bahamas (the “Borrower”); and

 

(2) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 Part 1 in Annex 1, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 Part 1 in Annex 1 (together the “Lenders” and each a “Lender”); and

 

(3) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 Part 2 in Annex 1, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 Part 2 in Annex 1 (together the “Swap Providers” and each a “Swap Provider”); and

 

(4) BNP PARIBAS S.A., acting as agent with its registered office at 16 boulevard des Italiens 75009 Paris and registration number 662 042 449 RSC Paris for the Lenders and the Swap Providers (in that capacity the “ Agent ”); and

 

(5) BNP PARIBAS S.A ., acting as security trustee through its office at 16 boulevard des Italiens 75009 Paris and registration number 662 042 449 RSC Paris for the Lenders and the Swap Providers (in that capacity the “ Security Trustee ”); and

 

(6) BNP PARIBAS S.A ., acting as agent through its office at 24/F, Taepyeongno Building 310, Taepyeongno 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-767, for the Lenders under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy (as this term is defined in Annex 1) (in that capacity the “ KEIC Agent ”).

WHEREAS:

 

(A) By a loan agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) dated 11 September 2008 and made between the Borrower, the Lenders, the Agent, the KEIC Agent, the Security Trustee and the Swap Providers, pursuant to which the Lenders agreed (inter alia) to loan to the Borrower, upon the terms and conditions therein contained, a buyer credit tranche of up to the lesser of (i) forty-four per cent. (44%) of eighty per cent. (80%) of the Total Project Cost (as defined in Annex 1) and (ii) ninety two million four hundred thousand Dollars ($92,400,000) and a commercial tranche of up to the lesser of (i) fifty-six per cent. (56%) of eighty per cent. (80%) of the Total Project Cost (as defined in Annex 1) and (ii) one hundred and seventeen million six hundred thousand Dollars ($117,600,000) to assist in financing the 160,000 cbm LNG carrier with hull number 1812 at Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.

 

(B) The parties to this Deed wish to amend and restate the Loan Agreement, as set out herein, to take effect from the date of this Deed.

NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:

 

1 Definitions

 

1.1 In this Deed:

“Dollars” and “ $ ” means the lawful currency of the United States of America from time to time; and

“Restated Loan Agreement” means the agreement as set out in Annex 1.

 

2 Amendments to the Loan Agreement

 

2.1 The parties to this Deed hereby confirm that with effect from the date of this Deed, but without prejudice to any accrued rights and obligations, the Loan Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety by and shall be construed in accordance with the Restated Loan Agreement and the parties to this Deed agree that they are and shall be bound by all of the provisions of the Restated Loan Agreement.

 

1


3 Miscellaneous

 

3.1 Clauses 14 and 17 of the Loan Agreement shall, mutatis mutandis, be incorporated in this Deed as if set out herein.

 

3.2 This Deed may be executed in any number of counterparts, to the effect that any single counterpart or set of counterparts taken together executed and delivered by all of the parties shall constitute one and the same instrument.

IN WITNESS whereof this Deed is executed by the parties on the day and year first above written.

 

2


EXECUTION PAGE - AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AGREEMENT

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

MiNT LNG III, LTD.

  ) /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
 

 

(as Borrower)

  )

by YUJI ISHIMARU

  )

in the presence of:

 

Chin Peter

 

1-12-32 Akasaka

 

Tokyo Japan

 

Attorney

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

  ) /s/ Patricia Lormeau
 

 

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

  ) Patricia LORMEAU

by

  )

in the presence of:

 

/s/ A. Renaudin Durand-Ruel

 

 

 

A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

CALYON

  ) /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
 

 

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

  )

by

  )

in the presence of:

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

DNB NOR BANK ASA

  ) /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
 

 

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

  ) [ILLEGIBLE]

by

  )

in the presence of:

 

/s/ Eliza Mason

 

 

 

ELIZA MASON

 

 

3


EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

SOCIETE GENERALE

  ) /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
 

 

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

  )

by

  )

in the presence of: ELSA GAMBARDELLA

  SG HOUSE, 41 TOWER HILL

  LONDON EC3N 4SG

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.

  ) /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
 

 

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

  ) [ILLEGIBLE]

by

  )

in the presence of: MASAYUKI FUJIKI

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION

  ) /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
 

 

BRUSSELS BRANCH

  )

(as a Lender)

  )

by

  )

in the presence of:

 

/s/ Eliana Miliou

 

 

 

ELIANA MILIOU

 

NORTON ROSE LLP

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

SMBC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

  ) /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
 

 

(as a Swap Provider)

  )

by

  )

in the presence of:

 

/s/ Eliana Miliou

 

 

 

ELIANA MILIOU

 

NORTON ROSE LLP

 

 

 

4


EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

  ) /s/ Patricia Lormeau
 

 

(as Agent)

  ) Patricia LORMEAU

by

  )

in the presence of:

 

/s/ A. Renaudin Durand-Ruel

 

 

 

A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

  ) /s/ Patricia Lormeau
 

 

(as the Security Trustee)

  ) Patricia LORMEAU

by

  )

in the presence of:

 

/s/ A. Renaudin Durand-Ruel

 

 

 

A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

  )

by and on behalf of

  )

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

  ) /s/ Patricia Lormeau
 

 

(as the KEIC Agent)

  ) Patricia LORMEAU

by

  )

in the presence of:

 

/s/ A. Renaudin Durand-Ruel

 

 

 

A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

 

 

5


Annex 1

RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT

 

6


Dated 11 September 2008

 

 

(as amended and restated by a Deed of Amendment

and Restatement dated 10 October 2008)

 

 

MiNT LNG III, LTD.

(as Borrower)

and

The Banks and Financial Institutions listed herein as Lenders

(as Lenders)

and

The Banks and Financial Institutions listed herein

(as Swap Providers)

and

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

(as Agent)

and

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

(as Security Trustee)

and

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

(as KEIC Agent)

US$92,400,000 BUYER CREDIT AND

US$117,600,000 COMMERCIAL LOAN for one

160,000 cbm LNG CARRIER Hull No 1812 at

SAMSUNG HEAVY INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.

 

LOGO


CONTENTS    Page  

1 Definitions and Interpretation

     2   

2 The Loan and its Purpose

     19 20    

3 Conditions precedent and subsequent for the Loan

     23   

4 Representations and Warranties

     25   

5 Repayment and Prepayment

     30   

6 Interest

     35   

7 Fees

     36   

8 Security, Accounts and Application of Moneys

     38   

9 Covenants

     41   

10 Events of Default

     64 66   

11 Set-Off and Lien

     68 70   

12 Assignment and Transfer

     69 71   

13 Payments, Reserve Requirements and Illegality

     71 73   

14 Communications

     75 77   

15 General Indemnities

     76 78   

16 Miscellaneous

     78 80   

17 Law and Jurisdiction

     84 86   

Schedule 1 Part I: The Lenders, the Commitments and the Proportionate Shares

     85 87   

Schedule 2 The Vessel

     92 94   

Schedule 3 Documents and evidence required as conditions precedent

     93 95   

Schedule 4 Form of Transfer Certificate

     101 103   

Schedule 5 Form of Drawdown Notice

     103 105   

Schedule 6 Calculation of the Mandatory Cost

     105 107   

Schedule 7 Contract Instalments and Repayment Profile

     107 109   

Schedule 8 Form of Compliance Certificate

     108 111   

Exhibit A

     109 112   


LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”)

Dated:                     2008

BETWEEN:

 

(1) MiNT LNG III, LTD., being a company organised and existing under the laws of the Bahamas whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB—13937, Nassau, The Bahamas (the “Borrower”); and

 

(2) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 Part 1, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 Part 1 (together the “Lenders” and each a “Lender”); and

 

(3) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 Part 2, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 Part 2 (together the “Swap Providers” and each a “Swap Provider”); and

 

(4) BNP PARIBAS S.A ., acting as agent with its registered office at 16 boulevard des Italiens 75009 Paris and registration number 662 042 449 RSC Paris for the Lenders and the Swap Providers (in that capacity the “Agent” ); and

 

(5) BNP PARIBAS S.A ., acting as security trustee through its office at 16 boulevard des Italiens 75009 Paris and registration number 662 042 449 RSC Paris for the Lenders and the Swap Providers (in that capacity the “Security Trustee” ); and

 

(6) BNP PARIBAS S.A ., acting as agent through its office at 24/F, Taepyeongno Building 310, Taepyeongno 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-767, for the Lenders under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy (in that capacity the “KEIC Agent” ).

WHEREAS:

 

(A) The Borrower has agreed to purchase the Vessel from the Builder on the terms of the Building Contract and will register the Vessel on delivery on Bahamas flag.

 

(B) Each of the Lenders has agreed to advance to the Borrower its Buyer Credit Commitment (aggregating, with all the other Buyer Credit Commitments from the Lenders, up to an amount equal to the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount) to finance part of the Contract Price (the “Buyer Credit”, as more particularly defined in clause 1.1 below).

 

(C) Each of the Lenders has agreed to advance to the Borrower its Commercial Loan Commitment (aggregating, with all the other Commercial Loan Commitments from the Lenders, up to an amount equal to the Commercial Loan Maximum Amount) to finance part of the Contract Price and, subject to clause 2.3.3, 100% of the Ancillary Costs (the “Commercial Facility”, as more particularly defined in clause 1.1 below).

 

(D) The Borrower has agreed to time charter the Vessel to Angola LNG Supply Services LLC, a limited liability company duly organised under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA (the “Time Charterer”), pursuant to the terms of the Time Charter (as defined below).

 

(E) Pursuant to (inter alia) this Agreement, and as a condition precedent to the several obligations of the Lenders to make the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan available to the Borrower, the Borrower has, amongst other things agreed to execute and deliver a first priority mortgage over the Vessel as security for the payment of the Indebtedness.

 

(F) The Lender Finance Parties (as defined below) have agreed to enter into an Intercreditor Deed amongst, inter alios, themselves and the Borrower to, inter alia, regulate the priorities in respect of each of them under the Security Documents.

 

1


IT IS AGREED as follows:-

 

1 Definitions and Interpretation

 

1.1 Definitions

In this Agreement:-

“Account Bank” means BNP Paribas S.A., London Branch.

“Account Bank Fee Letter” means the fee letter in respect of the fee referred to in clause 7.5 and made between the Borrower and the Account Bank.

“Accounts” means all of the Revenue Account, the Dry Docking Reserve Account, the Retention Account, the Debt Service Reserve Account, the Dividend Lock-up Account and the Distribution Account.

“Account Charge” means the deed of charge over the Revenue Account, the Dry Docking Reserve Account, the Retention Account, the Debt Service Reserve Account and the Dividend Lock-up Account in respect of the Vessel, as referred to in clause 8.1.4.

“Additional Shareholders’ Equity” has the meaning given to that term in the Letter of Sponsors Undertaking.

“Affiliate” means in relation to any entity, a Subsidiary of that entity, a Holding Company of that entity or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company.

“Agency Fee Letter” means the fee letter in respect of the fee referred to in clause 7.3 and made between the Borrower and the Agent.

“Ancillary Costs” means costs accruing or incurred or repayments or reimbursements to be made by the Borrower up to and upon the Delivery Date, or consequent upon Delivery, in respect of:

 

  (a) the supervision by the Supervisor or its employees of the construction of the Vessel by the Builder which are payable pursuant to the Supervision Agreement or any other amount payable pursuant to the Supervision Agreement;

 

  (b) the acquisition of spare parts under the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement;

 

  (c) all interest, arrangement fees, commitment fees and agency fees in respect of the Loan falling due for payment and/or accruing on or before the Delivery Date;

 

  (d) corporate management fees payable to Mitsui by the Borrower under the Corporate Management Agreement;

 

  (e) all costs and fees payable by the Borrower in connection with the arrangement of the facility evidenced by this Agreement and the negotiation and finalisation of the Security Documents to which the Borrower is, or is to be, a party and in relation to the facility generally (including costs and expenses in connection with the registration of the Vessel);

 

  (f) all costs and expenses incurred by the Borrower in connection with modifications made to the Vessel prior to delivery of the Vessel pursuant to and in accordance with the Building Contract and the Time Charter;

 

  (g) all costs and expenses incurred by the Borrower in connection with the Angolanization Agreement;

 

  (h) the KEIC Insurance Premium; and

 

  (i) any other costs approved by the Agent in writing (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders),

 

2


but, for the avoidance of doubt, Ancillary Costs shall never cover any item, element or service to be provided by the Builder pursuant to the Building Contract and which is included in the Contract Price.

“Ancillary Costs Advance” means a Drawing for the purpose of paying Ancillary Costs incurred by the Borrower and for the purpose more particularly described in clause 2.3.

“Angola LNG” means Angola LNG Ltd, a company established and existing under the laws of Bermuda.

“Angola LNG Project” means the construction and operation of the approximately one-train liquefaction plant of 5 Mtpa of LNG production capacity constructed or (as the context may require) to be constructed in the vicinity of Kwanda Island in the Zaire Province of Angola, the purchase by the Time Charterer of LNG from Angola LNG for transportation on the Vessel and the sale of the regasified LNG transported on the Vessel pursuant to the Gas Sales and Purchase Agreements and the purchase of feed gas by Angola LNG from the Gas Suppliers under the Gas Supply Agreements.

“Angolanization Agreement” means the Angolanization Agreement dated 18 December 2007 between the Borrower and the Time Charterer.

“Arrangement Fee Letter” means the fee letter in respect of the fee referred to in clause 7.1 and made between the Borrower and the Agent.

“Assignment” means the deed of assignment of Insurances, Earnings and Requisition Compensation in respect of the Vessel as referred to in clause 8.1.3.

“Authorisation” means an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration.

“Authorised Investments” means deposits and/or investments with the Account Bank with varying minimum amounts and periods applying for each case and subject to the prior written approval from the Account Bank.

“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Execution Date to and including the Availability Termination Date.

“Availability Termination Date” means, the earlier of (a) the date falling 290 days after the Scheduled Delivery Date of the Vessel, (b) the date falling thirty (30) days after the Delivery Date of the Vessel, (c) the date on which the Time Charterer gives written consent to the Borrower permitting the Borrower to cancel the Building Contract in accordance with its terms and (d) the date on which the Total Commitments are reduced to zero pursuant to any term of this Agreement, or such other date as may be agreed in writing by the Agent acting on the instructions of all Lenders and KEIC.

“Borrower Priority Payments” means (a) any duly evidenced payments made pursuant to the Insurances in respect of repairs to the Vessel paid for by the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower (to the extent it is permitted to do so pursuant to clause 9.5) prior to the receipt of such Insurance proceeds and (b) any duly evidenced payments received by the Borrower from the Time Charterer which reimburse the Borrower for the costs incurred by the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower in relation to modifications to the Vessel which have been requested by the Time Charterer pursuant to the Time Charter and which are reimbursed by the Time Charterer in a lump-sum manner and not through an adjustment to the payment of charterhire under the Time Charter.

 

3


“Borrower Shareholders” means at any time from and including the Delivery Date means, Mitsui, NYK LNG and Teekay or in any case, any other person who has become a Borrower Shareholder in place of any of them as permitted by and pursuant to clause 9.2.17 and “Borrower Shareholder” means any one of them.

“Break Costs” means the amount (if any) by which:

 

  (a) the interest which a Lender Finance Party should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in the Loan or any 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 Finance Party 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.

and “Break Gains” means the amount (if any) by which the amount in (b) exceeds the amount in (a).

“Builder” means Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., a company incorporated in the Republic of Korea with its registered office at 34th Fl., Samsung Insurance Seocho Tower 1321-15, Seocho-Dong, Seocho-Gu, Seoul, Korea 137-857.

“Building Contract” means the contract dated 18 December 2007 on the terms and subject to the conditions of which the Builder has agreed to construct the Vessel for, and deliver the Vessel to the Borrower.

“Building Contract Assignment Consent and Acknowledgement” means in relation to the Building Contract, the acknowledgement of notice of and consent to, the assignment of the Building Contract to be given by the Builder in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee.

“Business Day” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for business in London, Paris, Seoul, Tokyo and New York.

“Buyer Credit” means the aggregate amount of all the Buyer Credit Commitments advanced or to be advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower under clause 2 or, where the context requires, the aggregate amounts advanced and for the time being outstanding.

“Buyer Credit Commitments” means the aggregate of the Commitments of the Lenders for the Vessel as shown in the column headed “Buyer Credit” in Schedule 1, Part 1 as the same is reduced by the relevant clauses of this Agreement and which shall at no time exceed the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount.

“Buyer Credit Margin” means zero point seven eight per cent (0.78%) per annum.

“Buyer Credit Maximum Amount” means the lesser of (a) forty four per cent. (44%) of eighty per cent. (80%) of the Total Project Cost and (b) ninety two million four hundred thousand Dollars ($92,400,000).

“Calyon” means Calyon, a credit institution established under the laws of France, acting through its office at 9 quai du Président Paul Doumer, 92920 Paris, La Défense Cédex, France.

“Change of Control” means either (i) in respect of the Borrower that the Borrower Shareholders either together or any one or more of them shall cease, for any reason whatsoever, to own or control directly or indirectly, sixty-six per cent. (66%) of the shares of the Borrower or, (ii) in respect of Teekay LNG that as from Delivery and provided that Teekay has transferred its shares in the Borrower to Teekay LNG, Teekay ceases to hold, directly or indirectly at least fifty-one per cent. (51%) of the voting power from time to time in Teekay GP LLC, the general partner in Teekay LNG.

 

4


“Classification” means the classification referred to in and as required by, clause 9.6.3(b).

“Classification Society” means the American Bureau of Shipping or such other classification society which is a member of the International Association of Classification Societies and which the Agent shall at the Borrower’s request have agreed in writing shall be treated as the Classification Society for the Vessel for the purpose of the Security Documents.

“Commercial Facility” means, the credit facility made available by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement and more particularly described in clause 2.1.2.

“Commercial Loan” means the aggregate amount advanced or to be advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower under clause 2 or, where the context requires, the aggregate amounts advanced and for the time being outstanding.

“Commercial Loan Maximum Amount” means the lesser of (a) fifty six per cent. (56%) of eighty per cent. (80%) of the Total Project Cost and (b) one hundred and seventeen million six hundred thousand Dollars ($117,600,000).

“Commercial Loan Margin” means (i) during the Pre-Delivery Period one point zero zero per cent. (1.00%) per annum and (ii) during the Post-Delivery Period one point three zero per cent. (1.30%) per annum.

“Commitment” means, in relation to a Lender, the amount of the Loan which that Lender agrees under clause 2.1 to advance to the Borrower as its several liability as indicated against the name of that Lender in Schedule 1 Part I and/or Schedule 1 Part II as reduced by any relevant term of this Agreement and “Commitments” means all or more than one of them.

“Commitment Fee” means the commitment fee to be paid by the Borrower to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders pursuant to clause 7.2.

“Communication” means any notice, approval, demand, request or other communication from one party to this Agreement to any other party to this Agreement.

“Company” means at any given time the company responsible for the Vessel’s compliance with (i) the ISM Code under paragraph 1.1.2 of the ISM Code and/or (ii) the ISPS Code (as the case may be).

“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate in the form set out in Schedule 8.

“Compulsory Acquisition” means requisition for title or other compulsory acquisition, 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 facto but shall exclude requisition for use or hire not involving requisition for title.

“Contract Instalment Advance” means subject always to the provisions of this Agreement, Drawings in the maximum amount not exceeding the relevan t instalment amount of the Contract Price set out in each column (3) of Part A of Schedule 7 (as such sums instalment amount may be adjusted as permitted under the Building Contract) which shall be applied in payment of part of the instalment of the Contract Price payable by the Borrower at the completion of the relevant stage of construction of the Vessel pursuant to the Building Contract.

“Contract Price” means the actual amount payable for the Vessel pursuant to the Building Contract.

“Corporate Management Agreement” means the Corporate Management and Services Agreement executed or (as the context may require) to be executed between the Borrower and Mitsui.

 

5


“Credit Support Document” means any document described as such in the Swap Agreements and where the context permits, any other document referred to in any Credit Support Document which has the effect of creating an Encumbrance in favour of any of the Lender Finance Parties.

“Currency of Account” means, in relation to any payment to be made to a Lender Finance Party pursuant to any of the Security Documents, the currency in which that payment is required to be made by the terms of the relevant Security Document.

“Debt Service Amount” means in relation to any period all interest, principal and fees payable by the Borrower during that period under or pursuant to this Agreement, the Swap Agreements and any transactions under the Swap Agreements less any amounts receivable by the Borrower during that period under or pursuant to the Swap Agreements.

“Debt Service Reserve Account” means the account numbered 09618 078602 004 63 USD and designated the “Debt Service Reserve Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Debt Service Reserve Account and any other account of the Borrower with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Debt Service Reserve Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

“Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee” means the deed of assignment referred to in clause 8.1.1.

“Deed of Assignment of Contracts” means the deed of assignment referred to in clause 8.1.5.

“Deed of Covenants” means the deed of covenants referred to in clause 8.1.2.

“Default Rate” means the rate which is the aggregate of LIBOR, any Mandatory Cost, the Margin and one point zero zero per cent. (1.00%) per annum.

“Delivery Date” means the date on which the Vessel is actually delivered by the Builder to the Borrower under the Building Contract and accepted by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter.

“Delivery Date Advance” means a Drawing made, or to be made to finance the instalment of the Contract Price falling due on the Delivery Date.

“Depot Spare Parts” has the meaning given to that term in the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement.

“Depot Spares Sharing Agreement” means the agreement between, amongst others, the Borrower and the Time Charterer in respect of spare parts for, inter alia, the Vessel.

“Distribution Account” means the account numbered 09618 078602 006 57 USD and designated the “Distribution Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank.

“Dividend Lock-up Account” means the account numbered 09618 078602 005 60 USD and designated the “Dividend Lock-up Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Dividend Lock-up Account and any other account of the Borrower with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Dividend Lock-up Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

“Dividend Restriction Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events:

 

  (a) the Agent has not received payment in full of the first Repayment Instalment under the Buyer Credit when due;

 

6


  (b) an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived which has a Material Adverse Effect;

 

  (c) any charterhire under the Time Charter has not been paid when due and such charterhire together with interest thereon remains unpaid;

 

  (d) the Borrower has failed to demonstrate that the average DSCR for the then immediately preceding four (4) quarters is lower than 1.13x;

 

  (e) any of the Accounts (excluding the Distribution Account) is not fully funded to the amount required at that time as required pursuant to clause 8 (provided that this shall not apply to the Debt Service Reserve Account to the extent that the Borrower’s obligation to retain the DSRA Amount in the Debt Service Reserve Account is satisfied by means of the DSRA Letter of Credit and provided further that this shall not apply to the Dry Docking Reserve Account to the extent that, for the then applicable period, amounts have been deposited into the Dry Docking Reserve Account in accordance with clause 8.3.2);

 

  (f) a Total Loss has occurred, unless the Borrower has complied with its prepayment obligations under clause 5.5; or

 

  (g) the credit rating of an L/C Issuer falls below the Minimum Credit Rating applicable to it as described in clause 9.1.20. 9.1.20 where (i) a demand has been made under the DSRA Letter of Credit in accordance with clause 8.5 and (ii) the L/C Issuer has failed to pay the full amount so demanded.

“Documentation Agency Fee Letter” means the fee letter in respect of the fee referred to in clause 7.4 and made between the Borrower and Calyon.

“Dollars” “US$” and “$” each means available and freely transferable and convertible funds in lawful currency of the United States of America.

“Dollar Equivalent” of an amount in a currency other than Dollars for any day means the amount of Dollars required to purchase that amount at the spot rate of exchange of the Agent for the purchase of the applicable currency with Dollars in the London foreign exchange market at 11.00 a.m. for delivery on that day.

“Drawdown Date” means the date on which a Drawing is advanced.

“Drawdown Notice” means a notice substantially in the form set out in the relevant part of Schedule 5.

“Drawing” means each borrowing of a proportion of the Commitment by the Borrower pursuant to clause 2 whether as a Contract Instalment Advance and/or an Ancillary Cost Advance and/or the Delivery Date Advance or (as the context may require) the principal amount of such borrowing.

“Dry Docking Reserve Account” means the account numbered 09618 078602 002 69 USD and designated the “Dry Docking Reserve Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Dry Docking Reserve Account and any other account of the Borrower with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Dry Docking Reserve Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

“Dry Docking Reserve Account Payments” means the sum calculated by the Borrower which should be reserved in order to meet the costs in respect of the next scheduled dry docking of the Vessel (including, without limitation, the costs in respect of the long term maintenance and repair of the Vessel), each such calculation shall be demonstrated as being fair and reasonable to the Agent’s satisfaction not later than the date falling, in respect of the first scheduled dry docking date, three (3) Months prior to the Scheduled Delivery Date and, in respect of each subsequent scheduled dry docking date, not later than the date falling three (3) Months prior to the immediately preceding scheduled dry docking date of the Vessel.

 

7


DSCR means in relation to any period the ratio which the Revenues less Operating Costs during that period bear to the Debt Service Amount paid or payable in relation to that period.

“DSRA Amount” has the meaning given to that term in clause 9.1.18.

“DSRA Letter of Credit” means an irrevocable letter of credit in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent which, if issued, shall be issued by an L/C Issuer for an original amount determined by the Agent to be equal whether alone or in aggregate to 6 Months principal and interest repayments under this Agreement or such other amounts as referred to in clause 9.1.18 and for a period of not less than 1 year or, during the final year before the Maturity Date, such other period of less than 1 year with the prior written consent of the Agent.

“Earnings” means all hires including (without limitation) all time charter hire and bareboat charter hire, freights, pool income and other sums payable to or for the account of the Borrower in respect of the Vessel including (without limitation) all remuneration for salvage and towage services, demurrage and detention moneys, contributions in general average, compensation in respect of any requisition for hire and damages and other payments (whether awarded by any court or arbitral tribunal or by agreement or otherwise) for breach, termination or variation of any contract for the operation, employment or use of the Vessel.

“Encumbrance” means any mortgage, charge (whether fixed or floating), pledge, lien, assignment, hypothecation, preferential right, option, title retention or trust arrangement or any other agreement or arrangement which, in any of the aforementioned instances, has the effect of creating security.

“Environmental Affiliate” means an agent or employee of the Borrower or a person in a contractual relationship with the Borrower or any sub-lessee in respect of the operation, management or maintenance of the Vessel (including without limitation, the operation of or the carriage of cargo of the Vessel).

“Environmental Approval” means any permit, licence, ruling, variance, exemption, certificate, filing, comment, Authorisation or other approval, required at any time under any applicable Environmental Law.

“Environmental Claim” means any claim by any person which arises out of or in connection with an Environmental Incident or any alleged Environmental Incident or any breach of, or non-compliance with, or otherwise relates to any Environmental Law or Environmental Approval.

“Environmental Incident” means:

 

  (a) any release, discharge or emission of Environmentally Sensitive Material from the Vessel; or

 

  (b) any incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released, discharged or emitted from a vessel other than the Vessel and which involves a collision between the Vessel and such other vessel or some other incident of navigation or operation, in either case, in connection with which the Vessel is actually and/or is reasonably likely to be arrested, attached, detained or injuncted and/or where the Borrower, or any Environmental Affiliate or any of their respective officers, employees or other persons retained or instructed by them are finally determined to be at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action; or

 

  (c) any other incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released otherwise than from the Vessel and in connection with which the Vessel is actually or is reasonably likely to be arrested, attached, detained or injuncted and/or where the Borrower or any Environmental Affiliate or any of their respective officers, employees or other persons retained or instructed by them are finally determined to be at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action.

 

8


“Environmental Law” means any or all laws applicable or relating to pollution or contamination or protection of the environment, to the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use or misuse, treatment, storage, disposal, carriage or holding of Environmentally Sensitive Material or to actual or threatened emissions, releases, spillages or discharges of Environmentally Sensitive Material.

“Environmentally Sensitive Material” means liquefied natural gas, oil, oil products and any other element or substance whether natural or artificial and whether consisting of gas, liquid, solid or vapour (including any chemical, gas or other hazardous or noxious substance) which is or is capable of becoming polluting, toxic, hazardous, harmful or damaging to mankind or the environment or any living organism.

“Event of Default” means any of the events set out in clause 10.2.

“Execution Date” means the date on which this Agreement is executed by each of the parties hereto.

“Facility Period” means the period beginning on the Execution Date and ending on the date when the whole of the Loan Outstandings and all other amounts due and owing under this Agreement have been repaid in full and the Borrower has ceased to be under any further actual liability to the Lender Finance Parties under or in connection with the Security Documents.

“Fee Letters” means the Arrangement Fee Letter, the Agency Fee Letter, the Documentation Agency Fee Letter and the Account Bank Fee Letter.

“Financial Indebtedness” means, in relation to a person (the “debtor” ), a liability of the debtor:

 

  (a) for principal, interest or any other sum payable in respect of any moneys borrowed or raised by the debtor;

 

  (b) under any loan stock, bond, note or other security issued by the debtor;

 

  (c) under any acceptance credit, guarantee or letter of credit facility issued for the account of the debtor;

 

  (d) under a lease or any other agreement having the commercial effect of a borrowing or raising of money by the debtor;

 

  (e) under any foreign exchange transaction, any interest or currency swap or any other kind of derivative transaction entered into by the debtor or, if the agreement under which any such transaction is entered into requires netting of mutual liabilities, the liability of the debtor for the net amount; or

 

  (f) under a guarantee, indemnity or similar obligation entered into by the debtor in respect of a liability of another person which would fall within paragraphs (a) to (e) if the references to the debtor referred to the other person,

provided that, Financial Indebtedness shall exclude (a) any shareholder loans and/or other debt instruments of the Borrower to the Borrower Shareholders which are fully subordinated to the Loan in accordance with clause 2.1.1 of the Letter of Sponsors Undertaking and (b) any shareholder loans which are repaid pursuant to clause 2.3.4.

“Flag State” means the Bahamas.

“GAAP” means, with respect to a person, the generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied by such person in preparation of its financial statements.

 

9


“Gas Sales and Purchase Agreements” means the agreements entered into or (as the context may require) to be entered into between the Time Charterer and one or more affiliates of the Gas Suppliers for the sale and purchase of the LNG transported on the Vessel to the Gulf LNG Clean Energy regasification terminal located at the Port of Pascagoula, Mississippi.

“Gas Suppliers” means the suppliers of feed gas to Angola LNG pursuant to the Gas Supply Agreements.

“Gas Supply Agreements” means the gas supply agreements entered into or (as the context may require) to be entered into between each of the Gas Suppliers and Angola LNG for the supply by the Gas Suppliers of feed gas to Angola LNG for the purpose of liquefaction at the Angola LNG liquefaction plant and the subsequent sale of LNG by Angola LNG to the Time Charterer pursuant to the LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement.

“Government Entity” means and includes (whether having a distinct legal personality or not) any national or local government authority, board, commission, department, division, organ, instrumentality, court or agency.

“Guarantee Bond” has the meaning given to that term in the Building Contract.

“Holding Company” means, in relation to any entity (the “first entity” ), any other entity in respect of which the first entity is a Subsidiary.

“Indebtedness” has the meaning given to that term in the Intercreditor Deed.

“Insurances” means all policies and contracts of insurance (including but not limited to hull and machinery, all entries in protection and indemnity or war risks associations) which are from time to time taken out or entered into in respect of or in connection with the Vessel or her increased value and her Earnings and (where the context permits) all benefits thereof, including all claims of any nature and returns of premium.

“Insured Loss Value” means, at any relevant time, 110% of the aggregate from time to time of the Lender Indebtedness.

“Intercreditor Deed” means an intercreditor deed to be entered into between (1) the Agent, (2) the Security Trustee, (3) the Borrower, (4) the Lenders, (5) the KEIC Agent and (6) the Swap Providers.

“Interest Payment Date” means each date for the payment of interest in accordance with clause 6.

“Interest Period” means each interest period selected pursuant to clause 6.

“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) and incorporated into SOLAS as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time and all further resolutions, circulars, codes, guidelines, regulations and recommendations which are now or may in the future be issued by or on behalf of the International Maritime Organisation or any other entity with responsibility for implementing the ISM Code.

“ISSC” means a valid international ship security certificate for a Vessel issued under the ISPS Code.

“ISPS Code” means the International Vessel and Port Facility Security Code adopted by the International Maritime Organisation Assembly as the same may have been or may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

“KEIC” means Korea Export Insurance Corporation of 2-16 Floors, Seoul Central Building, 136 Seorin Dong, Jongro-ku, Seoul 110-729, Korea.

 

10


“KEIC Acceptance Letter” means the letter or letters to be entered into from KEIC to, amongst others, the KEIC Agent.

“KEIC Buyer Credit Policy” means the Medium and Long Term Export Insurance Policy, the General Terms and Conditions of Medium and Long Term Export Insurance (Buyer’s Credit, Standard Type) and the special policy attached thereto to be issued by KEIC in respect of 95% of the Buyer Credit in relation to political and commercial risks.

“KEIC Insurance Premium” means Four four point Five five per cent. (4.5%) of the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount.

law or “Law” means any law, statute, treaty, convention, regulation, instrument or other subordinate legislation or other legislative or quasi-legislative rule or measure, or any order or decree of any government, judicial or public or other body or authority, or any directive, code of practice, circular, guidance note or other direction issued by any competent authority or agency (whether or not having the force of law).

“L/C Issuer” means a financial institution issuing the DSRA Letter of Credit and having a Minimum Credit Rating.

“Lender Finance Parties” means the Lenders, the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent and the Swap Providers.

“Lender Indebtedness” means the Buyer Credit Liabilities and the Commercial Liabilities (each as defined in the Intercreditor Deed).

“Letter of Sponsors Undertaking” means the undertaking referred to in clause 8.1.7 and executed or (as the context may require) to be executed by each of the Sponsors on a several basis in favour of the Security Trustee in form and substance acceptable to the Lenders.

“Leverage Ratio” means the ratio of the Loan Outstandings to the aggregate of (without duplication) the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity, the Additional Shareholders’ Equity (to the extent the same has been advanced) and the issued share capital of the Borrower, shareholder loans and/or other debt instruments of the Borrower to the Borrower Shareholders and the amounts standing to the credit of its capital and revenue reserves (including any share premium account or capital redemption reserve but excluding any re-evaluation reserve).

“LIBOR” means, in relation to a particular period:

 

  (a) the offered rate for deposits of Dollars for a period equal to such period and in an amount approximately equal to the amount in relation to which LIBOR is to be determined at 11.00 a.m. (London time) two (2) London Business Days prior to the first day of such period as displayed on Reuters Page LIBOR 01 on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates (the “Screen Rate” ) Service or such other page as may replace such page on such system or on any other system for the time being displaying the rate so designated and if no such rate is available for any such period the rate shall be determined by interpolating between rates for such periods as are so available; or

 

  (b) if no Screen Rate is available for Dollars for any Interest Period, LIBOR for such period shall be the arithmetic mean (rounded upwards if necessary to five decimal places) of the rates respectively quoted to the Agent or any successor entity thereto by each of the Reference Banks (or, if not all the Reference Banks provide a quotation when requested, the arithmetic mean of the rates which are quoted) as such Reference Banks’ offered rates for deposits of Dollars in an amount approximately equal to the amount in relation to which LIBOR is to be determined for a period equivalent to such period to prime banks in the London Interbank Market at 11.00 a.m. (London time) two (2) London Business Days prior to the first day of such period; or

 

  (c) if on such date no such rate can be ascertained pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this definition, LIBOR for such period shall be the rate, determined by the Agent at which the Agent or any successor entity thereto is able to obtain deposits of Dollars in an amount approximately equal to the amount in respect of which LIBOR is to be determined, from whatever source it may select for a period equivalent to such period at 11.00 a.m. (London time) two (2) London Business Days prior to the first day of such period.

 

11


“LNG” means liquefied natural gas.

“LNG Agreement” means the LNG Sales and Purchase Agreement entered or (as the context may require) to be entered into between Angola LNG and the Time Charterer pursuant to which Angola LNG will supply to the Time Charterer and the Time Charterer will purchase from Angola LNG, LNG for transportation on the Vessel from the Angola LNG liquefaction plant to the Gulf LNG Clean Energy regasification terminal located at the Port of Pascagoula, Mississippi.

“Loan” means the aggregate amount advanced or to be advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower under clause 2 or, where the context requires, the aggregate amounts advanced and for the time being outstanding.

“Loan Outstandings” at any time means the total of all Drawings made at that time, to the extent not reduced by repayments, prepayments and voluntary reductions.

“London Business Days” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for business in London.

“Majority Lenders” means a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments in respect of the Loan aggregate more than sixty six point six seven per cent (66.67%) of the aggregate of all the Commitments in respect of the Loan.

“Manager” means Teekay Shipping Ltd. or one of its Affiliates /NYK LNG , or another management company approved by the Agent (acting under the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC).

“Management Agreement” means, in respect of the Vessel, the management agreement, to be in form and substance acceptable to the Lenders acting reasonably, entered into, or as the case may be, to be entered into between the Borrower and the Manager providing for the Manager to manage the Vessel.

“Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement” means the acknowledgement of notice and consent to be given by the Manager in respect of the Management Agreement in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Contracts.

“Manager’s Undertaking” means an undertaking referred to in clause 8.1.8 executed or (as the context may require) to be executed by the Manager in favour of the Security Trustee as a condition precedent to the approval of the Management Agreement, such undertakings to be in a form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders in all respects.

“Mandatory Cost” means for each Lender to which it applies, the cost imputed to that Lender of compliance with the mandatory liquid asset requirements of the Bank of England and/or the banking supervision or other costs imposed by the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank, determined in accordance with Schedule 6 (Calculation of the Mandatory Cost) .

“Mandatory Prepayment Event” means any of the events set out in clauses 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8 or 5.9.

“Margin” means the Buyer Credit Margin or the Commercial Loan Margin as applicable.

“Master” means the master of the Vessel from time to time.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the Borrower’s financial or operating condition or (b) the Borrower’s or any other Security Party’s ability to comply with its material obligations under any of the Security Documents or (c) the validity or enforceability of any of the Security Documents or (d) the rights and remedies of the Lender Finance Parties under the Security Documents.

 

12


“Maturity Date” means the date falling twelve (12) years after the Delivery Date of the Vessel.

“Maximum Loan Amount” means two hundred and ten million Dollars ($210,000,000).

“Minimum Credit Rating” means (a) in relation to any L/C Issuer either a minimum Standard and Poors corporate rating of AA- or a minimum Moodys long term credit rating of Aa3 and (b) in relation to the Refund Guarantor a minimum long term credit rating of A- or equivalent by either Standard and Poors or Fitch.

“Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity” means subject always to the provisions of the Letter of Sponsors Undertaking, a sum equal to no less than the lesser of 20% of the Scheduled Vessel Project Cost (being $52,500,000) and 20% of the Total Project Cost, made or (as the context may require) to be made available to the Borrower whether directly or indirectly by way of contributions to the ordinary, preferential or other class of share capital of the Borrower or by way of shareholder loans and/or debt instruments of the Borrower which shareholder loans and/or debt instruments shall be subordinated in all respects to the amounts due or owing to the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Swap Providers or the Lenders under the Security Documents on terms acceptable to them, to be applied on a pro-rata basis with the Drawings in respect of the costs to be funded by the Loan.

“Mitsui” means Mitsui & Co., Ltd. a Japanese corporation with its registered office at 2-1, Ohtemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan.

“Moodys” means Moodys’ Investors Service of 99 Church Street, New York, NY 10007, USA and includes its successors in title.

“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) 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; and

 

  (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.

The above rules will only apply to the last Month of any period, and “Monthly” shall be construed accordingly.

“Mortgage” means together the first priority statutory ship mortgage together with the Deed of Covenants collateral thereto over the Vessel made or to be made between the Borrower and the Security Trustee referred to in clause 8.1.2 (the “Mortgage” ).

“NYK” means Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, a Japanese corporation with its registered office at 3-2, Marunouchi 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0005, Japan.

“NYK LNG” means NYK LNG (Atlantic) Ltd., a company incorporated in England and Wales with its registered office at Citypoint, 1 Ropemaker Street, London EC2Y 9NY.

“Operating Costs” means in relation to any period, the Borrower’s operating costs in respect of the Vessel, but excluding any unanticipated costs of a non-recurring and extraordinary nature which have not been reimbursed but which are to be reimbursed to the Borrower (and in respect of which the Borrower shall provide such evidence as the Agent may require) and no amount in respect of which is included in the Revenues for such period.

 

13


“Operator” means any person concerned in the operation of the Vessel and falling within the definitions of “Company” set out in the ISM Code.

“Permitted Encumbrance” means:

 

  (a) Encumbrances created or contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Relevant Documents;

 

  (b) liens for unpaid crew’s wages;

 

  (c) liens for salvage;

 

  (d) liens arising by operation of law for not more than 2 Months’ prepaid hire under any charter in relation to a Vessel not prohibited by the Relevant Documents;

 

  (e) liens for Master’s disbursements incurred in the ordinary course of trading;

 

  (f) other liens arising by operation of law or otherwise in the ordinary course of the operation, repair or maintenance of the Vessel and which secure amounts not exceeding the Threshold Amount where the Borrower 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 Borrower finally has to pay such claim so long as any such proceedings shall not, and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of the Vessel, or any interest in the Vessel;

 

  (g) any security interest created over the Depot Spare Parts by a sister vessel in favour of its lenders;

 

  (h) any security interest created in favour of a claimant or defendant in any action of the court or tribunal before whom such action is brought as security for costs and expenses where the Borrower 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 continued existence of such security interest shall not and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of, the Vessel or any interest in the Vessel; and

 

  (i) security interests 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 security interest shall not and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of a Vessel, or any interest in the Vessel.

“Post-Delivery Period” means the period from and including the date falling immediately after the Delivery Date up to and including the last day of the Facility Period.

“Potential Event of Default” means any event which, with the giving of notice and/or the passage of time and/or the satisfaction of any materiality test, would constitute an Event of Default.

“Pre-Delivery Period” means the period from and including the Execution Date up to and including the Delivery Date.

“Project Co-ordination Agreement” means the project co-ordination agreement entered or, as the case may be, to be entered into between the Borrower, the Time Charterer and the Security Trustee to be in form and substance satisfactory to all Lenders.

“Project Documents” means the Building Contract, the Refund Guarantee, the Management Agreement, the Corporate Management Agreement, the Supervision Agreement, the Tripartite Agreement, the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement and the Time Charter and any other agreements or documents which the Agent and the Borrower agree shall be a “Project Document”.

 

14


“Proportionate Share” in respect of a Loan means, for each Lender, the percentage that its Commitment relating to that Loan bears to the aggregate Commitments of all Lenders for that Loan from time to time, being initially the percentage indicated against the name of that Lender in Schedule 1.

“Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance” has the meaning given to that term in the Building Contract.

“Qualifying Entity” means a person having a long term corporate credit rating of at least BBB-with Standard and Poors or Baa3 with Moodys;

“Reference Banks” means, in relation to LIBOR, the principal London offices of the Agent, HSBC Bank plc, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and Barclays Bank plc and such other banks as may be appointed by the Agent in consultation with the Borrower.

“Refund Guarantee” means the refund guarantee dated 20 December 2007 and issued by the Refund Guarantor in favour of the Borrower.

“Refund Guarantee Consent and Acknowledgement” means the acknowledgement of notice of and consent to, the assignment in respect of the Refund Guarantee to be given by the Refund Guarantor in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee.

“Refund Guarantor” means ABN AMRO a bank established and existing under the laws of the Netherlands and acting through its offices at 6/F, Seoul Finance Centre 84, Taepyeongno 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-768, Korea CPO Box 3035, Seoul.

“Relevant Documents” means the Security Documents, the Project Documents and the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy.

“Relevant Jurisdiction” means any jurisdiction in which or where any Security Party is incorporated, resident, domiciled, has a permanent establishment, carries on, or has a place of business or is otherwise effectively connected.

“Repayment Date” means any date for payment of a Repayment Instalment in accordance with clause 5.

“Repayment Instalment” means any instalment of a Loan to be repaid by the Borrower in accordance with clause 5.

“Requisition Compensation” means all compensation or other money which may from time to time be payable to the Borrower as a result of the Compulsory Acquisition of the Vessel.

“Retention Account” means the account numbered 09618 078602 003 66 USD and designated the “Retention Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Retention Account and/or any other account of the Borrower, with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Retention Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

“Retention Amount” means, in relation to any Retention Date, such sum as shall be the aggregate of:

 

  (a)

one-third ( 1/ 3 ) of the Repayment Instalment falling due for payment pursuant to clause 5.1 (as the same may have been reduced by any permitted or required prepayment) on the next Repayment Date after the relevant Retention Date other than in the case of the final Repayment Instalment in respect of which no retention shall be made; and

 

  (b)

one-third ( 1/ 3 ) of the aggregate amount of interest falling due for payment in respect of the Loan during and at the end of each Interest Period current at the relevant Retention Date as reduced or, as the case may be, increased by the amounts (if any) to be paid or, as the case may be, to be received by the Borrower under the Swap Agreements.

 

15


“Retention Dates” means in relation to the Loan, the date falling one (1) Month after the Delivery Date and each of the dates falling at Monthly intervals after such date and prior to the final Repayment Date.

“Revenue Account” means the account numbered 09618 078602 001 72 USD and designated the “Revenue Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Revenue Account and/or any other account of the Borrower with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Revenue Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

“Revenues” means, in relation to any period, all moneys received or receivable by the Borrower in relation to that period including:

 

  (a) moneys received or receivable pursuant to the Time Charter;

 

  (b) amounts representing interest on the Accounts; and

 

  (c) all other amounts received or receivable by the Borrower during the relevant period, but excluding Drawings paid to the Borrower under this Agreement.

“Revised Delivery Date” means any Revised Delivery Date as defined in Article V(d) of the Building Contract and pursuant to which the Borrower is entitled to delay delivery of the Vessel by notice in writing to the Builder on two occasions and by up to 45 days on each occasion.

“Scheduled Delivery Date” means 31 October 2011 or any Revised Delivery Date.

“Scheduled Vessel Project Cost” means two hundred and sixty two million five hundred thousand Dollars ($262,500,000).

“Security Documents” means this Agreement, the Swap Agreement, any other Credit Support Documents, the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee, the Assignment, the Deed of Assignment of Contracts, the Letter of Sponsors Undertaking, the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants, the Share Pledges Charges , the Account Charge, the Project Co-ordination Agreement, the Building Contract Assignment Consent and Acknowledgement, the Refund Guarantee Consent and Acknowledgement, the Supervision Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement, the Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement, the Sub Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement, the Intercreditor Deed, the Manager’s Undertaking, the Fee Letters or (where the context permits) any one of them and any other agreement or document which may at any time be executed to guarantee or as security for the payment or repayment of all or any part of the Indebtedness and which the Borrower and the Agent agree to be a Security Document.

“Security Parties” means, at any relevant time, the Borrower, the Sponsors, the Borrower Shareholders, the Supervisor, the Manager and, with the consent of the Borrower, any other party who may at any time during the Facility Period be liable for, or provide security for, all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness, and “Security Party” means any one of them.

“Security Trustee” means BNP Paribas S.A. in its capacity as security trustee for the purposes of the Security Documents.

 

16


“Share Pledges Charges means the share pledges charge over shares from each Borrower Shareholder in respect of the shares in the Borrower as referred to in clause 8.1.6.

“SOLAS” means International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, with Protocol 1978 and Amendments of 1981, 1983, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004 as the same may be further amended or supplemented, consolidated or replaced from time to time.

“Sponsors” means Mitsui, NYK and Teekay, or in any case, any other person who has acceded to the Security Documents as a Sponsor in place of any of them as permitted by and pursuant to clause 9.2.17 and “Sponsor” means any one of them.

“Standard & Poors” means Standard & Poors Rating Services of 25 Broadway, New York, NY 10004, USA and includes its successors in title.

“Subsidiary” means a subsidiary undertaking, as defined in section 736 Companies Act 1985 or any analogous definition under any other relevant system of law.

“Supervision Agreement” means the supervision agreement to be entered into between the Borrower and the Supervisors as supervisors in respect of, inter alia, the Vessel.

“Supervision Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement” means the acknowledgement of notice of and consent to, the assignment in respect of the Supervision Agreement to be given by the Supervisor in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Contracts.

“Supervisors” means Teekay Shipping Limited and NYK or any one of their respective Affiliates who are parties to the Supervision Agreement and “Supervisors” means either of them;

“Swap Agreement” means each ISDA Master Agreement and each confirmation issued thereunder between a Swap Provider and the Borrower together with any novation documentation entered into in relation to swap arrangements relating to this Agreement entered into prior to the date hereof (together the “Swap Agreements”).

“Swap Margin” means the Swap Margin applicable to each Swap Agreement as set out in the Swap Margin Side Letters.

“Swap Margin Side Letters” means the letter agreement to be entered into between the Swap Providers and the Borrower setting out the Swap Margin in form and substance satisfactory to each of the Swap Providers and the Borrower.

“Swap Providers” means each of the Lenders (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any entity which has ceased to be a Lender pursuant to clause 12) or their respective affiliate acting in its capacity as a swap provider pursuant to a Swap Agreement and “Swap Provider” means any one or more of them.

“Tax” includes all present and future taxes, levies (whether by deduction, withholding or otherwise), imposts, duties, or charges of a similar nature (or any amount payable on account of or as security for any of the foregoing), including, but not limited to, income tax, corporation tax, VAT, stamp duty, customs and other impost or export duty or excise duty, imposed by any statutory, governmental, national, international, state or local taxing or fiscal authority, body or agency or department whatsoever or any central bank, monetary agency or European Union institution, whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere together with interest thereon and any additions, fines, surcharges, penalties in respect thereof or relating thereto and “Taxes” and “Taxation” shall be construed accordingly.

“Teekay” means Teekay Corporation a company incorporated in the Marshall Islands with its registered office at c/o Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH 96960.

 

17


“Teekay LNG” means Teekay LNG Partners L.P. a limited partnership formed in the Marshall Islands with its registered office at c/o Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall islands MH96960.

“Teekay Shipping Limited” means Teekay Shipping Limited, a Bermuda company constituted from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas with its registered office at 4th Floor, Belvedere Building, 69 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton, HM 09, Bermuda.

“Threshold Amount” means two million Dollars ($2,000,000) or its Dollar Equivalent.

“Time Charter” means in respect of the Vessel, the time charter dated 18 December 2007 between the Borrower and the Time Charterer.

“Time Charterer” has the meaning ascribed to that term in Recital D above.

“Total Loss” means:-

 

  (a) an actual, constructive or compromised or arranged total loss of the Vessel; or

 

  (b) any Compulsory Acquisition of the Vessel; or

 

  (c) the hijacking, theft, condemnation, capture, seizure, arrest, detention or confiscation of the Vessel (other than where the same amounts to the Compulsory Acquisition of the Vessel) by any person or entity, including any Government Entity, or by persons acting or purporting to act on behalf of any Government Entity, unless the Vessel is released and restored to the Borrower from such hijacking, theft, condemnation, capture, seizure, arrest, detention or confiscation within thirty (30) days after the occurrence thereof or where such event is an insured risk under the Insurances, six (6) Months or such lesser period as is stipulated in the relevant Insurances as being required to elapse before a Total Loss of the Vessel shall be deemed as having occurred.

“Total Project Cost” means a sum equal to the aggregate amount in Dollars of the Contract Price and Ancillary Costs.

“Transfer Certificate” means a certificate materially in the form set forth in Schedule 4 or any other form agreed by the Borrower and the Agent signed by a Lender and a Transferee whereby:-

 

  (a) such Lender procures the transfer to such Transferee of all or a part of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement upon and subject to the terms and conditions set out in clause 12; and

 

  (b) such Transferee undertakes to perform the obligations it will assume as a result of delivery of such certificate to the Agent as is contemplated in clause 12.

“Transfer Date” means, in relation to any Transfer Certificate, the date for the making of the transfer specified in the schedule to such Transfer Certificate.

“Tripartite Agreement” means the Tripartite Agreement dated 18 December 2007 and made between the Builder, the Borrower and the Time Charterer.

“Tripartite Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement” means the acknowledgement of and consent to, the assignment in respect of the Tripartite Agreement to be given by the Builder and the Time Charterer in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Contracts.

“Transferee” means a bank or other financial institution to which a Lender transfers all or part of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

“Unpaid Sum” means any sum due and payable but unpaid by a Security Party under the Security Documents.

 

18


“Value Added Tax” or “VAT” means:

 

  (a) value added tax of the United Kingdom as provided for in the VATA including legislation (delegated or otherwise) supplementary thereto, and any similar or substituted tax, or any tax imposed, levied or assessed in the United Kingdom on added value or turnover; and

 

  (b) any similar tax imposed, levied or assessed in any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.

“VATA” means the Value Added Tax Act 1994.

“Vessel” means the Vessel listed in Schedule 2 and everything now or in the future belonging to it on board and ashore.

“Vessel Registry” means the Bahamas Vessel Registry.

“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” has the meaning given to the term “wholly-owned subsidiary” in section 736 of the Companies Act 1985.

 

1.2 Headings

clause headings and table of contents are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

1.3 Construction of certain terms

In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:

 

1.3.1  references to clauses and schedules are to be construed as references to the clauses of, and schedules to, this Agreement and references to this Agreement include its schedules;

 

1.3.2  references to (or to any specified provision of) this Agreement or any other document shall be construed as references to this Agreement, that provision or that document as in force for the time being and as amended or supplemented in accordance with the terms thereof, or, as the case may be, with the agreement of the relevant parties;

 

1.3.3  references to a “regulation” include any present or future regulation, rule, directive, requirement, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law) of any agency, authority, central bank or government department or any self-regulatory or other national or supra-national authority;

 

1.3.4  words importing the plural shall include the singular and vice versa;

 

1.3.5  references to a time of day are to London time;

 

1.3.6  references to a “person” shall be construed as including references to an individual, firm, company, corporation, unincorporated body of persons or any Government Entity and includes its successors and permitted transferees and assigns;

 

1.3.7  references to a “guarantee” include references to an indemnity or other assurance against financial loss including, without limitation, an obligation to purchase assets or services as a consequence of an event of default by any other person to pay any Indebtedness and “guaranteed” shall be construed accordingly;

 

1.3.8  references to any enactment shall be deemed to include references to such enactment as re-enacted, amended or extended; and

 

1.3.9  references to any of the Lender Finance Parties includes its successors and permitted transferees and assigns.

 

19


1.3.10  references to “indebtedness” means any obligation for the payment or repayment of money, whether as principal or as surety and whether present, future, actual or contingent.

 

2 The Loan and its Purpose

 

2.1 Agreement to lend

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in reliance on each of the representations and warranties made or to be made in or in accordance with each of the Security Documents:

 

2.1.1  each of the Lenders agrees to advance to the Borrower its Commitment of an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount to be used by the Borrower for the purposes referred to in Recital (B); and

 

2.1.2  each of the Lenders agrees to advance to the Borrower its Commitment of an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the Commercial Loan Maximum Amount to be used by the Borrower for the purposes referred to in Recital (C).

 

2.2 Drawdown Request

The Borrower may request a Drawing to be advanced in one amount on any Business Day prior to the relevant Availability Termination Date by delivery to the Agent of a duly completed Drawdown Notice not later than 10 a.m. (Paris time) on a Business Day falling not more than ten (10) and not fewer than three (3) Business Days before the proposed Drawdown Date. A Drawdown Notice shall be effective on actual receipt by the Agent and, once given, shall, subject as provided in clause 13.8, be irrevocable.

 

2.3 Drawings

 

2.3.1  The amount of each Drawing shall, subject to the following provisions of this clause 2.3, be for such amount as is specified in the Drawdown Notice for that Drawing.

 

2.3.2  Drawings may only be made on Business Days falling within the Availability Period.

 

2.3.3  Ancillary Cost Advances shall, subject to clause 3, only be available in minimum amounts of one million Dollars ($1,000,000) (provided that this threshold shall not apply to Ancillary Cost Advances drawn to pay the Ancillary Costs described in part (c) of the definition thereof) and shall only be available for application in or towards payment of expenditure which the Borrower has certified and evidenced in accordance with clause 3.1.4 and in any event an Ancillary Cost Advance shall only be available if such Ancillary Cost Advance will not, when aggregated with all previous Ancillary Cost Advances, equal a sum in excess of $36,000,000.

 

2.3.4  The Borrower shall be entitled to draw an Ancillary Cost Advance on the first Drawdown Date up to a maximum amount of $16,750,000 21,200,000 for the purpose of repaying shareholder loans to the extent required to achieve a Borrower’s Leverage Ratio of 4:1.

 

2.3.5  Each Ancillary Cost Advance may be made on any date.

 

2.3.6  Contract Instalment Advances shall, subject always to clauses 2.1 and 3, be in the maximum amount not exceeding the relevant instalment amount of the Contract Price set out in each column (3)  of Part A of Schedule 7 as such sums instalment amounts may be amended following any permitted increase in the Contract Price and shall only be available for application (a) in or towards payment of instalments of the Contract Price which have become due and payable by the Borrower pursuant to the Building Contract or (b) in or towards reimbursement to the Borrower of such part of any instalment amount of the Contract Price as set out in column (3)  of Part A of Schedule 7 which has become due and payable by the Borrower pursuant to the Building Contract and which the Borrower has satisfied the Agent has been paid by the Borrower or by the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower.

 

20


2.3.7  No Drawing shall be available to the Borrower unless (a) the Agent or the Borrower shall have first received such amount (the “Relevant Amount”) by way of contributions of Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity which, when aggregated with the amounts received by the Agent from the Lenders in respect of such Drawing (and in the case of amounts received by the Borrower, the Agent is satisfied that such amount is or has been or is to be applied in meeting the instalments of Contract Price or Ancillary Cost in respect of which the relevant Drawing is to be applied (and for the avoidance of doubt the instalments of Ancillary Costs in respect of which Drawings are to be applied shall not when aggregated with all Ancillary Costs in respect of which an Ancillary Cost Advance has been made exceed $36,000,000)) is equal to or greater than one fifth (1/5th) of the Total Project Cost as at the date of the relevant Drawing (and including such Drawing) and (b) the aggregate of the Drawing and the Relevant Amount shall be not less than the total amount of the relevant Ancillary Costs and/or the relevant instalment of the Contract Price in respect of which the relevant Drawing is to be applied.

 

2.3.8  The aggregate amount which may be drawn down under this Agreement shall never exceed the lesser of (a) 80% of the Total Project Cost and (b) $210,000,000.

 

2.3.9  Each Drawing (together with the Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity paid to the Agent pursuant to clause 2.9 in respect of that Drawing) shall unless the Agent shall determine otherwise be paid by the Agent on behalf of the Borrower directly to the payee(s) in respect of which such Drawing is made provided that in respect of any Ancillary Cost in respect of which an Ancillary Cost Advance may be made under this Agreement (excluding for these purposes the KEIC Insurance Premium) of less than $1,000,000 in aggregate or where the Agent is satisfied that the Borrower has settled the amount due to any such payee(s) in full the Agent shall pay that part of the relevant Drawing directly to the Borrower.

 

2.3.10  The Subject to clause 2.3.14, the Agent shall be entitled to set off from any Drawing any interest, fees or commissions or other sums due and payable by the Borrower to the Lenders or any of them and/or to the Agent and/or to the Security Trustee and/or to the KEIC Agent and/or to the Swap Providers under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents and to apply the same in settlement of such interest, fees or commissions or other sums so due and payable.

 

2.3.11   The first Drawing (which includes the first Contract Instalment Advance) shall be pro-rated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan PROVIDED THAT any Ancillary Cost Advance included in such Drawing, including but not limited to the KEIC Premium, shall be funded 100% by the portion of such Drawing funded by the Commercial Loan. The remaining components of such Drawing shall be funded by such percentage of the Buyer Credit and Commercial Loan as is required to ensure that such Drawing, taken as a whole, is pro-rated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan.

 

2.3.11   2.3.12 The first Drawing (which includes the first Contract Instalment Advance) shall be pro-rated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan PROVIDED THAT any Ancillary Cost Advance included in such Drawing, including but not limited to the KEIC Premium, shall be funded 100% by the portion of such Drawing funded by the Commercial Loan. The remaining components of such Drawing shall be funded by such percentage of the Buyer Credit and Commercial Loan as is required to ensure that such Drawing, taken as a whole, is pro-rated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan.

 

2.3.12   2.3.13 Further Drawings (excluding the Drawing due on the Delivery Date) shall each be funded (a) in respect of a Contract Instalment Advance, by the Buyer Credit in an amount equal to the lesser of US$ 9,240,000 and 50% of the amount of such Contract Instalment Advance with the remainder of such Contract Instalment Advance funded by the Commercial Loan and (b) in respect of any Ancillary Costs Advance included in such Drawing, 100% by the Commercial Loan.

 

2.3.13   2.3.14 The Drawing due on the Delivery Date (which includes the Delivery Date Advance) shall be funded (a) in respect of any Ancillary Costs Advance included in such Drawing, 100% by the Commercial Loan and (b) in respect of the Delivery Date Advance, by such percentage of the Buyer Credit and Commercial Loan as is required to ensure that, on the Delivery Date, the Loan Outstandings are pro-rated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan.

 

 

21


2.3.14   Where an Ancillary Costs Advance is drawn to pay interest on the Loan (Whether the Commercial Loan or the Buyer Credit) falling due for payment and/or accruing on or before the Delivery Date, the portion of such Ancillary Costs Advance corresponding to such interest shall be funded 100% by the Commercial Loan in accordance with clauses 2.3.11 to 2.3.13 (inclusive) and shall be applied by the Agent in satisfaction of the Borrower’s obligation to pay such interest (and the Borrower’s obligation to pay such interest shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon the making of such Ancillary Costs Advance).

 

2.4 Lenders’ participation

Subject to clauses 2 and 3, the Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender of the receipt of a Drawdown Notice and of the date on which the Drawing is to be made, following which each relevant Lender shall advance its proportionate share of the relevant Drawing to the Borrower through the Agent on the relevant Drawdown Date.

 

2.5 Availability Termination Date

No Lender shall be under any obligation to advance all or any part of its Commitment after the relevant Availability Termination Date.

 

2.6 Several obligations

 

2.6.1  The obligations of each Lender Finance Party under this Agreement are several. No Lender Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Lender Finance Party. Even if one or more Lender Finance Parties fails to perform its obligations, the other Lender Finance Parties will continue to perform their obligations and will be able to enforce their rights in respect of the other parties to this Agreement.

 

2.6.2  The obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement are as follows:

 

  (a) the Borrower will pay to the Security Trustee, when they are due for payment, the full amount of the Loan and all other amounts (including any amounts payable under the Swap Agreements or any of them, interest, commission and expenses) payable by the Borrower under the Security Documents;

 

  (b) the Borrower will pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender, when they are due for payment, that proportion of the Loan which was lent by that Lender and all interest, commission and other amounts payable in relation to it;

 

  (c) the Borrower will pay to the Agent, when they are due for payment, all amounts owing to it under the Security Documents;

 

  (d) the Borrower will pay to the KEIC Agent, when they are due for payment, all amounts owing to it under the Security documents;

 

  (e) the obligations of the Borrower to (on the one hand) the Security Trustee and (on the other hand) each other Lender Finance Party are several;

 

  (f) payment either to the Security Trustee or to another Lender Finance Party of an amount which is due to both of them will reduce both of those liabilities by that amount; and

 

  (g) if an amount would otherwise be payable under this clause 2.6 to the same person in two different capacities, the Borrower will only have an obligation to pay that amount once.

 

22


2.6.3 Each Lender Finance Party can enforce its rights without joining the Security Trustee or any other Lender Finance Parties. However, the Security Documents listed in clause 8.1 below can only be enforced by the Security Trustee.

 

2.7 Application of Loan

Without prejudice to the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement, no Lender Finance Party shall be obliged to concern itself with the application of the Loan by the Borrower.

 

2.8 Loan facility and control accounts

The Agent will open and maintain such loan facility account or such other control accounts as the Agent shall in its discretion consider necessary or desirable in connection with the Loan.

 

2.9 Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and Additional Shareholders’ Equity

The Borrower hereby agrees with the Agent that notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement subject as contemplated in clause 2.3.7 each Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity shall be paid to the Agent and each such Relevant Amount paid shall be aggregated with each relevant Drawing and paid by the Agent pursuant to the provisions of clause 2.3.9.

 

3 Conditions precedent and subsequent for the Loan

 

3.1 Conditions precedent

 

3.1.1 Before any Lender shall have any obligation to advance the first Drawing under the Loan the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to or to the order of the Agent all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part I of Schedule 3 which shall be delivered not later than 4 Business Days before the day on which the Drawdown Notice for the first Drawing is given save for those documents or other evidence which are expressly required to be provided on the first Drawdown Date which shall be delivered on such first Drawdown Date.

 

3.1.2 The obligation of the Lenders to make any Contract Instalment Advance shall be subject to the further condition that the Agent shall have received not later than 4 Business Days before the day on which that Contract Instalment Advance is intended to be made, the documents and evidence specified in Part 2 of Schedule 3 in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent (save for the invoice and the Drawdown Notice referred to in paragraphs (a) and (e) of Part 2 of Schedule 3 which shall be provided not later than 3 Business Days prior to the relevant Drawdown Date).

 

3.1.3 The obligation of the Lenders to make the Delivery Date Advance shall be subject to the condition that the Agent, shall have received, on or prior to the relevant Delivery Date, the documents and evidence specified in Part 3 of Schedule 3 in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

 

3.1.4 The obligation of the Lenders to make any Ancillary Cost Advance shall be subject to the further condition that the Agent shall have received not later than 4 Business Days before the drawdown of any Ancillary Cost Advance, invoices or pro-forma invoices or, (save in respect of Ancillary Costs as described in sub-paragraph (f) of the definition thereof in respect of which invoices shall be required) where invoices or pro-forma invoices cannot be made available by the Borrower, a certificate from the Borrower in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, in each case evidencing the Ancillary Costs incurred or, in the case of pro-forma invoices or certificates from the Borrower, to be incurred within the next following period not exceeding 3 Months or other written evidence in each case substantiating to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent that the Ancillary Costs in respect of which such Ancillary Cost Advance is requested have been incurred and discharged or will be discharged following the drawdown of the Ancillary Cost Advance.

 

23


3.2 Further conditions precedent

The Lenders will only be obliged to advance a Drawing in respect of the Vessel specified in any Drawdown Notice if on the date of the Drawdown Notice and on the proposed Drawdown Date:

 

3.2.1 no Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Mandatory Prepayment Event is continuing unremedied or unwaived or would result from the advance of that Drawing;

 

3.2.2 the representations made by the Borrower under clause 4 are true in all material respects;

 

3.2.3 that Drawing will not, when aggregated with all previous Drawings, increase the outstanding amount of the Loan to a sum in excess of the Maximum Loan Amount and will not increase the outstanding amount of the Buyer Credit to a sum in excess of the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount or of the Commercial Loan to a sum in excess of the Commercial Loan Maximum Amount; and

 

3.2.4 the Borrower shall have on or prior to the First Drawing, entered into one or more 12 year forward starting Swap Agreements in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent with each of the Swap Providers pursuant to which it will hedge not less than one hundred and ninety million Dollars ($190,000,000) of the Loan (representing approximately ninety per cent (90%) of its interest rate exposure under the Loan) for the period from and including the Delivery Date up to and including the Maturity Date. The Swap Margin applicable to each Swap Agreement entered into between any of the Swap Providers and the Borrower shall be as set out in the Swap Margin Side Letter.

 

3.3 Delivery conditions precedent

 

3.3.1 Whether or not a Drawing is advanced on the Delivery Date, the Borrower undertakes to deliver or to cause to be delivered to the Agent on the Delivery Date the additional documents and other evidence listed in Part 3 of Schedule 3.

 

3.3.2 The Borrower shall on the Delivery Date enter into a spot start Swap Agreement or Swap Agreements with each of the Swap Providers to ensure that, together with the forward starting swap agreements, no less than ninety-five per cent (95%) of its interest rate exposure under the Loan is hedged.

 

3.4 No Waiver

If the Lenders in their sole discretion agree to advance a Drawing to the Borrower before all of the documents and evidence required by clause 3.1, clause 3.3 and/or clause 3.5 have been delivered to or to the order of the Agent, the Borrower undertakes to deliver all outstanding documents and evidence to or to the order of the Agent no later than ten (10) Business Days after the Drawdown Date or such other date specified by the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders.

The advance of a Drawing under this clause 3.4 shall not be taken as a waiver of the Lenders’ right to require production of all the documents and evidence required by clauses 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3.

 

3.5 Form and content

All documents and evidence delivered to the Agent under this clause 3 shall:

 

3.5.1 be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent; and

 

3.5.2 if required by any vessel or security registry or in connection with any legal opinion to be provided pursuant to Schedule 3, be certified, notarised, legalised or attested in a manner acceptable to such registry or person providing the legal opinion.

 

24


3.6 Waiver of conditions precedent

The conditions specified in this clause 3 are inserted solely for the benefit of the Lenders and may be waived by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) in whole or in part with or without conditions.

 

4 Representations and Warranties

 

4.1 Representations and Warranties

The Borrower represents and warrants to each of the Lender Finance Parties as follows:

 

4.1.1 Due Incorporation

Each of the Security Parties is a corporation or limited liability company duly organised or formed under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organisation or formation (as the case may be) with power to carry on their respective business as they are now being conducted and to own their respective property and other assets.

 

4.1.2 Corporate Power

The Borrower has power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and each of the other Relevant Documents to which it is a party and to borrow the Commitments and each of the other Security Parties has power to enter into the Relevant Documents to which it is a party and to exercise its rights and perform its obligations under such Relevant Documents; all corporate and other action required by each of the Security Parties to authorise its execution of the Relevant Documents to which it is a party and the performance by it of its obligations thereunder has been duly taken.

 

4.1.3 Binding Obligations

The obligations expressed to be assumed by each of the Security Parties in the Relevant Documents to which it is a party are legal, valid and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with the terms of the Relevant Documents and no limit on any of their powers will be exceeded as a result of the borrowings, granting of security or giving of guarantees contemplated by the Relevant Documents or the performance by any of them of any of their obligations thereunder.

 

4.1.4 No conflict with other obligations

The execution and delivery of, the performance of its obligations under, and compliance with the provisions of the Relevant Documents to which each is a party by the relevant Security Parties will not:

 

  (a) contravene any existing applicable law, statute, rule or regulation or any judgment, decree or permit to which the Borrower or, any other Security Party is subject;

 

  (b) conflict with, or result in any breach of any of the terms of, or constitute a Potential Event of Default under, any agreement or other instrument to which the Borrower or, any other Security Party is a party or is subject or by which it or any of its property is bound;

 

  (c) contravene or conflict with any provision of the constitutional documents of the Borrower or, any other Security Party; or

 

  (d) result in the creation or imposition of or oblige the Borrower or any other Security Party, to create any Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) on any of their respective undertakings, assets, rights or revenues.

 

25


4.1.5 No Litigation

No litigation, arbitration or administrative proceeding is taking place, pending or, to the knowledge of the officers of the Borrower, threatened in writing against any of the Security Parties which, in respect of the Security Parties other than the Borrower, has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.1.6 Accounts

The certified true and complete copies of the audited annual accounts and unaudited semi-annual accounts (as applicable) of the Borrower for the period ending on 31 December 2007 and of each Sponsor for the most recent financial year of each such Sponsor and delivered to the Agent on or prior to the date of this Agreement pursuant to Schedule 3, Part 1, were prepared in accordance with GAAP, give (in conjunction with the notes thereto) a true and fair view of the financial condition of each such party at the date as of which they were prepared and the results of that party’s operations during the financial period then ended.

 

4.1.7 No Filing or Stamp Taxes

It is not necessary to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any of the Relevant Documents that they or any other instrument be notarised, filed, recorded, registered or enrolled with any court, public office or elsewhere in any Relevant Jurisdiction the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Borrower (other than the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales, or the relevant maritime registry, to the extent applicable) or that any stamp, registration or similar tax or charge be paid on or in relation to any of such Relevant Documents and each of the Relevant Documents is in the proper form for enforcement in each Relevant Jurisdiction the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Borrower.

 

4.1.8 No Immunity

None of the Security Parties or any of their respective assets is entitled to immunity on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise from any legal action or proceeding including, without limitation, suit, attachment prior to judgement, execution or other enforcement.

 

4.1.9 Choice of Law and Judgments

The choice of English law to govern the Security Documents (other than the Mortgage and, in the event that the Share Charges are not governed by English law, the Share Charges) and the laws of the Flag State to govern the Mortgages and, in the event that the Share Charges are not governed by English law, the governing law of the Share Charges and the submission by the Security Parties to the jurisdiction of the English courts in respect of the Security Documents (other than the Mortgage and, in the event that the Share Charges are not governed by English law, the Share Charges) are valid and binding.

 

4.1.10 Consents Obtained

Every consent, Authorisation, licence or approval of, or registration with or declaration to, governmental or public bodies or authorities or courts required by any Security Party to authorise, or required by each such party in connection with, the execution, delivery, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of each of the Relevant Documents or the performance by each such party of its obligations under the Relevant Documents to which each is a party has been obtained or made (other than consents, Authorisations, licences, approvals, registrations or declarations that, as at the date of the representation, are not required to be obtained) and is in full force and effect and there has been no default in the observance of any of the conditions or restrictions (if any) imposed in, or in connection with, any of the same.

 

4.1.11 No Undisclosed Liabilities

The Borrower has no material liabilities (contingent or otherwise) which were not disclosed in the accounts referred to in clause 4.1.6 (or by the notes thereto) or reserved against therein nor any unrealised or anticipated losses arising from commitments entered into by it which were not so disclosed or reserved against therein.

 

26


4.1.12 Money Laundering

No breach of any law or regulatory measure relating to “money laundering” as defined in Article 1 of the Directive (91/308/EEC) of the Council of the European Communities will result from the borrowing of the Loan by the Borrower or from the performance by any of the Security Parties of any of their obligations under any of the Relevant Documents to which each is a party.

 

4.1.13 Financial Indebtedness

Except as set forth in Exhibit A, other than in respect of the Loan pursuant to this Agreement or as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, it has not created, incurred, assumed or allowed to exist any Financial Indebtedness, entered into any finance lease or undertaken any capital commitment.

 

4.1.14 Environmental Matters

Except as may already have been disclosed by the Borrower to the Agent in writing:

 

  (a) all Environmental Laws applicable to the Vessel have been complied with by each Environmental Affiliate and all consents, licences and approvals required under such Environmental Laws have been obtained and complied with by each Environmental Affiliate (other than such consents, licences and approvals that, as at the date of the representation, are not required to be obtained); and

 

  (b) no Environmental Claim has been made or threatened against the Borrower or the Vessel and no Environmental Claim in respect of the Vessel has been made or threatened against any other Environmental Affiliate or is pending against any such Environmental Affiliate or the Vessel and which has not been fully satisfied and which would or might reasonably result in liabilities in excess of an aggregate of $1,000,000; and

 

  (c) there has been no Environmental Incident which could or might reasonably result in claims in excess of an aggregate of $1,000,000.

 

4.1.15 Pari Passu

The obligations of the Security Parties under the Security Documents are direct, general and unconditional obligations and rank at least pari passu with all the Security Parties’ other present and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness other than obligations mandatorily preferred by law and not contract.

 

4.1.16 No Deductions or Withholding

No Taxes are imposed by way of or withholding or otherwise from any payment to be made by any Security Party under any of the Security Documents to which it is a party.

 

4.1.17 Information

The information, exhibits and reports furnished by any Security Party to any of the Lender Finance Parties in connection with the negotiation and preparation of the Security Documents are true and accurate in all material respects and not misleading, do not omit material facts and all reasonable enquiries have been made to verify the facts and statements contained therein and the Borrower is not aware of any material facts or circumstances which have not been disclosed and which might, if disclosed, have reasonably been expected to adversely affect the decision of a person considering whether or not to make loan facilities of the nature contemplated by this Agreement available to the Borrower and/or to enter into the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the other Security Documents, Provided that, the Borrower does not make the representations in this clause 4.1.17 in respect of information, exhibits or reports regarding Angola LNG, the Angola LNG Project or the Time Charterer save that such information, exhibits or reports which have been provided by the Borrower to the Lender Finance Parties have been provided by the Borrower in good faith.

 

27


4.1.18 Solvency

 

  (a) None of the Security Parties is unable, or admits or has admitted its inability, to pay its debts or has suspended making payments in respect of any of its debts.

 

  (b) None of the Security Parties by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, has commenced, or intends to commence, negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness.

 

  (c) No moratorium has been, or may, in the reasonably foreseeable future be, declared in respect of any indebtedness of any Security Party.

 

4.1.19 No Winding-up

None of the Security Parties has taken any corporate action nor have any other steps been taken or legal proceedings been started or (to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief) threatened against any Security Party for its winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation or for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, trustee or similar officer of it or of any or all of its assets or revenues which (in relation to Security Parties other than the Borrower) might have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.1.20 Event of Default/no other Defaults

 

  (a) None of the Security Parties is in material breach of or in default under any agreement to which it is a party or which is binding on it or any of its assets.

 

  (b) No Event of Default or Potential Event of Default is continuing unremedied or unwaived.

 

4.1.21 Ownership of the Borrower

The Sponsors, directly or indirectly, legally and beneficially own all of the shares in the Borrower and will (subject to the provisions of clause 9.2.17) continue to, directly or indirectly, own all of the shares in the Borrower in the following percentages:

 

Teekay:-

     33

NYK:-

     33

Mitsui :-

     34

 

4.1.22 No Default under Building Contract or Refund Guarantee

The Borrower is not in default of any of its obligations under the Building Contract or any of its obligations upon the performance or observance of which depend the continued liability of the Refund Guarantor in accordance with the terms of the Refund Guarantee.

 

4.1.23 No Encumbrance in respect of pre-delivery security

The Borrower has not previously charged, encumbered or assigned the benefit of any of its rights, title and interest in or to the Building Contract, the Refund Guarantee, the Supervision Agreement, the Swap Agreements or the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement and such benefit and all such rights, title and interest are freely assignable and chargeable in the manner contemplated by the Security Documents.

 

28


4.1.24 The Vessel

The Vessel will on the Delivery Date be:

 

  (a) in the absolute ownership of the Borrower who will on and after the Delivery Date thereof be the sole, legal and beneficial owner of the Vessel;

 

  (b) registered in the name of the Borrower under the laws and flag of the Bahamas;

 

  (c) operationally seaworthy and in every way fit for service; and

 

  (d) classed with the classification referred to in clause 9.6.3(b) free of any overdue recommendations and conditions affecting the Vessel’s class of the Classification Society.

 

4.1.25 Vessel’s employment

The Vessel will not on or before the Delivery Date thereof be subject to any charter or contract other than the Time Charter or to any agreement to enter into any charter or contract which, if entered into after the date of the Mortgage would have required the consent of the Agent or Security Trustee and on the Delivery Date thereof there will not be any agreement or arrangement whereby the Earnings may be shared with any other person.

 

4.1.26 Freedom from Encumbrances

Neither the Vessel nor its Earnings, Insurances or Requisition Compensation, the Time Charter, the Accounts, nor the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement, nor any other properties or rights which are, or are to be, the subject of any of the Security Documents nor any part thereof will be, on the Delivery Date of the Vessel, subject to any Encumbrance other than any Permitted Encumbrance.

 

4.1.27 Copies true and complete

The copies of each of the Time Charter, the Building Contract, the Refund Guarantee, the Supervision Agreement, the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement, the Tripartite Agreement and the Management Agreement delivered or to be delivered to the Agent are or will when delivered be, a true and complete copies of such documents, will when delivered constitute valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto enforceable in accordance with its terms and there have been no material amendments or variations to or defaults under the Building Contract and there have been no amendments or variations to or defaults under the Time Charter.

 

4.2 Repetition of representations and warranties

On the Execution Date and, in respect of the Relevant Documents other than this Agreement on the execution date of such other Relevant Document, and as of each Drawdown Date and on each Interest Payment Date the Borrower shall (a) be deemed to repeat the representations and warranties in clause 4.1 as if made with reference to the facts and circumstances existing on such day and (b) in respect of clause 4.1.6 shall be deemed to refer to the then latest audited financial statements delivered to the Agent pursuant to clause 9.1.5.

 

4.3 Representations Limited

The representations and warranties of the Borrower in this clause 4 are subject to:

 

4.3.1 the principle that equitable remedies are remedies which may be granted or refused at the discretion of the court;

 

4.3.2 the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation, court schemes, moratoria, administration and other laws generally affecting or limiting the rights of creditors;

 

29


4.3.3 the time barring of claims under any applicable limitation acts;

 

4.3.4 the possibility that a court may strike out provisions for a contract as being invalid for reasons of oppression, undue influence or similar;

 

4.3.5 any other reservations or qualifications of law expressed in the legal opinions obtained by the Agent as referred to in Schedule 3 Part 1, paragraph (I) in connection with this Agreement or the Security Documents; and

 

4.3.6 the representations and warranties made on the Execution Date in respect of the Relevant Documents shall expressly be limited to this Agreement (and none of the other Security Documents) and only those Project Documents which, as at the Execution Date, have been executed by the Borrower.

 

5 Repayment and Prepayment

 

5.1 Repayment of Loan

The Borrower agrees:

 

5.1.1 to repay the Buyer Credit to the Agent for the account of the Lenders by forty eight (48) consecutive annuity style quarterly Repayment Instalments in the amounts, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, set out in Part B of Schedule 7. The first Repayment Instalment will fall due on the date falling three (3) Months after the Delivery Date and each succeeding Repayment Instalment shall be payable quarterly in arrears at three (3) Monthly intervals thereafter save for the final Repayment Instalment which shall be payable on the Maturity Date; and

 

5.1.2 to repay the Commercial Loan by one (1) instalment to be paid on the Maturity Date.

 

5.2 Reduction of Repayment Instalments

If, following the Availability Termination Date, the aggregate amount advanced to the Borrower under the Buyer Credit is less than the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount, the amount of each Repayment Instalment of the Buyer Credit shall be reduced pro rata so that the aggregate sum of all such Repayment Instalments shall be equal to the aggregate amount of the Buyer Credit actually advanced.

 

5.3 Reborrowing

The Borrower may not reborrow any part of the Loan which is repaid or prepaid.

 

5.4 Prepayment and Cancellation

 

5.4.1 The Borrower may prepay, without premium or penalty but subject to clause 5.10, the Loan Outstandings in whole or in part, or cancel the Loan in whole or in part, in each case in a minimum amount of five million Dollars ($5,000,000) or any larger sum which is an integral multiple of one million Dollars ($1,000,000) (or in either case as otherwise may be agreed by the Agent) and provided that the Borrower has first given to the Agent not fewer than ten (10) days prior written notice in respect of a prepayment of all or part of the Loan Outstandings or fifteen (15) days in respect of a cancellation in whole or part of the Commitment in each such case expiring on a Business Day of their intention to do so. Any notice pursuant to this clause 5.4 once given shall be irrevocable and shall (in the case of a prepayment) oblige the Borrower to make the prepayment referred to in the notice on the Business Day specified in the notice, together with all interest accrued on the amount prepaid and all accrued and unpaid Commitment Fees up to and including that Business Day and any and all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement and any of the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any sums payable under the indemnity in clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements. Any cancellation of part (but not the whole) of the Commitment shall be subject to the condition that the Borrower has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Agent (acting reasonably) that it will have sufficient funds to comply with its obligations under the Relevant Documents following any such cancellation.

 

30


5.5 Mandatory Prepayment on Total Loss

In the event that the Vessel becomes a Total Loss on or following the Delivery Date thereof, on the earlier to occur of (a) the date of receipt of the proceeds of the Total Loss and (b) the date falling one hundred and eighty (180) days after the occurrence of the Total Loss (the “Reduction Date” ), the Borrower shall prepay the Loan together with all interest accrued thereon up to and including the day of prepayment and all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any sums payable under the indemnity in clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements.

 

5.6 Prepayment on Non Delivery/Building Contract default/termination

In the event that there is a material breach by the Builder of the Building Contract that has not been cured within the applicable grace period provided therein, or the Building Contract is cancelled, terminated, rescinded or frustrated for any reason that has not been cured within the applicable grace period provided therein or if the Builder assigns, transfers, sells or otherwise disposes of any of its right, title or interest in or to the Building Contract or the Vessel or purports to do so or takes any action to so assign, transfer, sell or otherwise dispose of any or all such rights, title or interest or, prior to the Delivery Date the Vessel becomes a Total Loss the Borrower shall, if so requested by the Agent in writing, and without prejudice to the Agent’s rights pursuant to clause 10.1 and/or the rights of the Security Trustee under the Security Documents where any of the events described above constitute an Event of Default, be obliged to prepay the Loan immediately together with all interest accrued thereon up to and including the day of prepayment and all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any sums payable under the indemnity in clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements and the undrawn Commitments shall be cancelled.

 

5.7 Prepayment on Termination of Refund Guarantee

If, prior to the delivery to and acceptance by the Borrower from the Builder of the Vessel, the Refund Guarantee is repudiated, cancelled, amended without the Agent’s prior written consent (acting on the Instructions of all Lenders), rescinded or otherwise terminated, the Loan shall become prepayable and shall be prepaid immediately and without demand together with all interest accrued thereon up to and including the date of prepayment and all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any sums payable under the indemnity in clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements.

 

5.8 Additional Mandatory Prepayment Events

Upon the occurrence of any of the following events the Loan shall immediately become repayable and the Borrower shall immediately prepay the Loan together with all interest accrued thereon up to and including the date of prepayment together with all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement and the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any indemnity sums payable under clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements.

 

5.8.1 Non-Delivery of the Vessel: the Vessel is not delivered to, and accepted by, the Borrower under the Building Contract and/or by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter prior to the date falling 290 days after the Scheduled Delivery Date (or such later date as the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders (acting in their absolute discretion), may agree in writing); or

 

5.8.2 Sale/Early Termination: the Vessel is sold or the chartering of the Vessel is terminated early pursuant to the exercise by the Time Charter of its rights under the Time Charter; or

 

31


5.8.3 Invalidity: (i) any of the Security Documents or the Refund Guarantee shall at any time and for any reason become invalid, illegal or unenforceable or impossible to perform or cease to remain in full force and effect; or (ii) any of the Project Documents shall at any time and for any reason become invalid, illegal or unenforceable or impossible to perform or cease to remain in full force and effect unless (A) in respect of the Security Documents, the relevant Security Document is amended or replaced to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent acting on the instructions of all of the Lenders forthwith in the case of this Agreement, the Mortgage, the Refund Guarantee and the Deed of Covenants or within 14 days in the case of any other Security Document and (B) where any such events have occurred in respect of the Time Charter, the Borrower has, within 30 days of the occurrence of such events entered into a new time charter and with a new time charterer in each case in all respects satisfactory to the Agent acting on the instructions of all the Lenders and to KEIC; or

 

5.8.4 Termination of Time Charter: the Time Charter is terminated by the Borrower or the Time Charterer following the occurrence of a breach of the Time Charter entitling it to take such action or is cancelled or becomes frustrated for any reason whatsoever unless the Borrower has within 30 days of the date of such occurrence entered into a replacement time charter and with a new time charterer in each case in all respects satisfactory to the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders); or

 

5.8.5 Time Charterer failure to pay: the Time Charterer fails to pay any sum due and payable by it to any of the Lender Finance Parties or to the Borrower under any of (a) the Security Documents or (b) the Project Documents to which it is a party at the time, in the currency and in the manner stipulated thereunder unless, where such failure to pay is a failure to pay any sum due and payable by it under any Project Document, following expiry of any applicable grace period thereunder, such failure in the opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders (acting reasonably)) does not and will not be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

5.8.6 Time Charter’s breach: the Time Charterer commits any breach of or omits to observe any of its obligations or undertakings expressed to be assumed by it under (a) any of the Security Documents (and such failure is not remedied within fifteen (15) days after the date the Agent has given notice thereof to the Borrower and the Time Charterer) and/or (b) any of the Project Documents to which it is a party (other than those referred to in clause 5.8.5) unless, where such breach or omission has occurred under a Project Document following expiry of any applicable grace period therein, such breach or omission, in the opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders (acting reasonably)), does not and will not be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.8.7 War: if the country of registration of the Vessel becomes involved in war (whether or not declared) or civil war or is occupied by any other power and the Agent reasonably considers that, as a result, the security conferred by the Security Documents is materially prejudiced.

 

5.8.8 Failure to Pay: the Builder or the Refund Guarantor fails to pay any amount payable by it under any of the Security Documents or the Refund Guarantee at the time, in the currency and otherwise in the manner specified therein (and so that, for this purpose, sums payable on demand shall be treated as having been paid at the stipulated time if paid within five (5) days of demand) unless in respect of scheduled payments the Borrower demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Agent that such failure has occurred by reason solely of banking error and such sum remains unpaid for no longer than five (5) days after the date on which it receives notice from the Agent of such failure; or

 

5.8.9 Other Obligations: the Builder or the Refund Guarantor fails duly to perform or comply with any other term or condition of any other Security Document to which it is a party when such failure is in the opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) remediable (other than those referred to in clauses 5.8.7, 5.8.8, 5.8.21 or 5.8.22) and such failure is not remedied within fifteen (15) days after the Agent has given notice thereof to the Builder or the Refund Guarantor, as the case may be (or such longer period as the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) may specify or agree); or

 

32


5.8.10 Litigation: any litigation, arbitration or administrative action or proceeding is commenced prior to Delivery against the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or any of their property, undertakings or assets before any court, arbitrator or administrative agency or authority which, if adversely determined, would have in the reasonable opinion of the Agent a Material Adverse Effect material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Builder or, as the case may be, the Refund Guarantor or their ability to comply with their material obligations under the Relevant Documents to which they are party unless:

 

  (a) the Borrower demonstrates in writing to the Agent (who shall act reasonably in considering such matters) to the Agent’s satisfaction, that such litigation, arbitration or administrative action or proceeding is or may reasonably be considered to be vexatious or frivolous; or

 

  (b) it is dismissed or irrevocably stayed within thirty (30) days of commencement;

 

5.8.11 Legal process:

 

  (a) any final judgment or order greater than two million Dollars ($2,000,000) made prior to the Delivery Date against the Builder or the Refund Guarantor is not stayed or complied with within twenty (20) Business Days or a creditor attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or other process is levied or enforced upon or sued out against, all or a substantial part of (in the reasonable opinion of the Agent) the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues prior to delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor and is not discharged within twenty (20) Business Days and, in each such case above, the event described above has or might reasonably be likely to have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Builder or, as the case may be, the Refund Guarantor or their ability to comply with their material obligations under the Relevant Documents to which they are party; or

 

  (b) any final judgment or order made against any Security Party (other than the Borrower and (following the Delivery Date) the Supervisor) is not stayed or complied with within twenty (20) Business Days or a creditor attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or other process is levied or enforced upon or sued out against, all or substantially all of (in the reasonable opinion of the Agent) the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues of any Security Party (other than the Borrower and (following the Delivery Date) the Supervisor) and is not discharged within twenty (20) Business Days and, in each such case above, the event described above has or might reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

5.8.12 Insolvency: prior to the Delivery Date, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due; suspends making payments on any of its debts or announces an intention to do so; becomes insolvent; has assets the value of which is less than the value of its liabilities; or suffers the declaration of a moratorium in respect of any of its indebtedness; or

 

5.8.13 Winding up: any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken for the purpose of winding up prior to Delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or an order is made or resolution passed for the winding up, prior to Delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or a notice is issued convening a meeting for the purpose of passing any such resolution, provided however that, in the case only of an order for winding-up, the occurrence of such event shall not constitute a mandatory prepayment event if such winding-up has commenced as part of a process of a fully-solvent reorganisation, previously approved by the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and which shall not have a Material Adverse Effect material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Builder or, as the case may be, the Refund Guarantor or their ability to comply with their material obligations under the Relevant Documents to which they are party; or

 

5.8.14 Administration: any petition is presented, notice given or other step is taken for the purpose of the appointment of an administrator prior to Delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or an administration order is made prior to Delivery in relation to the Builder or the Refund Guarantor; or

 

33


5.8.15 Appointment of receivers and managers: any administrative or other receiver is appointed prior to Delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or any part of its assets and/or undertaking or any other steps are taken to enforce any Encumbrance over all or any part of the assets prior to delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor; or

 

5.8.16 Compositions: any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedures or steps are taken, or negotiations commenced prior to Delivery, by the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or by any of its creditors with a view to the general readjustment or rescheduling of all or a material part of its indebtedness or to proposing any kind of composition, compromise or arrangement involving such company and any of its creditors; or

 

5.8.17 Analogous proceedings: there occurs, prior to Delivery in relation to the Builder or the Refund Guarantor, in any country or territory in which any of them carries on business or to the jurisdiction of whose courts any part of their assets is subject, any event which, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent, appears in that country or territory to correspond with, or have an effect equivalent or similar to, any of those mentioned in clauses 10.2.9 to 10.2.15 (inclusive) (other than clause 10.2.10) or prior to Delivery the Builder or the Refund Guarantor otherwise becomes subject, in any such country or territory, to the operation of any law relating to insolvency, bankruptcy or liquidation; or

 

5.8.18 Repudiation: the Supervisor, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor repudiates any Security Document or Project Document to which it is a party or does or causes to be done any act or thing evidencing an intention to repudiate any such Security Document or the Project Document if the validity or enforceability of any of the Security Documents and the Project Documents (other than the Refund Guarantee) shall at any time and for any reason be contested by the Supervisor, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor which is a party thereto, or if the Supervisor, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor shall deny that it has any, or any further, liability thereunder; or

 

5.8.19 Cessation of business: prior to Delivery, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor suspends or ceases to carry on its business; or

 

5.8.20 Seizure: all or a material part of the undertaking, assets, rights or revenues of, or shares or other ownership interests, prior to Delivery, in the Builder and the Refund Guarantor are seized, nationalised, expropriated or compulsorily acquired by or under the authority of any government; or

 

5.8.21 Arrest: the Vessel is arrested, confiscated, seized, taken in execution, impounded, forfeited, detained in exercise or purported exercise of any possessory lien or other claim or otherwise taken from the possession of the Borrower and the Borrower shall fail to procure the release of the Vessel within a period of 30 days thereafter; or

 

5.8.22 Supervision Agreement: notice of termination under the Supervision Agreement is served for any reason whatsoever or the Supervision Agreement is varied in any manner not permitted pursuant to the Security Documents unless (a) in the case of termination the same is replaced with a supervision agreement on substantially the same or other terms acceptable to the Agent or (b) in the case of variation the same is revised, or amended on terms acceptable to the Agent, and in any such case under (a) or (b) within 30 days.

 

5.9 Cessation of KEIC Buyer Credit Policy

If, for any reason (other than as referred to in clause 10.2.25), the obligations of KEIC under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy shall terminate, become unenforceable or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect and the Borrower has not replaced the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy with similar insurance on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders in their sole and absolute discretion) forthwith upon receipt of written notice of such termination, unenforceability or cessation of effectiveness, the Borrower shall prepay the Loan in full together with accrued interest to the date of prepayment and all other sums then due and payable, any portion of the KEIC premium which is then due and payable and all other sums then due and payable under this Agreement and the other Security Documents or any of them including without limitation any sum payable under the indemnity in clause 15).

 

34


5.10 Prepayment indemnity

If the Borrower shall make a prepayment on a Business Day other than the last day of an Interest Period, it shall pay to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders any amount which is necessary to compensate the Lenders for any Break Costs incurred by the Agent or any of the Lenders as a result of the prepayment in question but otherwise without penalty or premium, Provided always that the Borrower shall be entitled to payment by the Lenders of any Break Gains while no Event of Default has occurred which is continuing unremedied or unwaived.

 

5.11 Application of prepayments

Any prepayment in an amount less than the Lender Indebtedness shall be applied pro-rata between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan and, in the case of the Buyer Credit shall be applied in reducing the then future Repayment Instalments in inverse order of maturity.

 

5.12 Effect of Prepayment/Cancellation on Swap Agreements

In the event of any prepayment or, as the case may be, cancellation of the Loan, the exposure of the Swap Providers under the Swap Agreements shall, if the Loan Outstandings is less than the aggregate of the notional amounts of the Swap Agreements, be reduced by an equivalent amount.

 

6 Interest

 

6.1 Interest Periods

The period during which any Drawing shall be outstanding pursuant to this Agreement shall be divided into consecutive Interest Periods of three (3) Months’ duration or such other duration as may be agreed by the Borrower and the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders).

 

6.2 Beginning and end of Interest Periods

The first Interest Period in respect of the first Drawing shall begin on the Drawdown Date of that Drawing and shall end on the last day of the Interest Period. The first Interest Period in respect of each subsequent Drawing shall begin on the Drawdown Date of that Drawing and end on the last day of the current Interest Period of the Loan. Any subsequent Interest Period in respect of each Drawing shall commence on the day following the last day of its previous Interest Period and shall end on the last day of its current Interest Period.

 

6.3 Interest Periods to meet Repayment Date and Maturity Date

If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a date after the next Repayment Date, that Interest Period shall end on the next Repayment Date. If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a date after the Maturity Date, that Interest Period shall end on the Maturity Date.

 

6.4 Interest rate

During each Interest Period, interest shall accrue on the Loan at the rate determined by the Agent to be the aggregate of (a) the relevant Margin and (b) LIBOR determined at 11:00 am (London time) on the second London Business Day prior to the beginning of the Interest Period. The Agent shall notify the Borrower in writing of the applicable interest rate for the relevant Interest Period on the date of determination.

 

35


6.5 Accrual and payment of interest

During the Facility Period, interest shall accrue from day to day, shall be calculated on the basis of a 360 day year and the actual number of days elapsed (or, in any circumstance where market practice differs, in accordance with the prevailing market practice) and shall be paid by the Borrower to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders on the last day of each Interest Period and additionally, during any Interest Period exceeding three Months, on the last day of each successive three Month period after the beginning of that Interest Period.

 

6.6 Ending of Interest Periods

Subject to clause 6.3, if any Interest Period would end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest Period shall end on the next succeeding Business Day (unless the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar Month, in which event the Interest Period in question shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day).

 

6.7 Consolidation and division of Loans

If two or more Interest Periods:

 

  (a) relate to Loans; and

 

  (b) end on the same date,

 

  those loans will be consolidated into, and treated as, a single Loan on the last day of the Interest Period.

 

6.8 Default Rate

Each Unpaid Sum shall, from the date of the non-payment, bear interest up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at the Default Rate, compounded at such intervals as the Agent shall in its reasonable discretion determine, which interest shall be payable from time to time by the Borrower to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders on demand.

 

6.9 Determinations conclusive

Each determination of an interest rate made by the Agent in accordance with clause 6 shall (save in the case of manifest error or on any question of law) be final and conclusive.

 

6.10 Mandatory Costs

The Borrower shall reimburse the Agent on demand for any Mandatory Costs relating to the Loan incurred by a Lender as a result of funding its Commitment of the Loan.

 

7 Fees

The Borrower shall pay the following fees:

 

7.1 Arrangement fee

The Borrower shall pay to the Agent, for the account of the Lenders, arrangement fees in the amounts and at the times agreed in the Arrangement Fee Letter.

 

36


7.2 Commitment fee

The Borrower shall pay to the Agent:

 

7.2.1 (for the account of the Lenders in proportion to their Buyer Credit Commitments) a commitment fee computed at the rate of zero point two five per cent (0.25%) per annum on the daily undrawn and uncancelled amount of the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount from time to time; and

 

7.2.2 for the account of the Lenders (in proportion to their Commercial Loan Commitments) a commitment fee computed at the rate of zero point four five per cent (0.45%) per annum on the daily undrawn and uncancelled amount of the Commercial Loan Maximum Amount from time to time,

in each case from the date of this Agreement until the earlier to occur of the Drawdown Date in respect of the final Drawing and the Availability Termination Date. The accrued commitment fees are payable in arrears on the last day of each successive period of three Months from the date of this Agreement and on such Availability Termination Date.

 

7.3 Agency fee

The Borrower shall pay to the Agent, the Security Trustee and the KEIC Agent (in each case, for its own account) an agency fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the Agency Fee Letter.

 

7.4 Documentation Agency Fee

The Borrower shall pay to Calyon (for its own account) a documentation agency fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the Documentation Agency Fee Letter.

 

7.5 Account Bank Fee

The Borrower shall pay to the Account Bank (for its own account) an account bank fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the Account Bank Fee Letter.

 

7.6 KEIC Insurance Premium

 

7.6.1 The Borrower agrees that it shall pay to the KEIC Agent, on the date of the first Drawing under the Commercial Loan, an amount equal to the KEIC Insurance Premium to be paid by the KEIC Agent to KEIC.

 

7.6.2 The Borrower agrees that its obligation to make the payment described in clause 7.6.1 above or any part of it shall be an absolute obligation and without limitation, shall not be affected by any failure to draw down funds under this Agreement or the prepayment or acceleration of any Loan. Neither the KEIC Insurance Premium nor any part of it shall be refundable to the Borrower under any circumstances. If and to the extent that the KEIC Agent subsequently receives from KEIC a refund of the KEIC Insurance Premium or any part thereof, the KEIC Agent shall account to the Agent for the amount of the refund received by the KEIC Agent less any costs and expenses suffered or incurred by the KEIC Agent in recovering and/or transferring such refunded amount to the Agent for application by the Agent in prepayment of the Commercial Loan Outstandings in whole or in part.

 

7.6.3 Without prejudice to the Borrower’s obligations under clauses 7.6.1 and 7.6.2, the Lender Finance Parties and the Borrower acknowledge that the first Drawdown under the Commercial Loan shall be utilised, inter alia, to enable the Borrower to satisfy its obligation under clause 7.6.1. The Borrower instructs the Agent, in accordance with clause 2.3.9, to pay an amount equal to the KEIC Insurance Premium from the first Drawing under the Commercial Loan to the KEIC Agent. Upon receipt by the KEIC Agent of such amount, the Borrower shall have satisfied its obligation under clause 7.6.1.

 

37


8 Security, Accounts and Application of Moneys

 

8.1 Security Documents

As security for the repayment of the Indebtedness, the Borrower shall, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, execute and deliver to the Security Trustee or cause to be executed and delivered to the Security Trustee the following documents in such forms and containing such terms and conditions as the Security Trustee shall require:

 

8.1.1 first priority deed of assignment of the Building Contract and Refund Guarantee;

 

8.1.2 a first priority statutory mortgage over the Vessel together with a collateral deed of covenants;

 

8.1.3 a first priority tripartite deed of assignment of the Insurances, Earnings and Requisition Compensation of the Vessel from the Borrower and the Manager;

 

8.1.4 first priority deed of charge over each of:

 

  (a) the Revenue Account;

 

  (b) the Dry Docking Reserve Account;

 

  (c) the Retention Account;

 

  (d) the Debt Service Reserve Account; and

 

  (e) the Dividend Lock-up Account;

 

8.1.5 first priority deed of assignment over each of:

 

  (a) the Supervision Agreement;

 

  (b) the Time Charter;

 

  (c) the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement;

 

  (d) the Management Agreement and the Sub Management Agreement;

 

  (e) the Swap Agreements;

 

  (f) the Tripartite Agreement;

 

8.1.6 a first priority charge over the entire issued share capital of the Borrower;

 

8.1.7 the Letter of Sponsors Undertakings; and

 

8.1.8 the Manager’s Undertaking.

 

8.2 Accounts

 

8.2.1 General

The Borrower undertakes with each of the Lenders, the Agent, the Account Bank and the Security Trustee that it will:

 

  (a) on or before the first Drawing open the Accounts with the Account Bank; and

 

  (b) procure that all moneys payable to the Borrower including, without limitation, in respect of the Earnings of the Vessel (including all hire and early termination fees payable to it under the Time Charter, all payments made under any letters of credit or insurance policies issued in favour of the Borrower pursuant to the Time Charter and pursuant to the Insurances but excluding any Borrower Priority Payments) shall, unless and until the Agent directs to the contrary pursuant to the Security Documents be paid to the Revenue Account;

 

38


8.3 Revenue Account: withdrawals

Unless the Agent otherwise agrees in writing (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Revenue Account at any time other than for the following purposes and in the following order of priority:

 

8.3.1 to pay the proper and reasonable operating expenses (including costs of insuring, repairing and maintaining the Vessel) of the Vessel, including amounts properly due to the Manager under the Management Agreement, the Supervisors under the Supervision Agreement and Mitsui under the Corporate Management Agreement, the proper and reasonable expenses of administering the affairs of the Borrower and the Taxes of the Borrower;

 

8.3.2

to transfer to the Dry Docking Reserve Account, first time three (3) months after the Delivery Date and at three (3) Monthly intervals thereafter up to and including the date upon which the Vessel completes each such scheduled dry docking, an amount equal to 1 / 20 of the total Dry Docking Reserve Account Payments in respect of such next scheduled dry docking;

 

8.3.3 to transfer to the Retention Account on the next following Retention Date all or part of the Retention Amount for such Retention Date;

 

8.3.4 to pay any other amounts payable under the Security Documents (including payments to the Swap Providers under any of the Swap Agreements and in case of partial payments the Swap Providers will be paid pro-rata);

 

8.3.5 to transfer to the Debt Service Reserve Account all or part of the DSRA Amount if any remains unpaid; and

 

8.3.6 to transfer any surplus to the Distribution Account unless at any relevant time a Dividend Restriction Event has occurred which is continuing unremedied or unwaived in which case any surplus shall be transferred to the Dividend Lock-Up Account, Provided that where such Dividend Restriction Event has ceased to be continuing and in circumstances where there is no Potential Event of Default or Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived such surplus may be transferred from the Dividend Lock-Up Account to the Distribution Account.

 

8.4 Dry Docking Reserve Account: withdrawals

 

8.4.1 Unless the Agent otherwise agrees in writing, the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Dry Docking Reserve Account other than to meet dry-docking costs which shall have been advised to and the aggregate amount of which shall have been approved by the Agent (acting reasonably and without delay) and in respect of which the Borrower shall have provided to the Agent reasonably satisfactory documentary evidence that such dry-docking costs have been incurred or will be incurred provided however that the Borrower shall be entitled to request the Agent by notice in writing to release any balance standing to the credit of the Dry Docking Reserve Account, after reimbursement to the Borrower from the Dry Docking Reserve Account of all dry docking costs and expenses paid by it, immediately following completion of a scheduled dry docking of the Vessel and the Agent shall transfer any such balance to the Distribution Account provided that the Agent is satisfied that:

 

  (a) all amounts then required to be paid to the Retention Account have been so paid;

 

  (b) the DSRA Amount has been paid in full and is standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account or has been replaced by the DSRA Letter of Credit; and

 

  (c) at such time no Dividend Restriction Event has occurred which is continuing unremedied or unwaived in which case any such balance shall be transferred to and retained in the Dividend Lock-up Account.

 

39


8.5 Debt Service Reserve Account: withdrawals

Without prejudice to the rights of the Lender Finance Parties under clause 9.1.18 (particularly, without limitation, the right of the Lender Finance Parties to use the amounts standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account to service any Loan repayments which have become due), the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Debt Service Reserve Account at any time from the date of this Agreement and so long as moneys are owing under the Security Documents save that, unless and until a Potential Event of Default or an Event of Default shall occur (which is continuing unremedied or unwaived) and the Agent shall direct to the contrary in accordance with the Security Documents, the Borrower may withdraw moneys from the Debt Service Reserve Account provided that a DSRA Letter of Credit is issued in an amount sufficient to constitute security at least of an equivalent Dollar for Dollar value as the amount withdrawn (and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement in relation to the DSRA Letter of Credit). In the event that the credit rating of an L/C Issuer falls below the Minimum Credit Rating applicable to it as described in clause 9.1.20, the Borrower shall immediately credit the Debt Service Reserve Account with an amount equal to the amount covered by the DSRA Letter of Credit provided by such L/C Issuer until the conditions set out in clauses 9.1.18 and 9.1.20 have been satisfied in full, and clause 9.1.18 shall apply as if the reference in such clause to “the date falling twenty seven (27) months after the Delivery Date” were a reference to the date the Borrower so credited the Debt Service Reserve Account and, to the extent that the Borrower is in breach of its obligations to so credit the Debt Service Reserve Account, the Lender Finance Parties shall immediately be entitled in their absolute discretion to make a demand under the DSRA Letter of Credit for the full amount in respect of which such DSRA Letter of Credit has issued.

 

8.6 Dividend Lock-Up Account: withdrawals

The Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Dividend Lock-Up Account except if there are no Dividend Restriction Events continuing.

 

8.7 Distribution Account: withdrawals

The Borrower shall be entitled to withdraw and freely apply all moneys standing to the credit of the Distribution Account from time to time.

 

8.8 Retention Account: credits and withdrawals

 

8.8.1 Unless and until there shall occur an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived (whereupon the provisions of clause 8.12 shall apply and subject to the Security Documents), all Retention Amounts credited to the Retention Account together with interest from time to time accruing or at any time accrued thereon shall be applied by the Account Bank (and the Borrower undertakes to give an irrevocable and unconditional instruction to the Account Bank so to apply the same) in the following manner:

 

  (a) upon each Repayment Date in or towards payment to (i) the Agent of the instalment then falling due for repayment and the amount of interest then due and (ii) to the Swap Providers of amounts then falling due under the Swap Agreements (if any). 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 and the Swap Agreements 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; and

 

  (b) following any application by the Account Bank pursuant to sub-clause (a) above, in transfer to the Revenue Account of any moneys standing to the credit of the Retention Account.

 

40


8.8.2 Unless the Agent otherwise agrees in writing and subject to clause 8.8.1, the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Retention Account at any time from the date of this Agreement and so long as any moneys are owing under the Security Documents.

 

8.9 Application of accounts

At any time after the Agent has exercised its rights pursuant to clause 10.1, the Agent may, without notice to the Borrower but subject to the terms of the Security Documents, instruct the Account Banks to apply all moneys then standing to the credit of the Accounts (other than the Distribution Account) (together with interest from time to time accruing or accrued thereon) in payment to the Security Trustee and the Security Trustee shall apply the same in or towards satisfaction of any sums due to the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Swap Providers and the Lenders under the Security Documents in the manner specified in the Intercreditor Deed.

 

8.10 Interest and surpluses

 

8.10.1 Each of the Accounts shall bear interest upon the Account Bank’s standard terms for Dollar deposits in similar amounts and for periods comparable for which such balances appear to the Account Bank likely to remain on the relevant Account and any interest credited to the Accounts (other than the Distribution Account) shall, unless and until an Event of Default (which is continuing unremedied or unwaived) shall occur in which case, subject to the Security Documents, the provisions of clause 8.9 shall apply, be paid to the Revenue Account.

 

8.11 Charging of accounts

The Accounts (other than the Distribution Account) 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 relevant Security Documents.

 

8.12 General application of moneys

Whilst an Event of Default is continuing unremedied or unwaived the Borrower irrevocably authorises the Agent and the Security Trustee to apply all sums which either of them may receive:

 

8.12.1 pursuant to a sale or other disposition of the Vessel or any right, title or interest in the Vessel; or

 

8.12.2 by way of payment of any sum in respect of the Insurances, Earnings, or Requisition Compensation; or

 

8.12.3 otherwise arising under or in connection with any Security Document,

in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Deed.

 

9 Covenants

The Borrower covenants with the Lender Finance Parties in the following terms.

 

9.1 General

The Borrower undertakes with the Lender Finance Parties that, from the date of this Agreement and so long as any moneys are owing under any of the Security Documents and while all or any part of the Commitments remains outstanding, it will:

 

9.1.1 Notice of Default

 

  (a) promptly inform the Agent in writing of any occurrence of which it becomes aware which might materially and adversely affect the ability of any Security Party, the Time Charterer, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor to perform its obligations under any of the Relevant Documents to which it is a party and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, will inform the Agent of any Event of Default or Potential Event of Default or Mandatory Prepayment Event forthwith upon becoming aware thereof and will from time to time, if so requested by the Agent, confirm to the Agent in writing that, save as otherwise stated in such confirmation, no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived;

 

 

41


  (b) promptly inform the Agent of any occurrence of which it becomes aware which might materially adversely effect the ability or rights of the Borrower to make any claims under any of the Refund Guarantee or which might reduce or release any of the obligations of any Refund Guarantor under any of its Refund Guarantee;

 

9.1.2 Consents and licences

obtain or cause to be obtained, maintain in full force and effect and comply in all material respects with the conditions and restrictions (if any) imposed in, or in connection with, every consent, Authorisation, licence or approval of governmental or public bodies or authorities or courts, the failure of which has or might be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, and do, or cause to be done, all other acts and things which may from time to time be necessary under applicable law for the continued due performance of all the obligations of the Security Parties under each of the Security Documents;

 

9.1.3 Use of proceeds

use the Loan exclusively for the purpose specified in the Recitals and/or clause 2.3.4;

 

9.1.4 Pari passu

ensure that its obligations under this Agreement and the other Security Documents shall, without prejudice to the security intended to be created by the Security Documents, at all times rank at least pari passu with all its other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness with the exception of any obligations which are mandatorily preferred by law and not by contract;

 

9.1.5 Financial statements

prepare financial statements of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP in respect of each financial year and cause the same to be reported on by its auditors and prepare semi-annual (i.e two (2) sets of accounts to be provided each year) unaudited accounts (without accounting notes) and deliver as many copies of the same and copies of each Sponsor’s annual audited financial statements as the Agent may reasonably require not later than one hundred and twenty (120) days (in the case of the Borrower’s audited financial statements), sixty (60) days (in the case of semi-annual unaudited accounts) or one hundred and eighty (180) days (in the case of the Sponsors’ annual audited financial statements), in each case after the end of the financial period to which they relate;

 

9.1.6 Information

deliver to the Agent or procure that there is delivered to the Agent:

 

  (a) at the time of issue thereof, as many copies as the Agent may reasonably require of written communications made by any Security Party to its shareholders or creditors generally which may reasonably be considered material in the context of this Agreement (other than copies of reports or other notices, statements or circulars sent or delivered to the Borrower Shareholders by the Borrower, which shall be sent to the Security Trustee pursuant to clause 6.2.11 of the Share Charges);

 

42


  (b) from time to time as the Agent and/or KEIC may reasonably require:

 

  (i) such financial or other information concerning any Security Party and its affairs which may reasonably be considered material in the context of this Agreement;

 

  (ii) such information relating to the progress of construction of the Vessel, or otherwise in relation to the construction of the Vessel and performance by the Builder of its obligations under the Building Contract; and

 

  (iii) such information in connection with the operation, position and condition of the Vessel;

 

  (c) at the time of each such communication, copies of all material written communications between the Borrower or any other Security Party and:

 

  (i) the approved brokers; and

 

  (ii) the approved protection and indemnity and/or war risks associations; and

 

  (iii) the approved insurance companies and/or underwriters;

 

       which relate directly or indirectly to:

 

  (A) the Vessel and the obligations of the Borrower or any other Security Party relating to the Insurances including, without limitation, all requisite declarations and payments of additional premiums or calls and all communication relating to non-payment of premiums or calls and cancellation of any of the Insurances or relating to the imposition of any new or modified condition, warranty, exclusion or qualification or the material alteration of the Insurances; and

 

  (B) any credit arrangements made between the Borrower or any other Security Party and any of the persons referred to in clauses 9.5.7(a) to 9.5.7(c) relating wholly or partly to the effecting or maintenance of the Insurances.

 

9.1.7 Vessel Annual Operating Budget

prior to the commencement of each budget year, submit to the Agent the annual operating budget of the Vessel for such budget year for approval by the Agent (acting on the instruction of the Majority Lenders and such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);

 

9.1.8 Obligations under Security Documents

duly and punctually perform each of the obligations expressed to be assumed by it under the Security Documents to which it is a party;

 

9.1.9 Certificate of Financial Responsibility

obtain and maintain a certificate of financial responsibility in relation to the Vessel if it is to call at the United States of America;

 

9.1.10 ISM and ISPS Compliance

ensure that the relevant Company and any Environmental Affiliate complies in all material respects with the ISM Code and the ISPS Code or any replacements thereof and in particular (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) shall ensure that the Company holds (i) a valid and current Document of Compliance issued pursuant to the ISM Code, (ii) a valid and current Safety Management Certificate issued in respect of the Vessel pursuant to the ISM Code, and (iii) an ISSC in respect of the Vessel, and the Borrower shall promptly, upon request, supply the Agent with copies of the same;

 

43


9.1.11 Compliance with Applicable Laws

comply with all applicable laws to which it may be subject from time to time;

 

9.1.12 Further Assurance

at its own expense, promptly take all such action as the Agent may reasonably require for the purpose of perfecting or protecting any Lender Finance Party’s rights with respect to the security created or evidenced (or intended to be created or evidenced) by the Security Documents;

 

9.1.13 “Know your customer” Checks

if:

 

  (a) 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;

 

  (b) any change in the status of the Borrower after the date of this Agreement; or

 

  (c) a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer,

obliges the Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of (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, 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 any Lender) or any Lender for itself (or, in the case of (c) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent or that Lender (or, in the case of (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 Relevant Documents, Provided that, the obligations set forth in this clause shall not apply to information in respect of Angola LNG, the Angola LNG Project (in any respect), the Time Charterer, the Builder, the Refund Guarantor or the L/C Issuer unless such information is required by Law;

 

9.1.14 Management Fees

pay all amounts due to the Manager under the Management Agreement when the same become due and payable;

 

9.1.15 Time Charters

ensure that:

 

  (a) the Vessel is constructed pursuant to the Building Contract so that on the Delivery Date the Vessel is accepted by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter;

 

  (b) from the Delivery Date and throughout the Facility Period:

 

  (i) subject to clauses 5.8.3 and 5.8.4, the Vessel shall be chartered to the Time Charterer under the Time Charter or (subject to clause 9.2.18) a bareboat charter unless the Agent, acting on the instruction of all the Lenders (acting reasonably and without delay) otherwise agrees;

 

  (ii) no amendments are made to (aa) the Time Charter (other than in respect of purely technical and/or operational matters which shall have no material adverse financial effect upon the Borrower, no adverse effect upon the security rights of the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Lenders or the Swap Providers, which shall not have the effect of reducing the rate of hire payable under the Time Charter or amending the dates on which such hire is payable or reducing the period of the contract Time Charter itself and which shall in any event be promptly notified to the Agent) or (bb) to any letters of credit or insurance policies to be issued under the Time Charter, in each case without the consent of the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); and

 

  (iii) all licenses, consents and Authorisations necessary to permit the proper and lawful operation of the Vessel pursuant to the Time Charter in any Relevant Jurisdiction to which the Vessel may be ordered or trade are complied with and ensure that each such licence, consent and Authorisation has been properly and validly obtained; and

 

 

44


  (c) upon the occurrence of any force majeure as set out in the Time Charter or any incident or other occurrence of which it is aware which may reasonably be expected to become a force majeure upon the giving of notice or lapse of time the Borrower shall forthwith advise the Agent of such force majeure or incident or occurrence which may become a force majeure and keep the Agent up to date in respect of all matters and/or developments in respect of such force majeure and/or incident and/or occurrence;

 

9.1.16 Use of Ancillary Cost Advances

procure that each Ancillary Cost Advance and the proceeds thereof are used only for the purpose of paying and discharging Ancillary Costs, reimbursing Ancillary Costs already paid by the Borrower, as contemplated by clause 2.3.4 and paying the KEIC Insurance Premium and for no other purpose;

 

9.1.17 Management

ensure that following Delivery the Vessel is managed throughout the Facility Period by the Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement or such party as may replace the Manager in accordance with clause 9.2.18 and 10.3 of this Agreement;

 

9.1.18 DSRA Letter of Credit/Debt Service Reserve Account

 

  (a) on or before the date falling twenty seven (27) Months after the Delivery Date procure that as a result of either:

 

  (i) the issue of the DSRA Letter of Credit; and/or

 

  (ii) sums standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account,

the aggregate of the amounts standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account and/or the amount of the DSRA Letter of Credit shall, subject to clause (b) below, be equal to or not less than such amount as the Agent shall determine to be 6 Months’ principal and interest repayments under this Agreement (the “DSRA Amount”) Provided Always that:

 

  (A) the sum standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account shall, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Security Documents, be freely available to the Lender Finance Parties (a) upon the acceleration of the Loan after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived and (b) to service any Loan repayments which have become due in the circumstances set out in clause 9.1.18(b) below; and

 

  (B)

in relation to any DSRA Letter of Credit the Borrower shall provide the Agent with such evidence as the Agent may reasonably require to satisfy the Agent that such DSRA Letter of Credit has been duly and Validly and correctly issued (including, without limitation, a signing authority authorising the L/C Issuer to provide the DSRA Letter of Credit and a legal opinion from counsel in the jurisdiction of the L/C Issuer in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent),

 

45


  and in the event that the Borrower elects to issue the DSRA Letter of Credit the Borrower shall ensure that (A) all sums payable under such DSRA Letter of Credit shall, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Security Documents, be freely available to the Lender Finance Parties (a) upon the acceleration of the Loan after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing, (b) to service any Loan repayments which have become due in the circumstances set out in clause (b) below and where there are insufficient amounts standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account to service such Loan repayments and (c) in the circumstances set out in clause 8.5 and (B) any DSRA Letter of Credit shall be renewed or replaced for a period being not less than 12 Months to such value as may be required to satisfy the provisions of this clause 9.1.18 not later than 30 days prior to the scheduled date of its expiry. If the Borrower fails to so renew or replace the DSRA Letter of Credit, the Borrower agrees that the Security Trustee shall have the right upon written notice to the Borrower to draw the entire amount available under such DSRA Letter of Credit and deposit such amount in the Debt Service Reserve Account for application in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Security Trustee shall at any time drawdown the entire amount available under any DSRA Letter of Credit and deposit the same in the Debt Service Reserve Account, such drawdown and deposit shall be deemed to remedy any Event of Default which shall have arisen as a result of the Borrower’s failure to renew or replace such DSRA Letter of Credit for a period of not less than 12 Months in accordance with the provisions of this clause 9.1.18;

 

  (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clauses 8.5 and 9.1.18(a) above, the Lender Finance Parties shall, in their absolute discretion, be entitled to:

 

  (i) use the sum standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account from time to time; and/or

 

  (ii) make a demand under the DSRA Letter of Credit,

in each case to satisfy the Borrower’s obligation to pay a Repayment Instalment or Repayment Instalments which have become due and such sums and/or (as the case may be) the DSRA Letter of Credit shall be freely available to the Lender Finance Parties for these purposes.

In the event that the Lender Finance Parties elect to exercise their rights under this clause 9.1.18(b) the Borrower shall have sixty (60) days to restore the aggregate of the amounts standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account and/or the amount of the DSRA Letter of Credit to an amount equal to the DSRA Amount.

 

9.1.19 Financial covenants

provide the Agent at the same time it provides its audited financial statements and unaudited semi-annual accounts in accordance with clause 9.1.5 with a Compliance Certificate signed by an authorised officer of the Borrower (i) that the average DSCR in respect of the immediately preceding four (4) financial quarters is equal to or above 1:10x, (ii) that the average DSCR in respect of the immediately preceding two (2) financial quarters is equal to or above 1.06x and (iii) its Leverage Ratio for the immediately preceding four (4) financial quarters does not exceed 4:1. Such Compliance Certificate shall also attach full details of how the said DSCR and Leverage Ratio was calculated;

 

9.1.20 Minimum Credit Rating

in the event that the credit rating of an L/C Issuer falls below the Minimum Credit Rating applicable to it, then the Borrower shall immediately (a) inform the Agent and (b) credit the Debt Service Reserve Account in accordance with clause 8.5;

 

46


9.1.21 Supervision Agreement

 

  (a) ensure that throughout the period prior to Delivery of the Vessel the construction of the Vessel is supervised by the Supervisor pursuant to the Supervision Agreement and will not agree to any material variation of the Supervision Agreement or any sum payable by the Borrower to the Supervisor under the Supervision Agreement; and

 

  (b) at all times enforce all of its rights under the Supervision Agreement;

 

9.1.22 Developments regarding the Angola LNG Project

as soon as reasonably practicable but subject to any confidentiality restrictions and limitations in the Time Charter and any other agreements of the Borrower, notify the Agent of any material developments notified to it by the Time Charterer regarding the Angola LNG Project or the Time Charterer, including, but not limited to, decisions regarding the rollover of the Gas Supply Agreement, the identity of the LNG gas buyers and any force majeure event under the Gas Supply Agreement, the LNG Agreement, the Time Charter or the Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement, Provided always that (subject to clause 9.1.15) the Borrower shall not have or be deemed to have any obligation under this Agreement or any Security Documents to request any information from the Time Charterer or any of its members, shareholders, directors, officers, employees or representatives regarding the Angola LNG Project or the Time Charterer;

 

9.1.23 Registration

ensure that the Vessel shall on and from the Delivery Date be registered under the laws of the flag of the Flag State (or the flag of such other state as the Agent may consent to in writing, acting on the instruction of the Majority Lenders and KEIC);

 

9.1.24 Project Co-ordination Agreement

 

  1.1.1 Prior to the first Drawing, procure the execution of the Project Co-ordination Agreement in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to KEIC and to the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders.

 

9.2 Negative undertakings

The Borrower undertakes with the Agent that, from the date of this Agreement and so long as any moneys are owing under the Security Documents and while all or any part of the Commitments remain outstanding, it will not without the prior written consent of the Agent:

 

9.2.1 Negative pledge

permit any Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) to subsist, arise or be created or extended over all or any part of its present or future undertakings, assets, rights or revenues (including, without limitation to the generality of the foregoing, over the Vessel, the Time Charter, Earnings, Insurances and/or Accounts) to secure or prefer any present or future indebtedness or other liability or obligation of it or any other person;

 

9.2.2 No merger

without the prior written consent of the Agent acting on the instructions of all Lenders merge or consolidate with any other person unless such merger or consolidation does not result in a Change of Control;

 

9.2.3 Disposals

Subject to the rights of the Time Charterer under the Time Charter;

 

  (a) sell, transfer, abandon, lend or otherwise dispose of or cease to exercise direct control over any part (being either alone or when aggregated with all other disposals falling to be taken into account pursuant to this clause 9.2.3 material in the opinion of the Agent (acting reasonably and without unreasonable delay) in relation to the combined undertakings, assets, rights and revenues of the Borrower) of its present or future undertaking, assets, rights or revenues (otherwise than by transfers, sales or disposals for full consideration in the ordinary course of trading or otherwise in accordance with the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement) whether by one or a series of transactions related or not; or

 

47


  (b) sell, transfer, abandon, lease or otherwise dispose of or part with possession of the Vessel other than pursuant to clause 9.6.14 or with the prior written consent of the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC;

 

9.2.4 Other business

undertake any business other than the ownership, financing (including the refinancing of the Vessel at the Maturity Date), maintenance and operation of the Vessel, the Depot Spare Parts, the chartering of the Vessel for the Time Charterer and making Authorised Investments as permitted by the Security Documents;

 

9.2.5 Acquisitions

acquire any further assets other than Authorised Investments, the Vessel, the Depot Spare Parts and other assets and rights arising under contracts entered into by it in the ordinary course of its business of owning, operating, maintaining and chartering the Vessel or in refinancing the Vessel at the Maturity Date, provided always that the Loan Outstandings shall be repaid in full from the proceeds of such refinancing of the Vessel at the Maturity Date;

 

9.2.6 Other obligations

incur any obligations except for obligations arising under the Relevant Documents to which it is a party or contracts entered into by it in the ordinary course of its business of owning, operating, maintaining and chartering the Vessel;

 

9.2.7 Guarantees

issue any guarantees or indemnities or otherwise become directly or contingently liable for the obligations of any person, firm, or corporation except for guarantees or indemnities from time to time required in the ordinary course by any protection and indemnity or war risks association with which the Vessel is entered, guarantees required to procure the release of the Vessel from any arrest, detention, attachment or levy or guarantees or undertakings required for the salvage of the Vessel and except pursuant to the Security Documents;

 

9.2.8 Loans

make any loans or grant any credit (save for normal trade credit in the ordinary course of business) to any person or agree to do so;

 

9.2.9 No borrowing

incur any Financial Indebtedness or undertake any material capital commitment except:

 

  (a) for trade credit in the ordinary course of business and Financial Indebtedness pursuant to the Security Documents (including the Swap Agreements); and

 

  (b) the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and Additional Shareholders’ Equity contributed by way of subordinated debt and subordinated to the amounts due and owing to the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Swap Providers and the Lenders under the Security Documents;

 

48


9.2.10 Repayment of borrowings

repay the principal of, or pay interest on or any other sum in connection with any of its Financial Indebtedness except such Financial Indebtedness as is permitted by the Security Documents or with the prior written consent of the Agent;

 

9.2.11 Sureties

permit any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower to any person (other than the Lenders and/or the Agent and/or the Security Trustee and/or the Swap Providers under the Swap Agreements to be guaranteed by any person (save for guarantees or indemnities from time to time required in the ordinary course by any protection and indemnity or war risks association with which the Vessel is entered, guarantees required to procure the release of the Vessel from any arrest, detention, attachment or levy or guarantees or undertakings required for the salvage of the Vessel;

 

9.2.12 Share capital and distribution

purchase or otherwise acquire for value any shares of its capital or declare or pay any dividends or distribute any of its present or future assets, undertakings, rights or revenues to any of its shareholders, save that the Borrower shall be permitted to declare or pay dividends provided that no Event of Default or Dividend Restriction Event has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived or would occur as a result;

 

9.2.13 Subsidiaries

form or acquire any Subsidiaries;

 

9.2.14 Constitutional documents

agree to any material change of its memoranda and articles of association or other constitutional documents;

 

9.2.15 Project Documents

subject to clause 9.1.15(b)(ii) (which provides, for the avoidance of doubt, that amendments to the Time Charter in respect of technical and/or operational matters which shall have no material adverse financial effect upon the Borrower, no adverse effect upon the security rights of the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Lenders or the Swap Providers, which shall not have the effect of reducing the rate of hire payable under the Time Charter or amending the dates on which such hire is payable or reducing the period of the Time Charter itself and which shall in any event be promptly notified to the Agent, may be made or permitted by the Borrower without the consent of the Agent) , materially amend, modify or waive any provision of the Project Documents to which it is a party or agree to materially amend, modify or waive any provision of the Project Documents to which it is not a party but which requires its consent without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders);

 

9.2.16 Borrower’s other documents

enter in to any other material documents or agreements relating to the Angola LNG Project (other than such documents or agreements contemplated by the Time Charter) (such other material documents or agreements, “Borrower’s Other Documents”) and, if the Agent shall consent to the Borrower’s entry into any Borrower’s Other Documents (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed but the giving of which consent may be subject to the Borrower assigning or otherwise charging all its rights, title, benefits and interests under such Borrower’s Other Documents in favour of the Security Trustee as security for the Loan and any other sums payable under the other Security Documents), the Borrower shall not agree to any material change to the Borrower’s Other Documents without the prior written consent of the Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed);

 

49


9.2.17 Ownership of Borrower

permit any change in the shareholders or their respective (direct or indirect) shareholdings in the Borrower as at the date hereof being:

 

  (i) Mitsui - 34%;

 

  (ii) NYK - 33%; and

 

  (iii) Teekay 33%.

Provided however that (a) on Delivery, Teekay or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shall may , subject to the Agent having confirmed to Teekay in writing (not to be unreasonably delayed) that it is satisfied, acting reasonably that no material adverse effect on Teekay LNG’s consolidated financial position or Teekay LNG’s ability to comply with its material obligations under any of the Security Documents has occurred and is continuing with respect to Teekay LNG, transfer all of its shares in the Borrower to Teekay LNG or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary and Teekay LNG or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (as applicable) shall become a “Borrower Shareholder” in place of Teekay or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; (b) any of the Borrower Shareholders may at any time but subject always to the requirements of paragraph (c) below, transfer all or part of its shareholding in the Borrower to:-

 

  (aa) a Qualifying Entity, provided that such Qualifying Entity accedes to the Security Documents as a Sponsor and a Borrower Shareholder in respect of its proportionate interest in the Borrower;

 

  (bb) a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of any Qualifying Entity provided that, (a) such Wholly-Owned Subsidiary accedes to the Security Documents as a Borrower Shareholder in respect of its proportionate ownership interest in the Borrower, and (b) the Qualifying Entity accedes to the Security Documents as a Sponsor in respect of its proportionate indirect ownership interest in the Borrower;

 

  (cc) a Sponsor, another Borrower Shareholder or to an Affiliate of a Sponsor or a Borrower Shareholder, provided that, such Affiliate or Sponsor (as the case maybe) accedes to the Security Documents as a Borrower Shareholder in respect of its proportionate ownership interest in the Borrower; or

 

  (dd) any other person approved by the Agent acting on the instructions of all of the Lenders, provided that such approved person accedes to the Security Documents as a Sponsor and/or Borrower Shareholder (as applicable) in respect of its proportionate direct or indirect ownership interest in the Borrower;

PROVIDED THAT

 

  (ee) in each case, in order to satisfy the requirement to accede to the Security Documents and as a condition precedent to the transfer of any shares to such party, such Qualifying Entity, Affiliate or other approved person, as the case maybe, shall in each case, have first entered into such documents including where it becomes a Borrower Shareholder, a share charge in favour of the Security Trustee in the same form as the Share Pledges Charges and in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and as shall deem necessary provide the Agent with such evidence including corporate authorities and such legal opinions as the Agent shall require in order for the Agent to be satisfied that such party has acceded to the Security Documents as a Borrower Shareholder and/or Sponsor as the case maybe; and

(c) provided that at all times during the Facility Period one or more of Mitsui, NYK, Teekay or (following any transfer permitted and as referred to in (a) above) Teekay LNG or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shall directly or indirectly maintain a shareholding in the Borrower of an amount in aggregate which shall not be less than sixty six per cent (66%) of the full issued and outstanding share capital of the Borrower from time to time; and

 

50


9.2.18 Replacement of Manager

without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and KEIC replace the Manager, provided that (a) the Agent’s consent shall not be required if the Manager is replaced by NYK LNG with the management of the Vessel further subcontracted to NYK Shipmanagement (UK) Ltd. and (b) the Agent’s consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed where the Time Charterer has exercised its option pursuant to clause 29.6 of the Time Charter to convert the Time Charter into a bareboat charter of the Vessel;

 

9.3 Pre-delivery positive undertakings

The Borrower, hereby undertakes and agrees with each of the Lender Finance Parties that from the date of this Agreement until the Delivery Date or, if earlier, the date upon which no moneys are owing under the Security Documents and no Commitments remain outstanding, that it will:

 

9.3.1 Document of title to the Vessel

give irrevocable instructions to the Builder that at any time upon which title to the Vessel shall be or become transferable and be capable of transfer to hold the Vessel and the Builder’s Certificates and any other document of title to the Vessel to the order and at the disposal of the Security Trustee and use its best endeavours to ensure that the Builder complies with such instructions;

 

9.3.2 Performance of the Building Contracts

duly and punctually observe and perform all the conditions and obligations imposed on it by the Building Contract;

 

9.3.3 Performance by Builder

exercise best endeavours to ensure that the Builder observes and performs all conditions and obligations imposed on it by the Building Contract and take all steps within its power to ensure that the Builder proceeds with the construction of the Vessel with due diligence and despatch in accordance with the Building Contract;

 

9.3.4 Arbitration under the Building Contract

in the event that the Builder and/or the Borrower resort to arbitration as provided in Article XXVII of the Building Contract, immediately notify the Agent in writing that such arbitration has been initiated, advise the Agent in writing of the identity of the appointed arbitrators and upon termination of the arbitration notify the Agent in writing to that effect and supply the Agent with a copy of the arbitration award and a certified English translation thereof (if the award is not in English);

 

9.3.5 Conveyance on default

where the Vessel is (or is to be) sold in exercise of any power contained in the Security Documents or otherwise conferred on the Security Trustee, to execute, forthwith upon request by the Agent, such form of conveyance of the Vessel as the Agent may require;

 

9.3.6 Enforcement of Borrower’s rights

do or permit to be done each and every act or thing which the Agent and/or the Security Trustee may from time to time require to be done in accordance with the terms of the Security Documents for the purpose of enforcing the Borrower’s rights (which the Borrower have failed to enforce or to enforce in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Security Trustee) under or pursuant to the Building Contract;

 

51


9.3.7 Notification of rejection of Vessel

notify the Agent and the Security Trustee immediately if the Builder exercises, or purports to exercise or gives notice (written or oral) of its intention to exercise any right to cancel, rescind, repudiate or otherwise terminate the Building Contract or to render a performance materially different from that which the Building Contract obliges it to render or (with the prior written consent of the Agent given pursuant to clause 9.4.6) the Borrower cancels, rescinds, repudiates or otherwise terminates the Building Contract or purports to do so or (with the prior written consent of the Agent given pursuant to clause 9.4.6) the Borrower rejects the Vessel or purports to do so or if the Vessel shall become a Total Loss or partial loss or shall be damaged in a manner affecting its Classification or the Refund Guarantor cancels, rescinds, repudiates or otherwise terminates the Refund Guarantee or purports to do so;

 

9.3.8 Vessel name and registration

register the Vessel under the laws and flag of the Flag State immediately upon its Delivery and keep the Vessel so registered at all times from the Delivery Date in accordance with clause 9.1.23;

 

9.3.9 Non-compliance with Time Charter

provide the Agent with full details of any matter relating to the construction of the Vessel which could result in the Vessel not being in compliance with the Time Charter within 30 days of such matter coming to the attention of or being brought to the attention of the Borrower;

 

9.3.10 Delays

provide the Agent with full details regarding any delays which arise or may arise with respect to the Scheduled Delivery Date of the Vessel under the Building Contract promptly upon such delays or possible delays coming to the attention of or being brought to the attention of the Borrower; and

 

9.3.11 Mortgage

execute, and procure the registration of, the Mortgage under the laws and flag of the Flag State and the Deed of Covenant immediately upon the Delivery.

 

9.4 Pre-delivery negative undertakings

The Borrower, hereby further undertakes and agrees with each of the Lender Finance Parties that from the date of this Agreement until the Delivery Date or, if earlier, the date upon which no moneys are owing under the Security Documents and no Commitments remain outstanding, it will not without the prior written consent of the Agent (and then only subject to such conditions as the Agent may impose) acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC:

 

9.4.1 Sale or other disposal

sell or agree to sell, transfer, abandon or otherwise dispose of the Vessel or any share or interest therein;

 

9.4.2 Creation of Encumbrances

create or agree to create or permit to exist any Encumbrance over the Vessel (or any share or interest therein) or over the Building Contract, the Guarantee Bond or the Refund Guarantee other than the Encumbrances created or to be created pursuant to or as contemplated by the Security Documents and Permitted Encumbrances;

 

52


9.4.3 Variation of Contracts

agree to any variation of the Building Contract or any substantial variation of the specification of the Vessel (and for the purpose of this paragraph any extras, additions or alterations which the Borrower may desire to effect in the building of the Vessel shall be deemed to constitute a substantial variation of the specification of the Vessel if the cost thereof (which shall in every case be agreed in writing between the Borrower and the Builder before the work in respect of such variation is put in hand irrespective of whether the prior consent thereto of the Agent be required hereunder) or if the cost of the modification causes or will cause the Total Project Cost (estimated by the Borrower as of such date and notified to the Agent) to exceed one hundred and ten per cent. (110%) of the Scheduled Vessel Project Cost, Provided always that the Agent shall not unreasonably withhold or delay its consent if the Borrower shall evidence to the Agent that the Borrower is in a position to fund any sums from shareholders funds without prejudicing the Borrower’s ability to complete the construction and delivery of the Vessel in accordance with the Building Contract Provided further that, nothing in this clause 9.4.3 shall prohibit the Borrower from varying the specification of the Vessel to the extent the Borrower has an obligation to make such variation of the Vessel pursuant to clause 5.1 of the Time Charter or if such variation is required by applicable Law or the Classification Society. If the Borrower has an obligation to make such variation to the Vessel pursuant to clause 5.1 of the Time Charter, the Borrower shall notify the Agent in writing of such variation and shall provide the Agent, from time to time at the Agent’s reasonable request, information regarding the variation;

 

9.4.4 Releases and waivers of Building Contract

release the Builder from any of its obligations under the Building Contract or waive any breach of the Builder’s obligations thereunder or consent to any such act or omission of the Builder as would otherwise constitute such breach;

 

9.4.5 Delays

without prejudice to clause 9.4.3, agree to any variation of the Building Contract or the specification of the Vessel which would delay the time for delivery of the Vessel and be likely in the opinion of the Agent (acting reasonably) to put at risk the acceptance of the Vessel by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter unless the prior written consent to such variation given in writing by the Time Charterer shall have been provided to the Agent;

 

9.4.6 Rejection and cancellation

either exercise or fail to exercise any right which the Borrower may have to reject the Vessel or cancel or rescind or otherwise terminate the Building Contract Provided always that any such rejection of the Vessel or cancellation, rescission or other termination of the Building Contract by the Borrower after such consent is given shall be without responsibility on the part of the Agent which shall be under no liability whatsoever to the extent that such rejection, rescission, cancellation or termination is thereafter adjudged to constitute a repudiation or other breach of the Building Contract by the Borrower Provided always that if the Agent shall not respond (whether in the positive or the negative) within 30 days of any request for such consent being made the Agent shall be deemed to have consented to such request;

 

9.4.7 Assignment of Earnings

assign or agree to assign otherwise than to the Security Trustee the Earnings or any part thereof;

 

9.4.8 Variation of and demands under the Refund Guarantee

agree to any variation of the Refund Guarantee nor make any demand for payment under the Refund Guarantee;

 

53


9.4.9 Release and waiver of Refund Guarantee

release the Refund Guarantor from any of its obligations under the Refund Guarantee or waive any breach of the Refund Guarantor’s obligations thereunder or consent to any such act or omission of the Refund Guarantor as would otherwise constitute such breach; and

 

9.4.10 Chartering

except pursuant to the Time Charter, let or agree to let the Vessel on demise charter for any period, or by any time or consecutive voyage charter.

 

9.5 Insurances

 

9.5.1 The Borrower covenants to ensure and procure at its own expense (and for the avoidance of doubt at no cost and expense to the Lender Finance Parties) that the following provisions of this clause 9.5 are complied with at all times during the Facility Period in respect of the Vessel. The Borrower confirms that throughout the Facility Period, the Vessel shall be in every respect at the risk of the Borrower.

 

9.5.2 Maintenance of Insurances

The Vessel shall be kept insured at no cost to the Lender Finance Parties against:

 

  (a) fire and usual marine risks (including excess risks) and war risks (including terrorism, sabotage, vandalism, malicious mischief, blocking and trapping);

 

  (b) protection and indemnity risks (including pollution risks) and excess war protection and indemnity risks, on “full entry” terms;

 

  (c) in respect of such other matters of whatsoever nature and howsoever arising in respect of which insurance would be maintained by a prudent owner or operator of vessels of a similar age, condition and type as the Vessel; and

 

  (d) loss of hire , for a minimum cover period of (i) one hundred and eighty (180) days, with a maximum deductible of fourteen (14) days or (ii) following receipt of a written request from the Agent, such longer period as may from time to time be reasonably and commercially available in the insurance market for vessels of similar age, size and type as the Vessel, and for a rate of hire at least equal to the rate set out in the Time Charter .

 

9.5.3 Terms of Insurances

Such Insurances shall be effected:

 

  (a) in Dollars or such other currency as the Agent and the Borrower may agree;

 

  (b) in the case of fire and usual marine risks and war risks (on an agreed value basis) in an amount equal to the Insured Loss Value applicable on the first day of the period for which the insurances are renewed;

 

  (c) in the case of protection and indemnity risks (including pollution liability risks), in an amount equal to the highest amount in respect of which cover is in accordance with customary insurance market practice taken out by prudent owners or operators of vessels of a similar type, size, age, condition and flag as the Vessel with protection and indemnity risks associations that are members of the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Associations (but in the case of pollution risks, for a minimum amount of one billion Dollars ($1,000,000,000) or where cover for such risks is not available in such an amount, such lesser amount as is the best level of cover available in the market at the applicable time, having regard to the cover being taken out by prudent owners or operators of similar vessels to the Vessel;

 

54


  (d) in the case of loss of hire insurances in such amounts and upon such terms as shall from time to time be approved in writing by the Agent;

 

  (e) on terms approved under clause 9.5.18, but subject to a minimum requirement of the scope of coverage of that provided by the Institute Time Clauses and Additional Perils Clause with their War and Strikes sister clauses extended as necessary or as provided by the equivalent full conditions forms of other nationality (so far as can be reasonably obtained in the market at the applicable time); and

 

  (f) through brokers and with insurance companies and/or underwriters or, in the case of war risks and protection and indemnity risks, in war risks and protection and indemnity risks associations, in each case approved under clause 9.5.18.

 

9.5.4 Further protection for Agent

In addition to the terms set out in clause 9.5.3, the Insurances effected under such clause shall:

 

  (a) in the case of the Insurances in respect of marine risks and war risks, be endorsed by way of a loss payable clause to the effect that:

 

  (i) payment of a claim for a Total Loss will be made to the Security Trustee (and shall , be applied in accordance with the relevant provisions clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed); and

 

  (ii) payment of a claim for an amount which equals or exceeds the Threshold Amount ten million Dollars ($10,000,000 ) shall be paid to the Security Trustee and shall be applied in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Intercreditor Deed); and as follows:

 

  ( A) Subject to (aa) there being no Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under clause 10.2.1 (Failure to Pay) which has occurred due to the Vessel being off-hire in order for the necessary repair work to be completed) and (bb) clause 9.5.4(a)(v) below, in the event that the Borrower (or the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower) have instructed a shipyard to commence the repair works, which shipyard and repair works are acceptable to the Security Trustee acting reasonably and promptly (and, to the extent that the shipyard and repair works have been approved or nominated by the Time Charterer, such shipyard and repair works shall be deemed to be acceptable to the Security Trustee for these purposes), and paid for the repairs (such payments to be duly evidenced), to the Borrower (or, as the case may be, the Sponsors) upon resumption of the Vessel into service under the Time Charter, to reimburse the Borrower (or, as the case may be, the Sponsors) for the amounts so paid; or

 

  ( B) Subject to (aa) there being no Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under clause 10.2.1 (Failure to Pay) which has occurred due to the Vessel being off-hire in order for the necessary repair work to be completed) and (bb) clause 9.5.4(a)(v) below, in the event that the Time Charterer has instructed a shipyard to commence the repair works, which shipyard and repair works are acceptable to the Security Trustee acting reasonably and promptly (and, to the extent that the shipyard and repair works have been approved or nominated by the Time Charterer, such shipyard and repair works shall be deemed to be acceptable to the Security Trustee for these purposes), and paid for part or the whole of the repairs and in respect of which the Borrower is required to reimburse the Time Charterer pursuant to paragraph 2.3 of Schedule XI to the Time Charter, to the Time Charterer to reimburse the Time Charterer for the amounts so paid (and in satisfaction of the Borrower’s obligation to reimburse the Time Charterer pursuant to clause 2.3 of Schedule XI to the Time Charter), with the balance to be paid to the relevant shipyard conducting such repairs (in or towards payment of any repairs in respect of which payment is outstanding) PROVIDED THAT, where such repairs will require the Vessel to remain off-hire for more than 120 days, the Security Trustee has received prior written confirmation from the Time Charterer that the Time Charterer will not exercise its rights under clause 22.4 of the Time Charter in respect of such off-hire period; and

 

55


  ( C) if neither the Borrower (nor the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower) nor the Time Charterer have instructed a shipyard and paid for the repairs (or, in the case of the Time Charterer, part thereof) as described in clauses 9.5.4(a)(ii)(A) or 9.5.4(a)(ii)(B) above, or the conditions attached to the payment of the amounts to the Borrower, Sponsors or, as the case may be, Time Charterer (being, in the case of the Borrower, the requirement that that Vessel has resumed service under the Time Charter and, in the case of the Time Charterer, the requirement that where such repairs will require the Vessel to remain off-hire for more than 120 days, the Security Trustee has received prior written confirmation from the Time Charterer that the Time Charterer will not exercise its rights under clause 22.4 of the Time Charter in respect of such off-hire period) are not satisfied within forty five (45) days of the completion of the repair works, the Security Trustee shall, acting upon the instruction of the Majority Lenders, have the option to either (a) apply such amounts in repairing the damage or (b) apply such amounts in accordance with clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed; and

 

  (iii) Subject to no Event of Default having occurred which is continuing unremedied and unwaived, payment of a claim for an amount which is less than ten million Dollars ($10,000,000) shall be made to the Borrower who shall apply the same (a) in or toward making good the loss and fully repairing all damage in respect whereof such payment shall have been made or (b) to the Time Charterer to reimburse the Time Charterer for amounts paid by the Time Charterer in relation to the repair of the Veessel pursuant to paragraph 2.3 of Schedule XI to the Time Charter; and

 

  ( iv) where there is any surplus after the Insurance proceeds have been applied pursuant to this clause 9.5.4(a) in respect of the relevant repairs, such surplus Insurance proceeds shall be paid to the Security Trustee for application in accordance with clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed); and

 

  ( v) the application of clause 9.5.4(a)(ii) above is the subject to the Borrower being in compliance with its obligation to maintain loss of hire insurance in accordance with clause 9.5.2(d); and

 

  (vi) ( iii) as long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived, payment of any other claim shall be made to the Borrower or, as applicable, such other Security Party, who shall apply the same in or towards making good the loss and fully repairing all damage in respect whereof such payment shall have been made and after the occurrence of an Event of Default and whilst it if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under clause 10.2.1 (Failure to pay) which has occurred due to the Vessel being off-hire in order for the necessary repair work to be completed), has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived, and following notification by the Security Trustee to the approved brokers, payment of any such claim shall be made to the Security Trustee, and shall be applied in accordance with the relevant provisions clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed;

 

  (b) in the case of the Insurances in respect of protection and indemnity risks, be endorsed by way of a loss payable clause to the effect that moneys payable thereunder shall be paid in reimbursement of the assured which has settled the liability to which the relevant claim relates or, if so agreed by the relevant insurers, be paid directly to the person to whom was incurred the liability in respect of which the relevant money was paid unless and until the Security Trustee, following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived, shall direct that they shall be paid to the Security Trustee whereupon they shall be paid to the Security Trustee and shall be applied in accordance with the relevant provisions clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed;

 

56


  (c) in the case of Insurances in respect of loss of hire be endorsed by way of a loss payable clause to the effect that all moneys payable thereunder shall, be paid to the Borrower, unless and until the Security Trustee, following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived, shall direct that these shall be paid to the Security Trustee whereupon they shall be paid to the Security Trustee and shall be applied in accordance with the relevant provisions clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed.

 

9.5.5 Renewals

 

  (a) As soon as possible, but in any case not less than fourteen (14) days before the expiry of any of the policies, entries or contracts forming part of the Insurances or if there is a change in the insurers and/or markets through whom the Insurances are placed, the Borrower shall notify the Agent of the names of the brokers (or other insurers) and any protection and indemnity and/or war risks association through or with whom such Insurances are proposed to be renewed and (if any material change is proposed) of the proposed terms and amounts of renewal. The Borrower shall also promptly notify the Agent of any material change in the information notified to the Agent pursuant to this clause 9.5.5 and shall provide the Agent with particulars of such changes. If at any time the terms and amounts on and for which the Insurances are proposed to be renewed or the identity of the broker or war or protection and indemnity risks associations with whom the Insurances are proposed to be renewed are not approved by the Agent, as contemplated by clause 9.5.18, the Agent shall notify the Borrower promptly in writing of the withdrawal of its approval, and the Borrower shall procure that the Insurances are renewed or replaced on terms satisfactory to the Agent (acting reasonably);

 

  (b) Before the expiry of any Insurances the Borrower shall procure that such relevant Insurances are renewed and shall confirm to the Agent that such renewals have been effected or shall procure that such confirmation is given to the Agent before the expiry of any such Insurances; and

 

  (c) Promptly after each such renewal, the Borrower shall procure that the Agent is provided with the details of the terms and conditions and amounts on which and for which such Insurances have been renewed.

 

  (d) If, after renewal and after review by the Agent of the terms and conditions of renewal, the Agent advises the Borrower that the terms and conditions of such Insurances as renewed, do not conform with the requirements of this clause 9.5.5 (which advice shall specify in reasonable detail the particular discrepancies) then, after consultation with the Agent, the Borrower shall ensure that any such discrepancies are corrected promptly.

 

9.5.6 Custody of Policy Documents/Loss Payable Clauses

The Borrower shall procure that there shall be deposited with the brokers and/or insurers through which the Insurances are arranged from time to time copies of all slips, cover notes, policies certificates of entry or other instruments of insurance from time to time issued in connection with such of the Insurances referred to in this clause 9.5.6 as are effected through such brokers and/or the war risks and protection and indemnity association approved in accordance with clause 9.5.18 and shall also procure that, in the case of the Insurances referred to in clause 9.5.2(a), the relevant loss payable clause shall be incorporated on the relevant cover note or policy and, in the case of the protection and indemnity Insurances referred to in clause 9.5.2(b), the relevant loss payable clause shall be incorporated on the relevant certificate of entry or policy, and the Borrower shall procure that the Agent shall be furnished with certified copies of the relevant cover note or policy or certificate of entry or policy, duly endorsed.

 

57


9.5.7 Letters of undertaking

In relation to all Insurances effected from time to time under and in accordance with this clause 9.5.7, the Borrower shall ensure that all brokers and/or insurers and any protection and indemnity or war risks associations in which the Vessel is entered, in each case being approved under clause 9.5.18, provide the Agent with letters of undertaking:

 

  (a) in the case of an approved broker in the form of the L.I.B.C. Recommended Brokers’ Letter of Undertaking of October 1984 or, if such form no longer represents the then current market practice in the insurance market in which the approved broker operates, in such form as the Agent and the Borrower shall agree, having regard to the then current market practice in the insurance market in which the approved broker operates, and any professional association of which that approved broker is a member; and

 

  (b) in the case of a protection and indemnity association, having regard to the current market practice and the practices prescribed by the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Associations or, if the relevant protection and indemnity association is not a member of the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Associations but has otherwise been approved by the Agent in accordance with clause 9.5.18, the current practice of that association (and which will for all purposes provide for notification to the Agent prior to the cancellation of any such entry); and

 

  (c) in the case of a war risks association, having regard to the current market practice in the insurance market in which such association operates.

 

9.5.8 Fleet Cover

If any of the Insurances referred to in clauses 9.5.2(a) and/or 9.5.2(b) form part of a fleet cover, the Borrower will procure that (a) any letter of undertaking referred to in clause 9.5.7 is amended to provide that the relevant brokers shall undertake to the Lender Finance Parties that they shall neither set-off against any claims in respect of the Vessel any premiums due in respect of other vessels under such fleet cover or any premiums due for other insurances, nor cancel the insurance for reason of non-payment of premiums for other vessels under such fleet cover or of premiums for such other insurance or (b) that the applicable policy documents are endorsed to the effect that the applicable insurers shall neither set-off against any claims in respect of the Vessel any premiums due in respect of other vessels under such fleet cover or any premiums due for other insurances, nor cancel the insurance for reason of non-payment of premiums for other vessels under such fleet cover or of premiums for such other insurance or (c) that the Lender Finance Parties receive other comfort that this will not occur or arranges separate policies for the Vessel.

 

9.5.9 No material adverse alteration

The Borrower shall comply with the terms and conditions of the Insurances and shall not do and shall ensure that there is no act or omission which would give rise to a right to cancel any Insurances or render any Insurances, or any policy or policies or certificate or certificates of entry invalid, void, or unenforceable or render any sum paid out under any policy or policies or certificate or certificates of entry or the Insurances evidenced thereby repayable in whole or in part. The Borrower will not make, and shall procure that there is not made, any material alteration to the terms of any of the Insurances without the prior written consent of the Agent.

 

9.5.10 Operation outside terms of Insurances

The Borrower will take all steps necessary so that:

 

  (a) the Vessel is not operated in any way inconsistent with the provisions or warranties of or implied in, or in contravention of the cover provided by, any Insurance taken out in accordance with this clause 9.5;

 

58


  (b) the Vessel is not engaged in any voyage or to carry any cargo not permitted by any Insurance, in each case without first obtaining the consent (if necessary) of the insurers to such operation or engagement and complying with such requirements as to extra premium or otherwise as the insurers may prescribe; or

 

  (c) all requisite certificates of financial responsibility and/or other consents, licences, approvals or Authorisations as may from time to time be required are obtained and maintained if the Vessel is likely to be operating in or into or off-shore from the United States of America.

 

9.5.11 Payment of premiums and calls

The Borrower shall procure that (taking account of any applicable grace period) all premiums, calls, contributions or other sums of money from time to time due in respect of any Insurance are paid punctually and in full.

 

9.5.12 Notification of Total Loss

The Borrower shall procure that the Agent is notified of:

 

  (a) the levy of any distress on the Vessel or its arrest, detention, seizure, condemnation as prize, Compulsory Acquisition or requisition for title or use; and

 

  (b) (save in the case of Compulsory Acquisition or requisition for title or use or any capture, seizure, arrest, detention or confiscation of the Vessel by any government, or by persons acting or purporting to act on behalf of any government) any accident, casualty or other event which has caused or resulted in or is likely to cause or result in the Vessel being or becoming a Total Loss.

 

9.5.13 Settlement of claims

 

  (a) The Borrower shall do all things necessary and provide all documents, evidence and information to enable the Lender Finance Parties to collect or recover any moneys which at any time become due and payable to the Lender Finance Parties or otherwise in respect of the Insurances.

 

  (b) Subject to the Borrower having provided any necessary security in a timely manner so as to prevent the actual or continued arrest of the Vessel and provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Agent agrees that the Borrower shall have the right to settle, compromise or abandon any claim under the Insurances for Total Loss or in respect of claims in excess of the Threshold Amount or to give notice of abandonment of the Vessel to the insurers and/or to claim a constructive Total Loss upon the prior written approval of the Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, the Borrower acknowledging (without limitation) that it shall be reasonable for the Agent to withhold its consent if required to do so pursuant to the Relevant Documents or any of them) but that the Agent itself shall not settle, compromise or abandon any such claim without reference to the Borrower prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default. After the occurrence of any Event of Default while it is continuing unremedied or unwaived, the Security Trustee alone shall have the right to settle, compromise or abandon any claims under the Insurances and/or give notice of abandonment of the Vessel to the insurers and/or claim a constructive Total Loss.

 

9.5.14 P & I guarantees

The Borrower shall arrange for the execution and delivery of all guarantees and indemnities as may from time to time be required by the Vessel’s protection and indemnity or war risks association.

 

59


9.5.15 Additional Insurance

Nothing in this clause 9.5.15 shall prohibit the Borrower from placing additional insurance on the Vessel at its own expense and for its sole benefit provided however that:

 

  (a) such insurance shall not prejudice the Insurances or recovery thereunder or exceed the amount permitted by warranties or other conditions contained in the Insurances without the written consent of the insurers of the Insurances;

 

  (b) where the written consent of the insurers as referred to in clause 9.5.15(a) is required, the Borrower shall procure that there shall be immediately furnished to the Agent a copy of such consent and, in all cases, with particulars of any additional insurance effected including copies of any cover notes or policies and of the written consent of the insurers of the required insurance in any case where such consent is necessary; and

 

  (c) any insurance payments received by the Agent arising solely from additional insurance effected by the Borrower under this clause 9.5.15(a) less amounts due (if any) by the Agent in respect of Taxes in relation to the sums received shall be paid by the Agent to the Borrower promptly after receipt thereof.

 

9.5.16 No Security Interest

The Borrower shall not, and shall procure that no Security Party will, create or permit to exist any security interest over or in respect of the Insurances save for the approved brokers’ or insurers’ right of set off and lien for unpaid premiums to the extent permitted by clause 9.5.8 and the Encumbrances created by the Assignment.

 

9.5.17 Insurance reports and provision of information

 

  (a) The Borrower shall procure that there shall be provided promptly any information reasonably required for the purpose of the Agent obtaining or preparing any report from a reputable international independent marine insurance broker or adviser appointed by the Agent as to the adequacy of the Insurances effected or proposed to be effected, and the Borrower shall, promptly upon demand, indemnify the Agent in respect of reasonable fees incurred by or for the account of the Agent in connection with one such report prepared immediately prior to the Delivery Date and at annual intervals thereafter, but in the case of each annual report only following either any material change to the terms of any of the Insurances or a change in the identity of the approved brokers, the approved protection and indemnity and/or war risks association or the approved insurance companies and/or underwriters.

 

  (b) The Borrower shall also, on the Agent’s request (not more frequently than annually and, in case of a policy period of more than 12 Months, not more than once in each policy period), provide to the Agent and the Security Trustee certified copies of all policy documents and certificates of entry relating to the Insurances which are in the possession of the Borrower, its agents or managers or the approved brokers.

 

9.5.18 Approval process

The Agent’s written approval acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC’s written approval must be obtained in relation to the initial placement of Insurances, particularly with respect to requirements as to amounts and terms of insurance and identity of brokers and the identity and credit standing of the insurers. The Agent’s written approval acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC’s written approval must also be obtained in relation to any material changes to the amounts and terms of insurance or the identity of the brokers or the identity and credit standing of the insurers on renewal. The Agent will act promptly and will not act unreasonably in relation to giving its approval in relation to these matters.

 

60


9.5.19 Mortgagee’s interest insurance/Mortgagee’s additional perils insurance

Nothing contained in this clause 9.5 shall affect the Security Trustee’s rights to take out mortgagee’s interest insurance, mortgagee’s additional perils insurance and/or contingent liability insurance in relation to the insurances of the Vessel for its own account save that mortgagee’s interest insurance in respect of the Buyer Credit (and taken for the sole benefit of the Buyer Credit only) will be affected at the expense of the Borrower.

 

9.5.20 Insurance review

From time to time during any period of insurance cover the Agent may review the terms of and identity of brokers, insurance companies and underwriters and war risks or protection and indemnity associations through which the Vessel is insured under this clause 9.5.20. Such review shall be made in consultation with the Borrower. After consultation, the Borrower shall implement such modifications as the Agent may reasonably request in order to seek to ensure that such insurances at all times cover all risks which may customarily and generally be covered in transactions similar to that covered by this Agreement and that the terms of such insurances and the identity of brokers, underwriters, insurance companies and associations will continue to be approved by the Agent, as provided for in clause 9.5.18.

 

9.5.21 Insurances effected by the Agent

If the Borrower fails to effect or keep in force the Insurances, the Agent may (but shall not be obliged to) effect and/or keep in force such insurances on the Vessel and such entries in protection and indemnity or war risks associations as the Agent in its discretion considers desirable having regard to the types of insurances that are required pursuant to this clause 9.5, and the Agent may (but shall not be obliged to) pay any unpaid premiums, calls or contributions. The Borrower will reimburse the Agent from time to time on demand for all such premiums, calls or contributions paid by the Agent, together with interest at the Default Rate from the date of payment by the Agent until the date of reimbursement

 

9.5.22 Environmental

The Borrower shall comply strictly with the requirements of any legislation relating to pollution or protection of the environment which may from time to time be applicable to the Vessel in any jurisdiction in which the Vessel shall trade and in particular (if a Vessel is to trade in the United States of America and Exclusive Economic Zone (as defined in the Act)) the Borrower shall comply strictly with the requirements of the United States Oil Pollution Act 1990 (“ the Act ”). Before any such trade is commenced and during the entire period during which such trade is carried on, the Borrower shall:-

 

  (a) pay any additional premiums and satisfy such other conditions required to maintain protection and indemnity cover for oil pollution up to the limit available to the Borrower for the Vessel in the market; and

 

  (b) make all such quarterly or other voyage declarations as may from time to time be required by the Vessel’s protection and indemnity association in order to maintain such cover; and

 

  (c) in addition to the foregoing (if such trade is in the United States of America and Exclusive Economic Zone):

 

  (i) obtain and retain a certificate of financial responsibility under the Act in form and substance satisfactory to the United States Coast Guard and upon request provide the Agent with a copy; and

 

  (ii) procure that the protection and indemnity insurances do not contain a US Trading Exclusion Clause or any other provision analogous thereto and upon request provide the Agent with evidence that this is so; and

 

  (iii) comply strictly with any operational or structural regulations issued from time to time by any relevant authorities under the Act so that at all times the Vessel falls within the provisions which limit strict liability under the Act for oil pollution.

 

61


9.6 Operation and Maintenance

 

9.6.1 General

The Borrower undertakes in favour of the Lender Finance Parties to comply with the following provisions at all times during the Facility Period until such time as the Vessel is sold except as the Agent may otherwise permit in writing.

 

9.6.2 Supply and crewing

Throughout the Facility Period the Borrower shall procure that the Vessel is manned, victualled, navigated, operated, supplied, fuelled, maintained and repaired, all at no cost to the Agent.

 

9.6.3 Condition of the Vessel

The Borrower shall procure that the Vessel and every part thereof is kept in a good and safe condition and state of repair, ordinary wear and tear excepted and shall ensure that all repairs to the Vessel or replacements of lost, damaged or worn parts and equipment in respect of the Vessel, are effected in such a manner so as not to diminish the value of the Vessel and in any event:

 

  (a) consistent with first-class ship ownership, operation and management standards in relation to ships of the Vessel’s age and type;

 

  (b) so as to maintain the Vessel’s present class, namely 1+HULL+MACH+Liquefied gas carrier/LNG, Shiptype 2G (-163°C, 500 kg/m3., 0.25 bar unrestricted navigation + VeriSTAR-HULL, + AUT-UMS,+SYS-NEQ-1,+MON-SHAFT, INWATERSURVEY, with the American Bureau of Shipping or the equivalent with another Classification Society approved by the Majority Lenders in writing and in each case free from any overdue recommendations and conditions affecting the Vessel’s class; and

 

  (c) so as to comply with the material provisions of all laws and regulations applicable to the Vessel, including, without limitation, Environmental Law and Environmental Approval, and to maintain all certificates, licences and permits applicable to vessels registered in the state of registration for the time being of the Vessel and to vessels trading to any jurisdiction to which the Vessel may trade from time to time in any such case.

 

9.6.4 Master, officers and crew

The Master, officers and crew of the Vessel shall be the servants of the Borrower for all purposes whatsoever. The Borrower shall ensure that the wages and allotments and the insurance and pension contributions as appropriate of the Master, officers and crew shall be paid when due and all deductions from their wages in respect of tax liability shall be properly accounted for and the Master shall have no valid claim for disbursements other than those incurred by him in the ordinary course of trading of the Vessel.

 

9.6.5 Modifications

The Borrower shall procure that no modification is made to the Vessel, unless such modification is required to be made by the Borrower pursuant to clause 5.1 of the Time Charter or is otherwise required under applicable Law or by the Classification Society, which would:

 

  (a) materially and adversely alter the structure, type or performance characteristics of the Vessel; or

 

  (b) reduce the value of the Vessel,

and the Borrower shall notify the Agent of any modifications which are made to the Vessel the cost of which exceeds or will when completed exceed two million Dollars ($2,000,000).

 

62


9.6.6 Surveys

The Borrower shall procure that the Vessel is submitted to such periodical or other surveys as may be required by the Flag State or for classification purposes and shall comply with all conditions and recommendations affecting the Vessel’s class of the relevant Classification Society of the Vessel from time to time in accordance with their terms unless waived and the Borrower shall supply copies of any survey reports to the Agent upon request from the Agent.

 

9.6.7 Drydocking

The Borrower shall procure that the Vessel is drydocked as often as may be required to ensure that the Vessel maintains its Classification with its relevant Classification Society and otherwise in accordance with good commercial practice. If the Borrower fails to comply with the requirements of the relevant Classification Society, the Agent may inspect the Vessel in accordance with clause 9.6.12. If requested by the Agent, the Borrower shall give the Agent reasonable prior written notice of any intended drydocking of the Vessel.

 

9.6.8 Release from arrest

The Borrower shall promptly pay and discharge all debts, damages, liabilities and outgoings whatsoever which have given or which may reasonably be expected to give rise to maritime, statutory or possessory liens on, or claims enforceable against, the Vessel or the Insurances or any part thereof. If at any time during the Facility Period any writ or equivalent claim or pleading in admiralty is filed against the Vessel or the Insurances or any part thereof, or the Vessel or the Insurances or any part thereof is arrested or detained or attached or levied upon pursuant to legal process or purported legal process or in the event of the detention of the Vessel in the exercise or the purported exercise of any such lien or claim as aforesaid (other than by reason of a Compulsory Acquisition), the Borrower shall procure the release of the Vessel and the Insurances from such arrest, detention, attachment or levy or, as the case may be, the discharge of the writ or equivalent claim or pleading in admiralty as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within fourteen (14) days (or such longer period as the Agent may agree acting reasonably) of receiving notice thereof by providing bail or procuring the provision of security or otherwise as circumstances may require.

 

9.6.9 Manuals and technical records

The Borrower shall procure that:

 

  (a) all such records, logs, manuals, technical data and other materials and documents which are required to be maintained in respect of the Vessel to comply with any applicable laws or the requirements of the Flag State and Classification Society are maintained;

 

  (b) accurate, complete and up-to-date logs and records of all voyages made by the Vessel and of all maintenance, repairs, alterations, modifications and additions to the Vessel are kept in accordance with good industry practice; and

 

  (c) following the occurrence of an Event of Default and for as long as it is continuing unremedied or unwaived on reasonable advance notice from the Agent, the Agent or its representatives is permitted at any time to examine and take copies of such logs and records and other records.

 

9.6.10 Vessel’s Software

 

  (a) The Borrower shall obtain and maintain and procure that there are obtained and maintained all licences and permits (without liability on the part of the Agent for the payment of any royalties as may be required from time to time in respect of the computer software which is required for the operation of the Vessel, including, but not limited to, navigation software) and shall procure that all such licences and permits are granted without any limitation or expiry (or are renewed prior to any such expiry).

 

  (b) The Borrower shall use its best endeavours to extend to the Security Trustee the benefit of all software licences and permits in respect of the Vessel which are available to the Borrower.

 

63


9.6.11 Manager

Other than the Manager, and subject to clause 9.2.18 above, the Borrower shall procure that no commercial or technical manager or construction supervisor of the Vessel is appointed without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and KEIC, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and the Borrower shall ensure that the Vessel is at all times under such commercial and technical management.

 

9.6.12 Inspection

The Borrower shall ensure that the Agent, its surveyors or other persons appointed by it will be permitted to inspect the Vessel (provided that, if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived, the Agent may not inspect the Vessel more than once annually), upon reasonable notice and without interfering with the Vessel’s operation. Such inspections shall be without cost or risk to the Borrower unless an inspection made after the occurrence of an Event of Default that is continuing unremedied or unwaived, in which case the inspections shall be at the cost of the Borrower and the risk of the Agent.

 

9.6.13 Notification of certain events

The Borrower shall, immediately upon the same coming to its attention and to the best of its then current knowledge, notify the Agent by electronic mail of:

 

  (a) any casualty or damage in respect of the Vessel which is or is likely to give rise to a loss or cost or repairs of two million Dollars ($2,000,000) or more;

 

  (b) any occurrence as a result of which the Vessel has become or is, by the passing of time or otherwise, likely to become a Total Loss;

 

  (c) any requirement or recommendation made by any insurer or Classification Society or by any competent authority which is not complied with within any applicable time period for compliance stipulated by such authority;

 

  (d) any arrest or detention of the Vessel, any exercise or purported exercise of any lien on the Vessel or its Earnings or any requisition of the Vessel for hire;

 

  (e) any Environmental Claim made against the Agent of which it is or becomes aware or in connection with the Vessel, or any Environmental Incident or Environmental Claim in an amount in excess of one million Dollars ($1,000,000) or the Dollar Equivalent (in the case of a claim in any other currency) made against the Borrower, any other Security Party or the Time Charterer in connection with the Vessel;

 

  (f) any claim for breach of the ISM Code or the ISPS Code being made against the Borrower, any other Security Party or the Time Charterer in connection with the Vessel;

 

  (g) any other matter, event or incident which will or is reasonably likely to lead to the ISM Code or the ISPS Code not being complied with;

 

  (h) any claims made in connection with a bodily injury to a third party involving amounts in excess of an amount of one million Dollars ($1,000,000) or the Dollar Equivalent (in the case of a claim in any other currency);

 

64


  (i) any requisition of the Vessel for hire;

 

  (j) any security interest (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) arising over the Vessel or the Insurances or Requisition Compensation; and

 

  (k) any other event in respect of the Vessel or the Insurances or Requisition Compensation which could reasonably be expected to involve the Agent in any loss or liability,

and the Borrower shall keep the Agent advised in writing on a regular basis and in such reasonable detail as the Agent shall require in respect of those events or matters and/or of the response to any of those events or matters by the Borrower or the applicable Security Party, the Time Charterer or any other person.

 

9.6.14 Restrictions on chartering or parting with possession

The Borrower shall not, without the prior written consent of the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably, and without unreasonable delay):

 

  (a) let or otherwise charter the Vessel to any other party or allow the Vessel to be used by or available to any other party, except pursuant to the Time Charter or except as required by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter;

 

  (b) make any amendment to the Time Charter (other than as permitted under clause 9.1.15(b)), or waive any material provision of such Time Charter, or terminate such Time Charter;

 

  (c) put the Vessel into the possession of any person for the purpose of work being done upon it in an amount exceeding or likely to exceed two million Dollars ($2,000,000) or the equivalent in any other currency (in the case of a claim in any other currency) unless either:

 

  (i) the cost of such work is covered by Insurances; or

 

  (ii) the Borrower establishes to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent that it has sufficient funds to pay for the cost of such work.

Provided always that this clause 9.6.14(c) shall not apply in respect of the regularly scheduled dry docking of the Vessel for which the Borrower has reserved amounts in accordance with clause 8.2.

 

9.6.15 Additional Vessel Covenants

The Borrower further covenants with the Agent in respect of the Vessel:-

 

  (a) at and from the Delivery Date to effect and maintain registration of the Mortgage at the Vessel’s Vessel Registry; and not cause nor permit to be done any act or omission as a result of which that registration or the registration set out in clause 9.1.23 above might be defeated or imperilled; and

 

  (b) in the event of any requisition or seizure of the Vessel, to take all lawful steps to recover possession of the Vessel as soon as it is entitled to do so; and

 

  (c) to give to the Agent from time to time during the Facility Period on request such information as the Agent may reasonably require with regard to the Vessel’s employment, position and state of repair; and

 

65


  (d) not during hostilities (whether or not a state of war shall formally have been declared and including, without limitation, any civil war) to permit the Vessel to be employed in carrying any goods which may be declared to be contraband of war or which may render that Vessel liable to confiscation, seizure, detention or destruction, nor to permit the Vessel to enter any area which is declared a war zone by any governmental authority or by the Vessel’s insurers unless the Borrower has effected at its own expense such additional insurances as shall be necessary or customary for first class ship owners. The Borrower shall promptly notify the Agent thereof and, if required by the Agent, specifically assign those insurances to the Security Trustee by such documents as the Agent, acting reasonably, may require; and

 

  (e) not without the prior written consent of the Agent to enter into any agreement or arrangement for sharing the Earnings; and

 

  (f) to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any infringements of any anti drug legislation in any jurisdiction in which the Vessel shall trade and in particular (if the Vessel is to trade in the United States of America) to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any infringements of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 of the United States of America and for this purpose, if required, to enter into a “Carrier Initiative Agreement” with the United States’ Customs Service and to procure that the same or a similar agreement is maintained in full force and effect and that the Borrower’s obligations thereunder are performed in respect of the Vessel.

 

10 Events of Default

 

10.1 The Agent’s rights

If any of the events set out in clause 10.2 occurs, the Agent may at its discretion (and, on the instructions of the Majority Lenders, will):

 

10.1.1 by notice to the Borrower declare the Lenders to be under no further obligation to the Borrower under or pursuant to this Agreement and may (and, on the instructions of the Majority Lenders, will) declare all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness (including such unpaid interest and Commitment Fees as shall have accrued and any Break Costs incurred by the Lender Finance Parties) to be immediately payable, whereupon the Lender Indebtedness (or the part of the Lender Indebtedness referred to in the Agent’s notice) shall immediately become due and payable without any further demand or notice of any kind; and/or

 

10.1.2 declare that any undrawn portion of the Loan shall be cancelled, whereupon the same shall be cancelled and the corresponding Commitment of each Lender shall be reduced to zero; and/or

 

10.1.3 exercise any rights and remedies in existence or arising under the Security Documents.

 

10.2 Events of Default

The events referred to in clause 10.1 are:-

 

10.2.1 Failure to Pay: any Security Party fails to pay any amount payable by it under this Agreement or any of the Security Documents at the time, in the currency and otherwise in the manner specified herein or therein (and so that, for this purpose, sums payable on demand unscheduled amounts shall be treated as having been paid at the stipulated time if paid within five (5) days of demand) unless in respect of scheduled payments the Borrower demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Agent that such failure has occurred by reason solely of banking error and such sum remains unpaid for no longer than five (5) days after the date on which it receives notice from the Agent of such failure; or

 

10.2.2 if any of the Borrower, the Sponsors or the Borrower Shareholders fails to pay when due any amount payable by it under any of the Project Documents to which it is a party at any time, in the currency and otherwise in the manner specified therein subject to expiry of any applicable grace periods specified therein and if such failure in the reasonable opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) has or may be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

66


10.2.3 Insurances: any of the Insurances required to be placed and maintained in respect of the Vessel in accordance with clause 9.5 are not so placed and/or maintained or if at any time any of the Insurances either:

 

  (a) lapse before the time of scheduled renewal without being renewed in accordance with clause 9.5; or

 

  (b) are not renewed at the time of scheduled renewal in accordance with the requirements of clause 9.5; or

 

  (c) are cancelled or rendered invalid, void or unenforceable,

any sums recovered under any of the Insurances for the Vessel are or become repayable in whole or in part and an equivalent amount is not paid by the Borrower within 2 Business Days; or

 

10.2.4 Misrepresentation: any representation or statement made by any Security Party in favour of a Lender Finance Party in this Agreement or any Security Document to which it is a party or, in each case, in any notice or other document, certificate or statement delivered by it pursuant thereto or in connection therewith is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made and in each case where the incorrectness is in the opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) remediable and the relevant Security Party shall have failed to remedy it within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the relevant Security Party of a written notice from the Agent of such failure (or such longer period as the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) may specify or agree); or

 

10.2.5 Specific Covenants: the Borrower fails duly to perform or comply with any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by or procured by it under clauses 9.1.4, 9.1.15, 9.1.15(a), 9.1.15(b)(i), 9.1.15(b)(ii) 9.1.18, 9.1.19, 9.1.19, 9.2.17, 9.4.7, 9.4.8, 9.4.9 or 9.4.10 at any time; or

 

10.2.6 Other Obligations: (a) a Security Party fails duly to perform or comply with any other term or condition of any other Security Document to which it is a party (other than those referred to in clauses 10.2.1, 10.2.2, 10.2.4, 10.2.5, 10.2.23, 10.2.24 or 10.2.25) and such failure is not remedied within fifteen (15) days after the Agent has given written notice thereof to the relevant Security Party (or such longer period as the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) may specify or agree) or (b) any Security Party fails duly to perform or comply with any other term or condition of any Project Document to which it is a party subject to expiry of any applicable grace period therein and if the failure to perform in the reasonable opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) has or may be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

10.2.7 Cross-Default: any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower in an amount greater than two hundred and fifty thousand Dollars ($250,000) is not paid when due or becomes (whether by declaration or automatically in accordance with the relevant agreement or instrument constituting the same and following expiry of any applicable grace period for payment thereof) due and payable prior to the date when it would otherwise have become due (unless as a result of the exercise by the Borrower of a voluntary right of prepayment), or any creditor of the Borrower becomes entitled to declare any such Financial Indebtedness due and payable or any facility or commitment available to the Borrower relating to such Financial Indebtedness is withdrawn, suspended or cancelled by reason of any default (however described) of the Borrower concerned; or

 

10.2.8 Litigation: any litigation, arbitration or administrative action or proceeding is commenced against any Security Party or, prior to Delivery, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or any of their its property, undertakings or assets before any court, arbitrator or administrative agency or authority which, if adversely determined, would have in the reasonable opinion of the Agent a Material Adverse Effect unless:

 

  (a) the relevant Security Party demonstrates in writing to the Agent (who shall act reasonably in considering such matters) to the Agent’s satisfaction, that such litigation, arbitration or administrative action or proceeding is or may reasonably be considered to be vexatious or frivolous; or

 

  (b) it is dismissed or irrevocably stayed within thirty (30) days of commencement;

 

67


10.2.9 Legal process:

 

  (a) any final judgment or order greater than two hundred and fifty thousand Dollars ($250,000) made against the Borrower is not stayed or complied with within twenty (20) Business Days or a creditor attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or other process is levied or enforced upon or sued out against, all or a substantial part of (in the reasonable opinion of the Agent) the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues of the Borrower and is not discharged within twenty (20) Business Days; or

 

  (b) any final judgment or order made against any Security Party (other than the Borrower and (following the Delivery Date) the Supervisor) is not stayed or complied with within twenty (20) Business Days or a creditor attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or other process is levied or enforced upon or sued out against, all or substantially all of (in the reasonable opinion of the Agent) the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues of any Security Party (other than the Borrower and (following the Delivery Date) the Supervisor) and is not discharged within twenty (20) Business Days and, in each such case above, the event described above has or might reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

10.2.10 Insolvency: any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due; suspends making payments on any of its debts or announces an intention to do so; becomes insolvent; has assets the value of which is less than the value of its liabilities; or suffers the declaration of a moratorium in respect of any of its indebtedness; or

 

10.2.11 Reduction or loss of capital: a meeting is convened by any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) for the purpose of passing any resolution to purchase, reduce or redeem any of its share capital (other than a stock buy-back of any Sponsor); or

 

10.2.12 Winding up: any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken for the purpose of winding up any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or an order is made or resolution passed for the winding up of any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or a notice is issued convening a meeting for the purpose of passing any such resolution, provided however that, in the case only of an order for winding-up, the occurrence of such event shall not constitute an Event of Default if such winding-up has commenced as part of a process of a fully-solvent reorganisation, previously approved by the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and which shall not have a Material Adverse Effect, provided further that the Agent shall not have the right to approve a fully-solvent reorganisation of any of the Sponsors, the Borrower Shareholders, the Manager; or

 

10.2.13 Administration: any petition is presented, notice given or other step is taken for the purpose of the appointment of an administrator of any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or an administration order is made in relation to any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only); or

 

10.2.14 Appointment of receivers and managers: any administrative or other receiver is appointed of any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or any part of its assets and/or undertaking or any other steps are taken to enforce any Encumbrance over all or any part of the assets of any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only); or

 

68


10.2.15 Compositions: any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedures or steps are taken, or negotiations commenced, by any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or by any of its creditors with a view to the general readjustment or rescheduling of all or a material part of its indebtedness or to proposing any kind of composition, compromise or arrangement involving such company and any of its creditors; or

 

10.2.16 Analogous proceedings: there occurs, in relation to any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) in any country or territory in which any of them carries on business or to the jurisdiction of whose courts any part of their assets is subject, any event which, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent, appears in that country or territory to correspond with, or have an effect equivalent or similar to, any of those mentioned in clauses 10.2.9 to 10.2.15 (inclusive) (other than clause 10.2.10) or any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) otherwise becomes subject, in any such country or territory, to the operation of any law relating to insolvency, bankruptcy or liquidation; or

 

10.2.17 Environmental Incidents: there is an Environmental Incident which gives rise, or may be likely to give rise, to Environmental Claims which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

10.2.18 Repudiation: any Security Party repudiates any Security Document or Project Document to which it is a party or does or causes to be done any act or thing evidencing an intention to repudiate any such Security Document or the Project Document, or if the validity or enforceability of any of the Security Documents and the Project Documents shall at any time and for any reason be contested by any Security Party which is a party thereto, or if any such Security Party shall deny that it has any, or any further, liability thereunder; or

 

10.2.19 Cessation of business: any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) suspends or ceases (or, in the case of the Borrower, any of the Borrower Shareholders and/or any of the Sponsors threatens to suspend or cease) to carry on its business (or, in the case of the Sponsors a substantial part of its business where the suspension or cessation of such substantial part of its business has or might have a Material Adverse Effect) except (in the case of the Security Parties (which shall not for this purpose include the Borrower for the purposes of and followed by a reconstruction, amalgamation, reorganisation, merger or consolidation which shall be undertaken and concluded in such manner as in the reasonable opinion of the Agent will enable such Security Party to perform its obligations pursuant to the Security Documents or Project Documents to which it is a party; or

 

10.2.20 Seizure: all or a material part of the undertaking, assets, rights or revenues of, or shares or other ownership interests in, any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) are seized, nationalised, expropriated or compulsorily acquired by or under the authority of any government; or

 

10.2.21 Encumbrances enforceable: any Encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrance) in respect of any of the property which is the subject of any of the Security Documents becomes enforceable; or

 

10.2.22 Challenge to Registration: if the registration of the Vessel or the Mortgage becomes void or voidable or subject to cancellation or termination; or

 

10.2.23 Swap Agreements: (a) an Event of Default (in each case as defined in any of the Swap Agreements) on the part of the Borrower has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived under any of the Swap Agreements or (b) an Early Termination Date (as defined in any of the Swap Agreements) has occurred or been or become capable of being effectively designated under any of the Swap Agreements or (c) a person entitled to do so gives notice of an Early Termination Date under any of the Swap Agreements or (d) any of the Swap Agreements is terminated, cancelled, suspended, rescinded or revoked or otherwise ceases to remain in full force and effect for any reason; or

 

69


10.2.24 Material Events: save (in respect of the security interests created by any of the Security Documents) where the Borrower has taken such action as the Agent requires pursuant to clause 9.1.12 (Further Assurance) to adequately protect the security interests created by the Security Documents, any other event occurs or circumstance arises which materially and adversely affects the security interests created by any of the Security Documents or the Refund Guarantee unless the relevant Security Document(s) and/or the Refund Guarantee is replaced or amended to the satisfaction of the Agent forthwith in the case of this Agreement, the Mortgage, the Refund Guarantee and the Deed of Covenants or within 21 days in the case of the other Security Documents; or

 

10.2.25 KEIC Buyer Credit Policy: The obligation of KEIC under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy shall terminate, become unenforceable or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect as a result of the acts or omissions of the Borrower.

 

10.3 Replacement of Manager or Supervisor:

notwithstanding any other provision of the Security Documents, no action or omission by or other matter relating to the Manager or the Supervisor shall result in a misrepresentation, breach of warranty, breach of undertaking, Potential Event of Default or Event of Default hereunder if:

 

  (a) such misrepresentation, breach of warranty, breach of undertaking, Potential Event of Default or Event of Default is cured or waived; or

 

  (b) subject to clause 9.2.18 the Manager or Supervisor is replaced by another person reasonably acceptable to the Agent,

in either case within 30 days of the date upon which such action, omission or matter would otherwise have been a misrepresentation, breach, Potential Event of Default or Event of Default and if the Manager or Supervisor is replaced as set out above they shall be replaced on similar terms to the Management Agreement or Supervision Agreement as appropriate subject always to any misrepresentation, breach, Potential Event of Default or Event of Default being remedied within a reasonable period by such replacement.

 

11 Set-Off and Lien

 

11.1 Set-off

 

11.1.1 The Borrower irrevocably authorises each of the Lender Finance Parties at any time after all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness shall have become due and payable to set off any liability of the Borrower to any of the Lender Finance Parties (whether present or future, actual or contingent, and irrespective of the branch or office, currency or place of payment) against any credit balance from time to time standing on any account of the Borrower (whether current or otherwise and whether or not subject to notice) with any branch of any of the Lender Finance Parties in or towards satisfaction of the Lender Indebtedness and, in the name of that Lender Finance Party or the Borrower, to do all acts (including, without limitation, converting or exchanging any currency) and execute all documents which may be required to effect such application. The relevant Lender Finance Party will notify the Borrower forthwith upon the exercise or purported exercise of any rights under this clause 11.1.

 

11.1.2 For such purposes, each Lender Finance Party is authorised to purchase with the moneys standing to the credit of such account such other currencies as may be necessary to effect such application. No Lender Finance Party shall be obliged to exercise any right given to it by this clause 11.1. The Lender Finance Party shall notify the Borrower forthwith upon the exercise or purported exercise of any right of set-off giving full details in relation thereto.

 

11.1.3 Without prejudice to their rights hereunder and/or under any of the Swap Agreements, the Swap Providers may at the same time as, or at any time after, any Event of Default under this Agreement or the Borrower’s default under any of the Swap Agreements set-off any amount due now or in the future from the Borrower to the Swap Providers under this Agreement against any amount due from the Swap Providers to the Borrower under any of the Swap Agreements and apply the first amount in discharging the second amount. The effect of any set-off under this clause 11.1.3 shall be effective to extinguish or, as the case may require, reduce the liabilities of the Swap Providers under any of the Swap Agreements.

 

70


11.2 Lien

If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, unremedied or unwaived, each Lender Finance Party shall have a lien on and be entitled to retain and realise as additional security for the repayment of the Lender Indebtedness any cheques, drafts, bills, notes or negotiable or non-negotiable instruments and any stocks, shares or marketable or other securities and property of any kind of the Borrower (or of that Lender Finance Party as agent or nominee of the Borrower) from time to time held by that Lender Finance Party, whether for safe custody or otherwise.

 

11.3 Restrictions on withdrawal

Despite any term to the contrary in relation to any deposit or credit balance at any time on any account of the Borrower with any of the Lender Finance Parties, no such deposit or balance shall be repayable or capable of being assigned, mortgaged, charged or otherwise disposed of or dealt with by the Borrower in question after an Event of Default has occurred and while such Event of Default is continuing unremedied or unwaived, but any Lender Finance Party may from time to time permit the withdrawal of all or any part of any such deposit or balance without affecting the continued application of this clause. Provided always that this clause 11.3 shall not apply to the Distribution Account or any credit balance therein.

 

12 Assignment and Transfer

 

12.1 Right to assign

 

12.1.1 Subject to clause 12.9, each of the Lenders may (a) assign or transfer all or any of its rights and/or obligations under or pursuant to the Security Documents or (b) assign or transfer all or any part of its Commitment any such part being at least US $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of US $1,000,000, (i) to any other branch or Affiliate of that Lender (provided that such Affiliate shall have the same or a better credit rating than the Lender making the assignment or transfer) to another Lender or (ii) above with the prior written consent of the Agent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and the Borrower (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and shall not be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived) to any other bank or financial institution provided that in relation to any transfer or any assignment under this clause 12.1:

 

  (i) any transferee under this clause 12.1(a) shall assume all of the relevant Lender’s obligations;

 

  (ii) the Borrower shall not be liable to pay any costs, charges or expenses of or in connection with the implementation of completion of the assignment or transfer;

 

  (iii) the Borrower shall not, as at the time of any such assignment or transfer, be liable to pay any additional or increased amounts or taxes or suffer a reduction in any amounts receivable by it under this Agreement for which it would not have been liable or would not have suffered but for such assignment or transfer having then taken place; and

 

  (iv) the relevant Lender shall give the Borrower five (5) Business Days prior written notice of any intended transfer of obligations.

 

12.1.2 Each of the Lenders may, without being restricted or otherwise being bound by clause 12.1.1, assign or transfer all or any part of its rights under or pursuant to this Agreement and/or any of the other Security Documents to KEIC following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived or otherwise if required to do so by KEIC pursuant to the terms of the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy provided that KEIC pays first the insurance proceeds in accordance with the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy.

 

71


12.2 Borrower’s co-operation

The Borrower will, at no cost to the Borrower, co-operate fully and will procure that the other Security Parties co-operate fully with the Lender Finance Parties in connection with any assignment or transfer pursuant to clause 12.1; will execute and procure the execution of such documents as the Lender Finance Parties may reasonably require in connection therewith; and irrevocably authorise each of the Lender Finance Parties to disclose to any proposed assignee or transferee (whether before or after any assignment or transfer and whether or not any assignment or transfer shall take place) all information relating to the Security Parties, the Time Charterer, the Loan or the Relevant Documents which each such Lender Finance Party may in its discretion consider necessary to implement such assignment or transfer (subject to any duties of confidentiality applicable to the Borrower and/or Lender Finance Parties).

 

12.3 Rights of assignee

Any assignee or transferee of a Lender shall (unless limited by the express terms of the assignment or transfer) take the full benefit of every provision of the Security Documents benefiting that Lender. Such transfer shall not directly result in an increased cost to, or liability of, the Borrower at the time of transfer.

 

12.4 Transfer Certificates

If any Lender wishes to transfer all or any of its Commitment as contemplated in clause 12.1 then such transfer may be effected by the delivery to the Agent of a duly completed and duly executed Transfer Certificate in which event, on the later of the Transfer Date specified in such Transfer Certificate and the fifth (5 th ) Business Day after the date of delivery of such Transfer Certificate to the Agent:

 

12.4.1 to the extent that in such Transfer Certificate the Lender which is a party thereto seeks to transfer its Commitment in whole, the Borrower and such Lender shall be released from further obligations towards each other under this Agreement and their respective rights against each other shall be cancelled other than existing claims against such Lender for breach of this Agreement (such rights, benefits and obligations being referred to in this clause 12.4 as “discharged rights and obligations”);

 

12.4.2 the Borrower and the Transferee which is a party thereto shall assume obligations towards each other and/or acquire rights against each other which differ from such discharged rights and obligations only insofar as the Borrower and such Transferee have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of the Borrower and such Lender;

 

12.4.3 the Lender Finance Parties and the Transferee shall acquire the same rights and benefits and assume the same obligations between themselves as they would have acquired and assumed had such Transferee been an original party to this Agreement as a Lender with the rights, benefits and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of such transfer; and

 

12.4.4 as between the Agent and the Transferee, the Transferee shall pay to the Agent a transfer fee of three thousand Dollars ($3,000).

 

12.5 Power of Attorney

In order to give effect to each Transfer Certificate the Lender Finance Parties and the Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally appoint the Agent as its true and lawful attorney with full power to execute on their respective behalves each Transfer Certificate delivered to the Agent pursuant to clause 12.4 without the Agent being under any obligation before doing so to take any further instructions from or give any prior notice to, any of the Lender Finance Parties or, subject to the Borrower’s rights under clause 12.1, the Borrower. The Agent shall so execute each such Transfer Certificate on behalf of the other Lender Finance Parties and the Borrower immediately on receipt of the same by the Agent pursuant to clause 12.4.

 

72


12.6 Notification

The Agent shall promptly notify the other Lender Finance Parties, the Transferee and the Borrower on the execution by it of any Transfer Certificate together with details of the amount transferred, the Transfer Date and the parties to such transfer.

 

12.7 No Assignment or transfer by the Borrower

The Borrower may not assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Security Documents without the prior written consent of the Lenders and KEIC.

 

12.8 KEIC Buyer Credit Policy

Not withstanding any provisions to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event KEIC pays the insurance proceeds in full or in part in accordance with the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy, (i) the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement shall not be reduced or affected in any manner, (ii) KEIC shall be entitled to exercise the rights of the Lenders in accordance with clause 9.2 of the Intercreditor Deed, (iii) the provisions of clause 9.1 of the Intercreditor Deed shall apply and (iv) with respect to the obligations of the Borrower owed to the Agent, the Security Trustee and/or the Lenders under the Security Documents (or any of them) such obligations shall additionally be owed to KEIC to the extent of its interest by way of subrogation of the rights of the Lenders.

 

12.9 KEIC Consent

A Lender may not assign or transfer its portion of the Buyer Credit or any part thereof without the consent of KEIC (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

13 Payments, Reserve Requirements and Illegality

 

13.1 Payments

All amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to any of the Security Documents shall be paid to such accounts at such banks as the Agent may from time to time direct to the Borrower and shall be paid in Dollars in same day funds (or such funds as are required by the authorities in the United States of America for settlement of international payments for immediate value). Payments shall be deemed to have been received by the Agent on the date on which the Agent receives authenticated advice of receipt, unless that advice is received by the Agent on a day other than a Business Day or at a time of day (whether on a Business Day or not) when the Agent in its reasonable discretion considers that it is impossible or impracticable for the Agent to utilise the amount received for value that same day, in which event the payment in question shall be deemed to have been received by the Agent on the Business Day next following the date of receipt of advice by the Agent.

 

13.2 No deductions or withholdings

All payments (whether of principal or interest or otherwise) to be made by the Borrower to the Lender Finance Parties pursuant to the Security Documents shall, subject only to clause 13.3, be made free and clear of and without deduction for or on account of any Taxes or other deductions, withholdings, restrictions, conditions or counterclaims of any nature, and the Borrower will not claim any equity in respect of any payment due from them to the Lender Finance Parties under or in relation to any of the Security Documents.

 

13.3 Grossing-up

 

13.3.1 If at any time any law requires (or is interpreted by any relevant fiscal authority to require) the Borrower to make any deduction or withholding from any payment, or to change the rate or manner in which any required deduction or withholding is made, the Borrower will promptly notify the Agent and, simultaneously with making that payment, will pay to the Agent whatever additional amount (after taking into account any additional Taxes on, or deductions or withholdings from, or restrictions or conditions on, that additional amount) is necessary to ensure that, after making the deduction or withholding, the Agent and the Lenders receive a net sum equal to the sum which they would have received had no deduction or withholding been made.

 

73


13.3.2 If following the making of any such increased payment by the Borrower pursuant to clause 13.3.1, the Agent or any Lender determines that:

 

  (a) a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of any Tax (a “Tax Credit”) is attributable to any deduction or withholding or increased payment made by the Borrower; and

 

  (b) it has obtained, utilised and retained that Tax Credit,

the Agent or Lender (as appropriate) shall pay an amount to the Borrower which the Agent or the Lender (as appropriate) determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been had the deduction or withholding or additional payment not been required to be made.

 

13.4 Evidence of deductions

If at any time the Borrower is required by law to make any deduction or withholding from any payment to be made by it to the Lender Finance Parties pursuant to any of the Security Documents, the Borrower will pay the amount required to be deducted or withheld to the relevant authority within the time allowed under the applicable law and will, no later than thirty (30) days after making that payment, deliver to the Agent an original receipt issued by the relevant authority, or other evidence reasonably acceptable to the Agent, evidencing the payment to that authority of all amounts required to be deducted or withheld. If the Borrower makes any deduction or withholding from any payment to the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to any of the Security Documents, and a Lender subsequently receives a refund or allowance from any tax authority which that Lender at its sole discretion (acting reasonably and in good faith) identifies as being referable to that deduction or withholding, that Lender shall within five (5) Business Days of receipt of the same, pay to the Borrower an amount equal to the amount of the refund or allowance received, if and to the extent that it may do so without prejudicing its right to retain that refund or allowance and without putting itself in any worse financial position than that in which it would have been had the deduction or withholding not been required to have been made. Nothing in this clause 13.4 shall be interpreted as imposing any obligation on any Lender to apply for any refund or allowance nor as restricting in any way the manner in which any Lender organises its tax affairs, nor as imposing on any Lender any obligation to disclose to the Borrower any information regarding its tax affairs or tax computations. All costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in obtaining or seeking to obtain a refund or allowance from any tax authority pursuant to this clause 13.4 shall be for the Borrower’s account.

 

13.5 Adjustment of due dates

If any payment to be made to the Lender Finance Parties under any of the Security Documents, other than a payment of interest on the Loan (to which clause 6.7 applies), shall be due on a day which is not a Business Day, that payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day (unless the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar Month in which event the payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day). Any such variation of time shall be taken into account in computing any interest in respect of that payment.

 

13.6 Change in law

If, by reason of the introduction of any law, or any change in any law, or the interpretation by the relevant fiscal authority or administration of any law, or in compliance with any request or requirement from any central bank or any fiscal, monetary or other authority:-

 

74


13.6.1 any Lender Finance Party (or the Holding Company of any Lender Finance Party) shall be subject to any Tax with respect to payments of all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness; or

 

13.6.2 the basis of Taxation of payments to any Lender Finance Party in respect of all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness shall be changed (other than as a result of any change in the applicable tax rate in the jurisdiction in which its lending office is based); or

 

13.6.3 any reserve requirements shall be imposed, modified or deemed applicable against assets held by or deposits in or for the account of or loans by any branch of any Lender Finance Party or its direct or indirect Holding Company; or

 

13.6.4 any ratio (whether cash, capital adequacy, liquidity or otherwise) which any Lender Finance Party or its direct or indirect Holding Company is required or requested to maintain shall be affected; or

 

13.6.5 there is imposed on any Lender Finance Party (or on the direct or indirect Holding Company of any Lender Finance Party) any other condition in relation to the Lender Indebtedness or the Security Documents (other than as a result of any change in the applicable tax rate in the jurisdiction in which its lending office is based);

and the result of any of the above shall be to increase the cost to any Lender (or to the direct or indirect Holding Company of any Lender) of that Lender making or maintaining its Commitment or its Drawing, or to cause any Lender Finance Party to suffer (in its reasonable opinion) a material reduction in the rate of return on its overall capital below the level which it reasonably anticipated at the Execution Date and which it would have been able to achieve but for its entering into this Agreement and/or performing its obligations under this Agreement, the Lender Finance Party affected shall notify the Agent and, on demand to the Borrower by the Agent, the Borrower shall from time to time pay to the Agent for the account of the Lender Finance Party affected the amount which shall compensate that Lender Finance Party or the Agent (or the relevant Holding Company) for such additional cost or reduced return. A certificate signed by an authorised signatory of the Agent or of the Lender Finance Party affected setting out the amount of that payment and the basis of its calculation shall be submitted to the Borrower and shall be conclusive evidence of such amount save for manifest error or on any question of law.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this clause 13.6 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) fully compensated for by clause 15.7 (or would have been compensated for under clause 15.7 but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in clause 15.7 applied) or fully compensated for under any other provision of this Agreement; or

 

  (c) attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Lender Finance Party (or the Holding Company of any Lender Finance Party) or any of its or their Affiliates of any law.

 

13.7 Illegality and impracticality

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Security Documents, the obligations of a Lender to advance or maintain its Commitment shall terminate in the event that a change in any law or in the interpretation of any law by any authority charged with its administration shall make it unlawful for that Lender to advance or maintain its Commitment. In such event the Lender affected shall notify the Agent and the Agent shall, by written notice to the Borrower, declare that Lender’s obligations to be immediately terminated. If all or any part of the Loan shall have been advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower, the portion of the Lender Indebtedness (including all accrued interest and Commitment Fees) advanced by the Lender so affected shall be prepaid on the next Interest Payment Date, or sooner if illegality is determined (but no sooner than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law). Clause 5.4 shall apply to that prepayment if it is made on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period.

 

75


13.8 Changes in market circumstances

If at any time a Lender determines (which determination shall be final and conclusive and binding on the Borrower) that, by reason of changes affecting the London Interbank market, adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the rate of interest on the Loan or any part thereof pursuant to this Agreement:

 

13.8.1 that Lender shall give notice to the Agent and the Agent shall give notice to the Borrower of the occurrence of such event; and

 

13.8.2 the Agent shall as soon as reasonably practicable certify to the Borrower in writing the effective cost to that Lender of maintaining its Commitment for such further period as shall be selected by that Lender and the rate of interest payable by the Borrower for that period; or, if that is not acceptable to the Borrower,

 

13.8.3 the Agent in accordance with instructions from that Lender and subject to that Lender’s approval of any agreement between the Agent and the Borrower, will negotiate with the Borrower in good faith with a view to modifying this Agreement to provide a substitute basis for that Lender’s Commitment which is financially a substantial equivalent to the basis provided for in this Agreement.

If, within thirty (30) days of the giving of the notice referred to in clause 13.8.1, the Borrower and the Agent fail to agree in writing on a substitute basis for such Lender’s Commitment the Borrower will immediately prepay the amount of such Lender’s Commitment and the Maximum Loan Amount will automatically decrease by the amount of such Commitment and such decrease shall not be reversed. Clause 5.4 shall apply to that prepayment if it is made on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period.

 

13.9 Non-availability of currency

If a Lender is for any reason unable to obtain Dollars in the London Interbank market and is, as a result, or as a result of any other contingency affecting the London Interbank market, unable to advance or maintain its Commitment in Dollars, that Lender shall give notice to the Agent and the Agent shall give notice to the Borrower and that Lender’s obligations to make the Loan available shall immediately cease. In that event, if all or any part of the Loan shall have been advanced by that Lender to the Borrower, the Agent in accordance with instructions from that Lender and subject to that Lender’s approval of any agreement between the Agent and the Borrower, will negotiate with the Borrower in good faith with a view to establishing a mutually acceptable basis for funding the Loan or relevant part thereof from an alternative source. If the Agent and the Borrower have failed to agree in writing on a basis for funding the Loan or relevant part thereof from an alternative source by 11.00 a.m. on the second Business Day prior to the end of the then current relevant Interest Period, the Borrower will (without prejudice to its other obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, its obligation to pay interest on the Loan, arising on the expiry of the then relevant Interest Period) prepay the Lender Indebtedness (or relevant part thereof) to the Agent on behalf of that Lender on the expiry of the then current relevant Interest Period.

 

13.10 Mitigation

 

13.10.1 Each Lender Finance Party shall, subject to clause 13.10.2 below, 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 13.3, clause 13.6 or clause 13.7 including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the Security Documents to an Affiliate.

 

13.10.2 The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender Finance Party for all costs and expenses properly incurred by that Lender Finance Party as a result of steps taken by it under clause 13.10.1. A Lender Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under clause 13.10.1 if, in the opinion of that Lender Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it.

 

76


14 Communications

 

14.1 Method

Any communication may be given, delivered, made or served (as the case may be) under or in relation to this Agreement by letter or fax or (subject to clause 14.3) electronic mail and shall be in the English language and sent addressed:-

 

14.1.1 in the case of any of the Lenders to the Agent at the address specified for BNP Paribas S.A. in Schedule 1;

 

14.1.2 in the case of the Agent, at the address specified for BNP Paribas S.A. in Schedule 1;

 

14.1.3 in the case of the Security Trustee, at the address specified for BNP Paribas S.A. in Schedule 1;

 

14.1.4 in the case of the KEIC Agent, at the address specified for BNP Paribas S.A. in Schedule 1 ;

 

14.1.5 in the case of the Borrower at:

Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

2-1, Ohtemachi 1-chome,

Chiyoda-ku,

Tokyo, 100-0004,

Japan

 

  Fax: 81-3-3285-9838

 

  Attention: General Manager, LNG Project Department,
       Second Ship & Marine Project Division

 

  Email: tkmyj@dg.mitsui.com

or to such other address or fax number as any of the above parties may designate for themselves by written notice to the others.

 

14.2 Timing

A Communication shall be deemed to have been duly given, delivered, made or served to or on, and received by a party to this Agreement:-

 

14.2.1 in the case of a fax when the sender receives one or more transmission reports showing the whole of the Communication to have been transmitted to the correct fax number;

 

14.2.2 if delivered to an officer of the relevant party or left at the address of the relevant party specified in clause 14.1; or

 

14.2.3 if posted, at 9.00 a.m. on the fifth Business Day after posting by prepaid first class post. PROVIDED ALWAYS that communications to the Agent and (to the extent that they relate to the matters specified in clause 4.10.2 of the Intercreditor Deed only) the Lenders and the Borrower shall be effective only upon receipt; or

 

14.2.4 if by electronic mail, in accordance with clause 14.3;

Any Communication by fax shall be promptly confirmed in writing by post or hand delivery.

 

77


14.3 Electronic communication

 

14.3.1 Any communication to be made in connection with this Agreement may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means, if the Borrower and the relevant Lender Finance Party:

 

  (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.

 

14.3.2 Any electronic communication made between the Borrower and the relevant Lender Finance Party will be effective only when actually received in readable form and acknowledged by the recipient (it being understood that any system generated responses do not constitute an acknowledgement) and in the case of any electronic communication made by the Borrower to a Lender Finance Party only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Lender Finance Party shall specify for this purpose.

 

14.3.3 Any electronic communication made in accordance with this clause 14.3 shall be confirmed in writing as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.

 

15 General Indemnities

 

15.1 Currency

In the event of any Lender Finance Party receiving or recovering any amount payable under any of the Security Documents in a currency other than the Currency of Account, and if the amount received or recovered is insufficient when converted into the Currency of Account at the date of receipt to satisfy in full the amount due, the Borrower shall, on the Agent’s written demand, pay to the Agent such further amount in the Currency of Account as is sufficient to satisfy in full the amount due and that further amount shall be due to the Agent on behalf of the Lender Finance Parties as a separate debt under this Agreement.

 

15.2 Costs and expenses

The Borrower will, on the earlier of (a) the date falling thirty (30) days from the date of the Agent’s written demand and (b) the date of the next following payment of charterhire under the Time Charter, reimburse the Agent (on behalf of each of the Lender Finance Parties and KEIC) for all reasonable out of pocket expenses including internal and external legal costs (including stamp duty, Value Added Tax or any similar or replacement tax if applicable but excluding income tax) of and incidental to:-

 

15.2.1 the negotiation, preparation, execution and registration of the Security Documents (whether or not any of the Security Documents are actually executed or registered and whether or not all or any part of the Loan is advanced);

 

15.2.2 any amendments, addenda or supplements to any of the Security Documents (whether or not completed);

 

15.2.3 any other documents (including legal opinions) which may at any time be required by any Lender Finance Party to give effect to any of the Security Documents or which any Lender Finance Party is entitled to call for or obtain pursuant to any of the Security Documents; and

 

15.2.4 without prejudice to clauses 15.3 and 15.5, the exercise of the rights, powers, discretions and remedies of the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to the Security Documents.

 

78


15.3 Events of Default

The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender Finance Parties from time to time on demand against all losses and costs incurred or sustained by any Lender Finance Party as a consequence of any Event of Default, including (without limitation) any Break Costs.

 

15.4 Funding costs

The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender Finance Parties from time to time on demand against all losses and costs incurred or sustained by any Lender Finance Party if, for any reason due to a Potential Event of Default or other action by the Borrower, any Drawing is not advanced to the Borrower after the relevant Drawdown Notice has been given to the Agent, or is advanced on a date other than that requested in the Drawdown Notice, including (without limitation), any Break Costs.

 

15.5 Protection and enforcement

 

15.5.1 The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender Finance Parties and KEIC from time to time on demand against all losses, costs and liabilities which any Lender Finance Party or KEIC may from time to time sustain, incur or become liable for in or about the protection, maintenance or enforcement of the rights conferred on the Lender Finance Parties and KEIC by the Security Documents or in or about the exercise or purported exercise by the Lender Finance Parties or KEIC of any of the rights, powers, discretions or remedies vested in them under or arising out of the Security Documents, including (without limitation) any losses, costs and liabilities which any Lender Finance Party or KEIC may from time to time sustain, incur or become liable for by reason of any Lender Finance or KEIC Party being mortgagees of the Vessel, assignees of any Mortgage and/or a Lender to the Borrower, or by reason of any Lender Finance Party or KEIC being deemed by any court or authority to be an operator or controller, or in any way concerned in the operation or control, of the Vessel. No such indemnity will be given to a Lender Finance Party or KEIC where any such loss, cost or liability has occurred due to wilful misconduct or recklessness with knowledge of the probable consequences on the part of that Lender Finance Party or KEIC; however this shall not affect the right of any other Lender Finance Party or KEIC to receive any such indemnity.

 

15.5.2 The Agent shall:

 

  (a) notify the Borrower in writing of any claim made against it of which it is aware which is likely to give rise to such losses, costs and liabilities;

 

  (b) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, consult, in good faith with the Borrower, in respect of such claim until such date as the Lender Finance Party is obliged to satisfy or discharge such claim and not enter into any settlement or other compromise in respect of such claim without the prior written consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), unless the Lender Finance Parties expressly waive in writing their right to be indemnified in respect of such losses, costs and liabilities;

 

  (c) so long as it is indemnified to its satisfaction against costs or liabilities that may be incurred, use reasonable endeavours to defend such claim and to avoid or reduce the losses, costs and liabilities which may be incurred; and

 

  (d) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, give the Borrower a reasonable opportunity to take such action, at the Borrower’s cost, as the Borrower deems fit to defend or avoid any liability being incurred or to take action against a third party in respect of any losses (provided that the Borrower may not take any action in the name of the Lender Finance Party without that Lender Finance Party’s prior written consent nor may the Borrower take any action which would involve risk of criminal or civil liability to the Lender Finance Parties or any material risk of the sale, loss or forfeiture of the Vessel).

 

79


15.5.3 The indemnities in this clause 15.5 shall not extend to any claim or liability of a Lender Finance Party to the extent that such claim or liability arises from an act or omission on the part of that Lender Finance Party which constitutes gross negligence or wilful misconduct on the part of such Lender Finance Party.

 

15.6 Liabilities of Lender Finance Parties

The Borrower will from time to time reimburse the Lender Finance Parties on demand for all sums which any Lender Finance Party may pay on account of any of the Security Parties or in connection with the Vessel (whether alone or jointly or jointly and severally with any other person) including (without limitation) all sums which any Lender Finance Party may pay or guarantees which any Lender Finance Party may give in respect of the Insurances, any expenses incurred by any Lender Finance Party in connection with the maintenance or repair of the Vessel or in discharging any lien, bond or other claim relating in any way to the Vessel, and any sums which any Lender Finance Party may pay or guarantees which they may give to procure the release of the Vessel from arrest or detention.

 

15.7 Taxes

The Borrower shall pay all Taxes imposed on the Lender Finance Parties in respect of the Security Documents or to which all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness or any of the Security Documents or the Project Documents may be at any time subject and shall indemnify the Lender Finance Parties on demand against all liabilities, costs, claims and expenses incurred in connection therewith, including but not limited to any such liabilities, costs, claims and expenses resulting from any omission to pay or delay in paying any such Taxes. Provided that the indemnification in this clause 15.7 shall not apply to the extent that the Taxes imposed on a Lender Finance Party arose directly or indirectly from the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Lender Finance Party. The indemnity contained in this clause 15.7 shall survive the repayment of the Lender Indebtedness.

 

15.8 Value Added Tax

All amounts set out, or expressed to be payable by the Borrower to the Lender Finance Parties pursuant to the Security Documents which (in whole or in part) constitute consideration for a supply for Value Added Tax purposes shall be deemed to be exclusive of any Value Added Tax which is chargeable on such supply, and accordingly, if Value Added Tax is chargeable on any supply made by any Lender Finance Party to a Borrower under a Security Document, that Borrower shall pay to the Lender Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying the consideration) an amount equal to the amount of the Value Added Tax.

 

15.9 KEIC Indemnity

The Borrower shall indemnify the KEIC Agent and each Lender from time to time on demand against any duly evidenced additional premium, cost or expense as provided for under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy, which KEIC may charge, invoice, or set-off against amounts owing to the KEIC Agent and/or the Lenders, including without limitation as a result of a change of the delivery schedule of the Vessel, a change to Schedule 7 (Contract Instalments and Repayment Profile) of this Agreement or otherwise, properly incurred by the KEIC Agent or a Lender in connection with their compliance with the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy.

 

16 Miscellaneous

 

16.1 Tax Lease

 

16.1.1 The Lender Finance Parties agree that the Loan may be refinanced to incorporate a lease financing structure with the prior written consent of each Lender Finance Party. Each Lender Finance Party agrees that it shall not unreasonably withhold or delay its consent to the implementation of a lease financing structure, provided that:

 

  (a) it is satisfied that its security position will not be materially and adversely affected;

 

80


  (b) it has received agreed and executed documentation acceptable to it in all respects;

 

  (c) the lease financing structure is not, in its reasonable opinion, unduly onerous in terms of documentation and time;

 

  (d) it has received credit approval for such lease financing; and

 

  (e) it has received legal opinions satisfactory to it in relation to jurisdictions reasonably required by it.

 

16.1.2 No Lender Finance Party shall be entitled to any additional fees from the Borrower in connection with the implementation of a lease financing structure.

 

16.1.3 The Borrower shall pay the reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of outside legal counsel engaged by the Lender Finance Parties) incurred by the Lender Finance Parties in connection with the implementation of the lease finance structure.

 

16.2 Waivers

No failure or delay on the part of any Lender Finance Party in exercising any right, power, discretion or remedy under or pursuant to any of the Security Documents, nor any actual or alleged course of dealing between any Lender Finance Party and any of the Security Parties, shall operate as a waiver of, or acquiescence in, any default on the part of any Security Party, unless expressly agreed to do so in writing by the Agent, nor shall any single or partial exercise by any Lender Finance Party of any right, power, discretion or remedy preclude any other or further exercise of that right, power, discretion or remedy, or the exercise by a Lender Finance Party of any other right, power, discretion or remedy.

 

16.3 No variations

No variation or amendment of any of the Security Documents shall be valid unless made by each party thereto and in accordance with the terms thereof and consented to in writing by KEIC.

 

16.4 Severability

If at any time any provision of any of the Security Documents is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect that provision shall be severed from the remainder and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected or impaired in any way.

 

16.5 Successors etc.

The Security Documents shall be binding on the Security Parties and on their successors and permitted transferees and assignees, and shall inure to the benefit of the Lender Finance Parties and KEIC in respect of their rights and their respective successors, transferees and assignees.

 

16.6 Further assurance

If any provision of the Security Documents shall be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part by reason of any present or future law or any decision of any court, then from time to time the Borrower will promptly, following a demand by the Agent, execute or procure the execution of such further documents as in the reasonable opinion of the Lenders are necessary to provide valid and enforceable security for the repayment of the Lender Indebtedness, provided that with respect to any further document relating to the Time Charter, the Borrower shall only be required to procure the execution of such documents on a reasonable endeavours basis.

 

81


16.7 Other arrangements

The Lender Finance Parties may, without prejudice to their rights under or pursuant to the Security Documents, at any time and from time to time, on such terms and conditions as they may in their discretion determine, and with notice to the Borrower, grant time or other indulgence to, or compound with, any other person liable (actually or contingently) to the Lender Finance Parties or any of them in respect of all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness, and may release or renew negotiable instruments and take and release securities and hold funds on realisation or suspense account without affecting the liabilities of the Borrower or the rights of the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to the Security Documents.

 

16.8 Advisers

The Borrower irrevocably authorises the Agent, at any time and from time to time during the Facility Period, to consult insurance advisers on any matters relating to the Insurances, including, without limitation, the collection of insurance claims, and from time to time to consult or retain advisers or consultants to monitor or advise on any other claims relating to the Vessel. Subject to clause 9.1.22 the Borrower will provide such advisers and consultants with all information and documents which they may from time to time reasonably require. In the event that such advisers or consultants discover that the Borrower is in breach of its obligations in relation to the Insurances or at the time of or during such consultation or retention there occurs an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived, then the Borrower will reimburse the Agent on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses properly incurred by the Agent in connection with the consultation or retention of such advisers or consultants, but such consultation or retention shall otherwise be at the Lender Finance Parties’ own cost and expense.

 

16.9 Delegation

The Lender Finance Parties may at any time and from time to time delegate to any person any of their rights, powers, discretions and remedies pursuant to the Security Documents, other than rights relating to actions to be taken by the Majority Lenders or the Lenders as a group, on such terms as they may consider appropriate (including the power to sub-delegate).

 

16.10 Rights etc. cumulative

Every right, power, discretion and remedy conferred on the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to the Security Documents shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right, power, discretion or remedy to which they may at any time be entitled by law or in equity. The Lender Finance Parties may exercise each of their rights, powers, discretions and remedies as often and in such order as they deem appropriate subject to obtaining the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders. The exercise or the beginning of the exercise of any right, power, discretion or remedy shall not be interpreted as a waiver of the right to exercise any other right, power, discretion or remedy either simultaneously or subsequently.

 

16.11 No enquiry

The Lender Finance Parties shall not be concerned to enquire into the powers of the Security Parties or of any person purporting to act on behalf of any of the Security Parties, even if any of the Security Parties or any such person shall have acted in excess of their powers or if their actions shall have been irregular, defective or informal, whether or not any Lender Finance Parties had notice thereof.

 

16.12 Continuing security

The security constituted by the Security Documents shall be continuing and shall not be satisfied by any intermediate payment or satisfaction until the Indebtedness shall have been repaid in full and none of the Lender Finance Parties shall be under any further actual or contingent liability to any third party in relation to the Vessel, the Insurances, Earnings or Requisition Compensation or any other matter referred to in the Security Documents.

 

82


16.13 Security cumulative

The security constituted by the Security Documents shall be in addition to any other security now or in the future held by the Lender Finance Parties or any of them for or in respect of all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness, and shall not merge with or prejudice or be prejudiced by any such security or any other contractual or legal rights of any of the Lender Finance Parties, nor affected by any irregularity, defect or informality, or by any release, exchange or variation of any such security. Section 93 of the Law of Property Act 1925 and all provisions which the Agent considers analogous thereto under the law of any other relevant jurisdiction shall not apply to the security constituted by the Security Documents.

 

16.14 No liability

None of the Lender Finance Parties, nor any agent or employee of any Lender Finance Party, nor any receiver and/or manager appointed by the Agent, shall be liable for any losses which may be incurred in or about the exercise of any of the rights, powers, discretions or remedies of the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to the Security Documents nor liable as mortgagee in possession for any loss on realisation or for any neglect or default of any nature for which a mortgagee in possession might otherwise be liable unless such Lender Finance Party’s action constitutes wilful misconduct or recklessness with knowledge of the probable consequences.

 

16.15 Rescission of payments etc.

Any discharge, release or reassignment by any of the Lender Finance Parties of any of the security constituted by, or any of the obligations of any Security Party contained in, any of the Security Documents shall be (and be deemed always to have been) void if any act (including, without limitation, any payment) as a result of which such discharge, release or reassignment was given or made is subsequently wholly or partially rescinded or avoided by operation of any law, unless such Lender Finance Party’s action constitutes wilful misconduct or recklessness with knowledge of the probable consequences.

 

16.16 Subsequent Encumbrances

If the Agent receives notice of any subsequent Encumbrance (other than any Permitted Encumbrance) affecting the Vessel or all or any part of the Insurances, Earnings or Requisition Compensation, the Agent may open a new account in its books for the Borrower. If the Agent does not open a new account, then (unless the Encumbrance is a Permitted Encumbrance or the Agent gives written notice to the contrary to the Borrower) as from the time of receipt by the Agent of notice of such subsequent Encumbrance, all payments made to the Agent shall be treated as having been credited to a new account of the Borrower and not as having been applied in reduction of the Lender Indebtedness.

 

16.17 Releases

If any Lender Finance Party shall at any time in its discretion release any party from all or any part of any of the Security Documents or from any term, covenant, clause, condition or obligation contained in any of the Security Documents, the liability of any other party to the Security Documents shall not be varied or diminished.

 

16.18 Certificates

Any certificate or statement signed by an authorised signatory of the Agent purporting to show the amount of the Lender Indebtedness (or any part of the Lender Indebtedness) or any other amount referred to in any of the Security Documents shall, save for manifest error or on any question of law, be conclusive evidence as against the Borrower of that amount.

 

83


16.19 Survival of representations and warranties

The representations and warranties on the part of the Borrower contained in this Agreement shall survive the execution of this Agreement and the advance of the Loan or any part thereof.

 

16.20 Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be original but which shall together constitute the same instrument.

 

16.21 Third Party Rights

Notwithstanding the provisions of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, no term of this Agreement is enforceable by a person who is not a party to it other than (a) KEIC in respect of its rights under this Agreement and (b) the Account Bank in respect of its rights under clause 7.5.

 

16.22 Building Contract Disputes

The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that its obligations under this Agreement are independent from the Building Contract and that the performance of these obligations shall in no event be affected by any dispute whatsoever that may arise between the Builder and the Borrower in relation to the Building Contract or in any other respect.

 

16.23 Confidentiality

At all times during the Facility Period, the Borrower shall keep confidential any Confidential Information (as defined below) relating to the Relevant Documents (other than the Project Documents) and each of the Lender Finance Parties shall keep confidential any Confidential Information (as defined below) relating to the Relevant Documents, and none of the Borrower or the Lender Finance Parties shall, without the prior written consent of the other(s):

 

16.23.1 issue any press release or make any other public announcement or statement in relation to the transactions evidenced by this Agreement and the other Relevant Documents; or

 

16.23.2 disclose to any other person (i) any information or document relating to the Angola LNG Project in general, including but not limited to, technical and schedule requirements, and progress and status of the Angola LNG Project; (ii) financial details of this Agreement or any other Relevant Document or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Relevant Document or any other agreement after the date of this Agreement by the Borrower or the Lender Finance Parties in connection with this Agreement or any other Relevant Document or (iii) any information provided pursuant to any of the Relevant Documents; or

 

16.23.3 release copies of drafts of this Agreement or any other Relevant Document which disclose or reveal the identity of the parties (or any of them),

the information contemplated by clauses 16.23.1 to 16.23.3 above being “Confidential Information”.

Provided that notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this clause 16.22 the parties shall be entitled, without any such consent, to disclose such Confidential Information:

 

  (a) if the same is already known to the receiving person at the time of disclosure as shown by the receiving person’s files and records immediately prior to that disclosure or is developed by the receiving person independently of such disclosure; or

 

  (b) in connection with any proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Relevant Documents; or

 

84


  (c) if required to do so by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction whether in pursuance of any procedure for discovery of documents or otherwise; or

 

  (d) pursuant to any applicable law, stock exchange regulations or by a governmental order, decree, regulation or rule, provided however that a party which has received Confidential Information which they are obliged to disclose as contemplated by this clause (d) shall use reasonable efforts to inform the person who provided them with the Confidential Information prior to making such disclosure; or

 

  (e) to any fiscal, monetary, tax, governmental or other competent authority; or

 

  (f) to the auditors, legal or professional or insurance advisors, underwriters or brokers of the Borrower or the relevant Lender Finance Party, who (A) shall have a need to have such knowledge of the same in connection with carrying out work related to the transaction contemplated by this Agreement and the other Relevant Documents and (B) shall be advised of the confidential nature of any such information supplied to them and shall be instructed to maintain the confidentiality of any information supplied to them; or

 

  (g) in any manner contemplated by any of the Relevant Documents; or

 

  (h) if the same is in the public domain or shall become publicly known otherwise than as a result of a breach by such party or by the receiving person or any other person to whom disclosure is made of this clause 16.23.1; or

 

  (i) if the same is acquired independently from a third party without breach of that third party’s obligations of confidentiality; or

 

  (j) in the case of the Borrower, to any Borrower Shareholder or Sponsor or the Time Charterer, to the extent the Borrower reasonably believes necessary for the purpose of the Time Charterer to perform, fulfil its obligations or exercise its rights in accordance with the terms of the Time Charterer Charter, or to any member of the Time Charterer, any of such member’s affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, employees or contractors in each case to the extent the Borrower reasonably believes necessary for the performance of the Security Documents and/or the Project Documents , and in the case of the Lender Finance Parties, to any member of their respective groups or any potential transferee, assignee, successor, any rating agency or any financial institutions, special purpose securitisation vehicles and their managements, all investors, agents, arrangers, dealers who are or might wish to be involved in securitisation schemes, hedging agreements, participation or other risk transfer agreements (or any directors, officers or employee of the foregoing) , provided that in each case the Borrower or the Lender Finance Party shall procure that the party to whom such disclosure is made shall comply with the requirements of this clause and provided further that the Lender Finance Parties shall not disclose any information regarding the Angola LNG Project to any of the foregoing persons except to a member of their respective groups, any potential transferee, assignee, successor or financial institution on a need-to-know basis and solely for carrying out the purpose of and exercising their rights under this Agreement and the other Security Documents; or

 

  (k) to KEIC,

provided that if the Confidential Information is provided by a party on the basis that it is to be kept confidential, but the party providing the information discloses it to another person on a non-confidential basis, then the receiving party or parties shall no longer be obliged to treat such information as confidential.

 

16.23.4 The Borrower and the Lender Finance Parties shall be responsible for ensuring that where Confidential Information is disclosed to persons under clause 16.23.3 such persons shall keep the information confidential in accordance with and subject to this clause 16.23.

 

85


17 Law and Jurisdiction

 

17.1 Governing law

This Agreement shall in all respects be governed by and interpreted in accordance with English law.

 

17.2 Jurisdiction

For the exclusive benefit of the Lender Finance Parties, the parties to this Agreement irrevocably agree that the English courts are to have jurisdiction to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement and that any legal actions or proceedings may be brought in those courts. The Borrower irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or in the future have to the laying of the venue of any legal actions or proceedings in any court referred to in this clause 17.2, and any claim that such legal actions or proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient or inappropriate forum. The Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and shall within five (5) Business Days of the date hereof irrevocably designate, appoint and empower an agent to receive for it and on its behalf, service of process issued out of the English courts in any such legal actions or proceedings and shall provide the Facility Agent with details of such agent. The submission to such jurisdiction shall not (and shall not be construed so as to) limit the right of any of the Lender Finance Parties to take legal actions or proceedings against the Borrower in the courts of any other competent jurisdiction nor shall the taking of legal actions or proceedings in any one or more jurisdictions preclude the taking of legal actions or proceedings in other jurisdiction, whether concurrently or not.

The parties further agree that only the courts of England and not those of any other state or jurisdiction shall have jurisdiction to determine any claim which the Borrower may have against any of the Lender Finance Parties arising out of or in connection with this Agreement.

IN WITNESS of which the parties to this Agreement have executed this Agreement the day and year first before written.

 

86


Schedule 1

Part I: The Lenders, the Commitments and the Proportionate Shares

Part 1: the Lenders

 

The Lenders

   Contact Details    Commitments  
      Buyer Credit      Commercial Loan  
   For commercial matters:      
   CIB - Transportation Group      
   16 rue de Hanovre      
   75078 Paris Cedex 02 - France      
   Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 55      
  

 

Attention: Shipping Finance

     
   Alice Renaudin Durand-Ruel      
  

 

For Security Trustee matters:

     
   CIB - Transportation Group      
   16 rue de Hanovre      
   75078 Paris Cedex 02 - France      
   Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 55      
  

 

Attention: Shipping Asset Monitoring

     
   Jean-Marc Morant      

BNP Paribas S.A.

  

 

For Agency matters:

   $ 15,400,000       $ 19,600,000   
   CIB - Agency - European Group      
   21 Place du Marche Saint Honore      
   75031 Paris Cedex 01 - CHA02A1      
   Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 17      
  

 

Attention: European Group

     
   Claire-Marie Rochette      
  

 

For KEIC Agent matters:

     
   BNP Paribas S.A., Seoul Branch      
   24/F, Taepyeongno 2-ga, Jung-gu      
   Seoul 100-767 Korea      
   Fax no. 82 2 757 2530      
  

 

Attention: Jae Seung /
Myung Shim Kwon

     

 

87


The Lenders

   Contact Details    Commitments  
      Buyer Credit      Commercial Loan  
   For administration matters:      
   9 Quai, du President Paul Doumer      
   92920 Paris La Défence Cédex      
   France      
  

 

Fax no: +33 141 89 19 34

     
   Attention: Middle Office/Shipping/      
   Ms Marie-claire Vanderperre/      
   M. Godet-Couery      

Calyon

      $ 15,400,000       $ 19,600,000   
   For credit matters:      
   Broadwalk House      
   5 Appold Street      
   London      
   EC2A 2DA      
  

 

Fax no: +44 207 214 6689

     
   Attention: Thibaud Escoffier/Jerome
Duval
     
   For administrative matters:      
   20 St. Dunstan’s Hill      
   London      
   EC3R 8HY      
  

 

Fax no. +44 207 283 4430

     
   Attention: Loans Administration      
   Mr Renato Mariano      

DnB NOR Bank ASA

      $ 15,400,000       $ 19,600,000   
   For credit matters:      
   20 St. Dunstan’s Hill      
   London      
   EC3R 8HY      
  

 

Fax no. +44 207 626 5956

     
   Attention: Omar Sekkat and David      
   Grant      

 

88


The Lenders

   Contact Details   Commitments  
     Buyer Credit      Commercial Loan  
   For operational matters:     
   OPER / CAF / DMT6     
   17 Cours Valmy     
   Paris La Defense 7     
  

 

Fax no. +331 46 92 45 98

    
   Attention: Viengkham LAY and     
   Chantal Alcaras     

Société Générale,

  

 

For credit matters:

  $ 15,400,000       $ 19,600,000   
   SG House     
   41 Tower Hill     
   London     
   EC3N 4SG     
  

 

Fax no. +44 207 667 2499

Attention: Gareth-Lon Williams

    
   Copy to: Pierre Baud and Laurence     
   Alloiteau     
   OPER/CAF/AFI     
   17 Cours Valmy     
   Paris La Défence 7     
  

 

Fax no. 01.46.92.46.22

    
  

 

Copy to: Guylaine Labidurie

    
   OPER/CAF.EXT     
  

 

Fax no. 01.46.92.45.97

    
   For operational matters:     
   99 Queen Victoria Street     
   London     
   EC4V 4EH     
  

 

Fax no. +44 207 786 1569

    
   Attention: David Griffiths/Jo Dunnage     
  

 

For credit matters:

    
   99 Queen Victoria Street     
   London     
   EC4V 4EH     

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation,

     Brussels Branch

  

 

Fax no. +44 207 786 101

Attention: Robert Taylor/Cyrille Martin

  $ 15,400,000       $ 19,600,000   
  

 

Copy to: Guillaume Dufour/Touf-itri

    
   Akdime     
   20 rue de la Ville I’evêque     
   75008 Paris     
  

 

Fax no. +33 1 44 71 40 50

    
  

 

Copy to: Françoise Bouchat/Nadine

    
   Boudart     
   Avenue des Arts 58,     
   Box 18     
   1000 Brussels     
   Belgium     
  

 

Fax no. +32 2 502 07 80

    

 

89


The Lenders

   Contact Details    Commitments  
      Buyer Credit      Commercial Loan  
   For administrative matters:      
   12-15 Finsbury Circus

London

     
   EC2M 7BT

 

Fax no. +44 207 577 1559

     
   Attention: Daniel Bryan      

The Bank of Tokyo - Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.

  

 

For credit matters:

   $ 15,400,000       $ 19,600,000   
   12-15 Finsbury Circus
London
     
   EC2M 7BT      
  

 

Fax no. +44 207 577 1755

     
   Attention: Grahame Hunt      
      $ 92,400,000       $ 117,600,000   

 

90


Part 2:

the Swap Providers

 

The Lenders

  

Contact Details

  

For commercial matters:

CIB - Transportation Group

16 rue de Hanovre

75078 Paris Cedex 02 - France

Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 55

  

Attention: Shipping Finance

Alice Renaudin Durand-Ruel

  

For Security Trustee matters:

CIB - Transportation Group

16 rue de Hanovre

75078 Paris Cedex 02 - France

Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 55

 

Attention: Shipping Asset Monitoring

Jean-Marc Morant

BNP Paribas S.A.

  

For Agency matters:

CIB - Agency - European Group

21 Place du Marche Saint Honore

75031 Paris Cedex 01 - CHA02A1

Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 17

  

Attention: European Group

Claire-Marie Rochette

  

For KEIC Agent matters:

BNP Paribas S.A., Seoul Branch

24/F, Taepyeongno 2-ga, Jung-gu

Seoul 100-767 Korea

Fax no. 82 2 757 2530

   Attention: Jae Seung / Myung Shim Kwon

 

91


The Lenders

  

Contact Details

   For administration matters:
   9 Quai, du President Paul Doumer
   92920 Paris La Défence Cédex France
   Fax no: +33 141 89 19 34
   Attention: Middle Office/Shipping/
   Ms Marie-Claire Vanderperre/
   M. Godet-Couery

Calyon

  
   For credit matters:
   Broadwalk House
   5 Appold Street
   London
   EC2A 2DA
   Fax no: +44 207 214 6689
   Attention: Thibaud Escoffier/Jerome Duval
   For administrative matters:
   20 St. Dunstan’s Hill
   London
   EC3R 8HY
   Fax no. +44 207 283 4430
   Attention: Loans Administration
   Mr Renato Mariano

DnB NOR Bank ASA

  
   For credit matters:
   20 St. Dunstan’s Hill
   London
   EC3R 8HY
   Fax no. +44 207 626 5956
   Attention: Omar Sekkat and David Grant
   For operational matters
   OPER / CAF / DMT6
   17 Cours Valmy
   Paris La Defense 7
   Fax no. +331 46 92 45 98
   Attention: Viengkham LAY and
   Chantal Alcaras

Société Générale,

   For credit matters
   London
   Fax no. +44 207 667 2499
   Attention: Gareth-Lon Williams
   Copy to: Pierre Baud and Laurence Alloiteau
   OPER/CAF/AFI
   17 Cours Valmy

 

92


The Lenders

  

Contact Details

  

Paris La Défence 7

 

Fax no. 01.46.92.46.22

   Copy to: Guylaine Labidurie
   OPER/CAF.EXT
   Fax no. 01.46.92.45.97
   277 Park Avenue
   Fifth Floor

SMBC Capital Markets, Inc.

   New York
   10172
   USA
   Attention: President
   Fax no. (212)224-4948
   For administrative matters:
   12-15 Finsbury Circus
   London
   EC2M 7BT
   Fax no. +44 207 577 1559
   Attention: Daniel Bryan

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.

   For credit matters;
   12-15 Finsbury Circus
   London
   EC2M 7BT
   Fax no. +44 207 577 1755
   Attention: Grahame Hunt

 

93


Schedule 2

The Vessel

 

Owner    Hull No    Flag    Vessel Type

MiNT II III LNG Ltd

   1812 at Samsung    Bahamas    160,000 cubic meter single
   Heavy Industries Co. Ltd.       screw electric motor driven
         liquefied natural gas carrier

 

94


Schedule 3

Documents and evidence required as conditions precedent

(referred to in clause 3.1)

Part I 1 : Commitment and first Drawing

(a) Constitutional documents

 

  (i) copies, certified by an officer of each Security Party the Borrower, NYK LNG and Teekay as true, complete and up to date copies of all documents which contain or establish the constitution of that Security Party it including the Articles of Incorporation; or

 

  (ii) with respect to Mitsui and NYK, in lieu of the document described in clause (a)(i) above, a certified copy of the current Commercial Register ( genzai jiko zenbu shomeisho ) of Mitsui and NYK issued by the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau no earlier than 10 days prior to the date of this Agreement .

 

(b) Corporate authorisations authorizations

 

  (i) copies of resolutions of the directors and/or such other corporate approvals or authorisations and, to the extent required to obtain any opinion set out in this Schedule 3, Part 1, the shareholders of each Security Party the Borrower, NYK LNG and Teekay approving such of the Project Documents (with respect to the Borrower only) and the Security Documents to which it is, or is to be, party and authorising the signature, delivery and performance of its obligations thereunder, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than 10 Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement) by an officer of it as:

 

  1. (i)  being true and correct;

 

  2. (ii)  being duly passed by the directors or such other persons as permitted by the organisational documents of such Security Party it and (if necessary) shareholders of such Security Party it ;

 

  3. (iii)  not having been amended, modified or revoked; and

 

  4. (iv)  being in full force and effect,

together with originals or certified copies of any powers of attorney issued by it pursuant to such resolutions; or

 

  (ii) with respect to Mitsui and NYK, in lieu of the document described in clause (b)(i) above (1) a power of attorney, executed using the registered seal of the president or representative director of Mitsui or NYK, authorizing the signatory or signatories of the Security Documents to which Mitsui or NYK is a party to execute such documents on behalf of Mitsui or NYK; and (2) a seal certificate (inkan shoumei) , issued by the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau no earlier than 10 days prior to the date of this Agreement, in respect of the registered seal used to execute the power of attorney described in clause (b)(ii)(2).

 

(c) Specimen signatures

copies of the signatures of the persons who have been authorised on behalf of each Security Party to sign such of the Project Security Documents referred to in paragraph (g )of this Schedule 3, part 1 and the Security Documents referred to in paragraph (h ) of this Schedule 3, part 1 to which such Security Party is, or is to be, party and to give notices and communications, including notices of drawing, under or in connection with the Security Documents, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than 10 Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement) by an officer or such other authorised persons of such Security Party as being the true signatures of such persons;

 

95


(d) Certificates of incumbency ;

a list of directors and officers of the Borrower , the Borrower Shareholders and the Sponsors specifying the names and positions of such persons, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than 10 Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement) by an officer or such other authorised person of it to be true, complete and up to date;

 

(e) Time Charterer’s consents and approvals

evidence in a form and substance acceptable to the Agent that the Time Charterer shall have consented (so far as may be necessary) to the execution of the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants, the Deed of Assignment of Contracts and the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee and other necessary documents hereunder in accordance with the Time Charter;

 

(f) Certified Project Documents

a copy, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than 5 Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement) as a true and complete copy by an officer of the Borrower of each of the Project Documents (other than the Management Agreement) each duly executed and in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent together with the original executed copies of the Refund Guarantee;

 

(g) Security Documents and Fee Letters

the Swap Agreements, any other Credit Support Documents, the Deed of Assignment of Contracts, the Assignment, the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee, the Account Charge, the Sponsors’ Undertaking, the Arrangement Fee Letter, the Agency Fee Letter, the Account Bank Fee Letter, the Documentation Agency Fee Letter and the Swap Margin Side Letter each duly executed;

 

(h) Notices of assignment and acknowledgements

the Building Contract Assignment Consent and Acknowledgement, the Refund Guarantee Assignment Consent and Acknowledgement , and the Supervision Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement, the Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement duly executed and bearing formal date stamps and originals of duly executed notices of assignment together with original duly executed acknowledgements thereof (to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date) required by the terms of the Deed of Assignment of Contracts and the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee respectively in the forms prescribed by such Security Documents;

 

(i) Share Pledges Charges

(i) the Share Pledges Charges duly executed by all parties thereto (other than the Security Trustee) and all requirements thereunder fully satisfied including, without limitation, the delivery of the Borrower’s share certificates and all irrevocable proxies to the Security Trustee;

 

(j) Accounts

evidence that the Accounts have been opened;

 

(k) Bahamas opinion

opinions (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of the Agent’s special legal advisers in the Bahamas to the Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

96


(I) Delaware opinion

opinion (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of special legal advisers in the State of Delaware in relation to (a) the due authorisation, execution, delivery and performance of the Time Charter, the Tripartite Agreement, the Angolanisation Agreement, the Project Co-ordination Agreement and the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement by the Time Charterer and such documents constituting the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Time Charterer , (b) the execution, delivery and performance of the Time Charter, the Tripartite Agreement, the Angolanisation Agreement, the Project Co-ordination Agreement and the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement by the Time Charterer not conflicting with Delaware law and (c) the execution, delivery and performance of the Time Charter by the Time Charterer not conflicting with its constitutional documents to be received prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(m) Korean opinion

opinions (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of Kim & Chang special legal advisers in Korea to the Agent and KEIC Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(n) Japanese opinion

opinions (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of Nishimura & Asahi special legal advisers in Japan to the Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(o) Marshall Islands opinion

opinions (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of the Agent’s special legal advisors in the Marshall Islands to the Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(p) English opinion

opinion of Norton Rose LLP special legal advisors in England to the Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to KEIC to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(q) Further opinions/report

(ii) an opinion from Norton Rose as to the legality, validity and enforceability of the Security Documents so far as they are governed by the laws of England and Wales and in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent;

 

(r) Borrower’s process agent

a copy, certified as a true copy by the Borrower’s solicitors or other person acceptable to the Agent of a letter from the Borrower’s agent for receipt of service of proceedings referred to in clause 17.2 accepting its appointment under the said clause and under each of the other Security Documents in which it is or is to be appointed as the Borrower’s agent;

 

(s) Process agent

a copy, certified as a true copy by the Borrower’s solicitors or other person acceptable to the Agent of a letter from the Sponsors’ and any other Security Party’s agent for receipt of service of proceedings accepting its appointment under each of the relevant Security Documents in which it is or is to be appointed as the Sponsors’ or such Security Party’s agent;

 

97


(t) Drawdown Notice

the Drawdown Notice in respect of the first Drawing duly executed and delivered in accordance with clause 2 of this Agreement;

 

(u) Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity / Additional Shareholders’ Equity

receipt of the Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity by the Borrower or the Agent in accordance with clause 2.3.7 and, insofar as such Relevant Amount is Indebtedness of the Borrower, any subordination agreement required by the Agent in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders) in connection therewith;

 

(v) Minimum Credit Rating

evidence from either Standard and Poors or Fitch on or after the date falling 5 Business Days prior to the Drawdown Date that the Refund Guarantor still maintains the required Minimum Credit Rating;

 

(w) Ownership

evidence satisfactory in all respects to the Agent that the Sponsors are, directly or indirectly the legal and beneficial owner of all of the issued share capital of the Borrower, (whether ordinary, preferential or other class of share capital (including, without limitation, subordinated debt)) other than as permitted pursuant to clause 9.2.17;

 

(x) Fees and commissions

evidence of payment or evidence that payment will be made from the first Drawing of any fees and commissions due and payable from the Borrower to the Agent, the Security Trustee, Calyon or the Account Banks pursuant to clause 7 or any other provision of the Security Documents;

 

(y) KEIC Buyer Credit Policy

in respect of the first Drawing the prior receipt by the Agent of an original counterpart of the relevant KEIC Buyer Credit Policy, duly executed by KEIC (together with a copy of the signing authority of the relevant officer of KEIC) and certified copy of the KEIC Acceptance Letter, such KEIC Buyer Credit Policy to be in full force and effect;

 

(z) Project Co-ordination Agreement

evidence that the Project Co-ordination Agreement has been executed in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent acting on the instructions of all Lenders;

 

(aa) KYC documentation

receipt by each Lender of “know-your-client” documentation satisfactory to it; and

 

(bb) Accounts

the certified true and complete copies of the most recent audited annual financial statements of each Sponsor and the unaudited semi-annual accounts of the Borrower for the period ending on 31 December 2007.

 

98


Part 2

Contract Instalment Advances

(a) Invoice

a certified copy of the invoice in respect of which payment is due to the Builder from the Borrower;

 

(b) Fees and commissions

(other than in respect of a Contract Instalment Advance which is the first Drawing) evidence of payment or evidence that payment will be made from the Contract Instalment Advance of any fees and commissions due from the Borrower to the Agent, Calyon, the Security Trustee or the Account Bank pursuant to the terms of clause 7 or any other provision of the Security Documents;

 

(c) Conditions precedent

confirmation from the Borrower or its legal advisers that the conditions precedent set out in Part 1 to Schedule 3 remain satisfied and to the extent necessary are satisfied and confirmation from the Borrower that no further consents and approvals are required;

 

(d) Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity / Additional Shareholders’ Equity

receipt of the Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity by the Agent in accordance with clauses 2.3.7 and 2.9 and any subordination agreement required by the Agent in connection therewith;

 

(e) Drawdown Notice

the Drawdown Notice in respect of the relevant Contract Instalment Advance duly executed and delivered in accordance with clause 2 of this Agreement;

 

(f) No claim

evidence satisfactory to the Agent in the form of a declaration of warranty from the Builder that the Builder (and any other party who may have a claim pursuant to the Building Contract) has no claims against the Vessel or the Borrower;

 

(g) No variations to Building Contract

confirmation from the Borrower that save as permitted by this Agreement there have been no amendments or variations agreed to the Building Contract that have not been agreed by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and that no action has been taken by either the Builder or the Borrower which might in any way render the Building Contract inoperative or unenforceable, in whole or in any part; and

 

(h) No encumbrance

confirmation from the Borrower that there is no Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) of any kind created or permitted by any person on or relating to the Building Contract or in relation to the Vessel.

 

99


Part 3

Delivery Date Advance

 

(a) Export Licence(s)

a copy, certified as a true and complete copy by an officer of the Borrower of all consents, authorisations, licences and approvals required by the Borrower and the Builder (if any) in connection with the export by the Builder of the Vessel;

 

(b) Vessel conditions

evidence that the Vessel:

 

  (i) Registration and Encumbrances

is or simultaneously with the Delivery of the Vessel shall be registered in the name of the Borrower through the Bahamas Registry under the laws and flag of the Bahamas and confirmation from the Borrower that the Vessel and its Earnings, Insurances and Requisition Compensation (as defined in the Deed of Covenants) are free of Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances);

 

  (ii) Classification

has the classification referred to in clause 9.6.3(b) free of all overdue requirements and recommendations of the Classification Society;

 

  (iii) Insurance

is insured in accordance with the provisions of the Security Documents and all requirements of the Security Documents in respect of such insurance have been complied with (including without limitation, (A) confirmation from the protection and indemnity association or other insurer with which the Vessel is, or is to be, entered for insurance or insured against protection and indemnity risks (including oil pollution risks) that any necessary declarations required by the association or insurer for the removal of any oil pollution exclusion have been made and that any such exclusion does not apply to the Vessel and (B) receipt by the Agent of pro-forma letters of undertaking from the Approved Brokers (as defined in the relevant Deed of Covenant) approved brokers in such form as the Agent may reasonably require); and

 

  (iv) Delivery under Time Charter

has been or on the Delivery Date will be delivered to, and accepted by, the Time Charterer for service under the Time Charter;

 

(c) Deletion

evidence that any prior registration of the Vessel in the name of the Builder has been cancelled (or confirmation from the Builder that there was no such prior registration) and that no Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances are registered against the Vessel on such register;

 

(d) Security and delivery documents

certified true copies of the Management Agreement, the Builder’s Certificate and the Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance and originals of the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants, the Assignment and , the Manager’s Undertaking and the Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement each duly executed;

 

 

100


(e) Borrower’s further corporate authorisations

copies of the resolutions of the Borrower’s directors and (if necessary) shareholders evidencing authorisation of the acceptance of the delivery of the Vessel and authorisation and approval of the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants and the transactions contemplated therein and any other documents issued or to be issued pursuant thereto and authorising its appropriate officer or other representative to execute the same on its behalf certified in the manner referred to in paragraph (b) of Part 1 of this Schedule (or other evidence of such authorisation, approval and/or ratification) and any power of attorney issued pursuant to the said resolutions (such resolutions and power of attorney to be notarised (and, to the extent required by applicable Law, apostiled) and in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent);

 

(f) Mortgage registration

evidence that the Mortgage has been registered against the Vessel through the Bahamas Registry under the laws and flag of the Bahamas;

 

(g) Notices of assignment and acknowledgements

originals of duly executed notices of assignment required by the terms of the Deed of Covenants and the Assignment together with original duly executed acknowledgements thereof required by the terms of such Security Documents and in the form(s) prescribed by such Security Documents and, in the case of the Assignment;

 

(h) Insurance opinion

an opinion from Bankserve, or such other insurance consultants as the Agent may instruct, on the insurances effected or to be effected in respect of the Vessel upon and following the Delivery Date in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders;

 

(i) Bahamas opinion

an opinion of the Agent’s special legal advisers in the Bahamas to the Agent in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders;

 

(j) Korean opinion

an opinion of Kim & Chang special legal advisers in Korea to the KEIC Agent and the Agent in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders;

 

(k) Further opinions

any such further opinion as may reasonably be required by the Agent to evidence the legality, validity and/or enforceability of the obligations of the Borrower and/or any Security Party under this Agreement, each of the other Security Documents and each of the Project Documents to which it is a party;

 

(I) Process agent

a copy, certified as a true copy by the Borrower’s solicitors or other person acceptable to the Agent of a letter from the Borrower’s agent for receipt of service of proceedings referred to in clause 17.2 accepting its appointment under the said clause and under each of the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants, the Assignment and also in respect of the relevant Manager’s Undertaking in which it is or is to be appointed as agent;

 

(m) Fees and commission

evidence that the fees and commissions due under clause 7 have been paid in full (or upon drawdown of the Delivery Date Advance will have been paid);

 

 

101


(n) Payment of Contract Price

evidence from the Builder that the Contract Price has been (or upon drawdown of the relevant Delivery Date Advance will have been) paid in full and a certified copy of the invoice in respect of the payment due to the Builder from the Borrower on the Delivery Date;

 

(o) Drawdown Notice

the Drawdown Notice in respect of the relevant Delivery Date Advance duly executed and delivered to the Agent in accordance with clause 2 of this Agreement;

 

(p) Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance

copies, certified as true copies by a director or officer of the Borrower, of the Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance and any other documents issued by the Builder in connection with the construction and delivery of the Vessel as the Builder shall be obliged to provide pursuant to the Building Contract;

 

(q) ISM compliance

evidence that the Operator has applied to the relevant Regulatory Agency for a DOC for itself and an SMC for the Vessel to be issued pursuant to the Code within any time limit required or recommended by such Regulatory Agency;

 

(r) Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity / Additional Shareholders’ Equity

receipt of the Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity by the Agent in accordance with sub-clauses 2.3.7 and 2.9 and any subordination agreement required by the Agent in connection therewith; and

 

(s) Conditions precedent

confirmation from the Borrower or their legal advisers that the conditions precedent set out in Parts 1 and 2 of Schedule 3 remain satisfied and to the extent necessary are satisfied and confirmation from the Borrower that no further consents and approvals are required.

 

 

102


Schedule 4

Form of Transfer Certificate

To: BNP Paribas S.A. as agent (the “Agent”)

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE

This transfer certificate relates to a facility agreement (as the same may be from time to time amended, varied, novated or supplemented, the “Loan Agreement”) dated 2008 whereby a credit facility of up to $210,000,000 was made available to Mint LNG III, Ltd (the “Borrower”) by a group of banks on whose behalf the Agent acts as agent and security trustee.

 

1 Terms defined in the Loan Agreement shall, subject to any contrary indication, have the same meanings herein. The terms “Lender” and “Transferee” are defined in the schedule to this transfer certificate.

 

2 The Lender (i) confirms that the details in the Schedule hereto next to the heading “Commitment” accurately summarises its Commitment in the Loan Agreement and (ii) requests the Transferee to accept and procure the transfer to the Transferee of the portion of such Commitment specified in the Schedule hereto next to the heading “Portion Transferred” by counter-signing and delivering the Transfer Certificate to the Agent at its address for the service of communications specified in the Loan Agreement.

 

3 The Transferee requests the Agent to accept this Transfer Certificate as being delivered to the Agent pursuant to and for the purposes of clause 12.4 of the Loan Agreement so as to take effect in accordance with the terms thereof on the Transfer Date or on such later date as may be determined in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

4 The Transferee confirms that it has received a copy of the Loan Agreement together with such other information as it has required in connection with this transaction and that it has not relied and will not in the future rely on the Lender or any other party to the Loan Agreement to check or enquire on its behalf into the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any such information and further agrees that it has not relied and will not rely on the Lender or any other party to the Loan Agreement to access or keep under review on its behalf the financial condition, creditworthiness, condition, affairs, status or nature of the Borrower or any other party to the Loan Agreement.

 

5 Execution of this Transfer Certificate by the Transferee constitutes its representation to the Transferor and all other parties to the Loan Agreement that it has power to become a party to the Loan Agreement as a Lender on the terms herein and therein set out and has taken all steps to authorise execution and delivery of this Transfer Certificate.

 

6 The Transferee undertakes with the Lender and each of the other parties to the Loan Agreement that it will perform in accordance with their terms all those obligations which by the terms of the Loan Agreement will be assumed by it after delivery of this Transfer Certificate to the Agent and satisfaction of the conditions (if any) subject to which the Transfer Certificate is expressed to take effect.

 

7 The Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the Loan Agreement or any document relating thereto and assumes no responsibility for the financial condition of the Borrower or for the performance and observance by the Borrower of any of its obligations under the Loan Agreement or any document relating thereto and any and all such conditions and warranties, whether express or implied by law or otherwise, are hereby excluded.

 

103


8 The Lender gives notice that nothing in this transfer certificate or in the Loan Agreement (or any document relating thereto) shall oblige the Lender to (i) accept a re-transfer from the Transferee of the whole or any part of its rights, benefits and/or obligations under the Loan Agreement transferred pursuant hereto or (ii) support any losses directly or indirectly sustained or incurred by the Transferee for any reason whatsoever including, without limitation, the non-performance by the Borrower or any other party to the Loan Agreement (or any document relating thereto) of its obligations under any such document. The Transferee acknowledges the absence of any such obligation as is referred to in (i) or (ii) above.

 

9 The Security Trustee’s rights under the Security Documents remain in full force and effect and are not affected by this transfer.

 

10 This Transfer Certificate and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with English law.

THE SCHEDULE

 

1 Lender:

 

2 Transferee:

 

3 Transfer Date:

 

4 Commitment:

 

5 Portion Transferred:

 

6 Transferee’s Administration Details:

 

[Transferor Bank]

   [Transferee Bank]

By:

   By:

Date:

   Date:

BNP Paribas S.A.

As agent for and on behalf of itself,

the Borrower and the other Lender Finance Parties in the presence of:-

 

By:    
Date: [                                                              ]

 

104


Schedule 5

Form of Drawdown Notice

 

To: BNP Paribas S.A.

Attention: [•]

Fax : [•]

Copy to: [•]

Fax: [•]

Date [•]

Loan facility of up to United States Dollars $210,000,000 in respect of

Hull No 1812 (the “Vessel”)

Loan Agreement dated                     2008

We refer to the above Loan Agreement and hereby give you notice that we wish to drawdown the following Drawing:

[a Contract Instalment Advance amounting to $[•];]

[a Delivery Date Advance amounting to $[•];]

[an Ancillary Cost Advance [in respect of the KEIC Insurance Premium for the Vessel] amounting to $[•];]

Interest Period from [•] to [•];

on [•] 20[•] the funds should be credited to [name and number of account] with [details of bank [in New York City]].

[The Vessel is scheduled to be delivered on [•].]

We confirm that:

 

(i) no event or circumstance has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived which constitutes a Potential Event of Default;

 

(ii) the representations and warranties contained in clauses [4] of the Loan Agreement are true and correct at the date hereof as if made with respect to the facts and circumstances existing at the date hereof;

 

(iii) the borrowing of the Loan will be within our corporate powers, has been validly authorised by appropriate corporate action and will not cause any limit on our borrowings (whether imposed by statute, regulation, agreement or otherwise) to be exceeded; [and]

 

(iv) there has been no material adverse change in our financial position from that set forth in the latest financial statements delivered to you under clause 9.1.5 of the Loan Agreement. [;and]

 

(v) [this Ancillary Cost Advance will not, when aggregated with all Ancillary Cost Advances previously advanced to us, equal a sum in excess of $36,000,000.]

Words and expressions defined in the Loan Agreement shall have the same meanings when used herein.

 

105


For and on behalf of

MiNT LNG III, LTD

By    

Name:

Title:

 

106


Schedule 6

Calculation of the Mandatory Cost

 

1 The Mandatory Cost is an addition to the interest rate to compensate the Lenders for the cost of compliance with (a) the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority (or, in either case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) or (b) the requirements of the European Central Bank.

 

2 On 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 Loan) and will be expressed as a percentage rate per annum.

 

3 The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Loan 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 Loan Office) of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank in respect of loans made from that Loan Office.

 

4 The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Loan Office in the United Kingdom will be calculated by the Agent as follows:

 

E x 0.01

  
300    per cent. per annum.
  

Where E is the rate of charge payable by a Lender to the Financial Services Authority under the Fees Rules in respect of the relevant financial year of the Financial Services Authority (calculated for this purpose by the Agent as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to that Lender for that financial year). The resulting figure shall be rounded to four (4) decimal places.

 

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) “Loan Office” means the office notified by a Lender to the Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender as the office through which it will perform its obligations under the Agreement;

 

  (c) “Fee 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;

 

  (d) “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 Fee Rules but taking into account any applicable discount rate); and

 

  (e) “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 Union relating to European Monetary Union;

 

  (f) “Parties” means any party to the Agreement, including its successors in title permitted assigns and permitted transferees; and

 

  (g) “Tariff Base” has the meaning given to it in, and will be calculated in accordance with, the Fees Rules.

 

107


6 If requested by the Agent, each Lender shall, as soon as practicable after publication by the Financial Services Authority, supply to the Agent, the rate of charge payable by that Lender 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 Lender as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to that Lender for that financial year).

 

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 Loan 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 percentages of each Lender for the purpose of E above shall be determined by the Agent based upon the information supplied to it pursuant to paragraphs 6 and 7 above and on the assumption that, unless the Lender notifies the 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 Loan Office in the same jurisdiction as in its Loan Office.

 

9 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 pursuant to paragraphs 3, 6 and 7 above is true and correct in all respects.

 

10 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 pursuant to paragraphs 3, 6 and 7 above.

 

11 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.

 

12 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.

 

108


Schedule 7

Contract Instalments and Repayment Profile

Part A

 

Installment

  

Initiating Event

   % of Contract  Price  

First

   December 29, 2007      10 %  

Second

   June 18, 2009      10 %  

Third

   The later of the actual date of keel-laying and December 27, 2010      10 %  

Fourth

   The later of the actual date of launching and February 26, 2011      10 %  

Final

   At Delivery and upon execution of the Acceptance      60 %  

 

109


Part B

 

Outstanding      Repayment Amnt        Repayment %  
  Closing       92,400,000          
  1       0.63%   91,080,000        1,320,000           1.429 %  
  2       0.64%   89,741,000        1,339,000           1.449 %  
  3       0.65%   88,380,000        1,361,000           1.473 %  
  4       0.66%   86,999,000        1,381,000           1.495 %  
  5       0.67%   85,597,000        1,402,000           1.517 %  
  6       0.68%   84,174,000        1,423,000           1.540 %  
  7       0.69%   82,729.000        1,445,000           1.564 %  
  8       0.70%   81,262,000        1,467,000           1.588 %  
  9       0.71%   79,772,000        1,490,000           1.613 %  
  10       0.72%   78,260,000        1,512,000           1.613 %  
  11       0.73%   76,725,000        1,535,000           1.661 %  
  12       0.74%   75,166,000        1,559,000           1.687 %  
  13       0.75%   73,584,000        1,582,000           1.712 %  
  14       0.77%   71,977,000        1,607,000           1.739 %  
  15       0.78%   70,346,000        1,631,000           1.765 %  
  16       0.79%   68,690,000        1,656,000           1.792 %  
  17       0.80%   67,009,000        1,681,000           1.819 %  
  18       0.81%   65,302,000        1,707,000           1.847 %  
  19       0.83%   63,569,000        1,733,000           1.876 %  
  20       0.84%   61,809,000        1,760,000           1.905 %  
  21       0.85%   60,023,000        1,786,000           1.933 %  
  22       0.86%   58,210,000        1,813,000           1.962 %  
  23       0.88%   56,369,000        1,841,000           1.992 %  
  24       0.89%   54,500,000        1,869,000           2.023 %  
  25       0.90%   52,602,000        1,898,000           2.054 %  
  26       0.92%   50,676,000        1,926,000           2.084 %  
  27       0.93%   48,720,000        1,956,000           2.117 %  
  28       0.95%   46,734,000        1,986,000           2.149 %  
  29       0.96%   44,718,000        2,016,000           2,182 %  
  30       0.97%   42,671,000        2,047,000           2.215 %  
  31       0.99%   40,593,000        2,078,000           2.249 %  
  32       1.00%   38,483,000        2,110,000           2.284 %  
  33       1.02%   36,341,000        2,142,000           2.318 %  
  34       1.04%   34,167,000        2,174,000           2.353 %  
  35       1.05%   31,959,000        2,208,000           2.390 %  
  36       1.07%   29,718,000        2,241,000           2.425 %  
  37       1.08%   27,442,000        2,276,000           2.463 %  
  38       1.10%   25,132,000        2,310,000           2.500 %  
  39       1.12%   22,786,000        2,346,000           2.539 %  
  40       1.13%   20,405,000        2,381,000           2.577 %  
  41       1.15%   17,987,000        2,418,000           2.617 %  
  42       1.17%   15,533,000        2,454,000           2.656 %  
  43       1.19%   13,041,000        2,492,000           2.697 %  
  44       1.20%  10,511,000        2,530,000           2.738 %  
  45       1.22%   7,943,000        2,568,000           2.779 %  
  46       1.24%   5,335,000        2,608,000           2.823 %  
  47       1.26%   2,688,000        2,647,000           2.865 %  
  48       1.28%        2,688,000           2.909 %  
   44.00%          
               100.000 %  

 

110


Schedule 8

Form of Compliance Certificate

To: BNP Paribas S.A. (the “Agent”)

From: [•] (the “[•]”)

Date: [•]

Dear Sirs,

We refer to an agreement (the “Agreement”) dated                          and made between (1) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 of the Agreement as lenders and swap providers, (2) yourselves as Agent (3) yourselves as Security Trustee and (4) yourselves as KEIC Agent (as from time to time amended, varied, novated or supplemented).

Terms defined or construed in the Agreement have the same meanings and constructions in this Certificate.

We attach the relevant calculation details applicable to the last four (4) financial quarters ending [•] (the “Relevant Period”) which confirm that:-

 

1 The average DSCR in respect of the immediately preceding four (4) financial quarters [was/was not] equal to or greater than1:10x. Therefore the condition contained in clause 9.1.21 9.1.19 of the Agreement [has/has not] been complied with in respect of the Relevant Period.

 

2 The average DSCR in respect of the immediately preceding two (2) financial quarters [was at all times equal to or greater than/fell below] 1.06x. Therefore the condition contained in clause 9.1.21 9.1.19 of the Agreement [has/has not] been complied with.

 

3 The Leverage Ratio for the immediately preceding four (4) financial quarters did not exceed 4:1. Therefore, the contained in clause 9.1.21 9.1.19 of the Agreement [has/has not] been complied with

 

Signed:    
 

Duly authorised representative of

MiNT LNG Ill, LTD

 

111


Exhibit A

MiNT LNG I

Long-Form Confirmation Letters Letter between the Borrower and BNP Paribas S.A. dated 20 August 2008 and 28 August 2008

MiNT LNG III Long-Form Confirmation Letters between the Borrower and BNP Paribas S.A. dated 20 August 2008 and 28 August 2008

MiNT LNG III Long Form Confirmation Letters between the Borrower and BNP Paribas S.A. dated 22 August 2008 and 29 August 2008 2 October 2008 as amended on 9 October 2008

MiNT LNG IV Long Form Confirmation Letters between the Borrower and BNP Paribas S.A. dated 22 August 2008 and 29 August 2008

 

112


IN WITNESS of which the parties to this Agreement have executed this Agreement the day and year first before written.

 

SIGNED by

   )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of MiNT LNG III, LTD.    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of BNP PARIBAS S.A. (as a Lender and a Swap Provider)    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of CALYON (as a Lender and a Swap Provider)    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of DNB NOR BANK ASA (as a Lender and a Swap Provider)    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of SOCIETE GENERALE    )
(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.    )
(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION    )
BRUSSELS BRANCH    )
(as a Lender)    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of SMBC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.    )
(as a Swap Provider)    )
SIGNED by    )
duly authorised for and on behalf    )
of BNP PARIBAS S.A.    )
(as Agent)    )

 

113


SIGNED by

   )

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )

of BNP PARIBAS S.A.

   )

(as the Security Trustee)

   )

SIGNED by

   )

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )

of BNP PARIBAS S.A.

   )

(as the KEIC Agent)

   )

 

114

Exhibit 4.22

EXECUTION VERSION

Dated 10 October 2008

 

 

 

MiNT LNG IV, LTD.

(as Borrower)

 

        (1

The Banks and Financial Institutions listed

in Annex 1

(as Lenders)

 

        (2

The Banks and Financial Institutions listed

in Annex 1

(as Swap Providers)

 

        (3

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

(as Agent)

 

        (4

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

(as Security Trustee)

 

        (5

and

 

     

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

(as KEIC Agent)

        (6

 

 

DEED OF AMENDMENT AND

RESTATEMENT

relating to a Loan Agreement of

US$92,400,000 Buyer Credit and

$117,600,000 Commercial Loan for one

160,000 cbm LNG carrier Hull No. 1813 at

Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.

 

 

LOGO


CONTENTS

 

Clause    Page  

1       Definitions

     1   

2       Amendments to the Loan Agreement

     1   

3       Miscellaneous

     2   

Annex 1

     6   


THIS DEED is made on 10 October 2008 BETWEEN:

 

(1) MiNT LNG IV, LTD., being a company organised and existing under the laws of the Bahamas whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB—13937, Nassau, The Bahamas (the “Borrower”); and

 

(2) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 Part 1 in Annex 1, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 Part 1 in Annex 1 (together the “Lenders” and each a “Lender”); and

 

(3) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 Part 2 in Annex 1, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 Part 2 in Annex 1 (together the “Swap Providers” and each a “Swap Provider”); and

 

(4) BNP PARIBAS S.A., acting as agent with its registered office at 16 boulevard des Italiens 75009 Paris and registration number 662 042 449 RSC Paris for the Lenders and the Swap Providers (in that capacity the “Agent”); and

 

(5) BNP PARIBAS S.A., acting as security trustee through its office at 16 boulevard des Italiens 75009 Paris and registration number 662 042 449 RSC Paris for the Lenders and the Swap Providers (in that capacity the “Security Trustee”); and

 

(6) BNP PARIBAS S.A., acting as agent through its office at 24/F, Taepyeongno Building 310, Taepyeongno 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-767, for the Lenders under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy (as this term is defined in Annex 1) (in that capacity the “KEIC Agent”).

WHEREAS:

 

(A) By a loan agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) dated 11 September 2008 and made between the Borrower, the Lenders, the Agent, the KEIC Agent, the Security Trustee and the Swap Providers, pursuant to which the Lenders agreed (inter alia) to loan to the Borrower, upon the terms and conditions therein contained, a buyer credit tranche of up to the lesser of (i) forty-four per cent. (44%) of eighty per cent. (80%) of the Total Project Cost (as defined in Annex 1) and (ii) ninety two million four hundred thousand Dollars ($92,400,000) and a commercial tranche of up to the lesser of (i) fifty-six per cent. (56%) of eighty per cent. (80%) of the Total Project Cost (as defined in Annex 1) and (ii) one hundred and seventeen million six hundred thousand Dollars ($117,600,000) to assist in financing the 160,000 cbm LNG carrier with hull number 1813 at Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.

 

(B) The parties to this Deed wish to amend and restate the Loan Agreement, as set out herein, to take effect from the date of this Deed.

NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:

 

1 Definitions

 

1.1 In this Deed:

“Dollars” and “ $ ” means the lawful currency of the United States of America from time to time; and

“Restated Loan Agreement” means the agreement as set out in Annex 1.

 

2 Amendments to the Loan Agreement

 

2.1 The parties to this Deed hereby confirm that with effect from the date of this Deed, but without prejudice to any accrued rights and obligations, the Loan Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety by and shall be construed in accordance with the Restated Loan Agreement and the parties to this Deed agree that they are and shall be bound by all of the provisions of the Restated Loan Agreement.

 

1


3 Miscellaneous

 

3.1 Clauses 14 and 17 of the Loan Agreement shall, mutatis mutandis, be incorporated in this Deed as if set out herein.

 

3.2 This Deed may be executed in any number of counterparts, to the effect that any single counterpart or set of counterparts taken together executed and delivered by all of the parties shall constitute one and the same instrument.

IN WITNESS whereof this Deed is executed by the parties on the day and year first above written.

 

2


EXECUTED AS A DEED

by and on behalf of

MiNT LNG IV, LTD.

(as Borrower)

by YUJI ISHIMARU

in the presence of:

ChuPete

Christian Petersen

1-12-32 Akasaka Tokyo Japan

Attorney

  

)

)

) /s/ YUJI ISHIMARU                                

)

)


EXECUTION PAGE—AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AGREEMENT

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

MiNT LNG IV, LTD.

   )   

(as Borrower)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

   )   

/s/ Patricia LORMEAU

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

/s/ A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

     

A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

CALYON

   )   

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

DNB NOR BANK ASA

   )   

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

 

3


EXECUTION PAGE—AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AGREEMENT

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

MINT LNG IV, LTD.

   )   

(as Borrower)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

   )   

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

CALYON

   )   

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

DNB NOR BANK ASA

   )   

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     


EXECUTION PAGE—AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AGREEMENT

 

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

MINT LNG IV, LTD.

   )   

(as Borrower)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

   )   

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

CALYON

   )   

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

DNB NOR BANK ASA

   )   

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

by

   )    [ILLEGIBLE]

in the presence of:

     

/s/ Eliza Mason

     
Eliza Mason      

 

3


EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

SOCIETE GENERALE

   )   

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:   ELSA GAMBARDELLA

     

  SG HOUSE, 41 TOWER HILL

     

  LONDON EC3N 4SG

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.

   )   

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION

   )   

BRUSSELS BRANCH

   )   

(as a Lender)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

SMBC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

   )   

(as a Swap Provider)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     


EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

SOCIETE GENERALE

   )   

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.

   )   

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of: MASAYUKI FUJIKI

     

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION

   )   

BRUSSELS BRANCH

   )   

(as a Lender)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

SMBC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

   )   

(as a Swap Provider)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     


EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

SOCIETE GENERALE

   )   

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD

   )   

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION

   )   

BRUSSELS BRANCH

   )   

(as a Lender)

   )   

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

/s/ ELIANA MILIOU

     

ELIANA MILIOU

     

NORTON ROSE LLP

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

SMBC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

   )   

(as a Swap Provider)

   )   

by

   )   

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

in the presence of:

     

/s/ ELIANA MILIOU

     

ELIANA MILIOU

     

NORTON ROSE LLP

     


EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

/s/ Patricia LORMEAU

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

   )   

(as Agent)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

/s/ A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

     

A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

by and on behalf of

   )   

/s/ Patricia LORMEAU

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

   )   

(as the Security Trustee)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

/s/ A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

     

A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

     

EXECUTED AS A DEED

   )   

/s/ Patricia LORMEAU

by and on behalf of

   )   

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

   )   

(as the KEIC Agent)

   )   

by

   )   

in the presence of:

     

/s/ A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

     

A. RENAUDIN DURAND-RUEL

     

 

5


Annex 1

RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT

 

6


Dated 11 September 2008

 

(as amended and restated by a Deed of Amendment

and Restatement dated 10 October 2008)

 

 

MiNT LNG IV, LTD.

(as Borrower)

and

The Banks and Financial Institutions listed herein as Lenders

(as Lenders)

and

The Banks and Financial Institutions listed herein

(as Swap Providers)

and

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

(as Agent)

and

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

(as Security Trustee)

and

BNP PARIBAS S.A.

(as KEIC Agent)

US$92,400,000 BUYER CREDIT AND

US$117,600,000 COMMERCIAL LOAN for one

160,000 cbm LNG CARRIER Hull No 1813 at

SAMSUNG HEAVY INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.

 

LOGO


CONTENTS    Page  

1       Definitions and Interpretation

     2   

2       The Loan and its Purpose

     20   

3       Conditions precedent and subsequent for the Loan

     23   

4       Representations and Warranties

     25   

5       Repayment and Prepayment

     30   

6       Interest

     35   

7       Fees

     36   

8       Security, Accounts and Application of Moneys

     37 38   

9       Covenants

     41   

10     Events of Default

     64 66   

11     Set-Off and Lien

     68 70   

12     Assignment and Transfer

     69 71   

13     Payments, Reserve Requirements and Illegality

     71 73   

14     Communications

     75 77   

15     General Indemnities

     76 78   

16     Miscellaneous

     78 80   

17     Law and Jurisdiction

     84 86   

Schedule 1 Part I: The Lenders, the Commitments and the Proportionate Shares

     85 87   

Schedule 2 The Vessel

     92 94   

Schedule 3 Documents and evidence required as conditions precedent

     93 95   

Schedule 4 Form of Transfer Certificate

     101 103   

Schedule 5 Form of Drawdown Notice

Schedule 6 Calculation of the Mandatory Cost

    
 
103 105
105 107
  
  

Schedule 7 Contract Instalments and Repayment Profile

     107 109   

Schedule 8 Form of Compliance Certificate

     108 111   

Exhibit A

     109 112   


LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”)

Dated:                                                                        2008

BETWEEN:

 

(1) MiNT LNG IV, LTD. , being a company organised and existing under the laws of the Bahamas whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB—13937, Nassau, The Bahamas (the “ Borrower ”); and

 

(2) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 Part 1, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 Part 1 (together the “ Lenders ” and each a “ Lender ”); and

 

(3) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 Part 2, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 Part 2 (together the “ Swap Providers ” and each a “ Swap Provider ”); and

 

(4) BNP PARIBAS S.A. , acting as agent with its registered office at 16 boulevard des Italiens 75009 Paris and registration number 662 042 449 RSC Paris for the Lenders and the Swap Providers (in that capacity the Agent ); and

 

(5) BNP PARIBAS S.A. , acting as security trustee through its office at 16 boulevard des Italiens 75009 Paris and registration number 662 042 449 RSC Paris for the Lenders and the Swap Providers (in that capacity the Security Trustee ); and

 

(6) BNP PARIBAS S.A. , acting as agent through its office at 24/F, Taepyeongno Building 310, Taepyeongno 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-767, for the Lenders under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy (in that capacity the “ KEIC Agent ”).

WHEREAS:

 

(A) The Borrower has agreed to purchase the Vessel from the Builder on the terms of the Building Contract and will register the Vessel on delivery on Bahamas flag.

 

(B) Each of the Lenders has agreed to advance to the Borrower its Buyer Credit Commitment (aggregating, with all the other Buyer Credit Commitments from the Lenders, up to an amount equal to the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount) to finance part of the Contract Price (the “ Buyer Credit ”, as more particularly defined in clause 1.1 below).

 

(C) Each of the Lenders has agreed to advance to the Borrower its Commercial Loan Commitment (aggregating, with all the other Commercial Loan Commitments from the Lenders, up to an amount equal to the Commercial Loan Maximum Amount) to finance part of the Contract Price and, subject to clause 2.3.3, 100% of the Ancillary Costs (the “ Commercial Facility ”, as more particularly defined in clause 1.1 below).

 

(D) The Borrower has agreed to time charter the Vessel to Angola LNG Supply Services LLC, a limited liability company duly organised under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA (the “ Time Charterer ”), pursuant to the terms of the Time Charter (as defined below).

 

(E) Pursuant to (inter alia) this Agreement, and as a condition precedent to the several obligations of the Lenders to make the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan available to the Borrower, the Borrower has, amongst other things agreed to execute and deliver a first priority mortgage over the Vessel as security for the payment of the Indebtedness.

 

(F) The Lender Finance Parties (as defined below) have agreed to enter into an Intercreditor Deed amongst, inter alios, themselves and the Borrower to, inter alia, regulate the priorities in respect of each of them under the Security Documents.

 

1


     IT IS AGREED as follows:-

 

    1 Definitions and Interpretation

 

1.1 Definitions

In this Agreement:-

“Account Bank” means BNP Paribas S.A., London Branch.

“Account Bank Fee Letter” means the fee letter in respect of the fee referred to in clause 7.5 and made between the Borrower and the Account Bank.

“Accounts” means all of the Revenue Account, the Dry Docking Reserve Account, the Retention Account, the Debt Service Reserve Account, the Dividend Lock-up Account and the Distribution Account.

“Account Charge” means the deed of charge over the Revenue Account, the Dry Docking Reserve Account, the Retention Account, the Debt Service Reserve Account and the Dividend Lock-up Account in respect of the Vessel, as referred to in clause 8.1.4.

“Additional Shareholders’ Equity” has the meaning given to that term in the Letter of Sponsors Undertaking.

“Affiliate” means in relation to any entity, a Subsidiary of that entity, a Holding Company of that entity or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company.

“Agency Fee Letter” means the fee letter in respect of the fee referred to in clause 7.3 and made between the Borrower and the Agent.

“Ancillary Costs” means costs accruing or incurred or repayments or reimbursements to be made by the Borrower up to and upon the Delivery Date, or consequent upon Delivery, in respect of:

 

  (a) the supervision by the Supervisor or its employees of the construction of the Vessel by the Builder which are payable pursuant to the Supervision Agreement or any other amount payable pursuant to the Supervision Agreement;

 

  (b) the acquisition of spare parts under the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement;

 

  (c) all interest, arrangement fees, commitment fees and agency fees in respect of the Loan falling due for payment and/or accruing on or before the Delivery Date;

 

  (d) corporate management fees payable to Mitsui by the Borrower under the Corporate Management Agreement;

 

  (e) all costs and fees payable by the Borrower in connection with the arrangement of the facility evidenced by this Agreement and the negotiation and finalisation of the Security Documents to which the Borrower is, or is to be, a party and in relation to the facility generally (including costs and expenses in connection with the registration of the Vessel);

 

  (f) all costs and expenses incurred by the Borrower in connection with modifications made to the Vessel prior to delivery of the Vessel pursuant to and in accordance with the Building Contract and the Time Charter;

 

  (g) all costs and expenses incurred by the Borrower in connection with the Angolanization Agreement;

 

  (h) the KEIC Insurance Premium; and

 

2


  (i) any other costs approved by the Agent in writing (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders),

but, for the avoidance of doubt, Ancillary Costs shall never cover any item, element or service to be provided by the Builder pursuant to the Building Contract and which is included in the Contract Price.

“Ancillary Costs Advance” means a Drawing for the purpose of paying Ancillary Costs incurred by the Borrower and for the purpose more particularly described in clause 2.3.

“Angola LNG” means Angola LNG Ltd, a company established and existing under the laws of Bermuda.

“Angola LNG Project” means the construction and operation of the approximately one-train liquefaction plant of 5 Mtpa of LNG production capacity constructed or (as the context may require) to be constructed in the vicinity of Kwanda Island in the Zaire Province of Angola, the purchase by the Time Charterer of LNG from Angola LNG for transportation on the Vessel and the sale of the regasified LNG transported on the Vessel pursuant to the Gas Sales and Purchase Agreements and the purchase of feed gas by Angola LNG from the Gas Suppliers under the Gas Supply Agreements.

“Angolanization Agreement” means the Angolanization Agreement dated 18 December 2007 between the Borrower and the Time Charterer.

“Arrangement Fee Letter” means the fee letter in respect of the fee referred to in clause 7.1 and made between the Borrower and the Agent.

“Assignment” means the deed of assignment of Insurances, Earnings and Requisition Compensation in respect of the Vessel as referred to in clause 8.1.3.

“Authorisation” means an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration.

“Authorised Investments” means deposits and/or investments with the Account Bank with varying minimum amounts and periods applying for each case and subject to the prior written approval from the Account Bank.

“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Execution Date to and including the Availability Termination Date.

“Availability Termination Date” means, the earlier of (a) the date falling 290 days after the Scheduled Delivery Date of the Vessel, (b) the date falling thirty (30) days after the Delivery Date of the Vessel, (c) the date on which the Time Charterer gives written consent to the Borrower permitting the Borrower to cancel the Building Contract in accordance with its terms and (d) the date on which the Total Commitments are reduced to zero pursuant to any term of this Agreement, or such other date as may be agreed in writing by the Agent acting on the instructions of all Lenders and KEIC.

“Borrower Priority Payments” means (a) any duly evidenced payments made pursuant to the Insurances in respect of repairs to the Vessel paid for by the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower (to the extent it is permitted to do so pursuant to clause 9.5) prior to the receipt of such Insurance proceeds and (b) any duly evidenced payments received by the Borrower from the Time Charterer which reimburse the Borrower for the costs incurred by the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower in relation to modifications to the Vessel which have been requested by the Time Charterer pursuant to the Time Charter and which are reimbursed by the Time Charterer in a lump-sum manner and not through an adjustment to the payment of charterhire under the Time Charter.

“Borrower Shareholders” means at any time from and including the Delivery Date means, Mitsui, NYK LNG and Teekay or in any case, any other person who has become a Borrower Shareholder in place of any of them as permitted by and pursuant to clause 9.2.17 and “Borrower Shareholder” means any one of them.

 

3


“Break Costs” means the amount (if any) by which:

 

  (a) the interest which a Lender Finance Party should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in the Loan or any 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 Finance Party 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.

and “Break Gains” means the amount (if any) by which the amount in (b) exceeds the amount in (a).

“Builder” means Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., a company incorporated in the Republic of Korea with its registered office at 34th FI., Samsung Insurance Seocho Tower 1321-15, Seocho-Dong, Seocho-Gu, Seoul, Korea 137-857.

“Building Contract” means the contract dated 18 December 2007 on the terms and subject to the conditions of which the Builder has agreed to construct the Vessel for, and deliver the Vessel to the Borrower.

“Building Contract Assignment Consent and Acknowledgement” means in relation to the Building Contract, the acknowledgement of notice of and consent to, the assignment of the Building Contract to be given by the Builder in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee.

“Business Day” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for business in London, Paris, Seoul, Tokyo and New York.

“Buyer Credit” means the aggregate amount of all the Buyer Credit Commitments advanced or to be advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower under clause 2 or, where the context requires, the aggregate amounts advanced and for the time being outstanding.

“Buyer Credit Commitments” means the aggregate of the Commitments of the Lenders for the Vessel as shown in the column headed “Buyer Credit” in Schedule 1, Part 1 as the same is reduced by the relevant clauses of this Agreement and which shall at no time exceed the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount.

“Buyer Credit Margin” means zero point seven eight per cent (0.78%) per annum.

“Buyer Credit Maximum Amount” means the lesser of (a) forty four per cent. (44%) of eighty per cent. (80%) of the Total Project Cost and (b) ninety two million four hundred thousand Dollars ($92,400,000).

“Calyon” means Calyon, a credit institution established under the laws of France, acting through its office at 9 quai du Président Paul Doumer, 92920 Paris, La Défense Cédex, France.

“Change of Control” means either (i) in respect of the Borrower that the Borrower Shareholders either together or any one or more of them shall cease, for any reason whatsoever, to own or control directly or indirectly, sixty-six per cent. (66%) of the shares of the Borrower or, (ii) in respect of Teekay LNG that as from Delivery and provided that Teekay has transferred its shares in the Borrower to Teekay LNG, Teekay ceases to hold, directly or indirectly at least fifty-one per cent. (51%) of the voting power from time to time in Teekay GP LLC, the general partner in Teekay LNG.

 

4


“Classification” means the classification referred to in and as required by, clause 9.6.3(b).

“Classification Society” means the American Bureau of Shipping or such other classification society which is a member of the International Association of Classification Societies and which the Agent shall at the Borrower’s request have agreed in writing shall be treated as the Classification Society for the Vessel for the purpose of the Security Documents.

“Commercial Facility” means, the credit facility made available by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement and more particularly described in clause 2.1.2.

“Commercial Loan” means the aggregate amount advanced or to be advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower under clause 2 or, where the context requires, the aggregate amounts advanced and for the time being outstanding.

“Commercial Loan Maximum Amount” means the lesser of (a) fifty six per cent. (56%) of eighty per cent. (80%) of the Total Project Cost and (b) one hundred and seventeen million six hundred thousand Dollars ($117,600,000).

“Commercial Loan Margin” means (i) during the Pre-Delivery Period one point zero zero per cent. (1.00%) per annum and (ii) during the Post-Delivery Period one point three zero per cent. (1.30%) per annum.

“Commitment” means, in relation to a Lender, the amount of the Loan which that Lender agrees under clause 2.1 to advance to the Borrower as its several liability as indicated against the name of that Lender in Schedule 1 Part I and/or Schedule 1 Part II as reduced by any relevant term of this Agreement and “Commitments” means all or more than one of them.

“Commitment Fee” means the commitment fee to be paid by the Borrower to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders pursuant to clause 7.2.

“Communication” means any notice, approval, demand, request or other communication from one party to this Agreement to any other party to this Agreement.

“Company” means at any given time the company responsible for the Vessel’s compliance with (i) the ISM Code under paragraph 1.1.2 of the ISM Code and/or (ii) the ISPS Code (as the case may be).

“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate in the form set out in Schedule 8.

“Compulsory Acquisition” means requisition for title or other compulsory acquisition, 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 facto but shall exclude requisition for use or hire not involving requisition for title.

“Contract Instalment Advance” means subject always to the provisions of this Agreement, Drawings in the maximum amount not exceeding the relevant instalment amount of the Contract Price set out in each column (3) of Part A of Schedule 7 (as such sums instalment amount may be adjusted as permitted under the Building Contract) which shall be applied in payment of part of the instalment of the Contract Price payable by the Borrower at the completion of the relevant stage of construction of the Vessel pursuant to the Building Contract.

“Contract Price” means the actual amount payable for the Vessel pursuant to the Building Contract.

“Corporate Management Agreement” means the Corporate Management and Services Agreement executed or (as the context may require) to be executed between the Borrower and Mitsui.

 

5


“Credit Support Document” means any document described as such in the Swap Agreements and where the context permits, any other document referred to in any Credit Support Document which has the effect of creating an Encumbrance in favour of any of the Lender Finance Parties.

“Currency of Account” means, in relation to any payment to be made to a Lender Finance Party pursuant to any of the Security Documents, the currency in which that payment is required to be made by the terms of the relevant Security Document.

“Debt Service Amount” means in relation to any period all interest, principal and fees payable by the Borrower during that period under or pursuant to this Agreement, the Swap Agreements and any transactions under the Swap Agreements less any amounts receivable by the Borrower during that period under or pursuant to the Swap Agreements.

“Debt Service Reserve Account” means the account numbered 09618 078603 004 54 USD and designated the “Debt Service Reserve Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Debt Service Reserve Account and any other account of the Borrower with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Debt Service Reserve Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

“Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee” means the deed of assignment referred to in clause 8.1.1.

“Deed of Assignment of Contracts” means the deed of assignment referred to in clause 8.1.5.

“Deed of Covenants” means the deed of covenants referred to in clause 8.1.2.

“Default Rate” means the rate which is the aggregate of LIBOR, any Mandatory Cost, the Margin and one point zero zero per cent. (1.00%) per annum.

“Delivery Date” means the date on which the Vessel is actually delivered by the Builder to the Borrower under the Building Contract and accepted by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter.

“Delivery Date Advance” means a Drawing made, or to be made to finance the instalment of the Contract Price falling due on the Delivery Date.

“Depot Spare Parts” has the meaning given to that term in the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement.

“Depot Spares Sharing Agreement” means the agreement between, amongst others, the Borrower and the Time Charterer in respect of spare parts for, inter alia, the Vessel.

“Distribution Account” means the account numbered 09618 078603 006 48 USD and designated the “Distribution Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank.

“Dividend Lock-up Account” means the account numbered 09618 078602 005 51 USD and designated the “Dividend Lock-up Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Dividend Lock-up Account and any other account of the Borrower with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Dividend Lock-up Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

“Dividend Restriction Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events:

 

  (a) the Agent has not received payment in full of the first Repayment Instalment under the Buyer Credit when due;

 

6


  (b) an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived which has a Material Adverse Effect;

 

  (c) any charterhire under the Time Charter has not been paid when due and such charterhire together with interest thereon remains unpaid;

 

  (d) the Borrower has failed to demonstrate that the average DSCR for the then immediately preceding four (4) quarters is lower than 1.13x;

 

  (e) any of the Accounts (excluding the Distribution Account) is not fully funded to the amount required at that time as required pursuant to clause 8 (provided that this shall not apply to the Debt Service Reserve Account to the extent that the Borrower’s obligation to retain the DSRA Amount in the Debt Service Reserve Account is satisfied by means of the DSRA Letter of Credit and provided further that this shall not apply to the Dry Docking Reserve Account to the extent that, for the then applicable period, amounts have been deposited into the Dry Docking Reserve Account in accordance with clause 8.3.2);

 

  (f) a Total Loss has occurred, unless the Borrower has complied with its prepayment obligations under clause 5.5; or

 

  (g) the credit rating of an L/C Issuer falls below the Minimum Credit Rating applicable to it as described in clause 9.1.20.9 . 1.20 where (i) a demand has been made under the DSRA Letter of Credit in accordance with clause 8.5 and (ii) the L/C Issuer has failed to pay the full amount so demanded.

“Documentation Agency Fee Letter” means the fee letter in respect of the fee referred to in clause 7.4 and made between the Borrower and Calyon.

“Dollars” “US$” and “ $ ” each means available and freely transferable and convertible funds in lawful currency of the United States of America.

“Dollar Equivalent” of an amount in a currency other than Dollars for any day means the amount of Dollars required to purchase that amount at the spot rate of exchange of the Agent for the purchase of the applicable currency with Dollars in the London foreign exchange market at 11.00 a.m. for delivery on that day.

“Drawdown Date” means the date on which a Drawing is advanced.

“Drawdown Notice” means a notice substantially in the form set out in the relevant part of Schedule 5.

“Drawing” means each borrowing of a proportion of the Commitment by the Borrower pursuant to clause 2 whether as a Contract Instalment Advance and/or an Ancillary Cost Advance and/or the Delivery Date Advance or (as the context may require) the principal amount of such borrowing.

“Dry Docking Reserve Account” means the account numbered 09618 078603 002 60 USD and designated the “Dry Docking Reserve Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Dry Docking Reserve Account and any other account of the Borrower with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Dry Docking Reserve Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

“Dry Docking Reserve Account Payments” means the sum calculated by the Borrower which should be reserved in order to meet the costs in respect of the next scheduled dry docking of the Vessel (including, without limitation, the costs in respect of the long term maintenance and repair of the Vessel), each such calculation shall be demonstrated as being fair and reasonable to the Agent’s satisfaction not later than the date falling, in respect of the first scheduled dry docking date, three (3) Months prior to the Scheduled Delivery Date and, in respect of each subsequent scheduled dry docking date, not later than the date falling three (3) Months prior to the immediately preceding scheduled dry docking date of the Vessel.

 

7


“DSCR” means in relation to any period the ratio which the Revenues less Operating Costs during that period bear to the Debt Service Amount paid or payable in relation to that period.

“DSRA Amount” has the meaning given to that term in clause 9.1.18.

“DSRA Letter of Credit” means an irrevocable letter of credit in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent which, if issued, shall be issued by an L/C Issuer for an original amount determined by the Agent to be equal whether alone or in aggregate to 6 Months principal and interest repayments under this Agreement or such other amounts as referred to in clause 9.1.18 and for a period of not less than 1 year or, during the final year before the Maturity Date, such other period of less than 1 year with the prior written consent of the Agent.

“Earnings” means all hires including (without limitation) all time charter hire and bareboat charter hire, freights, pool income and other sums payable to or for the account of the Borrower in respect of the Vessel including (without limitation) all remuneration for salvage and towage services, demurrage and detention moneys, contributions in general average, compensation in respect of any requisition for hire and damages and other payments (whether awarded by any court or arbitral tribunal or by agreement or otherwise) for breach, termination or variation of any contract for the operation, employment or use of the Vessel.

“Encumbrance” means any mortgage, charge (whether fixed or floating), pledge, lien, assignment, hypothecation, preferential right, option, title retention or trust arrangement or any other agreement or arrangement which, in any of the aforementioned instances, has the effect of creating security.

“Environmental Affiliate” means an agent or employee of the Borrower or a person in a contractual relationship with the Borrower or any sub-lessee in respect of the operation, management or maintenance of the Vessel (including without limitation, the operation of or the carriage of cargo of the Vessel).

“Environmental Approval” means any permit, licence, ruling, variance, exemption, certificate, filing, comment, Authorisation or other approval, required at any time under any applicable Environmental Law.

“Environmental Claim” means any claim by any person which arises out of or in connection with an Environmental Incident or any alleged Environmental Incident or any breach of, or non-compliance with, or otherwise relates to any Environmental Law or Environmental Approval.

“Environmental Incident” means:

 

  (a) any release, discharge or emission of Environmentally Sensitive Material from the Vessel; or

 

  (b) any incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released, discharged or emitted from a vessel other than the Vessel and which involves a collision between the Vessel and such other vessel or some other incident of navigation or operation, in either case, in connection with which the Vessel is actually and/or is reasonably likely to be arrested, attached, detained or injuncted and/or where the Borrower, or any Environmental Affiliate or any of their respective officers, employees or other persons retained or instructed by them are finally determined to be at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action; or

 

  (c) any other incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released otherwise than from the Vessel and in connection with which the Vessel is actually or is reasonably likely to be arrested, attached, detained or injuncted and/or where the Borrower or any Environmental Affiliate or any of their respective officers, employees or other persons retained or instructed by them are finally determined to be at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action.

 

8


“Environmental Law” means any or all laws applicable or relating to pollution or contamination or protection of the environment, to the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use or misuse, treatment, storage, disposal, carriage or holding of Environmentally Sensitive Material or to actual or threatened emissions, releases, spillages or discharges of Environmentally Sensitive Material.

“Environmentally Sensitive Material” means liquefied natural gas, oil, oil products and any other element or substance whether natural or artificial and whether consisting of gas, liquid, solid or vapour (including any chemical, gas or other hazardous or noxious substance) which is or is capable of becoming polluting, toxic, hazardous, harmful or damaging to mankind or the environment or any living organism.

“Event of Default” means any of the events set out in clause 10.2.

“Execution Date” means the date on which this Agreement is executed by each of the parties hereto.

“Facility Period” means the period beginning on the Execution Date and ending on the date when the whole of the Loan Outstandings and all other amounts due and owing under this Agreement have been repaid in full and the Borrower has ceased to be under any further actual liability to the Lender Finance Parties under or in connection with the Security Documents.

“Fee Letters” means the Arrangement Fee Letter, the Agency Fee Letter, the Documentation Agency Fee Letter and the Account Bank Fee Letter.

“Financial Indebtedness” means, in relation to a person (the “debtor”), a liability of the debtor:

 

  (a) for principal, interest or any other sum payable in respect of any moneys borrowed or raised by the debtor;

 

  (b) under any loan stock, bond, note or other security issued by the debtor;

 

  (c) under any acceptance credit, guarantee or letter of credit facility issued for the account of the debtor;

 

  (d) under a lease or any other agreement having the commercial effect of a borrowing or raising of money by the debtor;

 

  (e) under any foreign exchange transaction, any interest or currency swap or any other kind of derivative transaction entered into by the debtor or, if the agreement under which any such transaction is entered into requires netting of mutual liabilities, the liability of the debtor for the net amount; or

 

  (f) under a guarantee, indemnity or similar obligation entered into by the debtor in respect of a liability of another person which would fall within paragraphs (a) to (e) if the references to the debtor referred to the other person,

provided that, Financial Indebtedness shall exclude (a) any shareholder loans and/or other debt instruments of the Borrower to the Borrower Shareholders which are fully subordinated to the Loan in accordance with clause 2.1.1 of the Letter of Sponsors Undertaking and (b) any shareholder loans which are repaid pursuant to clause 2.3.4.

“Flag State” means the Bahamas.

“GAAP” means, with respect to a person, the generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied by such person in preparation of its financial statements.

 

9


“Gas Sales and Purchase Agreements” means the agreements entered into or (as the context may require) to be entered into between the Time Charterer and one or more affiliates of the Gas Suppliers for the sale and purchase of the LNG transported on the Vessel to the Gulf LNG Clean Energy regasification terminal located at the Port of Pascagoula, Mississippi.

“Gas Suppliers” means the suppliers of feed gas to Angola LNG pursuant to the Gas Supply Agreements.

“Gas Supply Agreements” means the gas supply agreements entered into or (as the context may require) to be entered into between each of the Gas Suppliers and Angola LNG for the supply by the Gas Suppliers of feed gas to Angola LNG for the purpose of liquefaction at the Angola LNG liquefaction plant and the subsequent sale of LNG by Angola LNG to the Time Charterer pursuant to the LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement.

“Government Entity” means and includes (whether having a distinct legal personality or not) any national or local government authority, board, commission, department, division, organ, instrumentality, court or agency.

“Guarantee Bond” has the meaning given to that term in the Building Contract.

“Holding Company” means, in relation to any entity (the “first entity”), any other entity in respect of which the first entity is a Subsidiary.

“Indebtedness” has the meaning given to that term in the Intercreditor Deed.

“Insurances” means all policies and contracts of insurance (including but not limited to hull and machinery, all entries in protection and indemnity or war risks associations) which are from time to time taken out or entered into in respect of or in connection with the Vessel or her increased value and her Earnings and (where the context permits) all benefits thereof, including all claims of any nature and returns of premium.

“Insured Loss Value” means, at any relevant time, 110% of the aggregate from time to time of the Lender Indebtedness.

“Intercreditor Deed” means an intercreditor deed to be entered into between (1) the Agent, (2) the Security Trustee, (3) the Borrower, (4) the Lenders, (5) the KEIC Agent and (6) the Swap Providers.

“Interest Payment Date” means each date for the payment of interest in accordance with clause 6.

“Interest Period” means each interest period selected pursuant to clause 6.

“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) and incorporated into SOLAS as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time and all further resolutions, circulars, codes, guidelines, regulations and recommendations which are now or may in the future be issued by or on behalf of the International Maritime Organisation or any other entity with responsibility for implementing the ISM Code.

“ISSC” means a valid international ship security certificate for a Vessel issued under the ISPS Code.

“ISPS Code” means the International Vessel and Port Facility Security Code adopted by the International Maritime Organisation Assembly as the same may have been or may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

“KEIC” means Korea Export Insurance Corporation of 2-16 Floors, Seoul Central Building, 136 Seorin Dong, Jongro-ku, Seoul 110-729, Korea.

 

10


KEIC Acceptance Letter ” means the letter or letters to be entered into from KEIC to, amongst others, the KEIC Agent.

KEIC Buyer Credit Policy ” means the Medium and Long Term Export Insurance Policy, the General Terms and Conditions of Medium and Long Term Export Insurance (Buyer’s Credit, Standard Type) and the special policy attached thereto to be issued by KEIC in respect of 95% of the Buyer Credit in relation to political and commercial risks.

KEIC Insurance Premium ” means Four f our point Five five per cent. (4.5%) of the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount.

law ” or “ Law ” means any law, statute, treaty, convention, regulation, instrument or other subordinate legislation or other legislative or quasi-legislative rule or measure, or any order or decree of any government, judicial or public or other body or authority, or any directive, code of practice, circular, guidance note or other direction issued by any competent authority or agency (whether or not having the force of law).

L/C Issuer ” means a financial institution issuing the DSRA Letter of Credit and having a Minimum Credit Rating.

Lender Finance Parties ” means the Lenders, the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent and the Swap Providers.

Lender Indebtedness ” means the Buyer Credit Liabilities and the Commercial Liabilities (each as defined in the Intercreditor Deed).

Letter of Sponsors Undertaking ” means the undertaking referred to in clause 8.1.7 and executed or (as the context may require) to be executed by each of the Sponsors on a several basis in favour of the Security Trustee in form and substance acceptable to the Lenders.

Leverage Ratio ” means the ratio of the Loan Outstandings to the aggregate of (without duplication) the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity, the Additional Shareholders’ Equity (to the extent the same has been advanced) and the issued share capital of the Borrower, shareholder loans and/or other debt instruments of the Borrower to the Borrower Shareholders and the amounts standing to the credit of its capital and revenue reserves (including any share premium account or capital redemption reserve but excluding any re-evaluation reserve).

LIBOR ” means, in relation to a particular period:

 

  (a) the offered rate for deposits of Dollars for a period equal to such period and in an amount approximately equal to the amount in relation to which LIBOR is to be determined at 11.00 a.m. (London time) two (2) London Business Days prior to the first day of such period as displayed on Reuters Page LIBOR 01 on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates (the “ Screen Rate ”) Service or such other page as may replace such page on such system or on any other system for the time being displaying the rate so designated and if no such rate is available for any such period the rate shall be determined by interpolating between rates for such periods as are so available; or

 

  (b) if no Screen Rate is available for Dollars for any Interest Period, LIBOR for such period shall be the arithmetic mean (rounded upwards if necessary to five decimal places) of the rates respectively quoted to the Agent or any successor entity thereto by each of the Reference Banks (or, if not all the Reference Banks provide a quotation when requested, the arithmetic mean of the rates which are quoted) as such Reference Banks’ offered rates for deposits of Dollars in an amount approximately equal to the amount in relation to which LIBOR is to be determined for a period equivalent to such period to prime banks in the London Interbank Market at 11.00 a.m. (London time) two (2) London Business Days prior to the first day of such period; or

 

11


  (c) if on such date no such rate can be ascertained pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this definition, LIBOR for such period shall be the rate, determined by the Agent at which the Agent or any successor entity thereto is able to obtain deposits of Dollars in an amount approximately equal to the amount in respect of which LIBOR is to be determined, from whatever source it may select for a period equivalent to such period at 11.00 a.m. (London time) two (2) London Business Days prior to the first day of such period.

LNG ” means liquefied natural gas.

LNG Agreement ” means the LNG Sales and Purchase Agreement entered or (as the context may require) to be entered into between Angola LNG and the Time Charterer pursuant to which Angola LNG will supply to the Time Charterer and the Time Charterer will purchase from Angola LNG, LNG for transportation on the Vessel from the Angola LNG liquefaction plant to the Gulf LNG Clean Energy regasification terminal located at the Port of Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Loan ” means the aggregate amount advanced or to be advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower under clause 2 or, where the context requires, the aggregate amounts advanced and for the time being outstanding.

Loan Outstandings ” at any time means the total of all Drawings made at that time, to the extent not reduced by repayments, prepayments and voluntary reductions.

London Business Days ” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for business in London.

Majority Lenders ” means a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments in respect of the Loan aggregate more than sixty six point six seven per cent (66.67%) of the aggregate of all the Commitments in respect of the Loan.

Manager ” means NYK LNG, or another management company approved by the Agent (acting under the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC). Provided however that NYK LNG shall be entitled to subcontract its technical management function under the Management Agreement to the Sub-Manager provided that the Sub-Manager enters into a Sub-Managers Undertaking and a Sub-Management Agreement Assignment.

Management Agreement ” means, in respect of the Vessel, the management agreement, to be in form and substance acceptable to the Lenders acting reasonably, entered into, or as the case may be, to be entered into between the Borrower and the Manager providing for the Manager to manage the Vessel.

Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement ” means the acknowledgement of notice and consent to be given by the Manager in respect of the Management Agreement in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Contracts.

Manager’s Undertaking ” means an undertaking referred to in clause 8.1.8 executed or (as the context may require) to be executed by the Manager in favour of the Security Trustee as a condition precedent to the approval of the Management Agreement, such undertakings to be in a form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders in all respects.

Mandatory Cost ” means for each Lender to which it applies, the cost imputed to that Lender of compliance with the mandatory liquid asset requirements of the Bank of England and/or the banking supervision or other costs imposed by the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank, determined in accordance with Schedule 6 ( Calculation of the Mandatory Cost ).

Mandatory Prepayment Event ” means any of the events set out in clauses 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8 or 5.9.

Margin ” means the Buyer Credit Margin or the Commercial Loan Margin as applicable.

Master ” means the master of the Vessel from time to time.

 

12


Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (a) the Borrower’s financial or operating condition or (b) the Borrower’s or any other Security Party’s ability to comply with its material obligations under any of the Security Documents or (c) the validity or enforceability of any of the Security Documents or (d) the rights and remedies of the Lender Finance Parties under the Security Documents.

Maturity Date ” means the date falling twelve (12) years after the Delivery Date of the Vessel.

Maximum Loan Amoun t ” means two hundred and ten million Dollars ($210,000,000).

Minimum Credit Rating ” means (a) in relation to any L/C Issuer either a minimum Standard and Poors corporate rating of AA- or a minimum Moodys long term credit rating of Aa3 and (b) in relation to the Refund Guarantor a minimum long term credit rating of A- or equivalent by either Standard and Poors or Fitch.

Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equit y” means subject always to the provisions of the Letter of Sponsors Undertaking, a sum equal to no less than the lesser of 20% of the Scheduled Vessel Project Cost (being $52,500,000) and 20% of the Total Project Cost, made or (as the context may require) to be made available to the Borrower whether directly or indirectly by way of contributions to the ordinary, preferential or other class of share capital of the Borrower or by way of shareholder loans and/or debt instruments of the Borrower which shareholder loans and/or debt instruments shall be subordinated in all respects to the amounts due or owing to the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Swap Providers or the Lenders under the Security Documents on terms acceptable to them, to be applied on a pro-rata basis with the Drawings in respect of the costs to be funded by the Loan.

Mitsui ” means Mitsui & Co., Ltd. a Japanese corporation with its registered office at 2-1, Ohtemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan.

Moodys ” means Moodys’ Investors Service of 99 Church Street, New York, NY 10007, USA and includes its successors in title.

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) 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; and

 

  (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.

The above rules will only apply to the last Month of any period, and “ Monthly ” shall be construed accordingly.

Mortgage ” means together the first priority statutory ship mortgage together with the Deed of Covenants collateral thereto over the Vessel made or to be made between the Borrower and the Security Trustee referred to in clause 8.1.2 (the “ Mortgage ”).

NYK ” means Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, a Japanese corporation with its registered office at 3-2, Marunouchi 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0005, Japan.

NYK LNG ” means NYK LNG (Atlantic) Ltd., a company incorporated in England and Wales with its registered office at Citypoint, 1 Ropemaker Street, London EC2Y 9NY.

Operating Costs ” means in relation to any period, the Borrower’s operating costs in respect of the Vessel, but excluding any unanticipated costs of a non-recurring and extraordinary nature which have not been reimbursed but which are to be reimbursed to the Borrower (and in respect of which the Borrower shall provide such evidence as the Agent may require) and no amount in respect of which is included in the Revenues for such period.

 

13


Operator ” means any person concerned in the operation of the Vessel and falling within the definitions of “Company” set out in the ISM Code.

Permitted Encumbrance ” means:

 

  (a) Encumbrances created or contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Relevant Documents;

 

  (b) liens for unpaid crew’s wages;

 

  (c) liens for salvage;

 

  (d) liens arising by operation of law for not more than 2 Months’ prepaid hire under any charter in relation to a Vessel not prohibited by the Relevant Documents;

 

  (e) liens for Master’s disbursements incurred in the ordinary course of trading;

 

  (f) other liens arising by operation of law or otherwise in the ordinary course of the operation, repair or maintenance of the Vessel and which secure amounts not exceeding the Threshold Amount where the Borrower 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 Borrower finally has to pay such claim so long as any such proceedings shall not, and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of the Vessel, or any interest in the Vessel;

 

  (g) any security interest created over the Depot Spare Parts by a sister vessel in favour of its lenders;

 

  (h) any security interest created in favour of a claimant or defendant in any action of the court or tribunal before whom such action is brought as security for costs and expenses where the Borrower 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 continued existence of such security interest shall not and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of, the Vessel or any interest in the Vessel; and

 

  (i) security interests 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 security interest shall not and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of a Vessel, or any interest in the Vessel.

Post-Delivery Period ” means the period from and including the date falling immediately after the Delivery Date up to and including the last day of the Facility Period.

Potential Event of Default means any event which, with the giving of notice and/or the passage of time and/or the satisfaction of any materiality test, would constitute an Event of Default.

“Pre-Delivery Period” means the period from and including the Execution Date up to and including the Delivery Date.

Project Co-ordination Agreement ” means the project co-ordination agreement entered or, as the case may be, to be entered into between the Borrower, the Time Charterer and the Security Trustee to be in form and substance satisfactory to all Lenders.

Project Documents ” means the Building Contract, the Refund Guarantee, the Management Agreement, the Corporate Management Agreement, the Supervision Agreement, the Tripartite Agreement, the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement, the Sub-Management Agreement and the Time Charter and any other agreements or documents which the Agent and the Borrower agree shall be a “Project Document”.

 

14


Proportionate Share ” in respect of a Loan means, for each Lender, the percentage that its Commitment relating to that Loan bears to the aggregate Commitments of all Lenders for that Loan from time to time, being initially the percentage indicated against the name of that Lender in Schedule 1.

Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance ” has the meaning given to that term in the Building Contract.

Qualifying Entity ” means a person having a long term corporate credit rating of at least BBB-with Standard and Poors or Baa3 with Moodys;

Reference Banks ” means, in relation to LIBOR, the principal London offices of the Agent, HSBC Bank plc, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and Barclays Bank plc and such other banks as may be appointed by the Agent in consultation with the Borrower.

Refund Guarantee ” means the refund guarantee dated 20 December 2007 and issued by the Refund Guarantor in favour of the Borrower.

Refund Guarantee Consent and Acknowledgement ” means the acknowledgement of notice of and consent to, the assignment in respect of the Refund Guarantee to be given by the Refund Guarantor in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee.

Refund Guarantor ” means ABN AMRO a bank established and existing under the laws of the Netherlands and acting through its offices at 6/F, Seoul Finance Centre 84, Taepyeongno 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-768, Korea CPO Box 3035, Seoul.

Relevant Documents ” means the Security Documents, the Project Documents and the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy.

Relevant Jurisdiction ” means any jurisdiction in which or where any Security Party is incorporated, resident, domiciled, has a permanent establishment, carries on, or has a place of business or is otherwise effectively connected.

Repayment Date ” means any date for payment of a Repayment Instalment in accordance with clause 5.

Repayment Instalment ” means any instalment of a Loan to be repaid by the Borrower in accordance with clause 5.

Requisition Compensation ” means all compensation or other money which may from time to time be payable to the Borrower as a result of the Compulsory Acquisition of the Vessel.

Retention Account ” means the account numbered 09618 078603 003 57 USD and designated the “Retention Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Retention Account and/or any other account of the Borrower, with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Retention Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

Retention Amount ” means, in relation to any Retention Date, such sum as shall be the aggregate of:

 

  (a)

one-third ( 1/ 3 ) of the Repayment Instalment falling due for payment pursuant to clause 5.1 (as the same may have been reduced by any permitted or required prepayment) on the next Repayment Date after the relevant Retention Date other than in the case of the final Repayment Instalment in respect of which no retention shall be made; and

 

15


  (b)

one-third ( 1/ 3 ) of the aggregate amount of interest falling due for payment in respect of the Loan during and at the end of each Interest Period current at the relevant Retention Date as reduced or, as the case may be, increased by the amounts (if any) to be paid or, as the case may be, to be received by the Borrower under the Swap Agreements.

Retention Dates ” means in relation to the Loan, the date falling one (1) Month after the Delivery Date and each of the dates falling at Monthly intervals after such date and prior to the final Repayment Date.

Revenue Account ” means the account numbered 09618 078603 001 63 USD and designated the “Revenue Account” in respect of the Vessel, held in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes each sub-account thereof or time deposit account constituted by moneys originally held on the Revenue Account and/or any other account of the Borrower with the Account Bank designated by the Agent to be the Revenue Account for the purposes of this Agreement, in each case pledged in favour of the Security Trustee.

Revenues ” means, in relation to any period, all moneys received or receivable by the Borrower in relation to that period including:

 

  (a) moneys received or receivable pursuant to the Time Charter;

 

  (b) amounts representing interest on the Accounts; and

 

  (c) all other amounts received or receivable by the Borrower during the relevant period, but excluding Drawings paid to the Borrower under this Agreement.

Revised Delivery Date ” means any Revised Delivery Date as defined in Article V(d) of the Building Contract and pursuant to which the Borrower is entitled to delay delivery of the Vessel by notice in writing to the Builder on two occasions and by up to 45 days on each occasion.

Scheduled Delivery Date ” means 13 January 2012 or any Revised Delivery Date.

Scheduled Vessel Project Cos t ” means two hundred and sixty two million five hundred thousand Dollars ($262,500,000).

Security Documents ” means this Agreement, the Swap Agreement, any other Credit Support Documents, the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee, the Assignment, the Deed of Assignment of Contracts, the Letter of Sponsors Undertaking, the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants, the Share Pledges Charges , the Account Charge, the Project Co-ordination Agreement, the Building Contract Assignment Consent and Acknowledgement, the Refund Guarantee Consent and Acknowledgement, the Supervision Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement, the Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement, the Sub-Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement, the Intercreditor Deed, the Manager’s Undertaking, the Sub-Manager’s Undertaking, the Fee Letters or (where the context permits) any one of them and any other agreement or document which may at any time be executed to guarantee or as security for the payment or repayment of all or any part of the Indebtedness and which the Borrower and the Agent agree to be a Security Document.

Security Parties ” means, at any relevant time, the Borrower, the Sponsors, the Borrower Shareholders, the Supervisor, the Manager, the Sub-Manager and, with the consent of the Borrower, any other party who may at any time during the Facility Period be liable for, or provide security for, all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness, and “ Security Party ” means any one of them.

Security Trustee ” means BNP Paribas S.A. in its capacity as security trustee for the purposes of the Security Documents.

 

16


Share Pledges Charges ” means the share pledges charge over shares from each Borrower Shareholder in respect of the shares in the Borrower as referred to in clause 8.1.6.

SOLAS ” means International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, with Protocol 1978 and Amendments of 1981, 1983, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004 as the same may be further amended or supplemented, consolidated or replaced from time to time.

Sponsors ” means Mitsui, NYK and Teekay, or in any case, any other person who has acceded to the Security Documents as a Sponsor in place of any of them as permitted by and pursuant to clause 9.2.17 and “ Sponsor ” means any one of them.

Standard & Poor s ” means Standard & Poors Rating Services of 25 Broadway, New York, NY 10004, USA and includes its successors in title.

Sub - Manager ” means NYK LNG Shipmanagement (UK) Ltd., an English company with its registered office at City Point, 1 Ropemaker Street, London, EC2Y 9NY, United Kingdom.

Sub Management Agreement ” means the management agreement to be entered into between the Manager and the Sub-Manager in respect of the Vessel.

Sub - Manager’s Undertaking” means an undertaking agreement as referred to in clause 8.1.9 executed or (as the context may require) to be executed by the Sub-Manager in favour of the Security Trustee as a condition precedent to the approval of the Sub-Management Agreement, such undertaking to be in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent in all respects.

Subsidiary ” means a subsidiary undertaking, as defined in section 736 Companies Act 1985 or any analogous definition under any other relevant system of law.

“Supervision Agreement” means the supervision agreement to be entered into between the Borrower and the Supervisors as supervisors in respect of, inter alia, the Vessel.

Supervision Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement ” means the acknowledgement of notice of and consent to, the assignment in respect of the Supervision Agreement to be given by the Supervisor in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Contracts.

Supervisors ” means Teekay Shipping Limited and NYK or any one of their respective Affiliates who are parties to the Supervision Agreement and “ Supervisors ” means either of them;

Swap Agreement ” means each ISDA Master Agreement and each confirmation issued thereunder between a Swap Provider and the Borrower together with any novation documentation entered into in relation to swap arrangements relating to this Agreement entered into prior to the date hereof (together the “ Swap Agreements ”).

Swap Margin ” means the Swap Margin applicable to each Swap Agreement as set out in the Swap Margin Side Letters.

Swap Margin Side Letters ” means the letter agreement to be entered into between the Swap Providers and the Borrower setting out the Swap Margin in form and substance satisfactory to each of the Swap Providers and the Borrower.

Swap Providers ” means each of the Lenders ( including, for the avoidance of doubt, any entity which has ceased to be a Lender pursuant to clause 12) or their respective affiliate acting in its capacity as a swap provider pursuant to a Swap Agreement and “ Swap Provide r ” means any one or more of them.

Tax ” includes all present and future taxes, levies (whether by deduction, withholding or otherwise), imposts, duties, or charges of a similar nature (or any amount payable on account of or as security for any of the foregoing), including, but not limited to, income tax, corporation tax, VAT, stamp duty, customs and other impost or export duty or excise duty, imposed by any statutory, governmental, national, international, state or local taxing or fiscal authority, body or agency or department whatsoever or any central bank, monetary agency or European Union institution, whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere together with interest thereon and any additions, fines, surcharges, penalties in respect thereof or relating thereto and “ Taxes ” and “ Taxation ” shall be construed accordingly.

 

17


Teekay ” means Teekay Corporation a company incorporated in the Marshall Islands with its registered office at c/o Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH 96960.

Teekay LNG ” means Teekay LNG Partners L.P. a limited partnership formed in the Marshall Islands with its registered office at c/o Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960.

Teekay Shipping Limited ” means Teekay Shipping Limited, a Bermuda company constituted from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas with its registered office at 4th Floor, Belvedere Building, 69 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton, HM 09, Bermuda.

Threshold Amount ” means two million Dollars ($2,000,000) or its Dollar Equivalent.

Time Charter ” means in respect of the Vessel, the time charter dated 18 December 2007 between the Borrower and the Time Charterer.

Time Charterer ” has the meaning ascribed to that term in Recital D above.

Total Loss ” means:-

 

  (a) an actual, constructive or compromised or arranged total loss of the Vessel; or

 

  (b) any Compulsory Acquisition of the Vessel; or

 

  (c) the hijacking, theft, condemnation, capture, seizure, arrest, detention or confiscation of the Vessel (other than where the same amounts to the Compulsory Acquisition of the Vessel) by any person or entity, including any Government Entity, or by persons acting or purporting to act on behalf of any Government Entity, unless the Vessel is released and restored to the Borrower from such hijacking, theft, condemnation, capture, seizure, arrest, detention or confiscation within thirty (30) days after the occurrence thereof or where such event is an insured risk under the Insurances, six (6) Months or such lesser period as is stipulated in the relevant Insurances as being required to elapse before a Total Loss of the Vessel shall be deemed as having occurred.

Total Project Cost ” means a sum equal to the aggregate amount in Dollars of the Contract Price and Ancillary Costs.

“Transfer Certificate” means a certificate materially in the form set forth in Schedule 4 or any other form agreed by the Borrower and the Agent signed by a Lender and a Transferee whereby:-

 

  (a) such Lender procures the transfer to such Transferee of all or a part of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement upon and subject to the terms and conditions set out in clause 12; and

 

  (b) such Transferee undertakes to perform the obligations it will assume as a result of delivery of such certificate to the Agent as is contemplated in clause 12.

“Transfer Date” means, in relation to any Transfer Certificate, the date for the making of the transfer specified in the schedule to such Transfer Certificate.

“Tripartite Agreement” means the Tripartite Agreement dated 18 December 2007 and made between the Builder, the Borrower and the Time Charterer.

 

18


Tripartite Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement ” means the acknowledgement of and consent to, the assignment in respect of the Tripartite Agreement to be given by the Builder and the Time Charterer in the form scheduled to the Deed of Assignment of Contracts.

Transferee ” means a bank or other financial institution to which a Lender transfers all or part of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

Unpaid Sum ” means any sum due and payable but unpaid by a Security Party under the Security Documents.

Value Added Tax ” or “ VAT ” means:

 

  (a) value added tax of the United Kingdom as provided for in the VATA including legislation (delegated or otherwise) supplementary thereto, and any similar or substituted tax, or any tax imposed, levied or assessed in the United Kingdom on added value or turnover; and

 

  (b) any similar tax imposed, levied or assessed in any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.

VATA ” means the Value Added Tax Act 1994.

Vessel ” means the Vessel listed in Schedule 2 and everything now or in the future belonging to it on board and ashore.

“Vessel Registry” means the Bahamas Vessel Registry.

“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” has the meaning given to the term “wholly-owned subsidiary” in section 736 of the Companies Act 1985.

 

1.2      Headings

clause headings and table of contents are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

1.3      Construction of certain terms

In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:

 

1.3.1 references to clauses and schedules are to be construed as references to the clauses of, and schedules to, this Agreement and references to this Agreement include its schedules;

 

1.3.2 references to (or to any specified provision of) this Agreement or any other document shall be construed as references to this Agreement, that provision or that document as in force for the time being and as amended or supplemented in accordance with the terms thereof, or, as the case may be, with the agreement of the relevant parties;

 

1.3.3 references to a “regulation” include any present or future regulation, rule, directive, requirement, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law) of any agency, authority, central bank or government department or any self-regulatory or other national or supra-national authority;

 

1.3.4 words importing the plural shall include the singular and vice versa;

 

1.3.5 references to a time of day are to London time;

 

1.3.6 references to a “person” shall be construed as including references to an individual, firm, company, corporation, unincorporated body of persons or any Government Entity and includes its successors and permitted transferees and assigns;

 

19


1.3.7 references to a “guarantee” include references to an indemnity or other assurance against financial loss including, without limitation, an obligation to purchase assets or services as a consequence of an event of default by any other person to pay any Indebtedness and “guaranteed” shall be construed accordingly;

 

1.3.8 references to any enactment shall be deemed to include references to such enactment as re-enacted, amended or extended; and

 

1.3.9 references to any of the Lender Finance Parties includes its successors and permitted transferees and assigns.

 

1.3.10  references to “indebtedness” means any obligation for the payment or repayment of money, whether as principal or as surety and whether present, future, actual or contingent.

 

2 The Loan and its Purpose

 

2.1 Agreement to lend

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in reliance on each of the representations and warranties made or to be made in or in accordance with each of the Security Documents:

 

2.1.1 each of the Lenders agrees to advance to the Borrower its Commitment of an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount to be used by the Borrower for the purposes referred to in Recital (B); and

 

2.1.2 each of the Lenders agrees to advance to the Borrower its Commitment of an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the Commercial Loan Maximum Amount to be used by the Borrower for the purposes referred to in Recital (C).

 

2.2 Drawdown Request

The Borrower may request a Drawing to be advanced in one amount on any Business Day prior to the relevant Availability Termination Date by delivery to the Agent of a duly completed Drawdown Notice not later than 10 a.m. (Paris time) on a Business Day falling not more than ten (10) and not fewer than three (3) Business Days before the proposed Drawdown Date. A Drawdown Notice shall be effective on actual receipt by the Agent and, once given, shall, subject as provided in clause 13.8, be irrevocable.

 

2.3 Drawings

 

2.3.1 The amount of each Drawing shall, subject to the following provisions of this clause 2.3, be for such amount as is specified in the Drawdown Notice for that Drawing.

 

2.3.2 Drawings may only be made on Business Days falling within the Availability Period.

 

2.3.3 Ancillary Cost Advances shall, subject to clause 3, only be available in minimum amounts of one million Dollars ($1,000,000 ) (provided that this threshold shall not apply to Ancillary Cost Advances drawn to pay the Ancillary Costs described in part (c) of the definition thereof) and shall only be available for application in or towards payment of expenditure which the Borrower has certified and evidenced in accordance with clause 3.1.4 and in any event an Ancillary Cost Advance shall only be available if such Ancillary Cost Advance will not, when aggregated with all previous Ancillary Cost Advances, equal a sum in excess of $36,000,000.

 

2.3.4 The Borrower shall be entitled to draw an Ancillary Cost Advance on the first Drawdown Date up to a maximum amount of $ 16,750,000 21,200,000 for the purpose of repaying shareholder loans to the extent required to achieve a Borrower’s Leverage Ratio of 4:1.

 

2.3.5 Each Ancillary Cost Advance may be made on any date.

 

20


2.3.6 Contract Instalment Advances shall, subject always to clauses 2.1 and 3, be in the maximum amount not exceeding the relevant instalment amount of the Contract Price set out in each column (3)  of Part A of Schedule 7 as such sums instalment amounts may be amended following any permitted increase in the Contract Price and shall only be available for application (a) in or towards payment of instalments of the Contract Price which have become due and payable by the Borrower pursuant to the Building Contract or (b) in or towards reimbursement to the Borrower of such part of any instalment amount of the Contract Price as set out in column (3)  of Part A of Schedule 7 which has become due and payable by the Borrower pursuant to the Building Contract and which the Borrower has satisfied the Agent has been paid by the Borrower or by the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower.

 

2.3.7 No Drawing shall be available to the Borrower unless (a) the Agent or the Borrower shall have first received such amount (the “ Relevant Amount ”) by way of contributions of Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity which, when aggregated with the amounts received by the Agent from the Lenders in respect of such Drawing (and in the case of amounts received by the Borrower, the Agent is satisfied that such amount is or has been or is to be applied in meeting the instalments of Contract Price or Ancillary Cost in respect of which the relevant Drawing is to be applied (and for the avoidance of doubt the instalments of Ancillary Costs in respect of which Drawings are to be applied shall not when aggregated with all Ancillary Costs in respect of which an Ancillary Cost Advance has been made exceed $36,000,000)) is equal to or greater than one fifth (1/5th) of the Total Project Cost as at the date of the relevant Drawing (and including such Drawing) and (b) the aggregate of the Drawing and the Relevant Amount shall be not less than the total amount of the relevant Ancillary Costs and/or the relevant instalment of the Contract Price in respect of which the relevant Drawing is to be applied.

 

2.3.8 The aggregate amount which may be drawn down under this Agreement shall never exceed the lesser of (a) 80% of the Total Project Cost and (b) $210,000,000.

 

2.3.9 Each Drawing (together with the Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity paid to the Agent pursuant to clause 2.9 in respect of that Drawing) shall unless the Agent shall determine otherwise be paid by the Agent on behalf of the Borrower directly to the payee(s) in respect of which such Drawing is made provided that in respect of any Ancillary Cost in respect of which an Ancillary Cost Advance may be made under this Agreement (excluding for these purposes the KEIC Insurance Premium) of less than $1,000,000 in aggregate or where the Agent is satisfied that the Borrower has settled the amount due to any such payee(s) in full the Agent shall pay that part of the relevant Drawing directly to the Borrower.

 

2.3.10 The Subject to clause 2.3.14, the Agent shall be entitled to set off from any Drawing any interest, fees or commissions or other sums due and payable by the Borrower to the Lenders or any of them and/or to the Agent and/or to the Security Trustee and/or to the KEIC Agent and/or to the Swap Providers under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents and to apply the same in settlement of such interest, fees or commissions or other sums so due and payable.

 

2.3.11 The first Drawing (which includes the first Contract Instalment Advance) shall be pro-rated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan PROVIDED THAT any Ancillary Cost Advance included in such Drawing, including but not limited to the KEIC Premium, shall be funded 100% by the portion of such Drawing funded by the Commercial Loan. The remaining components of such Drawing shall be funded by such percentage of the Buyer Credit and Commercial Loan as is required to ensure that such Drawing, taken as a whole, is pro-rated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan.

 

2.3.12 The first Drawing (which inculudes the first Contract Instalment Advance) shall be pro-rated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan PROVIDED THAT any Ancillary Cost Advance included in such Drawing, including but not limited to the KEIC Premium, shall be funded 100% by the portion of such Drawing funded by the Commercial Loan.The remaining components of such Drawing shall be funded by such percentage of the Buyer Credit and Commercial Loan as is required to ensure that Such Drawing, taken as a whole, is pro-rated be t ween the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan.

 

21


2.3.12 2.3.13 Further Drawings (excluding the Drawing due on the Delivery Date) shall each be funded (a) in respect of a Contract Instalment Advance, by the Buyer Credit in an amount equal to the lesser of US$ 9,240,000 and 50% of the amount of such Contract Instalment Advance with the remainder of such Contract Instalment Advance funded by the Commercial Loan and (b) in respect of any Ancillary Costs Advance included in such Drawing, 100% by the Commercial Loan.

 

2.3.13 2.3.14 The Drawing due on the Delivery Date (which includes the Delivery Date Advance) shall be funded (a) in respect of any Ancillary Costs Advance included in such Drawing, 100% by the Commercial Loan and (b) in respect of the Delivery Date Advance, by such percentage of the Buyer Credit and Commercial Loan as is required to ensure that, on the Delivery Date, the Loan Outstandings are pro-rated between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan.

 

2.3.14 Where an Ancillary Costs Advance is drawn to pay interest on the Loan (whether the Commercial Loan or the Buyer Credit) falling due for payment and/or accruing on or before the Delivery Date, the portion of such Ancillary Costs Advance corresponding to such interest shall be funded 100% by the Commercial Loan in accordance with clauses 2.3.11 to 2.3.13 (inclusive) and shall be applied by the Agent in satisfaction of the Borrower’s obligation to pay such interest (and the Borrower’s obligation to pay such interest shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon the making of such Ancillary Costs Advance).

 

2.4 Lenders’ participation

Subject to clauses 2 and 3, the Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender of the receipt of a Drawdown Notice and of the date on which the Drawing is to be made, following which each relevant Lender shall advance its proportionate share of the relevant Drawing to the Borrower through the Agent on the relevant Drawdown Date.

 

2.5 Availability Termination Date

No Lender shall be under any obligation to advance all or any part of its Commitment after the relevant Availability Termination Date.

 

2.6 Several obligations

 

2.6.1 The obligations of each Lender Finance Party under this Agreement are several. No Lender Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Lender Finance Party. Even if one or more Lender Finance Parties fails to perform its obligations, the other Lender Finance Parties will continue to perform their obligations and will be able to enforce their rights in respect of the other parties to this Agreement.

 

2.6.2 The obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement are as follows:

 

  (a) the Borrower will pay to the Security Trustee, when they are due for payment, the full amount of the Loan and all other amounts (including any amounts payable under the Swap Agreements or any of them, interest, commission and expenses) payable by the Borrower under the Security Documents;

 

  (b) the Borrower will pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender, when they are due for payment, that proportion of the Loan which was lent by that Lender and all interest, commission and other amounts payable in relation to it;

 

  (c) the Borrower will pay to the Agent, when they are due for payment, all amounts owing to it under the Security Documents;

 

  (d) the Borrower will pay to the KEIC Agent, when they are due for payment, all amounts owing to it under the Security documents;

 

  (e) the obligations of the Borrower to (on the one hand) the Security Trustee and (on the other hand) each other Lender Finance Party are several;

 

22


  (f) payment either to the Security Trustee or to another Lender Finance Party of an amount which is due to both of them will reduce both of those liabilities by that amount; and

 

  (g) if an amount would otherwise be payable under this clause 2.6 to the same person in two different capacities, the Borrower will only have an obligation to pay that amount once.

 

  2.6.3 Each Lender Finance Party can enforce its rights without joining the Security Trustee or any other Lender Finance Parties. However, the Security Documents listed in clause 8.1 below can only be enforced by the Security Trustee.

 

  2.7 Application of Loan

Without prejudice to the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement, no Lender Finance Party shall be obliged to concern itself with the application of the Loan by the Borrower.

 

  2.8 Loan facility and control accounts

The Agent will open and maintain such loan facility account or such other control accounts as the Agent shall in its discretion consider necessary or desirable in connection with the Loan.

 

  2.9 Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and Additional Shareholders’ Equity

The Borrower hereby agrees with the Agent that notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement subject as contemplated in clause 2.3.7 each Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity shall be paid to the Agent and each such Relevant Amount paid shall be aggregated with each relevant Drawing and paid by the Agent pursuant to the provisions of clause 2.3.9.

 

  3 Conditions precedent and subsequent for the Loan

 

  3.1 Conditions precedent

 

  3.1.1 Before any Lender shall have any obligation to advance the first Drawing under the Loan the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to or to the order of the Agent all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part 1 of Schedule 3 which shall be delivered not later than 4 Business Days before the day on which the Drawdown Notice for the first Drawing is given save for those documents or other evidence which are expressly required to be provided on the first Drawdown Date which shall be delivered on such first Drawdown Date.

 

  3.1.2 The obligation of the Lenders to make any Contract Instalment Advance shall be subject to the further condition that the Agent shall have received not later than 4 Business Days before the day on which that Contract Instalment Advance is intended to be made, the documents and evidence specified in Part 2 of Schedule 3 in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent (save for the invoice and the Drawdown Notice referred to in paragraphs (a) and (e) of Part 2 of Schedule 3 which shall be provided not later than 3 Business Days prior to the relevant Drawdown Date).

 

  3.1.3 The obligation of the Lenders to make the Delivery Date Advance shall be subject to the condition that the Agent, shall have received, on or prior to the relevant Delivery Date, the documents and evidence specified in Part 3 of Schedule 3 in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

 

  3.1.4

The obligation of the Lenders to make any Ancillary Cost Advance shall be subject to the further condition that the Agent shall have received not later than 4 Business Days before the drawdown of any Ancillary Cost Advance, invoices or pro-forma invoices or, (save in respect of Ancillary Costs as described in sub-paragraph (f) of the definition thereof in respect of which invoices shall be required) where invoices or pro-forma invoices cannot be made available by the Borrower, a certificate from the Borrower in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, in each case evidencing the Ancillary Costs incurred or, in the case of pro-forma invoices or certificates from the Borrower, to be incurred within the next following period not exceeding 3 Months or other written evidence in each case substantiating to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent that the Ancillary Costs in respect of which such Ancillary Cost Advance is requested have been incurred and discharged or will be discharged following the drawdown of the Ancillary Cost Advance.

 

23


  3.2 Further conditions precedent

The Lenders will only be obliged to advance a Drawing in respect of the Vessel specified in any Drawdown Notice if on the date of the Drawdown Notice and on the proposed Drawdown Date:

 

  3.2.1 no Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Mandatory Prepayment Event is continuing unremedied or unwaived or would result from the advance of that Drawing;

 

  3.2.2 the representations made by the Borrower under clause 4 are true in all material respects;

 

  3.2.3 that Drawing will not, when aggregated with all previous Drawings, increase the outstanding amount of the Loan to a sum in excess of the Maximum Loan Amount and will not increase the outstanding amount of the Buyer Credit to a sum in excess of the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount or of the Commercial Loan to a sum in excess of the Commercial Loan Maximum Amount; and

 

  3.2.4 the Borrower shall have on or prior to the First Drawing, entered into one or more 12 year forward starting Swap Agreements in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent with each of the Swap Providers pursuant to which it will hedge not less than one hundred and ninety million Dollars ($190,000,000) of the Loan (representing approximately ninety per cent (90%) of its interest rate exposure under the Loan) for the period from and including the Delivery Date up to and including the Maturity Date. The Swap Margin applicable to each Swap Agreement entered into between any of the Swap Providers and the Borrower shall be as set out in the Swap Margin Side Letter.

 

  3.3 Delivery conditions precedent

 

  3.3.1 Whether or not a Drawing is advanced on the Delivery Date, the Borrower undertakes to deliver or to cause to be delivered to the Agent on the Delivery Date the additional documents and other evidence listed in Part 3 of Schedule 3.

 

  3.3.2 The Borrower shall on the Delivery Date enter into a spot start Swap Agreement or Swap Agreements with each of the Swap Providers to ensure that, together with the forward starting swap agreements, no less than ninety-five per cent (95%) of its interest rate exposure under the Loan is hedged.

 

  3.4 No Waiver

If the Lenders in their sole discretion agree to advance a Drawing to the Borrower before all of the documents and evidence required by clause 3.1, clause 3.3 and/or clause 3.5 have been delivered to or to the order of the Agent, the Borrower undertakes to deliver all outstanding documents and evidence to or to the order of the Agent no later than ten (10) Business Days after the Drawdown Date or such other date specified by the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders.

The advance of a Drawing under this clause 3.4 shall not be taken as a waiver of the Lenders’ right to require production of all the documents and evidence required by clauses 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3.

 

  3.5 Form and content

All documents and evidence delivered to the Agent under this clause 3 shall:

 

  3.5.1 be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent; and

 

24


  3.5.2 if required by any vessel or security registry or in connection with any legal opinion to be provided pursuant to Schedule 3, be certified, notarised, legalised or attested in a manner acceptable to such registry or person providing the legal opinion.

 

  3.6 Waiver of conditions precedent

The conditions specified in this clause 3 are inserted solely for the benefit of the Lenders and may be waived by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) in whole or in part with or without conditions.

 

  4 Representations and Warranties

 

  4.1 Representations and Warranties

The Borrower represents and warrants to each of the Lender Finance Parties as follows:

 

  4.1.1 Due Incorporation

Each of the Security Parties is a corporation or limited liability company duly organised or formed under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organisation or formation (as the case may be) with power to carry on their respective business as they are now being conducted and to own their respective property and other assets.

 

  4.1.2 Corporate Power

The Borrower has power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and each of the other Relevant Documents to which it is a party and to borrow the Commitments and each of the other Security Parties has power to enter into the Relevant Documents to which it is a party and to exercise its rights and perform its obligations under such Relevant Documents; all corporate and other action required by each of the Security Parties to authorise its execution of the Relevant Documents to which it is a party and the performance by it of its obligations thereunder has been duly taken.

 

  4.1.3 Binding Obligations

The obligations expressed to be assumed by each of the Security Parties in the Relevant Documents to which it is a party are legal, valid and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with the terms of the Relevant Documents and no limit on any of their powers will be exceeded as a result of the borrowings, granting of security or giving of guarantees contemplated by the Relevant Documents or the performance by any of them of any of their obligations thereunder.

 

  4.1.4 No conflict with other obligations

The execution and delivery of, the performance of its obligations under, and compliance with the provisions of the Relevant Documents to which each is a party by the relevant Security Parties will not:

 

  (a) contravene any existing applicable law, statute, rule or regulation or any judgment, decree or permit to which the Borrower or, any other Security Party is subject;

 

  (b) conflict with, or result in any breach of any of the terms of, or constitute a Potential Event of Default under, any agreement or other instrument to which the Borrower or, any other Security Party is a party or is subject or by which it or any of its property is bound;

 

  (c) contravene or conflict with any provision of the constitutional documents of the Borrower or, any other Security Party; or

 

25


  (d) result in the creation or imposition of or oblige the Borrower or any other Security Party, to create any Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) on any of their respective undertakings, assets, rights or revenues.

 

  4.1.5 No Litigation

No litigation, arbitration or administrative proceeding is taking place, pending or, to the knowledge of the officers of the Borrower, threatened in writing against any of the Security Parties which, in respect of the Security Parties other than the Borrower, has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  4.1.6 Accounts

The certified true and complete copies of the audited annual accounts and unaudited semi-annual accounts (as applicable) of the Borrower for the period ending on 31 December 2007 and of each Sponsor for the most recent financial year of each such Sponsor and delivered to the Agent on or prior to the date of this Agreement pursuant to Schedule 3, Part 1, were prepared in accordance with GAAP, give (in conjunction with the notes thereto) a true and fair view of the financial condition of each such party at the date as of which they were prepared and the results of that party’s operations during the financial period then ended.

 

  4.1.7 No Filing or Stamp Taxes

It is not necessary to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any of the Relevant Documents that they or any other instrument be notarised, filed, recorded, registered or enrolled with any court, public office or elsewhere in any Relevant Jurisdiction the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Borrower (other than the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales, or the relevant maritime registry, to the extent applicable) or that any stamp, registration or similar tax or charge be paid on or in relation to any of such Relevant Documents and each of the Relevant Documents is in the proper form for enforcement in each Relevant Jurisdiction the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Borrower .

 

  4.1.8 No Immunity

None of the Security Parties or any of their respective assets is entitled to immunity on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise from any legal action or proceeding including, without limitation, suit, attachment prior to judgement, execution or other enforcement.

 

  4.1.9 Choice of Law and Judgments

The choice of English law to govern the Security Documents (other than the Mortgage and, in the event that the Share Charges are not governed by English law, the Share Charges) and the laws of the Flag State to govern the Mortgages and, in the event that the Share Charges are not governed by English law, the governing law of the Share Charges and the submission by the Security Parties to the jurisdiction of the English courts in respect of the Security Documents (other than the Mortgage and, in the event that the Share Charges are not governed by English law, the Share Charges) are valid and binding.

 

  4.1.10 Consents Obtained

Every consent, Authorisation, licence or approval of, or registration with or declaration to, governmental or public bodies or authorities or courts required by any Security Party to authorise, or required by each such party in connection with, the execution, delivery, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of each of the Relevant Documents or the performance by each such party of its obligations under the Relevant Documents to which each is a party has been obtained or made (other than consents, Authorisations, licences, approvals, registrations or declarations that, as at the date of the representation, are not required to be obtained) and is in full force and effect and there has been no default in the observance of any of the conditions or restrictions (if any) imposed in, or in connection with, any of the same.

 

26


  4.1.11 No Undisclosed Liabilities

The Borrower has no material liabilities (contingent or otherwise) which were not disclosed in the accounts referred to in clause 4.1.6 (or by the notes thereto) or reserved against therein nor any unrealised or anticipated losses arising from commitments entered into by it which were not so disclosed or reserved against therein.

 

  4.1.12 Money Laundering

No breach of any law or regulatory measure relating to “money laundering” as defined in Article 1 of the Directive (91/308/EEC) of the Council of the European Communities will result from the borrowing of the Loan by the Borrower or from the performance by any of the Security Parties of any of their obligations under any of the Relevant Documents to which each is a party.

 

  4.1.13 Financial Indebtedness

Except as set forth in Exhibit A, other than in respect of the Loan pursuant to this Agreement or as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, it has not created, incurred, assumed or allowed to exist any Financial Indebtedness, entered into any finance lease or undertaken any capital commitment.

 

  4.1.14 Environmental Matters

Except as may already have been disclosed by the Borrower to the Agent in writing:

 

  (a) all Environmental Laws applicable to the Vessel have been complied with by each Environmental Affiliate and all consents, licences and approvals required under such Environmental Laws have been obtained and complied with by each Environmental Affiliate (other than such consents, licences and approvals that, as at the date of the representation, are not required to be obtained); and

 

  (b) no Environmental Claim has been made or threatened against the Borrower or the Vessel and no Environmental Claim in respect of the Vessel has been made or threatened against any other Environmental Affiliate or is pending against any such Environmental Affiliate or the Vessel and which has not been fully satisfied and which would or might reasonably result in liabilities in excess of an aggregate of $1,000,000; and

 

  (c) there has been no Environmental Incident which could or might reasonably result in claims in excess of an aggregate of $1,000,000.

 

  4.1.15 Pari Passu

The obligations of the Security Parties under the Security Documents are direct, general and unconditional obligations and rank at least pari passu with all the Security Parties’ other present and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness other than obligations mandatorily preferred by law and not contract.

 

  4.1.16 No Deductions or Withholding

No Taxes are imposed by way of or withholding or otherwise from any payment to be made by any Security Party under any of the Security Documents to which it is a party.

 

  4.1.17 Information

The information, exhibits and reports furnished by any Security Party to any of the Lender Finance Parties in connection with the negotiation and preparation of the Security Documents are true and accurate in all material respects and not misleading, do not omit material facts and all reasonable enquiries have been made to verify the facts and statements contained therein and the Borrower is not aware of any material facts or circumstances which have not been disclosed and which might, if disclosed, have reasonably been expected to adversely affect the decision of a person considering whether or not to make loan facilities of the nature contemplated by this Agreement available to the Borrower and/or to enter into the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the other Security Documents, Provided that, the Borrower does not make the representations in this clause 4.1.17 in respect of information, exhibits or reports regarding Angola LNG, the Angola LNG Project or the Time Charterer save that such information, exhibits or reports which have been provided by the Borrower to the Lender Finance Parties have been provided by the Borrower in good faith.

 

27


  4.1.18 Solvency

 

  (a) None of the Security Parties is unable, or admits or has admitted its inability, to pay its debts or has suspended making payments in respect of any of its debts.

 

  (b) None of the Security Parties by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, has commenced, or intends to commence, negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness.

 

  (c) No moratorium has been, or may, in the reasonably foreseeable future be, declared in respect of any indebtedness of any Security Party.

 

  4.1.19 No Winding-up

None of the Security Parties has taken any corporate action nor have any other steps been taken or legal proceedings been started or (to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief) threatened against any Security Party for its winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation or for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, trustee or similar officer of it or of any or all of its assets or revenues which (in relation to Security Parties other than the Borrower) might have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  4.1.20 Event of Default/no other Defaults

 

  (a) None of the Security Parties is in material breach of or in default under any agreement to which it is a party or which is binding on it or any of its assets.

 

  (b) No Event of Default or Potential Event of Default is continuing unremedied or unwaived.

 

  4.1.21 Ownership of the Borrower

The Sponsors, directly or indirectly, legally and beneficially own all of the shares in the Borrower and will (subject to the provisions of clause 9.2.17) continue to, directly or indirectly, own all of the shares in the Borrower in the following percentages:

 

Teekay :-

     33

NYK :-

     33

Mitsui :-

     34

 

  4.1.22 No Default under Building Contract or Refund Guarantee

The Borrower is not in default of any of its obligations under the Building Contract or any of its obligations upon the performance or observance of which depend the continued liability of the Refund Guarantor in accordance with the terms of the Refund Guarantee.

 

  4.1.23 No Encumbrance in respect of pre-delivery security

The Borrower has not previously charged, encumbered or assigned the benefit of any of its rights, title and interest in or to the Building Contract, the Refund Guarantee, the Supervision Agreement, the Swap Agreements or the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement and such benefit and all such rights, title and interest are freely assignable and chargeable in the manner contemplated by the Security Documents.

 

28


  4.1.24 The Vessel

The Vessel will on the Delivery Date be:

 

  (a) in the absolute ownership of the Borrower who will on and after the Delivery Date thereof be the sole, legal and beneficial owner of the Vessel;

 

  (b) registered in the name of the Borrower under the laws and flag of the Bahamas;

 

  (c) operationally seaworthy and in every way fit for service; and

 

  (d) classed with the classification referred to in clause 9.6.3(b) free of any overdue recommendations and conditions affecting the Vessel’s class of the Classification Society.

 

  4.1.25 Vessel’s employment

The Vessel will not on or before the Delivery Date thereof be subject to any charter or contract other than the Time Charter or to any agreement to enter into any charter or contract which, if entered into after the date of the Mortgage would have required the consent of the Agent or Security Trustee and on the Delivery Date thereof there will not be any agreement or arrangement whereby the Earnings may be shared with any other person.

 

  4.1.26 Freedom from Encumbrances

Neither the Vessel nor its Earnings, Insurances or Requisition Compensation, the Time Charter, the Accounts, nor the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement, nor any other properties or rights which are, or are to be, the subject of any of the Security Documents nor any part thereof will be, on the Delivery Date of the Vessel, subject to any Encumbrance other than any Permitted Encumbrance.

 

  4.1.27 Copies true and complete

The copies of each of the Time Charter, the Building Contract, the Refund Guarantee, the Supervision Agreement, the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement, the Tripartite Agreement and the Management Agreement, and the Sub-Management Agreement delivered or to be delivered to the Agent are or will when delivered be, a true and complete copies of such documents, will when delivered constitute valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto enforceable in accordance with its terms and there have been no material amendments or variations to or defaults under the Building Contract and there have been no amendments or variations to or defaults under the Time Charter.

 

  4.2 Repetition of representations and warranties

On the Execution Date and, in respect of the Relevant Documents other than this Agreement on the execution date of such other Relevant Document, and as of each Drawdown Date and on each Interest Payment Date the Borrower shall (a) be deemed to repeat the representations and warranties in clause 4.1 as if made with reference to the facts and circumstances existing on such day and (b) in respect of clause 4.1.6 shall be deemed to refer to the then latest audited financial statements delivered to the Agent pursuant to clause 9.1.5.

 

  4.3 Representations Limited

The representations and warranties of the Borrower in this clause 4 are subject to:

 

  4.3.1 the principle that equitable remedies are remedies which may be granted or refused at the discretion of the court;

 

29


  4.3.2 the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation, court schemes, moratoria, administration and other laws generally affecting or limiting the rights of creditors;

 

  4.3.3 the time barring of claims under any applicable limitation acts;

 

  4.3.4 the possibility that a court may strike out provisions for a contract as being invalid for reasons of oppression, undue influence or similar;

 

  4.3.5 any other reservations or qualifications of law expressed in the legal opinions obtained by the Agent as referred to in Schedule 3 Part 1, paragraph (I) in connection with this Agreement or the Security Documents; and

 

  4.3.6 the representations and warranties made on the Execution Date in respect of the Relevant Documents shall expressly be limited to this Agreement (and none of the other Security Documents) and only those Project Documents which, as at the Execution Date, have been executed by the Borrower.

 

  5 Repayment and Prepayment

 

  5.1 Repayment of Loan

The Borrower agrees:

 

  5.1.1 to repay the Buyer Credit to the Agent for the account of the Lenders by forty eight (48) consecutive annuity style quarterly Repayment Instalments in the amounts, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, set out in Part B of Schedule 7. The first Repayment Instalment will fall due on the date falling three (3) Months after the Delivery Date and each succeeding Repayment Instalment shall be payable quarterly in arrears at three (3) Monthly intervals thereafter save for the final Repayment Instalment which shall be payable on the Maturity Date; and

 

  5.1.2 to repay the Commercial Loan by one (1) instalment to be paid on the Maturity Date.

 

  5.2 Reduction of Repayment Instalments

If, following the Availability Termination Date, the aggregate amount advanced to the Borrower under the Buyer Credit is less than the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount, the amount of each Repayment Instalment of the Buyer Credit shall be reduced pro rata so that the aggregate sum of all such Repayment Instalments shall be equal to the aggregate amount of the Buyer Credit actually advanced.

 

  5.3 Reborrowing

The Borrower may not reborrow any part of the Loan which is repaid or prepaid.

 

  5.4 Prepayment and Cancellation

 

  5.4.1 The Borrower may prepay, without premium or penalty but subject to clause 5.10, the Loan Outstandings in whole or in part, or cancel the Loan in whole or in part, in each case in a minimum amount of five million Dollars ($5,000,000) or any larger sum which is an integral multiple of one million Dollars ($1,000,000) (or in either case as otherwise may be agreed by the Agent) and provided that the Borrower has first given to the Agent not fewer than ten (10) days prior written notice in respect of a prepayment of all or part of the Loan Outstandings or fifteen (15) days in respect of a cancellation in whole or part of the Commitment in each such case expiring on a Business Day of their intention to do so. Any notice pursuant to this clause 5.4 once given shall be irrevocable and shall (in the case of a prepayment) oblige the Borrower to make the prepayment referred to in the notice on the Business Day specified in the notice, together with all interest accrued on the amount prepaid and all accrued and unpaid Commitment Fees up to and including that Business Day and any and all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement and any of the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any sums payable under the indemnity in clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements. Any cancellation of part (but not the whole) of the Commitment shall be subject to the condition that the Borrower has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Agent (acting reasonably) that it will have sufficient funds to comply with its obligations under the Relevant Documents following any such cancellation.

 

30


  5.5 Mandatory Prepayment on Total Loss

In the event that the Vessel becomes a Total Loss on or following the Delivery Date thereof, on the earlier to occur of (a) the date of receipt of the proceeds of the Total Loss and (b) the date falling one hundred and eighty (180) days after the occurrence of the Total Loss (the “ Reduction Date ”), the Borrower shall prepay the Loan together with all interest accrued thereon up to and including the day of prepayment and all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any sums payable under the indemnity in clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements.

 

  5.6 Prepayment on Non Delivery/Building Contract default/termination

In the event that there is a material breach by the Builder of the Building Contract that has not been cured within the applicable grace period provided therein, or the Building Contract is cancelled, terminated, rescinded or frustrated for any reason that has not been cured within the applicable grace period provided therein or if the Builder assigns, transfers, sells or otherwise disposes of any of its right, title or interest in or to the Building Contract or the Vessel or purports to do so or takes any action to so assign, transfer, sell or otherwise dispose of any or all such rights, title or interest or, prior to the Delivery Date the Vessel becomes a Total Loss the Borrower shall, if so requested by the Agent in writing, and without prejudice to the Agent’s rights pursuant to clause 10.1 and/or the rights of the Security Trustee under the Security Documents where any of the events described above constitute an Event of Default, be obliged to prepay the Loan immediately together with all interest accrued thereon up to and including the day of prepayment and all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any sums payable under the indemnity in clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements and the undrawn Commitments shall be cancelled.

 

  5.7 Prepayment on Termination of Refund Guarantee

If, prior to the delivery to and acceptance by the Borrower from the Builder of the Vessel, the Refund Guarantee is repudiated, cancelled, amended without the Agent’s prior written consent (acting on the Instructions of all Lenders), rescinded or otherwise terminated, the Loan shall become prepayable and shall be prepaid immediately and without demand together with all interest accrued thereon up to and including the date of prepayment and all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any sums payable under the indemnity in clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements.

 

  5.8 Additional Mandatory Prepayment Events

Upon the occurrence of any of the following events the Loan shall immediately become repayable and the Borrower shall immediately prepay the Loan together with all interest accrued thereon up to and including the date of prepayment together with all other amounts then due and payable under this Agreement and the other Security Documents including, without limitation, any indemnity sums payable under clause 15 and all amounts due and payable under the Swap Agreements.

 

  5.8.1 Non-Delivery of the Vessel: the Vessel is not delivered to, and accepted by, the Borrower under the Building Contract and/or by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter prior to the date falling 290 days after the Scheduled Delivery Date (or such later date as the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders (acting in their absolute discretion), may agree in writing); or

 

31


  5.8.2 Sale/Early Termination: the Vessel is sold or the chartering of the Vessel is terminated early pursuant to the exercise by the Time Charter of its rights under the Time Charter; or

 

  5.8.3 Invalidity: (i) any of the Security Documents or the Refund Guarantee shall at any time and for any reason become invalid, illegal or unenforceable or impossible to perform or cease to remain in full force and effect; or (ii) any of the Project Documents shall at any time and for any reason become invalid, illegal or unenforceable or impossible to perform or cease to remain in full force and effect unless (A) in respect of the Security Documents, the relevant Security Document is amended or replaced to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent acting on the instructions of all of the Lenders forthwith in the case of this Agreement, the Mortgage, the Refund Guarantee and the Deed of Covenants or within 14 days in the case of any other Security Document and (B) where any such events have occurred in respect of the Time Charter, the Borrower has, within 30 days of the occurrence of such events entered into a new time charter and with a new time charterer in each case in all respects satisfactory to the Agent acting on the instructions of all the Lenders and to KEIC; or

 

  5.8.4 Termination of Time Charter: the Time Charter is terminated by the Borrower or the Time Charterer following the occurrence of a breach of the Time Charter entitling it to take such action or is cancelled or becomes frustrated for any reason whatsoever unless the Borrower has within 30 days of the date of such occurrence entered into a replacement time charter and with a new time charterer in each case in all respects satisfactory to the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders); or

 

  5.8.5 Time Charterer failure to pay: the Time Charterer fails to pay any sum due and payable by it to any of the Lender Finance Parties or to the Borrower under any of (a) the Security Documents or (b) the Project Documents to which it is a party at the time, in the currency and in the manner stipulated thereunder unless, where such failure to pay is a failure to pay any sum due and payable by it under any Project Document, following expiry of any applicable grace period thereunder, such failure in the opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders (acting reasonably)) does not and will not be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

  5.8.6 Time Charter’s breach: the Time Charterer commits any breach of or omits to observe any of its obligations or undertakings expressed to be assumed by it under (a) any of the Security Documents (and such failure is not remedied within fifteen (15) days after the date the Agent has given notice thereof to the Borrower and the Time Charterer) and/or (b) any of the Project Documents to which it is a party (other than those referred to in clause 5.8.5) unless, where such breach or omission has occurred under a Project Document following expiry of any applicable grace period therein, such breach or omission, in the opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders (acting reasonably)), does not and will not be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  5.8.7 War: if the country of registration of the Vessel becomes involved in war (whether or not declared) or civil war or is occupied by any other power and the Agent reasonably considers that, as a result, the security conferred by the Security Documents is materially prejudiced.

 

  5.8.8 Failure to Pay: the Builder or the Refund Guarantor fails to pay any amount payable by it under any of the Security Documents or the Refund Guarantee at the time, in the currency and otherwise in the manner specified therein (and so that, for this purpose, sums payable on demand shall be treated as having been paid at the stipulated time if paid within five (5) days of demand) unless in respect of scheduled payments the Borrower demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Agent that such failure has occurred by reason solely of banking error and such sum remains unpaid for no longer than five (5) days after the date on which it receives notice from the Agent of such failure; or

 

  5.8.9 Other Obligations: the Builder or the Refund Guarantor fails duly to perform or comply with any other term or condition of any other Security Document to which it is a party when such failure is in the opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) remediable (other than those referred to in clauses 5.8.7, 5.8.8, 5.8.21 or 5.8.22) and such failure is not remedied within fifteen (15) days after the Agent has given notice thereof to the Builder or the Refund Guarantor, as the case may be (or such longer period as the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) may specify or agree); or

 

32


5.8.10 Litigation: any litigation, arbitration or administrative action or proceeding is commenced prior to Delivery against the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or any of their property, undertakings or assets before any court, arbitrator or administrative agency or authority which, if adversely determined, would have in the reasonable opinion of the Agent a Material Adverse Effect material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Builder or, as the case may be, the Refund Guarantor or their ability to comply with their material obligations under the Relevant Documents to which they are party unless:

 

  (a) the Borrower demonstrates in writing to the Agent (who shall act reasonably in considering such matters) to the Agent’s satisfaction, that such litigation, arbitration or administrative action or proceeding is or may reasonably be considered to be vexatious or frivolous; or

 

  (b) it is dismissed or irrevocably stayed within thirty (30) days of commencement;

 

5.8.11 Legal process:

 

  (a) any final judgment or order greater than two million Dollars ($2,000,000) made prior to the Delivery Date against the Builder or the Refund Guarantor is not stayed or complied with within twenty (20) Business Days or a creditor attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or other process is levied or enforced upon or sued out against, all or a substantial part of (in the reasonable opinion of the Agent) the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues prior to delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor and is not discharged within twenty (20) Business Days and, in each such case above, the event described above has or might reasonably be likely to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Builder or, as the case may be, the Refund Guarantor or their ability to comply with their material obligations under the Relevant Documents to which they are party ; or

 

  (b) any final judgment or order made against any Security Party (other than the Borrower and (following the Delivery Date) the Supervisor) is not stayed or complied with within twenty (20) Business Days or a creditor attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or other process is levied or enforced upon or sued out against, all or substantially all of (in the reasonable opinion of the Agent) the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues of any Security Party (other than the Borrower and (following the Delivery Date) the Supervisor) and is not discharged within twenty (20) Business Days and, in each such case above, the event described above has or might reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

  5.8.12 Insolvency: prior to the Delivery Date, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due; suspends making payments on any of its debts or announces an intention to do so; becomes insolvent; has assets the value of which is less than the value of its liabilities; or suffers the declaration of a moratorium in respect of any of its indebtedness; or

 

  5.8.13 Winding up: any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken for the purpose of winding up prior to Delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or an order is made or resolution passed for the winding up, prior to Delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or a notice is issued convening a meeting for the purpose of passing any such resolution, provided however that, in the case only of an order for winding-up, the occurrence of such event shall not constitute a mandatory prepayment event if such winding-up has commenced as part of a process of a fully-solvent reorganisation, previously approved by the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and which shall not have a Material Adverse Effect material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Builder or, as the case may be, the Refund Guarantor or their ability to comply with their material obligations under the Relevant Documents to which they are party; or

 

33


5.8.14 Administration: any petition is presented, notice given or other step is taken for the purpose of the appointment of an administrator prior to Delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or an administration order is made prior to Delivery in relation to the Builder or the Refund Guarantor; or

 

5.8.15 Appointment of receivers and managers: any administrative or other receiver is appointed prior to Delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or any part of its assets and/or undertaking or any other steps are taken to enforce any Encumbrance over all or any part of the assets prior to delivery of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor; or

 

5.8.16 Compositions: any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedures or steps are taken, or negotiations commenced prior to Delivery, by the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or by any of its creditors with a view to the general readjustment or rescheduling of all or a material part of its indebtedness or to proposing any kind of composition, compromise or arrangement involving such company and any of its creditors; or

 

5.8.17 Analogous proceedings: there occurs, prior to Delivery in relation to the Builder or the Refund Guarantor, in any country or territory in which any of them carries on business or to the jurisdiction of whose courts any part of their assets is subject, any event which, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent, appears in that country or territory to correspond with, or have an effect equivalent or similar to, any of those mentioned in clauses 10.2.9 to 10.2.15 (inclusive) (other than clause 10.2.10) or prior to Delivery the Builder or the Refund Guarantor otherwise becomes subject, in any such country or territory, to the operation of any law relating to insolvency, bankruptcy or liquidation; or

 

5.8.18 Repudiation: the Supervisor, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor repudiates any Security Document or Project Document to which it is a party or does or causes to be done any act or thing evidencing an intention to repudiate any such Security Document or the Project Document if the validity or enforceability of any of the Security Documents and the Project Documents (other than the Refund Guarantee) shall at any time and for any reason be contested by the Supervisor, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor which is a party thereto, or if the Supervisor, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor shall deny that it has any, or any further, liability thereunder; or

 

5.8.19 Cessation of business: prior to Delivery, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor suspends or ceases to carry on its business; or

 

5.8.20 Seizure: all or a material part of the undertaking, assets, rights or revenues of, or shares or other ownership interests, prior to Delivery, in the Builder and the Refund Guarantor are seized, nationalised, expropriated or compulsorily acquired by or under the authority of any government; or

 

5.8.21 Arrest: the Vessel is arrested, confiscated, seized, taken in execution, impounded, forfeited, detained in exercise or purported exercise of any possessory lien or other claim or otherwise taken from the possession of the Borrower and the Borrower shall fail to procure the release of the Vessel within a period of 30 days thereafter; or

 

5.8.22 Supervision Agreement: notice of termination under the Supervision Agreement is served for any reason whatsoever or the Supervision Agreement is varied in any manner not permitted pursuant to the Security Documents unless (a) in the case of termination the same is replaced with a supervision agreement on substantially the same or other terms acceptable to the Agent or (b) in the case of variation the same is revised, or amended on terms acceptable to the Agent, and in any such case under (a) or (b) within 30 days.

 

34


5.9 Cessation of KEIC Buyer Credit Policy

If, for any reason (other than as referred to in clause 10.2.25), the obligations of KEIC under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy shall terminate, become unenforceable or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect and the Borrower has not replaced the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy with similar insurance on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders in their sole and absolute discretion) forthwith upon receipt of written notice of such termination, unenforceability or cessation of effectiveness, the Borrower shall prepay the Loan in full together with accrued interest to the date of prepayment and all other sums then due and payable, any portion of the KEIC premium which is then due and payable and all other sums then due and payable under this Agreement and the other Security Documents or any of them including without limitation any sum payable under the indemnity in clause 15).

 

5.10 Prepayment indemnity

If the Borrower shall make a prepayment on a Business Day other than the last day of an Interest Period, it shall pay to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders any amount which is necessary to compensate the Lenders for any Break Costs incurred by the Agent or any of the Lenders as a result of the prepayment in question but otherwise without penalty or premium, Provided always that the Borrower shall be entitled to payment by the Lenders of any Break Gains while no Event of Default has occurred which is continuing unremedied or unwaived.

 

5.11 Application of prepayments

Any prepayment in an amount less than the Lender Indebtedness shall be applied pro-rata between the Buyer Credit and the Commercial Loan and, in the case of the Buyer Credit shall be applied in reducing the then future Repayment Instalments in inverse order of maturity.

 

5.12 Effect of Prepayment/Cancellation on Swap Agreements

In the event of any prepayment or, as the case may be, cancellation of the Loan, the exposure of the Swap Providers under the Swap Agreements shall, if the Loan Outstandings is less than the aggregate of the notional amounts of the Swap Agreements, be reduced by an equivalent amount.

 

6 Interest

 

6.1 Interest Periods

The period during which any Drawing shall be outstanding pursuant to this Agreement shall be divided into consecutive Interest Periods of three (3) Months’ duration or such other duration as may be agreed by the Borrower and the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders).

 

6.2 Beginning and end of Interest Periods

The first Interest Period in respect of the first Drawing shall begin on the Drawdown Date of that Drawing and shall end on the last day of the Interest Period. The first Interest Period in respect of each subsequent Drawing shall begin on the Drawdown Date of that Drawing and end on the last day of the current Interest Period of the Loan. Any subsequent Interest Period in respect of each Drawing shall commence on the day following the last day of its previous Interest Period and shall end on the last day of its current Interest Period.

 

6.3 Interest Periods to meet Repayment Date and Maturity Date

If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a date after the next Repayment Date, that Interest Period shall end on the next Repayment Date. If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a date after the Maturity Date, that Interest Period shall end on the Maturity Date.

 

35


6.4 Interest rate

During each Interest Period, interest shall accrue on the Loan at the rate determined by the Agent to be the aggregate of (a) the relevant Margin and (b) LIBOR determined at 11:00 am (London time) on the second London Business Day prior to the beginning of the Interest Period. The Agent shall notify the Borrower in writing of the applicable interest rate for the relevant Interest Period on the date of determination.

 

6.5 Accrual and payment of interest

During the Facility Period, interest shall accrue from day to day, shall be calculated on the basis of a 360 day year and the actual number of days elapsed (or, in any circumstance where market practice differs, in accordance with the prevailing market practice) and shall be paid by the Borrower to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders on the last day of each Interest Period and additionally, during any Interest Period exceeding three Months, on the last day of each successive three Month period after the beginning of that Interest Period.

 

6.6 Ending of Interest Periods

Subject to clause 6.3, if any Interest Period would end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest Period shall end on the next succeeding Business Day (unless the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar Month, in which event the Interest Period in question shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day).

 

6.7 Consolidation and division of Loans

If two or more Interest Periods:

 

  (a) relate to Loans; and

 

  (b) end on the same date,

those loans will be consolidated into, and treated as, a single Loan on the last day of the Interest Period.

 

6.8 Default Rate

Each Unpaid Sum shall, from the date of the non-payment, bear interest up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at the Default Rate, compounded at such intervals as the Agent shall in its reasonable discretion determine, which interest shall be payable from time to time by the Borrower to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders on demand.

 

6.9 Determinations conclusive

Each determination of an interest rate made by the Agent in accordance with clause 6 shall (save in the case of manifest error or on any question of law) be final and conclusive.

 

6.10 Mandatory Costs

The Borrower shall reimburse the Agent on demand for any Mandatory Costs relating to the Loan incurred by a Lender as a result of funding its Commitment of the Loan.

 

7 Fees

The Borrower shall pay the following fees:

 

36


7.1 Arrangement fee

The Borrower shall pay to the Agent, for the account of the Lenders, arrangement fees in the amounts and at the times agreed in the Arrangement Fee Letter.

 

7.2 Commitment fee

The Borrower shall pay to the Agent:

 

7.2.1 (for the account of the Lenders in proportion to their Buyer Credit Commitments) a commitment fee computed at the rate of zero point two five per cent (0.25%) per annum on the daily undrawn and uncancelled amount of the Buyer Credit Maximum Amount from time to time; and

 

7.2.2 for the account of the Lenders (in proportion to their Commercial Loan Commitments) a commitment fee computed at the rate of zero point four five per cent (0.45%) per annum on the daily undrawn and uncancelled amount of the Commercial Loan Maximum Amount from time to time,

in each case from the date of this Agreement until the earlier to occur of the Drawdown Date in respect of the final Drawing and the Availability Termination Date. The accrued commitment fees are payable in arrears on the last day of each successive period of three Months from the date of this Agreement and on such Availability Termination Date.

 

7.3 Agency fee

The Borrower shall pay to the Agent, the Security Trustee and the KEIC Agent (in each case, for its own account) an agency fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the Agency Fee Letter.

 

7.4 Documentation Agency Fee

The Borrower shall pay to Calyon (for its own account) a documentation agency fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the Documentation Agency Fee Letter.

 

7.5 Account Bank Fee

The Borrower shall pay to the Account Bank (for its own account) an account bank fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the Account Bank Fee Letter.

 

7.6 KEIC Insurance Premium

 

7.6.1 The Borrower agrees that it shall pay to the KEIC Agent, on the date of the first Drawing under the Commercial Loan, an amount equal to the KEIC Insurance Premium to be paid by the KEIC Agent to KEIC.

 

7.6.2 The Borrower agrees that its obligation to make the payment described in clause 7.6.1 above or any part of it shall be an absolute obligation and without limitation, shall not be affected by any failure to draw down funds under this Agreement or the prepayment or acceleration of any Loan. Neither the KEIC Insurance Premium nor any part of it shall be refundable to the Borrower under any circumstances. If and to the extent that the KEIC Agent subsequently receives from KEIC a refund of the KEIC Insurance Premium or any part thereof, the KEIC Agent shall account to the Agent for the amount of the refund received by the KEIC Agent less any costs and expenses suffered or incurred by the KEIC Agent in recovering and/or transferring such refunded amount to the Agent for application by the Agent in prepayment of the Commercial Loan Outstandings in whole or in part.

 

7.6.3 Without prejudice to the Borrower’s obligations under clauses 7.6.1 and 7.6.2, the Lender Finance Parties and the Borrower acknowledge that the first Drawdown under the Commercial Loan shall be utilised, inter alia, to enable the Borrower to satisfy its obligation under clause 7.6.1. The Borrower instructs the Agent, in accordance with clause 2.3.9, to pay an amount equal to the KEIC Insurance Premium from the first Drawing under the Commercial Loan to the KEIC Agent. Upon receipt by the KEIC Agent of such amount, the Borrower shall have satisfied its obligation under clause 7.6.1.

 

37


8 Security, Accounts and Application of Moneys

 

8.1 Security Documents

As security for the repayment of the Indebtedness, the Borrower shall, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, execute and deliver to the Security Trustee or cause to be executed and delivered to the Security Trustee the following documents in such forms and containing such terms and conditions as the Security Trustee shall require:

 

8.1.1 first priority deed of assignment of the Building Contract and Refund Guarantee;

 

8.1.2 a first priority statutory mortgage over the Vessel together with a collateral deed of covenants;

 

8.1.3 a first priority tripartite deed of assignment of the Insurances, Earnings and Requisition Compensation of the Vessel from the Borrower and the Manager and the Sub-Manager;

 

8.1.4 first priority deed of charge over each of:

 

  (a) the Revenue Account;

 

  (b) the Dry Docking Reserve Account;

 

  (c) the Retention Account;

 

  (d) the Debt Service Reserve Account; and

 

  (e) the Dividend Lock-up Account;

 

8.1.5 first priority deed of assignment over each of:

 

  (a) the Supervision Agreement;

 

  (b) the Time Charter;

 

  (c) the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement;

 

  (d) the Management Agreement and the Sub-Management Agreement;

 

  (e) the Swap Agreements;

 

  (f) the Tripartite Agreement;

 

8.1.6 a first priority charge over the entire issued share capital of the Borrower;

 

8.1.7 the Letter of Sponsors Undertakings;

 

8.1.8 the Manager’s Undertaking; and

 

8.1.9 the Sub-Manager’s Undertaking.

 

38


 8.2 Accounts

 

8.2.1 General

The Borrower undertakes with each of the Lenders, the Agent, the Account Bank and the Security Trustee that it will:

 

  (a) on or before the first Drawing open the Accounts with the Account Bank; and

 

  (b) procure that all moneys payable to the Borrower including, without limitation, in respect of the Earnings of the Vessel (including all hire and early termination fees payable to it under the Time Charter, all payments made under any letters of credit or insurance policies issued in favour of the Borrower pursuant to the Time Charter and pursuant to the Insurances but excluding any Borrower Priority Payments) shall, unless and until the Agent directs to the contrary pursuant to the Security Documents be paid to the Revenue Account;

 

 8.3 Revenue Account: withdrawals

Unless the Agent otherwise agrees in writing (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Revenue Account at any time other than for the following purposes and in the following order of priority:

 

8.3.1 to pay the proper and reasonable operating expenses (including costs of insuring, repairing and maintaining the Vessel) of the Vessel, including amounts properly due to the Manager under the Management Agreement, the Supervisors under the Supervision Agreement and Mitsui under the Corporate Management Agreement, the proper and reasonable expenses of administering the affairs of the Borrower and the Taxes of the Borrower;

 

8.3.2

to transfer to the Dry Docking Reserve Account, first time three (3) months after the Delivery Date and at three (3) Monthly intervals thereafter up to and including the date upon which the Vessel completes each such scheduled dry docking, an amount equal to 1 / 20 of the total Dry Docking Reserve Account Payments in respect of such next scheduled dry docking;

 

8.3.3 to transfer to the Retention Account on the next following Retention Date all or part of the Retention Amount for such Retention Date;

 

8.3.4 to pay any other amounts payable under the Security Documents (including payments to the Swap Providers under any of the Swap Agreements and in case of partial payments the Swap Providers will be paid pro-rata);

 

8.3.5 to transfer to the Debt Service Reserve Account all or part of the DSRA Amount if any remains unpaid; and

 

8.3.6 to transfer any surplus to the Distribution Account unless at any relevant time a Dividend Restriction Event has occurred which is continuing unremedied or unwaived in which case any surplus shall be transferred to the Dividend Lock-Up Account, Provided that where such Dividend Restriction Event has ceased to be continuing and in circumstances where there is no Potential Event of Default or Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived such surplus may be transferred from the Dividend Lock-Up Account to the Distribution Account.

 

 8.4 Dry Docking Reserve Account: withdrawals

 

8.4.1 Unless the Agent otherwise agrees in writing, the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Dry Docking Reserve Account other than to meet dry-docking costs which shall have been advised to and the aggregate amount of which shall have been approved by the Agent (acting reasonably and without delay) and in respect of which the Borrower shall have provided to the Agent reasonably satisfactory documentary evidence that such dry-docking costs have been incurred or will be incurred provided however that the Borrower shall be entitled to request the Agent by notice in writing to release any balance standing to the credit of the Dry Docking Reserve Account, after reimbursement to the Borrower from the Dry Docking Reserve Account of all dry docking costs and expenses paid by it, immediately following completion of a scheduled dry docking of the Vessel and the Agent shall transfer any such balance to the Distribution Account provided that the Agent is satisfied that:

 

39


  (a) all amounts then required to be paid to the Retention Account have been so paid;

 

  (b) the DSRA Amount has been paid in full and is standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account or has been replaced by the DSRA Letter of Credit; and

 

  (c) at such time no Dividend Restriction Event has occurred which is continuing unremedied or unwaived in which case any such balance shall be transferred to and retained in the Dividend Lock-up Account.

 

8.5 Debt Service Reserve Account: withdrawals

Without prejudice to the rights of the Lender Finance Parties under clause 9.1.18 (particularly, without limitation, the right of the Lender Finance Parties to use the amounts standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account to service any Loan repayments which have become due), the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Debt Service Reserve Account at any time from the date of this Agreement and so long as moneys are owing under the Security Documents save that, unless and until a Potential Event of Default or an Event of Default shall occur (which is continuing unremedied or unwaived) and the Agent shall direct to the contrary in accordance with the Security Documents, the Borrower may withdraw moneys from the Debt Service Reserve Account provided that a DSRA Letter of Credit is issued in an amount sufficient to constitute security at least of an equivalent Dollar for Dollar value as the amount withdrawn (and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement in relation to the DSRA Letter of Credit). In the event that the credit rating of an L/C Issuer falls below the Minimum Credit Rating applicable to it as described in clause 9.1.20, the Borrower shall immediately credit the Debt Service Reserve Account with an amount equal to the amount covered by the DSRA Letter of Credit provided by such L/C Issuer until the conditions set out in clauses 9.1.18 and 9.1.20 have been satisfied in full, and clause 9.1.18 shall apply as if the reference in such clause to “the date falling twenty seven (27) months after the Delivery Date” were a reference to the date the Borrower so credited the Debt Service Reserve Account and, to the extent that the Borrower is in breach of its obligations to so credit the Debt Service Reserve Account, the Lender Finance Parties shall immediately be entitled in their absolute discretion to make a demand under the DSRA Letter of Credit for the full amount in respect of which such DSRA Letter of Credit has issued.

 

8.6 Dividend Lock-Up Account: withdrawals

The Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Dividend Lock-Up Account except if there are no Dividend Restriction Events continuing.

 

8.7 Distribution Account: withdrawals

The Borrower shall be entitled to withdraw and freely apply all moneys standing to the credit of the Distribution Account from time to time.

 

8.8 Retention Account: credits and withdrawals

 

8.8.1 Unless and until there shall occur an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived (whereupon the provisions of clause 8.12 shall apply and subject to the Security Documents), all Retention Amounts credited to the Retention Account together with interest from time to time accruing or at any time accrued thereon shall be applied by the Account Bank (and the Borrower undertakes to give an irrevocable and unconditional instruction to the Account Bank so to apply the same) in the following manner:

 

40


  (a) upon each Repayment Date in or towards payment to (i) the Agent of the instalment then falling due for repayment and the amount of interest then due and (ii) to the Swap Providers of amounts then falling due under the Swap Agreements (if any). 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 and the Swap Agreements 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; and

 

  (b) following any application by the Account Bank pursuant to sub-clause (a) above, in transfer to the Revenue Account of any moneys standing to the credit of the Retention Account.

 

8.8.2 Unless the Agent otherwise agrees in writing and subject to clause 8.8.1, the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Retention Account at any time from the date of this Agreement and so long as any moneys are owing under the Security Documents.

 

8.9 Application of accounts

At any time after the Agent has exercised its rights pursuant to clause 10.1, the Agent may, without notice to the Borrower but subject to the terms of the Security Documents, instruct the Account Banks to apply all moneys then standing to the credit of the Accounts (other than the Distribution Account) (together with interest from time to time accruing or accrued thereon) in payment to the Security Trustee and the Security Trustee shall apply the same in or towards satisfaction of any sums due to the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Swap Providers and the Lenders under the Security Documents in the manner specified in the Intercreditor Deed.

 

8.10 Interest and surpluses

 

8.10.1 Each of the Accounts shall bear interest upon the Account Bank’s standard terms for Dollar deposits in similar amounts and for periods comparable for which such balances appear to the Account Bank likely to remain on the relevant Account and any interest credited to the Accounts (other than the Distribution Account) shall, unless and until an Event of Default (which is continuing unremedied or unwaived) shall occur in which case, subject to the Security Documents, the provisions of clause 8.9 shall apply, be paid to the Revenue Account.

 

8.11 Charging of accounts

The Accounts (other than the Distribution Account) 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 relevant Security Documents.

 

8.12 General application of moneys

Whilst an Event of Default is continuing unremedied or unwaived the Borrower irrevocably authorises the Agent and the Security Trustee to apply all sums which either of them may receive:

 

8.12.1 pursuant to a sale or other disposition of the Vessel or any right, title or interest in the Vessel; or

 

8.12.2 by way of payment of any sum in respect of the Insurances, Earnings, or Requisition Compensation; or

 

8.12.3 otherwise arising under or in connection with any Security Document, in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Deed.

 

9 Covenants

The Borrower covenants with the Lender Finance Parties in the following terms.

 

41


9.1 General

The Borrower undertakes with the Lender Finance Parties that, from the date of this Agreement and so long as any moneys are owing under any of the Security Documents and while all or any part of the Commitments remains outstanding, it will:

 

9.1.1 Notice of Default

 

  (a) promptly inform the Agent in writing of any occurrence of which it becomes aware which might materially and adversely affect the ability of any Security Party, the Time Charterer, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor to perform its obligations under any of the Relevant Documents to which it is a party and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, will inform the Agent of any Event of Default or Potential Event of Default or Mandatory Prepayment Event forthwith upon becoming aware thereof and will from time to time, if so requested by the Agent, confirm to the Agent in writing that, save as otherwise stated in such confirmation, no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived;

 

  (b) promptly inform the Agent of any occurrence of which it becomes aware which might materially adversely effect the ability or rights of the Borrower to make any claims under any of the Refund Guarantee or which might reduce or release any of the obligations of any Refund Guarantor under any of its Refund Guarantee;

 

9.1.2 Consents and licences

obtain or cause to be obtained, maintain in full force and effect and comply in all material respects with the conditions and restrictions (if any) imposed in, or in connection with, every consent, Authorisation, licence or approval of governmental or public bodies or authorities or courts, the failure of which has or might be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, and do, or cause to be done, all other acts and things which may from time to time be necessary under applicable law for the continued due performance of all the obligations of the Security Parties under each of the Security Documents;

 

9.1.3 Use of proceeds

use the Loan exclusively for the purpose specified in the Recitals and/or clause 2.3.4;

 

9.1.4 Pari passu

ensure that its obligations under this Agreement and the other Security Documents shall, without prejudice to the security intended to be created by the Security Documents, at all times rank at least pari passu with all its other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness with the exception of any obligations which are mandatorily preferred by law and not by contract;

 

9.1.5 Financial statements

prepare financial statements of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP in respect of each financial year and cause the same to be reported on by its auditors and prepare semi-annual (i.e two (2) sets of accounts to be provided each year) unaudited accounts (without accounting notes) and deliver as many copies of the same and copies of each Sponsor’s annual audited financial statements as the Agent may reasonably require not later than one hundred and twenty (120) days (in the case of the Borrower’s audited financial statements), sixty (60) days (in the case of semi-annual unaudited accounts) or one hundred and eighty (180) days (in the case of the Sponsors’ annual audited financial statements), in each case after the end of the financial period to which they relate;

 

9.1.6 Information

deliver to the Agent or procure that there is delivered to the Agent:

 

42


  (a) at the time of issue thereof, as many copies as the Agent may reasonably require of written communications made by any Security Party to its shareholders or creditors generally which may reasonably be considered material in the context of this Agreement (other than copies of reports or other notices, statements, or circulars sent or delivered to the Borrower Shareholders by the Borrower, which shall be sent to the Security Trustee pursuant to clause 6.2.11 of the Share Charges) ;

 

  (b) from time to time as the Agent and/or KEIC may reasonably require:

 

  (i) such financial or other information concerning any Security Party and its affairs which may reasonably be considered material in the context of this Agreement ;

 

  (ii) such information relating to the progress of construction of the Vessel, or otherwise in relation to the construction of the Vessel and performance by the Builder of its obligations under the Building Contract; and

 

  (iii) such information in connection with the operation, position and condition of the Vessel;

 

  (c) at the time of each such communication, copies of all material written communications between the Borrower or any other Security Party and:

 

  (i) the approved brokers; and

 

  (ii) the approved protection and indemnity and/or war risks associations; and

 

  (iii) the approved insurance companies and/or underwriters;

which relate directly or indirectly to:

 

  (A) the Vessel and the obligations of the Borrower or any other Security Party relating to the Insurances including, without limitation, all requisite declarations and payments of additional premiums or calls and all communication relating to non-payment of premiums or calls and cancellation of any of the Insurances or relating to the imposition of any new or modified condition, warranty, exclusion or qualification or the material alteration of the Insurances; and

 

  (B) any credit arrangements made between the Borrower or any other Security Party and any of the persons referred to in clauses 9.5.7(a) to 9.5.7(c) relating wholly or partly to the effecting or maintenance of the Insurances.

 

9.1.7 Vessel Annual Operating Budget

prior to the commencement of each budget year, submit to the Agent the annual operating budget of the Vessel for such budget year for approval by the Agent (acting on the instruction of the Majority Lenders and such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);

 

9.1.8 Obligations under Security Documents

duly and punctually perform each of the obligations expressed to be assumed by it under the Security Documents to which it is a party;

 

9.1.9 Certificate of Financial Responsibility

obtain and maintain a certificate of financial responsibility in relation to the Vessel if it is to call at the United States of America;

 

43


9.1.10 ISM and ISPS Compliance

ensure that the relevant Company and any Environmental Affiliate complies in all material respects with the ISM Code and the ISPS Code or any replacements thereof and in particular (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) shall ensure that the Company holds (i) a valid and current Document of Compliance issued pursuant to the ISM Code, (ii) a valid and current Safety Management Certificate issued in respect of the Vessel pursuant to the ISM Code, and (iii) an ISSC in respect of the Vessel, and the Borrower shall promptly, upon request, supply the Agent with copies of the same;

 

9.1.11 Compliance with Applicable Laws

comply with all applicable laws to which it may be subject from time to time;

 

9.1.12 Further Assurance

at its own expense, promptly take all such action as the Agent may reasonably require for the purpose of perfecting or protecting any Lender Finance Party’s rights with respect to the security created or evidenced (or intended to be created or evidenced) by the Security Documents;

 

9.1.13 “Know your customer” Checks

if:

 

  (a) 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;

 

  (b) any change in the status of the Borrower after the date of this Agreement; or

 

  (c) a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer,

obliges the Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of (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, 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 any Lender) or any Lender for itself (or, in the case of (c) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent or that Lender (or, in the case of (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 Relevant Documents, Provided that, the obligations set forth in this clause shall not apply to information in respect of Angola LNG, the Angola LNG Project (in any respect), the Time Charterer, the Builder, the Refund Guarantor or the L/C Issuer unless such information is required by Law;

 

  9.1.14 Management Fees

pay all amounts due to the Manager under the Management Agreement when the same become due and payable;

 

  9.1.15 Time Charters

ensure that:

 

  (a) the Vessel is constructed pursuant to the Building Contract so that on the Delivery Date the Vessel is accepted by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter;

 

  (b) from the Delivery Date and throughout the Facility Period:

 

44


  (i) subject to clauses 5.8.3 and 5.8.4, the Vessel shall be chartered to the Time Charterer under the Time Charter or (subject to clause 9.2.18) a bareboat charter unless the Agent, acting on the instruction of all the Lenders (acting reasonably and without delay) otherwise agrees;

 

  (ii) no amendments are made to (aa) the Time Charter (other than in respect of purely technical and/or operational matters which shall have no material adverse, financial effect upon the Borrower, no adverse effect upon the security rights of the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Lenders or the Swap Providers, which shall not have the effect of reducing the rate of hire payable under the Time Charter or amending the dates on which such hire is payable or reducing the period of the contract Time Charter itself and which shall in any event be promptly notified to the Agent) or (bb) to any letters of credit or insurance policies to be issued under the Time Charter, in each case without the consent of the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); and

 

  (iii) all licenses, consents and Authorisations necessary to permit the proper and lawful operation of the Vessel pursuant to the Time Charter in any Relevant Jurisdiction to which the Vessel may be ordered or trade are complied with and ensure that each such licence, consent and Authorisation has been properly and validly obtained; and

 

  (c) upon the occurrence of any force majeure as set out in the Time Charter or any incident or other occurrence of which it is aware which may reasonably be expected to become a force majeure upon the giving of notice or lapse of time the Borrower shall forthwith advise the Agent of such force majeure or incident or occurrence which may become a force majeure and keep the Agent up to date in respect of all matters and/or developments in respect of such force majeure and/or incident and/or occurrence;

 

9.1.16 Use of Ancillary Cost Advances

procure that each Ancillary Cost Advance and the proceeds thereof are used only for the purpose of paying and discharging Ancillary Costs, reimbursing Ancillary Costs already paid by the Borrower, as contemplated by clause 2.3.4 and paying the KEIC Insurance Premium and for no other purpose;

 

9.1.17 Management

ensure that following Delivery the Vessel is managed throughout the Facility Period by the Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement or such party as may replace the Manager in accordance with clause 9.2.18 and 10.3 of this Agreement;

 

9.1.18 DSRA Letter of Credit/Debt Service Reserve Account

 

  (a) on or before the date falling twenty seven (27) Months after the Delivery Date procure that as a result of either:

 

  (i) the issue of the DSRA Letter of Credit; and/or

 

  (ii) sums standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account,

the aggregate of the amounts standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account and/or the amount of the DSRA Letter of Credit shall, subject to clause (b) below, be equal to or not less than such amount as the Agent shall determine to be 6 Months’ principal and interest repayments under this Agreement (the “ DSRA Amount ”) Provided Always that:

 

  (A) the sum standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account shall, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Security Documents, be freely available to the Lender Finance Parties (a) upon the acceleration of the Loan after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived and (b) to service any Loan repayments which have become due in the circumstances set out in clause 9.1.18(b) below; and

 

45


  (B) in relation to any DSRA Letter of Credit the Borrower shall provide the Agent with such evidence as the Agent may reasonably require to satisfy the Agent that such DSRA Letter of Credit has been duly and validly and correctly issued (including, without limitation, a signing authority authorising the L/C Issuer to provide the DSRA Letter of Credit and a legal opinion from counsel in the jurisdiction of the L/C Issuer in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent),

and in the event that the Borrower elects to issue the DSRA Letter of Credit the Borrower shall ensure that (A) all sums payable under such DSRA Letter of Credit shall, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Security Documents, be freely available to the Lender Finance Parties (a) upon the acceleration of the Loan after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing, (b) to service any Loan repayments which have become due in the circumstances set out in clause (b) below and where there are insufficient amounts standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account to service such Loan repayments and (c) in the circumstances set out in clause 8.5 and (B) any DSRA Letter of Credit shall be renewed or replaced for a period being not less than 12 Months to such value as may be required to satisfy the provisions of this clause 9.1.18 not later than 30 days prior to the scheduled date of its expiry. If the Borrower fails to so renew or replace the DSRA Letter of Credit, the Borrower agrees that the Security Trustee shall have the right upon written notice to the Borrower to draw the entire amount available under such DSRA Letter of Credit and deposit such amount in the Debt Service Reserve Account for application in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Security Trustee shall at any time drawdown the entire amount available under any DSRA Letter of Credit and deposit the same in the Debt Service Reserve Account, such drawdown and deposit shall be deemed to remedy any Event of Default which shall have arisen as a result of the Borrower’s failure to renew or replace such DSRA Letter of Credit for a period of not less than 12 Months in accordance with the provisions of this clause 9.1.18;

 

  (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clauses 8.5 and 9.1.18(a) above, the Lender Finance Parties shall, in their absolute discretion, be entitled to:

 

  (i) use the sum standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account from time to time; and/or

 

  (ii) make a demand under the DSRA Letter of Credit,

in each case to satisfy the Borrower’s obligation to pay a Repayment Instalment or Repayment Instalments which have become due and such sums and/or (as the case may be) the DSRA Letter of Credit shall be freely available to the Lender Finance Parties for these purposes.

In the event that the Lender Finance Parties elect to exercise their rights under this clause 9.1.18(b) the Borrower shall have sixty (60) days to restore the aggregate of the amounts standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account and/or the amount of the DSRA Letter of Credit to an amount equal to the DSRA Amount.

 

9.1.19 Financial covenants

provide the Agent at the same time it provides its audited financial statements and unaudited semi-annual accounts in accordance with clause 9.1.5 with a Compliance Certificate signed by an authorised officer of the Borrower (i) that the average DSCR in respect of the immediately preceding four (4) financial quarters is equal to or above 1:10x, (ii) that the average DSCR in respect of the immediately preceding two (2) financial quarters is equal to or above 1.06x and (iii) its Leverage Ratio for the immediately preceding four (4) financial quarters does not exceed 4:1. Such Compliance Certificate shall also attach full details of how the said DSCR and Leverage Ratio was calculated;

 

46


9.1.20 Minimum Credit Rating

in the event that the credit rating of an L/C Issuer falls below the Minimum Credit Rating applicable to it, then the Borrower shall immediately (a) inform the Agent and (b) credit the Debt Service Reserve Account in accordance with clause 8.5;

 

9.1.21 Supervision Agreement

 

  (a) ensure that throughout the period prior to Delivery of the Vessel the construction of the Vessel is supervised by the Supervisor pursuant to the Supervision Agreement and will not agree to any material variation of the Supervision Agreement or any sum payable by the Borrower to the Supervisor under the Supervision Agreement; and

 

  (b) at all times enforce all of its rights under the Supervision Agreement;

 

9.1.22 Developments regarding the Angola LNG Project

as soon as reasonably practicable but subject to any confidentiality restrictions and limitations in the Time Charter and any other agreements of the Borrower, notify the Agent of any material developments notified to it by the Time Charterer regarding the Angola LNG Project or the Time Charterer, including, but not limited to, decisions regarding the rollover of the Gas Supply Agreement, the identity of the LNG gas buyers and any force majeure event under the Gas Supply Agreement, the LNG Agreement, the Time Charter or the Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement, Provided always that (subject to clause 9.1.15) the Borrower shall not have or be deemed to have any obligation under this Agreement or any Security Documents to request any information from the Time Charterer or any of its members, shareholders, directors, officers, employees or representatives regarding the Angola LNG Project or the Time Charterer;

 

9.1.23  Registration

ensure that the Vessel shall on and from the Delivery Date be registered under the laws of the flag of the Flag State (or the flag of such other state as the Agent may consent to in writing, acting on the instruction of the Majority Lenders and KEIC);

 

9.1.24  Project Co-ordination Agreement

 

  1.1.1 Prior to the first Drawing, procure the execution of the Project Co-ordination Agreement in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to KEIC and to the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders.

 

9.2  Negative undertakings

The Borrower undertakes with the Agent that, from the date of this Agreement and so long as any moneys are owing under the Security Documents and while all or any part of the Commitments remain outstanding, it will not without the prior written consent of the Agent:

 

9.2.1  Negative pledge

permit any Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) to subsist, arise or be created or extended over all or any part of its present or future undertakings, assets, rights or revenues (including, without limitation to the generality of the foregoing, over the Vessel, the Time Charter, Earnings, Insurances and/or Accounts) to secure or prefer any present or future indebtedness or other liability or obligation of it or any other person;

 

47


9.2.2 No merger

without the prior written consent of the Agent acting on the instructions of all Lenders merge or consolidate with any other person unless such merger or consolidation does not result in a Change of Control;

 

9.2.3 Disposals

Subject to the rights of the Time Charterer under the Time Charter;

 

  (a) sell, transfer, abandon, lend or otherwise dispose of or cease to exercise direct control over any part (being either alone or when aggregated with all other disposals falling to be taken into account pursuant to this clause 9.2.3 material in the opinion of the Agent (acting reasonably and without unreasonable delay) in relation to the combined undertakings, assets, rights and revenues of the Borrower) of its present or future undertaking, assets, rights or revenues (otherwise than by transfers, sales or disposals for full consideration in the ordinary course of trading or otherwise in accordance with the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement) whether by one or a series of transactions related or not; or

 

  (b) sell, transfer, abandon, lease or otherwise dispose of or part with possession of the Vessel other than pursuant to clause 9.6.14 or with the prior written consent of the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC;

 

9.2.4 Other business

undertake any business other than the ownership, financing (including the refinancing of the Vessel at the Maturity Date), maintenance and operation of the Vessel, the Depot Spare Parts, the chartering of the Vessel for the Time Charterer and making Authorised Investments as permitted by the Security Documents;

 

9.2.5 Acquisitions

acquire any further assets other than Authorised Investments, the Vessel, the Depot Spare Parts and other assets and rights arising under contracts entered into by it in the ordinary course of its business of owning, operating, maintaining and chartering the Vessel or in refinancing the Vessel at the Maturity Date, provided always that the Loan Outstandings shall be repaid in full from the proceeds of such refinancing of the Vessel at the Maturity Date;

 

9.2.6 Other obligations

incur any obligations except for obligations arising under the Relevant Documents to which it is a party or contracts entered into by it in the ordinary course of its business of owning, operating, maintaining and chartering the Vessel;

 

9.2.7 Guarantees

issue any guarantees or indemnities or otherwise become directly or contingently liable for the obligations of any person, firm, or corporation except for guarantees or indemnities from time to time required in the ordinary course by any protection and indemnity or war risks association with which the Vessel is entered, guarantees required to procure the release of the Vessel from any arrest, detention, attachment or levy or guarantees or undertakings required for the salvage of the Vessel and except pursuant to the Security Documents;

 

9.2.8 Loans

make any loans or grant any credit (save for normal trade credit in the ordinary course of business) to any person or agree to do so;

 

48


9.2.9 No borrowing

incur any Financial Indebtedness or undertake any material capital commitment except:

 

  (a) for trade credit in the ordinary course of business and Financial Indebtedness pursuant to the Security Documents (including the Swap Agreements); and

 

  (b) the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and Additional Shareholders’ Equity contributed by way of subordinated debt and subordinated to the amounts due and owing to the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Swap Providers and the Lenders under the Security Documents;

 

9.2.10 Repayment of borrowings

repay the principal of, or pay interest on or any other sum in connection with any of its Financial Indebtedness except such Financial Indebtedness as is permitted by the Security Documents or with the prior written consent of the Agent;

 

9.2.11 Sureties

permit any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower to any person (other than the Lenders and/or the Agent and/or the Security Trustee and/or the Swap Providers under the Swap Agreements to be guaranteed by any person (save for guarantees or indemnities from time to time required in the ordinary course by any protection and indemnity or war risks association with which the Vessel is entered, guarantees required to procure the release of the Vessel from any arrest, detention, attachment or levy or guarantees or undertakings required for the salvage of the Vessel;

 

9.2.12 Share capital and distribution

purchase or otherwise acquire for value any shares of its capital or declare or pay any dividends or distribute any of its present or future assets, undertakings, rights or revenues to any of its shareholders, save that the Borrower shall be permitted to declare or pay dividends provided that no Event of Default or Dividend Restriction Event has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived or would occur as a result;

 

9.2.13 Subsidiaries

form or acquire any Subsidiaries;

 

9.2.14 Constitutional documents

agree to any material change of its memoranda and articles of association or other constitutional documents;

 

9.2.15 Project Documents

subject to clause 9.l.15(b)(ii) (which provides, for the avoidance of doubt, that amendments to the Time Charter in respect of technical and/or operational matters which shall have no material adverse financial effect upon the Borrower, no adverse effect upon the security rights of the Agent, the Security Trustee, the KEIC Agent, the Lenders or the Swap Providers, which shall not have the effect of reducing the rate of hire payable under the Time Charter or amending the dates on which such hire is payable or reducing the period of the Time Charter itself and which shall in any event be promptly notified to the Agent, may be made or permitted by the Borrower without the consent of the Ageent), materially amend, modify or waive any provision of the Project Documents to which it is a party or agree to materially amend, modify or waive any provision of the Project Documents to which it is not a party but which requires its consent without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders);

 

49


9.2.16 Borrower’s other documents

enter in to any other material documents or agreements relating to the Angola LNG Project (other than such documents or agreements contemplated by the Time Charter) (such other material documents or agreements, “ Borrower’s Other Documents ”) and, if the Agent shall consent to the Borrower’s entry into any Borrower’s Other Documents (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed but the giving of which consent may be subject to the Borrower assigning or otherwise charging all its rights, title, benefits and interests under such Borrower’s Other Documents in favour of the Security Trustee as security for the Loan and any other sums payable under the other Security Documents), the Borrower shall not agree to any material change to the Borrower’s Other Documents without the prior written consent of the Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed);

 

9.2.17 Ownership of Borrower

permit any change in the shareholders or their respective (direct or indirect) shareholdings in the Borrower as at the date hereof being:

 

  (i) Mitsui—34%;

 

  (ii) NYK—33%; and

 

  (iii) Teekay 33%.

Provided however that (a) on Delivery, Teekay or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shall may , subject to the Agent having confirmed to Teekay in writing (not to be unreasonably delayed) that it is satisfied, acting reasonably that no material adverse effect on Teekay LNG’s consolidated financial position or Teekay LNG’s ability to comply with its material obligations under any of the Security Documents has occurred and is continuing with respect to Teekay LNG, transfer all of its shares in the Borrower to Teekay LNG or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary and Teekay LNG or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (as applicable) shall become a “ Borrower Shareholder ” in place of Teekay or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; (b) any of the Borrower Shareholders may at any time but subject always to the requirements of paragraph (c) below, transfer all or part of its shareholding in the Borrower to:-

 

  (aa) a Qualifying Entity, provided that such Qualifying Entity accedes to the Security Documents as a Sponsor and a Borrower Shareholder in respect of its proportionate interest in the Borrower;

 

  (bb) a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of any Qualifying Entity provided that, (a) such Wholly-Owned Subsidiary accedes to the Security Documents as a Borrower Shareholder in respect of its proportionate ownership interest in the Borrower, and (b) the Qualifying Entity accedes to the Security Documents as a Sponsor in respect of its proportionate indirect ownership interest in the Borrower;

 

  (cc) a Sponsor, another Borrower Shareholder or to an Affiliate of a Sponsor or a Borrower Shareholder, provided that, such Affiliate or Sponsor (as the case maybe) accedes to the Security Documents as a Borrower Shareholder in respect of its proportionate ownership interest in the Borrower; or

 

  (dd) any other person approved by the Agent acting on the instructions of all of the Lenders, provided that such approved person accedes to the Security Documents as a Sponsor and/or Borrower Shareholder (as applicable) in respect of its proportionate direct or indirect ownership interest in the Borrower;

PROVIDED THAT

 

  (ee)

in each case, in order to satisfy the requirement to accede to the Security Documents and as a condition precedent to the transfer of any shares to such party, such Qualifying Entity, Affiliate or other approved person, as the case maybe, shall in each case, have first entered into such documents including where it becomes a Borrower Shareholder, a share charge in favour of the Security Trustee in the same form as the Share Pledges Charges and in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and as shall deem necessary provide the Agent with such evidence including corporate authorities and such legal opinions as the Agent shall require in order for the Agent to be satisfied that such party has acceded to the Security Documents as a Borrower Shareholder and/or Sponsor as the case maybe; and

 

50


(c) provided that at all times during the Facility Period one or more of Mitsui, NYK, Teekay or (following any transfer permitted and as referred to in (a) above) Teekay LNG or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shall directly or indirectly maintain a shareholding in the Borrower of an amount in aggregate which shall not be less than sixty six per cent (66%) of the full issued and outstanding share capital of the Borrower from time to time; and

 

9.2.18 Replacement of Manager

without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and KEIC replace the Manager, provided that (a) the Agent’s consent shall not be required if the Manager is replaced by Teekay Shipping Limited (or one of its Affiliates) pursuant to clauses 16.2.4 or 16.6 of the Time Charter and (b) the Agent’s consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed where the Time Charterer has exercised its option pursuant to clause 29.6 of the Time Charter to convert the Time Charter into a bareboat charter of the Vessel;

 

9.3 Pre-delivery positive undertakings

The Borrower, hereby undertakes and agrees with each of the Lender Finance Parties that from the date of this Agreement until the Delivery Date or, if earlier, the date upon which no moneys are owing under the Security Documents and no Commitments remain outstanding, that it will:

 

9.3.1 Document of title to the Vessel

give irrevocable instructions to the Builder that at any time upon which title to the Vessel shall be or become transferable and be capable of transfer to hold the Vessel and the Builder’s Certificates and any other document of title to the Vessel to the order and at the disposal of the Security Trustee and use its best endeavours to ensure that the Builder complies with such instructions;

 

9.3.2 Performance of the Building Contracts

duly and punctually observe and perform all the conditions and obligations imposed on it by the Building Contract;

 

9.3.3 Performance by Builder

exercise best endeavours to ensure that the Builder observes and performs all conditions and obligations imposed on it by the Building Contract and take all steps within its power to ensure that the Builder proceeds with the construction of the Vessel with due diligence and despatch in accordance with the Building Contract;

 

9.3.4 Arbitration under the Building Contract

in the event that the Builder and/or the Borrower resort to arbitration as provided in Article XXVII of the Building Contract, immediately notify the Agent in writing that such arbitration has been initiated, advise the Agent in writing of the identity of the appointed arbitrators and upon termination of the arbitration notify the Agent in writing to that effect and supply the Agent with a copy of the arbitration award and a certified English translation thereof (if the award is not in English);

 

51


9.3.5 Conveyance on default

where the Vessel is (or is to be) sold in exercise of any power contained in the Security Documents or otherwise conferred on the Security Trustee, to execute, forthwith upon request by the Agent, such form of conveyance of the Vessel as the Agent may require;

 

9.3.6 Enforcement of Borrower’s rights

do or permit to be done each and every act or thing which the Agent and/or the Security Trustee may from time to time require to be done in accordance with the terms of the Security Documents for the purpose of enforcing the Borrower’s rights (which the Borrower have failed to enforce or to enforce in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Security Trustee) under or pursuant to the Building Contract;

 

9.3.7 Notification of rejection of Vessel

notify the Agent and the Security Trustee immediately if the Builder exercises, or purports to exercise or gives notice (written or oral) of its intention to exercise any right to cancel, rescind, repudiate or otherwise terminate the Building Contract or to render a performance materially different from that which the Building Contract obliges it to render or (with the prior written consent of the Agent given pursuant to clause 9.4.6) the Borrower cancels, rescinds, repudiates or otherwise terminates the Building Contract or purports to do so or (with the prior written consent of the Agent given pursuant to clause 9.4.6) the Borrower rejects the Vessel or purports to do so or if the Vessel shall become a Total Loss or partial loss or shall be damaged in a manner affecting its Classification or the Refund Guarantor cancels, rescinds, repudiates or otherwise terminates the Refund Guarantee or purports to do so;

 

9.3.8 Vessel name and registration

register the Vessel under the laws and flag of the Flag State immediately upon its Delivery and keep the Vessel so registered at all times from the Delivery Date in accordance with clause 9.1.23;

 

9.3.9 Non-compliance with Time Charter

provide the Agent with full details of any matter relating to the construction of the Vessel which could result in the Vessel not being in compliance with the Time Charter within 30 days of such matter coming to the attention of or being brought to the attention of the Borrower;

 

9.3.10 Delays

provide the Agent with full details regarding any delays which arise or may arise with respect to the Scheduled Delivery Date of the Vessel under the Building Contract promptly upon such delays or possible delays coming to the attention of or being brought to the attention of the Borrower; and

 

9.3.11 Mortgage

execute, and procure the registration of, the Mortgage under the laws and flag of the Flag State and the Deed of Covenant immediately upon the Delivery.

 

9.4 Pre-delivery negative undertakings

The Borrower, hereby further undertakes and agrees with each of the Lender Finance Parties that from the date of this Agreement until the Delivery Date or, if earlier, the date upon which no moneys are owing under the Security Documents and no Commitments remain outstanding, it will not without the prior written consent of the Agent (and then only subject to such conditions as the Agent may impose) acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC:

 

52


9.4.1 Sale or other disposal

sell or agree to sell, transfer, abandon or otherwise dispose of the Vessel or any share or interest therein;

 

9.4.2 Creation of Encumbrances

create or agree to create or permit to exist any Encumbrance over the Vessel (or any share or interest therein) or over the Building Contract, the Guarantee Bond or the Refund Guarantee other than the Encumbrances created or to be created pursuant to or as contemplated by the Security Documents and Permitted Encumbrances;

 

9.4.3 Variation of Contracts

agree to any variation of the Building Contract or any substantial variation of the specification of the Vessel (and for the purpose of this paragraph any extras, additions or alterations which the Borrower may desire to effect in the building of the Vessel shall be deemed to constitute a substantial variation of the specification of the Vessel if the cost thereof (which shall in every case be agreed in writing between the Borrower and the Builder before the work in respect of such variation is put in hand irrespective of whether the prior consent thereto of the Agent be required hereunder) or if the cost of the modification causes or will cause the Total Project Cost (estimated by the Borrower as of such date and notified to the Agent) to exceed one hundred and ten per cent. (110%) of the Scheduled Vessel Project Cost, Provided always that the Agent shall not unreasonably withhold or delay its consent if the Borrower shall evidence to the Agent that the Borrower is in a position to fund any sums from shareholders funds without prejudicing the Borrower’s ability to complete the construction and delivery of the Vessel in accordance with the Building Contract Provided further that, nothing in this clause 9.4.3 shall prohibit the Borrower from varying the specification of the Vessel to the extent the Borrower has an obligation to make such variation of the Vessel pursuant to clause 5.1 of the Time Charter or if such variation is required by applicable Law or the Classification Society. If the Borrower has an obligation to make such variation to the Vessel pursuant to clause 5.1 of the Time Charter, the Borrower shall notify the Agent in writing of such variation and shall provide the Agent, from time to time at the Agent’s reasonable request, information regarding the variation;

 

9.4.4 Releases and waivers of Building Contract

release the Builder from any of its obligations under the Building Contract or waive any breach of the Builder’s obligations thereunder or consent to any such act or omission of the Builder as would otherwise constitute such breach;

 

9.4.5 Delays

without prejudice to clause 9.4.3, agree to any variation of the Building Contract or the specification of the Vessel which would delay the time for delivery of the Vessel and be likely in the opinion of the Agent (acting reasonably) to put at risk the acceptance of the Vessel by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter unless the prior written consent to such variation given in writing by the Time Charterer shall have been provided to the Agent;

 

9.4.6 Rejection and cancellation

either exercise or fail to exercise any right which the Borrower may have to reject the Vessel or cancel or rescind or otherwise terminate the Building Contract Provided always that any such rejection of the Vessel or cancellation, rescission or other termination of the Building Contract by the Borrower after such consent is given shall be without responsibility on the part of the Agent which shall be under no liability whatsoever to the extent that such rejection, rescission, cancellation or termination is thereafter adjudged to constitute a repudiation or other breach of the Building Contract by the Borrower Provided always that if the Agent shall not respond (whether in the positive or the negative) within 30 days of any request for such consent being made the Agent shall be deemed to have consented to such request;

 

53


9.4.7 Assignment of Earnings

assign or agree to assign otherwise than to the Security Trustee the Earnings or any part thereof;

 

9.4.8 Variation of and demands under the Refund Guarantee

agree to any variation of the Refund Guarantee nor make any demand for payment under the Refund Guarantee;

 

9.4.9 Release and waiver of Refund Guarantee

release the Refund Guarantor from any of its obligations under the Refund Guarantee or waive any breach of the Refund Guarantor’s obligations thereunder or consent to any such act or omission of the Refund Guarantor as would otherwise constitute such breach; and

 

9.4.10 Chartering

except pursuant to the Time Charter, let or agree to let the Vessel on demise charter for any period, or by any time or consecutive voyage charter.

 

9.5 Insurances

 

9.5.1 The Borrower covenants to ensure and procure at its own expense (and for the avoidance of doubt at no cost and expense to the Lender Finance Parties) that the following provisions of this clause 9.5 are complied with at all times during the Facility Period in respect of the Vessel. The Borrower confirms that throughout the Facility Period, the Vessel shall be in every respect at the risk of the Borrower.

 

9.5.2 Maintenance of Insurances

The Vessel shall be kept insured at no cost to the Lender Finance Parties against:

 

  (a) fire and usual marine risks (including excess risks) and war risks (including terrorism, sabotage, vandalism, malicious mischief, blocking and trapping);

 

  (b) protection and indemnity risks (including pollution risks) and excess war protection and indemnity risks, on “full entry” terms;

 

  (c) in respect of such other matters of whatsoever nature and howsoever arising in respect of which insurance would be maintained by a prudent owner or operator of vessels of a similar age, condition and type as the Vessel; and

 

  (d) loss of hire . f or a minimum cover period of (i) one hundred and eighty (180) days, with a maximum deductible of fourteen (14) days or (ii) following receipt of a written request from the Agent, such longer period as_ may from time to time be reasonably and commercially available in the insurance market for vessels of similar age, size and type as the Vessel, and for a rate of hire at least equal to the rate set out in the Time Charter.

 

9.5.3 Terms of Insurances

Such Insurances shall be effected:

 

  (a) in Dollars or such other currency as the Agent and the Borrower may agree;

 

  (b) in the case of fire and usual marine risks and war risks (on an agreed value basis) in an amount equal to the Insured Loss Value applicable on the first day of the period for which the insurances are renewed;

 

54


  (c) in the case of protection and indemnity risks (including pollution liability risks), in an amount equal to the highest amount in respect of which cover is in accordance with customary insurance market practice taken out by prudent owners or operators of vessels of a similar type, size, age, condition and flag as the Vessel with protection and indemnity risks associations that are members of the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Associations (but in the case of pollution risks, for a minimum amount of one billion Dollars ($1,000,000,000) or where cover for such risks is not available in such an amount, such lesser amount as is the best level of cover available in the market at the applicable time, having regard to the cover being taken out by prudent owners or operators of similar vessels to the Vessel;

 

  (d) in the case of loss of hire insurances in such amounts and upon such terms as shall from time to time be approved in writing by the Agent;

 

  (e) on terms approved under clause 9.5.18, but subject to a minimum requirement of the scope of coverage of that provided by the Institute Time Clauses and Additional Perils Clause with their War and Strikes sister clauses extended as necessary or as provided by the equivalent full conditions forms of other nationality (so far as can be reasonably obtained in the market at the applicable time); and

 

  (f) through brokers and with insurance companies and/or underwriters or, in the case of war risks and protection and indemnity risks, in war risks and protection and indemnity risks associations, in each case approved under clause 9.5.18.

 

9.5.4 Further protection for Agent

In addition to the terms set out in clause 9.5.3, the Insurances effected under such clause shall:

 

  (a) in the case of the Insurances in respect of marine risks and war risks, be endorsed by way of a loss payable clause to the effect that:

 

  (i) payment of a claim for a Total Loss will be made to the Security Trustee (and shall, be applied in accordance with the relevant provisions clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed); and

 

  (ii) payment of a claim for an amount which equals or exceeds the Threshold Amount ten million Dollars($ 10,000,000) shall be paid to the Security Trustee and shall be applied in accordance with the relevant provisions of the lnter creditor Deed; and as follows:

 

  (A) Subject to (aa) there being no Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under clause 10.2.1 (Failure to Pay) which has occurred due to the Vessel being off-hire in order for the necessary repair work to be completed) and (bb) clause 9.5.4(a)(v) below, in the event that the Borrower (or the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower) have instructed a shipyard to commence the repair works, which shipyard and repair works are acceptable to the Security Trustee acting reasonably and promptly (and, to the extent that the shipyard and repair works have been approved or nominated by the Time Charterer, such shipyard and repair works shall be deemed to be acceptable to the Security Trustee for these purposes), and paid for the repairs (such payments to be duly evidenced), to the Borrower (or, as the case may be, the Sponsors) upon resumption of the Vessel into service under the Time Charter, to reimburse the Borrower (or, as the case may be, the Sponsors) for the amounts so paid: or

 

55


  (B) Subject to (aa) there being no Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under clause 10.2.1 (Failure to Pay) which has occurred due to the Vessel being off-hire in order for the necessary repair work to be completed) and (bb) clause 9.5.4(a)(v) below, in the event that the Time Charterer has instructed a shipyard to commence the repair works, which shipyard and repair works are acceptable to the security Trustee acting reasonably and promptly (and, to the extent that the shipyard and repair works have been approved or nominated by the Time Charterer, such shipyard and repair works shall be deemed to be acceptable to the Security Trustee for these purposes), and paid for part or the whole of the repairs and in respect of which the Borrower is required to reimburse the Time Charterer pursuant to paragraph 2.3 of schedule XI to the Time Charter to the Time charterer to reimburse the Time Charterer for the amounts so paid (and in satisfaction of the Borrower’s obligation to reimburse the Time Charterer pursuant to clause 2.3 of Schedule XI to the Time Charter), with the balance to be paid to the relevant shipyard conducting such repairs (in or towards payment of any repairs in respect, of which payment is outstanding) PROVIDED THAT, where such repairs will require the Vessel to remain off-hire for more than 120 days, the Security Trustee has received prior written confirmation from the Time Charterer that the Time Charterer will not exercise its rights under clause 22.4 of the Time Charter in respect of such off-hire period; and

 

  (C) if neither the Borrower (nor the Sponsors on behalf of the Borrower) nor the Time Charterer have instructed a shipyard and paid for the repairs (or, in the case of the Time Charterer, part thereof) as described in clauses 9.5.4(a)(ii)(A) or 9.5.4(a)(ii)(B) above, or the conditions, attached to the payment of the amounts to the Borrower, Sponsors or, as the case may be, Time Charterer (being, in the case of the Borrower, the requirement that that Vessel has resumed service under the Time Charter and, in the case of the Time Charterer, the requirement that where such repairs will require the Vessel to remain off-hire for more than 120 days, the Security Trustee has received prior written confirmation from the Time Charterer that the Time Charterer will not exercise its rights under clause 22.4 of of the Time Charter in respect of such off-hire period) are not satisfied within forty five (45) days of the completion of the repair works, Security Trustee shall, acting upon the insrtruction of the Majority Lenders, have the option to either (a) apply such amounts in repairing the damage or (b) apply such amounts in accordance with clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed; and

 

  (iii) Subject to no Event of Default having occurred which is continuing unremedied and unwaived, payment of a claim for an amount which is less than ten million Dollars ($10,000,000) shall be made to the Borrower who shall apply the same (a) in or toward making good the loss and fully repairing all damage in respect whereof such payment shall have been made or (b) to the Time Charterer to reimburse the Time Charterer for amounts paid by the Time Charterer in relation to the repair of the Veessel pursuant to paragraph 2.3 of Schedule XI to the Time Charter: and

 

  (iv) where there is any surplus after the Insurance proceeds have been applied pursuant to this clause 9.5.4(a) in respect of the relevant repairs, such surplus Insurance proceeds shall be paid to the Security Trustee for application in accordance with clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed); and

 

  (v) the application of clause 9.5.4(a)(ii) above is the subject to the Borrower being in compliance with its obligation to maintain loss, of hire insurance in accordance with clause 9.5.2.(d); and

 

  (vi) (iii) as long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived, payment of any other claim shall be made to the Borrower or, as applicable, such other Security Party, who shall apply the same in or towards making good the loss and fully repairing all damage in respect whereof such payment shall have been made and after the occurrence of an Event of Default and whilst it if an Event of Default (other than an Event Default under clause 10.2.1 (Failure to Pay) which has occurred due to the Vessel being off-hire in order for the necessary repair work to be completed), has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived , and following notification by the Security Trustee to the approved brokers, payment of any such claim shall be made to the Security Trustee, and shall be applied in accordance with the relevant provisions clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed;

 

56


  (b) in the case of the Insurances in respect of protection and indemnity risks, be endorsed by way of a loss payable clause to the effect that moneys payable thereunder shall be paid in reimbursement of the assured which has settled the liability to which the relevant claim relates or, if so agreed by the relevant insurers, be paid directly to the person to whom was incurred the liability in respect of which the relevant money was paid unless and until the Security Trustee, following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived, shall direct that they shall be paid to the Security Trustee whereupon they shall be paid to the Security Trustee and shall be applied in accordance with the relevant provisions clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed;

 

  (c) in the case of Insurances in respect of loss of hire be endorsed by way of a loss payable clause to the effect that all moneys payable thereunder shall, be paid to the Borrower, unless and until the Security Trustee, following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived, shall direct that these shall be paid to the Security Trustee whereupon they shall be paid to the Security Trustee and shall be applied in accordance with the relevant provisions clause 6 of the Intercreditor Deed.

 

9.5.5 Renewals

 

  (a) As soon as possible, but in any case not less than fourteen (14) days before the expiry of any of the policies, entries or contracts forming part of the Insurances or if there is a change in the insurers and/or markets through whom the Insurances are placed, the Borrower shall notify the Agent of the names of the brokers (or other insurers) and any protection and indemnity and/or war risks association through or with whom such Insurances are proposed to be renewed and (if any material change is proposed) of the proposed terms and amounts of renewal. The Borrower shall also promptly notify the Agent of any material change in the information notified to the Agent pursuant to this clause 9.5.5 and shall provide the Agent with particulars of such changes. If at any time the terms and amounts on and for which the Insurances are proposed to be renewed or the identity of the broker or war or protection and indemnity risks associations with whom the Insurances are proposed to be renewed are not approved by the Agent, as contemplated by clause 9.5.18, the Agent shall notify the Borrower promptly in writing of the withdrawal of its approval, and the Borrower shall procure that the Insurances are renewed or replaced on terms satisfactory to the Agent (acting reasonably);

 

  (b) Before the expiry of any Insurances the Borrower shall procure that such relevant Insurances are renewed and shall confirm to the Agent that such renewals have been effected or shall procure that such confirmation is given to the Agent before the expiry of any such Insurances; and

 

  (c) Promptly after each such renewal, the Borrower shall procure that the Agent is provided with the details of the terms and conditions and amounts on which and for which such Insurances have been renewed.

 

  (d) If, after renewal and after review by the Agent of the terms and conditions of renewal, the Agent advises the Borrower that the terms and conditions of such Insurances as renewed, do not conform with the requirements of this clause 9.5.5 (which advice shall specify in reasonable detail the particular discrepancies) then, after consultation with the Agent, the Borrower shall ensure that any such discrepancies are corrected promptly.

 

57


9.5.6 Custody of Policy Documents/Loss Payable Clauses

The Borrower shall procure that there shall be deposited with the brokers and/or insurers through which the Insurances are arranged from time to time copies of all slips, cover notes, policies certificates of entry or other instruments of insurance from time to time issued in connection with such of the Insurances referred to in this clause 9.5.6 as are effected through such brokers and/or the war risks and protection and indemnity association approved in accordance with clause 9.5.18 and shall also procure that, in the case of the Insurances referred to in clause 9.5.2(a), the relevant loss payable clause shall be incorporated on the relevant cover note or policy and, in the case of the protection and indemnity Insurances referred to in clause 9.5.2(b), the relevant loss payable clause shall be incorporated on the relevant certificate of entry or policy, and the Borrower shall procure that the Agent shall be furnished with certified copies of the relevant cover note or policy or certificate of entry or policy, duly endorsed.

 

9.5.7 Letters of undertaking

In relation to all Insurances effected from time to time under and in accordance with this clause 9.5.7, the Borrower shall ensure that all brokers and/or insurers and any protection and indemnity or war risks associations in which the Vessel is entered, in each case being approved under clause 9.5.18, provide the Agent with letters of undertaking:

 

  (a) in the case of an approved broker in the form of the L.I.B.C. Recommended Brokers’ Letter of Undertaking of October 1984 or, if such form no longer represents the then current market practice in the insurance market in which the approved broker operates, in such form as the Agent and the Borrower shall agree, having regard to the then current market practice in the insurance market in which the approved broker operates, and any professional association of which that approved broker is a member; and

 

  (b) in the case of a protection and indemnity association, having regard to the current market practice and the practices prescribed by the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Associations or, if the relevant protection and indemnity association is not a member of the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Associations but has otherwise been approved by the Agent in accordance with clause 9.5.18, the current practice of that association (and which will for all purposes provide for notification to the Agent prior to the cancellation of any such entry); and

 

  (c) in the case of a war risks association, having regard to the current market practice in the insurance market in which such association operates.

 

9.5.8 Fleet Cover

If any of the Insurances referred to in clauses 9.5.2(a) and/or 9.5.2(b) form part of a fleet cover, the Borrower will procure that (a) any letter of undertaking referred to in clause 9.5.7 is amended to provide that the relevant brokers shall undertake to the Lender Finance Parties that they shall neither set-off against any claims in respect of the Vessel any premiums due in respect of other vessels under such fleet cover or any premiums due for other insurances, nor cancel the insurance for reason of non-payment of premiums for other vessels under such fleet cover or of premiums for such other insurance or (b) that the applicable policy documents are endorsed to the effect that the applicable insurers shall neither set-off against any claims in respect of the Vessel any premiums due in respect of other vessels under such fleet cover or any premiums due for other insurances, nor cancel the insurance for reason of non-payment of premiums for other vessels under such fleet cover or of premiums for such other insurance or (c) that the Lender Finance Parties receive other comfort that this will not occur or arranges separate policies for the Vessel.

 

9.5.9 No material adverse alteration

The Borrower shall comply with the terms and conditions of the Insurances and shall not do and shall ensure that there is no act or omission which would give rise to a right to cancel any Insurances or render any Insurances, or any policy or policies or certificate or certificates of entry invalid, void, or unenforceable or render any sum paid out under any policy or policies or certificate or certificates of entry or the Insurances evidenced thereby repayable in whole or in part. The Borrower will not make, and shall procure that there is not made, any material alteration to the terms of any of the Insurances without the prior written consent of the Agent.

 

58


9.5.10 Operation outside terms of Insurances

The Borrower will take all steps necessary so that:

 

  (a) the Vessel is not operated in any way inconsistent with the provisions or warranties of or implied in, or in contravention of the cover provided by, any Insurance taken out in accordance with this clause 9.5;

 

  (b) the Vessel is not engaged in any voyage or to carry any cargo not permitted by any Insurance, in each case without first obtaining the consent (if necessary) of the insurers to such operation or engagement and complying with such requirements as to extra premium or otherwise as the insurers may prescribe; or

 

  (c) all requisite certificates of financial responsibility and/or other consents, licences, approvals or Authorisations as may from time to time be required are obtained and maintained if the Vessel is likely to be operating in or into or off-shore from the United States of America.

 

9.5.11 Payment of premiums and calls

The Borrower shall procure that (taking account of any applicable grace period) all premiums, calls, contributions or other sums of money from time to time due in respect of any Insurance are paid punctually and in full.

 

9.5.12 Notification of Total Loss

The Borrower shall procure that the Agent is notified of:

 

  (a) the levy of any distress on the Vessel or its arrest, detention, seizure, condemnation as prize, Compulsory Acquisition or requisition for title or use; and

 

  (b) (save in the case of Compulsory Acquisition or requisition for title or use or any capture, seizure, arrest, detention or confiscation of the Vessel by any government, or by persons acting or purporting to act on behalf of any government) any accident, casualty or other event which has caused or resulted in or is likely to cause or result in the Vessel being or becoming a Total Loss.

 

9.5.13 Settlement of claims

 

  (a) The Borrower shall do all things necessary and provide all documents, evidence and information to enable the Lender Finance Parties to collect or recover any moneys which at any time become due and payable to the Lender Finance Parties or otherwise in respect of the Insurances.

 

  (b) Subject to the Borrower having provided any necessary security in a timely manner so as to prevent the actual or continued arrest of the Vessel and provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Agent agrees that the Borrower shall have the right to settle, compromise or abandon any claim under the Insurances for Total Loss or in respect of claims in excess of the Threshold Amount or to give notice of abandonment of the Vessel to the insurers and/or to claim a constructive Total Loss upon the prior written approval of the Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, the Borrower acknowledging (without limitation) that it shall be reasonable for the Agent to withhold its consent if required to do so pursuant to the Relevant Documents or any of them) but that the Agent itself shall not settle, compromise or abandon any such claim without reference to the Borrower prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default. After the occurrence of any Event of Default while it is continuing unremedied or unwaived, the Security Trustee alone shall have the right to settle, compromise or abandon any claims under the Insurances and/or give notice of abandonment of the Vessel to the insurers and/or claim a constructive Total Loss.

 

59


9.5.14 P & I guarantees

The Borrower shall arrange for the execution and delivery of all guarantees and indemnities as may from time to time be required by the Vessel’s protection and indemnity or war risks association.

 

9.5.15 Additional Insurance

Nothing in this clause 9.5.15 shall prohibit the Borrower from placing additional insurance on the Vessel at its own expense and for its sole benefit provided however that:

 

  (a) such insurance shall not prejudice the Insurances or recovery thereunder or exceed the amount permitted by warranties or other conditions contained in the Insurances without the written consent of the insurers of the Insurances;

 

  (b) where the written consent of the insurers as referred to in clause 9.5.15(a) is required, the Borrower shall procure that there shall be immediately furnished to the Agent a copy of such consent and, in all cases, with particulars of any additional insurance effected including copies of any cover notes or policies and of the written consent of the insurers of the required insurance in any case where such consent is necessary; and

 

  (c) any insurance payments received by the Agent arising solely from additional insurance effected by the Borrower under this clause 9.5.15(a) less amounts due (if any) by the Agent in respect of Taxes in relation to the sums received shall be paid by the Agent to the Borrower promptly after receipt thereof.

 

9.5.16 No Security Interest

The Borrower shall not, and shall procure that no Security Party will, create or permit to exist any security interest over or in respect of the Insurances save for the approved brokers’ or insurers’ right of set off and lien for unpaid premiums to the extent permitted by clause 9.5.8 and the Encumbrances created by the Assignment.

 

9.5.17 Insurance reports and provision of information

 

  (a) The Borrower shall procure that there shall be provided promptly any information reasonably required for the purpose of the Agent obtaining or preparing any report from a reputable international independent marine insurance broker or adviser appointed by the Agent as to the adequacy of the Insurances effected or proposed to be effected, and the Borrower shall, promptly upon demand, indemnify the Agent in respect of reasonable fees incurred by or for the account of the Agent in connection with one such report prepared immediately prior to the Delivery Date and at annual intervals thereafter, but in the case of each annual report only following either any material change to the terms of any of the Insurances or a change in the identity of the approved brokers, the approved protection and indemnity and/or war risks association or the approved insurance companies and/or underwriters.

 

  (b) The Borrower shall also, on the Agent’s request (not more frequently than annually and, in case of a policy period of more than 12 Months, not more than once in each policy period), provide to the Agent and the Security Trustee certified copies of all policy documents and certificates of entry relating to the Insurances which are in the possession of the Borrower, its agents or managers or the approved brokers.

 

9.5.18 Approval process

The Agent’s written approval acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC’s written approval must be obtained in relation to the initial placement of Insurances, particularly with respect to requirements as to amounts and terms of insurance and identity of brokers and the identity and credit standing of the insurers. The Agent’s written approval acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and KEIC’s written approval must also be obtained in relation to any material changes to the amounts and terms of insurance or the identity of the brokers or the identity and credit standing of the insurers on renewal. The Agent will act promptly and will not act unreasonably in relation to giving its approval in relation to these matters.

 

60


9.5.19 Mortgagee’s interest insurance/Mortgagee’s additional perils insurance

Nothing contained in this clause 9.5 shall affect the Security Trustee’s rights to take out mortgagee’s interest insurance, mortgagee’s additional perils insurance and/or contingent liability insurance in relation to the insurances of the Vessel for its own account save that mortgagee’s interest insurance in respect of the Buyer Credit (and taken for the sole benefit of the Buyer Credit only) will be affected at the expense of the Borrower.

 

9.5.20 Insurance review

From time to time during any period of insurance cover the Agent may review the terms of and identity of brokers, insurance companies and underwriters and war risks or protection and indemnity associations through which the Vessel is insured under this clause 9.5.20. Such review shall be made in consultation with the Borrower. After consultation, the Borrower shall implement such modifications as the Agent may reasonably request in order to seek to ensure that such insurances at all times cover all risks which may customarily and generally be covered in transactions similar to that covered by this Agreement and that the terms of such insurances and the identity of brokers, underwriters, insurance companies and associations will continue to be approved by the Agent, as provided for in clause 9.5.18.

 

9.5.21 Insurances effected by the Agent

If the Borrower fails to effect or keep in force the Insurances, the Agent may (but shall not be obliged to) effect and/or keep in force such insurances on the Vessel and such entries in protection and indemnity or war risks associations as the Agent in its discretion considers desirable having regard to the types of insurances that are required pursuant to this clause 9.5, and the Agent may (but shall not be obliged to) pay any unpaid premiums, calls or contributions. The Borrower will reimburse the Agent from time to time on demand for all such premiums, calls or contributions paid by the Agent, together with interest at the Default Rate from the date of payment by the Agent until the date of reimbursement

 

9.5.22 Environmental

The Borrower shall comply strictly with the requirements of any legislation relating to pollution or protection of the environment which may from time to time be applicable to the Vessel in any jurisdiction in which the Vessel shall trade and in particular (if a Vessel is to trade in the United States of America and Exclusive Economic Zone (as defined in the Act)) the Borrower shall comply strictly with the requirements of the United States Oil Pollution Act 1990 (“ the Act ”). Before any such trade is commenced and during the entire period during which such trade is carried on, the Borrower shall:-

 

  (a) pay any additional premiums and satisfy such other conditions required to maintain protection and indemnity cover for oil pollution up to the limit available to the Borrower for the Vessel in the market; and

 

  (b) make all such quarterly or other voyage declarations as may from time to time be required by the Vessel’s protection and indemnity association in order to maintain such cover; and

 

  (c) in addition to the foregoing (if such trade is in the United States of America and Exclusive Economic Zone):

 

  (i) obtain and retain a certificate of financial responsibility under the Act in form and substance satisfactory to the United States Coast Guard and upon request provide the Agent with a copy; and

 

61


  (ii) procure that the protection and indemnity insurances do not contain a US Trading Exclusion Clause or any other provision analogous thereto and upon request provide the Agent with evidence that this is so; and

 

  (iii) comply strictly with any operational or structural regulations issued from time to time by any relevant authorities under the Act so that at all times the Vessel falls within the provisions which limit strict liability under the Act for oil pollution.

 

9.6 Operation and Maintenance

 

9.6.1 General

The Borrower undertakes in favour of the Lender Finance Parties to comply with the following provisions at all times during the Facility Period until such time as the Vessel is sold except as the Agent may otherwise permit in writing.

 

9.6.2 Supply and crewing

Throughout the Facility Period the Borrower shall procure that the Vessel is manned, victualled, navigated, operated, supplied, fuelled, maintained and repaired, all at no cost to the Agent.

 

9.6.3 Condition of the Vessel

The Borrower shall procure that the Vessel and every part thereof is kept in a good and safe condition and state of repair, ordinary wear and tear excepted and shall ensure that all repairs to the Vessel or replacements of lost, damaged or worn parts and equipment in respect of the Vessel, are effected in such a manner so as not to diminish the value of the Vessel and in any event:

 

  (a) consistent with first-class ship ownership, operation and management standards in relation to ships of the Vessel’s age and type;

 

  (b) so as to maintain the Vessel’s present class, namely 1+HULL+MACH+Liquefied gas carrier/LNG, Shiptype 2G (-163°C, 500 kg/m3., 0.25 bar unrestricted navigation + VeriSTAR-HULL, + AUT-UMS,+SYS-NEQ-1,+MON-SHAFT, INWATERSURVEY, with the American Bureau of Shipping or the equivalent with another Classification Society approved by the Majority Lenders in writing and in each case free from any overdue recommendations and conditions affecting the Vessel’s class; and

 

  (c) so as to comply with the material provisions of all laws and regulations applicable to the Vessel, including, without limitation, Environmental Law and Environmental Approval, and to maintain all certificates, licences and permits applicable to vessels registered in the state of registration for the time being of the Vessel and to vessels trading to any jurisdiction to which the Vessel may trade from time to time in any such case.

 

9.6.4 Master, officers and crew

The Master, officers and crew of the Vessel shall be the servants of the Borrower for all purposes whatsoever. The Borrower shall ensure that the wages and allotments and the insurance and pension contributions as appropriate of the Master, officers and crew shall be paid when due and all deductions from their wages in respect of tax liability shall be properly accounted for and the Master shall have no valid claim for disbursements other than those incurred by him in the ordinary course of trading of the Vessel.

 

62


9.6.5 Modifications

The Borrower shall procure that no modification is made to the Vessel, unless such modification is required to be made by the Borrower pursuant to clause 5.1 of the Time Charter or is otherwise required under applicable Law or by the Classification Society, which would:

 

  (a) materially and adversely alter the structure, type or performance characteristics of the Vessel; or

 

  (b) reduce the value of the Vessel,

and the Borrower shall notify the Agent of any modifications which are made to the Vessel the cost of which exceeds or will when completed exceed two million Dollars ($2,000,000).

 

9.6.6 Surveys

The Borrower shall procure that the Vessel is submitted to such periodical or other surveys as may be required by the Flag State or for classification purposes and shall comply with all conditions and recommendations affecting the Vessel’s class of the relevant Classification Society of the Vessel from time to time in accordance with their terms unless waived and the Borrower shall supply copies of any survey reports to the Agent upon request from the Agent.

 

9.6.7 Drydocking

The Borrower shall procure that the Vessel is drydocked as often as may be required to ensure that the Vessel maintains its Classification with its relevant Classification Society and otherwise in accordance with good commercial practice. If the Borrower fails to comply with the requirements of the relevant Classification Society, the Agent may inspect the Vessel in accordance with clause 9.6.12. If requested by the Agent, the Borrower shall give the Agent reasonable prior written notice of any intended drydocking of the Vessel.

 

9.6.8 Release from arrest

The Borrower shall promptly pay and discharge all debts, damages, liabilities and outgoings whatsoever which have given or which may reasonably be expected to give rise to maritime, statutory or possessory liens on, or claims enforceable against, the Vessel or the Insurances or any part thereof. If at any time during the Facility Period any writ or equivalent claim or pleading in admiralty is filed against the Vessel or the Insurances or any part thereof, or the Vessel or the Insurances or any part thereof is arrested or detained or attached or levied upon pursuant to legal process or purported legal process or in the event of the detention of the Vessel in the exercise or the purported exercise of any such lien or claim as aforesaid (other than by reason of a Compulsory Acquisition), the Borrower shall procure the release of the Vessel and the Insurances from such arrest, detention, attachment or levy or, as the case may be, the discharge of the writ or equivalent claim or pleading in admiralty as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within fourteen (14) days (or such longer period as the Agent may agree acting reasonably) of receiving notice thereof by providing bail or procuring the provision of security or otherwise as circumstances may require.

 

9.6.9 Manuals and technical records

The Borrower shall procure that:

 

  (a) all such records, logs, manuals, technical data and other materials and documents which are required to be maintained in respect of the Vessel to comply with any applicable laws or the requirements of the Flag State and Classification Society are maintained;

 

  (b) accurate, complete and up-to-date logs and records of all voyages made by the Vessel and of all maintenance, repairs, alterations, modifications and additions to the Vessel are kept in accordance with good industry practice; and

 

63


  (c) following the occurrence of an Event of Default and for as long as it is continuing unremedied or unwaived on reasonable advance notice from the Agent, the Agent or its representatives is permitted at any time to examine and take copies of such logs and records and other records.

 

9.6.10 Vessel’s Software

 

  (a) The Borrower shall obtain and maintain and procure that there are obtained and maintained all licenses and permits (without liability on the part of the Agent for the payment of any royalties as may be required from time to time in respect of the computer software which is required for the operation of the Vessel, including, but not limited to, navigation software) and shall procure that all such licenses and permits are granted without any limitation or expiry (or are renewed prior to any such expiry).

 

  (b) The Borrower shall use its best endeavors to extend to the Security Trustee the benefit of all software licenses and permits in respect of the Vessel which are available to the Borrower.

 

9.6.11 Manager

Other than the Manager, and subject to clause 9.2.18 above, the Borrower shall procure that no commercial or technical manager or construction supervisor of the Vessel is appointed without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and KEIC, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and the Borrower shall ensure that the Vessel is at all times under such commercial and technical management.

 

9.6.12 Inspection

The Borrower shall ensure that the Agent, its surveyors or other persons appointed by it will be permitted to inspect the Vessel (provided that, if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived, the Agent may not inspect the Vessel more than once annually), upon reasonable notice and without interfering with the Vessel’s operation. Such inspections shall be without cost or risk to the Borrower unless an inspection made after the occurrence of an Event of Default that is continuing unremedied or unwaived, in which case the inspections shall be at the cost of the Borrower and the risk of the Agent.

 

9.6.13 Notification of certain events

The Borrower shall, immediately upon the same coming to its attention and to the best of its then current knowledge, notify the Agent by electronic mail of:

 

  (a) any casualty or damage in respect of the Vessel which is or is likely to give rise to a loss or cost or repairs of two million Dollars ($2,000,000) or more;

 

  (b) any occurrence as a result of which the Vessel has become or is, by the passing of time or otherwise, likely to become a Total Loss;

 

  (c) any requirement or recommendation made by any insurer or Classification Society or by any competent authority which is not complied with within any applicable time period for compliance stipulated by such authority;

 

  (d) any arrest or detention of the Vessel, any exercise or purported exercise of any lien on the Vessel or its Earnings or any requisition of the Vessel for hire;

 

  (e) any Environmental Claim made against the Agent of which it is or becomes aware or in connection with the Vessel, or any Environmental Incident or Environmental Claim in an amount in excess of one million Dollars ($1,000,000) or the Dollar Equivalent (in the case of a claim in any other currency) made against the Borrower, any other Security Party or the Time Charterer in connection with the Vessel;

 

64


  (f) any claim for breach of the ISM Code or the ISPS Code being made against the Borrower, any other Security Party or the Time Charterer in connection with the Vessel;

 

  (g) any other matter, event or incident which will or is reasonably likely to lead to the ISM Code or the ISPS Code not being complied with;

 

  (h) any claims made in connection with a bodily injury to a third party involving amounts in excess of an amount of one million Dollars ($1,000,000) or the Dollar Equivalent (in the case of a claim in any other currency);

 

  (i) any requisition of the Vessel for hire;

 

  (j) any security interest (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) arising over the Vessel or the Insurances or Requisition Compensation; and

 

  (k) any other event in respect of the Vessel or the Insurances or Requisition Compensation which could reasonably be expected to involve the Agent in any loss or liability,

and the Borrower shall keep the Agent advised in writing on a regular basis and in such reasonable detail as the Agent shall require in respect of those events or matters and/or of the response to any of those events or matters by the Borrower or the applicable Security Party, the Time Charterer or any other person.

 

9.6.14 Restrictions on chartering or parting with possession

The Borrower shall not, without the prior written consent of the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably, and without unreasonable delay):

 

  (a) let or otherwise charter the Vessel to any other party or allow the Vessel to be used by or available to any other party, except pursuant to the Time Charter or except as required by the Time Charterer under the Time Charter;

 

  (b) make any amendment to the Time Charter (other than as permitted under clause 9.1.15(b)), or waive any material provision of such Time Charter, or terminate such Time Charter;

 

  (c) put the Vessel into the possession of any person for the purpose of work being done upon it in an amount exceeding or likely to exceed two million Dollars ($2,000,000) or the equivalent in any other currency (in the case of a claim in any other currency) unless either:

 

  (i) the cost of such work is covered by Insurances; or

 

  (ii) the Borrower establishes to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent that it has sufficient funds to pay for the cost of such work.

Provided always that this clause 9.6.14(c) shall not apply in respect of the regularly scheduled dry docking of the Vessel for which the Borrower has reserved amounts in accordance with clause 8.2.

 

9.6.15 Additional Vessel Covenants

The Borrower further covenants with the Agent in respect of the Vessel:-

 

  (a) at and from the Delivery Date to effect and maintain registration of the Mortgage at the Vessel’s Vessel Registry; and not cause nor permit to be done any act or omission as a result of which that registration or the registration set out in clause 9.1.23 above might be defeated or imperilled; and

 

65


  (b) in the event of any requisition or seizure of the Vessel, to take all lawful steps to recover possession of the Vessel as soon as it is entitled to do so; and

 

  (c) to give to the Agent from time to time during the Facility Period on request such information as the Agent may reasonably require with regard to the Vessel’s employment, position and state of repair; and

 

  (d) not during hostilities (whether or not a state of war shall formally have been declared and including, without limitation, any civil war) to permit the Vessel to be employed in carrying any goods which may be declared to be contraband of war or which may render that Vessel liable to confiscation, seizure, detention or destruction, nor to permit the Vessel to enter any area which is declared a war zone by any governmental authority or by the Vessel’s insurers unless the Borrower has effected at its own expense such additional insurances as shall be necessary or customary for first class ship owners. The Borrower shall promptly notify the Agent thereof and, if required by the Agent, specifically assign those insurances to the Security Trustee by such documents as the Agent, acting reasonably, may require; and

 

  (e) not without the prior written consent of the Agent to enter into any agreement or arrangement for sharing the Earnings; and

 

  (f) to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any infringements of any anti drug legislation in any jurisdiction in which the Vessel shall trade and in particular (if the Vessel is to trade in the United States of America) to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any infringements of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 of the United States of America and for this purpose, if required, to enter into a “Carrier Initiative Agreement” with the United States’ Customs Service and to procure that the same or a similar agreement is maintained in full force and effect and that the Borrower’s obligations thereunder are performed in respect of the Vessel.

 

10 Events of Default

 

10.1 The Agent’s rights

If any of the events set out in clause 10.2 occurs, the Agent may at its discretion (and, on the instructions of the Majority Lenders, will):

 

10.1.1 by notice to the Borrower declare the Lenders to be under no further obligation to the Borrower under or pursuant to this Agreement and may (and, on the instructions of the Majority Lenders, will) declare all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness (including such unpaid interest and Commitment Fees as shall have accrued and any Break Costs incurred by the Lender Finance Parties) to be immediately payable, whereupon the Lender Indebtedness (or the part of the Lender Indebtedness referred to in the Agent’s notice) shall immediately become due and payable without any further demand or notice of any kind; and/or

 

10.1.2 declare that any undrawn portion of the Loan shall be cancelled, whereupon the same shall be cancelled and the corresponding Commitment of each Lender shall be reduced to zero; and/or

 

10.1.3 exercise any rights and remedies in existence or arising under the Security Documents.

 

10.2 Events of Default

The events referred to in clause 10.1 are:-

 

10.2.1 Failure to Pay : any Security Party fails to pay any amount payable by it under this Agreement or any of the Security Documents at the time, in the currency and otherwise in the manner specified herein or therein (and so that, for this purpose, sums payable on demand unscheduled amounts shall be treated as having been paid at the stipulated time if paid within five (5) days of demand) unless in respect of scheduled payments the Borrower demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Agent that such failure has occurred by reason solely of banking error and such sum remains unpaid for no longer than five (5) days after the date on which it receives notice from the Agent of such failure; or

 

66


10.2.2 if any of the Borrower, the Sponsors or the Borrower Shareholders fails to pay when due any amount payable by it under any of the Project Documents to which it is a party at any time, in the currency and otherwise in the manner specified therein subject to expiry of any applicable grace periods specified therein and if such failure in the reasonable opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) has or may be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

10.2.3 Insurances: any of the Insurances required to be placed and maintained in respect of the Vessel in accordance with clause 9.5 are not so placed and/or maintained or if at any time any of the Insurances either:

 

  (a) lapse before the time of scheduled renewal without being renewed in accordance with clause 9.5; or

 

  (b) are not renewed at the time of scheduled renewal in accordance with the requirements of clause 9.5; or

 

  (c) are cancelled or rendered invalid, void or unenforceable,

 

     any sums recovered under any of the Insurances for the Vessel are or become repayable in whole or in part and an equivalent amount is not paid by the Borrower within 2 Business Days; or

 

10.2.4 Misrepresentation: any representation or statement made by any Security Party in favour of a Lender Finance Party in this Agreement or any Security Document to which it is a party or, in each case, in any notice or other document, certificate or statement delivered by it pursuant thereto or in connection therewith is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made and in each case where the incorrectness is in the opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) remediable and the relevant Security Party shall have failed to remedy it within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the relevant Security Party of a written notice from the Agent of such failure (or such longer period as the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) may specify or agree); or

 

10.2.5 Specific Covenants: the Borrower fails duly to perform or comply with any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by or procured by it under clauses 9.1.4, 9.1.15, 9.1.15(a), 9.1.15(b)(i), 9,1.l5(b)(ii) 9.1.18, 9.1.19 , 9.1.19, 9.2.17, 9.4.7, 9.4.8, 9.4.9 or 9.4.10 at any time; or

 

10.2.6 Other Obligations: (a) a Security Party fails duly to perform or comply with any other term or condition of any other Security Document to which it is a party (other than those referred to in clauses 10.2.1, 10.2.2, 10.2.4, 10.2.5, 10.2.23, 10.2.24 or 10.2.25) and such failure is not remedied within fifteen (15) days after the Agent has given written notice thereof to the relevant Security Party (or such longer period as the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) may specify or agree) or (b) any Security Party fails duly to perform or comply with any other term or condition of any Project Document to which it is a party subject to expiry of any applicable grace period therein and if the failure to perform in the reasonable opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) has or may be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

10.2.7 Cross-Default: any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower in an amount greater than two hundred and fifty thousand Dollars ($250,000) is not paid when due or becomes (whether by declaration or automatically in accordance with the relevant agreement or instrument constituting the same and following expiry of any applicable grace period for payment thereof) due and payable prior to the date when it would otherwise have become due (unless as a result of the exercise by the Borrower of a voluntary right of prepayment), or any creditor of the Borrower becomes entitled to declare any such Financial Indebtedness due and payable or any facility or commitment available to the Borrower relating to such Financial Indebtedness is withdrawn, suspended or cancelled by reason of any default (however described) of the Borrower concerned; or

 

67


10.2.8 Litigation: any litigation, arbitration or administrative action or proceeding is commenced against any Security Party or , prior to Delivery, the Builder or the Refund Guarantor or any of their its property, undertakings or assets before any court, arbitrator or administrative agency or authority which, if adversely determined, would have in the reasonable opinion of the Agent a Material Adverse Effect unless:

 

  (a) the relevant Security Party demonstrates in writing to the Agent (who shall act reasonably in considering such matters) to the Agent’s satisfaction, that such litigation, arbitration or administrative action or proceeding is or may reasonably be considered to be vexatious or frivolous; or

 

  (b) it is dismissed or irrevocably stayed within thirty (30) days of commencement;

 

10.2.9 Legal process:

 

  (a) any final judgment or order greater than two hundred and fifty thousand Dollars ($250,000) made against the Borrower is not stayed or complied with within twenty (20) Business Days or a creditor attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or other process is levied or enforced upon or sued out against, all or a substantial part of (in the reasonable opinion of the Agent) the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues of the Borrower and is not discharged within twenty (20) Business Days; or

 

  (b) any final judgment or order made against any Security Party (other than the Borrower and (following the Delivery Date) the Supervisor) is not stayed or complied with within twenty (20) Business Days or a creditor attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or other process is levied or enforced upon or sued out against, all or substantially all of (in the reasonable opinion of the Agent) the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues of any Security Party (other than the Borrower and (following the Delivery Date) the Supervisor) and is not discharged within twenty (20) Business Days and, in each such case above, the event described above has or might reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

10.2.10 Insolvency: any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due; suspends making payments on any of its debts or announces an intention to do so; becomes insolvent; has assets the value of which is less than the value of its liabilities; or suffers the declaration of a moratorium in respect of any of its indebtedness; or

 

10.2.11 Reduction or loss of capital: a meeting is convened by any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) for the purpose of passing any resolution to purchase, reduce or redeem any of its share capital (other than a stock buy-back of any Sponsor); or

 

10.2.12 Winding up: any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken for the purpose of winding up any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or an order is made or resolution passed for the winding up of any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or a notice is issued convening a meeting for the purpose of passing any such resolution, provided however that, in the case only of an order for winding-up, the occurrence of such event shall not constitute an Event of Default if such winding-up has commenced as part of a process of a fully-solvent reorganisation, previously approved by the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and which shall not have a Material Adverse Effect, provided further that the Agent shall not have the right to approve a fully-solvent reorganisation of any of the Sponsors, the Borrower Shareholders, the Manager or the Sub-Manager; or

 

68


10.2.13 Administration: any petition is presented, notice given or other step is taken for the purpose of the appointment of an administrator of any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or an administration order is made in relation to any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only); or

 

10.2.14 Appointment of receivers and managers: any administrative or other receiver is appointed of any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or any part of its assets and/or undertaking or any other steps are taken to enforce any Encumbrance over all or any part of the assets of any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only); or

 

10.2.15 Compositions: any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedures or steps are taken, or negotiations commenced, by any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) or by any of its creditors with a view to the general readjustment or rescheduling of all or a material part of its indebtedness or to proposing any kind of composition, compromise or arrangement involving such company and any of its creditors; or

 

10.2.16 Analogous proceedings: there occurs, in relation to any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) in any country or territory in which any of them carries on business or to the jurisdiction of whose courts any part of their assets is subject, any event which, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent, appears in that country or territory to correspond with, or have an effect equivalent or similar to, any of those mentioned in clauses 10.2.9 to 10.2.15 (inclusive) (other than clause 10.2.10) or any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) otherwise becomes subject, in any such country or territory, to the operation of any law relating to insolvency, bankruptcy or liquidation; or

 

10.2.17 Environmental Incidents: there is an Environmental Incident which gives rise, or may be likely to give rise, to Environmental Claims which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

10.2.18 Repudiation: any Security Party repudiates any Security Document or Project Document to which it is a party or does or causes to be done any act or thing evidencing an intention to repudiate any such Security Document or the Project Document, or if the validity or enforceability of any of the Security Documents and the Project Documents shall at any time and for any reason be contested by any Security Party which is a party thereto, or if any such Security Party shall deny that it has any, or any further, liability thereunder; or

 

10.2.19 Cessation of business: any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) suspends or ceases (or, in the case of the Borrower, any of the Borrower Shareholders and/or any of the Sponsors threatens to suspend or cease) to carry on its business (or, in the case of the Sponsors a substantial part of its business where the suspension or cessation of such substantial part of its business has or might have a Material Adverse Effect) except (in the case of the Security Parties (which shall not for this purpose include the Borrower for the purposes of and followed by a reconstruction, amalgamation, reorganisation, merger or consolidation which shall be undertaken and concluded in such manner as in the reasonable opinion of the Agent will enable such Security Party to perform its obligations pursuant to the Security Documents or Project Documents to which it is a party; or

 

10.2.20 Seizure: all or a material part of the undertaking, assets, rights or revenues of, or shares or other ownership interests in, any Security Party (including the Supervisor prior to the Delivery Date only) are seized, nationalised, expropriated or compulsorily acquired by or under the authority of any government; or

 

10.2.21 Encumbrances enforceable: any Encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrance) in respect of any of the property which is the subject of any of the Security Documents becomes enforceable; or

 

10.2.22 Challenge to Registration: if the registration of the Vessel or the Mortgage becomes void or voidable or subject to cancellation or termination; or

 

69


10.2.23 Swap Agreements: (a) an Event of Default (in each case as defined in any of the Swap Agreements) on the part of the Borrower has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived under any of the Swap Agreements or (b) an Early Termination Date (as defined in any of the Swap Agreements) has occurred or been or become capable of being effectively designated under any of the Swap Agreements or (c) a person entitled to do so gives notice of an Early Termination Date under any of the Swap Agreements or (d) any of the Swap Agreements is terminated, cancelled, suspended, rescinded or revoked or otherwise ceases to remain in full force and effect for any reason; or

 

10.2.24 Material Events: save (in respect of the security interests created by any of the Security Documents) where the Borrower has taken such action as the Agent requires pursuant to clause 9.1.12 (Further Assurance) to adequately protect the security interests created by the Security Documents, any other event occurs or circumstance arises which materially and adversely affects the security interests created by any of the Security Documents or the Refund Guarantee unless the relevant Security Document(s) and/or the Refund Guarantee is replaced or amended to the satisfaction of the Agent forthwith in the case of this Agreement, the Mortgage, the Refund Guarantee and the Deed of Covenants or within 21 days in the case of the other Security Documents; or

 

10.2.25 KEIC Buyer Credit Policy: The obligation of KEIC under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy shall terminate, become unenforceable or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect as a result of the acts or omissions of the Borrower.

 

10.3 Replacement of Manager or Supervisor:

 

     notwithstanding any other provision of the Security Documents, no action or omission by or other matter relating to the Manager or the Supervisor shall result in a misrepresentation, breach of warranty, breach of undertaking, Potential Event of Default or Event of Default hereunder if:

 

  (a) such misrepresentation, breach of warranty, breach of undertaking, Potential Event of Default or Event of Default is cured or waived; or

 

  (b) subject to clause 9.2.18 the Manager or Supervisor is replaced by another person reasonably acceptable to the Agent,

 

     in either case within 30 days of the date upon which such action, omission or matter would otherwise have been a misrepresentation, breach, Potential Event of Default or Event of Default and if the Manager or Supervisor is replaced as set out above they shall be replaced on similar terms to the Management Agreement or Supervision Agreement as appropriate subject always to any misrepresentation, breach, Potential Event of Default or Event of Default being remedied within a reasonable period by such replacement.

 

11 Set-Off and Lien

 

11.1 Set-off

 

11.1.1 The Borrower irrevocably authorises each of the Lender Finance Parties at any time after all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness shall have become due and payable to set off any liability of the Borrower to any of the Lender Finance Parties (whether present or future, actual or contingent, and irrespective of the branch or office, currency or place of payment) against any credit balance from time to time standing on any account of the Borrower (whether current or otherwise and whether or not subject to notice) with any branch of any of the Lender Finance Parties in or towards satisfaction of the Lender Indebtedness and, in the name of that Lender Finance Party or the Borrower, to do all acts (including, without limitation, converting or exchanging any currency) and execute all documents which may be required to effect such application. The relevant Lender Finance Party will notify the Borrower forthwith upon the exercise or purported exercise of any rights under this clause 11.1.

 

70


11.1.2 For such purposes, each Lender Finance Party is authorised to purchase with the moneys standing to the credit of such account such other currencies as may be necessary to effect such application. No Lender Finance Party shall be obliged to exercise any right given to it by this clause 11.1. The Lender Finance Party shall notify the Borrower forthwith upon the exercise or purported exercise of any right of set-off giving full details in relation thereto.

 

11.1.3 Without prejudice to their rights hereunder and/or under any of the Swap Agreements, the Swap Providers may at the same time as, or at any time after, any Event of Default under this Agreement or the Borrower’s default under any of the Swap Agreements set-off any amount due now or in the future from the Borrower to the Swap Providers under this Agreement against any amount due from the Swap Providers to the Borrower under any of the Swap Agreements and apply the first amount in discharging the second amount. The effect of any set-off under this clause 11.1.3 shall be effective to extinguish or, as the case may require, reduce the liabilities of the Swap Providers under any of the Swap Agreements.

 

11.2 Lien

 

       If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, unremedied or unwaived, each Lender Finance Party shall have a lien on and be entitled to retain and realise as additional security for the repayment of the Lender Indebtedness any cheques, drafts, bills, notes or negotiable or non-negotiable instruments and any stocks, shares or marketable or other securities and property of any kind of the Borrower (or of that Lender Finance Party as agent or nominee of the Borrower) from time to time held by that Lender Finance Party, whether for safe custody or otherwise.

 

11.3 Restrictions on withdrawal

 

     Despite any term to the contrary in relation to any deposit or credit balance at any time on any account of the Borrower with any of the Lender Finance Parties, no such deposit or balance shall be repayable or capable of being assigned, mortgaged, charged or otherwise disposed of or dealt with by the Borrower in question after an Event of Default has occurred and while such Event of Default is continuing unremedied or unwaived, but any Lender Finance Party may from time to time permit the withdrawal of all or any part of any such deposit or balance without affecting the continued application of this clause. Provided always that this clause 11.3 shall not apply to the Distribution Account or any credit balance therein.

 

12 Assignment and Transfer

 

12.1 Right to assign

 

12.1.1 Subject to clause 12.9, each of the Lenders may (a) assign or transfer all or any of its rights and/or obligations under or pursuant to the Security Documents or (b) assign or transfer all or any part of its Commitment any such part being at least US $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of US $1,000,000, (i) to any other branch or Affiliate of that Lender (provided that such Affiliate shall have the same or a better credit rating than the Lender making the assignment or transfer) to another Lender or (ii) above with the prior written consent of the Agent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and the Borrower (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and shall not be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived) to any other bank or financial institution provided that in relation to any transfer or any assignment under this clause 12.1:

 

  (i) any transferee under this clause 12.1(a) shall assume all of the relevant Lender’s obligations;

 

  (ii) the Borrower shall not be liable to pay any costs, charges or expenses of or in connection with the implementation of completion of the assignment or transfer;

 

  (iii) the Borrower shall not, as at the time of any such assignment or transfer, be liable to pay any additional or increased amounts or taxes or suffer a reduction in any amounts receivable by it under this Agreement for which it would not have been liable or would not have suffered but for such assignment or transfer having then taken place; and

 

71


  (iv) the relevant Lender shall give the Borrower five (5) Business Days prior written notice of any intended transfer of obligations.

 

12.1.2 Each of the Lenders may, without being restricted or otherwise being bound by clause 12.1.1, assign or transfer all or any part of its rights under or pursuant to this Agreement and/or any of the other Security Documents to KEIC following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived or otherwise if required to do so by KEIC pursuant to the terms of the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy provided that KEIC pays first the insurance proceeds in accordance with the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy.

 

12.2 Borrower’s co-operation

 

     The Borrower will, at no cost to the Borrower, co-operate fully and will procure that the other Security Parties co-operate fully with the Lender Finance Parties in connection with any assignment or transfer pursuant to clause 12.1; will execute and procure the execution of such documents as the Lender Finance Parties may reasonably require in connection therewith; and irrevocably authorise each of the Lender Finance Parties to disclose to any proposed assignee or transferee (whether before or after any assignment or transfer and whether or not any assignment or transfer shall take place) all information relating to the Security Parties, the Time Charterer, the Loan or the Relevant Documents which each such Lender Finance Party may in its discretion consider necessary to implement such assignment or transfer (subject to any duties of confidentiality applicable to the Borrower and/or Lender Finance Parties).

 

12.3 Rights of assignee

 

     Any assignee or transferee of a Lender shall (unless limited by the express terms of the assignment or transfer) take the full benefit of every provision of the Security Documents benefiting that Lender. Such transfer shall not directly result in an increased cost to, or liability of, the Borrower at the time of transfer.

 

12.4 Transfer Certificates

 

    

If any Lender wishes to transfer all or any of its Commitment as contemplated in clause 12.1 then such transfer may be effected by the delivery to the Agent of a duly completed and duly executed Transfer Certificate in which event, on the later of the Transfer Date specified in such Transfer Certificate and the fifth (5 th ) Business Day after the date of delivery of such Transfer Certificate to the Agent:

 

12.4.1 to the extent that in such Transfer Certificate the Lender which is a party thereto seeks to transfer its Commitment in whole, the Borrower and such Lender shall be released from further obligations towards each other under this Agreement and their respective rights against each other shall be cancelled other than existing claims against such Lender for breach of this Agreement (such rights, benefits and obligations being referred to in this clause 12.4 as “discharged rights and obligations”);

 

12.4.2 the Borrower and the Transferee which is a party thereto shall assume obligations towards each other and/or acquire rights against each other which differ from such discharged rights and obligations only insofar as the Borrower and such Transferee have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of the Borrower and such Lender;

 

12.4.3 the Lender Finance Parties and the Transferee shall acquire the same rights and benefits and assume the same obligations between themselves as they would have acquired and assumed had such Transferee been an original party to this Agreement as a Lender with the rights, benefits and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of such transfer; and

 

12.4.4 as between the Agent and the Transferee, the Transferee shall pay to the Agent a transfer fee of three thousand Dollars ($3,000).

 

72


12.5 Power of Attorney

 

     In order to give effect to each Transfer Certificate the Lender Finance Parties and the Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally appoint the Agent as its true and lawful attorney with full power to execute on their respective behalves each Transfer Certificate delivered to the Agent pursuant to clause 12.4 without the Agent being under any obligation before doing so to take any further instructions from or give any prior notice to, any of the Lender Finance Parties or, subject to the Borrower’s rights under clause 12.1, the Borrower. The Agent shall so execute each such Transfer Certificate on behalf of the other Lender Finance Parties and the Borrower immediately on receipt of the same by the Agent pursuant to clause 12.4.

 

12.6 Notification

 

     The Agent shall promptly notify the other Lender Finance Parties, the Transferee and the Borrower on the execution by it of any Transfer Certificate together with details of the amount transferred, the Transfer Date and the parties to such transfer.

 

12.7 No Assignment or transfer by the Borrower

 

     The Borrower may not assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Security Documents without the prior written consent of the Lenders and KEIC.

 

12.8 KEIC Buyer Credit Policy

 

     Not withstanding any provisions to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event KEIC pays the insurance proceeds in full or in part in accordance with the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy, (i) the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement shall not be reduced or affected in any manner, (ii) KEIC shall be entitled to exercise the rights of the Lenders in accordance with clause 9.2 of the Intercreditor Deed, (iii) the provisions of clause 9.1 of the Intercreditor Deed shall apply and (iv) with respect to the obligations of the Borrower owed to the Agent, the Security Trustee and/or the Lenders under the Security Documents (or any of them) such obligations shall additionally be owed to KEIC to the extent of its interest by way of subrogation of the rights of the Lenders.

 

12.9 KEIC Consent

 

     A Lender may not assign or transfer its portion of the Buyer Credit or any part thereof without the consent of KEIC (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

13 Payments, Reserve Requirements and Illegality

 

13.1 Payments

 

     All amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to any of the Security Documents shall be paid to such accounts at such banks as the Agent may from time to time direct to the Borrower and shall be paid in Dollars in same day funds (or such funds as are required by the authorities in the United States of America for settlement of international payments for immediate value). Payments shall be deemed to have been received by the Agent on the date on which the Agent receives authenticated advice of receipt, unless that advice is received by the Agent on a day other than a Business Day or at a time of day (whether on a Business Day or not) when the Agent in its reasonable discretion considers that it is impossible or impracticable for the Agent to utilise the amount received for value that same day, in which event the payment in question shall be deemed to have been received by the Agent on the Business Day next following the date of receipt of advice by the Agent.

 

13.2 No deductions or withholdings

 

     All payments (whether of principal or interest or otherwise) to be made by the Borrower to the Lender Finance Parties pursuant to the Security Documents shall, subject only to clause 13.3, be made free and clear of and without deduction for or on account of any Taxes or other deductions, withholdings, restrictions, conditions or counterclaims of any nature, and the Borrower will not claim any equity in respect of any payment due from them to the Lender Finance Parties under or in relation to any of the Security Documents.

 

73


13.3 Grossing-up

 

13.3.1 If at any time any law requires (or is interpreted by any relevant fiscal authority to require) the Borrower to make any deduction or withholding from any payment, or to change the rate or manner in which any required deduction or withholding is made, the Borrower will promptly notify the Agent and, simultaneously with making that payment, will pay to the Agent whatever additional amount (after taking into account any additional Taxes on, or deductions or withholdings from, or restrictions or conditions on, that additional amount) is necessary to ensure that, after making the deduction or withholding, the Agent and the Lenders receive a net sum equal to the sum which they would have received had no deduction or withholding been made.

 

13.3.2 If following the making of any such increased payment by the Borrower pursuant to clause 13.3.1, the Agent or any Lender determines that:

 

  (a) a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of any Tax (a “ Tax Credit ”) is attributable to any deduction or withholding or increased payment made by the Borrower; and

 

  (b) it has obtained, utilised and retained that Tax Credit,

 

     the Agent or Lender (as appropriate) shall pay an amount to the Borrower which the Agent or the Lender (as appropriate) determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been had the deduction or withholding or additional payment not been required to be made.

 

13.4 Evidence of deductions

 

     If at any time the Borrower is required by law to make any deduction or withholding from any payment to be made by it to the Lender Finance Parties pursuant to any of the Security Documents, the Borrower will pay the amount required to be deducted or withheld to the relevant authority within the time allowed under the applicable law and will, no later than thirty (30) days after making that payment, deliver to the Agent an original receipt issued by the relevant authority, or other evidence reasonably acceptable to the Agent, evidencing the payment to that authority of all amounts required to be deducted or withheld. If the Borrower makes any deduction or withholding from any payment to the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to any of the Security Documents, and a Lender subsequently receives a refund or allowance from any tax authority which that Lender at its sole discretion (acting reasonably and in good faith) identifies as being referable to that deduction or withholding, that Lender shall within five (5) Business Days of receipt of the same, pay to the Borrower an amount equal to the amount of the refund or allowance received, if and to the extent that it may do so without prejudicing its right to retain that refund or allowance and without putting itself in any worse financial position than that in which it would have been had the deduction or withholding not been required to have been made. Nothing in this clause 13.4 shall be interpreted as imposing any obligation on any Lender to apply for any refund or allowance nor as restricting in any way the manner in which any Lender organises its tax affairs, nor as imposing on any Lender any obligation to disclose to the Borrower any information regarding its tax affairs or tax computations. All costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in obtaining or seeking to obtain a refund or allowance from any tax authority pursuant to this clause 13.4 shall be for the Borrower’s account.

 

13.5 Adjustment of due dates

 

     If any payment to be made to the Lender Finance Parties under any of the Security Documents, other than a payment of interest on the Loan (to which clause 6.7 applies), shall be due on a day which is not a Business Day, that payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day (unless the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar Month in which event the payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day). Any such variation of time shall be taken into account in computing any interest in respect of that payment.

 

74


13.6 Change in law

 

     If, by reason of the introduction of any law, or any change in any law, or the interpretation by the relevant fiscal authority or administration of any law, or in compliance with any request or requirement from any central bank or any fiscal, monetary or other authority:-

 

13.6.1 any Lender Finance Party (or the Holding Company of any Lender Finance Party) shall be subject to any Tax with respect to payments of all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness; or

 

13.6.2 the basis of Taxation of payments to any Lender Finance Party in respect of all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness shall be changed (other than as a result of any change in the applicable tax rate in the jurisdiction in which its lending office is based); or

 

13.6.3 any reserve requirements shall be imposed, modified or deemed applicable against assets held by or deposits in or for the account of or loans by any branch of any Lender Finance Party or its direct or indirect Holding Company; or

 

13.6.4 any ratio (whether cash, capital adequacy, liquidity or otherwise) which any Lender Finance Party or its direct or indirect Holding Company is required or requested to maintain shall be affected; or

 

13.6.5 there is imposed on any Lender Finance Party (or on the direct or indirect Holding Company of any Lender Finance Party) any other condition in relation to the Lender Indebtedness or the Security Documents (other than as a result of any change in the applicable tax rate in the jurisdiction in which its lending office is based);

 

     and the result of any of the above shall be to increase the cost to any Lender (or to the direct or indirect Holding Company of any Lender) of that Lender making or maintaining its Commitment or its Drawing, or to cause any Lender Finance Party to suffer (in its reasonable opinion) a material reduction in the rate of return on its overall capital below the level which it reasonably anticipated at the Execution Date and which it would have been able to achieve but for its entering into this Agreement and/or performing its obligations under this Agreement, the Lender Finance Party affected shall notify the Agent and, on demand to the Borrower by the Agent, the Borrower shall from time to time pay to the Agent for the account of the Lender Finance Party affected the amount which shall compensate that Lender Finance Party or the Agent (or the relevant Holding Company) for such additional cost or reduced return. A certificate signed by an authorised signatory of the Agent or of the Lender Finance Party affected setting out the amount of that payment and the basis of its calculation shall be submitted to the Borrower and shall be conclusive evidence of such amount save for manifest error or on any question of law.

 

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, this clause 13.6 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) fully compensated for by clause 15.7 (or would have been compensated for under clause 15.7 but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in clause 15.7 applied) or fully compensated for under any other provision of this Agreement; or

 

  (c) attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Lender Finance Party (or the Holding Company of any Lender Finance Party) or any of its or their Affiliates of any law.

 

75


13.7 Illegality and impracticality

 

     Notwithstanding anything contained in the Security Documents, the obligations of a Lender to advance or maintain its Commitment shall terminate in the event that a change in any law or in the interpretation of any law by any authority charged with its administration shall make it unlawful for that Lender to advance or maintain its Commitment. In such event the Lender affected shall notify the Agent and the Agent shall, by written notice to the Borrower, declare that Lender’s obligations to be immediately terminated. If all or any part of the Loan shall have been advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower, the portion of the Lender Indebtedness (including all accrued interest and Commitment Fees) advanced by the Lender so affected shall be prepaid on the next Interest Payment Date, or sooner if illegality is determined (but no sooner than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law). Clause 5.4 shall apply to that prepayment if it is made on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period.

 

13.8 Changes in market circumstances

 

     If at any time a Lender determines (which determination shall be final and conclusive and binding on the Borrower) that, by reason of changes affecting the London Interbank market, adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the rate of interest on the Loan or any part thereof pursuant to this Agreement:

 

13.8.1 that Lender shall give notice to the Agent and the Agent shall give notice to the Borrower of the occurrence of such event; and

 

13.8.2 the Agent shall as soon as reasonably practicable certify to the Borrower in writing the effective cost to that Lender of maintaining its Commitment for such further period as shall be selected by that Lender and the rate of interest payable by the Borrower for that period; or, if that is not acceptable to the Borrower,

 

13.8.3 the Agent in accordance with instructions from that Lender and subject to that Lender’s approval of any agreement between the Agent and the Borrower, will negotiate with the Borrower in good faith with a view to modifying this Agreement to provide a substitute basis for that Lender’s Commitment which is financially a substantial equivalent to the basis provided for in this Agreement.

 

     If, within thirty (30) days of the giving of the notice referred to in clause 13.8.1, the Borrower and the Agent fail to agree in writing on a substitute basis for such Lender’s Commitment the Borrower will immediately prepay the amount of such Lender’s Commitment and the Maximum Loan Amount will automatically decrease by the amount of such Commitment and such decrease shall not be reversed. Clause 5.4 shall apply to that prepayment if it is made on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period.

 

13.9 Non-availability of currency

 

     If a Lender is for any reason unable to obtain Dollars in the London Interbank market and is, as a result, or as a result of any other contingency affecting the London Interbank market, unable to advance or maintain its Commitment in Dollars, that Lender shall give notice to the Agent and the Agent shall give notice to the Borrower and that Lender’s obligations to make the Loan available shall immediately cease. In that event, if all or any part of the Loan shall have been advanced by that Lender to the Borrower, the Agent in accordance with instructions from that Lender and subject to that Lender’s approval of any agreement between the Agent and the Borrower, will negotiate with the Borrower in good faith with a view to establishing a mutually acceptable basis for funding the Loan or relevant part thereof from an alternative source. If the Agent and the Borrower have failed to agree in writing on a basis for funding the Loan or relevant part thereof from an alternative source by 11.00 a.m. on the second Business Day prior to the end of the then current relevant Interest Period, the Borrower will (without prejudice to its other obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, its obligation to pay interest on the Loan, arising on the expiry of the then relevant Interest Period) prepay the Lender Indebtedness (or relevant part thereof) to the Agent on behalf of that Lender on the expiry of the then current relevant Interest Period.

 

76


13.10 Mitigation

 

13.10.1 Each Lender Finance Party shall, subject to clause 13.10.2 below, 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 13.3, clause 13.6 or clause 13.7 including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the Security Documents to an Affiliate.

 

13.10.2 The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender Finance Party for all costs and expenses properly incurred by that Lender Finance Party as a result of steps taken by it under clause 13.10.1. A Lender Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under clause 13.10.1 if, in the opinion of that Lender Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it.

 

14 Communications

 

14.1 Method

 

     Any communication may be given, delivered, made or served (as the case may be) under or in relation to this Agreement by letter or fax or (subject to clause 14.3) electronic mail and shall be in the English language and sent addressed:-

 

14.1.1 in the case of any of the Lenders to the Agent at the address specified for BNP Paribas S.A. in Schedule 1;

 

14.1.2 in the case of the Agent, at the address specified for BNP Paribas S.A. in Schedule 1;

 

14.1.3 in the case of the Security Trustee, at the address specified for BNP Paribas S.A. in Schedule 1;

 

14.1.4 in the case of the KEIC Agent, at the address specified for BNP Paribas S.A. in Schedule 1;

 

14.1.5 in the case of the Borrower at:

 

     Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
     2-1, Ohtemachi 1-chome,
     Chiyoda-ku,
     Tokyo, 100-0004,
     Japan

 

     Fax: 81-3-3285-9838

 

     Attention: General Manager, LNG Project Department,
     Second Ship & Marine Project Division

 

     Email: tkmyj@dg.mitsui.com

 

     or to such other address or fax number as any of the above parties may designate for themselves by written notice to the others.

 

14.2 Timing

 

     A Communication shall be deemed to have been duly given, delivered, made or served to or on, and received by a party to this Agreement:-

 

14.2.1 in the case of a fax when the sender receives one or more transmission reports showing the whole of the Communication to have been transmitted to the correct fax number;

 

14.2.2 if delivered to an officer of the relevant party or left at the address of the relevant party specified in clause 14.1; or

 

77


14.2.3 if posted, at 9.00 a.m. on the fifth Business Day after posting by prepaid first class post. PROVIDED ALWAYS that communications to the Agent and (to the extent that they relate to the matters specified in clause 4.10.2 of the Intercreditor Deed only) the Lenders and the Borrower shall be effective only upon receipt; or

 

14.2.4 if by electronic mail, in accordance with clause 14.3;

 

     Any Communication by fax shall be promptly confirmed in writing by post or hand delivery.

 

14.3 Electronic communication

 

14.3.1 Any communication to be made in connection with this Agreement may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means, if the Borrower and the relevant Lender Finance Party:

 

  (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.

 

14.3.2 Any electronic communication made between the Borrower and the relevant Lender Finance Party will be effective only when actually received in readable form and acknowledged by the recipient (it being understood that any system generated responses do not constitute an acknowledgement) and in the case of any electronic communication made by the Borrower to a Lender Finance Party only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Lender Finance Party shall specify for this purpose.

 

14.3.3 Any electronic communication made in accordance with this clause 14.3 shall be confirmed in writing as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.

 

15 General Indemnities

 

15.1 Currency

 

     In the event of any Lender Finance Party receiving or recovering any amount payable under any of the Security Documents in a currency other than the Currency of Account, and if the amount received or recovered is insufficient when converted into the Currency of Account at the date of receipt to satisfy in full the amount due, the Borrower shall, on the Agent’s written demand, pay to the Agent such further amount in the Currency of Account as is sufficient to satisfy in full the amount due and that further amount shall be due to the Agent on behalf of the Lender Finance Parties as a separate debt under this Agreement.

 

15.2 Costs and expenses

 

     The Borrower will, on the earlier of (a) the date falling thirty (30) days from the date of the Agent’s written demand and (b) the date of the next following payment of charterhire under the Time Charter, reimburse the Agent (on behalf of each of the Lender Finance Parties and KEIC) for all reasonable out of pocket expenses including internal and external legal costs (including stamp duty, Value Added Tax or any similar or replacement tax if applicable but excluding income tax) of and incidental to:-

 

15.2.1 the negotiation, preparation, execution and registration of the Security Documents (whether or not any of the Security Documents are actually executed or registered and whether or not all or any part of the Loan is advanced);

 

15.2.2 any amendments, addenda or supplements to any of the Security Documents (whether or not completed);

 

78


15.2.3 any other documents (including legal opinions) which may at any time be required by any Lender Finance Party to give effect to any of the Security Documents or which any Lender Finance Party is entitled to call for or obtain pursuant to any of the Security Documents; and

 

15.2.4 without prejudice to clauses 15.3 and 15.5, the exercise of the rights, powers, discretions and remedies of the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to the Security Documents.

 

15.3 Events of Default

 

     The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender Finance Parties from time to time on demand against all losses and costs incurred or sustained by any Lender Finance Party as a consequence of any Event of Default, including (without limitation) any Break Costs.

 

15.4 Funding costs

 

     The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender Finance Parties from time to time on demand against all losses and costs incurred or sustained by any Lender Finance Party if, for any reason due to a Potential Event of Default or other action by the Borrower, any Drawing is not advanced to the Borrower after the relevant Drawdown Notice has been given to the Agent, or is advanced on a date other than that requested in the Drawdown Notice, including (without limitation), any Break Costs.

 

15.5 Protection and enforcement

 

15.5.1 The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender Finance Parties and KEIC from time to time on demand against all losses, costs and liabilities which any Lender Finance Party or KEIC may from time to time sustain, incur or become liable for in or about the protection, maintenance or enforcement of the rights conferred on the Lender Finance Parties and KEIC by the Security Documents or in or about the exercise or purported exercise by the Lender Finance Parties or KEIC of any of the rights, powers, discretions or remedies vested in them under or arising out of the Security Documents, including (without limitation) any losses, costs and liabilities which any Lender Finance Party or KEIC may from time to time sustain, incur or become liable for by reason of any Lender Finance or KEIC Party being mortgagees of the Vessel, assignees of any Mortgage and/or a Lender to the Borrower, or by reason of any Lender Finance Party or KEIC being deemed by any court or authority to be an operator or controller, or in any way concerned in the operation or control, of the Vessel. No such indemnity will be given to a Lender Finance Party or KEIC where any such loss, cost or liability has occurred due to wilful misconduct or recklessness with knowledge of the probable consequences on the part of that Lender Finance Party or KEIC; however this shall not affect the right of any other Lender Finance Party or KEIC to receive any such indemnity.

 

15.5.2 The Agent shall:

 

  (a) notify the Borrower in writing of any claim made against it of which it is aware which is likely to give rise to such losses, costs and liabilities;

 

  (b) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, consult, in good faith with the Borrower, in respect of such claim until such date as the Lender Finance Party is obliged to satisfy or discharge such claim and not enter into any settlement or other compromise in respect of such claim without the prior written consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), unless the Lender Finance Parties expressly waive in writing their right to be indemnified in respect of such losses, costs and liabilities;

 

  (c) so long as it is indemnified to its satisfaction against costs or liabilities that may be incurred, use reasonable endeavours to defend such claim and to avoid or reduce the losses, costs and liabilities which may be incurred; and

 

79


  (d) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, give the Borrower a reasonable opportunity to take such action, at the Borrower’s cost, as the Borrower deems fit to defend or avoid any liability being incurred or to take action against a third party in respect of any losses (provided that the Borrower may not take any action in the name of the Lender Finance Party without that Lender Finance Party’s prior written consent nor may the Borrower take any action which would involve risk of criminal or civil liability to the Lender Finance Parties or any material risk of the sale, loss or forfeiture of the Vessel).

 

15.5.3 The indemnities in this clause 15.5 shall not extend to any claim or liability of a Lender Finance Party to the extent that such claim or liability arises from an act or omission on the part of that Lender Finance Party which constitutes gross negligence or wilful misconduct on the part of such Lender Finance Party.

 

15.6 Liabilities of Lender Finance Parties

The Borrower will from time to time reimburse the Lender Finance Parties on demand for all sums which any Lender Finance Party may pay on account of any of the Security Parties or in connection with the Vessel (whether alone or jointly or jointly and severally with any other person) including (without limitation) all sums which any Lender Finance Party may pay or guarantees which any Lender Finance Party may give in respect of the Insurances, any expenses incurred by any Lender Finance Party in connection with the maintenance or repair of the Vessel or in discharging any lien, bond or other claim relating in any way to the Vessel, and any sums which any Lender Finance Party may pay or guarantees which they may give to procure the release of the Vessel from arrest or detention.

 

15.7 Taxes

The Borrower shall pay all Taxes imposed on the Lender Finance Parties in respect of the Security Documents or to which all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness or any of the Security Documents or the Project Documents may be at any time subject and shall indemnify the Lender Finance Parties on demand against all liabilities, costs, claims and expenses incurred in connection therewith, including but not limited to any such liabilities, costs, claims and expenses resulting from any omission to pay or delay in paying any such Taxes. Provided that the indemnification in this clause 15.7 shall not apply to the extent that the Taxes imposed on a Lender Finance Party arose directly or indirectly from the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Lender Finance Party. The indemnity contained in this clause 15.7 shall survive the repayment of the Lender Indebtedness.

 

15.8 Value Added Tax

All amounts set out, or expressed to be payable by the Borrower to the Lender Finance Parties pursuant to the Security Documents which (in whole or in part) constitute consideration for a supply for Value Added Tax purposes shall be deemed to be exclusive of any Value Added Tax which is chargeable on such supply, and accordingly, if Value Added Tax is chargeable on any supply made by any Lender Finance Party to a Borrower under a Security Document, that Borrower shall pay to the Lender Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying the consideration) an amount equal to the amount of the Value Added Tax.

 

15.9 KEIC Indemnity

The Borrower shall indemnify the KEIC Agent and each Lender from time to time on demand against any duly evidenced additional premium, cost or expense as provided for under the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy, which KEIC may charge, invoice, or set-off against amounts owing to the KEIC Agent and/or the Lenders, including without limitation as a result of a change of the delivery schedule of the Vessel, a change to Schedule 7 (Contract Instalments and Repayment Profile) of this Agreement or otherwise, properly incurred by the KEIC Agent or a Lender in connection with their compliance with the KEIC Buyer Credit Policy.

 

80


16 Miscellaneous

 

16.1 Tax Lease

 

16.1.1 The Lender Finance Parties agree that the Loan may be refinanced to incorporate a lease financing structure with the prior written consent of each Lender Finance Party. Each Lender Finance Party agrees that it shall not unreasonably withhold or delay its consent to the implementation of a lease financing structure, provided that:

 

  (a) it is satisfied that its security position will not be materially and adversely affected;

 

  (b) it has received agreed and executed documentation acceptable to it in all respects;

 

  (c) the lease financing structure is not, in its reasonable opinion, unduly onerous in terms of documentation and time;

 

  (d) it has received credit approval for such lease financing; and

 

  (e) it has received legal opinions satisfactory to it in relation to jurisdictions reasonably required by it.

 

16.1.2 No Lender Finance Party shall be entitled to any additional fees from the Borrower in connection with the implementation of a lease financing structure.

 

16.1.3 The Borrower shall pay the reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of outside legal counsel engaged by the Lender Finance Parties) incurred by the Lender Finance Parties in connection with the implementation of the lease finance structure.

 

16.2 Waivers

No failure or delay on the part of any Lender Finance Party in exercising any right, power, discretion or remedy under or pursuant to any of the Security Documents, nor any actual or alleged course of dealing between any Lender Finance Party and any of the Security Parties, shall operate as a waiver of, or acquiescence in, any default on the part of any Security Party, unless expressly agreed to do so in writing by the Agent, nor shall any single or partial exercise by any Lender Finance Party of any right, power, discretion or remedy preclude any other or further exercise of that right, power, discretion or remedy, or the exercise by a Lender Finance Party of any other right, power, discretion or remedy.

 

16.3 No variations

No variation or amendment of any of the Security Documents shall be valid unless made by each party thereto and in accordance with the terms thereof and consented to in writing by KEIC.

 

16.4 Severability

If at any time any provision of any of the Security Documents is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect that provision shall be severed from the remainder and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected or impaired in any way.

 

16.5 Successors etc.

The Security Documents shall be binding on the Security Parties and on their successors and permitted transferees and assignees, and shall inure to the benefit of the Lender Finance Parties and KEIC in respect of their rights and their respective successors, transferees and assignees.

 

16.6 Further assurance

If any provision of the Security Documents shall be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part by reason of any present or future law or any decision of any court, then from time to time the Borrower will promptly, following a demand by the Agent, execute or procure the execution of such further documents as in the reasonable opinion of the Lenders are necessary to provide valid and enforceable security for the repayment of the Lender Indebtedness, provided that with respect to any further document relating to the Time Charter, the Borrower shall only be required to procure the execution of such documents on a reasonable endeavours basis.

 

81


16.7 Other arrangements

The Lender Finance Parties may, without prejudice to their rights under or pursuant to the Security Documents, at any time and from time to time, on such terms and conditions as they may in their discretion determine, and with notice to the Borrower, grant time or other indulgence to, or compound with, any other person liable (actually or contingently) to the Lender Finance Parties or any of them in respect of all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness, and may release or renew negotiable instruments and take and release securities and hold funds on realisation or suspense account without affecting the liabilities of the Borrower or the rights of the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to the Security Documents.

 

16.8 Advisers

The Borrower irrevocably authorises the Agent, at any time and from time to time during the Facility Period, to consult insurance advisers on any matters relating to the Insurances, including, without limitation, the collection of insurance claims, and from time to time to consult or retain advisers or consultants to monitor or advise on any other claims relating to the Vessel. Subject to clause 9.1.22 the Borrower will provide such advisers and consultants with all information and documents which they may from time to time reasonably require. In the event that such advisers or consultants discover that the Borrower is in breach of its obligations in relation to the Insurances or at the time of or during such consultation or retention there occurs an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived, then the Borrower will reimburse the Agent on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses properly incurred by the Agent in connection with the consultation or retention of such advisers or consultants, but such consultation or retention shall otherwise be at the Lender Finance Parties’ own cost and expense.

 

16.9 Delegation

The Lender Finance Parties may at any time and from time to time delegate to any person any of their rights, powers, discretions and remedies pursuant to the Security Documents, other than rights relating to actions to be taken by the Majority Lenders or the Lenders as a group, on such terms as they may consider appropriate (including the power to sub-delegate).

 

16.10 Rights etc. cumulative

Every right, power, discretion and remedy conferred on the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to the Security Documents shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right, power, discretion or remedy to which they may at any time be entitled by law or in equity. The Lender Finance Parties may exercise each of their rights, powers, discretions and remedies as often and in such order as they deem appropriate subject to obtaining the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders. The exercise or the beginning of the exercise of any right, power, discretion or remedy shall not be interpreted as a waiver of the right to exercise any other right, power, discretion or remedy either simultaneously or subsequently.

 

16.11 No enquiry

The Lender Finance Parties shall not be concerned to enquire into the powers of the Security Parties or of any person purporting to act on behalf of any of the Security Parties, even if any of the Security Parties or any such person shall have acted in excess of their powers or if their actions shall have been irregular, defective or informal, whether or not any Lender Finance Parties had notice thereof.

 

82


16.12 Continuing security

The security constituted by the Security Documents shall be continuing and shall not be satisfied by any intermediate payment or satisfaction until the Indebtedness shall have been repaid in full and none of the Lender Finance Parties shall be under any further actual or contingent liability to any third party in relation to the Vessel, the Insurances, Earnings or Requisition Compensation or any other matter referred to in the Security Documents.

 

16.13 Security cumulative

The security constituted by the Security Documents shall be in addition to any other security now or in the future held by the Lender Finance Parties or any of them for or in respect of all or any part of the Lender Indebtedness, and shall not merge with or prejudice or be prejudiced by any such security or any other contractual or legal rights of any of the Lender Finance Parties, nor affected by any irregularity, defect or informality, or by any release, exchange or variation of any such security. Section 93 of the Law of Property Act 1925 and all provisions which the Agent considers analogous thereto under the law of any other relevant jurisdiction shall not apply to the security constituted by the Security Documents.

 

16.14 No liability

None of the Lender Finance Parties, nor any agent or employee of any Lender Finance Party, nor any receiver and/or manager appointed by the Agent, shall be liable for any losses which may be incurred in or about the exercise of any of the rights, powers, discretions or remedies of the Lender Finance Parties under or pursuant to the Security Documents nor liable as mortgagee in possession for any loss on realisation or for any neglect or default of any nature for which a mortgagee in possession might otherwise be liable unless such Lender Finance Party’s action constitutes wilful misconduct or recklessness with knowledge of the probable consequences.

 

16.15 Rescission of payments etc.

Any discharge, release or reassignment by any of the Lender Finance Parties of any of the security constituted by, or any of the obligations of any Security Party contained in, any of the Security Documents shall be (and be deemed always to have been) void if any act (including, without limitation, any payment) as a result of which such discharge, release or reassignment was given or made is subsequently wholly or partially rescinded or avoided by operation of any law, unless such Lender Finance Party’s action constitutes wilful misconduct or recklessness with knowledge of the probable consequences.

 

16.16 Subsequent Encumbrances

If the Agent receives notice of any subsequent Encumbrance (other than any Permitted Encumbrance) affecting the Vessel or all or any part of the Insurances, Earnings or Requisition Compensation, the Agent may open a new account in its books for the Borrower. If the Agent does not open a new account, then (unless the Encumbrance is a Permitted Encumbrance or the Agent gives written notice to the contrary to the Borrower) as from the time of receipt by the Agent of notice of such subsequent Encumbrance, all payments made to the Agent shall be treated as having been credited to a new account of the Borrower and not as having been applied in reduction of the Lender Indebtedness.

 

16.17 Releases

If any Lender Finance Party shall at any time in its discretion release any party from all or any part of any of the Security Documents or from any term, covenant, clause, condition or obligation contained in any of the Security Documents, the liability of any other party to the Security Documents shall not be varied or diminished.

 

83


16.18   Certificates
  Any certificate or statement signed by an authorised signatory of the Agent purporting to show the amount of the Lender Indebtedness (or any part of the Lender Indebtedness) or any other amount referred to in any of the Security Documents shall, save for manifest error or on any question of law, be conclusive evidence as against the Borrower of that amount.
16.19   Survival of representations and warranties
  The representations and warranties on the part of the Borrower contained in this Agreement shall survive the execution of this Agreement and the advance of the Loan or any part thereof.
16.20   Counterparts
  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be original but which shall together constitute the same instrument.
16.21   Third Party Rights
  Notwithstanding the provisions of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, no term of this Agreement is enforceable by a person who is not a party to it other than (a) KEIC in respect of its rights under this Agreement and (b) the Account Bank in respect of its rights under clause 7.5.
16.22   Building Contract Disputes
  The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that its obligations under this Agreement are independent from the Building Contract and that the performance of these obligations shall in no event be affected by any dispute whatsoever that may arise between the Builder and the Borrower in relation to the Building Contract or in any other respect.
16.23   Confidentiality
  At all times during the Facility Period, the Borrower shall keep confidential any Confidential Information (as defined below) relating to the Relevant Documents (other than the Project Documents) and each of the Lender Finance Parties shall keep confidential any Confidential Information (as defined below) relating to the Relevant Documents, and none of the Borrower or the Lender Finance Parties shall, without the prior written consent of the other(s):

16.23.1

  issue any press release or make any other public announcement or statement in relation to the transactions evidenced by this Agreement and the other Relevant Documents; or

16.23.2

  disclose to any other person (i) any information or document relating to the Angola LNG Project in general, including but not limited to, technical and schedule requirements, and progress and status of the Angola LNG Project; (ii) financial details of this Agreement or any other Relevant Document or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Relevant Document or any other agreement after the date of this Agreement by the Borrower or the Lender Finance Parties in connection with this Agreement or any other Relevant Document or (iii) any information provided pursuant to any of the Relevant Documents; or
16.23.3   release copies of drafts of this Agreement or any other Relevant Document which disclose or reveal the identity of the parties (or any of them),
  the information contemplated by clauses 16.23.1 to 16.23.3 above being “ Confidential Information ”.

 

84


Provided that notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this clause 16.22 the parties shall be entitled, without any such consent, to disclose such Confidential Information:

 

  (a) if the same is already known to the receiving person at the time of disclosure as shown by the receiving person’s files and records immediately prior to that disclosure or is developed by the receiving person independently of such disclosure; or

 

  (b) in connection with any proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Relevant Documents; or

 

  (c) if required to do so by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction whether in pursuance of any procedure for discovery of documents or otherwise; or

 

  (d) pursuant to any applicable law, stock exchange regulations or by a governmental order, decree, regulation or rule, provided however that a party which has received Confidential Information which they are obliged to disclose as contemplated by this clause (d) shall use reasonable efforts to inform the person who provided them with the Confidential Information prior to making such disclosure; or

 

  (e) to any fiscal, monetary, tax, governmental or other competent authority; or

 

  (f) to the auditors, legal or professional or insurance advisors, underwriters or brokers of the Borrower or the relevant Lender Finance Party, who (A) shall have a need to have such knowledge of the same in connection with carrying out work related to the transaction contemplated by this Agreement and the other Relevant Documents and (B) shall be advised of the confidential nature of any such information supplied to them and shall be instructed to maintain the confidentiality of any information supplied to them; or

 

  (g) in any manner contemplated by any of the Relevant Documents; or

 

  (h) if the same is in the public domain or shall become publicly known otherwise than as a result of a breach by such party or by the receiving person or any other person to whom disclosure is made of this clause 16.23.1; or

 

  (i) if the same is acquired independently from a third party without breach of that third party’s obligations of confidentiality; or

 

  (j) in the case of the Borrower, to any Borrower Shareholder or Sponsor or the Time Charterer, to the extent the Borrower reasonably believes necessary for the purpose of the Time Charterer to perform, fulfil its obligations or exercise its rights in accordance with the terms of the Time Charterer, Charter, or to any member of the Time Charterer, any of such member’s affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, employees or contractors, in each case to the extent the Borrower reasonably believes necessary for the performance of the Security Documents and/or the Project Documents and in the case of the Lender Finance Parties, to any member of their respective groups or any potential transferee, assignee, successor, any rating agency or any financial institutions, special purpose securitisation vehicles and their managements, all investors, agents, arrangers, dealers who are or might wish to be involved in securitisation schemes, hedging agreements, participation or other risk transfer agreements (or any director, officer or employee, of the foregoing) , provided that in each case the Borrower or the Lender Finance Party shall procure that the party to whom such disclosure is made shall comply with the requirements of this clause and provided further that the Lender Finance Parties shall not disclose any information regarding the Angola LNG Project to any of the foregoing persons except to a member of their respective groups, any potential transferee, assignee, successor or financial institution on a need-to-know basis and solely for carrying out the purpose of and exercising their rights under this Agreement and the other Security Documents; or

 

85


  (k) to KEIC,

 

       provided that if the Confidential Information is provided by a party on the basis that it is to be kept confidential, but the party providing the information discloses it to another person on a non-confidential basis, then the receiving party or parties shall no longer be obliged to treat such information as confidential.

 

16.23.4 The Borrower and the Lender Finance Parties shall be responsible for ensuring that where Confidential Information is disclosed to persons under clause 16.23.3 such persons shall keep the information confidential in accordance with and subject to this clause 16.23.

 

17 Law and Jurisdiction

 

17.1      Governing law

This Agreement shall in all respects be governed by and interpreted in accordance with English law.

 

17.2     Jurisdiction

For the exclusive benefit of the Lender Finance Parties, the parties to this Agreement irrevocably agree that the English courts are to have jurisdiction to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement and that any legal actions or proceedings may be brought in those courts. The Borrower irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or in the future have to the laying of the venue of any legal actions or proceedings in any court referred to in this clause 17.2, and any claim that such legal actions or proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient or inappropriate forum. The Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and shall within five (5) Business Days of the date hereof irrevocably designate, appoint and empower an agent to receive for it and on its behalf, service of process issued out of the English courts in any such legal actions or proceedings and shall provide the Facility Agent with details of such agent. The submission to such jurisdiction shall not (and shall not be construed so as to) limit the right of any of the Lender Finance Parties to take legal actions or proceedings against the Borrower in the courts of any other competent jurisdiction nor shall the taking of legal actions or proceedings in any one or more jurisdictions preclude the taking of legal actions or proceedings in other jurisdiction, whether concurrently or not.

The parties further agree that only the courts of England and not those of any other state or jurisdiction shall have jurisdiction to determine any claim which the Borrower may have against any of the Lender Finance Parties arising out of or in connection with this Agreement.

IN WITNESS of which the parties to this Agreement have executed this Agreement the day and year first before written.

 

86


Schedule 1

Part I: The Lenders, the Commitments and the Proportionate Shares

Part 1: the Lenders

 

The Lenders

  

Contact Details

  

Commitments

     

Buyer Credit

  

Commercial Loan

  

For commercial matters:

CIB - Transportation Group

16 rue de Hanovre

75078 Paris Cedex 02 - France

Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 55

     
  

Attention: Shipping Finance Alice

Renaudin Durand-Ruel

     
  

For Security Trustee matters:

CIB - Transportation Group

16 rue de Hanovre

75078 Paris Cedex 02 - France

Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 55

     
   Attention: Shipping Asset Monitoring Jean-Marc Morant      

BNP Paribas S.A.

  

For Agency matters:

CIB -Agency - European Group

21 Place du Marche Saint Honore

75031 Paris Cedex 01 - CHA02A1

Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 17

 

Attention: European Group

Claire-Marie Rochette

 

For KEIC Agent matters:

BNP Paribas S.A., Seoul Branch

24/F, Taepyeongno 2-ga, Jung-gu

Seoul 100-767 Korea

Fax no. 82 2 757 2530

 

Attention: Jae Seung / Myung Shim Kwon

   $15,400,000    $19,600,000

 

87


The Lenders

  

Contact Details

  

Commitments

     

Buyer Credit

  

Commercial Loan

  

For administration matters:

9 Quai, du President Paul Doumer 92920 Paris La Défence Cédex France

     
Calyon   

Fax no: +33 141 89 19 34 Attention: Middle Office/Shipping/ Ms Marie-Claire Vanderperre/ M. Godet-Couery

 

For credit matters:

Broadwalk House

5 Appold Street

London

EC2A 2DA

 

Fax no: +44 207 214 6689 Attention: Thibaud Escoffier/Jerome Duval

   $ 15,400,000    $19,600,000
DnB NOR Bank ASA   

For administrative matters:

20 St. Dunstan’s Hill

London

EC3R 8HY

 

Fax no. +44 207 283 4430 Attention: Loans Administration

Mr Renato Mariano

 

For credit matters:

20 St. Dunstan’s Hill

London

EC3R 8HY

 

Fax no. +44 207 626 5956 Attention: Omar Sekkat and David Grant

   $15,400,000    $19,600,000
  

For operational matters:

OPER / CAF / DMT6

17 Cours Valmy

Paris La Defense 7

     
   Fax no. +331 46 92 45 98 Attention: Viengkham LAY and Chantal Alcaras      
Société Générale,   

For credit matters:

SG House

41 Tower Hill

London

EC3N 4SG

 

Fax no. +44 207 667 2499 Attention: Gareth-Lon Williams

 

Copy to: Pierre Baud and Laurence

   $15,400,000    $19,600,000
  

Alloiteau

OPER/CAF/AFI

17 Cours Valmy

Paris La Défence 7

 

Fax no. 01.46.92.46.22

 

Copy to: Guylaine Labidurie OPER/CAF.EXT

 

Fax no. 01.46.92.45.97

     

 

88


The Lenders

  

Contact Details

   Commitments
      Buyer Credit    Commercial Loan
  

For operational matters:

99 Queen Victoria Street

London

EC4V 4EH

     
   Fax no. +44 207 786 1569 Attention: David Griffiths/Jo Dunnage      
  

For credit matters:

99 Queen Victoria Street

London

EC4V 4EH

     
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Brussels Branch   

Fax no. +44 207 786 101 Attention: Robert Taylor/Cyrille Martin

 

Copy to: Guillaume Dufour/Touf-itri Akdime

20 rue de la ville l’evêque 75008 Paris

   $15,400,000    $19,600,000
   Fax no. +33 1 44 71 40 50      
  

Copy to: Françoise Bouchat/Nadine Boudart

Avenue des Arts 58,

Box 18

1000 Brussels

Belgium

     
   Fax no. +32 2 502 07 80      

 

89


The Lenders

  

Contact Details

  

Commitments

     

Buyer Credit

  

Commercial Loan

  

For administrative matters:

12-15 Finsbury Circus

London

EC2M 7BT

     
   Fax no. +44 207 577 1559 Attention: Daniel Bryan      
The Bank of Tokyo - Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.   

For credit matters;

12-15 Finsbury Circus

London

EC2M 7BT

   $15,400,000    $19,600,000
  

Fax no. +44 207 577 1755

Attention: Grahame Hunt

     
      $92,400,000    $117,600,000

 

90


Part 2:

the Swap Providers

 

The Lenders

  

Contact Details

   For commercial matters:
   CIB—Transportation Group
   16 rue de Hanovre
   75078 Paris Cedex 02—France
   Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 55
   Attention: Shipping Finance
   Alice Renaudin Durand-Ruel
   For Security Trustee matters:
   CIB—Transportation Group
   16 rue de Hanovre
   75078 Paris Cedex 02—France
   Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 55
   Attention: Shipping Asset Monitoring
   Jean-Marc Morant
BNP Paribas S.A.    For Agency matters:
   CIB—Agency—European Group
   21 Place du Marche Saint Honore
   75031 Paris Cedex 01—CHA02A1
   Fax no. +33 1 42 98 43 17
   Attention: European Group
   Claire-Marie Rochette
   For KEIC Agent matters:
   BNP Paribas S.A., Seoul Branch
   24/F, Taepyeongno 2-ga, Jung-gu
   Seoul 100-767 Korea
   Fax no. 82 2 757 2530
   Attention: Jae Seung / Myung Shim
   Kwon

 

91


The Lenders

  

Contact Details

   For administration matters:
   9 Quai, du President Paul Doumer
   92920 Paris La Défence Cédex
   France
   Fax no: +33 141 89 19 34
   Attention: Middle Office/Shipping/
   Ms Marie-Claire Vanderperre/
   M. Godet-Couery
Calyon   
   For credit matters:
   Broadwalk House
   5 Appold Street
   London
   EC2A 2DA
   Fax no: +44 207 214 6689
   Attention: Thibaud Escoffier/Jerome
   Duval
   For administrative matters:
   20 St. Dunstan’s Hill
   London
   EC3R 8HY
   Fax no. +44 207 283 4430
   Attention: Loans Administration
   Mr Renato Mariano
DnB NOR Bank ASA   
   For credit matters:
   20 St. Dunstan’s Hill
   London
   EC3R 8HY
   Fax no. +44 207 626 5956
   Attention: Omar Sekkat and David
   Grant
   For operational matters
   OPER / CAF / DMT6
   17 Cours Valmy
   Paris La Defense 7
   Fax no. +331 46 92 45 98
   Attention: Viengkham LAY and
   Chantal Alcaras
Société Générale,    For credit matters
   London
   Fax no. +44 207 667 2499
   Attention: Gareth-Lon Williams
   Copy to: Pierre Baud and Laurence
   Alloiteau
   OPER/CAF/AFI
   17 Cours Valmy
   Paris La Défence 7
   Fax no. 01.46.92.46.22
   Copy to: Guylaine Labidurie OPER/CAF.EXT
   Fax no. 01.46.92.45.97

 

92


The Lenders

  

Contact Details

SMBC Capital Markets, Inc.   

277 Park Avenue

Fifth Floor

New York

10172

USA

 

Attention: President

Fax no. (212) 224-4948

The Bank of Tokyo -

Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.

  

For administrative matters:

12-15 Finsbury Circus

London

EC2M 7BT

 

Fax no. +44 207 577 1559

Attention: Daniel Bryan

 

For credit matters;

12-15 Finsbury Circus

London

EC2M 7BT

 

Fax no. +44 207 577 1755

Attention: Grahame Hunt

 

93


Schedule 2

The Vessel

 

Owner   Hull No   Flag   Vessel Type

MiNT IV LNG, Ltd

  1813 at Samsung   Bahamas   160,000 cubic meter single
  Heavy Industries Co.     screw electric motor driven
  Ltd.     liquefied natural gas carrier

 

94


Schedule 3

Documents and evidence required as conditions precedent

(referred to in clause 3.1)

Part I 1 : Commitment and first Drawing

 

(a) Constitutional documents

 

  (i) copies, certified by an officer of each Security Party the Borrower, NYK LNG and Teekay as true, complete and up to date copies of all documents which contain or establish the constitution of that Security Party it including the Articles of Incorporation; or

 

  (ii) with respect to Mitsui and NYK, in lieu of the document described in clause (a)(i) above, a certified copy of the current Commercial Register ( genzai jiko zenbu shomeisho ) of Mitsui and NYK issued by the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau no earlier than 10 days prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

(b) Corporate authorisations authorizations

 

  (i) copies of resolutions of the directors and/or such other corporate approvals or authorisations and, to the extent required to obtain any opinion set out in this Schedule 3, Part 1, the shareholders of each Security Party the Borrower, NYK LNG and Teekay approving such of the Project Documents ( with respect to the Borrower only ) and the Security Documents to which it is, or is to be, party and authorising the signature, delivery and performance of its obligations thereunder, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than 10 Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement) by an officer of it as:

 

  1. (i) being true and correct;

 

  2. (ii) being duly passed by the directors or such other persons as permitted by the organisational documents of such Security Party it and (if necessary) shareholders of such Security Party it ;

 

  3. (iii) not having been amended, modified or revoked; and

 

  4. (iv) being in full force and effect,

together with originals or certified copies of any powers of attorney issued by it pursuant to such resolutions; or

 

  (ii ) with respect to Mitsui and NYK, in lieu of the document described in clause (b)(i) above: (1) a power of attorney, executed using the registered seal of the president or representative director of Mitsui or NYK, authorizing the signatory or signatories of the Security Documents to which Mitsui or NYK is a party to execute such documents on behalf of Mitsui or NYK; and (2) a seal certificate ( inkan shoumei ), issued by the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau no earlier than 10 days prior to the date of this Agreement, in respect of the registered seal used to execute the power of attorney described in clause (b)(ii)(2).

 

(c) Specimen signatures

copies of the signatures of the persons who have been authorised on behalf of each Security Party to sign such of the Project Security Documents referred to in paragraph (g ) of this Schedule 3, part 1 and the Security Document referred to in paragraph (h ) of this Schedule 3, part 1 to which such Security Party is, or is to be, party and to give notices and communications, including notices of drawing, under or in connection with the Security Documents, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than 10 Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement) by an officer or such other authorised persons of such Security Party as being the true signatures of such persons;

 

95


(d) Certificates of incumbency

a list of directors and officers of the Borrower , the Borrower Shareholders and the Sponsors specifying the names and positions of such persons, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than 10 Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement) by an officer or such other authorised person of it to be true, complete and up to date;

 

(e) Time Charterer’s consents and approvals

evidence in a form and substance acceptable to the Agent that the Time Charterer shall have consented (so far as may be necessary) to the execution of the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants, the Deed of Assignment of Contracts and the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee and other necessary documents hereunder in accordance with the Time Charter;

 

(f) Certified Project Documents

a copy, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than 5 Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement) as a true and complete copy by an officer of the Borrower of each of the Project Documents (other than the Management Agreement) and the Sub Management Agreement each duly executed and in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent together with the original executed copies of the Refund Guarantee;

 

(g) Security Documents and Fee Letters

the Swap Agreements, any other Credit Support Documents, the Deed of Assignment of Contracts, the Assignment, the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee, the Account Charge, the Sponsors’ Undertaking, the Arrangement Fee Letter, the Agency Fee Letter, the Account Bank Fee Letter, the Documentation Agency Fee Letter and the Swap Margin Side Letter each duly executed;

 

(h) Notices of assignment and acknowledgements

the Building Contract Assignment Consent and Acknowledgement, the Refund Guarantee Assignment Consent and Acknowledgement, and the Supervision Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement, the Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement and the Sub Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgement duly executed and bearing formal date stamps and originals of duly executed notices of assignment together with original duly executed acknowledgements thereof (to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date) required by the terms of the Deed of Assignment of Contracts and the Deed of Assignment of Building Contract and Refund Guarantee respectively in the forms prescribed by such Security Documents;

 

(i) Share Pledges Charges

(i) the Share Pledges Charges duly executed by all parties thereto (other than the Security Trustee) and all requirements thereunder fully satisfied including, without limitation, the delivery of the Borrower’s share certificates and all irrevocable proxies to the Security Trustee;

 

(j) Accounts

evidence that the Accounts have been opened;

 

96


(k) Bahamas opinion

opinions (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of the Agent’s special legal advisers in the Bahamas to the Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(l) Delaware opinion

opinion (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of special legal advisers in the State of Delaware in relation to (a) the due authorisation, execution, delivery and performance of the Time Charter, the Tripartite Agreement, the Angolanisation Agreement, the Project Co-ordination Agreement and the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement by the Time Charterer and such documents constituting the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Time Charterer , (b) the execution, delivery and performance of the Time Charter, the Tripartite Agreement, the Angolanisation Agreement, the Project Co-ordination Agreement and the Depot Spares Sharing Agreement by the Time Charterer not conflicting with Delaware law and (c) the execution, delivery and performance of the Time Charter by the Time Charterer not conflicting with its constitutional documents to be received prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(m) Korean opinion

opinions (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of Kim & Chang special legal advisers in Korea to the Agent and KEIC Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(n) Japanese opinion

opinions (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of Nishimura & Asahi special legal advisers in Japan to the Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(o) Marshall Islands opinion

opinions (addressed to the Agent and KEIC) of the Agent’s special legal advisors in the Marshall Islands to the Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(p) English opinion

opinion of Norton Rose LLP special legal advisors in England to the Agent prior to the first Drawing in form and substance satisfactory to KEIC to be delivered on the first Drawdown Date;

 

(q) Further opinions/report

(ii) an opinion from Norton Rose as to the legality, validity and enforceability of the Security Documents so far as they are governed by the laws of England and Wales and in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent;

 

(r) Borrower’s process agent

a copy, certified as a true copy by the Borrower’s solicitors or other person acceptable to the Agent of a letter from the Borrower’s agent for receipt of service of proceedings referred to in clause 17.2 accepting its appointment under the said clause and under each of the other Security Documents in which it is or is to be appointed as the Borrower’s agent;

 

(s) Process agent

a copy, certified as a true copy by the Borrower’s solicitors or other person acceptable to the Agent of a letter from the Sponsors’ and any other Security Party’s agent for receipt of service of proceedings accepting its appointment under each of the relevant Security Documents in which it is or is to be appointed as the Sponsors’ or such Security Party’s agent;

 

97


(t) Drawdown Notice

the Drawdown Notice in respect of the first Drawing duly executed and delivered in accordance with clause 2 of this Agreement;

 

(u) Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity / Additional Shareholders’ Equity

receipt of the Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity by the Borrower or the Agent in accordance with clause 2.3.7 and, insofar as such Relevant Amount is Indebtedness of the Borrower, any subordination agreement required by the Agent in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders) in connection therewith;

 

(v) Minimum Credit Rating

evidence from either Standard and Poors or Fitch on or after the date falling 5 Business Days prior to the Drawdown Date that the Refund Guarantor still maintains the required Minimum Credit Rating;

 

(w) Ownership

evidence satisfactory in all respects to the Agent that the Sponsors are, directly or indirectly the legal and beneficial owner of all of the issued share capital of the Borrower, (whether ordinary, preferential or other class of share capital (including, without limitation, subordinated debt)) other than as permitted pursuant to clause 9.2.17;

 

(x) Fees and commissions

evidence of payment or evidence that payment will be made from the first Drawing of any fees and commissions due and payable from the Borrower to the Agent, the Security Trustee, Calyon or the Account Banks pursuant to clause 7 or any other provision of the Security Documents;

 

(y) KEIC Buyer Credit Policy

in respect of the first Drawing the prior receipt by the Agent of an original counterpart of the relevant KEIC Buyer Credit Policy, duly executed by KEIC (together with a copy of the signing authority of the relevant officer of KEIC) and certified copy of the KEIC Acceptance Letter, such KEIC Buyer Credit Policy to be in full force and effect;

 

(z) Project Co-ordination Agreement

evidence that the Project Co-ordination Agreement has been executed in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent acting on the instructions of all Lenders;

 

(aa) KYC documentation

receipt by each Lender of “know-your-client” documentation satisfactory to it; and

 

(bb) Accounts

the certified true and complete copies of the most recent audited annual financial statements of each Sponsor and the unaudited semi-annual accounts of the Borrower for the period ending on 31 December 2007.

 

98


Part 2

Contract Instalment Advances

 

(a) Invoice

a certified copy of the invoice in respect of which payment is due to the Builder from the Borrower;

 

(b) Fees and commissions

(other than in respect of a Contract Instalment Advance which is the first Drawing) evidence of payment or evidence that payment will be made from the Contract Instalment Advance of any fees and commissions due from the Borrower to the Agent, Calyon, the Security Trustee or the Account Bank pursuant to the terms of clause 7 or any other provision of the Security Documents;

 

(c) Conditions precedent

confirmation from the Borrower or its legal advisers that the conditions precedent set out in Part 1 to Schedule 3 remain satisfied and to the extent necessary are satisfied and confirmation from the Borrower that no further consents and approvals are required;

 

(d) Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity / Additional Shareholders’ Equity

receipt of the Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity by the Agent in accordance with clauses 2.3.7 and 2.9 and any subordination agreement required by the Agent in connection therewith;

 

(e) Drawdown Notice

the Drawdown Notice in respect of the relevant Contract Instalment Advance duly executed and delivered in accordance with clause 2 of this Agreement;

 

(f) No claim

evidence satisfactory to the Agent in the form of a declaration of warranty from the Builder that the Builder (and any other party who may have a claim pursuant to the Building Contract) has no claims against the Vessel or the Borrower;

 

(g) No variations to Building Contract

confirmation from the Borrower that save as permitted by this Agreement there have been no amendments or variations agreed to the Building Contract that have not been agreed by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and that no action has been taken by either the Builder or the Borrower which might in any way render the Building Contract inoperative or unenforceable, in whole or in any part; and

 

(h) No encumbrance

confirmation from the Borrower that there is no Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) of any kind created or permitted by any person on or relating to the Building Contract or in relation to the Vessel.

 

99


Part 3

Delivery Date Advance

 

(a) Export Licence(s)

a copy, certified as a true and complete copy by an officer of the Borrower of all consents, authorisations, licences and approvals required by the Borrower and the Builder (if any) in connection with the export by the Builder of the Vessel;

 

(b) Vessel conditions

evidence that the Vessel:

 

  (i) Registration and Encumbrances

is or simultaneously with the Delivery of the Vessel shall be registered in the name of the Borrower through the Bahamas Registry under the laws and flag of the Bahamas and confirmation from the Borrower that the Vessel and its Earnings, Insurances and Requisition Compensation (as defined in the Deed of Covenants) are free of Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances);

 

  (ii) Classification

has the classification referred to in clause 9.6.3(b) free of all overdue requirements and recommendations of the Classification Society;

 

  (iii) Insurance

is insured in accordance with the provisions of the Security Documents and all requirements of the Security Documents in respect of such insurance have been complied with (including without limitation, (A) confirmation from the protection and indemnity association or other insurer with which the Vessel is, or is to be, entered for insurance or insured against protection and indemnity risks (including oil pollution risks) that any necessary declarations required by the association or insurer for the removal of any oil pollution exclusion have been made and that any such exclusion does not apply to the Vessel and (B) receipt by the Agent of pro-forma letters of undertaking from the Approved Brokers (as defined in the relevant Deed of Covenant) approved brokers in such form as the Agent may reasonably require); and

 

  (iv) Delivery under Time Charter

has been or on the Delivery Date will be delivered to, and accepted by, the Time Charterer for service under the Time Charter;

 

(c) Deletion

evidence that any prior registration of the Vessel in the name of the Builder has been cancelled (or confirmation from the Builder that there was no such prior registration) and that no Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances are registered against the Vessel on such register;

 

(d) Security and delivery documents

certified true copies of the Management Agreement, the Sub-Management Agreement, the Builder’s Certificate and the Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance and originals of the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants, the Assignment and , the Manager’s Undertaking , the Sub-Manager’s Undertaking and the Management Agreement Consent and Acknowledgment each duly executed;

 

100


(e) Borrower’s further corporate authorisations

copies of the resolutions of the Borrower’s directors and (if necessary) shareholders evidencing authorisation of the acceptance of the delivery of the Vessel and authorisation and approval of the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants and the transactions contemplated therein and any other documents issued or to be issued pursuant thereto and authorising its appropriate officer or other representative to execute the same on its behalf certified in the manner referred to in paragraph (b) of Part 1 of this Schedule (or other evidence of such authorisation, approval and/or ratification) and any power of attorney issued pursuant to the said resolutions (such resolutions and power of attorney to be notarised (and, to the extent required by applicable Law, apostiled) and in a form and substance acceptable in all respects to the Agent);

 

(f) Mortgage registration

evidence that the Mortgage has been registered against the Vessel through the Bahamas Registry under the laws and flag of the Bahamas;

 

(g) Notices of assignment and acknowledgements

originals of duly executed notices of assignment required by the terms of the Deed of Covenants and the Assignment together with original duly executed acknowledgements thereof required by the terms of such Security Documents and in the form(s) prescribed by such Security Documents and, in the case of the Assignment;

 

(h) Insurance opinion

an opinion from Bankserve, or such other insurance consultants as the Agent may instruct, on the insurances effected or to be effected in respect of the Vessel upon and following the Delivery Date in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders;

 

(i) Bahamas opinion

an opinion of the Agent’s special legal advisers in the Bahamas to the Agent in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders;

 

(j) Korean opinion

an opinion of Kim & Chang special legal advisers in Korea to the KEIC Agent and the Agent in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders;

 

(k) Further opinions

any such further opinion as may reasonably be required by the Agent to evidence the legality, validity and/or enforceability of the obligations of the Borrower and/or any Security Party under this Agreement, each of the other Security Documents and each of the Project Documents to which it is a party;

 

(l) Process agent

a copy, certified as a true copy by the Borrower’s solicitors or other person acceptable to the Agent of a letter from the Borrower’s agent for receipt of service of proceedings referred to in clause 17.2 accepting its appointment under the said clause and under each of the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenants, the Assignment and also in respect of the relevant Manager’s Undertaking in which it is or is to be appointed as agent;

 

(m) Fees and commission

evidence that the fees and commissions due under clause 7 have been paid in full (or upon drawdown of the Delivery Date Advance will have been paid);

 

101


(n) Payment of Contract Price

evidence from the Builder that the Contract Price has been (or upon drawdown of the relevant Delivery Date Advance will have been) paid in full and a certified copy of the invoice in respect of the payment due to the Builder from the Borrower on the Delivery Date;

 

(o) Drawdown Notice

the Drawdown Notice in respect of the relevant Delivery Date Advance duly executed and delivered to the Agent in accordance with clause 2 of this Agreement;

 

(p) Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance

copies, certified as true copies by a director or officer of the Borrower, of the Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance and any other documents issued by the Builder in connection with the construction and delivery of the Vessel as the Builder shall be obliged to provide pursuant to the Building Contract;

 

(q) ISM compliance

evidence that the Operator has applied to the relevant Regulatory Agency for a DOC for itself and an SMC for the Vessel to be issued pursuant to the Code within any time limit required or recommended by such Regulatory Agency;

 

(r) Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity / Additional Shareholders’ Equity

receipt of the Relevant Amount of the Minimum Borrower Shareholders’ Equity and/or Additional Shareholders’ Equity by the Agent in accordance with sub-clauses 2.3.7 and 2.9 and any subordination agreement required by the Agent in connection therewith; and

 

(s) Conditions precedent

confirmation from the Borrower or their legal advisers that the conditions precedent set out in Parts 1 and 2 of Schedule 3 remain satisfied and to the extent necessary are satisfied and confirmation from the Borrower that no further consents and approvals are required.

 

102


Schedule 4

Form of Transfer Certificate

 

To: BNP Paribas S.A. as agent (the “ Agent ”)

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE

This transfer certificate relates to a facility agreement (as the same may be from time to time amended, varied, novated or supplemented, the “ Loan Agreement ”) dated 2008 whereby a credit facility of up to $210,000,000 was made available to Mint LNG IV, Ltd (the “ Borrower ”) by a group of banks on whose behalf the Agent acts as agent and security trustee.

 

1 Terms defined in the Loan Agreement shall, subject to any contrary indication, have the same meanings herein. The terms “Lender” and “Transferee” are defined in the schedule to this transfer certificate.

 

2 The Lender (i) confirms that the details in the Schedule hereto next to the heading “ Commitment ” accurately summarises its Commitment in the Loan Agreement and (ii) requests the Transferee to accept and procure the transfer to the Transferee of the portion of such Commitment specified in the Schedule hereto next to the heading “ Portion Transferred ” by counter-signing and delivering the Transfer Certificate to the Agent at its address for the service of communications specified in the Loan Agreement.

 

3 The Transferee requests the Agent to accept this Transfer Certificate as being delivered to the Agent pursuant to and for the purposes of clause 12.4 of the Loan Agreement so as to take effect in accordance with the terms thereof on the Transfer Date or on such later date as may be determined in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

4 The Transferee confirms that it has received a copy of the Loan Agreement together with such other information as it has required in connection with this transaction and that it has not relied and will not in the future rely on the Lender or any other party to the Loan Agreement to check or enquire on its behalf into the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any such information and further agrees that it has not relied and will not rely on the Lender or any other party to the Loan Agreement to access or keep under review on its behalf the financial condition, creditworthiness, condition, affairs, status or nature of the Borrower or any other party to the Loan Agreement.

 

5 Execution of this Transfer Certificate by the Transferee constitutes its representation to the Transferor and all other parties to the Loan Agreement that it has power to become a party to the Loan Agreement as a Lender on the terms herein and therein set out and has taken all steps to authorise execution and delivery of this Transfer Certificate.

 

6 The Transferee undertakes with the Lender and each of the other parties to the Loan Agreement that it will perform in accordance with their terms all those obligations which by the terms of the Loan Agreement will be assumed by it after delivery of this Transfer Certificate to the Agent and satisfaction of the conditions (if any) subject to which the Transfer Certificate is expressed to take effect.

 

7 The Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the Loan Agreement or any document relating thereto and assumes no responsibility for the financial condition of the Borrower or for the performance and observance by the Borrower of any of its obligations under the Loan Agreement or any document relating thereto and any and all such conditions and warranties, whether express or implied by law or otherwise, are hereby excluded.

 

103


8 The Lender gives notice that nothing in this transfer certificate or in the Loan Agreement (or any document relating thereto) shall oblige the Lender to (i) accept a re-transfer from the Transferee of the whole or any part of its rights, benefits and/or obligations under the Loan Agreement transferred pursuant hereto or (ii) support any losses directly or indirectly sustained or incurred by the Transferee for any reason whatsoever including, without limitation, the non-performance by the Borrower or any other party to the Loan Agreement (or any document relating thereto) of its obligations under any such document. The Transferee acknowledges the absence of any such obligation as is referred to in (i) or (ii) above.

 

9 The Security Trustee’s rights under the Security Documents remain in full force and effect and are not affected by this transfer.

 

10 This Transfer Certificate and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with English law.

THE SCHEDULE

 

1 Lender:

 

2 Transferee:

 

3 Transfer Date:

 

4 Commitment:

 

5 Portion Transferred:

 

6 Transferee’s Administration Details:

 

[Transferor Bank]

   [Transferee Bank]

By:

   By:

Date:

   Date:

BNP Paribas S.A.

As agent for and on behalf of itself,

the Borrower and the other Lender Finance Parties in the presence of:-

By:                                  

Date: [                                     ]

 

104


Schedule 5

Form of Drawdown Notice

 

To: BNP Paribas S.A.

Attention: [ ]

Fax : [ ]

Copy to: [ ]

Fax: [ ]

Date [ ]

Loan facility of up to United States Dollars $210,000,000 in respect of

Hull No 1813 (the “Vessel”)

Loan Agreement dated                             2008

We refer to the above Loan Agreement and hereby give you notice that we wish to drawdown the following Drawing:

[a Contract Instalment Advance amounting to $[ ];]

[a Delivery Date Advance amounting to $[ ];]

[an Ancillary Cost Advance [in respect of the KEIC Insurance Premium for the Vessel] amounting to $[ ];]

Interest Period from [ ] to [ ];

on [ ] 20[ ] the funds should be credited to [name and number of account] with [details of bank [in New York City]].

[The Vessel is scheduled to be delivered on [ ].]

We confirm that:

 

(i) no event or circumstance has occurred and is continuing unremedied or unwaived which constitutes a Potential Event of Default;

 

(ii) the representations and warranties contained in clauses [4] of the Loan Agreement are true and correct at the date hereof as if made with respect to the facts and circumstances existing at the date hereof;

 

(iii) the borrowing of the Loan will be within our corporate powers, has been validly authorised by appropriate corporate action and will not cause any limit on our borrowings (whether imposed by statute, regulation, agreement or otherwise) to be exceeded; [and]

 

(iv) there has been no material adverse change in our financial position from that set forth in the latest financial statements delivered to you under clause 9.1.5 of the Loan Agreement. [;and]

 

(v) [this Ancillary Cost Advance will not, when aggregated with all Ancillary Cost Advances previously advanced to us, equal a sum in excess of $36,000,000.]

Words and expressions defined in the Loan Agreement shall have the same meanings when used herein.

 

105


For and on behalf of

MiNT LNG IV, LTD

By    
Name:  
Title:  

 

106


Schedule 6

Calculation of the Mandatory Cost

 

1 The Mandatory Cost is an addition to the interest rate to compensate the Lenders for the cost of compliance with (a) the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority (or, in either case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) or (b) the requirements of the European Central Bank.

 

2 On 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 Loan) and will be expressed as a percentage rate per annum.

 

3 The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Loan 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 Loan Office) of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank in respect of loans made from that Loan Office.

 

4 The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Loan Office in the United Kingdom will be calculated by the Agent as follows:

E x 0.01

                    per cent. per annum.

    300

Where E is the rate of charge payable by a Lender to the Financial Services Authority under the Fees Rules in respect of the relevant financial year of the Financial Services Authority (calculated for this purpose by the Agent as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to that Lender for that financial year). The resulting figure shall be rounded to four (4) decimal places.

 

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) Loan Office ” means the office notified by a Lender to the Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender as the office through which it will perform its obligations under the Agreement;

 

  (c) Fee 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;

 

  (d) 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 Fee Rules but taking into account any applicable discount rate); and

 

  (e) 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 Union relating to European Monetary Union;

 

  (f) Parties ” means any party to the Agreement, including its successors in title permitted assigns and permitted transferees; and

 

  (g) Tariff Base ” has the meaning given to it in, and will be calculated in accordance with, the Fees Rules.

 

6 If requested by the Agent, each Lender shall, as soon as practicable after publication by the Financial Services Authority, supply to the Agent, the rate of charge payable by that Lender 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 Lender as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to that Lender for that financial year).

 

107


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 Loan 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 percentages of each Lender for the purpose of E above shall be determined by the Agent based upon the information supplied to it pursuant to paragraphs 6 and 7 above and on the assumption that, unless the Lender notifies the 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 Loan Office in the same jurisdiction as in its Loan Office.

 

9 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 pursuant to paragraphs 3, 6 and 7 above is true and correct in all respects.

 

10 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 pursuant to paragraphs 3, 6 and 7 above.

 

11 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.

 

12 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.

 

108


Schedule 7

Contract Instalments and Repayment Profile

Part A

 

Installment

  

Initiating Event

   % of Contract Price  

First

   December 29, 2007      10 %  

Second

   June 18, 2009      10 %  

Third

   The later of the actual date of keel-laying and February 28, 2011      10 %  

Fourth

   The later of the actual date of launching and April 30, 2011      10 %  

Final

   At Delivery and upon execution of the Acceptance      60 %  

 

109


Part B

 

       Outstanding      Repayment Amnt      Repayment %  
  Closing         92,400,000         
  1         0.63% 91,080,000         1,320,000         1.429%   
  2         0.64%   89,741,000         1,339,000         1.449%   
  3         0.65% 88,380,000         1,361,000         1.473%   
  4         0.66% 86,999,000         1,381,000         1.495%   
  5         0.67% 85,597,000         1,402,000         1.517%   
  6         0.68%   84,174,000         1,423,000         1.540%   
  7         0.69% 82,729,000         1,445,000         1.564%   
  8         0.70% 81,262,000         1,467,000         1.588%   
  9         0.71% 79,772,000         1,490,000         1.613%   
  10         0.72% 78,260,000         1,512,000         1.636%   
  11         0.73% 76,725,000         1535,000         1.661%   
  12         0.74% 75,166,000         1,559,000         1.687%   
  13         0.75% 73,584,000         1,582,000         1.712%   
  14         0.77% 71,977,000         1,607,000         1.739%   
  15         0.78% 70,346,000         1,631,000         1.765%   
  16         0.79% 68,690,000         1,656,000         1.792%   
  17         0.80% 67,009,000         1,681,000         1.819%   
  18         0.81% 65,302,000         1,707,000         1.847%   
  19         0.83% 63,569,000         1,733,000         1.876%   
  20         0.84% 61,809,000         1,760,000         1.905%   
  21         0.85% 60,023,000         1,786,000         1.933%   
  22         0.86% 58,210,000         1,813,000         1.962%   
  23         0.88% 56,369,000         1,841,000         1.992%   
  24         0.89% 54,500,000         1,869,000         2.023%   
  25         0.90%   52,602,000         1,898,000         2.054%   
  26         0.92% 50,676,000         1,926,000         2.084%   
  27         0.93% 48,720,000         1,956,000         2.117%   
  28         0.95% 46,734,000         1,986,000         2.149%   
  29         0.96% 44,718,000         2,016,000         2.182%   
  30         0.97% 42,671,000         2,047,000         2.215%   
  31         0.99% 40,593,000         2,078,000         2.249%   
  32         1.00% 38,483,000         2,110,000         2.284%   
  33         1.02% 36,341,000         2,142,000         2.318%   
  34         1.04% 34,167,000         2,174,000         2.353%   
  35         1.05% 31,959,000         2,208,000         2.390%   
  36         1.07% 29,718,000         2,241,000         2.425%   
  37         1.08% 27,442,000         2,276,000         2.463%   
  38         1.10% 25,132,000         2,310,000         2.500%   
  39         1.12% 22,786,000         2,346,000         2.539%   
  40         1.13% 20,405,000         2,381,000         2.577%   
  41         1.15% 17,987,000         2,418,000         2.617%   
  42         1.17% 15,533,000         2,454,000         2.656%   
  43         1.19% 13,041,000         2,492,000         2.697%   
  44         1.20% 10,511,000         2,530,000         2.738%   
  45         1.22% 7,943,000         2,568,000         2.779%   
  46         1.24% 5,335,000         2,608,000         2.823%   
  47         1.26% 2,688,000         2,647,000         2.865%   
  48         1.28% 0         2,688,000         2.909%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     44.00%         
           100.000%   

 

110


Schedule 8

Form of Compliance Certificate

 

To: BNP Paribas S.A. (the “ Agent ”)

From: [ ] (the “[ ]”)

Date: [ Ÿ ]

Dear Sirs,

We refer to an agreement (the “ Agreement ”) dated                         and made between (1) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 of the Agreement as lenders and swap providers, (2) yourselves as Agent (3) yourselves as Security Trustee and (4) yourselves as KEIC Agent (as from time to time amended, varied, novated or supplemented).

Terms defined or construed in the Agreement have the same meanings and constructions in this Certificate.

We attach the relevant calculation details applicable to the last four (4) financial quarters ending [•] (the “ Relevant Period ”) which confirm that:-

 

1 The average DSCR in respect of the immediately preceding four (4) financial quarters [was/was not] equal to or greater than1:10x. Therefore the condition contained in clause 9.1.21 9.1.19 of the Agreement [has/has not] been complied with in respect of the Relevant Period.

 

2 The average DSCR in respect of the immediately preceding two (2) financial quarters [was at all times equal to or greater than/fell below] 1.06x. Therefore the condition contained in clause 9.1.21 9.1.19 of the Agreement [has/has not] been complied with.

 

3 The Leverage Ratio for the immediately preceding four (4) financial quarters did not exceed 4:1. Therefore, the contained in clause 9.1.21 9. 1.19 of the Agreement [has/has not] been complied with

Signed:                                                  

Duly authorised representative of

MiNT LNG IV, LTD

 

111


Exhibit A

MiNT LNG I Long Form Confirmation Letters between the Borrower and BNP Paribas S.A. dated 20 August 2008 and 28 August 2008

MiNT LNG II Long Form Confirmation Letters between the Borrower and BNP Paribas S.A. dated 20 August 2008 and 28 August 2008

MiNT LNG III Long Form Confirmation Letters between the Borrower and BNP Paribas S.A. dated 22 August 2008 and 29 August 2008

MiNT LNG IV Long-Form Confirmation Letters Letter between the Borrower and BNP Paribas S.A. dated 22 August 2 October 2008 and 29 August as amended on 9 October 2008

 

112


IN WITNESS of which the parties to this Agreement have executed this Agreement the day and year first before written.

 

SIGNED by

   )   

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of MiNT LNG IV, LTD.

   )   

SIGNED by

   )   

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of BNP PARIBAS S.A. (as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

SIGNED by

   )   

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of CALYON (as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

SIGNED by

   )   

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of DNB NOR BANK ASA (as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

SIGNED by

   )   

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of SOCIETE GENERALE

   )   

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

SIGNED by

   )   

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.

   )   

(as a Lender and a Swap Provider)

   )   

SIGNED by

   )   

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION

   )   

BRUSSELS BRANCH

   )   

(as a Lender)

   )   

SIGNED by

   )   

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of SMBC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

   )   

(as a Swap Provider)

   )   

SIGNED by

   )   

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of BNP PARIBAS S.A.

   )   

(as Agent)

   )   

 

113


SIGNED by

     )      

duly authorised for and on behalf

     )      

of BNP PARIBAS S.A.

     )      

(as the Security Trustee)

     )      

SIGNED by

     )      

duly authorised for and on behalf

     )      

of BNP PARIBAS S.A.

     )      

(as the KEIC Agent)

     )      

 

114

Exhibit 4.23

DATED 17 February 2012

MALT LNG HOLDINGS APS

(as Borrower)

- and -

THE VARIOUS LENDERS

(as Lenders)

- and -

DNB BANK ASA

ABN AMRO BANK N.V.

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS LIMITED

(as Bookrunners and Mandated Lead Arrangers)

- and -

DEVELOPMENT BANK OF JAPAN INC.

(as Arranger)

- and -

DNB BANK ASA

(as Agent)

 

 

US$553,280,000

LOAN AGREEMENT

 

 

 

LOGO


CONTENTS

 

     Page  

1 Definitions and Interpretation

     2   

2 The Loan and its Purposes

     21   

3 Conditions of Utilisation

     21   

4 Advance

     23   

5 Repayment

     24   

6 Prepayment

     24   

7 Interest

     27   

8 Indemnities

     30   

9 Fees

     36   

10 Security and Application of Moneys

     36   

11 Representations and Warranties

     38   

12 Undertakings and Covenants

     45   

13 Events of Default

     56   

14 Assignment and Sub-Participation

     62   

15 The Agent and the Lenders

     65   

16 Set-Off

     74   

17 Payments

     74   

18 Notices

     76   

19 Partial Invalidity

     78   

20 Remedies and Waivers

     79   

21 Miscellaneous

     79   


22 Law and Jurisdiction

     80   

SCHEDULE 1: The Lenders and the Commitments

     82   

SCHEDULE 2: Conditions Precedent and Subsequent

     83   

Part I: Conditions precedent to service of Drawdown Notice

     83   

Part II: Conditions precedent to the Drawdown Date

     86   

Part III: Conditions subsequent to the Drawdown Date

     89   

Part IV: Conditions precedent to the disbursement of the Loan

     90   

Part V: Conditions subsequent to the disbursement of the Loan

     92   

SCHEDULE 3: The Vessels

     94   

SCHEDULE 4: Calculation of Mandatory Cost

     95   

SCHEDULE 5: Form of Drawdown Notice

     97   

SCHEDULE 6: Form of Transfer Certificate

     98   


LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated: 17 February 2012

BETWEEN:

 

(1) MALT LNG HOLDINGS APS, a limited liability company formed and existing under the laws of Denmark whose registered office is at c/o Plesner Advokatfirma, Amerika Plads 37,2100 København Ø, Denmark (the “Borrower”); and

 

(2) the banks listed in Schedule 1, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 (together the “Lenders” and each a “Lender”); and

 

(3) DNB BANK ASA of 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166-0396, U.S.A., ABN AMRO BANK N.V., registered at Gustav Mahlerlaan 10, 1082 PP, Amsterdam, The Netherlands acting through its office at Coolsingel 93, 3012 AE Rotterdam, The Netherlands and CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS LIMITED of Citigroup Centre, Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5LB, United Kingdom, acting as mandated lead arrangers (in that capacity each an “MLA” and together the “MLAs”); and

 

(4) DNB BANK ASA of 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166-0396, U.S.A., ABN AMRO BANK N.V., registered at Gustav Mahlerlaan 10, 1082 PP, Amsterdam, The Netherlands acting through its office at Coolsingel 93, 3012 AE Rotterdam, The Netherlands and CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS LIMITED of Citigroup Centre, Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5LB, United Kingdom, acting as bookrunners (in that capacity each a “Bookrunner” and together the “Bookrunners”); and

 

(5) DEVELOPMENT BANK OF JAPAN INC. of 9-1, Otemachi 1-Chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan acting as arranger (in that capacity the “Arranger”); and

 

(6) DNB BANK ASA, acting as agent and security trustee (in that capacity the “ Agent ”).

WHEREAS:

Each of the Lenders has agreed to advance to the Borrower its Commitment (aggregating, with all the other Commitments, an amount not exceeding the Maximum Amount to assist the Borrower in (i) purchasing shares in the Target and (ii) refinancing of loans at the level of the Target and/or any of its Subsidiaries.


IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1 Definitions and Interpretation

 

  1.1 In this Agreement:

“Account Holder” means DNB Bank ASA in its capacity as account bank.

“Accounts” means the Earnings Account, the Vessel Earnings Accounts and the Equity Account.

“Account Security” means the charges over the Accounts granted or to be granted by the Borrower, the Vessel Owners and the Guarantor respectively to the Agent, referred to in Clause 10.1.5.

“Acquisition” means the acquisition by the Borrower of the shares in the Target on the terms of the SPA.

“Acquisition Price” means the price to be paid by the Borrower to the Seller under the terms of the SPA including, for the avoidance of doubt, an amount equal to the Existing Intercompany Debt to be repaid to the Seller at the time of Closing (as defined in the SPA).

Affiliate ” means, in relation to any entity, a Subsidiary of that entity, a Holding Company of that entity or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company.

“Antisocial Forces” means:

 

  (a) an organized crime group (boryokudan) (as defined under Article 2, item 1 of the Japanese Act on Prevention of Unjust Acts by Organized Crime Group Members);

 

  (b) a member of an organized crime group ( boryokudan in );

 

  (c) an individual who was a member of an organized crime group within the preceding five years;

 

  (d) a quasi-member of an organized crime group (boryokudan junkoseiin) including individuals who are not members of an organized crime group but who maintain relationships with an organized crime group and who may (i) imply its influence to engage in violent and unlawful activity, or (ii) cooperate in the maintenance and operation of an organized crime group;

 

2


  (e) a company (bouryokudan kankei kigyo) or association (boryokudan kanren gaisha) that is (i) related to an organized crime group, (ii) managed by present or former members or quasi-members of an organized crime group, or (iii) which actively cooperates with or provides benefits to an organized crime group;

 

  (f) a corporate extortionist and any other advocator of social activism (shakaiundoutou hyoubou goro) or a racketeer or blackmailer (sokaiya) adopting social special intellectual violence group (tokushu chinou boryoku shudan); or

 

  (g) any persons similar to those listed in the foregoing.

“Approved Brokers” means Clarksons, Fearnleys, RS Platou or such other reputable and independent consultancy or ship broker firm approved by the Agent.

“Approved Charterers” means (i) each entity that is currently a charterer under a Charter and (ii) any other entity reasonably approved by the Majority Lenders.

“Approved Manager” means:

 

  (a) for the period from the Drawdown Date to the date falling six (6) months thereafter, (i) Teekay Shipping Limited or (ii) the Target; and

 

  (b) throughout the Facility Period, (i) the Guarantor, (ii) Teekay Corporation, (iii) a Subsidiary of the Guarantor or Teekay Corporation or (iv) any other entity reasonably approved by the Majority Lenders.

“Assignments” means the deeds of assignment of the Earnings, Insurances and Requisition Compensation of each of the Vessels referred to in Clause 10.1.2.

the “Attributable Amount”, in relation to any Vessel and at any time, means the amount which is obtained by dividing the Index Amount of that Vessel by the sum of the Index Amounts of the Vessels then owned by the Vessel Owners, and multiplying the result by the amount of the Loan outstanding at that time.

 

3


“Authorisation” means an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration.

“Break Costs” means all sums payable by the Borrower from time to time under Clause 8.3.

Business Day ” means a day on which banks are open for business of a nature contemplated by this Agreement (and not authorised by law to close) in New York, London, Amsterdam, Vancouver, Tokyo and any other financial centre which the Agent may reasonably consider appropriate for the operation of the provisions of this Agreement.

“Charters means:

 

  (a) for m.v. “MAERSK MERIDIAN”, a charterparty dated 9 December 2011 made between the relevant Vessel Owner (as owner) and Total E&P Norge AS (as charterer);

 

  (b) for m.v. “WOODSIDE DONALDSON”, a charterparty dated 10 September 2007 originally made between A. P. Møller Singapore Pte. Ltd. (as owner) and Pluto LNG Pty Ltd (as charterer) and as amended by a shipping side letter, addendum no. 1 dated 13 December 2007 and amendment no. 1 dated 23 December 2008 and as novated pursuant to a novation agreement dated 31 August 2010 made between A. P. Møller Singapore Pte. Ltd. (as original owner), Pluto LNG Pty. Ltd. (as charterer) and the relevant Vessel Owner (as new owner);

 

  (c) for m.v. “MAERSK ARWA”, a charterparty dated 20 January 2006 made originally between A. P. Møller-Mærsk A/S (as owner) and Yemen LNG Company Limited (as charterer) as novated pursuant to a novation agreement dated 29 October 2007 made between A.P. Møller-Mærsk A/S (as original owner), the relevant Vessel Owner (as new owner) and Yemen LNG Company Limited (as charterer) and as further amended by addendum no. 1 dated 25 April 2009 and addendum no 2 dated 7 October 2009;

 

4


  (d) for m.v. “MAERSK MARIB”, a charterparty dated 10 January 2006 made originally between A. P. Møller–Mærsk A/S (as owner) and Yemen LNG Company Limited (as charterer) as novated pursuant to a novation agreement dated 12 July 2007 made between A. P. Møller–Mærsk A/S (as original owner), the relevant Vessel Owner (as new owner) and Yemen LNG Company Limited (as charterer);

 

  (e) for m.v. “MAERSK MAGELLAN”, a charterparty dated 20 January 2011 made between the relevant Vessel Owner and Qatar Gas Transport Company Limited (Nakilat) (Q.S.C.);

 

  (f) for m.v. “MAERSK METHANE”, both (i) a charterparty dated 28 June 2010 made originally between The Maersk Company Limited (as original owner) and Repsol Comercializadora de Gas S.A. (as charterer) as novated pursuant to a novation agreement dated 30 September 2011 made between The Maersk Company Limited (as original owner) the relevant Vessel Owner (as new owner) and Repsol Comercializadora de Gas S.A. (as charterer) and (ii) a charterparty dated 16 December 2011 made between the relevant Vessel Owner and BP Shipping Ltd as agents to BP Gas Marketing Ltd,

and shall include, in the case of each such Charter, a consent and amendment agreement (howsoever described) where relevant consenting to the transfer of the ultimate beneficial ownership of the relevant Vessel Owner.

“Commitment” means, in relation to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Loan which that Lender agrees to advance to the Borrower as its several liability as indicated against the name of that Lender in Schedule 1 and/or, where the context permits, the amount of the Loan advanced by that Lender and remaining outstanding and “Commitments” means more than one of them.

“Commitment Commission” means the commitment commission to be paid by the Borrower to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders pursuant to Clause 9.1.

“Currency of Account” means, in relation to any payment to be made to a Finance Party under a Finance Document, the currency in which that payment is required to be made by the terms of that Finance Document.

 

5


“Deed of Coordination and Trust” means the deed dated on or about the date hereof and made between (1) the Borrower, (2) DNB Bank ASA as security trustee for the Lenders and the Lenders (as defined in the Marubeni Bank Loan Agreement), (3) the Agent, (4) Mizuho, (5) the Lenders and (6) the Lenders (as defined in the Marubeni Bank Loan Agreement).

“Default” means an Event of Default or any event or circumstance specified in Clause 13.1 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.

“Default Rate” means interest paid at the rate set out in Clause 7.8.

“DOC” means, in relation to the ISM Company, a valid Document of Compliance issued for the ISM Company by the Administration under paragraph 13.2 of the ISM Code.

“Dollars”, “US$” and “$” each means available and freely transferable and convertible funds in lawful currency of the United States of America.

“Drawdown Date” means the date on which the Loan is advanced under Clause 4.

“Drawdown Notice” means a notice substantially in the form set out in Schedule 5.

“Earnings” means all hires, freights, pool income and other sums payable to or for the account of the Vessel Owners in respect of the Vessels including (without limitation) all remuneration for salvage and towage services, demurrage and detention moneys, contributions in general average, compensation in respect of any requisition for hire, and damages and other payments (whether awarded by any court or arbitral tribunal or by agreement or otherwise) for breach, termination or variation of any contract for the operation, employment or use of the Vessels.

“Earnings Account” means account no 25336001 held by the Borrower with the Account Holder.

 

6


“Encumbrance” means a mortgage, charge, assignment, pledge, lien, or other security interest securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect.

“Environmental Affiliate” means an agent or employee of a Vessel Owner or a person in a contractual relationship with a Vessel Owner in respect of its Vessel (including without limitation, the operation of or the carriage of cargo of the Vessel).

“Environmental Approvals” means any present or future permit, licence, approval, ruling, variance, exemption or other authorisation required under the applicable Environmental Laws.

“Environmental Claim” means any and all enforcement, clean-up, removal, administrative, governmental, regulatory or judicial actions, orders, demands or investigations instituted or completed pursuant to any Environmental Laws or Environmental Approvals together with any claims made by any third person relating to damage, contribution, loss or injury resulting from any Environmental Incident.

“Environmental Incident” means:

 

  (a) any release of Environmentally Sensitive Material from any Vessel; or

 

  (b) any incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released from a vessel other than a Vessel and which involves a collision between a Vessel and such other vessel or some other incident of navigation or operation, in either case, in connection with which a Vessel is actually or potentially liable to be arrested, attached, detained or injuncted and/or where any guarantor, any manager (or any sub-manager of a Vessel) or any of its officers, employees or other persons retained or instructed by it (or such sub-manager) are at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action; or

 

  (c) any other incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released otherwise than from a Vessel and in connection with which a Vessel is actually or potentially liable to be arrested and/or where any guarantor, any manager (or any sub-manager of a Vessel) or any of its officers, employees or other persons retained or instructed by it (or such sub-manager) are at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action.

 

7


“Environmental Laws” means all present and future laws, regulations, treaties and conventions of any applicable jurisdiction which:

 

  (a) have as a purpose or effect the protection of, and/or prevention of harm or damage to, the environment;

 

  (b) relate to the carriage of Environmentally Sensitive Material or to actual or threatened releases of Environmentally Sensitive Material;

 

  (c) provide remedies or compensation for harm or damage to the environment; or

 

  (d) relate to Environmentally Sensitive Materials or health or safety matters.

“Environmentally Sensitive Material” means (i) oil and oil products and (ii) any other waste, pollutant, contaminant or other substance (including any liquid, solid, gas, ion, living organism or noise) that may be harmful to human health or other life or the environment or a nuisance to any person or that may make the enjoyment, ownership or other territorial control of any affected land, property or waters more costly for such person to a material degree.

“Equity Account” means account no 22592002 held by the Guarantor with the Account Holder.

“Event of Default” means any of the events or circumstances set out in Clause 13.1.

“Execution Date” means the date on which this Agreement is executed by each of the parties hereto.

“Existing Intercompany Debt” means the intergroup accounts which are specified in Clause 7.1(h) of the SPA as notified by the Seller to the Borrower.

“Facility” means the credit facility made available by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

 

8


“Facility Office” means:

 

  (a) in respect of a Lender, the office or offices notified by that Lender to the 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 or offices through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement; or

 

  (b) in respect of any other Finance Party, the office in the jurisdiction in which it is resident for tax purposes.

“Facility Period” means the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending on the date when the whole of the Indebtedness has been repaid in full and the Security Parties have ceased to be under any further actual or contingent liability to the Finance Parties under or in connection with the Finance Documents.

“Fee Letter” means the letters between the Borrower and the MLAs setting out any of the fees referred to in Clause 9.

“Final Availability Date” means the date falling ninety (90) days after the Execution Date or such later date as the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) may approve.

“Finance Documents” means this Agreement, the Security Documents, the Deed of Coordination and Trust, any Fee Letter and any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Borrower and “Finance Document” means any one of them.

“Finance Parties” means the Agent, the MLAs, the Bookrunners, the Arranger and the Lenders and “Finance Party” means any one of them.

“Financial Indebtedness” means any indebtedness for or in respect of:

 

  (a) moneys borrowed;

 

  (b) any amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit facility or dematerialised equivalent;

 

9


  (c) any amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, indentures, 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 amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing;

 

  (g) any derivative transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price (and, when calculating the value of any derivative transaction, only the marked to market value shall be taken into account);

 

  (h) any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial institution;

 

  (i) any amount raised by the issue of shares which are redeemable (other than at the option of the Borrower) prior to the Maturity Date;

 

  (j) any amount of any liability under an advance or deferred purchase agreement if one of the primary reasons behind the entry into the agreement is to raise finance; and

 

  (k) (without double counting) the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee or indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (a) to (j) above.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

“Group” means the Guarantor and each of its Subsidiaries.

“Guarantee” means the guarantee and indemnity referred to in Clause 10.1.3.

 

10


“Guarantor” means Teekay LNG Partners L.P., a partnership incorporated under the laws of the Marshall Islands.

“Guarantor’s Accounts” means the consolidated financial accounts of the Guarantor to be provided to the Agent pursuant to clause 3.1 of the Guarantee.

“Holding Company” means, in relation to any entity, any other entity in respect of which it is a Subsidiary.

“Indebtedness” means the aggregate from time to time of: the amount of the Loan outstanding; all accrued and unpaid interest on the Loan; and all other sums of any nature (together with all accrued and unpaid interest on any of those sums) which from time to time may be payable by the Borrower to any of the Finance Parties under all or any of the Finance Documents.

“Index Amount”, in relation to any Vessel, means the number indicated against the name of that Vessel in Schedule 3.

“Insurances” means all policies and contracts of insurance (including all entries in protection and indemnity or war risks associations) which are from time to time taken out or entered into in respect of or in connection with the Vessels or their increased value and (where the context permits) all benefits under such contracts and policies, including all claims of any nature and returns of premium.

“Intercompany Loan” means the loan made or to be made available by the Borrower to the Target under the Intercompany Loan Agreement.

“Intercompany Loan Agreement” means the agreement made or to be made between the Borrower and the Target relating to the Intercompany Loan.

“Intercompany Loan Assignment” means the assignment of the benefit of the Intercompany Loan referred to in Clause 10.1.1.

“Interest Payment Date” means each date for the payment of interest in accordance with Clause 7.7.

“Interest Period” means each period for the payment of interest selected by the Borrower or agreed by the Agent pursuant to Clause 7.

 

11


“ISM Code” means the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention.

“ISM Company” means, at any given time, the company responsible for a Vessel’s compliance with the ISM Code under paragraph 1.1.2 of the ISM Code.

“ISPS Code” means the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.

“ISPS Company” means, at any given time, the company responsible for a Vessel’s compliance with the ISPS Code.

“ISSC” means a valid international ship security certificate for a Vessel issued under the ISPS Code.

“law” or “Law” means any law, statute, treaty, convention, regulation, instrument or other subordinate legislation or other legislative or quasi-legislative rule or measure, or any order or decree of any government, judicial or public or other body or authority, or any directive, code of practice, circular, guidance note or other direction issued by any competent authority or agency (whether or not having the force of law).

“LIBOR” means:

 

  (a) the applicable Screen Rate; or

 

  (b) (if no Screen Rate is available for any Interest Period) the rate (rounded upwards to four decimal places) as supplied to the Agent at its request offered by the Reference Banks to leading banks in the London interbank market,

at 11.00 a.m. London time two (2) Business Days before the first day of the relevant Interest Period for the offering of deposits in Dollars in an amount comparable to the Loan (or any relevant part of the Loan) and for a period comparable to the relevant Interest Period, provided that if any such rate is below zero, LIBOR will be deemed to be zero.

“Loan” means the aggregate amount advanced or to be advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower under Clause 4 (being the aggregate of Tranche A and Tranche B) or, where the context permits, the amount advanced and for the time being outstanding.

 

12


“Majority Lenders” means a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than sixty six and two thirds per cent (66 2/3%) of the aggregate of all the Commitments.

“Mandatory Cost” means the percentage rate per annum calculated by the Agent in accordance with Schedule 4.

“Margin” means:

 

  (a) for the period from the Execution Date until the date falling twelve (12) months after the Execution Date, two point four per cent (2.4%) per annum; and

 

  (b) thereafter for the remainder of the Facility Period, three per cent (3.0%) per annum.

“Marubeni” means Marubeni Corporation of 4-2. Ohtemachi 1—chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100—8088, Japan.

“Marubeni Bank Loan” means the loan of up to five hundred and ten million seven hundred and twenty thousand Dollars ($510,720,000) to be made available to the Borrower by a group of banks for whom Mizuho acts as agent under the Marubeni Bank Loan Agreement.

“Marubeni Bank Loan Agreement” means the agreement dated on or about the date hereof between Mizuho and certain other banks and the Borrower governing the terms of the Marubeni Bank Loan.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect on:

 

  (a) the financial condition, assets or business of any Security Party or on the consolidated financial condition, assets or business of the Group;

 

13


  (b) the ability of any Security Party to perform and comply with its obligations under any Relevant Document or to avoid any Event of Default;

 

  (c) the validity, legality or enforceability of any Security Document; or

 

  (d) the validity, legality or enforceability of any security expressed to be created pursuant to any Security Document or the priority and ranking of any such security,

provided that, in determining whether any of the forgoing circumstances shall constitute such a material adverse change or material adverse effect for the purposes of this definition, the Finance Parties shall consider such circumstance in the context of (x) the Group taken as a whole and (y) the ability of the Security Parties to perform each of their obligations under the Security Documents.

“Material Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Guarantor whose assets, as determined in accordance with GAAP and as shown from the most recent financial statements available to the Agent relating to it, as multiplied by the Relevant Percentage in respect of such Subsidiary, equal or exceed 10% of the aggregate value of the assets of the Group as determined in accordance with GAAP and as shown from the most recently available financial statements of the Group,

provided that:

 

  (i) in respect of any Subsidiary of the Guarantor, only the value of its assets as multiplied by the Relevant Percentage in respect of such Subsidiary shall be taken into account in the computation of the value of the assets of the Group;

 

  (ii) a statement by the auditors of the Guarantor to the effect that, in their opinion, a Subsidiary of the Guarantor is or is not or was or was not at any particular time a Material Subsidiary shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on each of the parties to this Agreement.

 

14


“Maturity Date” means 6 August 2013 or, in the event that this day is not a Business Day, the last Business Day preceding 6 August 2013.

“Maximum Amount” shall mean the lesser of (a) five hundred and fifty three million two hundred and eighty thousand Dollars ($553,280,000) and (b) an amount equal to fifty two percent (52%) times eighty percent (80%) of the Acquisition Price.

“Mizuho” means Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd of 2-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8333, Japan.

“Necessary Authorisations” means all Authorisations of any person including any government or other regulatory authority required by applicable Law to enable it to:

 

  (a) lawfully enter into and perform its obligations under the Security Documents to which it is party;

 

  (b) ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence in England and, if different, its jurisdiction of incorporation, of such Security Documents to which it is party; and

 

  (c) carry on its business from time to time.

“Negative Pledges” means the negative pledges from the Target referred to in Clause 10.1.4.

“Party” means a party to this Agreement.

“Permitted Encumbrance” means (i) any Encumbrance which has the prior written approval of the Agent acting on the instructions of all the Lenders or (ii) any liens for current crews’ wages and salvage and liens incurred in the ordinary course of trading a Vessel up to an aggregate amount at any time not exceeding ten million Dollars ($10,000,000).

“Pledgor” means Teekay Luxembourg S.a.r.l, a company incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg with registered office at la, rue Thomas Edison, L-1445 Strassen, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

 

15


“Pre-Approved Classification Society” means any of Det norske Veritas, Lloyds Register, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Germanischer Lloyd or Bureau Veritas or such other classification society acceptable to the Majority Lenders.

“Pre-Approved Flag” means Danish International Ship Registry, Marshall Islands, Norwegian International Ship Registry, Liberia, Panama, Isle of Man, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Bahamas or Singapore.

“Proportionate Share” means, at any time, the proportion which a Lender’s Commitment (whether or not advanced) then bears to the aggregate Commitments of all the Lenders (whether or not advanced) being on the Execution Date the percentage indicated against the name of that Lender in Schedule 1.

“Protected Party” means a Finance Party 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 required or receivable (or any sum deemed for the purpose of Tax to be received or receivable) under a Finance Document.

“Reference Banks” means each of the MLAs or such other banks as may be appointed by the Agent in consultation with the Borrower.

“Relevant Documents” means the Finance Documents, the SPA, the Intercompany Loan Agreement, the Marubeni Bank Loan Agreement, all security documents under the Marubeni Bank Loan Agreement, the Structure Chart and the Shareholders Agreement.

“Relevant Percentage” means, in respect of any Subsidiary of the Guarantor at any time, the percentage of the equity share capital or the partnership capital, as the case may be, of such Subsidiary which is beneficially owned (free from Encumbrances) by the Guarantor at such time.

“Requisition Compensation” means all compensation or other money which may from time to time be payable to a Vessel Owner as a result of a Vessel being requisitioned for title or in any other way compulsorily acquired (other than by way of requisition for hire).

 

16


“Screen Rate” means in relation to LIBOR, the British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rate for the relevant currency and period displayed on the appropriate page of the Reuters page LIBOR 01 (or such other page or pages which replace(s) such page for the purposes of displaying offered rates of leading banks, for deposits in Dollars of amounts equal to the amount of the Loan for a period equal in length to the relevant Interest Period.

“Security Documents” means the Intercompany Loan Assignment, the Assignments, the Guarantee, the Shares Pledge, the Target Shares Pledge, the Negative Pledges and the Account Security or (where the context permits) any one or more of them and any other agreement or document which may at any time be executed by any person as security for the payment of all or any part of the Indebtedness and “Security Document” means any one of them.

“Security Parties” means at any relevant time, the Borrower, the Guarantor, the Pledgor, the Target, the Vessel Owners and any other person who may at any time during the Facility Period be liable for, or provide security for, all or any part of the Indebtedness, and “Security Party” means any one of them.

“Seller” means A.P. Møller-Mærsk A/S of Esplanaden 50, DK-1263 Copenhagen K, Denmark.

“Shareholders Agreement” means the agreement made between the Pledgor, Scarlet LNG Transport Co. Ltd., Teekay LNG Operating LLC, Marubeni and the Borrower regulating the operation and control of the Borrower.

“Shares Pledge” means the pledge of shares granted or to be granted by the Pledgor in favour of the Finance Parties over the fifty two percent (52%) shareholding in the Borrower owned by the Pledgor, referred to in Clause 10.1.6, together with a side letter in relation to, inter alia, pre-emption rights contained in the Shareholder Agreement, to be signed by the Borrower and the parties to the Shareholders Agreement.

“SMC” means a valid safety management certificate issued for a Vessel by or on behalf of the Administration under paragraph 13.7 of the ISM Code.

“SMS” means a safety management system for a Vessel developed and implemented in accordance with the ISM Code.

 

17


“SPA” means the share purchase agreement dated 12 October 2011 and made between (1) the Seller and (2) the Borrower as novatee of Teekay LNG Operating L.L.C. and Marubeni.

“Structure Chart” means a structure chart relating to the Security Parties, Marubeni and the Target both before and after completion under the SPA.

“Subsidiary” means a subsidiary undertaking, as defined in section 1162 Companies Act 2006 or any analogous definition under any other relevant system of law.

“Target” means Maersk LNG A/S (to be renamed Malt LNG Transport ApS).

“Target Shares Pledge” means the pledge of shares granted or to be granted by the Borrower in favour of the Finance Parties over the one hundred percent (100%) shareholding in the Target owned by the Borrower, referred to in Clause 10.1.7.

“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) and “Taxation” shall be interpreted accordingly.

“Total Loss” means:

 

  (a) an actual, constructive, arranged, agreed or compromised total loss of a Vessel; or

 

  (b) the requisition for title or compulsory acquisition of a Vessel by any government or other competent authority (other than by way of requisition for hire); or

 

  (c) the capture, seizure, arrest, detention, hijacking, theft, condemnation as prize, confiscation or forfeiture of a Vessel (not falling within (b) above), unless that Vessel is released and returned to the possession of the relevant Vessel Owner within ninety (90) days after the capture, seizure, arrest, detention, hijacking, theft, condemnation as prize, confiscation or forfeiture in question.

 

18


“Tranche A” means that part of the Loan in an amount equal to fifty two percent (52%) of the Existing Intercompany Debt and to be used to refinance the Existing Intercompany Debt.

“Tranche B” means that part of the Loan in an amount equal to the Maximum Amount less Tranche A and to be used to finance the purchase of the shares in the Target under the SPA.

“Transfer Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 5 or any other form agreed between the Agent and the Borrower.

“Transfer Date” means, in relation to any Transfer Certificate, the date for the making of the Transfer specified in the schedule to such Transfer Certificate.

“Trust Property” means:

 

  (a) all benefits derived by the Agent from Clause 10; and

 

  (b) all benefits arising under (including, without limitation, all proceeds of the enforcement of) each of the Security Documents,

with the exception of any benefits arising solely for the benefit of the Agent.

“Valuation” means in relation to a Vessel, the written valuation of that Vessel expressed in Dollars prepared by one of the Approved Brokers to be nominated by the Borrower. Such valuations shall be prepared at the Borrower’s expense, without a physical inspection, on the basis of a sale for prompt delivery for cash at arm’s length between a willing buyer and a willing seller without the benefit of any charterparty or other engagement.

“VAT” means value added tax as provided for in the Value Added Tax Act 1994 and any other tax of a similar nature.

“Vessel Earnings Accounts” means the accounts to be opened by each Vessel Owner with the Account Holder within thirty (30) days of the Execution Date.

“Vessel Owners” means those companies (being subsidiaries of the Target) shown as owners of the Vessels in Schedule 3.

“Vessels” means each of the Vessels specified in Schedule 3.

 

19


  1.2 In this Agreement:

 

  1.2.1 words denoting the plural number include the singular and vice versa;

 

  1.2.2 words denoting persons include corporations, partnerships, associations of persons (whether incorporated or not) or governmental or quasi-governmental bodies or authorities and vice versa;

 

  1.2.3 references to Recitals, Clauses and Schedules are references to recitals, clauses and schedules to or of this Agreement;

 

  1.2.4 references to this Agreement include the Recitals and the Schedules;

 

  1.2.5 the headings and contents page(s) are for the purpose of reference only, have no legal or other significance, and shall be ignored in the interpretation of this Agreement;

 

  1.2.6 references to any document (including, without limitation, to all or any of the Relevant Documents) are, unless the context otherwise requires, references to that document as amended, supplemented, novated or replaced from time to time;

 

  1.2.7 references to statutes or provisions of statutes are references to those statutes, or those provisions, as from time to time amended, replaced or re-enacted;

 

  1.2.8 references to any Finance Party include its successors, transferees and assignees;

 

  1.2.9 a time of day (unless otherwise specified) is a reference to New York time;

 

  1.2.10 a “regulation” includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law) of any governmental, intergovernmental or supranational body, agency, department or of any regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation.

.

 

20


  1.3 Offer letter

This Agreement supersedes the terms and conditions contained in any correspondence relating to the subject matter of this Agreement exchanged between any Finance Party and the Borrower or their representatives prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

2 The Loan and its Purposes

 

  2.1 Amount Subject to the terms of this Agreement, each of the Lenders agrees to make available to the Borrower its Commitment of a Loan in an aggregate amount not exceeding the Maximum Amount.

 

  2.2 Finance Parties’ obligations 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 to the Finance Documents. No Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Finance Party under the Finance Documents.

 

  2.3 Purposes Tranche A shall be applied by the Borrower for the exclusive purpose of refinancing the Existing Intercompany Debt. Tranche B shall be applied by the Borrower for the exclusive purpose of financing the purchase of the shares in the Target.

 

  2.4 Monitoring No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any amount borrowed under this Agreement.

 

3 Conditions of Utilisation

 

  3.1 Conditions precedent to service of Drawdown Notice Before any Lender shall have any obligation to accept a Drawdown Notice under the Facility the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to or to the order of the Agent all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part I of Schedule 2.

 

  3.2 Further conditions precedent to service of Drawdown Notice The Lenders will only be obliged to accept any Drawdown Notice if on the date of the Drawdown Notice:

 

21


  3.2.1 no Default is continuing or would result from the advance of the Loan; and

 

  3.2.2 the representations made by the Borrower under Clause 11 (other than those at Clause 11.2 and 11.21) are true in all material respects.

 

  3.3 Conditions precedent to Drawdown Date Before any Lender shall have any obligation to advance the Loan under the Facility the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to or to the order of the Agent all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part II of Schedule 2.

 

  3.4 Further conditions precedent to Drawdown Date The Lenders will only be obliged to advance the Loan if on the proposed Drawdown Date:

 

  3.4.1 no Default is continuing or would result from the advance of the Loan; and

 

  3.4.2 the representations made by the Borrower under Clause 11 (other than those at Clauses 11.2 and 11.21) are true in all material respects.

 

  3.5 Conditions subsequent to Drawdown Date The Borrower undertakes to deliver or to cause to be delivered to the Agent within thirty (30) days after the Drawdown Date the additional documents and other evidence listed at items 1 and 2 in Part III of Schedule 2. The Borrower further undertakes to deliver or to cause to be delivered to the Agent within thirty (30) days after the Drawdown Date the additional documents and evidence listed at item 3 in Part III of Schedule 2.

 

  3.6 No Waiver If the Lenders in their sole discretion agree to advance the Loan before all of the documents and evidence required by Clause 3.3 have been delivered to or to the order of the Agent, the Borrower undertakes to deliver all outstanding documents and evidence to or to the order of the Agent no later than the date specified by the Agent.

The advance of all or any part of the Loan under this Clause 3.6 shall not be taken as a waiver of the Lenders’ right to require production of all the documents and evidence required by Clause 3.3.

 

  3.7 Conditions precedent to disbursement of the Loan The Borrower is not entitled to have the Loan disbursed to the Seller unless the Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part IV of Schedule 2, and the terms of Clause 3.4 are met on the date of disbursement.

 

22


  3.8 Conditions subsequent to disbursement of the Loan The Borrower undertakes to deliver or to cause to be delivered to the Agent (i) as soon as practicable after (and in any event on the same date as) the disbursement of the Loan, the additional documents and other evidence listed at items 1, 2, 3 and 6 in Part V of Schedule 2, (ii) as soon as practical after (and in any event on the next day after) the disbursement of the Loan, the additional documents and other evidence listed at item 8 in Part V of Schedule 2, and (iii) within thirty (30) days of the disbursement of the Loan, the additional documents and evidence listed at items 4, 5 and 7 of Part V of Schedule 2.

 

  3.9 No Waiver If the Lenders in their sole discretion agree to the disbursement of the Loan before all of the documents and evidence required by Clause 3.5 have been delivered to or to the order of the Agent, the Borrower undertakes to deliver all outstanding documents and evidence to or to the order of the Agent no later than the date specified by the Agent.

The disbursement of all or any part of the Loan under this Clause 3.7 shall not be taken as a waiver of the Lenders’ right to require production of all the documents and evidence required by Clause 3.5.

 

  3.10 Form and content All documents and evidence delivered to the Agent under this Clause 3 shall:

 

  3.10.1 be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders); and

 

  3.10.2 if reasonably required by the Agent, be certified, notarised, legalised or attested in a manner acceptable to the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders).

 

4 Advance

 

  4.1 Drawdown Request The Borrower may request the Loan to be advanced in one amount on any Business Day prior to the Final Availability Date by delivering to the Agent a duly completed Drawdown Notice not more than ten (10) and not fewer than five (5) Business Days before the proposed Drawdown Date.

 

23


  4.2 Lenders’ participation Subject to Clauses 2 and 3, the Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the receipt of the Drawdown Notice, following which each Lender shall advance its Proportionate Share of the Loan to the Borrower through the Agent on the Drawdown Date.

 

5 Repayment

The Borrower shall on the Maturity Date repay to the Agent as agent for the Lenders all of the Indebtedness.

 

6 Prepayment

 

  6.1 Illegality If it becomes unlawful in any jurisdiction for a Lender to fund or maintain its Commitment as contemplated by this Agreement or to fund or maintain the Loan:

 

  6.1.1 that Lender shall promptly notify the Agent of that event;

 

  6.1.2 upon the Agent notifying the Borrower, the Commitment of that Lender (to the extent not already advanced) will be immediately cancelled; and

 

  6.1.3 the Borrower shall repay that Lender’s Proportionate Share of the Loan on the last day of its current Interest Period or, if earlier, the date specified by that Lender in the notice delivered to the Agent and notified by the Agent to the Borrower (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law) and the Maximum Amount shall be reduced by the amount of that Lender’s Commitment in the Loan. Prior to the date on which repayment is required to be made under this Clause 6.1.3 the affected Lender shall negotiate in good faith with the Borrower to find an alternative method or lending base in order to maintain its Commitment in the Loan.

 

  6.2 Voluntary prepayment or cancellation of Loan The Borrower may prepay or cancel the whole or any part of the Loan (but, if in part, being an amount that reduces the Loan by a minimum amount of one million Dollars ($1,000,000)) provided that it gives the Agent not less than ten (10) Business Days’ prior notice. Any amount prepaid or cancelled shall not be available for further borrowing.

 

24


  6.3 Restrictions Any notice of prepayment or cancellation given under this Clause 6 shall be irrevocable and, unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, shall specify the date or dates upon which the relevant prepayment or cancellation is to be made and the amount of that prepayment or cancellation.

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.

If the Agent receives a notice under this Clause 6 it shall promptly forward a copy of that notice to the Borrower or the Lenders, as appropriate.

 

  6.4 Mandatory Prepayment

 

  6.4.1 In the event that a refinancing takes place of one or more of the Vessels, as a result of which the Lenders are requested to approve further exceptions to the terms of the Negative Pledges, a mandatory prepayment shall be made of the Attributable Amount relating to that Vessel provided and to the extent applicable mandatory law permits the relevant Vessel Owner to pay dividends, make loans or otherwise make distributions to the Borrower in an amount equal to such Attributable Amount.

 

  6.4.2 In the event of a sale or disposal of a Vessel (or of the shares in a Vessel Owner owning a Vessel) or the Agent having received not less than 5 Business Days’ notice from the Borrower requesting that the Assignment relating to a Vessel be released and discharged (a “Released Vessel”), a mandatory prepayment shall be made of the Attributable Amount applicable to that Vessel provided and to the extent applicable mandatory law permits the relevant Vessel Owner to pay dividends, make loans or otherwise make distributions to the Borrower in an amount equal to such Attributable Amount. Such prepayment shall be made on the date of a sale or disposal of such Vessel and in the case of a Released Vessel on the date proposed by the Borrower for release and discharge of the Assignment relating to that Vessel. Any such prepayment shall oblige the Borrower to make payment of all interest accrued on the amount so prepaid up to and including the date of prepayment together with any Break Costs in respect of such prepayment if the date of such prepayment is not the final day of an Interest Period.

 

25


  6.4.3 In the event that any Vessel becomes a Total Loss, on the earlier to occur of (a) the date of receipt of the proceeds of the Total Loss and (b) the date falling one hundred and eighty (180) days after the occurrence of the Total Loss, a mandatory prepayment shall be made of the Attributable Amount in respect of such Vessel provided and to the extent applicable mandatory law permits the relevant Vessel Owner to pay dividends, make loans or otherwise make distributions to the Borrower in an amount equal to such Attributable Amount. Any such prepayment shall oblige the Borrower to make payment of all interest accrued on the amount so prepaid up to and including the date of prepayment together with any Break Costs in respect of such prepayment if the date of such prepayment is not the final day of an Interest Period.

 

  6.4.4 In the event that

 

  (a) the Charter on any of the Vessels (other than “MAERSK MAGELLAN” or “MAERSK METHANE”) is cancelled prior to its expiry date; and

 

  (b) within one hundred and twenty days of such cancellation, the relevant Vessel Owner has not entered into a replacement charter for such Vessel with an Approved Charterer on terms reasonably acceptable to the Majority Lenders,

a mandatory prepayment shall, subject to applicable mandatory law, be made of the Attributable Amount in respect of such Vessel. Any such prepayment shall oblige the Borrower to make payment of all interest accrued on the amount so prepaid up to and including the date of prepayment together with any Break Costs in respect of such prepayment if the date of such prepayment is not the final day of an Interest Period.

 

26


  6.4.5 For the avoidance of doubt, if a mandatory prepayment is triggered under any of Clauses 6.4.1, 6.4.2, 6.4.3 or 6.4.4 and mandatory applicable law prevents payment being effected in the manner therein set forth, the relevant mandatory prepayment is still payable by the Borrower from other sources on the same dates and in the same amounts.

 

  6.4.6 Simultaneously with each prepayment in accordance with Clause 6.4.1, Clause 6.4.2, Clause 6.4.3, Clause 6.4.4 or Clause 6.4.5 (as the case may be), the Commitment of each Lender will reduce so that the Commitments of the Lenders in respect of the amended Maximum Amount remain in accordance with their respective Proportionate Shares.

 

  6.5 Any prepayment made in accordance with Clause 6.2 or Clause 6.4 shall be applied, subject to applicable mandatory law on financial assistance, first, to satisfy the Borrower’s obligations to repay Tranche B and, second, to satisfy the Borrower’s obligations to repay Tranche A.

 

7 Interest

 

  7.1 Interest Periods The period during which the Loan shall be outstanding under this Agreement shall be divided into consecutive Interest Periods of three or six months’ duration, as selected by the Borrower in the Drawdown Notice in respect of the first Interest Period and thereafter by written notice to the Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. on the third Business Day before the beginning of the Interest Period in question, or such other duration as may be agreed by the Agent (acting on the instructions of all the Lenders).

 

  7.2 Beginning and end of Interest Periods The first Interest Period in respect of the Loan shall begin on the Drawdown Date and shall end on the last day of the Interest Period selected in accordance with Clause 7.1. Any subsequent Interest Period selected in respect of the Loan shall commence on the day following the last day of its previous Interest Period and shall end on the last day of its current Interest Period selected in accordance with Clause 7.1.

 

  7.3 Interest Periods to meet Maturity Date If an Interest Period for the Loan would otherwise expire after the Maturity Date, the Interest Period for the Loan shall expire on the Maturity Date.

 

27


  7.4 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).

 

  7.5 Interest rate During each Interest Period interest shall accrue on the Loan at the rate determined by the Agent to be the aggregate of (a) the Margin, (b) LIBOR and (c) the Mandatory Cost, if applicable.

 

  7.6 Failure to select Interest Period If the Borrower at any time fails to select or agree an Interest Period in accordance with Clause 7.1, the interest period applicable shall be three (3) months.

 

  7.7 Accrual and payment of interest Interest shall accrue from day to day, shall be calculated on the basis of a 360 day year and the actual number of days elapsed (or, in any circumstance where market practice differs, in accordance with the prevailing market practice) and shall be paid by the Borrower to the Agent for the account of the Lenders 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 that Interest Period.

 

  7.8 Default interest 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, subject to any applicable grace period, up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which is one point five per cent (1.5%) higher than the rate which would have been payable. Any interest accruing under this Clause 7.8 shall be immediately payable by the Borrower on demand by the Agent. If unpaid, any such interest 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.

 

  7.9 Changes in market circumstances If at any time the Agent determines (which determination shall be final and conclusive and binding on the Borrower) that, by reason of changes affecting the London interbank market, adequate and fair means do not exist for determining the rate of interest on the Loan for any Interest Period:

 

28


  7.9.1 the Agent shall give notice to the Lenders and the Borrower of the occurrence of such event; and

 

  7.9.2 the rate of interest on each Lender’s Commitment in the Loan for that Interest Period shall be the rate per annum which is the sum of:

 

  (a) the Margin; and

 

  (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 Commitment in the Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select; and

 

  (c) the Mandatory Cost, if any, applicable to that Lender’s Commitment,

PROVIDED THAT if the resulting rate of interest on any Commitment is not acceptable to the Borrower:

 

  7.9.3 the Agent on behalf of the Lenders will negotiate with the Borrower in good faith with a view to modifying this Agreement to provide a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest which is financially a substantial equivalent to the basis provided for in this Agreement;

 

  7.9.4 any substitute basis agreed pursuant to Clause 7.9.3 shall be binding on all the parties to this Agreement and shall apply to all Commitments in the Loan; and

 

  7.9.5 if, within thirty (30) days of the giving of the notice referred to in Clause 7.9.1, the Borrower and the Agent fail to agree in writing on a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest in respect of the Loan, the relevant Lender shall cease to be obliged to advance its Proportionate Share of the Loan, but, if it has already been advanced, the Borrower will prepay that Proportionate Share of the Loan on the last day of the then current Interest Period, and the Loan shall be reduced by the amount of that Lender’s Proportionate Share.

 

29


  7.10 Determinations conclusive The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower of the determination of a rate of interest under this Clause 7 and each such determination shall (save in the case of manifest error) be final and conclusive.

 

8 Indemnities

 

  8.1 Transaction expenses The Borrower will, within fourteen (14) days of the Agent’s written demand, pay the Agent (for the account of the Finance Parties) the amount of all reasonable out of pocket costs and expenses (including legal fees and Value Added Tax or any similar or replacement tax if applicable) reasonably incurred by the Finance Parties or any of them in connection with:

 

  8.1.1 the negotiation, preparation, printing, execution and registration of the Finance Documents (whether or not any Finance Document is actually executed or registered and whether or not the Loan is advanced);

 

  8.1.2 any amendment, addendum or supplement to any Finance Document (whether or not completed); and

 

  8.1.3 any other document which may at any time be reasonably required by a Finance Party to give effect to any Finance Document or which a Finance Party is entitled to call for or obtain under any Finance Document.

 

  8.2 Funding costs The Borrower shall indemnify each Finance Party, by payment to the Agent (for the account of that Finance Party) on the Agent’s written demand, against all losses and costs incurred or sustained by that Finance Party if, for any reason due to a default or other action by the Borrower, the Loan is not advanced to the Borrower after the Drawdown Notice has been given to the Agent, or is advanced on a date other than that requested in the Drawdown Notice.

 

  8.3 Break Costs The Borrower shall indemnify each Finance Party, by payment to the Agent (for the account of that Finance Party) on the Agent’s written demand, against all documented costs, losses, premiums or penalties incurred by that Finance Party as a result of its receiving any prepayment of all or any part of the Loan (whether pursuant to Clause 6 or otherwise) on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for the Loan, or any other payment under or in relation to the Finance Documents on a day other than the due date for payment of the sum in question, including (without limitation) any losses or costs incurred in liquidating or re-employing deposits from third parties acquired to effect or maintain all or any part of the Loan.

 

30


  8.4 Currency indemnity In the event of a Finance Party receiving or recovering any amount payable under a Finance Document in a currency other than the Currency of Account, and if the amount received or recovered is insufficient when converted into the Currency of Account at the date of receipt to satisfy in full the amount due, the Borrower shall, on the Agent’s written demand, pay to the Agent for the account of the relevant Finance Party such further amount in the Currency of Account as is sufficient to satisfy in full the amount due and that further amount shall be due to the Agent on behalf of the relevant Finance Party as a separate debt under this Agreement.

 

  8.5 Other Indemnities

 

  (a) The Borrower shall (or shall procure that a Security Party will), within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability incurred by it as a result of:

 

  (i) a failure by a Security Party 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 15.16;

 

  (ii) the Loan (or part of the Loan) not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of prepayment given by the Borrower.

 

  (b) The Borrower shall promptly indemnify each Finance Party, each Affiliate of a Finance Party and each officer or employee of a Finance Party or its Affiliate, against any cost, loss or liability incurred by that Finance Party or its Affiliate (or officer or employee of that Finance Party or Affiliate) in connection with or arising out of the Acquisition or the funding of the Acquisition (including but not limited to those incurred in connection with any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings or regulatory enquiry concerning the Acquisition), unless such loss or liability is caused by the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of that Finance Party or its Affiliate (or employee or officer of that Finance Party or Affiliate). Any Affiliate or any officer or employee of a Finance Party or its Affiliate may rely on this Clause 8.5.

 

31


  8.6 Increased costs

 

  (a) Subject to Clause 8.8 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 (including the implementation or application of or compliance with Basel III (whether such implementation, application or compliance is by any central or any fiscal, monetary or other authority, a Finance Party or the holding company of a Finance Party)).

 

  (b) In this Agreement “Increased Costs” means:

 

  (i) a reduction in the rate of return from the Loan 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.

 

  8.7 Increased cost claims

 

  (a) A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 8.6 shall notify the Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower.

 

  (b) Each Finance Party shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Increased Costs.

 

32


For the purposes of Clause 8.6:

“Basel III ” means (a) the agreements on capital requirements, a leverage ratio and liquidity standards contained in “Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems”, “Basel III: International framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring” and “Guidance for national authorities operating the countercyclical capital buffer” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010, each as amended, supplemented or restated and (b) any further guidance or standards published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision relating to “Basel III”; and

“holding company” means, in respect of a Finance Party, the company or entity (if any) within the consolidated supervision of which that Finance Party is included.

 

  8.8 Exceptions to increased costs Clause 8.6 does not apply to the extent any Increased Costs is:

 

  8.8.1 compensated for by a payment made under Clause 8.11; or

 

  8.8.2 compensated for by a payment made under Clause 17.3; or

 

  8.8.3 compensated for by the payment of the Mandatory Cost; or

 

  8.8.4 attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Finance Party (or the holding company of that Finance Party) of any law or regulation; or

 

  8.8.5 attributable to the implementation or application of, or compliance with, the “International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards, a Revised Framework” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in June 2004 in the form existing on the date of this Agreement (but excluding any amendment arising out of Basel III) (“Basel II”) or any other law or regulation which implements Basel II (whether such implementation, application or compliance is by a government, regulator, the relevant Finance Party or any holding company of the relevant Finance Party).

 

  8.9 Events of Default The Borrower shall indemnify each Finance Party from time to time, by payment to the Agent (for the account of that Finance Party) on the Agent’s written demand, against all losses and costs incurred or sustained by that Finance Party as a consequence of any Event of Default.

 

33


  8.10 Enforcement costs The Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for the account of each Finance Party) on the Agent’s written demand the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by a Finance Party in connection with the enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under, any Finance Document including (without limitation) any losses, costs and expenses which that Finance Party may from time to time sustain, incur or become liable for by reason of that Finance Party being a lender to the Borrower. No such indemnity will be given where any such loss or cost has occurred due to gross negligence or wilful misconduct on the part of that Finance Party; however, this shall not affect the right of any other Finance Party to receive such indemnity.

 

  8.11 Taxes

 

  (a) The Borrower shall (within three Business Days of demand by the 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.

 

  (b) Paragraph (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

 

34


  (ii) to the extent a loss, liability or cost is compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 17.3;

 

  (c) A Protected Party making, or intending to make a claim under paragraph (a) above 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.

 

  (d) A Protected Party shall, on receiving a payment from a Security Party under this Clause 8.11, notify the Agent.

 

  8.12 VAT

 

  (a) All amounts set out or expressed in a Finance Document to be payable by any Party to a Finance Party which (in whole or in part) constitute the consideration for a supply or supplies for VAT purposes shall be deemed to be exclusive of any VAT which is chargeable on such supply or supplies, and accordingly, subject to paragraph (b) below, if VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party to any Party under a Finance Document, that Party shall pay to the Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying any other consideration for such supply) an amount equal to the amount of such VAT (and such Finance Party shall promptly provide an appropriate VAT invoice to such Party).

 

  (b) If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party (the “Supplier”) to any other Finance Party (the “Recipient”) under a Finance Document, and any Party other than the Recipient (the “Subject Party”) is required by the terms of any Finance Document to pay an amount equal to the consideration for such supply to the Supplier (rather than being required to reimburse the Recipient in respect of that consideration), such Party shall also pay to the Supplier (in addition to and at the same time as paying such amount) an amount equal to the amount of such VAT. The Recipient will promptly pay to the Subject Party an amount equal to any credit or repayment obtained by the Recipient from the relevant tax authority which the Recipient reasonably determines is in respect of such VAT.

 

35


  (c) Where a Finance Document requires any Party to reimburse or indemnify a Finance Party for any cost or expense, that Party shall reimburse or indemnify (as the case may be) such Finance Party for the full amount of such cost or expense, including such part thereof as represents VAT, save to the extent that such Finance Party reasonably determines that it is entitled to credit or repayment in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority.

 

  (d) Any reference in this Clause 8.12 to any Party shall, at any time when such Party is treated as a member of a group for VAT purposes, include (where appropriate and unless the context otherwise requires) a reference to the representative member of such group at such time (the term “representative member” to have the same meaning as in the Value Added Tax Act 1994).

 

9 Fees

 

  9.1 Commitment fee The Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for the account of the Lenders in proportion to their Commitments) a fee computed at the rate of thirty per cent (30%) of the applicable Margin on the undrawn and uncancelled amount of the Loan from time to time from the date of this Agreement until the Final Availability Date. The accrued commitment fee is payable on the last day of each successive period of three months from the Execution Date and on the Final Availability Date PROVIDED ALWAYS that if no amount of the Loan remains undrawn or uncancelled on the date falling thirty (30) days after the Execution Date no commitment fee shall be payable. For the avoidance of doubt, any commitment fee payable under this clause 9.1 shall be calculated on the total commitments up until the Drawdown Date and on the undrawn and uncancelled commitments thereafter.

 

  9.2 Other fees The Borrower shall pay to the Agent the fees in the amounts and at the times agreed in any Fee Letter.

 

10 Security and Application of Moneys

 

  10.1 Security Documents As security for the payment of the Indebtedness, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Agent or cause to be executed and delivered to the Agent the following documents in such forms and containing such terms and conditions as the Agent shall require:

 

36


  10.1.1 a first priority deed of assignment of the Intercompany Loan;

 

  10.1.2 first priority assignments of the Earnings, Insurances and Requisition Compensation of each of the Vessels (to secure Tranche A only);

 

  10.1.3 an on demand guarantee and indemnity from the Guarantor;

 

  10.1.4 an English law negative pledge and a Danish law negative pledge each by the Target on behalf of itself and, with respect to the English law negative pledge, all of its Subsidiaries with regard to its assets;

 

  10.1.5 a first fixed charge over each of the Accounts;

 

  10.1.6 a first pledge of the Pledgor’s fifty two percent (52%) shareholding in the Borrower; and

 

  10.1.7 a first pledge of the Borrower’s one hundred percent (100%) shareholding in the Target.

 

  10.2 General application of moneys To the extent permitted by applicable law, including Danish law on financial assistance, whilst an Event of Default is continuing unremedied or unwaived the Borrower irrevocably authorises the Agent to apply all sums which it may receive under or in connection with any Security Document, in or towards satisfaction, or by way of retention on account, of the Indebtedness, as follows:-

 

  (i) first in payment of all outstanding fees and expenses of the Agent;

 

  (ii) secondly in or towards payment of all outstanding interest hereunder;

 

  (iii) thirdly in or towards payment of all outstanding principal hereunder;

 

  (iv) fourthly in or towards payment of all other Indebtedness hereunder;

 

  (v) fifthly the balance, if any, shall be remitted to the Borrower or whoever may be entitled thereto.

 

37


11 Representations and Warranties

The Borrower represents and warrants to each of the Finance Parties at the Execution Date and (by reference to the facts and circumstances then pertaining) at the date of the Drawdown Notice, at the Drawdown Date and at each Interest Payment Date as follows (except that the representation and warranty contained at Clause 11.7 shall only be made on the Execution Date and the Drawdown Date and that the representations and warranties contained at Clause 11.2 and 11.20 shall only be made on the Execution Date):-

 

  11.1 Status and Due Authorisation Each of the Security Parties is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company duly incorporated or formed under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organisation or formation (as the case may be) with power to enter into the Finance Documents and to exercise its rights and perform its obligations under the Finance Documents and all corporate and other action required to authorise its execution of the Finance Documents and its performance of its obligations thereunder has been duly taken.

 

  11.2 No Deductions or Withholding Under the laws of the Security Parties’ respective jurisdictions of incorporation or formation in force at the date hereof, none of the Security Parties will be required to make any deduction or withholding from any payment it may make under any of the Finance Documents.

 

  11.3 Claims Pari Passu Under the laws of the Security Parties’ respective jurisdictions of incorporation or formation in force at the date hereof, the Indebtedness will, to the extent that it exceeds the realised value of any security granted in respect of the Indebtedness, rank at least pari passu with all the Security Parties’ other unsecured indebtedness save that which is preferred solely by any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws of general application.

 

  11.4 No Immunity In any proceedings taken in any of the Security Parties’ respective jurisdictions of incorporation or formation in relation to any of the Finance Documents, none of the Security Parties will be entitled to claim for itself or any of its assets immunity from suit, execution, attachment or other legal process.

 

  11.5 Governing Law and Judgments In any proceedings taken in any of the Security Parties’ jurisdiction of incorporation or formation in relation to any of the Finance Documents in which there is an express choice of the law of a particular country as the governing law thereof, that choice of law and any judgment or (if applicable) arbitral award obtained in that country will be recognised and enforced.

 

38


  11.6 Validity and Admissibility in Evidence As at the date hereof, all acts, conditions and things required to be done, fulfilled and performed in order (a) to enable each of the Security Parties lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights under and perform and comply with the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the Finance Documents, (b) to ensure that the obligations expressed to be assumed by each of the Security Parties in the Finance Documents are legal, valid and binding and (c) to make the Finance Documents admissible in evidence in the jurisdictions of incorporation or formation of each of the Security Parties, have been done, fulfilled and performed.

 

  11.7 No Filing or Stamp Taxes Under the laws of the Security Parties’respective jurisdictions of incorporation or formation in force at the date hereof, it is not necessary that any of the Finance Documents be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation (other than the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales, the Danish Register for Persons or the relevant maritime registry, to the extent applicable) or that any stamp, registration or similar tax be paid on or in relation to any of the Finance Documents.

 

  11.8 Binding Obligations The obligations expressed to be assumed by each of the Security Parties in the Finance Documents are legal and valid obligations, binding on each of them in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents and no limit on any of their powers will be exceeded as a result of the borrowings, granting of security or giving of guarantees contemplated by the Finance Documents or the performance by any of them of any of their obligations thereunder.

 

  11.9 No misleading information Any factual information provided by any Security Party to any Finance Party in connection with the Loan was true and accurate in all material respects as at the date it was provided and is not misleading in any respect.

 

39


  11.10 No Winding-up Neither the Borrower, the Guarantor nor any Material Subsidiary have taken any corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership action nor have any other steps been taken or legal proceedings been started or (to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief) threatened against the Borrower, the Guarantor or any Material Subsidiary for its winding-up, dissolution, administration, formal restructuring or reorganisation or for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, trustee or similar officer of it or of any or all of its assets or revenues which might have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of the Group taken as a whole.

 

  11.11 Solvency

 

  11.11.1 Neither the Borrower, the Guarantor nor the Group taken as a whole is unable, or admits or has admitted its inability, to pay its debts or has suspended making payments in respect of any of its debts.

 

  11.11.2 Neither the Borrower, the Guarantor nor any Material Subsidiary by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, has commenced, or intends to commence, negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness.

 

  11.11.3 The value of the assets of each of the Borrower, the Guarantor and the Group taken as a whole is not less than the liabilities of such entity or the Group taken as a whole (as the case may be) (taking into account contingent and prospective liabilities).

 

  11.11.4 No moratorium has been, or may, in the reasonably foreseeable future be, declared in respect of any indebtedness of the Borrower, the Guarantor or any Material Subsidiary.

 

  11.12 No Material Defaults

 

  11.12.1 Without prejudice to Clause 11.12.2, neither the Borrower, the Guarantor nor any Material Subsidiary is in breach of or in default under any agreement to which it is a party or which is binding on it or any of its assets to an extent or in a manner which might have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of the Group taken as a whole.

 

40


  11.12.2 No Event of Default is continuing or might reasonably be expected to result from the advance of the Loan.

 

  11.13 No Material Proceedings No action or administrative proceeding of or before any court, arbitral body or agency which is not covered by adequate insurance or which might have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of the Group taken as a whole has been started or is reasonably likely to be started.

 

  11.14 No Undisclosed Liabilities As at the date to which the Guarantor’s Accounts were prepared neither the Borrower, the Guarantor nor any Material Subsidiary had any material liabilities (contingent or otherwise) which were not disclosed thereby (or by the notes thereto) or reserved against therein nor any unrealised or anticipated losses arising from commitments entered into by it which were not so disclosed or reserved against therein.

 

  11.15 No Obligation to Create Security The execution of the Finance Documents by the Security Parties and their exercise of their rights and performance of their obligations thereunder will not result in the existence of nor oblige the Borrower or the Guarantor to create any Encumbrance over all or any of their present or future revenues or assets, other than pursuant to the Security Documents.

 

  11.16 No Breach The execution of the Finance Documents by each of the Security Parties and their exercise of their rights and performance of their obligations under any of the Finance Documents do not constitute and will not result in any breach of any agreement or treaty to which any of them is a party.

 

  11.17 Security Each of the Security Parties is (or will be upon completion under the SPA) the legal and beneficial owner of all assets and other property which it purports to charge, mortgage, pledge, assign or otherwise secure pursuant to each Security Document and those Security Documents to which it is a party create and give rise to valid and effective security having the ranking expressed in those Security Documents.

 

41


  11.18 Necessary Authorisations The Necessary Authorisations required by each Security Party are in full force and effect, and each Security Party is in compliance with the material provisions of each such Necessary Authorisation relating to it and, to the best of its knowledge, none of the Necessary Authorisations relating to it are the subject of any pending or threatened proceedings or revocation.

 

  11.19 Money Laundering Any amount borrowed hereunder, and the performance of the obligations of the Security Parties under the Security Documents, will be for the account of members of the Group and will not involve any breach by any of them of any law or regulatory measure relating to “money laundering” as defined in Article 1 of the Directive (2005/60/EEC) of the Council of the European Communities.

 

  11.20 Disclosure of material facts The Borrower is not aware of any material facts or circumstances which have not been disclosed to the Agent and which might, if disclosed, have reasonably been expected to adversely affect the decision of a person considering whether or not to make loan facilities of the nature contemplated by this Agreement available to the Borrower.

 

  11.21 No breach of laws

 

  (a) None of the Security Parties has breached any law or regulation which breach has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (b) No labour disputes are current or (to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief) threatened against any member of the Group which have or are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  11.22 Environmental laws

 

  (a) Each member of the Group is in compliance with Clause 12.1.10 and (to the best of its knowledge and belief) no circumstances have occurred which would prevent such compliance in a manner or to an extent which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (b) No Environmental Claim has been commenced or (to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief) is threatened against any member of the Group where that claim has or is reasonably likely, if determined against that member of the Group, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

42


  11.23 Use of Facility The Facility will be used for the purposes specified in Clause 2.3.

 

  11.24 Taxation

 

  11.24.1 The Borrower is not materially overdue in the filing of any Tax returns and it is not overdue in the payment of any amount in respect of Tax of $5,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency) or more, save in the case of Taxes which are being contested on bona fide grounds.

 

  11.24.2 No claims or investigations are being made or conducted against the Borrower with respect to Taxes such that a liability of, or claim against, the Borrower of $5,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency) or more is reasonably likely to arise.

 

  11.24.3 As far as the Borrower is aware, each of the Security Parties (other than the Guarantor and Membrane Shipping Limited) is resident for Tax purposes only in the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

 

  11.25 Shares

The shares of the Target and any member of the Group which are subject to the Security Documents are fully paid and not subject to any option to purchase or similar rights. The constitutional documents of companies whose shares are subject to the Security Documents do not and could not restrict or inhibit any transfer of those shares on creation or enforcement of the Security Documents. Except as provided in the Shareholders’ Agreement, 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 or loan capital of any member of the Group or the Target (including any option or right of pre-emption or conversion).

 

  11.26 Structure Chart

 

  11.26.1 the Structure Chart delivered or to be delivered to the Agent pursuant to Part I of Schedule 2 is, so far as the Borrower is aware, true, complete and accurate in all material respects and shows the following information:

 

43


  (i) each relevant member of the Group and the Target, including current name and company registration number, its jurisdiction of incorporation and/or establishment and (other than in the case of the Guarantor) a list of shareholders; and

 

  (ii) all minority interests in any member of the Target and any person in which the Target holds shares in its issued share capital or equivalent ownership interest of such person.

 

  11.26.2 All necessary intra-Group loans, transfers, share exchanges and other material steps resulting in the final structure of the relevant portion of the Group and, following the Acquisition, of the Target have been or will be taken in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations and all requirements of relevant regulatory authorities.

 

  11.27 SPA and other Documents

 

  11.27.1 The SPA contains all the terms of the Acquisition.

 

  11.27.2 To the best of its knowledge no representation or warranty given by any party to the SPA is untrue or misleading in any material respect.

 

  11.27.3 The Shareholders Agreement and the constitutional documents of the Borrower (as amended to the extent permitted under this Agreement and the Deed of Coordination and Trust) contain all the material terms of all the agreements and arrangements between the Guarantor and Marubeni.

 

  11.28 Centre of main interests and establishments

For the purposes of The Council of the European Union Regulation No. 1346/2000 on Insolvency Proceedings (the “Regulation” ), the Borrower’s centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Regulation) is situated in its jurisdiction of incorporation and it has no “establishment” (as that term is used in Article 2(h) of the Regulations) in any other jurisdiction.

 

  11.29 Representations Limited The representation and warranties of the Borrower in this Clause 11 are subject to:

 

44


  11.29.1 the principle that equitable remedies are remedies which may be granted or refused at the discretion of the court;

 

  11.29.2 the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation, formal restructuring, court schemes, moratoria, administration and other laws generally affecting or limiting the rights of creditors;

 

  11.29.3 the time barring of claims under any applicable limitation acts;

 

  11.29.4 the possibility that a court may strike out provisions for a contract as being invalid for reasons of oppression, undue influence or similar; and

 

  11.29.5 any other reservations or qualifications of law expressed in any legal opinions obtained by the Agent in connection with the Facility.

 

  11.30 Antisocial Forces The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that,

 

  (i) none of the directors, officers, managers or other employees or consultants who control or have the ability to control the Borrower (a) belong to, or have a direct or indirect relationship with, any Antisocial Forces, (b) have received any commission from or have delegated any responsibilities to any Antisocial Forces, or (c) have provided, offered to fund, support or otherwise provide benefits to any Antisocial Forces.

 

  (ii) no member of any Antisocial Forces and no person under the control of any Antisocial Forces (a) has any relationship with, (b) owns any shares in, or (c) is in a position to affect the business of, the Borrower.

 

12 Undertakings and Covenants

The undertakings and covenants in this Clause 12 remain in force for the duration of the Facility Period.

 

  12.1 General Undertakings

 

  12.1.1 Financial statements The Borrower shall supply to the Agent as soon as the same become available, but in any event within one hundred and eighty (180) days after the end of each of its financial years, its audited consolidated financial statements for that financial year.

 

45


  12.1.2 Requirements as to financial statements Each set of financial statements delivered by the Borrower under Clause 12.1.1:

 

  (a) shall be certified by an authorised signatory of the Borrower as fairly representing its financial condition as at the date as at which those financial statements were drawn up; and

 

  (b) shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

  12.1.3 Interim financial statements The Borrower shall supply to the Agent as soon as the same become available, but in any event within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of the first semi-annual period of each of its financial years, its unaudited consolidated financial statements for that period.

 

  12.1.4 Maintenance of Legal Validity The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) shall obtain, comply with the terms of and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect all authorisations, approvals, licences and consents required in or by the laws and regulations of its jurisdiction of formation and all other applicable jurisdictions, to enable it lawfully to enter into and perform its obligations under the Security Documents and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of the Security Documents in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation and all other applicable jurisdictions.

 

  12.1.5 Notification of Default The Borrower shall promptly, and shall procure that each of the other Security Parties (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) shall promptly, upon becoming aware of the same, inform the Agent in writing of the occurrence of any Event of Default and, upon receipt of a written request to that effect from the Agent, confirm to the Agent that, save as previously notified to the Agent or as notified in such confirmation, no Event of Default has occurred.

 

46


  12.1.6 Claims Pari Passu The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) shall, ensure that at all times the claims of the Finance Parties against it under the Security Documents rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured creditors save those whose claims are preferred by any bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, winding-up or other similar laws of general application.

 

  12.1.7 Negative Pledge The Borrower shall not create, or permit to subsist, any Encumbrance (other than pursuant to the Security Documents) over all or any part of its shareholding in the Target (or in assets owned by the Target or any Subsidiaries of the Target) other than a Permitted Encumbrance.

 

  12.1.8 Necessary Authorisations Without prejudice to any other specific provision of the Security Documents relating to an Authorisation, the Borrower shall, and shall procure that each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) shall (i) obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect all Necessary Authorisations if a failure to do the same may cause a Material Adverse Effect; and (ii) promptly upon request, supply certified copies to the Agent of all Necessary Authorisations.

 

  12.1.9 Compliance with Applicable Laws The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) shall, comply with all applicable laws to which it may be subject if a failure to do the same may have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  12.1.10 Environmental compliance

 

  (a) The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) will:

 

  (i) comply with all Environmental Laws;

 

  (ii) obtain, maintain and ensure compliance with all requisite Environmental Approvals;

 

47


  (iii) 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.

 

  12.1.11 Environmental claims

The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) will, promptly upon becoming aware of the same, inform the Agent in writing of:

 

  (a) any Environmental Claim against any member of the Group which is current, pending or threatened; and

 

  (b) any facts or circumstances which are reasonably likely to result in any Environmental Claim being commenced or threatened against any member of the Group,

where the claim, if determined against that member of the Group, has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  12.1.12 Taxation

 

  (a) The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each Security Party (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) and each Material Subsidiary will, pay and discharge all Taxes imposed upon it or its assets within the time period allowed without incurring penalties unless and only to the extent that:

 

  (i) such payment is being contested in good faith;

 

  (ii) adequate reserves are being maintained for those Taxes and the costs required to contest them which have been disclosed in its latest financial statements delivered to the Agent under Clause 12.1.1 and 12.1.3; and

 

48


  (iii) 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.

 

  (b) No member of the Group may change its residence for Tax purposes.

 

  12.1.13 Loans and Guarantees The Borrower and each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) shall be permitted to borrow on a subordinated and unsecured basis in accordance with clause 12.1.20 and to make any capital contributions to the Target, but shall not otherwise (and shall procure that the other Security Parties (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) do not) enter into any borrowings or make any loans or grant any credit or give any guarantee or indemnity (except pursuant to the Relevant Documents and in connection with a refinancing of one or more of the Vessels).

 

  12.1.14 Further Assurance The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) shall, at its own expense, promptly take all such action as the Agent may reasonably require for the purpose of perfecting or protecting any Finance Party’s rights with respect to the security created or evidenced (or intended to be created or evidenced) by the Security Documents.

 

  12.1.15 Other information The Borrower will, and will procure that each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) will, promptly supply to the Agent such information and explanations as any of the Lenders may from time to time reasonably require in connection with the Security Parties (other than the Guarantor and the Pledgor).

 

  12.1.16 Inspection of records The Borrower will, and will procure that each Security Party (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) will, following an Event of Default which is continuing, unremedied or unwaived, permit the inspection of its financial records and accounts during business hours by the Agent or its nominee.

 

49


  12.1.17 Change of Control The Borrower shall procure that throughout the Facility Period there is no change in the legal or beneficial ownership of

 

  (a) the Target (or any Subsidiary of the Target); or

 

  (b) of the fifty two per cent (52%) interest in the Borrower indirectly held by the Guarantor

from that advised to the Agent at the date of this Agreement without the Agent’s prior written consent.

 

  12.1.18 Change of business The Borrower will not carry on any business or incur any liabilities other than:

 

  (a) administration services for other members of the Group;

 

  (b) operating as a holding company for its subsidiaries and holding intragroup balances and credit balances; and

 

  (c) liabilities under the Relevant Documents and fees and expenses incurred in the ordinary course of its business acting as a holding company.

 

  12.1.19 “Know your customer” checks If:

 

  (a) 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;

 

  (b) any change in the status of any of the Security Parties after the date of this Agreement; or

 

  (c) a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer,

obliges the Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of (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 any Lender) or any Lender for itself (or, in the case of (c) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent or that Lender (or, in the case of (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.

 

50


  12.1.20 Intercompany borrowings The Borrower will only borrow from other members of the Group on a subordinated and unsecured basis.

 

  12.1.21 Dividends The Borrower will not pay any dividends or make other distributions to its shareholders at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default which remains unremedied and unwaived.

 

  12.1.22 Transfer of assets The Borrower will not, and will procure that the other Security Parties will not, sell or transfer any of its assets other than:

 

  (a) on arm’s length terms to third parties where the net proceeds of sale are used as a prepayment hereunder; or

 

  (b) to its Affiliates, which are and remain members of the Group.

 

  12.1.23 Equity Account The Borrower covenants to procure that the Guarantor shall maintain a minimum credit balance of thirty million Dollars in the Equity Account throughout the Facility Period. If and to the extent the Loan is partially prepaid or cancelled, this minimum requirement shall be reduced pro rata to the reduction in the Commitments.

 

  12.1.24 Earnings Account The Borrower covenants to maintain the Earnings Account throughout the Facility Period, and to procure:

 

  (a) that the Vessel Owners establish the Vessel Earnings Accounts by not later than the date falling thirty (30) days after the Execution Date and thereafter maintain such accounts throughout the Facility Period;

 

51


  (b) that by the date falling three (3) months after the Execution Date, the Earnings of at least two (2) Vessels shall have been redirected to the relevant Vessel Earnings Account;

 

  (c) that by the date falling four (4) months after the Execution Date, the Earnings of at least four (4) Vessels shall have been redirected to the relevant Vessel Earnings Account;

 

  (d) that by the date falling six (6) months after the Execution Date, the Earnings of all six (6) Vessels shall have been redirected to the relevant Vessel Earnings Account; and

 

  (e) that until the Earnings of each Vessel are redirected to the relevant Vessel Earnings Account, no charge or other Encumbrance will be created over the accounts through which the Earnings of the Vessels flow.

 

  12.1.25 Management of Vessels The Borrower shall ensure that each Vessel is at all times technically and commercially managed by an Approved Manager.

 

  12.1.26 Classification The Borrower shall ensure that each of the Vessels maintains the highest classification required for the purpose of the relevant trade of such Vessel which shall be with a Pre-Approved Classification Society, in each case, free from any overdue recommendations and conditions affecting that Vessel’s class.

 

  12.1.27 Certificate of Financial Responsibility The Borrower shall procure that each Vessel Owner shall, if required, obtain and maintain a certificate of financial responsibility in relation to any Vessel which is to call at the United States of America.

 

  12.1.28 Registration The Borrower shall not change or permit a change to the flag of the Vessels during the Facility Period other than to a Pre-Approved Flag or under such other flag as may be approved by the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

52


  12.1.29 ISM and ISPS Compliance The Borrower shall ensure that the relevant Company complies in all material respects with the ISM Code and the ISPS Code or any replacements thereof and in particular (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) shall ensure that the Company holds (i) a valid and current Document of Compliance issued pursuant to the ISM Code, (ii) a valid and current SMC issued in respect of each Vessel pursuant to the ISM Code, and (iii) an ISSC in respect of each Vessel, and the Borrower shall promptly, upon request, supply the Agent with copies of the same.

 

  12.1.30 Valuations The Borrower will deliver to the Agent a Valuation of each of the Vessels (i) on or about the date falling six (6) months after the Execution Date (ii) on or about the date falling one (1) month before the Maturity Date and (iii) following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied and unwaived, on such other occasions as the Agent may request.

 

  12.1.31 Chartering The Borrower shall procure that the Vessel Owners shall

 

  (i) not bareboat charter any of the Vessels during the Facility Period; and

 

  (ii) use reasonable endeavours to procure the renewal, or entry into new charters in replacement of, any of the Charters which are due to mature or terminate prior to the Maturity Date. Such charters shall be with Approved Charterers and on terms reasonably acceptable to the Agent.

 

  12.1.32 Amendments to Charters Except for non-material amendments or amendments relative to the acquisition of the Target or in the ordinary course of day to day operations, the Borrower will procure that none of the Charters that has more than five (5) years unexpired term at the Drawdown Date are amended or varied without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the reasonable instructions of the Majority Lenders).

 

53


  12.1.33 Insurance The Borrower shall ensure that each of the Vessels is insured in accordance with the provisions set out in the Assignments.

 

  12.1.34 Maintenance The Borrower shall ensure that each of the Vessels shall be maintained in good and safe condition and with all registered surveys carried out when due.

 

  12.1.35 Mergers The Borrower shall not, and shall procure that the other Security Parties (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) will not, permit any mergers or consolidations.

 

  12.1.36 Acquisitions The Borrower will not, and will procure that the other Security Parties (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) will not, make any acquisitions.

 

  12.1.37 Antisocial Forces The Borrower shall not engage, directly or indirectly, in any of the following activities:

 

  (i) any demand or claim under the threat of or with violence;

 

  (ii) any unreasonable demand or claim under the threat of actions that are not legally permissible; or

 

  (iii) any blackmail or assault, physical or oral; or

 

  (iv) any obstructive activities, including but not limited to disseminating false information or fraudulent activities for the purpose of harming the creditworthiness of the Finance Parties or impeding business of the Finance Parties; or

 

  (v) any activities that are similar to those described above.

Upon receiving information which provides reasonable certainty that any violation of this covenant has occurred, the Borrower shall immediately: (i) advise the Agent of the occurrence; and (ii) take all actions reasonably necessary to mitigate, correct and report such occurrence, under law or otherwise (such steps may include termination or severance of the individual(s) involved).

 

54


  12.1.38 SPA

 

  (a) The Borrower shall promptly pay all amounts payable to the Seller under the SPA as and when they become due (except to the extent that any such amounts are being contested in good faith by a member of the Group and where adequate reserves are set aside for any such payment).

 

  (b) The Borrower shall take all reasonable and practical steps to preserve and enforce its rights (or the rights of any of its Subsidiaries) and pursue any claims and remedies arising under the SPA.

 

  12.1.39 Financial assistance

The Borrower shall, and shall procure that the other Security Parties (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) shall, comply in all respects with (i) sections 678 and 679 of the Companies Act 2006, (ii) Section 206(1) (as modified by Section 206(2) of Consolidated Act No. 322 of 11 April 2011 on public and private limited liability companies as amended and supplemented from time to time (the “Danish Companies Act”) and (iii) Section 210(1) (as modified by Section 210(2) and Section 211 and Section 212 of the Danish Companies Act, (iv) Section 76 of the Singapore Companies Act and (v) any equivalent legislation in other jurisdictions including in relation to the execution of the Security Documents and payment of amounts due under this Agreement, and the Lenders shall accept any and all obligations and limitations thereof.

 

  12.1.40 Information: miscellaneous The Borrower shall, and shall procure that the other Security Parties (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) shall, supply to the Agent:

 

  (a) promptly upon becoming aware of them, details of any material litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or pending against any Security Party (other than the Guarantor and the Pledgor), and which might, if adversely determined, be reasonably likely to have a Materially Adverse Effect;

 

55


  (b) promptly upon becoming aware of them, details of (i) any casualty or other accident or damage to any of the Vessels the cost of repair of which is likely to exceed fifteen million Dollars ($15,000,000) and (ii) a Total Loss of any of the Vessels;

 

  (c) promptly, details of any material Environmental Claim or any other material incident, event or circumstance which may give rise to any such material Environmental Claim which is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

  (d) promptly, details of any capture, seizure, arrest, confiscation or detention of any Vessel;

 

  (e) promptly, such further information regarding the financial condition, business and operations of any Security Party as the Agent may reasonably request including, without limitation, cash flow analyses and details of the operating costs of any Vessel; and

 

  (f) promptly upon becoming aware of them, details of the exercise or any purported exercise of any lien on the Insurances or the Earnings.

 

13 Events of Default

 

  13.1 Events of Default Each of the events or circumstances set out in this Clause 13.1 is an Event of Default.

 

  13.1.1 Borrower’s Failure to Pay under this Agreement The Borrower fails to pay any amount due from it under this Agreement at the time, in the currency and otherwise in the manner specified herein provided that, if the Borrower can demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent that all necessary instructions were given to effect such payment and the non-receipt thereof is attributable solely to an administrative or technical error by the Agent or an error in the banking system, such payment shall instead be deemed to be due, solely for the purposes of this paragraph, within three (3) Business Days of the date on which it actually fell due under this Agreement; or

 

56


  13.1.2 Misrepresentation any representation or statement made by any Security Party in any Finance Document to which it is a party or in any notice or other document, certificate or statement delivered by it pursuant thereto or in connection therewith is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect, where the circumstances causing the same would be reasonably likely to give rise to a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

  13.1.3 Specific Covenants a Security Party fails duly to perform or comply with any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by or procured by the Borrower under Clauses 12.1.4, 12.1.6, 12.1.7 or 12.1.17; or

 

  13.1.4 Financial Covenants the Guarantor is in breach of the Guarantor’s financial covenants set out in Clause 3.2 of the Guarantee at any time; or

 

  13.1.5 Other Obligations a Security Party fails duly to perform or comply with any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in any Security Document (other than those referred to in Clause 13.1.3 or Clause 13.1.4) and such failure is not remedied within 30 days after the Agent has given notice thereof to the Borrower; or

 

  13.1.6 Cross Default any indebtedness of any Security Party is not paid when due (or within any applicable grace period) or any indebtedness of any Security Party is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity where (in either case) the aggregate of all such unpaid or accelerated indebtedness (i) of the Guarantor is equal to or greater than fifty million Dollars ($50,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency; or (ii) of the Borrower is equal to or greater than twenty million Dollars ($20,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency; or (iii) of any other Security Party is equal to or greater than ten million Dollars ($10,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency; or

 

  13.1.7 Cross Acceleration any indebtedness of a Material Subsidiary in an amount equal to or greater than ten million Dollars ($10,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency is demanded prior to its specified maturity by reason of default (howsoever described); or

 

57


  13.1.8 Insolvency and Rescheduling a Security Party or a Material Subsidiary is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, commences negotiations with any one or more of its creditors with a view to the general readjustment or rescheduling of its indebtedness or makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or a composition with its creditors; or

 

  13.1.9 Winding-up a Security Party or a Material Subsidiary files for initiation of formal restructuring proceedings (in Danish rekonstruction), is wound up or declared bankrupt or takes any corporate action or other steps are taken or legal proceedings are started for its winding-up, dissolution, administration or re-organisation or for the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, conservator, custodian, trustee or similar officer of it or of any or all of its revenues or assets or any moratorium is declared or sought in respect of any of its indebtedness; or

 

  13.1.10 Execution or Distress

 

  (a) any Security Party or a Material Subsidiary fails to comply with or pay any sum due from it (within 30 days of such amount falling due) under any final judgment or any final order made or given by any court or other official body of a competent jurisdiction in an aggregate (i) in respect of the Guarantor equal to or greater than fifty million Dollars ($50,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency; or (ii) in respect of the Borrower equal to or greater than twenty million Dollars ($20,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency; or (iii) in respect of any other Security Party or any Material Subsidiary, ten million Dollars ($10,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency, being a judgment or order against which there is no right of appeal or if a right of appeal exists, where the time limit for making such appeal has expired.

 

58


  (b) any execution, distress, expropriation, attachment or sequestration affects, or an encumbrancer takes possession of, the whole or any part of, the property, undertaking or assets of a Security Party or a Material Subsidiary in an aggregate amount (i) in respect of the Guarantor equal to or greater than fifty million Dollars ($50,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency; or (ii) in respect of the Borrower equal to or greater than twenty million Dollars ($20,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency; or (iii) in respect of any other Security Party or any Material Subsidiary, ten million Dollars ($10,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency other than any execution, distress, expropriation, attachment or sequestration which is being contested in good faith and which is either discharged within 30 days or in respect of which adequate security has been provided within 30 days to the relevant court or other authority to enable the relevant execution, distress, expropriation, attachment or sequestration to be lifted or released; or

 

  13.1.11 Similar Event any event occurs which, under the laws of any jurisdiction, has a similar or analogous effect to any of those events mentioned in Clauses 13.1.8, 13.1.9 and 13.1.10, or

 

  13.1.12 Repudiation any Security Party repudiates any Finance Document to which it is a party or does or causes to be done any act or thing evidencing an intention to repudiate any such Finance Document; or

 

  13.1.13 Validity and Admissibility at any time any act, condition or thing required to be done, fulfilled or performed in order:

 

  (a) to enable any Security Party lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights under and perform the respective obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the Finance Documents;

 

  (b) to ensure that the obligations expressed to be assumed by each of the Security Parties in the Finance Documents are legal, valid and binding; or

 

59


  (c) to make the Finance Documents admissible in evidence in any applicable jurisdiction

is not done, fulfilled or performed within 30 days after notification from the Agent to the relevant Security Party requiring the same to be done, fulfilled or performed; or

 

  13.1.14 Illegality at any time it is or becomes unlawful for any Security Party to perform or comply with any or all of its obligations under the Security Documents to which it is a party or any of the obligations of the Borrower hereunder are not or cease to be legal, valid and binding and such illegality is not remedied or mitigated to the satisfaction of the Agent within thirty (30) days after it has given notice thereof to the relevant Security Party; or

 

  13.1.15 Qualifications of Financial Statements the auditors of the Guarantor qualify their report on any audited consolidated financial statements of the Guarantor in any regard which, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent, has a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

  13.1.16 Conditions Subsequent if any of the conditions referred to in Clause 3.5 or Clause 3.6 is not satisfied within thirty (30) days or such other time period specified by the Agent in its discretion; or

 

  13.1.17 Revocation or Modification of consents etc. if any Necessary Authorisation which is now or which at any time during the Facility Period becomes necessary to enable any of the Security Parties to comply with any of their obligations in or pursuant to any of the Security Documents is revoked, withdrawn or withheld, or modified in a manner which the Agent reasonably considers is, or may be, prejudicial to the interests of a Finance Party in a material manner, or if such Necessary Authorisation ceases to remain in full force and effect; or

 

  13.1.18 Curtailment of Business if the business of any of the Security Parties is wholly or materially curtailed by any intervention by or under authority of any government, or if all or a substantial part of the undertaking, property or assets of any of the Security Parties is seized, nationalised, expropriated or compulsorily acquired by or under authority of any government or any Security Party suspends or ceases to carry on or disposes (or threatens to suspend or cease to carry on or dispose) of all or a substantial part of its business or assets; or

 

60


  13.1.19 Reduction of Capital if the Borrower reduces its committed or subscribed capital; or

 

  13.1.20 Notice of Determination if the Guarantor gives notice to the Agent to determine its obligations under the Guarantee; or

 

  13.1.21 Environmental Matters

 

  (a) any Environmental Claim is pending or made against a Vessel Owner or any of a Vessel Owner’s Environmental Affiliates or in connection with a Vessel, where such Environmental Claim has a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (b) any actual Environmental Incident occurs in connection with a Vessel, where such Environmental Incident has a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

  13.1.22 Material Adverse Change any event or circumstance occurs that has a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

  13.1.23 Loss of Property all or a substantial part of the business or assets of any Security Party is destroyed, abandoned, seized, appropriated or forfeited for any reason, and such occurrence in the reasonable opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

  13.1.24 Marubeni Bank Loan Agreement an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied and unwaived occurs under the Marubeni Bank Loan Agreement.

 

  13.2 Acceleration If an Event of Default is continuing unremedied or unwaived the Agent may (with the consent of the Majority Lenders) and shall (at the request of the Majority Lenders) by notice to the Borrower cancel any part of the Loan not then advanced and:

 

61


  13.2.1 declare that the Loan, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents are immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall become immediately due and payable; and/or

 

  13.2.2 declare that the Loan is payable on demand, whereupon it shall immediately become payable on demand by the Agent; and/or

 

  13.2.3 declare the Commitments terminated and the Maximum Amount reduced to zero.

 

14 Assignment and Sub-Participation

 

  14.1 Lenders’ rights A Lender may assign any of its rights under this Agreement or transfer by novation any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any other branch or Affiliate of that Lender or to any other Lender (or an Affiliate of another Lender) or (subject to the prior written consent of the Guarantor, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld but not to be required at any time after an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived) to any other bank or financial institution, or any 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 may grant sub-participations in all or any part of its Commitment. Where the consent of the Guarantor is required, the Guarantor shall be deemed to have given its consent if no express refusal is given within five (5) Business Days.

 

  14.2 Borrower’s co-operation The Borrower will co-operate fully with a Lender in connection with any assignment, transfer or sub-participation by that Lender; will execute and procure the execution of such documents as that Lender may require in that connection including, but not limited to, re-executing any Security Documents (if required); and irrevocably authorises any Finance Party to disclose to any proposed assignee, transferee or sub-participant (whether before or after any assignment, transfer or sub-participation and whether or not any assignment, transfer or sub-participation shall take place) all information relating to the Security Parties, the Loan and the Relevant Documents which any Finance Party may in its discretion consider necessary or desirable (subject to any duties of confidentiality applicable to the Lenders generally). Additionally, (but subject to the same duties of confidentiality), any Lender may disclose the size and term of the Facility and the names of each Security Party to any investor or potential investor in a securitisation (or similar transaction of broadly equivalent economic effect) of that Lender’s rights and obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

62


  14.3 Rights of assignee Any assignee of a Lender shall (unless limited by the express terms of the assignment) take the full benefit of every provision of the Finance Documents benefiting that Lender PROVIDED THAT an assignment will only be effective on notification by the Agent to that Lender and the assignee that the Agent 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 assignment to the assignee.

 

  14.4 Transfer Certificates If a Lender wishes to transfer any of its rights and obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement, it may do so by delivering to the Agent a duly completed Transfer Certificate, in which event on the Transfer Date:

 

  14.4.1 to the extent that that Lender seeks to transfer its rights and obligations, the Borrower (on the one hand) and that Lender (on the other) shall be released from all further obligations towards the other;

 

  14.4.2 the Borrower (on the one hand) and the transferee (on the other) shall assume obligations towards the other identical to those released pursuant to Clause 14.4.1; and

 

  14.4.3 the Agent, each of the Lenders and the transferee shall have the same rights and obligations between themselves as they would have had if the transferee had been an original party to this Agreement as a Lender

PROVIDED THAT the Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate once:

 

  (a) 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 the transferee; and

 

  (b) the transferee has paid to the Agent for its own account a transfer fee of five thousand Dollars. 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.

 

63


  14.5 Finance Documents Unless otherwise expressly provided in any Finance Document or otherwise expressly agreed between a Lender and any proposed transferee and notified by that Lender to the Agent on or before the relevant Transfer Date, there shall automatically be assigned to the transferee with any transfer of a Lender’s rights and obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement the rights of that Lender under or pursuant to the Finance Documents (other than this Agreement) which relate to the portion of that Lender’s rights and obligations transferred by the relevant Transfer Certificate.

 

  14.6 No assignment or transfer by the Borrower The Borrower may not assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

  14.7 Security over Lenders’ rights In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this Clause 14, each Lender may without consulting with or obtaining consent from any Security Party, at any time charge, assign or otherwise create an Encumbrance 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:

 

  (a) any charge, assignment or other Encumbrance to secure obligations to a federal reserve or central bank; and

 

  (b) in the case of any Lender which is a fund, any charge, assignment or other Security 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 Security shall:

 

  (i) release a Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or substitute the beneficiary of the relevant charge, assignment or other Encumbrance for the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or

 

64


  (ii) require any payments to be made by any Security Party 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.

 

15 The Agent and the Lenders

 

  15.1 Appointment

 

  15.1.1 Each Lender appoints the Agent to act as its agent and/or security trustee under and in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

  15.1.2 Each Lender 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.

 

  15.2 Authority Each Lender irrevocably authorises the Agent (subject to Clauses 15.4 and 15.18):

 

  15.2.1 to execute any Finance Document (other than this Agreement, the Deed of Coordination and Trust, the Shares Pledge and the Target Shares Pledge) on its behalf;

 

  15.2.2 to collect, receive, release or pay any money on its behalf;

 

  15.2.3 acting on the instructions from time to time of the Majority Lenders (save where the terms of any Security Document expressly provide otherwise) to give or withhold any waivers, consents or approvals under or pursuant to any Finance Document; and

 

  15.2.4 acting on the instructions from time to time of the Majority Lenders (save where the terms of any Security Document expressly provide otherwise) to exercise, or refrain from exercising, any rights, powers, authorities or discretions under or pursuant to any Finance Document.

 

       The Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities as agent or as security trustee other than those expressly conferred on it by the Finance Documents and shall not be obliged to act on any instructions from the Lenders or the Majority Lenders if to do so would, in the opinion of the Agent, be contrary to any provision of the Finance Documents or to any law, or would expose the Agent to any actual or potential liability to any third party.

 

65


  15.3 Trust The Agent agrees and declares, and each of the other Finance Parties acknowledges, that, subject to the terms and conditions of this Clause 15.3, the Agent holds the Trust Property on trust for the Finance Parties absolutely. Each of the other Finance Parties agrees that the obligations, rights and benefits vested in the Agent shall be performed and exercised in accordance with this Clause 15.3. The Agent shall have the benefit of all of the provisions of this Agreement benefiting it in its capacity as Agent for the Finance Parties, and all the powers and discretions conferred on trustees by the Trustee Act 1925 (to the extent not inconsistent with this Agreement). In addition:

 

  15.3.1 the Agent and any attorney, agent or delegate of the Agent may indemnify itself or himself out of the Trust Property against all liabilities, costs, fees, damages, charges, losses and expenses sustained or incurred by it or him in relation to the taking or holding of any of the Trust Property or in connection with the exercise or purported exercise of the rights, trusts, powers and discretions vested in the Agent or any other such person by or pursuant to the Security Documents or in respect of anything else done or omitted to be done in any way relating to the Security Documents other than as a result of its gross negligence or wilful misconduct;

 

  15.3.2 the other Finance Parties acknowledge that the Agent shall be under no obligation to insure any property nor to require any other person to insure any property and shall not be responsible for any loss which may be suffered by any person as a result of the lack or insufficiency of any insurance; and

 

  15.3.3 the Finance Parties agree that the perpetuity period applicable to the trusts declared by this Agreement shall be the period of 125 years from the date of this Agreement.

 

  15.4 Limitations on authority Except with the prior written consent of all the Lenders, the Agent shall not be entitled to:

 

66


  15.4.1 release or vary any security given for the Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement (including, but not limited to, any further exceptions to the terms of the Negative Pledges); nor

 

  15.4.2 waive the payment of any sum of money payable by any Security Party under the Finance Documents; nor

 

  15.4.3 change the meaning of the expressions “Majority Lenders”, “Margin”, “Commitment Commission” or “Default Rate”; nor

 

  15.4.4 exercise, or refrain from exercising, any right, power, authority or discretion, or give or withhold any consent, the exercise or giving of which is, by the terms of this Agreement, expressly reserved to the Lenders; nor

 

  15.4.5 extend the due date for the payment of any sum of money payable by any Security Party under any Finance Document; nor

 

  15.4.6 take or refrain from taking any step if the effect of such action or inaction may lead to the increase of the obligations of a Lender under any Finance Document; nor

 

  15.4.7 agree to change the currency in which any sum is payable under any Finance Document (other than in accordance with the terms of the relevant Finance Document); nor

 

  15.4.8 agree to amend this Clause 15.4.

 

  15.5 Liability Neither the Agent nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable to the Lenders for anything done or omitted to be done by the Agent under or in connection with any of the Relevant Documents unless as a result of the Agent’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

  15.6 Acknowledgement Each Lender acknowledges that:

 

  15.6.1 it has not relied on any representation made by the Agent or any of the Agent’s directors, officers, employees or agents or by any other person acting or purporting to act on behalf of the Agent to induce it to enter into any Finance Document;

 

67


  15.6.2 it has made and will continue to make without reliance on the Agent, and based on such documents and other evidence as it considers appropriate, its own independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs of the Security Parties in connection with the making and continuation of the Loan;

 

  15.6.3 it has made its own appraisal of the creditworthiness of the Security Parties; and

 

  15.6.4 the Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility at any time to provide it with any credit or other information relating to any Security Party unless that information is received by the Agent pursuant to the express terms of a Finance Document.

Each Lender agrees that it will not assert nor seek to assert against any director, officer, employee or agent of the Agent or against any other person acting or purporting to act on behalf of the Agent any claim which it might have against them in respect of any of the matters referred to in this Clause 15.6.

 

  15.7 Limitations on responsibility The Agent shall have no responsibility to any Security Party or to any Lender on account of:

 

  15.7.1 the failure of a Lender or of any Security Party to perform any of its obligations under a Finance Document; nor

 

  15.7.2 the financial condition of any Security Party; nor

 

  15.7.3 the completeness or accuracy of any statements, representations or warranties made in or pursuant to any Finance Document, or in or pursuant to any document delivered pursuant to or in connection with any Finance Document; nor

 

  15.7.4 the negotiation, execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, admissibility in evidence or sufficiency of any Finance Document or of any document executed or delivered pursuant to or in connection with any Finance Document.

 

  15.8 The Agent’s rights The Agent may:

 

68


  15.8.1 assume that all representations or warranties made or deemed repeated by any Security Party in or pursuant to any Finance Document are true and complete, unless, in its capacity as the Agent, it has acquired actual knowledge to the contrary;

 

  15.8.2 assume that no Default has occurred unless, in its capacity as the Agent, it has acquired actual knowledge to the contrary;

 

  15.8.3 rely on any document or notice believed by it to be genuine;

 

  15.8.4 rely as to legal or other professional matters on opinions and statements of any legal or other professional advisers selected or approved by it;

 

  15.8.5 rely as to any factual matters which might reasonably be expected to be within the knowledge of any Security Party on a certificate signed by or on behalf of that Security Party; and

 

  15.8.6 refrain from exercising any right, power, discretion or remedy unless and until instructed to exercise that right, power, discretion or remedy and as to the manner of its exercise by the Lenders (or, where applicable, by the Majority Lenders) and unless and until the Agent has received from the Lenders any payment which the Agent may require on account of, or any security which the Agent may require for, any costs, claims, expenses (including legal and other professional fees) and liabilities which it considers it may incur or sustain in complying with those instructions.

 

15.9 The Agent’s duties The Agent shall:

 

  15.9.1 if requested in writing to do so by a Lender, make enquiry and advise the Lenders as to the performance or observance of any of the provisions of any Finance Document by any Security Party or as to the existence of an Event of Default; and

 

  15.9.2 inform the Lenders promptly of any Event of Default of which the Agent has actual knowledge.

 

15.10 No deemed knowledge The Agent shall not be deemed to have actual knowledge of the falsehood or incompleteness of any representation or warranty made or deemed repeated by any Security Party or actual knowledge of the occurrence of any Default unless a Lender or a Security Party shall have given written notice thereof to the Agent in its capacity as the Agent. Any information acquired by the Agent other than specifically in its capacity as the Agent shall not be deemed to be information acquired by the Agent in its capacity as the Agent.

 

69


  15.11 Other business The Agent may, without any liability to account to the Lenders, generally engage in any kind of banking or trust business with a Security Party or with a Security Party’s subsidiaries or associated companies or with a Lender as if it were not the Agent.

 

  15.12 Indemnity The Lenders shall, promptly on the Agent’s request, reimburse the Agent in their respective Proportionate Shares, for, and keep the Agent fully indemnified in respect of all liabilities, damages, costs and claims sustained or incurred by the Agent in connection with the Finance Documents, or the performance of its duties and obligations, or the exercise of its rights, powers, discretions or remedies under or pursuant to any Finance Document, to the extent not paid by the Security Parties and not arising from the Agent’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

  15.13 Employment of agents In performing its duties and exercising its rights, powers, discretions and remedies under or pursuant to the Finance Documents, the Agent shall be entitled to employ and pay agents to do anything which the Agent is empowered to do under or pursuant to the Finance Documents (including the receipt of money and documents and the payment of money) and to act or refrain from taking action in reliance on the opinion of, or advice or information obtained from, any lawyer, banker, broker, accountant, valuer or any other person believed by the Agent in good faith to be competent to give such opinion, advice or information.

 

  15.14 Distribution of payments The Agent shall pay promptly to the order of each Lender that Lender’s Proportionate Share of every sum of money received by the Agent pursuant to the Finance Documents (with the exception of any amounts payable pursuant to Clause 9 and/or any Fee Letter and any amounts which, by the terms of the Finance Documents, are paid to the Agent for the account of the Agent alone or specifically for the account of one or more Lenders) and until so paid such amount shall be held by the Agent on trust absolutely for that Lender.

 

70


  15.15 Reimbursement The Agent shall have no liability to pay any sum to a Lender until it has itself received payment of that sum. If, however, the Agent does pay any sum to a Lender on account of any amount prospectively due to that Lender pursuant to Clause 15.14 before it has itself received payment of that amount, and the Agent does not in fact receive payment within five (5) Business Days after the date on which that payment was required to be made by the terms of the Finance Documents, that Lender will, on demand by the Agent, refund to the Agent an amount equal to the amount received by it, together with an amount sufficient to reimburse the Agent for any amount which the Agent may certify that it has been required to pay by way of interest on money borrowed to fund the amount in question during the period beginning on the date on which that amount was required to be paid by the terms of the Finance Documents and ending on the date on which the Agent receives reimbursement.

 

  15.16 Redistribution of payments Unless otherwise agreed between the Lenders and the Agent, if at any time a Lender receives or recovers by way of set-off, the exercise of any lien or otherwise from any Security Party, an amount greater than that Lender’s Proportionate Share of any sum due from that Security Party to the Lenders under the Finance Documents (the amount of the excess being referred to in this Clause 15.16 and in Clause 15.17 as the “Excess Amount”) then:

 

  15.16.1 that Lender shall promptly notify the Agent (which shall promptly notify each other Lender);

 

  15.16.2 that Lender shall pay to the Agent an amount equal to the Excess Amount within ten (10) days of its receipt or recovery of the Excess Amount; and

 

  15.16.3 the Agent shall treat that payment as if it were a payment by the Security Party in question on account of the sum due from that Security Party to the Lenders and shall account to the Lenders in respect of the Excess Amount in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 15.16.

However, if a Lender has commenced any legal proceedings to recover sums owing to it under the Finance Documents and, as a result of, or in connection with, those proceedings has received an Excess Amount, the Agent shall not distribute any of that Excess Amount to any other Lender which had been notified of the proceedings and had the legal right to, but did not, join those proceedings or commence and diligently prosecute separate proceedings to enforce its rights in the same or another court.

 

71


  15.17 Rescission of Excess Amount If all or any part of any Excess Amount is rescinded or must otherwise be restored to any Security Party or to any other third party, the Lenders which have received any part of that Excess Amount by way of distribution from the Agent pursuant to Clause 15.16 shall repay to the Agent for the account of the Lender which originally received or recovered the Excess Amount, the amount which shall be necessary to ensure that the Lenders share rateably in accordance with their Proportionate Shares in the amount of the receipt or payment retained, together with interest on that amount at a rate equivalent to that (if any) paid by the Lender receiving or recovering the Excess Amount to the person to whom that Lender is liable to make payment in respect of such amount, and Clause 15.16.3 shall apply only to the retained amount.

 

  15.18 Instructions Where the Agent is authorised or directed to act or refrain from acting in accordance with the instructions of the Lenders or of the Majority Lenders each of the Lenders shall provide the Agent with instructions within five (5) Business Days of the Agent’s request (which request may be made orally or in writing). If a Lender does not provide the Agent with instructions within that period, that Lender shall be bound by the decision of the Agent. Nothing in this Clause 15.18 shall limit the right of the Agent to take, or refrain from taking, any action without obtaining the instructions of the Lenders or the Majority Lenders if the Agent in its discretion considers it necessary or appropriate to take, or refrain from taking, such action in order to preserve the rights of the Lenders under or in connection with the Finance Documents. In that event, the Agent will notify the Lenders of the action taken by it as soon as reasonably practicable, and the Lenders agree to ratify any action taken by the Agent pursuant to this Clause 15.18.

 

  15.19 Payments All amounts payable to a Lender under this Clause 15 shall be paid to such account at such bank as that Lender may from time to time direct in writing to the Agent.

 

  15.20 “Know your customer” checks Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself) in order for the Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

72


  15.21 Resignation Subject to a successor being appointed in accordance with this Clause 15.21, the Agent may resign at any time without assigning any reason by giving to the Borrower and the Lenders notice of its intention to do so, in which event the following shall apply:

 

  15.21.1 with the consent of the Borrower not to be unreasonably withheld (but such consent not to be required at any time after an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived) the Lenders may within thirty (30) days after the date of the notice from the Agent appoint a successor to act as agent or, if they fail to do so with the consent of the Borrower, not to be unreasonably withheld (but such consent not to be required at any time after an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived), the Agent may appoint any other bank or financial institution as its successor;

 

  15.21.2 the resignation of the Agent shall take effect simultaneously with the appointment of its successor on written notice of that appointment being given to the Borrower and the Lenders;

 

  15.21.3 the Agent shall thereupon be discharged from all further obligations as agent but shall remain entitled to the benefit of the provisions of this Clause 15;

 

  15.21.4 the successor of the Agent and each of the other parties to this Agreement shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if that successor had been a party to this Agreement; and

 

  15.21.5 the successor of the Agent shall sign a deed of accession to adhere to the terms of the Deed of Coordination and Trust.

 

  15.22 No fiduciary relationship Except as provided in Clauses 15.3 and 15.14, the Agent shall not have any fiduciary relationship with or be deemed to be a trustee of or for any other person and nothing contained in any Finance Document shall constitute a partnership between any two or more Lenders or between the Agent and any other person.

 

73


16 Set-Off

A Finance Party may set off any matured obligation due from the Borrower under any Finance Document (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, that 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.

 

17 Payments

 

  17.1 Payments Subject always to the terms of the Deed of Coordination and Trust, each amount payable by the Borrower under a Finance Document shall be paid to such account at such bank as the Agent may from time to time direct to the Borrower in the Currency of Account and in such funds as are customary at the time for settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place of payment. Payment shall be deemed to have been received by the Agent on the date on which the Agent receives authenticated advice of receipt, unless that advice is received by the Agent on a day other than a Business Day or at a time of day (whether on a Business Day or not) when the Agent in its reasonable discretion considers that it is impossible or impracticable for the Agent to utilise the amount received for value that same day, in which event the payment in question shall be deemed to have been received by the Agent on the Business Day next following the date of receipt of advice by the Agent.

 

  17.2 No deductions or withholdings Each payment (whether of principal or interest or otherwise) to be made by the Borrower under a Finance Document shall, subject only to Clause 17.3, be made free and clear of and without deduction for or on account of any Taxes or other deductions, withholdings, restrictions, conditions or counterclaims of any nature.

 

  17.3 Grossing-up If at any time any law requires (or is interpreted to require) the Borrower to make any deduction or withholding from any payment, or to change the rate or manner in which any required deduction or withholding is made, the Borrower will promptly notify the Agent and, simultaneously with making that payment, will pay to the Agent whatever additional amount (after taking into account any additional Taxes on, or deductions or withholdings from, or restrictions or conditions on, that additional amount) is necessary to ensure that, after making the deduction or withholding, the relevant Finance Parties receive a net sum equal to the sum which they would have received had no deduction or withholding been made.

 

74


  17.4 Evidence of deductions If at any time the Borrower is required by law to make any deduction or withholding from any payment to be made by it under a Finance Document, the Borrower will pay the amount required to be deducted or withheld to the relevant authority within the time allowed under the applicable law and will, no later than thirty (30) days after making that payment, deliver to the Agent an original receipt issued by the relevant authority, or other evidence reasonably acceptable to the Agent, evidencing the payment to that authority of all amounts required to be deducted or withheld.

 

  17.5 Rebate If the Borrower pays any additional amount under Clause 8.11 or Clause 17.3, and a Finance Party subsequently receives a refund or allowance from any tax authority which that Finance Party identifies as being referable to that increased amount so paid by the Borrower, that Finance Party shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, pay to the Borrower an amount equal to the amount of the refund or allowance received, if and to the extent that it may do so without prejudicing its right to retain that refund or allowance and without putting itself in any worse financial position than that in which it would have been had the relevant deduction or withholding not been required to have been made. Nothing in this Clause 17.5 shall be interpreted as imposing any obligation on any Finance Party to apply for any refund or allowance nor as restricting in any way the manner in which any Finance Party organises its tax affairs, nor as imposing on any Finance Party any obligation to disclose to the Borrower any information regarding its tax affairs or tax computations.

 

  17.6 Adjustment of due dates If any payment or transfer of funds to be made under a Finance Document, other than a payment of interest on the Loan, shall be due on a day which is not a Business Day, that payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day (unless the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar month in which event the payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day). Any such variation of time shall be taken into account in computing any interest in respect of that payment.

 

75


  17.7 Control Account The Agent shall open and maintain on its books a control account in the name of the Borrower showing the advance of the Loan and the computation and payment of interest and all other sums due under this Agreement. The Borrower’s obligations to repay the Loan and to pay interest and all other sums due under this Agreement shall be evidenced by the entries from time to time made in the control account opened and maintained under this Clause 17.7 and those entries will, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding.

 

18 Notices

 

  18.1 Communications in writing Any communication to be made under or in connection with this Agreement shall be made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by fax or letter or (subject to Clause 18.6) electronic mail.

 

  18.2 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 to this Agreement for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with this Agreement are:

 

  18.2.1 in the case of the Borrower, c/o Teekay Shipping (Canada) Ltd Suite 2000, Bentall 5, 550 Burrard Street, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6C 2K2 (fax no: +1 604 681 3011) marked for the attention of Renee Eng, Manager Treasury;

 

  18.2.2 in the case of each Lender, those appearing opposite its name in Schedule 1; and

 

  18.2.3 in the case of the Agent at 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166-0396, U.S.A. (fax no: +1 212 681 3900) marked for the attention of Evan Uhlick;

 

76


       or any substitute address, fax number, department or officer as any 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 (5) Business Days’ notice.

 

  18.3 Delivery Any communication or document made or delivered by one party to this Agreement to another under or in connection this Agreement will only be effective:

 

  18.3.1 if by way of fax, when received in legible form; or

 

  18.3.2 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; or

 

  18.3.3 if by way of electronic mail, in accordance with Clause 18.6;

and, if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address details provided under Clause 18.2, if addressed to that department or officer.

Any communication or document to be made or delivered to the Agent will be effective only when actually received by the Agent.

All notices from or to the Borrower shall be sent through the Agent.

 

  18.4 Notification of address and fax number Promptly upon receipt of notification of an address, fax number or change of address, pursuant to Clause 18.2 or changing its own address or fax number, the Agent shall notify the other parties to this Agreement.

 

  18.5 English language Any notice given under or in connection with this Agreement must be in English. All other documents provided under or in connection with this Agreement must be:

 

  18.5.1 in English; or

 

  18.5.2 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.

 

77


  18.6 Electronic communication

 

  (a) Any communication to be made in connection with this Agreement may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means, if the Borrower and the relevant Finance Party:

 

  (i) agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication;

 

  (ii) 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

 

  (iii) notify each other of any change to their address or any other such information supplied by them.

 

  (b) Any electronic communication made between the Borrower and the relevant Finance Party will be effective only when actually received in readable form and acknowledged by the recipient (it being understood that any system generated responses do not constitute an acknowledgement) and in the case of any electronic communication made by the Borrower to a Finance Party only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Finance Party shall specify for this purpose.

 

19 Partial Invalidity

If, at any time, any provision of a Finance Document 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.

 

78


20 Remedies and Waivers

No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Finance Party, any right or remedy under a Finance Document 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.

 

21 Miscellaneous

 

  21.1 No oral variations No variation or amendment of a Finance Document shall be valid unless in writing and signed on behalf of all the Finance Parties.

 

  21.2 Further Assurance If any provision of a Finance Document shall be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part by reason of any present or future law or any decision of any court, or if the documents at any time held by or on behalf of the Finance Parties or any of them are considered by the Lenders for any reason insufficient to carry out the terms of this Agreement, then from time to time the Borrower will promptly, on demand by the Agent, execute or procure the execution of such further documents as in the opinion of the Lenders are necessary to provide adequate security for the repayment of the Indebtedness.

 

  21.3 Rescission of payments etc. Any discharge, release or reassignment by a Finance Party of any of the security constituted by, or any of the obligations of a Security Party contained in, a Finance Document shall be (and be deemed always to have been) void if any act (including, without limitation, any payment) as a result of which such discharge, release or reassignment was given or made is subsequently wholly or partially rescinded or avoided by operation of any law.

 

  21.4 Certificates Any certificate or statement signed by an authorised signatory of the Agent purporting to show the amount of the Indebtedness (or any part of the Indebtedness) or any other amount referred to in any Finance Document shall, save for manifest error or on any question of law, be conclusive evidence as against the Borrower of that amount.

 

  21.5 Counterparts This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be original but which shall together constitute the same instrument.

 

79


  21.6 Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 A person who is not a party to this Agreement (other than those parties benefitting from the indemnities in Clause 8.5) 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.

 

  21.7 Disclosure of Information The Borrower authorises each Lender to disclose any information and/or document(s) concerning its relationship with such Lender (i) to authorities in any other countries where such Lender or any Affiliate is represented and/or where any Lender or any Affiliate may be requested information by any regulatory authority, when this shall be deemed necessary in order for such Lender or any Affiliate to meet its requirements for the contribution to reduction or prevention of money laundering, terrorism and corruption, (ii) to any Affiliate of that Lender making it possible to consolidate the client’s total commitments and offer the client any other products offered by that Lender or any Affiliate and (iii) to any person to whom or for whose benefit that Lender charges, assigns or otherwise creates Security (or may do so) pursuant to Clause 14.7, subject always to the duties of confidentiality being imposed on the person to whom any such disclosure is made.

 

22 Law and Jurisdiction

 

  22.1 Governing law This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising from or in connection with it shall in all respects be governed by and interpreted in accordance with English law.

 

  22.2 Jurisdiction For the exclusive benefit of the Finance Parties, the parties to this Agreement irrevocably agree that the courts of England are to have jurisdiction to settle any dispute (a) arising from or in connection with this Agreement or (b) relating to any non-contractual obligations arising from or in connection with this Agreement and that any proceedings may be brought in those courts.

 

  22.3 Alternative jurisdictions Nothing contained in this Clause 22 shall limit the right of the Finance Parties to commence any proceedings against the Borrower in any other court of competent jurisdiction nor shall the commencement of any proceedings against the Borrower in one or more jurisdictions preclude the commencement of any proceedings in any other jurisdiction, whether concurrently or not.

 

80


  22.4 Waiver of objections The Borrower irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or in the future have to the laying of the venue of any proceedings in any court referred to in this Clause 22, and any claim that those proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient or inappropriate forum, and irrevocably agrees that a judgment in any proceedings commenced in any such court shall be conclusive and binding on it and may be enforced in the courts of any other jurisdiction.

 

  22.5 Service of process Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, the Borrower:

 

  22.5.1

irrevocably appoints Teekay Shipping (UK) Ltd of 2 nd Floor, 86 Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6JD England as its agent for service of process in relation to any proceedings before the English courts in connection with this Agreement; and

 

  22.5.2 agrees that failure by a process agent to notify the Borrower of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned.

 

81


SCHEDULE 1: The Lenders and the Commitments

 

The Lenders    The Commitments
(US$)
     The Proportionate Share  

DNB BANK ASA

200 Park Avenue,

New York,

NY 10166-0396,

U.S.A.

Attn: Evan Uhlick

Fax no: +1 212 681 3900

     151,093,334         27.31

ABN AMRO BANK N.V.

registered at Gustav Mahlerlaan 10

1082 PP, Amsterdam,

The Netherlands acting

through its office at

Coolsingel 93

3012 AE Rotterdam

The Netherlands

Attn: Raymond Ko

Fax: +31 10 401 5323

     151,093,333         27.31

CITIBANK, N.A., London Branch

Citigroup Centre

Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London E14 5LB

United Kingdom

Attn: Paul Gibbs

Fax: +44 207 942 7512

     151,093,333         27.31

DEVELOPMENT BANK OF JAPAN INC.

9-1, Otemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku,

Tokyo

Japan

Attn: Corporate Finance Department,

Division 4

Fax: +81-3-3270-2475

     100,000,000         18.07
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     553,280,000         100

 

82


SCHEDULE 2: Conditions Precedent and Subsequent

Part I: Conditions precedent to service of Drawdown Notice

 

1 Security Parties

 

  (a) Constitutional Documents Copies of the constitutional documents of each of the Borrower and the Guarantor together with such other evidence as the Agent may reasonably require that each of the Borrower and the Guarantor is duly formed or incorporated in its country of formation or incorporation and remains in existence with power to enter into, and perform its obligations under, the Relevant Documents to which it is or is to become a party.

 

  (b) Certificates of good standing A certificate of good standing in respect of the Guarantor and, in the case of the Borrower, a transcript from the Danish Commerce Agency.

 

  (c) Board resolutions A copy (or extract) of a resolution of the board of directors of the Borrower and the Guarantor (or its sole member or general partner):

 

  (i) approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Relevant Documents to which it is a party and ratifying or resolving that it execute those Relevant Documents; and

 

  (ii) if required authorising a specified person or persons to execute those Relevant Documents (and all documents and notices to be signed and/or despatched under those documents) on its behalf.

 

  (d) Officer’s certificates A certificate of a duly authorised officer or representative of each of the Borrower and the Guarantor certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this Part I of Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement, setting out the names of its directors and officers (or its sole member) and their specimen signatures, setting out the proportion of shares held by each shareholder, and confirming that its borrowing and guaranteeing limits will not be exceeded.

 

83


  (e) Powers of attorney The notarially attested and legalised (where necessary for registration purposes) power of attorney of each of the Borrower and the Guarantor under which any documents are to be executed or transactions undertaken by the Borrower and the Guarantor.

 

  (f) Shareholders Agreement A copy of the shareholders agreement for the Borrower.

 

2 Security and related documents

 

  (a) Finance Documents This Agreement, the Guarantee and any Fee Letter, together with all other documents required by any of them.

 

  (b) Structure Chart A certified copy of the Structure Chart.

 

3 Legal opinions

 

  (a) Legal opinions of the legal advisers to the Lenders in each relevant jurisdiction in relation to those documents listed in paragraph 2(a) of this Schedule 2 Part 1, namely

 

  (i) an opinion on matters of English law from Stephenson Harwood;

 

  (ii) an opinion on matters of Marshall Island law from Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, New York; and

 

  (iii) an opinion on matters of Danish law from Kromann Reumert.

 

  (b) In relation to the other Finance Documents, confirmation satisfactory to the Agent that legal opinions substantially in the form provided to the Agent prior to the acceptance of the Drawdown Notice will be given promptly following disbursement of the Loan, namely:

 

  (i) an opinion on matters of English law from Stephenson Harwood;

 

  (ii) an opinion on matters of Singapore law from Allen & Gledhill LLP;

 

  (iii) an opinion on matters of Marshall Islands law from Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, New York; and

 

  (iv) an opinion on matters of New York law from Seward & Kissel LLP.

 

84


  (v) an opinion on matters of Danish law from Kromann Reumert; and

 

  (vi) an opinion on matters of Luxembourg law from Arendt & Medernach.

 

4 Other documents and evidence

 

  (a) Drawdown Notice A duly completed Drawdown Notice.

 

  (b) Process agent Evidence that any process agent referred to in Clause 22.5 and any process agent appointed under any other Finance Document has accepted its appointment.

 

  (c) Other authorisations A copy of any other consent, licence, approval, 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 of the Relevant Documents or for the validity and enforceability of any of the Relevant Documents.

 

  (d) Fees Evidence that the fees, costs and expenses then due from the Borrower under Clause 8 and Clause 9 have been paid or will be paid by the Drawdown Date.

 

  (e) “Know your customer” documents Such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent in order for the Lenders to comply with all necessary “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in relation to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

  (f) Funds Flow Statement A funds flow statement detailing the flow of funds required to complete under the SPA, and showing the refinancing of any loans at the level of the Target or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

  (g) Ownership of Borrower Evidence that the Borrower is owned as to 52% by the Guarantor and as to 48% by Marubeni.

 

  (h) Other Such other documents, authorisations, opinions and assurances as the Agent may specify.

 

85


Part II: Conditions precedent to the Drawdown Date

 

1 Security Parties

 

  (a) Constitutional Documents Copies of the constitutional documents of the Pledgor together with such other evidence as the Agent may reasonably require that the Pledgor is duly formed or incorporated in its country of formation or incorporation and remains in existence with power to enter into, and perform its obligations under, the Relevant Documents to which it is or is to become a party.

 

  (b) Certificate of good standing A certificate of good standing in respect of the Pledgor (if such a certificate can be obtained).

 

  (c) Board resolutions A copy (or extract) of a resolution of the board of directors of the Pledgor:

 

  (i) approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Relevant Documents to which it is a party and ratifying or resolving that it execute those Relevant Documents; and

 

  (ii) if required authorising a specified person or persons to execute those Relevant Documents (and all documents and notices to be signed and/or despatched under those documents) on its behalf.

 

  (d) Officer’s certificate A certificate of a duly authorised officer or representative of the Pledgor certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this Part II of Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of the Drawdown Date, setting out the names of its directors and officers and their specimen signatures, setting out the proportion of shares held by each shareholder, and confirming that its borrowing and guaranteeing limits will not be exceeded.

 

  (e) Powers of attorney The notarially attested and legalised (where necessary for registration purposes) power of attorney of the Pledgor under which any documents are to be executed or transactions undertaken by the Pledgor.

 

86


2 Security and related documents

 

  (a) Finance Documents The Shares Pledge, the Account Security (other than that relating to the Vessel Earnings Accounts) and the Deed of Coordination and Trust, together with all other documents required by any of them, including, without limitation, all notices of assignment and/or charge and evidence that those notices will be duly acknowledged by the recipients, together with evidence of the authority of the signatories to the Deed of Coordination and Trust, and any perfection of Security Documents required by Danish law.

 

  (b) Relevant Documents Certified copies of the SPA, the Marubeni Bank Loan Agreement and all security documents under the Marubeni Bank Loan Agreement (save for the Assignments, the Intercompany Loan Assignment, the Negative Pledges and the Target Shares Pledge), together with evidence of the authority of the signatories thereto.

 

  (c) Evidence of insurance Evidence that each of the Vessels is insured in the manner required by the Security Documents and that letters of undertaking will be issued in the manner required by the Security Documents, together with the written approval of the Insurances by an insurance adviser appointed by the Agent.

 

3 Legal opinions

Legal opinions of the legal advisers to the Lenders in each relevant jurisdiction in relation to those documents listed in paragraph 2(a) of this Schedule 2 Part II, namely

 

  (i) an opinion on matters of English law from Stephenson Harwood;

 

  (ii) an opinion on matters of Marshall Island law from Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, New York;

 

  (iii) an opinion on matters of Danish law from Kromann Reumert;

 

  (iv) an opinion on matters of New York law from Seward & Kissel LLP; and

 

  (v) an opinion on matters of Luxembourg law from Arendt & Medernach.

 

87


4 Other documents and evidence

 

  (a) Marubeni Evidence acceptable to the Agent that the Borrower can draw under the Marubeni Bank Loan Agreement simultaneously with drawdown of the Loan.

 

  (b) SPA A copy of the statement of estimated intercompany debt of the Target provided to the Borrower under the terms of the SPA.

 

  (c) Equity Account The Equity Account shall have been funded with a minimum of thirty million Dollars ($30,000,000).

 

  (d) Other Such other documents, authorisations, opinions and assurances as the Agent may specify.

 

88


Part III: Conditions subsequent to the Drawdown Date

 

1 Acknowledgements of notices Acknowledgements of all notices of assignment and/or charge given pursuant to the relevant Security Documents.

 

2 Companies Act registrations Evidence that the prescribed particulars of the relevant Security Documents have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies of England and Wales and/or (as appropriate) the Danish Register for Persons within the statutory time limit.

 

3 Vessel Earnings Accounts Evidence that each of the Vessel Earnings Accounts has been opened and that the Account Security over such accounts has been established, together with acceptable opinions relating thereto

 

  (i) on matters of Marshall Island law from Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, New York;

 

  (ii) on matters of New York law from Seward & Kissell LLP;

 

  (iii) on matters of Singapore law from Allen & Gledhill LLP; and

 

  (iv) on matters of Danish law from Kromann Reumert.

 

89


Part IV: Conditions precedent to the disbursement of the Loan

 

1 Security and related documents

 

  (a) Relevant Documents A certified true copy of the Intercompany Loan Agreement together with evidence of the authority of the signatories thereto and evidence acceptable to the Agent that the Target can draw under the Intercompany Loan Agreement and the funds be released to the Seller simultaneously with the disbursement of the Loan.

 

  (b) Vessel documents In respect of each Vessel photocopies, certified as true, accurate and complete by a duly authorised representative of the relevant Vessel Owner, of any Charter together in each case with all addenda, amendments or supplements.

 

2 Other documents and evidence

 

  (a) SPA Evidence acceptable to the Agent that all conditions to closing under the SPA have been met (or will be met on the date of the disbursement of the Loan) or waived.

 

  (b) Ownership of Target Evidence that, immediately following the disbursement of the Loan, the Borrower will be able to complete the purchase of the Target under the SPA.

 

  (c) Evidence of Vessel Owners’ title Certificate of ownership and encumbrance (or equivalent) issued by the Registrar of Ships (or equivalent official) of each Vessel’s flag state confirming that (a) each of the Vessels is permanently registered under that flag in the ownership of the relevant Vessel Owner and (b) each of the Vessels is free of registered Encumbrance.

 

  (d) Confirmation of class Certificates of Confirmation of Class for hull and machinery confirming that each of the Vessels is classed with the highest class applicable to vessels of her type with a Pre-Approved Classification Society.

 

  (e) Equity Not less than one hundred and thirty eight million three hundred thousand Dollars ($138,300,000) (representing the equity contribution to be made by the Pledgor in respect of the Borrower) and one hundred and twenty seven million seven hundred thousand Dollars ($127,700,000) (representing the equity contribution to be made by Scarlet LNG Transport Co. Ltd. in respect of the Borrower) shall have been paid into the Earnings Account.

 

90


  (f) Financial Statements Certified true copies of (i) the proforma financial statements of the Borrower and (ii) the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Guarantor.

 

  (g) Financial position of Target Evidence that, immediately following completion under the SPA, the Target and each of its Subsidiaries (including each Vessel Owner) will be free of Financial Indebtedness.

 

  (h) Other Such other documents, authorisations, opinions and assurances relative to the completion of the purchase of the Target as the Agent may specify.

 

91


Part V: Conditions subsequent to the disbursement of the Loan

1 Security Parties

 

  (a) Constitutional Documents Copies of the constitutional documents of each of the Vessel Owners and the Target together with such other evidence as the Agent may reasonably require that each of the Vessel Owners and the Target is duly formed or incorporated in its country of formation or incorporation and remains in existence with power to enter into, and perform its obligations under, the Relevant Documents to which it is or is to become a party.

 

  (b) Certificates of good standing A certificate of good standing in respect of each of the Vessel Owners and the Target (if such a certificate can be obtained) and, in the case of any such company incorporated in Denmark, a transcript from the Danish Commerce Agency.

 

  (c) Board resolutions A copy (or extract) of a resolution of the board of directors of each of the Vessel Owners and the Target (or its sole member or general partner):

 

  (i) approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Relevant Documents to which it is a party and ratifying or resolving that it execute those Relevant Documents; and

 

  (ii) if required authorising a specified person or persons to execute those Relevant Documents (and all documents and notices to be signed and/or despatched under those documents) on its behalf.

 

  (d) Officer’s certificates A certificate of a duly authorised officer or representative of each of the Vessel Owners and the Target certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this Part V of Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement, setting out the names of its directors and officers (or its sole member) and their specimen signatures, setting out the proportion of shares held by each shareholder, and confirming that its borrowing and guaranteeing limits will not be exceeded.

 

  (e) Powers of attorney The notarially attested and legalised (where necessary for registration purposes) power of attorney of each of the Vessel Owners and the Target under which any documents are to be executed or transactions undertaken by each of the Vessel Owners and the Target.

 

92


2 Security Documents The Assignments (other than those in respect of “Maersk Methane” and “Woodside Donaldson”), the Intercompany Loan Assignment, the Negative Pledges and the Target Share Pledge, together with all other documents required by any of them, including, without limitation, all notices of assignment and/or charge (save for any notices of assignment of Earnings) and any perfection of the Assignments, the Intercompany Loan Assignment, the Negative Pledges and the Target Share Pledge required by Danish law.

 

3 Legal opinions Such of the legal opinions specified in Part I of this Schedule 2 as have not already been provided to the Agent (other than those relating to the Assignments in respect of “Maersk Methane” and “Woodside Donaldson”).

 

4 Registrations Evidence that the prescribed particulars of the Assignments, the Negative Pledges, the Target Share Pledge and the Intercompany Loan Assignment have been delivered to the Danish Register for Persons within the statutory time limit.

 

5 Letters of undertaking Letters of undertaking in respect of the Insurances in respect of the relevant Vessels as required by the Security Documents together with copies of the relevant policies or cover notes or entry certificates duly endorsed with the interest of the Finance Parties.

 

6 Changes of name Evidence of change of name of the Target and each of the Vessel Owners.

 

7 Acknowledgements Acknowledgements to the notices of assignment and charge referred to in paragraph 2 above.

 

8 Whitewash A certificate issued by Malt Singapore Pte. Ltd. (previously known as Maersk LNG Singapore Pte. Ltd.) pursuant to Section 76A(6) of the Singapore Companies Act, together with the Assignments in respect of “Maersk Methane” and “Woodside Donaldson” and the legal opinions relating to those documents.

 

93


SCHEDULE 3: The Vessels

 

Vessel Name

  

Flag

  

Registered Owner on
closing [where
incorporated]

  

Beneficial

Owner on

closing

  

Index Amount

“MAERSK MAGELLAN” (tbr “MAGELLAN SPIRIT”)    Denmark (DIS)    Magellan Spirit ApS [Danish]    100% Target    224
“MAERSK MERIDIAN” (tbr “MERIDIAN SPIRIT”)    Denmark (DIS)    Meridian Spirit ApS [Danish]    100% Target    217
“MAERSK MARIB” (tbr “MARIB SPIRIT”)    Marshall Islands    Membrane Shipping Limited [Marshall Islands]    100% Target    219
“MAERSK ARWA” (tbr “ARWA SPIRIT”)    Marshall Islands    Membrane Shipping Limited [Marshall Islands]    100% Target    221
“MAERSK METHANE” (tbr “METHANE SPIRIT”)    Singapore    Malt Singapore Pte. Ltd. [Singapore]    100% Target    229
“WOODSIDE” “DONALDSON”    Singapore    Malt Singapore Pte. Ltd. [Singapore]    100% Target    220

 

94


SCHEDULE 4: Calculation of Mandatory Cost

 

1 The Mandatory Cost is an addition to the interest rate to compensate the Lenders for the cost of compliance with (a) the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority (or, in either case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) or (b) the requirements of the European Central Bank.

 

(a) 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 Loan) and will be expressed as a percentage rate per annum.

 

(b) The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from an office in the euro-zone will be the percentage notified by that Lender to the Agent to be its reasonable determination of the cost (expressed as a percentage of that Lender’s participation in the Loan) of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank as a result of participating in the Loan from that office.

 

(c) The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from an office in the United Kingdom will be calculated by the Agent as follows:

F x 0.01  per cent per annum

300

where F is the charge payable by that Lender to the Financial Services Authority under paragraph 2.02 or 2.03 (as appropriate) of the Fees Regulations or the equivalent provisions in any replacement regulations (with, for this purpose, the figure for the minimum amount in paragraph 2.02b or such equivalent provision deemed to be zero), expressed in pounds per £1 million of the fee base of that Lender.

 

2 For the purpose of this Schedule:

 

  (a) “eligible liabilities” and “special deposits” have the meanings given to them at the time of application of the formula by the Bank of England;

 

  (b) “fee base” has the meaning given to it in the Fees Regulations;

 

95


  (c) “Fees Regulations” means the regulations governing 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.

 

3 If a Lender does not supply the information required by the Agent to determine its Additional Cost Rate when requested to do so, the applicable Mandatory Cost shall be determined on the basis of the information supplied by the remaining Lenders.

 

4 If a change in circumstances has rendered, or will render, the formula inappropriate, the Agent shall notify the Borrower of the manner in which the Mandatory Cost will subsequently be calculated. The manner of calculation so notified by the Agent shall, in the absence of manifest error, be binding on the Borrower.

 

96


SCHEDULE 5: Form of Drawdown Notice

To: DNB BANK ASA

From: MALT LNG HOLDINGS APS

[Date]

Dear Sirs,

Drawdown Notice

We refer to the Loan Agreement dated             2012 made between, amongst others, ourselves and yourselves (the “ Agreement ”).

Words and phrases defined in the Agreement have the same meaning when used in this Drawdown Notice.

Pursuant to Clause 4.1 of the Agreement, we irrevocably request that you advance the Loan in the sum of [                 ] on             2012, which is a Business Day, by paying the amount of the advance to the Earnings Account. We further irrevocably direct you to disburse the Loan to the Seller, subject to and on the terms of the attached payment instruction which we will issue on the date of completion of the Acquisition.

We warrant that the representations and warranties contained in Clause 11 of the Agreement are true and correct at the date of this Drawdown Notice and (save those contained in Clauses 11.2 and 11.20) will be true and correct on 2012, that no Default has occurred and is continuing, and that no Default will result from the advance of the sum requested in this Drawdown Notice.

We select the period of [            ] months as the Interest Period in respect of the Loan.

Yours faithfully

For and on behalf of

Malt LNG Holdings ApS

 

97


SCHEDULE 6: Form of Transfer Certificate

To: DNB BANK ASA

                          2012

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE

This transfer certificate relates to a secured loan facility agreement (as from time to time amended, varied, supplemented or novated the “Loan Agreement”) dated [ ] 2012, on the terms and subject to the conditions of which a secured loan facility was made available to Malt LNG Holdings ApS, by a syndicate of banks on whose behalf you act as agent and security trustee.

 

1 Terms defined in the Loan Agreement shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated, have the same meaning when used in this certificate. The terms “Transferor” and “Transferee” are defined in the schedule to this certificate.

 

2 The Transferor:

 

  2.1 confirms that the details in the Schedule under the heading “Transferor’s Commitment” accurately summarise its Commitment; and

 

  2.2 requests the Transferee to accept by way of novation the transfer to the Transferee of the amount of the Transferor’s Commitment specified in the Schedule by counter-signing and delivering this certificate to the Agent at its address for communications specified in the Loan Agreement.

 

3 The Transferee requests the Agent to accept this certificate as being delivered to the Agent pursuant to and for the purposes of clause 14.4 of the Loan Agreement so as to take effect in accordance with the terms of that clause on the Transfer Date specified in the Schedule.

 

4 The Agent confirms its acceptance of this certificate for the purposes of clause 14.4 of the Loan Agreement.

 

5 The Transferee confirms that:

 

98


  5.1 it has received a copy of the Loan Agreement together with all other information which it has required in connection with this transaction;

 

  5.2 it has not relied and will not in the future rely on the Transferor or any other party to the Loan Agreement to check or enquire on its behalf into the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any such information; and

 

  5.3 it has not relied and will not in the future rely on the Transferor or any other party to the Loan Agreement to keep under review on its behalf the financial condition, creditworthiness, condition, affairs, status or nature of any Security Party.

 

6 Execution of this certificate by the Transferee constitutes its representation and warranty to the Transferor and to all other parties to the Loan Agreement that it has the power to become a party to the Loan Agreement as a Lender on the terms of the Loan Agreement and has taken all steps to authorise execution and delivery of this certificate.

 

7 The Transferee undertakes with the Transferor and each of the other parties to the Loan Agreement that it will perform in accordance with their terms all those obligations which by the terms of the Loan Agreement will be assumed by it after delivery of this certificate to the Agent and the satisfaction of any conditions subject to which this certificate is expressed to take effect.

 

8 The Transferor makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document or any document relating to any Finance Document, and assumes no responsibility for the financial condition of any Finance Party or for the performance and observance by any Security Party of any of its obligations under any Finance Document or any document relating to any Finance Document and any conditions and warranties implied by law are expressly excluded.

 

9 The Transferee acknowledges that nothing in this certificate or in the Loan Agreement shall oblige the Transferor to:

 

  9.1 accept a re-transfer from the Transferee of the whole or any part of the rights, benefits and/or obligations transferred pursuant to this certificate; or

 

99


  9.2 support any losses directly or indirectly sustained or incurred by the Transferee for any reason including, without limitation, the non-performance by any party to any Finance Document of any obligations under any Finance Document.

 

10 The address and fax number of the Transferee for the purposes of clause 18 of the Loan Agreement are set out in the Schedule.

 

11 This certificate may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be original but which shall together constitute the same instrument.

 

12 This certificate shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with English law.

THE SCHEDULE

 

1 Transferor :

 

2 Transferee :

 

3 Transfer Date (not earlier that the fifth Business Day after the date of delivery of the Transfer Certificate to the Agent):

 

4 Transferor’s Commitment:

 

5 Amount transferred:

 

6 Transferee’s address and fax number for the purposes of clause 18 of the Loan Agreement:

 

[name of Transferor]    [name of Transferee]
By:    By:
Date:    Date:

DNB BANK ASA as Agent

By:

Date:

 

100


IN WITNESS of which the parties to this Agreement have executed this Agreement the day and year first before written.

 

SIGNED by Nigel Thomas

   )   

/s/ Nigel Thomas

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of MALT LNG HOLDINGS APS

   )   

SIGNED by Mark Russell

   )   

/s/ Mark Russell

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of DNB BANK ASA

   )   

(as Agent)

   )   

SIGNED by Mark Russell

   )   

/s/ Mark Russell

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of DNB BANK ASA

   )   

(as a Lender)

   )   

SIGNED by Paul Gibbs

   )   

/s/ Paul Gibbs

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of CITIBANK, N.A ., London Branch

   )   

(as a Lender)

   )   

SIGNED by Mark Russell and David Metzger

   )   

/s/ Mark Russell and David Metzger

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of ABN AMRO BANK N.V.

   )   

(as a Lender)

   )   

SIGNED by David Metzger

   )   

/s/ David Metzger

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of DEVELOPMENT BANK OF

   )   

JAPAN INC.

   )   

(as a Lender)

   )   

 

 

101


SIGNED by Mark Russell

   )   

/s/ Mark Russell

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of DNB BANK ASA

   )   

(as a Mandated Lead Arranger)

   )   

SIGNED by MarkRussell and David Metzger

   )   

/s/ Mark Russell and David Metzger

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of ABN AMRO BANK N.V.

   )   

(as a Mandated Lead Arranger)

   )   

SIGNED by Paul Gibbs

   )   

/s/ Paul Gibbs

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS

   )   

LIMITED

   )   

(as a Mandated Lead Arranger)

   )   

SIGNED by Mark Russell

   )   

/s/ Mark Russell

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of DNB BANK ASA

   )   

(as a Bookrunner)

   )   

SIGNED by Mark Russell and David Metzger

   )   

/s/ Mark Russell and David Metzger

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of ABN AMRO BANK N.V.

   )   

(as a Bookrunner)

   )   

SIGNED by Paul Gibbs

   )   

/s/ Paul Gibbs

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )   

of CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS

   )   

LIMITED

   )   

(as a Bookrunner)

   )   

 

102


SIGNED by David Metzger    )   

/s/ David Metzger

duly authorised for and on behalf    )   
of DEVELOPMENT BANK OF JAPAN    )   

INC.

   )   

(as an Arranger)

   )   

 

103

Exhibit 4.24

DATED 17 February 2012

MALT LNG HOLDINGS ApS

(as Borrower)

- and -

THE VARIOUS LENDERS

(as Lenders)

- and -

MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.

(as Mandated Lead Arranger)

- and -

MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.

(as Agent)

US$510,720,000

LOAN AGREEMENT

 

LOGO


CONTENTS

 

     Page  

1 Definitions and Interpretation

     1   

2 The Loan and its Purposes

     19   

3 Conditions of Utilisation

     20   

4 Advance

     22   

5 Repayment

     22   

6 Prepayment

     23   

7 Interest

     26   

8 Indemnities

     28   

9 Fees

     35   

10 Security and Application of Moneys

     35   

11 Representations and Warranties

     37   

12 Undertakings and Covenants

     44   

13 Events of Default

     54   

14 Assignment and Sub-Participation

     60   

15 The Agent and the Lenders

     63   

16 Set-Off

     72   

17 Payments

     72   

18 Notices

     74   

19 Partial Invalidity

     77   

20 Remedies and Waivers

     77   

21 Miscellaneous

     77   


22 Law and Jurisdiction

     78   

SCHEDULE 1 : The Lenders and the Commitments

     80   

SCHEDULE 2: Conditions Precedent and Subsequent

     81   

Part I : Conditions precedent to service of Drawdown Notice

     81   

Part II: Conditions precedent to the Drawdown Date

     85   

Part III: Conditions subsequent to the Drawdown Date

     86   

Part IV: Conditions precedent to the disbursement of the Loan

     87   

Part V: Conditions subsequent to the disbursement of the Loan

     89   

SCHEDULE 3: The Vessels

     91   

SCHEDULE 4: Calculation of Mandatory Cost

     92   

SCHEDULE 5: Form of Drawdown Notice

     94   

SCHEDULE 6: Form of Transfer Certificate

     95   

SCHEDULE 7

     98   

SELECTION NOTICE

     98   


LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated: 17 February 2012

BETWEEN:

 

(1) MALT LNG HOLDINGS ApS , a limited liability company formed and existing under the laws of Denmark whose registered office is c/o Plesner Advokatfirma Amerika Plads 37, 2100 København Ø, Denmark (the “Borrower” ); and

 

(2) the banks listed in Schedule 1, each acting through its office at the address indicated against its name in Schedule 1 (together the “Lenders” and each a “ Lender ”); and

 

(3) MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD., of 1-3-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8210, Japan, acting through its London branch at Bracken House, One Friday Street, London EC4M 9JA, acting as mandated lead arranger (in that capacity the “ MLA ”); and

 

(4) MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD, 1-3-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8210, Japan, acting through its London branch at Bracken House, One Friday Street, London EC4M 9JA as agent and security trustee (in that capacity the “ Agent ”).

RECITAL:

Each of the Lenders has agreed to advance to the Borrower its Commitment (aggregating, with all the other Commitments, an amount not exceeding the Maximum Amount) to assist the Borrower in (i) purchasing shares in the Target and (ii) any potential refinancing of loans at the level of the Target and/or any of its Subsidiaries.

IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1 Definitions and Interpretation

 

  1.1 In this Agreement:

“Account Holder” means DNB Bank ASA.

“Accounts” means the Earnings Account and the Vessel Earnings Accounts.

“Account Security” means the charge over the Accounts granted or to be granted by the Borrower and the Vessel Owners referred to in Clause 10.1.5.


“Acquisition” means the acquisition by the Borrower of the shares in the Target on the terms of the SPA.

“Acquisition Price” means the price to be paid by the Borrower to the Seller under the terms of the SPA including, for the avoidance of doubt, an amount equal to the Existing Intercompany Debts to be repaid to the Seller at the time of Closing (as defined in the SPA).

“Affiliate” means, in relation to any entity, a Subsidiary of that entity, a Holding Company of that entity or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company.

“Approved Brokers” means Clarksons, Fearnleys, RS Platou or such other reputable and independent consultancy or ship broker firm approved by the Agent.

“Approved Charterers” means (i) each entity that is currently a charterer under a Charter and (ii) any other entity reasonably approved by the Majority Lenders.

“Approved Manager” means:

 

  (a) for the period from the Drawdown Date to the date falling six (6) months thereafter, (i) Teekay Shipping Limited or (ii) the Target; and

 

  (b) throughout the Facility Period, (i) the Guarantor, (ii) TC, (iii) a Subsidiary of the Guarantor or TC or (iv) any other entity reasonably approved by the Majority Lenders.

“Assignments” means the deeds of assignment of the Earnings, Insurances and Requisition Compensation of each of the Vessels referred to in Clause 10.1.2.

“Attributable Amount”, in relation to any Vessel and at any time, means the amount which is obtained by dividing the Index Amount of that Vessel by the sum of the Index Amounts of the Vessels then owned by the Vessel Owners, and multiplying the result by the amount of the Loan outstanding at that time.

“Authorisation” means an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration.

 

2


“Break Costs” means all sums payable by the Borrower from time to time under Clause 8.3.

“Business Day” means a day on which banks are open for business of a nature contemplated by this Agreement (and not authorised by law to close) in New York, London, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Vancouver and any other financial centre which the Agent may reasonably consider appropriate for the operation of the provisions of this Agreement.

“Charters ” means:

 

  (a) for m.v. “MAERSK MERIDIAN”, a charterparty dated 9 December 2011 made between the relevant Vessel Owner (as owner) and Total E&P Norge AS (as charterer);

 

  (b) for m.v. “WOODSIDE DONALDSON”, a charterparty dated 10 September 2007 originally made between A. P. Møller Singapore Pte. Ltd. (as owner) and Pluto LNG Pty Ltd (as charterer) and as amended by a shipping side letter, addendum no. 1 dated 13 December 2007 and amendment no. 1 dated 23 December 2008 and as novated pursuant to a novation agreement dated 31 August 2010 made between A. P. Møller Singapore Pte. Ltd. (as original owner), Pluto LNG Pty. Ltd. (as charterer) and the relevant Vessel Owner (as new owner);

 

  (c) for m.v. “MAERSK ARWA”, a charterparty dated 20 January 2006 made originally between A. P. Møller  —  Mærsk A/S (as owner) and Yemen LNG Company Limited (as charterer) as novated pursuant to a novation agreement dated 29 October 2007 made between A.P. Møller  —  Mærsk A/S (as original owner), the relevant Vessel Owner (as new owner) and Yemen LNG Company Limited (as charterer) and as further amended by addendum no. 1 dated 25 April 2009 and addendum no 2 dated 7 October 2009;

 

  (d) for m.v. “MAERSK MARIB”, a charterparty dated 10 January 2006 made originally between A. P. Møller  –  Mærsk A/S (as owner) and Yemen LNG Company Limited (as charterer) as novated pursuant to a novation agreement dated 12 July 2007 made between A. P. Møller -Mærsk A/S (as original owner), the relevant Vessel Owner (as new owner) and Yemen LNG Company Limited (as charterer);

 

3


  (e) for m.v. “MAERSK MAGELLAN”, a charterparty dated 20 January 2011 made between the relevant Vessel Owner and Qatar Gas Transport Company Limited (Nakilat) (Q.S.C.); and

 

  (f) for m.v. “MAERSK METHANE”, both (i) a charterparty dated 28 June 2010 made originally between The Maersk Company Limited (as original owner) and Repsol Comercializadora de Gas S.A. (as charterer) as novated pursuant to a novation agreement dated 30 September 2011 made between The Maersk Company Limited (as original owner) the relevant Vessel Owner (as new owner) and Repsol Comercializadora de Gas S.A. (as charterer); and (ii) a charterparty dated 16 December 2011 made between the relevant Vessel Owner and BP Shipping Ltd as agents to BP Gas Marketing Ltd,

and shall include, in the case of each such Charter, a consent and amendment agreement, (howsoever described) where relevant, consenting to the transfer of the ultimate beneficial ownership of the relevant Vessel Owner.

“Commitment” means, in relation to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Loan which that Lender agrees to advance to the Borrower as its several liability as indicated against the name of that Lender in Schedule 1 and/or, where the context permits, the amount of the Loan advanced by that Lender and remaining outstanding and “Commitments” means more than one of them.

“Commitment Commission” means the commitment commission to be paid by the Borrower to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders pursuant to Clause 9.1.

“Currency of Account” means, in relation to any payment to be made to a Finance Party under a Finance Document, the currency in which that payment is required to be made by the terms of that Finance Document.

“Deed of Coordination and Trust” means the deed dated on or about the date hereof and made between (1) the Borrower, (2) DNB Bank ASA as security trustee for the Lenders and the Other Lenders, (3) the Agent, (4) DNB, (5) the Lenders and (6) the Other Lenders.

 

4


“Default” means an Event of Default or any event or circumstance specified in Clause 13.1 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.

“Default Rate” means interest paid at the rate set out in Clause 7.8.

“DNB” means DNB Bank ASA of 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166-0396, U.S.A.

“DOC” means, in relation to the ISM Company, a valid Document of Compliance issued for the ISM Company by the Administration under paragraph 13.2 of the ISM Code.

“Dollars”, “US$” and “$” each means available and freely transferable and convertible funds in lawful currency of the United States of America.

“Drawdown Date” means the date on which the Loan is advanced under Clause 4.

“Drawdown Notice ” means a notice substantially in the form set out in Schedule 5.

“Earnings” means all hires, freights, pool income and other sums payable to or for the account of the Vessel Owners in respect of the Vessels including (without limitation) all remuneration for salvage and towage services, demurrage and detention moneys, contributions in general average, compensation in respect of any requisition for hire, and damages and other payments (whether awarded by any court or arbitral tribunal or by agreement or otherwise) for breach, termination or variation of any contract for the operation, employment or use of the Vessels.

“Earnings Account” means account no 25336001 held by the Borrower with the Account Holder.

“Encumbrance” means a mortgage, charge, assignment, pledge, lien, or other security interest securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect.

 

5


“Environmental Affiliate” means an agent or employee of a Vessel Owner or a person in a contractual relationship with a Vessel Owner in respect of its Vessel (including without limitation, the operation of or the carriage of cargo of the Vessel).

“Environmental Approvals” means any present or future permit, licence, approval, ruling, variance, exemption or other authorisation required under the applicable Environmental Laws.

“Environmental Claim” means any and all enforcement, clean-up, removal, administrative, governmental, regulatory or judicial actions, orders, demands or investigations instituted or completed pursuant to any Environmental Laws or Environmental Approvals together with any claims made by any third person relating to damage, contribution, loss or injury resulting from any Environmental Incident.

“Environmental Incident” means:

 

  (a) any release of Environmentally Sensitive Material from any Vessel; or

 

  (b) any incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released from a vessel other than a Vessel and which involves a collision between a Vessel and such other vessel or some other incident of navigation or operation, in either case, in connection with which a Vessel is actually or potentially liable to be arrested, attached, detained or injuncted and/or where any guarantor, any manager (or any sub-manager of a Vessel) or any of its officers, employees or other persons retained or instructed by it (or such sub-manager) are at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action; or

 

  (c) any other incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released otherwise than from a Vessel and in connection with which a Vessel is actually or potentially liable to be arrested and/or where any guarantor, any manager (or any sub-manager of a Vessel) or any of its officers, employees or other persons retained or instructed by it (or such sub-manager) are at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action.

 

6


“Environmental Laws ” means all present and future laws, regulations, treaties and conventions of any applicable jurisdiction which:

 

  (a) have as a purpose or effect the protection of, and/or prevention of harm or damage to, the environment;

 

  (b) relate to the carriage of Environmentally Sensitive Material or to actual or threatened releases of Environmentally Sensitive Material;

 

  (c) provide remedies or compensation for harm or damage to the environment; or

 

  (d) relate to Environmentally Sensitive Materials or health or safety matters.

“Environmentally Sensitive Material” means (i) oil and oil products and (ii) any other waste, pollutant, contaminant or other substance (including any liquid, solid, gas, ion, living organism or noise) that may be harmful to human health or other life or the environment or a nuisance to any person or that may make the enjoyment, ownership or other territorial control of any affected land, property or waters more costly for such person to a material degree.

“Event of Default” means any of the events or circumstances set out in Clause 13.1.

“Execution Date” means the date on which this Agreement is executed by each of the parties hereto.

“Existing Intercompany Debts” means the intergroup accounts which are specified in clause 7.1(h) of the SPA in the aggregate amount as notified by the Seller to the Borrower.

“Facility” means the credit facility made available by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

“Facility Office” means:

 

  (a) in respect of a Lender, the office or offices notified by that Lender to the Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender (or, following that date, by not les than five (5) Business Days’ written notice) as the office or offices through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement; or

 

7


  (b) in respect of any other Finance Party, the office in the jurisdiction in which it is resident for tax purposes.

“Facility Period” means the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending on the date when the whole of the Indebtedness has been repaid in full and the Security Parties have ceased to be under any further actual or contingent liability to the Finance Parties under or in connection with the Finance Documents.

“Fee Letter” means the letters between the Borrower and the MLA setting out any of the fees referred to in Clause 9.

“Final Availability Date” means the date falling ninety (90) days after the Execution Date or such later date as the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) may approve.

“Finance Documents” means this Agreement, the Security Documents, the Deed of Coordination and Trust, any Fee Letter and any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Borrower and “Finance Document” means any one of them.

“Finance Parties” means the Agent, the MLA and the Lenders and “Finance Party” means any one of them.

“Financial Indebtedness” means any indebtedness for or in respect of:

 

  (a) moneys borrowed;

 

  (b) any amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit facility or dematerialised equivalent;

 

  (c) any amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, indentures, loan stock or any similar instrument;

 

8


  (d) the amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance with IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards), 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 amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing;

 

  (g) any derivative transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price (and, when calculating the value of any derivative transaction, only the marked to market value shall be taken into account);

 

  (h) any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial institution;

 

  (i) any amount raised by the issue of shares which are redeemable (other than at the option of the Borrower) prior to the Maturity Date;

 

  (j) any amount of any liability under an advance or deferred purchase agreement if one of the primary reasons behind the entry into the agreement is to raise finance; and

 

  (k) (without double counting) the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee or indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (a) to (j) above.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or, where applicable and deemed to be necessary, in the relevant jurisdiction.

“Group” means the Guarantor and each of its Subsidiaries.

“Guarantee” means the guarantee and indemnity referred to in Clause 10.1.3.

 

9


“Guarantor” means Marubeni Corporation, a company incorporated under the laws of Japan.

“Holding Company” means, in relation to any entity, any other entity in respect of which it is a Subsidiary.

“Indebtedness” means the aggregate from time to time of: the amount of the Loan outstanding; all accrued and unpaid interest on the Loan; and all other sums of any nature (together with all accrued and unpaid interest on any of those sums) which from time to time may be payable by the Borrower to any of the Finance Parties under all or any of the Finance Documents.

“Index Amount” , in relation to any Vessel, means the number indicated against the name of that Vessel in Schedule 3.

“Insurances” means all policies and contracts of insurance (including all entries in protection and indemnity or war risks associations) which are from time to time taken out or entered into in respect of or in connection with the Vessels or their increased value and (where the context permits) all benefits under such contracts and policies, including all claims of any nature and returns of premium.

“Intercompany Loan” means the loan made or to be made available by the Borrower to the Target under the Intercompany Loan Agreement.

“Intercompany Loan Agreement” means the agreement made or to be made between the Borrower and the Target relating to the Intercompany Loan.

“Intercompany Loan Assignment” means the assignment of the benefit of the Intercompany Loan referred to in Clause 10.1.1.

“Interest Payment Date” means each date for the payment of interest in accordance with Clause 7.7.

“Interest Period” means each period for the payment of interest selected by the Borrower or agreed by the Agent pursuant to Clause 7.

“ISM Code” means the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention.

 

10


“ISM Company” means, at any given time, the company responsible for a Vessel’s compliance with the ISM Code under paragraph 1.1.2 of the ISM Code.

“ISPS Code” means the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.

“ISPS Company” means, at any given time, the company responsible for a Vessel’s compliance with the ISPS Code.

“ISSC” means a valid international ship security certificate for a Vessel issued under the ISPS Code.

“law” or “Law” means any law, statute, treaty, convention, regulation, instrument or other subordinate legislation or other legislative or quasi-legislative rule or measure, or any order or decree of any government, judicial or public or other body or authority, or any directive, code of practice, circular, guidance note or other direction issued by any competent authority or agency (whether or not having the force of law).

“LIBOR” means:

 

  (a) the applicable Mizuho LIBOR as shown at http://www.mizuhocbk.com/uk/fin_info/libor/index.html or its successor page; or

 

  (b) (if no Mizuho LIBOR is available for any Interest Period) the rate (rounded upwards to four decimal places) as supplied to the Agent at its request offered by the Reference Banks to leading banks in the London interbank market,

at or around 11.00 a.m. London time two (2) London Business Days before the first day of the relevant Interest Period for the offering of deposits in Dollars in an amount comparable to the Loan (or any relevant part of the Loan) and for a period comparable to the relevant Interest Period, provided that if any such rate is below zero, LIBOR will be deemed to be zero.

“Loan” means the aggregate amount advanced or to be advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower under Clause 4 (being the aggregate of Tranche A and Tranche B) or, where the context permits, the amount advanced and for the time being outstanding.

 

11


“London Business Day” means a day on which banks are open for business of a nature contemplated by this Agreement (and not authorised by law to close) in London.

“Majority Lenders” means a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than sixty six and two thirds per cent (66 2/3%) of the aggregate of all the Commitments.

“Mandatory Cost” means the percentage rate per annum calculated by the Agent in accordance with Schedule 4.

“Margin” means 0.35% per annum.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect on:

 

  (a) the financial condition, assets or business of any Security Party or on the consolidated financial condition, assets or business of the Borrower, the Guarantor, and/or the Material Subsidiaries;

 

  (b) the ability of any Security Party to perform and comply with its obligations under any Relevant Document or to avoid any Event of Default;

 

  (c) the validity, legality or enforceability of any Security Document; or

 

  (d) the validity, legality or enforceability of any security expressed to be created pursuant to any Security Document or the priority and ranking of any such security,

provided that, in determining whether any of the forgoing circumstances shall constitute such a material adverse change or material adverse effect for the purposes of this definition, the Finance Parties shall consider such circumstance in the context of (x) the Group taken as a whole and (y) the ability of the Security Parties to perform each of their obligations under the Security Documents.

“Material Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Guarantor whose assets, as determined in accordance with GAAP and as shown from the most recent financial statements available to the Agent relating to it, as multiplied by the

 

12


Relevant Percentage in respect of such Subsidiary, equal or exceed 10% of the aggregate value of the assets of the Group as determined in accordance with GAAP and as shown from the most recently available financial statements of the Group,

provided that:

 

  (i) in respect of any Subsidiary of the Guarantor, only the value of its assets as multiplied by the Relevant Percentage in respect of such Subsidiary shall be taken into account in the computation of the value of the assets of the Group;

 

  (ii) a statement by the auditors of the Guarantor to the effect that, in their opinion, a Subsidiary of the Guarantor is or is not or was or was not at any particular time a Material Subsidiary shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on each of the parties to this Agreement.

“Maturity Date” means 6 August 2013 or, in the event that this day is not a Business Day, the last Business Day preceding 6 August 2013.

“Maximum Amount” shall mean the lesser of (a) five hundred and ten million seven hundred and twenty thousand Dollars ($510,720,000) and (b) an amount equal to forty eight percent (48%) times eighty percent (80%) of the Acquisition Price.

“Necessary Authorisations” means all Authorisations of any person including any government or other regulatory authority required by applicable Law to enable it to:

 

  (a) lawfully enter into and perform its obligations under the Security Documents to which it is party;

 

  (b) ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence in England and, if different, its jurisdiction of incorporation, of such Security Documents to which it is party; and

 

  (c) carry on its business from time to time.

 

13


“Negative Pledges” means the negative pledges from the Target referred to in Clause 10.1.4.

“Other Lenders” means the Lenders as defined in the TGP Bank Loan Agreement.

“Party” means a party to this Agreement.

“Permitted Encumbrance” means (i) any Encumbrance which has the prior written approval of the Agent acting on the instructions of all the Lenders or (ii) any liens for current crews’ wages and salvage and liens incurred in the ordinary course of trading a Vessel up to an aggregate amount at any time not exceeding ten million Dollars ($10,000,000).

“Pledgor” means Scarlet LNG Transport Co., Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of Japan with registered office at 4-2, Ohtemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 100-8088, Japan.

“Pre-Approved Classification Society” means any of Det norske Veritas, Lloyds Register, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Germanischer Lloyd or Bureau Veritas or such other classification society acceptable to the Majority Lenders.

“Pre-Approved Flag” means Danish International Ship Registry, Marshall Islands, Norwegian International Ship Registry, Liberia, Panama, Isle of Man, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Bahamas or Singapore.

“Proportionate Share” means, at any time, the proportion which a Lender’s Commitment (whether or not advanced) then bears to the aggregate Commitments of all the Lenders (whether or not advanced) being on the Execution Date the percentage indicated against the name of that Lender in Schedule 1.

“Protected Party” means a Finance Party 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 required or receivable (or any sum deemed for the purpose of Tax to be received or receivable) under a Finance Document.

“Reference Banks” means all Lenders as of the Execution Date.

 

14


“Relevant Documents” means the Finance Documents, the SPA, the Intercompany Loan Agreement, the TGP Bank Loan Agreement, all security documents under the TGP Bank Loan Agreement, the Structure Chart and the Shareholders Agreement.

“Relevant Percentage” means, in respect of any Subsidiary of the Guarantor at any time, the percentage of the equity share capital or the partnership capital, as the case may be, of such Subsidiary which is beneficially owned (free from Encumbrances) by the Guarantor at such time.

“Requisition Compensation” means all compensation or other money which may from time to time be payable to a Vessel Owner as a result of a Vessel being requisitioned for title or in any other way compulsorily acquired (other than by way of requisition for hire).

“Security Documents” means the Intercompany Loan Assignment, the Assignments, the Guarantee, the Shares Pledge, the Target Shares Pledge, the Negative Pledges and the Account Security or (where the context permits) any one or more of them and any other agreement or document which may at any time be executed by any person as security for the payment of all or any part of the Indebtedness and “Security Document” means any one of them.

“Security Parties” means at any relevant time, the Borrower, the Guarantor, the Pledgor, the Target, the Vessel Owners and any other person who may at any time during the Facility Period be liable for, or provide security for, all or any part of the Indebtedness, and “Security Party” means any one of them.

“Selection Notice” means a notice substantially in the form set out in Schedule 7.

“Seller” means A.P. Møller-Mærsk A/S of Esplanaden 50, DK-1263 Copenhagen K, Denmark.

“Shareholders Agreement” means the joint venture agreement made between the Borrower, the Guarantor, Teekay LNG Operating LLC, the Pledgor and Teekay Luxembourg S.a.r.l. regulating the operation and control of the Borrower.

“Shares Pledge” means the pledge of shares granted or to be granted by the Pledgor in favour of the Finance Parties over the forty eight percent (48%) shareholding in the Borrower owned by the Pledgor, referred to in Clause 10.1.6, together with a side letter in relation to, inter alia, pre-emption rights contained in the Shareholders Agreement, to be signed between the Borrower and the parties to the Shareholders Agreement.

 

15


“SMC” means a valid safety management certificate issued for a Vessel by or on behalf of the Administration under paragraph 13.7 of the ISM Code.

“SMS” means a safety management system for a Vessel developed and implemented in accordance with the ISM Code.

“SPA” means the share purchase agreement dated 12 October 2011 and made between (1) the Seller and (2) the Borrower as novatee of Teekay LNG Operating L.L.C. and the Guarantor.

“Structure Chart” means a structure chart relating to the Security Parties, TGP and the Target both before and after completion under the SPA.

“Subsidiary” means a subsidiary undertaking, as defined in section 1162 Companies Act 2006 or any analogous definition under any other relevant system of law.

“Target” means Maersk LNG A/S (to be renamed Malt LNG Transport ApS).

“Target Shares Pledge” means the pledge of shares granted or to be granted by the Borrower in favour of the Lenders and the Other Lenders over the one hundred percent (100%) shareholding in the Target owned by the Borrower, referred to in Clause 10.1.7, together with a side letter in relation to, inter alia, pre-emption rights contained in the Shareholders Agreement, to be signed between the Borrower and the parties to the Shareholders Agreement.

“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) and “Taxation” shall be interpreted accordingly.

“TC” means Teekay Corporation, a company incorporated under the laws of the Marshall Islands.

 

16


“TGP” means Teekay LNG Partners L.P., a partnership incorporated under the laws of the Marshall Islands.

“TGP Bank Loan” means the loan of up to five hundred and fifty three million two hundred and eighty thousand Dollars ($553,280,000) to be made available by a group of banks for whom DNB acts as agent to the Borrower under the TGP Bank Loan Agreement.

“TGP Bank Loan Agreement” means the agreement dated on or about the date hereof between certain banks and the Borrower governing the terms of the TGP Bank Loan.

“Total Loss” means:

 

  (a) an actual, constructive, arranged, agreed or compromised total loss of a Vessel; or

 

  (b) the requisition for title or compulsory acquisition of a Vessel by any government or other competent authority (other than by way of requisition for hire); or

 

  (c) the capture, seizure, arrest, detention, hijacking, theft, condemnation as prize, confiscation or forfeiture of a Vessel (not falling within (b) above), unless that Vessel is released and returned to the possession of the relevant Vessel Owner within ninety (90) days after the capture, seizure, arrest, detention, hijacking, theft, condemnation as prize, confiscation or forfeiture in question.

“Tranche A” means that part of the Loan in an amount equal to forty eight per cent (48%) of the Existing Intercompany Debts and to be used to refinance the Existing Intercompany Loans.

“Tranche B” means that part of the Loan in an amount equal to the Maximum Amount less Tranche A, to be used to finance the purchase of the shares in the Target under the SPA.

“Transfer Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 6 or any other form agreed between the Agent and the Borrower.

 

17


“Transfer Date” means, in relation to any Transfer Certificate, the date for the making of the Transfer specified in the schedule to such Transfer Certificate.

“Trust Property” means:

 

  (a) all benefits derived by the Agent from Clause 10; and

 

  (b) all benefits arising under (including, without limitation, all proceeds of the enforcement of) each of the Security Documents,

with the exception of any benefits arising solely for the benefit of the Agent.

“Valuation” means in relation to a Vessel, the written valuation of that Vessel expressed in Dollars prepared by one of the Approved Brokers to be nominated by the Borrower. Such valuations shall be prepared at the Borrower’s expense, without a physical inspection, on the basis of a sale for prompt delivery for cash at arm’s length between a willing buyer and a willing seller without the benefit of any charterparty or other engagement.

“VAT” means value added tax as provided for in the Value Added Tax Act 1994 and any other tax of a similar nature.

“Vessel Earnings Accounts” means the accounts to be opened by each Vessel Owner with the Account Holder within thirty (30) days of the Execution Date.

“Vessel Owners” means those companies (being subsidiaries of the Target) shown as owners of the Vessels in Schedule 3.

“Vessels” means each of the Vessels specified in Schedule 3.

 

  1.2 In this Agreement:

 

  1.2.1 words denoting the plural number include the singular and vice versa;

 

  1.2.2 words denoting persons include corporations, partnerships, associations of persons (whether incorporated or not) or governmental or quasi-governmental bodies or authorities and vice versa;

 

  1.2.3 references to Recitals, Clauses and Schedules are references to recitals, clauses and schedules to or of this Agreement;

 

18


  1.2.4 references to this Agreement include the Recitals and the Schedules;

 

  1.2.5 the headings and contents page(s) are for the purpose of reference only, have no legal or other significance, and shall be ignored in the interpretation of this Agreement;

 

  1.2.6 references to any document (including, without limitation, to all or any of the Relevant Documents) are, unless the context otherwise requires, references to that document as amended, supplemented, novated or replaced from time to time;

 

  1.2.7 references to statutes or provisions of statutes are references to those statutes, or those provisions, as from time to time amended, replaced or re-enacted;

 

  1.2.8 references to any Finance Party include its successors, transferees and assignees;

 

  1.2.9 a time of day (unless otherwise specified) is a reference to London time;

 

  1.2.10 a “regulation” includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law) of any governmental, intergovernmental or supranational body, agency, department or of any regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation.

 

  1.3 Offer letter

This Agreement supersedes the terms and conditions contained in any correspondence relating to the subject matter of this Agreement exchanged between any Finance Party and the Borrower or their representatives prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

2 The Loan and its Purposes

 

  2.1 Amount Subject to the terms of this Agreement, each of the Lenders agrees to make available to the Borrower its Commitment of a Loan in an aggregate amount not exceeding the Maximum Amount.

 

19


  2.2 Finance Parties’ obligations 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 to the Finance Documents. No Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Finance Party under the Finance Documents.

 

  2.3 Purposes Tranche A shall be applied by the Borrower for the exclusive purpose of refinancing the Existing Intercompany Debts. Tranche B shall be applied by the Borrower for the exclusive purpose of financing the purchase of the shares of the Target.

 

  2.4 Monitoring No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any amount borrowed under this Agreement.

 

3 Conditions of Utilisation

 

  3.1 Conditions precedent to service of Drawdown Notice Before any Lender shall have any obligation to accept a Drawdown Notice under the Facility the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to or to the order of the Agent all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part I of Schedule 2.

 

  3.2 Further conditions precedent to service of Drawdown Notice The Lenders will only be obliged to accept any Drawdown Notice if on the date of the Drawdown Notice:

 

  3.2.1 no Default is continuing or would result from the advance of the Loan; and

 

  3.2.2 the representations made by the Borrower under Clause 11 (other than those at Clauses 11.2 and 11.21) are true in all material respects.

 

  3.3 Conditions precedent to Drawdown Date Before any Lender shall have any obligation to advance the Loan under the Facility the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to or to the order of the Agent all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part II of Schedule 2.

 

  3.4 Further conditions precedent to Drawdown Date The Lenders will only be obliged to advance the Loan if on the proposed Drawdown Date:

 

20


  3.4.1 no Default is continuing or would result from the advance of the Loan; and

 

  3.4.2 the representations made by the Borrower under Clause 11 (other than those at Clauses 11.2 and 11.21) are true in all material respects.

 

  3.5 Conditions subsequent to Drawdown Date The Borrower undertakes to deliver or to cause to be delivered to the Agent within thirty (30) days after the Drawdown Date the additional documents and other evidence listed at items 1 and 2 in Part III of Schedule 2. The Borrower further undertakes to deliver or to cause to be delivered to the Agent within thirty (30) days after the Drawdown Date the additional documents and evidence listed at item 3 in Part III of Schedule 2.

 

  3.6 No Waiver If the Lenders in their sole discretion agree to advance the Loan before all of the documents and evidence required by Clause 3.3 have been delivered to or to the order of the Agent, the Borrower undertakes to deliver all outstanding documents and evidence to or to the order of the Agent no later than the date specified by the Agent.

The advance of all or any part of the Loan under this Clause 3.6 shall not be taken as a waiver of the Lenders’ right to require production of all the documents and evidence required by Clause 3.3.

 

  3.7 Conditions precedent to disbursement of the Loan The Borrower is not entitled to have the Loan disbursed to the Seller unless the Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part IV of Schedule 2 and if the terms of Clause 3.4 are met on the date of disbursement.

 

  3.8 Conditions subsequent to disbursement of the Loan The Borrower undertakes to deliver or to cause to be delivered to the Agent (i) as soon as practicable after (and in any event on the same date as) the disbursement of the Loan, the additional documents and other evidence listed at items 1, 2, 3 and 6 in Part V of Schedule 2, (ii) as soon as practical after (and in any event on the next day after) the disbursement of the Loan, the additional documents and other evidence listed at item 8 in Part V of Schedule 2, and (iii) within thirty (30) days of the disbursement of the Loan, the additional documents and evidence listed at items 4,5 and 7 of Part V of Schedule 2.

 

21


  3.9 No Waiver If the Lenders in their sole discretion agree to the disbursement of the Loan before all of the documents and evidence required by Clause 3.5 have been delivered to or to the order of the Agent, the Borrower undertakes to deliver all outstanding documents and evidence to or to the order of the Agent no later than the date specified by the Agent.

The disbursement of all or any part of the Loan under this Clause 3.7 shall not be taken as a waiver of the Lenders’ right to require production of all the documents and evidence required by Clause 3.5.

 

  3.10 Form and content All documents and evidence delivered to the Agent under this Clause 3 shall:

 

  3.10.1 be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent (acting on the reasonable instructions of the Lenders); and

 

  3.10.2 if reasonably required by the Agent, be certified, notarised, legalised or attested in a manner acceptable to the Agent (acting on the reasonable instructions of the Lenders).

 

4 Advance

 

  4.1 Drawdown Request The Borrower may request the Loan to be advanced in one amount on any Business Day prior to the Final Availability Date by delivering to the Agent a duly completed Drawdown Notice not more than ten (10) and not fewer than three (3) Business Days before the proposed Drawdown Date.

 

  4.2 Lenders’ participation Subject to Clauses 2 and 3, the Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the receipt of the Drawdown Notice, following which each Lender shall advance its Proportionate Share of the Loan to the Borrower through the Agent on the Drawdown Date.

 

5 Repayment

The Borrower shall on the Maturity Date repay to the Agent as agent for the Lenders all of the Indebtedness.

 

22


6 Prepayment

 

  6.1 Illegality If it becomes unlawful in any jurisdiction for a Lender to fund or maintain its Commitment as contemplated by this Agreement or to fund or maintain the Loan:

 

  6.1.1 that Lender shall promptly notify the Agent of that event;

 

  6.1.2 upon the Agent notifying the Borrower, the Commitment of that Lender (to the extent not already advanced) will be immediately cancelled; and

 

  6.1.3 the Borrower shall repay that Lender’s Proportionate Share of the Loan on the last day of its current Interest Period or, if earlier, the date specified by that Lender in the notice delivered to the Agent and notified by the Agent to the Borrower (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law) and the Maximum Amount shall be reduced by the amount of that Lender’s Commitment in the Loan. Prior to the date on which repayment is required to be made under this Clause 6.1.3 the affected Lender shall negotiate in good faith with the Borrower to find an alternative method or lending base in order to maintain its Commitment in the Loan.

 

  6.2 Voluntary prepayment or cancellation of Loan The Borrower may prepay or cancel the whole or any part of the Loan (but, if in part, being an amount that reduces the Loan by a minimum amount of one million Dollars ($1,000,000)) provided that it gives the Agent not less than ten (10) Business Days’ prior notice. Any amount prepaid or cancelled shall not be available for further borrowing.

 

  6.3 Restrictions Any notice of prepayment or cancellation given under this Clause 6 shall be irrevocable and, unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, shall specify the date or dates upon which the relevant prepayment or cancellation is to be made and the amount of that prepayment or cancellation.

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.

 

23


If the Agent receives a notice under this Clause 6 it shall promptly forward a copy of that notice to the Borrower or the Lenders, as appropriate.

 

  6.4 Mandatory Prepayment

 

  6.4.1 In the event that a refinancing takes place of one or more of the Vessels, as a result of which the Lenders are requested to approve further exceptions to the terms of the Negative Pledges, a mandatory prepayment shall, be made of the Attributable Amount relating to that Vessel, provided and to the extent applicable mandatory law permits the relevant Vessel Owner to pay dividends, make loans or otherwise make distributions to the Borrower in an amount equal to such Attributable Amount.

 

  6.4.2 In the event of a sale or disposal of a Vessel (or of the shares in a Vessel Owner owning a Vessel) or the Agent having received not less than 5 Business Days’ notice from the Borrower requesting that the Assignment relating to a Vessel, be released and discharged (a “Released Vessel” ), a mandatory prepayment shall be made of the Attributable Amount applicable to that Vessel provided and to the extent applicable mandatory law permits the relevant Vessel Owner to pay dividends, make laws or otherwise make distributions to the Borrower in an amount equal to such Attributable Amount. Such prepayment shall be made on the date of a sale or disposal of such Vessel and in the case of a Released Vessel on the date proposed by the Borrower for release and discharge of the Assignment relating to that Vessel.

Any such prepayment shall oblige the Borrower to make payment of all interest accrued on the amount so prepaid up to and including the date of prepayment together with any Break Costs in respect of such prepayment if the date of such prepayment is not the final day of an Interest Period.

 

24


  6.4.3 In the event that any Vessel becomes a Total Loss, on the earlier to occur of (a) the date of receipt of the proceeds of the Total Loss and (b) the date falling one hundred and eighty (180) days after the occurrence of the Total Loss, a mandatory prepayment shall, be made of the Attributable Amount in respect of such Vessel, provided and to the extent applicable mandatory law permits the relevant Vessel Owner to pay dividends, make loans or otherwise make distributions to the Borrower in an amount equal to such Attributable Amount. Any such prepayment shall oblige the Borrower to make payment of all interest accrued on the amount so prepaid up to and including the date of prepayment together with any Break Costs in respect of such prepayment if the date of such prepayment is not the final day of an Interest Period.

 

  6.4.4 In the event that

 

  (i) the Charter on any of the Vessels (other than “MAERSK MAGELLAN” or “MAERSK METHANE”) is cancelled prior to its expiry date; and

 

  (ii) within one hundred and twenty days of such cancellation, the relevant Vessel Owner has not entered into a replacement charter for such Vessel with an Approved Charterer on terms reasonably acceptable to the Majority Lenders,

a mandatory prepayment shall, subject to applicable mandatory law, be made of the Attributable Amount in respect of such Vessel. Any such prepayment shall oblige the Borrower to make payment of all interest accrued on the amount so prepaid up to and including the date of prepayment together with any Break Costs in respect of such prepayment if the date of such prepayment is not the final day of an Interest Period.

 

  6.4.5 Simultaneously with each prepayment in accordance with Clause 6.4.1, Clause 6.4.2, Clause 6.4.3 or Clause 6.4.5 (as the case may be), the Commitment of each Lender will reduce so that the Commitments of the Lenders in respect of the amended Maximum Amount remain in accordance with their respective Proportionate Shares.

 

  6.5 Any prepayment made in accordance with Clause 6.2 or Clause 6.4 shall be applied, subject to applicable mandatory law on financial assistance, first, to satisfy the Borrower’s obligations to repay Tranche B and, second, to satisfy the Borrower’s obligations to repay Tranche A.

 

25


7 Interest

 

  7.1 Interest Periods The period during which the Loan shall be outstanding under this Agreement shall be divided into consecutive Interest Periods of one, three or six months’ duration, as selected by the Borrower by a Selection Notice to the Agent not later than 11.00am on the third Business Day before the beginning of the Interest Period in question, or such other duration as may be agreed by the Agent (acting on the instructions of all the Lenders).

For the avoidance of doubt, the selection of the Interest Period for the initial drawdown shall be made in the Drawdown Notice.

 

  7.2 Beginning and end of Interest Periods The first Interest Period in respect of the Loan shall begin on the Drawdown Date and shall end on the last day of the Interest Period selected in accordance with Clause 7.1. Any subsequent Interest Period selected in respect of the Loan shall commence on the last day of its previous Interest Period and shall end on the last day of its current Interest Period selected in accordance with Clause 7.1.

 

  7.3 Interest Periods to meet Maturity Date If an Interest Period for the Loan would otherwise expire after the Maturity Date, the Interest Period for the Loan shall expire on the Maturity Date.

 

  7.4 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).

 

  7.5 Interest rate During each Interest Period interest shall accrue on the Loan at the rate determined by the Agent to be the aggregate of (a) the Margin, (b) LIBOR and (c) the Mandatory Cost, if applicable.

 

  7.6 Failure to select Interest Period If the Borrower at any time fails to select or agree an Interest Period in accordance with Clause 7.1, the interest period applicable shall be three (3) months.

 

26


  7.7 Accrual and payment of interest Interest shall accrue from day to day, shall be calculated on the basis of a 360 day year and the actual number of days elapsed, for the avoidance of doubt, the first day of Interest Period is inclusive and the last day is exclusive (or, in any circumstance where market practice differs, in accordance with the prevailing market practice) and shall be paid by the Borrower to the Agent for the account of the Lenders on the last day of each Interest Period.

 

  7.8 Default interest 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, subject to any applicable grace period, up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which is one point five per cent (1.5%) higher than the rate which would have been payable. Any interest accruing under this Clause 7.8 shall be immediately payable by the Borrower on demand by the Agent. If unpaid, any such interest 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.

 

  7.9 Changes in market circumstances If at any time a Market Disruption Event occurs:

 

  7.9.1 the Agent shall give notice to the Lenders and the Borrower of the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event; and

 

  7.9.2 the rate of interest on each Lender’s Commitment in the Loan for that Interest Period shall be the rate per annum which is the sum of:

 

  (a) the Margin; and

 

  (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 Commitment in the Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select; and

 

  (c) the Mandatory Cost, if any, applicable to that Lender’s Commitment,

 

27


PROVIDED THAT if the resulting rate of interest on any Commitment is not acceptable to the Borrower:

 

  7.9.3 the Agent on behalf of the Lenders will negotiate with the Borrower in good faith with a view to modifying this Agreement to provide a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest which is financially a substantial equivalent to the basis provided for in this Agreement;

 

  7.9.4 any substitute basis agreed pursuant to Clause 7.9.3 shall be binding on all the parties to this Agreement and shall apply to all Commitments in the Loan; and

 

  7.9.5 if, within thirty (30) days of the giving of the notice referred to in Clause 7.9.1, the Borrower and the Agent fail to agree in writing on a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest in respect of the Loan, the relevant Lender shall cease to be obliged to advance its Proportionate Share of the Loan, but, if it has already been advanced, the Borrower will prepay that Proportionate Share of the Loan on the last day of the then current Interest Period, and the Loan shall be reduced by the amount of that Lender’s Proportionate Share.

For the purposes of this Clause 7.9, a “Market Disruption Event” shall be deemed to have occurred if (a) LIBOR is not available, or (b) the Agent receives notification at any time from a Lender or Lenders whose aggregate Commitment(s) exceed 50% (exclusive) of the then outstanding Loan that the cost to it or them of obtaining matching deposits in the London interbank market would be in excess of LIBOR.

 

  7.10 Determinations conclusive The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower of the determination of a rate of interest under this Clause 7 and each such determination shall (save in the case of manifest error) be final and conclusive.

 

8 Indemnities

 

  8.1 Transaction expenses The Borrower will, within fourteen (14) days of the Agent’s written demand, pay the Agent (for the account of the Finance Parties) the amount of all reasonable out of pocket costs and expenses (including legal fees and Value Added Tax or any similar or replacement tax if applicable) reasonably incurred by the Finance Parties or any of them in connection with:

 

28


  8.1.1 the negotiation, preparation, printing, execution and registration of the Finance Documents (whether or not any Finance Document is actually executed or registered and whether or not the Loan is advanced);

 

  8.1.2 any amendment, addendum or supplement to any Finance Document (whether or not completed); and

 

  8.1.3 any other document which may at any time be reasonably required by a Finance Party to give effect to any Finance Document or which a Finance Party is entitled to call for or obtain under any Finance Document.

 

  8.2 Funding costs The Borrower shall indemnify each Finance Party, by payment to the Agent (for the account of that Finance Party) on the Agent’s written demand, against all losses and costs incurred or sustained by that Finance Party if, for any reason due to a default or other action by the Borrower, the Loan is not advanced to the Borrower after the Drawdown Notice has been given to the Agent, or is advanced on a date other than that requested in the Drawdown Notice.

 

  8.3 Break Costs The Borrower shall indemnify each Finance Party, by payment to the Agent (for the account of that Finance Party) on the Agent’s written demand, against all documented costs, losses, premiums or penalties incurred by that Finance Party as a result of its receiving any prepayment of all or any part of the Loan (whether pursuant to Clause 6 or otherwise) on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for the Loan, or any other payment under or in relation to the Finance Documents on a day other than the due date for payment of the sum in question, including (without limitation) any losses or costs incurred in liquidating or re-employing deposits from third parties acquired to effect or maintain all or any part of the Loan.

 

  8.4 Currency indemnity In the event of a Finance Party receiving or recovering any amount payable under a Finance Document in a currency other than the Currency of Account, and if the amount received or recovered is insufficient when converted into the Currency of Account at the date of receipt to satisfy in full the amount due, the Borrower shall, on the Agent’s written demand, pay to the Agent for the account of the relevant Finance Party such further amount in the Currency of Account as is sufficient to satisfy in full the amount due and that further amount shall be due to the Agent on behalf of the relevant Finance Party as a separate debt under this Agreement.

 

29


8.5 Other Indemnities

 

  (a) The Borrower shall (or shall procure that a Security Party will), within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability incurred by it as a result of:

 

  (i) a failure by a Security Party 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 15.16;

 

  (ii) the Loan (or part of the Loan) not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of prepayment given by the Borrower.

 

  (b) The Borrower shall promptly indemnify each Finance Party, each Affiliate of a Finance Party and each officer or employee of a Finance Party or its Affiliate, against any cost, loss or liability incurred by that Finance Party or its Affiliate (or officer or employee of that Finance Party or Affiliate) in connection with or arising out of the Acquisition or the funding of the Acquisition (including but not limited to those incurred in connection with any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings or regulatory enquiry concerning the Acquisition), unless such loss or liability is caused by the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of that Finance Party or its Affiliate (or employee or officer of that Finance Party or Affiliate). Any Affiliate or any officer or employee of a Finance Party or its Affiliate may rely on this Clause 8.5.

 

8.6 Increased costs

 

  (a) Subject to Clause 8.8 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 (including the implementation or application of or compliance with Basel III (whether such implementation, application or compliance is by any central or any fiscal, monetary or other authority, a Finance Party or the holding company of a Finance Party)).

 

30


  (b) In this Agreement “Increased Costs” means:

 

  (i) a reduction in the rate of return from the Loan 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.

 

8.7 Increased cost claims

 

  (a) A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 8.6 shall notify the Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower.

 

  (b) Each Finance Party shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Increased Costs.

For the purposes of Clause 8.6:

“Basel III” means (a) the agreements on capital requirements, a leverage ratio and liquidity standards contained in “Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems”, “Basel III: International framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring” and “Guidance for national authorities operating the countercyclical capital buffer” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010, each as amended, supplemented or restated and (b) any further guidance or standards published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision relating to “Basel III”; and “holding company” means, in respect of a Finance Party, the company or entity (if any) within the consolidated supervision of which that Finance Party is included.

 

31


8.8 Exceptions to increased costs Clause 8.6 does not apply to the extent any Increased Costs is:

 

  8.8.1 compensated for by a payment made under Clause 8.11; or

 

  8.8.2 compensated for by a payment made under Clause 17.3; or

 

  8.8.3 compensated for by the payment of the Mandatory Cost; or

 

  8.8.4 attributable to the material breach by the relevant Finance Party (or the holding company of that Finance Party) of any law or regulation; or

 

  8.8.5 attributable to the implementation or application of, or compliance with, the “International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards, a Revised Framework” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in June 2004 in the form existing on the date of this Agreement (but excluding any amendment arising out of Basel II) ( “Basel II” ) or any other law or regulation which implements Basel II (whether such implementation, application or compliance is by a government, regulator, the relevant Finance Party or any holding company of the relevant Finance Party).

 

8.9 Events of Default The Borrower shall indemnify each Finance Party from time to time, by payment to the Agent (for the account of that Finance Party) on the Agent’s written demand, against all losses and costs incurred or sustained by that Finance Party as a consequence of any Event of Default.

 

8.10 Enforcement costs The Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for the account of each Finance Party) on the Agent’s written demand the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by a Finance Party in connection with the enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under, any Finance Document including (without limitation) any losses, costs and expenses which that Finance Party may from time to time sustain, incur or become liable for by reason of that Finance Party being a lender to the Borrower. No such indemnity will be given where any such loss or cost has occurred due to gross negligence or wilful misconduct on the part of that Finance Party; however, this shall not affect the right of any other Finance Party to receive such indemnity.

 

32


8.11 Taxes

 

  (a) The Borrower shall (within three Business Days of demand by the 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.

 

  (b) Paragraph (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 17.3;

 

  (c) A Protected Party making, or intending to make a claim under paragraph (a) above 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.

 

  (d) A Protected Party shall, on receiving a payment from a Security Party under this Clause 8.11, notify the Agent.

 

33


8.12 VAT

 

  (a) All amounts set out or expressed in a Finance Document to be payable by any Party to a Finance Party which (in whole or in part) constitute the consideration for a supply or supplies for VAT purposes shall be deemed to be exclusive of any VAT which is chargeable on such supply or supplies, and accordingly, subject to paragraph (b) below, if VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party to any Party under a Finance Document, that Party shall pay to the Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying any other consideration for such supply) an amount equal to the amount of such VAT (and such Finance Party shall promptly provide an appropriate VAT invoice to such Party).

 

  (b) If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party (the “ Supplier ”) to any other Finance Party (the “ Recipient ”) under a Finance Document, and any Party other than the Recipient (the “ Subject Party ”) is required by the terms of any Finance Document to pay an amount equal to the consideration for such supply to the Supplier (rather than being required to reimburse the Recipient in respect of that consideration), such Party shall also pay to the Supplier (in addition to and at the same time as paying such amount) an amount equal to the amount of such VAT. The Recipient will promptly pay to the Subject Party an amount equal to any credit or repayment obtained by the Recipient from the relevant tax authority which the Recipient reasonably determines is in respect of such VAT.

 

  (c) Where a Finance Document requires any Party to reimburse or indemnify a Finance Party for any cost or expense, that Party shall reimburse or indemnify (as the case may be) such Finance Party for the full amount of such cost or expense, including such part thereof as represents VAT, save to the extent that such Finance Party reasonably determines that it is entitled to credit or repayment in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority.

 

  (d) Any reference in this Clause 8.12 to any Party shall, at any time when such Party is treated as a member of a group for VAT purposes, include (where appropriate and unless the context otherwise requires) a reference to the representative member of such group at such time (the term “representative member” to have the same meaning as in the Value Added Tax Act 1994).

 

34


9 Fees

 

  9.1 Commitment fee The Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for the account of the Lenders in proportion to their Commitments) a fee computed at the rate of 0.1% per annum on the undrawn and uncancelled amount of the Loan from time to time from the date of this Agreement until the Final Availability Date. The accrued commitment fee is payable on the last day of each successive period of three months from the Execution Date and on the Final Availability Date. For the avoidance of doubt, any commitment fee payable under this clause 9.1 shall be calculated on the total commitments up until the Drawdown Date and on the undrawn and uncancelled commitments thereafter. The commitment fee shall be calculated on the basis of a 360 day year and the actual number of days elapsed.

 

  9.2 Upfront fee The Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for distribution to the Lenders) an upfront fee calculated as fifteen basis points (0.15%) on each Lender’s Commitment, payable on or before the Drawdown Date.

 

  9.3 Other fees The Borrower shall pay to the Agent the fees in the amounts and at the times agreed in any Fee Letter.

 

10 Security and Application of Moneys

 

  10.1 Security Documents As security for the payment of the Indebtedness, the Borrower shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered to:

 

  (a) the Agent to hold on trust for the Lenders in respect of the documents under 10.1.3, 10.1.4 and 10.1.6; and

 

  (b) DNB to hold on trust for the Lenders and the Other Lenders, in respect of the documents under 10.1.1, 10.1.2, 10.1.5 and 10.1.7,

such documents to be in such forms and containing such terms and conditions as the Agent shall require:

 

35


  10.1.1 a first priority deed of assignment of the Intercompany Loan;

 

  10.1.2 first priority assignments of the Earnings, Insurances and Requisition Compensation of each of the Vessels (to secure Tranche A only);

 

  10.1.3 an on demand guarantee and indemnity from the Guarantor;

 

  10.1.4 an English law negative pledge and a Danish law negative pledge each by the Target on behalf of itself and, with respect to the English law negative pledge, all of its Subsidiaries with regard to its assets;

 

  10.1.5 a first fixed charge over each of the Accounts;

 

  10.1.6 a first pledge of the Pledgor’s forty eight percent (48%) shareholding in the Borrower; and

 

  10.1.7 a first pledge of the Borrower’s one hundred percent (100%) shareholding in the Target.

 

  10.2 General application of moneys To the extent permitted by applicable law, including Danish law on financial assistance, and subject always to the terms of the Deed of Coordination and Trust (where applicable), whilst an Event of Default is continuing unremedied or unwaived the Borrower irrevocably authorises the Agent to apply all sums which it may receive under or in connection with any Security Document, in or towards satisfaction, or by way of retention on account, of the Indebtedness, as follows:-

 

  (i) first in payment of all outstanding fees and expenses of the Agent;

 

  (ii) secondly in payment of all outstanding interest payable under Clause 7.8;

 

  (iii) thirdly in or towards payment of all other outstanding interest hereunder;

 

  (iv) fourthly in or towards payment of all outstanding principal hereunder;

 

  (v) fifthly in or towards payment of all other Indebtedness hereunder;

 

  (vi) sixthly the balance, if any, shall be remitted to the Borrower or whoever may be entitled thereto.

 

36


11 Representations and Warranties

The Borrower represents and warrants to each of the Finance Parties at the Execution Date and (by reference to the facts and circumstances then pertaining) at the date of the Drawdown Notice, at the Drawdown Date and at each Interest Payment Date as follows (except that the representation and warranty contained at Clause 11.7 shall only be made on the Execution Date and the Drawdown Date and that the representations and warranties contained at Clause 11.2 and 11.20 shall only be made on the Execution Date):-

 

  11.1 Status and Due Authorisation Each of the Security Parties is a corporation or limited liability company duly incorporated or formed under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organisation or formation (as the case may be) with power to enter into the Finance Documents and to exercise its rights and perform its obligations under the Finance Documents and all corporate and other action required to authorise its execution of the Finance Documents and its performance of its obligations thereunder has been duly taken.

 

  11.2 No Deductions or Withholding Under the laws of the Security Parties’ respective jurisdictions of incorporation or formation in force at the date hereof, none of the Security Parties will be required to make any deduction or withholding from any payment it may make under any of the Finance Documents.

 

  11.3 Claims Pari Passu Under the laws of the Security Parties’ respective jurisdictions of incorporation or formation in force at the date hereof, the Indebtedness will, to the extent that it exceeds the realised value of any security granted in respect of the Indebtedness, rank at least pari passu with all the Security Parties’ other unsecured indebtedness save that which is preferred solely by any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws of general application.

 

  11.4 No Immunity In any proceedings taken in any of the Security Parties’ respective jurisdictions of incorporation or formation in relation to any of the Finance Documents, none of the Security Parties will be entitled to claim for itself or any of its assets immunity from suit, execution, attachment or other legal process.

 

  11.5 Governing Law and Judgments In any proceedings taken in any of the Security Parties’ jurisdiction of incorporation or formation in relation to any of the Finance Documents in which there is an express choice of the law of a particular country as the governing law thereof, that choice of law and any judgment or (if applicable) arbitral award obtained in that country will be recognised and enforced.

 

37


  11.6 Validity and Admissibility in Evidence As at the date hereof, all acts, conditions and things required to be done, fulfilled and performed in order (a) to enable each of the Security Parties lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights under and perform and comply with the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the Finance Documents, (b) to ensure that the obligations expressed to be assumed by each of the Security Parties in the Finance Documents are legal, valid and binding and (c) to make the Finance Documents admissible in evidence in the jurisdictions of incorporation or formation of each of the Security Parties, have been done, fulfilled and performed.

 

  11.7 No Filing or Stamp Taxes Under the laws of the Security Parties’ respective jurisdictions of incorporation or formation in force at the date hereof, it is not necessary that any of the Finance Documents be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation (other than the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales, the Danish Register for Persons or the relevant maritime registry, to the extent applicable) or that any stamp, registration or similar tax be paid on or in relation to any of the Finance Documents (save for JPY200 for the Guarantee).

 

  11.8 Binding Obligations The obligations expressed to be assumed by each of the Security Parties in the Finance Documents are legal and valid obligations, binding on each of them in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents and no limit on any of their powers will be exceeded as a result of the borrowings, granting of security or giving of guarantees contemplated by the Finance Documents or the performance by any of them of any of their obligations thereunder.

 

  11.9 No misleading information Any factual information provided by any Security Party to any Finance Party in connection with the Loan was true and accurate in all material respects as at the date it was provided and is not misleading in any respect.

 

38


  11.10  No Winding-up Neither the Borrower, the Guarantor nor any Material Subsidiary have taken any corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership action nor have any other steps been taken or legal proceedings been started or (to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief) threatened against the Borrower, the Guarantor or any Material Subsidiary for its winding-up, dissolution, administration, formal restructuring or reorganisation or for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, trustee or similar officer of it or of any or all of its assets or revenues which might have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of the Group taken as a whole.

 

  11.11  Solvency

 

  11.11.1 Neither the Borrower, the Guarantor nor the Group taken as a whole is unable, or admits or has admitted its inability, to pay its debts or has suspended making payments in respect of any of its debts.

 

  11.11.2 Neither the Borrower, the Guarantor nor any Material Subsidiary by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, has commenced, or intends to commence, negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness.

 

  11.11.3 The value of the assets of each of the Borrower, the Guarantor and the Group taken as a whole is not less than the liabilities of such entity or the Group taken as a whole (as the case may be) (taking into account contingent and prospective liabilities).

 

  11.11.4 No moratorium has been, or may, in the reasonably foreseeable future be, declared in respect of any indebtedness of the Borrower, the Guarantor or any Material Subsidiary.

 

  11.12  No Material Defaults

 

  11.12.1 Without prejudice to Clause 11.12.2, neither the Borrower, the Guarantor nor any Material Subsidiary is in breach of or in default under any agreement to which it is a party or which is binding on it or any of its assets to an extent or in a manner which might have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of the Group taken as a whole.

 

39


  11.12.2   No Event of Default is continuing or might reasonably be expected to result from the advance of the Loan.

 

  11.13  No Material Proceedings No action or administrative proceeding of or before any court, arbitral body or agency which is not covered by adequate insurance or which might have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of the Group taken as a whole has been started or is reasonably likely to be started.

 

  11.14  No Undisclosed Liabilities As at the date to which the Guarantor’s financial statements (for the fiscal year ended at the end of March 2011 and thereafter for any of its financial years during the Facility Period) were prepared neither the Borrower, the Guarantor nor any Material Subsidiary had any material liabilities (contingent or otherwise) which were not disclosed thereby (or by the notes thereto) or reserved against therein nor any unrealised or anticipated losses arising from commitments entered into by it which were not so disclosed or reserved against therein.

 

  11.15  No Obligation to Create Security The execution of the Finance Documents by the Security Parties and their exercise of their rights and performance of their obligations thereunder will not result in the existence of nor oblige the Borrower or the Guarantor to create any Encumbrance over all or any of their present or future revenues or assets, other than pursuant to the Security Documents.

 

  11.16  No Breach The execution of the Finance Documents by each of the Security Parties and their exercise of their rights and performance of their obligations under any of the Finance Documents do not constitute and will not result in any breach of any agreement or treaty to which any of them is a party.

 

  11.17  Security Each of the Security Parties is (or will be upon completion under the SPA) the legal and beneficial owner of all assets and other property which it purports to charge, mortgage, pledge, assign or otherwise secure pursuant to each Security Document and those Security Documents to which it is a party create and give rise to valid and effective security having the ranking expressed in those Security Documents.

 

40


  11.18  Necessary Authorisations The Necessary Authorisations required by each Security Party are in full force and effect, and each Security Party is in compliance with the material provisions of each such Necessary Authorisation relating to it and, to the best of its knowledge, none of the Necessary Authorisations relating to it are the subject of any pending or threatened proceedings or revocation.

 

  11.19  Money Laundering Any amount borrowed hereunder, and the performance of the obligations of the Security Parties under the Security Documents, will be for the account of members of the Group and will not involve any breach by any of them of any law or regulatory measure relating to “money laundering” as defined in Article 1 of the Directive (2005/60/EEC) of the Council of the European Communities.

 

  11.20  Disclosure of material facts The Borrower is not aware of any material facts or circumstances which have not been disclosed to the Agent and which might, if disclosed, have reasonably been expected to adversely affect the decision of a person considering whether or not to make loan facilities of the nature contemplated by this Agreement available to the Borrower.

 

  11.21  No breach of laws

 

  (a) None of the Security Parties has breached any law or regulation which breach has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (b) No labour disputes are current or (to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief) threatened against any member of the Group which have or are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  11.22  Environmental laws

 

  (a) Each member of the Group is in compliance with Clause 12.1.10 and (to the best of its knowledge and belief) no circumstances have occurred which would prevent such compliance in a manner or to an extent which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

41


  (b) No Environmental Claim has been commenced or (to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief) is threatened against any member of the Group where that claim has or is reasonably likely, if determined against that member of the Group, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  11.23  Use of Facility The Facility will be used for the purposes specified in Clause 2.3.

 

  11.24  Taxation

 

  11.24.1  None of the Borrower or the Guarantor (or any Material Subsidiary) is materially overdue in the filing of any Tax returns and it is not (and no Material Subsidiary is) overdue in the payment of any amount in respect of Tax in any material respect.

 

  11.24.2  No material claims or investigations are being, or are reasonably likely to be, made or conducted against the Borrower or the Guarantor (or any Material Subsidiary) with respect to Taxes.

 

  11.24.3  As far as the Borrower is aware, each of the Security Parties (other than the Guarantor and Membrane Shipping Limited) is resident for Tax purposes only in the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

 

  11.25  Shares

The shares of the Target and any member of the Group which are subject to the Security Documents are fully paid and not subject to any option to purchase or similar rights. The constitutional documents of companies whose shares are subject to the Security Documents do not and could not restrict or inhibit any transfer of those shares on creation or enforcement of the Security Documents. Except as provided in the Shareholders’ Agreement, 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 or loan capital of any member of the Group or the Target (including any option or right of pre-emption or conversion).

 

  11.26  Structure Chart

 

  11.26.1  The Structure Chart delivered or to be delivered to the Agent pursuant to Part I of Schedule 2 is true, complete and accurate in all material respects and shows the following information:

 

42


  (i) each relevant member of the Group and the Target, including current name and company registration number, its jurisdiction of incorporation and/or establishment and (other than in the case of the Guarantor) a list of shareholders; and

 

  (ii) all minority interests in any member of the Target and any person in which the Target holds shares in its issued share capital or equivalent ownership interest of such person.

 

  11.26.2  All necessary intra-Group loans, transfers, share exchanges and other material steps resulting in the final structure of the relevant portion of the Group and, following the Acquisition, of the Target have been or will be taken in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations and all requirements of relevant regulatory authorities.

 

  11.27  SPA, disclosures and other Documents

 

  11.27.1  The SPA contains all the terms of the Acquisition.

 

  11.27.2  To the best of its knowledge no representation or warranty given by any party to the SPA is untrue or misleading in any material respect.

 

  11.27.3  The Shareholders Agreement and the constitutional documents of the Borrower (as amended to the extent permitted under this Agreement and the Deed of Coordination and Trust) contain all the material terms of all the agreements and arrangements between the Guarantor and TGP.

 

  11.28  Centre of main interests and establishments

For the purposes of The Council of the European Union Regulation No. 1346/2000 on Insolvency Proceedings (the “Regulation” ), the Borrower’s centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Regulation) is situated in its jurisdiction of incorporation and it has no “establishment” (as that term is used in Article 2(h) of the Regulations) in any other jurisdiction.

 

  11.29  Representations Limited The representation and warranties of the Borrower in this Clause 11 are subject to:

 

43


  11.29.1  the principle that equitable remedies are remedies which may be granted or refused at the discretion of the court;

 

  11.29.2  the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation, formal restructuring, court schemes, moratoria, administration and other laws generally affecting or limiting the rights of creditors;

 

  11.29.3  the time barring of claims under any applicable limitation acts;

 

  11.29.4  the possibility that a court may strike out provisions for a contract as being invalid for reasons of oppression, undue influence or similar; and

 

  11.29.5  any other reservations or qualifications of law expressed in any legal opinions obtained by the Agent in connection with the Facility.

 

12 Undertakings and Covenants

The undertakings and covenants in this Clause 12 remain in force for the duration of the Facility Period.

 

  12.1 General Undertakings

 

  12.1.1 Financial statements The Borrower shall supply to the Agent as soon as the same become available, but in any event within one hundred and eighty (180) days after the end of its financial year, its audited consolidated and unaudited non-consolidated financial statements for that financial year.

This clause shall apply to the financial statements for the financial year ended December 2012 and all subsequent financial years during the Facility Period.

 

44


  12.1.2 Requirements as to financial statements Each set of financial statements delivered by the Borrower under Clause 12.1.1:

 

  (a) shall be certified by an authorised signatory of the Borrower as fairly representing its financial condition as at the date as at which those financial statements were drawn up; and

 

  (b) shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

  12.1.3 Interim financial statements The Borrower shall supply to the Agent as soon as the same become available, but in any event within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of the first semi-annual period of each financial year, its unaudited consolidated and non-consolidated financial statements for that period.

This clause shall apply to the financial statements for the first semi-annual period of the financial year ended June 2012 and all subsequent first semi-annual periods of each financial year during the Facility Period.

 

  12.1.4 Maintenance of Legal Validity The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor) shall obtain, comply with the terms of and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect all authorisations, approvals, licences and consents required in or by the laws and regulations of its jurisdiction of formation and all other applicable jurisdictions, to enable it lawfully to enter into and perform its obligations under the Security Documents and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of the Security Documents in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation and all other applicable jurisdictions.

 

  12.1.5 Notification of Default The Borrower shall promptly, and shall procure that each of the other Security Parties (save for the Guarantor) shall promptly, upon becoming aware of the same, inform the Agent in writing of the occurrence of any Event of Default and, upon receipt of a written request to that effect from the Agent, confirm to the Agent that, save as previously notified to the Agent or as notified in such confirmation, no Event of Default has occurred.

 

  12.1.6 Claims Pari Passu The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor) shall, ensure that at all times the claims of the Finance Parties against it under the Security Documents rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured creditors save those whose claims are preferred by any bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, winding-up or other similar laws of general application.

 

45


  12.1.7 Negative Pledge The Borrower shall not create, or permit to subsist, any Encumbrance (other than pursuant to the Security Documents) over all or any part of its shareholding in the Target (or in assets owned by the Target or any Subsidiaries of the Target) other than a Permitted Encumbrance.

 

  12.1.8 Necessary Authorisations Without prejudice to Clause 12.1.16 or any other specific provision of the Security Documents relating to an Authorisation, the Borrower shall, and shall procure that each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor) shall (i) obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect all Necessary Authorisations if a failure to do the same may cause a Material Adverse Effect; and (ii) promptly upon request, supply certified copies to the Agent of all Necessary Authorisations.

 

  12.1.9 Compliance with Applicable Laws The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor) shall, comply with all applicable laws to which it may be subject if a failure to do the same may have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  12.1.10  Environmental compliance

 

  (a) The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor) will:

 

  (i) comply with all Environmental Laws;

 

  (ii) obtain, maintain and ensure compliance with all requisite Environmental Approvals;

 

  (iii) 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.

 

46


  12.1 .11 Environmental claims

The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor) will, promptly upon becoming aware of the same, inform the Agent in writing of:

 

  (a) any Environmental Claim against any member of the Group which is current, pending or threatened; and

 

  (b) any facts or circumstances which are reasonably likely to result in any Environmental Claim being commenced or threatened against any member of the Group,

where the claim, if determined against that member of the Group, has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  12.1.12  Taxation

 

  (a) The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each Security Party (save for the Guarantor) and each Material Subsidiary will, pay and discharge all Taxes imposed upon it or its assets within the time period allowed without incurring penalties unless and only to the extent that:

 

  (i) such payment is being contested in good faith;

 

  (ii) adequate reserves are being maintained for those Taxes and the costs required to contest them which have been disclosed in its latest financial statements delivered to the Agent under Clause 12.1.1 and 12.1.3; and

 

  (iii) 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.

 

  (b) No member of the Group may change its residence for Tax purposes.

 

47


  12.1.13  Loans and Guarantees The Borrower and each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor) shall be permitted to borrow on a subordinated and unsecured basis in accordance with clause 12.1.20 and to make any capital contributions to the Target, but shall not otherwise (and shall procure that the other Security Parties (save for the Guarantor) do not) enter into any borrowings or make any loans or grant any credit or give any guarantee or indemnity (except pursuant to the Relevant Documents and in connection with a refinancing of one or more of the Vessels).

 

  12.1.14 Further Assurance The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor) shall, at its own expense, promptly take all such action as the Agent may reasonably require for the purpose of perfecting or protecting any Finance Party’s rights with respect to the security created or evidenced (or intended to be created or evidenced) by the Security Documents.

 

  12.1.15 Other information The Borrower will, and will procure that each of the Security Parties (save for the Guarantor) will, promptly supply to the Agent such information and explanations as any of the Lenders may from time to time reasonably require in connection with the Security Parties (other than the Guarantor).

 

  12.1.16 Inspection of records The Borrower will, and will procure that each Security Party (save for the Guarantor) will, following an Event of Default which is continuing, unremedied or unwaived, permit the inspection of its financial records and accounts during business hours by the Agent or its nominee.

 

  12.1.17  Change of Control The Borrower shall procure that throughout the Facility Period there is no change in the legal or beneficial ownership of

 

  (a) the Target (or any Subsidiary of the Target); or

 

  (b) the forty eight per cent (48%) interest in the Borrower directly or indirectly held by the Guarantor

from that advised to the Agent at the date of this Agreement without the Agent’s prior written consent.

 

48


  12.1.18  Change of business The Borrower will not carry on any business or incur any liabilities other than:

 

  (a) administration services for other members of the Group;

 

  (b) operating as a holding company for its subsidiaries and holding intragroup balances and credit balances; and

 

  (c) liabilities under the Relevant Documents and fees and expenses incurred in the ordinary course of its business acting as a holding company.

 

  12.1.19  “Know your customer” checks If:

 

  (a) 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;

 

  (b) any change in the status of any of the Security Parties after the date of this Agreement; or

 

  (c) a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer,

obliges the Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of (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 any Lender) or any Lender for itself (or, in the case of (c) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent or that Lender (or, in the case of (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.

 

49


  12.1.20  Intercompany borrowings The Borrower will only borrow from other members of the Group, on a subordinated and unsecured basis.

 

  12.1.21  Dividends The Borrower will not pay any dividends or make other distributions to its shareholders at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default which remains unremedied and unwaived.

 

  12.1.22  Transfer of assets The Borrower will not, and will procure that the other Security Parties will not, sell or transfer any of its assets other than:

 

  (a) on arm’s length terms to third parties where the net proceeds of sale are used as a prepayment hereunder; or

 

  (b) to its Affiliates, which are and remain members of the Group.

 

  12.1.23  Earnings Account The Borrower covenants to maintain the Earnings Account throughout the Facility Period, and to procure:

 

  (a) that the Vessel Owners establish the Vessel Earnings Accounts by not later than the date falling thirty (30) days after the Execution Date and thereafter maintain such accounts throughout the Facility Period;

 

  (b) that by the date falling three (3) months after the Execution Date, the Earnings of at least two (2) Vessels shall have been redirected to the relevant Vessel Earnings Account;

 

  (c) that by the date falling four (4) months after the Execution Date, the Earnings of at least four (4) Vessels shall have been redirected to the relevant Vessel Earnings Account;

 

  (d) that by the date falling six (6) months after the Execution Date, the Earnings of all six (6) Vessels shall have been redirected to the relevant Vessel Earnings Account; and

 

  (e) that until the Earnings of each Vessel are redirected to the relevant Vessel Earnings Account, no charge or other Encumbrance will be created over the accounts through which the Earnings of the Vessels flow.

 

50


  12.1.24 Management of Vessels The Borrower shall ensure that each Vessel is at all times technically and commercially managed by an Approved Manager.

 

  12.1.25 Classification The Borrower shall ensure that each of the Vessels maintains the highest classification required for the purpose of the relevant trade of such Vessel which shall be with a Pre-Approved Classification Society, in each case, free from any overdue recommendations and conditions affecting that Vessel’s class.

 

  12.1.26 Certificate of Financial Responsibility The Borrower shall procure that each Vessel Owner shall, if required, obtain and maintain a certificate of financial responsibility in relation to any Vessel which is to call at the United States of America.

 

  12.1.27 Registration The Borrower shall not change or permit a change to the flag of the Vessels during the Facility Period other than to a Pre-Approved Flag or under such other flag as may be approved by the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

  12.1.28 ISM and ISPS Compliance The Borrower shall ensure that the relevant Company complies in all material respects with the ISM Code and the ISPS Code or any replacements thereof and in particular (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) shall ensure that the Company holds (i) a valid and current Document of Compliance issued pursuant to the ISM Code, (ii) a valid and current SMC issued in respect of each Vessel pursuant to the ISM Code, and (iii) an ISSC in respect of each Vessel, and the Borrower shall promptly, upon request, supply the Agent with copies of the same.

 

  12.1.29 Valuations The Borrower will deliver to the Agent a Valuation of each of the Vessels (i) on or about the date falling twelve (12) months after the Execution Date and (ii) following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied and unwaived, on such other occasions as the Agent may request.

 

51


  12.1.30 Chartering The Borrower shall procure that the Vessel Owners shall

 

  (i) not bareboat charter any of the Vessels during the Facility Period; and

 

  (ii) use reasonable endeavours to procure the renewal, or entry into new charters in replacement of, any of the Charters which are due to mature or terminate prior to the Maturity Date. Such charters shall be with Approved Charterers and on terms reasonably acceptable to the Agent.

 

  12.1.31 Amendments to Charters Except for non-material amendments or amendments relative to the acquisition of the Target or in the ordinary course of day to day operations, the Borrower will procure that none of the Charters that has more than five (5) years unexpired term at the Drawdown Date are amended or varied without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the reasonable instructions of the Majority Lenders).

 

  12.1.32 Insurance The Borrower shall ensure that each of the Vessels is insured in accordance with the provisions set out in the Assignments.

 

  12.1.33 Maintenance The Borrower shall ensure that each of the Vessels shall be maintained in good and safe condition and with all registered surveys carried out when due.

 

  12.1.34 Mergers The Borrower shall not, and shall procure that the other Security Parties (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) will not, permit any mergers or consolidations.

 

  12.1.35 Acquisitions The Borrower will not, and will procure that the other Security Parties (save for the Guarantor and the Pledgor) will not, make any acquisitions.

 

  12.1.36 SPA

 

  (a) The Borrower shall promptly pay all amounts payable to the Seller under the SPA as and when they become due (except to the extent that any such amounts are being contested in good faith by a member of the Group and where adequate reserves are set aside for any such payment).

 

52


  (b) The Borrower shall take all reasonable and practical steps to preserve and enforce its rights (or the rights of any of its Subsidiaries) and pursue any claims and remedies arising under the SPA.

 

  12.1.37 Financial assistance

The Borrower shall, and shall procure that the other Security Parties (save for the Guarantor) shall, comply in all respects with (i) sections 678 and 679 of the Companies Act 2006, (ii) Section 206(1) (as modified by Section 206(2) of Consolidated Act No. 322 of 11 April 2011 on public and private limited liability companies as amended and supplemented from time to time (the Danish Companies Act ) and (iii) Section 210(1) (as modified by Section 210(2) and Section 211 and Section 212 of the Danish Companies Act, (iv) Section 76 of the Singapore Companies Act and (v) any equivalent legislation in other jurisdictions including in relation to the execution of the Security Documents and payment of amounts due under this Agreement.

 

  12.1.38 Information: miscellaneous The Borrower shall, and shall procure that the other Security Parties (save for the Guarantor) shall, supply to the Agent:

 

  (a) promptly upon becoming aware of them, details of any material litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or pending against any Security Party (other than the Guarantor), and which might, if adversely determined, be reasonably likely to have a Materially Adverse Effect;

 

  (b) promptly upon becoming aware of them, details of (i) any casualty or other accident or damage to any of the Vessels the cost of repair of which is likely to exceed fifteen million Dollars ($15,000,000) and (ii) a Total Loss of any of the Vessels;

 

53


  (c) promptly, details of any material Environmental Claim or any other material incident, event or circumstance which may give rise to any such material Environmental Claim which is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

  (d) promptly, details of any capture, seizure, arrest, confiscation or detention of any Vessel;

 

  (e) promptly, such further information regarding the financial condition, business and operations of any Security Party as the Agent may reasonably request including, without limitation, cash flow analyses and details of the operating costs of any Vessel; and

 

  (f) promptly upon becoming aware of them, details of the exercise or any purported exercise of any lien on the Insurances or the Earnings.

 

13 Events of Default

 

  13.1 Events of Default Each of the events or circumstances set out in this Clause 13.1 is an Event of Default.

 

  13.1.1 Borrower’s Failure to Pay under this Agreement The Borrower fails to pay any amount due from it under this Agreement at the time, in the currency and otherwise in the manner specified herein provided that, if the Borrower can demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent that all necessary instructions were given to effect such payment and the non-receipt thereof is attributable solely to an administrative or technical error by the Agent or an error in the banking system, such payment shall instead be deemed to be due, solely for the purposes of this paragraph, within three (3) Business Days of the date on which it actually fell due under this Agreement; or

 

  13.1.2 Misrepresentation Any representation or statement made by any Security Party in any Finance Document to which it is a party or in any notice or other document, certificate or statement delivered by it pursuant thereto or in connection therewith is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect, where the circumstances causing the same would b e reasonably likely to give rise to a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

54


  13.1.3 Specific Covenants A Security Party fails duly to perform or comply with any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by or procured by the Borrower under Clauses 12.1.4, 12.1.6, 12.1.7 or 12.1.17; or

 

  13.1.4 Other Obligations A Security Party fails duly to perform or comply with any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in any Security Document (other than those referred to in Clause 13.1.3) and such failure is not remedied within 30 days after the Agent has given notice thereof to the Borrower; or

 

  13.1.5 Cross Default Any indebtedness of any Security Party is not paid when due (or within any applicable grace period) or any indebtedness of any Security Party is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity where (in either case) the aggregate of all such unpaid or accelerated indebtedness (i) of the Guarantor is equal to or greater than one hundred million Dollars ($100,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency; or (ii) of the Borrower is equal to or greater than twenty million Dollars ($20,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency; or (iii) of any other Security Party is equal to or greater than ten million Dollars ($10,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency; or

 

  13.1.6 Cross Acceleration Any indebtedness of a Material Subsidiary in an amount equal to or greater than ten million Dollars ($10,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency is demanded prior to its specified maturity by reason of default (howsoever described); or

 

  13.1.7 Insolvency and Rescheduling A Security Party or a Material Subsidiary is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, commences negotiations with any one or more of its creditors with a view to the general readjustment or rescheduling of its indebtedness or makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or a composition with its creditors; or

 

55


  13.1.8 Winding-up A Security Party or a Material Subsidiary files for initiation of formal restructuring proceedings (in Danish rekonstruction ), is wound up or declared bankrupt or takes any corporate action or other steps are taken or legal proceedings are started for its winding-up, dissolution, administration or re-organisation or for the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, conservator, custodian, trustee or similar officer of it or of any or all of its revenues or assets or any moratorium is declared or sought in respect of any of its indebtedness; or

 

  13.1.9 Execution or Distress

 

  (a) Any Security Party or a Material Subsidiary fails to comply with or pay any sum due from it (within 30 days of such amount falling due) under any final judgment or any final order made or given by any court or other official body of a competent jurisdiction in an aggregate (i) in respect of the Guarantor equal to or greater than one hundred million Dollars ($100,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency; or (ii) in respect of the Borrower equal to or greater than twenty million Dollars ($20,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency; or (iii) in respect of any other Security Party or any Material Subsidiary, ten million Dollars ($10,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency, being a judgment or order against which there is no right of appeal or if a right of appeal exists, where the time limit for making such appeal has expired.

 

  (b) Any execution, distress, expropriation, attachment or sequestration affects, or an encumbrancer takes possession of, the whole or any part of, the property, undertaking or assets of a Security Party or a Material Subsidiary in an aggregate amount (i) in respect of the Guarantor equal to or greater than one hundred million Dollars ($100,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency; or (ii) in respect of the Borrower equal to or greater than twenty million Dollars ($20,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency; or (iii) in respect of any other Security Party or any Material Subsidiary, ten million Dollars ($10,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency other than any execution, distress, expropriation, attachment or sequestration which is being contested in good faith and which is either discharged within 30 days or in respect of which adequate security has been provided within 30 days to the relevant court or other authority to enable the relevant execution, distress, expropriation, attachment or sequestration to be lifted or released; or

 

56


  13.1.10 Similar Event Any event occurs which, under the laws of any jurisdiction, has a similar or analogous effect to any of those events mentioned in Clauses 13.1.7, 13.1.8 and 13.1.9, or

 

  13.1.11 Repudiation Any Security Party repudiates any Finance Document to which it is a party or does or causes to be done any act or thing evidencing an intention to repudiate any such Finance Document; or

 

  13.1.12 Validity and Admissibility At any time any act, condition or thing required to be done, fulfilled or performed in order:

 

  (a) to enable any Security Party lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights under and perform the respective obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the Finance Documents;

 

  (b) to ensure that the obligations expressed to be assumed by each of the Security Parties in the Finance Documents are legal, valid and binding; or

 

  (c) to make the Finance Documents admissible in evidence in any applicable jurisdiction

is not done, fulfilled or performed within 30 days after notification from the Agent to the relevant Security Party requiring the same to be done, fulfilled or performed; or

 

  13.1.13 Illegality At any time it is or becomes unlawful for any Security Party to perform or comply with any or all of its obligations under the Security Documents to which it is a party or any of the obligations of the Borrower hereunder are not or cease to be legal, valid and binding and such illegality is not remedied or mitigated to the satisfaction of the Agent within thirty (30) days after it has given notice thereof to the relevant Security Party; or

 

57


  13.1.14 Qualifications of Financial Statements The auditors of the Guarantor qualify their report on any audited consolidated financial statements of the Guarantor in any regard which, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent, has a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

  13.1.15 Conditions Subsequent If any of the conditions referred to in Clause 3.5 or Clause 3.8 is not satisfied within thirty (30) days or such other time period specified by the Agent in its discretion; or

 

  13.1.16 Revocation or Modification of consents etc . If any Necessary Authorisation which is now or which at any time during the Facility Period becomes necessary to enable any of the Security Parties to comply with any of their obligations in or pursuant to any of the Security Documents is revoked, withdrawn or withheld, or modified in a manner which the Agent reasonably considers is, or may be, prejudicial to the interests of a Finance Party in a material manner, or if such Necessary Authorisation ceases to remain in full force and effect; or

 

  13.1.17 Curtailment of Business If the business of any of the Security Parties is wholly or materially curtailed by any intervention by or under authority of any government, or if all or a substantial part of the undertaking, property or assets of any of the Security Parties is seized, nationalised, expropriated or compulsorily acquired by or under authority of any government or any Security Party suspends or ceases to carry on or disposes (or threatens to suspend or cease to carry on or dispose) of all or a substantial part of its business or assets; or

 

  13.1.18 Reduction of Capital If the Borrower reduces its committed or subscribed capital; or

 

  13.1.19 Notice of Determination If the Guarantor gives notice to the Agent to determine its obligations under the Guarantee; or

 

58


  13.1.20 Environmental Matters

 

  (a) Any Environmental Claim is pending or made against a Vessel Owner or any of a Vessel Owner’s Environmental Affiliates or in connection with a Vessel, where such Environmental Claim has a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (b) Any actual Environmental Incident occurs in connection with a Vessel, where such Environmental Incident has a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

  13.1.21 Material Adverse Change Any event or circumstance occurs that has a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

  13.1.22 Loss of Property All or a substantial part of the business or assets of any Security Party is destroyed, abandoned, seized, appropriated or forfeited for any reason, and such occurrence in the reasonable opinion of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

  13.1.23 TGP Bank Loan Agreement An Event of Default which is continuing unremedied and unwaived occurs under the TGP Bank Loan Agreement.

 

  13.2 Acceleration If an Event of Default is continuing unremedied or unwaived the Agent may (with the consent of the Majority Lenders) and shall (at the request of the Majority Lenders) by notice to the Borrower cancel any part of the Loan not then advanced and:

 

  13.2.1 declare that the Loan, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents are immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall become immediately due and payable; and/or

 

  13.2.2 declare that the Loan is payable on demand, whereupon it shall immediately become payable on demand by the Agent; and/or

 

  13.2.3 declare the Commitments terminated and the Maximum Amount reduced to zero.

 

59


14 Assignment and Sub-Participation

 

  14.1 Lenders’ rights A Lender may assign any of its rights under this Agreement or transfer by novation any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any other branch or Affiliate of that Lender or to any other Lender (or an Affiliate of another Lender) or (subject to the prior written consent of the Guarantor, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld but not to be required at any time after an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived) to any other bank or financial institution, or any 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 may grant sub-participations in all or any part of its Commitment. Where the consent of the Guarantor is required, the Guarantor shall be deemed to have given its consent if no express refusal is given within five (5) Business Days.

 

  14.2 Borrower’s co-operation The Borrower will co-operate fully with a Lender in connection with any assignment, transfer or sub-participation by that Lender; will execute and procure the execution of such documents as that Lender may require in that connection including, but not limited to, re-executing any Security Documents (if required); and irrevocably authorises any Finance Party to disclose to any proposed assignee, transferee or sub-participant (whether before or after any assignment, transfer or sub-participation and whether or not any assignment, transfer or sub-participation shall take place) all information relating to the Security Parties, the Loan and the Relevant Documents which any Finance Party may in its discretion consider necessary or desirable (subject to any duties of confidentiality applicable to the Lenders generally). Additionally, (but subject to the same duties of confidentiality), any Lender may disclose the size and term of the Facility and the names of each Security Party to any investor or potential investor in a securitisation (or similar transaction of broadly equivalent economic effect) of that Lender’s rights and obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

  14.3 Rights of assignee Any assignee of a Lender shall (unless limited by the express terms of the assignment) take the full benefit of every provision of the Finance Documents benefiting that Lender PROVIDED THAT an assignment will only be effective on notification by the Agent to that Lender and the assignee that the Agent 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 assignment to the assignee.

 

60


  14.4 Transfer Certificates If a Lender wishes to transfer any of its rights and obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement, it may do so by delivering to the Agent a duly completed Transfer Certificate, in which event on the Transfer Date:

 

  14.4.1 to the extent that that Lender seeks to transfer its rights and obligations, the Borrower (on the one hand) and that Lender (on the other) shall be released from all further obligations towards the other;

 

  14.4.2 the Borrower (on the one hand) and the transferee (on the other) shall assume obligations towards the other identical to those released pursuant to Clause 14.4.1; and

 

  14.4.3 the Agent, each of the Lenders and the transferee shall have the same rights and obligations between themselves as they would have had if the transferee had been an original party to this Agreement as a Lender

PROVIDED THAT the Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate once:

 

  (a) 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 the transferee; and

 

  (b) the transferee has paid to the Agent for its own account a transfer fee of five thousand Dollars.

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.

 

  14.5 Finance Documents Unless otherwise expressly provided in any Finance Document or otherwise expressly agreed between a Lender and any proposed transferee and notified by that Lender to the Agent on or before the relevant Transfer Date, there shall automatically be assigned to the transferee with any transfer of a Lender’s rights and obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement the rights of that Lender under or pursuant to the Finance Documents (other than this Agreement) which relate to the portion of that Lender’s rights and obligations transferred by the relevant Transfer Certificate.

 

61


  14.6 No assignment or transfer by the Borrower Without the prior written consent of all Lenders, the Borrower may not assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

  14.7 Security over Lenders’ rights In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this Clause 14, each Lender may without consulting with or obtaining consent from any Security Party, at any time charge, assign or otherwise create an Encumbrance 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:

 

  (a) any charge, assignment or other Encumbrance to secure obligations to a federal reserve or central bank; and

 

  (b) in the case of any Lender which is a fund, any charge, assignment or other Security 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 Security shall:

 

  (i) release a Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or substitute the beneficiary of the relevant charge, assignment or other Encumbrance for the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or

 

  (ii) require any payments to be made by any Security Party 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.

 

62


15 The Agent and the Lenders

 

  15.1 Appointment

 

  15.1.1 Each Lender appoints the Agent to act as its agent and/or security trustee under and in connection with the Finance Documents (other than those Security Documents held by DNB on behalf of, inter alia, the Lenders).

 

  15.1.2 Each Lender authorises the Agent to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents (other than those Security Documents held by DNB on behalf of, inter alia, the Lenders) together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions.

 

  15.2 Authority Each Lender irrevocably authorises the Agent (subject to Clauses 15.4 and 15.18):

 

  15.2.1 to execute any Finance Document (other than (i) those Security Documents held by DNB on behalf of, inter alia, the Lenders and (ii) the Deed of Coordination and Trust) on its behalf;

 

  15.2.2 to collect, receive, release or pay any money on its behalf;

 

  15.2.3 acting on the instructions from time to time of the Majority Lenders (save where the terms of any Security Document expressly provide otherwise) to give or withhold any waivers, consents or approvals under or pursuant to any Finance Document; and

 

  15.2.4 acting on the instructions from time to time of the Majority Lenders (save where the terms of any Security Document expressly provide otherwise) to exercise, or refrain from exercising, any rights, powers, authorities or discretions under or pursuant to any Finance Document.

The Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities as agent or as security trustee other than those expressly conferred on it by the Finance Documents and shall not be obliged to act on any instructions from the Lenders or the Majority Lenders if to do so would, in the opinion of the Agent, be contrary to any provision of the Finance Documents or to any law, or would expose the Agent to any actual or potential liability to any third party.

 

63


  15.3 Trust Subject always to the terms and conditions of the Deed of Coordination and Trust and of this Clause 15.3, the Agent agrees and declares, and each of the other Finance Parties acknowledges, that the Agent holds the Trust Property on trust for the Finance Parties absolutely. Each of the other Finance Parties agrees that the obligations, rights and benefits vested in the Agent shall be performed and exercised in accordance with this Clause 15.3. The Agent shall have the benefit of all of the provisions of this Agreement benefiting it in its capacity as Agent for the Finance Parties, and all the powers and discretions conferred on trustees by the Trustee Act 1925 (to the extent not inconsistent with this Agreement). In addition:

 

  15.3.1 the Agent and any attorney, agent or delegate of the Agent may indemnify itself or himself out of the Trust Property against all liabilities, costs, fees, damages, charges, losses and expenses sustained or incurred by it or him in relation to the taking or holding of any of the Trust Property or in connection with the exercise or purported exercise of the rights, trusts, powers and discretions vested in the Agent or any other such person by or pursuant to the Security Documents or in respect of anything else done or omitted to be done in any way relating to the Security Documents other than as a result of its gross negligence or wilful misconduct;

 

  15.3.2 the other Finance Parties acknowledge that the Agent shall be under no obligation to insure any property nor to require any other person to insure any property and shall not be responsible for any loss which may be suffered by any person as a result of the lack or insufficiency of any insurance; and

 

  15.3.3 the Finance Parties agree that the perpetuity period applicable to the trusts declared by this Agreement shall be the period of 125 years from the date of this Agreement.

 

64


  15.4 Limitations on authority

 

  15.4.1 Except with the prior written consent of all the Lenders, the Agent shall not be entitled to:

 

  (a) release or vary any security given for the Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement (including, but not limited to, any further exceptions to the terms of the Negative Pledges); nor

 

  (b) amend the Deed of Coordination and Trust or any Fee Letter (other than any Fee Letter whereby the Borrower agrees to pay to and for the account only of the Agent or the Mandated Lead Arranger, which may be amended without the prior written consent of any Lender); nor

 

  (c) waive the payment or extend the date of payment of any sum of money payable by any Security Party under the Finance Documents; nor

 

  (d) change the meaning of the expressions “ Majority Lenders ”, “ Margin ”, “ Commitment Commission ” or “ Default Rate ”; nor

 

  (e) exercise, or refrain from exercising, any right, power, authority or discretion, or give or withhold any consent, the exercise or giving of which is, by the terms of this Agreement, expressly reserved to the Lenders; nor

 

  (f) extend the due date for the payment of any sum of money payable by any Security Party under any Finance Document; nor

 

  (g) take or refrain from taking any step if the effect of such action or inaction may lead to the increase of the obligations of a Lender under any Finance Document; nor

 

  (h) agree to change the currency in which any sum is payable under any Finance Document (other than in accordance with the terms of the relevant Finance Document); nor

 

  (i) agree to the increase or extension of any Commitment; nor

 

  (j) agree to amend Clause 2.2 (Finance Parties’ obligations) 14.1 (Lenders’ rights) or this Clause 15.4.

 

65


  15.4.2 An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Agent or the MLA may not be effected without the consent of the Agent or the MLA respectively.

 

  15.5 Liability Neither the Agent nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable to the Lenders for anything done or omitted to be done by the Agent under or in connection with any of the Relevant Documents unless as a result of the Agent’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

  15.6 Acknowledgement Each Lender acknowledges that:

 

  15.6.1 it has not relied on any representation made by the Agent or any of the Agent’s directors, officers, employees or agents or by any other person acting or purporting to act on behalf of the Agent to induce it to enter into any Finance Document;

 

  15.6.2 it has made and will continue to make without reliance on the Agent, and based on such documents and other evidence as it considers appropriate, its own independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs of the Security Parties in connection with the making and continuation of the Loan;

 

  15.6.3 it has made its own appraisal of the creditworthiness of the Security Parties; and

 

  15.6.4 the Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility at any time to provide it with any credit or other information relating to any Security Party unless that information is received by the Agent pursuant to the express terms of a Finance Document.

Each Lender agrees that it will not assert nor seek to assert against any director, officer, employee or agent of the Agent or against any other person acting or purporting to act on behalf of the Agent any claim which it might have against them in respect of any of the matters referred to in this Clause 15.6.

 

66


  15.7 Limitations on responsibility The Agent shall have no responsibility to any Security Party or to any Lender on account of:

 

  15.7.1 the failure of a Lender or of any Security Party to perform any of its obligations under a Finance Document; nor

 

  15.7.2 the financial condition of any Security Party; nor

 

  15.7.3 the completeness or accuracy of any statements, representations or warranties made in or pursuant to any Finance Document, or in or pursuant to any document delivered pursuant to or in connection with any Finance Document; nor

 

  15.7.4 the negotiation, execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, admissibility in evidence or sufficiency of any Finance Document or of any document executed or delivered pursuant to or in connection with any Finance Document.

 

  15.8 The Agent’s rights The Agent may:

 

  15.8.1 assume that all representations or warranties made or deemed repeated by any Security Party in or pursuant to any Finance Document are true and complete, unless, in its capacity as the Agent, it has acquired actual knowledge to the contrary;

 

  15.8.2 assume that no Default has occurred unless, in its capacity as the Agent, it has acquired actual knowledge to the contrary;

 

  15.8.3 rely on any document or notice believed by it to be genuine;

 

  15.8.4 rely as to legal or other professional matters on opinions and statements of any legal or other professional advisers selected or approved by it;

 

  15.8.5 rely as to any factual matters which might reasonably be expected to be within the knowledge of any Security Party on a certificate signed by or on behalf of that Security Party; and

 

  15.8.6 refrain from exercising any right, power, discretion or remedy unless and until instructed to exercise that right, power, discretion or remedy and as to the manner of its exercise by the Lenders (or, where applicable, by the Majority Lenders) and unless and until the Agent has received from the Lenders any payment which the Agent may require on account of, or any security which the Agent may require for, any costs, claims, expenses (including legal and other professional fees) and liabilities which it considers it may incur or sustain in complying with those instructions.

 

67


  15.9 The Agent’s duties The Agent shall:

 

  15.9.1 if requested in writing to do so by a Lender, make enquiry and advise the Lenders as to the performance or observance of any of the provisions of any Finance Document by any Security Party or as to the existence of an Event of Default; and

 

  15.9.2 inform the Lenders promptly of any Event of Default of which the Agent has actual knowledge.

 

  15.10 No deemed knowledge The Agent shall not be deemed to have actual knowledge of the falsehood or incompleteness of any representation or warranty made or deemed repeated by any Security Party or actual knowledge of the occurrence of any Default unless a Lender or a Security Party shall have given written notice thereof to the Agent in its capacity as the Agent. Any information acquired by the Agent other than specifically in its capacity as the Agent shall not be deemed to be information acquired by the Agent in its capacity as the Agent.

 

  15.11 Other business The Agent may, without any liability to account to the Lenders, generally engage in any kind of banking or trust business with a Security Party or with a Security Party’s subsidiaries or associated companies or with a Lender as if it were not the Agent.

 

  15.12 Indemnity The Lenders shall, promptly on the Agent’s request, reimburse the Agent in their respective Proportionate Shares, for, and keep the Agent fully indemnified in respect of all liabilities, damages, costs and claims sustained or incurred by the Agent in connection with the Finance Documents, or the performance of its duties and obligations, or the exercise of its rights, powers, discretions or remedies under or pursuant to any Finance Document, to the extent not paid by the Security Parties and not arising from the Agent’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

68


  15.13 Employment of agents In performing its duties and exercising its rights, powers, discretions and remedies under or pursuant to the Finance Documents, the Agent shall be entitled to employ and pay agents to do anything which the Agent is empowered to do under or pursuant to the Finance Documents (including the receipt of money and documents and the payment of money) and to act or refrain from taking action in reliance on the opinion of, or advice or information obtained from, any lawyer, banker, broker, accountant, valuer or any other person believed by the Agent in good faith to be competent to give such opinion, advice or information.

 

  15.14 Distribution of payments The Agent shall pay promptly to the order of each Lender that Lender’s Proportionate Share of every sum of money received by the Agent pursuant to the Finance Documents (with the exception of any amounts payable pursuant to Clause 9 and/or any Fee Letter and any amounts which, by the terms of the Finance Documents, are paid to the Agent for the account of the Agent alone or specifically for the account of one or more Lenders) and until so paid such amount shall be held by the Agent on trust absolutely for that Lender.

 

  15.15 Reimbursement The Agent shall have no liability to pay any sum to a Lender until it has itself received payment of that sum. If, however, the Agent does pay any sum to a Lender on account of any amount prospectively due to that Lender pursuant to Clause 15.14 before it has itself received payment of that amount, and the Agent does not in fact receive payment on demand, that Lender will, on demand by the Agent, refund to the Agent an amount equal to the amount received by it, together with an amount sufficient to reimburse the Agent for any amount which the Agent may certify that it has been required to pay by way of interest on money borrowed to fund the amount in question during the period beginning on the date on which that amount was required to be paid by the terms of the Finance Documents and ending on the date on which the Agent receives reimbursement.

 

  15.16 Redistribution of payments Unless otherwise agreed between the Lenders and the Agent, if at any time a Lender receives or recovers by way of set-off, the exercise of any lien or otherwise from any Security Party, an amount greater than that Lender’s Proportionate Share of any sum due from that Security Party to the Lenders under the Finance Documents (the amount of the excess being referred to in this Clause 15.16 and in Clause 15.17 as the “ Excess Amount ”) then:

 

69


  15.16.1 that Lender shall promptly notify the Agent (which shall promptly notify each other Lender);

 

  15.16.2 that Lender shall pay to the Agent an amount equal to the Excess Amount within ten (10) days of its receipt or recovery of the Excess Amount; and

 

  15.16.3 the Agent shall treat that payment as if it were a payment by the Security Party in question on account of the sum due from that Security Party to the Lenders and shall account to the Lenders in respect of the Excess Amount in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 15.16.

However, if a Lender has commenced any legal proceedings to recover sums owing to it under the Finance Documents and, as a result of, or in connection with, those proceedings has received an Excess Amount, the Agent shall not distribute any of that Excess Amount to any other Lender which had been notified of the proceedings and had the legal right to, but did not, join those proceedings or commence and diligently prosecute separate proceedings to enforce its rights in the same or another court.

 

  15.17  Rescission of Excess Amount If all or any part of any Excess Amount is rescinded or must otherwise be restored to any Security Party or to any other third party, the Lenders which have received any part of that Excess Amount by way of distribution from the Agent pursuant to Clause 15.16 shall repay to the Agent for the account of the Lender which originally received or recovered the Excess Amount, the amount which shall be necessary to ensure that the Lenders share rateably in accordance with their Proportionate Shares in the amount of the receipt or payment retained, together with interest on that amount at a rate equivalent to that (if any) paid by the Lender receiving or recovering the Excess Amount to the person to whom that Lender is liable to make payment in respect of such amount, and Clause 15.16.3 shall apply only to the retained amount.

 

70


  15.18  Instructions Where the Agent is authorised or directed to act or refrain from acting in accordance with the instructions of the Lenders or of the Majority Lenders each of the Lenders shall provide the Agent with instructions within three (3) Business Days of the Agent’s request in writing. If a Lender does not provide the Agent with instructions within that period, that Lender shall be bound by the decision of the Agent. Nothing in this Clause 15.18 shall limit the right of the Agent to take, or refrain from taking, any action without obtaining the instructions of the Lenders or the Majority Lenders if the Agent in its discretion considers it necessary or appropriate to take, or refrain from taking, such action in order to preserve the rights of the Lenders under or in connection with the Finance Documents. In that event, the Agent will notify the Lenders of the action taken by it as soon as reasonably practicable, and the Lenders agree to ratify any action taken by the Agent pursuant to this Clause 15.18.

 

  15.19  Payments All amounts payable to a Lender under this Clause 15 shall be paid to such account at such bank as that Lender may from time to time direct in writing to the Agent.

 

  15.20  Know your customer checks Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself) in order for the Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

  15.21  Resignation Subject to a successor being appointed in accordance with this Clause 15.21, the Agent may resign at any time without assigning any reason by giving to the Borrower and the Lenders notice of its intention to do so, in which event the following shall apply:

 

  15.21.1 with the consent of the Borrower not to be unreasonably withheld (but such consent not to be required at any time after an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived) the Lenders may within thirty (30) days after the date of the notice from the Agent appoint a successor to act as agent or, if they fail to do so with the consent of the Borrower, not to be unreasonably withheld (but such consent not to be required at any time after an Event of Default which is continuing unremedied or unwaived), the Agent may appoint any other bank or financial institution as its successor;

 

  15.21.2 the resignation of the Agent shall take effect simultaneously with the appointment of its successor on written notice of that appointment being given to the Borrower and the Lenders;

 

71


  15.21.3 the Agent shall thereupon be discharged from all further obligations as agent but shall remain entitled to the benefit of the provisions of this Clause 15;

 

  15.21.4 the successor of the Agent and each of the other parties to this Agreement shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if that successor had been a party to this Agreement; and

 

  15.21.5 the successor of the Agent shall sign a deed of accession to adhere to the terms of the Deed of Coordination and Trust.

 

  15.22  No fiduciary relationship Except as provided in Clauses 15.3 and 15.14, the Agent shall not have any fiduciary relationship with or be deemed to be a trustee of or for any other person and nothing contained in any Finance Document shall constitute a partnership between any two or more Lenders or between the Agent and any other person.

 

16 Set-Off

A Finance Party may set off any matured obligation due from the Borrower under any Finance Document (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, that 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.

 

17 Payments

 

  17.1 Payments Subject always to the terms of the Deed of Coordination and Trust, each amount payable by the Borrower under a Finance Document shall be paid to such account at such bank as the Agent may from time to time direct to the Borrower in the Currency of Account and in such funds as are customary at the time for settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place of payment. Payment shall be deemed to have been received by the Agent on the date on which the Agent confirms the receipt of such funds. If the Agent in its reasonable discretion considers that it is impossible or impracticable for the Agent to utilise the amount received for value that same day, in which event the payment in question shall be deemed to have been received by the Agent on the Business Day next following the date of receipt of such funds by the Agent.

 

72


  17.2 No deductions or withholdings Each payment (whether of principal or interest or otherwise) to be made by the Borrower under a Finance Document shall, subject only to Clause 17.3, be made free and clear of and without deduction for or on account of any Taxes or other deductions, withholdings, restrictions, conditions or counterclaims of any nature.

 

  17.3 Grossing-up If at any time any law requires (or is interpreted to require) the Borrower to make any deduction or withholding from any payment, or to change the rate or manner in which any required deduction or withholding is made, the Borrower will promptly notify the Agent and, simultaneously with making that payment, will pay to the Agent whatever additional amount (after taking into account any additional Taxes on, or deductions or withholdings from, or restrictions or conditions on, that additional amount) is necessary to ensure that, after making the deduction or withholding, the relevant Finance Parties receive a net sum equal to the sum which they would have received had no deduction or withholding been made.

 

  17.4 Evidence of deductions If at any time the Borrower is required by law to make any deduction or withholding from any payment to be made by it under a Finance Document, the Borrower will pay the amount required to be deducted or withheld to the relevant authority within the time allowed under the applicable law and will, no later than thirty (30) days after making that payment, deliver to the Agent an original receipt issued by the relevant authority, or other evidence reasonably acceptable to the Agent, evidencing the payment to that authority of all amounts required to be deducted or withheld.

 

  17.5 Rebate If the Borrower pays any additional amount under Clause 8.11 or Clause 17.3, and a Finance Party subsequently receives a refund or allowance from any tax authority which that Finance Party identifies as being referable to that increased amount so paid by the Borrower, that Finance Party shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, pay to the Borrower an amount equal to the amount of the refund or allowance received, if and to the extent that it may do so without prejudicing its right to retain that refund or allowance and without putting itself in any worse financial position than that in which it would have been had the relevant deduction or withholding not been required to have been made. Nothing in this Clause 17.5 shall be interpreted as imposing any obligation on any Finance Party to apply for any refund or allowance nor as restricting in any way the manner in which any Finance Party organises its tax affairs, nor as imposing on any Finance Party any obligation to disclose to the Borrower any information regarding its tax affairs or tax computations.

 

73


  17.6 Adjustment of due dates If any payment or transfer of funds to be made under a Finance Document, other than a payment of interest on the Loan, shall be due on a day which is not a Business Day, that payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day (unless the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar month in which event the payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day). Any such variation of time shall be taken into account in computing any interest in respect of that payment.

 

  17.7 Control Account The Agent shall open and maintain on its books a control account in the name of the Borrower showing the advance of the Loan and the computation and payment of interest and all other sums due under this Agreement. The Borrower’s obligations to repay the Loan and to pay interest and all other sums due under this Agreement shall be evidenced by the entries from time to time made in the control account opened and maintained under this Clause 17.7 and those entries will, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding.

 

18 Notices

 

  18.1 Communications in writing Any communication to be made under or in connection with this Agreement shall be made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by fax or letter or (subject to Clause 18.6) electronic mail.

 

  18.2 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 to this Agreement for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with this Agreement are:

 

  18.2.1 in the case of the Borrower, c/o Teekay Shipping (Canada) Ltd Suite 2000, Bentall 5, 550 Burrard Street, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6C 2K2 (fax no: +1 604 681 3011) marked for the attention of Rence Eng, Manager Treasury;

 

74


  18.2.2 in the case of each Lender, those appearing opposite its name in Schedule 1; and

 

  18.2.3 in the case of the Agent at Loan Agency, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., Bracken House, One Friday Street, London EC4M 9JA (fax no: +44 (0)20 7012 4053) marked for the attention of Maria de Lellis (email: maria.delellis@mhcb.co.uk);

or any substitute address, fax number, department or officer as any 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 (5) Business Days’ notice.

 

  18.3 Delivery Any communication or document made or delivered by one party to this Agreement to another under or in connection this Agreement will only be effective:

 

  18.3.1 if by way of fax, when received in legible form; or

 

  18.3.2 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; or

 

  18.3.3 if by way of electronic mail, in accordance with Clause 18.6;

and, if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address details provided under Clause 18.2, if addressed to that department or officer.

Any communication or document to be made or delivered to the Agent will be effective only when actually received by the Agent.

All notices from or to the Borrower shall be sent through the Agent.

 

  18.4 Notification of address and fax number Promptly upon receipt of notification of an address, fax number or change of address, pursuant to Clause 18.2 or changing its own address or fax number, the Agent shall notify the other parties to this Agreement.

 

75


  18.5 English language Any notice given under or in connection with this Agreement must be in English. All other documents provided under or in connection with this Agreement must be:

 

  18.5.1 in English; or

 

  18.5.2 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.

 

  18.6 Electronic communication

 

  (a) Any communication to be made in connection with this Agreement may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means, if the Borrower and the relevant Finance Party:

 

  (i) agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication;

 

  (ii) 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

 

  (iii) notify each other of any change to their address or any other such information supplied by them.

 

  (b) Any electronic communication made between the Borrower and the relevant Finance Party will be effective only when actually received in readable form and acknowledged by the recipient (it being understood that any system generated responses do not constitute an acknowledgement) and in the case of any electronic communication made by the Borrower to a Finance Party only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Finance Party shall specify for this purpose.

 

76


19 Partial Invalidity

If, at any time, any provision of a Finance Document 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.

 

20 Remedies and Waivers

No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Finance Party, any right or remedy under a Finance Document 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.

 

21 Miscellaneous

 

  21.1 No oral variations No variation or amendment of a Finance Document shall be valid unless in writing and signed on behalf of all the Finance Parties.

 

  21.2 Further Assurance If any provision of a Finance Document shall be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part by reason of any present or future law or any decision of any court, or if the documents at any time held by or on behalf of the Finance Parties or any of them are considered by the Lenders for any reason insufficient to carry out the terms of this Agreement, then from time to time the Borrower will promptly, on demand by the Agent, execute or procure the execution of such further documents as in the opinion of the Lenders are necessary to provide adequate security for the repayment of the Indebtedness.

 

  21.3 Rescission of payments etc . Any discharge, release or reassignment by a Finance Party of any of the security constituted by, or any of the obligations of a Security Party contained in, a Finance Document shall be (and be deemed always to have been) void if any act (including, without limitation, any payment) as a result of which such discharge, release or reassignment was given or made is subsequently wholly or partially rescinded or avoided by operation of any law.

 

77


  21.4 Certificates Any certificate or statement signed by an authorised signatory of the Agent purporting to show the amount of the Indebtedness (or any part of the Indebtedness) or any other amount referred to in any Finance Document shall, save for manifest error or on any question of law, be conclusive evidence as against the Borrower of that amount.

 

  21.5 Counterparts This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be original but which shall together constitute the same instrument.

 

  21.6 Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 A person who is not a party to this Agreement (other than those parties benefitting from the indemnities in Clause 8.5) 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.

 

  21.7 Disclosure of Information The Borrower authorises each Lender to disclose any information and/or document(s) concerning its relationship with such Lender (i) to authorities in any other countries where such Lender or any Affiliate is represented and/or where any Lender or any Affiliate may be requested information by any regulatory authority, when this shall be deemed necessary in order for such Lender or any Affiliate to meet its requirements for the contribution to reduction or prevention of money laundering, terrorism and corruption, (ii) to any Affiliate of that Lender making it possible to consolidate the client’s total commitments and offer the client any other products offered by that Lender or any Affiliate and (iii) to any person to whom or for whose benefit that Lender charges, assigns or otherwise creates Security (or may do so) pursuant to Clause 14.7, subject always to the duties of confidentiality on the Lenders set out herein.

22 Law and Jurisdiction

 

  22.1 Governing law This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising from or in connection with it shall in all respects be governed by and interpreted in accordance with English law.

 

  22.2 Jurisdiction For the exclusive benefit of the Finance Parties, the parties to this Agreement irrevocably agree that the courts of England are to have jurisdiction to settle any dispute (a) arising from or in connection with this Agreement or (b) relating to any non-contractual obligations arising from or in connection with this Agreement and that any proceedings may be brought in those courts.

 

78


  22.3 Alternative jurisdictions Nothing contained in this Clause 22 shall limit the right of the Finance Parties to commence any proceedings against the Borrower in any other court of competent jurisdiction nor shall the commencement of any proceedings against the Borrower in one or more jurisdictions preclude the commencement of any proceedings in any other jurisdiction, whether concurrently or not.

 

  22.4 Waiver of objections The Borrower irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or in the future have to the laying of the venue of any proceedings in any court referred to in this Clause 22, and any claim that those proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient or inappropriate forum, and irrevocably agrees that a judgment in any proceedings commenced in any such court shall be conclusive and binding on it and may be enforced in the courts of any other jurisdiction.

 

  22.5 Service of process Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, the Borrower:

 

  22.5.1

irrevocably appoints Teekay Shipping (UK) Ltd of 2 nd Floor, 86 Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6JD England as its agent for service of process in relation to any proceedings before the English courts in connection with this Agreement; and

 

  22.5.2 agrees that failure by a process agent to notify the Borrower of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned.

 

79


SCHEDULE 1: The Lenders and the Commitments

 

The Lenders   

The Commitments

(US$)

     The Proportionate Share  

MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.

Bracken House

One Friday Street

London

EC4M 9JA

United Kingdom

Attn: Akihiro Okajima

Fax no: +44 207 012 4910

     170,240,000.00         2/6   

THE BANK OF TOKYO-

MITSUBISHI UFJ (HOLLAND) NV

World Trade Centre

Tower D, 5 th Floor

Strawinsky laan 565

1077 XX Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Attn: Ms. Sumie Sato

Fax no: +31-(0)20-679-3066

     170,240,000.00         2/6   

THE SUMITOMO TRUST AND

BANKING COMPANY LIMITED

155 Bishopsgate

London

EC2M 3XU

United Kingdom

Attn: Mr. Daisuke Fukawa/Mr. Masahiro Suzuki

Fax no: +44 207 945 7177

     85,120,000.00         1/6   

MITSUBISHI UFJ TRUST AND

BANKING CORPORATION

24 Lombard Street

London

EC3V 9AJ

United Kingdom

Attn: Mr. Shinsuke Matsuoka

Fax no: +44 207 621 1276

     85,120,000.00         1/6   

 

80


SCHEDULE 2: Conditions Precedent and Subsequent

Part I: Conditions precedent to service of Drawdown Notice

 

1 Security Parties

 

  (a) Constitutional Documents Copies of the constitutional documents of each of the Borrower, the Guarantor and the Pledgor together with such other evidence as the Agent may reasonably require that each of the Borrower, the Guarantor and the Pledgor is duly formed or incorporated in its country of formation or incorporation and remains in existence with power to enter into, and perform its obligations under, the Relevant Documents to which it is or is to become a party.

 

  (b) Certificates of good standing A certificate of good standing in respect of each of the Guarantor and the Pledgor (if such a certificate can be obtained) and in the case of the Borrower, a transcript from the Danish Commerce Agency.

 

  (c) Board resolutions A copy (or extract) of a resolution of the board of directors of each of the Borrower, the Guarantor and the Pledgor (or its sole member or general partner):

 

  (i) approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Relevant Documents to which it is a party and ratifying or resolving that it execute those Relevant Documents; and

 

  (ii) if required authorising a specified person or persons to execute those Relevant Documents (and all documents and notices to be signed and/or despatched under those documents) on its behalf.

 

  (d) Officer’s certificates A certificate of a duly authorised officer or representative of each of the Borrower, the Guarantor and the Pledgor certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this Part I of Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement, setting out the names of its directors and officers (or its sole member) and their specimen signatures, setting out the proportion of shares held by each shareholder, and confirming that its borrowing and guaranteeing limits will not be exceeded.

 

81


  (e) Powers of attorney The notarially attested and legalised (where necessary for registration purposes) power of attorney of each of the Borrower, the Guarantor and the Pledgor under which any documents are to be executed or transactions undertaken by of the Borrower, the Guarantor and the Pledgor.

 

  (f) Shareholders Agreement Copy of the shareholders agreement for the Borrower.

 

2 Security and related documents

 

  (a) Finance Documents This Agreement, the Guarantee, the Deed of Co-ordination and Trust, the Share Pledge and any Fee Letter, together with all other documents required by any of them, including, without limitation, all notices of assignment and/or charge and evidence that those notices will be duly acknowledged by the recipients, together with evidence of the authority of the signatories to the Deed of Coordination and Trust, and any perfection of Security Documents required by Danish law.

 

  (b) Structure Chart A certified copy of the Structure Chart.

 

3 Legal opinions

 

  (a) In relation to the Loan Agreement, the Deed of Co-ordination and Trust, the Share Pledge and the Guarantee, a legal opinion of the legal advisers to the Lenders in each relevant jurisdiction; namely Stephenson Harwood (on matters of English law) Kromann Reumert (on matters of Danish law) and Seno  & Partners (on matters of Japanese law).

 

  (b) In relation to the other Finance Documents, confirmation satisfactory to the Agent that a legal opinion of the legal advisers to the Lenders in each relevant jurisdiction, substantially in the form provided to the Agent prior to the Drawdown Date will be given promptly following disbursement of the Loan, namely:

 

  (i) an opinion on matters of English law from Stephenson Harwood;

 

  (ii) an opinion on matters of Singapore law from Allen & Gledhill LLP;

 

82


  (iii) an opinion on matters of Marshall Islands law from Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, New York;

 

  (iv) an opinion on matters of Danish law from Kromann Reumert;

 

  (v) an opinion on matters of New York law from Seward & Kissel LLP; and

 

4 Other documents and evidence

 

  (a) Drawdown Notice A duly completed Drawdown Notice.

 

  (b) Process agent Evidence that any process agent referred to in Clause 22.5 and any process agent appointed under any other Finance Document has accepted its appointment.

 

  (c) Other authorisations A copy of any other consent, licence, approval, 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 of the Relevant Documents or for the validity and enforceability of any of the Relevant Documents.

 

  (d) Fees Evidence that the fees, costs and expenses then due from the Borrower under Clause 8 and Clause 9 have been paid or will be paid by the Drawdown Date.

 

  (e) “Know your customer” documents Such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent in order for the Lenders to comply with all necessary “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in relation to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

  (f) Funds Flow Statement A funds flow statement detailing the flow of funds required to complete under the SPA, and showing the refinancing of any loans at the level of the Target or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

  (g) Ownership of Borrower Evidence that the Borrower is owned as to 52% by TGP and as to 48% by the Guarantor.

 

  (h) Guarantor documents The documents set out in Schedule 1 of the Guarantee.

 

83


  (i) Pledgor documents The documents set out in Schedule 4 of the Shares Pledge.

 

  (j) Other Such other documents, authorisations, opinions and assurances as the Agent may specify.

 

84


Part II: Conditions precedent to the Drawdown Date

 

1 Security and related documents

 

  (a) Finance Documents The Account Security (other than that relating to the Vessel Earnings Accounts).

 

  (b) Relevant Documents Certified copies of the SPA, the TGP Bank Loan Agreement and all security documents under the TGP Bank Loan Agreement (save for the Assignments, the Intercompany Loan Assignment, the Negative Pledges and the Target Shares Pledge), together with evidence of the authority of the signatories thereto.

 

  (c) Evidence of insurance Evidence that each of the Vessels is insured in the manner required by the Security Documents and that letters of undertaking will be issued in the manner required by the Security Documents, together with the written approval of the Insurances by an insurance adviser appointed by the Agent.

 

2 Legal opinions

Legal opinions of the legal advisers to the Lenders in each relevant jurisdiction in relation to those documents listed in paragraph 1(a) of this Schedule 2 Part II, namely:

 

  (i) an opinion on matters of Danish law from Kromann Reumert; and

 

  (ii) an opinion on matters of New York law from Seward & Kissel LLP;

 

3 Other documents and evidence

 

  (a) TGP Evidence acceptable to the Agent that the Borrower can draw under the TGP Bank Loan Agreement simultaneously with drawdown of the Loan.

 

  (b) SPA A copy of the statement of estimated intercompany debt of the Target provided to the Borrower under the terms of the SPA.

 

  (c) Other Such other documents, authorisations, opinions and assurances as the Agent may specify.

 

85


Part III: Conditions subsequent to the Drawdown Date

 

1 Acknowledgements of notices Acknowledgements of all notices of assignment and/or charge given pursuant to the relevant Security Documents.

 

2 Companies Act registrations Evidence that the prescribed particulars of the relevant Security Documents have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies of England and Wales and/or (as appropriate) the Danish Register for Persons within the statutory time limit.

 

3 Vessel Earnings Accounts Evidence that each of the Vessel Earnings Accounts has been opened and that the Account Security over such accounts has been established, together with acceptable opinions relating thereto:

 

  (i) on matters of Marshall Islands law from Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, New York;

 

  (ii) on matters of New York law from Seward & Kissel LLP;

 

  (iii) on matters of Singapore law from Allen & Gledhill LLP; and

 

  (iv) on matters of Danish law from Kromann Reumert.

 

86


Part IV: Conditions precedent to the disbursement of the Loan

 

1 Security and related documents

 

  (a) Relevant Documents A certified true copy of the Intercompany Loan Agreement together with evidence of the authority of the signatories thereto and evidence acceptable to the Agent that the Target can draw under the Intercompany Loan Agreement and the funds be released to the Seller simultaneously with the disbursement of the Loan.

 

  (b) Vessel documents In respect of each Vessel photocopies, certified as true, accurate and complete by a duly authorised representative of the relevant Vessel Owner, of any Charter together in each case with all addenda, amendments or supplements.

 

2 Other documents and evidence

 

  (a) SPA Evidence acceptable to the Agent that all conditions to closing under the SPA have been met (or will be met on the date of the disbursement of the Loan) or waived.

 

  (b) Ownership of Target Evidence that, immediately following the disbursement of the Loan, the Borrower will be able to complete the purchase of the Target under the SPA.

 

  (c) Evidence of Vessel Owners’ title Certificate of ownership and encumbrance (or equivalent) issued by the Registrar of Ships (or equivalent official) of each Vessel’s flag state confirming that (a) each of the Vessels is permanently registered under that flag in the ownership of the relevant Vessel Owner and (b) each of the Vessels is free of registered Encumbrance.

 

  (d) Confirmation of class Certificates of Confirmation of Class for hull and machinery confirming that each of the Vessels is classed with the highest class applicable to vessels of her type with a Pre-Approved Classification Society.

 

  (e) Equity Not less than one hundred and thirty eight million three hundred thousand Dollars ($138,300,000) (representing the equity contribution to be made by Teekay Luxembourg S.a.r.l. in respect of the Borrower) and one hundred and twenty seven million seven hundred thousand Dollars ($127,700,000) (representing the equity contribution to be made by the Pledgor in respect of the Borrower) shall have been paid into the Earnings Account.

 

87


  (f) Financial position of Target Evidence that, immediately following completion under the SPA, the Target and each of its Subsidiaries (including each Vessel Owner) will be free of Financial Indebtedness.

 

  (g) Financial Statements Certified true copies or copies made availably on the Borrower’s or the Guarantor’s respective websites of (i) the proforma financial statements of the Borrower and (ii) the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Guarantor (provided however, that if such financial statements are available on the Guarantor’s website or the internet disclosing system that is often referred to as “EDINET” in Japan, the consolidated financial statements shall be deemed to have been received by the Lenders).

 

  (h) DNB Undertaking An undertaking to be executed by DNB and the Borrower confirming that DNB shall not proceed with the disbursement of the Loan to the Seller unless DNB has previously received an irrevocable and unconditional authorisation by the Agent to proceed with the disbursement of the loan.

 

  (i) Other Such other documents, authorisations, opinions and assurances relative to the completion of the purchase of the Target as the Agent may specify.

 

88


Part V: Conditions subsequent to the disbursement of the Loan

 

1 Security Parties

 

  (a) Constitutional Documents Copies of the constitutional documents of each of the Vessel Owners and the Target together with such other evidence as the Agent may reasonably require that each of the Vessel Owners and the Target is duly formed or incorporated in its country of formation or incorporation and remains in existence with power to enter into, and perform its obligations under, the Relevant Documents to which it is or is to become a party.

 

  (b) Certificates of good standing A certificate of good standing in respect of each of the Vessel Owners and the Target (if such a certificate can be obtained) and, in the case of any such company incorporated in Denmark, a transcript from the Danish Commerce Agency.

 

  (c) Board resolutions A copy (or extract) of a resolution of the board of directors of each of the Vessel Owners and the Target (or its sole member or general partner);

 

  (i) approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Relevant Documents to which it is a party and ratifying or resolving that it execute those Relevant Documents; and

 

  (ii) if required authorising a specified person or persons to execute those Relevant Documents (and all documents and notices to be signed and/or despatched under those documents) on its behalf.

 

  (d) Officer’s certificates A certificate of a duly authorised officer or representative of each of the Vessel Owners and the Target certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this Part V of Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement, setting out the names of its directors and officers (or its sole member) and their specimen signatures, setting out the proportion of shares held by each shareholder, and confirming that its borrowing and guaranteeing limits will not be exceeded.

 

  (e) Powers of attorney The notarially attested and legalised (where necessary for registration purposes) power of attorney of each of the Vessel Owners and the Target under which any documents are to be executed or transactions undertaken by each of the Vessel Owners and the Target.

 

89


2 Security Documents The Assignments (other than those in respect of “Maersk Methane” and “Woodside Donaldson”), the Intercompany Loan Assignment, the Negative Pledges and the Target Share Pledge, together with all other documents required by any of them, including, without limitation, all notices of assignment and/or charge (save for any notices of assignment of Earnings) and any perfection of the Assignments, the Intercompany Loan Assignment, the Negative Pledges and the Target Share Pledge required by Danish law.

 

3 Legal opinions Such of the legal opinions specified in Section 3(b), Part I of this Schedule 2 as have not already been provided to the Agent (other than those relating to the Assignments in respect of “Maersk Methane” and “Woodside Donaldson”).

 

4 Registrations Evidence that the prescribed particulars of the Assignments, the Negative Pledges, the Target Share Pledge and the Intercompany Loan Assignment have been delivered to the Danish Register for Persons within the statutory time limit.

 

5 Letters of undertaking Letters of undertaking in respect of the Insurances in respect of the relevant Vessels as required by the Security Documents together with copies of the relevant policies or cover notes or entry certificates duly endorsed with the interest of the Finance Parties.

 

6 Changes of Name Evidence of change of name of the Target and each of the Vessel Owners.

 

7 Acknowledgements Acknowledgements to the notices of assignment and charge referred to in paragraph 2 above.

 

8 Whitewash A certificate issued by Malt Singapore Pte. Ltd. (previously known as Maersk LNG Singapore Pte. Ltd) pursuant to Section 76A (6) of the Singapore Companies Act, together with the Assignments in respect of “Maersk Methane” and “Woodside Donaldson” and the legal opinions relating to those documents.

 

90


SCHEDULE 3: The Vessels

 

        Registered Owner on   Beneficial      
        closing [where   Owner on      

Vessel Name

  Flag  

incorporated]

 

closing

  Index Amount  

“MAERSK MAGELLAN” (tbr “MAGELLAN SPIRIT”)

  Denmark

(DIS)

  Magellan Spirit ApS (previously known as Maersk Magellan LNG A/S [Danish]   100% Target     224   

“MAERSK MERIDIAN” (tbr “MERIDIAN SPIRIT”)

  Denmark

(DIS)

  Meridian Spirit ApS (previously known as Maersk Meridian LNG A/S) [Danish]   100% Target     217   

“MAERSK MARIB” (tbr “MARIB SPIRIT”)

  Marshall

Islands

  Membrane Shipping Limited [Marshall Islands]   100% Target     219   

“MAERSK ARWA” (tbr “ARWA SPIRIT”)

  Marshall

Islands

  Membrane Shipping Limited [Marshall Islands]   100% Target     221   

“MAERSK METHANE” (tbr “METHANE SPIRIT”)

  Singapore   Malt Singapore Pte. Ltd. (previously known as Maersk LNG Singapore Pte. Ltd.) [Singapore]   100% Target     229   

“WOODSIDE” “DONALDSON”

  Singapore   Malt Singapore Pte. Ltd. (previously known as Maersk LNG Singapore Pte. Ltd.) [Singapore]   100% Target     220   

 

91


SCHEDULE 4: Calculation of Mandatory Cost

 

1 The Mandatory Cost is an addition to the interest rate to compensate the Lenders for the cost of compliance with (a) the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority (or, in either case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) or (b) the requirements of the European Central Bank.

 

(a) 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 Loan) and will be expressed as a percentage rate per annum.

 

(b) The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from an office in the euro-zone will be the percentage notified by that Lender to the Agent to be its reasonable determination of the cost (expressed as a percentage of that Lender’s participation in the Loan) of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank as a result of participating in the Loan from that office.

 

(c) The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from an office in the United Kingdom will be calculated by the Agent as follows:

F x 0.01  per cent per annum

300

where F is the charge payable by that Lender to the Financial Services Authority under paragraph 2.02 or 2.03 (as appropriate) of the Fees Regulations or the equivalent provisions in any replacement regulations (with, for this purpose, the figure for the minimum amount in paragraph 2.02b or such equivalent provision deemed to be zero), expressed in pounds per £1 million of the fee base of that Lender.

 

2 For the purpose of this Schedule:

 

  (a) “eligible liabilities” and “special deposits” have the meanings given to them at the time of application of the formula by the Bank of England;

 

  (b) “fee base” has the meaning given to it in the Fees Regulations;

 

92


  (c) Fees Regulations” means the regulations governing 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.

 

3 If a Lender does not supply the information required by the Agent to determine its Additional Cost Rate when requested to do so, the applicable Mandatory Cost shall be determined on the basis of the information supplied by the remaining Lenders.

 

4 If a change in circumstances has rendered, or will render, the formula inappropriate, the Agent shall notify the Borrower of the manner in which the Mandatory Cost will subsequently be calculated. The manner of calculation so notified by the Agent shall, in the absence of manifest error, be binding on the Borrower.

 

93


SCHEDULE 5: Form of Drawdown Notice

 

To: MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.

 

From: MALT LNG HOLDINGS ApS

[Date]

Dear Sirs,

Drawdown Notice

We refer to the Loan Agreement dated             2012 made between, amongst others, ourselves and yourselves (the “ Agreement ”).

Words and phrases defined in the Agreement have the same meaning when used in this Drawdown Notice.

Pursuant to Clause 4.1 of the Agreement, we irrevocably request that you advance the Loan in the sum of [                     ] (consisting of [$             ] in respect of Tranche A and [$             ] in respect of Tranche B) to us on             2012, which is a Business Day, by paying the amount of the advance to the Earnings Account.

We warrant that the representations and warranties contained in Clause 11 of the Agreement [save that contained in Clause 11.6] [save those contained in Clauses 11.2 and 11.20] are true and correct at the date of this Drawdown Notice and will be true and correct on              2012, that no Default has occurred and is continuing, and that no Default will result from the advance of the sum requested in this Drawdown Notice.

We select the period of [            ] months as the Interest Period in respect of the Loan.

Yours faithfully

 

For and on behalf of

Malt LNG Holdings ApS

 

94


SCHEDULE 6: Form of Transfer Certificate

 

To: MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE

This transfer certificate relates to a secured loan facility agreement (as from time to time amended, varied, supplemented or novated the “Loan Agreement”) dated [                    ] 2012, on the terms and subject to the conditions of which a secured loan facility was made available to Malt LNG Holdings ApS, by a syndicate of banks on whose behalf you act as agent and security trustee.

 

1 Terms defined in the Loan Agreement shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated, have the same meaning when used in this certificate. The terms “Transferor” and “Transferee” are defined in the schedule to this certificate.

 

2 The Transferor:

 

  2.1 confirms that the details in the Schedule under the heading “Transferor’s Commitment” accurately summarise its Commitment; and

 

  2.2 requests the Transferee to accept by way of novation the transfer to the Transferee of the amount of the Transferor’s Commitment specified in the Schedule by counter-signing and delivering this certificate to the Agent at its address for communications specified in the Loan Agreement.

 

3 The Transferee requests the Agent to accept this certificate as being delivered to the Agent pursuant to and for the purposes of clause 14.4 of the Loan Agreement so as to take effect in accordance with the terms of that clause on the Transfer Date specified in the Schedule.

 

4 The Agent confirms its acceptance of this certificate for the purposes of clause 14.4 of the Loan Agreement.

 

5 The Transferee confirms that:

 

  5.1 it has received a copy of the Loan Agreement together with all other information which it has required in connection with this transaction;

 

95


  5.2 it has not relied and will not in the future rely on the Transferor or any other party to the Loan Agreement to check or enquire on its behalf into the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any such information; and

 

  5.3 it has not relied and will not in the future rely on the Transferor or any other party to the Loan Agreement to keep under review on its behalf the financial condition, creditworthiness, condition, affairs, status or nature of any Security Party.

 

6 Execution of this certificate by the Transferee constitutes its representation and warranty to the Transferor and to all other parties to the Loan Agreement that it has the power to become a party to the Loan Agreement as a Lender on the terms of the Loan Agreement and has taken all steps to authorise execution and delivery of this certificate.

 

7 The Transferee undertakes with the Transferor and each of the other parties to the Loan Agreement that it will perform in accordance with their terms all those obligations which by the terms of the Loan Agreement will be assumed by it after delivery of this certificate to the Agent and the satisfaction of any conditions subject to which this certificate is expressed to take effect.

 

8 The Transferor makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document or any document relating to any Finance Document, and assumes no responsibility for the financial condition of any Finance Party or for the performance and observance by any Security Party of any of its obligations under any Finance Document or any document relating to any Finance Document and any conditions and warranties implied by law are expressly excluded.

 

9 The Transferee acknowledges that nothing in this certificate or in the Loan Agreement shall oblige the Transferor to:

 

  9.1 accept a re-transfer from the Transferee of the whole or any part of the rights, benefits and/or obligations transferred pursuant to this certificate; or

 

  9.2 support any losses directly or indirectly sustained or incurred by the Transferee for any reason including, without limitation, the non-performance by any party to any Finance Document of any obligations under any Finance Document.

 

96


10 The address and fax number of the Transferee for the purposes of clause 18 of the Loan Agreement are set out in the Schedule.

 

11 This certificate may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be original but which shall together constitute the same instrument.

 

12 This certificate shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with English law.

THE SCHEDULE

 

1 Transferor:

 

2 Transferee:

 

3 Transfer Date (not earlier that the fifth Business Day after the date of delivery of the Transfer Certificate to the Agent):

 

4 Transferor’s Commitment:

 

5 Amount transferred:

 

6 Transferee’s address and fax number for the purposes of clause 18 of the Loan Agreement:

 

[name of Transferor]

   [name of Transferee]

By:

   By:

Date:         Date:

  

 

MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD. as Agent   

By:

  

Date:

  

 

97


SCHEDULE 7

SELECTION NOTICE

 

From: Malt LNG Holdings ApS

 

To: Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.

 

Dated:                                  20

Dear Sirs

Loan Agreement dated                     2012 between, amongst others, Malt LNG Holdings ApS and Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. (the “Loan Agreement”)

 

1 We refer to the Loan Agreement. This is a Selection Notice. Terms defined in the Loan Agreement have the same meaning in this Selection Notice.

 

2 We request that the next Interest Period for the above Loan is:

Interest Period:

From                                     To

 

3 This Selection Notice is irrevocable.

Yours faithfully

 

Authorised Signatory for

MALT LNG HOLDINGS ApS

 

98


IN WITNESS of which the parties to this Agreement have executed this Agreement the day and year first before written.

 

SIGNED by Nigel Thomas

   )      

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )    /s/ Nigel Thomas   

of  MALT LNG HOLDINGS ApS

   )      

(as borrower)

   )      

SIGNED by Yasutaka Iyama

   )    /s/ Yasutaka Iyama   

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )      

of  MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.

   )      

(as Agent)

   )      

SIGNED by Yasutaka Iyama

   )    /s/ Yasutaka Iyama   

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )      

of  MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.

   )      

(as a Lender)

   )      

SIGNED by Y. Sugiyama    Y. Nakada

   )    /s/ Y. Sugiyama   

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )    Y. Sugiyama   

of  THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI

   )      

UFJ (HOLLAND) NV

   )    /s/ Y. Nakada   

(as a Lender)

   )    Y. Nakada   

SIGNED by Yutaka Nishida

   )      

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )      

of THE SUMITOMO TRUST AND

   )    /s/ Yutaka Nishida   

BANKING COMPANY LIMITED

   )      

(as a Lender)

   )      

SIGNED by Susumu Ouoe

   )      

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )      

of MITSUBISHI UFJ TRUST AND

   )    /s/ Susumu Ouoe   

BANKING CORPORATION

   )      

(as a Lender)

   )      

 

99


SIGNED by Yasutaka Iyama

   )      

duly authorised for and on behalf

   )    /s/ Yasutaka Iyama   

of  MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.

   )      

(as the Mandated Lead Arranger)

   )      

 

100

Exhibit 4.25

 

LOGO

EXECUTION VERSION

Closing Memorandum

Project Eternity

Gorrissen Federspiel


LOGO

 

Side 2

 

  1 Introduction

 

  1.1 On 28 February 2012, from 10:00 a.m., a closing meeting (the “Closing Meeting”) was held at the offices of Gorrissen Federspiel, H. C. Andersens Boulevard 12, DK-1553 Copenhagen V, with the purpose to complete Malt LNG Holdings ApS’, CVR No. 33 97 07 49 (the “Buyer”) acquisition from A.P. Møller—aærsk A/S, CVR No. 22 75 62 14 (the “Seller”) of 100 % of the shares in Malt LNG Transport ApS (formerly known as “Maersk LNG A/S”), CVR No. 32 66 33 46 (the “Company”), as contemplated by the Share Purchase Agreement dated 12 October 2011 between the Seller and Teekay LNG Operating LLC (“Teekay”) / Marubeni Corporation (“Marubeni”) as the buyers (with a right to novate their rights and obligations under the SPA to a Danish private limited company) (the “SPA”).

 

  1.2 This memorandum (the “Closing Memorandum”) evidences the transactions that took place at the Closing Meeting to effect completion of the transactions contemplated by the SPA (“Closing”), all of which shall be deemed to have taken place simultaneously and be mutually conditioned in any and all respects.

 

  1.3 Capitalised words not defined in this Closing Memorandum shall, unless the context requires otherwise, have the meaning set out in the SPA.

 

  2 Parties and participants

The following participated in the closing meeting:

The Seller represented by:

Jakob Bergendorff, Head of M&A, Group Legal, A.P. Møller—Mærsk A/S

Claus H. Thomsen, Director, Malt LNG Transport A/S

Goh Kee, director and secretary of Malt Singapore Pte. Ltd. (by telephone)

The Buyer represented by:

Henrik Rossing Lønberg, Plesner

The Company represented by:

Lars B. Heineke, Director of Finance, A.P. Møller—Maersk A/S, Mærsk FPSOs / Maersk LNG

Matthew Baker, Senior Legal Counsel, A.P Møller—Maersk A/S, Mærsk FPSOs

The Seller’s advisers:

Klaus Søgaard, Gorrissen Federspiel

Michael Wejp-Olsen, Gorrissen Federspiel

Michael Brichmann, Gorrissen Federspiel

The Buyer’s advisers:

Henrik Rossing Lønberg, Plesner

 

Gorrissen Federspiel


LOGO

 

Side 3

Mads Dambaek, Plesner

Jacob Lund-Andersen, Plesner

Louise Dalsgaard Hilligsøe, Plesner

Nigel Thomas, Watson, Farley & Williams (by telephone)

Patrick Smith, Watson, Farley & Williams (by telephone)

Delphine Joly, Watson, Farley & Williams (by telephone)

Legal advisers to the banks providing the transaction financing to the Buyer:

David Metzger, Stephenson Harwood

Brian Jørgensen, Kromann Reumert

Anders Pilgaard Andersen, Kromann Reumert

 

  3 Development since signing of the SPA; Further Documentation and Authorisation

 

  3.1 A copy of the original and initialized SPA including Schedules was presented together with the Side Letter to the SPA dated 25 January 2012 regarding provision of transitional services and reduction of the Purchase Price and the Side Letter to the SPA dated 25 January 2012 regarding handling of potential claims against the Company under the Pre-emption SPAs (as defined in clause 3.3 of this Closing Memorandum), and the Parties acknowledged the SPA and the side letters to the SPA as originals.

 

  3.2 On 31 January 2012, the Seller, the Company, SG Transportation Investment I Limited and Qatar Shipping Limited Partnership (France) SARL had entered into and completed a Share Purchase Agreement regarding (i) the sale of the Company’s shares in K/S Membrane 1 in accordance with the pre-emption rights of SG Transportation Investment I Limited and Qatar Shipping Limited Partnership (France) SARL under the Limited Partnership Agreement regarding K/S Membrane 1 and (ii) the sale of the Company’s shares in LNG l A/S to Qatar Shipping Limited Partnership (France) SARL (the “Membrane 1 SPA”).

 

  3.3 On 31 January 2012, the Seller, the Company, SG Transportation Investment II Limited and Qatar Shipping Limited Partnership (France) SARL had entered into and completed a Share Purchase Agreement regarding (i) the sale of the Company’s shares in K/S Membrane 2 in accordance with the pre-emption rights of SG Transportation Investment II Limited and Qatar Shipping Limited Partnership (France) SARL under the Limited Partnership Agreement regarding K/S Membrane 2 and (ii) the sale of the Company’s shares in LNG 2 A/S to Qatar Shipping Limited Partnership (France) SARL (the “Membrane 2 SPA”, jointly with the Membrane 1 SPA the “Pre-emption SPAs”).

 

  3.4 On 13 February 2012, the Seller, Teekay, Marubeni and the Buyer had entered into a Novation Agreement relating to the SPA (the “Novation Agreement”) whereby the SPA had been novated by Teekay and Marubeni as original parties to the SPA to the Buyer. The Parties agreed that the Novation Agreement replaced the notification and acknowledgement procedure set out in Clauses 24.2—24.3 of the SPA.

 

Gorrissen Federspiel


LOGO

 

Side 4

 

  3.5 Between Signing and Closing, Schedules 1.1(c) (Interim Accounts) and 7.1(g) (Minutes of general meetings and articles of association regarding the Danish Subsidiaries) had been finalised and agreed by all Parties. The Schedules were presented and the Parties acknowledged them as constituting Schedules 1.1(c) and 7.1(g) attached to the SPA. It had further been agreed not to prepare Schedule 3.2 (Closing funds flow), cf. Clause 25.2 of the SPA.

 

  3.6 Between Signing and Closing, certain changes had in agreement between the Parties been made to Schedules 3.8, 8.2(g)(a) and 8.2(i)(a). The amended and updated Schedules were presented and the Parties acknowledged them as replacements for the original Schedules 3.8, 8.2(g)(a) and 8.2(i)(a) attached to the SPA, cf. Clause 25.2 of the SPA.

 

  3.7 On 27 February the Seller and Teekay LNG Partners L.P. had entered into an Indemnification Agreement in connection with the Seller (i) consenting to Teekay making a tax election to change the tax classification for US federal tax purposes of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “US Tax Election”) with effect one (1) day prior to the Closing Date, and (ii) procuring that an authorised person from the Seller and the Company co-signs the relevant US Tax Election forms. The US Tax Election form for each Group Company co-signed on behalf of the Seller was provided to the Buyer and the Buyer acknowledged that the US Tax Election forms were executed on behalf of the Seller and the Company in accordance with the Parties’ understanding and represented that the final US Tax Election forms would be filed with the US federal tax authorities as soon as reasonably possible after Closing.

 

  3.8 Further, both Parties reviewed the documentation presented pursuant to Clause 8.2(b) of the SPA (cf. clause 7.1.1 of this Closing Memorandum) and Clause 8.3(a) of the SPA (cf. clause 7.2.1 of this Closing Memorandum) and acknowledged that the representatives of the other Party at the Closing Meeting were duly empowered to sign, execute and deliver all documents to be delivered at Closing, including this Closing Memorandum.

 

  4 Satisfaction or Waiver of Conditions Precedent to Closing

 

  4.1 Conditions precedent to the Buyer’s obligations to consummate the transactions contemplated by the SPA, cf. Clause 7.1 of the SPA (see also clause 4.3 of this Closing Memorandum where certain of the Buyer’s conditions precedent as set out in Clause 7.1 of the SPA are listed):

 

  4.1.1 The Seller confirmed that as of the Closing Date, each of (i) the Warranties made by the Seller in Clauses 10.2 (Shares), 10.3 (Capacity of the Seller), 10.4 (Subsidiaries and Limited Partnerships) and 10.5 (Constitution) of the SPA is true and correct in all respects and (ii) the other warranties made by the Seller in Clause 10 of the SPA were true an correct in all respects, except in circumstances where such failure to be true and correct does not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect (cf. Clause 7.1(b) of the SPA).

 

  4.1.2 The Seller confirmed that the Seller had, in all material respects, performed and complied with all of the covenants and agreements required by the SPA to be performed by the Seller prior to or at Closing, including the deliveries pursuant to Clause 8.2 of the SPA, which would be released to the Buyer upon and subject to completion of the Closing (cf. Clause 7.1(c) of the SPA).

 

Gorrissen Federspiel


LOGO

 

Side 5

 

  4.1.3 As documentation that no later than two days prior to Closing the Company, Meridian Spirit ApS (formerly known as “Maersk Meridian LNG A/S”) (“Meridian Spirit”) and Magellan Spirit ApS (formerly known as “Maersk Magellan LNG A/S”) (“Magellan Spirit”) (i) had been converted to Danish private limited companies and (ii) had changed their names and addresses (cf. Clause 7.1(g) of the SPA), the Seller provided for each of the companies:

 

  i. Articles of association dated 24 February 2012

 

  ii. Minutes of extraordinary general meeting of 24 February 2012

 

  iii. Complete transcripts from the Danish Business Authority dated 28 February 2012

 

  4.1.4 The Seller provided (i) a calculation of the estimated intergroup debts and receivables as of the Closing Date between the Seller’s Group and the Group based on the format set out in Schedule 3.6(d) of the SPA showing an estimated intergroup debt from the Group to the Seller’s Group of USD 1,154,411,000, an estimated aggregate intergroup receivable payable by the Seller’s Group to the Group of USD 87,312,000 and a net estimated intergroup debt-equal to the Intergroup Account-of USD 1,067,099,000 and (ii) a transcript from the Sellers treasury system showing intergroup debt from the Group as of 28 February 2012 to the Seller’s Group of USD 1,148,382,744, intergroup receivables payable by the Seller’s Group to the Group of USD 75,716,892 and net intergroup debt of USD 1,072,665,852. On the basis of the aforementioned documentation, the Seller represented and confirmed that the Intergroup Account as of the Closing Date was of an amount of not less than USD 1,025,000,000.

 

  4.2 Conditions precedent to the Seller’s obligations to consummate the transactions contemplated by the SPA, cf. Clause 7.2 of the SPA (see also clause 4.3 of this Closing Memorandum where certain of the Seller’s conditions precedent as set out in Clause 7.2 of the SPA are listed):

 

  4.2.1 The Buyer confirmed that the Buyer, in all material respects, had performed and complied with all of the covenants and agreements required by the SPA to be performed by the Buyer prior to or at Closing, including the deliveries pursuant to Clause 8.3 of the SPA, which would be released to the Seller upon and subject to completion of the Closing (cf. Clause 7.2(b) of the SPA).

 

  4.2.2 The Seller provided copy of the following consents and approvals in respect of agreements and other arrangements which the Seller was required to obtain and deliver as part of the Closing deliverables, cf. Clause 8.2 of the SPA (cf. Clause 7.2(e) of the SPA).

 

  i. MAERSK MERIDIAN:

 

Gorrissen Federspiel


LOGO

 

Side 6

 

  l. Charter Consent and Amendment Deed dated 9 December 2011 regarding MAERSK MERIDIAN between Maersk Meridian LNG A/S, Total E&P Norge AS, Teekay LNG Operating LLC and Malt LNG Holdings ApS;

 

  2. Shipping Side Letter dated 9 December 2011 regarding MAERSK MERIDIAN between Teekay Shipping Ltd., Maersk Meridian LNG A/S, Total E&P Norge AS, Teekay LNG Operating LLC and Maersk LNG A/S; and

 

  3. LNG Carrier Time Charterparty, including appendices, regarding MAERSK MERIDIAN dated 9 December 2011 between Maersk Meridian LNG A/S and Total E&P Norge AS.

 

  ii. MAERSK MAGELLAN:

 

  l. Charter Consent and Amendment Deed dated 17 January 2012 regarding MAERSK MAGELLAN between Maersk Magellan LNG A/S and Qatar Gas Transport Company Limited (Nakilat) (Q.S.C.).

 

  iii. MAERSK METHANE:

 

  1. Charter Consent and Amendment Deed dated 1 February 2012 regarding MAERSK METHANE between Maersk LNG Singapore Pte. Ltd. and Repsol Comercializadora De Gas S.A.

 

  iv. WOODSIDE DONALDSON:

 

  1. Charter Consent and Amendment Deed dated 7 February 2012 regarding WOODSIDE DONALDSON between Maersk LNG Singapore Pte. Ltd., Pluto LNG Pty. Ltd. and A.P. Moller - Mærsk A/S.

 

  v. MAERSK ARWA:

 

  1. Deed of Consent and Addendum to Charterparty dated 9 February 2012 regarding MAERSK ARWA between Yemen LNG Company Ltd., Membrane Shipping Limited, Teekay LNG Partners L.P., Teekay Shipping Limited, Marubeni Corporation, A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S and Maersk LNG A/S; and

 

  2. Letter dated 17 February 2012 from Yemen LNG Company Ltd. to Membrane Shipping Limited, Teekay LNG Partners L.P., Teekay Shipping Limited, Marubeni Corporation, A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S and Maersk LNG A/S regarding A.P. Møller- Maersk proposed divestment of Maersk LNG and the Deed of Consent entered into between Yemen LNG and the addressees dated 9 February 2012.

 

Gorrissen Federspiel


LOGO

 

Side 7

 

  vi. MAERSK MARIB:

 

  1. Deed of Consent and Addendum to Charterparty dated 9 February 2012 regarding MAERSK MARIB between Yemen LNG Company Ltd., Membrane Shipping Limited, Teekay LNG Partners L.P., Teekay Shipping Limited, Marubeni Corporation, A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S and Maersk LNG A/S; and

 

  2. Letter dated 17 February 2012 from Yemen LNG Company Ltd. to Membrane Shipping Limited, Teekay LNG Partners L.P., Teekay Shipping Limited, Marubeni Corporation, A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S and Maersk LNG A/S regarding A.P. Moller- Maersk proposed divestment of Maersk LNG and the Deed of Consent entered into between Yemen LNG and the addressees dated 9 February 2012.

 

       The Seller waived the requirement of any further consents and approvals.

 

  4.3 Conditions precedent to the Parties’ respective obligations to consummate the transactions contemplated by the SPA, cf. Clauses 7.1 and 7.2 of the SPA:

 

  4.3.1 The European Commission had approved the transaction from a competition law perspective as set out in decision letter dated 12 December 2011, a copy of which was provided by the Buyer (cf. Clauses 7.1(a) and 7.2(a) of the SPA).

 

  4.3.2 Neither the Seller nor the Buyer was aware of any suits or other proceedings pending before any court or governmental agency seeking to prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the SPA (cf. Clauses 7.1(d) and 7.2(c) of the SPA).

 

  4.3.3 Neither the Seller nor the Buyer was aware of any Law making it illegal for the Seller or the Buyer, respectively and as applicable, to consummate the transactions contemplated by the SPA, or any order, decree or judgment preventing the Seller or the Buyer, respectively and as applicable, from consummating the transactions contemplated by the SPA (cf. Clauses 7.1(e) and 7.2(d) of the SPA).

 

  4.3.4 The Seller provided copies of the following documents in connection with SG Transportation Investment I Limited, SG Transportation Investment II Limited and Qatar Shipping Limited Partnership (France) SARL’s exercise of their pre-emption rights regarding the Limited Partnership Shares and Qatar Shipping Limited Partnership (France) SARL’s acquisition of the shares in LNG 1 A/S and LNG 2 A/S:

 

  i. The Membrane 1 SPA, including all schedules duly executed by the parties thereto.

 

  ii. The completion memorandum documenting completion of the Membrane 1 SPA duly executed by the parties to the Membrane 1 SPA.

 

Gorrissen Federspiel


LOGO

 

Side 8

 

  iii. The Membrane 2 SPA, including all schedules duly executed by the parties thereto.

 

  iv. The completion memorandum documenting completion of the Membrane 2 SPA duly executed by the parties to the Membrane 2 SPA.

The Buyer acknowledged that the pre-emption rights of the Other Limited Partners had thereby been duly exhausted.

 

  4.4 On the basis of the aforementioned in clauses 4.1—4.3, The Seller and the Buyer, respectively, concluded that their respective conditions precedent were satisfied (subject to the Closing being completed).

 

  5 Calculation and settlement of the final purchase price under the Pre-emption SPAs

 

  5.1 Pursuant to the Pre-emption SPAs, APMM and the Company shall within 30 business days from 31 January 2012 submit a draft final completion purchase price calculation (the “Purchase Price Determination”) to the respective buyers under each Pre-emption SPA (the “Pre-emption Buyers”) setting out the calculation of the final purchase price. The Pre-emption Buyers then have 30 days (from the date of submission of the Purchase Price Determination) to provide any objections to the Purchase Price Determination.

 

  5.2 It follows from clause 5.1 of this Closing Memorandum that the determination of the final purchase price under the Pre-emption SPAs (or any of the Pre-emption SPAs) and thereby the adjustment amount payable by the Company to the Pre-emption Buyers or by the Pre-emption buyers to the Company, as applicable, may not be final when the Final Closing Purchase Price Calculation under the SPA must be submitted to the Buyer, cf. Clause 3.7.1 of the SPA (hereinafter an “Event of Overlap”), in which case the provisions in clauses 5.4—5.5 of this Closing Memorandum shall apply in order for the Final Closing Purchase Price Calculation and the finalisation of the Final Closing Purchase Price under the SPA not to be delayed or upheld.

 

  5.3 In the Event of Overlap any payments under clauses 5.4—5.5 of this Closing Memorandum shall be disregarded in the Final Closing Purchase Price Calculation under the SPA. However, for the avoidance of doubt, if an Event of Overlap does not materialise because the purchase price under the Pre-emption SPAs is finally determined before the Final Closing Purchase Price Calculation is submitted to the Buyer, any adjustment of the purchase price under the Pre-emption SPAs will be included in the Final Closing Purchase Price Calculation and the provisions in clauses 5.4—5.5 of this Closing Memorandum will not apply. Notwithstanding the aforementioned in this clause 5.3, if the purchase price under the Pre-emption SPAs is finally determined after the Final Closing Purchase Price Calculation has been submitted to the Buyer but before the Purchase Price is finally agreed, the Parties may in agreement decide to include the determined final purchase price under the Pre-emption SPAs in their determination of the final Purchase Price in which case the provisions in clauses 5.4—5.5 of this Closing Memorandum will not apply.

 

Gorrissen Federspiel


LOGO

 

Side 9

 

  5.4 In the Event of Overlap and if an adjustment of the purchase price payable under the Pre-emption SPAs is in favour of the Pre-emption Buyers, the Seller shall duly reimburse the Company or the Buyer, as applicable, for any payment actually made by the Company to the Pre-emption Buyers.

 

  5.5 In the Event of Overlap and if an adjustment of the purchase price payable under the Pre-emption SPAs is in favour of the Company, the Buyer shall, or shall procure, that any amount received by the Company as adjustment of the purchase price shall be duly transferred to the Seller.

 

  6 Pre-closing deliverables and actions

 

  6.1 The Buyer acknowledged that the Seller had provided all the pre-Closing deliverables required by the SPA in due time, including the bank account details for the Sellers bank, the calculations of the Estimated Net Debt and the Estimated Working Capital Difference, cf. Clause 3.4 of the SPA and the monthly management accounts, cf. clause 5.1(c) of the SPA (copies of which were presented and tabled by the Seller).

 

  6.2 Further, the Buyer acknowledged (i) that the Seller had acted in accordance with Clause 5.6 in its dealings with the Pre-emption Buyers in connection with the negotiation of the Pre-emption SPAs, and (ii) that the Seller had granted representatives of Teekay and Marubeni such access to the Vessels as is necessary to allow Teekay and Marubeni to conduct and complete the Vessel inspections in accordance with Clause 5.7 of the SPA.

 

  7 Closing deliverables

 

  7.1 The Seller presented the following documentation to the Buyer:

 

  7.1.1 A power of attorney dated 6 February 2012 from the Seller to Claus H. Thomsen and Jakob Bergendorff in connection with the Closing, including, inter alia, for the execution of this Closing Memorandum, and a power of attorney from the Company to each of Klaus Kristensen, Matthew Baker and Lars B. Heineke, in connection with the Closing, including, inter alia, for the signing the shareholders’ register of the Company, cf. clause 7.1.3 of this Closing Memorandum.

 

  7.1.2 The shareholders’ register of the Company duly signed on behalf of the Company updated to duly reflect the transfer of the Shares to the Buyer and the pledge of the Shares in favour of DnB Bank ASA.

 

  7.1.3 The shareholders’ register of each of Meridian Spirit and Magellan Spirit documenting the Company’s ownership of the share capital in each company.

 

  7.1.4 The Register of Members and the sole share certificate (share certificate no. 3) of Membrane Shipping Limited documenting the Company’s ownership of the share capital in Membrane Shipping Limited.

 

Gorrissen Federspiel


LOGO

 

Side 10

 

  7.1.5 The shareholders’ register and the share certificates (share certificates nos 1 and 2) documenting the Company’s ownership of the share capital in Malt Singapore Pte. Ltd. The shareholders’ register was presented in Singapore.

 

  7.1.6 A written statement duly executed on behalf of the Seller confirming that as per the Closing Date (i) all intra group debts and receivables, including without limitation any accrued interest on such debts, between each of the Group Companies on the one side and the Seller’s Group on the other side, but excluding (a) the Intergroup Accounts (as finally determined in connection with the determination of the Final Net Debt and the final Purchase Price) and (b) trade debt and receivables incurred in the ordinary course of business, have been settled or waived, as applicable, (ii) all cash pools related to the Group have been terminated for the Group Companies, and (iii) all outstanding debt against the Owned Vessels has been repaid or otherwise settled and any and all mortgages relating to such debt and recorded in the relevant ship register for each Owned Vessel have been fully and irrevocably released by the repaid lender.

 

  7.1.7 In connection with the statement on intergroup debts and agreements, cf. clause 7.1.6 of this Closing Memorandum, the Seller provided documentation for the settlement of the loan in the principal amount of USD 276,951,666.66 provided by Danish Ship Finance A/S to Maersk LNG Singapore Pte. Ltd. and documentation from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore for the release of mortgages in respect of MAERSK METHANE and WOODSIDE DONALDSON.

 

  7.1.8 Documentary evidence of the termination of the lease arrangements and the related swap arrangements pertaining to each of MAERSK MARIB and MAERSK ARWA (the Leased Vessels) whereby the ownership of all of the rights in and to the Leased Vessels will be entirely within the Group in the form of

 

   i. Termination request letter dated 17 February 2012 from A.P. Møller—Mærsk A/S and Membrane Shipping Limited to SNC Blandine and Société Générale regarding MAERSK MARIB, including acknowledgement signed by SNC Blandine and Société Générale.

 

   ii. Termination Agreement in respect of MAERSK MARIB dated 21 February 2012 between Membrane Shipping Limited, SNC Blandine, A.P. Møller—Mærsk A/S, Société Anonyme de Credit á l’Industrie Francaise—Calif, Air Bail and Société Générale.

 

  iii. A Certificate of Ownership and Encumbrance from the Marshall Islands registry dated 23 February 2012 documenting unrestricted transfer of title to MAERSK MARIB to Membrane Shipping Limited.

 

  iv. Termination request letter dated 17 February 2012 from A.P. Møller—Mærsk A/S and Membrane Shipping Limited to SNC Dan and Société Générale regarding MAERSK ARWA, including acknowledgement signed by SNC Dan and Société Générale.

 

Gorrissen Federspiel


LOGO

 

Side 11

 

  v. Termination Agreement in respect of MAERSK ARWA dated 21 February 2012 between Membrane Shipping Limited, SNC Dan, A.P. Møller - Maersk A/S, Société Anonyme de Credit à l’Industrie Francaise-Calif, Air Bail and Société Générale.

 

  i. A Certificate of Ownership and Encumbrance from the Marshall Islands registry dated 23 February 2012 documenting unrestricted transfer of title to MAERSK ARWA to Membrane Shipping Limited.

 

  vii. Bill of Sale regarding MAERSK ARWA.

 

  viii. Bill of Sale regarding MAERSK MARIB.

 

  ix. Termination Confirmation of the Transaction referenced EXO-1425499 / 4920980 dated 23 February 2012 from Société Générale to Blandine Pu- teaux.

 

  x. Termination Confirmation of the Transaction referenced EXO-1459501 / 4918968 dated 22 February 2012 from Société Générale to Dan Puteaux.

 

  7.1.9 Reference was made to clause 4.2.2 of this Closing Memorandum for customer consents, etc. to be delivered by the Seller.

 

  7.1.10 Letters from the directors and company secretaries, to the extent applicable, of each Group Company, in each case confirming that they resign their office as of Closing and that they have no claims against any Group Company for the period prior to the Closing Date, as follows:

 

  7.1.10.1 The Company:

 

       Board of directors:

 

   

Claus V. Hemmingsen

 

   

Marianne Sørensen Henriksen

 

   

Trond Ø. Westlie

Management:

 

   

Stig Hoffmeyer

 

  7.1.10.2 Meridian Spirit:

 

       Board of directors:

 

Gorrissen Federspiel


LOGO

 

Side 12

 

   

Stig Hoffmeyer

 

   

Marianne Sørensen Henriksen

 

   

Samir Abboud

Management:

 

   

Claus H. Thomsen

7.1.10.3   Magellan Spirit:

Board of directors:

 

   

Stig Hoffmeyer

 

   

Marianne Sørensen Henriksen

 

   

Samir Abboud

Management:

 

   

Glaus H. Thomsen

7.1.10.4   Malt Singapore Pte. Ltd. (formerly known as “Maersk LNG Singapore Pte. Ltd”).

Management:

 

   

Stig Hoffmeyer

 

   

Thomas Riber Knudsen

 

   

Goh Kee

Secretary:

 

   

Goh Kee

7.1.10.5   Membrane Shipping Limited;

Management:

 

   

Stig Hoffmeyer

 

   

Morten Nicolaisen

 

Gorrissen Federspiel


LOGO

 

Side 13

 

   

Bent Poulsen

President:

 

   

Bent Poulsen

Company secretary:

 

   

Morten Nicolaisen

Treasurer:

 

   

Morten Nicolaisen

 

  7.1.11 Reference was made to clause 4.3.4 of this Closing Memorandum for documentation of the Pre–emption Buyers, as applicable, having acquired and/or taken over (i) the Company’s Limited Partnership Shares, (ii) the Maersk Membrane Shareholder Loans and (iii) the Ancillary Obligations.

 

  7.1.12 The Transitional Services Agreement duly executed on behalf of the Seller and the Company.

 

  7.1.13 The corporate records pertaining to the Group kept by the Seller’s Group or the Group, consisting of:

 

  i. For each of the Company, Meridian Spirit and Magellan Spirit:

 

       -     the books of minutes of the meeting of the board of directors;

 

       -     the books of minutes of the general meeting;

 

       -     the balance book (in Danish: “statusbog”); and

 

       -     the auditors’ long form reports (in Danish: “revisionsprotokol”).

 

  ii. For Malt Singapore Pte. Ltd. (formerly known as “Maersk LNG Singapore Pte. Ltd”):

 

       -     Dated board resolution effecting the change of directors and company secretary;

 

       -     Certificate Confirming Incorporation of Company under the New Name;

 

       -     Minutes book;

 

Gorrissen Federspiel


LOGO

 

Side 14

 

       -     Statutory registers;

 

       -     Certificate of Incorporation;

 

       -     Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association;

 

       -     Annual reports, comprising the statutory audited accounts with auditors report therein; and

 

       -     Secretarial filing/correspondence;

 

       such records to be delivered by Goh Kee, director and secretary of Malt Singapore Pte. Ltd.

 

  iii. For Membrane Shipping Limited:

 

       -     the books of minutes of the meeting of the board of directors;

 

       -     the books of minutes of the general meeting;

 

       -     the balance book (in Danish: “statusbog”); and

 

       -     the auditors’ long form reports (in Danish: “revisionsprotokol”).

It was noted that the Seller had not produced the balance book for the Danish companies and for Membrane Shipping Limited as such documentation did not exist. The Buyer waived this requirement.

The Seller informed the Buyer that the annual report for 2011 for the Company had not been filed with the Danish Business Authority due to the pending Closing and confirmed that the Seller on behalf of the Company would file the annual report for 2011 following the Closing and the announcement of the Closing of the SPA.

 

  7.1.14 In respect of each of the vessels MAERSK MAGELLAN, MAERSK MERIDIAN, MAERSK METHANE AND WOODSIDE DONALDSON (the Owned Vessels) and of the vessels MAERSK MARIB and MAERSK ARWA (the Leased Vessels):

 

  i. A clean transcript from the relevant ship registry dated on 27 February 2012

 

  ii. A certificate of confirmation of class without condition or recommendation dated 27 February 2012

 

  iii. A letter of confirmation of no grounding from the master dated 27 February 2012

 

Gorrissen Federspiel


LOGO

 

Side 15

 

  iv. A letter of confirmation from the Seller that to the best of Seller’s Knowledge no blacklisting has occurred in respect of any major port.

 

  7.1.15 The Deed of Indemnity between the Seller and Teekay LNG Partners L.P. regarding the Seller’s counter indemnification in respect of an off hire commitment accepted by Teekay LNG Partners L.P. towards Yemen LNG Company Ltd. in respect of MAERSK ARWA and MAERSK MARIB duly executed on behalf of the Seller.

 

  7.1.16 Deeds of Indemnity relative to the maintenance of the Seller’s guarantee in respect of the charters for each of the vessels MAERSK MARIB, MAERSK ARWA, and WOODSIDE DONALDSON duly executed on behalf of the Seller.

 

  7.2 The Buyer presented the following documents:

 

  7.2.1 Minutes of meeting of the management of the Buyer held on 6 February 2012 at which it was decided, inter alia, (i) to novate the SPA with the Buyer as buyer under the SPA and (ii) to issue a Power of Attorney (attached to the Minutes of Meeting) to authorise Mr Henrik Rossing Lønberg to complete the transaction in accordance with the SPA, including executing this Closing Memorandum.

 

  7.2.2 Documentation in the form of two declarations dated 28 February 2012 to A.P. Møller - Maersk A/S from Teekay and Marubeni, respectively, according to which Teekay and Marubeni represent that the Buyer, following Closing, will have financing available for any adjustment to the Initial Purchase Price made in accordance with clause 3.8 of the SPA.

 

  7.2.3 Decision letter with competition law approval from the European Commission dated 12 December 2011; see also clause 4.3(a) of this Closing Memorandum.

 

  7.2.4 Deeds of Indemnity relative to the maintenance of the Seller’s guarantee in respect of the charters for each of the vessels MAERSK MARIB, MAERSK ARWA, and WOODSIDE DONALDSON duly executed on behalf of Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

 

  7.2.5 The Deed of Indemnity between the Seller and Teekay LNG Partners L.P. regarding the Sellers counter indemnification in respect of an off hire commitment accepted by Teekay LNG Partners L.P. towards Yemen LNG Company Ltd. in respect of MAERSK ARWA and MAERSK MARIB duly executed on behalf of Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

 

  7.2.6 The Transitional Services Agreement duly executed on behalf of the Buyer and Teekay Shipping Limited.

 

  7.3 The Parties agreed that the documents presented, other than the Buyer’s payment of the Initial Purchase Price and the repayment of the Intergroup Accounts, constituted the Closing deliveries for the Seller and the Buyer, respectively, pursuant to the SPA and the Seller and the Buyer decided on the basis of the documentation presented to proceed with Closing of the transactions contemplated by the SPA.

 

 

Gorrissen Federspiel


LOGO

 

Side 16

 

  8 Change of Management of the Company and the Danish Subsidiaries

 

  8.1 An extraordinary general meeting was held in the Company, Meridian Spirit and Magellan Spirit where the new management of each company was elected to replace the resigning board members and the resigning manager for each company and new articles of association for each company were resolved.

 

  8.1.1 Following the extraordinary general meetings, the new articles of association for each company dated 28 February 2012 and the minutes of each extraordinary general meeting were duly executed and filed with the Danish Business Authority.

 

  8.1.2 Complete transcripts from the Danish Business Authority dated 28 February 2012 evidencing the due registration of the resolutions passed as set out in clause 8.1 of this Closing Memorandum were presented by the Buyer.

 

  9 Negative pledge

 

  9.1 The Buyer presented a duly executed registration power of attorney dated 28 February 2012 issued by the Company in favour of Plesner (the “Registration PoA”). Plesner electronically filed the negative pledge regarding the Company in the Danish chattel registry following which the Buyer presented a print showing that the Danish chattel registry had received the filing of the negative pledge and confirmed that Plesner will be instructed to send the Registration PoA to the Danish chattel registry following Closing.

 

  10 Completion of the transactions

 

  10.1 Clause 8.3(c) of the SPA provides that the Buyer shall present documentary evidence that an amount equal to the Intergroup Accounts with value date from the Closing Date has been transferred by the Company and/or by a Subsidiary, as applicable, as set out in Clause 3.2 of the SPA. As evidence the Buyer presented:

 

  10.1.1 a copy of (i) the intercompany loan agreement (the “Intercompany Loan Agreement”) dated 28 February 2012 by and between the Buyer (as lender) and the Company (as borrower), and (ii) a USD 4,003,800 promissory note between the Buyer (as lender) and the Company (as borrower) (the “Promissory Note”), such Intercompany Loan Agreement and Promissory Note duly executed by authorized representatives of the Buyer and the Company;

 

  10.1.2 a letter dated 28 February 2012 from the Buyer to the Company confirming (i) that the Buyer with value date as of the Closing Date has made available to the Company an amount of USD 1,067,099,000 equal to the estimated Intergroup Accounts and (ii) the Company’s receipt of such amount with value date as of the Closing Date, such letter of payment duly executed by authorized representatives of the Buyer and the Company;

 

  10.1.3 a letter dated 28 February 2012 from the Buyer and the Company to the Seller confirming (i) that the Company has repaid the estimated Intergroup Accounts to the Seller with value date as of the Closing Date, (ii) that the repayment has been authorised by the board of management of the Company, and (iii) that the Seller has received an amount equal to the estimated Intergroup Accounts with value date as of the Closing Date; such letter of payment duly executed by authorized representatives of the Buyer, the Company and the Seller.

 

Gorrissen Federspiel


LOGO

 

Side 17

 

  10.2 In connection with the documentation for payment of the estimated Intergroup Accounts, the Parties confirmed their mutual understanding that (i) the Intergroup Accounts compraise the estimated net amount owed by the Group to the Seller’s Group at Closing and as such is included as a separate line item in the calculation of the Net Debt (the line “Intergroup Accounts”), (ii) the amount of USD 1,067,099,000 is the Seller’s estimate of such net amount owed by the Group to the Seller’s Group at Closing, which net amount will be finally determined after Closing in connection with the Parties’ determination of the Final Net Debt, Final Working Capital and the final Purchase Price, and (iii) if the final determination of the Intergroup Accounts per Closing will turn out to:

 

  i. Exceed USD 1,067,099,000 such excess amount shall not result in any additional payments from the Company to the Seller, but shall be included in the calculation of the Final Net Debt and the final Purchase Price (and as a result, the Buyer shall in such situation have a receivable against the Company for this amount).

 

  ii. Be less than USD 1,067,099,000, such shortfall amount shall be repaid by the Seller to the Company (it being acknowledged by the Parties that such repayment will result in a lower Intergroup Accounts and thereby, assuming all other factors being equal, in an increase of the Purchase Price (equity value)).

 

  10.3 To simplify the wire transfers to be made as part of the completion of the SPA, the Buyer proposed, and the Seller agreed, that the Buyer’s (i) payment of the Initial Purchase Price, cf. Clauses 3.2(a) and 8.3(b) of the SPA and (ii) procurement that the Company repay the estimated Intergroup Accounts, cf. Clauses 3.2(b) and 8.3(c) of the SPA, could be made as one lump sum (the aggregate of the Initial Purchase Price and the estimated Intergroup Accounts) payment to the Seller. The Parties agreed that the lump sum payment did not change or otherwise void the funds flow contemplated by the SPA and as documented in clause 10.1 of this Closing Memorandum.

 

  10.4 The Buyer hereafter instructed DnB Bank ASA to effect a same day transfer of the Initial Purchase Price (USD 261,770,000) and an amount equal to the Intergroup Account (USD 1,067,099,000), in total USD 1,328,869,000, to the Seller’s account with Citibank, N.A. New York, account no. 30625992, ABA 021000089, SWIFT code CITIUS33 for final credit to DDA/30625992, AP Moller Maersk Treasury Accounts.

 

  10.5 The Seller confirmed that the Initial Purchase Price and the amount equal to the Intergroup Accounts had been duly received in accordance with the instructions in clause 10.3 of this Closing Memorandum.

 

  10.6 The Parties agreed that all conditions and requirements for Closing of the transactions contemplated by the SPA had been fulfilled and released and exchanged the documents and deliveries set out above, including the deliverables that were handed over at 200 Cantonment Road, #10-00 Southpoint, Singapore 089763, Singapore (all to be deemed exchanged at the same time and inter-conditional in all respects).

 

Gorrissen Federspiel


LOGO

 

Side 18

 

  11 Execution of Closing Memorandum

 

  11.1 The Parties confirmed by their signatures on this Closing Memorandum that the conditions and requirements set out in the SPA had been fulfilled, and the delivery and the receipt of all documents required at Closing had taken place.

 

  11.2 It was concluded that there were no other outstanding conditions or issues to be dealt with.

 

  12 Governing law and Arbitration

 

  12.1 Clause 28 of the SPA shall apply (mutatis mutandis) to this Closing Memorandum.

The Meeting was adjourned.

 

For and on behalf of A.P. Møller–Maersk A/S:
  /s/ JAKOB BERGENDORFF
  Name: JAKOB BERGENDORFF, By POA
  Title:   Head of MØA
  /s/ Claus Thomsen
  Name: Claus Thomsen
  Title:   Director

 

For and on behalf of Malt LNG Holdings ApS:
  /s/ HENRIK ROSSING LØNBERG
  Name: HENRIK ROSSING LØNBERG
  Title:   By POA

 

Gorrissen Federspiel

Exhibit 8.1

LIST OF SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES

The following is a list of Teekay LNG Partners L.P.’s significant subsidiaries as at December 31, 2011:

 

Name of Significant Subsidiary

   Ownership    

State or Jurisdiction of Incorporation

Teekay LNG Operating L.L.C.

     100   Marshall Islands

Teekay Luxembourg S.a.r.l.

     100   Luxembourg

Teekay Spain S.L.

     100   Spain

Teekay II Iberia S.L.

     100   Spain

Teekay Shipping Spain S.L.

     100   Spain

Teekay LNG Holdings L.P.

     99   United States

Teekay Nakilat Holdings Corporation

     100   Marshall Islands

Teekay Nakilat Corporation

     70   Marshall Islands

Teekay Nakilat (III) Holdings Corporation

     100   Marshall Islands

EXHIBIT 12.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Peter Evensen, certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 20-F of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. (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 and the Registrant’s other certifying officer (which is also myself) are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13(a)-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13(a)-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our 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) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our 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 Registrant’s most recent fiscal year that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

  5. I and the Registrant’s other certifying officer (which is also myself) have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the board of directors of the Registrant’s General Partner (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.

 

Dated: April 11, 2012     By:  

/s/ Peter Evensen

    Peter Evensen
    President and Chief Executive Officer

EXHIBIT 12.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Peter Evensen, certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 20-F of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. (“ 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 and the Registrant’s other certifying officer (which is also myself) are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13(a)-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13(a)-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our 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) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our 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 Registrant’s most recent fiscal year that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

  5. I and the Registrant’s other certifying officer (which is also myself) have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the board of directors of the Registrant’s General Partner (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.

 

Dated: April 11, 2012     By:  

/s/ Peter Evensen

    Peter Evensen
    President and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT 13.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. (the “Partnership” ) on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2011 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Form 20-F” ), I, Peter Evensen, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Partnership, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

(1) The Form 20-F fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and

 

(2) The information contained in the Form 20-F fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership.

Dated: April 11, 2012

 

By:  

/s/ Peter Evensen

Peter Evensen
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT 15.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements of Teekay LNG Partners L.P.:

 

  (1) No. 333-124647 on Form S-8 pertaining to the Teekay LNG Partners L.P. 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan,

 

  (2) No. 333-174220 on Form F-3 and related prospectus for the registration of up to $750,000,00 of common units representing limited partnership units, and

 

  (3) No. 333-170838 on Form F-3 and related prospectus for the registration of 1,052,749 common units representing limited partnership units;

of our reports dated April 11, 2012 with respect to the consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, which reports appear in the December 31, 2011 Annual Report on Form 20-F of Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

 

Vancouver, Canada     /s/ KPMG LLP
April 11, 2012     Chartered Accountants

EXHIBIT 15.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements:

 

(1) Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-124647) pertaining to the Teekay LNG Partners L.P. 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan,

 

(2) Registration Statement (Form F-3ASR No. 333-170838) and related prospectus of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. for the registration of 1,052,749 common units, and

 

(3) Registration Statement (Form F-3ASR No. 333-174220) and related prospectus and prospectus supplement of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. for the registration of up to $750,000,000 in total aggregate offering price of an indeterminate number of common units;

of our reports dated April 1, 2011, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2010 and the consolidated financial statements of Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2010, included in this Annual Report (Form 20-F) of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Vancouver, Canada     /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
April 11, 2012     Chartered Accountants

EXHIBIT 15.3

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF TEEKAY NAKILAT (III) CORPORATION


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors of

TEEKAY NAKILAT (III) CORPORATION

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation (or the Company ) as of December 31, 2010 and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2010. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements 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 Company’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 Company’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 financial position of Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation at December 31, 2010 and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2010 in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

      /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Vancouver, Canada       Chartered Accountants
April 1, 2011      

 

2


Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

Years ended December 31

 

     (unaudited)              
     2011
$
    2010
$
    2009
$
 

Voyage revenues (note 3)

     100,539        98,314        99,593   

Operating expenses

      

Voyage (recoveries) expenses

     (103     49        136   

Vessel operating expenses (notes 4d and 4e)

     17,667        16,358        16,411   

Depreciation

     49        17        —     

General and administrative

     59        242        304   

Corporate service fees (note 4b)

     310        311        287   

Ship management fees (note 4c)

     1,567        1,544        1,504   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     19,549        18,521        18,642   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

     80,990        79,793        80,951   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other items

      

Interest expense

     (25,090     (27,211     (31,968

Interest income

     312        257        251   

Realized and unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments (note 7)

     (28,173     (35,173     10,692   

Foreign exchange loss

     (2     —          (8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other items

     (52,953     (62,127     (21,033
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     28,037        17,666        59,918   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

As at December 31

 

     (unaudited)         
     2011      2010  
     $      $  
               

ASSETS

     

Current assets

     

Cash

     35,291         49,245   

Restricted cash (note 6)

     4,346         4,426   

Accounts receivable

     3,584         586   

Prepaid expenses and advances

     1,258         852   

Due from affiliates (note 4g)

     45         30   

Current portion of net investments in direct financing leases (note 3)

     12,872         11,970   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current assets

     57,396         67,109   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-term assets

     

Vessel equipment

     1,858         1,097   

Net investments in direct financing leases (note 3)

     1,008,443         1,022,539   

Deferred debt issuance costs

     7,077         8,140   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-term assets

     1,017,378         1,031,776   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

     1,074,774         1,098,885   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     

Current liabilities

     

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (includes $1,233 and $1,201 for 2011 and 2010, respectively, owing to affiliates) (notes 4e and 7)

     10,144         11,141   

Due to affiliates (note 4g)

     1,999         1,933   

Current portion of long-term debt (note 6)

     36,631         36,631   

Current portion of derivative instruments (note 7)

     13,546         14,306   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     62,320         64,011   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-term liabilities

     

Long-term debt (note 6)

     743,595         774,202   

Derivative instruments (note 7)

     52,645         42,895   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-term liabilities

     796,240         817,097   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     858,560         881,108   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

     

Share capital (note 5)

     1         1   

Contributed capital

     200,329         200,329   

Retained earnings

     15,884         17,447   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

     216,214         217,777   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

     1,074,774         1,098,885   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

4


Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

Years ended December 31

 

     (unaudited)
2011
$
    2010
$
    2009
$
 

Cash provided by (used for):

      

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

      

Net income

     28,037        17,666        59,918   

Non-cash items:

      

Depreciation

     49        17        —     

Amortization of deferred debt issuance cost included in interest expense

     1,063        1,102        1,241   

Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments (note 7)

     8,990        16,134        (27,341

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

      

Prepaid expenses and advances

     (406     1,366        (298

Due from and to affiliates

     51        (6,812     (1,059

Accounts receivable

     (2,998     147        (610

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (997     (675     3,795   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net operating cash flow

     33,789        28,945        35,646   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

      

Decrease in restricted cash

     80        91        (4,517

Proceeds from long-term debt

     6,024        7,572        9,031   

Repayments of long-term debt

     (36,630     (36,630     (36,630

Advances from QGTC Nakilat (1653-6) Holdings Corporation

     —          —          3,480   

Advances from Teekay Nakilat (III) Holdings Corporation

     —          —          2,321   

Repayment to QGTC Nakilat (1653-6) Holdings Corporation

     —          (1,825     —     

Repayment to Teekay Nakilat (III) Holdings Corporation

     —          (1,111     —     

Payment of cash dividends

     (29,600     —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net financing cash flow

     (60,126     (31,903     (26,315
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

      

Receipts from direct financing leases

     13,194        12,359        11,422   

Expenditures for vessels and equipment

     (811     (921     (517
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investing cash flow

     12,383        11,438        10,905   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Decrease)/Increase in cash

     (13,954     8,480        20,236   

Cash, beginning of year

     49,245        40,765        20,529   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash, end of year

     35,291        49,245        40,765   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

      

Cash paid for interest on long-term debt including realized loss on interest rate swaps

     43,347        45,282        43,200   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

5


Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

Year ended December 31

 

     Number
of
Common
Shares
     Common
Shares
$
     Contributed
Capital
$
     Retained
Earnings
(Accumulated

Deficit)
$
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity
$
 

Balance, December 31, 2008

     500         1         200,329         (60,137     140,193   

Net income and comprehensive income

     —           —           —           59,918        59,918   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2009

     500         1         200,329         (219     200,111   

Net income and comprehensive income

     —           —           —           17,666        17,666   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2010

     500         1         200,329         17,447        217,777   

(unaudited)

             

Net income and comprehensive income

     —           —           —           28,037        28,037   

Dividends paid during the year

     —           —           —           (29,600     (29,600
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2011

     500         1         200,329         15,884        216,214   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

6


Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

December 31, 2011 (unaudited with the exception of comparative figures)

 

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of presentation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (or US GAAP ). In addition, note 8 provides a reconciliation of the consolidated financial statements between US GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (or IFRS ). They include the accounts of Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation (or Nakilat ), which is incorporated under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and its wholly owned or controlled subsidiaries (collectively, the Company ).

The following is a list of Nakilat’s subsidiaries:

 

Name of Significant Subsidiaries

  

Jurisdiction of

Incorporation

  

Proportion of

Ownership

Interest

Al Huwaila Inc.

   Marshall Islands    100%

Al Kharsaah Inc.

   Marshall Islands    100%

Al Shamal Inc.

   Marshall Islands    100%

Al Khuwair Inc.

   Marshall Islands    100%

Significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The Company evaluated events and transactions occurring after the balance sheet date and through the day the financial statements were available to be issued which was March 20, 2012.

Foreign currency

The consolidated financial statements are stated in U.S. dollars and the functional currency of the Company is U.S. dollars. Transactions involving other currencies during the year are converted into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates in effect at the time of the transactions. At the balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollars are translated to reflect the year end exchange rates. Resulting gains and losses are reflected separately in the consolidated statements of income.

 

7


Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

December 31, 2011 (unaudited with the exception of comparative figures)

 

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2011, the Company adopted an amendment to Financial Accounting Standards Board (or FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (or ASC) 605, Revenue Recognition, that provides for a new methodology for establishing the fair value for a deliverable in a multiple-element arrangement. When vendor specific objective or third-party evidence for deliverables in a multiple-element arrangement cannot be determined, the Company will be required to develop a best estimate of the selling price of separate deliverables and to allocate the arrangement consideration using the relative selling price method. The adoption of this amendment did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In May 2011, FASB issued ASU 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs (“ASU 2011-04”) that amends Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, of the FASB Codification. ASU 2011-04 modifies the fair value measurement requirements and updates the wording to converge with IFRS. ASU 2011-04 is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this ASU will not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

In June 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”) that amends Topic 220, Comprehensive Income, of the FASB Codification. ASU 2011-05 is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after December 15, 2011. ASU 2011-05 clarifies the options of separate or combined presentation of profits and losses and other comprehensive income, describes items grouping, profit tax presentation and other matters. The amendments in this ASU do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. The adoption of this ASU will not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

Operating revenues and expenses

All of the Company’s voyage revenues in 2011, 2010 and 2009 were generated from a single customer. The lease element of the Company’s time-charter contracts are accounted for as direct financing leases. The lease element of time-charter contracts that are accounted for as direct financing leases are reflected on the balance sheets as net investments in direct financing leases. The lease revenue is recognized on an effective interest rate method over the lease term and is included in voyage revenues. The Company recognizes revenues from the non-lease element of time-charter contracts daily as the services are performed. The Partnership does not recognize revenues during days that the vessel is off-hire.

Voyage expenses are all expenses unique to a particular voyage, including bunker fuel expenses, port fees, cargo loading and unloading expenses, canal tolls, agency fees and commissions. Vessel operating expenses include crewing, repairs and maintenance, insurance, stores, lube oils and communication expenses. Voyage expenses and vessel operating expenses are recognized when incurred.

 

8


Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

December 31, 2011 (unaudited with the exception of comparative figures)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

The Company classifies all highly-liquid investments with a maturity date of three months or less when purchased as cash and cash equivalents.

Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience and customer economic data. The Company reviews the allowance for doubtful accounts regularly and past due balances are reviewed for collectability. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Company believes that the receivable will not be recovered.

Direct financing leases

The Company employs four vessels on long-term time charters which are accounted for as direct financing leases, with lease payments received by the Company being allocated between the net investment in the lease and voyage revenues using the effective interest method so as to produce a constant periodic rate of return over the lease term.

The Company monitors the credit quality of its financing receivables on a quarterly basis by reviewing the payment activity.

Vessel equipment

Vessel equipment includes the cost of capital modification equipments which are depreciated on straight-line basis over the estimated 35 year life of the related vessels. Depreciation of vessel equipment for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $49 thousand, $17 thousand and nil, respectively.

Debt issuance costs

Deferred debt issuance costs, including fees, commissions and legal expenses, are deferred and amortized using the effective interest rate method over the term of the loan. Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 of $1.1 million, $1.1 million and $1.2 million, respectively, is included in interest expense.

Derivative instruments

All derivative instruments are initially recorded at cost as either assets or liabilities and 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 derivative contract is designed to hedge a specific risk and also qualifies for hedge accounting. The Company currently does not apply hedge accounting to its derivative instruments.

For derivative financial instruments that are not designated or that do not qualify as hedges under FASB ASC 815, the changes in the fair value of the derivative financial instruments are recognized in earnings. Gains and losses from the Company’s non-designated interest rate swaps related to long-term debt are recorded in realized and unrealized gain on derivative instruments in the consolidated statements of income.

 

9


Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

December 31, 2011 (unaudited with the exception of comparative figures)

 

The fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments is the estimated amount that the Company would receive or pay to terminate the agreements at the reporting date, taking into account current interest rates and the current credit worthiness of the swap counter parties. The estimated amount is the present value of future cash flows. Given the current volatility in the credit markets, it is reasonably possible that the amount recorded as derivative assets and liabilities could vary by a material amount in the near-term.

The Company transacts all of its derivative instruments through investment-grade-rated financial institutions at the time of the transaction and requires no collateral from these institutions. See note 7 for fair value disclosures of derivative instruments.

Comprehensive income

During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 the Company’s comprehensive income and net income were the same.

 

2. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument:

Cash and restricted cash – The fair value of the Company’s cash and restricted cash approximates its carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets.

Long-term debt – The fair values of the Company’s fixed-rate and variable-rate long-term debt are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, based on rates currently available for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities.

Due to and from affiliates and shareholders – The fair value of the Company’s due to and from affiliates and shareholders approximates their carrying amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets due to their current nature.

Derivative instruments – The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swaps is the estimated amount that the Company would receive or pay to terminate the agreements at the reporting date, taking into account current interest rates and the current credit worthiness of both the Company and the swap counterparties.

The Company categorizes the fair value estimates 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.

 

10


Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

December 31, 2011 (unaudited with the exception of comparative figures)

 

The estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments and categorization using the fair value hierarchy for those financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as at December 31 is as follows:

 

            (unaudited)        
            2011     2010  
     Fair Value
Hierarchy
Level (1)
     Carrying
Amount
Asset
(Liability)

$
    Fair
Value
Asset
(Liability)

$
    Carrying
Amount
Asset
(Liability)

$
    Fair
Value
Asset
(Liability)

$
 

Cash and restricted cash

        39,637        39,637        53,671        53,671   

Long-term debt (note 6 )

        (780,226     (712,225     (810,833     (733,353

Due to and from affiliates

        (1,954     (1,954     (1,903     (1,903

Derivative instruments ( note 7 ) (2)

     Level 2         (70,748     (70,748     (61,814     (61,814
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) The fair value hierarchy level is only applicable to each financial instrument on the consolidated balance sheets that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.
(2) The Company’s interest rate swap agreements as at December 31, 2011 and 2010 include $4.6 million and $4.6 million, respectively, of accrued interest which is recorded in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

No non-financial assets or non-financial liabilities were carried at fair value at December 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

3. NET INVESTMENTS IN DIRECT FINANCING LEASES

The Company’s four time-charters are accounted for as direct financing leases. The following lists the components of the net investments in direct financing leases as at December 31:

 

     (unaudited)
2011

$
    2010
$
 

Total minimum lease payments to be received

     1,950,637        2,041,247   

Estimated unguaranteed residual value of leased properties

     344,479        344,479   

Less: unearned income

     (1,273,801     (1,351,217
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investments in direct financing leases

     1,021,315        1,034,509   

Less: current portion

     (12,872     (11,970
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     1,008,443        1,022,539   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The lease revenue recognized in voyage revenues for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $78.7 million, $79.5 million and $80.4 million, respectively.

As at December 31, 2011, minimum lease payments expected to be received by the Company in each of the next five succeeding fiscal years is an average of $90.6 million per year for 2012 through 2016. The leases are scheduled to end in 2033.

 

11


Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

December 31, 2011 (unaudited with the exception of comparative figures)

 

4. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

a. Teekay Nakilat (III) Holdings Corporation (40%) and QGTC Nakilat 1643-6 Holding Corporation (60%) are the shareholders of the Company. Teekay LNG Partners L.P. is the ultimate parent company of Teekay Nakilat (III) Holdings Corporation. Teekay Corporation is the parent company of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. Teekay Shipping Ltd. and Teekay Chartering Ltd. are subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation. Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd. (Nakilat) is the parent company of QGTC Nakilat 1643-6 Holding Corporation.

 

b. From January 1, 2011 corporate services responsibilities to the Company were transferred from Teekay Shipping Ltd. to Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat). During the year, an amount of of $0.3 million (2010—$0.3 million, 2009—$0.3 million) was charged as corporate services fee. The corporate services are measured at the exchange amount between parties.

 

c. During the year, ship management services were provided to the Company by Teekay Shipping Ltd. of $1.6 million (2010—$1.5 million, 2009—$1.5 million). The ship management services are measured at the exchange amount between parties.

 

d. During the year, crew training services were provided to the Company by Teekay Shipping Ltd. of $0.6 million (2010 – Teekay Corporation: $1.0 million, 2009 – Teekay Corporation: $0.4 million). The crew training services are measured at the exchange amount between the parties and are included in vessel operating expenses

 

e. During the year, crewing and manning services were provided to the Company by Teekay Shipping Ltd. of $9.3 million (2010 – Teekay Corporation: $8.5 million, 2009 – Teekay Corporation: $9.2 million) of which $1.2 million is payable as at December 31, 2011 (2010: $1.2 million) and is included as part of accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the consolidated balances sheets. The crewing and manning services are measured at the exchange amount between the parties and are included as part of vessel operating expenses in the consolidated statements of income.

 

f. From time to time, other payments are made by affiliates on behalf of the Company that are not specific to any agreements described above.

 

g. As at December 31, 2011, the net amounts due to affiliates totaled $2.0 million (2010—$1.9 million). These amounts are in the normal course of operations, unsecured, non-interest bearing and have no fixed repayment terms. The Company expects these amounts will be repaid within 2012.

 

12


Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

December 31, 2011 (unaudited with the exception of comparative figures)

 

$00,0000 $00,0000
     (unaudited)         
Balances as at December 31 with affiliates are as follows:    2011      2010  
     $      $  

Due from affiliates

     

Due from Teekay Nakilat (II) Limited

     44         30   

Due from other affiliates

     1         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     45         30   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Due to affiliates

     

Due to Teekay Corporation

     —           1,444   

Due to Teekay Shipping Ltd.

     1,921         300   

Due to Teekay Chartering Ltd.

     —           86   

Due to Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd. (Nakilat)

     78         —     

Due to other affiliates

     —           103   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     1,999         1,933   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

5. SHARE CAPITAL

 

$00,000 $00,000
     (unaudited)         
     2011      2010  
     $      $  

Authorized

     

500 Common shares, with a par value of $1 each

     

Issued and outstanding

     

500 Common shares

     1         1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

6. LONG-TERM DEBT

 

$00,0000 $00,0000
     (unaudited)        
     2011     2010  
     $     $  

U.S. dollar denominated term loan due through 2020

     780,226        810,833   

Less: current portion

     (36,631     (36,631
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     743,595        774,202   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

As at December 31, 2011 the Company has a U.S. Dollar-denominated term loan outstanding which totaled $780.2 million (2010—$810.8 million), of which $313.6 million bears interest at a fixed rate of 5.36% and requires quarterly payments and the remaining $466.6 million bears interest based on LIBOR plus a margin. There will be bullet repayments of approximately $110 million for each of four vessels due at maturity in 2020. An additional tranche of approximately $35 million for all four vessels will be advanced under the loan facility in quarterly installments until 2014 and will then be repaid in quarterly payments until maturity in 2020. On a monthly basis, the Company funds one third of the quarterly interest and principal payments relating to each vessel tranche into a restricted cash account, of which the cumulative amounts

 

13


Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

December 31, 2011 (unaudited with the exception of comparative figures)

 

adjusted for interest earned during the quarter will be remitted to the lender on the payment due date. The term loan is collateralized by first-priority mortgages on the vessels, together with certain other related security and certain undertakings from the Company.

The weighted average effective interest rate on the Company’s long-term debt as at December 31, 2011 and 2010 was 2.94% and 2.99%, respectively. This rate does not reflect the effect of the Company’s interest rate swaps (see note 7).

The aggregate annual long-term debt principal repayments required to be made for the five fiscal years subsequent to December 31, 2011 are $36.6 million (2012), $36.6 million (2013), $36.6 million (2014), $37.8 million (2015), $39.8 million (2016) and $592.8 million (thereafter).

 

7. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

The Company uses derivative instruments in accordance with its overall risk management policy. The Company has not designated these derivative instruments as hedges for accounting purposes.

The Company enters into interest rate swaps, which exchange a receipt of floating interest for a payment of fixed interest, to reduce the Company’s exposure to interest rate variability on its outstanding floating-rate debt.

As at December 31, 2011, the Company was committed to the following interest rate swap agreements:

 

     Interest
Rate
Index
     Principal
Amount
$
     Fair Value  /
Carrying
Amount of
Liability (1)
$
    Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Term
(Years)
     Fixed
Interest
Rate
% (2)
 

LIBOR-Based Debt:

             

U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps

     LIBOR         400,000         (70,748     4.1         5.04   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Fair value includes $4.6 million of accrued interest, which is recorded in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
(2) Excludes the margin the Company pays on its variable-rate debt (see note 6).

The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the counterparties to the interest rate swap agreements. In order to minimize counterparty risk, the Company only enters into derivative transactions with counterparties that are rated A- or better by Standard & Poor’s or A3 by Moody’s at the time of the transactions. In addition, to the extent practical, interest rate swaps are entered into with different counterparties to reduce concentration risk.

 

14


Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

December 31, 2011 (unaudited with the exception of comparative figures)

 

The following table presents the location, type of contract and fair value amounts of derivative instruments on the Company’s balance sheets.

 

     As at December 31,  
     (unaudited)        
     2011     2010  
     Accrued
Liabilities
    Current
Portion of
Derivative
Liabilities
    Derivative
Liabilities
    Accrued
Liabilities
    Current
Portion of
Derivative
Liabilities
    Derivative
Liabilities
 

Interest rate swap agreements

     (4,557     (13,546     (52,645     (4,613     (14,306     (42,895
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table presents the gains (losses) for those derivative instruments not designated or qualifying as hedging instruments. All gains (losses) are presented as realized and unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments in the Company’s consolidated statements of income.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     (unaudited)              
     2011     2010     2009  
     Realized
Gains
(losses)
    Unrealized
gains
(losses)
    Total     Realized
gains
(losses)
    Unrealized
gains
(losses)
    Total     Realized
gains
(losses)
    Unrealized
gains
(losses)
     Total  

Interest rate swap agreements

     (19,183     (8,990     (28,173     (19,039     (16,134     (35,173     (16,649     27,341         10,692   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

15