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, 2014

OR

 

¨

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

¨

SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of event requiring this shell company report                     

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

Telephone: (441) 298-2530

(Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)

Edith Robinson

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.

78,353,354 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

     4   

Item 2.

 

Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

     4   

Item 3.

 

Key Information

     4   
 

Selected Financial Data

     4   
 

Risk Factors

     9   

Item 4.

 

Information on the Partnership

     24   
 

A. Overview, History and Development

     24   
 

B. Operations

     24   
 

Our Charters

     24   
 

Liquefied Gas Segment

     25   
 

Conventional Tanker Segment

     29   
 

Business Strategies

     29   
 

Safety, Management of Ship Operations and Administration

     30   
 

Risk of Loss, Insurance and Risk Management

     31   
 

Flag, Classification, Audits and Inspections

     31   
 

C. Regulations

     32   
 

D. Properties

     35   
 

E. Organizational Structure

     35   

Item 4A.

 

Unresolved Staff Comments

     35   

Item 5.

 

Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

     36   
 

General

     36   
 

Significant Developments in 2014 and Early 2015

     36   
 

Important Financial and Operational Terms and Concepts

     37   
 

Results of Operations

     38   
 

Year Ended December 31, 2014 versus Year Ended December 31, 2013

     39   
 

Year Ended December 31, 2013 versus Year Ended December 31, 2012

     43   
 

Liquidity and Cash Needs

     48   
 

Credit Facilities

     49   
 

Contractual Obligations and Contingencies

     51   
 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

     52   
 

Critical Accounting Estimates

     52   

Item 6.

 

Directors, Senior Management and Employees

     54   
 

Management of Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

     54   
 

Directors and Executive Officers

     55   
 

Annual Executive Compensation

     56   
 

Compensation of Directors

     56   
 

2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan

     57   
 

Board Practices

     57   
 

Crewing and Staff

     58   
 

Unit Ownership

     58   

Item 7.

 

Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions

     58   
 

Major Unitholders

     58   

 

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Related Party Transactions

  59   

Item 8.

Financial Information

  60   

A. Consolidated Financial Statements and Other Financial Information

  60   

Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes

  60   

Legal Proceedings

  60   

Cash Distribution Policy

  60   

B. Significant Changes

  61   

Item 9.

The Offer and Listing

  61   

Item 10.

Additional Information

  62   

Memorandum and Articles of Association

  62   

Material Contracts

  62   

Exchange Controls and Other Limitations Affecting Unitholders

  64   

Taxation

  64   

Marshall Islands Tax Consequences

  64   

United States Tax Consequences

  64   

Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations

  73   

Other Taxation

  74   

Documents on Display

  74   

Item 11.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

  74   

Item 12.

Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities

  76   

PART II.

Item 13.

Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

  76   

Item 14.

Material Modifications to the Rights of Unitholders and Use of Proceeds

  76   

Item 15.

Controls and Procedures

  76   

Item 16A.

Audit Committee Financial Expert

  76   

Item 16B.

Code of Ethics

  77   

Item 16C.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

  77   

Item 16D.

Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

  77   

Item 16E.

Purchases of Units by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

  77   

Item 16F.

Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

  77   

Item 16G.

Corporate Governance

  77   

Item 16H.

Mine Safety Disclosure

  77   

PART III.

Item 17.

Financial Statements

  78   

Item 18.

Financial Statements

  78   

Item 19.

Exhibits

  78   

Signature

  81   

 

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PART I

This annual report of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2014 (or 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 our vessels;

 

   

our expectation regarding our vessels’ ability to perform to specifications and maintain their hire rates;

 

   

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

 

   

expected purchases and deliveries of newbuilding vessels and commencement of service of newbuildings under charter contracts and our ability to obtain charter contracts on our unfixed newbuildings, including with respect to the nine LNG newbuildings ordered from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. (or DSME ), four LNG newbuildings ordered within our joint venture with China LNG, CETS Investment Management (HK) Co. Ltd. and BW LNG Investments Pte. Ltd. (or the BG Joint Venture ), six LNG newbuildings relating to our joint venture with China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited (or the Yamal LNG Joint Venture ), and eight LPG newbuildings within Exmar LPG BVBA;

 

   

the expected technical and operational capabilities of newbuildings, including the benefits of the M-type, Electronically Controlled, Gas Injection (or MEGI ) twin engines in certain LNG carrier newbuildings;

 

   

our expectation that we will not record a gain or loss on future sales of vessels under capital lease;

 

   

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

 

   

our financial condition and liquidity, including our ability to borrow funds under our credit facilities, to refinance our existing facilities and to obtain additional financing in the future to fund capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate activities;

 

   

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 recent 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;

 

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the expected timing, amount and method of financing for the purchase of two of our leased Suezmax tankers, the nine LNG carrier newbuildings ordered from DMSE, the six LNG carrier newbuildings for the Yamal LNG Joint Venture, the four LNG carrier newbuildings for the BG Joint Venture, and eight LPG carrier newbuildings ordered within Exmar LPG BVBA;

 

   

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 impact of new environmental regulations, including Regulation (EU) No 1257/2013;

 

   

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;

 

   

the future valuation of goodwill;

 

   

our expectations as to any impairment of our vessels;

 

   

our involvement in any EU anti-trust investigation of container line operators;

 

   

our expectations regarding whether the UK taxing authority can successfully challenge the tax benefits available under certain of our former and current leasing arrangements, and the potential financial exposure to us if such a challenge is successful;

 

   

our and Teekay Corporation’s ability to maintain good relationships with the labor unions who work with us;

 

   

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 2010 through 2014, 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, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

 

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From time to time we purchase vessels from Teekay Corporation. In 2010, we acquired three conventional tankers from Teekay Corporation. This transaction was deemed to be a business acquisition between entities under common control. Accordingly, we have accounted for this transaction 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 the acquired vessels had begun operations. As a result, our consolidated statements of income for the year ended December 31, 2010 reflect the results of operations of these three 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 was between May 2009 and September 2009. Please refer to “Item 5 – Operating and Financial Review and Prospects: Results of Operations – Items You 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 ).

 

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(in thousands of U.S. Dollars, except per unit and fleet data)    Year Ended
December 31,

2010
$
    Year Ended
December 31,

2011
$
    Year Ended
December 31,

2012
$
    Year Ended
December 31,

2013
$
    Year Ended
December 31,

2014
$
 

Income Statement Data:

          

Voyage revenues

     374,502       380,469       392,900       399,276       402,928  

Total operating expenses (1)(2)

     (195,542     (206,966     (245,109     (222,920     (219,105
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

  178,960     173,503     147,791     176,356     183,823  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity income (3)

  8,043     20,584     78,866     123,282     115,478  

Interest expense

  (49,019   (49,880   (54,211   (55,703   (60,414

Interest income

  7,190     6,687     3,502     2,972     3,052  

Realized and unrealized loss on derivative

instruments (4)

  (78,720   (63,030   (29,620   (14,000   (44,682

Foreign currency exchange gain (loss) (5)

  27,545     10,310     (8,244   (15,832   28,401  

Other income (expense)

  615     (37   1,683     1,396     836  

Income tax expense

  (1,670   (781   (625   (5,156   (7,567
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

  92,944     97,356     139,142     213,315     218,927  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-controlling and other interest in net income

  14,216     18,982     36,740     37,438     44,676  

Limited partners’ interest in net income

  78,728     78,374     102,402     175,877     174,251  

Limited partners’ interest in net income per:

Common unit (basic and diluted)

  1.46     1.33     1.54     2.48     2.30  

Cash distributions declared per unit

  2.3700     2.5200     2.6550     2.7000     2.7672  

Balance Sheet Data (at end of period):

Cash and cash equivalents

  81,055     93,627     113,577     139,481     159,639  

Restricted cash (6)

  572,138     495,634     528,589     497,298     45,997  

Vessels and equipment (7)

  2,019,576     2,021,125     1,949,640     1,922,662     1,989,230  

Investment in and advances to equity accounted

joint ventures

  172,898     191,448     409,735     671,789     891,478  

Net investments in direct financing leases (8)

  415,695     409,541     403,386     699,695     682,495  

Total assets (6)

  3,547,395     3,588,734     3,785,446     4,219,594     3,964,418  

Total debt and capital lease obligations (6)

  2,137,249     1,962,278     2,050,927     2,375,836     1,987,674  

Partners’ equity

  896,200     1,113,467     1,212,980     1,390,790     1,537,752  

Total equity

  913,323     1,139,709     1,254,274     1,443,784     1,547,371  

Common units outstanding

  55,106,100     64,857,900     69,683,763     74,196,294     78,353,354  

Other Financial Data:

Net voyage revenues (9)

  372,460     379,082     391,128     396,419     399,607  

EBITDA (10)

  226,284     233,743     290,950     369,086     377,983  

Adjusted EBITDA (10)

  297,508     320,929     413,033     461,018     468,954  

Capital expenditures:

Expenditures for vessels and equipment

  26,652     64,685     39,894     470,213     194,255  

Liquefied Gas Fleet Data:

Consolidated:

Calendar-ship-days (11)

  5,051     5,126     5,856     5,981     6,619  

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

  5.3     5.8     6.6     6.7     7.9  

Vessels at end of period (13)

  13     16     16     18     19  

Equity Accounted: (12)

Calendar-ship-days (11)

  1,576     2,469     5,481     11,059     11,338  

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

  3.5     3.0     3.4     9.4     8.0  

Vessels at end of period (13)

  6     9     16     32     31  

Conventional Fleet Data:

Calendar-ship-days (11)

  4,015     4,015     4,026     3,994     3,202  

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

  6.1     6.9     7.9     8.5     8.5  

Vessels at end of period

  11     11     11     10     8  

 

(1)

Total operating expenses include voyage expenses, which 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)

Total operating expenses include vessel operating expenses, which include crewing, ship management services, repairs and maintenance, insurance, stores, lube oils and communication expenses.

 

(3)

Equity income includes unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments, and any ineffectiveness of derivative instruments designated as hedges for accounting purposes of ($6.5) million, ($5.8) million, $5.5 million, $25.9 million and $1.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.

 

(4)

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. We have not applied hedge accounting treatment to these derivative instruments except for one interest rate swap in one of our equity accounted joint ventures, and as a result, changes in the fair value of our derivatives are recognized immediately into income and are presented as realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments in the consolidated statements of income. Please see “Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 12 – Derivative Instruments.”

 

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(5)

Substantially all of these foreign currency exchange gains and losses were unrealized. 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. Starting in May 2012, foreign exchange gains and losses included realized and unrealized gains and losses on our cross-currency swaps. Our primary sources for the foreign currency exchange gains and losses are our Euro-denominated term loans and Norwegian Kroner-denominated (or NOK ) bonds. Euro-denominated term loans totaled 278.9 million Euros ($373.3 million) at December 31, 2010, 269.2 million Euros ($348.9 million) at December 31, 2011, 258.8 million Euros ($341.4 million) at December 31, 2012, 247.6 million Euros ($340.2 million) at December 31, 2013 and 235.6 million Euros ($285.0 million) at December 31, 2014. Our NOK-denominated bonds totaled 700.0 million NOK ($125.8 million) at December 31, 2012, 1.6 billion NOK ($263.5 million) at December 31, 2013 and 1.6 billion NOK ($214.7 million) at December 31, 2014.

 

(6)

On December 22, 2014, we terminated the leasing of three LNG carriers and acquired them as discussed in “Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 4 – Leases and Restricted Cash.” Prior to the acquisition of these three LNG carriers, we operated these LNG carriers under lease arrangements whereby we borrowed under term loans and deposited the proceeds into restricted cash accounts. Concurrently, we entered into capital leases for the vessels, and the vessels were recorded as assets on our consolidated balance sheets. The restricted cash deposits, plus the interest earned on the deposits, would fund the remaining amounts we owed under the capital lease arrangements. Therefore, the payments under these capital leases were fully funded through our restricted cash deposits, and the continuing obligation was the repayment of the term loans. However, under GAAP we recorded 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 had 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 and in 2013 with Awilco LNG ASA (or Awilco ) have been accounted for as direct financing leases. As a result, the two LNG vessels chartered to The Tangguh Production Sharing Contractors and the two LNG vessels chartered to Awilco 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,
    Year Ended
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
(in thousands of U.S. Dollars)    2010     2011     2012     2013     2014  

Voyage revenues

     374,502       380,469       392,900       399,276       402,928  

Voyage expenses

     (2,042     (1,387     (1,772     (2,857     (3,321
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net voyage revenues

  372,460     379,082     391,128     396,419     399,607  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(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, amortization of in-process revenue contracts and realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments relating to interest rate swaps and cross-currency 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 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 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.

 

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Neither EBITDA nor Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP measures, should be considered as an alternative to net income, 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 and income from vessel operations 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, and our historical consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to net operating cash flow.

 

(in thousands of U.S. Dollars)   Year Ended
December 31,
2010
    Year Ended
December 31,
2011
    Year Ended
December 31,
2012
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
    Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 

Reconciliation of “EBITDA” and “Adjusted EBITDA” to “Net income”:

         

Net income

    92,944       97,356       139,142       213,315       218,927  

Depreciation and amortization

    89,841       92,413       100,474       97,884       94,127  

Interest expense, net of interest income

    41,829       43,193       50,709       52,731       57,362  

Income tax expense

    1,670       781       625       5,156       7,567  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

  226,284     233,743     290,950     369,086     377,983  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Restructuring charge

  175     —       —       1,786     1,989  

Write down of vessels

  —       —       29,367     —       —    

Foreign currency exchange (gain) loss

  (27,545   (10,310   8,244     15,832     (28,401

Gain on sale of vessel

  (4,340   —       —       —       —    

Amortization of in-process revenue contracts included in

voyage revenues

  (494   (494   (649   (1,113   (1,113

Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments

  34,306     277     (6,900   (22,568   2,096  

Realized loss on interest rate swaps

  42,495     62,660     37,427     38,089     41,725  

Adjustments to Equity-Accounted EBITDA (14)

  26,627     35,053     54,594     59,906     74,675  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

  297,508     320,929     413,033     461,018     468,954  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

Net operating cash flow

  174,970     122,046     192,013     183,532     191,097  

Expenditures for dry docking

  12,727     19,638     7,493     27,203     13,471  

Interest expense, net of interest income

  41,829     43,193     50,709     52,731     57,362  

Income tax expense

  1,670     781     625     5,156     7,567  

Change in operating assets and liabilities

  (6,657   33,458     7,307     (10,078   (18,822

Equity income from joint ventures

  8,043     20,584     78,866     123,282     115,478  

Restructuring charge

  175     —       —       1,786     1,989  

Realized loss on interest rate swaps

  42,495     62,660     37,427     38,089     41,725  

Dividends received from equity accounted joint ventures

  —       (15,340   (14,700   (13,738   (11,005

Adjustments to Equity-Accounted EBITDA (14)

  26,627     35,053     54,594     59,906     74,675  

Other, net

  (4,371   (1,144   (1,301   (6,851   (4,583
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

  297,508     320,929     413,033     461,018     468,954  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(11)

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 three 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).

 

(12)

Equity accounted vessels include (i) six LNG carriers (or the MALT LNG Carriers ) relating to our joint venture with Marubeni Corporation from 2012 (or the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture ), (ii) four LNG carriers (or the RasGas 3 LNG Carriers ) relating to our joint venture with QGTC Nakilat (1643-6) Holdings Corporation from 2008, (iii) four LNG carriers relating to the Angola Project (or the Angola LNG Carriers ) in our joint venture with Mitsui & Co. Ltd. and NYK Energy Transport (Atlantic) Ltd. from 2011 and (iv) two LNG carriers (or the Exmar LNG Carriers ) from 2010 relating our LNG joint venture with Exmar NV and (v) 15 and 16 LPG carriers (or the Exmar LPG Carriers ) from 2014 and 2013, respectively, relating to our LPG joint venture with Exmar NV. The figures in the selected financial data for our equity accounted vessels are at 100% and not based on our ownership percentage.

 

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(13)

For 2014, the number of vessels indicated do not include eight LNG newbuilding carriers in our consolidated liquefied gas fleet and 19 LNG and LPG newbuilding carriers in our equity accounted liquefied gas fleet.

(14)

The following table details the adjustments to equity income:

 

(in thousands of U.S. Dollars)    Year Ended
December 31,
2010
    Year Ended
December 31,
2011
    Year Ended
December 31,
2012
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
    Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 

Reconciliation of “Adjusted Equity-Accounted EBITDA” to “Equity Income”:

          

Equity Income

     8,043       20,584       78,866       123,282       115,478  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

  833     5,501     25,589     45,664     45,885  

Interest expense, net of interest income

  11,431     14,368     26,622     35,110     36,916  

Income tax expense (recovery)

  325     (315   87     163     (155

Amortization of in-process revenue contracts

  (31   (341   (11,083   (14,173   (8,295

Foreign currency exchange loss (gain)

  —       133     (18   149     (441

Gain on sales of vessels

  —       —       —       —       (16,923

Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments

  6,453     5,830     (5,549   (26,432   (1,563

Realized loss on interest rate swaps

  7,616     9,877     18,946     19,425     19,251  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjustments to Equity-Accounted EBITDA

  26,627     35,053     54,594     59,906     74,675  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted Equity-Accounted EBITDA

  34,670     55,637     133,460     183,188     190,153  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

RISK FACTORS

Some of the following risks relate principally to the industry in which we operate and to our business in general. Other risks relate principally to the securities market and to ownership of our common units. The occurrence of any of the events described in this section could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results and ability to pay distributions on, and the trading price of, our common units.

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.

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 expiration of charter contracts;

 

   

the charterers options to terminate charter contracts or repurchase vessels;

 

   

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;

 

   

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

 

   

limitation of obtaining cash distributions from joint venture entities due to similar restrictions within the joint venture entities.

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;

 

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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 our 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 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. Please read “Item 5 – Operating and Financial Review and Prospects,” for additional information about these acquisitions. We currently have 19 LNG carrier newbuildings scheduled for delivery between 2016 and 2020, with options to order up to four additional vessels, and eight LPG carrier newbuildings scheduled for delivery between 2015 and 2018. We may also be obligated to purchase two of our leased Suezmax tankers upon the charterer’s option, which may occur at various times from 2016 through to 2018 and which have an aggregate purchase price of approximately $73.7 million at December 31, 2014.

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 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.

 

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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, 2014, our consolidated debt, capital lease obligations and advances from affiliates totaled $2.0 billion and we had the capacity to borrow an additional $135.6 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.

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 two 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;

 

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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, charter or vessel, or any adjustment to our charter contracts 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 3 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;

 

   

we decrease charter payments due under a charter because of the customer’s inability to continue making the original payments;

 

   

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);

 

   

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 time-charter, we may be unable to redeploy the related vessel on terms as favorable to us due to the long-term nature of most LNG time-charters and the lack of an established LNG spot market. If we are unable to redeploy 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 and certain of our joint venture partners to assist us in operating our business and competing in our markets.

Pursuant to certain services agreements between us and certain of our operating subsidiaries, on the one hand, and certain subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation and certain of our joint venture partners, on the other hand, the Teekay Corporation subsidiaries and certain of our joint venture partners provide to us administrative and business development 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 and certain of our joint venture partners’ satisfactory performance of these services. Our business will be harmed if Teekay Corporation or certain of our joint venture partners fails to perform these services satisfactorily or if Teekay Corporation or certain of our joint venture partners stops providing these services to us.

 

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Our ability to compete for the transportation requirements of LNG 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. Our ability to compete for the transportation requirement of LPG projects and to enter into new charters and expand our customer relationships depends largely on our ability to leverage our relationship with one of our joint venture partners and their reputation and relationships in the shipping industry. If Teekay Corporation or certain of our joint venture partners suffer 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.

Our operating subsidiaries may also contract with certain subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation and certain of our joint venture partners to have newbuildings constructed on behalf of our operating subsidiaries and to incur the construction-related financing. Our operating subsidiaries would purchase the vessels on or after delivery based on an agreed-upon price. None of our operating subsidiaries currently has this type of arrangement with Teekay Corporation or any of its affiliates or any joint venture partners.

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 and marine transportation of LNG and LPG, as well as the supply of LNG and LPG. Demand for LNG and LPG and for the marine transportation of LNG and LPG 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;

 

   

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 alternative energy sources; 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 vessels and services, which reduced vessel earnings. Additional slowdowns could have similar effects on our operating results.

A continuation of the recent significant declines in natural gas and oil prices may adversely affect our growth prospects and results of operations.

Global natural gas and crude oil prices have significantly declined since mid-2014. A continuation of lower natural gas or oil prices or a further decline in natural gas or oil prices may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition and our ability to make cash distributions, as a result of, among other things:

 

   

a reduction in exploration for or development of new natural gas reserves or projects, or the delay or cancelation of existing projects as energy companies lower their capital expenditures budgets, which may reduce our growth opportunities;

 

   

low oil prices negatively affecting both the competitiveness of natural gas as a fuel for power generation and the market price of natural gas, to the extent that natural gas prices are benchmarked to the price of crude oil;

 

   

lower demand for vessels of the types we own and operate, which may reduce available charter rates and revenue to us upon redeployment of our vessels following expiration or termination of existing contracts or upon the initial chartering of vessels;

 

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customers potentially seeking to renegotiate or terminate existing vessel contracts, or failing to extend or renew contracts upon expiration;

 

   

the inability or refusal of customers to make charter payments to us due to financial constraints or otherwise; or

 

   

declines in vessel values, which may result in losses to us upon vessel sales or impairment charges against our earnings.

Changes in the LPG markets could result in decreased demand for our LPG vessels operating in the spot market.

We have several LPG carriers either owned or chartered-in by the Exmar LPG Joint Venture that operate in the LPG spot market. The charters in the spot market operate for short durations and are priced on a current, or “spot,” market rate. Consequently, the LPG spot market is highly volatile and fluctuates based upon the many conditions and events that affect the price, production and transport of LPG, including competition from alternative energy sources and negative global or regional economic or political conditions. Any adverse changes in the LPG markets may impact our ability to enter into economically beneficial charters when our LPG carriers complete their existing short-term charters in the LPG spot market, which may reduce vessel earnings and impact 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

 

   

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.

 

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

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 or construction 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 be unable to secure charters for our LNG newbuildings before their scheduled deliveries.

Between July 2013 and February 2015, we entered into agreements with DSME for the construction of nine LNG newbuildings that are expected to deliver between 2016 and 2018 (with the option to order up to four additional vessels). However, we have not entered into time charter contracts for two of the LNG newbuildings. The process of obtaining new charters is highly competitive. Consequently, we may be unable to secure charters for these or other newbuildings we may order before their scheduled delivery, if at all, which could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition and our ability to make cash distributions.

We may be unable to recharter vessels at attractive rates, which may lead to reduced revenues and profitability.

Our ability to recharter our LNG and LPG carriers upon the expiration or termination of their current time charters and the charter rates payable under any renewal or replacement charters will depend upon, among other things, the then current states of the LNG and LPG carrier markets. The time charter for one of the MALT LNG Carriers expired in March 2015 and, due to extended off-hire, the charterer of another MALT LNG Carrier claims to have terminated the time charter for that vessel. If charter rates are low when existing time charters expire, we may be required to recharter our vessels at reduced rates or even possibly at a rate whereby we incur a loss, which would harm our results of operations. Alternatively, we may determine to leave such vessels off-charter. The size of the current orderbooks for LNG carriers and LPG carriers is expected to result in the increase in the size of the world LNG and LPG fleets over the next few years. An over-supply of vessel capacity, combined with stability or any decline in the demand for LNG or LPG carriers, may result in a reduction of charter hire rates.

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 2013, they accounted for approximately 27% 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;

 

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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.

If a charter terminates, we may be unable to redeploy 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.

Increased technological innovation in vessel design or equipment could reduce our charter hire rates and the value of our vessels.

The charter hire rates and the value and operational life of a vessel are determined by a number of factors, including the vessel’s efficiency, operational flexibility and physical life. Efficiency includes speed, fuel economy and the ability for LNG or LPG to be loaded and unloaded quickly. More efficient vessel designs, engines or other features may increase efficiency. Flexibility includes the ability to access LNG and LPG storage facilities, utilize related docking facilities and pass through canals and straits. Physical life is related to the original design and construction, maintenance and the impact of the stress of operations. If new LNG or LPG carriers are built that are more efficient or flexible or have longer physical lives than our vessels, competition from these more technologically advanced LNG or LPG carriers could reduce recharter rates available to our vessels and the resale value of the vessels. As a result, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be harmed.

We may be unable to perform as per specifications on our new engine designs.

We are investing in technology upgrades such as MEGI twin engines for certain LNG carrier newbuildings. These new engine designs may not perform to specifications which may result in performance issues or claims based on charter party agreements.

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.

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 significant off-hire time of our vessels could harm our business, operating results and financial condition. 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 regulatory organizations.

 

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

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 Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia. While there continue to be significant numbers of piracy incidents in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, recently there have been increases in the frequency and severity of piracy incidents off the coast of West Africa. 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 on-board security guards, could increase in such circumstances. We may not be adequately insured to cover losses from these incidents, which could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, hijacking as a result of an act of piracy against our vessels, or an increase in cost or unavailability of insurance for our vessels, could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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. Any disruption caused by these factors could harm our business, including by reducing the levels of oil and gas exploration, development and production activities in these areas. We derive some of our revenues from shipping oil, LNG and LPG from politically and economically unstable regions, such as Angola and Yemen. Hostilities, strikes, or other political or economic 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 in which we operate or to which we trade may 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.

The LNG carrier newbuildings for the Yamal LNG Project are customized vessels and our financial condition, results of operations and ability to make distributions on our common units could be substantially affected if the Yamal LNG Project is not completed.

The LNG carrier newbuildings ordered by the Yamal LNG Joint Venture will be specifically built for the Arctic requirements of the Yamal LNG Project and will have limited redeployment opportunities to operate as conventional trading LNG carriers if the project is abandoned or cancelled. If the project is abandoned or cancelled for any reason, either before or after commencement of operations, the Yamal LNG Joint Venture may be unable to reach an agreement with the shipyard allowing for the termination of the shipbuilding contracts (since no such optional termination right exists under these contracts), change the vessel specifications to reflect those applicable to more conventional LNG carriers and which do not incorporate ice-breaking capabilities, or find suitable alternative employment for the newbuilding vessels on a long-term basis with other LNG projects or otherwise.

 

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The Yamal LNG Project may be abandoned or not completed for various reasons, including, among others:

 

   

failure of the project to obtain debt financing;

 

   

failure to achieve expected operating results;

 

   

changes in demand for LNG;

 

   

adverse changes in Russian regulations or governmental policy relating to the project or the export of LNG;

 

   

technical challenges of completing and operating the complex project, particularly in extreme Arctic conditions;

 

   

labor disputes; and

 

   

environmental regulations or potential claims.

If the project is not completed or is abandoned, proceeds if any, received from limited Yamal LNG project sponsor guarantees and potential alternative employment, if any, of the vessels and from potential sales of components and scrapping of the vessels likely would fall substantially short of the cost of the vessels to the Yamal LNG Joint Venture. Any such shortfall could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and ability to make distributions on our common units.

Sanctions against key participants in the Yamal LNG Project could impede completion or performance of the Yamal LNG Project, which could have a material adverse effect on us.

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (or OFAC) recently placed Russia-based Novatek OAO (or Novatek), a 60% owner of the Yamal LNG Project, on the Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List. OFAC also previously imposed sanctions on an investor in Novatek, which sanctions remain in effect. The restrictions on Novatek prohibit U.S. persons from participating in debt financing transactions of greater than 90 day maturity by Novatek and, by virtue of Novatek’s 60% ownership interest, the Yamal LNG Project. To the extent the Yamal LNG Project or Novatek are dependent on financing involving participation by U.S. persons, these OFAC actions could have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Yamal LNG Project to be completed or perform as expected. Effective August 1, 2014, the European Union also imposed certain sanctions on Russia. These sanctions require a European Union license or authorization before a party can provide certain technologies or technical assistance, financing, financial assistance, or brokering with regard to these technologies. However, the technologies being currently sanctioned appear to focus on oil exploration projects, not gas projects. Furthermore, OFAC and other governments or organizations may impose additional sanctions on Novatek, the Yamal LNG Project or other project participants, which may further hinder the ability of the Yamal LNG Project to receive necessary financing. Although we believe that we are in compliance with all applicable sanctions laws and regulations, and intend to maintain such compliance, these sanctions have recently been imposed and the scope of these laws may be subject to changing interpretation. Future sanctions may prohibit the Yamal LNG Joint Venture from performing under its contracts with the Yamal LNG Project, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and ability to make distributions on our common units.

Failure of the Yamal LNG Project to achieve expected results could lead to a default under the time-charter contracts by the charter party.

The charter party under the Yamal LNG Joint Venture’s time-charter contracts for the Yamal LNG Project is Yamal Trade Pte. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yamal LNG, the project’s sponsor. If the Yamal LNG Project does not achieve expected results, the risk of charter party default may increase. Any such default could adversely affect our results of operations and ability to make distributions on our common units. If the charter party defaults on the time-charter contracts, we may be unable to redeploy the vessels under other time-charter contracts or may be forced to scrap the vessels.

Neither the Yamal LNG Joint Venture nor our joint venture partner may be able to obtain financing for the six LNG carrier newbuildings for the Yamal LNG Project.

The Yamal LNG Joint Venture does not have in place financing for the six LNG carrier newbuildings that will service the Yamal LNG Project. The estimated total fully built-up cost for the vessels is approximately $2.1 billion. If the Yamal LNG Joint Venture is unable to obtain debt financing for the vessels on acceptable terms, if at all, or if our joint venture partner fails to fund its portion of the newbuilding financing, we may be unable to purchase the vessels and participate in the Yamal LNG Project.

We assume credit risk by entering into charter agreements with unrated entities.

Some of our vessels are chartered to unrated entities, such as the four LNG carriers chartered to Angola LNG Supply Services LLC and the two LNG carriers chartered to Yemen LNG Company Limited. Some of these unrated entities will use revenue generated from the sale of the shipped gas to pay their shipping and other operating expenses, including the charter fees. The price of the gas may be subject to market fluctuations and the LNG supply may be curtailed by start-up delays and stoppages. 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 these charter agreements.

 

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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.

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 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.

 

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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 and Norwegian Kroner 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 and our Norwegian Kroner-denominated bonds. We incur interest expense on our Norwegian Kroner-denominated bonds and we have entered into cross-currency swaps to economically hedge the foreign exchange risk on the principal and interest payments of our Norwegian Kroner bonds.

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 and certain of our joint venture partners 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 and certain of our joint venture partners’ 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

 

   

own, operate and charter LNG carriers that relate to a bid or award for an LNG project that Teekay Corporation or any of its subsidiaries 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.

 

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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, 2014 owned a 32.2% 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;

 

   

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 certain of our joint ventures are party and were party to lease arrangements whereby the lessor could claim 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. Under the capital lease arrangements, 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 to jointly 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 is 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.

 

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We and our joint venture partner were the lessee under three separate 30-year capital lease arrangements (or the RasGas II Leases ) with a third party for three LNG carriers (or the RasGas II LNG Carriers ). On December 22, 2014, we and our joint venture partner voluntarily terminated the leasing of the RasGas II LNG Carriers. However, Teekay Nakilat Corporation (or the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture ), of which we own a 70% interest, remains obligated to the lessor under the RasGas II Leases to maintain the lessor’s agreed after-tax margin from the commencement of the lease to the lease termination date.

The UK taxing authority (or HMRC ) has been challenging the use of similar lease structures. One of those challenges resulted in a court decision from the First Tribunal on January 2012 regarding a similar financial lease of an LNG carrier that ruled in favor of the taxpayer, as well as a 2013 decision from the Upper Tribunal that upheld the 2012 verdict. However, HMRC appealed the 2013 decision to the Court of Appeal and in August 2014, HMRC was successful in having the judgment of the First Tribunal (in favor of the taxpayer) set aside. The matter will now be reconsidered by the First Tribunal, taking into account the appellate court’s comments on the earlier judgment. If the lessor of the RasGas II LNG Carriers were to lose on a similar claim from HMRC, which we do not consider to be a probable outcome, our 70% share of the potential exposure in the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture is estimated to be approximately $60 million. Such estimate is primarily based on information received from the lessor.

In addition, the subsidiaries of another joint venture formed to service the Tangguh LNG project in Indonesia have lease arrangements with a third party for two LNG carriers. The terms of the lease arrangements provide similar tax and change of law risk assumption by this joint venture as we had with the three RasGas II LNG Carriers.

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 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 “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.”

 

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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 be expected to 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 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 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 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 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.”

Teekay Corporation owns less than 50 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 and have been classified as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, these subsidiaries would 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 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 2014 and that Teekay LNG Holdco L.L.C., our sole remaining regarded corporate subsidiary as of January 1, 2015, 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.

 

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The 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 and certain other tax positions, 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. The IRS could also challenge certain other tax positions that we have taken, including our position that certain of our subsidiaries that have been classified as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes in past years are not PFICs for federal income tax purposes. Any such IRS challenges, 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 common unitholders 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), a portfolio manager of marine services to the global oil and natural gas industries, 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.

Please see “Item 5 – Operating and Financial Review and Prospects: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Significant Developments in 2014 and Early 2015.”

As of December 31, 2014, our fleet, excluding newbuildings, consisted of 29 LNG carriers (including the six MALT LNG Carriers, four RasGas 3 LNG Carriers, four Angola LNG Carriers, and two Exmar LNG Carriers that are all accounted for under the equity method), 21 LPG carriers (including the 15 Exmar LPG Carriers that are accounted for under the equity method), seven Suezmax-class crude oil tankers, and one Handymax product tanker, all of which are double-hulled. Our fleet is young, with an average age of approximately seven years for our LNG carriers, approximately nine years for our LPG Carriers and approximately nine years for our conventional tankers (Suezmax and Handymax), compared to world averages of 10, 16 and nine years, respectively, as of December 31, 2014.

Our fleets of LNG and LPG carriers currently have approximately 4.6 million and 0.6 million cubic meters of total capacity, respectively. The aggregate capacity of our conventional tanker fleet is approximately 1.1 million deadweight tonnes (or dwt ).

We were formed under the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands as a limited partnership, Teekay LNG Partners L.P., on November 3, 2004, 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. The majority of 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.

Our vessels primarily operate under long-term, fixed-rate charters with major energy and utility companies and Teekay Corporation. The average remaining term for these charters is approximately 12 years for our LNG carriers, approximately five years for our LPG carriers and approximately three years for our conventional tankers (Suezmax and Handymax), subject, in certain circumstances, to termination or vessel purchase rights.

 

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“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 two of our 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 contracts for two of our 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 only one in our joint venture with Exmar, that had a material impact on our operating results in prior years.

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 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 levels 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.

With the exception of the Arctic Spirit and Polar Spirit, which are the only two ships in the world that utilize the Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries Self Supporting Prismatic Tank IMO Type B (or IHI SPB ) independent tank technology, our fleet makes use of one of the Gaz Transport and Technigaz (or GTT ) membrane containment systems. The GTT membrane systems are used in the majority of LNG tankers now being constructed. New LNG carriers generally have an expected 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, 2014, our LNG carriers had an average age of approximately seven years, compared to the world LNG carrier fleet average age of approximately 10 years. In addition, as at that date, there were approximately 415 vessels in the world LNG fleet and approximately 160 additional LNG carriers under construction or on order for delivery through 2019.

 

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The following table provides additional information about our LNG carriers as of December 31, 2014, excluding our 18 newbuildings scheduled for delivery between 2016 and 2020 in which our ownership interest ranges from 20% to 100%:

 

Vessel

   Capacity    

Delivery

  Our
Ownership
   

Charterer

 

Expiration of
Charter
(1)

     (cubic meters)                    

Operating LNG carriers:

  

       

Consolidated

          

Hispania Spirit

     137,814     2002     100   Shell Spain LNG S.A.U.   Sep. 2022 (2)

Catalunya Spirit

     135,423     2003     100   Gas Natural SDG   Aug. 2023 (2)

Galicia Spirit

     137,814     2004     100   Uniòn Fenosa Gas   Jun. 2029 (3)

Madrid Spirit

     135,423     2004     100   Shell Spain LNG S.A.U.   Dec. 2024 (2)
         Ras Laffan Liquefied  

Al Marrouna

     149,539     2006     70   Natural Gas Company Ltd.   Oct. 2026 (4)
         Ras Laffan Liquefied  

Al Areesh

     148,786     2007     70   Natural Gas Company Ltd.   Jan. 2027 (4)
         Ras Laffan Liquefied  

Al Daayen

     148,853     2007     70   Natural Gas Company Ltd.   Apr. 2027 (4)
         The Tangguh Production  

Tangguh Hiri

     151,885     2008     69   Sharing Contractors   Jan. 2029
         The Tangguh Production  

Tangguh Sago

     155,000     2009     69   Sharing Contractors   May 2029

Arctic Spirit

     87,305     1993     99   Teekay Corporation   Apr. 2018 (4)

Polar Spirit

     87,305     1993     99   Teekay Corporation   Apr. 2018 (4)

Wilforce

     155,900     2013     99   Awilco LNG ASA   Sep. 2018 (5)

Wilpride

     155,900     2013     99   Awilco LNG ASA   Nov. 2017 (5)

Equity Accounted

          
         Ras Laffan Liquefied  

Al Huwaila

     214,176     2008     40 % (8)     Natural Gas Company Ltd.   Apr. 2033 (2)
         Ras Laffan Liquefied  

Al Kharsaah

     214,198     2008     40 % (8)     Natural Gas Company Ltd.   Apr. 2033 (2)
         Ras Laffan Liquefied  

Al Shamal

     213,536     2008     40 % (8)     Natural Gas Company Ltd.   May 2033 (2)
         Ras Laffan Liquefied  

Al Khuwair

     213,101     2008     40 % (8)     Natural Gas Company Ltd.   Jun. 2033 (2)

Excelsior

     138,087     2005     50 % (9)     Excelerate Energy LP   Jan. 2025 (2)

Excalibur

     138,034     2002     50 % (9)     Excelerate Energy LP   Mar. 2022

Soyo

     160,400     2011     33 % (10)     Angola LNG Supply Services LLC   Aug. 2031 (2)

Malanje

     160,400     2011     33 % (10)     Angola LNG Supply Services LLC   Sep. 2031 (2)

Lobito

     160,400     2011     33 % (10)     Angola LNG Supply Services LLC   Oct. 2031 (2)

Cubal

     160,400     2012     33 % (10)     Angola LNG Supply Services LLC   Jan. 2032 (2)

Meridian Spirit

     165,700     2010     52 % (11)     Total E&P Norge AS Mansel Limited   Nov. 2030 (6)

Magellan Spirit

     165,700     2009     52 % (11)     Vitol S.A.   Sep. 2016 (13)

Marib Spirit

     165,500     2008     52 % (11)     Yemen LNG Company Limited   Mar. 2029 (6)

Arwa Spirit

     165,500     2008     52 % (11)     Yemen LNG Company Limited   Apr. 2029 (6)

Methane Spirit

     165,500     2008     52 % (11)     BP Shipping Limited   Mar. 2015 (7)

Woodside Donaldson

     165,500     2009     52 % (11)     Pluto LNG Party Limited   Jun. 2026 (12)
  

 

 

         

Total Capacity:

  4,553,079  
  

 

 

         

 

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(1)

Each of our time-charters are subject to certain termination and purchase provisions.

(2)

The charterer has two options to extend the term for an additional five years each.

(3)

The charterer has one option to extend the term for an additional five years.

(4)

The charterer has three options to extend the term for an additional five years each.

(5)

The charterer has an option to extend the term for one additional year and at the end of the charter period the charterer has an obligation to repurchase each vessel at a fixed price.

(6)

The charterer has three options to extend the term for one, five and five additional years, respectively.

(7)

The charter contract ended in March 2015 and the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture is currently seeking a charter contract for this vessel.

(8)

The RasGas 3 LNG Carriers are accounted for under the equity method.

(9)

The Exmar LNG Carriers are accounted for under the equity method.

(10)

The Angola LNG Carriers are accounted for under the equity method.

(11)

The MALT LNG Carriers are accounted for under the equity method.

(12)

The charterer has four options to extend the term for an additional five years each.

(13)

As a result of an incident in January 2015 that put the vessel off-hire, the charterer has claimed that the off-hire time for this vessel during this period gave them the right to terminate its charter contract on March 28, 2015. The Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture is currently disputing the charterer’s claims of the aggregate off-hire time for this vessel as a result of this incident as well as the charterer’s ability to terminate the charter contract. In addition, the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture is seeking a charter contract for this vessel.

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 2014, 2013 and 2012.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012  

Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Ltd.

     17     17     18

Shell Spain LNG S.A.U. (1)

     13     13     13

The Tangguh Production Sharing Contractors

     11     12     12

 

(1)

In March 2014, Shell Spain LNG S.A.U. acquired the charter contracts from Repsol YPF, S.A. The voyage revenues in 2014 consisted of the voyage revenues from both customers relating to the same charter contract; voyage revenues in 2013 and 2012 were only from Repsol YPF, S.A.

No other LNG customer accounted for 10% or more of our consolidated voyage 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.

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, 2014, our LPG carriers had an average age of approximately nine years, compared to the world LPG carrier fleet average age of approximately 16 years. As of that date, the worldwide LPG tanker fleet consisted of approximately 1,277 vessels and approximately 232 additional LPG vessels were on order for delivery through 2018. LPG carriers range in size from approximately 100 to approximately 86,000 cubic meters. Approximately 50% of the number of vessels in the worldwide fleet are less than 5,000 cubic meters in size. New LPG carriers generally have an expected lifespan of approximately 30 to 35 years .

LPG carriers are mainly chartered to carry LPG on time-charters, 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, 2014, excluding our 50% ownership interest in nine newbuildings scheduled for delivery between 2015 and 2018:

 

Vessel

   Capacity      Delivery      Ownership    

Contract
Type

  

Charterer

  

Expiration of Charter

     (cubic meters)                              

Operating LPG carriers:

                

Consolidated

                

Norgas Pan

     10,000        2009        99   Bareboat    I.M. Skaguen ASA    Mar. 2024

Norgas Cathinka

     10,000        2009        99   Bareboat    I.M. Skaguen ASA    Oct. 2024

Norgas Camilla

     10,000        2011        99   Bareboat    I.M. Skaguen ASA    Sep. 2026

Norgas Unikum

     12,000        2011        99   Bareboat    I.M. Skaguen ASA    Jun. 2026

Bahrain Vision

     12,000        2011        99   Bareboat    I.M. Skaguen ASA    Oct. 2026

Norgas Napa

     10,200        2003        99   Bareboat    I.M. Skaguen ASA    Nov. 2019

 

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Vessel

  Capacity     Delivery  

Ownership

  

Contract Type

  

Charterer

  

Expiration of Charter

    (cubic meters)                         

Equity Accounted

              

Brugge Venture

    35,418     1997   50%    Time charter    An international fertilizer company    Jan. 2016

Temse (Kemira Gas

renamed to Temse)

    12,030     1995   50%    Time charter    An international fertilizer company    Feb. 2017

Libramont

    38,455     2006   50%    Time charter    An international fertilizer company    May. 2026

Sombeke

    38,447     2006   50%    Time charter    An international fertilizer company    Jul. 2027

Touraine

    39,270     1996   50%    Time charter    An international fertilizer company    Nov. 2016

Bastogne

    35,229     2002   50%    CoA (1)    North Sea charters    Mar. 2016

Courcheville

    28,006     1989   50%    Time charter    An international energy company    Sep. 2015

Eupen

    38,961     1999   50%    Time charter    An international energy company    Jun. 2016

Brussels

    35,454     1997   Capital lease (2)    Time charter    An international fertilizer company    Nov. 2017

Antwerpen

    35,223     2005   Chartered-In    CoA (1)    North Sea charters    Mar. 2016

Odin

    38,501     2005   Chartered-In    CoA (1)    North Sea charters    Jun. 2016

BW Tokyo

    83,270     2009   Chartered-In    Time charter    An international trading company    Jun. 2016

Waregem

    38,189     2014   50%    Time charter    An international trading company    Jan. 2020

Warinsart

    38,213     2014   50%    Time charter    An international energy company    Jun. 2016

Waasmunster

    38,245     2014   50%    CoA (1)    North Sea charters    Jun. 2016
 

 

 

              

Total Capacity:

  637,111  
 

 

 

              

 

(1)

“CoA” refers to contracts of affreightment.

(2)

Exmar LPG BVBA is the lessee under a capital lease arrangement and will be required to purchase the vessel at the end of the lease term for a fixed price.

No LPG customer accounted for 10% or more of our consolidated voyage revenues during any of 2014, 2013 or 2012.

 

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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 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 dwt to approximately 320,000 dwt. Suezmax tankers, which typically range from 120,000 dwt to 200,000 dwt, are the mid-size of the various primary oil tanker types. As of December 31, 2014, the world tanker fleet included 444 conventional Suezmax tankers, representing approximately 14% of worldwide oil tanker capacity, excluding tankers under 10,000 dwt.

As of December 31, 2014, our conventional tankers had an average age of approximately nine years, which is consistent with the average age for the world conventional tanker fleet. New conventional tankers generally have an expected 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, 2014:

 

Tanker (1)

  Capacity     Delivery     Our Ownership   Charterer   Expiration of
Charter
 
    (dwt)                      

Operating Conventional tankers:

         

Teide Spirit

    149,999       2004     Capital lease  (2)   CEPSA     Oct. 2017 (3)   

Toledo Spirit

    159,342       2005     Capital lease  (2)   CEPSA     Jul. 2018 (3)   

European Spirit

    151,849       2003     100%   ConocoPhillips Shipping LLC     Sep. 2015 (4)  

African Spirit

    151,736       2003     100%   ConocoPhillips Shipping LLC     Nov. 2015 (4)  

Asian Spirit

    151,693       2004     100%   ConocoPhillips Shipping LLC     Jan. 2016 (4)   

Bermuda Spirit

    159,000       2009     100%   Centrofin Management Inc.     May. 2021 (5)   

Hamilton Spirit

    159,000       2009     100%   Centrofin Management Inc.     Jun. 2021 (5)   

Alexander Spirit

    40,083       2007     100%   Caltex Australian Petroleum Pty Ltd.     Mar. 2020   
 

 

 

         

Total Capacity:

  1,122,702  
 

 

 

         

 

(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 may be required to purchase the vessel after the end of the lease terms for a fixed price. Please read “Item 18 - Financial Statements: Note 4 – 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 without penalty. The expiration date presented in the table assumes the termination at the end of year 13 of the charter contract; however, if the charterer does not exercise its annual termination rights, from the end of year 13 onwards, the charter contract could extend to 20 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.

CEPSA accounted for 7%, 12% and 12% of our 2014, 2013 and 2012 consolidated voyage revenues, respectively. No other conventional tanker customer accounted for 10% or more of our consolidated voyage 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:

 

   

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;

 

   

cost-effective LNG and LPG newbuilding contracts;

 

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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 one to six 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, other than the vessels owned or chartered-in by our joint ventures with Exmar, which are commercially and technically managed by Exmar, and two of the Angola LNG Carriers, which are commercially and technically managed by NYK Energy Transport (Atlantic) Ltd. 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. In 2010, Teekay Corporation introduced the “Operational Leadership” campaign to reinforce commitment to personal and operational safety.

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 (or ISM Code ) on a fully integrated basis. As part of Teekay Corporation’s compliance with the 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 quarterly 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 undertaken by subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation are:

 

   

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.

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

 

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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 maximum 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, 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. (or IACS ): BV, 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. The classification society 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 classification society, 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 followed onboard are audited by either the flag state or classification society acting on behalf of the flag state to ensure that they meet the requirements of the ISM Code. We also follow an internal process of internal audits undertaken at each office and vessel annually.

We follow a comprehensive inspections regime 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 annually, which helps ensure us that:

 

   

our vessels and operations adhere to our operating standards;

 

   

the structural integrity of the vessel is being maintained;

 

   

machinery and equipment is being maintained to give reliable service;

 

   

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

 

   

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

Our customers also often carry out vetting inspections under the Ship Inspection Report Program, which is a significant safety initiative introduced by the Oil Companies International Marine Forum to specifically address concerns about sub-standard vessels. 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, 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.

 

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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 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 in accordance with the requirements set out in these regulations, 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 Ship and Port Facility Security Code (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 the equipment required for commercial vessels and includes regulations for their 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 ship owner’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. A revised and updated IGC Code, to take account of advances in science and technology, was adopted by the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (or MSC ) on May 22, 2014. It is to enter into force on January 1, 2016 with an implementation/application date of July 1, 2016.

Annex VI (or Annex VI ) of the IMO’s International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships ( MARPOL ) 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.

The IMO has issued guidance regarding protecting against acts of piracy off the coast of Somalia. We comply with these guidelines.

In addition, the IMO has proposed (by the adoption in 2004 of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (or the Ballast Water Convention ) that all tankers of the size we operate that were built starting in 2012 contain ballast water treatment systems to comply with the ballast water performance standard specified in the Ballast Water Convention, and that all other similarly sized tankers install water ballast treatment systems, in order to comply with the ballast water performance standard from 2016. In the latter case, compliance is required not later than by the first intermediate or renewal survey in relation to the International Ballast Water Management Certificate, whichever occurs first, after the anniversary date of delivery of the relevant vessel in the year of compliance with the applicable standard. This convention has not yet entered into force, 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.

The IMO has also developed an International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters ( or Polar Code ) which deals with matters regarding the design, construction, equipment, operation, search and rescue and environmental protection in relation to ships operating in waters surrounding the two poles. The Polar Code includes both safety and environmental provisions and will be mandatory, with the safety provisions becoming part of SOLAS and the environmental provisions becoming part of MARPOL. In November 2014 the IMO’s MSC adopted the Polar Code and the related amendments to SOLAS in relation to safety, while the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (or MEPC ) is expected to adopt the environmental provisions of the Polar Code and associated amendments to MARPOL at its next session in 2015. Once adopted, the Polar Code is to enter into force on January 1, 2017.

 

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European Union (or EU)

Like the IMO, the EU has adopted regulations for phasing out single-hull tankers. All of our tankers are double-hulled. On May 17, 2011, the European commission carried out a number of 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/EC on Port State Control as subsequently amended) 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); creates obligations on the part of EU member port states to inspect minimum percentages 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 (Directive 2009/15/EC as amended by Directive 2014/111/EU of December 17, 2014). 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 has adopted regulations requiring the use of low sulfur fuel. Beginning January 1, 2015, vessels have been required to burn fuel with sulfur content not exceeding 0.1% while within EU member states’ territorial seas, exclusive economic zones and pollution control zones that are included in SOX Emission Control Areas. Other jurisdictions have also adopted regulations requiring the use of low sulfur fuel. The California Air Resources Board (or CARB ) requires vessels to burn fuel with 0.1% sulfur content or less within 24 nautical miles of California as of January 1, 2014. IMO regulations require that, as of January 1, 2015, all vessels operating within Emissions Control Areas (or ECAs ) 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 1.00%. Other established ECAs under Annex VI to MARPOL are the North American ECA and the United States Caribbean Sea ECA. 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.

The EU has recently adopted Regulation (EU) No 1257/2013 which imposes rules regarding ship recycling and management of hazardous materials on vessels. The Regulation sets out requirements for the recycling of vessels in an environmentally sound manner at approved recycling facilities, so as to minimize the adverse effects of recycling on human health and the environment. The Regulation also contains rules to control and properly manage hazardous materials on vessels and prohibits or restricts the installation or use of certain hazardous materials on vessels. The Regulation aims at facilitating the ratification of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships adopted by the IMO in 2009 (which has not entered into force). It applies to vessels flying the flag of a Member State. In addition, certain of its provisions also apply to vessels flying the flag of a third country calling at a port or anchorage of a Member State. For example, when calling at a port or anchorage of a Member State, the vessels flying the flag of a third country will be required, amongst other things, to have on board an inventory of hazardous materials which complies with the requirements of the Regulation and to be able to submit to the relevant authorities of that Member State a copy of a statement of compliance issued by the relevant authorities of the country of their flag and verifying the inventory. The Regulation is to apply not earlier than December 31, 2015 and not later than December 31, 2018, although certain of its provisions are applicable from December 31, 2014 and certain others are to apply from December 31, 2020.

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 liabilities 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, 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;

 

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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.

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 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 effluent limitations, best management practices, reporting, inspections and other requirements. The current Vessel General Permit incorporates Coast Guard requirements for ballast water exchange and includes specific technology-based requirements for vessels, and includes an implementation schedule to require vessels to meet the ballast water effluent limitations by the first drydocking after January 1, 2014 or January 1, 2016, depending on the vessel size. Vessels that are constructed after December 1, 2013 are subject to the ballast water numeric effluent limitations immediately upon the effective date of the 2013 Vessel General Permit. 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.

 

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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. In July 2011, the IMO adopted regulations imposing technical and operational measures for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. These new regulations formed a new chapter in Annex VI and became effective on January 1, 2013. The new technical and operational measures include the “Energy Efficiency Design Index,” which is mandatory for newbuilding vessels, and the “Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan,” which is mandatory for all vessels. In addition, 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. In October 2014, the IMO’s MEPC agreed in principle to develop a system of data collection regarding fuel consumption of ships. 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. The EU is currently considering a proposal for a regulation establishing a system of monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas shipping emissions (or MRV system ). The proposed MRV system may be the precursor to a market-based mechanism to be adopted in the future. 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.

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. 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).

Please read Exhibit 8.1 to this Annual Report for a list of our significant subsidiaries as at December 31, 2014.

Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable.

 

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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 LNG, LPG and crude oil. 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 continue to expand our LNG and LPG operations.

SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN 2014 AND EARLY 2015

RasGas II LNG Carriers

On December 22, 2014, the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture, in which we have a 70% ownership interest, voluntarily terminated its 30-year capital lease arrangements with the lessor relating to the RasGas II LNG Carriers under capital lease. As part of this transaction, the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture acquired the RasGas II LNG Carriers from the lessor and the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture refinanced its original debt facility of $278 million with a new $450 million debt facility and terminated its interest rate swaps relating to its original debt, capital lease obligations and restricted cash deposits. Please read “Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 4 – Leases and Restricted Cash” and “Note 13 – Commitments and Contingencies.”

LNG Newbuildings

On December 4, 2014, we secured time-charter contracts, ranging in duration from six to eight years plus extension options, with Royal Dutch Shell plc (or Shell ) for five LNG carrier newbuildings, which charter contracts will commence upon the vessel deliveries starting from the second half of 2017 into 2018. In connection with securing these time-charter contracts with Shell, we exercised our option to order three LNG carrier newbuildings from DSME. In February 2015, we ordered another LNG newbuilding carrier and have four additional newbuilding options declarable by the end of April 2015. In total, we have nine LNG newbuildings ordered, with four additional newbuilding options. We have entered into time-charter contracts for all but two of the ordered newbuildings.

Acquisition and Bareboat Charter-Back of an LPG Carrier

In November 2014, we acquired a 2003-built 10,200 cubic meter (or cbm ) LPG carrier, the Norgas Napa , from I.M. Skaugen SE (or Skaugen ) for $27 million. We took delivery of the vessel on November 13, 2014 and chartered the vessel back to Skaugen on a bareboat contract for a period of five years at a fixed-rate plus a profit share component based on actual earnings of the vessel, which is trading in Skaugen’s Norgas pool.

Equity Offerings

On July 17, 2014, we completed a public offering of 3.1 million common units (including 0.3 million common units issued upon exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) at a price of $44.65 per unit, for gross proceeds of approximately $140.8 million (including our general partner’s 2% proportionate capital contribution). We used the net proceeds from the offering of approximately $140.5 million to prepay a portion of our outstanding debt under two of our revolving credit facilities, to fund our portion of the first installment payment of $95.3 million for six newbuilding LNG carriers ordered by our 50/50 joint venture with China LNG for a project located on the Yamal Peninsula in Northern Russia (or the Yamal LNG Project ) and to fund a portion of our MEGI newbuildings’ shipyard installments.

During the fourth quarter in 2014, we sold an aggregate of approximately 1.2 million common units under our continuous offering program for net proceeds of $48.4 million (including our general partner’s 2% proportionate capital contribution). We received a portion of these proceeds ($6.8 million for 0.2 million common units) in January 2015.

Yamal LNG Project

On July 9, 2014, we, through a new 50/50 joint venture with China LNG (or the Yamal LNG Joint Venture ), finalized shipbuilding contracts for six internationally-flagged icebreaker LNG carriers for the Yamal LNG Project. The Yamal LNG Project is a joint venture between Russia-based Novatek OAO (60%), France-based Total S.A. (20%) and China-based China National Petroleum Corporation (or CNPC ) (20%) and will consist of three LNG trains with a total expected capacity of 16.5 million metric tons of LNG per annum. The project is currently scheduled to start-up in early-2018. The Yamal LNG Joint Venture will build six 172,000-cubic meter ARC7 LNG carrier newbuildings to be constructed by DSME for an estimated total fully built-up cost of approximately $2.1 billion. The vessels, which will be constructed with maximum 2.1 meter icebreaking capabilities in both the forward and reverse directions, are scheduled to deliver at various times between the first quarter of 2018 and first quarter of 2020. Upon their deliveries, the six LNG carriers will each operate under fixed-rate time-charter contracts with Yamal Trade Pte. Ltd. until December 31, 2045, plus extension options. The six LNG carriers constructed for the Yamal LNG Project will transport LNG from Northern Russia to Europe and Asia. We account for our investment in the Yamal LNG Joint Venture using the equity method.

BG Joint Venture

On June 27, 2014, we acquired from BG International Limited (or BG ) its ownership interest in four 174,000-cubic meter Tri-Fuel Diesel Electric LNG carrier newbuildings, which will be constructed by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. in China for an estimated total fully built-up cost to the joint venture of approximately $1.0 billion. The vessels upon delivery, scheduled for between September 2017 and January 2019, will each operate under 20-year fixed-rate time-charter contracts, plus extension options, with Methane Services Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BG. As compensation for BG’s ownership interest in these four LNG carrier newbuildings, we assumed BG’s portion of the shipbuilding installments and its obligation to provide the shipbuilding supervision and crew training services for the four LNG carrier newbuildings up to their delivery date pursuant to a ship construction support agreement. We estimate that we will incur approximately $38.7 million of costs to provide these services, of which BG has agreed to pay $20.3 million. Through this transaction, we have a 30% ownership interest in two LNG carrier newbuildings, with the balance of the ownership held by China LNG and CETS Investment Management (HK) Co. Ltd. (or CETS ) (an affiliate of China National Offshore Oil Corporation), and a 20% ownership interest in the remaining two LNG carrier newbuildings, with the balance of the ownership held by China LNG, CETS and BW LNG Investments Pte. Ltd. (collectively the BG Joint Venture ). We account for our investment in the BG Joint Venture using the equity method. We expect to finance our pro rata equity interest in future shipyard installment payments using a portion of our available liquidity, with the balance of the total cost of the vessels financed with equity contributions by the other partners and a $787.0 million long-term debt facility of the BG Joint Venture.

 

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Sale of Vessels

Compania Espanole de Petroles, S.A. (or CEPSA ), the charterer and prior owner of the Algeciras Spirit and Huelva Spirit conventional vessels previously under capital lease with us, reached agreements to sell the vessels to third-parties. On redelivery of the Algeciras Spirit and Huelva Spirit to CEPSA, the charter contracts with us were terminated and the vessels delivered to their new owners in February 2014 and August 2014, respectively. As a result of these sales, we have recorded a restructuring charge of $2.0 million for 2014 relating to seafarer severance payments associated with these vessels.

Exmar LPG Fleet Renewal

We hold a 50% interest in Exmar LPG BVBA, a joint venture with Belgium-based Exmar NV, to own and charter-in LPG carriers with a primary focus on the mid-size gas carrier segment. Four of Exmar LPG BVBA’s 12 LPG newbuilding carriers, the Waasmunster , Warinsart, Waregem, and Warisoulx delivered between April 2014 and January 2015. As a result of these newbuilding deliveries, and as part of its fleet renewal strategy, Exmar LPG BVBA sold certain of its LPG carriers. The Temse was sold and delivered to its new owner in March 2014, Flanders Tenacity and Eeklo were sold and delivered to their new owners in June 2014 and Flanders Harmony was sold and delivered to its new owner in August 2014. Exmar LPG BVBA recognized a net gain in 2014 as a result of the sale of these vessels, in which our proportionate share was $16.9 million. In addition, the in-chartered contract for Berlian Ekuator expired in January 2014 and the vessel was delivered back to its owner.

Charter Contracts for MALT LNG Carriers

In January 2015, one of the MALT LNG Carriers, in which we have a 52% ownership interest, had a grounding incident. The vessel was subsequently refloated and returned to service. We expect the cost of such refloating and related costs associated with the grounding to be covered by insurance, less an applicable deductible. The charterer has claimed that the vessel was off-hire for 59 days during the first quarter of 2015. In addition, the charterer claimed that the off-hire time for this vessel during this period gave them the right to terminate the charter contract effective March 28, 2015, which they elected to do. The Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture has disputed the charterer’s claims of the aggregate off-hire time for this vessel as a result of this incident as well as the charterer’s ability to terminate the charter contract, which originally would have expired in September 2016. The Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture has obtained legal assistance in resolving this dispute. However, if the charterer’s claim to terminate the charter contract is upheld, our 52% portion of the potential loss revenue from March 28, 2015 to September 30, 2016, would be $27.3 million, less any amounts received for re-chartering this vessel during this time. The impact in future periods from this incident will depend upon our ability to re-charter the vessel and the resolution of this dispute. The charter contract of another MALT LNG Carrier expired in March 2015 as originally scheduled and the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture is seeking to secure employment for this vessel as well.

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 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, ship management services, 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 analyze the income we receive from each segment after deducting operating expenses, but prior to the inclusion or deduction of equity income, interest expense, taxes, foreign currency and derivative gains or losses and other income (expense). For more information, please read “Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 3 – 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.

 

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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 expected 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.

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:

 

   

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 2014, 2013 and 2012, we had 140, 135 and 23 scheduled off-hire days, respectively, relating to dry docking on our vessels that are consolidated for accounting purposes. In addition, two of our consolidated vessels had unplanned off-hire of 26 days in 2014 relating to repairs. The financial impact from these periods of off-hire, if material, is explained in further detail below. Two of our consolidated vessels, are scheduled for dry docking in 2015.

 

   

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 and sales. Please read “Liquefied Gas Segment” and “Conventional Tanker Segment” below and “Significant Developments in 2014 and Early 2015” above for further details about certain prior and future vessel deliveries and sales.

 

   

Vessel operating and other costs are facing industry-wide cost pressures . The shipping industry continues to experience a global manpower shortage of qualified seafarers in certain sectors due to growth in the world fleet and competition for qualified personnel. In recent years, upward pressure on manning costs has temporarily stabilized and resulted in lower wage increases than has been seen in the past. However, this situation will likely not continue in the long term. Going forward, there may be significant increases in crew compensation as vessel and officer supply dynamics continue to change. In addition, factors such as pressure on commodity and raw material prices, as well as changes in regulatory requirements could also contribute to operating expenditure increases. We continue to take action aimed at improving operational efficiencies, and to temper the effect of inflationary and other price escalations; however increases to operational costs are still likely to occur in the future.

 

   

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 the majority of our derivative instruments are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. These changes may fluctuate significantly as interest rates, foreign exchange rates and spot tanker rates fluctuate relating to our interest rate swaps, cross currency 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 11(c) – Related Party Transactions” and “Note 12 – 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 NOK 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.

 

   

Three of our Suezmax tankers and one of our LPG carriers earned revenues based partly on spot market rates. The time-charter contract for one of our Suezmax tankers, the Teide Spirit, and one of our LPG carriers, the Norgas Napa, contain a component providing for additional revenue to us beyond the fixed-hire rate when spot market rates exceed certain threshold amounts. The time-charter contracts for the Bermuda Spirit and Hamilton Spirit Suezmax tankers were amended in the fourth quarter of 2012 for a period of 24 months, which ended on September 30, 2014, and during this period contained 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 of operations and cash flow from operations will be influenced, by the variable component of the charters in periods where the spot market rates exceed the threshold amounts.

 

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Global natural gas and crude oil prices have significantly declined since mid-2014. A continuation of lower natural gas or oil prices or a further decline in natural gas or oil prices may adversely affect investment in the exploration for or development of new or existing natural gas reserves or projects and limit our growth opportunities, as well as reduce our revenues upon entering into replacement or new charter contracts. In addition, lower oil prices may negatively affect both the competitiveness of natural gas as a fuel for power generation and the market price of natural gas, to the extent that natural gas prices are benchmarked to the price of crude oil.

Year Ended December 31, 2014 versus Year Ended December 31, 2013

Liquefied Gas Segment

As at December 31, 2014, our liquefied gas segment fleet, including newbuildings, included 47 LNG carriers and 30 LPG/Multigas carriers, in which our interests ranged from 20% to 100%. However, the table below only includes 13 LNG carriers and six LPG/Multigas carriers. The table excludes eight newbuilding LNG carriers under construction and the following vessels accounted for under the equity method: (i) six LNG carriers relating to our joint venture with Marubeni Corporation (or the MALT LNG Carriers ), (ii) four LNG carriers relating to the Angola LNG Project (or the Angola LNG Carriers ), (iii) four LNG carriers relating to our joint venture with QGTC Nakilat (1643-6) Holdings Corporation (or the RasGas 3 LNG Carriers ), (iv) four newbuilding LNG carriers relating to the BG Joint Venture, (v) six newbuilding LNG carriers relating to the Yamal LNG Joint Venture, (vi) two LNG carriers (or the Exmar LNG Carriers ) and (vii) 15 LPG carriers and nine newbuilding LPG carriers (or the Exmar LPG Carriers ) relating to our joint ventures with Exmar.

The following table compares our liquefied gas segment’s operating results for 2014 and 2013, and compares its net voyage revenues (which is a non-GAAP financial measure) for 2014 and 2013, 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,    Year Ended December 31,        
calendar-ship-days and percentages)    2014     2013     % Change  

Voyage revenues

     307,426       285,694       7.6  

Voyage expenses

     (1,768     (407     334.4  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net voyage revenues

  305,658     285,287     7.1  

Vessel operating expenses

  (59,087   (55,459   6.5  

Depreciation and amortization

  (71,711   (71,485   0.3  

General and administrative (1)

  (17,992   (13,913   29.3  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

  156,868     144,430     8.6  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Data:

Revenue Days (A)

  6,534     5,919     10.4  

Calendar-Ship-Days (B)

  6,619     5,981     10.7  

Utilization (A)/(B)

  98.7   99.0

 

(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 total calendar-ship-days increased by 11% to 6,619 days in 2014 from 5,981 days in 2013, as a result of the acquisition and delivery of two LNG carriers from Awilco (or the Awilco LNG Carriers ), the Wilforce and Wilpride , on September 16, 2013 and November 28, 2013, respectively, and the acquisition and delivery of the Norgas Napa on November 13, 2014.

During 2014, the Galicia Spirit, Madrid Spirit and Polar Spirit were off-hire for 28, 24 and 6 days, respectively, for scheduled dry dockings, compared to the Arctic Spirit and Catalunya Spirit being off-hire for 41 and 21 days, respectively, for scheduled dry dockings in 2013.

Net Voyage Revenues . Net voyage revenues increased during 2014 compared to 2013, primarily as a result of:

 

   

an increase of $20.7 million as a result of the acquisition and delivery of the Awilco LNG Carriers in September 2013 and November 2013;

 

   

an increase of $3.2 million due to the Arctic Spirit being off-hire for 41 days in the first quarter of 2013 for a scheduled dry docking;

 

   

an increase of $2.1 million due to the Catalunya Spirit being off-hire for 21 days in the second quarter of 2013 for a scheduled dry docking;

 

   

an increase of $0.9 million due to the effect on our Euro-denominated revenues from the strengthening of the Euro against the U.S. Dollar compared to 2013;

 

   

an increase of $0.8 million relating to amortization of in-process contracts recognized into revenue with respect to our shipbuilding and site supervision contract associated with the four LNG newbuilding carriers in the BG Joint Venture (however, we had a corresponding increase in operating expenses); and

 

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an increase of $0.5 million as a result of the acquisition and delivery of the Norgas Napa on November 13, 2014;

partially offset by:

 

   

a decrease of $2.6 million due to the Galicia Spirit being off-hire for 28 days in the first quarter of 2014 for a scheduled dry docking;

 

   

a decrease of $2.4 million relating to 18 days of unscheduled off-hire in the first quarter of 2014 due to repairs required for one of our LNG carriers;

 

   

a decrease of $2.1 million due to the Madrid Spirit being off-hire for 24 days in the third quarter of 2014 for a scheduled dry docking;

 

   

a decrease of $0.7 million due to the Polar Spirit being off-hire for six days in the fourth quarter of 2014 for a scheduled dry docking and a further eight days of unscheduled off-hire in the fourth quarter of 2014 for repairs; and

 

   

a decrease of $0.6 million due to operating expense and dry-docking recovery adjustments under our charter provisions for the Tangguh Hiri and Tangguh Sago .

Vessel Operating Expenses . Vessel operating expenses increased during 2014 compared to 2013, primarily as a result of:

 

   

an increase of $1.6 million relating to costs to train our crew for two LNG carrier newbuildings that are expected to deliver in the first half of 2016;

 

   

an increase of $0.9 million as a result of higher manning costs due to wage increases relating to certain of our LNG carriers; and

 

   

an increase of $0.8 million in relation to our agreement to provide shipbuilding and site supervision costs associated with the four LNG newbuilding carriers in the BG Joint Venture.

Depreciation and Amortization . Depreciation and amortization remained consistent compared to last year.

Conventional Tanker Segment

As at December 31, 2014, our fleet included seven Suezmax-class double-hulled conventional crude oil tankers and one Handymax product tanker, six of which we own and two of which we lease under capital leases. All of our conventional tankers operate under fixed-rate charters. The Bermuda Spirit’s and Hamilton Spirit’s time-charter contracts were amended in the fourth quarter of 2012 to reduce the daily hire rate on each by $12,000 per day through September 30, 2014. However, during this renegotiated period, Suezmax tanker spot rates exceeded the renegotiated charter rate, and the charterer paid us the excess amount up to a maximum of the original charter rate. The impact of the change in hire rates is not fully reflected in the table below as the change in the lease payments is being recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

In addition, CEPSA, the charterer and owner of our conventional vessels under capital lease, sold the Tenerife Spirit in December 2013, the Algeciras Spirit in February 2014 and the Huelva Spirit in August 2014, and on redelivery of the vessels to CEPSA, the charter contracts with us were terminated. Upon sale of the vessels, we were not required to pay the balance of the capital lease obligations, as the vessels under capital lease were returned to the owner and the capital lease obligations were concurrently extinguished. When the vessels were sold to a third party, we were subject to seafarer severance related costs.

The following table compares our conventional tanker segment’s operating results for 2014 and 2013, and compares its net voyage revenues (which is a non-GAAP financial measure) for 2014 and 2013 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,    Year Ended December 31,        
calendar-ship-days and percentages)    2014     2013     % Change  

Voyage revenues

     95,502       113,582       (15.9

Voyage expenses

     (1,553     (2,450     (36.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net voyage revenues

  93,949     111,132     (15.5

Vessel operating expenses

  (36,721   (44,490   (17.5

Depreciation and amortization

  (22,416   (26,399   (15.1

General and administrative (1)

  (5,868   (6,531   (10.2

Restructuring charges

  (1,989   (1,786   11.4  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

  26,955     31,926     (15.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Data:

Revenue Days (A)

  3,121     3,921     (20.4

Calendar-Ship-Days (B)

  3,202     3,994     (19.8

Utilization (A)/(B)

  97.5   98.2

 

(1)

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

 

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Net Voyage Revenues . Net voyage revenues decreased during 2014 compared to 2013, primarily as a result of:

 

   

a decrease of $23.1 million due to the sales of the Tenerife Spirit , Algeciras Spirit and Huelva Spirit in December 2013, February 2014 and August 2014, respectively;

 

   

a decrease of $1.1 million due to the Teide Spirit being off-hire for 31 days for a scheduled dry docking in 2014; and

 

   

a decrease of $0.7 million due to the Bermuda Spirit being off-hire for 27 days in 2014 and the Hamilton Spirit being off-hire for 24 days in 2014 for scheduled dry dockings;

partially offset by:

 

   

an increase of $2.7 million due to off-hire of the European Spirit , Asian Spirit and African Spirit for 25, 22 and 27 days, respectively, in 2013 for scheduled dry dockings;

 

   

an increase of $2.6 million due to higher revenues earned by the Bermuda Spirit and Hamilton Spirit relating to the agreement between us and the charterer as Suezmax tanker spot rates exceeded the renegotiated charter rate, therefore the additional revenues received were greater during 2014 as compared to last year; and

 

   

an increase of $2.4 million due to higher revenues earned by the Toledo Spirit in 2014 relating to the agreement between us and CEPSA (however, we had a corresponding increase in our realized loss on our associated derivative contract with Teekay Corporation; therefore, this increase and future increases or decreases related to this agreement did not and will not affect our cash flow or net income).

Vessel Operating Expenses . Vessel operating expenses decreased by $7.8 million during 2014 compared to 2013 primarily as a result of the sales of the Tenerife Spirit , Algeciras Spirit and Huelva Spirit in December 2013, February 2014 and August 2014, respectively.

Depreciation and Amortization . Depreciation and amortization decreased by $4.0 million during 2014 compared to 2013, as a result of the sales of the Tenerife Spirit , Algeciras Spirit and Huelva Spirit in December 2013, February 2014 and August 2014, respectively.

Restructuring Charge . Restructuring charge of $2.0 million and $1.8 million for 2014 and 2013, respectively, were related to the seafarer severance payments upon CEPSA selling our vessels under capital lease, the Tenerife Spirit , Algeciras Spirit and Huelva Spirit, between December 2013 and August 2014.

Other Operating Results

General and Administrative Expenses . General and administrative expenses increased to $23.9 million for 2014, from $20.4 million for 2013, primarily due to a greater amount of business development, legal and tax services provided to us by Teekay Corporation to support our growth, higher advisory fees incurred to support our business development activities, and legal and tax fees associated with the termination of the capital lease obligations in the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture.

Equity Income. Equity income decreased to $115.5 million for 2014, from $123.3 million for 2013, as set forth in the table below:

 

     Angola     Exmar      Exmar      MALT     RasGas 3           Total  
     LNG     LNG      LPG      LNG     LNG           Equity  
     Carriers     Carriers      Carriers      Carriers     Carriers     Other     Income  

Year ended December 31, 2014

     3,472       10,651        44,114        36,805       20,806       (370     115,478  

Year ended December 31, 2013

     29,178       10,650        17,415        43,428       22,611       —         123,282  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Difference

  (25,706   1     26,699     (6,623   (1,805   (370   (7,804
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The $25.7 million decrease for 2014 in our 33% investment in the four Angola LNG Carriers was primarily due to $23.6 million of unrealized losses on derivative instruments in 2014 as a result of long-term LIBOR benchmark interest rates decreasing for interest rate swaps maturing in 2023 and 2024, compared to unrealized gains on derivative instruments in the same period last year, and an increase in vessel operating expenses relating to vessel main engine overhauls in 2014.

The $26.7 million increase for 2014 in our 50% ownership interest in Exmar LPG BVBA was primarily due to our 50% acquisition of this joint venture in February 2013, the $16.9 million gain on the sales of the Flanders Tenacity , Eeklo and Flanders Harmony, which were sold during the second and third quarters of 2014, the delivery of three newbuildings, the Waasmunster , Warinsart and Waregem, during the second and third quarters of 2014, and higher revenues as a result of higher Very Large Gas Carrier spot rates earned in 2014; partially offset by the redelivery of Berlian Ekuator back to its owner in January 2014, a loss on the sale of Temse in the first quarter of 2014, and less income generated as a result of the disposals of the Donau (March 2013), Temse, Eeklo, Flanders Tenacity and Flanders Harmony ,

The $6.6 million decrease for 2014 in our 52% investment in the MALT LNG Carriers was primarily due to the off-hire of Woodside Donaldson and Magellan Spirit for 34 days and 23 days, respectively, during 2014 for scheduled dry dockings, the off-hire of Woodside Donaldson for seven days in 2014 for motor repairs, an increase in vessel operating expenses due to higher overall repair expenditures in 2014, an increase in interest expenses due to higher interest margins upon completion of debt refinancing within the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture in June and July 2013, and an increase in depreciation expenses due to dry-dock additions in 2014. These decreases were partially offset by the Methane Spirit being off-hire for 28 days for a scheduled dry docking in 2013.

 

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The $1.8 million decrease for 2014 in our 40% investment in the RasGas 3 LNG Carriers primarily resulted from a performance claim provision recorded in 2014 and higher operating expense due to timing of services and crew wage increases, partially offset by lower interest expense due to principal repayments made during 2013 and 2014.

Interest Expense . Interest expense increased to $60.4 million for 2014, from $55.7 million for 2013. Interest expense primarily reflects interest incurred on our long-term debt and capital lease obligations. This increase was primarily the result of:

 

   

an increase of $7.0 million relating to two new debt facilities used to fund the deliveries of the two Awilco LNG Carriers in late-2013;

 

   

an increase of $4.7 million as a result of our Norwegian Kroner bond issuance in September 2013; and

 

   

an increase of $3.0 million relating to accelerated amortization of Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture’s deferred debt issuance cost upon the termination of the leasing of the RasGas II LNG Carriers and related debt refinancing in 2014;

partially offset by:

 

   

a decrease of $5.8 million due to lower interest on capital lease obligations from the Tenerife Spirit , Algeciras Spirit and Huelva Spirit in December 2013, February 2014 and August 2014, respectively;

 

   

a decrease of $2.4 million due to debt repayments during 2013 and 2014 and a decrease in LIBOR for our floating-rate debt; and

 

   

a decrease of $1.7 million due to an increase in capitalized interest expense as a result of a higher number of newbuildings in 2014 compared to 2013

Interest Income . Interest income remained comparable to 2013.

Realized and Unrealized Loss on Derivative Instruments . Net realized and unrealized losses on derivative instruments decreased to $44.7 million for 2014, from $14.0 million for 2013 as set forth in the table below.

 

     Year Ended     Year Ended  
     December 31, 2014     December 31, 2013  
     Realized     Unrealized           Realized     Unrealized         
     gains     gains           gains     gains         
(in thousands of U.S. Dollars)    (losses)     (losses)     Total     (losses)     (losses)      Total  

Interest rate swap agreements

     (39,406     4,204       (35,202     (38,089     18,868        (19,221

Interest rate swap agreements termination

     (2,319     —         (2,319     —         —          —    

Toledo Spirit time-charter derivative

     (861     (6,300     (7,161     1,521       3,700        5,221  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
  (42,586   (2,096   (44,682   (36,568   22,568     (14,000
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

As at December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate average net outstanding notional amount of approximately $1.0 billion and $870.4 million, respectively, with average fixed rates of 4.1% and 4.6%, respectively. The increase in realized losses from 2013 to 2014 relating to our interest rate swaps was primarily due to the addition of six interest rate swaps in 2014, the termination of interest rate swaps in December 2014 formerly held by the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture, and lower short-term variable interest rates in 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.

During 2014, we recognized unrealized losses on our interest rate swaps associated with our U.S. Dollar-denominated restricted cash deposits, which were terminated in December 2014. This resulted from transfers of $172.5 million of previously recognized unrealized gains to realized gains related to actual cash settlements of our interest rate swaps, partially offset by $90.0 million of unrealized gains relating to decreases in long-term forward LIBOR benchmark interest rates relative to the beginning of 2014.

During 2014, we recognized unrealized gains on our interest rate swaps associated with our U.S. Dollar-denominated long-term debt and capital leases. This resulted from transfers of $204.9 million of previously recognized unrealized losses to realized losses related to actual cash settlements of our interest rate swaps, partially offset by $104.0 million of unrealized losses relating to decreases in long-term forward LIBOR benchmark interest rates relative to the beginning of 2014.

During 2013, we recognized unrealized losses on our interest rate swaps associated with our U.S. Dollar-denominated restricted cash deposits. This resulted from $63.0 million of unrealized losses relating to increases in long-term forward LIBOR benchmark interest rates, relative to the beginning of 2013, plus transfers of $21.7 million of previously recognized unrealized gains to realized gains related to actual cash settlement of our interest rate swaps.

During 2013, we recognized unrealized gains on our interest rate swaps associated with our U.S. Dollar-denominated long-term debt and capital leases. This resulted from $44.0 million of unrealized gains relating to increases in long-term forward LIBOR benchmark interest rates, relative to the beginning of 2013, and transfers of $49.8 million of previously recognized unrealized losses to realized losses related to actual cash settlements of our interest rate swaps.

 

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Long-term forward EURIBOR benchmark interest decreased during 2014 and increased during 2013, which resulted in an unrealized loss of $14.2 million and an unrealized gain of $9.7 million, respectively, from our interest rate swaps associated with our Euro-denominated long-term debt.

The projected average tanker rates in the tanker market in 2014 increased compared to 2013, which resulted in $6.3 million of unrealized losses on our Toledo Spirit time-charter derivative in 2014. The projected average tanker rates in 2013 decreased compared to 2012, which resulted in a $3.7 million unrealized gain on our Toledo Spirit time-charter derivative in 2013. 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.

Please see “Item 5 – Operating and Financial Review and Prospects: Critical Accounting Estimates – 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 gain (loss) on derivative instruments.

Foreign Currency Exchange Gains and (Losses) . Foreign currency exchange gains and (losses) were $28.4 million and ($15.8) million for 2014 and 2013, 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 NOK-denominated debt and our Euro-denominated term loans for financial reporting purposes into U.S. Dollars, net of the realized and unrealized gains and losses on our cross-currency swaps. Losses on NOK-denominated and Euro-denominated monetary liabilities reflect a weaker U.S. Dollar against the NOK and Euro on the date of revaluation or settlement compared to the rate in effect at the beginning of the period. Gains on NOK-denominated and Euro-denominated monetary liabilities reflect a stronger U.S. Dollar against the NOK and Euro on the date of revaluation or settlement compared to the rate in effect at the beginning of the period.

For 2014, foreign currency exchange losses include realized losses of $2.2 million and unrealized losses of $51.8 million on our cross-currency swaps and unrealized gains of $48.8 million on the revaluation of our NOK-denominated debt. For 2014, foreign currency exchange losses also include the revaluation of our Euro-denominated restricted cash and debt resulting in an unrealized gain of $34.3 million.

For 2013, foreign currency exchange losses include realized losses of $0.3 million and unrealized losses of $15.4 million on our cross-currency swaps and unrealized gains of $12.3 million on the revaluation of our NOK-denominated debt. For 2013, foreign currency exchange losses also include the revaluation of our Euro-denominated restricted cash, debt and capital leases resulting in an unrealized loss of $12.5 million.

Other Income (Expense). Other income decreased by $0.5 million for 2014 compared to 2013 primarily due to one of our guarantee liabilities being fully amortized in 2013.

Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense increased to $7.6 million for 2014, from $5.2 million for 2013, primarily as a result of higher income in 2014 from the termination of capital lease obligations and refinancing in the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture.

Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) (OCI). OCI decreased to a loss of ($1.5) million for 2014, from income of $0.1 million for 2013, due to an unrealized loss on the valuation of an interest rate swap which was entered into during 2013 and accounted for using hedge accounting within the equity accounted Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture.

Year Ended December 31, 2013 versus Year Ended December 31, 2012

Liquefied Gas Segment

As at December 31, 2013, our liquefied gas segment fleet, including newbuildings, included 34 LNG carriers and 33 LPG/Multigas carriers, in which our interests ranged from 33% to 100%. However, the table below only includes 13 LNG carriers and five LPG/Multigas carriers. The table excludes five newbuilding LNG carriers under construction and the following vessels accounted for under the equity method: (i) six MALT LNG Carriers, (ii) four Angola LNG Carriers, (iii) four RasGas 3 LNG Carriers, (iv) two Exmar LNG Carriers and (v) 28 Exmar LPG Carriers.

The following table compares our liquefied gas segment‘s operating results for 2013 and 2012, and compares its net voyage revenues (which is a non-GAAP financial measure) for 2013 and 2012, 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,    Year Ended December 31,        
calendar-ship-days and percentages)    2013     2012     % Change  
      

Voyage revenues

     285,694       278,511       2.6  

Voyage expenses

     (407     (66     516.7  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net voyage revenues

  285,287     278,445     2.5  

Vessel operating expenses

  (55,459   (50,124   10.6  

Depreciation and amortization

  (71,485   (69,064   3.5  

General and administrative (1)

  (13,913   (13,224   5.2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

  144,430     146,033     (1.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Data:

Revenue Days (A)

  5,919     5,833     1.5  

Calendar-Ship-Days (B)

  5,981     5,856     2.1  

Utilization (A)/(B)

  99.0   99.6

 

(1)

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

 

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Our liquefied gas segment‘s total calendar-ship-days increased by 2% to 5,981 days in 2013 from 5,856 days in 2012, as a result of the acquisition and delivery of two LNG carriers from Awilco (or the Awilco LNG Carriers ), Wilforce and Wilpride , on September 16, 2013 and November 28, 2013, respectively.

During 2013, the Arctic Spirit and Catalunya Spirit were off-hire for 41 and 21 days, respectively, for scheduled dry dockings, compared to the Hispania Spirit being off-hire for approximately 21 days for a scheduled dry docking in 2012.

Net Voyage Revenues . Net voyage revenues increased during 2013 compared to 2012, primarily as a result of:

 

   

an increase of $5.0 million as a result of the acquisition and delivery of the Awilco LNG Carriers on September 16, 2013 and November 28, 2013;

 

   

an increase of $3.2 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 $2.0 million during 2013 due to operating expense and dry-docking recovery adjustments under our charter provisions for the Tangguh Hiri and Tangguh Sago ;

 

   

an increase of $1.4 million due to the Hispania Spirit being off-hire for 21 days in 2012 for a scheduled dry docking; and

 

   

an increase of $0.9 million due to a reduction of revenue in the prior year to compensate the charterer of the Galicia Spirit for delaying its scheduled dry docking in 2012;

partially offset by:

 

   

a decrease of $3.2 million due to the Arctic Spirit being off-hire for 41 days in 2013 for a scheduled dry docking;

 

   

a decrease of $2.0 million due to the Catalunya Spirit being off-hire for 21 days in 2013 for a scheduled dry docking; and

 

   

a decrease of $0.8 million due to one less calendar day during 2013 compared to the prior year.

Vessel Operating Expenses . Vessel operating expenses increased during 2013 compared to 2012, primarily as a result of:

 

   

an increase of $2.1 million during 2013 as a result of higher manning costs due to wage increases in certain of our LNG carriers;

 

   

an increase of $1.8 million due to main engine overhauls and spares and consumables purchased for the Tangguh Hiri and Tangguh Sago for the dry docking of these vessels in 2013 (however, we had a corresponding increase in our revenues relating to operating expense adjustments in our charter provisions); and

 

   

an increase of $1.0 million primarily due to the effect on our Euro-denominated crew manning expenses from the strengthening of the Euro against the U.S. Dollar during 2013 compared to 2012 (a portion of our vessel operating expenses are denominated in Euros, which is primarily due to the nationality of our crew).

Depreciation and Amortization . Depreciation and amortization increased during 2013 compared to 2012, primarily as a result of amortization of dry-dock expenditures incurred throughout 2012 and 2013.

Conventional Tanker Segment

As at December 31, 2013, our fleet included 9 Suezmax-class double-hulled conventional crude oil tankers and one Handymax Product tanker, six of which we own and four of which we lease under capital leases. All of our conventional tankers operate under fixed-rate charters. The Bermuda Spirit’s and Hamilton Spirit’s time-charter contracts were amended in the fourth quarter of 2012 to reduce the daily hire rate on each by $12,000 per day for a duration of 24 months, commencing October 1, 2012. The full impact of the change in hire rates is not fully reflected in the table below as the change in the lease payments are being recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

In addition, CEPSA, the charterer (who was also the owner) of our conventional vessels under capital lease reached an agreement for the third-party sale of the Tenerife Spirit , Algeciras Spirit and the Huelva Spirit in November 2013, January 2014 and August 2014, respectively. Upon sale of the vessels, we were not required to pay the balance of the capital lease obligations as the vessels under capital leases were returned to the owner and the capital lease obligations were concurrently extinguished. We did not record a gain or loss on the sale of these vessels and we do not expect to record a gain or loss on future sales of vessels under capital lease. When the vessels were sold to a third party, we were subject to seafarer severance related costs.

 

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The following table compares our conventional tanker segment‘s operating results for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and compares its net voyage revenues (which is a non-GAAP financial measure) for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 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,    Year Ended December 31,        
calendar-ship-days and percentages)    2013     2012     % Change  

Voyage revenues

     113,582       114,389       (0.7

Voyage expenses

     (2,450     (1,706     43.6  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net voyage revenues

  111,132     112,683     (1.4

Vessel operating expenses

  (44,490   (44,412   0.2  

Depreciation and amortization

  (26,399   (31,410   (16.0

General and administrative (1)

  (6,531   (5,736   13.9  

Restructuring charge

  (1,786   —       100.0  

Write down of vessels

  —       (29,367   (100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

  31,926     1,758     1,716.0  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Data:

Revenue Days (A)

  3,921     4,026     (2.6

Calendar-Ship-Days (B)

  3,994     4,026     (0.8

Utilization (A)/(B)

  98.2   100.0

 

(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 decreased during 2013 compared to 2012, primarily as a result of:

 

   

a decrease of $2.5 million due to the African Spirit , Asian Spirit and European Spirit being off-hire for 26, 22 and 25 days, respectively, as a result of scheduled dry dockings during 2013;

 

   

a decrease of $0.9 million relating to a full year of the reduced charter rates on the Bermuda Spirit and Hamilton Spirit in 2013 compared to one quarter in the prior year as the renegotiated charter rates commenced on October 1, 2012;

 

   

a decrease of $0.6 million as the conventional spot market rates decreased compared to the prior year which impacts the revenue earned by the Toledo Spirit relating to the time-charter agreement between us and CEPSA (however, we had a corresponding increase in our realized gain on a related derivative with Teekay Corporation; therefore this decrease and future decreases or increases related to this agreement did not and will not affect our cash flow or net income); and

 

   

a decrease of $0.6 million due to the sale of the Tenerife Spirit on December 10, 2013;

partially offset by:

 

   

an increase of $2.9 million during 2013 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 the Suezmax tankers subject to capital leases (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 do not affect our cash flow or net income).

Vessel Operating Expenses . Vessel operating expenses remained consistent between 2013 and 2012.

Depreciation and Amortization . Depreciation and amortization decreased during 2013 compared to 2012, as a result of:

 

   

a decrease of $7.2 million due to the effect of vessel write-downs in the fourth quarter of 2012 relating to the Algeciras Spirit , Huelva Spirit and Tenerife Spirit ;

partially offset by:

 

   

an increase of $2.8 million due to the accelerated amortization, commencing in the fourth quarter of 2012, of the intangible assets relating to the charter contracts of the Algeciras Spirit , Huelva Spirit and Tenerife Spirit , as we expect the life of these intangible assets to be shorter than originally assumed in prior periods.

Restructuring Charge . The restructuring charge of $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 was related to the seafarer severance payments upon CEPSA selling our vessels under capital lease, the Tenerife Spirit and Algeciras Spirit .

Other Operating Results

General and Administrative Expenses . General and administrative expenses increased 7.8% to $20.4 million for 2013, from $19.0 million for 2012, primarily due to timing of accounting recognition of restricted unit awards as a result of certain senior personnel meeting retirement eligibility criteria. Please read “Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note: 16 – Unit-Based compensation.”

 

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Equity Income. Equity income increased to $123.3 million for 2013, from $78.9 million for 2012, as set forth in the table below:

 

(in thousands of U.S. Dollars)    Angola LNG
Carriers
     Exmar LNG
Carriers
     Exmar LPG
Carriers
     MALT LNG
Carriers
     RasGas 3
LNG Carriers
     Total Equity
Income
 

Year ended December 31, 2013

     29,178        10,650        17,415        43,428        22,611        123,282  

Year ended December 31, 2012

     13,015        7,994        —          39,349        18,508        78,866  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Difference

  16,163     2,656     17,415     4,079     4,103     44,416  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity income increased by $44.4 million from the prior year, primarily as a result of:

 

   

an increase of $17.4 million due to the acquisition of a 50% ownership interest in Exmar LPG BVBA in February 2013;

 

   

an increase of $16.2 in our 33% investment in the four Angola LNG Carriers, primarily due to the change in unrealized gains on derivative instruments as a result of long-term LIBOR benchmark interest rates increasing, as compared to 2012;

 

   

an increase of $7.6 million from a full year of operations from our 52% ownership interest in the six LNG carriers from A.P. Moller Maersk A/S (the MALT LNG Carriers ) which was acquired in February 2012;

 

   

an increase of $4.1 million in our 40% investment in the RasGas 3 LNG Carriers, primarily due to the change in unrealized gains on derivative instruments as a result of long-term LIBOR benchmark interest rates increasing, as compared to 2012; and

 

   

an increase of $2.7 million due to higher net income from our 50% investment in the Exmar LNG Carriers primarily resulting from a provision from a customer‘s claim relating to the two LNG carriers in 2012 and from the off-hire of Excalibur for scheduled dry docking during 2012;

partially offset by:

 

   

a decrease of $2.4 million primarily due to the dry docking of the Methane Spirit during March 2013 resulting in 28 off-hire days and higher interest margins upon completion of debt refinancing within the MALT LNG Carriers in June and July 2013; and

 

   

a decrease of $1.0 million relating to the ineffective portion of the hedge accounted interest rate swap within the MALT LNG Carriers that was entered into during 2013.

Interest Expense . Interest expense increased to $55.7 million for 2013, from $54.2 million for 2012. 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 $5.8 million as a result of the NOK bond issuances in May 2012 and September 2013;

 

   

an increase of $1.8 million due to an interest rate adjustment on our 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 $0.5 million relating to a new debt facility used to fund the delivery of the first Awilco LNG Carrier in late-2013;

partially offset by:

 

   

a decrease of $6.4 million due to principal debt repayments made during 2013 and 2012 on our USD and EURO denominated debt and decreases in LIBOR compared to the prior year.

Interest Income . Interest income decreased to $3.0 million in 2013, from $3.5 million for 2012. These changes were primarily the result of:

 

   

a decrease of $1.2 million due to lower LIBOR relating to our restricted cash deposits;

partially offset by:

 

   

an increase of $0.6 million due to interest earned on our $81.7 million of advances due from Exmar LPG BVBA, see Item 18 - Financial Statements: Note 6(b) – Advances to Joint Venture Partner and Equity Accounted Joint Ventures.

 

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Realized and Unrealized Loss on Derivative Instruments . Net realized and unrealized losses on derivative instruments decreased to $14.0 million for 2013, from $29.6 million for 2012 as set forth in the table below.

 

     Year Ended     Year Ended  
     December 31, 2013     December 31, 2012  
    

Realized

gains

   

Unrealized

gains

          

Realized

gains

   

Unrealized

gains

        
(in thousands of U.S. Dollars)    (losses)     (losses)      Total     (losses)     (losses)      Total  

Interest rate swap agreements

     (38,089     18,868        (19,221     (37,427     5,200        (32,227

Toledo Spirit time-charter derivative

     1,521       3,700        5,221       907       1,700        2,607  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
  (36,568   22,568     (14,000   (36,520   6,900     (29,620
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

As at December 31, 2013 and 2012, we had interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate average net outstanding notional amount of approximately $870.4 million and $902.9 million, respectively, with average fixed rates of 4.6% for both periods. The realized losses relating to our interest rate swaps increased by $0.7 million between 2013 and 2012 mainly as a result of decreases in the EURIBOR and LIBOR compared to the prior year.

During 2013, we recognized unrealized losses on our interest rate swaps associated with our U.S. Dollar-denominated restricted cash deposits. This resulted from $63.0 million of unrealized losses relating to increases in long-term forward LIBOR benchmark interest rates, relative to the beginning of 2013, plus transfers of $21.7 million of previously recognized unrealized gains to realized gains related to actual cash settlement of our interest rate swaps.

During 2013, we recognized unrealized gains on our interest rate swaps associated with our U.S. Dollar-denominated long-term debt and capital leases. This resulted from $44.0 million of unrealized gains relating to increases in long-term forward LIBOR benchmark interest rates, relative to the beginning of 2013, and transfers of $49.8 million of previously recognized unrealized losses to realized losses related to actual cash settlements of our interest rate swaps.

Long-term forward LIBOR benchmark interest decreased during 2012, which resulted in us recognizing an unrealized gain of $5.9 million from our interest rate swaps associated with our restricted cash deposits and an unrealized loss of $34.4 million on our interest rate swaps associated with our U.S. Dollar-denominated long-term debt and capital leases. The unrealized loss of $34.4 million was offset by a transfer of $49.2 million of previously recognized unrealized losses to realized losses related to actual cash settlements that led to a net gain of $14.8 million from our U.S. Dollar-denominated long-term debt and capital leases.

Long-term forward EURIBOR benchmark interest increased during 2013 and decreased during 2012, which resulted in an unrealized gain of $9.7 million and an unrealized loss of $15.5 million, respectively, from our interest rate swaps associated with our Euro-denominated long-term debt.

The projected average forward tanker rates in 2013 decreased compared to 2012, which resulted in a $3.7 million unrealized gain on 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 12—Derivative Instruments”).

Foreign Currency Exchange Losses . Foreign currency exchange losses were $15.8 million and $8.2 million for 2013 and 2012, respectively. These foreign currency exchange losses, substantially all of which were unrealized, are due primarily to the relevant period-end revaluation of our NOK-denominated debt and our Euro-denominated term loans and restricted cash for financial reporting purposes and the realized and unrealized losses and gains on our cross-currency swaps. Losses on NOK-denominated and Euro-denominated monetary liabilities reflect a weaker U.S. Dollar against the NOK and Euro on the date of revaluation or settlement compared to the rate in effect at the beginning of the period. Gains on NOK-denominated and Euro-denominated monetary liabilities reflect a stronger U.S. Dollar against the NOK and Euro on the date of revaluation or settlement compared to the rate in effect at the beginning of the period.

For 2013, foreign currency exchange losses include realized losses of $0.3 million and unrealized losses of $15.4 million on our cross-currency swaps and unrealized gains of $12.3 million on the revaluation of our NOK-denominated debt. For 2013, foreign currency exchange losses also include the revaluation of our Euro-denominated restricted cash, debt and capital leases resulting in an unrealized loss of $12.5 million.

For 2012, foreign currency exchange losses include realized gains of $0.3 million and unrealized losses of $2.7 million on our cross-currency swap and unrealized losses of $0.8 million on the revaluation of our NOK-denominated debt. For 2012, foreign currency exchange losses also include the revaluation of our Euro-denominated restricted cash, debt and capital leases resulting in an unrealized loss of $4.7 million.

Other Income (Expense). Other income remained consistent between 2013 and 2012.

Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense increased to $5.2 million for 2013, from $0.6 million for 2012, primarily as a result of:

 

   

an increase of $3.9 million as a result of recognizing a full valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets relating to our Spanish subsidiaries in 2013, as they no longer meet the recognition criteria for deferred tax assets; and

 

   

an increase of $0.9 million as a result of a reduction in the valuation allowance in 2012 relating to the RasGas II LNG Carriers‘ deferred tax assets.

Other Comprehensive Income (OCI). OCI of $0.1 million in 2013 relates to an unrealized gain on the valuation of an interest rate swap which was entered into during 2013 and accounted for using hedge accounting within the equity accounted Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture.

 

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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 9 – 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, 2014, we and our affiliates were in compliance with all covenants relating to our credit facilities and term loans.

As at December 31, 2014, our cash and cash equivalents were $159.6 million, compared to $139.5 million at December 31, 2013. Our total liquidity, which consists of cash, cash equivalents and undrawn medium-term credit facilities, was $295.2 million as at December 31, 2014, compared to $332.2 million as at December 31, 2013. The decrease in total consolidated liquidity is primarily due to installment payments in 2014 relating to our eight newbuildings, contributions in the BG Joint Venture and the Yamal LNG Joint Venture to fund the newbuild installments in these joint ventures, and the acquisition of the Norgas Napa ; partially offset by a new term loan entered into in March 2014 relating to the second Awilco LNG Carrier, the Wilpride, net proceeds from our 3.1 million common unit equity offering in July 2014, net proceeds from our 1.1 million common units issued under our continuous offering program in the fourth quarter of 2014, and the net proceeds upon refinancing of the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture’s debt facility in the fourth quarter of 2014.

As of December 31, 2014, we had a working capital deficit of $117.9 million. The working capital deficit includes a $57.7 million outstanding balance on one of our debt facilities that matures in the second quarter of 2015. We expect to refinance this debt facility before it comes due.

We expect to manage the remaining portion of our working capital deficit primarily with net operating cash flow, debt refinancing and, to a lesser extent, existing undrawn revolving credit facilities. As at December 31, 2014, we had undrawn medium-term credit facilities of $135.6 million.

As described under “Item 4 – Information on the Company: C. Regulations,” 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:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
(in thousands of U.S. Dollars)    2014      2013      2012  

Net cash flow from operating activities

     191,097        183,532        192,013  

Net cash flow from financing activities

     100,700        334,684        30,374  

Net cash flow used for investing activities

     (271,639      (492,312      (202,437

Operating Cash Flows. Net cash flow from operating activities increased to $191.1 million in 2014 from $183.5 million in 2013, primarily due to the acquisition and delivery of the two Awilco LNG Carriers in late-2013, an increase in revenue from the Bermuda Spirit and Hamilton Spirit as a result of the agreement between us and the charterer as Suezmax tanker spot rates exceeded the renegotiated charter rate during 2014 and the charter rates reverting back to their original rates in October 2014, and the acquisition of the Norgas Napa in November 2014; partially offset by the sales of the Tenerife Spirit , Algeciras Spirit and Huelva Spirit in December 2013, February 2014 and August 2014, respectively, and 18 days of unscheduled off-hire during 2014 due to repairs required for one of our LNG carriers. Net cash flow from operating activities decreased to $183.5 million in 2013 from $192.0 million in 2012, primarily due to a greater number of off-hire days relating to scheduled dry dockings during 2013 compared to 2012, a corresponding increase in dry-docking expenditures and less dividends received from our equity accounted joint ventures during 2013. Net cash flow from operating activities depends upon the timing and amount of dry-docking expenditures, repair and maintenance activity, the impact of vessel additions and dispositions on operating cash flows, foreign currency rates, changes in interest rates, timing of dividends from equity accounted investments, 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 depending on the vessel’s maintenance schedule.

 

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Our equity accounted joint ventures are generally required to distribute all available cash to its shareholders. However, the timing and amount of dividends from each of our equity accounted joint ventures may not necessarily coincide with the net income or operating cash flow generated from each respective equity accounted joint venture. The timing and amount of dividends distributed by our equity accounted joint ventures are affected by the timing and amounts of debt repayments in the joint ventures, capital requirements, as well as any cash reserves maintained in the joint ventures for operations, capital expenditures and/or as required under financing agreements.

Financing Cash Flows. Our investments in vessels and equipment are financed primarily with term loans, capital lease arrangements and proceeds from issuance of securities. Proceeds from long-term debt were $944.1 million, $719.3 million and $500.3 million, respectively, for 2014, 2013 and 2012. The proceeds from long-term debt for 2014 includes a new $130.0 million term loan entered into in March 2014 relating to the second Awilco LNG Carrier acquired in 2013 and the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture refinancing its term loan that was due in 2019 of $278.2 million, as of September 30, 2014, with a new US Dollar-denominated term loan of $450.0 million due in 2026. From time to time, we refinance our loans and revolving credit facilities. During 2014, we primarily used the proceeds from the issuance of securities and long-term debt to acquire and fund our proportionate interest of newbuilding installments in the BG Joint Venture and the Yamal Joint Venture, fund the acquisition of the Norgas Napa in November 2014, to fund construction costs for our eight LNG newbuildings, to fund the acquisition of three LNG carriers under capital lease (of which a portion of the repayment was from the release of restricted cash deposits), and to prepay and repay outstanding debt under our revolving credit facilities. The decrease in restricted cash was used to acquire the RasGas II LNG Carriers under capital lease in the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture. During 2013, we primarily used the proceeds from the issuance of securities and long-term debt to fund the acquisition of our 50% interest in the Exmar LPG Carriers, to fund the acquisition of the Awilco LNG Carriers, to fund construction costs for our five LNG newbuilding carriers, to provide an advance to Exmar LPG BVBA for the purpose of funding newbuildings, to prepay and repay outstanding debt under our revolving credit facilities, and for general partnership purposes. During 2012, we primarily used the proceeds from long-term debt to fund the acquisition of our 52% interest in the six MALT LNG Carriers, to fund the first installment payment for two LNG newbuildings, to fund the acquisition of our 33% interest in the fourth Angola LNG Carrier, to prepay and repay outstanding debt under our revolving credit facilities and for general corporate purposes.

During the fourth quarter of 2014, we sold an aggregate of approximately 1.1 million common units under the continuous offering program (or COP ) for net proceeds of $41.7 million. On July 17, 2014, we completed a public offering of 3.1 million common units at a price of $44.65 per unit, for net proceeds of approximately $140.5 million. On October 7, 2013, we completed a public offering of approximately 3.5 million common units at a price of $42.62 per unit, for net proceeds of $144.8 million. On July 30, 2013, we completed a direct equity placement of approximately 0.9 million common units for net proceeds of $40.8 million. On May 22, 2013, we implemented the COP and sold an aggregate of approximately 0.1 million common units during 2013 for net proceeds of $4.9 million. On September 10, 2012, we completed a public offering of approximately 4.8 million common units at a price of $38.43 per unit, for net proceeds of $182.3 million. Please read “Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 15 – Total Capital and Net Income Per Unit.”

Cash distributions paid during 2014 increased to $240.5 million from $215.4 million for 2013. This increase was the result of:

 

   

an increase in the number of units eligible to receive the cash distribution as a result of the equity offerings during 2014 and 2013; and

 

   

an increase in our quarterly distribution to $0.6918 per unit from $0.6750 per unit starting with the first quarter distribution in 2014.

Cash distributions paid during 2013 increased to $215.4 million from $195.9 million for 2012. This increase was the result of:

 

   

an increase in the number of units eligible to receive the cash distribution as a result of the equity offerings during 2013 and 2012; and

 

   

an increase in our quarterly distribution to $0.6750 per unit from $0.6300 per unit starting with the second quarter distribution in 2012.

After December 31, 2014, a cash distribution totaling $63.6 million was declared with respect to the fourth quarter of 2014, which was paid in February 2015. This cash distribution reflected an increase in our quarterly distribution to $0.7000 per unit from $0.6918 per unit.

Investing Cash Flows Net cash flow used in investing activities decreased to $271.6 million in 2014 from $492.3 million in 2013. During 2014, we used cash of $100.2 million primarily to acquire and fund our proportionate interest of newbuilding installments in the BG Joint Venture and the Yamal LNG Joint Venture, $140.4 million relating to newbuilding installments for our eight LNG newbuildings equipped with the MEGI twin engines, $23.1 million relating to the early termination fee on the termination of the leasing of the RasGas II LNG Carriers (which was capitalized as part of the vessels’ costs) and $21.6 million, which is net of $5.4 million owing to Skaugen, to fund our acquisition of the Norgas Napa in November 2014, and $3.8 million relating to certain vessel upgrades. During 2013, we used cash of $308.0 million to fund the acquisitions of two LNG carriers from Awilco in September and November 2013, $135.8 million to fund our 50% interest in the Exmar LPG Carriers and $58.6 million incurred for our three additional LNG newbuilding carriers ordered in July and November 2013. During 2012, we used cash of $151.0 million (including working capital contribution and acquisition costs) to fund the acquisition of our 52% interest in the six MALT LNG Carriers, $38.6 million to fund the first installment payment for two LNG newbuildings and $19.1 million for our acquisition of a 33% interest in the fourth and last Angola LNG Carrier.

Credit Facilities

Our revolving credit facilities and term loans are described in Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 9 – 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;

 

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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 do not exceed a maximum amount of leverage and (d) one of our subsidiaries to maintain restricted cash deposits. We have one facility that requires us to maintain a vessel-value-to-outstanding-loan-principal-balance ratio of 115%, which as at December 31, 2014, was 158%. The vessel value is determined using reference to second-hand market comparables or using a depreciated replacement cost approach. Since vessel values can be volatile, our estimates of market value may not be indicative of either the current or future prices that could be obtained if we sold any of the vessels. Our ship-owning subsidiaries may not, among other things, pay dividends or distributions if they are in default under their 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, 2014, we and our affiliates were in compliance with all covenants relating to our credit facilities and capital leases.

 

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Contractual Obligations and Contingencies

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as at December 31, 2014:

 

            2016      2018         
            and      and      Beyond  
     Total      2015      2017      2019      2019  
     (in millions of U.S. Dollars)  

U.S. Dollar-Denominated Obligations:

              

Long-term debt (1)

     1,424.4        141.6        175.8        570.2        536.8  

Commitments under capital leases (2)

     73.7        7.8        38.6        27.3        —    

Commitments under operating leases (3)

     343.7        24.1        48.2        48.2        223.2  

Newbuilding installments/shipbuilding supervision (4)

     2,462.7        188.9        1,092.9        979.8        201.1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total U.S. Dollar-denominated obligations

  4,304.5     362.4     1,355.5     1,625.5     961.1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Euro-Denominated Obligations: (5)

  

Long-term debt (6)

  285.0     15.6     34.6     153.7     81.1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Euro-denominated obligations

  285.0     15.6     34.6     153.7     81.1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Norwegian Kroner-Denominated Obligations: (5)

  

Long-term debt (7)

  214.7     —       93.9     120.8     —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Norwegian Kroner-Denominated obligations

  214.7     —       93.9     120.8     —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Totals

  4,804.2     378.0     1,484.0     1,900.0     1,042.2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

Excludes expected interest payments of $23.3 million (2015), $42.2 million (2016 and 2017), $24.6 million (2018 and 2019) and $38.6 million (beyond 2019). Expected interest payments are based on the existing interest rates (fixed-rate loans) and LIBOR at December 31, 2014, plus margins on debt that has been drawn that ranged up to 2.80% (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.

(2)

Includes, in addition to lease payments, amounts we may be required to pay to purchase leased vessels at the end of lease terms. The lessor has the option to sell these vessels to us at any time during the remaining lease term; however, in this table we have assumed the lessor will not exercise its right to sell the vessels to us until after the lease term expire, which is during the years 2017 to 2018. The purchase price for any vessel we are required to purchase would 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 any such purchase price by assuming the existing vessel financing, although we may be required to obtain separate debt or equity financing to complete any purchases if the lenders do not consent to our assuming the financing obligations. Please read “Item 1 – Financial Statements: Note 4 – Leases and Restricted Cash.”

(3)

We have corresponding leases whereby we are the lessor and expect to receive an aggregate of approximately $303.7 million for these leases from 2015 to 2029. Please read “Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 4 – Leases and Restricted Cash.”

(4)

Between December 2012 and December 2014, we entered into agreements for the construction of eight LNG newbuildings. The remaining cost for these newbuildings totaled $1,445.4 million as of December 31, 2014, including estimated interest and construction supervision fees.

As part of the acquisition of an ownership interest in the BG Joint Venture, we agreed to assume BG’s obligation to provide shipbuilding supervision and crew training services for the four LNG carrier newbuildings and to fund our proportionate share of the remaining newbuilding installments. The estimated remaining costs for the shipbuilding supervision and crew training services and our proportionate share of newbuilding installments, net of the secured financing within the joint venture for the LNG carrier newbuildings, totaled $89.4 million. However, as part of this agreement with BG, we expect to recover approximately $20.3 million of the shipbuilding supervision and crew training costs from BG between 2015 and 2019.

In July 2014, the Yamal LNG Joint Venture, in which we have a 50% ownership interest entered into agreements for the construction of six LNG newbuildings. As at December 31, 2014, our 50% share of the remaining cost for these six newbuildings totaled $928.0 million. The Yamal LNG Joint Venture intends to secure debt financing for 70% to 80% of the fully built-up cost of the six newbuildings.

The table above excludes nine newbuilding LPG carriers scheduled for delivery between early-2015 and 2018 in the joint venture between Exmar and us. As at December 31, 2014, our 50% share of the remaining cost for these nine newbuildings totaled $190.2 million, including estimated interest and construction supervision fees.

 

(5)

Euro-denominated and NOK-denominated obligations are presented in U.S. Dollars and have been converted using the prevailing exchange rate as of December 31, 2014.

(6)

Excludes expected interest payments of $4.3 million (2015), $7.9 million (2016 and 2017), $2.7 million (2018 and 2019) and $1.4 million (beyond 2019). Expected interest payments are based on EURIBOR at December 31, 2014, plus margins that ranged up to 2.25%, as well as the prevailing U.S. Dollar/Euro exchange rate as of December 31, 2014. 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.

 

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(7)

Excludes expected interest payments of $13.7 million (2015), $23.0 million (2016 and 2017) and $4.8 million (2018 and 2019). Expected interest payments are based on NIBOR at December 31, 2014, plus margins that range up to 5.25%, as well as the prevailing U.S. Dollar/NOK exchange rate as of December 31, 2014. The expected interest payments do not reflect the effect of the related cross-currency swap that we have used as an economic hedge of our foreign exchange and interest rate exposure associated with our NOK-denominated long-term debt.

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 5 – 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 – Summary of 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. This 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. 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 large energy companies and their transportation subsidiaries. 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 and future contracts.

The following table presents by segment the aggregate market values and carrying values of certain of our vessels that we have determined have a market value that is less than their carrying value as of December 31, 2014. Specifically, the following table reflects all such vessels, except those operating on contracts where the remaining term is significant and the estimated future undiscounted cash flows relating to such contracts are sufficiently greater than the carrying value of the vessels such that we consider it unlikely an impairment would be recognized in the following year. Consequently, the vessels included in the following table generally include those vessels near the end of existing charters or other operational contracts. While the market values of these vessels are below their carrying values, no impairment has been recognized on any of these vessels as the estimated future undiscounted cash flows relating to such vessels are greater than their carrying values.

We would consider the vessels reflected in the following table to be at a higher risk of future impairment. The estimated future undiscounted cash flows of the vessels reflected in the following table are significantly greater than their respective carrying values. Consequently, in these cases the following table would not necessarily represent vessels that would likely be impaired in the next 12 months, and the recognition of an impairment in the future for those vessels may primarily depend upon our deciding to dispose of the vessel instead of continuing to operate it. In deciding whether to dispose of a vessel, we determine whether it is economically preferable to sell the vessel or continue to operate it. This assessment includes an estimate of the net proceeds expected to be received if the vessel is sold in its existing condition compared to the present value of the vessel’s estimated future revenue, net of operating costs. Such estimates are based on the terms of the existing charter, charter market outlook and estimated operating costs, given a vessel’s type, condition and age. In addition, we typically do not dispose of a vessel that is servicing an existing customer contract.

 

            Market Values (1)      Carrying Values  
(in thousands of U.S. Dollars, except number of vessels)    Number of Vessels      $      $  

Reportable Segment

        

Conventional Tanker Segment (2)

     4        170,392        184,432  

 

(1)

Market values are determined using reference to second-hand market comparable values as at December 31, 2014. Since vessel values can be volatile, our estimates of market value may not be indicative of either the current or future prices we could obtain if we sold any of the vessels.

(2)

Undiscounted cash flows are significantly greater than the carrying values.

 

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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 2014, 2013 and 2012 were $14.8 million, $13.4 million and $13.1 million, respectively. As at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, our capitalized dry-dock expenditures were $13.5 million, $27.2 million and $7.5 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 $3.0 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 is not amortized, but reviewed for impairment at the reporting unit level on annual basis or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit to below its carrying value. When goodwill is reviewed for impairment, we may elect to assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill. Alternatively, we may bypass this step and use a fair value approach 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. Intangible assets are assessed for impairment when and if impairment indicators exist. An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of an intangible asset is not recoverable and its carrying amount exceeds its fair 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, 2014, 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.

 

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Amortization expense of intangible assets for each of the years 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $9.2 million, $13.1 million and $11.0 million, respectively. 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.

Valuation of Derivative Instruments

Description. Our risk management policies permit the use of derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate risk, foreign exchange risk and spot tanker market 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 and currency swap agreements at the end of each period are most significantly affected by the interest rate implied by the benchmark interest yield curve, including its relative steepness, and forward foreign exchange rates. Interest rates and foreign exchange rates have experienced significant volatility in recent years in both the short and long term. While the fair value of our interest and currency swap agreements are typically more sensitive to changes in short-term rates, significant changes in the long-term benchmark interest and foreign exchange rates also materially impact our interest and currency swap agreements.

The fair value of our interest and currency swap agreements are 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 12 – Derivative Instruments” for the effects on the change in fair value of our derivative instruments on our consolidated statements of income and statements of comprehensive 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, 2014, we had a valuation allowance of $58.4 million (2013  – $73.1 million).

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.

 

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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 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 and Executive Officers

The following table provides information about the directors and executive officers of our General Partner and 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 December 31, 2014.

 

Name

   Age   

Position

C. Sean Day

  

65

  

Chairman

Peter Evensen

  

56

  

Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director

Beverlee F. Park

  

52

  

Director since March 11, 2014 (1)(3)(4)

Kenneth Hvid

  

46

  

Director

Ida Jane Hinkley

  

64

  

Director (1)(2)(3)

Joseph E. McKechnie

  

56

  

Director (2)

George Watson

  

67

  

Director (1)(2)(3)

Andres Luna

  

58

  

Managing Director, Teekay Shipping Spain SL

 

(1)

Member of Audit Committee.

(2)

Member of Conflicts Committee.

(3)

Member of Corporate Governance Committee.

(4)

Ms. Beverlee F. Park joined the Board of Directors, Corporate Governance Committee and assumed the role as Chair of the Audit Committee on March 11, 2014, replacing Mr. Robert E. Boyd, who retired from the Board of Directors on the same day.

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. He served as a Chairman of Teekay Tankers Ltd. from October 2007 until June 2013. 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’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, and a Director of Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C., since it was formed in August 2006. He served as a Director of Teekay Tankers from October 2007 until June 2013. 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 2006. Mr. Evensen has over 30 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.

Beverlee F. Park joined the Board of Teekay GP L.L.C. on March 11, 2014. From 2000 to 2013, Ms. Park served as Chief Operating Officer, Interim Chief Executive Officer, and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at TimberWest, the largest private forest land owner in Western Canada. During this time, Ms. Park also served as President and Chief Operating Officer, Couverdon Real Estate, a division of TimberWest. From 2003 to 2010, Ms. Park served as Board Member, Audit Committee Chair of BC Transmission Corp., the entity responsible for the operation and maintenance of 18,000km of electrical transmission in British Columbia and 300 substations. Previously, Ms. Park was employed by BC Hydro, British Columbia’s electricity, transmission and distribution utility company, in a range of senior financial roles and by KPMG. Ms. Park is currently a Board member of InTransit BC and of Silver Standard Resources Inc., serving as a member of the company’s Audit Committee and Safety and Sustainability Committee.

 

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Kenneth Hvid has served as a Director of Teekay GP L.L.C. since April 1, 2011. Since April 2011, he has also served as Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President of Teekay Corporation and as a Director of Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C. 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 26 years of global shipping experience, 12 of which were spent with A.P. Moller in Copenhagen, San Francisco and Hong Kong. In 2007 Mr. Hvid joined the Board or Directors of Gard P&I (Bermuda) Ltd.

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’s 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 and as a non-executive director of Vesuvius plc, a London Stock Exchange listed engineering company. From 2007 to 2008 she served as a non-executive director on the Board of Revus Energy ASA, a Norwegian listed oil company.

Joseph E. McKechnie joined the board of Teekay GP L.L.C. on February 19, 2013. Mr. McKechnie is a retired United States Coast Guard Officer, having served for more than 23 years, many of which focused on marine safety and security with an emphasis on LNG. In 2000 he joined Tractebel LNG North America (formerly Cabot LNG) in Boston, Massachusetts as the Vice President of Shipping, where he oversaw the LNG shipping operations for the Port of Boston. From 2006 to 2011, Mr. McKechnie was transferred to London and then Paris to continue his work with SUEZ, (the parent company of Tractebel) and ultimately GDF-SUEZ, as the Senior Vice President of Shipping, and Deputy Head of the Shipping Department. He is a former member of the board of directors of Society of International Gas Tankers and Terminal Operators, and Gaz-Ocean, the GDF-SUEZ Owned LNG vessel operating company. In 2011, he left GDF-SUEZ following the successful merger of GDF and SUEZ, and ultimately formed J.E. McKechnie LLC in early 2011.

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.

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. 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.

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. In addition, Michael Balaski was the Vice President of our General Partner from December 2011 until his resignation on August 20, 2014. His compensation was set and paid by our General Partner, and we reimbursed our General Partner for time he spent on our partnership matters. During 2014, the aggregate amount for which we reimbursed Teekay Corporation for compensation expenses of the officers of the General Partner incurred on our behalf and for compensation earned by the executive officer of Teekay Spain listed above was approximately $2.4 million. The amounts were paid primarily in U.S. Dollars or in Euros, but are reported here in U.S. Dollars using an exchange rate 1.33 U.S. Dollar for each Euro, the exchange rate on December 31, 2014. Teekay Corporation’s annual bonus plan, in which each of the Officers participates, considers both company performance, team performance and individual performance (through comparison to established targets).

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. During 2014, each non-management director received compensation for attending meetings of the Board of Directors, as well as committee meetings. Non-management directors received a director fee of $50,000 for the year and common units with a value of approximately $70,000 for the year. The Chairman received an additional annual fee of $37,500 and common units with a value of approximately $87,500. In addition, members of the audit, conflicts and governance committees each received a committee fee of $5,000 for the year, and the chairs of the audit committee, conflicts committee and governance committee received additional fees of $12,000, $12,000, and $10,000, respectively, for serving in that role. Each director is fully indemnified by us for actions associated with being a director to the extent permitted under Marshall Islands law.

During 2014, the five non-management directors received, in the aggregate, $367,750 in cash fees for their services as directors, plus reimbursement of their out-of-pocket expenses. In March 2014, our general partner’s Board of Directors granted to the five non-management directors an aggregate of 9,521 common units.

 

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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. In 2014, the General Partner awarded 31,961 restricted units to the employees who provide services to our business. The restricted units vest evenly over a three year period from the grant date.

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 “Investors – Teekay LNG Partners L.P. – Governance” from the home page of our web site at www.teekay.com. During 2014, the Board held seven meetings. Directors attended all Board meetings except for two board members who between them missed four meetings. Audit Committee members attended all meetings except for one member who missed one meeting. Conflicts Committee members attended all applicable meetings. Corporate Governance Committee members attended all committee meetings, except for one member who missed one meeting.

Audit Committee . The Audit Committee of our General Partner is composed of at least three directors, each of whom must meet the independence standards of the New York Stock Exchange (or NYSE) and the SEC. This committee is comprised of directors Beverlee F. Park (Chair), Ida Jane Hinkley and George Watson. All members of the committee are financially literate and the Board has determined that Ms. Park qualifies as the 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.

Conflicts Committee. The Conflicts Committee of our General Partner is comprised of George Watson (Chair), Joseph E. McKechnie 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 unit holders. 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 Ida Jane Hinkley (Chair), Beverlee F. Park 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.

 

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Crewing and Staff

As of December 31, 2014, approximately 1,628 seagoing staff served on our vessels and approximately 11 staff served on shore in technical, commercial and administrative roles in various countries, compared to approximately 1,400 seagoing staff and 15 on shore staff as of December 31, 2013 and approximately 1,370 seagoing staff and 15 on shore staff as of December 31, 2012. 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. As such, we have a LNG training facility in Glasgow that serves this purpose.

Unit Ownership

The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership, as of December 31, 2014, of our units by all directors and officers of our General Partner, and an executive officer 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 March 1, 2015 (60 days after December 31, 2014) 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 (8 persons) (1) (2)

     128,306         0.16

 

(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, Peter Evensen and Kenneth Hvid. Peter Evensen is also 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. and Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C. 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 1% 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 December 31, 2014, 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 March 1, 2015 (60 days after December 31, 2014) 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.

 

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     Common
Units Owned
     Percentage of
Common Units
Owned (1)
 

Identity of Person or Group

     

Teekay Corporation (1)

     25,208,274         32.2

Neuberger Berman LLC (2)

     9,010,446         11.5

Oppenheimer Funds, Inc. (3)

     7,375,160         9.4

 

(1)

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

(2)

Includes shared voting power as to 8,747,346 units and shared dispositive power as to 9,010,446 units. Both Neuberger Berman Group LLC and Neuberger Berman LLC have shared dispositive power. Neuberger Berman, LLC and Neuberger Berman Management LLC serve as a sub-advisor and investment manager, respectively, of Neuberger Berman Group LLC’s various registered mutual funds which hold such units. The holdings belonging to clients of Neuberger Berman Trust Co N.A., Neuberger Berman Trust Co of Delaware N.A., NB Alternatives Advisers LLC, Neuberger Berman Fixed Income LLC and NB Alternative Investment Management LLC, affiliates of Neuberger Berman LLC, are also aggregated to comprise the holdings referenced herein. This information is based on the Schedule 13G/A filed by this group with the SEC on February 9, 2015.

(3)

Includes shared voting power and shared dispositive power as to 7,375,160 units. This information is based on the Schedule 13G/A filed by this group with the SEC on February 10, 2015.

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 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

 

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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 and Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C. (the general partner of Teekay Offshore Partners L.P., a publicly held partnership controlled by Teekay Corporation). He served as a Chairman of Teekay Tankers Ltd., a publicly held corporation controlled by Teekay Corporation, from 2007 to June 2013.

Peter Evensen is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and a director of Teekay GP L.L.C. and the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and a director of Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C. Mr. Evensen is also the President and Chief Executive Officer of Teekay Corporation and a director of Teekay Corporation.

Kenneth Hvid, a director of Teekay GP L.L.C., is also Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer of Teekay Corporation and a director of Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C.

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.

Please read “Item 18. – Financial Statements: Note 11 – Related Party Transactions” for a description of our various related-party transactions.

Item 8. Financial Information

A. 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.

 

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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 $1.6500 per year, 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 exists, under our credit agreements.

Our cash distributions were $0.6300 per unit in 2011, increased to $0.6750 per unit effective for the second quarter of 2012, increased to $0.6918 effective for the first quarter of 2014 and further increased to $0.7000 effective for the first quarter of 2015.

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 to our unitholders 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.

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 “ 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

   Marginal Percentage   Interest In Distributions
     (per unit)    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 $0.6500    75%   25%

Thereafter

   Above $0.6500    50%   50%

B. Significant Changes

Please read “Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 19 – 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 prices for our common units on the NYSE for each of the periods indicated.

 

Years Ended      Dec. 31,
2014
     Dec. 31,
2013
     Dec. 31,
2012
     Dec. 31,
2011
     Dec. 31,
2010

High

     $47.49      $45.42      $42.26      $41.50      $38.25

Low

     33.02      37.73      33.00      28.61      19.75

 

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Quarters Ended    Mar. 31,
2015
     Dec. 31,
2014
     Sept. 30,
2014
     June 30,
2014
     Mar. 31,
2014
     Dec. 31,
2013
     Sept. 30,
2013
     June 30,
2013
     Mar. 31,
2013
 

High

   $ 43.38      $ 43.86      $ 47.49      $ 46.69      $ 42.92      $ 44.96      $ 45.42      $ 45.06      $ 42.60  

Low

     34.13        33.02        40.40        41.35        39.03        38.17        41.18        38.32        37.73  

 

Months Ended      Mar. 31,
2015
       Feb. 28,
2015
       Jan. 31,
2015
       Dec. 31,
2014
       Nov. 30,
2014
       Oct. 31,
2014
 

High

     $ 37.70        $ 39.47        $ 43.38        $ 43.66        $ 39.78        $ 43.86  

Low

       34.13          36.32          37.10          34.62          35.82          33.02  

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 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.

 

  (b)

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.

 

  (c)

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 certain non-strategic services such as, crew training, advisory, technical and administrative services that supplement existing capabilities of the employees of our operating subsidiaries. Teekay Corporation subsidiaries also provide business development services and strategic consulting and advisory services. All these services are charged at 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.

 

  (d)

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.

 

  (e)

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.

 

  (f)

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.

 

  (g)

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.

 

  (h)

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.

 

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  (i)

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.

 

  (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 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.

 

  (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 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.

 

  (l)

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.

 

  (m)

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. 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 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.

 

  (n)

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.

 

  (o)

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 5 – Equity Method Investments.”

 

  (p)

Agreement dated April 30, 2012, for NOK 700,000,000, Senior Unsecured Bonds due May 2017, among, Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and Norsk Tillitsmann ASA.

 

  (q)

Agreement dated February 12, 2013; Teekay Luxembourg S.a.r.l. entered into a share purchase agreement with Exmar NV and Exmar Marine NV to purchase 50% of the shares in Exmar LPG BVBA.

 

  (r)

Agreement dated June 27, 2013, for US$195,000,000 senior secured notes between Meridian Spirit ApS and Wells Fargo Bank Northwest N.A. The loan bears interest at fixed rate of 4.11%. The facility requires quarterly repayments through 2030.

 

  (s)

Agreement dated June 28, 2013, for a US$160,000,000 loan facility between Malt Singapore Pte. Ltd. and Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The loan bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.60%. The facility requires quarterly repayments, with a bullet payment on maturity in 2021.

 

  (t)

Agreement dated July 30, 2013, for a US$608,000,000 loan facility between Malt LNG Netherlands Holdings B.V. and DNB Bank ASA, acting as agent and security trustee. The loan bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 3.15% for Tranche A and LIBOR plus a margin of 0.5% for Tranche B. The facility requires quarterly repayments, with a bullet payment on maturity in 2017.

 

  (u)

Agreement dated August 30, 2013, for NOK 900,000,000, Senior Unsecured Bonds due September 2018, among, Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and Norsk Tillitsmann ASA.

 

  (v)

Agreement dated December 9, 2013, for a US$125,000,000 secured credit facility between Wilforce L.L.C. and Credit Suisse AG and others. The loan bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 3.20%. The facility requires quarterly repayments, with a bullet payment in 2018.

 

  (w)

Agreement dated July 7, 2014; Teekay LNG Operating L.L.C. entered into a shareholder agreement with China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited to form TC LNG Shipping LLC in connection with the Yamal LNG Project.

 

  (x)

Agreement dated December 17, 2014, for a US$450,000,000 secured loan facility between Nakilat Holdco L.L.C. and Qatar National Bank SAQ. The loan bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.85%. The facility requires quarterly repayments, with a bullet payment in 2026.

 

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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 . 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. Consequently, 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. In addition, 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 certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to common unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the United States. This discussion is based upon provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or the Code ), legislative history, applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations (or Treasury Regulations ), judicial authority and administrative interpretations, all as in effect on the date of this Annual Report, and which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, or are subject to different interpretations. 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 common units as capital assets for tax purposes. This discussion does not address all tax considerations that may be important to a particular unitholder in light of the unitholder’s 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 common 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 percent or more of our units; and

 

   

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

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. Partner in partnerships holding our common units should consult their own tax advisors to determine the appropriate tax treatment of the partnership’s ownership of our 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 U.S. federal income tax purposes, 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 a publicly traded partnerships generally will be treated as a corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, an exception, referred to as the “Qualifying Income Exception,” exists with respect to a publicly traded partnerships whose “qualifying income” represents 90 percent or more of its 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.

 

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We estimate that less than 5 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 crude oil, natural gas and products thereof, including LNG, pursuant to bareboat charters or (2) income or gain we recognize from foreign currency transactions, is qualifying income, we currently are 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 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 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 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, gain, loss, deduction 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.

In addition, certain U.S. unitholders who are individuals, estates or trusts are required to pay an additional 3.8 percent tax on, among other things, the income allocated to them. 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 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 by his share of our tax-exempt income, if any, 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.

 

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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 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.

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:

 

   

his 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.

 

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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 an offering of common units will be borne by the general partner and the existing limited partners.

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 (a) the unitholder acquired his common unit, (b) we issue additional units or (c) 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.

 

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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 preferential tax rates.

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 Treasury 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 Treasury Regulations.

In addition, certain U.S. unitholders who are individuals, estates or trusts are required to pay an additional 3.8 percent tax on, among other things, capital gain from the sale or other disposition of their units. Unitholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this tax on their ownership of our common units.

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, deductions and credit 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 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 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.

 

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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 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 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 a non-U.S. unitholder would not be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to our transportation income attributable to such voyages. 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 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. If we were to earn any 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 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, local and other 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.

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 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.

 

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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 each unitholder’s 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 cannot 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 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 percent interest in profits or by any group of unitholders having in the aggregate at least a 5 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 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 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 percent or greater direct interest in us along with the Schedule K-1 information described previously.

In addition to the foregoing, a U.S. person who directly owns at least a 10 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 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 percent interest in us, owns a greater than 50 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.

In addition, individual citizens or residents of the United States who hold certain specified foreign financial assets, including units in a foreign partnership not held in an account maintained by a financial institution, with an aggregate value in excess of $50,000, on the last day of a taxable year, or $75,000 at any time during that taxable year, may be required to report such assets on IRS Form 8938 with their U.S. federal income tax return for that taxable year. Penalties apply for failure to properly complete and file IRS Form 8938. Investors are encouraged to consult with your tax advisor regarding the potential application of this disclosure requirement.

Accuracy-related Penalties.  

An additional tax equal to 20 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 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.

 

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A substantial understatement of income tax in any taxable year exists if the amount of the understatement exceeds the greater of 10 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. In addition, Section 743(b) adjustments to the basis of our assets would no longer be available to purchasers in the marketplace. Subject to the discussion of foreign passive investment companies (or PFICs) below, any distribution made to a unitholder would be treated as taxable dividend income to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of our earnings and profits would be treated first as a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of the unitholder’s tax basis in his common units, and taxable capital gain thereafter. Dividends paid on our common units to U.S. unitholders who are individuals, estates or trusts generally would be treated as “qualified dividend income” that is subject to tax at preferential capital gain rates, subject to certain holding period and other requirements. In addition, certain U.S. unitholders who are individuals, estates or trusts would be required to pay an additional 3.8 percent tax on the dividends and distributions taxable as capital gain paid to them.

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, ammonia, 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 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 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 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, in the event we were treated as a corporation, 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 would be subject to U.S. federal income taxation under one of two alternative tax regimes (the 4 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 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.

In the event we were treated as a corporation, we do not believe that we would be able to qualify for the Section 883 Exemption and therefore our U.S. Source International Transportation Income would not be exempt from U.S. federal income taxation.

The 4 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 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 $500,000 of U.S. federal income tax in 2015 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 2014 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.

 

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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 percent U.S. federal income tax described above is inapplicable to Effectively Connected Income.

Unless the Section 883 Exemption applied, a 30 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 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-U.S. 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 percent of its gross income is “passive” income or (ii) at least 50 percent of the average value of its assets is attributable to assets that produce 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.

If we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a unitholder owns units, a U.S. 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 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.

 

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In addition, for each year during which a U.S. unitholder holds units, we were treated as a PFIC, and the total value of all PFIC stock that such U.S. unitholder directly or indirectly owns exceeds certain thresholds, such unitholder would be required to file IRS Form 8621 with its annual U.S. federal income tax return to report its ownership of our 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.

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. unitholders who each own, directly, indirectly or constructively, 10 percent or more of the total combined voting power of our outstanding shares entitled to vote) own directly, indirectly or constructively more than 50 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 respective 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 Corporation

Our subsidiary Teekay LNG Holdco L.L.C. is wholly-owned by a U.S. partnership and has been classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is 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 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 subsidiary 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 2014 and would not apply in subsequent years and therefore, the 4 percent gross basis tax applied to our subsidiary corporation in 2014 and will apply to our subsidiary corporation 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 2015 and in each subsequent year based on the amount of U.S. Source International Transportation Income our corporate subsidiary earned for 2014 and its expected U.S. Source International Transportation Income for 2015 and subsequent years. The amount of such tax for which it would be liable for any year will depend upon the amount of income earned from voyages into or out of the United States in such year, which, however, is not within its complete control.

As a non-U.S. entity classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, Teekay LNG Holdco L.L.C. could be considered a PFIC. However, we have received a ruling from the IRS that 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.

In past years, certain other of our subsidiaries were classified as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We have and will continue to take the position that these subsidiaries, to the extent they were owned by our U.S. partnership, should also have been treated as CFCs rather than PFICs. Moreover, we have and will continue to take the position that these subsidiaries were not PFICs at any time prior to being owned by our U.S. partnership. 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).

Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations. The following discussion is a summary of the material Canadian federal income tax considerations 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.

We are considered to be a partnership under Canadian federal income tax law and therefore not a taxable entity for Canadian 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.

We believe that our activities and affairs are conducted in such a manner that we are not 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. If the arrangements we have entered into result in our being considered to carry on business in Canada for purposes of the Canada Tax Act, U.S. Resident Holders would be considered to be carrying on business in Canada and may be required to file Canadian tax returns and would be subject to taxation in Canada on any income from such business that is considered to be attributable to a permanent establishment in Canada for purposes of the Canada-U.S. Treaty

 

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Although we do not intend to do so, there can be no assurance that the manner in which we carry on our activities will not change from time to time as circumstances dictate or warrant in a manner that may cause U.S. Resident Holders to be carrying on business in Canada for purposes of the Canada Tax Act. Further, the relevant Canadian federal income tax law may change by legislation or judicial interpretation and the Canadian taxing authorities may take a different view than we have of the current law.

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 10 – 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, EURIBOR or NIBOR. Significant increases in interest rates could adversely affect our operating margins, results of operations and our ability to service our debt. From time to time, 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.

The table below provides information about our financial instruments at December 31, 2014, 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

 

     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019     There-
after
    Total     Fair
Value
Liability
    Rate  (1)  
     (in millions of U.S. Dollars, except percentages)  

Long-Term Debt:

                  

Variable-Rate ($U.S.) (2)

     141.6       85.6       90.2       509.3       60.9       536.8       1,424.4       (1,386.4     1.7

Variable-Rate (Euro) (3) (4)

     15.6       16.7       17.9       143.5       10.2       81.1       285.0       (273.5     1.6

Variable-Rate (NOK) (4) (5)

     —         —         93.9       120.8       —         —         214.7       (220.8     6.4

Capital Lease Obligations

                  

Variable-Rate ($U.S.) (6)

     4.4       4.6       28.3       26.3       —         —         63.6       (63.6     5.5

Average Interest Rate (7)

     5.4     5.4     4.6     6.4     —         —         5.5    

Interest Rate Swaps:

                  

Contract Amount ($U.S.) (8)

     31.9       351.9       161.9       61.9       114.2       170.1       891.9       (73.8     3.7

Average Fixed-Pay Rate (2)

     3.4     3.0     4.9     4.1     2.1     4.9     3.7    

Contract Amount (Euro) (4) (9)

     15.6       16.7       17.9       143.5       10.2       81.1       285.0       (45.8     3.1

Average Fixed-Pay Rate (3)

     3.1     3.1     3.1     2.6     3.7     3.8     3.1    

 

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(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, 2014 ranged from 0.30% to 2.80%. Please read “Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 9 – 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 and NOK-denominated amounts have been converted to U.S. Dollars using the prevailing exchange rate as of December 31, 2014.

(5)

Interest payments on our NOK-denominated debt and on our cross-currency swaps are based on NIBOR. Our NOK 700 million and NOK 900 million debt have been economically hedged with cross-currency swaps, to swap all interest and principal payments into U.S. Dollars, with the respective interest payments fixed at a rate of 6.88% and 6.43%, and the transfer of principal locked in at $125.0 million and $150.0 million upon maturity. Please see below in the foreign currency fluctuation section and read “Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 12 Derivative Instruments.”

(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.

(8)

The average variable receive rate for our U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps is set at 3-month or 6-month LIBOR.

(9)

The average variable receive rate for our Euro-denominated interest rate swaps is set 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 is 11 years as of December 31, 2014, 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 receivable or payable to from Teekay Corporation are settled at the end of each year. At December 31, 2014, the fair value of this derivative liability was $2.1 million and the change from reporting period to period has been reported in realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments.

Foreign Currency Fluctuations

Our functional currency is U.S. Dollars because primarily all of our revenues and most of our operating costs are in 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, our Euro-denominated loans and restricted cash deposits and our NOK-denominated bonds. 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 our crew and administrative staff. We have Euro-denominated interest expense and Euro-denominated interest income related to our Euro-denominated loans of 235.6 million Euros ($285.0 million) and Euro-denominated restricted cash deposits of 15.1 million Euros ($18.3 million), respectively, as at December 31, 2014. We also incur NOK-denominated interest expense on our NOK-denominated bonds; however, we entered into cross-currency swaps and pursuant to these swaps we receive the principal amount in NOK on the maturity date of the swap, in exchange for payment of a fixed U.S. Dollar amount. In addition, the cross-currency swaps exchange a receipt of floating interest in NOK based on NIBOR plus a margin for a payment of U.S. Dollar fixed interest. The purpose of the cross-currency swaps is to economically hedge the foreign currency exposure on the payment of interest and principal of our NOK bonds due in 2017 through 2018, and to economically hedge the interest rate exposure. We have not designated, for accounting purposes, these cross-currency swaps as cash flow hedges of its NOK-denominated bonds due in 2017 through 2018. Please read “Item 18 – Financial Statements: Note 12 – Derivative Instruments.” At December 31, 2014, the fair value of the derivative liabilities was $70.4 million and the change from December 2013 to the reporting period has been reported in foreign currency exchange gain (loss). As a result, fluctuations in the Euro and NOK 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, realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments and foreign currency exchange gain (loss).

 

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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, 2014.

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 (2013) 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 controls 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, 2014.

Our independent auditors, KPMG LLP, an independent 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.

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 (as defined in Rule 13a – 15 (f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert

The Board of Directors of our General Partner has determined that director Robert E. Boyd qualified, and Ms. Beverlee F. Park, who replaced Mr. Boyd when he retired from the Board of Directors of our General Partner on March 11, 2014, qualifies as an audit committee financial expert and is independent under applicable NYSE and SEC standards.

 

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Item 16B. Code of Ethics

We have adopted a Standards of Business Conduct that applies to all our employees and the employees and directors of our General Partner. This document is available under “Investors – Teekay LNG Partners L.P.—Governance” from the home page of our web site (www.teekay.com). We intend to disclose, under “Investors – Teekay LNG Partners L.P.—Governance” in the Investors 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 2014 and 2013 was KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants. The following table shows the fees we paid or accrued for audit and audit-related services provided by KPMG LLP for 2014 and 2013.

 

Fees (in thousands of U.S. Dollars)    2014      2013  
     $      $  

Audit Fees (1)

     729        837  

Audit-Related Fees (2)

     3        10  

Other (3)

     —          50  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

  732     897  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(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)

Audit-related fees relate to other accounting consultations.

(3)

Other fees related to due diligence on business development activities.

No fees for tax services were provided to the Partnership by the auditor during the term of their appointments in 2014 and 2013.

The Audit Committee of our General Partner’s Board of Directors has the authority to pre-approve permissible audit, 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 pre-approved all engagements and fees paid to our principal accountant in 2014 and in 2013.

 

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

Not applicable.

 

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.

 

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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 are filed as part of this Annual Report:

 

     Page  

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-1, F-2   

Consolidated Financial Statements

  

Consolidated Statements of Income

     F-3   

Consolidated Statements Comprehensive 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., dated May 10, 2005, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of May 31, 2006 and Amendment No. 2 effective 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., dated March 2005, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated February 25, 2008, and Amendment No.2, dated February 29, 2008. (3)

    2.1   

Agreement, dated April 30, 2012, for NOK 700,000,000, Senior Unsecured Bonds due May 2017, among, Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and Norsk Tillitsmann ASA. (4)

    2.2   

Agreement, dated August 30, 2013, for NOK 900,000,000, Senior Unsecured Bonds due September 2018, among, Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and Norsk Tillitsmann ASA. (5)

    4.2   

Teekay LNG Partners L.P. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan. (3)

    4.3   

Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement with Teekay Corporation, Teekay Offshore, our General Partner and related parties. (6)

    4.4   

Administrative Services Agreement with Teekay Shipping Limited. (3)

    4.5   

Advisory, Technical and Administrative Services Agreement between Teekay Shipping Spain S.L. and Teekay Shipping Limited. (3)

    4.6   

LNG Strategic Consulting and Advisory Services Agreement between Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and Teekay Shipping Limited. (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    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)
    4.10    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. (7)
    4.11    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. (8)
    4.12    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. (9)
    4.13    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. (10)
    4.14    Credit Facility Agreement between Taizhou L.L.C. and DHJS L.L.C and Calyon, as Agent, dated as of October 27, 2009. (11)
    4.15    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. (12)
    4.16    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. (12)
    4.17    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. (13)
    4.18    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. (14)

 

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    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 II, Ltd., BNP Paribas S.A., and other banks and financial institutions. (14)
    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 III, Ltd., BNP Paribas S.A., and other banks and financial institutions. (14)

    4.21

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. (14)

    4.22

Share purchase agreement dated February 28, 2012 to purchase Maersk LNG A/S through the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture from Maersk. (14)

    4.23

Agreement dated January 1, 2012, for business development services between Teekay LNG Operating LLC and Teekay Shipping Limited. (15)

    4.24

Agreement dated June 27, 2013, for US$195,000,000 senior secured notes between Meridian Spirit ApS and Wells Fargo Bank Northwest N.A. (16)

    4.25

Agreement dated June 28, 2013, for US$160,000,000 loan facility between Malt Singapore Pte. Ltd. and Commonwealth Bank of Australia. (16)

    4.26

Agreement dated July 30, 2013, for US$608,000,000 loan facility between Malt LNG Netherlands Holdings B.V. and DNB Bank ASA, acting as agent and security trustee. (16)

    4.27

Agreement dated December 9, 2013, for US$125,000,000 loan facility between Wilforce L.L.C. and Credit Suisse AG and others. (5)

    4.28

Agreement dated February 12, 2013; Teekay Luxembourg S.a.r.l. entered into a share purchase agreement with Exmar NV and Exmar Marine NV to purchase 50% of the shares in Exmar LPG BVBA. (5)

    4.29

Agreement dated July 7, 2014; Teekay LNG Operating L.L.C. entered into a shareholder agreement with China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited to form TC LNG Shipping LLC in connection with the Yamal LNG Project.

    4.30

Agreement dated December 17, 2014, for US$450,000,000 loan facility between Nakilat Holdco L.L.C. and Qatar National Bank SAQ.

    8.1

List of Significant 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

Consolidated Financial Statements of Malt LNG Netherlands Holdings B.V.

  15.3

Consolidated Financial Statements of Exmar LPG BVBA.

101.INS

XBRL Instance Document.

101.SCJ XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.
101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.
101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.
101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase.
101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase.

 

(1)

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 20F filed with the SEC on April 4, 2011, 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 Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on September 27, 2012, 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 29, 2014 and hereby incorporated by reference to such report.

(6)

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.

(7)

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.

(8)

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.

(9)

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.

(10)

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.

(11)

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.

 

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(12)

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.

(13)

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.

(14)

Previously filed as an exhibit to the Partnership’s Report on Form 20-F (File No. 1-32479), filed with the SEC on April 11, 2011 and hereby incorporated by reference to such report.

(15)

Previously filed as an exhibit to the Partnership’s Report on Form 20-F (File No. 1-32479), filed with the SEC on April 16, 2012 and hereby incorporated by reference to such report.

(16)

Previously filed as an exhibit to the Partnership’s Report on Form 6-K (File No. 1-32479), filed with the SEC on November 27, 2013 and hereby incorporated by reference to such report.

 

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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.

 

Date: April 22, 2015

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P.

By:

Teekay GP L.L.C., its General Partner

By:

/s/ Peter Evensen

Peter Evensen

Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Unitholders of Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and subsidiaries (the “Partnership”) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows, and changes in total equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2014. 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 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 consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Partnership as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2014, 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, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report dated April 22, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Vancouver, Canada

/s/ KPMG LLP

April 22, 2015

Chartered Accountants

 

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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”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) 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.

An entity’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. An entity’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 entity; (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 entity are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the entity; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the entity’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, 2014 based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) 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 sheets of the Partnership as at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows, and changes in total equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2014, and our report dated April 22, 2015, expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

 

Vancouver, Canada

/s/ KPMG LLP

April 22, 2015

Chartered Accountants

 

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TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands of U.S. Dollars, except unit and per unit data)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2014     2013     2012  
     $     $     $  

Voyage revenue (note 11a)

     402,928       399,276       392,900  

Voyage expenses

     (3,321     (2,857     (1,772

Vessel operating expenses (note 11a)

     (95,808     (99,949     (94,536

Depreciation and amortization

     (94,127     (97,884     (100,474

General and administrative (notes 11a and 16)

     (23,860     (20,444     (18,960

Write down of vessels (note 18)

     —         —         (29,367

Restructuring charge (note 17)

     (1,989     (1,786     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

  183,823     176,356     147,791  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity income (note 5)

  115,478     123,282     78,866  

Interest expense (notes 4 and 9)

  (60,414   (55,703   (54,211

Interest income (note 4)

  3,052     2,972     3,502  

Realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments (note 12)

  (44,682   (14,000   (29,620

Foreign currency exchange gain (loss) (notes 9 and 12)

  28,401     (15,832   (8,244

Other income

  836     1,396     1,683  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income before income tax expense

  226,494     218,471     139,767  

Income tax expense (note 10)

  (7,567   (5,156   (625
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

  218,927     213,315     139,142  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-controlling interest in net income

  13,489     12,073     15,437  

General Partner’s interest in net income

  31,187     25,365     21,303  

Limited partners’ interest in net income

  174,251     175,877     102,402  

Limited partners’ interest in net income per common unit:

Ÿ Basic

  2.30     2.48     1.54  

Ÿ Diluted

  2.30     2.48     1.54  

Weighted-average number of common units outstanding:

Ÿ Basic

  75,664,435     70,965,496     66,328,496  

Ÿ Diluted

  75,702,886     70,996,869     66,328,496  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash distributions declared per common unit

  2.7672     2.7000     2.6550  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Related party transactions (note 11)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands of U.S. Dollars)

 

     Year Ended     Year Ended      Year Ended  
     December 31,     December 31,      December 31,  
     2014     2013      2012  
     $     $      $  

Net income

     218,927       213,315        139,142  

Other comprehensive (loss) income:

       

Unrealized (loss) gain on qualifying cash flow hedging instrument in equity accounted joint ventures before reclassifications, net of tax (note 5d)

     (3,085     131        —    

Realized loss on qualifying cash flow hedging instrument in equity accounted joint ventures reclassified to equity income, net of tax (note 5d)

     1,551       —          —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income

  (1,534   131     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

  217,393     213,446     139,142  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Non-controlling interest in comprehensive income

  13,489     12,073     15,437  

General and limited partners’ interest in comprehensive income

  203,904     201,373     123,705  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands of U.S. Dollars)

 

     As at     As at  
   December 31,     December 31,  
   2014     2013  
     $     $  

ASSETS

    

Current

    

Cash and cash equivalents

     159,639       139,481  

Restricted cash – current

     3,000       —    

Accounts receivable, including non-trade of $7,998 (2013 – $18,084) (note 12)

     11,265       19,844  

Prepaid expenses

     3,975       5,756  

Current portion of derivative assets (note 12)

     —         18,444  

Current portion of net investments in direct financing leases (note 4)

     15,837       16,441  

Current portion of advances to joint venture partner (note 6a)

     —         14,364  

Advances to affiliates (notes 11i and 12)

     11,942       6,634  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

  205,658     220,964  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Restricted cash – long-term (note 4)

  42,997     497,298  

Vessels and equipment

At cost, less accumulated depreciation of $588,735 (2013 – $413,074)

  1,659,807     1,253,763  

Vessels under capital leases, at cost, less accumulated depreciation of $50,898 (2013 – $152,020) (note 4)

  91,776     571,692  

Advances on newbuilding contracts (notes 11h and 13)

  237,647     97,207  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total vessels and equipment

  1,989,230     1,922,662  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investment in and advances to equity accounted joint ventures (notes 5, 6b, 6c, 11f and 11g)

  891,478     671,789  

Net investments in direct financing leases (note 4)

  666,658     683,254  

Other assets (notes 5b and 10)

  44,679     28,284  

Derivative assets (note 12)

  441     62,867  

Intangible assets – net (note 7)

  87,646     96,845  

Goodwill – liquefied gas segment (note 7)

  35,631     35,631  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

  3,964,418     4,219,594  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Current

Accounts payable

  643     1,741  

Accrued liabilities (notes 8, 12 and 17)

  39,037     45,796  

Unearned revenue

  16,565     14,342  

Current portion of long-term debt (note 9)

  157,235     97,114  

Current obligations under capital lease (note 4)

  4,422     31,668  

Current portion of in-process contracts (note 5b)

  4,736     1,113  

Current portion of derivative liabilities (note 12)

  57,678     76,980  

Advances from affiliates (notes 11i and 12)

  43,205     19,270  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

  323,521     288,024  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term debt (note 9)

  1,766,889     1,680,393  

Long-term obligations under capital lease (note 4)

  59,128     566,661  

Long-term unearned revenue

  33,938     36,689  

Other long-term liabilities (notes 4 and 5d)

  74,734     69,480  

In-process contracts (note 5b)

  32,660     3,660  

Derivative liabilities (note 12)

  126,177     130,903  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

  2,417,047     2,775,810  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (notes 4, 5, 9, 12 and 13)

Equity

Limited Partners

  1,482,647     1,338,133  

General Partner

  56,508     52,526  

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

  (1,403   131  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Partners’ equity

  1,537,752     1,390,790  

Non-controlling interest

  9,619     52,994  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

  1,547,371     1,443,784  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and total equity

  3,964,418     4,219,594  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands of U.S. Dollars)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2014     2013     2012  
     $     $     $  

Cash and cash equivalents provided by (used for)

      

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

      

Net income

     218,927       213,315       139,142  

Non-cash items:

      

Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments (note 12)

     2,096       (22,568     (6,900

Depreciation and amortization

     94,127       97,884       100,474  

Write down of vessels

     —         —         29,367  

Unrealized foreign currency exchange (gain) loss (notes 9 and 12)

     (34,079     16,019       8,923  

Equity income, net of dividends received of $11,005 (2013 – $13,738 and 2012 – $14,700)

     (104,473     (109,544     (64,166

Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs and other

     9,148       5,551       (27

Change in operating assets and liabilities (note 14a)

     18,822       10,078       (7,307

Expenditures for dry docking

     (13,471     (27,203     (7,493
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net operating cash flow

  191,097     183,532     192,013  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

  944,123     719,300     500,335  

Scheduled repayments of long-term debt

  (100,804   (86,609   (84,666

Prepayments of long-term debt

  (608,501   (270,000   (324,274

Debt issuance costs

  (6,431   (3,362   (2,065

Scheduled repayments and prepayments of capital lease obligations

  (479,115   (10,315   (10,161

Proceeds from equity offerings, net of offering costs (note 15)

  182,139     190,520     182,316  

Repayments (advances) from/to joint venture partners and equity accounted joint ventures

  631     (16,822   (3,600

Decrease (increase) in restricted cash

  448,914     27,761     (31,217

Cash distributions paid

  (240,525   (215,416   (195,909

Novation of derivative liabilities (note 11j)

  2,985     —       —    

Dividends paid to non-controlling interest (note 14h)

  (42,716   (373   (385
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net financing cash flow

  100,700     334,684     30,374  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Purchase of and additional capital contributions in equity accounted investments (notes 5 and 14g)

  (100,200   (135,790   (170,067

Receipts from direct financing leases

  17,200     11,641     6,155  

Expenditures for vessels and equipment (note 14f)

  (188,855   (368,163   (39,894

Other

  216     —       1,369  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investing cash flow

  (271,639   (492,312   (202,437
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

  20,158     25,904     19,950  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year

  139,481     113,577     93,627  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year

  159,639     139,481     113,577  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental cash flow information (note 14)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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Table of Contents

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TOTAL EQUITY

(in thousands of U.S. Dollars and units)

 

     TOTAL EQUITY  
     Partners’ Equity              
     Limited Partners     General
Partner
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
(Note 5d)
   

Non-
controlling

Interest

    Total  
     Number of
Common Units
     $     $     $     $     $  

Balance as at December 31, 2011

     64,858         1,070,066        43,401       —         26,242       1,139,709  

Net income and comprehensive income

     —           102,402        21,303       —         15,437       139,142  

Cash distributions

     —           (175,455     (20,454     —         (385     (196,294

Re-investment tax credit (note 10)

     —           5,200        105       —         —         5,305  

Equity based compensation (note 16)

     —           32        2       —         —         34  

Proceeds from equity offering (note 15)

     4,826         178,532        3,784       —         —         182,316  

Acquisition of investment in the fourth Angola LNG Carrier (note 11e)

     —           (15,143     (795     —         —         (15,938
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as at December 31, 2012

  69,684      1,165,634      47,346     —       41,294     1,254,274  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

  —        175,877      25,365     —       12,073     213,315  

Other comprehensive income

  —        —        —       131     —       131  

Cash distributions

  —        (191,280   (24,136   —       (373   (215,789

Equity based compensation (note 16)

  7      1,306      27     —       —       1,333  

Proceeds from equity offerings (note 15)

  4,505      186,596      3,924      —       —       190,520  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as at December 31, 2013

  74,196      1,338,133      52,526      131     52,994     1,443,784  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

  —        174,251      31,187      —       13,489     218,927  

Other comprehensive loss

  —        —        —        (1,534   —       (1,534

Cash distributions

  —        (209,625   (30,900   —       —       (240,525

Dividends paid to non-controlling interest

  —        —        —        —       (57,080   (57,080

Equity based compensation (note 16)

  17      1,415     29      —       —       1,444  

Proceeds from equity offerings (note 15)

  4,140      178,473      3,666      —       —       182,139  

Sale of 1% interest in Norgas Napa to General Partner (note 11d)

  —       —       —        —       216     216  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as at December 31, 2014

  78,353      1,482,647      56,508      (1,403   9,619     1,547,371  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

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 and its wholly owned or controlled subsidiaries. Significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation. The preparation of consolidated 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 may differ from those estimates.

Significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation. In addition, certain of the comparative figures as at December 31, 2013 have been reclassified to conform to the presentation adopted in the current period relating to in-process revenue contracts of $1.1 million and $3.7 million reclassified from unearned revenue and other long-term liabilities, respectively, to current portion of in-process contracts and in-process contracts, respectively, in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets.

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 element 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, ship management services, 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 against the allowance when the Partnership believes that the receivable will not be recovered.

 

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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)

 

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 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 aggregated $70.1 million, $71.4 million and $76.4 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, 2014, 2013 and 2012 aggregated $3.1 million, $1.3 million and $24 thousand, 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, 2014, 2013 and 2012 is summarized as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  
     $      $      $  

Balance at January 1,

     40,328        28,821        34,449  

Cost incurred for dry docking

     13,471        27,203        7,493  

Sales of vessels (note 4)

     (5,327      (2,285      —    

Dry-dock amortization

     (14,837      (13,411      (13,121
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at December 31,

  33,635     40,328     28,821  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

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. The estimated fair value for the Partnership’s impaired vessels is determined using discounted cash flows or appraised values. In cases where an active second hand sale and purchase market does not exist, the Partnership uses a discounted cash flow approach to estimate the fair value of an impaired vessel. In cases where an active second hand sale and purchase market exists, an appraised value is generally the amount the Partnership would expect to receive if it were to sell the vessel. Such appraisal is normally completed by the Partnership.

Investments in and advances to equity accounted joint ventures

The Partnership’s investments in certain 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. In addition, the Partnership’s advances to equity accounted joint ventures are recorded at cost. The Partnership evaluates its investment in and advances to equity accounted 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 consolidated statements of income.

 

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)

 

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 at the reporting unit level on an annual basis or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. When goodwill is reviewed for impairment, the Partnership may elect to assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill. Alternatively, the Partnership may bypass this step and use a fair value approach 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. Intangible assets are assessed for impairment when and if impairment indicators exist. An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of an intangible asset is not recoverable and its carrying amount exceeds its fair 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 sheet 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 whether the contract qualifies for hedge accounting. At December 31, 2014, the Partnership has not applied hedge accounting to its derivative instruments, except for one interest rate swap in its equity accounted joint venture between the Partnership and Marubeni Corporation (or the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture ) (see note 5).

When a derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, the Partnership formally documents the relationship between the derivative and the hedged item. This documentation includes the strategy and risk management objective for undertaking the hedge and the method that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the hedge. Any hedge ineffectiveness is recognized immediately in earnings, as are any gains and losses on the derivative that are excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. The Partnership does not apply hedge accounting if it is determined that the hedge was not effective or will no longer be effective, the derivative was sold or exercised, or the hedged item was sold, repaid or no longer possible of occurring.

For derivative financial instruments designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges, changes in the fair value of the effective portion of the derivative financial instruments are initially recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in total equity. In the periods when the hedged items affect earnings, the associated fair value changes on the hedging derivatives are transferred from total equity to the corresponding earnings line item in the consolidated statements of income. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative financial instruments is immediately recognized in earnings in the consolidated statements of income. If a cash flow hedge is terminated and the originally hedged item is still considered possible of occurring, the gains and losses initially recognized in total equity remain there until the hedged item impacts earnings, at which point they are transferred to the corresponding earnings line item (e.g. interest expense) in the consolidated statements of income. If the hedged items are no longer possible of occurring, amounts recognized in total equity are immediately transferred to the earnings item in the consolidated statements of income.

For derivative financial instruments that are not designated or that do not qualify as hedges under Financial Accounting Standards Board (or FASB ) Accounting Standards Codification (or ASC ) 815, Derivatives and Hedging , 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 (see note 11c) are recorded in realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments in the Partnership’s consolidated statements of income. Gains and losses from the Partnership’s cross currency swaps are recorded in foreign exchange gain (loss) in the Partnership’s consolidated statements of income.

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. The Partnership recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense in the Partnership’s consolidated statements of income.

 

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)

 

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 income (expense) 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.

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

The following table contains the changes in the balance of the Partnership’s only component of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income for the periods presented:

 

     Qualifying Cash  
     Flow Hedging  
     Instruments  
     $  

Balance as at December 31, 2012

     —    

Other comprehensive income

     131  
  

 

 

 

Balance as at December 31, 2013

  131  

Other comprehensive loss

  (1,534
  

 

 

 

Balance as at December 31, 2014

  (1,403
  

 

 

 

 

2. Financial Instruments

 

  a)

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.

Interest and cross-currency swap agreements – The fair value of the Partnership’s derivative instruments is the estimated amount that the Partnership would receive or pay to terminate the agreements at the reporting date, taking into account current interest rates, foreign exchange rates and the current credit worthiness of both the Partnership and the derivative counterparties. The estimated amount is the present value of future cash flows. The Partnership 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. Given the current volatility in the credit markets, it is reasonably possible that the amount recorded as a derivative liability could vary by a material amount in the near term.

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 11c). 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. As projections of future spot rates are specific to the Partnership, these are considered Level 3 inputs for the purposes of estimating the fair value.

Long-term receivable included in other assets – The fair values of the Partnership’s long-term loan receivable is estimated using discounted cash flow analysis based on rates currently available for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities and the current credit worthiness of the counterparty.

Long-term debt – The fair values of the Partnership’s fixed-rate and variable-rate long-term debt is either based on quoted market prices or estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on rates currently available for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities and the current credit worthiness of the Partnership.

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 following table includes the estimated fair value and carrying value of those assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis, as well as the estimated fair value of the Partnership’s financial instruments that are not accounted for at a fair value on a recurring basis.

 

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)

 

           December 31, 2014     December 31, 2013  
     Fair Value     Carrying     Fair     Carrying     Fair  
     Hierarchy     Amount     Value     Amount     Value  
     Level     Asset     Asset     Asset     Asset  
           (Liability)     (Liability)     (Liability)     (Liability)  
    

 

    $     $     $     $  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Recurring:

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash

  Level 1      205,636     205,636      636,779     636,779   

Derivative instruments (note 12)

Interest rate swap agreements – assets

  Level 2      —       —        81,119     81,119   

Interest rate swap agreements – liabilities

  Level 2      (119,558   (119,558   (200,762   (200,762

Cross-currency swap agreement

  Level 2      (70,386   (70,386   (18,236   (18,236

Other derivative

  Level 3      (2,137   (2,137   6,344     6,344   

Other:

Advances to equity accounted joint ventures (notes 6b and 6c)

  (i   181,514     (i   85,135     (i

Advances to joint venture partner (note 6a)

  (ii   —       —        14,364     (ii

Long-term receivable included in other assets (note 5b) (iii)

  Level 3      17,137     17,164      —       —     

Long-term debt – public (note 9)

  Level 1      (214,707   (220,762   (263,534   (274,240

Long-term debt – non-public (note 9)

  Level 2      (1,709,417   (1,659,852   (1,513,973   (1,409,252

 

(i)

The advances to equity accounted joint ventures together with the Partnership’s equity investments in the joint ventures form the net aggregate carrying value of the Partnership’s interests in the joint ventures in these consolidated financial statements. The fair values of the individual components of such aggregate interests are not determinable.

(ii)

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. The advances from the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture to the joint venture partner together with the joint venture partner’s equity investment in the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture form the net aggregate carrying value of the joint venture partner’s interest in the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture in these consolidated financial statements. The fair value of the individual components of such aggregate interest was not determinable; however, these advances were repaid in 2014 (see note 6a).

(iii)

The estimated fair value of the non-interest bearing receivable is based on the remaining future fixed payments of $20.3 million to be received from BG International Limited (or BG ), as part of the ship construction support agreement, as well as an estimated discount rate. The estimated fair value of this receivable as of December 31, 2014 is $17.2 million using a discount rate of 8.0%. As there is no market rate for the equivalent of an unsecured non-interest bearing receivable from BG, the discount rate is based on unsecured debt instruments of similar maturity held, adjusted for a liquidity premium. A higher or lower discount rate would result in a lower or higher fair value asset.

Changes in fair value during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 for the Partnership’s other derivative asset, the Toledo Spirit time-charter derivative, which is described below and is measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), are as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2014      2013  
     $      $  

Fair value at beginning of year

     6,344        1,100  

Realized and unrealized (losses) gains included in earnings

     (7,161      5,221  

Settlements

     (1,320      23  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fair value at end of year

  (2,137   6,344  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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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 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. In order to reduce the variability of its revenue under the Toledo Spirit time-charter, the Partnership 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 estimated fair value of this other derivative is based in part upon the Partnership’s projection of future spot market tanker rates, which has been derived from current spot market tanker rates and long-term historical average rates as well as an estimated discount rate. The estimated fair value of this other derivative as of December 31, 2014 is based upon an average daily tanker rate of $27,554 (December 31, 2013 – $21,256) over the remaining duration of the charter contract and a discount rate of 7.4% (December 31, 2013 – 8.4%). In developing and evaluating this estimate, the Partnership considers the current tanker market fundamentals as well as the short and long-term outlook. A higher or lower average daily tanker rate would result in a higher or lower fair value liability or a lower or higher fair value asset. A higher or lower discount rate would result in a lower or higher fair value asset or liability.

 

  b)

Financing Receivables

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.

 

             December 31,      December 31,  
    Credit Quality        2014      2013  

Class of Financing Receivable

  Indicator   Grade    $      $  

Direct financing leases

  Payment activity   Performing      682,495        699,695  

Other receivables:

         

Long-term receivable and accrued revenue included in other assets (note 5b)

  Payment activity   Performing      27,266        8,095  

Advances to equity accounted joint ventures (notes 6b and 6c)

  Other internal metrics   Performing      181,514        85,135  

Advances to joint venture partner (note 6a)

  Other internal metrics   Settled      —          14,364  
      

 

 

    

 

 

 
  891,275     807,289  
      

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

3. 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/Multigas carriers which generally operate under long-term, fixed-rate charters to international energy companies and Teekay Corporation (see Note 11a). As at December 31, 2014, the Partnership’s liquefied gas segment consisted of 47 LNG carriers (including 20 LNG carriers included in joint ventures that are accounted for under the equity method), and 30 LPG/Multigas carriers (including 24 LPG carriers included in a joint venture that is accounted for under the equity method). The Partnership’s conventional tanker segment consisted of seven Suezmax-class crude oil tankers and one Handymax product tanker which generally operate under 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 the Partnership’s top customers during any of the periods presented.

 

     Year Ended     Year Ended     Year Ended  

(U.S. Dollars in millions)

   December 31,
2014
    December 31,
2013
    December 31,
2012
 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Ltd. (i)

$ 69.8 or 17 $ 69.7 or 17 $ 69.6 or 18

Shell Spain LNG S.A.U. (i),(ii)

$ 51.8 or 13 $ 53.5 or 13 $ 50.3 or 13

The Tangguh Production Sharing Contractors (i)

$ 44.3 or 11 $ 47.3 or 12 $ 45.4 or 12

Compania Espanola de Petroleos (iii)

  Less than 10 $ 48.8 or 12 $ 47.3 or 12

 

(i)

Liquefied gas segment.

(ii)

Shell Spain LNG S.A.U. acquired the charter contracts from Repsol YPF, S.A. in March 2014.

(iii)

Conventional tanker segment.

 

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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, 2014  
           Conventional        
     Liquefied Gas     Tanker        
     Segment     Segment     Total  
     $     $     $  

Voyage revenues

     307,426       95,502       402,928  

Voyage expenses

     (1,768     (1,553     (3,321

Vessel operating expenses

     (59,087     (36,721     (95,808

Depreciation and amortization

     (71,711     (22,416     (94,127

General and administrative (i)

     (17,992     (5,868     (23,860

Restructuring charge

     —         (1,989     (1,989
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

  156,868     26,955     183,823  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity income

  115,478     —       115,478  

Investment in and advances to equity accounted joint ventures

  891,478     —       891,478  

Total assets at December 31, 2014

  3,395,759     381,838     3,777,597  

Expenditures for vessels and equipment

  (193,669   (586   (194,255

Expenditures for dry docking

  (8,127   (5,344   (13,471
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Year Ended December 31, 2013  
           Conventional        
     Liquefied Gas     Tanker        
     Segment     Segment     Total  
     $     $     $  

Voyage revenues

     285,694       113,582       399,276  

Voyage expenses

     (407     (2,450     (2,857

Vessel operating expenses

     (55,459     (44,490     (99,949

Depreciation and amortization

     (71,485     (26,399     (97,884

General and administrative (i)

     (13,913     (6,531     (20,444

Restructuring charge

     —         (1,786     (1,786
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

  144,430     31,926     176,356  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity income

  123,282     —       123,282  

Investment in and advances to equity accounted joint ventures

  671,789     —       671,789  

Total assets at December 31, 2013

  3,591,693     456,186     4,047,879  

Expenditures for vessels and equipment

  (469,463   (750   (470,213

Expenditures for dry docking

  (21,090   (6,113   (27,203
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Year Ended December 31, 2012  
           Conventional        
     Liquefied Gas     Tanker        
     Segment     Segment     Total  
     $     $     $  

Voyage revenues

     278,511       114,389       392,900  

Voyage expenses

     (66     (1,706     (1,772

Vessel operating expenses

     (50,124     (44,412     (94,536

Depreciation and amortization

     (69,064     (31,410     (100,474

General and administrative (i)

     (13,224     (5,736     (18,960

Write down of vessels

     —         (29,367     (29,367
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

  146,033     1,758     147,791  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity income

  78,866     —       78,866  

Expenditures for vessels and equipment

  (39,366   (528   (39,894

Expenditures for dry docking

  (6,054   (1,439   (7,493
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(i)  

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

 

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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 sheets is as follows:

 

     December 31,      December 31,  
     2014      2013  
     $      $  

Total assets of the liquefied gas segment

     3,395,759        3,591,693  

Total assets of the conventional tanker segment

     381,838        456,186  

Unallocated:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

     159,639        139,481  

Accounts receivable and prepaid expenses

     15,240        25,600  

Advances to affiliates

     11,942        6,634  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated total assets

  3,964,418     4,219,594  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

4. Leases and Restricted Cash

Capital Lease Obligations

 

     December 31,      December 31,  
     2014      2013  
     $      $  

RasGas II LNG Carriers

     —          472,806  

Suezmax Tankers

     63,550        125,523  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

  63,550     598,329  

Less current portion

  4,422     31,668  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

  59,128     566,661  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

RasGas II LNG Carriers. As at December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Partnership owned a 70% interest in Teekay Nakilat Corporation (or Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture ). All amounts below and in the table above relating to the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture’s three LNG carriers (or the RasGas II LNG Carriers ), which were under capital leases, until the termination of the leasing of the vessels on December 22, 2014, include our joint venture partner’s 30% interest in the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture. Pursuant to the termination of the leasing of the RasGas II LNG Carriers, the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, acquired the RasGas II LNG Carriers from the lessor. In settling the outstanding lease obligations and acquiring the vessels, the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture capitalized a negotiated early lease termination fee of $23.1 million, which was required under the lease agreement and was paid to the lessor in excess of the outstanding lease obligation of $473.4 million. Concurrently with the lease termination, the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture refinanced its debt facility (see Note 9.)

Under the terms of the capital lease arrangements with respect to the RasGas II LNG Carriers, the lessor claimed tax depreciation on these vessels. As is typical in these leasing arrangements, tax and change of law risks were assumed by the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture, as lessee. Lease payments under the lease arrangements were based on certain tax and financial assumptions at the commencement of the leases. If an assumption proved to be incorrect, the lessor was entitled to increase or decrease the lease payments to maintain its agreed after-tax margin. Even though the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture has terminated the leasing of the RasGas II LNG Carriers and acquired the leased vessels from the lessor, it remains obligated to the lessor to maintain the lessor’s agreed after-tax margin from the commencement of the lease to the lease termination date. The Partnership’s carrying amount of the tax indemnification guarantee as at December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $14.4 million and $15.0 million, respectively, and is included as part of other long-term liabilities in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets.

Suezmax Tankers. During 2014, the Partnership was a party to capital leases on four Suezmax tankers. Under these capital leases, the owner has the option to require the Partnership to purchase the four vessels. The charterer, who is also the owner, also has the option to cancel the charter contracts. The Partnership received notification of termination from the owner and the owner sold the Algeciras Spirit on February 28, 2014 and sold the Huelva Spirit on August 15, 2014. For the remaining two Suezmax tankers, the cancellation options are first exercisable in October 2017 and July 2018, respectively. Upon sales of the vessels, the Partnership was not required to pay the balance of the capital lease obligations, as the vessels under capital leases were returned to the owner and the capital lease obligations were concurrently extinguished.

The amounts in the table below assume the owner will not exercise its options to require the Partnership to purchase either of the two remaining vessels from the owner, but rather it assumes the owner will cancel the charter contracts when the cancellation right is first exercisable (in October 2017 and July 2018, respectively), and sell the vessel to a third party, upon which the lease obligation will be extinguished. At the inception of these leases, the weighted-average interest rate implicit in these leases was 5.5%. 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.

 

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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, 2014, the remaining commitments under the two capital leases, including the purchase obligations for the two Suezmax tankers, approximated $73.7 million, including imputed interest of $10.2 million, repayable from 2015 through 2018, as indicated below:

 

Year

   Commitment  

2015

   $ 7,790  

2016

   $ 7,673  

2017

   $ 30,953  

2018

   $ 27,296  

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 that were terminated on December 22, 2014, the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture was required to have on deposit with financial institutions an amount of cash that, together with interest earned on the deposits, would equal the remaining amounts owing under the leases. These cash deposits were restricted to being used for capital lease payments and were fully funded primarily with term loans. These deposits were released as part of the lease termination; however, the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture was required to place $6.8 million on deposit to the lessor as security against any future claims as the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture still has an obligation to the lessor to maintain the lessor’s agreed after-tax margin from the commencement of the lease to the lease termination date. As at December 31, 2014 and 2013, the amount of restricted cash on deposit for the three RasGas II LNG Carriers was $6.8 million and $475.6 million, respectively. As at December 31, 2014 and 2013, the weighted-average interest rates earned on the deposits were 0.6% and 0.3%, respectively. These rates do not reflect the effect of related interest rate swaps that the Partnership had used to economically hedge its floating-rate restricted cash deposits relating to the RasGas II LNG Carriers up to the termination date of the lease.

The Partnership maintains restricted cash deposits relating to certain term loans, collateral for cross-currency swaps and amounts received from charterers to be used only for dry-docking expenditures and emergency repairs, which cash totaled $39.2 million and $21.7 million as at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Operating Lease Obligations

Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture

As at December 31, 2014, the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture was a party to operating leases (or Head Leases ) whereby it is leasing its two LNG carriers (or the Tangguh LNG Carriers ) to a third party company. The Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture is then leasing back the LNG carriers from the same third party company (or the 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 amounts of this tax indemnification guarantee as at December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $8.4 million and $8.9 million, respectively, and are included as part of other long-term liabilities in the 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 make termination payments 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.

As at December 31, 2014, the total estimated future minimum rental payments to be received and paid under the lease contracts are as follows:

 

Year

   Head Lease
Receipts (i)
     Sublease
Payments (i)(ii)
 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

2015

$ 22,188    $ 24,113   

2016

$ 21,242    $ 24,113   

2017

$ 21,242    $ 24,113   

2018

$ 21,242    $ 24,113   

2019

$ 21,242    $ 24,113   

Thereafter

$ 196,579    $ 223,185   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

$ 303,735    $ 343,750   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (i)  

The Head Leases are fixed-rate operating leases while the Subleases have a small variable-rate component. As at December 31, 2014, the Partnership had received $206.6 million of aggregate Head Lease receipts and had paid $139.6 million of aggregate Sublease payments. The portion of the Head Lease receipts that have not been recognized into earnings are deferred and amortized on a straight line basis over the lease terms and, as at December 31, 2014, $2.8 million and $44.1 million of Head Lease receipts had been deferred and included in unearned revenue and other long-term liabilities, respectively, in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets.

  (ii)  

The amount of payments under the Subleases are updated annually to reflect any changes in the lease payments due to changes in tax law.

 

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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)

 

Net Investments in Direct Financing Leases

The Tangguh LNG Carriers commenced their time-charters with its charterers in January and May 2009, respectively. Both time-charters are accounted for as direct financing leases with 20-year terms. In September and November 2013, the Partnership acquired two 155,900-cubic meter LNG carriers (or Awilco LNG Carriers ) from Norway-based Awilco LNG ASA (or Awilco ) and chartered them back to Awilco on five- and four-year fixed-rate bareboat charter contracts (plus a one year extension option), respectively, with Awilco holding fixed-price purchase obligations at the end of the charter. The bareboat charters with Awilco are accounted for as direct financing leases. The purchase price of each vessel was $205.0 million less a $51.0 million upfront prepayment of charter hire by Awilco (inclusive of a $1.0 million upfront fee), which is in addition to the daily bareboat charter rate. The following table lists the components of the net investments in direct financing leases:

 

     December 31,      December 31,  
     2014      2013  
     $      $  

Total minimum lease payments to be received

     914,943        988,888  

Estimated unguaranteed residual value of leased properties

     194,965        194,965  

Initial direct costs

     458        490  

Less unearned revenue

     (427,871      (484,648
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

  682,495     699,695  

Less current portion

  15,837     16,441  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

  666,658     683,254  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As at December 31, 2014, 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 $39.1 million per year from 2015 through 2019. Both leases are scheduled to end in 2029. In addition, estimated minimum lease payments in the next four years to be received by the Partnership under the Awilco LNG Carrier leases are approximately $32.8 million (2015), $35.9 million (2016), $165.0 million (2017) and $134.6 million (2018).

Operating Leases

As at December 31, 2014, 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 are approximately $324.1 million (2015), $300.8 million (2016), $299.8 million (2017), $258.1 million (2018) and $243.4 million (2019). Minimum scheduled future revenues do not include revenue generated from new contracts entered into after December 31, 2014, revenue from undelivered vessels, revenue from unexercised option periods of contracts that existed on December 31, 2014, 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.

 

5. Equity Method Investments

 

  a)

Yamal LNG Joint Venture

On July 9, 2014, the Partnership, through a new 50/50 joint venture with China LNG (or the Yamal LNG Joint Venture ), ordered six internationally-flagged icebreaker LNG carriers for a project located on the Yamal Peninsula in Northern Russia (or the Yamal LNG Project ). The Yamal LNG Project is a joint venture between Russia-based Novatek OAO (60%), France-based Total S.A. (20%) and China-based China National Petroleum Corporation (or CNPC ) (20%), and will consist of three LNG trains with a total expected capacity of 16.5 million metric tons of LNG per annum and is currently scheduled to start-up in early-2018. The six 172,000-cubic meter ARC7 LNG carrier newbuildings will be constructed by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. (or DSME ), of South Korea, for a total fully built-up cost of approximately $2.1 billion. The vessels, which will be constructed with maximum 2.1 meter icebreaking capabilities in both the forward and reverse directions, are scheduled to deliver at various times between the first quarter of 2018 and first quarter of 2020. Upon their deliveries, the six LNG carriers will each operate under fixed-rate time-charter contracts with Yamal Trade Pte. Ltd. until December 31, 2045, plus extension options. As of December 31, 2014, the Partnership had advanced $95.3 million to the Yamal LNG Joint Venture to fund newbuilding installments (see Note 6c).

 

  b)

BG Joint Venture

On June 27, 2014, the Partnership acquired from BG its ownership interests in four 174,000-cubic meter Tri-Fuel Diesel Electric LNG carrier newbuildings, which will be constructed by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. in China for an estimated total fully built-up cost to the joint venture of approximately $1.0 billion. The vessels upon delivery, which are scheduled between September 2017 and January 2019, will each operate under 20-year fixed-rate time-charter contracts, plus extension options with Methane Services Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BG. As compensation for BG’s ownership interest in these four LNG carrier newbuildings, the Partnership assumed BG’s obligation to provide the shipbuilding supervision and crew training services for the four LNG carrier newbuildings up to their delivery date pursuant to a ship construction support agreement. The Partnership estimates it will incur approximately $38.7 million of costs to provide these services, of which BG has agreed to pay a fixed amount of $20.3 million. The Partnership estimated that the fair value of the service obligation was $33.3 million and the fair value of the amount due from BG was $16.5 million. As at December 31, 2014, the carrying value of the service obligation of $33.7 million is included in both the current portion of in-process contracts and in-process contracts and the carrying value of the receivable from BG of $17.1 million is included in other assets in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheet. Through this transaction, the Partnership has a 30% ownership interest in two LNG carrier newbuildings and a 20% ownership interest in the remaining two LNG carrier newbuildings (collectively, the BG Joint Venture ). The excess of the Partnership’s investment in the BG Joint Venture over the Partnership’s share of the underlying carrying value of net assets acquired was approximately $16.8 million in accordance with the final purchase price allocation. This basis difference has been allocated notionally to the ship construction support agreements and the time-charter contracts. The Partnership accounts for its investment in the BG Joint Venture using the equity method.

 

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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)

 

During the year ended December 31, 2014, to fund its newbuilding installments, the BG Joint Venture drew $53.7 million from its $787 million long-term debt facility and received $15.3 million of capital contributions from its joint venture partners, of which $3.8 million represents the Partnership’s proportionate share.

 

  c)

Exmar LPG BVBA

In February 2013, the Partnership entered into a joint venture agreement with Belgium-based Exmar NV (or Exmar ) to own and charter-in LPG carriers with a primary focus on the mid-size gas carrier segment. The joint venture entity, called Exmar LPG BVBA, took economic effect as of November 1, 2012 and, as of December 31, 2014, included 20 owned LPG carriers (including nine newbuilding carriers scheduled for delivery between 2015 and 2018) and four chartered-in LPG carriers. For its 50% ownership interest in the joint venture, including newbuilding payments made prior to the November 1, 2012 economic effective date of the joint venture, the Partnership invested $133.1 million in exchange for equity and a shareholder loan and assumed approximately $108 million of its pro rata share of existing debt and lease obligations as of the economic effective date. These debt and lease obligations are secured by certain vessels in the Exmar LPG BVBA fleet. The Partnership also paid a $2.7 million acquisition fee to Teekay Corporation that was recorded as part of the investment in Exmar LPG BVBA (see Note 11h). The excess of the book value of net assets acquired over Teekay LNG’s investment in the Exmar LPG BVBA, which amounted to approximately $6.0 million, has been accounted for as an adjustment to the value of the vessels, charter agreements and lease obligations of Exmar LPG BVBA and recognition of goodwill, in accordance with the final purchase price allocation. Control of Exmar LPG BVBA is shared equally between Exmar and the Partnership. The Partnership accounts for its investment in Exmar LPG BVBA using the equity method.

 

  d)

Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture

In February 2012, the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture acquired a 100% interest in six LNG carriers (or the MALT LNG Carriers) from Denmark-based A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S for approximately $1.3 billion. The Partnership and Marubeni Corporation (or Marubeni) have 52% and 48% economic interests, respectively, but share control of the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture. Since control of the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture is shared jointly between Marubeni and the Partnership, the Partnership accounts for its investment in the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture using the equity method. From June to July 2013, the Teekay LNG Marubeni Joint Venture completed the refinancing of its short-term loan facilities by entering into separate long-term debt facilities totaling approximately $963 million. These debt facilities mature between 2017 and 2030. The Partnership has guaranteed its 52% share of the secured loan facilities of the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture and, as a result, recorded a guarantee liability of $0.7 million. The carrying value of the guarantee liability as at December 31, 2014 was $0.4 million (December 31, 2013 was $0.6 million) and is included as part of other long-term liabilities in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets.

In July 2013, the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture entered into an eight-year interest rate swap with a notional amount of $160.0 million, which amortizes quarterly over the term of the interest rate swap to $70.4 million at maturity. The interest rate swap exchanges the receipt of LIBOR-based interest for the payment of a fixed rate of interest of 2.20% in the first two years and 2.36% in the last six years. This interest rate swap has been designated as a qualifying cash flow hedging instrument for accounting purposes. The Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture uses the same accounting policy for qualifying cash flow hedging instruments as the Partnership uses.

 

  e)

Angola Joint Ventures

The Partnership has a 33% ownership interest in four 160,400-cubic meter LNG carriers (or the Angola LNG Carriers or Angola Joint Ventures ). The Angola LNG Carriers are chartered at fixed rates, subject to inflation adjustments, to Angola LNG Supply Services LLC for a period of 20 years from the date of delivery from the shipyard, with two five year options for the charterer to extend the charter contract and are classified as direct financing leases. 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 applicable vessel. Three of the four Angola LNG Carriers delivered in 2011 and the remaining Angola LNG Carrier delivered in January 2012 (see Note 11e).

 

  f)

Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures

The Partnership has 50% interest in joint ventures with Exmar (or the Excalibur Joint Venture and the Excelsior Joint Venture ) which own two LNG carriers that are chartered out under long term contracts.

 

  g)

RasGas 3 Joint Venture

The Partnership has a 40% interest in the Teekay Nakilat (III) Corporation (or RasGas 3 Joint Venture ), which owns four LNG carriers that are chartered out under long-term contracts that are classified as direct financing leases.

 

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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)

 

These joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method. The RasGas 3 Joint Venture, the Excelsior Joint Venture, the Angola Joint Ventures and the Yamal LNG Joint Venture are considered variable interest entities; however, the Partnership is not the primary beneficiary and consolidation of these entities with the Partnership 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, the Angola LNG Joint Ventures and the Yamal LNG Joint Venture is the amount it has invested and advanced in these joint ventures, which are $141.9 million, $67.7 million, $50.9 million and $96.0 million respectively, as at December 31, 2014. In addition, the Partnership guarantees its portion of the Excelsior Joint Venture’s debt of $29.4 million and the Angola Joint Ventures’ debt and swaps of $255.7 million and guarantee for charter termination of $1.5 million.

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 Exmar LPG BVBA, the Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures and the BG Joint Venture. The results included were for the Excalibur and Excelsior Joint Ventures, the RasGas 3 Joint Venture, the Angola Joint Ventures, the Exmar LPG BVBA from February 2013, the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture from February 2012, the BG Joint Venture from June 2014 and the Yamal LNG Joint Venture from July 2014.

 

     As at December 31,  
     2014      2013  
   $      $  

Cash and restricted cash

     287,207         234,677   

Other assets – current

     137,055         83,248   

Vessels and equipment

     2,259,175         2,015,297   

Net investments in direct financing leases – non-current

     1,873,803         1,907,458   

Other assets – non-current

     32,284         199,060   

Current portion of long-term debt and obligations under capital lease

     440,222         442,890   

Other liabilities – current

     125,787         138,449   

Long-term debt and obligations under capital lease

     2,373,700         2,657,270   

Other liabilities – non-current

     390,467         191,019   

 

     Years ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  
     $      $      $  

Voyage revenues

     640,105         625,414        412,974  

Income from vessel operations

     398,836         335,062         278,067  

Realized and unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments

     (52,938      16,334        (39,428

Net income

     267,990         277,096         180,059  

Certain of the comparative figures have been adjusted to conform to the presentation adopted in the current year.

 

6. Advances to Joint Venture Partner and Equity Accounted Joint Ventures

a) The Partnership owns a 69% interest in the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture. As of December 31, 2013, the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture had non-interest bearing advances of $10.2 million to the Partnership’s joint venture partner, BLT LNG Tangguh Corporation, and advances of $4.2 million to its parent company, P.T. Berlian Laju Tanker. The advances to P.T. Berlian Laju Tanker were due on demand and bore interest at a fixed-rate of 8.0%. These advances by the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture were made between 2010 and 2012 as advances on dividends. On February 1, 2014, the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture declared dividends of $69.5 million, of which $14.4 million was used to offset the total advances to BLT LNG Tangguh Corporation and P.T. Berlian Laju Tanker.

b) The Partnership has a 50% interest in Exmar LPG BVBA and a 50% interest in the Excalibur Joint Venture, which owns an LNG carrier, the Excalibur . As of December 31, 2014, the Partnership had advances of $81.7 million (December 31, 2013 – $81.7 million) due from Exmar LPG BVBA, of which $67.9 million was assumed through the acquisition of Exmar LPG BVBA, and $2.5 million (December 31, 2013 – $3.0 million) is due from the Excalibur Joint Venture. These advances bear interest at LIBOR plus margins ranging from 0.50% to 2.0% and have no fixed repayment terms. As at December 31, 2014, the interest accrued on these advances was $1.0 million (December 31, 2013 – $0.4 million). Both the advances and the accrued interest on these advances are included in investment and advances to equity accounted joint ventures in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheet.

c) The Partnership has a 50% interest in the Yamal LNG Joint Venture (see Note 5a). As of December 31, 2014, the Partnership had advances of $95.3 million (December 31, 2013 – nil) to the Yamal LNG Joint Venture. The advances bear interest at LIBOR plus 3.0% compounded semi-annually. As of December 31, 2014, the interest accrued on these advances was $1.0 million (December 31, 2013 – nil).

 

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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, 2014 and 2013, intangible assets consisted of time-charter contracts with a weighted-average amortization period of 18.1 years. The carrying amount of intangible assets for the Partnership’s reportable segments is as follows:

 

     December 31, 2014      December 31, 2013  
            Conventional                    Conventional         
     Liquefied Gas      Tanker             Liquefied Gas      Tanker         
     Segment      Segment      Total      Segment      Segment      Total  
     $      $      $      $      $      $  

Gross carrying amount

     179,813        6,797        186,610        179,813        6,797        186,610  

Accumulated amortization

     (92,167      (6,797      (98,964      (83,311      (6,454      (89,765
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net carrying amount

  87,646     —       87,646     96,502     343     96,845  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amortization expense of intangible assets were $9.2 million, $13.1 million and $11.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Amortization of intangible assets in the next five years are approximately $8.9 million per year. In addition, as a result of the sales of the Algeciras Spirit and Huelva Spirit in 2014 (see Note 4) and the Tenerife Spirit in 2013, the Partnership’s intangible assets relating to these three conventional tankers were fully amortized in 2013 and 2014.

The carrying amount of goodwill as at each of December 31, 2014 and 2013 for the Partnership’s liquefied gas segment was $35.6 million. In 2014 and 2013, the Partnership conducted its annual goodwill impairment review of its liquefied gas segment and concluded that no impairment had occurred.

 

8. Accrued Liabilities

 

     December 31,      December 31,  
     2014      2013  
   $      $  

Interest including interest rate swaps

     19,598        26,923  

Voyage and vessel expenses

     5,266        9,836  

Payroll and benefits

     5,560        6,411  

Other general expenses

     4,224        2,288  

Income tax payable and other

     4,389        338  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

  39,037     45,796  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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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)

 

9. Long-Term Debt

 

     December 31,      December 31,  
   2014      2013  
     $      $  

U.S. Dollar-denominated Revolving Credit Facilities due through 2018

     257,661        235,000  

U.S. Dollar-denominated Term Loan due through 2018

     93,595        103,207  

U.S. Dollar-denominated Term Loan due through 2018

     116,667        125,000  

U.S. Dollar-denominated Term Loan due through 2018

     125,667        —    

U.S. Dollar-denominated Term Loan due through 2019

     —          296,935  

U.S. Dollar-denominated Term Loan due through 2026

     450,000        —    

U.S. Dollar-denominated Term Loan due through 2021

     285,274        297,956  

U.S. Dollar-denominated Term Loan due through 2021

     95,560        102,372  

U.S. Dollar-denominated Unsecured Demand Loan

     —          13,282  

Norwegian Kroner-denominated Bond due in 2017

     93,934        115,296  

Norwegian Kroner-denominated Bond due in 2018

     120,773        148,238  

Euro-denominated Term Loans due through 2023

     284,993        340,221  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

  1,924,124     1,777,507  

Less current portion

  157,235     97,114  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

  1,766,889     1,680,393  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As at December 31, 2014, the Partnership had three revolving credit facilities available, of which two are long-term and one is current. These three credit facilities, as at such date, provided for aggregate borrowings of up to $393.3 million, of which $135.6 million was undrawn. Interest payments are based on LIBOR plus margins. The amount available under the revolving credit facilities reduces by $84.1 million (2015), $27.3 million (2016), $28.2 million (2017) and $253.7 million (2018). 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, 2014, the Partnership had a U.S. Dollar-denominated term loan outstanding in the amount of $93.6 million. Interest payments on this loan are based on LIBOR plus 2.75% and require quarterly interest and principal payments and a bullet repayment of $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, together with certain other related security and is guaranteed by the Partnership.

At December 31, 2014, the Partnership had a U.S. Dollar-denominated term loan outstanding in the amount of $116.7 million. Interest payments on this loan are based on LIBOR plus 2.80% and require quarterly interest and principal payments and a bullet repayment of $83.3 million due at maturity in 2018. This loan facility is collateralized by a first-priority mortgage on the one vessel to which the loan relates, together with certain other related security and is guaranteed by the Partnership.

At December 31, 2014, the Partnership had a U.S. Dollar-denominated term loan outstanding in the amount of $125.7 million. Interest payments on this loan are based on LIBOR plus 2.75% and require quarterly interest and principal payments and a bullet repayment of $95.3 million due at maturity in 2018. This loan facility is collateralized by a first-priority mortgage on the one vessel to which the loan relates, together with certain other related security, and is guaranteed by the Partnership.

The Partnership owns a 70% interest in the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture, which is a consolidated entity of the Partnership. The Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture refinanced its term loan that was due in 2019 with a new U.S. Dollar-denominated term loan, which, as at December 31, 2014, totaled $450.0 million. Interest payments on the new loan are based on LIBOR plus 1.85% and requires quarterly interest payments over the remaining term of the loan and will require bullet repayments of approximately $155.4 million due at maturity in 2026. The new term loan is collateralized by first-priority mortgages on the three vessels to which the loan relates, together with certain other related security and certain guarantees from the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture.

The Partnership owns a 69% interest in the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture, a consolidated entity of the Partnership. The Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture has a U.S. Dollar-denominated term loan outstanding, which, as at December 31, 2014, totaled $285.3 million. Interest payments on the loan are based on LIBOR plus margins. 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 reduces in quarterly payments while the other tranche correspondingly is drawn up with a final $95.0 million bullet payment for each of two vessels due in 2021. 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.

 

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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)

 

At December 31, 2014, the Partnership had a U.S. Dollar-denominated term loan outstanding in the amount of $95.6 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 $20.0 million bullet payment for each of two vessels 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 Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture had a U.S. Dollar-denominated demand loan of $13.3 million owing to Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd. (Nakilat), which was repaid by the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture during 2014.

The Partnership has Norwegian Kroner (or NOK ) 700 million of senior unsecured bonds that mature in May 2017 in the Norwegian bond market. As at December 31, 2014, the carrying amount of the bonds was $93.9 million and the bonds are listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The interest payments on the bonds are based on NIBOR plus a margin of 5.25%. The Partnership has a cross-currency swap to swap all interest and principal payments into U.S. Dollars, with the interest payments fixed at a rate of 6.88% (see Note 12) and the transfer of principal fixed at $125.0 million upon maturity in exchange for NOK 700 million.

The Partnership has NOK 900 million of senior unsecured bonds that mature in September 2018 in the Norwegian bond market. As at December 31, 2014, the carrying amount of the bonds was $120.8 million and the bonds are listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The interest payments on the bonds are based on NIBOR plus a margin of 4.35%. The Partnership has a cross-currency swap, to swap all interest and principal payments into U.S. Dollars, with the interest payments fixed at a rate of 6.43% (see Note 12) and the transfer of principal fixed at $150.0 million upon maturity in exchange for NOK 900 million.

The Partnership has two Euro-denominated term loans outstanding, which as at December 31, 2014, totaled 235.6 million Euros ($285.0 million). Interest payments are based on EURIBOR plus margins, which ranged from 0.60% to 2.25% as of December 31, 2014, and the loans require monthly interest and principal payments. 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 are guaranteed by the Partnership and one of its subsidiaries.

The weighted-average effective interest rate for the Partnership’s long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was 2.19% and 2.48%, 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 12). At December 31, 2014, the margins on the Partnership’s outstanding revolving credit facilities and term loans ranged from 0.30% to 2.80%.

All Euro-denominated term loans and NOK-denominated bonds are revalued at the end of each period using the then-prevailing U.S. Dollar exchange rate. Due primarily to the revaluation of the Partnership’s NOK-denominated bonds, the Partnership’s Euro-denominated term loans, capital leases and restricted cash, and the change in the valuation of the Partnership’s cross-currency swap, the Partnership incurred foreign exchange gains (losses) of $28.4 million, ($15.8) million and ($8.2) million, of which these amounts were primarily unrealized, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

The aggregate annual long-term debt principal repayments required subsequent to December 31, 2014 are $157.2 million (2015), $102.3 million (2016), $202.0 million (2017), $773.6 million (2018), $71.1 million (2019) and $617.9 million (thereafter).

The Partnership and a subsidiary of Teekay Corporation are borrowers under one of the loan arrangements and are joint and severally liable for the obligations to the lender. Obligations resulting from long-term debt joint and several liability arrangements are measured at the sum of the amount the Partnership agreed to pay, on the basis of its arrangement among the co-obligor, and any additional amount the Partnership expects to pay on behalf of the co-obligor. This loan arrangement matures in 2021 and as of December 31, 2014 had an outstanding balance of $188.4 million, of which $95.6 million was the Partnership’s share. Teekay Corporation has indemnified the Partnership in respect of any losses and expenses arising from any breach by the co-obligor of the terms and conditions of the loan facility.

Certain loan agreements require that (a) the Partnership maintains minimum levels of tangible net worth and aggregate liquidity, (b) the Partnership maintains certain ratios of vessel values as it relates to the relevant outstanding loan principal balance, (c) the Partnership not exceed a maximum amount of leverage, and (d) two of the Partnership’s subsidiaries maintains restricted cash deposits. The Partnership has one facility that requires us to maintain a vessel-value-to-outstanding-loan-principal-balance ratio of 115%, which as at December 31, 2014, was 158%. The vessel value was determined using reference to second-hand market comparables or using a depreciated replacement cost approach. Since vessel values can be volatile, the Partnership’s estimates of market value may not be indicative of either the current or future prices that could be obtained if the Partnership sold any of the vessels. 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, 2014, the Partnership, and Teekay Corporation and their affiliates were in compliance with all covenants relating to the Partnership’s credit facilities and term loans.

 

10. Income Tax

The components of the provision for income taxes were as follows:

 

     Year Ended      Year Ended      Year Ended  
     December 31,      December 31,      December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  
     $      $      $  

Current

     (5,212      (1,482      (1,652

Deferred

     (2,355      (3,674      1,027  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income tax expense

  (7,567   (5,156   (625
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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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 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      Year Ended      Year Ended  
     December 31,      December 31,      December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  
     $      $      $  

Net income before income tax expenses

     226,494        218,471        139,767  

Net income not subject to taxes

     (81,604      (131,529      (148,118
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income (loss) subject to taxes

  144,890     86,942     (8,351
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

At applicable statutory tax rates

Amount computed using the standard rate of corporate tax

  (33,083   (16,476   (731

Adjustments to valuation allowance and uncertain tax position

  14,851     12,830     3,352  

Permanent and currency differences

  11,507     1,576     2,069  

Change in tax rate

  (842   (3,086   (5,315
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Tax expense charge related to the current year

  (7,567   (5,156   (625
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The significant components of the Partnership’s deferred tax assets (liabilities) included in other assets were as follows:

 

     Year Ended      Year Ended  
     December 31,      December 31,  
     2014      2013  
     $      $  

Derivative instruments

     8,647        21,757  

Taxation loss carryforwards and disallowed finance costs

     48,440        52,804  

Vessels and equipment

     3,602        3,190  

Capitalized interest

     (2,261      (2,342
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
  58,428     75,409  

Valuation allowance

  (58,428   (73,054
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

  —       2,355  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Partnership had tax losses in the United Kingdom (or UK ) of $12.7 million as at December 31, 2014 that are available indefinitely for offset against future taxable income in the UK. The Partnership had tax losses and disallowed finance costs in Spain of 139.4 million Euros (approximately $168.6 million) and 38.8 million Euros (approximately $47.0 million), respectively, at December 31, 2014 that are available to be carried forward for 18 years for offset against future taxable income in Spain. The Partnership also had tax losses in Luxembourg of 114.6 million Euros (approximately $138.6 million) as at December 31, 2014 that are available indefinitely for offset against taxable future income in Luxembourg. Subsequent to December 31, 2014, as a result of an audit performed by the Spanish tax authorities on the Partnership’s Spanish subsidiaries, the Partnership and the Spanish tax authorities reached an agreement to reduce the Partnership’s tax losses in Spain by 29.0 million Euros (approximately $35.1 million). The losses were subject to a full valuation allowance, and therefore no change in income tax expense or assets will occur as a result of this agreement.

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. In 2009, the relevant tax authorities subsequently challenged the eligibility of the re-investment tax credit and, 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. In 2012, the relevant tax authorities accepted the Partnership’s claim on its re-investment tax credit and thus the Partnership no longer has any tax liability related to the reinvestment tax credit as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and the credit is reflected in the Partnership’s equity for 2012.

 

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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 Partnership recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. The tax years 2009 through 2014 currently remain open to examination by the major tax jurisdictions to which the Partnership is subject.

 

11. Related Party Transactions

a) Two of the Partnership’s LNG carriers, the Arctic Spirit and Polar Spirit , 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, commercial, crew training, advisory, business development, technical and strategic consulting services. In addition, as part of the Partnership’s acquisition of its ownership interest in the BG Joint Venture (see Note 5b), the Partnership entered into an agreement with a subsidiary of Teekay Corporation whereby Teekay Corporation’s subsidiary will, on behalf of the Partnership, provide shipbuilding supervision and crew training services for the four LNG carrier newbuildings in the BG Joint Venture up to their delivery date. All costs incurred by Teekay Corporation’s subsidiary will be charged to the Partnership and recorded as part of vessel operating expenses. 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 were as follows for the periods indicated:

 

     Year Ended  
     December 31,      December 31,      December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  
     $      $      $  

Revenues (i)

     37,596        34,573        37,630  

Vessel operating expenses

     (12,703      (10,847      (10,319

General and administrative (ii)

     (13,708      (11,959      (11,901

 

(i)

Commencing in 2008, the Arctic Spirit and Polar Spirit 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).

(ii)

Includes commercial, strategic, advisory, business development and administrative management fees charged by Teekay Corporation and reimbursements to Teekay Corporation and our General Partner for costs incurred on the Partnership’s behalf.

b) 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.

c) 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 time-charter contract ends in August 2025, 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. The amounts receivable or payable to Teekay Corporation are settled at the end of each year (see Notes 2 and 12).

d) On November 13, 2014, the Partnership acquired a 2003-bulit 10,200 cubic meter LPG carrier, the Norgas Napa , from I.M. Skaugen SE (or Skaugen ) for $27.0 million. The Partnership took delivery of the vessel on November 13, 2014 and chartered the vessel back to Skaugen on a bareboat contract for a period of five years at a fixed rate plus a profit share component based on a portion of the vessel’s earnings from the Skaugen’s Norgas pool in excess of the fixed charter rate. In connection with the acquisition of Norgas Napa , the General Partner acquired a 1% ownership interest in the Norgas Napa from the Partnership for approximately $0.2 million.

e) 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 $906.2 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, which began 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.

Three of the four Angola LNG Carriers delivered during 2011 and commenced their 20-year, fixed-rate charters to Angola LNG Supply Services LLC. In January 2012, the last of four Angola LNG Carriers delivered and commenced its 20-year, fixed-rate charter to Angola LNG Supply Services LLC. Concurrently, the Partnership acquired Teekay Corporation’s 33% ownership interest in this remaining vessel and related charter contract for a total equity purchase price of $19.1 million (net of assumed debt of $64.8 million). The excess of the purchase price over the book value of the assets (including the fair market value of the interest rate swap associated with debt secured by the vessel) underlying the 33% ownership interest in the fourth vessel of $15.9 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.

 

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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)

 

f) In February 2012, the Partnership incurred a $7.0 million charge relating to a one-time fee to Teekay Corporation for its support in the Partnership’s successful acquisition of its 52% interest in six LNG carriers (see Note 5d). This acquisition fee is reflected as part of investments in and advances to equity accounted joint ventures in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets.

g) In March 2013, the Partnership incurred a $2.7 million charge relating to a fee to Teekay Corporation for its support in the Partnership’s successful acquisition of its 50% interest in Exmar LPG BVBA (see Note 5c). This acquisition fee is reflected as part of investments in and advances to equity accounted joint ventures in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets.

h) The Partnership entered into services agreements with certain subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation pursuant to which the Teekay Corporation subsidiaries provide the Partnership with shipbuilding and site supervision services relating to eight LNG newbuildings the Partnership owns (see Note 13a). These costs are capitalized and included as part of advances on newbuilding contracts in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets. As at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 shipbuilding and site supervision costs provided by Teekay Corporation subsidiaries totaled $3.0 million, $0.2 million, and nil, respectively.

i) As at December 31, 2014 and 2013, non-interest bearing advances to affiliates totaled $11.9 million and $6.6 million, respectively, and non-interest bearing advances from affiliates totaled $43.2 million and $19.3 million, respectively. These advances are unsecured and have no fixed repayment terms. Affiliates are entities that are under the same common control.

j) In March 2014, two interest rate swap agreements were novated from Teekay Corporation to the Partnership. Teekay Corporation concurrently paid the Partnership $3.0 million in cash consideration, which represented the estimated fair value of the interest rate swap liabilities on the novation date.

 

12. Derivative Instruments

The Partnership uses derivative instruments in accordance with its overall risk management policy. The Partnership has not designated derivative instruments described within this note as hedges for accounting purposes.

Foreign Exchange Risk

In May 2012 and September 2013, concurrently with the issuance of NOK 700 million and NOK 900 million, respectively, of senior unsecured bonds (see Note 9), the Partnership entered into cross-currency swaps and pursuant to these swaps the Partnership receives the principal amount in NOK on maturity dates of the swaps in exchange for payments of a fixed U.S. Dollar amount. In addition, the cross-currency swaps exchange a receipt of floating interest in NOK based on NIBOR plus a margin for a payment of U.S. Dollar fixed interest. The purpose of the cross-currency swaps is to economically hedge the foreign currency exposure on the payment of interest and principal of the Partnership’s NOK-denominated bonds due in 2017 and 2018, and to economically hedge the interest rate exposure. The following table reflects information relating to the cross-currency swaps as at December 31, 2014.

 

Principal

Amount
NOK

   Principal
Amount
$
    

Floating Rate Receivable

Reference

Rate

   Margin     Fixed Rate
Payable
    Fair Value /
Carrying
Amount of
(Liability)
$
     Remaining
Term (Years)

Weighted-
Average
 
700,000      125,000      NIBOR      5.25     6.88     (35,766      2.3  
900,000      150,000      NIBOR      4.35     6.43     (34,620      3.7  
            

 

 

    
  (70,386
            

 

 

    

 

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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)

 

Interest Rate Risk

The Partnership enters into interest rate swaps which exchange a receipt of floating interest for a payment of fixed interest to reduce the Partnership’s exposure to interest rate variability on certain of its outstanding floating-rate debt. As at December 31, 2014, the Partnership was committed to the following interest rate swap agreements:

 

                 Fair Value /               
                 Carrying     Weighted-         
                 Amount of     Average      Fixed  
     Interest    Principal      Assets     Remaining      Interest  
     Rate    Amount      (Liability)     Term      Rate  
     Index    $      $     (years)      (%) (i)  

LIBOR-Based Debt:

             

U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps

   LIBOR      90,000        (11,549     3.7        4.9  

U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps

   LIBOR      100,000        (10,255     2.0        5.3  

U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps (ii)

   LIBOR      181,250        (38,674     14.0        5.2  

U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps (ii)

   LIBOR      74,979        (3,530     6.6        2.8  

U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps (iii)

   LIBOR      320,000        (8,516     1.3        2.9  

U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swaps (iv)

   LIBOR      125,667        (1,224     4.0        1.7  

EURIBOR-Based Debt:

             

Euro-denominated interest rate swaps (v)

   EURIBOR      284,993        (45,810     6.0        3.1  
        

 

 

      
  (119,558
        

 

 

      

 

(i)  

Excludes the margins the Partnership pays on its floating-rate term loans, which, at December 31, 2014, ranged from 0.30% to 2.80%.

(ii)  

Principal amount reduces semi-annually.

(iii)  

These interest rate swaps are being used to economically hedge expected interest payments on future debt that is planned to be outstanding from 2016 to 2021. These interest rate swaps are subject to mandatory early termination in 2016 whereby the swaps will be settled based on their fair value at that time.

(iv)  

Principal amount reduces quarterly.

(v)  

Principal amount reduces monthly to 70.1 million Euros ($84.8 million) by the maturity dates of the swap agreements.

As at December 31, 2014, the Partnership had multiple interest rate swaps and cross-currency swaps with the same counterparty that are subject to the same master agreement. Each of these master agreements provide for the net settlement of all swaps subject to that master agreement through a single payment in the event of default or termination of any one swap. The fair value of these interest rate swaps are presented on a gross basis in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets. As at December 31, 2014, these interest rate swaps and cross-currency swaps had an aggregate fair value liability amount of $162.6 million. As at December 31, 2014, the Partnership had $16.2 million on deposit as security for swap liabilities under certain master agreements. The deposit is presented in restricted cash on the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets.

Credit Risk

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 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.

Other Derivatives

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 liability at December 31, 2014 was $2.1 million (December 31, 2013 – $6.3 million derivative asset).

 

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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 the location and fair value amounts of derivative instruments, segregated by type of contract, on the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

     Accounts                    Accrued              
     receivable/      Current             liabilities/     Current        
     Advances      portion of             Advances     portion of        
     to      derivative      Derivative      from     derivative     Derivative  
     affiliates      assets      assets      affiliates     liabilities     liabilities  

As at December 31, 2014

               

Interest rate swap agreements

     —          —          441        (7,486     (52,356     (60,157

Cross-currency swap agreement

     —          —          —          (544     (4,922     (64,920

Toledo Spirit time-charter derivative

     —          —          —          (637     (400     (1,100
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  —       —       441     (8,667   (57,678   (126,177
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As at December 31, 2013

Interest rate swap agreements

  4,608     17,044     59,467     (10,960   (75,615   (114,187

Cross-currency swap agreement

  —       —       —       (155   (1,365   (16,716

Toledo Spirit time-charter derivative

  1,544     1,400     3,400     —       —       —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  6,152     18,444     62,867     (11,115   (76,980   (130,903
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) relating to interest rate swap agreements and the Toledo Spirit time-charter derivative are recognized in earnings and reported in realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments in the Partnership’s consolidated statements of income. The effect of the (loss) gain on these derivatives on the Partnership’s consolidated statements of income is as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012  
     Realized     Unrealized           Realized     Unrealized            Realized     Unrealized         
     gains     gains           gains     gains            gains     gains         
     (losses)     (losses)     Total     (losses)     (losses)      Total     (losses)     (losses)      Total  

Interest rate swap agreements

     (39,406     4,204       (35,202     (38,089     18,868        (19,221     (37,427     5,200        (32,227

Interest rate swap agreements termination

     (2,319     —         (2,319     —         —          —         —         —          —    

Toledo Spirit time-charter derivative

     (861     (6,300     (7,161     1,521       3,700        5,221       907       1,700        2,607  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
  (42,586   (2,096   (44,682   (36,568   22,568     (14,000   (36,520   6,900     (29,620
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Unrealized and realized (losses) gains relating to cross-currency swap agreements are recognized in earnings and reported in foreign currency exchange gain (loss) in the Partnership’s consolidated statements of income. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, unrealized losses of ($51.8) million, ($15.4) million and ($2.7) million, respectively, and realized (losses) gains of ($2.2) million, ($0.3) million and $0.3 million, respectively, were recognized in earnings.

 

13. Commitments and Contingencies

 

  a)

Between December 2012 and December 2014, the Partnership signed contracts with DSME for the construction of eight 173,400-cubic meter LNG carriers at a total cost of approximately $1.7 billion. These newbuilding vessels will be equipped with the M-type, Electronically Controlled, Gas Injection (or MEGI ) twin engines, which are expected to be significantly more fuel-efficient and have lower emission levels than other engines currently being utilized in LNG shipping. Two of the vessels ordered are scheduled for delivery in 2016 and, upon delivery of the vessels, will be chartered to Cheniere Marketing L.L.C. at fixed rates for a period of five years. Five of the vessels ordered are scheduled for delivery between 2017 and 2018 and, upon delivery of the vessels, will be chartered to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell PLC (or Shell) at fixed rates for a period of six to eight years, plus extension options. The Partnership intends to secure a charter contract for the remaining newbuilding vessel prior to its delivery in 2017. As at December 31, 2014, costs incurred under these newbuilding contracts totaled $237.6 million and the estimated remaining costs to be incurred are $153.0 million (2015), $350.6 million (2016), $578.5 million (2017) and $363.3 million (2018). The Partnership intends to finance the newbuilding payments through its existing liquidity and expects to secure long-term debt financing for the units prior to their scheduled deliveries.

 
  b)

As described under Note 4, the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture was the lessee under three separate 30-year capital lease arrangements with a third party for the three RasGas II LNG Carriers. Under the terms of the leasing arrangements in respect of the RasGas II LNG Carriers, the lessor claimed 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 were assumed by the lessee, in this case the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture. Lease payments under the lease arrangements were based on certain tax and financial assumptions at the commencement of the leases and subsequently adjusted to maintain its agreed after-tax margin. On December 22, 2014, the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture terminated the leasing of the RasGas II LNG Carriers. However, the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture remains obligated to the lessor to maintain the lessor’s agreed after-tax margin from the commencement of the lease to the lease termination date.

 

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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 UK taxing authority (or HMRC ) has been challenging the use of similar lease structures. One of those challenges resulted in a court decision from the First Tribunal on January 2012 regarding a similar financial lease of an LNG carrier that ruled in favor of the taxpayer, as well as a 2013 decision from the Upper Tribunal that upheld the 2012 verdict. However, HMRC appealed the 2013 decision to the Court of Appeal and in August 2014, HMRC was successful in having the judgment of the First Tribunal (in favor of the taxpayer) set aside. The matter will now be reconsidered by the First Tribunal, taking into account the appellate court’s comments on the earlier judgment. If the lessor of the RasGas II LNG Carriers were to lose on a similar claim from HMRC, which the Partnership does not consider to be a probable outcome, the Partnership’s 70% share of the potential exposure in the Teekay Nakilat Joint Venture is estimated to be approximately $60 million. Such estimate is primarily based on information received from the lessor.

 
  c)

As described in Note 5b, the Partnership has an ownership interest in the BG Joint Venture and as part of the acquisition, agreed to assume BG’s obligation to provide shipbuilding supervision and crew training services for the four LNG carrier newbuildings up to their delivery dates pursuant to a ship construction support agreement. As at December 31, 2014, the Partnership had incurred $0.8 million relating to shipbuilding and crew training services. The remaining estimated amounts to be incurred for the shipbuilding and crew training obligation, net of the reimbursement from BG, are $5.2 million (2015), $4.2 million (2016), $3.8 million (2017), $4.0 million (2018) and $0.4 million (2019).

In addition, the BG Joint Venture secured a $787.0 million debt facility to finance a portion of the estimated fully built-up cost of $1.0 billion for its four newbuilding carriers, with the remaining portion to be financed pro-rata based on ownership interests by the Partnership and the other partners. As at December 31, 2014, the Partnership’s proportionate share of the remaining newbuilding installments, net of debt financing, totaled $4.9 million (2015), $7.9 million (2016), $15.0 million (2017), $17.3 million (2018), and $6.3 million (2019).

 

  d)

As described in Note 5a, the Partnership has a 50% ownership interest in the Yamal LNG Joint Venture which will build six 172,000-cubic meter ARC7 LNG carrier newbuildings for an estimated total fully built-up cost of approximately $2.1 billion. As at December 31, 2014, the Partnership’s proportionate costs incurred under these newbuilding contracts totaled $95.3 million and the Partnership’s proportionate share of the estimated remaining costs to be incurred were $23.7 million (2015), $33.9 million (2016), $84.4 million (2017), $344.7 million (2018), $240.2 million (2019) and $201.1 million (thereafter). The Yamal LNG Joint Venture intends to secure debt financing for 70% to 80% of the fully built-up cost of the six newbuildings.

 

14. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

a) The changes in operating assets and liabilities for years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:

 

     Year Ended      Year Ended      Year Ended  
   December 31,      December 31,      December 31,  
   2014      2013      2012  
   $      $      $  

Accounts receivable

     9,957        (6,436      513  

Prepaid expenses

     1,781        80        (920

Accounts payable

     (1,098      (437      (1,124

Accrued liabilities

     (6,759      7,662        (8,606

Unearned revenue and long-term unearned revenue

     (536      (6,956      7,996  

Restricted cash

     —          4,258        (1,464

Advances to and from affiliates and joint venture partners

     17,953        14,417        (7,259

Other operating assets and liabilities

     (2,476      (2,510      3,557  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

  18,822     10,078     (7,307
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

b) Cash interest paid (including 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, 2014, 2013 and 2012 totaled $128.7 million, $133.7 million, and $131.1 million, respectively.

c) During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, cash paid for corporate income taxes was $2.3 million, $5.6 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

d) During 2013, the Partnership acquired two LNG carriers from Awilco for a purchase price of $205.0 million per vessel. The upfront prepayment of charter hire of $51.0 million (inclusive of a $1.0 million upfront fee) per vessel was used to offset the purchase price and was treated as a non-cash transaction in the Partnership’s consolidated statements of cash flows.

e) During 2014 and 2013, the sales of the Tenerife Spirit, Huelva Spirit, and Algeciras Spirit conventional tankers resulted in the vessels under capital lease being returned to the owner and the capital lease obligations concurrently extinguished. Therefore, the sales of the Algeciras Spirit and Huelva Spirit under capital lease of $56.2 million in 2014 and the sale of the Tenerife Spirit under capital lease of $29.7 million in 2013 and the concurrent extinguishment of the corresponding capital lease obligations of $56.2 million in 2014 and $29.7 million in 2013 were treated as non-cash transactions in the Partnership’s consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

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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)

 

f) During 2014, the Partnership acquired an LPG carrier, the Norgas Napa , from Skaugen for $27.0 million, of which $21.6 million was paid in cash upon delivery and the remaining $5.4 million is an interest-bearing loan to Skaugen.

g) As described in Note 5b, during 2014, Partnership acquired BG’s ownership interest in the BG Joint Venture. As compensation, the Partnership assumed BG’s obligation (net of an agreement by BG to pay the Partnership approximately $20.3 million) to provide shipbuilding supervision and crew training services for the four LNG carrier newbuildings up to their delivery dates pursuant to a ship construction support agreement. The estimated fair value of the assumed obligation of approximately $33.3 million was used to offset the purchase price and the Partnership’s receivable from BG and was treated as a non-cash transaction in the Partnership’s consolidated statements of cash flows.

h) As described in Note 6a, the portion of the dividends declared by the Teekay Tangguh Joint Venture that was used to settle the advances made to BLT LNG Tangguh Corporation and P.T. Berlian Laju Tanker of $14.4 million in 2014 was treated as a non-cash transaction in the Partnership’s consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

15. Total Capital and Net Income Per Unit

The following table summarizes the issuances of common units over the three years ending December 31, 2014:

 

Date

   Number of
Common
Units
Issued
     Offering
Price
    Gross
Proceeds (i)
$
     Net
Proceeds
$
     Teekay
Corporation’s
Ownership
After the
Offering (ii)
   

Use of Proceeds

September 2012

     4,825,863       $ 38.43        189,243         182,316        37.45   Prepayment of revolving credit facilities

Continuous offering program during 2013

     124,071         (iii     5,383         4,926         (iii   General partnership purposes

July 2013

     931,098       $ 42.96        40,816         40,776        36.92   Funding of LNG carrier newbuilding

October 2013

     3,450,000       $ 42.62        150,040         144,818        35.30   Prepayment of revolving credit facilities, funding of an LNG carrier acquisition and for general partnership purposes

July 2014

     3,090,000       $ 44.65        140,784         140,484          33.96   Prepayment of revolving credit facilities, funding of the Yamal LNG Project and portion of the MEGI newbuildings

Continuous offering program during 2014 (iv)

     1,050,463         (iii     42,556         41,655         (iii   General partnership purposes including funding newbuilding installments

 

(i)  

Including General Partner’s 2% proportionate capital contribution.

(ii)  

Including Teekay Corporation’s indirect 2% general partner interest.

(iii)  

In May 2013, the Partnership implemented a continuous offering program (or COP ) under which the Partnership may issue new common units, representing limited partner interests, at market prices up to a maximum aggregate amount of $100 million.

(iv)  

Excludes 160,000 common units for net proceed of $6.8 million (including General Partner’s 2% proportionate capital contribution) that were received in January 2015.

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 conducts, directs and manages the 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.

 

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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)

 

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 $0.6500

     75     25

Above $0.6500

     50     50

During 2014, quarterly 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 non-controlling interest and the General Partner’s interest, by the weighted-average number of units outstanding during the period.

The General Partner’s and common unitholders’ 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.

 

16. Unit-Based Compensation

In March 2014, a total of 9,521 common units, with an aggregate value of $0.4 million, were granted to the non-management directors of the General Partner as part of their annual compensation for 2014. These common units were fully vested upon grant. During 2013 and 2012, the Partnership awarded 7,362 and 1,263 common units, respectively, as compensation to non-management directors. The awards were fully vested in March 2013 and March 2012, respectively. The compensation to the non-management directors is included in general and administrative expenses on the Partnership’s consolidated statements of income.

The Partnership grants restricted unit-based compensation awards as incentive-based compensation under the Teekay LNG Partners L.P. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan to certain of the Partnership’s employees and to certain employees of Teekay Corporation’s subsidiaries that provide services to the Partnership. The Partnership measures the cost of such awards using the grant date fair value of the award and recognizes that cost, net of estimated forfeitures, over the requisite service period. The requisite service period consists of the period from the grant date of the award to the earlier of the date of vesting or the date the recipient becomes eligible for retirement. For unit-based compensation awards subject to graded vesting, the Partnership calculates the value for the award as if it was one single award with one expected life and amortizes the calculated expense for the entire award on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The compensation cost of the Partnership’s unit-based compensation awards are reflected in general and administrative expenses in the Partnership’s consolidated statements of income.

During March 2014 and 2013, the Partnership granted restricted unit-based compensation with respect to 31,961 and 36,878 units, respectively, with grant date fair values of $1.3 million and $1.5 million, respectively, to certain of the Partnership’s employees and to certain employees of Teekay Corporation’s subsidiaries, based on the Partnership’s closing unit price on the grant date. Each award represents the specified number of the Partnership’s common units plus reinvested distributions from the grant date to the vesting date. The awards vest equally over three years from the grant date. Any portion of an award that is not vested on the date of a recipient’s termination of service is cancelled, unless their termination arises as a result of the recipient’s retirement and in this case the award will continue to vest in accordance with the vesting schedule. Upon vesting, the awards are paid to each recipient in the form of units. During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Partnership recorded an expense of $1.0 million, $1.0 million, and nil, respectively, related to the restricted units.

 

F-30


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)

 

17. Restructuring Charge

Compania Espanole de Petroles, S.A., the charterer and owner of the Partnership’s former conventional vessels under capital lease, sold the Tenerife Spirit, Algeciras Spirit , and Huelva Spirit between December 2013 and August 2014. On redeliveries of the vessels, the charter contract with the Partnership was terminated. As a result of these sales, the Partnership recorded restructuring charges of $2.0 million, $1.8 million and nil for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The balances outstanding of $1.6 million and $1.8 million as at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, are included in accrued liabilities in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

18. Write Down of Vessels

The Partnership’s consolidated statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2012 includes a $29.4 million write-down on three of the Partnership’s conventional Suezmax tankers, the Tenerife Spirit , Algeciras Spirit and Huelva Spirit. The carrying values of these three vessels were written down in 2012 due to the expected termination of their time-charter-in contracts and their associated capital lease obligations. The estimated fair value was based on a discounted cash flow approach and such estimates of cash flow were based on the existing time-charter contracts, lease obligations and operating costs as at December 31, 2012.

 

19. Accounting Pronouncement Not Yet Adopted

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or FASB ) issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (or ASU 2014-09 ). ASU 2014-09 will require entities to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This update creates a five-step model that requires entities to exercise judgment when considering the terms of the contract(s) which include (i) identifying the contract(s) with the customer, (ii) identifying the separate performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determining the transaction price, (iv) allocating the transaction price to the separate performance obligations, and (v) recognizing revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. ASU 2014-09 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and shall be applied, at the Partnership’s option, retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. Early adoption is not permitted. The Partnership is evaluating the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance.

In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity (or ASU 2014-08) which raises the threshold for disposals to qualify as discontinued operations. A discontinued operation is now defined as: (i) a component of an entity or group of components that has been disposed of or classified as held for sale and represents a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results; or (ii) an acquired business that is classified as held for sale on the acquisition date. ASU 2014-08 also requires additional disclosures regarding discontinued operations, as well as material disposals that do not meet the definition of discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in the financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. The impact, if any, of adopting ASU 2014-08 on the Partnership’s financial statements will depend on the occurrence and nature of disposals that occur after ASU 2014-08 is adopted.

 

20. Subsequent Events

On February 2, 2015, the Partnership entered into an agreement with DSME for the construction of one additional 173,400 cbm MEGI LNG carrier newbuilding for a total fully built-up cost of approximately $225 million, with options to order up to four additional vessels. The Partnership intends to secure long-term contract employment for the ordered vessel prior to its scheduled delivery in the fourth quarter of 2018.

 

F-31

Exhibit 4.29

DATED JULY 2014

CHINA LNG SHIPPING (HOLDINGS) LIMITED

and

TEEKAY LNG OPERATING LLC

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

RELATING TO

TC LNG SHIPPING LLC

 

 


INDEX

 

No

 

Description

  

Page No.

 
1.  

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

     1   
2.  

AGREEMENT FOR JOINT VENTURE AND WARRANTIES

     6   
3.  

OBJECTS

     7   
4.  

SUPERVISION OF CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF VESSELS

     7   
5.  

PRELIMINARY MATTERS

     8   
6.  

WORKING CAPITAL AND FINANCE

     9   
7  

NUMBER OF DIRECTORS

     12   
8.  

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANIES

     13   
9.  

BUDGETS

     16   
10.  

RESERVED MATTERS

     17   
11.  

TRANSFER OF SHARES IN THE JOINT VENTURE COMPANY

     17   
12.  

OTHER BUSINESS

     21   
13.  

CONFIDENTIALITY

     21   
14.  

TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT

     23   
15.  

DEFAULT

     24   
16.  

DIVIDEND POLICY

     27   
17.  

DEADLOCK

     27   
18.  

FURTHER ASSURANCE

     28   
19.  

COSTS

     29   
20.  

PROVISIONS RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT

     29   
21.  

NOTICES

     33   
22.  

APPLICABLE LAW AND ARBITRATION

     33   
SCHEDULE 1 - RESERVED MATTERS      35   
SCHEDULE 2 - COMPANY DETAILS      38   
SCHEDULE 3 - FORM OF ANNUAL BUDGET      40   
SCHEDULE 4 - FORM OF SUPERVISION AGREEMENT      41   
SCHEDULE 5 - FORM OF CORPORATE SERVICES AGREEMENT      42   
SCHEDULE 6 - FORM OF SHIPMANAGEMENT AGREEMENT      43   

 

- 1 -


THIS AGREEMENT is made as of the      day of July, 2014

BETWEEN:

 

(1)

CHINA LNG SHIPPING (HOLDINGS) LIMITED (Company No. 0845254), a company incorporated in Hong Kong, having its address for correspondence at Room 912, 9th Floor, China Merchants Tower, Shun Tak Centre, 168-200 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong (“ CLNG ”);

and

 

(2)

TEEKAY LNG OPERATING LLC (Company No. 960612), a limited liability company formed and existing in the Marshall Islands, having its registered office at Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake island, Majuro, Marshall Islands, MH96960 with a business address at 4th Floor, Belvedere Building, 69 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda (“ Teekay ”).

WHEREAS

(A) Teekay was approved as a prequalified tenderer to submit a proposal to purchase, charter and manage up to fifteen (15) Arc7 LNG vessels which are to be built by Daewoo Shipbuilding &Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. for service of the Yamal LNG Project (the “ Project ”).

(B) CLNG and Teekay agreed to cooperate as a consortium (the “ Consortium ”) in submitting a proposal to provide up to six (6) Vessels (as defined below) for the Project and appointed Teekay as Consortium leader authorized to sign the proposal on behalf of the Consortium, and to act for and bind the Consortium in all matters relating to the Proposal.

(C) Teekay was informed on 17 th  February 2014 that it was selected as a preferred bidder for the Project and together with CLNG finalised into bilateral negotiations with Yamal LNG in connection with the Project.

(D) CLNG and Teekay have incorporated the Joint Venture Company (as defined below) and have each subscribed for their respective Agreed Proportions (as defined below) of the issued share capital of the Joint Venture Company. The purpose of the Joint Venture Company is to form and own a separate special purpose company for each Vessel to be purchased and chartered in connection with the Project.

(E) This Agreement sets out the terms upon which, inter alia, the parties will regulate their relationship as shareholders of the Joint Venture Company and the administration and conduct of the respective businesses of the Joint Venture Company, and the Vessel Owning Companies (as defined below).

NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:

 

1.

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

1.1

In this Agreement, unless the contrary intention appears, the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings:

Affiliate ” means any person who directly or indirectly owns, controls, is under common ownership or control with or is controlled by the party in question; where “own” or “control” means the ownership of 50% or more shares or the right to exercise 50% or more of the voting shares of a company or other entity or of the equivalent rights so as to determine the decisions of such company or other entity.

 

1


“Annual Budget” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Clause 9.1;

Agreed Proportions ” means 50% in respect of Teekay and 50% in respect of CLNG or (if different) such other proportions as equal, at the relevant time, the percentages which the number of the Shares beneficially owned by those parties respectively in the Joint Venture Company bear to the total number of the issued Shares of the Joint Venture Company.

Associated Person ” means the in relation to a Shareholder, such Shareholder and its Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, suppliers and sub-contractors.

Board ” means, in relation to each Company, the board of directors of that Company from time to time.

Builder ” means Daewoo Shipbuilding &Marine Engineering Co. Ltd.

Business ” means, in relation to each Company, the business to be carried on by that Company as set out in Clause 3.

Business Day ” means a day (excluding Saturdays and Sundays) on which banks are open for business in each of Vancouver, London, Hong Kong and Beijing, and (if payment or other dealing is required to be made on that day) in New York City and (in the case of payment) the place to which such payment is required to be made.

Charterer ” means, in relation to each Time Charter, the charterer for the time being under the Time Charter, being, at the date of this Agreement, Yamal Trade Pte Ltd.

CLNG Director ” means, in relation to each Company, a Director appointed by CLNG in accordance with this Agreement and the Constitution of that Company.

CLSICO ” means, China LNG Shipping (International) Co., Limited with business address Unit Nos. 01-02, Level 31, Millennium City 6, 392 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

Companies ” means the Joint Venture Company and the Vessel Owning Companies and ‘ Company’ means any one of them details of which are set out in Schedule 2.

Constitution ” means, in relation to each Company, the articles of incorporation or by-laws or the memorandum and articles of association or equivalent constitutional documents of that Company.

Corporate Services Agreement ” means the agreement to be made between the Companies and the Corporate Services Provider in the agreed form, whereby the Corporate Services Provider will provide administrative and corporate services to the Companies.

Corporate Services Provider ” means, Teekay Shipping Limited (or its Affiliate) or such other entity as may be agreed between Shareholders from time to time.

“Debt Financing” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Clause 6.4;

 

2


Directors ” means, in relation to each Company, the directors for the time being of that Company.

Dollars ” and the symbol “ $ ” means the lawful currency of the United States of America.

GAAP ” means the generally accepted accounting principles of the United States of America.

Joint Venture Company ” means TC LNG Shipping LLC, a limited liability company formed in the Marshall Islands, with its registered office at Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960.

LIBOR ” means (i) the rate for Dollar deposits for periods of six months at or about 11:00 a.m. (London Time) on the relevant day in question as displayed on Telerate page 3750 (being the London interbank offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person who takes over the administration of that rate) (or such other page as may replace such page 3750 on such system from time to time), or (ii) if on such date no such rate is displayed on Telerate, the arithmetic mean (rounded upwards if necessary to the nearest multiple of one sixteenth of one per cent. (1/16%)), as determined by the parties of offered rates denominated in Dollars for periods of six months which appear on the display designated “LIBOR” on the Reuter Monitor Screen, being the London interbank offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person who takes over the administration of that rate, (or such other page as may replace the “LIBOR” page on such system for the purpose of displaying rates of leading reference banks in the London Interbank market) at or about 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the relevant day in question or (iii) if on such date no such rate is so displayed on the Telerate System or the Reuter Monitor System, LIBOR shall be the rate notified to the parties by such bank as they may from time to time jointly select to be the rate at which such bank is offering deposits in US Dollars for periods of six months to leading banks in the London Interbank market in an amount equal to or comparable with the relevant amount at or about 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the relevant day in question.

LNG ” means liquefied natural gas.

Marshall Islands ” means The Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Material Documents ” means the Time Charters, the Shipbuilding Contracts, the Supplementary Construction Agreements, the Corporate Services Agreements, the Supervision Agreements, the Ship Management Agreements, and any material documents entered into in connection with any Debt Financing.

Reserved Matters ” means the matters listed in Schedule 1.

Shareholder Loan ” means any loan made available to the Joint Venture Company or any Vessel Owning Company by a Shareholder or an Affiliate of a Shareholder on behalf of a Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement.

Shareholders ” means, together, Teekay and CLNG (or their respective successors in title to the Shares in the Joint Venture Company) and “ Shareholder ” means any of them as the context may require.

Shares ” means, in relation to each Company, the ordinary shares or membership interests, as the case may be, in the capital of that Company.

 

3


Shipbuilding Contract ” means, in relation to each Vessel, the shipbuilding contract for the construction of that Vessel made or to be made between the Builder and the relevant Vessel Owning Company referred to below:

 

Hull Number/Vessel    Vessel Owning Company

2423

  

DSME Hull No. 2423 L.L.C.

2425

  

DSME Hull No. 2425 L.L.C.

2430

  

DSME Hull No. 2430 L.L.C.

2431

 

2433

 

2434

  

DSME Hull No. 2431 L.L.C.

 

DSME Hull No. 2433 L.L.C.

 

DSME Hull No. 2434 L.L.C.

Ship Management Agreement ” means, in relation to each Vessel, the management agreement in respect of that Vessel made or to be made between the Vessel Owning Company and the Ship Manager in the agreed form whereby the Ship Manager manages the Vessel following its delivery to the Vessel Owning Company under the relevant Shipbuilding Contract.

Ship Manager ” means, in relation to each Vessel, the manager of that Vessel being Teekay Shipping Limited or such other entity as may be agreed between Shareholders from time to time.

Specified Rate ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Clause 15.3.

Supervision Agreements ” means, in relation to each Vessel, the agreement in respect of that Vessel, made or to be made between the Supervisor and the relevant Vessel Owning Company in the agreed form relating to the supervision of construction and plan approval for each of the Vessels.

Supervisor ” means, for the time being, Teekay Shipping Limited (or its Affiliate).

Supplemental Construction Agreement ” means the supplemental construction agreement made or to be made between each Vessel Owning Company and the Charterer in relation to the relevant Shipbuilding Contract of the relevant Vessel.

TGP ” means Teekay LNG Partners L.P. of Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands, MH96960 with business address at 4 th Floor, Belvedere Building, 69 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton, HM 08 Bermuda and mailing address at Suite No. 1778, 48 Par-la Ville Road, Hamilton, HM11, Bermuda.

Time Charter ” means, in relation to each Vessel, the time charter of that Vessel made or to be made between the relevant Vessel Owning Company purchasing such Vessel as owner and the Charterer as time charterer and, in the event that such time charter is replaced by a bareboat charter in accordance with the terms of time charter, all references herein to the “Time Charter” shall be construed as referring to such bareboat charter.

Teekay Director ” means, in relation to each Company, a Director appointed by Teekay in accordance with this Agreement and the Constitution of that Company.

Teekay Shipping Limited ” means Teekay Shipping Limited of 4 th Floor, Belvedere Building, 69 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton, HM 08 Bermuda and with its mailing address at Suite No. 1778, 48 Par-la Ville Road, Hamilton, HM11, Bermuda.

“Total Shareholders’ Commitment” means the total amount to be agreed by the Shareholders to contribute towards the total delivered ship cost as equity in each Vessel

 

4


Owning Company and contingent funding for cost overruns, as may be varied by agreement between the Shareholders and the financiers under the Debt Financing, unless otherwise agreed between the Shareholders.

Vessel Owning Companies ” means the Marshall Islands limited liability companies (details of which are set out in Schedule 2), which are wholly owned by the Joint Venture Company.

Vessels ” means the following new building vessels under construction by the Builder with the Builder’s hull numbers specified below, each of which will be acquired under the applicable Shipbuilding Contract and owned by the relevant Vessel Owning Company below:

 

Hull Number    Vessel Owning Company

2423

  

DSME Hull No 2423 LLC

2425

  

DSME Hull No 2425 LLC

2430

  

DSME Hull No 2430 LLC

2431

 

2433

 

2434

  

DSME Hull No 2431 LLC

 

DSME Hull No 2433 LLC

 

DSME Hull No 2434 LLC

 

1.2

References to Clauses, Schedules and Appendices are, unless otherwise stated, to clauses of and schedules and appendices to this Agreement.

 

1.3

Any document expressed to be “ in the agreed form ” means a document in a form approved by (and for the purpose of identification signed or initialled by or on behalf of) the Shareholders.

 

1.4

Unless the context otherwise requires, words in the singular include the plural and vice versa.

 

1.5

References to persons include a corporate entity and anybody of persons, corporate or unincorporate.

 

1.6

References to any person include such person’s successors and permitted assigns.

 

1.7

References to any document include the same as varied, supplemented or replaced from time to time.

 

1.8

Clause headings are for convenience of reference only and are not to be taken into account in construction.

 

1.9

In this Agreement any reference to an enactment includes a reference to:

 

  (a)

that enactment as amended or re-enacted, with or without amendment, whether before this Agreement or not; or

 

  (b)

any enactment which that enactment re-enacts, whether with or without amendment; or

 

  (c)

any subordinate legislation made under the enactment referred to or under any such enactment as is described in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Clause 1.9;

and a reference to things done or falling to be done under or for the purpose of any enactment shall be construed accordingly.

 

5


1.10

A reference in this Agreement to the service of a notice or other communication, or to the date of such service, shall be construed in accordance with Clause 21.

 

1.11

A person who is not a party to this Agreement may not enforce or otherwise have the benefit of any provision of this Agreement under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 and without limitation, no consent of any such person shall be required for the rescission or amendment of this Agreement, but this does not affect any right or remedy of a third party which exists or is available apart from that Act.

 

2.

AGREEMENT FOR JOINT VENTURE AND WARRANTIES

 

2.1

The Shareholders agree to operate the Joint Venture Company as a joint venture in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

2.2

Each Shareholder undertakes with the other that, so long as they hold any beneficial interest in Shares in the Joint Venture Company, they shall do all such acts and things and exercise their respective votes as shareholders of the Joint Venture Company, as appropriate, to ensure that the provisions of this Agreement shall be observed and put into effect for the purpose of the business, operations, management and administration of each Company, and generally use their best endeavours to promote the business and operations of each Company.

 

2.3

Each Shareholder acknowledges to the other a duty to act in good faith in all the matters and transactions covered by this Agreement.

 

2.4

Each of the Shareholders represents and warrants to the other that:

 

  2.4.1

it is duly organised and validly existing, and in compliance with the laws of its country of incorporation;

 

  2.4.2

it has the capacity and has taken all necessary actions and has obtained all necessary consents and approvals to enter into this Agreement and the documents to which it is to be party (if any) as specified in this Agreement;

 

  2.4.3

upon execution and delivery, this Agreement and the documents to which it is to be party (if any) as specified in this Agreement will constitute its legal, valid and binding obligations and liabilities enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms; and

 

  2.4.4

its entry into and performance of its obligations under this Agreement and the documents to which it is to be party (if any) as specified in this Agreement will not involve or lead to a contravention of any applicable statute or regulation of any governmental or official authority or body or other applicable law or of its constitutional documents or any contractual or other obligation or restriction which is binding on it or any of its assets.

 

2.5

Each Shareholder acknowledges that, in entering into this Agreement, it does not do so in consideration of or in reliance on any representation or warranty by the other Shareholder other than as is contained in this Agreement. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, all representations and warranties implied by statute or common law are hereby excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law and each Shareholder waives and releases all rights and remedies that it would otherwise have in respect of the same (other than on grounds of fraud).

 

6


2.6

Each Shareholder acknowledges that upon the Vessel Owning Company executing and entering into the Time Charter, such Vessel Owning Company shall be under certain obligations to the Charterer under the terms of the Time Charter. Each Shareholder agrees and acknowledges that it will not take any action in its capacity as a Shareholder which would result in such Vessel Owning Company being in breach of its obligations under the Time Charter.

 

3.

OBJECTS

 

3.1

The Joint Venture Company shall be the sole owner of all Shares in the Vessel Owning Companies and the business of the Joint Venture Company shall be to ensure that each Vessel Owning Company conducts its business and affairs in accordance with this Agreement and the Material Documents to which it is a party.

 

3.2

The business of each Vessel Owning Company shall be that of:

 

  3.2.1

supervision of construction and acquisition of the relevant Vessel under the relevant Shipbuilding Contract, and their ownership and operation on long term time charter to the Charterer under the relevant Time Charter, or in employment by charter or otherwise, to such other person or persons as may from time to time be agreed by the Shareholders;

 

  3.2.2

obtaining relevant Debt Financing and granting security to secure such Debt Financing; and

 

  3.2.3

such variation, extension or limitation of those activities as may from time to time be agreed by the Shareholders.

 

3.3

The Shareholders shall use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that the affairs of the Companies are managed so that, insofar as is reasonably practicable, each Shareholder is kept equally aware of all aspects of the Business of each Company and its activities and has equal access to all information regarding the Business of each Company and its activities, disregarding anything that cannot reasonably be considered material.

 

3.4

The Business of each Company shall be conducted in the best interests of that Company on sound commercial profit-making principles.

 

3.5

The Shareholders acknowledge that, for as long as a Vessel remains subject to a Time Charter, the due and punctual performance of the Time Charter by the relevant Vessel Owning Company is, subject always to the applicable law, of paramount concern to such Vessel Owning Company, and the Shareholders will do all such acts and things within their power and exercise their respective votes as Shareholders of the Joint Venture Company (being the sole shareholder of such Vessel Owning Company) to procure such performance and in accordance with this Agreement.

 

4.

SUPERVISION OF CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF VESSELS

 

4.1

The Shareholders shall procure that each Vessel Owning Company will enter into a Supervision Agreement with the Supervisor in substantially the form set out at Schedule 4 whereby the Supervisor will provide services including plan approval and supervision of the construction and completion of each Vessel. The fee for supervision services payable to the Supervisor pursuant to the Supervision Agreements shall be on a cost basis, flow through of actual expenses incurred by Supervisor to be paid in advance based on budgeted amount with later reconciliation of actual costs.

 

7


4.2

The Shareholders shall procure that each Company will enter into the Corporate Services Agreement in substantially the form set out at Schedule 5 whereby the Corporate Services Provider will provide administrative and corporate services to each of the Companies. The fee for corporate services payable to the Corporate Services Provider shall be US$125,000 per annum per Company and in respect of the Joint Venture Company, payable from 1 st January 2015 cumulatively increased on an annual basis on 1 st  January each year by 2.5% (commencing 1 st  January 2015), and in respect of each Vessel Owning Company, payable from the date of steel cutting of the relevant Vessel to be owned by that Vessel Owning Company, cumulatively increased on an annual basis on 1 st  January each year by 2.5% commencing on 1 st  January 2015.

 

4.3

The Shareholders shall procure that each Vessel Owning Company will enter into a Ship Management Agreement in substantially the form set out in Schedule 6 whereby Ship Manager will, from delivery of such Vessel by the Builder, technically manage such Vessel. The fee for ship management services payable to the Ship Manager shall be US$500,000 per annum per Vessel cumulatively increased on an annual basis on 1st January in each year by 3% payable six months prior to the delivery date of the relevant Vessel ((the 1st such increase occurring on 1st January 2015 regardless of date of delivery of the Vessel). For the avoidance of doubt, the management fee mentioned aforesaid (including its 3% increasing rate in each year) is part of the “management fee” item of Opex Element (as defined in the Time Charter) of hire under the Time Charter in respect of the relevant Vessel.

 

4.4

In consideration of the Project being awarded to the Consortium on the basis of Teekay’s pre-qualification criteria and successful bid process, the Vessel Owning Companies shall pay to Teekay a success fee equivalent to 1% of the Capex Rate starting from the date of delivery of such Vessel Owning Company’s respective Vessel payable annually in arrears for the first two years then quarterly in advance thereafter on receipt of an invoice from Teekay to each Vessel Owning Company. The fee will be payable by each Vessel Owning Company throughout the Initial Charter Period (as defined in the Time Charter) at all times regardless of any off-hire period under the respective Time Charter. For the purposes of this Clause “Capex Rate” means the Capex Element for each Vessel as defined in clause 2.1 of Appendix II of the Time Charter.

 

5.

PRELIMINARY MATTERS

 

5.1

On or as soon as practicable after the date hereof or at the time otherwise specified below, the Shareholders shall take or cause to be taken the following actions (to the extent that the same have not already been taken):

 

  5.1.1

the Shareholders will procure that meetings of the Board, and (if appropriate) the members, of each Company, are held at which:

 

  (a)

the accounting reference date of each Company is fixed as 31 December in each year;

 

  (b)

KPMG are appointed as the auditors of each Company;

 

  (c)

a bank as agreed between the Shareholders is appointed as the banker to each Company, a resolution in the form required by that bank is passed and the appropriate mandate is completed;

 

  (d)

the Constitution of each Company is amended (where necessary) so as to be consistent with the provisions of this Agreement;

 

  (e)

the execution by each Vessel Owning Company of each Time Charter is approved

 

8


  (f)

the execution by each Vessel Owning Company of each Ship Building Contract is approved

 

  (g)

the execution by each Vessel Owning Company of each Supplemental Construction Agreement is approved

 

  (h)

the execution by each Vessel Owning Company of the Supervision Agreement is approved;

 

  (i)

the execution by each of the Companies of the Corporate Services Agreement is approved;

 

  (j)

the execution by each Vessel Owning Company of each Ship Management Agreement is approved; and

 

  (k)

any other actions or matters necessary to give effect to this Agreement are approved or executed.

 

6.

WORKING CAPITAL AND FINANCE

 

6.1

The Shareholders agree that funds for the purchase of the Vessels and for working capital and operating expenses of the Companies shall be provided from:

 

  6.1.1

the Shareholders’ equity contributions;

 

  6.1.2

Shareholder Loans;

 

  6.1.3

other external borrowing; and

 

  6.1.4

the resources of the Companies;

as may be agreed by the Shareholders.

 

6.2

Each Shareholder will provide, or will procure that an Affiliate nominated by it will provide, funding by way of Shareholder Loans and/or guarantees or securities in its respective Agreed Proportion by reference to the total Shareholder Loans to the relevant Company:-

 

  6.2.1

as may be required to ensure the due and punctual performance by the Company of the Time Charter or otherwise required pursuant to the Time Charter to satisfy any additional expenditure of any kind related to the Vessel as provided in Clause 3.5;

 

  6.2.2

as may be agreed in any Annual Budget or as provided in Clause 6.3;and/or

 

  6.2.3

as may be requested by the Company in accordance with Clause 6.8.

No Shareholder (nor any Affiliate nominated by it in accordance with Clause 6.2) will be obliged to contribute in aggregate by way of additional funding and/or by the provision of guarantees or securities on behalf of the Company an amount in excess of its Agreed Proportion of Total Shareholders’ Commitment (or such other Dollar amount as the Shareholders may agree).

The commitment of the Shareholders to provide additional funding in the Agreed Proportions as provided in this Clause 6.2 and Clause 6.3, will apply only while the Time Charter remains in force.

 

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6.3

For the purpose of determining whether a Shareholder’s Agreed Proportion of the Total Shareholders’ Commitment has been or will be exceeded, the principal amount of a Shareholder’s contingent liability under any such guarantee or security which is outstanding for the time being will be aggregated with the amount of all Shareholder Loans or other amounts made available by that Shareholder by way of additional funding to the Company, but will be disregarded once such guarantee or security has been released or discharged. An amount paid by a Shareholder pursuant to any claim under such guarantee or security will be deemed to be a Shareholder Loan in that amount to the Company on whose behalf the guarantee or security was provided.

 

6.4

The Shareholders agree to cooperate in arranging debt financing to part fund the purchase, owning and management of the Vessels with the intention that such financing should be on a non-recourse or limited recourse basis and for 70% - 80% of the delivered cost of each Vessel (the “ Debt Financing ”). CLNG will endeavour to assist the Joint Venture Company and the Vessel Owning Companies in obtaining Debt Financing from Chinese banks and international banks on the most favourable terms. The Shareholders have appointed Société Générale S.A. to act as financial advisor to assist the Joint Venture Company with obtaining Debt Financing. All costs incurred in connection with obtaining the Debt Financing including the fees payable to Société Générale S.A. including those incurred during the bid process in accordance with the mandate letter dated 29 th  October 2013 from Société Générale S.A. to, and accepted by Teekay on 31 st  October 2013 shall be for the account of the Shareholders in proportion to their Agreed Proportions.

 

6.5

Unless otherwise agreed by the Shareholders, Shareholder Loans:

 

  6.5.1

shall be subordinated to any loans obtained from external sources;

 

  6.5.2

shall be secured on the assets of the Companies on a pari pasu and pro rata basis to the extent permitted by any external lenders;

 

  6.5.3

shall accrue interest at the rate of three hundred per cent (300%) per annum above LIBOR compounded at six-monthly intervals if not paid; and

 

  6.5.4

shall be repayable to the Shareholders on a pari passu basis only out of the distributable profits of the Joint Venture Company in priority to any dividend or other distribution, at such times as may be agreed by all the Shareholders or otherwise on the liquidation of the Joint Venture Company.

 

6.6

The provisions of Clause 6.5 shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to amounts on-lent by the Joint Venture Company to each Vessel Owning Company except that the reference to the Shareholder shall be construed as a reference to the Joint Venture Company.

 

6.7

The Shareholders’ Loans will be made available by the Shareholders by way of cash advances to the Joint Venture Company and/or by the Joint Venture Company by way of cash advances to the relevant Vessel Owning Company in Dollars and in such funds as may be customary at the time for settlement of transaction in Dollars in the place of payment for value not later than the day on which banks are open for business in New York City immediately preceding the date upon which the relevant payment is due to be made, provided that at least ten (10) Business Days’ written notice of the requirement of funds, and the amount required, is given to each of the Shareholders by the Joint Venture Company in a notice signed with the authority of the Board of the Joint Venture Company by at least one Teekay Director and one CLNG Director and provided further that the Joint Venture Company shall contemporaneously be requesting Shareholder Loans from both Shareholders in the Agreed Proportions of the aggregate amount required by the Joint Venture Company.

 

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6.8

Without prejudice to Clause 15 the Shareholders further agree that if Shareholder Loans are to be made available and sufficient written notice has been given of the due date as provided in Clause 6.7, and any one of the Shareholders (the “ defaulting party ”) fails to make or to procure that its Affiliate makes the necessary advance in the amount or at the time specified in Clause 6.7 or as otherwise provided herein, then without prejudice to any other rights of the other Shareholder, such other Shareholder may advance the amount in default to the Joint Venture Company, on behalf of the defaulting party, and the amount in question shall be deemed to be a debt due from the defaulting party to such other Shareholder. Such other Shareholder (the “ non-defaulting party ”), will not be obliged to make the advance in question and its rights to terminate this Agreement due to the default of the defaulting party in accordance with Clause 15 shall remain unchanged if it decides not to advance such amount in question. In the event of such an advance, the non-defaulting party shall be entitled to recover the amount so advanced together with interest accrued from the defaulting party as a debt due from the defaulting party and repayable upon demand, upon which interest shall be calculated at the rate of five hundred per cent. (500%) per annum above LIBOR (both before and after judgment) from the date of such advance to the date of actual payment, and all interest shall be compounded semi-annually.

 

6.9

Where the Shareholders (or their Affiliates) (the “ Guarantors ”) give any guarantee or indemnity on behalf of a Company (a “ Relevant Security ”), they shall do so in the Agreed Proportions in respect of that Company, and their liability shall be several, and not joint or joint and several, unless otherwise agreed. If a Guarantor incurs any liability, that Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from the other Guarantor to ensure that the aggregate liability of the Guarantors is borne by the Guarantors in the Agreed Proportions in respect of the relevant Company. Without prejudice to the foregoing, where any Shareholder or any Affiliate of a Shareholder (a “ Relevant Guarantor ”) gives a Relevant Security in respect of the obligations of any Company but the other Shareholder does not do so, then (provided always that the giving of such Relevant Security has previously been approved by such other Shareholder, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) if the Relevant Guarantor is required to make any payment under the Relevant Security, such Relevant Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from the other Shareholder to ensure that the liability under such Relevant Security is shared by the Shareholders in the Agreed Proportions. The provisions of this Clause 6.9 take effect subject to the provisions of Clause 6.10. Any called guarantee or security provided by a Shareholder or its Affiliate(s) shall be treated as a Shareholder Loan so that Clause 6.5 shall apply.

 

6.10

Where a Relevant Security is given the following provisions shall apply:

 

  6.10.1

The Relevant Guarantor will:

 

  (a)

not agree any amendment to the terms of the Relevant Security or waive any of the Relevant Guarantor’s rights under the Relevant Security without, in either case, the other Shareholder’s prior written approval;

 

  (b)

promptly notify the other Shareholder in writing if any claim or demand is made of the Relevant Guarantor under the Relevant Security, giving the other Shareholder a copy or copies of the same;

 

  (c)

not, prior to the first date on which it is legally obliged to do so, pay or settle or admit any liability under the demand or claim (or otherwise in relation to the Relevant Security) without the prior written consent of the other Shareholder (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);

 

  (d)

if reasonably requested to do so by the other Shareholder in circumstances where reasonable grounds to do so exist, contest the claim or demand by appropriate proceedings with lawyers approved by the other Shareholder in

 

11


 

writing (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), provided always that the other Shareholder shall reimburse the Relevant Guarantor for its Agreed Proportion of all costs and expenses (including, without limitation, legal costs and taxes thereon) incurred by the Relevant Guarantor in pursuing such contest;

 

  (e)

to the extent that it can do so without breaching any confidentiality obligations binding on it, keep the other Shareholder fully informed as to the conduct of any proceedings in relation to any claim or demand or otherwise in relation to the Relevant Security, and not take any major step in the same without the written approval of the other Shareholder (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);

 

  6.10.2

The obligation of the other Shareholder to make its contribution to the Relevant Guarantor is also subject as follows:

 

  (a)

without limitation to Clause 6.10.1(c), if, prior to the Relevant Guarantor’s making a request for a contribution from the other Shareholder, the Relevant Guarantor has paid the beneficiary of the Relevant Security in whole or in part, the Relevant Guarantor’s providing the other Shareholder with satisfactory evidence of such payment; and

 

  (b)

the other Shareholder’s right, in the event that the Relevant Guarantor has not provided the other Shareholder with satisfactory evidence that the Relevant Guarantor has paid the relevant amount claimed or demanded under the Relevant Security in full, to pay such amount as it may consider appropriate to the beneficiary of the Relevant Security direct, which shall be deemed, to the extent of the payment made, to be a good discharge of that Shareholder’s liability to contribute to the Relevant Guarantor in respect of such claim or demand.

 

7.

NUMBER OF DIRECTORS

 

7.1

For so long as this Agreement is in force each Company shall have four (4) Directors.

 

7.2

For so long as this Agreement is in force each of the Shareholders shall be entitled to appoint the number of Directors of each Company in office at any one time as is found by multiplying the maximum number specified in Clause 7.1 by the Agreed Proportion of that Shareholder, rounded to the nearest whole number. On the basis that the Agreed Proportions are Teekay: 50% and CLNG: 50%, the number of Directors of each Company to be appointed by them is:

 

  7.2.1

in the case of Teekay, up to two (2) Directors; and

 

  7.2.2

in the case of CLNG, up to two (2) Directors

 

7.3

Each of the Shareholders shall likewise be entitled to remove any of such Directors appointed by it and appoint another person in his place. Any such appointment or removal of a Director shall be effected by an instrument in writing signed by the relevant Shareholder or on its behalf by a duly authorised representative and shall take effect subject to the person so nominated signing a consent to act, upon presentation at the meeting of the Board or, if later, the date specified in the instrument.

 

7.4

The respective rights of appointment of Directors granted to each of the Shareholders under Clause 7.2 shall, unless otherwise agreed by the Shareholders, be transferred automatically to any person acquiring all of the beneficial ownership of its Shares in the Joint Venture Company pursuant to any transfer of those Shares made in accordance with this Agreement. At the time of completion of any such transfer of the Shares held by the transferring Shareholder, it shall remove the Directors of each Company appointed by it.

 

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7.5

The Board of each Company may request such information as it may reasonably require in order to satisfy itself that an appointment or removal made under Clause 7.2 or 7.3 has been made by a person or persons entitled to do so and, if not so satisfied, may reject such appointment or removal.

 

7.6

The Shareholder removing the Director shall indemnify the relevant Company against any claim arising in connection with that Director’s removal from office and such Shareholder shall promptly replace such removed Director.

 

7.7

Each Director shall have the right, by written notice to the relevant Company, to appoint and remove an alternate to attend or vote in place of such Director at any meeting of the Board of that Company. Such alternate may be a permanent appointment which shall be expressed to take effect in all circumstances. All such alternates shall be entitled to receive notices of all meetings of the Board of the relevant Company. If an alternate is appointed for a specific meeting, then notice of the appointment of such alternate must be received by the relevant Company before commencement of the meeting in question. If any person should cease to be a Director of any Company for any reason, then the appointment by such person of an alternate shall cease to be effective immediately upon such person ceasing to be a Director of that Company.

 

7.8

Each Shareholder shall indemnify and hold each Company harmless from and against any fraudulent or dishonest act or omission by any Director of that Company appointed by it.

 

8.

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANIES

 

8.1

The overall management and operation of the Business of each Company shall be carried out by its Board, subject to:

 

  8.1.1

the requirements of Clause 10; and

 

  8.1.2

any requirement of the Constitution of any Company or of applicable law that the relevant action be specifically approved by resolution of the shareholders of that Company, and subject always to the terms of this Agreement.

 

8.2

The Shareholders shall procure that the Board of each Company meets not less than once every six (6) months and at such other times as either Shareholder shall request, at such venue as the Board may agree, having due regard to the Company’s tax residence, and that a written agenda specifying the matters to be raised at any Board meeting of that Company shall (either together with the notice convening the meeting or not less than fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the meeting) be sent to all Directors of that Company entitled to receive notice of such meeting, and that the Board of each Company gives proper and adequate consideration to any matters raised by any of the Shareholders at any meeting of that Board.

 

8.3

The quorum necessary for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of each Company shall be two (2) Directors, one of which shall be a Teekay Director and the other a CLNG Director and the Shareholders shall procure that at least one of its nominated Directors (or his alternate) shall be present in person or by proxy or by telephone conference as will be necessary to from a quorum at each meeting. A person who holds office as an alternate Director, shall, if his appointer is not present, be counted in a quorum. Any of the requirements of this Clause 8.3 may be waived by either Shareholder in relation to any meeting of the Board of any Company by its giving express notice in writing to that effect to that Company and the other such Shareholder.

 

13


8.4

At any meeting of the Board of any Company the Director or Directors nominated by a Shareholder attending such meeting (whatever the number of those Directors present) shall collectively have one vote for each share in the Joint Venture Company then held by the Shareholder which nominated him or them. Subject to Clause 10, such Company’s Constitution and to the requirements of any applicable law that the relevant resolution be passed by the shareholders of the Company, matters presented to the Board of a Company shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote of a simple majority of such votes of the Directors (or their alternates) present and voting at a meeting of that Board duly convened and held.

 

8.5

The right to appoint the Chairman of the Board of each Company will alternate between the parties every three years, starting with Teekay. The Chairman will not have any second or casting vote.

 

8.6

Subject to applicable law, a resolution in writing signed by each of the Directors (or their respective alternates) entitled to receive notice of a meeting of the Board shall be as valid and effective for all purposes as a Board resolution passed at a Board meeting of the Company duly convened, held and constituted provided that when a Director has signed a resolution by fax, the original of the signed copy shall be deposited with the Company in its registered office or such other office as the Company may designate for this purpose from time to time by such Director as soon as possible thereafter. Any such resolution may consist of several counterparts, provided that each such counterpart is signed by all the Directors.

 

8.7

The Shareholders shall take such steps as lie within their power:

 

  8.7.1

to ensure that the Board of each Company performs its functions on a timely basis; and

 

  8.7.2

to ensure that a quorum is present at each meeting of the Board of each Company in accordance with this Agreement and that Company’s Constitution.

 

8.8

Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed so as to derogate from the fiduciary obligation of the Directors of each Company to act in the best interests of that Company.

 

8.9

Each Company shall, and each Shareholder shall use all rights and powers available to it in every capacity to procure that each Company shall:

 

  8.9.1

keep accurate and complete books of account and other business records in accordance with the requirements of all applicable laws and GAAP;

 

  8.9.2

prepare consolidated and [individual] [company specific] management accounts on a quarterly basis and despatch such accounts to each of the Shareholders within twelve (12) Vancouver business days of the end of the period in question;

 

  8.9.3

in the case of the Joint Venture Company prepare consolidated annual accounts and arrange for their audit by the auditors (as may be agreed from time to time between the Shareholders) despatch such audited accounts to each of the Shareholders within ninety (90) days of the end of the year in question;

 

  8.9.4

carry on and conduct its Business and affairs in a proper and efficient manner in accordance with all applicable legal requirements and with the provisions of its Constitution and this Agreement;

 

  8.9.5

conduct its dealings on commercial arm’s length terms and in particular, but without limitation, not pay any remuneration or expenses to any person other

 

14


 

than as proper remuneration for all the services provided or as proper reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection with its Business, including without limitation, all services provided and expenses incurred under the Ship Management Agreements, Supervision Agreements, Corporate Services Agreement and the Shipbuilding Contracts or in connection with the success fee as set out in Clause 4.4 above;

 

  8.9.6

obtain and maintain from time to time all authorisations required from governmental entities which may be at any time required under the laws of its place of incorporation or in the jurisdictions in which that Company conducts its Business; and

 

  8.9.7

pay all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges of any kind imposed on it or in respect of its income, gains or any of its businesses or assets or in respect of taxes or other amounts it is required by law to withhold from amounts paid by it to its employees or any other person before any penalty or interest accrues on the amount payable and before any lien on any of its property exists as a result of non-payment, except insofar as the Company is diligently contesting its alleged obligation to pay the amount concerned in good faith through appropriate proceedings and maintains appropriate reserves or other provisions in respect of the contested amount as may be required under applicable accounting policies; and

 

  8.9.8

procure that a “check the box” election on form 8832 is made for each of the Companies within 75 days of the formation of such Company which will cause such Company to be treated as a partnership for U.S. tax purposes from its date of incorporation.

 

8.10

Each Shareholder shall promptly notify the other as soon as it becomes aware of:

 

  8.10.1

the occurrence of any event which constitutes a default or event of default or any event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or the satisfaction of any other condition (or any combination thereof) would constitute a default or event of default, under any indebtedness of any Company;

 

  8.10.2

any litigation or governmental proceeding pending against any Company which can reasonably be expected to affect materially and adversely the assets, liabilities, operations, condition (whether financial or otherwise) or prospects of any Company; and

 

  8.10.3

any other event which is likely to affect materially and adversely the assets, liabilities, business, operations, condition (whether financial or otherwise) or prospects of any Company.

 

8.11

The Shareholders and their authorised representatives shall each have the right to inspect the books and records of each Company on reasonable notice during normal business hours and shall have the right (at their own expense) to take away copies of or extracts from all such books and records. Either Shareholder shall have the right, on reasonable notice, to require that the books and records of any Company be audited (at the expense of that Shareholder) by a firm of independent auditors nominated by that Shareholder, and the Shareholders shall ensure that such firm is given such cooperation as may be necessary to enable it to perform the audit. The Shareholder commissioning the audit shall provide a copy of the audit report to the other Shareholder.

 

8.12

CLNG shall have the right to second one person to the office of the Corporate Service Provider to perform the corporate services of any Company in any respect as CLNG deems

 

15


 

necessary. Teekay shall procure that the Corporate Service Provider will provide suitable office, transportation, accommodation and access to all required information and materials to such person. CLNG will also send one to two persons as Authorised Representative(s) (as defined under the Shipbuilding Contract) to the Builder’s yard. Teekay shall procure that the Supervisor shall ensure equal treatment of such person(s) with other Authorised Representatives appointed by the Supervisor in terms of office condition, transportation and accommodation. All costs in connection with such seconded person(s) or authorized representatives appointed by CLNG shall be for CLNG’s account.

 

8.13

The quorum necessary for the transaction of business at any meeting of the shareholders of the Joint Venture Company shall be two (2) Shareholders (of which Teekay shall be one and CLNG shall be the other) present in person or by proxy. Subject to Clause 10 and to the requirements of any applicable law, resolutions of the shareholders of the Joint Venture Company shall be adopted by a simple majority of the votes cast (each Shareholder having one vote for each Share held in the Joint Venture Company) at such meeting on such resolutions.

 

9.

BUDGETS

 

9.1

Each Company will have a budget in respect of all anticipated income and expenses of the Company for each financial year (the “ Annual Budget ”).

 

9.2

The first Annual Budget for each Company shall be prepared and agreed between the Shareholders before 31 December 2014 or such other time the Shareholders may agree. Each Annual Budget subsequent to the first shall be prepared as follows:

 

  9.2.1

The Joint Venture Company shall procure that whichever of the Ship Manager and the Corporate Services Provider which is then responsible for such task prepares a draft budget, which shall be ready not later than 1 November in the year preceding that to which it relates.

 

  9.2.2

The budget shall contain the following:

 

  (a)

an operating budget (including estimated capital expenditure requirements) and balance sheet forecast;

 

  (b)

an estimate of the working capital requirements contained in a cashflow statement, including the amount of the drydock reserve;

 

  (c)

a projected profit and loss account;

 

  (d)

an indication of the amount (if any) which it is considered prudent to retain out of the previous financial year’s distributable profits to meet the working capital requirements;

 

  (e)

a statement of business objectives for the year; and

 

  (f)

a report by the finance manager of each Company, which shall include an analysis of the results of that Company as shown in its annual accounts compared with the Annual Budget for the previous year;

and otherwise shall be in the form set out in Schedule 3 of this Agreement.

 

  9.2.3

The draft budget prepared under Clause 9.2.1 shall then be reviewed by and approved by the Board of the relevant Company (with any corrections it considers necessary) as the Annual Budget.

 

16


10.

RESERVED MATTERS

 

10.1

Subject to Clauses 10.2 and 15.11, but notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no action may be taken by or in relation to any Company in relation to a Reserved Matter without the agreement of all the Shareholders. Each Shareholder may give its agreement, as may be appropriate, either:

 

  10.1.1

in writing by its authorised representatives;

 

  10.1.2

by the Director or Directors representing it on the Board of the relevant Company; or

 

  10.1.3

by its authorised representative in its capacity as a member of the Joint Venture Company at a general meeting of the Joint Venture Company.

 

10.2

For avoidance of doubt, where in this Agreement it is provided, as the case may be, that a particular matter is agreed by the Shareholders or that a Company shall take a particular action, then notwithstanding the provisions of Schedule 1, it shall not be necessary that all the Shareholders give their further agreement to such matter or the taking of such action.

 

10.3

Each Shareholder shall provide to the other from time to time details of the persons authorised to represent it and of their respective powers to bind that Shareholder, and of any revocation or restriction of their authority.

 

11.

TRANSFER OF SHARES IN THE JOINT VENTURE COMPANY

 

11.1

No Shareholder shall without the prior written consent of the other Shareholder (such consent being valid for 20 Business Days), sell, assign, transfer, give, donate, or otherwise dispose of or grant a security interest over any of its Shares or Shareholder Loans in the Joint Venture Company or any portion thereof or any right or interest therein now held or hereafter acquired except in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 11 or Clauses 15 and 17.

 

11.2

It is a condition precedent to any transfer of any Shares or assignment of any Shareholder Loans to a person not already a party to this Agreement that such person agrees in writing by deed in a form reasonably satisfactory to the parties to be bound by the terms of this Agreement prior to such transfer becoming effective.

 

11.3

Any transfer or purported transfer made otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 11 or Clauses 15 and 17, shall be void and of no effect whatsoever and the parties shall procure that the management shall not register the same.

 

11.4

If at any time either Shareholder (the “Selling Shareholder”) wishes to sell, assign, transfer, give, donate or otherwise dispose of all (but not part only) of its Shares (the “Offered Shares”) and all (but not part only) of its Shareholder Loans (the “Offered Loans” and together with the Offered Shares, the “Offered Interests”) the Selling Shareholder shall first deliver written notice (“Notice of Sale”) to the other party (the “Non-Selling Shareholder”) of its intention to sell the Offered Interests. A Notice of Sale shall name the proposed transferees (if any), specify the price (if any) offered by a third party per Offered Share (the “Share Price”) and per $1 outstanding on the Offered Loans (the “Loan Price”), the terms of payment including but not limited to replacement of the Selling Shareholder’s owner guarantee provided in accordance with the Time Charter and the Shipbuilding Contract, and other relevant terms and conditions, and shall have attached thereto, if relevant, a copy of any bona fide arm’s length offer made by a third party (a “Bona Fide Offer”) in respect of the Offered Interests.

 

17


11.5

In response to the Notice of Sale, the Non-Selling Shareholder must exercise one of the following two options, which must be communicated to the Selling Shareholder within 60 Business Days of the date of receipt of the Notice of Sale:

(a) to refuse the transfer to a third party and purchase the Offered Interests itself at the Fair Market Value, and, if relevant, otherwise on terms no less favourable to the Non-Selling Shareholder than those constituting the Bona Fide Offer (save that the Selling Shareholder shall not be required to give any warranties or indemnities to the Non-Selling Shareholder, other than as specified in Clause 11.11 below);

The right of first refusal contained in option (a) above shall be exercised within 30 Business Days after the date of receipt of the Notice of Sale, within which period the Non-Selling Shareholder, if it wishes to acquire the Offered Interests, must deliver to the Selling Shareholder written notice of the Non-Selling Shareholder’s election (an “Election”) to purchase the Offered Interests, such election stating whether or not the Non-Selling Shareholder requires the Fair Market Value to be determined in accordance with Clause 11.8 below.

(b) to consent to the transfer of the Offered Interests to a third party.

If the Non-Selling Shareholder fails to give notice to the Selling Shareholder of its Election within a period of 60 Business Days after the date of receipt of the Notice of Sale, he will be deemed to have chosen option (b) above.

If the Non-Selling Shareholder, in accordance with this Clause, has given notice to the Selling Shareholder of its consent to the transfer of the Offered Interests to the proposed transferee, the Selling Shareholder shall have the right to sell the Offered Interests within a period of 20 Business Days from the date of receipt of the notice from the Non-Selling Shareholder on terms no more favourable for the transferee than the terms offered to the Non-Selling Shareholder.

 

11.6

If an Election is made within the period referred to in Clause 11.5 in respect of all of the Offered Interests, the Non-Selling Shareholder shall be obliged to purchase, and the Selling Shareholder shall be obliged to sell to the Non-Selling Shareholder, notwithstanding his right to revoke the Election in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Offered Interests at the Fair Market Value and otherwise, if relevant, on the terms specified in Clause 11.4 within 10 Business Days of the date of the determination of the Fair Market Value under Clause 11.8.

 

11.7

Completion of the purchase and sale of the Offered Interests pursuant to an Election shall take place at the principal office of the Company (or such other location as may be agreed upon by the Selling Shareholder and the Non-Selling Shareholder) within 10 Business Days of the date of determination of the Fair Market Value under Clause 11.8 when:

(a) the Selling Shareholder and the Non-Selling Shareholder shall record the transfer of the Offered Shares in the share register of the Company and both parties shall sign such share register;

(b) the Selling Shareholder shall deliver to the Non-Selling Shareholder a duly executed assignment in respect of the Offered Loans and the certificate(s) representing the Offered Shares (if any);

 

18


(c) the Non-Selling Shareholder purchasing the Offered Interests shall deliver to the Selling Shareholder the consideration for the Offered Interests calculated at the Fair Market Value and otherwise, if relevant, on the terms specified in Clause 11.4;

(d) the Non-Selling Shareholder shall procure the release of the Selling Shareholder or such Selling Shareholder’s Guarantor from any guarantees, indemnities or other undertakings given by it in respect of the obligations of the Joint Venture Company or any of the Vessel Owning Companies and, pending such release shall indemnify and keep indemnified the Selling Shareholder against any liability incurred by the Selling Shareholder under or in respect of any such guarantee, indemnity or undertaking;

(e) the Selling Shareholder shall procure the removal of any Director appointed by it to the Company;

(f) the Selling Shareholder shall pay all amounts owed by it or any of its Affiliates to the Company or any of its Affiliates;

(g) the parties shall do all such other things and execute such other agreements and documents as may reasonably be required to give effect to the sale and purchase of the relevant Offered Interests; and

(h) subject to payment by the Non-Selling Shareholder of any relevant stamp duties, the Non-Selling Shareholder (or such person as it may direct) shall be noted as assignee of the Offered Loans and registered as holder of the Offered Shares.

 

11.8

For the purposes of this Clause 11, the “Fair Market Value” shall mean:

(a) if a Share Price and/or Loan Price is specified under Clause 11.4 and the Election does not require the Fair Market Value to be determined in accordance with Clause 11.8(b), the relevant Share Price and/or Loan Price;

(b) if no Price is specified under Clause 11.4 or the Election requires the Fair Market Value to be determined in accordance with this Clause 11.8(b), the price per share and/or per $1 outstanding of the Offered Loans:

(i) agreed between the Selling Shareholder and the Non-Selling Shareholder who has made an Election within 10 Business Days of the end of the period for making an Election specified in Clause 11.5 as the Share Price and/or Loan Price; or

(ii) failing agreement in accordance with Clause 11.8(b)(i) determined, at the request of the Selling Shareholder or the Non-Selling Shareholder, to be the fair market value of the Offered Interests determined by the Auditors in accordance with Clause 11.9. In the event that the Auditors are not permitted to determine the Fair Market Value due to regulatory restrictions, an independent auditor from an international audit firm shall be appointed.

A Non-Selling Shareholder who has made an Election shall only be entitled to revoke the same if it is dissatisfied with the Fair Market Value determined under Clause 11.8(b)(ii) within 5 Business Days of such determination.

 

11.9

In determining the Fair Market Value, the Auditors shall:

(a) take account of the net asset value of the Company as a going concern and such other matters as they may consider to be relevant;

 

19


(b) take no account of the proportion which the Offered Shares bear to the then issued share capital of the Company or which the Offered Loans bear to the aggregate of the Shareholder Loans; and

(c) be considered to be acting as experts and not as arbitrators.

 

11.10

Each party shall supply the Auditors with such information as they may reasonably require for the purposes of making a determination under Clause 11.9. The cost of such determination shall be borne by the Selling Shareholder and the Non-Selling Shareholder in equal proportions.

 

11.11

All Shares or Shareholder Loans sold by one Shareholder to the other Shareholder pursuant to the provisions of this Clause 11 or Clauses 15 and 17 shall be sold with full title guarantee together with all rights conferred thereon and free from all Security Interests or other adverse interests, rights, equities, claims or potential claims of any description.

 

11.12

The Selling Shareholder hereby appoints the Non-Selling Shareholder purchasing any Offered Shares (or any Director nominated by that Shareholder) irrevocably, and by way of security for the performance of the Selling Shareholder’s obligations under this Clause 11, as its attorney or attorneys to execute any agreement or document required to be executed by the Selling Shareholder under this Clause 11 including, without limitation, any transfer of Offered Shares, provided always that this power of attorney shall not apply in favour of any such Non-Selling Shareholder who has failed to tender payment for the relevant Offered Shares or to comply with any of its other obligations under this Clause 11.

 

11.13

Subject to the provisions of Clause 11.2, the provisions of this Clause 11 shall not apply to any transfer of Shares:

(a) mutually consented to in writing by each of the Shareholders, such consent being valid only for a period of 20 Business Days; or

(b) by either Shareholder to any Affiliate of that Shareholder, provided that if such transferee pursuant hereto shall cease to be an Affiliate of that Shareholder, that Shareholder shall procure that such transferee shall, transfer any Shares held by it to that Shareholder or another Affiliate of that Shareholder.

 

11.14

Notwithstanding the above no transfer of Shares shall be permitted or consented to without consent of Charterer where such proposed transfer would constitute a change of control as defined in the Time Charters.

 

11.15

(a) Notwithstanding the above, Teekay shall be permitted to transfer the Shares in the Joint Venture Company then held by it (the “ Teekay Shares ”) to CLNG or its Affiliate where a Sanctions Event (as such term is defined in each of the Time Charters) has occurred and, following a consultation period between the relevant Vessel Owning Company and the Charterer in accordance with clause [    ] of each of the Time Charters, it is determined that such transfer of the Teekay Shares will remove the effect of the Sanctions Event.

(b) The price payable by CLNG or its Affiliate for the Teekay Shares (the “ Purchase Price ”) will be the delivered cost of each Vessel amortized to a $30 million scrap assuming a useful life from actual date of Delivery of the Vessel until 31 st  December 2045, less the book value of outstanding debt of each Company, adjusted for the fair market value of other assets or liabilities in each Company on the day of transfer, multiplied by Teekay’s respective Agreed Proportion. For the purposes of this Subclause ‘ fair market value’ means the highest price available in an open and unrestricted market between informed and prudent parties, acting at arm’s length and under no compulsion to act, expressed in terms of money or money’s worth. Should such transfer of Teekay Shares take place prior to delivery of a

 

20


Vessel, the value attributed to that Vessel for the purposes of calculating the Purchase Price shall be the value of the Losses as such term is defined in the Undertaking given by the Charterer to each of the Vessel Owning Companies pursuant to the respective Time Charters.

(c) Following such transfer of Teekay Shares, in the event that a Sanctions Event is no longer applicable, CLNG or its Affiliate, as the case may be, shall as soon as practicable transfer the Teekay Shares, or such proportion of the Teekay Shares as may be agreed between Teekay and CLNG, to Teekay. The price payable by Teekay shall be the Purchase Price calculated on the day of transfer. Where the Teekay Shares have been transferred to CLNG or its Affiliate, neither CLNG nor its Affiliate, as the case may be, shall be permitted to transfer the Teekay Shares, other than to Teekay, without the prior consent of Teekay.

(d) In the event that it is determined that a transfer of Teekay Shares to CLNG or its Affiliate will not remove the effect of the Sanctions Event or [CLNG is unable to accept a transfer of the Teekay Shares], Teekay shall be permitted, subject to the consent of the Charterer, to transfer the Teekay Shares to a third party not impacted by a Sanctions Event (the “ Transferee ”) in accordance with this Clause 11, save that Clauses 11.4, 11.5 and 11.6 shall not apply. Following such transfer of Teekay Shares, in the event that a Sanctions Event is no longer applicable, the Transferee shall be obliged to, and as soon as practicable, transfer the Teekay Shares to Teekay in accordance with the terms of this Clause 11, save that Clauses 11.4, 11.5 and 11.6 shall not apply and consent of CLNG to such transfer shall not be required. CLNG shall procure that the Transferee shall not be permitted to transfer the Teekay Shares without the prior consent of Teekay.

 

(e)

Where a Sanctions Event prevents Teekay Shipping Limited from performing its obligations as Ship Manager, or it is unwilling to continue as Ship Manager when a Sanctions Event is applicable, the Shareholders will use reasonable endeavours to procure the consent of the Charterer to CLISCO being appointed as Ship Manager. Teekay will consult with CLISCO to determine any assistance Teekay can provide to CLISCO in its role as Ship Managers including considering the provision of resources to CLISCO from Teekay such as senior office staff and sea staff support on temporary secondment or longer-term employment contract basis.

 

12.

OTHER BUSINESS

 

12.1

Nothing in this Agreement shall restrict either of Teekay or CLNG or their respective Affiliates from conducting their normal business operations including, but without limitation, sea transportation of LNG and/or other energy related cargoes, or investment in entities doing such business, provided that in carrying on such business that Shareholder or the relevant Affiliate:

 

  12.1.1

shall not abuse its position or any information obtained by it relating to the Business of any Company;

 

  12.1.2

shall not knowingly engage in any practices which are of a commercially unfair nature or which are otherwise likely to harm the Business of any Company; and

 

  12.1.3

shall not be in breach of the relevant Shareholder’s obligations as contemplated under this Agreement.

 

13.

CONFIDENTIALITY

 

13.1

Neither of the Shareholders shall at any time disclose or make available to any person any information which relates in any way to any business or affairs of any Company or of the

 

21


 

other Shareholder or any such information which it has acquired as a result of being connected with any Company or the other Shareholder. The Shareholders shall further use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that their Affiliates, each Company and the Affiliates of each Company, and the officers, employees and agents of each of them, shall observe a similar duty of confidence in favour of the Shareholders and the Companies.

 

13.2

Clause 13.1 does not apply to:

 

  13.2.1

any information already in the public domain other than by virtue of a breach by the disclosing party of Clause 13.1;

 

  13.2.2

a bona fide disclosure on a confidential basis to any Affiliate and, for this purpose, as between the Shareholders,

 

  13.2.3

a bona fide disclosure of information on a confidential basis, between the Shareholders, in connection with the performance of either Shareholder’s obligations under this Agreement;

 

  13.2.4

a bona fide disclosure of information in connection with any actual or prospective proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Agreement provided that the party making the disclosure shall first obtain a written confidentiality undertaking from the recipient(s) of the disclosed information made in terms no less onerous than Clause 13.1 and each party agrees to take all reasonable steps to enforce any confidentiality agreement obtained by it;

 

  13.2.5

a bona fide disclosure of information to a competent judicial, governmental, supervisory or regulatory authority or to inspectors or others authorised by such an authority or by or under any legislation to carry out any enquiries or investigations provided that the party making the disclosure shall inform the recipient(s) of the disclosure of the confidential nature of the information disclosed;

 

  13.2.6

the bona fide disclosure of information required under the rules of any stock exchange on which the shares or securities of either Shareholder (or any of its shareholders or Affiliates for the time being) are listed provided that the party making the disclosure shall inform the recipient(s) of the disclosed information of the confidential nature of the disclosed information

 

  13.2.7

a bona fide disclosure on a confidential basis to the professional advisers, auditors or financiers of the relevant Shareholder or of information which it appears necessary or reasonable for such professional advisers, auditors or financiers to obtain for the purpose of discharging their responsibilities provided that the party making the disclosure shall inform the recipient(s) of the disclosure of the confidential nature of the information disclosed and seek confidential treatment of the information disclosed from such recipient(s);

 

  13.2.8

a bona fide disclosure on a confidential basis to any actual or prospective Debt Finance provider provided that the party making the disclosure shall inform the recipient(s) of the disclosure of the confidential nature of the information disclosed and seek confidential treatment of the information disclosed from such recipient(s).

 

13.3

The Shareholders acknowledge the value of sharing of technical and operational data and information relating to the Vessels or any of them in order (and only for that purpose) to prevent damage or injury to property or the environment or human health, or otherwise to ensure the safe and efficient operation of vessels of a similar type to the Vessels in which

 

22


 

directly or indirectly that Shareholder may have an interest from time to time or their compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Shareholders shall cooperate to seek the agreement of the other owners and operators of vessels for the time being under charter to Charterer or its Affiliates to establish suitable arrangements for the exchange, on a confidential basis, of any technical and operational data and information which may from time to time come into the possession of any of the Shareholders or such owners or operators (except to the extent that they may be restricted from making such disclosure) which may assist (and only for that purpose) to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the Vessels and such other vessels or their compliance with applicable laws and regulations. For avoidance of doubt the references in this Clause 13.3 to “technical and operational data and information” shall not extend to commercial or financial information.

 

13.4

Neither of the Shareholders shall be entitled to make or permit or authorise the making of any press release or other public statement or disclosure concerning this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated in it without the prior written consent of the other Shareholder (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Such restriction shall not apply to any release, statement or disclosure required by any governmental, supervisory or regulatory authority or any stock exchange, but before either Shareholder makes any such release, statement or disclosure, it shall, if and to the extent lawful and practicable, first supply a copy of it to the other Shareholder and shall include any amendment or addition reasonably requested by that other Shareholder.

 

13.5

All rights and obligations of the Shareholders under this Clause 13 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

14.

TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT

 

14.1

This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until terminated in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 14.

 

14.2

If at any time, as a result of a transfer of Shares made in accordance with this Agreement and/or the Joint Venture Company’s Constitution not more than one of the Shareholders holds any Shares in the capital of the Joint Venture Company or if an effective resolution is passed to wind up the Joint Venture Company or if a liquidator of the Joint Venture Company is otherwise appointed:

 

  14.2.1

this Agreement shall terminate; and

 

  14.2.2

where the corporate name of any Company or any part contains any word the same or similar to the corporate name or any distinctive part of the corporate name of the party who is no longer a shareholder, the Shareholder remaining as a shareholder of the Joint Venture Company shall procure that within thirty (30) days the corporate name of that Company or those Companies shall be changed so as to exclude such word.

 

14.3

If:

 

  14.3.1

all the Shipbuilding Contracts have been terminated without any of the Vessels having been delivered to the Vessel Owning Companies; or

 

  14.3.2

all the Vessels have been sold or have become an actual, constructive or agreed total loss;

 

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then, unless otherwise agreed, subject to all reasonable and necessary action having been taken (which the Shareholders will procure to be promptly taken) to terminate the Companies’ activities following such event, insofar as relating to the Companies, this Agreement shall be terminated and the Joint Venture Company and each Vessel Owning Company shall be wound up.

 

14.4

Termination of this Agreement shall be without prejudice to all accrued rights and obligations of the Shareholders as at the date of termination.

 

14.5

On a winding-up of the Joint Venture Company, the Shareholders shall endeavour to agree a suitable basis for dealing with the interests and assets of each Company and shall endeavour to ensure that:

 

  14.5.1

all existing contracts of each Company are performed so far as resources permit;

 

  14.5.2

no new contractual obligations are entered into by any Company; and

 

  14.5.3

each Company shall be wound up as soon as practicable.

 

15.

DEFAULT

 

15.1

If any of the events set out in Clause 15.2 shall occur, in relation to a Shareholder (the “ Defaulting Shareholder ”), and the other Shareholder shall have given notice in writing (a “ Default Notice ”) to the Defaulting Shareholder to be copied to the Joint Venture Company, that the provisions of this Clause 15 shall apply, the provisions of this Clause 15 shall apply accordingly.

 

15.2

The events referred to in Clause 15.1 are:

 

  15.2.1

the Defaulting Shareholder fails to make any payment in excess in aggregate of $1,000,000 when due under this Agreement and fails to remedy such breach within thirty (30) days of being specifically required in writing to do so by the other Shareholder. For this purpose, an amount shall be deemed to be due if admitted in writing to be due by the Defaulting Shareholder, or due under any final and non-appealable arbitration award rendered in accordance with this Agreement;

 

  15.2.2

the Defaulting Shareholder commits a material breach of this Agreement (other than a default in payment) and, where such breach is capable of remedy, fails to remedy such breach within thirty (30) days of being specifically required in writing to do so by the other Shareholder; or

 

  15.2.3

a distress, execution, sequestration or other process is levied or enforced upon or against a material part of the Defaulting Shareholder’s property which is not discharged within thirty (30) days (for this purpose a mere arrest of a ship for security shall be disregarded); or

 

  15.2.4

the Defaulting Shareholder becomes insolvent or is unable to pay its debts or commences negotiations or enters into any compromise, composition or other arrangements for the benefit of its general creditors; or

 

  15.2.5

an encumbrancer takes possession of, or an administrator, administrative receiver, receiver or trustee or similar official is appointed over the whole or a material part of the Defaulting Shareholder’s undertaking, property or assets; or

 

24


  15.2.6

an order is made or a bona fide resolution is passed for the Defaulting Shareholder’s winding up or bankruptcy, otherwise than for the purpose of a reconstruction or amalgamation without insolvency previously approved by the other Shareholder (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld); or

 

  15.2.7

any of the events described in Clauses 15.2.3 to 15.2.6 occurs in relation to a Guarantor.

 

15.3

The other Shareholder is entitled to remedy any default under Clause 15.2.1 or 15.2.2 committed by the Defaulting Shareholder and the cost of the remedy shall be deemed to be a debt due from the Defaulting Shareholder to the other Shareholder repayable upon demand, upon which interest shall be calculated at the rate of five hundred per cent. (500%) per annum above LIBOR (the “Specified Rate”) (both before and after judgment) from the date of such advance to the date of actual payment, and all interest shall be compounded semi-annually, and the default shall not be considered remedied for the purposes of those Clauses until the Defaulting Shareholder has paid that cost to the other Shareholder.

 

15.4

Upon the occurrence of a default of the kind referred to in Clause 15.1.1, it is agreed that any amount which the Defaulting Shareholder is or may be entitled to receive as a dividend shall be waived by the Defaulting Shareholder and shall be retained by the Joint Venture Company and applied against the obligation in respect of which the Defaulting Shareholder is in default, including interest (calculated in accordance with Clause 15.3) thereon, until the obligation is satisfied in full.

 

15.5

Upon the occurrence of any of the events set out in Clause 15.2, then the Defaulting Shareholder shall be deemed to have given a notice to the other Shareholder (the “ Offeree ”), offering to sell in the first instance to the Offeree, all the Shares and Shareholder Loans (together, the “ Deemed Offered Shares ”) held by the Defaulting Shareholder.

 

15.6

 

  15.6.1

The following provisions shall apply in determining the purchase price of the Deemed Offered Shares.

 

  15.6.2

The purchase price of the Deemed Offered Shares shall be:

 

  (a)

their fair value as agreed between the Shareholders; or

 

  (b)

in default of agreement within fourteen (14) days after service of the Default Notice by the Offeree referred to in Clause 15.1, such sum as shall be certified (at the request of either Shareholder) by a firm of chartered accountants practising internationally (the “ Expert ”) (who shall not be the auditors for the time being of the Joint Venture Company) to be the fair value of the Deemed Offered Shares on the date on which the Default Notice was given. If the Shareholders are unable to agree on the identity of the Expert then either Shareholder may apply to the President for the time being of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for the appointment of the Expert.

 

15.7

In so certifying, the Expert is irrevocably instructed:

 

  15.7.1

to value the Shares to be bought and sold as the same proportion of the value of the Joint Venture Company as a whole on that date as the relevant shareholding bears to the whole issued ordinary share capital of the Joint Venture Company on that date; and

 

25


  15.7.2

to obtain and to take into account valuations of the Vessels from two (2) ship brokers of international standing with appropriate LNG shipping experience, such valuations to take account of the Time Charters or other contracts of employment to which the Vessels may then be subject;

but otherwise the Expert shall take into account all such circumstances as shall seem to it relevant, including, without limitation, applicable practices in valuing the shares of companies carrying on similar businesses.

 

15.8

In so acting the Expert acts as expert and not as arbitrator and its decision shall (save in respect of manifest error) be final and binding on the Shareholders for all purposes and its costs and the costs of its appointment shall be borne in equal shares by the Shareholders.

 

15.9

For the purpose of this Clause 15 the Shareholders shall procure that the Joint Venture Company and the Vessel Owning Companies shall supply the Expert with all information which a prudent prospective purchaser of the entire issued share capital of the Joint Venture Company might reasonably require if he were to purchase the same from a willing vendor by private treaty on arm’s length terms and all other information which the Expert may reasonably request.

 

15.10

 

  15.10.1

The Offeree shall, within fourteen (14) days from the date of determination of the value of the Deemed Offered Shares, by written notice to the Defaulting Shareholder indicate whether it intends to acquire the Deemed Offered Shares.

 

  15.10.2

Upon the expiration of such fourteen (14) day period, the Offeree, if it has indicated such an intention, shall be bound to acquire and the Defaulting Shareholder shall be bound to sell the Deemed Offered Shares at the value so determined (or such of them as the Offeree indicated in its notice).

 

15.11

 

  15.11.1

If, by reason of any breach by a Shareholder of this Agreement, or of any agreement between a Company and a Shareholder or its Affiliate, an event of default or potential event of default (however described) occurs under any of the Material Documents, then:

 

  (a)

the Directors of each Company who were nominated by the other Shareholder (the “ Innocent Shareholder ”) shall be authorised to take on behalf of that Company and at its cost any action which they reasonably consider necessary, in the best interest of the Company, to remedy the event of default or potential event of default, and such action may include (without limitation) entering into or terminating any contract or agreement, or borrowing money from any person (including without limitation a Shareholder);

 

  (b)

any such action shall not be considered a Reserved Matter;

 

  (c)

if a shareholders’ resolution of the Joint Venture Company is required for any such action referred to above in this Clause 15.11.1, the presence of the Innocent Shareholder only is required to form a quorum at any meeting held to pass the resolution, and any such resolution shall be passed if the Innocent Shareholder votes in favour or makes such resolution in writing, and regardless of any vote cast by the other Shareholder; and

 

26


  (d)

if a resolution of the Board of any Company is required for any action referred to above in this Clause 15.11.1, the presence of the Directors appointed by the Innocent Shareholder only is required to form a quorum at any meeting held to pass the resolution, and any such resolution shall be passed if the Directors appointed by the Innocent Shareholder vote in favour or make such resolution in writing, and regardless of any vote cast by the other Directors.

 

  15.11.2

The provisions of this Clause 15.11 shall be without prejudice to any of the Innocent Shareholder’s rights under this Clause 15 or at law.

 

  15.11.3

The Innocent Shareholder shall notify the other Shareholder in writing before any action described in Clause 15.11.1 is taken and specify in reasonable detail the action to be taken.

 

16.

DIVIDEND POLICY

Subject to the prudent retention of profits by way of reserve, to each Company’s obligations to financiers, and to the working capital and cash flow requirements of the Companies, the Companies shall distribute, by way of dividend in respect of each of their financial years, and as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each financial year and on an interim basis at the end of each quarter of each financial year, such of their profits as are available for distribution in accordance with applicable law.

 

17.

DEADLOCK

 

17.1

The Shareholders shall use all reasonable endeavours, in relation to any matter which requires their unanimous agreement to agree a common position and, subject to agreement being reached on such common position, to exercise their votes (and votes of the nominated Directors) in each Company jointly and in furtherance of the common position.

 

17.2

If there is a dispute or disagreement between the Shareholders as to any question which either of them (in its sole judgement) shall consider is of fundamental importance to the future of the Joint Venture Company, or its Business, then at the option of either Shareholder (as applicable), the matter in question shall be considered at the next meeting of the Board of the Joint Venture Company.

 

17.3

If at the next meeting of the Board of the Joint Venture Company, no resolution is carried in relation to the matter by reason of an equality of votes for and against any proposal for dealing with it, or for any other reason, then a Shareholder may give notice in writing (a “ Deadlock Notice ”) to the other referring to the matter in dispute and specifying that the provisions of Clause 17.4 shall apply.

 

17.4

Following service of a Deadlock Notice, either Shareholder may request the matter be referred to the Chief Executive Officers or such appropriate senior executives as such Shareholder may nominate by written notice to the other (the “ Nominated Senior Executives ”). The Nominated Senior Executives shall meet within 20 days and seek in good faith to resolve the matter in dispute. If the matter in dispute has not been resolved at the meeting referred to above or following such further period as the Nominated Senior Executives may agree (the “ Deadlock Period ”), then either of the Shareholders (the “ Offeror ”) may give notice in writing (the “ Offer Notice ”) within the period of 10 Business Days following expiry of the Deadlock Period to the other (the “ Offeree ”) offering to sell to the Offeree all of the Shares and Shareholder Loans relating to the Joint Venture Company (the “ Deadlock Company ”) which are owned by the Offeror for the amount per Share (the “ Share Amount ”) and/or amount per $1 outstanding on such Shareholder Loans (the “ Loan Amount ” and together with the Share Amount the “ Amounts ”) specified in the Offer Notice (the “ Offer ”).

 

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17.5

Subject to Clause 17.6, the Offeree shall have a period of 20 Business Days (the “ Acceptance Period ”) commencing with the Business Day following the date of receipt of the Offer Notice in which to accept or decline the Offer by written notice to the Offeror. If the Offeree accepts the Offer within the Acceptance Period, the Offeror shall sell to the Offeree (or such person as the Offeree shall nominate) and the Offeree, or such person as the Offeree shall nominate, shall purchase from the Offeror all of the Shares and Shareholder Loans owned by the Offeror at a price equal to the Amounts.

 

17.6

If the Offeree declines the Offer or fails to respond to the Offer Notice within the Acceptance Period the Offeree shall sell to the Offeror (or such person as the Offeror shall nominate) and the Offeror (or such person as the Offeror shall nominate) shall purchase from the Offeree all Shares and Shareholder Loans held by the Offeree at a price equal to the Amounts.

 

17.7

If each of the Shareholders delivers an Offer Notice in the terms set out in Clause 17.4 and each of such notices is received or deemed to be received upon the same calendar day, then the party whose Offer Notice specifies the higher Amounts shall be deemed to be the Offeror for the purposes of Clause 17.4 and the provisions of Clauses 17.4, 17.5 and 17.6 shall apply save that the Acceptance Period shall be a period of 25 Business Days from the Business Day following receipt (or deemed receipt) of the Offer Notices.

 

17.8

Subject to Clause 17.6, if an Offer Notice from one party (the “ First Party ”) is received or deemed to be received by the other party on a calendar day after the calendar day on which an Offer Notice from the other party is received by the First Party, the Offer Notice received on the later calendar day shall be of no effect.

 

17.9

If either Shareholder (the “ Purchaser ”) becomes obliged or agrees under the terms of Clauses 17.4 to 17.7 to purchase the Shares and/or Shareholder Loans which are owned by the other (the “ Vendor ”) the sale of such Shares and/or Shareholder Loans shall be completed on such date (being a Business Day) as the Purchaser may specify to the Vendor provided that the date so specified shall not be less than 14 nor more than 21 Business Days after the expiry of the Acceptance Period and the provisions of Clause 11 shall apply mutatis mutandis thereto.

 

17.10

If neither Shareholder issues an Offer Notice within the period of 10 Business Days following expiry of the Deadlock Period pursuant to the terms set out in Clause 17.4 either party may elect to place the Joint Venture Company in liquidation.

 

17.11

Any contemplated change of ownership resulting from this Clause 17 shall always be subject to the provisions of the Time Charters.

 

18.

FURTHER ASSURANCE

 

18.1

Each of the Shareholders hereby undertakes that it (and any nominee for it) will execute such deeds, sign such documents, attend such meetings, exercise such votes, pass such resolutions and generally do and procure all things as may be necessary or convenient for the implementation of this Agreement.

 

18.2

Each of the Shareholders hereby further undertakes that it shall, and shall use all reasonable endeavours to procure that any other necessary party shall, execute all such documents and do all such acts and things as may be required to ensure that each party hereto shall have the benefits and burdens of the rights and obligations respectively in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

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19.

COSTS

 

19.1

Each Shareholder shall bear its own legal and other costs to the extent that it appoints its own legal or other advisers in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement and related agreements to be executed pursuant to this Agreement.

 

19.2

All taxes, duties, fees and third party expenses necessarily incurred in connection with the incorporation of the Joint Venture Company shall be borne and shared by the parties jointly on the basis of 50% of the costs being the responsibility of Teekay and 50% of the costs being the responsibility of CLNG. All costs incurred in the administration of the affairs of each Vessel Owning Company shall be borne by that Vessel Owning Company.

 

20.

PROVISIONS RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT

 

20.1

Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties regarding the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes all earlier agreements of any kind, understandings and arrangements, whether oral or in writing, regarding the same (including the Memorandum of Understanding dated 30 October 2013 made between the parties hereto), all of which are hereby terminated and shall cease to have effect in all respects, and there are no collateral or supplemental agreements relating to this Agreement other than those (if any) executed contemporaneously with this Agreement.

 

20.2

Waiver of other representations . Each Shareholder:

(a) acknowledges and agrees that in entering into this Agreement and the documents and transactions contemplated under this Agreement, it does not rely on and shall have no remedy in respect of, any statement, representation, warranty or understanding (whether negligently or innocently made) of any person (whether a party to this Agreement or not), other than is expressly set out in this Agreement. The only remedy available to each of the party to this Agreement shall be the breach of contract under the terms of this Agreement. Nothing in this Clause 20.2 shall however operate to exclude any liability for fraud;

(b) irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right it may have to claim damages for any misrepresentation, or breach of any warranty, not contained in this Agreement or any such collateral or supplemental agreement unless such misrepresentation or warranty was made fraudulently.

 

20.3

No rescission . Each party irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right it may have to rescind this Agreement.

 

20.4

Assignment . This Agreement shall be binding on and enure for the benefit of each party’s successors and assigns save that:

(a) any purported assignment, charge, transfer or other disposition by a party of the benefit of this Agreement (or any related document) or of any of its claims or rights (whether to damages or otherwise) or obligations arising under or in connection with this Agreement (or any related document) which is made without the other parties’ prior written consent shall be void for all purposes; and

(b) any party in breach of Clause 20.4(a) shall not be entitled to recover damages or exercise any other remedy in respect of any loss which may be sustained by any other person who at any time has any right or interest relating to this Agreement as a result of any such breach.

 

20.5

No Right of set-off . No party shall be entitled to set off against any sums owing by it to any other party or any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any related document any sums owing by such other party to it under or in connection with this Agreement or any related document.

 

29


20.6

Waiver of this Agreement . In its sole and absolute discretion, any party may waive (in whole or in part) any provision of, or any of its rights under, this Agreement or any related document, and may do so in writing, unconditionally or subject to any terms which it thinks fit.

 

20.7

Variations, waivers to be in writing . Any variation of this Agreement, or any waiver connected with this Agreement, shall be void for all purposes unless:

(a) in the case of a variation, it is agreed to in writing signed by on behalf of each of the parties; or

(b) in the case of a waiver, it is set out in writing signed by or on behalf of the party granting the waiver.

 

20.8

Obligations to procure. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement and where under this Agreement a Shareholder undertakes to procure any action on the part of the Company, that Shareholder will be deemed to have complied with that undertaking if it had used its best efforts to procure such action including proposing and voting in favour of all relevant and necessary resolutions.

 

30


20.9

Rights not affected by signature . Without limiting the generality of Clause 20.8, no party shall lose, or be precluded (permanently or temporarily) from exercising, any right or remedy which is conferred on it by this Agreement or any right or remedy which it has in connection with this Agreement under the general law as a result of this Agreement having been signed or of any delay, acquiescence or lack of diligence on its part in seeking relief or by any act or course of conduct by it which would otherwise imply that it was affirming this Agreement (or a related agreement) after a breach by one or more of the other parties, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy preclude the exercise of any other right or remedy.

 

20.10

Provisions of Agreement severable . If any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement is, or becomes, invalid, unenforceable or illegal in whole or in part, the validity, enforceability or legality of the remaining provisions shall not be impaired.

 

20.11

Interest for late payment . Any sum owing by either party under this Agreement shall carry interest from the day after the date on which it is payable until actual payment at the Specified Rate. Such interest will be compounded semi-annually and payable after as well as before any judgment.

 

20.12

Counterparts . This Agreement may be entered into in any number of counterparts and by the parties to it on separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original but shall not be effective until each party has executed at least one counterpart, but all the counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

20.13

No partnership . Nothing in this Agreement shall create a partnership between the parties hereto or any of them.

 

20.14

Supremacy of this Agreement . If any of the provisions of this Agreement are inconsistent with or in conflict with any of the provisions of the Constitution of a Company then, to the extent of any such inconsistency or conflict, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail as between the Shareholders so long as this Agreement remains in force and the Shareholders shall procure that such Constitution is amended accordingly and shall not exercise any rights conferred on them by the Constitution which are or may be inconsistent or in conflict with this Agreement.

 

20.15

Third Party Rights . This Agreement is made for the benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and permitted assigns only and is not intended to benefit, and no term thereof shall be enforceable by, any other person by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

 

20.16

Anti-corruption . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each of the Shareholders undertakes to the other that:

(a) neither it, its Affiliates nor any of their respective directors, employees or agents will engage in any activity, practice or conduct which would constitute an offence under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 as amended or the UK Bribery Act 2010 (or which could constitute such an offence if the same had occurred in the United States of America or the United Kingdom, respectively), or, any other applicable laws, statutes, regulations or codes relating to anti-bribery and anticorruption, in relation to the Companies and their respective operations;

(b) it has and will maintain in place, adequate procedures designed to prevent any Associated Person from undertaking any conduct that would give rise to an offence under section 7 of the UK Bribery Act 2010 or the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 1977 or any other applicable laws, statutes, regulations or codes relating to anti-bribery and anticorruption;

 

31


(c) none of its officers, employees or other persons associated with such party have been convicted of any offence involving bribery, corruption, fraud or dishonesty;

(d) no officer, director, shareholder, employee or agent of each party is a Foreign Official as such term is defined in the UK Bribery Act 2010 or the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 1977;

(e) it shall indemnify the other party against any losses, liabilities, damages, costs (including but not limited to legal fees) and expenses incurred by, or awarded against, such party as a result of any breach of this Clause 20.16;

(f) from time to time, at the reasonable request of the other party, it will confirm in writing that it has complied with its undertakings under this and will provide any information reasonably requested by the other party in support of such compliance; and,

(g) it shall promptly notify the other party if, at any time during the term of this Agreement, its circumstances, knowledge or awareness changes such that it would not be in compliance with its undertakings under this clause.

Breach of any of the undertakings in this clause 20.16 shall be deemed to be a material breach of this Agreement and entitle the other party or other parties to terminate this Agreement.

If any party terminates this Agreement for breach of this clause 20.16, the party in breach of this clause 20.16 shall not be entitled to claim compensation or any further remuneration, regardless of any activities or agreements with additional third parties entered into before such termination.

Regardless of any other provision in this Agreement, each party shall not be obligated to do, or omit to do, any act which would, in its reasonable opinion, put it in breach of any of the undertakings in this clause.

 

32


21.

NOTICES

 

21.1

All notices (which expression includes any demand, request, consent or other communication) to be given by one Shareholder to the others under this Agreement, shall be in the English language, in writing and (unless delivered personally) shall be given by telefax (confirmed by letter, which if sent internationally shall be sent by courier) and be addressed:

 

  21.1.1

in the case of Teekay as follows:

4 th Floor, Belvedere Building

66 Pitts Bay Road

Hamilton, HM 08 Bermuda

Mailing address: Suite No. 1778

48 Par-la Ville Road

Hamilton, HM11, Bermuda

Telefax No: +441 292 3931

Attn: Secretary;

cc Teekay Shipping (Canada) Ltd.

Suite 2000 Bentall 5

550 Burrard Street

Vancouver BC V6C 2K2

Canada

Attn: President, Teekay Gas Services

Telefax No: +1 604 609 6448;

 

  21.1.2

in the case of CLNG as follows:

Room 912, 9 th Floor, China Merchants Tower,

Shun Tak Centre, 168-200 Connaught Road,

Central, Hong Kong

Attn: General Manager

Telefax No: ++852 2587 8371

 

21.2

If a Shareholder wishes to change its address for communications, the one shall give to the others not less than seven (7) days’ notice in writing of the change desired.

 

21.3

Notices to a Shareholder addressed as provided above shall be deemed to have been duly given when despatched provided that the correct answerback has been received (in the case of telefax), when delivered (in the case of personal delivery), two (2) days after posting (in the case of letters sent within the same country), or (in the absence of evidence of earlier receipt) five (5) days after despatch (in the case of letters sent internationally by courier), provided that in proving the time of such despatch it shall be sufficient to show that the envelope containing such notice was properly delivered to the courier. In each of the above cases any notice received on a non-working day or after business hours in the country of receipt shall be deemed to be given on the next following working day in such country.

 

22.

APPLICABLE LAW AND ARBITRATION

 

22.1

This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law.

 

22.2

Any dispute arising out of or connection with this Agreement shall be referred to arbitration in London in accordance with the Arbitration Act 1996 or any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof save to the extent necessary to give effect to the provisions of this Clause 22.

 

33


22.3

The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the London Maritime Arbitrators’ Association (LMAA) Terms current at the time when arbitration proceedings are commenced.

 

22.4

The reference shall be to three (3) arbitrators. A party wishing to refer a dispute to arbitration shall appoint its arbitrator and send notice of such appointment in writing to the other party requiring the other party to appoint its own arbitrator within fourteen (14) calendar days of that notice and stating that it will appoint its arbitrator as sole arbitrator unless the other party appoints its own arbitrator and give notice that it has done so within the fourteen (14) days specified. If the other party does not appoint its own arbitrator and give notice that it has done so within the fourteen (14) days specified, the party referring a dispute to arbitration may, without the requirement of any further prior notice to the other party, appoint its arbitrator as sole arbitrator and shall advise the other party accordingly. The award of a sole arbitrator shall be binding on both parties as if he had been appointed by agreement.

Nothing herein shall prevent the parties agreeing in writing to vary these provisions to provide for the appointment of a sole arbitrator.

 

22.5

Judgment upon the award rendered may be entered in any court having jurisdiction or application may be made to such court for a judicial acceptance of the award and an order of enforcement, as the case may be.

IN WITNESS whereof this Agreement has been executed by the parties hereto the day and year first above written.

 

SIGNED

)

for and on behalf of

)

TEEKAY LNG OPERATING LLC

)

by

)

in the presence of:

)

SIGNED

)

for and on behalf of

)

CHINA LNG SHIPPING

)

(HOLDINGS) LIMITED

)

by

)

in the presence of:

)

 

34


SCHEDULE 1

RESERVED MATTERS

 

1.

Approval of the Annual Budget of the Company.

 

2.

Make any expenditure not allowed for in the Annual Budget of the Company to the extent that the relevant expenditure exceeds the greater of $100,000 or 10% of the figure budgeted as the total for the relevant items of expenditure.

 

3.

Make any change in the corporate domicile or tax residence or status of the Company.

 

4.

Change the registry and flag of any Vessel from the Bahamas or the Classification Society of any Vessel from any classification society not included within the International Association of Classification Societies.

 

5.

Make any borrowings, enter into any hire purchase, lease, credit sale or similar agreement or give any guarantee or indemnity, or change the terms of such borrowings, agreements or guarantee or indemnity, other than as provided in this Agreement or in any document executed pursuant to this Agreement.

 

6.

Factor or discount any book debts of the Company.

 

7.

Create or permit to subsist any mortgage, charge or pledge or other encumbrance (excluding, in the case of the Vessels, liens arising by operation of law or in the ordinary course of operation of the Vessels and being promptly discharged or secured) on or over any Vessel or the Shares of any Company or over any other asset of a Company, or change the terms of such mortgage, charge, pledge or other encumbrances, other than as provided in this Agreement or in any agreement executed pursuant to this Agreement.

 

8.

Make any loan or advance or otherwise give credit to any person, or change the terms of such loan, advance or giving of credit, except for the purpose of making deposits with its bankers.

 

9.

Enter into any guarantee or stand surety for the obligation of any third party other than in the ordinary course of its Business or as provided in this Agreement or in any agreement executed pursuant to this Agreement, or change the terms of such guarantee or stand surety.

 

10.

Alter or modify the rights attached to any Shares of the Company or make any alterations to its articles of incorporation and by-laws or its memorandum and articles of association or other constitutional documents.

 

11.

Increase its nominal share capital or issue any share or loan capital or grant any option to subscribe for any of its share or loan capital, or securities convertible into share or loan capital.

 

12.

Acquire, whether by formation or otherwise, any interest in any body corporate nor effect or permit the disposal or dilution of its interest, directly or indirectly, in any Company or other body corporate, whether by the sale, allotment or issue of any shares (or securities convertible into shares) in such entity’s capital otherwise to the Joint Venture Company or any reduction in the voting power or other powers of control exercisable in relation to the any such entity, directly or indirectly, by the Joint Venture Company.

 

13.

Sell, transfer, lease, license or in any way dispose (whether in a single transaction or series of transactions) of:

 

  (a)

any Vessel or other ship;

 

  (b)

all or a material part of the undertaking, property, business or assets of the Company,

or agree to do so.

 

35


14.

Conclude (insofar as the relevant agreement has not already been concluded) or renew on expiry, vary or terminate, make any prepayment under, or release any of the other parties thereto from any of their material duties and liabilities thereunder or waive any breach of any of the said duties and liabilities or consent to any such act or omission of any such party which would otherwise constitute such a breach in respect of any material agreement of the Company.

 

15.

Give any waiver, approval or consent, other than any which cannot reasonably be considered to be of material importance or value, under any material agreement of the Company, unless it is obliged by the terms of such agreement to give such waiver, approval or consent.

 

16.

Make any alterations to the nature of, or cease to carry on, the Business of the Company or make any amendment of or variation to, or the execution, or conclusion, renewal, and/or termination of the agreed form of any of the documents referred to in this Agreement, including, and subject to the consent of the Charterer where required, but not limited to any Time Charter, any Shipbuilding Contract, any Supervision Agreement, any Ship Management Agreement or the Corporate Service Agreement, or any other time charter or contract for the employment of any Vessel, or the giving of any release or waiver thereunder unless such termination is made as a consequence of a sale or other disposal of the relevant Vessel or the total loss of the relevant Vessel, provided that there shall be disregarded any such matter which cannot reasonably be considered material, or appoint a replacement of the Ship Manager.

 

17.

Pay fees or salaries or provide other benefits to the Directors of the Company other than on commercial, arm’s length basis and on the basis that all Directors are treated in like manner.

 

18.

Enter into any agreement with a Shareholder or any of its Affiliates other than as provided in this Agreement or in any document executed pursuant to this Agreement.

 

19.

Make any change in the financial year, auditors, terms of appointment of auditors, or accounting or reporting policies and practices of the Company.

 

20.

Promote or take steps to effect a members’ voluntary winding-up or the making of an administration order, or pass any resolution for winding-up of the Company.

 

21.

Apply to the Courts to order a meeting of creditors or of members or of any class of members of the Company.

 

22.

Enter into any transaction or contract otherwise than on an arm’s length basis and in the ordinary course of the Business of the Company.

 

23.

Entry into or variation of any licence or other similar agreement relating to intellectual property to be licensed to or by the Company which is otherwise than in the ordinary course of its Business or agree to do so.

 

24.

Appoint or remove any Directors other than in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Constitution of the Company.

 

25.

Register any transfer of any Shares otherwise than in accordance with this Agreement and the Constitution of the Company.

 

36


26.

Commit any Vessel to any charter or other contract of employment other than the relevant Time Charter.

 

27.

Capitalise or repay any amounts standing to the credit of any reserve of the Company or redeem or purchase its own Shares or establish any employee share option scheme of any kind whatsoever.

 

28.

Enter into any merger, consolidation, joint venture, partnership or other arrangement with any person whereby the profits of the Company may be shared other than as provided in this Agreement or in any agreement executed pursuant to this Agreement.

 

29.

Reduce the share capital of the Company.

 

30.

Appoint or remove bankers of the Company, or approve bank signing mandates, including signatories and the terms thereof, or any variation thereto.

 

31.

The engagement by the Company of any agent, manager, employee or consultant or any change in the terms of employment or service of any such agent, manager, employee or consultant, except as provided in this Agreement.

 

32.

The establishment of any retirement benefit scheme in relation to the employees of the Company or the making of any contribution to any third party scheme for the provision of retirement benefits.

 

33.

Appointing any committee of the Board of the Company or delegating any of the powers of the Board to any third party, or approving any transaction whereby the Business of the Company or part thereof would be controlled otherwise than by the Board.

 

34.

Establishing any share option or other incentive scheme for any Director, consultant or employee of the Company.

 

35.

The institution or settlement by the Company of any arbitration, litigation or similar proceedings relating to any claim totalling more than $1,000,000 or its equivalent in any other currency.

 

36.

Make, grant or allow any claim, disclaimer, surrender, election or consent for tax purposes.

 

37.

Consent to the obligations of the service provider under any Ship Management Agreement, Corporate Services Agreement or any Supervision Agreement being sub-contracted other than in accordance with the terms of such Agreement.

 

38.

Approval of the Annual Budget prepared in accordance with Clause 9, provided that if the Annual Budget is not agreed by the start of the relevant financial year to which such Annual Budget relates, the parties agree that the proposed draft Annual Budget prepared in accordance with Clause 9 in respect of such financial year shall be used as the provisional Annual Budget until such time as the Annual Budget is agreed.

 

37


SCHEDULE 2

COMPANY DETAILS

 

Name

TC LNG Shipping LLC

Date and country of incorporation

23 May 2014, Marshall Islands

Registration number

962975

Registered office

Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960

Principal place of business

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

Directors

Yan Weiping

 

Xu Jianping

 

Mark Cave

 

Andres Luna

Secretary

Mark Cave

Capital

US$650

Issued share capital

N/A

Members

 

(with numbers of membership interests)

China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited - 50% membership interest

 

Teekay LNG Operating L.L.C. - 50% membership interest

Bankers

[tba]

Auditors

KPMG

Accounting reference date

31 December

 

38


Name

DSME Hull No 2423 LLC

 

DSME Hull No 2425 LLC

 

DSME Hull No 2430 LLC

 

DSME Hull No 2431 LLC

 

DSME Hull No 2433 LLC

 

DSME Hull No 2434 LLC

Date and country of formation

27 May 2014, Marshall Islands

Registered number:

DSME Hull No 2423 LLC

 

DSME Hull No 2425 LLC

 

DSME Hull No 2430 LLC

 

DSME Hull No 2431 LLC

 

DSME Hull No 2433 LLC

 

DSME Hull No 2434 LLC

962978

 

962979

 

962980

 

962981

 

962982

 

962983

Registered office

Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960

Principal place of business

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

Directors

Yan Weiping

 

Xu Jianping

 

Mark Cave

 

Andres Luna

Secretary

Mark Cave

Capital

US$650

Issued Share Capital

N/A

Members (with numbers of membership interests)

TC LNG Shipping LLC, 100% membership interest

Bankers

[tba]

Auditors

KPMG

Accounting reference date

31 December

 

39


SCHEDULE 3

FORM OF ANNUAL BUDGET

 

OPEX

  

Budget 201x

  

Comments

Budget 201x

Z - VESSEL OPERATING EXPENSE

   0   

Z1 - Opex Categories

   0   

A - Crew/Manning

     

B - Contracts

     

C - Insurance

     

D - Tax & Registration

     

E - Services, Spares & Consumables

     

F - Inspection

     

G - Port Expenses

     

J - Damage

     

K - Provisions, Projects

     

L - Capital Expenses

     

N - Lay Up Costs

     

O - Opex Suspense

     

V - Opex Rebates

     

Z2 - Fleet Overhead

   0   

 

40


SCHEDULE 4

FORM OF SUPERVISION AGREEMENT

 

41


SCHEDULE 5

FORM OF CORPORATE SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

42


SCHEDULE 6

FORM OF SHIPMANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

 

43

Exhibit 4.30

EXECUTION VERSION

FACILITY AGREEMENT

     DECEMBER 2014

Between

QATAR NATIONAL BANK SAQ

(as Facility Agent and Security Agent )

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS LISTED IN SCHEDULE 7

(as Original Lenders )

and

NAKILAT HOLDCO L.L.C.

(as Borrower )

 

1


CONTENTS

 

Clause        Page  

1.

  DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION      4   

2.

  FINANCE PARTIES’ RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS      19   

3.

  FACILITY      19   

4.

  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT DOCUMENTATION      21   

5.

  CONDITIONS OF UTILISATION      21   

6.

  UTILISATION      22   

7.

  REPAYMENT      22   

8.

  REBORROWING      23   

9.

  COSTS OF UTILISATION      23   

10.

  DEFAULT INTEREST      24   

11.

  PREPAYMENT      25   

12.

  TAX GROSS-UP AND INDEMNITY      27   

13.

  FATCA APPLICATION      28   

14.

  FATCA INFORMATION      29   

15.

  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES      30   

16.

  INFORMATION UNDERTAKINGS      33   

17.

  OTHER UNDERTAKINGS      35   

18.

  EVENTS OF DEFAULT      42   

19.

  INDEMNITIES      44   

20.

  MORTGAGEE’S INTEREST INSURANCE      45   

21.

  ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER      46   

22.

  APPOINTMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENTS      52   

23.

  PAYMENTS BY THE FACILITY AGENT – LIMITED RECOURSE      53   

24.

  REFUND OF PAYMENTS AND FURTHER PAYMENTS BY THE LENDERS      56   

25.

  REMITTANCES – DUTIES AND DISCRETIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENTS      57   

26.

  RELEASES OF SECURITY      64   

27.

  ENFORCEMENT OF TRANSACTION SECURITY      65   

28.

  COMMISSIONS, COSTS AND EXPENSES      65   

29.

  INCREASED COSTS      66   

30.

  MITIGATION      67   

31.

  SET-OFF      68   

32.

  NOTICES      68   

33.

  PAYMENTS AND EXPENSES      70   

 

2


34.

FEES

  70   

35.

MISCELLANEOUS   71   

36.

CONFIDENTIALITY   72   

37.

GOVERNING LAW   72   

38.

JURISDICTION   72   

39.

SERVICE OF PROCESS   73   

40.

WAIVER OF IMMUNITY   73   

SCHEDULE 1

  74   
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT   74   

SCHEDULE 2

  76   
FORM OF UTILISATION REQUEST   76   

SCHEDULE 3

  77   
AMORTISATION SCHEDULE   77   

SCHEDULE 4

  78   
KYC INFORMATION   78   

SCHEDULE 5

  79   
FORM OF QUIET ENJOYMENT UNDERTAKING   79   

SCHEDULE 6

  87   
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES   87   
        PART 1 –

ANNUAL COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

  87   
        PART 2 –

TIME CHARTER PARTY AGREEMENT TERMINATION COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

  88   

SCHEDULE 7

  89   
THE LENDERS, NOTICES, COMMITMENTS AND RELEVANT PERCENTAGES   89   

SCHEDULE 8

  90   
FORM OF TRANSFER UNDERTAKING   90   

SCHEDULE 9

  92   
FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE   92   

SCHEDULE 10

  94   
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT   94   

SCHEDULE 11

  97   
FORM OF PAYMENT UNDERTAKING   97   

SCHEDULE 12

  98   
VESSEL DELIVERABLES   98   

 

3


THIS FACILITY AGREEMENT (this Agreement ) is made as a deed and dated      December 2014

BETWEEN :

 

(1)

QATAR NATIONAL BANK SAQ (as the Facility Agent and the Security Agent ), a Qatari shareholding company registered in the State of Qatar and having its principal place of business at P.O. Box 1000, Doha, State of Qatar;

 

(2)

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS LISTED IN SCHEDULE 7 (the Original Lenders ); and

 

(3)

NAKILAT HOLDCO L.L.C. (the Borrower ), a limited liability company formed in the Republic of the Marshall Islands under Commercial Registration No. 963166 and having its registered office at Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960,

(together the Parties and each a Party ).

IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1.

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

1.1

Definitions

In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:

Account Pledge means a Qatari-law governed account pledge granted by the Borrower to the Security Agent and dated on or about the date hereof in respect of the Debt Service Reserve Account.

Administrative Agent means the Facility Agent or the Security Agent.

Affiliate means in relation to a company such company’s ultimate parent company, if any, and any company in which such parent company or such company (as the case may be) now or hereafter owns or controls, directly or indirectly 50% or more of such company.

Al Areesh L.L.C. means Al Areesh L.L.C., a limited liability company formed in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and whose registered office is Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960.

Al Daayen L.L.C. means Al Daayen L.L.C., a limited liability company formed in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and whose registered office is Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960.

Al Marrouna L.L.C. means Al Marrouna L.L.C., a limited liability company formed in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and whose registered office is Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960.

Announced Rule Change means any announcement, publication, document, directive and/or report promulgated, published or issued on or before the date of this Agreement (including any amendment, supplement, replacement or modification thereto on or before the date of this Agreement or, to the extent substantially consistent with one promulgated, published or issued on or before the date of this Agreement, after the date of this Agreement), whether or not final, by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (including its Group of Governors and Heads of Supervision), the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union or the Commission of the European Communities in connection with changes in bank capital and/or liquidity requirements, commonly referred to individually or collectively as “Basel III”.

 

4


Applicable Asset has the meaning given to that term in Clause 17.12(b)(vi) (Financial Indebtedness).

Applicable Law means:

 

  (a)

any law, statute, decree, constitution, regulation, authorisation, judgment, injunction or other directive of any Government Entity;

 

  (b)

any treaty, pact, compact or other agreement to which any Government Entity is a signatory, party or contracting state; or

 

  (c)

any judicial or administrative interpretation with binding characteristics or application of those described in (a) or (b),

and in each case, which is applicable to a Vessel, the use or operation of a Vessel, an Obligor or the Finance Documents.

Assignment Agreement means an agreement substantially in the form set out in Schedule 10 (Form of Assignment Agreement) or any other form agreed between the relevant assignor and assignee.

Authorisation means an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration.

Availability Period means the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and including 31 January 2015, unless extended pursuant to Clause 3.3 (Availability Period Extension).

Availability Period Extension has the meaning given to that term in Clause 3.3(a) (Availability Period Extension).

Availability Period Extension Fee has the meaning given to that term in Clause 3.3(f) (Availability Period Extension).

Availability Period Extension Request has the meaning given to that term in Clause 3.3(b) (Availability Period Extension).

Available Tranche Commitment means, in respect of any Lender, for any Tranche the amount of such Lender’s Tranche Commitment in respect of that Tranche minus:

 

  (a)

the amount of such Lender’s participation in any outstanding Loans in respect of that Tranche; and

 

  (b)

in relation to any proposed Utilisation in respect of that Tranche, the amount of such Lender’s participation in any Loans that are due to be made on or before the proposed Utilisation Date in respect of that Tranche.

Borrower Security Property means each asset of the Borrower over which the Borrower has granted Security under a Security Document.

Break Costs means the amount (if any) by which:

 

  (a)

the interest that a Lender should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its Loan or Unpaid Sum to the last day of the current Interest Period in respect of that Loan or Unpaid Sum, had the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received been paid on the last day of that Interest Period;

 

5


exceeds:

 

  (b)

the amount that a Lender would be able to obtain by placing an amount equal to the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received by it on deposit with a leading bank in the London interbank market for a period starting on the Business Day following receipt or recovery and ending on the last day of the current Interest Period.

Business Day means a day (excluding Friday, Saturday and Sunday) on which commercial banks are generally open for business in Doha, London, Vancouver and New York.

Certificate of Transfer Undertaking means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 8 (Form of Transfer Undertaking).

Charge Agreement means a charge dated on or about the date hereof between the Borrower and the Security Agent granting a charge over the limited liability company interests held by the Borrower in each Guarantor.

Classification Society means, in respect of each Vessel, Lloyds Register of Shipping or another internationally recognised society of equivalent standing, including, without limitation, American Bureau of Shipping and Det Norske Veritas.

Compliance Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Part 1 or Part 2 of Schedule 6 (Compliance Certificate), as applicable .

Confidential Information means all information relating to the Borrower or any Guarantor, the Finance Documents or the Facility of which a Finance Party becomes aware in its capacity as, or for the purpose of becoming, a Finance Party or which is received by a Finance Party in relation to, or for the purpose of becoming a Finance Party under, the Finance Documents or the Facility from either the Borrower, any Guarantor or any adviser on behalf of the Borrower or any Guarantor in whatever form, and includes information given orally and any document, electronic file or any other way of representing or recording information which contains or is derived or copied from such information but excludes information that:

 

  (a)

is or becomes public information other than as a direct or indirect result of any breach by that Finance Party of Clause 36 (Confidentiality); or

 

  (b)

is expressly identified in writing at the time of delivery as non-confidential by any member of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any of their advisers; or

 

  (c)

is known by that Finance Party before the date the information is disclosed to it in accordance with paragraphs (a) or (b) or is lawfully obtained by that Finance Party after that date, from a source which is, as far as that Finance Party is aware, unconnected with the Borrower or any Guarantor and which, in either case, as far as that Finance Party is aware, has not been obtained in breach of, and is not otherwise subject to, any obligation of confidentiality.

Debt Service Reserve Account means the USD denominated “debt service reserve account” with account number 0220-036836-05 and Swift Code QNBAQAQA established by the Borrower with the Security Agent pursuant to Clause 17.15 (Debt Service Reserve Account).

Deed of Covenant means a deed of covenant entered into by a Guarantor in favour of the Finance Parties in respect of the Vessel owned by such Guarantor.

 

6


Default means:

 

  (a)

an Event of Default; or

 

  (b)

any event or circumstance specified in Clause 18 (Events of Default) that 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.

Environment means:

 

  (a)

any land, including sea bed, lake bed or river bed under water;

 

  (b)

any structures;

 

  (c)

water; and

 

  (d)

air.

Environmental Approval means any authorisation required of an Obligor under any Environmental Law.

Environmental Claim means any claim, proceeding, formal notice or investigation by any person in respect of any Environmental Approval, Environmental Law or presence of Hazardous Material in contravention of any Environmental Law.

Environmental Law means any Applicable Law, together with guidance issued under any Applicable Law, concerning:

 

  (a)

the protection of health and safety;

 

  (b)

the pollution or protection of any ecological system or living organism;

 

  (c)

the Environment; or

 

  (d)

any Hazardous Material.

Event of Default means any event or circumstance specified as such in Clause 18 (Events of Default).

Existing Borrowers means Al Marrouna Inc., Al Areesh Inc. and Al Daayen Inc.

Existing Facility means the facility agreement dated 15 December 2004 as amended and restated on 15 December 2005 and made between, amongst others, the Existing Borrowers, the lenders named therein as lenders and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank as arranger, facility agent and security agent (together, the Existing Lenders ) pursuant to which the lenders agreed to advance up to US$468,108,023.

Existing Insurances has the meaning given to that term in Clause 17.17(a) (Vessel undertakings).

Existing Security means, in relation to the Existing Facility, the mortgages granted over the Vessels by the registered owner to the disponent owners (including an assignment of the mortgages by the disponent owners to the registered owner), the assignments by the registered owner to the disponent owners of its rights under the lease in respect of each Vessel, the assignments by the disponent owners to Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank as security agent of the lease and related assets in respect of each Vessel, pledges over various accounts by the disponent owners and pledges over the shares in each of the disponent owners.

Facility has the meaning given to that term in Clause 3.1 (The Facility).

 

7


Facility Agent means the Facility Agent appointed from time to time being, as at the date of this Agreement, Qatar National Bank SAQ.

Facility Office means the office or offices notified by a Lender to the Facility Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender (or, following that date, by not less than five (5) Business Days’ written notice) as the office or offices through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement.

FATCA means:

 

  (a)

sections 1471 to 1474 of the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code ) or any associated regulations or other official guidance;

 

  (b)

any treaty, law, regulation or other official guidance enacted in any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the US and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of paragraph (a) above; or

 

  (c)

any agreement pursuant to the implementation of paragraphs (a) or (b) above with the US Internal Revenue Service, the US government or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction.

FATCA Application Date means:

 

  (a)

in relation to a “withholdable payment” described in section 1473(1)(A)(i) of the Code (which relates to payments of interest and certain other payments from sources within the US), 1 July 2014;

 

  (b)

in relation to a “withholdable payment” described in section 1473(1)(A)(ii) of the Code (which relates to “gross proceeds” from the disposition of property of a type that can produce interest from sources within the US), 1 January 2017; or

 

  (c)

in relation to a “passthru payment” described in section 1471(d)(7) of the Code not falling within paragraphs (a) or (b) above, 1 January 2017,

or, in each case, such other date from which such payment may become subject to a deduction or withholding required by FATCA as a result of any change in FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

FATCA Deduction means a deduction or withholding from a payment under a Finance Document required by FATCA.

FATCA Exempt Party means a Party that is entitled to receive payments free from any FATCA Deduction.

FATCA FFI means a foreign financial institution as defined in section 1471(d)(4) of the Code which, if any Finance Party is not a FATCA Exempt Party, could be required to make a FATCA Deduction.

FATCA Payment means either:

 

  (a)

the increase in a payment made by an Obligor to a Finance Party under Clause 12.3 (Tax Gross-Up and Indemnity) or Clause 13.1(b) (FATCA Deduction by Finance Party); or

 

  (b)

a payment under Clause 13.1(d) (FATCA Deduction by Finance Party).

 

8


Fee Letter means a fee letter dated on or about the date of this Agreement and made between the Facility Agent and the Borrower with respect to an arrangement fee.

Final Utilisation Date means the earlier of (i) the date on which the Available Tranche Commitment in respect of each Tranche has been reduced to zero and (ii) the expiry of the Availability Period.

Finance Documents means:

 

  (a)

this Agreement;

 

  (b)

each Security Document;

 

  (c)

the Fee Letter; and

 

  (d)

any other agreement designated as such by the Facility Agent and the Borrower.

Finance Party means the Facility Agent, the Security Agent and the Lenders.

Financial Close means the date on which the Facility Agent gives the confirmation required pursuant to Clause 4.1 (Conditions Precedent Documentation).

Financial Indebtedness means any indebtedness for or in respect of:

 

  (a)

moneys borrowed;

 

  (b)

any amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit facility;

 

  (c)

any amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument;

 

  (d)

the amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance with IFRS, be treated as a finance or capital lease;

 

  (e)

receivables sold (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a non-recourse basis);

 

  (f)

any amount raised under any other transaction 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 redeemable shares;

 

  (j)

any amount of any liability under an advance or deferred purchase agreement if one of the primary reasons behind the entry into of that 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).

First Repayment Date means the date falling three (3) months after the Initial Utilisation Date, or, if the Availability Period is extended pursuant to Clause 3.3 (Availability Period Extension), the date falling three (3) months after the Final Utilisation Date.

 

9


Global Assignment Agreement means an assignment agreement dated on or about the date hereof between a Guarantor and the Security Agent in respect of such Guarantor’s Time Charter Party Agreement, Management Agreement, Required Insurances and any reinsurances to the extent such insurance and reinsurance policies are in place from time to time.

Government Entity means:

 

  (a)

any national government;

 

  (b)

any political subdivision, banking or monetary authority or local jurisdiction in a national government;

 

  (c)

any instrumentality, board commission, authority, department, organ, court or agency of any of the entities listed in paragraphs (a) or (b);

 

  (d)

any association, organisation or institution of which any of the entities listed in paragraphs (a) or (b) is a member or to whose jurisdiction any is subject or in whose activities any is a participant; and

 

  (e)

any person acting or purporting to act on behalf of any of the persons or entities listed in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d).

Guarantee means a guarantee dated on or about the date hereof by a Guarantor in favour of the Finance Parties.

Guarantors means each of Al Areesh L.L.C., Al Daayen L.L.C. and Al Marrouna L.L.C. and Guarantor means one or any of them.

Hazardous Material means any emission or substance, whether on its own or in combination with any other substance, whose release is regulated by Environmental Law or which is determined by any Environmental Law or other Applicable Law to be capable of causing harm to any living organism or the Environment.

IFRS means the body of pronouncements issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, including International Financial Reporting Standards and interpretations approved by the International Accounting Standards Board and International Accounting Standards and Standing Interpretations Committee interpretations approved by the predecessor International Accounting Standards Committee to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements.

Increased Costs has the meaning given to that term in Clause 29.1(b) (Increased Costs).

Initial Utilisation Date means the date of the first Utilisation of the Facility, such date to be no later than thirty (30) days from the date of this Agreement.

Initial Utilisation Request means the Utilisation Request made in respect of the first Utilisation of the Facility.

Insolvency Proceeding means a case or proceeding seeking a judgment of, or arrangement for, insolvency, bankruptcy, composition, rehabilitation, reorganisation, administration, winding-up, liquidation or other similar relief with respect to a Party or its debts or assets, or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, conservator, custodian or other similar official of a Party or any substantial part of its assets, under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or any banking, insurance or similar law governing the operation of a Party and any analogous proceeding in any jurisdiction to which a Party is subject.

 

10


Interest Period means, in relation to a Loan, each period determined in accordance with Clause 9.2 (Interest Periods) and in relation to an Unpaid Sum, each period determined in accordance with Clause 10 (Default Interest).

Legal Reservations means:

 

  (a)

the principle that equitable remedies may be granted or refused at the discretion of a court and the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to insolvency, reorganisation and other laws generally affecting the rights of creditors;

 

  (b)

similar principles, rights and defences under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands or any other jurisdiction where the Borrower conducts its business; and

 

  (c)

any other matters which are specifically referred to in any legal opinion delivered pursuant to Clause 17.18 (Account Pledge and legal opinions), paragraph 2 (Legal opinions) of Schedule 12 (Vessel Deliverables) or paragraph 3 (Legal opinions) of Schedule 1 (Conditions Precedent) to this Agreement.

Lenders means the Original Lenders or any assignee or transferee that has become a Lender in accordance with Clause 21 (Assignment and Transfer).

LIBOR means:

 

  (a)

the applicable Screen Rate; or

 

  (b)

if no Screen Rate is available the arithmetic mean of rates (rounded upwards if necessary to four decimal places) for US Dollars as supplied to the Facility Agent at its request by the relevant Reference Banks to leading banks in the London interbank market for the Interest Period for that Loan,

as of 11.00 am London time on the Rate Fixing Day.

Loan means a loan made or to be made under the Facility or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that loan.

Majority Lenders means:

 

  (a)

if no Loans have been made, a Lender or Lenders whose Tranche Commitments aggregate more than 66 2/3 per cent of the aggregate of all Tranche Commitments (or, if the aggregate of all Tranche Commitments has been reduced to zero, aggregated more than 66 2/3 per cent of the aggregate of all Tranche Commitments immediately before the reduction); or

 

  (b)

at any other time, a Lender or Lenders whose participations in the Loans aggregate more than 66 2/3 per cent of the Loans.

Management Agreement means:

 

  (a)

in respect of Al Areesh L.L.C., the management agreement dated 29 March 2006 and made between Teekay Nakilat (II) Limited as operator and Teekay Shipping (Glasgow) Limited as manager to be novated, amended and restated pursuant to an amendment, novation and restatement agreement to be entered into by Teekay Nakilat (II) Limited, Teekay Shipping (Glasgow) Limited and Al Areesh L.L.C. dated on or around the date of the initial Utilisation Date in relation to Tranche 1;

 

11


  (b)

in respect of Al Daayen L.L.C., the management agreement dated 29 March 2006 and made between Teekay Nakilat (II) Limited as operator and Teekay Shipping (Glasgow) Limited as manager to be novated, amended and restated pursuant to an amendment, novation and restatement agreement to be entered into by Teekay Nakilat (II) Limited, Teekay Shipping (Glasgow) Limited and Al Daayen L.L.C. dated on or around the date of the initial Utilisation Date in relation to Tranche 2; and

 

  (c)

in respect of Al Marrouna L.L.C., the management agreement dated 29 March 2006 and made between Teekay Nakilat (II) Limited as operator and Teekay Shipping (Glasgow) Limited as manager to be novated, amended and restated pursuant to an amendment, novation and restatement agreement to be entered into by Teekay Nakilat (II) Limited, Teekay Shipping (Glasgow) Limited and Al Marrouna L.L.C. dated on or around the date of the initial Utilisation Date in relation to Tranche 3.

Margin means 1.85 per cent. per annum.

Market Valuation Report means a valuation report produced by the Vessel Consultant at the instruction and cost of the Borrower specifying the market value of each Vessel for the benefit of the Facility Agent substantially in the same form as has been provided to the Facility Agent by the Borrower prior to the date hereof.

Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on:

 

  (a)

the ability of any Obligor to perform its obligations under any Finance Document;

 

  (b)

the validity or enforceability of any Finance Document; or

 

  (c)

any right or remedy of any Finance Party in respect of a Finance Document.

Minimum Security Percentage has the meaning given to that term in Clause 17.16(b) (Financial covenant).

Obligors means the Borrower and each Guarantor and Obligor means one or any of them.

Original Flag means the flag of the Bahamas.

Permitted Financial Indebtedness has the meaning given to that term in Clause 17.12(b) (Financial Indebtedness).

Quiet Enjoyment Undertaking means a letter substantially in the form appended at Schedule 5 (Form of Quiet Enjoyment Undertaking).

Ras Laffan means Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (II).

Rate Fixing Day means the day falling two (2) Business Days prior to any period for which LIBOR is to be determined.

Receiver means a receiver or receiver and manager or administrative receiver of the whole or any part of the Security Property.

Reference Banks means the principal London offices of Qatar National Bank SAQ, Citibank, N.A. (London Branch) and Standard Chartered Bank.

Refinancing Indebtedness has the meaning given to that term in Clause 17.12(b)(vi) (Financial Indebtedness).

 

12


Relevant Asset has the meaning given to that term in Clause 17.12(b)(v) (Financial Indebtedness).

Relevant Indebtedness has the meaning given to that term in Clause 17.12(b)(v) (Financial Indebtedness).

Relevant Percentage means in relation to a Lender, the percentage assigned to it under the heading “Relevant Percentage” in Schedule 7 (The Lenders, Notices, Commitments and Relevant Percentages), as such percentage may change from time to time in order to reflect the actual percentage of its participation in the aggregate amount of all Loans.

Relevant Subsidiary has the meaning given to that term in Clause 17.12(b)(v) (Financial Indebtedness).

Remittance means any payment made or owing under this Agreement or any other Finance Document to the Facility Agent, excluding any amounts received by the Facility Agent as reimbursement for its costs and expenses save to the extent that the Facility Agent has been reimbursed for such costs and expenses by a Lender in accordance with Clause 28 (Commissions, Costs and Expenses).

Repayment Date means each date specified in Schedule 3 (Amortisation Schedule) as a Repayment Date.

Repayment Instalment means each instalment for the repayment of the principal amount of all outstanding Loans as determined in accordance with Clause 7 (Repayment).

Required DSRA Balance has the meaning given to that term in Clause 17.15 (Debt Service Reserve Account).

Required Insurance Amount means, for each Vessel, 110% of the market value of that Vessel determined in accordance with the most recent Market Valuation Report supplied to the Facility Agent in accordance with Clause 16.5 (Annual Market Valuation Report) at that time.

Required Insurances means insurance policies covering risks related to hull and machinery, war risks and protection and indemnity with respect to each Vessel.

Retiring Administrative Agent has the meaning given to that term in Clause 21.8 (Resignation and termination of appointment of an Administrative Agent).

Screen Rate means the London interbank offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person that takes over the administration of that rate) for US Dollars for the Interest Period for the relevant Loan as displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen (or any replacement Reuters page which displays that rate) on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Reuters. If such page is replaced or service ceases to be available, the Facility Agent may specify another page or service displaying the appropriate page after consultation with the Borrower and the Lenders.

Secured Obligations means all the present and future liabilities and obligations at any time due, owing or incurred by each Obligor under the Finance Documents, both actual and contingent and whether incurred solely or jointly and as principal or surety or in any other capacity.

Security means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other security interest securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect.

 

13


Security Agent means the security agent appointed from time to time being, as at the date of this Agreement, Qatar National Bank SAQ.

Security Document means:

 

  (a)

each Guarantee;

 

  (b)

each Vessel Mortgage;

 

  (c)

each Global Assignment Agreement;

 

  (d)

the Charge Agreement;

 

  (e)

the Account Pledge; and

 

  (f)

each Deed of Covenant.

Security Property means:

 

  (a)

the Transaction Security and all proceeds of the Transaction Security; and

 

  (b)

all obligations expressed to be undertaken by an Obligor to pay amounts in respect of the Secured Obligations to the Facility Agent as agent for the Lenders or Security Agent as agent or trustee (as applicable in accordance with Clause 22.2 (Appointment of the Security Agent) for the Lenders and secured by the Transaction Security together with all representations and warranties expressed to be given by an Obligor in favour of the Facility Agent as agent for the Lenders or Security Agent as trustee for the Lenders.

Security Value has the meaning given to that term in Clause 17.16(a) (Financial covenant).

Spot Rate of Exchange means the Facility Agent’s spot rate for the purchase of the relevant currency with US Dollars in the London foreign exchange market at or about 11:00am on a particular day.

Subsidiary means an entity of which a person has direct or indirect control or owns directly or indirectly more than 50% of the voting capital or similar right of ownership and control for this purpose means the power to direct the management and the policies of the entity whether through the ownership of voting capital, by contract or otherwise.

Tax means any direct or indirect tax, impost, charge or levy whatsoever including, without limitation, value added tax and any withholding tax (including any penalty or interest payable in connection with any failure to pay or any delay in paying any of the same) imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by or on behalf of the taxing authority of the State of Qatar, the government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Bahamas or any other jurisdiction of incorporation of any Obligor or any other country where a Vessel is registered or flagged.

Tax Credit means a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of any Tax.

Tax Deduction means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under or in respect of a Finance Document other than a FATCA Deduction.

Tax Payment means an increased payment made by the Borrower to a Finance Party under Clause 12 (Tax Gross-Up and Indemnity).

Termination Date means the date falling twelve (12) years from the Initial Utilisation Date.

 

14


Time Charter Party Agreement means:

 

  (a)

in respect of Al Areesh L.L.C., the time charter dated 1 July 2004 as novated, amended and restated on 18 January 2006, as amended and restated by an amendment and restatement agreement dated 21 March 2012 and as to be further novated, amended and restated on or around the date of the initial Utilisation Date in relation to Tranche 1, to be made between Al Areesh L.L.C. and Ras Laffan pursuant to which Al Areesh L.L.C. agree to let and Ras Laffan agree to take on time charter, for the period and upon the terms and conditions therein mentioned, Vessel 1;

 

  (b)

in respect of Al Daayen L.L.C., the time charter dated 1 July 2004 as novated, amended and restated on 18 January 2006, as amended and restated by an amendment and restatement agreement dated 21 March 2012 and as to be further novated, amended and restated on or around the date of the initial Utilisation Date in relation to Tranche 2, to be made between Al Daayen L.L.C. and Ras Laffan pursuant to which Al Daayen L.L.C. agree to let and Ras Laffan agree to take on time charter, for the period and upon the terms and conditions therein mentioned, Vessel 2; and

 

  (c)

in respect of Al Marrouna L.L.C., the time charter dated 1 July 2004 as novated, amended and restated on 18 January 2006, as amended and restated by an amendment and restatement agreement dated 21 March 2012 and as to be further novated, amended and restated on or around the date of the initial Utilisation Date in relation to Tranche 3, to be made between Al Marrouna L.L.C. and Ras Laffan pursuant to which Al Marrouna L.L.C. agree to let and Ras Laffan agree to take on time charter, for the period and upon the terms and conditions therein mentioned, Vessel 3,

and, in each case, including any replacement thereof pursuant to Clause 17.16(d)(iii) (Financial covenant).

Total Loss means, for a Vessel:

 

  (a)

its actual, constructive, compromised, arranged or agreed total loss;

 

  (b)

its destruction, damage beyond economic repair or being rendered permanently unfit for normal use for any reason whatsoever;

 

  (c)

its requisition of title or other compulsory acquisition by any Government Entity (whether de jure or de facto ), but excluding requisition for use or hire not involving requisition of title; or

 

  (d)

its capture, seizure, arrest, detention, or confiscation (including any requisition for hire) by a Government Entity or any other person and that deprives the relevant Guarantor of that Vessel or any charterer under the relevant Time Charter Party Agreement of the use of that Vessel, for more than 180 days after that occurrence.

Tranche means any of Tranche 1, Tranche 2 and Tranche 3.

Tranche 1 means that part of the Facility made available in respect of Vessel 1 in an amount up to the aggregate of each Lender’s Tranche Commitment for such tranche.

Tranche 2 means that part of the Facility made available in respect of Vessel 2 in an amount up to the aggregate of each Lender’s Tranche Commitment for such tranche.

Tranche 3 means that part of the Facility made available in respect of Vessel 3 in an amount up to the aggregate of each Lender’s Tranche Commitment for such tranche.

 

15


Tranche Commitment means, in respect of any Lender:

 

  (a)

in respect of Tranche 1, the amount stated as its ‘Tranche 1 Commitment’;

 

  (b)

in respect of Tranche 2, the amount stated as its ‘Tranche 2 Commitment’; and

 

  (c)

in respect of Tranche 3, the amount stated as its ‘Tranche 3 Commitment’,

in each case as specified for such Lender in Schedule 7 (The Lenders, Notices, Commitments and Relevant Percentages) from time to time and to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by such Lender in accordance with this Agreement.

Transaction Security means the Security created or evidenced or expressed to be created or evidenced under or pursuant to the Security Documents.

Transfer Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 9 (Form of Transfer Certificate) with any amendments which the Facility Agent may approve or reasonably require or any other form agreed between the Facility Agent and the Borrower.

Transfer Date means, in relation to an assignment or a transfer, the later of:

 

  (a)

the proposed Transfer Date specified in the relevant Assignment Agreement or Transfer Certificate; and

 

  (b)

the date on which the Facility Agent executes the relevant Assignment Agreement or Transfer Certificate.

Unpaid Sum means any sum due and payable but unpaid by the Borrower under a Finance Document.

US Tax Obligor means:

 

  (a)

a person which is resident for tax purposes in the United States of America; or

 

  (b)

a person some or all of whose payments under the Finance Documents are from sources within the United States of America for US federal income tax purposes.

USD or US Dollars means the lawful currency of the United States of America.

Utilisation means a utilisation of the Facility.

Utilisation Date means the date of a Utilisation, being the date on which the relevant Loan is to be made.

Utilisation Request means a notice substantially in the form set out in Schedule 2 (Form of Utilisation Request).

Vessel means any of Vessel 1, Vessel 2, and Vessel 3.

Vessel 1 means the liquefied natural gas carrier Al Areesh (Hull No. 2239) owned or to be owned by Al Areesh L.L.C.

Vessel 2 means the liquefied natural gas carrier Al Daayen (Hull No. 2240) owned or to be owned by Al Daayen L.L.C.

 

16


Vessel 3 means the liquefied natural gas carrier Al Marrouna (Hull No. 2238) owned or to be owned by Al Marrouna L.L.C.

Vessel Consultant means Poten & Partners (UK) Ltd., or any one of Clarkson PLC, RS Platou LLP, E.A. Gibson Shipbrokers Limited, Fearnleys or MJLF & Associates as nominated by the Borrower or such other vessel consultant as may be agreed from time to time by the Borrower and the Facility Agent.

Vessel Flag means, in respect of a Vessel, the Original Flag or such other flag as may be selected by the applicable Guarantor with the consent of the Facility Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

Vessel Mortgage means a first priority mortgage granted by a Guarantor in favour of the Finance Parties in respect of the Vessel owned by such Guarantor.

Voluntary Prepayment Date has the meaning given to that term in Clause 11.3(b) (Voluntary prepayment).

Voluntary Prepayment Notice has the meaning given to that term in Clause 11.3(a) (Voluntary prepayment).

 

1.2

Interpretation

 

  (a)

Except where the context otherwise requires, words denoting the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, words denoting a gender shall include every gender and references to persons shall include bodies corporate and unincorporated.

 

  (b)

References to Clauses and Schedules are references to clauses and schedules of this Agreement.

 

  (c)

The Schedules form part of this Agreement and shall have the same force and effect as if expressly set out in the body of this Agreement and any reference to this Agreement shall include the Schedules.

 

  (d)

Clause headings are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Agreement.

 

  (e)

References to a Party , a Finance Party , the Facility Agent , the Security Agent , a Lender , the Borrower , a Guarantor or any other person shall be construed so as to include its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted transferees.

 

  (f)

References in this Agreement to any other agreements and documents shall be construed as references to such agreements or documents as amended, supplemented or restated, novated or replaced from time to time. References to an amendment include a supplement, novation, restatement or re-enactment and amended will be construed accordingly.

 

  (g)

A period of time shall be construed as a reference to a period of time measured by the Gregorian calendar and all interest, costs, expenses, commission and fees under any Finance Document shall, subject to the provisions of Clause 9.6(c) (Accounts certifications and determinations), be calculated according to the Gregorian calendar. Unless stated otherwise, a reference to a time of day is a reference to Doha time.

 

  (h)

Unless otherwise stated a reference to determines or determined means a determination made in the absolute discretion of the person making the determination, acting reasonably.

 

17


  (i)

References in this Agreement to month or months mean a period beginning in one calendar month and ending in the relevant later calendar month on the day numerically corresponding to the day of the calendar month in which it started, provided that: (a) if the period started on the last Business Day in a calendar month or if there is no such numerically corresponding day, it shall end on the last Business Day in such later calendar month; and (b) if such numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day, the period shall end on the next following Business Day in such later calendar month but if there is no such Business Day it shall end on the preceding Business Day, and monthly shall be construed accordingly.

 

  (j)

An Event of Default is continuing if it has not been waived and a Default is continuing if it has not been remedied or waived.

 

  (k)

Any references in this Agreement to amounts or obligations owed to or by the Facility Agent shall be deemed to be references to amounts or obligations owed to or by the Facility Agent acting as agent on behalf of the Lenders.

 

  (l)

References to “ know your customer requirements ” are the identification checks that the Facility Agent or a Lender requires in order to meet its obligations under any applicable law or regulation to identify a person who is (or is to become) its customer.

 

  (m)

Any reference in this Agreement to any statute or statutory provision shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as a reference to such statute or statutory provision as the same may have been or may from time to time be amended, modified, extended, consolidated, re-enacted or replaced.

 

  (n)

Any references in this Agreement to including mean including without limitation.

 

1.3

Capacity of Parties

Where there are references in this Agreement to:

 

  (a)

any Party; and

 

  (b)

any obligations or liabilities of one or more such Parties,

these shall be strictly construed as references to any such person or (as the case may be) obligations or liabilities of any such person solely in its capacity as that Party.

 

1.4

Third party rights

 

  (a)

Unless expressly provided to the contrary in a Finance Document, a person who is not a party to a Finance Document has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of that Finance Document.

 

  (b)

Notwithstanding any term of any Finance Document, the consent of any person who is not a party to a Finance Document is not required to rescind or vary that Finance Document at any time.

 

1.5

Deed

The Parties intend that this Agreement will take effect as a deed notwithstanding that any Party may execute it under hand.

 

18


2.

FINANCE PARTIES’ RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

 

2.1

The obligations of each Finance Party under the Finance Documents are several. Failure by a Finance Party to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents does not affect the obligations of any other Party under the Finance Documents. No Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Finance Party under the Finance Documents.

 

2.2

The rights of each Finance Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents are separate and independent rights and any debt arising under the Finance Documents to a Finance Party from an Obligor shall be a separate and independent debt.

 

2.3

A Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents, separately enforce its rights under the Finance Documents.

 

3.

FACILITY

 

3.1

The Facility

 

  (a)

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Finance Documents, the Facility Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, hereby agrees to make available to the Borrower a term loan facility (the Facility ) in an amount up to but not exceeding the aggregate of each Lender’s Tranche Commitments. The Facility shall be made available to the Borrower in three Tranches (being Tranche 1, Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 respectively). Each Tranche is available to the Borrower pursuant to the delivery by the Borrower of one or more Utilisation Requests in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents in an amount (subject to the aggregate of all Tranche Commitments) in each case of up to but not exceeding the relevant Tranche Commitment.

 

  (b)

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Finance Documents, the Borrower may issue multiple Utilisation Requests in respect of each Tranche during the Availability Period.

 

  (c)

The Borrower agrees to use the proceeds of the Facility in the following manner:

 

  (i)

to pay all fees due under the Finance Documents;

 

  (ii)

to fund the Debt Service Reserve Account in accordance with Clause 17.15 (Debt Service Reserve Account);

 

  (iii)

to repay or prepay any principal amount, accrued interest and break costs in respect of the Existing Facility;

 

  (iv)

to pay any termination sum or other fees in connection with the termination of the Existing Facility, any lease arrangement or any hedging arrangement relating to any Vessel or any indebtedness relating to the financing of any Vessel;

 

  (v)

to refund part of the equity contributions previously made to the Borrower or the owners of any Vessel (or their direct or indirect shareholders or equity holders) and/or the Guarantors or otherwise in relation to any Vessel;

 

  (vi)

to fund the acquisition of (i) shares or any equivalent equity interest in any Vessel-owning entity that will, following such acquisition, be a wholly owned subsidiary of the Borrower or (ii) any Vessel that, following such acquisition, will be wholly owned by a wholly owned subsidiary of the Borrower; or (iii) any Time Charter Party Agreement or any time charter party purchase or novation agreement relating to a Vessel; and

 

19


  (vii)

to make loans to any Guarantor, any Existing Borrower and Teekay Nakilat (II) Limited for any of the purposes set out in (i) to (vi) above.

 

  (d)

No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any utilisation of the Facility.

 

3.2

Automatic cancellation

Any unutilised portion of any Tranche Commitment shall be automatically cancelled at the end of the Availability Period.

 

3.3

Availability Period Extension

 

  (a)

The Availability Period may, at the discretion of each of the Borrower and the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of all the Lenders), be extended (an Availability Period Extension ) up to and including 30 June 2015 if such an extension is required by the Borrower.

 

  (b)

Should the Borrower require an Availability Period Extension, it shall provide a written request (an Availability Period Extension Request ) to the Facility Agent at least 10 Business Days before the then scheduled expiry date of the Availability Period specifying the date to which the Borrower wishes the Availability Period to extend.

 

  (c)

The Facility Agent shall, within five (5) Business Days of receipt of any such Availability Period Extension Request, confirm whether the requested Availability Period Extension shall be granted. If the Facility Agent does not respond within such period, the Availability Period Extension Request shall be deemed not to be granted.

 

  (d)

If the Facility Agent confirms that an Availability Period Extension shall be granted, the Availability Period shall be extended to the date requested by the Borrower under the relevant Availability Period Extension Request.

 

  (e)

If the Facility Agent does not grant an Availability Period Extension pursuant to an Availability Period Extension Request, the Availability Period shall end on the scheduled expiry date of the Availability Period before the Availability Period Extension Request was submitted.

 

  (f)

In the case of any Availability Period Extension pursuant to this Clause 3.3: (i) the Borrower shall pay to the Facility Agent (for the account of each Lender) an extension fee in relation to the Availability Period Extension in an amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate of each Lender’s Available Tranche Commitments in each case as at 31 January 2015 (the Availability Period Extension Fee ); and (ii) if any Repayment Instalment in Schedule 3 (Amortisation Schedule) otherwise would have fallen due for payment before the First Repayment Date (as adjusted as a result of the Availability Period Extension) had the Availability Period Extension not been granted, Schedule 3 (Amortisation Schedule) shall be adjusted so that the amount of any such Repayment Instalment shall be added to the final Repayment Instalment and the number of Repayment Instalments will be reduced accordingly by removing such Repayment Instalments.

 

  (g)

Any Availability Extension Fee pursuant to paragraph (f) shall be payable by the Borrower on or before 9 February 2015.

 

20


4.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT DOCUMENTATION

 

4.1

The Borrower shall not be entitled to deliver the Initial Utilisation Request under this Agreement until the Facility Agent (acting on behalf of the Lenders) has received or waived the requirement to receive each of the documents and evidence set out in Schedule 1 (Conditions Precedent) in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent. The Facility Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower, in writing, upon being so satisfied.

 

4.2

The conditions specified in Clause 4.1 are inserted solely for the benefit of the Facility Agent (acting on behalf of the Lenders) and may be waived in whole or in part by the Facility Agent (acting on behalf of the Lenders).

 

5.

CONDITIONS OF UTILISATION

 

5.1

A Utilisation Request will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless it complies with the following conditions:

 

  (a)

the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day falling within the Availability Period;

 

  (b)

following the delivery of such Utilisation Request, there is (or would be), in respect of any tranche, no more than five (5) Loans outstanding under that Tranche at such time;

 

  (c)

the amount specified in any Utilisation Request applicable to a particular Tranche shall not exceed the Available Tranche Commitment for that Tranche; and

 

  (d)

the currency and amount of the Loan comply with Clause 5.2 (Currency and amount).

 

5.2

Currency and amount

 

  (a)

The currency specified in a Utilisation Request must be US Dollars.

 

  (b)

The amount of the proposed Loan must be:

 

  (i)

a minimum of USD 5,000,000 and an integral multiple of USD 1,000,000 or, if less, the Available Tranche Commitment for the relevant Tranche; or

 

  (ii)

such other amount as the Facility Agent may agree.

 

5.3

The Lenders will not be obliged to comply with Clause 6.1(c) (Utilisation Request) or Clause 6.2 (Lenders’ participation):

 

  (a)

if a Default or an Event of Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Utilisation; and

 

  (b)

unless each representation and warranty in:

 

  (i)

Clause 15 (Representations and Warranties), other than Clause 15.7 (Deduction of Tax), Clause 15.8 (No filing or stamp taxes) and Clause 15.9 (No default); and

 

  (ii)

clause 3 (Representations and Warranties) of each Guarantee, other than clause 3.7 (Deduction of Tax) and clause 3.8 (No filing or stamp taxes),

is true and correct in all material respects as at the Utilisation Date for the relevant Loan.

 

21


6.

UTILISATION

 

6.1

Utilisation Request

 

  (a)

To utilise the Facility, the Borrower shall give to the Facility Agent a duly completed Utilisation Request:

 

  (i)

in the case of the Initial Utilisation Request only, by no later than 12 p.m. (Doha time), on the day before the proposed Utilisation Date; and

 

  (ii)

in the case of all other Utilisation Requests, by no later than 12 p.m. (Doha time), two (2) days before the proposed Utilisation Date.

 

  (b)

Once given, a Utilisation Request will be irrevocable.

 

  (c)

On the initial Utilisation Date specified in a duly completed Utilisation Request in respect of any Tranche, on or before the time that the proceeds of a Loan are to be transferred to the account of the Existing Lenders or any other third party as may be specified in the Utilisation Request, the Facility Agent shall, if requested by the Borrower, issue a payment undertaking to the Existing Lenders and/or any such third party in the form set out in Schedule 11 (Form of Payment Undertaking) together with an agreed form MT199 and MT103.

 

6.2

Lenders’ participation

 

  (a)

If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, each Lender shall make its participation in each Loan available by the Utilisation Date for such Loan through its Facility Office.

 

  (b)

The amount of each Lender’s participation in each Loan in respect of any Tranche will be equal to the proportion borne by its Available Tranche Commitment in respect of that Tranche to the aggregate Available Tranche Commitment of each Lender in that Tranche immediately prior to making the Loan.

 

  (c)

The Facility Agent shall notify each Lender of the amount of each Loan and the amount of its participation in that Loan promptly following the delivery by the Borrower of a duly completed Utilisation Request.

 

  (d)

No Lender is obliged to participate in a Loan in respect of any Tranche if, as a result:

 

  (i)

its participation in the Loans applicable to that Tranche would exceed its Tranche Commitment in respect of that Tranche; or

 

  (ii)

the Loans would exceed the aggregate of each Lender’s Tranche Commitment in respect of that Tranche.

 

7.

REPAYMENT

 

7.1

Repayment of Loans

The Borrower shall repay the Loans made to it in instalments by repaying on each Repayment Date on and from the First Repayment Date the Repayment Instalment applicable to such Repayment Date being an amount equal to the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of all Loans outstanding under each Tranche on and including the last date of the Availability Period set out opposite that Repayment Date in Schedule 3 (Amortisation Schedule), provided that such Repayment Instalments shall be reduced by any pre-payments in accordance with Clause 11.6 (Application of pre-payments).

 

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7.2

Termination Date

The Loans must be repaid in full on the Termination Date.

 

8.

REBORROWING

The Borrower may not reborrow any part of the Facility that is repaid.

 

9.

COSTS OF UTILISATION

 

9.1

Interest and other amounts

 

  (a)

The rate of interest on each Loan for each Interest Period is the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of:

 

  (i)

the Margin; and

 

  (ii)

LIBOR.

 

  (b)

The Borrower shall pay accrued interest on each Loan on the last day of each Interest Period.

 

  (c)

The Facility Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower of the determination of a rate of interest under this Agreement once determined in accordance with paragraph (a) above.

 

  (d)

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.

 

9.2

Interest Periods

 

  (a)

Each Interest Period for a Loan shall start on the Utilisation Date for that Loan or (if already made) on the last day of its preceding Interest Period.

 

  (b)

Each Interest Period for a Loan shall end on the earlier of (i) the date falling three (3) months from the date referred to in paragraph (a) above; (ii) the last day of the Interest Period of any then outstanding Loan; and (iii) the next occurring Repayment Date.

 

  (c)

If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that 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).

 

  (d)

If an Interest Period would otherwise overrun the Termination Date, it will be shortened so that it ends on the Termination Date.

 

9.3

Inability to determine rates

Where LIBOR is to be calculated on any Loan by reference to the Reference Banks but no Reference Bank supplies a rate when required to do so under this Agreement:

 

  (a)

the Facility Agent must promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of such market disruption event; and

 

  (b)

the rate of interest on each Lender’s share of that Loan for the Interest Period shall be the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of:

 

  (i)

the Margin; and

 

23


  (ii)

the rate notified to the Facility Agent by that Lender as soon as practicable but by no later than the date when interest is due to be paid in respect of that Interest Period to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to that Lender of funding its participation in that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select.

 

9.4

Break Costs

 

  (a)

The Borrower shall, within three (3) Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent, pay its Break Costs attributable to all or any part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum being paid by the Borrower on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for that Loan or Unpaid Sum.

 

  (b)

Each Lender shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Facility Agent in accordance with paragraph (a), provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Break Costs for any Interest Period in which they accrue.

 

9.5

Currency of account

All payments by the Borrower under the Finance Documents must be paid in US Dollars. Any payments by the Borrower relating to costs, losses, expenses or Taxes may, at the request of the Facility Agent, be made in the currency in which the relative costs, losses, expenses or Taxes were incurred. Any currency exchange for the purposes of this Clause 9.5 shall be undertaken at the Spot Rate of Exchange.

 

9.6

Accounts certifications and determinations

 

  (a)

Any certification or determination by any Administrative Agent of a rate or amount under any Finance Document is, in the absence of manifest error, prima facie evidence of the matters to which it relates.

 

  (b)

Accounts maintained by the Facility Agent in connection with this Agreement are prima facie evidence of the matters to which they relate for the purpose of any litigation or arbitration proceedings.

 

  (c)

Any interest or fee accruing under this Agreement accrues from day to day and is calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360 days.

 

9.7

Set-off

Except as expressly provided to the contrary in the Finance Documents, all payments (including each Repayment Instalment) by the Borrower under any Finance Document shall be made in full without any set-off or counterclaim.

 

10.

DEFAULT INTEREST

 

10.1

If the Borrower fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document on its due date, interest shall accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate that, subject to Clause 10.2 below, is one per cent. higher than the rate that would have been payable if the overdue amount had, during the period of non-payment, constituted a Loan in the currency of the overdue amount for successive Interest Periods, each of a duration selected by the Facility Agent (acting reasonably). Any interest accruing under this Clause 10.1 shall be immediately payable by the Borrower on demand by the Facility Agent.

 

24


10.2

If any overdue amount consists of all or part of a Loan that became due on a day that was not the last day of an Interest Period relating to that Loan:

 

  (a)

the first Interest Period for that overdue amount shall have a duration equal to the unexpired portion of the current Interest Period relating to that Loan; and

 

  (b)

the rate of interest applying to the overdue amount during that first Interest Period shall be one per cent. higher than the rate that would have applied if the overdue amount had not become due.

 

10.3

Default interest (if unpaid) arising on an overdue amount will be compounded with the overdue amount at the end of each Interest Period applicable to that overdue amount but will remain immediately due and payable.

 

11.

PREPAYMENT

 

11.1

Mandatory prepayment – Illegality

 

  (a)

If, having taken such mitigating steps reasonably available to it (including pursuant to Clause 30.1(c)(Mitigation), it is unlawful in any applicable jurisdiction for any Lender to perform any of its obligations under a Finance Document or to fund or maintain its participation in any Loan and that Lender has notified the Facility Agent of that fact, the Facility Agent shall notify the Borrower promptly that:

 

  (i)

the Borrower shall pay or prepay the participation of that Lender in each Loan (together with, for the avoidance of doubt, that Lender’s proportion of the accrued interest and any Break Costs for that Loan) on the date specified in Clause 11.1(b); and

 

  (ii)

all Tranche Commitments of that Lender shall be immediately cancelled.

 

  (b)

The date for payment or prepayment of the participation of a Lender in a Loan shall be:

 

  (i)

the last day of the current Interest Period of that Loan; or

 

  (ii)

if earlier, the date specified by the Lender in the notification under Clause 11.1(a), which shall not be earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period allowed by law.

 

11.2

Right of prepayment and cancellation of a single Lender

 

  (a)

If the Borrower is, or shall be, required to pay to a Lender (or to the Facility Agent for the account of that Lender):

 

  (i)

a Tax Payment;

 

  (ii)

an Increased Cost; or

 

  (iii)

a FATCA Deduction,

the Borrower may, while the requirement continues, give notice to the Facility Agent requesting payment or prepayment and cancellation in respect of that Lender.

 

  (b)

After notification under Clause 11.2(a):

 

  (i)

the Borrower shall pay or prepay the participation of that Lender in each Loan on the date specified in Clause 11.2(c); and

 

  (ii)

all Tranche Commitments of that Lender shall be immediately cancelled.

 

25


  (c)

The date for payment or prepayment of the participation of that Lender in each Loan shall be:

 

  (i)

the last day of the current Interest Period for that Loan; or

 

  (ii)

if earlier, the date specified by the Borrower in the notification under Clause 11.2(a).

 

11.3

Voluntary prepayment

 

  (a)

The Borrower may, by notice in writing to the Facility Agent, inform the Facility Agent of its desire to make a voluntary prepayment of a Loan in respect of any Tranche in full or in part prior to the relevant Repayment Date (a Voluntary Prepayment Notice ).

 

  (b)

A Voluntary Prepayment Notice given by the Borrower must be given no less than five (5) Business Days prior to the proposed date for the voluntary prepayment of all or part of the Loan (the Voluntary Prepayment Date ).

 

  (c)

Any voluntary prepayment under this Clause 11.3 shall, if only reducing the Facility or any Tranche in part, be in a minimum amount of USD 5,000,000 or any integral multiple thereof.

 

  (d)

A Voluntary Prepayment Notice shall be effective only upon receipt by the Facility Agent, shall be irrevocable and shall oblige the Borrower to pay the relevant Loan in full or in part (as the case may be and as specified in the Voluntary Prepayment Notice) on the Voluntary Prepayment Date.

 

  (e)

Any purported Voluntary Prepayment Notice that does not comply with the requirements of this Clause 11.3 shall not be valid and the Facility Agent shall not be obliged to take any notice thereof.

 

11.4

Mandatory prepayment – Charterer option to purchase a Vessel

If Ras Laffan exercises its rights pursuant to the Time Charter Party Agreement in respect of a Vessel to purchase (either itself or through a nominee) such Vessel (the Purchase Option Vessel ) then, provided the Borrower provides the notice referred to in Clause 16.8(a) (Notifications under Time Charter Party Agreements) to the Facility Agent not less than 30 days prior to the proposed date for sale of such Purchase Option Vessel to Ras Laffan:

 

  (a)

on or before the date for sale of such Purchase Option Vessel to Ras Laffan, the Borrower shall make, or procure the making of, a payment or prepayment in full of the aggregate Loans then outstanding in respect of the Tranche to which such Purchase Option Vessel relates; and

 

  (b)

on the same day as payment or prepayment (as applicable) is made pursuant to paragraph (a), the Security Agent shall, pursuant to Clause 26 (Releases of Security), release any Transaction Security in respect of the Purchase Option Vessel and otherwise do all things necessary to enable the applicable Guarantor to deliver the Purchase Option Vessel to Ras Laffan free of all Transaction Security.

 

11.5

Restrictions

 

  (a)

Any notice of cancellation or prepayment given by any Party under Clause 11.2 (Right of prepayment and cancellation of a single Lender) shall be irrevocable and, unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, shall specify the date or dates upon which the relevant cancellation or prepayment is to be made and the amount of that cancellation or prepayment.

 

26


  (b)

The Borrower shall not prepay any Loan or cancel all or part of the Facility except at the times and in the manner expressly provided for in this Agreement.

 

  (c)

No amount of the Facility cancelled under this Agreement may be subsequently reinstated.

 

  (d)

The Borrower may not reborrow any part of the Facility that is prepaid.

 

11.6

Application of pre-payments

Any partial pre-payment of any Loan pursuant to Clauses 11.1 (Mandatory prepayment – Illegality) or 11.2 (Right of prepayment and cancellation of a single Lender) shall satisfy the obligations of the Borrower under Clause 7 (Repayment) pro rata. Any partial pre-payment of any Tranche pursuant to Clause 11.3 (Voluntary Prepayment) or any prepayment pursuant to Clauses 11.4 (Mandatory prepayment – Charterer option to purchase a Vessel) shall satisfy the obligations of the Borrower under Clause 7 (Repayment) and in respect of such Tranche in order of their scheduled occurrence.

 

12.

TAX GROSS-UP AND INDEMNITY

 

12.1

All payments to be made by the Borrower to any Finance Party under any Finance Document shall be made free and clear of and without Tax Deduction unless the Borrower is required to make such a payment subject to the deduction or withholding of any Tax, in which case the sum payable by the Borrower (in respect of which such deduction or withholding is required to be made) shall be increased to the extent necessary to ensure that the relevant Finance Party receives a sum net of any deduction or withholding equal to the sum which it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made or required to be made.

 

12.2

A payment shall not be increased if on the date on which the payment falls due, the payment could have been made to a Finance Party without a Tax Deduction if either (i) that Finance Party had complied with its obligations at Clause 12.3 or Clause 30.1(a) (Mitigation) or (ii) the Facility Office of that Finance Party was in Qatar.

 

12.3

If the Borrower is required to make a FATCA Deduction:

 

  (a)

the Borrower must make the FATCA Deduction and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction within the time allowed and in the minimum amount required by FATCA;

 

  (b)

the amount of the payment due from the Borrower will be increased to an amount which (after making any FATCA Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no FATCA Deduction had been required;

 

  (c)

the Borrower must, promptly upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a FATCA Deduction), notify the Facility Agent accordingly; and

 

  (d)

within 30 days of making that FATCA Deduction or any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, the Borrower must deliver to the Facility Agent evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Facility Agent that the FATCA Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment has been paid to the relevant governmental or taxation authority.

 

12.4

Clause 12.3 shall only apply if and to the extent the Borrower becomes a FATCA FFI or a US Tax Obligor.

 

27


12.5

Each Finance Party and the Borrower shall co-operate in completing any procedural formalities necessary for the Borrower to obtain authorisation to make the payment without a Tax Deduction.

 

12.6

Each Finance Party shall notify the Facility Agent (and the Facility Agent shall so notify the Borrower) promptly upon that Finance Party becoming aware of any Tax Deduction or FATCA Deduction being required or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction or FATCA Deduction in respect of a payment payable to it or by it.

 

12.7

The Borrower shall (within three (3) Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent) pay to a Lender an amount equal to the loss, liability or cost which that Lender determines will be or has been (directly or indirectly) suffered for or on account of Tax by that Lender in respect of a Finance Document.

 

12.8

Clause 12.7 shall not apply:

 

  (a)

with respect to any Tax assessed on a Lender:

 

  (i)

under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Lender is incorporated or, if different, the jurisdiction (or jurisdictions) in which that Lender is treated as resident for tax purposes; or

 

  (ii)

under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Lender’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 Lender; or

 

  (b)

to the extent a loss, liability or cost:

 

  (i)

is compensated for by an increased payment under Clauses 12.1 to 12.6 (inclusive) or Clause 13.1(b) (FATCA Deduction by a Finance Party);

 

  (ii)

would have been compensated for by an increased payment under Clauses 12.1 to 12.6 (inclusive) but was not so compensated solely because one of the exclusions in Clause 12.2 applied; or

 

  (iii)

is compensated for by a payment under Clause 13.1(d) (FATCA Deduction by a Finance Party) (or would have been compensated for by a payment under Clause 13.1(d) (FATCA Deduction by a Finance Party) but was not so compensated because of the exclusion in Clause 13.1(e)) (FATCA Deduction by a Finance Party).

 

12.9

If the Borrower makes a payment pursuant to either Clause 12.1 or Clause 12.7 (for the purposes of this Clause 12.9 a Tax Payment ) and the relevant Finance Party obtains a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of, any Tax attributable to the payment or deduction or withholding to which such Tax Payment relates, the Finance Party shall pay an amount to the Borrower which that Finance Party reasonably determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in had the Borrower not made the applicable Tax Payment.

 

13.

FATCA APPLICATION

 

13.1

FATCA Deduction by a Finance Party

 

  (a)

Each Finance Party may make any FATCA Deduction it is required by FATCA to make, and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, and no Finance Party is required to increase any payment in respect of which it makes such a FATCA Deduction or otherwise compensate the recipient of the payment for that FATCA Deduction. If a Finance

 

28


 

Party becomes aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction in respect of a payment to another Party (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such FATCA Deduction) it must notify that Party and the Facility Agent.

 

  (b)

If the Facility Agent is required to make a FATCA Deduction in respect of a payment to a Finance Party under the Finance Documents that relates to a payment by the Borrower, the amount of the payment due from the Borrower will be increased to an amount that (after the Facility Agent has made such FATCA Deduction), leaves the Facility Agent with an amount equal to the payment that would have been made by the Facility Agent if no FATCA Deduction had been required.

 

  (c)

The Facility Agent must promptly upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction in respect of a payment to a Finance Party under the Finance Documents that relates to a payment by the Borrower (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such a FATCA Deduction) notify the Borrower and relevant Finance Party.

 

  (d)

Subject to paragraph (e), the Borrower must (within three (3) Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent) pay to a Finance Party an amount equal to the loss, liability or cost which that Finance Party determines will be or has been (directly or indirectly) suffered by that Finance Party as a result of another Finance Party making a FATCA Deduction in respect of a payment due to it under a Finance Document. This paragraph does not apply to the extent a loss, liability or cost is compensated for by an increased payment under paragraph (b) above.

 

  (e)

Paragraph (d) shall only apply if and to the extent the Borrower becomes a FATCA FFI or a US Tax Obligor.

 

  (f)

A Finance Party making, or intending to make, a claim under paragraph (d) above must promptly notify the Facility Agent of the FATCA Deduction that will give, or has given, rise to the claim, following which the Facility Agent must notify the Borrower.

 

  (g)

A Finance Party must, on receiving a payment from the Borrower under this Clause, notify the Facility Agent.

 

13.2

Tax Credit and FATCA

If the Borrower makes a FATCA Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines that:

 

  (a)

a Tax Credit is attributable to an increased payment of which that FATCA Payment forms part, to that FATCA Payment or to a FATCA Deduction in consequence of which that FATCA Payment was required; and

 

  (b)

that Finance Party has obtained and used that Tax Credit,

then that Finance Party must pay an amount to the Borrower which that Finance Party determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in had the FATCA Payment not been required to be made by the Borrower.

 

14.

FATCA INFORMATION

 

14.1

FATCA confirmation

 

  (a)

Subject to paragraph (c) below, each Party must, within ten (10) Business Days of a reasonable request by another Party:

 

  (i)

confirm to that other Party whether it is:

 

  (A)

a FATCA Exempt Party; or

 

  (B)

not a FATCA Exempt Party; and

 

29


  (ii)

supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA (including its applicable “passthru payment percentage” or other information required under relevant US Treasury regulations or other official guidance including intergovernmental agreements) as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Party’s compliance with FATCA; and

 

  (iii)

supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Party’s compliance with any other law, regulation, or exchange of information regime.

 

  (b)

If a Party confirms to another Party pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) above that it is a FATCA Exempt Party and it subsequently becomes aware that it is not, or has ceased to be a FATCA Exempt Party, that Party must notify that other Party promptly.

 

  (c)

A Finance Party is not obliged to do anything under paragraph (a) above, and no other Party is obliged to do anything under paragraph (a)(iii) above, in each case, which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of:

 

  (i)

any law or regulation;

 

  (ii)

any fiduciary duty; or

 

  (iii)

any duty of confidentiality.

 

14.2

Failure to confirm FATCA status

If a Party fails to confirm its status or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with Clause 14.1(a) above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where Clause 14.1(c) (FATCA confirmation) applies), then:

 

  (a)

if that Party failed to confirm whether it is (or remains) a FATCA Exempt Party then such Party is to be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents (and payments made under them) as if it is not a FATCA Exempt Party; and

 

  (b)

if that Party failed to confirm its applicable “passthru payment percentage” then such Party is to be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents (and payments made under them) as if its applicable passthru percentage is 100%,

until (in each case) such time as the Party in question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information.

 

15.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower makes the representations and warranties set out in this Clause 15 to each Finance Party on the dates set out in Clause 15.14 (Time for making representations and warranties) and acknowledges that each Finance Party has entered into this Agreement in reliance on those representations and warranties.

 

15.1

Status

 

  (a)

It is a limited liability company formed and validly existing under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

 

  (b)

It has the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is being conducted.

 

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15.2

Binding obligations

The obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the Finance Documents to which it is a party are, subject to the Legal Reservations, legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations.

 

15.3

Execution of the Finance Documents

The execution and entry into by it of the Finance Documents to which it is a party and the exercise of its rights and performance of its obligations thereunder do not and will not conflict with:

 

  (a)

its constitutional documents;

 

  (b)

any law or regulation applicable to it; or

 

  (c)

any obligations to which it is subject under any agreement or instrument binding upon it or its assets, where such conflict would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

15.4

Power and authority

It has the power to enter into, perform and deliver those Finance Documents to which it is a party and all corporate and other action required to authorise the entry into, performance and delivery of those Finance Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated by those Finance Documents.

 

15.5

Validity and admissibility in evidence

All Authorisations required:

 

  (a)

to enable it 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 to which it is a party;

 

  (b)

to ensure that the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the Finance Documents to which it is a party are legal, valid, binding and enforceable; and

 

  (c)

to make the Finance Documents to which it is a party admissible in evidence in the Republic of the Marshall Islands,

where already required, have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect or, where not yet required, will be promptly obtained or effected by the time required.

 

15.6

Governing law and enforcement

 

  (a)

In respect of each Finance Document to which it is a party, any:

 

  (i)

irrevocable submission under such Finance Document to the jurisdiction to which such agreement is stated to be subject;

 

  (ii)

agreement as to the governing law of such Finance Document; and

 

  (iii)

agreement not to claim any immunity to which it or its assets may be entitled,

 

31


is legal, valid and binding under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

 

  (b)

The courts of the Republic of The Marshall Islands should recognise as valid and enforce any judgment obtained by a Finance Party against the Borrower in the court of a foreign country without a retrial on the merits provided that (i) the judgment is for a sum of money and is final in the jurisdiction granting the judgment, (ii) the court granting the judgment had jurisdiction under the laws of the place where it sat and the judgment does not offend principles of the Republic of The Marshall Islands as to due process, propriety or public order, and (iii) the defendant was actually present in person or by duly appointed representative and the judgment does not constitute in effect a default judgment.

 

15.7

Deduction of Tax

As at the date of this Agreement, it is not required to make any deduction for or on account of Tax from any payment it may make under any Finance Document to a Lender.

 

15.8

No filing or stamp taxes

As at the date of this Agreement, except in respect of the registration of the Account Pledge Agreement in Qatar and the registration of the Vessel Mortgages at the Bahamas Maritime Authority, it is not necessary, under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, that the Finance Documents, be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in such jurisdiction, or that any stamp, registration or similar tax be paid on or in relation to the Finance Documents or the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents.

 

15.9

No default

As at the date of this Agreement, no Default is continuing or will result from the entry into or performance of any transaction contemplated by any Finance Document to which it is a party.

 

15.10

Financial statements

The most recent financial statements of the Borrower have been prepared in accordance with IFRS consistently applied and give a true and fair view of its financial condition and operations during the relevant financial year.

 

15.11

No material proceedings

As far as it is aware, no action or administrative proceeding of or before any court or agency which, if adversely determined, might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect has been started or threatened against it (other than any legal proceedings which could not reasonably be expected to be adversely determined against it).

 

15.12

No winding-up or bankruptcy

It has not taken any corporate action nor have any other steps been taken or legal proceedings been started or (to the best of its knowledge and belief) threatened against it for its winding-up, bankruptcy, dissolution, administration or reorganisation (whether by voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) or for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, conservator, custodian, trustee or similar officer of it or of any or all of its assets or revenues.

 

15.13

Pari passu ranking

Its payment obligations under the Finance Documents to which it is party rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors save those whose claims are mandatorily preferred by the law of the Republic of the Marshall Islands applying to companies registered in the Republic of the Marshall Islands generally.

 

32


15.14

Time for making representations and warranties

 

  (a)

Subject to paragraph (c), the representations and warranties set out in this Clause 15 are made by the Borrower on the date of this Agreement.

 

  (b)

Subject to paragraph (c), each representation and warranty set out in this Clause 15 (other than those contained in Clauses 15.7 (Deduction of tax), 15.8 (No filing or stamp taxes), and 15.9 (No default)) is deemed to be repeated by the Borrower on the date of each Utilisation Request, on each Utilisation Date and on the first day of each Interest Period by reference to the facts and circumstances existing at the time of such repetition.

 

  (c)

The representation and warranty set out in Clause 15.10 (Financial statements) shall not be made until the date on which audited financial statements are first delivered in accordance with Clause 16.1 (Financial statements) and shall be made on such date and thereafter shall be deemed to be repeated on each relevant subsequent date in accordance with paragraph (b).

 

16.

INFORMATION UNDERTAKINGS

The undertakings in this Clause 16 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents.

 

16.1

Financial statements

The Borrower shall supply to the Facility Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 180 days after the end of each of its financial years, its audited consolidated financial statements for that financial year.

 

16.2

Requirements as to financial statements

 

  (a)

Each set of financial statements delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Clause 16.1 (Financial statements) shall be certified by an authorised signatory of the Borrower as giving a true and fair view of its financial condition as at the date at which those financial statements were drawn up.

 

  (b)

The Borrower shall procure that each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 16.1 (Financial statements) is prepared using IFRS consistently applied.

 

  (c)

The Borrower shall ensure that each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 16.1 (Financial statements) is audited by a reputable international firm of accountants and, in respect of each set of financial statements delivered after the first set of such financial statements delivered in accordance with Clause 16.1 (Financial statements) is prepared using accounting policies, practices, procedures and reference periods consistent with those applied in the preparation of the first set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 16.1, unless, in relation to any such set of financial statements, the Borrower notifies the Facility Agent that there have been one or more changes in any such accounting policies, practices, procedures or reference periods and the auditors to the Borrower provide:

 

  (i)

a description of the changes and the adjustments which would be required to be made to those financial statements in order to cause them to use the accounting policies, practices, procedures and reference period upon which any previous financial statements of the Borrower were prepared; and

 

33


  (ii)

sufficient information, in such detail and format as may be reasonably required by the Facility Agent, to enable it to make an accurate comparison between the financial position indicated by those financial statements and any previous financial statements of the Borrower,

any such reference in this Agreement to those financial statements shall be construed as a reference to those financial statements as adjusted to reflect the basis upon which the first financial statements of the Borrower were prepared.

 

16.3

Information: miscellaneous

The Borrower shall supply to the Facility Agent, promptly upon becoming aware of them, details of:

 

  (a)

any litigation, arbitration or proceedings brought against it by any governmental, ministerial or administrative body which are current, threatened or pending against it, and which might, if adversely determined, have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

  (b)

any Environmental Claim which is current, pending or threatened against it which might, if adversely determined, have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

  (c)

any suspension, revocation or modification of any Environmental Approval;

 

  (d)

the occurrence of any accident, casualty or other event which has resulted in or may result in a Vessel being or becoming a Total Loss;

 

  (e)

the levy of distress on a Vessel or its arrest, detention, seizure, condemnation as prize, compulsory acquisition or requisition for title or use;

 

  (f)

a condition of class applied by the applicable Classification Society which has not been satisfied by the date specified in such condition;

 

  (g)

any collision or grounding of a Vessel;

 

  (h)

a Vessel being detained by any port, governmental or quasi-governmental authority for a period of more than 30 consecutive days;

 

  (i)

any refusal by the flag state or the applicable Classification Society to issue or withdraw any trading certification of a Vessel; and

 

  (j)

any material damage of or to a Vessel.

 

16.4

Notification of default

The Borrower shall notify the Facility Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence (unless the Borrower is aware that a notification has already been provided by a Guarantor).

 

16.5

Annual Market Valuation Report

The Borrower shall supply to the Facility Agent a Market Valuation Report with respect to each Vessel within 180 days from the financial year end of the applicable Guarantor, such obligation to commence on and from the Initial Utilisation Date.

 

34


16.6

Annual Compliance Certificate

The Borrower shall supply to the Facility Agent a Compliance Certificate in the form set out in Part 1 of Schedule 6 (Compliance Certificate) signed by two directors of the Borrower within 180 days from the financial year end of the Borrower.

 

16.7

“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; or

 

  (b)

any change in the status of the Borrower after the date of this Agreement,

obliges the Facility Agent 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 Facility Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Facility Agent in order for the Facility Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

16.8

Notifications under Time Charter Party Agreements

The Borrower shall supply to the Facility Agent, a copy of:

 

  (a)

any notice received by any Obligor from Ras Laffan in respect of any exercise by Ras Laffan of its option pursuant to the Time Charter Party Agreement in respect of a Vessel to purchase such Vessel; and

 

  (b)

any notice of default issued or received by any Obligor in respect of any Time Charter Party Agreement,

promptly upon receipt of such notice by the Borrower.

 

17.

OTHER UNDERTAKINGS

Except as otherwise stated in this Clause 17, the undertakings in this Clause 17 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents. Each Party agrees that nothing in this Clause 17 shall prevent the Guarantors from purchasing or otherwise acquiring the Vessels and the Time Charter Party Agreements and any Management Agreements in respect of the Vessels and each of the undertakings in this Clause 17 shall be construed accordingly.

 

17.1

Authorisations

The Borrower shall promptly:

 

  (a)

obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect; and

 

  (b)

supply copies (certified by an authorised signatory of the Borrower) to the Facility Agent of,

any Authorisation required under any law or regulation of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to enable it to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents to which it is party and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence in the Republic of the Marshall Islands of any Finance Document to which it is party.

 

35


17.2

Permitted purpose

The Borrower shall procure that the proceeds of the Facility are applied only in accordance with Clause 3.1(c) (The Facility).

 

17.3

Compliance with laws

The Borrower shall comply in all respects with all laws and regulations (including all Environmental Laws) to which it may be subject that are applicable to carrying on its business, if failure so to comply would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

17.4

Negative pledge

 

  (a)

The Borrower shall not create or permit to subsist any Security over any Borrower Security Property.

 

  (b)

Paragraph (a) does not apply to the Transaction Security, any other Security entered into pursuant to any Finance Document or, during the period ending on the initial Utilisation Date for a Tranche, the Existing Security in respect of the Vessel to which that Tranche relates.

 

17.5

Disposals

The Borrower shall not enter into a single transaction or a series of transactions (whether related or not) and whether voluntary or involuntary to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any asset where such transaction would result in the Borrower being in breach of the financial covenant under Clause 17.16 (Financial covenant).

 

17.6

Merger

The Borrower shall not enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger or corporate reconstruction other than pursuant to a solvent corporate restructuring.

 

17.7

Change of business

The Borrower shall procure that no substantial change is made to the general nature of its business from that carried on at the date of this Agreement.

 

17.8

Acquisition of assets

Except as otherwise expressly permitted by the Finance Document, the Borrower shall not acquire any asset where such acquisition would result in the Borrower being in breach of the requirements of Clause 17.12(b)(v) (Financial Indebtedness).

 

17.9

Constitutional documents

The Borrower shall not agree to or permit any amendment to its constitutional documents, if such amendment would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

17.10

Loans and guarantees

 

  (a)

The Borrower shall not make any loans, grant any credit (save in the ordinary course of business) or give any guarantee or indemnity (except as required under any of the Finance Documents) to or for the benefit of any person or otherwise voluntarily assume any liability, whether actual or contingent, in respect of any obligation of any person.

 

36


  (b)

Paragraph (a) does not apply to the granting of any guarantee or indemnity which is:

 

  (i)

permitted to be granted pursuant to Clause 17.12 (Financial Indebtedness);

 

  (ii)

given in respect of the chartering arrangements for any Vessel; or

 

  (iii)

given in respect of the payment or performance obligations of any Obligor under any contract or other agreement entered into by it in the ordinary course of its business to the extent that such obligations do not constitute Financial Indebtedness.

 

  (c)

Paragraph (a) does not apply to the making of any loans:

 

  (i)

which are made by the Borrower to another Obligor or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower; or

 

  (ii)

which are loans made to a direct or indirect shareholder or equity holder of the Borrower.

 

17.11

Taxation

The Borrower shall duly and punctually pay and discharge all material Taxes imposed upon it or its assets within the time period allowed without incurring penalties (save to the extent that (i) payment is being contested in good faith, (ii) adequate reserves are being maintained for those Taxes and (iii) payment can be lawfully withheld), where any failure to pay such Taxes would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

17.12

Financial Indebtedness

 

  (a)

The Borrower shall not incur any Financial Indebtedness.

 

  (b)

Paragraph (a) does not apply to any Financial Indebtedness listed below ( Permitted Financial Indebtedness ):

 

  (i)

Financial Indebtedness incurred under, or that is expressly contemplated by, any Finance Document, Time Charter Party Agreement, or management agreement relating to a Vessel;

 

  (ii)

Financial Indebtedness incurred under any hedging arrangement entered into by any Obligor;

 

  (iii)

any bond, performance bond, letter of credit, guarantee or other assurance against loss (and any corresponding indemnity or reimbursement obligation) issued by or on behalf of the Borrower in the ordinary course of its business;

 

  (iv)

subject to paragraph (c), Financial Indebtedness incurred either (A) with another Obligor; or (B) on a subordinated basis with a direct or indirect shareholder or equity holder of the Borrower;

 

  (v)

subject to paragraph (c), Financial Indebtedness incurred as a result of, or in connection with, the acquisition of any vessel (the Relevant Asset ) or the acquisition of any Subsidiary which owns, or is established to own, a Relevant Asset (the Relevant Subsidiary ), provided that prior to incurring such Financial Indebtedness (the Relevant Indebtedness ), the Borrower has provided a certificate (signed by a director or officer) addressed to the Facility Agent:

 

  (A)

confirming that the amount of Relevant Indebtedness, when aggregated with any existing Financial Indebtedness relating to the Relevant Asset or the Relevant Subsidiary (as applicable) is no greater than 90% of the purchase price paid by the Borrower for the Relevant Asset or the shares or equivalent equity interest in in the Relevant Subsidiary (as applicable); and

 

37


  (B)

setting out in reasonable detail the calculations upon which the Borrower is making the confirmation referred to in paragraph (A);

 

  (vi)

subject to paragraph (c), Financial Indebtedness (the Refinancing Indebtedness ) incurred as a result of, or in connection with, the refinancing of any existing Financial Indebtedness relating to any vessel owned by any Subsidiary of the Borrower, other than a Guarantor, (the Applicable Asset ), (including any refinancing of any Financial Indebtedness under any facility or document entered into in accordance with paragraph (b)(v)), provided that prior to incurring such Financial Indebtedness, the Borrower has provided a certificate (signed by a director or officer) addressed to the Facility Agent:

 

  (A)

confirming that the amount of Refinancing Indebtedness, when aggregated with any existing Financial Indebtedness relating to the Applicable Asset, is no greater than 90% of the value of the Applicable Asset (to be determined by reference to valuations of the Applicable Asset to be obtained at or about the time of financial close of the Refinancing Indebtedness); and

 

  (B)

setting out in reasonable detail the calculations upon which the Borrower is making the confirmation referred to in paragraph (A); or

 

  (vii)

Financial Indebtedness incurred with the prior written consent of the Facility Agent.

 

  (c)

In the case of Financial Indebtedness incurred pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv), (b)(v) or (b)(vi) the claims of the Facility Agent under this Agreement will at all times rank at least pari passu with the claims of any unsecured and unsubordinated creditors in relation to such Financial Indebtedness save to the extent that such claims are mandatorily preferred by law applying to companies generally.

 

17.13

Subsidiaries

The Borrower shall not create or acquire any Subsidiary after the date of this Agreement where the creation or acquisition of such Subsidiary would result in the Borrower being in breach of the requirements of Clause 17.12(b)(v) (Financial Indebtedness).

 

17.14

Change of ownership

 

  (a)

The Borrower shall not sell or otherwise dispose of its limited liability company interest in any Guarantor.

 

  (b)

The Borrower shall hold 100% of the limited liability company interests in each Guarantor.

 

  (c)

The Borrower shall procure that Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd. (Nakilat) holds, directly or indirectly, no less than 30% of the equity interest in the Borrower.

 

17.15

Debt Service Reserve Account

 

  (a)

On and from the Initial Utilisation Date, the Borrower shall:

 

  (i)

open and maintain the Debt Service Reserve Account; and

 

38


  (ii)

subject to paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) ensure that at all times such account is funded in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Loans repayable on the next Repayment Date (the Required DSRA Balance ).

 

  (b)

In respect of the final Repayment Date, the Required DSRA Balance shall not increase and shall remain as an amount equal to the principal amount of debt service payable on the Repayment Date immediately prior to the final Repayment Date.

 

  (c)

The Facility Agent may instruct the Security Agent to deduct from the Debt Service Reserve Account any portion of a Repayment Instalment that is due and unpaid and the Facility Agent shall apply such amounts to the payment of such portion of the relevant Repayment Instalment. The Borrower shall ensure that the Debt Service Reserve Account is funded in an amount equal to the Required DSRA Balance by no later than the earlier of:

 

  (i)

the next Repayment Date; and

 

  (ii)

the date falling 10 Business Days after such deduction.

 

  (d)

The Borrower may not withdraw any amounts from the Debt Service Reserve Account without the prior written consent of the Facility Agent.

 

17.16

Financial covenant

 

  (a)

In this Clause, Security Value means the aggregate of the market value of each Vessel (determined in accordance with the most recent Market Valuation Reports for the Vessels supplied to the Facility Agent at that time in accordance with Clause 16.5 (Annual Market Valuation Report) or paragraph (f) below).

 

  (b)

The Borrower shall ensure that the Security Value is at least 110 per cent. of the aggregate of all Loans then outstanding and interest then due on such Loans calculated in accordance with Clause 9 (Costs of Utilisation) (the Minimum Security Percentage ).

 

  (c)

If the Minimum Security Percentage is not met at any time, the Borrower may not:

 

  (i)

declare, make or pay any dividend or other distribution (each a Distribution ) (or interest on any unpaid Distribution) (whether in cash or in kind) on or in respect of its capital;

 

  (ii)

repay or distribute any dividend;

 

  (iii)

pay any management, advisory or other fee to or to the order of any of its shareholders or equity holders other than any fees and operating costs and expenses payable in accordance with the terms (as at the date of this Agreement) of any Management Agreement or corporate services agreement relating to a Vessel; or

 

  (iv)

redeem, repurchase, return or repay any of its capital or resolve to do so,

until such time as the Minimum Security Percentage has been restored. Such failure to meet the Minimum Security Percentage shall not be deemed a Default or an Event of Default for the purpose of any Finance Document.

 

  (d)

The Borrower may restore the Minimum Security Percentage by:

 

  (i)

providing additional Security in favour of the Security Agent acceptable to the Facility Agent;

 

39


  (ii)

making a voluntary prepayment in an amount such that the provisions of this Clause 17.16 are complied with when re-calculated on a pro forma basis; or

 

  (iii)

in the event of a termination of a Time Charter Party Agreement, by entering into a replacement time charter or other employment in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent, acting reasonably, for which purposes the Borrower shall deliver an updated Market Valuation Report (on a “with charter” basis) in respect of any Vessel which is the subject of such replacement time charter or other employment.

 

  (e)

Except in respect of any restoration of the Minimum Security Percentage, which may be demonstrated by the Borrower at any time, and except in respect of a termination of any Time Charter Party Agreement as set out in paragraph (f), the covenant set out in paragraph (b) will be tested on an annual basis by reference to the Compliance Certificate delivered in accordance with Clause 16.6 (Annual Compliance Certificate) and the Market Valuation Reports provided in accordance with Clause 16.5 (Annual Market Valuation Report).

 

  (f)

The covenant set out in paragraph (b) additionally will be tested upon a termination of any Time Charter Party Agreement prior to its scheduled termination date by reference to a Compliance Certificate in the form set out in Part 2 of Schedule 6 (Compliance Certificate) delivered by the Borrower within 10 days of such termination, for which purposes the Borrower shall simultaneously deliver an updated Market Valuation Report (such report to take into account the Time Charter Party Agreement termination) in respect of any Vessel which is the subject of such Time Charter Party Agreement termination.

 

17.17

Vessel undertakings

The Borrower shall procure that:

 

  (a)

subject to paragraph (b), the Required Insurances for each Vessel are maintained on substantially the same terms (including as to governing law) as the Required Insurances for that Vessel existing as at the date of this Agreement (the Existing Insurances );

 

  (b)

the Required Insurances for each Vessel are in the Required Insurance Amount applicable to that Vessel;

 

  (c)

the Required Insurances for each Vessel are placed through commercially reputable brokers and with commercially reputable underwriters or insurance companies;

 

  (d)

the Required Insurances include a loss payable clause in substantially the same form as provided in the Existing Insurances;

 

  (e)

each Vessel’s classification and registration is maintained under the Vessel Flag;

 

  (f)

nothing is done or omitted to be done by any party by which the registration of its Vessel would or might be defeated or imperilled;

 

  (g)

each Vessel (including the operation thereof) complies with all Applicable Laws if failure so to comply would have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

  (h)

each Vessel is maintained in good working order and repair (ordinary wear and tear excepted);

 

  (i)

each Vessel is surveyed from time to time as required by the Classification Society in which that Vessel is entered at that time;

 

40


  (j)

the classification of each Vessel is maintained with the applicable Classification Society or any other recognised classification society including, without limitation, American Bureau of Shipping and Det Norske Veritas), free of all overdue requirements and overdue recommendations;

 

  (k)

all repairs to or replacement of any damaged, worn or lost parts or equipment are effected in a manner (both as regards workmanship and quality of materials) that does not diminish materially the value of the applicable Vessel;

 

  (l)

each Vessel is managed in accordance with customary industry standards;

 

  (m)

all debts and other liabilities that may give rise to a lien (other than any lien permitted pursuant to the terms of any Guarantee) or claim enforceable against a Vessel are promptly paid and discharged; and

 

  (n)

each Guarantor complies with its obligations under the Time Charter Party Agreement to which it is a party if failure so to comply would have a Material Adverse Effect;

in each case, from the date of the acquisition of each Vessel by the applicable Guarantor and only for so long as each Vessel is owned by a Guarantor.

 

17.18

Account Pledge and legal opinions

Within ninety (90) days of the date of this Agreement, the Borrower shall:

 

  (a)

ensure that the Account Pledge has been executed and perfected in accordance with the requirements of Qatari law; and

 

  (b)

procure the delivery of legal opinions in respect of the Account Pledge from the Lender’s Qatari counsel and the Lender’s Marshall Islands counsel addressed to the Finance Parties in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent.

 

17.19

Insurance report

Within thirty (30) days of the date of this Agreement, the Borrower shall procure, at its own cost and expense, that the Facility Agent receives a final insurance report in respect of the Required Insurances for each Vessel reasonably satisfactory to the Facility Agent prepared by Bankserve or any other advisor acceptable to the Facility Agent.

 

17.20

Opening balance sheet

Within ninety (90) days of the date of this Agreement, the Borrower shall provide a copy of its unaudited opening balance sheet.

 

17.21

Amendment of a Time Charter Party Agreement

The Borrower shall procure that no Time Charter Party Agreement is amended without consent of the Facility Agent, where such amendment would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

17.22

Vessel deliverables

The Borrower shall procure that each Guarantor delivers the documentation set out in Schedule 12 (Vessel Deliverables) within the applicable time periods specified in such Schedule.

 

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18.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

Each of the events or circumstances set out in Clause 18 (other than Clause 18.12 (Acceleration) is an Event of Default.

 

18.1

Non-payment

An Obligor does not pay on or before the date falling ten (10) Business Days after the due date any amount payable by it pursuant to a Finance Document at the place and in the currency in which such amount is expressed to be payable.

 

18.2

Account Pledge, legal opinions and insurance report

Any requirement of:

 

  (a)

Clause 17.18 (Account Pledge and legal opinions);

 

  (b)

Clause 17.19 (Insurance report);

 

  (c)

Clause 17.20 (Opening balance sheet); or

 

  (d)

Clause 17.22 (Vessel Deliverables),

is not satisfied.

 

18.3

Other obligations

An Obligor does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents (other than those referred to in Clause 18.1 (Non-payment), Clause 17.18 (Account Pledge and legal opinions), Clause 17.19 (Insurance report), Clause 17.20 (Opening balance sheet), Clause 17.22 (Vessel Deliverables), Clause 18.4 (Termination of Vessel registration), Clause 18.5 (Misrepresentation) or Clause 17.16(b) (Financial covenant)) and such failure is not remedied within 30 days of the earlier of (i) the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower of such non-compliance and (ii) any Obligor becoming aware of the failure to comply provided that if such failure to comply cannot be remedied within such 30 day period, and the Obligor has taken steps to remedy such non-compliance, 60 days, from the earlier of (i) the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower of such non-compliance and (ii) any Obligor becoming aware of the failure to comply.

 

18.4

Termination of Vessel registration

The registration of a Vessel is terminated, unless such termination is remedied within 60 days of the termination.

 

18.5

Misrepresentation

Any representation made under a Finance Document is or proves to have been inaccurate or misleading in any material respect when made, provided that no breach of this Clause 18.5 shall occur if the fact which caused the applicable representation to be inaccurate or misleading is rectified within a period of 60 days of the earlier of receipt by the Borrower of notice of such misrepresentation from the Facility Agent and any Obligor becoming aware of the misrepresentation.

 

18.6

Cross default

 

  (a)

Any Financial Indebtedness of an Obligor is not paid when due (after the expiry of any originally applicable grace period).

 

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  (b)

Any Financial Indebtedness of an Obligor is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described).

 

  (c)

Any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of an Obligor is cancelled or suspended by a creditor of that Obligor as a result of an event of default (however described).

 

  (d)

No Event of Default will occur under this Clause 18.6 if the aggregate amount of all such Financial Indebtedness as described in this Clause 18.6 is less than USD 15,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies).

 

18.7

Insolvency

 

  (a)

An Obligor:

 

  (i)

is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due; or

 

  (ii)

suspends making payments on any of its debts due to it being unable to pay its debts.

 

  (b)

The value of the assets of an Obligor is less than its liabilities (taking into account contingent and prospective liabilities).

 

  (c)

A moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of an Obligor.

 

18.8

Insolvency proceedings

Any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in any jurisdiction in relation to:

 

  (a)

the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of an Obligor;

 

  (b)

a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of an Obligor;

 

  (c)

the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of an Obligor or any of its assets; or

 

  (d)

enforcement of any Security over any asset of an Obligor having an aggregate value of at least USD 10,000,000,

excluding in each case: (i) any frivolous or vexatious petition for winding up presented by a creditor which is being contested in good faith or (ii) any proceedings that are discharged, stayed or dismissed within 60 days of commencement.

 

18.9

Analogous events

Any event occurs which under the laws of any jurisdiction has a similar or analogous effect to any of those events mentioned in Clauses 18.7 (Insolvency) and 18.8 (Insolvency proceedings) excluding in each case: (i) any frivolous or vexatious petition for winding up presented by a creditor which is being contested in good faith or (ii) any proceedings that are discharged, stayed or dismissed within 60 days of commencement.

 

18.10

Unlawfulness

It is or becomes unlawful for any Obligor to perform any of its payment obligations under the Finance Documents to which it is a party.

 

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18.11

Repudiation

Any Obligor repudiates or terminates a Finance Document or evidences an intention to repudiate or terminate a Finance Document.

 

18.12

Acceleration

On and at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default that is continuing the Facility Agent may, and shall if so directed by the Lenders, by serving written notice to the Borrower:

 

  (a)

cancel the Facility whereupon it shall immediately be cancelled; and

 

  (b)

declare that any outstanding Loans and any amounts accrued or outstanding under any other Finance Documents be immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall become immediately due and payable.

 

19.

INDEMNITIES

 

19.1

Currency indemnity

 

  (a)

If any sum due from any Obligor under the Finance Documents (a Sum ), or any order, judgment or award given or made in relation to a Sum, needs to be converted from the currency (the First Currency ) in which that Sum is payable into another currency (the Second Currency ) for the purpose of:

 

  (i)

making or filing a claim or proof against any Obligor;

 

  (ii)

obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any litigation or arbitration proceedings,

the Borrower shall as an independent obligation, within three (3) Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party to whom that Sum is due against any cost, loss or liability arising out of or as a result of the conversion including any discrepancy between (A) the rate of exchange used to convert that Sum from the First Currency into the Second Currency and (B) the rate or rates of exchange available to that person at the time of its receipt of that Sum.

 

  (b)

The Borrower waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency or currency unit other than that in which it is expressed to be payable.

 

19.2

Other indemnities

The Borrower shall, within ten (10) Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent, indemnify each Finance Party against any documented cost, loss or liability incurred by that Finance Party as a result of:

 

  (a)

the occurrence of any Event of Default or the operation of Clause 18.12 (Acceleration);

 

  (b)

a failure by any Obligor to pay any amount due under a Finance Document;

 

  (c)

funding, or making arrangements to fund, its participation in any Loan requested by the Borrower in a Utilisation Request but not made by reason of non-satisfaction of the conditions in Clause 5 (Conditions of Utilisation); or

 

  (d)

an amount due and payable under a Finance Document not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of prepayment given by the Borrower.

 

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19.3

Indemnity to the Facility Agent

The Borrower shall promptly indemnify the Facility Agent against any documented cost, loss or liability properly incurred by the Facility Agent and each of its officers and employees (in each case acting reasonably) as a direct result of:

 

  (a)

investigating any event which it reasonably believes is a Default;

 

  (b)

acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised;

 

  (c)

any other exercise of its rights, powers and discretions vested in it by:

 

  (i)

the Finance Documents; or

 

  (ii)

law relating to the Finance Documents,

which are of a non-ordinary course nature; or

 

  (d)

any other actions which otherwise relate to the performance of the terms of this Agreement (otherwise than as a result of its gross negligence or wilful misconduct) which are of a non-ordinary course nature.

 

20.

MORTGAGEE’S INTEREST INSURANCE

 

20.1

In respect of each Vessel, the Security Agent, acting on the instructions of the Facility Agent, shall be entitled from time to time (at the reasonable cost and expense of the Borrower and at no cost or expense to any Finance Party, hereunder in respect of all premiums and other expenses that are incurred in effecting, maintaining or renewing any such insurance or dealing with, or considering, any matter arising out of any such insurance) to effect, maintain and renew mortgagee’s interest marine insurance providing for the indemnification of the Finance Parties for any losses under or in connection with any Finance Document that directly or indirectly result from loss, of or damage to, a Vessel or a liability of a Vessel, a Guarantor or the Borrower, being a loss or damage that is prima facie covered by a Required Insurance but in respect of which there is a non-payment (or reduced payment) by the underwriters by reason of, or on the basis of any allegation concerning:

 

  (a)

any act or omission on the part of a Guarantor or the Borrower, of the manager of any Vessel or of any officer, employee or agent of any such person, including any breach of warranty or condition or any non-disclosure relating to such Required Insurance;

 

  (b)

any act or omission, whether deliberate, negligent or accidental, or any knowledge or privity of a Guarantor or the Borrower, of the manager or of any officer, employee or agent of any such person, including the casting away or damaging of any Vessel and/or any Vessel being unseaworthy; or

 

  (c)

any other matter that is insured against under a mortgagee’s interest marine insurance policy from time to time generally available, whether or not similar to the foregoing,

on market standard terms, in such manner as the Security Agent may from time to time consider appropriate, in the Required Insurance Amount for such insurance through such insurers as may be available to the Security Agent.

 

20.2

To the extent reasonably practicable, the Security Agent shall give notice to the Borrower before effecting any policy of insurance in accordance with this Clause 20 and, with any such notice, shall give details of the costs and expenses associated with such policy. Neither the Security Agent’s rights nor the Borrower’s obligations under this Clause 20 (including the Borrower’s obligation to

 

45


 

bear any costs and expenses associated with effecting, maintaining and renewing any insurances taken out in accordance with this Clause 20) shall be impaired or otherwise affected by any delay or failure by the Security Agent to give notice in accordance with this Clause 20.

 

21.

ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER

 

21.1

Assignment and transfer

 

  (a)

Each Finance Party shall, subject to the consent of the Borrower, where required by this Clause 21, be entitled to assign or transfer any of its respective rights, benefits and/or obligations hereunder to another bank or financial institution or to a trust, fund or other entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets provided that the provisions of this Clause 21 are complied with.

 

  (b)

The Finance Parties and the Borrower acknowledge, agree and undertake to fully comply with the requirements and procedures set out in this Clause 21.

 

  (c)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Lender shall be entitled to undertake any syndication with respect to the Tranche Commitments or any Loan without the prior written consent of the Borrower.

 

21.2

Assignment by the Lenders

The Finance Parties and the Borrower acknowledge and agree that the Lenders may, at any time assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, or offer or grant any interest in, the whole or any part of their participations in the Loans, their Tranche Commitments or any of their respective rights under this Agreement:

 

  (a)

so long as, and to the extent that any such Lender (the Existing Lender ) assigns, transfers or otherwise disposes of any interest or rights, the assignee or transferee (the New Lender ) provides a satisfactory Certificate of Transfer Undertaking (as conclusively determined by the Facility Agent) to the Administrative Agents, the Lenders and the Borrower that it shall be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Finance Documents and shall be under the same obligations (matching the rights assigned or transferred) towards the Facility Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower as it would have been under if it had originally been a Party to this Agreement;

 

  (b)

provided that the Finance Parties and the Borrower shall not be obliged to recognise the New Lender as having rights against any of them until such satisfactory Certificate of Transfer Undertaking referred to in paragraph (a) is obtained from the New Lender whereupon the Existing Lender shall be relieved of those obligations corresponding to the rights so assigned or transferred;

 

  (c)

provided that a Lender may only transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of, or offer or grant any interest in, the whole or any part of its participation in the Loans, its Tranche Commitments or any of its rights under this Agreement:

 

  (i)

with the Borrower’s prior written consent; or

 

  (ii)

with prior written notice to the Borrower, if (A) such transfer, disposal, offer or grant is required by law or by the direction of the Qatar Central Bank or other applicable authority of the State of Qatar and is to a bank or financial institution established in, and with its principal place of business in, Qatar; (B) an Event of Default is continuing; or (C) such transfer or assignment is to another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender; and

 

46


  (d)

provided that the consent of the Borrower to an assignment or transfer by a Lender (if required) must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Borrower shall be deemed to have given its consent to any request for such assignment or transfer ten (10) Business Days after the Borrower is given notice of such request unless consent is expressly refused by the Borrower within that time.

 

21.3

Conditions to assignment by the Lenders

Subject to the provisions of Clause 21.2 (Assignment by the Lenders):

 

  (a)

an Existing Lender shall not be responsible to a New Lender for:

 

  (i)

the execution, genuineness, validity, enforceability or sufficiency of any Finance Document or any other document;

 

  (ii)

the payment of any amounts under Clause 23 (Payments by the Facility Agent – Limited Recourse) to such New Lender; or

 

  (iii)

the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Finance Document;

 

  (b)

each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender, the Administrative Agents and the other Lenders that it:

 

  (i)

has made its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of the Borrower in connection with its participation in the Loans and has not relied on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

  (ii)

will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of the Borrower while any amount is or may be outstanding under the Finance Documents;

 

  (c)

nothing in this Agreement or any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to:

 

  (i)

accept a re-transfer from a New Lender of any of the rights and/or obligations assigned, transferred or novated under this Clause 21; or

 

  (ii)

support any losses incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by the Borrower of its obligations under any Finance Document or otherwise;

 

  (d)

any reference in this Agreement or any Finance Document to a Lender includes a New Lender but excludes a Lender if:

 

  (i)

no amount is or may be owed to or by it under this Agreement and the Finance Documents; and

 

  (ii)

its Tranche Commitments have been cancelled or otherwise reduced to zero; and

 

  (e)

if:

 

  (i)

a Lender assigns or transfers any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents; and

 

47


  (ii)

as a result of circumstances existing at or after the date the assignment or transfer occurs, an Obligor would be obliged to make a payment to the New Lender under Clause 12 (Tax gross-up and indemnity) or Clause 29 (Increased Costs),

then the New Lender is only entitled to receive payment under those Clauses to the same extent as the Existing Lender would have been if the assignment or transfer had not occurred.

 

21.4

Procedure for transfer

 

  (a)

Subject to the conditions set out in Clauses 21.2 (Assignment by the Lenders) and 21.3 (Conditions to assignment by the Lenders), a transfer is effected in accordance with paragraph (c) below when the Facility Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Facility Agent must, subject to paragraph (b) below, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Transfer Certificate appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement execute that Transfer Certificate.

 

  (b)

The Facility Agent is only obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” checks or other similar checks under any applicable law or regulation in relation to the transfer to such New Lender.

 

  (c)

Subject to Clause 21.6 (Pro rata interest settlement) on the Transfer Date:

 

  (i)

to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to transfer by novation its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents the Borrower and the Existing Lender will be released from further obligations towards one another under the Finance Documents and their respective rights against one another under the Finance Documents will be cancelled insofar as the Borrower and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of the Borrower and the Existing Lender (being the Discharged Rights and Obligations );

 

  (ii)

each of the Borrower and the New Lender will assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another which differ from the Discharged Rights and Obligations only insofar as the Borrower and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of the Borrower and the Existing Lender;

 

  (iii)

each Administrative Agent, the New Lender and other Lenders will acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves as they would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original Lender with the rights and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the transfer and to that extent each Administrative Agent and the Existing Lender will each be released from further obligations to each other under the Finance Documents; and

 

  (iv)

the New Lender will become a Party as a Lender.

 

  (d)

Each Party (other than the Existing Lender and the New Lender) irrevocably authorises the Facility Agent to enter into and deliver any duly completed Transfer Certificate on its behalf.

 

21.5

Procedure for assignment

 

  (a)

Subject to the conditions set out in Clauses 21.2 (Assignment by the Lenders) and 21.3 (Conditions to assignment by the Lenders), an assignment may be effected in accordance with paragraph (c) below when the Facility Agent executes an otherwise duly completed

 

48


 

Assignment Agreement delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Facility Agent must, subject to paragraph (b) below, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Assignment Agreement appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Assignment Agreement.

 

  (b)

The Facility Agent is only obliged to execute an Assignment Agreement delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” checks and other similar checks under any applicable law or regulation in relation to the assignment to such New Lender.

 

  (c)

Subject to Clause 21.6 (Pro rata interest settlement), on the Transfer Date:

 

  (i)

the Existing Lender will assign absolutely to the New Lender the rights under the Finance Documents expressed to be the subject of the assignment in the Assignment Agreement;

 

  (ii)

the Existing Lender will be released by the Borrower and the other Finance Parties from the obligations owed by it (the Relevant Obligations ) and expressed to be the subject of the release in the Assignment Agreement;

 

  (iii)

the New Lender will become a Party as a Lender and will be bound by obligations equivalent to the Relevant Obligations;

 

  (iv)

if the assignment relates only to part of the Existing Lender’s participation in the outstanding Loans that part will be separated from the Existing Lender’s participation in the outstanding Loans, made an independent debt and assigned to the New Lender as a whole debt; and

 

  (v)

the Facility Agent’s execution of the Assignment Agreement as agent for the Borrower will constitute notice to the Borrower of the assignment.

 

  (d)

Each Party (other than the Existing Lender and the New Lender) irrevocably authorises the Facility Agent to enter into and deliver any duly completed Assignment Agreement on its behalf.

 

  (e)

Lenders may utilise procedures other than those set out in this Clause 21.5 (Procedure for assignment) to assign their rights under the Finance Documents (but not, without the consent of the Borrower or unless in accordance with Clause 21.4 (Procedure for transfer), to obtain a release by the Borrower from the obligations owed to the Borrower by the Lenders nor the assumption of equivalent obligations by a New Lender) provided that they comply with the conditions set out in in Clauses 21.2 (Assignment by the Lenders) and 21.3 (Conditions to assignment by the Lenders).

 

21.6

Pro rata interest settlement

If the Facility Agent has notified the Lenders that it is able to distribute interest payments on a pro rata basis to Existing Lenders and New Lenders then (in respect of any transfer pursuant to Clause 21.4 (Procedure for transfer) or any assignment pursuant to Clause 21.5 (Procedure for assignment) the Transfer Date of which, in each case, is after the date of that notification and is not on the last day of an Interest Period):

 

  (a)

any interest or fees in respect of the relevant participation which are expressed to accrue by reference to the lapse of time will continue to accrue in favour of the Existing Lender up to but excluding the Transfer Date ( Accrued Amounts ) and will become due and payable to the Existing Lender (without further interest accruing on them) on the last day of the current Interest Period; and

 

49


  (b)

the rights assigned or transferred by the Existing Lender will not include the right to the Accrued Amounts, so that:

 

  (i)

when the Accrued Amounts become payable, those Accrued Amounts will be payable to the Existing Lender; and

 

  (ii)

the amount payable to the New Lender on that date will be the amount which would, but for the application of this Clause 21.6, have been payable to it on that date, but after deduction of the Accrued Amounts.

 

21.7

Copy of Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement to Borrower

The Facility Agent must, as soon as reasonably practicable after it has executed a Transfer Certificate or an Assignment Agreement, send to the Borrower a copy of that Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement.

 

21.8

Resignation and termination of appointment of an Administrative Agent

 

  (a)

An Administrative Agent may, subject to consultation with the Borrower, resign by giving 30 days’ notice to the Lenders and the Borrower, in which case the Majority Lenders may appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Administrative Agent within 20 days after notice of resignation was given, the retiring Administrative Agent may appoint a successor Administrative Agent.

 

  (b)

The Facility Agent’s resignation notice will take effect upon the appointment of a successor Facility Agent.

 

  (c)

The Security Agent’s resignation notice will take effect upon: (i) the appointment of a successor Security Agent; and (ii) the transfer of all Security Property to that successor.

 

  (d)

If for any reason an Administrative Agent becomes incapable of performing its obligations hereunder as an Administrative Agent, it may and, if requested by the Majority Lenders, shall resign pursuant to the above paragraph.

 

  (e)

The Facility Agent shall resign in accordance with paragraph (a) above if on or after the date that is three months before the earliest FATCA Application Date relating to any payment to the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents, either:

 

  (i)

the Facility Agent fails to respond to a request under Clause 14 (FATCA Information) and the Borrower or a Lender reasonably believes that the Facility Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date;

 

  (ii)

the information supplied by the Facility Agent pursuant to Clause 14 (FATCA Information) indicates that the Facility Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; or

 

  (iii)

the Facility Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the Facility Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date,

 

50


and (in each case) the Borrower or a Lender reasonably believes that a Party will be required to make a FATCA Deduction that would not be required if the Facility Agent were a FATCA Exempt Party, and the Borrower or that Lender (as applicable), by notice to the Facility Agent, requires it to resign.

 

  (f)

An Administrative Agent who is retiring or whose appointment has been terminated pursuant to this Clause 21.8 (the Retiring Administrative Agent ) shall, at its own cost, make available to the successor Administrative Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Administrative Agent may reasonably require for the purposes of performing its functions as Administrative Agent under the Finance Documents.

 

  (g)

Where the circumstances leading to an Administrative Agent becoming incapable of performing its obligations hereunder as an Administrative Agent and therefore being required to resign pursuant to paragraph (d) may be attributed to such Administrative Agent’s own acts or omissions, that Administrative Agent shall be liable for any loss or damage caused to the Lenders as a result of it becoming incapable of performing its obligations hereunder as an Administrative Agent.

 

  (h)

Upon the appointment of a successor Administrative Agent, the Retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents but shall remain entitled to the benefit of this paragraph (h). Any successor Administrative Agent and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party to this Agreement.

 

21.9

Conditions to assignment by Administrative Agent

No assignment or transfer entered into by an Administrative Agent pursuant to Clause 21.8(a) (Resignation and termination of appointment of an Administrative Agent) or Clause 21.8(d) (Resignation and termination of appointment of an Administrative Agent) shall be effective:

 

  (a)

until such assignee or transferee has agreed in writing with the Lenders and the Borrower that it has assumed the obligations of the existing Facility Agent or Security Agent (as applicable) under this Agreement and the Finance Documents whereupon the existing Facility Agent or Security Agent (as applicable) shall be released from all of its obligations hereunder and the successor and each of the Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had originally been a Party as Facility Agent or Security Agent (as applicable) from the date of this Agreement; and

 

  (b)

unless:

 

  (i)

such assignment or transfer is with the Borrower’s prior written consent; or

 

  (ii)

an Event of Default is continuing.

 

21.10

Assignment by the Borrower

The Borrower shall not be entitled to assign or transfer any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement.

 

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22.

APPOINTMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENTS

 

22.1

Appointment of the Facility Agent

 

  (a)

Each Lender irrevocably:

 

  (i)

appoints the Facility Agent to act as its agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents;

 

  (ii)

authorises the Facility Agent (whether or not by or through its employees or agents) to:

 

  (A)

enter into on its behalf each Finance Document expressed to be entered into by the Facility Agent;

 

  (B)

give any authorisation, confirmation or consent expressed to be given by the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents; and

 

  (C)

to perform such duties and take such action on its behalf and to exercise such rights, remedies, powers and discretions as are specifically delegated to the Facility Agent by the Finance Documents, together with such rights, remedies, powers and discretions as are reasonably incidental thereto (but subject to any restrictions or limitations specified in this Agreement).

 

  (b)

The Facility Agent shall not have any duties, obligations or liabilities (whether fiduciary or otherwise) to any Finance Party beyond those expressly stated in the Finance Documents. Those duties are solely of a mechanical and administrative nature as more particularly set out in this Agreement.

 

22.2

Appointment of the Security Agent

 

  (a)

Each Finance Party (other than the Security Agent) irrevocably:

 

  (i)

appoints the Security Agent to act as its trustee and/or agent (as applicable) under, in connection with and on the terms and conditions contained in the Finance Documents;

 

  (ii)

authorises the Security Agent (whether or not by or through its employees or agents) to:

 

  (A)

enter into and deliver on its behalf each Finance Document expressed to be entered into by the Security Agent;

 

  (B)

give any authorisation, confirmation or consent expressed to be given by the Security Agent under the Finance Documents; and

 

  (C)

to perform such duties and take such action on its behalf and to exercise such rights, remedies, powers and discretions as are specifically delegated to the Security Agent by the Finance Documents, together with such rights, remedies, powers and discretions as are reasonably incidental thereto (but subject to any restrictions or limitations specified in this Agreement).

 

  (b)

The Security Agent shall not have any duties, obligations or liabilities (whether fiduciary or otherwise) to any Finance Party beyond those expressly stated in the Finance Documents. Those duties are solely of a mechanical and administrative nature as more particularly set out in this Agreement.

 

  (c)

The Security Agent declares that it holds the Security Property on trust for the Finance Parties on the terms contained in this Agreement.

 

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  (d)

In relation to any jurisdiction the courts of which would not recognise or give effect to the trust expressed to be created under paragraph (c), the relationship of the Finance Parties to the Security Agent shall be construed as one of principal and agent but, to the extent permissible under the laws of that jurisdiction, all the other provisions of this Agreement shall have full force and effect between the Parties.

 

  (e)

For the purposes of paragraph (d) only, the Borrower hereby undertakes to pay to the Security Agent amounts equal to any amounts owing by it to any Lender or the Facility Agent in respect of the Secured Obligations as and when the same fall due for payment by it under the Finance Documents (the Parallel Debt ) so that the Security Agent shall be an obligee of such covenant to pay and the Security Agent shall be entitled to claim performance thereof in its own name and not only as Security Agent acting on behalf of the Lenders. The Parallel Debt owed by the Borrower (i) shall be decreased to the extent that the Secured Obligations to which such Parallel Debt corresponds have been decreased under and in accordance with the Finance Documents and vice versa; and (ii) shall not exceed the aggregate of the Secured Obligations owed by the Borrower. The Security Agent agrees with the other Finance Parties that it will not exercise its rights as creditor of the Parallel Debt except in accordance with this Agreement.

 

  (f)

Nothing in this Agreement constitutes the Security Agent as an agent, trustee or fiduciary of any Obligor.

 

  (g)

Each of the Security Agent and any Receiver may, at any time, delegate by power of attorney or otherwise to any person for any period, all or any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it in its capacity as such.

 

22.3

Acceptance

By its signature to this Agreement each Administrative Agent accepts its appointment as set out in this Clause 22.

 

22.4

Authority

Any action taken by an Administrative Agent under or in relation to the Finance Documents with requisite authority, or on the basis of appropriate instructions, received from the Lenders (or as otherwise duly authorised) shall be binding on the Lenders.

 

23.

PAYMENTS BY THE FACILITY AGENT – LIMITED RECOURSE

 

23.1

Payments to Lenders

Subject to Clause 23.2 (Limited recourse), the Facility Agent will pay the Lenders amounts in respect of their participations in the Loans on the dates and otherwise on the terms set out in this Clause 23 (Payments by the Facility Agent – Limited Recourse).

 

23.2

Limited recourse

The obligation of the Facility Agent to pay the Lenders the Relevant Percentage of a Repayment Instalment or any other Remittance pursuant to the terms of this Agreement is conditional upon the Facility Agent having received the corresponding payment from the Borrower pursuant to the relevant Finance Document. The Lenders shall have no recourse to the Facility Agent in the event of any failure by the Borrower to make any such payments, except if such a failure by the Borrower is caused by fraud, gross negligence or wilful default on the part of the Facility Agent. The Lenders acknowledge and agree that the primary credit risk assumed by the Lenders in relation to their participation in each Loan (and their entry into this Agreement) is that of the Borrower.

 

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23.3

Distribution of Remittances to Lender

Subject to Clause 23.2 (Limited recourse), whenever the Facility Agent:

 

  (a)

has actually received a payment from the Borrower in respect of a Remittance; and

 

  (b)

is entitled to apply the amount received in such manner,

the Facility Agent shall promptly pay to each Lender its Relevant Percentage of such payment.

 

23.4

Application of moneys

 

  (a)

For the purposes of this Clause 23, if the Facility Agent obtains a partial or total payment of any amount due from the Borrower in respect of any Remittance by virtue of the Borrower being entitled to a set-off, banker’s lien, counterclaim or any security or other payment and actually applies the amount of such payment in or towards satisfaction of amounts due to the Facility Agent in respect of that Remittance, the amount of such partial or total payment so applied will be treated for the purposes of this Clause 23 as if an actual payment of such amount had been received from the Borrower, but without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 24 (Refund of Payments and Further Payments by the Lenders).

 

  (b)

Any sums received by the Facility Agent for application in accordance with this Clause 23.4 shall be credited to a suspense account and held by the Facility Agent for the benefit of the Lenders pro rata according to their Relevant Percentages hereunder but shall not be treated as having been received by the Facility Agent for the purposes of this Clause 23 unless and until such sums are appropriated by the Facility Agent in or towards payment in respect of that Remittance.

 

23.5

Reduction in payments

Notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, in the event that the Borrower fails to pay in full in respect of any amount due to the Facility Agent pursuant to the relevant Finance Document on the due date relating thereto, for any reasons whatsoever, the obligation of the Facility Agent to make the payments referred to in this Clause 23 to the Lenders shall be reduced pro rata by the shortfall in the payment received by the Facility Agent.

 

23.6

Order of application

 

  (a)

All amounts from time to time received or recovered by the Security Agent pursuant to the terms of any Finance Document or in connection with the realisation or enforcement of all or any part of the Transaction Security shall be held by the Security Agent on trust or as agent (as applicable in accordance with Clause 22.2 (Appointment of Security Agent)) for the Finance Parties and transferred promptly to the Facility Agent for application in accordance with paragraph (b).

 

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  (b)

All moneys from time to time received or recovered by the Facility Agent in each case in connection with the realisation or enforcement of the Finance Documents (for itself and/or on behalf of the Lenders) shall be held by the Facility Agent and be applied, (unless instructed to the contrary by the Lenders) in the following order of priority:

 

  (i)

in discharging (pro rata) any sums (including reimbursement of any fees, costs and other expenses) owing to the Facility Agent, the Security Agent or any Receiver under the Finance Documents;

 

  (ii)

in discharging all costs and expenses incurred by any Finance Party in connection with any realisation or enforcement of the Transaction Security taken in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents;

 

  (iii)

in payment to the Lenders in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement for application towards the discharge of all sums due and payable by the Obligors under the Finance Documents; and

 

  (iv)

the balance, if any, in payment to the Obligors or any other person so entitled.

 

23.7

Investment of proceeds

Prior to the application of the proceeds of the Finance Documents in accordance with Clause 23.6 (Order of application), the Facility Agent or Security Agent (as applicable) may, at its discretion, after informing and obtaining the consent of all of the Lenders, hold all or part of those proceeds in a suspense or impersonal account(s) in the name of that Administrative Agent with such financial institution (including itself) for so long as such Administrative Agent shall reasonably think fit (any interest or return on any such account earned being credited to the relevant account) pending the application from time to time of those monies at such Administrative Agent’s discretion in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 23.

 

23.8

Permitted deductions

The Facility Agent shall be entitled to:

 

  (a)

set aside by way of reserve amounts required to meet; and

 

  (b)

make and pay,

any deductions and withholdings (on account of Taxes or otherwise) that it is or may be required by any applicable law to make from any distribution or payment made by it under this Agreement, and to pay all Taxes which may be assessed against it in respect of the Finance Documents or as a consequence of performing its duties, or by virtue of its capacity as Facility Agent under any of the Finance Documents or otherwise (other than in connection with its remuneration for performing its duties under this Agreement).

 

23.9

Discharge of Borrower’s obligations

 

  (a)

Any irrevocable and unconditional payment made to the Facility Agent in respect of the Borrower’s obligations by the Borrower under or pursuant to any Finance Document shall be a good discharge to the extent of such payment, and must be applied by the Facility Agent in accordance with Clause 23.6 (Order of application).

 

  (b)

Subject to Clause 24.1 (Refund of payments) each of the Lenders acknowledges and agrees that payment by the Borrower to the Facility Agent of the Repayment Instalment (or any part thereof) in accordance with the relevant Finance Documents will, subject to any deductions made by the Facility Agent from such amount pursuant to Clause 23.8 (Permitted deductions) irrevocably and unconditionally satisfy the Borrower’s obligations to pay such Repayment Instalment (or such amount as is actually paid in accordance with the relevant Finance Documents).

 

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23.10

Sums received by the Borrower

If the Borrower receives any sum which, pursuant to any of the Finance Documents, should have been paid to an Administrative Agent, that sum shall be held by the Borrower as agent for and on behalf of the Facility Agent and the Lenders and shall promptly be paid to the Facility Agent for application in accordance with this Clause 23.

 

24.

REFUND OF PAYMENTS AND FURTHER PAYMENTS BY THE LENDERS

 

24.1

Refund of payments

If at any time the Facility Agent becomes obliged to:

 

  (a)

repay to any liquidator, trustee or other person all or part of an amount previously paid to the Facility Agent by the Borrower (the Relevant Receipt ); or

 

  (b)

indemnify any liquidator, trustee or other person in respect of a Relevant Receipt,

then:

  (i)

the Facility Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the relevant circumstances and of the amount (the Excess Amount ) to be repaid by the Facility Agent or, as the case may be, to be paid by way of indemnity by the Facility Agent;

 

  (ii)

each Lender shall on demand pay to the Facility Agent an amount equal to its Relevant Percentage of the Excess Amount together with an amount equal to its Relevant Percentage of any default interest, costs, charges or expenses that the Facility Agent shall have become liable to pay in respect of such Excess Amount; and

 

  (iii)

any amount subsequently payable to a Lender pursuant to this Agreement on the basis of the Relevant Receipt shall be adjusted accordingly.

 

24.2

Insolvency

If, in connection with any moratorium, rescheduling, refinancing, suspension of payments or other similar arrangement or circumstance affecting any Remittance:

 

  (a)

the Remittance (or equivalent amount) is paid in whole or in part but the obligation of the Borrower in respect of the amount paid is substituted by any other payment obligation; and/or

 

  (b)

any sum is paid into a blocked account or in non-convertible currency in or towards discharge or purported discharge of the Remittance or any part thereof; and/or

 

  (c)

the Facility Agent is obliged to provide funds in addition to the amount of the Loans, whether to the Borrower or any other person,

then:

 

  (i)

any such payment obligation as is referred to in paragraph (a) shall be treated as between the Lenders and the Facility Agent in the same way as the relevant Remittance as if such obligation had been originally contained in the relevant Finance Document for the purpose of ascertaining the right (if any) of the Lenders to receive subsequent payments under Clause 23 (Payments by the Facility Agent – Limited Recourse);

 

56


  (ii)

the Facility Agent will (at the request and cost of a Lender) assign to the Lenders the Relevant Percentage of the Facility Agent’s rights to any such blocked account or non-convertible currency as is referred to in paragraph (b); and /or

 

  (iii)

in the case of paragraph (c), each Lender shall be obliged to pay to the Facility Agent on demand an amount equal to its Relevant Percentage of such additional funds by way of further deposits in accordance with the provisions, mutatis mutandis , of Clause 6.2 (Lenders’ participation).

 

24.3

Sharing Among the Finance Parties

 

  (a)

If any amount owing by the Borrower under the Finance Documents to a Finance Party (the Sharing Finance Party ) is discharged by voluntary or involuntary payment, set-off or any other manner other than through the Facility Agent (in accordance with this Agreement), then:

 

  (i)

the Sharing Finance Party shall immediately notify the Facility Agent of the amount discharged (the Discharged Amount ) and the manner of its receipt or recovery;

 

  (ii)

the Sharing Finance Party shall pay the Facility Agent an amount equal to the Discharged Amount within five (5) Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent;

 

  (iii)

the Facility Agent shall distribute the Discharged Amount in accordance with this Agreement; and

 

  (iv)

the amount owed by the Borrower under the Finance Documents shall be adjusted accordingly.

 

  (b)

Notwithstanding paragraph (a), no Sharing Finance Party shall be obliged to share any Discharged Amount which it receives or recovers pursuant to legal proceedings taken by it to recover any sums owing to it under the Finance Documents with any other Finance Party which had a legal right to, but declined to, either join in such proceedings or commence and diligently pursue separate proceedings to enforce its rights, unless the proceedings instituted by the Sharing Finance Party are instituted by it without prior notice having been given to such other Finance Party and without an opportunity having been given to such other Finance Party to join in such proceedings.

 

  (c)

If any Discharged Amount subsequently has to be wholly or partly refunded to the Borrower by a Sharing Finance Party which has paid an amount equal to that Discharged Amount to the Facility Agent under paragraph (a), each Finance Party to which any part of that amount was distributed shall, on request from the Sharing Finance Party, repay to the Sharing Finance Party that Finance Party’s proportionate share of the amount which has to be so refunded by the Sharing Finance Party.

 

  (d)

Each Finance Party shall on request supply to the Facility Agent such information as the Facility Agent may from time to time request for the purpose of this Clause 24.3.

 

25.

REMITTANCES – DUTIES AND DISCRETIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENTS

 

25.1

Exercise of duties, powers and discretions by an Administrative Agent

Subject to Clauses 25.2 (Rights and discretions of each Administrative Agent and directions of Majority Lenders), 25.3 (No amendment or waiver without approval of Majority Lenders), 25.4 (Amendments requiring consent of all Lenders) and 25.7 (Administrative Agent’s liability), each other Finance Party authorises each Administrative Agent to perform the duties and to exercise the

 

57


rights, powers, authorities and discretions on its behalf that are specifically delegated to such Administrative Agent under the Finance Documents and all other reasonably related powers required to enable such Administrative Agent to fulfil its obligations and complete the transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

25.2

Rights and discretions of each Administrative Agent and directions of Majority Lenders

 

  (a)

Each Administrative Agent shall exercise such rights, powers and discretions as arise under the Finance Documents (together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions), and shall be entitled to take such action as it deems appropriate unless directed by the Majority Lenders to refrain from taking or to take alternative action. Each Administrative Agent shall be obliged to take such action as the Majority Lenders may direct and any such directions given by the Majority Lenders shall be binding on all the Lenders unless a contrary intention otherwise appears in the Finance Documents, provided that such Administrative Agent receives an amount equal to the agreed estimated costs of complying with such directions from the Lenders.

 

  (b)

Each Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely on:

 

  (i)

any representation, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised;

 

  (ii)

any statement made by a director, authorised signatory or employee of any person regarding any matters which may reasonably be assumed to be within his knowledge or within his power to verify;

 

  (iii)

any communication, instrument or document believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper person or persons; and

 

  (iv)

as to legal matters, written opinions of legal advisers selected or approved by such Administrative Agent.

 

  (c)

Each Administrative Agent may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as an Administrative Agent) that:

 

  (i)

no Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of a Default arising); and

 

  (ii)

any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party has not been exercised.

 

  (d)

Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige an Administrative Agent to carry out:

 

  (i)

any “know your customer” or other checks in relation to any person; or

 

  (ii)

any check on the extent to which any transaction contemplated by a Finance Document might be unlawful for any Lender,

on behalf of any Lender and each Lender confirms to the Administrative Agents that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by any Administrative Agent.

 

  (e)

The Security Agent shall be entitled to accept without enquiry, and shall not be obliged to investigate, any right and title that any Obligor may have to any of the Security Property and shall not be liable for, or bound to require any Obligor to remedy, any defect in its right or title.

 

58


  (f)

The Security Agent is not obliged to monitor or enquire whether a Default has occurred. The Security Agent is not deemed to have knowledge of the occurrence of a Default.

 

25.3

No amendment or waiver without approval of Majority Lenders

Subject to Clause 25.4 (Amendments requiring consent of all Lenders), no Administrative Agent shall be entitled to amend, waive, vary, enforce or take or refrain from taking any action or proceedings or acquiesce in any action not otherwise contemplated by Clause 25.1 (Exercise of duties, powers and discretions by an Administrative Agent) and Clause 25.2 (Rights and discretions of each Administrative Agent and directions of Majority Lenders) without first obtaining the written approval of the Majority Lenders.

 

25.4

Amendments requiring consent of all Lenders

No Administrative Agent shall agree to amend, waive or vary any provisions of this Agreement or any of the Finance Documents without obtaining the unanimous written consent of all the Lenders if the effect of such amendment, waiver or variation would be to:

 

  (a)

change the currency of payment hereunder or under any other Finance Document;

 

  (b)

extend or defer the required date of payment of any amount payable by an Obligor or reduce any amount due under any Finance Document;

 

  (c)

release any Obligor from any payment obligation under any Finance Document;

 

  (d)

modify or waive the nature or scope of, or release, any Transaction Security (other than as permitted under a Security Document or to give effect to a transaction permitted under or pursuant to a Security Document);

 

  (e)

in relation to any Lender, increase the amount of its Tranche Commitments and/or participations in any Loans other than in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents;

 

  (f)

modify the definition of the Majority Lenders;

 

  (g)

amend, vary or waive any provision which expressly require the consent of all the Lenders;

 

  (h)

amend this Clause 25.4 or Clause 6.2 (Lenders’ participation); or

 

  (i)

change the amount of or the method of calculation of each Repayment Instalment.

The Facility Agent may not provide any consent in accordance with Clause 3.3 (Availability Period Extension) of this Agreement without obtaining the unanimous written consent of all the Lenders.

 

25.5

Defaulting Lenders

 

  (a)

Any Lender who has failed to duly perform or comply with its payment obligations under this Agreement (a Defaulting Lender ) shall not be included in any decision-making process for the purposes of Clauses 21.8 (Resignation and termination of appointment of an Administrative Agent), 25.2 (Rights and discretions of each Administrative Agent and directions of Majority Lenders), 25.3 (No amendment or waiver without approval of Majority Lenders) and 25.4 (Amendments requiring consent of all Lenders) whilst such failure is outstanding and until such time as such failure has been remedied by such Lender to the satisfaction of the Facility Agent.

 

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  (b)

In the circumstances envisaged under paragraph (a), the consent or non-approval of such Defaulting Lender shall not be necessary in determining whether a decision has been made by:

 

  (i)

the Majority Lenders; or

 

  (ii)

all the Lenders (as appropriate),

and any such decision shall be made as if such Defaulting Lender was not a Lender for the purposes of calculating the consent level.

 

25.6

Replacement of a Lender

 

  (a)

If at any time:

 

  (i)

a Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender (as defined in paragraph(b));

 

  (ii)

a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender (as defined above);

 

  (iii)

a Lender becomes subject to an Increased Costs amount for which the Borrower becomes obliged to pay in accordance with this Agreement;

 

  (iv)

an Obligor becomes obliged to pay any additional amounts pursuant to Clause 12 (Tax Gross-up and Indemnity); or

 

  (v)

a Lender is required to be repaid pursuant to Clause 11.1 (Mandatory prepayment – Illegality),

then the Borrower may, on three (3) Business Days’ notice to the Facility Agent and such Lender, replace such Lender by requiring such Lender (and such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to Clause 21 (Assignment and Transfer) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a Lender or other bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity (a Replacement Lender ) selected by the Borrower, and that is acceptable to the Facility Agent (acting reasonably) that confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of the transferring Lender (including the assumption of the transferring Lender’s participation in any Loans on the same basis as the transferring Lender) for a purchase price in cash payable at the time of transfer equal to the aggregate of the transferring Lender’s Relevant Percentage of the outstanding Loan and other amounts payable in relation thereto under the Finance Documents.

 

  (b)

In the event that:

 

  (i)

the Borrower or the Facility Agent (at the request of the Borrower) has requested the Lenders to give a consent in relation to, or to agree to a waiver or amendment of, any provisions of the Finance Documents;

 

  (ii)

the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires the approval of all the Lenders; and

 

  (iii)

the Majority Lenders have consented or agreed to such waiver or amendment,

then any Lender who does not and continues not to consent or agree to such waiver or amendment shall be deemed a non-consenting Lender (a Non-Consenting Lender ).

 

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  (c)

In no event should a Lender replaced pursuant to this Clause 25.6 be required to pay or surrender to such Replacement Lender any of the fees received by such Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents.

 

25.7

Administrative Agent’s liability

 

  (a)

No Administrative Agent nor any of its officers, employees or agents shall be liable to the Lenders for any losses or any liability arising out of any action taken or omitted to be taken under or in connection with the participation of a Lender in any Loan or the Finance Documents or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement unless caused by the fraud, gross negligence or wilful misconduct of that Administrative Agent.

 

  (b)

No Administrative Agent assumes any liability for the exercise of, or the failure to exercise, any judgment, discretion or power given to it by or in connection with any of the Finance Documents.

 

  (c)

Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, no Administrative Agent is obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party.

 

25.8

The Facility Agent’s liability

The Facility Agent does not assume any liability or responsibility with regard to the payment, or punctual payment, of any amounts due from any person under or in connection with the Finance Documents nor for any failure on the part of the Borrower in the performance of its obligations thereunder and does not make any representation or warranty as to the genuineness, validity, enforceability or sufficiency of the Finance Documents or of any certificate, report or other document executed or delivered to the Facility Agent thereunder.

 

25.9

The Security Agent’s liability

 

  (a)

None of the Security Agent nor any Receiver will be liable for any shortfall which arises on the enforcement or realisation of the Security Property.

 

  (b)

Any liability of the Security Agent or any Receiver arising under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Security Property shall be limited to the amount of actual loss which has been finally judicially determined to have been suffered but without reference to any special conditions or circumstances known to the Security Agent or Receiver (as the case may be) at any time which increase the amount of that loss. In no event shall the Security Agent or Receiver be liable for any loss of profits, goodwill, reputation, business opportunity or anticipated saving, or for special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages, whether or not the Security Agent or Receiver (as the case may be) has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damages.

 

  (c)

The Security Agent shall not be liable for any failure to:

 

  (i)

require the deposit with it of any deed or document certifying, representing or constituting the title of any Obligor to any of the Security Property;

 

  (ii)

register, file or record or otherwise protect any of the Transaction Security (or the priority of any such Security) under any law or regulation or to give notice to any person of the execution of any Finance Document or the Transaction Security; or

 

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  (iii)

take, or to require any Obligor to take, any step to perfect its title to any of the Security Property or to render the Transaction Security effective or to secure the creation of any ancillary Security under any law or regulation.

 

  (d)

The Security Agent may appoint and pay any person to act as a custodian or nominee on any terms in relation to any asset of the trust as the Security Agent may determine, including for the purpose of depositing with a custodian this Agreement or any document relating to the trust created under this Agreement and the Security Agent shall not be responsible for any loss, liability, expense, demand, cost, claim or proceedings incurred by reason of the misconduct, omission or default on the part of any person appointed by it under this Agreement or be bound to supervise the proceedings or acts of any person.

 

25.10

Inquiries

The Facility Agent shall use reasonable endeavours to ensure the proper use of the proceeds of each Loan but shall not by virtue of this Agreement or otherwise be required to make any enquiry as to the existence or possible existence of any breach or default by any person in the performance of the other provisions of the Finance Documents unless the Facility Agent has actual knowledge thereof.

 

25.11

Administrative Agents’ relationship with the Borrower

Each Administrative Agent may, without any liability to account, accept deposits from, provide finance to and generally engage in any kind of banking or trust business with the Borrower, any of the Borrower’s subsidiaries or associated companies or agencies or any other banks or financial institutions involved in the arrangements contemplated by this Agreement as if those arrangements had not been entered into.

 

25.12

Separate functions

In acting as agent, the each Administrative Agent shall be regarded as acting through its agency or trustee division (as applicable) which shall be treated as a separate entity from any other of its divisions or departments and, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any information received by some other division or department of that Administrative Agent may be treated as confidential and shall not be regarded as having been given to that Administrative Agent’s agency or trustee division (as applicable).

 

25.13

Rights and obligations of each Administrative Agent and Lender

It is acknowledged that each Administrative Agent may also be a Lender and a conflict of interest may arise in such circumstances. Each Administrative Agent agrees that it will act on arms’ length terms and will take all measures which it deems appropriate to ensure that it performs its obligations as Administrative Agent under the Finance Documents separately and independently from any of its obligations as a Lender.

 

25.14

No partnership

None of this Agreement, the Loans and the participations by each Lender shall, nor shall they be construed so as to, constitute a partnership between an Administrative Agent and the Lenders or an assignment (at law or in equity) of all or any part of the Remittances or of all or any of an Administrative Agent’s rights under the Finance Documents.

 

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25.15

Lender’s warranties

Each Lender acknowledges that:

 

  (a)

it has not relied on any statement, opinion, forecast or other representation made by an Administrative Agent to induce it to make its participation in any Loans; and

 

  (b)

it has made and will continue to make, without reliance on any Administrative Agent and based on such documents and information as such Lender considers appropriate, its own approval of the creditworthiness of the Borrower and its own independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs of the Borrower in connection with the making of its participation in any Loans and continuance of its participation in any Loans.

 

25.16

Information

 

  (a)

Except as otherwise expressly provided under any Finance Document, no Administrative Agent shall have a duty or responsibility to provide the Lenders with any credit or other information with respect to any Obligor other than such information as is provided to it from time to time under the Finance Documents relating to an Obligor which such Administrative Agent undertakes, subject in every case to any confidentiality obligations which may be applicable to that Administrative Agent in respect of such information, to use all reasonable efforts to transmit to the Lenders as soon as reasonably practicable.

 

  (b)

If an Administrative Agent receives notice from a Party referring to any Finance Document, describing a Default and stating that the circumstance described is a Default, it shall promptly notify the Lenders.

 

25.17

No obligation

The Parties agree, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, express or implied in this Agreement, and the Lenders expressly acknowledge, that the Facility Agent has no obligation:

 

  (a)

to repurchase the Loans or any part of the Loan;

 

  (b)

to repay all or any part of the Loans; or

 

  (c)

to support, indemnify or compensate the Lenders for losses suffered by the Lenders as a consequence of any of the matters provided for in this Agreement or any Finance Document.

 

25.18

No responsibility

No Administrative Agent shall be liable for any failure to:

 

  (a)

obtain any licence, consent or other authority for the execution, delivery, legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any of the Finance Documents or the Transaction Security; or

 

  (b)

require any further assurances in relation to any of the Finance Documents or the Transaction Security.

 

25.19

Winding up of trust

 

  (a)

If the Security Agent determines that:

 

  (i)

all of the Secured Obligations and all other obligations secured by the Security Documents have been fully and finally discharged; and

 

  (ii)

no Lender is under any commitment, obligation or liability (actual or contingent) to participate in any Loan or provide other financial accommodation to any Obligor pursuant to the Finance Documents,

 

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  (b)

then:

 

  (i)

the trusts set out in this Agreement shall be wound up and the Security Agent shall release, without recourse or warranty, all of the Transaction Security and the rights of the Security Agent under each of the Security Documents; and

 

  (ii)

any Security Agent that is a Retiring Administrative Agent shall release, without recourse or warranty, all of its rights under each Security Document.

 

25.20

Powers supplemental to Trustee Acts

The rights, powers, authorities and discretions given to the Security Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents shall be supplemental to the Trustee Act 1925 and the Trustee Act 2000 and in addition to any which may be vested in the Security Agent by law or regulation or otherwise.

 

25.21

Disapplication of Trustee Acts

Section 1 of the Trustee Act 2000 shall not apply to the duties of the Security Agent in relation to the trusts constituted by this Agreement. Where there are any inconsistencies between the Trustee Act 1925 or the Trustee Act 2000 and the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall, to the extent permitted by law and regulation, prevail and, in the case of any inconsistency with the Trustee Act 2000, the provisions of this Agreement shall constitute a restriction or exclusion for the purposes of that Act.

 

26.

RELEASES OF SECURITY

In respect of a disposal of:

 

  (a)

any Security Property;

 

  (b)

any asset or undertaking by a Obligor; or

 

  (c)

any other asset or undertaking that is subject to the Transaction Security,

that is permitted pursuant to the Finance Documents, the Security Agent is irrevocably authorised (at the cost of the relevant Obligor and without the need for any consent, sanction, authority or further confirmation from any Finance Party or Obligor):

 

  (i)

to release all or any part of the Transaction Security or any other claim (relating to a Finance Document) over that asset or undertaking;

 

  (ii)

where that asset consists of shares or any equivalent equity interest in the capital of an Obligor, to release all or any part of the Transaction Security or any other claim (relating to a Finance Document) over that Obligor’s assets; and

 

  (iii)

to execute and deliver or enter into any release of all or any part of the Transaction Security or any claim described in paragraphs (i) and (ii) and any consent to dealing that may, in the discretion of the Security Agent, be considered necessary or desirable.

 

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27.

ENFORCEMENT OF TRANSACTION SECURITY

 

27.1

Enforcement instructions

 

  (a)

The Security Agent may refrain from enforcing the Transaction Security unless instructed otherwise by the Majority Lenders.

 

  (b)

Subject to the Transaction Security having become enforceable in accordance with its terms the Majority Lenders may give or refrain from giving instructions to the Security Agent to enforce or refrain from enforcing the Transaction Security as they see fit.

 

  (c)

The Security Agent is entitled to rely on and comply with instructions given in accordance with this Clause 27.1.

 

27.2

Manner of enforcement

If the Transaction Security is being enforced pursuant to Clause 27.1 (Enforcement instructions), the Security Agent shall enforce the Transaction Security in such manner (including, without limitation, the selection of any administrator (or any analogous officer in any jurisdiction) of any Obligor to be appointed by the Security Agent) as the Majority Lenders shall instruct or, in the absence of any such instructions, as the Security Agent considers in its discretion to be appropriate.

 

27.3

Waiver of rights

To the extent permitted under applicable law and subject to Clause 27.1 (Enforcement instructions), Clause 27.2 (Manner of enforcement) and Clause 23.4 (Application of monies) each Finance Party waives all rights it may otherwise have to require that the Transaction Security be enforced in any particular order or manner or at any particular time or that any amount received or recovered from any person, or by virtue of the enforcement of any of the Transaction Security or of any other Security interest, which is capable of being applied in or towards discharge of any of the Secured Obligations is so applied.

 

27.4

Enforcement through Security Agent only

The Finance Parties (other than the Security Agent) shall not have any independent power to enforce, or have recourse to, any of the Transaction Security or to exercise any right, power, authority or discretion arising under the Security Documents except through the Security Agent.

 

28.

COMMISSIONS, COSTS AND EXPENSES

 

28.1

Reimbursement of costs and expenses

Each Lender shall reimburse each Administrative Agent on production of an appropriate statement of costs and expenses prepared by such Administrative Agent an amount equal to its Relevant Percentage of all costs, expenses (including legal expenses) and disbursements which may be properly incurred or made by such Administrative Agent in connection with its obligations under the Finance Documents on a full indemnity basis (except for any costs, expenses and disbursements incurred due to the fraud, gross negligence or wilful default of such Administrative Agent) to the extent that such costs and expenses are not reimbursed by the Borrower or any other responsible party on first demand by such Administrative Agent (or any other person making demand on behalf of an Administrative Agent). Each Administrative Agent shall be entitled to retain any sum due to it from a Lender under this Clause 28.1 and the Facility Agent shall be entitled to retain such sum from any payment to be made to that Lender pursuant to Clause 23 (Payments by the Facility Agent – Limited Recourse).

 

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28.2

Stamp duty

The Lenders (each to the extent of its Relevant Percentage of the amount concerned) shall pay all stamp duty and documentation, registration or other like duties and Taxes, if any, from time to time imposed on or in connection with this Agreement, the Loans or the Tranche Commitments, and shall indemnify each Administrative Agent against any liability arising by reason of any delay or omission by the Lenders to pay such duties or Taxes (rateably in each case).

 

29.

INCREASED COSTS

 

29.1

Increased Costs

 

  (a)

Subject to Clause 29.2 (Exceptions) and paragraph (c) the Borrower shall pay the amount of any Increased Costs that may be incurred as a result of:

 

  (i)

the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation or application of) any law or regulation; or

 

  (ii)

compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement.

 

  (b)

In this Agreement, Increased Costs means:

 

  (i)

a reduction in the rate of return from the Facility or on a Finance Party’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 Lender to the extent that such Increased Cost is attributable to such Lender having entered into its commitment or performing its obligations under any Finance Document.

 

  (c)

The Borrower shall not be liable for any Increased Costs that may be incurred during the final Interest Period.

 

29.2

Exceptions

Clause 29.1 (Increased Costs) does not apply to the extent any Increased Cost is:

 

  (a)

attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by the Borrower;

 

  (b)

compensated for by Clause 12 (Tax Gross-Up and Indemnity) (or would have been compensated for under Clause 12 (Tax Gross-Up and Indemnity) but was not so compensated solely because of any exclusion in paragraph 12.2 of Clause 12 (Tax Gross-Up and Indemnity));

 

  (c)

compensated for by Clause 13.1(b) or Clause 13.1(d) (or would have been compensated for under Clause 13.1(d) but was not so compensated because of the exclusion in Clause 13.1(e));

 

  (d)

attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Finance Party or its Affiliates of any law or regulation;

 

  (e)

attributable to a Finance Party’s market making and trading in the ordinary course of its credit derivatives, hedging and/or credit synthetics business; or

 

66


  (f)

attributable to the introduction, implementation or application of or compliance with any Announced Rule Change (provided that the Announced Rule Change is introduced and implemented in materially the same form as the announcements, publications, documents and reports referred to in the definition of Announced Rule Change).

 

29.3

Increased cost claims

 

  (a)

In the event that a Finance Party intends to make a claim pursuant to Clause 29.1 (Increased Costs), the Facility Agent shall as soon as is reasonably practicable after a Finance Party has given notice to the Facility Agent that it intends to make claim pursuant to Clause 29.1 (Increased Costs), promptly notify the Borrower of the same.

 

  (b)

The Facility Agent shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Borrower, provide a certificate confirming the amount and details of the basis for the claim and the calculation of its Increased Costs.

 

  (c)

The Borrower shall make payment in respect of any claim pursuant to Clause 29.1 (Increased Costs) within ten (10) Business Days of its receipt of any notice issued by the Facility Agent pursuant to this Clause 29.3 provided that, in the event that a demand is issued by the Borrower for a certificate pursuant to Clause 29.3(b) the Borrower shall make payment within ten (10) Business Days of its receipt of such certificate.

 

30.

MITIGATION

 

30.1

Each Finance Party must, in consultation with the Borrower, take all reasonable steps to mitigate any circumstances which arise and which result or would result in:

 

  (a)

any Tax Payment being payable to any Finance Party;

 

  (b)

any Increased Cost being payable to any Finance Party;

 

  (c)

the Facility Agent being able to exercise any right of prepayment and/or cancellation under this Agreement by reason of any illegality; or

 

  (d)

any FATCA Payment being payable to any Finance Party,

including transferring its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents to an Affiliate.

 

30.2

Clause 30.1 does not in any way limit the obligations of the Borrower under the Finance Documents.

 

30.3

The Borrower must indemnify each Finance Party for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by that Finance Party as a result of any steps taken by it under Clause 30.1.

 

30.4

A Finance Party is not obliged to take any step under Clause 30.1 if, in the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it.

 

30.5

No provision of this Agreement will:

 

  (a)

interfere with the right of the Finance Parties to arrange their affairs (Tax or otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit;

 

  (b)

oblige the Facility Agent (on behalf of the Finance Parties) to investigate or claim any credit, relief, remission or repayment available to it or the extent, order and manner of any claim; or

 

  (c)

oblige any of the Finance Parties to disclose any information relating to their affairs (Tax or otherwise) or any computations in respect of Tax.

 

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31.

SET-OFF

A Finance Party may set-off any matured obligation due from the Borrower under the Finance Documents against any matured obligation owed by that Finance Party to the Borrower, regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation. If the obligations are in different currencies, the Finance Party may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in its usual course of business for the purpose of the set-off.

 

32.

NOTICES

 

32.1

The Borrower

All formal communication under this Agreement to or from the Borrower must be sent through the Facility Agent.

 

32.2

Electronic communication

Any electronic communication made between an Administrative Agent and another Party will be effective only when actually received in readable form and only if it is addressed in such a manner, and to such email address(es), as the Parties shall specify for this purpose from time to time.

 

32.3

Method of delivery

Every notice, request, demand or other communication under this Agreement shall be in writing delivered personally, by courier, by authenticated SWIFT message, by first-class prepaid letter, facsimile transmission (confirmed in the case of a facsimile transmission by first-class prepaid letter sent within 48 hours of despatch) or by e-mail.

 

32.4

Deemed receipt

Every notice, request, demand or other communication shall, subject as otherwise provided in this Agreement, be deemed to have been received, in the case of a letter when delivered personally or ten (10) days after it has been put in to the post in a correctly addressed envelope (as evidenced by proof of posting), in the case of a facsimile transmission when the sender receives a clear transmission report and in the case of an e-mail when the sender receives a confirmed delivery report.

 

32.5

Notice details

Every notice, request, demand or other communication shall be addressed or sent to the appropriate address, facsimile number or e-mail address as follows:

 

  (a)

To the Borrower at:

Nakilat Holdco L.L.C.

Address:

Teekay Shipping (Canada) Limited

Suite 2000, Bentall 5

550 Burrard Street

Vancouver, BC

 

68


Canada, V6C 2K2

Attention: Renee Eng, Treasury Manager

Fax: +1 604 844 6600

Email: _TreasuryLoansVancouver@teekay.com

with a copy to:

Qatar Gas Transport Company Limited (Nakilat)

Address:

P.O. Box 22271

Doha, Qatar

Attention: Mohammad Siddiqui

Telephone: +974-4499 8111

Fax: +974-4448 3111

E-mail: MSiddiqui@qgtc.com.qa

 

  (b)

To the Facility Agent at:

Qatar National Bank SAQ

Address: Corporate & Syndication Loans, Retail & Corporate Operations, P.O. Box 1000, Doha, State of Qatar

Attention: Jaffar Ali / Fathiyeh Ali Hassan / Chiranjib Parial

Fax: +974 4431 3069

Email: jaffar.ali@qnb.com.qa    /    fathiyeh.ali@qnb.com.qa    /    chiranjib.parial@qnb.com.qa    /

Agencyservices@qnb.com.qa

 

  (c)

To the Security Agent at:

Qatar National Bank SAQ

Address: Corporate & Syndication Loans, Retail & Corporate Operations, P.O. Box 1000, Doha, State of Qatar

Attention: Jaffar Ali / Fathiyeh Ali Hassan / Chiranjib Parial

Fax: +974 4431 3069

Email: jaffar.ali@qnb.com.qa    /    fathiyeh.ali@qnb.com.qa    /    chiranjib.parial@qnb.com.qa    / Agencyservices@qnb.com.qa

 

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  (d)

to the Lenders as set out in Schedule 7 (The Lenders, Notices, Commitments and Relevant Percentages) or as such details are provided pursuant to Clause 21 (Assignment and Transfer),

or to such other address, facsimile number or e-mail address as is notified by one Party to the others.

 

32.6

English language

 

  (a)

Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document must be in English.

 

  (b)

All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document must be:

 

  (i)

in English; or

 

  (ii)

if not in English, and if so required by the Facility Agent, accompanied by a certified English translation and, in this case, the English translation will prevail unless the document is a constitutional, statutory or other official document.

 

33.

PAYMENTS AND EXPENSES

 

33.1

Transaction expenses

The Borrower shall promptly on demand pay a Finance Party the amount of all properly documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses including legal costs, market valuation costs, costs incurred in executing the Finance Documents (including any signing ceremony cost) and perfecting the Transaction Security, in each case reasonably incurred by that Finance Party in connection with the negotiation, preparation, printing, execution and perfection of:

 

  (a)

this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement; and

 

  (b)

any other Finance Documents executed after the date of this Agreement.

 

33.2

Amendment costs

If the Borrower requests an amendment, waiver, release or consent, the Borrower shall promptly on demand, reimburse each Finance Party for the amount of all properly documented costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by that Finance Party in responding to, evaluating, negotiating or complying with that request or requirement.

 

33.3

Enforcement costs

The Borrower shall promptly on demand by any Finance Party, pay to that Finance Party the amount of all properly documented costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by that Finance Party in connection with the enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under, any Finance Document.

 

33.4

Payments

Where any payment or delivery hereunder is due on a day which is not a Business Day, the due date shall be the next following Business Day, unless the next following Business Day falls in the next calendar month, in which case such payment will be made on the preceding Business Day.

 

34.

FEES

The Borrower shall pay to the Facility Agent (for its own account) fees in the amount and manner agreed in the Fee Letter.

 

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35.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

35.1

No waiver

 

  (a)

The rights of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents:

 

  (i)

may be exercised as often as necessary;

 

  (ii)

are cumulative and not exclusive of its rights under the general law; and

 

  (iii)

may be waived only in writing and specifically.

 

  (b)

Delay in exercising or non-exercise or partial exercise of any such right is not a waiver of that right.

 

35.2

Assignment

Other than in accordance with this Agreement, no Party shall be entitled to assign or transfer any of its rights, benefits or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Party and any attempted assignment or transfer in contravention of this Clause 35.2 shall be void.

 

35.3

Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (including by exchange of executed counterparts by facsimile transmission) and such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

35.4

Entire agreement

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the Parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all oral communication and prior writings with respect thereto.

 

35.5

Amendments

No amendment, modification or waiver in respect of this Agreement will be effective unless in writing and executed by each of the Borrower, the Facility Agent and the Security Agent (acting in accordance with Clause 25 (Remittances – duties of and discretion of the Administrative Agents)).

 

35.6

Remedies cumulative

Except as provided in this Agreement, the rights, powers, remedies and privileges provided in this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, powers, remedies and privileges provided by law.

 

35.7

Partial invalidity

If, at any time, any provision of any 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 any other provision of any Finance Document nor the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction will in any way be affected or impaired.

 

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36.

CONFIDENTIALITY

 

36.1

Confidential Information

Each Finance Party agrees to keep all Confidential Information confidential and not to disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by Clause 36.2 (Exceptions) and to ensure that all Confidential Information is protected with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to its own confidential information.

 

36.2

Exceptions

Any Finance Party may disclose:

 

  (a)

to any of its Affiliates and any of its or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, auditors, partners and representatives such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if any person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given pursuant to this Clause 36.2(a) is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no such requirement to so inform if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the information or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information;

 

  (b)

to any person to whom it assigns or transfers (or may potentially assign or transfer) all or any of its rights and/or obligations under one or more Finance Documents and to any of that person’s Affiliates, representative or professional advisers;

 

  (c)

to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation; or

 

  (d)

to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes.

 

37.

GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations connected therewith shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law.

 

38.

JURISDICTION

 

38.1

Unless specifically provided in another Finance Document in relation to that Finance Document, the English courts have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with any Finance Document (including a dispute relating to the existence, validity or termination of any Finance Document or any non-contractual obligation arising out of or in connection with any Finance Document) (a Dispute ).

 

38.2

The Parties agree that the English courts are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle Disputes and accordingly no Party will argue to the contrary.

 

38.3

This Clause 38 is for the benefit of the Finance Parties only. As a result, to the extent allowed by law:

 

  (a)

no Finance Party will be prevented from taking proceedings relating to a Dispute in any other courts with jurisdiction; and

 

  (b)

the Finance Parties may take concurrent proceedings in any number of jurisdictions.

 

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39.

SERVICE OF PROCESS

 

39.1

Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, the Borrower:

 

  (a)

irrevocably appoints WFW Legal Services Limited, 15 Appold Street, London, EC2A 2HB as its agent under the Finance Documents for service of process in relation to any proceedings before the English courts in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

  (b)

agrees that failure by a process agent to notify the Borrower of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned.

 

39.2

If any person appointed as process agent under this Clause 39 (Service of process) is unable for any reason so to act, the Borrower (on behalf of all the Obligors) must immediately (and in any event within twenty (20) days of the event taking place) appoint another agent on terms acceptable to the Facility Agent. Failing this, the Facility Agent may appoint another process agent for this purpose.

 

40.

WAIVER OF IMMUNITY

The Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally:

 

  (a)

agrees not to claim any immunity from proceedings brought by a Finance Party against it in relation to a Finance Document and to ensure that no such claim is made on its behalf;

 

  (b)

consents generally to the giving of any relief or the issue of any process in connection with those proceedings; and

 

  (c)

waives all rights of immunity in respect of it or its assets.

 

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SCHEDULE 1

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

1.

CORPORATE DOCUMENTS

 

1.1

A copy of the constitutional documents of each Obligor.

 

1.2

A copy of a resolution of the board of directors (or other authorisation) of each Obligor authorising a specified person or persons to approve the terms of, and the performance of all transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents and to execute and, as necessary, deliver the Finance Documents to which it is a party.

 

1.3

An original certificate of an authorised signatory of the Borrower (in respect of itself and each Guarantor):

 

  (a)

certifying that each copy of the documents specified in paragraphs 1.1, 1.2 and 5 (Other Documents and Evidence) (other than paragraph 5.3) of this Schedule 1 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than Financial Close;

 

  (b)

confirming the identity and specimen signatures of the directors and signatories of the Borrower and each Guarantor who are authorised to sign the Finance Documents and any notices to which the Borrower or any Guarantor is party on its behalf;

 

  (c)

certifying that each representation and warranty made pursuant to:

 

  (i)

in respect of the Borrower, Clause 15 (Representations and Warranties), other than Clause 15.9 (No default) and Clause 15.10 (Financial statements); and

 

  (ii)

in respect of each Guarantor, clause 3 (Representations and Warranties) of the Guarantee of such Guarantor,

is true and correct in all material respects as at the date of Financial Close; and

 

  (d)

certifying that no Default has occurred or is continuing.

 

2.

SIGNED DOCUMENTS

 

2.1

The following original documents, each duly executed by the parties to it:

 

  (a)

this Agreement;

 

  (b)

the Fee Letter; and

 

  (c)

in respect of each Guarantor:

 

  (i)

a Global Assignment Agreement; and

 

  (ii)

a Guarantee;

 

2.2

The original Charge Agreement, duly executed by each party to it and evidence that the Charge Agreement is validly created and perfected.

 

2.3

Evidence that all documentation required to perfect the Transaction Security created or evidenced pursuant to the Security Documents listed in paragraph 2.1 of this Schedule 1 has been executed and that such Transaction Security will be validly created and perfected immediately upon release of the Existing Security as it relates to the relevant Vessel.

 

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3.

LEGAL OPINIONS

A copy of each of the following executed opinions:

 

  (a)

A legal opinion from Watson, Farley & Williams, in respect of (i) the capacity of the Borrower under Republic of the Marshall Islands law to enter into the Facility Agreement and the Charge Agreement; (ii) the capacity of each Guarantor under Republic of the Marshall Islands law to enter into the Global Assignment Agreements and the Guarantees and (iii) the enforceability of the Charge Agreement.

 

  (b)

One or more legal opinions from Allen & Overy LLP, legal advisers to the Finance Parties.

 

4.

MARKET VALUATION REPORT

A Market Valuation Report for each Vessel dated no earlier than thirty (30) Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

5.

OTHER DOCUMENTS AND EVIDENCE

 

5.1

A copy of any other material Authorisation that is necessary in connection with the entry into and performance by each Obligor of the transactions contemplated by any Finance Document or for the validity and enforceability of any Finance Document.

 

5.2

Evidence that the agent, under the Finance Documents for service of process in England and Wales has accepted its appointment.

 

5.3

Evidence from the Existing Lenders that, immediately upon receipt of payment in full of any Existing Facility as it relates to the relevant Vessel, they will release all Existing Security as it relates to the relevant Vessel.

 

5.4

A copy of each manager’s document of compliance.

 

5.5

A copy of each document listed in Schedule 4 (KYC Information).

 

6.

FEES

Evidence that the fees, costs and expenses then due from the Borrower pursuant to any of the Finance Documents have been paid or will be paid by the Initial Utilisation Date.

 

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SCHEDULE 2

FORM OF UTILISATION REQUEST

 

From:

Nakilat Holdco L.L.C. as Borrower

To:

Qatar National Bank SAQ, as Facility Agent

Date:

[                    ]

Facility Agreement dated      December 2014 (the Agreement)

Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning when used in this document.

This is a Utilisation Request under the Agreement.

We wish to borrow a Loan on the following terms:

 

(a)

Proposed Utilisation Date:

[            ]

(b)

Interest Period:

[            ]

(c)

Currency of Loan:

USD

(d)

Amount

[            ]

(e)

Tranche

[            ]

We confirm that each condition specified in Clause 5 (Conditions of Utilisation) of the Agreement is satisfied on the date of this Utilisation Request.

The proceeds of this Loan should be credited as follows:

 

  (i)

USD[   ] to [ account ] by no later than [ time ] on the Proposed Utilisation Date; [and

 

  (ii)

USD[   ] to [ account ] by no later than [ time ] on the Proposed Utilisation Date,] 1

[provided that, the amount of the fee payable in accordance with Clause 34 (Fees) and the Fee Letter shall be deemed paid in full with the proceeds of the Loan that are not paid to such account.] 2

This Utilisation Request is irrevocable.

 

 

 

Authorised Signatory

For and on behalf of

NAKILAT HOLDCO L.L.C.

 

1  

Additional instructions to be specified by the Borrower as necessary.

2  

To be included for Initial Utilisation Request only. Distribution of funds from initial drawdown to be discussed.

 

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SCHEDULE 3

AMORTISATION SCHEDULE 3

 

No.

  

Repayment Date

(T = First Repayment Date)

  

Repayment Instalment

(%)

1    T    1.0575
2    T + 3 months    1.0575
3    T + 6 months    1.0575
4    T + 9 months    1.0575
5    T+ 12 months    1.1100
6    T + 15 months    1.1100
7    T + 18 months    1.1100
8    T + 21 months    1.1100
9    T + 24 months    1.1650
10    T + 27 months    1.1650
11    T + 30 months    1.1650
12    T + 33 months    1.1650
13    T + 36 months    1.2225
14    T + 39 months    1.2225
15    T + 42 months    1.2225
16    T + 45 months    1.2225
17    T + 48 months    1.2850
18    T + 51 months    1.2850
19    T + 54 months    1.2850
20    T + 57 months    1.2850
21    T + 60 months    1.3475
22    T + 63 months    1.3475
23    T + 66 months    1.3475
24    T + 69 months    1.3475
25    T + 72 months    1.4150
26    T + 75 months    1.4150
27    T + 78 months    1.4150
28    T + 81 months    1.4150
29    T + 84 months    1.4875
30    T + 87 months    1.4875
31    T + 90 months    1.4875
32    T + 93 months    1.4875
33    T + 96 months    1.5625
34    T + 99 months    1.5625
35    T + 102 months    1.5625
36    T + 105 months    1.5625
37    T + 108 months    1.640
38    T + 111 months    1.640
39    T + 114 months    1.640
40    T + 117 months    1.640
41    T + 120 months    1.7225
42    T + 123 months    1.7225
43    T + 126 months    1.7225
44    T + 129 months    1.7225
45    T + 132 months    1.8075
46    T + 135 months    1.8075
47    T + 138 months    1.8075
48    T + 141 months    34.5175

 

3  

Note: Amortisation schedule to be shortened and final balloon payment to be increased in accordance with Clause 3.3(f) in the event of an Availability Period Extension.

 

77


SCHEDULE 4

KYC INFORMATION

 

a)

A copy of each document listed in paragraphs 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3(b) of Schedule 1 (Conditions Precedent).

 

b)

In respect of each Obligor, a list of each of its directors, in each case disclosing their:

 

  (i)

full name;

 

  (ii)

nationality;

 

  (iii)

date of birth; and

 

  (iv)

residential address.

 

c)

To the extent not provided pursuant to paragraph 1.3(b) of Schedule 1 (Conditions Precedent) in respect of each Obligor, a copy of the passport details page in respect of two (2) directors of such Obligor.

 

78


SCHEDULE 5

FORM OF QUIET ENJOYMENT UNDERTAKING

Consent and Agreement

CONSENT AND AGREEMENT (this “Consent’), dated as of      December 2014, among (1) Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (II), a company organised and existing under the laws of the State of Qatar (the “Charterer”); (2) Qatar National Bank SAQ as Security Agent (together with its successors in such capacity, the “Security Agent”) for the sole benefit of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents (as each such term is defined below); and (3) [   ], a limited liability company formed and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the “Guarantor”).

RECITALS

 

A.

The Vessel . The Guarantor is the registered owner of the liquefied natural gas tanker named “[   ]” (hull number [   ]) (the “Vessel’).

 

B.

The Charter . Pursuant to a time charterparty in relation to the Vessel dated 1 July 2004 made between, originally, the Charterer and Teekay Nakilat Corporation, as novated to Teekay Nakilat (II) Limited under a novation agreement dated [18 January 2006] between [the Charterer, Teekay Nakilat Corporation and Teekay Nakilat (II) Limited], as amended and restated by an amendment and restatement agreement dated 21 March 2012 and subsequently novated to the Guarantor under the novation, amendment and restatement agreement dated [   ] and made between the Guarantor, Teekay Nakilat (II) Limited and the Charterer (the “Novation Agreement”) (such charter as novated, amended and restated by the Novation Agreement, the “Charter’), the Charterer has agreed to charter the Vessel from the Guarantor for an initial period of about twenty (20) years (subject to termination rights) from delivery thereunder.

 

C.

The Finance Documents . Pursuant to a facility agreement dated      December 2014 (the “Facility Agreement”) among (i) Nakilat Holdco L.L.C. (the “Borrower”); (ii) the Security Agent; (iii) Qatar National Bank SAQ (as the “Facility Agent’); and (iv) the financial institutions listed in Schedule 7 (The Lenders, Notices, Commitments and Relevant Percentages) to the Facility Agreement or who are from time to time parties thereto (the “Banks”, and together with the Security Agent, and the Facility Agent, the “Finance Parties”), the Finance Parties have agreed, inter alia , to make a facility available to the Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Finance Documents (as such term is defined in the Facility Agreement).

 

D.

Guarantee . Pursuant to a guarantee dated      December 2014 (the “Guarantee”) the Guarantor has agreed to guarantee the obligations of the ‘Obligors’ (as such term is defined in the Facility Agreement) under the Finance Documents. As part of the security for the obligations of the Guarantor to the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents, the Guarantor has agreed to grant to the Security Agent certain security including ( inter alia ):

 

  (i)

an assignment of its rights under the Charter; and

 

  (ii)

a first priority ship mortgage over the Vessel (the “Mortgage”).

 

E.

Condition Precedent . The Finance Documents require the execution, delivery and implementation of this Consent and it is a condition precedent to making the facility available that the Charterer shall have executed and delivered this Consent. It is acknowledged by the Guarantor and the Charterer that the execution of this Consent satisfies the requirement of [Clause 27b] of the Charter.

 

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NOW, THEREFORE in consideration of the foregoing recitals and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Charterer, the Security Agent and the Guarantor hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1. – CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT, ETC.

1.1 Quiet Enjoyment Undertakings . The Security Agent for itself and in its capacity as agent for the Finance Parties irrevocably undertakes that subject to due performance by the Charterer of all its material obligations under the Charter (subject to the expiry of any grace periods), the Security Agent shall, for the duration of the Charter and any extension thereof permitted by the Charter allow the Charterer unfettered use of the Vessel in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Charter. Any breach by the Charterer of its obligations under the Charter shall be subject solely to the rights and remedies afforded to the Guarantor under the Charter. The Security Agent will not exercise any rights it may have against the Vessel or in connection with the Charter if any default under the Finance Documents (an “Event of Default”) has occurred and is continuing, except as provided by Articles 1.3 and 1.7 below.

For the avoidance of doubt, where the Vessel is arrested or subjected to forfeiture proceedings (or the same are threatened) reasonable actions on the part of the Security Agent, as advised to and agreed by Charterer, to have the Vessel released from such arrest or proceedings or to prevent or avoid any such arrest or proceedings shall not constitute a breach by the Security Agent of the terms of this Consent.

1.2 Consent to Assignment . The Charterer (i) consents in all respects to the pledge and assignment to the Security Agent pursuant to the Finance Documents of all the Guarantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under the Charter (the “Assigned Interests”) and to the grant of the Mortgage; (ii) acknowledges the right of the Security Agent or any designee of the Security Agent, in the exercise of the Security Agent’s rights and remedies under the Finance Documents, to make all demands, give all notices, take all actions and exercise all rights of the Guarantor under the Charter; and (iii) acknowledges that, without the prior written consent of the Facility Agent, acting on the instructions of the requisite Banks in accordance with the Finance Documents, the Guarantor may not amend the Charter, where such amendment would have a material adverse effect on (A) the ability of any Obligor to perform its obligations under any Finance Document, (B) the validity or enforceability of any Finance Document, or (C) any right or remedy of any Finance Party in respect of a Finance Document.

1.3 Substitute Owner . The Charterer agrees that (i) if the Security Agent shall notify the Charterer that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and that the Security Agent has elected to exercise the rights and remedies set forth in the Finance Documents, then the Security Agent or its designee (which may be or include a receiver appointed in respect of the Guarantor or a person nominated by the Security Agent or a special purpose company created for the purpose of acquiring the Vessel or a third-party purchaser of the Vessel) which, in any such case, elects to assume the Guarantor’s obligations under the Charter (the “Substitute Owner”) shall be substituted for the Guarantor under the Charter; and (ii) in such event, the Charterer shall (without prejudice to Article 1.4 below) recognise the Substitute Owner and shall continue to perform its obligations under the Charter in favor of the Substitute Owner, provided that (x) the Security Agent shall give the Charterer not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of the intended transfer and details of the proposed Substitute Owner; (y) in the opinion of the Charterer (acting reasonably and without undue delay), the proposed Substitute Owner (and the third-party vessel manager to be employed by the proposed Substitute Owner, if any) shall have the legal capacity and the financial resources and expertise to own and operate the Vessel and, without limitation, to perform the Guarantor’s obligations under the Charter; and (z) such proposed Substitute Owner shall have undertaken to the Charterer in writing to remedy as soon as practicable any outstanding defaults of the Guarantor under the Charter. The Charterer agrees that it will, at no cost to it, enter into such documents as may be reasonably required by the Security Agent or the Substitute Owner to give effect to any substitution to be effected in accordance with this Article 1.3 and the Security Agent agrees that all documented costs and expenses (including legal costs) reasonably and properly incurred by the Charterer in connection with this Article 1.3 shall be for the account of the Security Agent.

 

80


1.4 Preservation of Charterer’s Rights . Notwithstanding any other provision in this Consent, any disposal of the Vessel by the Security Agent to a Substitute Owner in accordance with Article 1.3 shall not prejudice the Charterer’s rights under the Charter accruing before or after the date of such disposal, including, without limitation, any right that the Charterer may then have to terminate the Charter. If the Security Agent exercises its rights under Article 1.3 above to dispose of the Vessel to a Substitute Owner during the term of the Charter, the Security Agent shall comply with the conditions set out in Article 1.1 above and shall (subject to any requirements or restrictions imposed by any applicable law in relation to disposal of the Vessel) dispose of the Vessel expressly subject to the Charter. The Security Agent shall procure that the Substitute Owner (and any other person providing financing to the Substitute Owner for the purposes of the acquisition by the Substitute Owner of the Vessel) issues an undertaking to the Charterer on substantially the same terms as the undertaking granted by the Security Agent in Article 1.1 above.

1.5 Right to Cure . In the event of a default or breach by the Guarantor in the performance of any of its obligations under the Charter, or upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or condition under the Charter that would immediately or with the passage of any applicable grace period or the giving of notice, or both, enable the Charterer to suspend or terminate the Charter (a “Default”), the Charterer shall not suspend or terminate the Charter until it first gives written notice of such Default to the Security Agent or its designee and affords such party a period of thirty (30) days to cure the circumstances giving rise to such suspension or termination rights.

1.6 No Termination or Assignment . Except to the extent permitted in the Charter, the Charterer agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of the Security Agent, (i) enter into or agree to any consensual suspension, cancellation, or termination of the Charter, or (ii) assign or otherwise transfer any of its right, title or interest under the Charter save as permitted under the Charter.

1.7 Replacement Agreement . In the event that the Charter is terminated as a result of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or other similar proceeding affecting the Guarantor, the Charterer shall, at the option of the Security Agent, enter into a new agreement with the Security Agent or its transferee or nominee (the “Replacement Owner”) on terms substantially the same as the terms of the Charter. In such event, the Security Agent (or, as the case may be, the Replacement Owner) shall comply with the provisions of Article 1.3 (x), (y) and (z) which shall apply for the purposes of this Article 1.7 as if the words “proposed Substitute Owner” have been replaced by the words “proposed Replacement Owner”.

1.8 No Liability . The Charterer acknowledges and agrees that neither the Security Agent nor its designees nor any of the Finance Parties shall have any liability or obligation under the Charter as a result of this Consent, nor shall the Security Agent or its designees be obligated or required to (i) perform any of the Guarantor’s obligations under the Charter, except during any period in which the Security Agent or its designee is a Substitute Owner under the Charter pursuant to Article 1.3 or a Replacement Owner under the Charter pursuant to Article 1.7, in which case the obligations of such Substitute Owner or Replacement Owner shall be no more onerous than those of the Guarantor under the Charter for such period (unless otherwise expressly agreed by the Guarantor and the Security Agent or the Substitute Owner or the Replacement Owner); or (ii) take any action to collect or enforce any claim for payment assigned under the Finance Documents.

1.9 Guarantor’s Undertaking . The Guarantor undertakes to the Charterer that it shall not make any claim against the Vessel and/or the Charterer arising from any transfer or novation of the Charter to the Security Agent or any Substitute Owner or from the entry into a new agreement by the Charterer with a Replacement Owner. The Security Agent acknowledges that delivery by the Guarantor of a notice in writing to the Charterer stating that the Guarantor has no claim, and has no intention of making such a claim, against the Vessel and/or the Charterer which may arise from such transfer or novation or from the entry into a new agreement shall be a condition precedent to the effectiveness of any transfer, novation or new agreement.

 

81


1.10 Delivery of Notices . The Charterer shall use its reasonable commercial efforts to deliver to the Security Agent and its designees, concurrently with the delivery thereof to the Guarantor, a copy of any notice of suspension or termination given by the Charterer to the Guarantor under the Charter.

1.11 Delivery of Financial Statements . On or prior to the date hereof, the Charterer has delivered to the Security Agent a copy of its annual audited financial statement (“Financial Statement”) for its most recent fiscal year. Within one hundred and eighty (180) days after the close of each of its fiscal years, the Charterer shall upon request deliver to the Security Agent its annual audited financial statements, prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standards (“IAS”).

1.12 Waiver of Immunity . To the extent that the Charterer may now or hereafter have or acquire any immunity (including sovereign immunity) from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process with respect to itself or its property, the Charterer hereby waives such immunity with respect to all of its obligations under this Consent and the Charter.

1.13 Registration of Interest . To the extent permitted by applicable law and by the Registrar of Ships for vessels registered on the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Ship Register, the terms of the undertaking contained in Article 1.1 above, shall be included in the Mortgage and shall form part of the terms and conditions of the Mortgage. Upon registration of the Mortgage, the Security Agent agrees to request that the Registrar of Ships for vessels registered on the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Ship Register make a note of such undertaking in the Vessel’s register.

ARTICLE 2. – PAYMENTS UNDER THE CHARTER

The Charterer shall pay all amounts payable by it to the Guarantor under the Charter in the manner required by the Charter directly into the account specified on Exhibit A hereto, or to such other person or account as shall be specified from time to time by the Security Agent to the Charterer in writing in accordance with Article 4.1. Should the Charterer receive a notice from the Security Agent asking the Charterer to make payments to an alternative account in accordance with this Article 2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Charterer any net increase in payment costs incurred by the Charterer as a result of making such payments into such alternative account.

ARTICLE 3. – REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE CHARTERER

The Charterer makes the following representations and warranties to the Security Agent as at the date hereof.

3.1 Organisation . The Charterer is duly organised and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, and has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Consent, the Charter and the Novation Agreement and perform its obligations thereunder.

3.2 Authorisation; No Conflict . The Charterer has duly authorised, executed and delivered this Consent, the Charter and the Novation Agreement. Neither the execution and delivery of this Consent, the Charter and the Novation Agreement by the Charterer nor its consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby nor its compliance with the terms thereof does or will require any consent or approval not already obtained, or will conflict with the Charterer’s formation documents or any contract or agreement binding on it.

3.3 Legality, Validity and Enforceability . Each of this Consent, the Charter and the Novation Agreement is in full force and effect and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Charterer, enforceable against the Charterer in accordance with its terms. The Charter has not been amended, supplemented, suspended, novated, extended, restated or otherwise modified except in accordance with its terms.

 

82


3.4 Governmental Consents . There are no governmental consents existing as of the date of this Consent that are required or will become required to be obtained by the Charterer in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Consent, the Charter and the Novation Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereunder, other than those governmental consents which have been obtained or can be obtained without undue expense or delay.

3.5 Litigation . There are no pending or, to the Charterer’s knowledge, threatened actions, suits, proceedings or investigations of any kind (including arbitration proceedings) to which the Charterer is a party or is subject, or by which it or any of its properties are bound, that if adversely determined to or against the Charterer, could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the ability of the Charterer to execute and deliver the Charter , the Novation Agreement and this Consent or to perform its obligations thereunder or hereunder.

ARTICLE 4. – MISCELLANEOUS

4.1 Notices . All notices or other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be considered as properly given (a) if delivered in person, (b) if sent by overnight delivery service or (c) if sent by prepaid telex, or by telecopy with correct answer back received. Notices shall be directed (i) if to the Charterer or the Guarantor, in accordance with the Charter and (ii) if to the Security Agent, to Attn: Jaffar Ali / Fathiyeh Ali Hassan / Chiranjib Parial, Qatar National Bank SAQ, Corporate & Syndication Loans, Retail & Corporate Operations, P.O. Box 1000, Doha, State of Qatar. Notice so given shall be effective upon receipt by the addressee. Any party hereto may change its address for notice hereunder to any other location by giving no less than twenty (20) days’ notice to the other parties in the manner set forth hereinabove.

4.2 Further Assurances . The Charterer shall fully cooperate with the Security Agent and perform all additional acts reasonably requested by the Security Agent to effect the purposes of this Consent.

4.3 Amendments . This Consent may not be amended, changed, waived, discharged, terminated or otherwise modified unless such amendment, change, waiver, discharge, termination or modification is in writing and signed by each of the parties hereto.

4.4 Entire Agreement . This Consent and any agreement, document or instrument attached hereto or referred to herein integrate all the terms and conditions mentioned herein or incidental hereto and supersede all oral negotiations and prior writings in respect to the subject matter hereof.

4.5 Governing Law . This Consent and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by the laws of England.

4.6 Severability . In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Consent should be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and the parties hereto shall enter into good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision with a view to obtaining the same commercial effect as this Consent would have had if such provision had been legal, valid and enforceable.

4.7 Dispute Resolution . Any dispute arising under this Charter shall be decided by the High Court of Justice in London, England to whose jurisdiction the parties hereby agree. Notwithstanding, the foregoing, the parties may jointly agree in writing to have any dispute arising from this Consent referred to or determined by any arbitral tribunal appointed pursuant to [Article 41] of the Charter. It shall be a condition precedent to the right of any party to a stay of any legal proceedings in which maritime property has been or may be, arrested in connection with a dispute under this Consent, that that party furnishes to the other party security to which that other party would have been entitled in such legal proceedings in the absence of a stay.

 

83


4.8 Service of Process . (i) The Charterer hereby appoints David Reynolds, Clyde and Co LLP, St Botolph Building, 138 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7AR, United Kingdom as its agent for service of any proceedings under this Consent in the High Court of England and Wales; (ii) the Guarantor hereby appoints WFW Legal Services Limited, 15 Appold Street, London, EC2A 2HB as its agent for service of any proceedings under this Consent in the High Court of England and Wales; and (iii) the Security Agent hereby appoints Qatar National Bank London, 51 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 3HH as its agent for service of any proceedings under this Consent in the High Court of England and Wales.

4.9 Successors and Assigns . The provisions of this Consent shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted successors and assigns.

4.10 Counterparts . This Consent may be executed in one or more duplicate counterparts and when signed by all of the parties listed below shall constitute a single binding agreement.

4.11 Termination . Each party’s obligations hereunder are absolute and unconditional, and no party shall have any right to terminate this Consent or to be released, relieved or discharged from any obligation or liability hereunder until the earlier of (i) the irrevocable payment in full of all sums owed by the Guarantor to the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents followed by the discharge of the Mortgage; and (ii) any permanent withdrawal of the Vessel from service under, or termination of, the Charter.

4.12 Confidentiality . The terms of this Consent and any and all data, reports, records and other information of any kind whatsoever disclosed to or acquired by the Security Agent or the Charterer in connection with this Consent whether conveyed orally, in writing or via electronic form, shall be kept in confidence and shall not be used by the Security Agent or the Charterer other than for the purposes of this Consent and the related financial agreements referred to herein. All data, reports, records and other information disclosed by Charterer to Security Agent in connection with or in accordance with this Consent that is marked confidential shall be kept in confidence and shall not be disclosed by Security Agent to any party (other than its officers and employees on a “need to know’ basis, the lenders listed in Schedule 7 (The Lenders, Notices, Commitments and Relevant Percentages) to the Facility Agreement and/or its legal advisors who are evaluating the financial condition of Charterer), except with the prior consent of Charterer. The foregoing restrictions on the disclosure of information under this Consent shall not apply to information that (a) is or becomes generally available to the public; or (b) is already known to the party receiving such information prior to the disclosure thereof under this Consent. In the event that the Security Agent or the Charterer is required to make disclosure of this Consent or the related financial agreements identified hereunder for purposes of complying with law or the rules of a rating agency, the Security Agent or the Charterer, as applicable, shall be entitled to make appropriate disclosure, but shall use all reasonable efforts to reach agreement on the terms of the disclosure concerned with the Security Agent or the Charterer, as applicable, in writing beforehand (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld).

4.13 Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 . A person who is not a party to this Consent may not enforce any of its terms under the Contract (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

 

84


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Consent to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorised as of the date first above written.

RAS LAFFAN LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS COMPANY LIMITED (II)

 

By:

 

Name:

Title:

[                        ]

[ [   ]  Insert name of Guarantor  ]

By:

 

Name:

Title:

[                        ]

Qatar National Bank SAQ

By:

 

Name:

Title:

 

85


Exhibit A to

Consent and Agreement

Payment instructions

For Account

 

Account Name:

Nakilat Holdco L.L.C.

Bank:

Qatar National Bank SAQ

Swift:

IBAN:

 

86


SCHEDULE 6

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES

Part 1 – Annual Compliance Certificate

 

To:

Qatar National Bank SAQ (the Facility Agent )

 

Date:

                    

Dear Sirs,                        

We refer to the Facility Agreement (the Agreement ) dated [   ] and made between, amongst others, Nakilat Holdco L.L.C. and the Facility Agent. This is a Compliance Certificate.

Terms defined in the Agreement shall bear the same meaning in this Compliance Certificate.

We confirm that:

 

  (a)

the Security Value is USD [   ] being the aggregate of the market value of each Vessel (determined in accordance with the most recent Market Valuation Report for that Vessel supplied to the Facility Agent in accordance with Clause 16.5 (Annual Market Valuation Report) of the Agreement at that time); and accordingly is at least 110 per cent. of the aggregate of all Loans then outstanding and interest then due on such Loans calculated in accordance with Clause 9 (Costs of Utilisation), being USD [   ]; and

 

  (b)

no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

Yours faithfully,
Signed for and on behalf of
NAKILAT HOLDCO L.L.C.

 

Director

 

Director

 

87


Part 2 – Time Charter Party Agreement Termination Compliance Certificate

 

To:

Qatar National Bank SAQ (the Facility Agent )

 

Date:

Dear Sirs,

We refer to the Facility Agreement (the Agreement ) dated [   ] and made between, amongst others, Nakilat Holdco L.L.C. and the Facility Agent. This is a Compliance Certificate.

Terms defined in the Agreement shall bear the same meaning in this Compliance Certificate.

We confirm that the Security Value is USD [   ] being the aggregate of the market value of each Vessel (determined in accordance with the most recent Market Valuation Report for that Vessel supplied to the Facility Agent in accordance with Clause 16.5 (Annual Market Valuation Report) and Clause 17.16(f) (Financial Covenant) of the Agreement at that time); and accordingly is at least 110 per cent. of the aggregate of all Loans then outstanding and interest then due on such Loans calculated in accordance with Clause 9 (Costs of Utilisation), being USD [   ].

 

Yours faithfully,
Signed for and on behalf of
NAKILAT HOLDCO L.L.C.

 

Director

 

Director

 

88


SCHEDULE 7

THE LENDERS, NOTICES, COMMITMENTS AND RELEVANT PERCENTAGES

QATAR NATIONAL BANK SAQ

 

Contact details

   Tranche 1
Commitment

(USD)
     Tranche 2
Commitment

(USD)
     Tranche 3
Commitment

(USD)
     Aggregate
Commitment

(USD)
     Relevant
Percentage

(%)
 

Address:

 

Qatar National Bank SAQ

Corporate & Syndication Loans, Retail & Corporate Operations

P O Box 1000,

Doha, Qatar

     150,000,000         151,000,000         149,000,000         450,000,000         100   

 

Attention: Jaffar Ali / Fathiyeh Ali Hassan / Chiranjib Parial

 

Fax: +974 4431 3069

 

Email:

jaffar.ali@qnb.com.qa / fathiyeh.ali@qnb.com.qa / chiranjib.parial@qnb.com.qa / Agencyservices@qnb.com.qa

              

 

89


SCHEDULE 8

FORM OF TRANSFER UNDERTAKING

 

To:

Qatar National Bank SAQ (as Facility Agent)

 

To:

Each Lender

 

Copy:

The Borrower

 

From:

[ ] (the New Lender)

 

Dated:

[ ]

Facility Agreement dated      December 2014 (the Agreement)

This is an undertaking in accordance with clause 21 (Assignment and Transfer) of the Agreement.

Unless the context otherwise requires, terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning when used herein.

In accordance with clause 21 (Assignment and Transfer) of the Agreement, the New Lender hereby notifies the Administrative Agents, the Lenders and the Borrower that it wishes to become a Lender under the terms of the Agreement and therefore hereby requests the Administrative Agents, the Lenders and the Borrower accept this undertaking as being delivered to it pursuant to and for the purposes of clause 21 (Assignment and Transfer) of the Agreement.

The New Lender hereby irrevocably and unconditionally confirms that it would like to participate in an aggregate amount of [ ] Dollars (USD[ ]) by way of assignment and transfer from [ ] (the Existing Lender ).

The New Lender shall accordingly become obliged to comply with all of the terms and conditions of the Agreement.

The New Lender hereby undertakes with each of the Administrative Agents, the Lenders and the Borrower to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Agreement and that it will perform its obligations which by the terms of the Agreement will be assumed by it upon this undertaking taking effect as it if were an original Lender in the Agreement.

The address for notices of the New Lender for the purposes of the Agreement is as follows:

 

Address:

[ ]

 

Attention:

[ ]

 

Telephone No:

[ ]

 

Facsimile No:

[ ]

 

E-mail:

[ ]

 

90


Promptly upon this undertaking taking effect, the Facility Agent shall circulate to the Security Agent and each of the Lenders and the Borrower the amended details of the Lenders and their respective Relevant Percentages.

The New Lender agrees to do all further acts and provide all other assistance that may be requested by the Facility Agent in connection with this undertaking.

This undertaking shall be effective on, and the New Lender shall be deemed to be a Lender as of, [ ].

This undertaking and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder and any non-contractual obligations connected therewith shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law.

THE NEW LENDER

 

Signed:

 

Date

 

THE FACILITY AGENT

We hereby agree on behalf of the Lenders and the Borrower to accept [ ] as a New Lender.

 

Signed:

 

Date

 

THE SECURITY AGENT

We hereby agree on behalf of the Lenders and the Borrower to accept [ ] as a New Lender.

 

Signed:

 

Date

 

 

91


SCHEDULE 9

FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE

 

To:

[AGENT] as Facility Agent

 

From:

[EXISTING LENDER] (the Existing Lender ) and [NEW LENDER] (the New Lender )

 

Date:

[                    ]

Nakilat Holdco L.L.C. – USD 450,000,000 Facility Agreement dated [                    ] 2014 (the Agreement )

We refer to the Agreement. This is a Transfer Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Transfer Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Transfer Certificate.

 

1.

The Existing Lender transfers by novation to the New Lender the Existing Lender’s rights and obligations referred to in the Schedule below in accordance with the terms of the Agreement.

 

2.

The proposed Transfer Date is [                    ].

 

3.

The administrative details of the New Lender for the purposes of the Agreement are set out in the Schedule.

 

4.

The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Existing Lender’s obligations in respect of this Transfer Certificate contained in the Agreement.

 

5.

This Transfer Certificate may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Transfer Certificate.

 

6.

This Transfer Certificate and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

92


THE SCHEDULE

Rights and obligations to be transferred by novation

[insert relevant details, including applicable Tranche Commitments (or part)]

Administrative details of the New Lender

[insert details of Facility Office, address for notices and payment details etc.]

 

[ EXISTING LENDER ]

[ NEW LENDER ]

By:

By:

The Transfer Date is confirmed by the Facility Agent as [                    ].

[AGENT]

as Facility Agent for and on behalf of

each of the parties to the Agreement

(other than the Existing Lender and

the New Lender)

By:

Note: The execution of this Transfer Certificate may not transfer a proportionate share of the Existing Lender’s interest in the security in all jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of the New Lender to ascertain whether any other documents or other formalities are required to perfect a transfer of such a share in the Existing Lender’s security in any jurisdiction and, if so, to arrange for execution of those documents and completion of those formalities.

 

93


SCHEDULE 10

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

 

To:

[AGENT] as Facility Agent and the Borrower

 

From:

[EXISTING LENDER] (the Existing Lender ) and [NEW LENDER] (the New Lender )

 

Date:

[                    ]

Nakilat Holdco L.L.C. – USD 450,000,000 Facility Agreement dated [                    ] 2014 ( the Agreement)

We refer to the Agreement. This is an Assignment Agreement. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Assignment Agreement unless given a different meaning in this Assignment Agreement.

 

1.

In accordance with the terms of the Agreement:

 

(a)

the Existing Lender assigns absolutely to the New Lender all the rights of the Existing Lender specified in the Schedule;

 

(b)

to the extent the obligations referred to in paragraph (c) below are effectively assumed by the New Lender, the Existing Lender is released from its obligations under the Agreement specified in the Schedule;

 

(c)

the New Lender assumes obligations equivalent to those obligations of the Existing Lender under the Agreement specified in the Schedule; and

 

(d)

the New Lender becomes a Lender under the Agreement and is bound by the terms of the Agreement as a Lender.

 

2.

The proposed Transfer Date is [                    ].

 

3.

The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Existing Lender’s obligations in respect of this Assignment Agreement contained in the Agreement.

 

4.

The administrative details of the New Lender for the purposes of the Agreement are set out in the Schedule.

 

5.

This Assignment Agreement acts as notice to the Facility Agent (on behalf of each Finance Party) and, upon delivery in accordance with Clause 21.7 (Copy of Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement to Borrower), to the Borrower of the assignment referred to in this Assignment Agreement.

 

6.

This Assignment Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of the Assignment Agreement.

 

7.

This Assignment Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

94


THE SCHEDULE

Rights and obligations to be transferred by assignment, assumption and release

[insert relevant details, including applicable Tranche Commitments (or part)]

Administrative details of the New Lender

[insert details of Facility Office, address for notices and payment details etc.]

 

[ EXISTING LENDER ]

[ NEW LENDER ]

By:

By:

The Transfer Date is confirmed by the Facility Agent as [                    ].

[AGENT]

as Facility Agent, for and on behalf of

each of the parties to the Agreement

(other than the Existing Lender and

the New Lender)

By:

Note: The execution of this Assignment Agreement may not transfer a proportionate share of the Existing Lender’s interest in the security in all jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of the New Lender to ascertain whether any other documents or other formalities are required to perfect a transfer of such a share in the Existing Lender’s security in any and, if so, to arrange for execution of those documents and completion of those formalities.

An assignment may give rise to stamp duty or transfer tax issues.

 

95


WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have caused this Deed of Assignment to be duly executed as a deed the day and year first above written as follows:

 

THE ASSIGNOR
SIGNED and DELIVERED as a Deed by

 

By

 

its duly appointed Attorney
THE ASSIGNEE
SIGNED and DELIVERED as a Deed by

 

By

 

its duly appointed Attorney
All before me:

 

96


Schedule 11

FORM OF PAYMENT UNDERTAKING

SeaSpirit Leasing Limited

33 Old Broad Street

London

EC2N 1HZ

[ ] 2014

Dear Sirs

[“AL MARROUNA”] [“AL AREESH”] [“AL DAAYEN”] - Lease Termination

We hereby irrevocably and unconditionally undertake to remit the sum of:

 

1.

[ ] US Dollars (US$ [ ]) for value today to account number 12270390, account name SEASPIRIT LEASING LIMITED, IBAN number GB84BOFS80463512270390, SWIFT Code BOFSGBS1095; and

 

2.

[ ] US Dollars (US$ [ ]) for value today to account number 12270412, sort code 80-46-35, SWIFT BIC: BOFSGBS1095 with Bank of Scotland plc acting thought its US Correspondent: Bank of New York, SWIFT BIC IRVTUS3N

This letter and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed in accordance with English law.

Yours faithfully

 

QATAR NATIONAL BANK SAQ

By:

Title: Attorney-in-Fact

 

97


SCHEDULE 12

VESSEL DELIVERABLES

 

1.

VESSEL MORTGAGE

By no later than the date on which the relevant Tranche first is drawn in respect of a Vessel, an original Vessel Mortgage and Deed of Covenant and a copy of the Quiet Enjoyment Agreement in respect of that Vessel, duly executed by the parties to it and evidence that the Vessel Mortgage has been duly perfected.

 

2.

LEGAL OPINIONS

 

  (a)

Within two (2) Business Days from the date of a Vessel Mortgage, a legal opinion in respect of the enforceability of that Vessel Mortgage from the Lender’s Bahamian counsel addressed to the Finance Parties in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent.

 

  (b)

Within thirty (30) days from date of a Vessel Mortgage, a legal opinion in respect of the capacity of the Guarantor to enter into that Vessel Mortgage from the Lender’s Marshall Islands counsel addressed to the Finance Parties in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent.

 

3.

OTHER DOCUMENTS AND EVIDENCE

Promptly, and by no later than 5 days following the date on which any Guarantor acquires a Vessel, copies of the following documents in respect of such Guarantor and such Vessel (as relevant):

 

  (a)

documentary evidence that the Vessel maintains her classification free of all overdue recommendations and conditions with the applicable Classification Society;

 

  (b)

a copy of each Time Charter Party Agreement, any sub-charter and each management agreement relating to the Vessel; and

 

  (c)

a copy of the safety management certificate and international ship security certificate for the Vessel.

 

98


SIGNATORIES

This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement and executed as a deed and is intended to be delivered as a deed on the date specified above.

 

THE FACILITY AGENT

Executed and delivered as a DEED by

QATAR NATIONAL BANK SAQ

Signature:

Name:

Title:

Signature:

Name:

Title:

THE SECURITY AGENT

Executed and delivered as a DEED by

QATAR NATIONAL BANK SAQ

Signature:

Name:

Title:

Signature:

Name:

Title:

 

99


LENDER
Executed and delivered as a DEED by
QATAR NATIONAL BANK SAQ
Signature:
Name:
Title:
Signature:
Name:
Title:

THE BORROWER

 

Executed and delivered as a DEED by

NAKILAT HOLDCO L.L.C.

acting by:

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

Signatory

In the presence of:

Name:

 

Title:

 

Address:

 

 

 

Witness

 

100

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, 2014:

 

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

Naviera Teekay Gas III, S.L.

   100%   

Spain

Teekay Shipping Spain S.L.

   100%   

Spain

Teekay Spain, S.L.

   100%   

Spain

Teekay LNG Holdings L.P.

   99%   

United States

Teekay LNG Holdco L.L.C.

   99%   

Marshall Islands

Teekay Nakilat Corporation

   70%   

Marshall Islands

Teekay Nakilat (II) Limited

   70%   

United Kingdom

Teekay Nakilat Holdings Corporation

   70%   

Marshall Islands

Single ship-owning subsidiaries

   99% - 100%   

(1)

 

(1)

We also have 32 single ship-owning subsidiaries of which three of the subsidiaries are incorporated in Spain and the remaining 29 subsidiaries are incorporated in the 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 22, 2015

     

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 22, 2015

     

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, 2014 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 22, 2015

 

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. 333-188387 on Form F-3 and related prospectus for the registration of up to $100,000,000 of common units representing limited partnership units;

 

  (3)

No. 333-190783 on Form F-3 and related prospectus for the registration of 931,098 common units representing limited partnership units;

 

  (4)

No. 333-197479 on Form F-3 and related prospectus for the registration of common units, preferred units, convertible preferred units, debt securities and convertible debt securities; and

 

  (5)

No. 333-197651 on Form F-3 and related prospectus for the registration of up to $500,000,000 of common units representing limited partnership units.

of our reports dated April 22, 2015, with respect to the consolidated financial statements as at December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2014 and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, of Teekay LNG Partners L.P., our report dated March 16, 2015, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Malt LNG Netherlands Holdings B.V. and our report dated April 21, 2015, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Exmar LPG BVBA, which reports appear in the December 31, 2014 Annual Report on Form 20-F of Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

 

Vancouver, Canada

/s/ KPMG LLP

April 22, 2015

Chartered Accountants

Exhibit 15.2

Consolidated Financial Statements

Malt LNG Netherlands Holdings B.V.

December 31, 2014


Independent Auditors’ Report

The Board of Directors of

Malt LNG Netherlands Holdings B.V.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Malt LNG Netherlands Holdings B.V. (and its subsidiaries), which comprise the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, changes in total equity (deficiency), and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2014, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Auditors’ Responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditors’ judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Opinion

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Malt LNG Netherlands Holdings B.V. (and its subsidiaries) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2014 in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Emphasis of Matter

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, during 2013, the assets and liabilities of the consolidated group was sold from MALT LNG Holdings ApS to a new inactive entity, Malt LNG Netherlands Holdings B.V. These consolidated financial statements reflect the results of the consolidated group on a continuity of interest basis. Our opinion is not modified with respect to this.

/s/ KPMG

Chartered Accountants

March 16, 2015

Vancouver, Canada

 

2


MALT LNG NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS B.V. (Note 1)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in U.S. Dollars)

 

    

Year Ended
December 31,

2014

   

Year Ended
December 31,

2013

   

Year Ended
December 31,

2012

 
     $     $     $  

Voyage revenues (note 9)

     197,968,585       205,569,443       169,637,168  

Voyage expenses

     (867,458     (1,994,960     (1,101,056

Vessel operating expenses (note 11b)

     (34,480,640     (34,025,463     (26,138,918

Depreciation and amortization (notes 5 and 6)

     (48,433,923     (46,163,979     (38,242,059

Ship management fees (note 11b)

     (3,483,391     (3,386,416     (1,661,202

General and administrative (note 11b)

     (2,772,605     (4,122,822     (8,335,175
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

  107,930,568     115,875,803     94,158,758  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Interest income

  268,370     211,472     137,678  

Interest expense (notes 11e and 12)

  (38,071,358   (32,036,616   (19,008,892

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

  249,138      (161,133   (21,478

Other (loss) income

  (24,611   (17,144   554,086  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income before income tax recovery (expense)

  70,352,107     83,872,382     75,820,152  

Income tax recovery (expense)

  130,580     (200,000   (149,158
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

  70,482,687     83,672,382     75,670,994  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income:

Unrealized net (loss) gain on qualifying cash flow hedging instruments before reclassifications, net of tax (note 12)

  (5,932,116   251,576     —    

Realized loss on qualifying cash flow hedging instruments reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income to interest expense (note 12)

  2,982,986     —       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income

  (2,949,130   251,576     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

  67,533,557     83,923,958     75,670,994  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Refer to note 11 for related party transactions.

 

3


MALT LNG NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS B.V. (Note 1)

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in U.S. Dollars)

 

    

As at

December 31,

2014

   

As at

December 31,

2013

 
     $     $  

ASSETS

    

Current assets

    

Cash

     72,141,957       51,615,032   

Accounts receivable and accrued revenue

     325,018       9,161,575   

Restricted cash (note 4)

     4,153,257       6,307,240   

Prepaid expenses and deferred debt issuance costs

     4,342,127       4,797,110   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

  80,962,359     71,880,957   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term assets

Vessels and equipment (note 5)

  1,357,803,514     1,389,398,090   

Restricted cash (note 4)

  11,876,673     4,701,090   

Derivative asset ( note 12 )

  —       1,618,305   

Deferred debt issuance costs

  6,528,534     9,941,752   

Other assets

  5,210,305     —    

Intangible assets (note 6)

  841,200     4,257,080   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

  1,463,222,585     1,481,797,274   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Current liabilities

Accounts payable

  215,376     819,183   

Accrued liabilities (notes 7 and 12)

  5,480,119     5,098,172   

Due to related parties (note 11d)

  10,979,825     10,396,363   

Deferred revenues

  4,049,075     2,672,851   

Current portion of long-term debt (note 8)

  79,446,595     82,090,117   

Current portion of derivative liability (note 12 )

  2,148,377     2,355,243   

Current portion of in-process revenue contracts (note 9)

  6,668,323     6,668,528   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

  108,987,690     110,100,457   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term liabilities

Long-term deferred revenues

  2,863,310     3,294,254   

Long-term debt (note 8)

  763,319,270     842,765,865   

Derivative liability (note 12)

  1,551,680     —    

In-process revenue contracts (note 9)

  84,061,349     90,730,969   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

  960,783,299     1,046,891,545   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity

Share capital (note 10)

  121     121   

Additional paid-in capital (note 10)

  276,913,356     276,913,356   

Retained earnings

  228,223,363     157,740,676   

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (note 12)

  (2,697,554   251,576   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

  502,439,286     434,905,729   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

  1,463,222,585     1,481,797,274   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

4


MALT LNG NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS B.V. (Note 1)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in U.S. Dollars)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,

2014
$
    Year Ended
December 31,

2013
$
    Year Ended
December 31,

2012
$
 

Cash provided by (used for)

      

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

      

Net income

     70,482,687       83,672,382       75,670,994  

Non-cash items:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     48,433,923       46,163,979       38,242,059  

Amortization of in-process revenue contracts

     (6,669,825     (17,964,926     (20,515,577

Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs included in interest expense

     3,821,377       3,998,591       2,810,474  

Ineffective portion of hedge accounted interest rate swap included in interest expense

     13,989       988,514       —    

Increase in restricted cash

     (5,257,319     (6,307,240     —    

Change in operating assets and liabilities (note 13)

     4,979,958       (3,776,059     17,471,551  

Expenditures for dry docking

     (12,501,214     (9,545,138     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net operating cash flow

  103,303,576     97,230,103     113,679,501  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Decrease (increase) in restricted cash

  235,719     (4,701,090   —    

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

  —       963,000,000     1,063,095,200  

Scheduled repayments of long-term debt

  (82,090,117   (1,036,239,218   (65,000,000

Equity contribution from shareholders ( note 10 )

  —       121     276,905,751  

Debt issuance costs

  —       (15,471,695   (5,042,320
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net financing cash flow

  (81,854,398   (93,411,882   1,269,958,631  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Expenditures for vessels and equipment

  (922,253   (90,580   —    

Acquisition of MALT LNG Transport ApS, net of cash assumed of $10.8 million (note 2)

  —       —       (1,335,750,741
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investing cash flow

  (922,253   (90,580   (1,335,750,741
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in cash

  20,526,925     3,727,641     47,887,391  

Cash, beginning of the year

  51,615,032     47,887,391     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash, end of the year

  72,141,957     51,615,032     47,887,391  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Supplemental cash flow information (note 13).

 

5


MALT LNG NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS B.V. (Note 1)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)

(in U.S. Dollars except for number of shares)

 

           Shareholders’ Equity        
     Acquired
Predecessor
Equity

(Deficiency)
$
    Number
of
Common
Shares
     Common
Shares
$
     Additional
Paid-In
Capital
$
     Retained
Earnings
$
     Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
$
    Total
Equity

(Deficiency)
$
 

Balance as at December 31, 2011 (unaudited)

     (1,595,095     —           —           —           —           —          (1,595,095
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Issuance of common shares

  276,905,751     —       —       —       —       —       276,905,751  

Net income

  75,670,994     —       —       —       —       —       75,670,994  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as at December 31, 2012

  350,981,650     —       —       —       —       —       350,981,650  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Issuance of common shares (note 10)

  —       100     121     —       —       —       121  

Net income

  50,425,486     —       —       —       33,246,896     —       83,672,382  

Other comprehensive income

  (1,384,969   —       —       —       —       1,636,545     251,576  

Acquisition of MALT LNG Holdings ApS

  (400,022,167   —       —       276,913,356     124,493,780     (1,384,969   —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as at December 31, 2013

  —       100     121     276,913,356     157,740,676     251,576     434,905,729  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

  —       —       —       —       70,482,687     —       70,482,687  

Other comprehensive loss

  —       —       —       —       —       (2,949,130   (2,949,130
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as at December 31, 2014

  —       100     121     276,913,356     228,223,363     (2,697,554   502,439,286  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

6


MALT LNG NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS B.V.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in U.S. Dollars, unless indicated otherwise)

1. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (or US GAAP ). These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Malt LNG Netherlands Holdings B.V., which is incorporated under the laws of Netherlands, its wholly owned subsidiaries and the Acquired Predecessor, as described below (collectively, the Company ). The following is a list of Malt LNG Netherlands Holdings B.V. subsidiaries:

 

Name of Significant Subsidiaries

  

Jurisdiction of

Incorporation

  

Proportion of
Ownership
Interest

MALT LNG Holdings ApS

   Denmark    100%

MALT LNG Transport ApS

   Denmark    100%

Meridian Spirit ApS

   Denmark    100%

Magellan Spirit ApS

   Denmark    100%

Methane Spirit LLC

   Republic of The Marshall Islands    100%

Membrane Shipping Ltd.

   Republic of The Marshall Islands    100%

Malt Singapore Pte. Ltd.

   Singapore    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.

Malt LNG Netherlands Holdings B.V. has accounted for the acquisition of its interest in MALT LNG Holdings ApS on August 6, 2013 from its shareholders Teekay Luxembourg S.a.r.l. and Scarlet LNG Transport Co., Ltd. (collectively the Joint Venture Partners ) 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. As a result, the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in total equity for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 reflect the results of operations of MALT LNG Holdings ApS, referred to herein as the Acquired Predecessor, as if Malt LNG Netherlands Holdings B.V. had acquired it when the Acquired Predecessor began operations under the ownership of the Joint Venture Partners. The consolidated statement of equity (deficiency) has been presented to reflect the capital structure of the new entity and retained earnings on a continuity of interest basis. Any difference between the face value of the shares and the value of the previous equity has been presented as additional paid in capital.

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 16, 2015.

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. Dollar are translated to reflect the year end exchange rates. Resulting gains and losses are reflected separately in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

Operating revenues and expenses

The principal activity of Malt LNG Netherlands B.V. and its subsidiaries is the transportation of liquefied natural gas (or LNG ) through the operation of the Company’s six LNG carriers.

The lease element of time-charters and bareboat charters accounted for as operating leases is recognized by the Company daily over the term of the charter as the applicable vessel operates under the charter. The Company recognizes revenues from the non-lease element of time-charter contracts daily as services are performed. The Company 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.

 

7


MALT LNG NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS B.V.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in U.S. Dollars, unless indicated otherwise)

 

Business combinations

Except as described above in relation to the transfer of business between entities under common control, the Company uses the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations and recognizes asset acquired and liabilities assumed measured at their fair values on the date acquired. The fair values of the assets and liabilities acquired are determined based on the Company’s valuation. The valuation involves making significant estimates and assumptions which are based on detailed financial models including the projection of future cash flows, the weighted average cost of capital and any cost saving that are expected to be derived in the future.

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.

Vessels and equipment

The acquisition cost and all costs incurred to restore used vessels purchased by the Company to the standards required to properly service the Company’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 35 years for LNG carriers, from the date the vessel is delivered from the shipyard or a shorter period if regulations prevent the Company from operating the vessels for 35 years.

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.

Generally, the Company dry docks each of its vessels every five years. In addition, a shipping society classification intermediate survey is performed on the Company’s LNG carriers between the second and third year of the five-year dry-docking period. The Company 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 Company 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 Company 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.

Vessels and equipment 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.

Debt issuance costs

Debt issuance costs, including fees, commissions and legal expenses, relating to bank loan facilities are deferred and amortized using the effective interest rate method over the term of the relevant loan. Amortization of deferred debt issuance is included in interest expense.

Derivative instruments

All derivative instruments are initially recorded at fair value as either assets or liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets 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 applies hedge accounting to its derivative instrument (note 12) .

When a derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, the Company formally documents the relationship between the derivative and the hedged item. This documentation includes the strategy and risk management objective for undertaking the hedge and the method that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the hedge. Any hedge ineffectiveness is recognized

 

8


MALT LNG NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS B.V.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in U.S. Dollars, unless indicated otherwise)

 

immediately in earnings, as are any gains and losses on the derivative that are excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. The Company does not apply hedge accounting if it is determined that the hedge was not effective or will no longer be effective, the derivative was sold or exercised, or the hedged item was sold, repaid or no longer possible of occurring.

For derivative financial instruments designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges, changes in the fair value of the effective portion of the derivative financial instruments are initially recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in equity. In the periods when the hedged items affect earnings, the associated fair value changes on the hedging derivatives are transferred from equity to the corresponding earnings line item in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative financial instruments is immediately recognized in the consolidated statement of income as interest expense. If a cash flow hedge is terminated and the originally hedged items is still considered possible of occurring, the gains and losses initially recognized in equity remain there until the hedged item impacts earnings, at which point they are transferred to the corresponding earnings line item in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. If the hedged items are no longer possible of occurring, amounts recognized in equity are immediately transferred to the earnings line item in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

Intangible assets

The Company’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.

Income taxes

The legal jurisdictions in which the Company’s Marshall Island and Singapore subsidiaries are incorporated do not impose income taxes upon shipping-related activities. The Company’s Danish subsidiaries are subject to the Danish Tonnage Tax Regime. Under this regime, the applicable tax is based on the weight (measured as net tonnage) of the vessel and the number of days in the taxable period that the vessel is at the Company’s disposal, excluding time required for repairs.

The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method which requires companies to determine whether 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 based on guidance in the interpretation. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company did not have any material accrued interest and penalties relating to income taxes.

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

The following table contains the changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income for the periods presented:

 

     Qualifying Cash
Flow Hedging
Instruments
 
     $  

Balance as at December 31, 2012

     —    

Other comprehensive income

     251,576  
  

 

 

 

Balance as at December 31, 2013

  251,576  
  

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss

  (2,949,130
  

 

 

 

Balance as at December 31, 2014

  (2,697,554
  

 

 

 

2. Business Combination

On February 28, 2012, the Company acquired six LNG carriers through the purchase of all outstanding capital stock of MALT LNG Transport ApS (formerly Maersk LNG Transport A/S), from Denmark-based A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S (or Maersk ), for approximately $1.3 billion. The acquisition was financed with $1.06 billion from secured loan facilities and $265.7 million from the issuance of common stock to its shareholders. Teekay Luxembourg S.a.r.l. and Scarlet LNG Transport Co., Ltd. are joint venture partners holding interest in the Company of 52% and 48%, respectively.

 

9


MALT LNG NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS B.V.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in U.S. Dollars, unless indicated otherwise)

 

The Company’s acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting, based upon estimates of fair value. The estimated fair values of certain assets and liabilities have been determined with the assistance of third-party valuation specialists and were finalized during 2012. The operating results of MALT LNG Transport ApS are reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from February 28, 2012, the effective date of acquisition. During the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company recognized $205.6 million and $169.6 million of revenue and $98.2 million and $83.9 million of net income, respectively, resulting from this acquisition. In addition, the Company incurred nil and $1.9 million of acquisition-related expenses for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, which is reflected in general and administrative expenses.

3. 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.

Derivative instruments – The fair value of the Company’s derivative instrument is the estimated amount that the Company would receive or pay to terminate the agreement at the reporting date, taking into account current interest rates and the current credit worthiness of both the Company and the derivative counterparty. The estimated amount is the present value of future cash flows. The Company transacts its derivative instrument through investment-grade rated financial institutions at the time of the transaction and requires no collateral from these institutions. Given the current volatility in the credit markets, it is reasonably possible that the derivative fair value recorded could vary by a material amount in the near term.

Long-term debt – The fair values of the Company’s fixed-rate and variable-rate long-term debt is either based on quoted market prices or estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on rates currently available for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities.

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.

The following table includes the estimated fair value and carrying value of those assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis, as well as the estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments that are not accounted for at a fair value on a recurring basis.

 

          December 31, 2014     December 31, 2013  
     Fair Value
Hierarchy
Level
   Carrying
Amount Asset
(Liability)
$
    Fair Value
Asset
(Liability)
$
    Carrying
Amount Asset
(Liability)
$
    Fair Value
Asset
(Liability)
$
 

Cash and restricted cash

   Level 1      88,171,887       88,171,887       62,623,362       62,623,362  

Long-term debt (note 8)

   Level 2      (842,765,865     (827,420,570     (924,855,982     (905,144,887

Derivative instruments (note 12)

   Level 2      (4,273,293     (4,273,293     (1,367,960     (1,367,960

4. Restricted cash

The Company maintains restricted cash deposits relating to certain term loans and secured notes to be used only for operating, dry-docking and debt-service related expenditures. As at December 31, 2014 and 2013 the short-term amount of restricted cash on deposit was $4.2 million and $6.3 million, respectively, and long-term amount of restricted cash on deposit was $11.9 million and $4.7 million, respectively.

 

10


MALT LNG NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS B.V.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in U.S. Dollars, unless indicated otherwise)

 

5. Vessels and Equipment

 

     Cost      Accumulated
depreciation
     Net book value  
     $      $      $  

Balance, December 31, 2012

     1,458,075,490        (35,369,139      1,422,706,351  

Additions

     9,635,718        —          9,635,718  

Depreciation and amortization

     —          (42,943,979      (42,943,979
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2013

  1,467,711,208     (78,313,118   1,389,398,090  

Additions

  13,423,467     —       13,423,467  

Depreciation and amortization

  —       (45,018,043   (45,018,043
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance, December, 31 2014

  1,481,134,675      (123,331,161   1,357,803,514  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

6. Intangible Asset

As at December 31, 2014 intangible asset consisted of a time-charter contract. The carrying amount of the intangible asset is as follows:

 

     December 31,
2014
     December 31,
2013
 
     $      $  

Gross carrying amount

     10,350,000        10,350,000  

Accumulated amortization

     (9,508,800      (6,092,920
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net carrying amount

  841,200     4,257,080  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amortization expense of the intangible asset is $3.4 million, $3.2 million, and $2.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The intangible asset will be fully amortized in 2015.

7. Accrued Liabilities

 

     December 31,
2014
     December 31,
2013
 
     $      $  

Voyage and vessel expenses

     2,264,307         2,612,163   

Interest expense

     1,445,111         1,603,882   

Other general expenses

     1,507,701         482,127   

Income taxes payable and other

     263,000         400,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
  5,480,119      5,098,172   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

8. Long-term Debt

 

     December 31,
2014
     December 31,
2013
 
     $      $  

U.S. Dollar denominated debt due through 2017

     512,000,000        576,000,000  

U.S. Dollar denominated debt due through 2021

     145,546,875        157,109,372  

U.S. Dollar denominated debt due through 2030

     185,218,990        191,746,610  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

  842,765,865     924,855,982  

Less current portion

  (79,446,595   (82,090,117
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
  763,319,270     842,765,865  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As at December 31, 2014, the Company had two U.S. Dollar-denominated term loans outstanding in the amount of $266.2 million and $245.8 million. These loans have quarterly interest payments based on LIBOR plus 3.15% and 0.50%, respectively, and bullet repayments of $206.1 million and $190.2 million, respectively, at maturity on March 31, 2017. The term loans are collateralized by first-priority statutory mortgages over the Marib Spirit , Arwa Spirit , Methane Spirit and Magellan Spirit , first priority pledges or charges of all the issued shares of the respective vessel owning subsidiaries, and a guarantee from Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and Marubeni Corporation.

 

11


MALT LNG NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS B.V.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in U.S. Dollars, unless indicated otherwise)

 

As at December 31, 2014, the Company had a U.S. Dollar-denominated term loan outstanding in the amount of $145.5 million. This loan has equal quarterly principal repayments of $2.9 million, quarterly interest payments based on LIBOR plus 2.60% and a bullet repayment of $67.5 million at maturity on July 18, 2021. The term loan is collateralized by a first-priority mortgage on the Woodside Donaldson .

As at December 31, 2014, the Company had U.S. Dollar-denominated senior secured notes in the amount of $185.2 million. These notes have quarterly principal repayments and quarterly interest payments based on a fixed rate of 4.11%. The notes have a maturity date of August 1, 2030 and are collateralized by a first-priority mortgage on the Meridian Spirit .

The weighted-average effective interest rate for the Company’s long-term debt outstanding as at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was 2.69% and 2.66%, respectively. The aggregate annual long-term debt principle repayments required subsequent to December 31, 2014 are $79.4 million (2015), $68.0 million (2016), $428.3 million (2017), $19.7 million (2018), $19.9 million (2019) and $227.5 million (thereafter).

9. In-process Revenue Contracts

As part of the Company’s acquisition of MALT LNG Transport ApS the Company assumed certain LNG charter contracts with terms that were less favorable than the then prevailing market terms. The Company has recognized a liability based on the estimated fair value of these contracts. The Company is amortizing this liability over the estimated remaining terms of the contracts based on the projected revenue to be earned under the contracts and are recorded as part of voyage revenues in the Company’s consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

As at December 31, 2014 and 2013 in-process revenue contracts consisted of four time-charter contracts with a weighted-average amortization period of 13.8 years (2013 – 14.8 years). The carrying amount of in-process revenue contracts for the Company is as follows:

 

     December 31,
2014
     December 31,
2013
 
     $      $  

Gross carrying amount

     135,880,000        135,880,000  

Accumulated amortization

     (45,150,328      (38,480,503
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net carrying amount

  90,729,672     97,399,497  

Less current portion

  (6,668,323   (6,668,528
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
  84,061,349     90,730,969  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amortization of in-process revenue contracts in each of the five years following 2014 is approximately $6.7 million per year (2015 – 2019) and $57.2 million (thereafter).

10. Share Capital and Additional Paid-in Capital

On July 12, 2013, Malt LNG Netherlands Holdings B.V. issued 100 shares of common stock for 100 Euro (approximately $121) to the Joint Venture Partners. The Company does not have authorized capital.

On August 6, 2013 the Joint Venture Partners contributed its shares in MALT LNG Holdings ApS to Malt LNG Netherlands Holdings B.V. in exchange for additional paid-in capital of Malt LNG Netherlands Holdings B.V.

 

     December 31,
2014
     December 31,
2013
 
     $      $  

Issued and outstanding

     

100 Common shares

     121         121   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

12


MALT LNG NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS B.V.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in U.S. Dollars, unless indicated otherwise)

 

11. Related Party Transactions

 

a.

Teekay Luxembourg S.a.r.l. and Scarlet LNG Transport Co., Ltd. are joint venture partners holding ownership interest in the Company of 52% and 48%, respectively. Marubeni Corporation is the ultimate parent company of Scarlet LNG Transport Co., Ltd. and Teekay Corporation is the ultimate parent company of Teekay Luxembourg S.a.r.l.

 

b.

The Company and certain of its operating subsidiaries have entered into service agreements with Teekay Shipping Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Teekay Corporation to which Teekay Shipping Ltd. provides the Company and its subsidiaries with corporate and technical ship management services. In addition, crew training services and transition related services were provided to the Company by Teekay Shipping Ltd. These services are measured at the exchange amount between the parties. For the periods indicated, these related party transactions were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
     Year Ended
December 31,
2013
     Year Ended
December 31,
2012
 
     $      $      $  

Crew training expenses included in vessel operating expenses

     1,235,011        1,015,685        371,582  

Ship management services

     2,957,975        2,901,416        1,661,202  

Corporate services included in general and administrative

     1,885,785        1,848,809        1,025,000  

Transition services included in general and administrative

     —          —          2,100,000  

 

c.

From time to time, other payments are made by affiliates on behalf of the Company that are not specific to any agreements described above. During the year ended December 31, 2014, nil (2013 – $0.2 million and 2012 – $1.0 million) payments of this nature were made.

 

d.

The amounts due to related parties are non-interest bearing, unsecured and have no fixed repayment terms. The Company did not incur interest expense from related party balances during the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. Balances with related parties are as follows:

 

     December 31,
2014
     December 31,
2013
 
     $      $  

Teekay Shipping Limited

     10,849,792        10,176,738  

Teekay Corporation

     98,805        28,827  

Other related parties

     31,228        190,798  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
  10,979,825     10,396,363  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

e.

As a result of the refinancing completed during 2013, the tranches of the facility were guaranteed by the Joint Venture Partners relative to their proportionate interest. As a result of difference in the credit ratings of the guarantors, the tranche guaranteed by Marubeni Corporation received a lower interest rate than the portion guaranteed by Teekay LNG Partners L.P. by 2.567%. As a result, the Company has agreed to pay the interest rate differential to Marubeni Corporation until the facility matures in 2017 as a payment for their guarantee. The payment, which totaled $6.9 million and $3.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, is included in interest expense.

12. Derivative Instruments

The Company uses derivative instruments to manage certain risks in accordance with its overall risk management policies.

Interest Rate Risk:

The Company entered into an interest rate swap, which exchanges 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. The Company has designated, for accounting purposes, its interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge.

 

13


MALT LNG NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS B.V.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in U.S. Dollars, unless indicated otherwise)

 

As at December 31, 2014, the Company was committed to the following interest rate swap agreement:

 

     Interest
Rate Index
     Notional
Amount
$
     Fair Value
/ Carrying
Amount of
Liability
$
     Average
Remaining
Term
(years)
     Fixed
Interest
Rate (1)
(%)
 

U.S. Dollar-denominated interest rate swap (2)

     LIBOR         145,546,875         4,273,293         6.6         2.2   

 

(1)

Excludes the margin the Company pays on its variable-rate debt, which as at December 31, 2014 was 2.60%.

(2)

Notional amount reduces quarterly.

The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the counterparty to the interest rate swap agreement. 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 or better by Moody’s at the time of the transactions.

The following table presents the location, type of contract and fair value amount of the derivative instrument on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

     Derivative
Asset
$
     Accrued
Liabilities
$
     Current Portion
of Derivative
Liability
$
     Derivative
Liability
$
 

As at December 31, 2014

           

Interest rate swap agreement

     —           (573,236      (2,148,377      (1,551,680

As at December 31, 2013

           

Interest rate swap agreement

     1,618,305        (631,022      (2,355,243      —    

For the periods indicated, the following table presents the effective portion of gains (losses) on interest rate contracts designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges that were (1) recognized in other comprehensive (loss) income, (2) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (or AOCI ) during the term of the hedging relationship and reclassified to earnings, and (3) recognized in the ineffective portion of (losses) gains on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges.

 

As at December 31,

2014

     Year Ended December 31, 2014
Balance Sheet
(AOCI)
     Statement of Income
Effective Portion      Effective Portion      Ineffective Portion       
$      $      $       
  —          —          (13,989    Interest expense
  (2,697,554)         (2,949,130      —         Other comprehensive loss

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    
  (2,697,554)      (2,949,130   (13,989

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

As at December 31,
2013
     Year Ended December 31, 2013
Balance Sheet
(AOCI)
     Statement of Income
Effective Portion      Effective Portion      Ineffective Portion       
$      $      $       
  —           —           (988,514    Interest expense
  251,576         251,576         —         Other comprehensive income

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    
  251,576      251,576      (988,514

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

14


MALT LNG NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS B.V.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(all tabular amounts stated in U.S. Dollars, unless indicated otherwise)

 

As at December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income included ($2.9) million and $0.3 million net of unrealized gains on its interest rate swap contract designated as a cash flow hedge. As at December 31, 2014, the Company estimated based on then current interest rates, that it would reclassify approximately $2.4 million of losses on its interest rate swap contract from accumulated other comprehensive income to earnings during the next 12 months.

13. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

 

a.

The changes in operating assets and liabilities for year ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
     Year Ended
December 31,
2013
     Year Ended
December 31,
2012
 
     $      $      $  

Accounts receivable and accrued revenue

     3,626,254        (2,276,231      13,935,536  

Prepaid expenses

     46,822        (396,955      2,914,134  

Accounts payable

     (603,807      19,067        (5,071,155

Accrued liabilities

     381,947        7,917        6,112,933  

Due to related parties

     583,462        5,275,731        3,525,537  

Deferred revenues

     945,280        (6,405,588      (3,945,434
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  4,979,958     (3,776,059   17,471,551  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

b.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 cash paid for interest on long-term debt was $34.0 million, $26.4 million and $14.7 million, respectively.

14. Operating Leases

As at December 31, 2014, the minimum scheduled future revenues in the next five years to be received by the Company for the lease and non-lease elements under charters are approximately $154.9 million (2015), $138.2 million (2016), $114.1 million (2017), $112.4 million (2018) and $114.1 million (2019).

Minimum scheduled future revenues do not include amortization of in-process revenue contracts, revenue generated from new contracts entered into after December 31, 2014, revenue from unexercised option periods on contracts that existed on December 31, 2014 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.

15. Accounting Pronouncement Not Yet Adopted

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or FASB ) issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, (or ASU 2014-09 ). ASU 2014-09 will require entities to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This update creates a five-step model that requires entities to exercise judgment when considering the terms of the contract(s) which include (i) identifying the contract(s) with the customer, (ii) identifying the separate performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determining the transaction price, (iv) allocating the transaction price to the separate performance obligations, and (v) recognizing revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. ASU 2014-09 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and shall be applied, at the Company’s option, retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is evaluating the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance.

In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity (or ASU 2014-08 ) which raises the threshold for disposals to qualify as discontinued operations. A discontinued operation is now defined as: (i) a component of an entity or group of components that has been disposed of or classified as held for sale and represents a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results; or (ii) an acquired business that is classified as held for sale on the acquisition date. ASU 2014-08 also requires additional disclosures regarding discontinued operations, as well as material disposals that do not meet the definition of discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in the financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. The impact, if any, of adopting ASU 2014-08 on the Company’s financial statements will depend on the occurrence and nature of disposals that occur after ASU 2014-08 is adopted.

 

15

Exhibit 15.3

Consolidated Financial Statements

EXMAR LPG BVBA

December 31, 2014


INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

To the Board of Directors of Exmar LPG BVBA

Report on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Exmar LPG BVBA, which comprise the consolidated statements of financial position as at December 31, 2014 and 2013, the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, equity and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2014 and for the period from February 12, 2013 to December 31, 2013, and notes, comprising a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.

Management’s Responsibility for the Consolidated Financial Statements

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Auditors’ Responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditors’ judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Opinion

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Exmar LPG BVBA as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2014 and the period from February 12, 2013 to December 31, 2013 in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Chartered Accountants

April 21, 2015

Vancouver, Canada

 

2


EXMAR LPG BVBA

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(in thousands of U.S. Dollars)

 

     As of
December 31,
2014
    As of
December 31,
2013
 

Assets

    

Current:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

     55,392        32,448   

Accounts receivable, including non-trade of $10,304 (2013 – $12,537)

     15,155        16,494   

Other current assets (notes 5 and 10(c))

     66,663        9,555   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

  137,210      58,497   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-current assets:

Vessels, net of accumulated depreciation (note 4)

  425,834      396,705   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

  563,044      455,202   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Equity

Current:

Current portion of long-term debt (note 6)

  36,109      39,600   

Current portion of finance lease obligations (note 6)

  21,547      6,642   

Shareholders’ loans (note 7)

  165,350      164,139   

Accounts payable (note 10(b))

  6,889      6,767   

Other current liabilities (note 8)

  2,140      3,410   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

  232,035      220,558   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term liabilities:

Long-term debt (note 6)

  168,813      141,206   

Finance lease obligations (note 6)

  —        40,460   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

  400,848      402,224   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity:

Common stock (note 9)

  132,832      132,832   

Reserve for equity adjustment on acquisition

  (106,349   (106,349

Retained earnings

  135,713      26,495   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

  162,196      52,978   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

  563,044      455,202   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments (Note 12 and Note 13)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

3


EXMAR LPG BVBA

Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

(in thousands of U.S. Dollars)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Period from
February 12,
2013 to
December 31,
2013
 

Operations

    

Revenues

     198,843        170,525   

Gain on sales of vessels (note 4)

     65,563        1,824   

Other operating income

     650        31   

Vessel operating expenses (note 10(a))

     (115,121     (106,426

Administrative expenses

     (1,442     (1,682

Depreciation (note 4)

     (28,244     (29,425

Other operating expenses

     (268     (305
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from vessel operations

  119,981      34,542   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Finance costs

  (9,777   (8,805

Finance income

  —        29   

Other financial items, net

  (905   (501
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income before taxes

  109,299      25,265   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income taxes (note 3)

  (81   (97
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income and comprehensive income

  109,218      25,168   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

4


EXMAR LPG BVBA

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands of U.S. Dollars)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Period from
February 12,
2013 to
December 31,
2013
 

Cash provided by (used for)

    

Operating Activities

    

Net income

     109,218        25,168   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation

     28,244        29,425   

Gain on sale of vessels

     (65,563     (1,824

Finance costs

     9,777        8,805   

Finance income

     —          (29

Income taxes

     81        97   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Decrease (Increase) in accounts receivable

     1,339        (8,928

Decrease in other current assets

     2,892        3,732   

Increase in accounts payable

     122        129   

Decrease in other current liabilities

     (1,270     (2,218

Taxes paid

     (85     (105

Finance costs paid

     (9,926     (9,654

Finance income received

     —          29   

Dry dock expenditures

     (11,397     (6,199

Other

     78        490   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by operating activities

  63,510      38,918   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing Activities

Capital expenditures

  (129,113   (61,091

Proceeds from sale of vessels

  149,986      5,490   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

  20,873      (55,601
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing Activities

Proceeds from long-term debt

  105,000      215,000   

Repayments of long-term debt

  (80,884   (190,560

Repayments of finance lease obligations

  (25,555   (5,115

Proceeds from shareholders’ loans

  —        27,570   

Advance to affiliated company (note 10(c))

  (60,000   —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

  (61,439   46,895   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

  22,944      30,212   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

  32,448      2,236   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

  55,392      32,448   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

5


EXMAR LPG BVBA

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

(in thousands of U.S. Dollars)

 

     Common
Stock
     Reserve for
Equity
Adjustment
on
Acquisition
    Retained
Earnings
     Total
Equity
 

Balance, February 12, 2013

     132,832         (106,349     1,327         27,810   

Net income and comprehensive income

     —           —          25,168         25,168   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2013

  132,832      (106,349   26,495      52,978   

Net income and comprehensive income

  —        —        109,218      109,218   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2014

  132,832      (106,349   135,713      162,196   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

6


Exmar LPG BVBA

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

 

(1)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

  (a)

Basis of preparation

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (or IFRS ). These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Exmar LPG BVBA, which is incorporated under the laws of Belgium and its wholly owned subsidiaries, as described below (collectively, the Company ). The Company is owned jointly by Exmar NV and Teekay Luxembourg S.a.r.l. The comparative figures on the consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income are from February 12, 2013 which is the day Teekay Luxembourg S.a.r.l. acquired Exmar’s 50% interest in the Company. The address of the Company’s registered office is at De Gerlachekaai 20, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium. The following is a list of Exmar LPG BVBA’s subsidiaries:

 

Name of Significant Subsidiaries

  

Jurisdiction of
Incorporation

   Proportion of
Ownership
Interest
 

Exmar Shipping BVBA

   Belgium      100

Exmar Gas Shipping Ltd

   Hong Kong      100

Good Investment Ltd

   Hong Kong      100

All intercompany balances and transactions between Exmar LPG BVBA and its subsidiaries have been eliminated within these consolidated financial statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS 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.

Exmar LPG BVBA was incorporated on July 10, 2012.

The Company evaluated events and transactions occurring after the consolidated statements of financial position date and through the day the financial statements were available to be issued which is April 21, 2015.

 

  (b)

Basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and entities (including structured entities) controlled by the Company and its subsidiaries. Control is achieved when the Company:

 

   

has power over the investee;

 

   

is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee; and

 

   

has the ability to use its power to affect its returns.

The Company reassesses whether or not it controls an investee if facts and circumstances indicate that there are changes to one or more of the three elements of control listed above.

 

7


Exmar LPG BVBA

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

 

  (c)

Reporting Currency

The consolidated financial statements are stated in U.S. Dollars. The functional currency of the Company is the U.S. Dollar because the Company operates in the international shipping market, which typically utilizes the U.S. Dollar as the functional currency. 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.

 

  (d)

Use of Judgements and Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised and in any future periods affected.

Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the useful lives of vessels; the residual value of the vessels; the classification of new lease commitments and the review of the carrying amount of the fleet for potential impairment.

Information about judgments made in applying accounting policies that have the most significant effects on the amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements is included in the following: the classification of a lease as part of a time charter arrangement and the arm’s length nature of related party transactions.

 

  (e)

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents unless there is a restriction imposed by a third party on the availability of the funds.

 

  (f)

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount, do not bear interest and are based on the provisions of the respective time charter. Management reviews the need for an allowance for doubtful accounts on a monthly basis. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the Company believes that the receivable will not be recovered.

As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the collection of no accounts receivable was considered doubtful and, accordingly, there was no provision for doubtful accounts recorded.

 

  (g)

Operating Revenues and Expenses

The principal activities of the Company are the owning and chartering of vessels.

The lease element of time-charters and bareboat charters accounted for as operating leases are recognized by the Company daily over the term of the charter as the applicable vessel operates under the charter. The Company recognizes revenues from the non-lease element of time-charter contracts daily as services are performed. The Company does not recognize revenues during days that the vessel is off-hire.

All revenues from voyage charters are recognized on a percentage of completion method.

Vessel operating expenses include crewing, repairs and maintenance, insurance, stores, lube oils and communication expenses. Vessel operating expenses are paid by the Company for vessels on time-charters, and during off hire and are recognized when incurred.

 

8


Exmar LPG BVBA

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

 

As further discussed in Note 10 — Related Party Transactions, related parties have provided the management services for the vessels and employ the crews that work on the vessels.

 

  (h)

Vessels and vessels under finance lease

All pre-delivery costs incurred during the construction of new-buildings, including interest, supervision and technical costs, are capitalized. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over each vessel’s estimated useful life, less an estimated residual value. The vessel’s estimated useful lives are estimated at being 30 years.

Vessel capital modifications include the addition of new equipment or can encompass various modifications to the vessel that 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.

The Company dry docks its vessels and vessels under finance lease on a regular basis (on average every three to five years). The Company capitalizes certain costs incurred during dry docking and amortizes those costs on a straight-line basis from the completion of a dry docking over the estimated useful life of the dry dock. The Company 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 Company expenses costs related to routine repair and maintenance incurred during dry dock that does not improve or extend the useful life of the vessels.

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. The estimated fair value for the Company‘s impaired vessels is determined using discounted cash flows or appraised values.

 

  (i)

Other Current Assets

Other current assets consist of prepaid expenses, accrued revenue and advances to an affiliated company.

 

  (j)

Debt issuance costs

Debt issuance costs, including fees, commissions and legal expenses, relating to bank loan facilities are deferred and amortized using the effective interest rate method over the term of the relevant loan. Amortization of deferred debt issuance is included in finance costs. Debt issuance costs are presented net of long-term debt.

 

  (k)

Commitments and Contingencies

Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, and penalties and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Legal costs incurred in connection with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred.

Each time charter includes a requirement for the Company to guarantee certain performance criteria of the vessel primarily speed, upload/discharge speed and fuel consumption over the term of the charter. Costs associated with these performance claims are recognized when it is probable that the Company has incurred a liability. Management’s best estimate with regards to the probable payment in respect of performance claims issued by the charter party is recognized as a liability. Receivables under insurance policies are recorded when it is probable that the insurer will pay the amount.

 

9


Exmar LPG BVBA

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

 

  (l)

Income taxes

The income tax expense is recognised in profit or loss except to the extent that it relates to items recognised directly in equity, in which case is the related income taxes are recognised in equity.

Any deferred tax will be recognised using the balance sheet method, providing for temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes. Deferred taxes are measured at the tax rates that are expected to be applied to the temporary differences when they reverse, based on the laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date.

A deferred tax asset is recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which temporary difference can be utilised. Any deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realised. No deferred tax asset has been recognized for the current year.

 

  (m)

Leases

Payments made under operating leases are recognized in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. One of the Company’s leases has a provision whereby the amount of the lease payment fluctuates based on a percentage of the amount earned by a group of the Company’s vessels, including the leased vessel. These lease payments are considered contingent rent and are recorded in profit or loss in the period in which the revenue is earned.

Minimum lease payments under finance leases are apportioned between the finance expense and the reduction of the outstanding liability. The finance expense is allocated to each period during the lease term so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.

 

  (n)

New standards and interpretations not yet adopted

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments published in July 2014 replaces the existing guidance in IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement. IFRS 9 includes revised guidance on the classification and measurement of financial instruments, including a new expected credit loss model for calculating impairment on financial assets, and the new general hedge accounting requirements, which align hedge accounting more closely with risk management. It also carries forward the guidance on recognition and derecognition of financial instruments from IAS 39. IFRS 9 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not plan to adopt this standard early and the extent of the impact has not yet been determined.

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers establishes a comprehensive framework for determining whether, how much and when revenue is recognized. It replaces existing revenue recognition guidance, including IAS 18 Revenue, IAS 11 Construction Contracts and IFRIC 13 Customer Loyalty Programs. IFRS 15 is effective for the annual reports beginning on or after 1 January 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company is assessing the potential impact on its consolidated financial statements resulting from the application of IFRS 15.

 

(2)

Segment Information

The Company has not presented segment information as it considers it operates in one reportable segment, the floating liquefied petroleum gas carrier market. Furthermore, the Company’s vessels operate under time-charters or voyage charters. The charterer controls the choice of which routes the vessel will serve. Accordingly, the Company’s management does not evaluate the Company’s performance according to geographic region.

 

10


Exmar LPG BVBA

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

 

(3)

Taxation

Exmar LPG BVBA

Exmar LPG BVBA is subject to Belgian corporate income taxes. Exmar LPG BVBA has estimated tax losses of $5.1 million available for carry forward against future taxable profits. Given management’s assessment that it is not more likely than not that Exmar LPG BVBA will be able to generate sufficient taxable income in the future the deferred tax asset related to net operating losses carried forward as of December 31, 2014 has not been recognized.

Exmar Shipping BVBA

Exmar Shipping BVBA is subject to the Belgian Tonnage Tax Regime. Under this regime, the applicable tax is based on the weight (measured as net tonnage) of the vessels. The tonnage tax related to the vessels amounted to $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 and for the period from February 12, 2013 to December 31, 2013.

Exmar Gas Shipping Ltd

No provision for Hong Kong Profits Tax has been made in the financial statements as Exmar Gas Shipping Ltd did not earn any income subject to Hong Kong Profit Tax for the year.

Good Investment Ltd

No provision for Hong Kong Profits Tax has been made in the financial statements as Good Investment Ltd did not earn any income subject to Hong Kong Profit Tax for the year.

 

(4)

Vessels

 

     Vessels     Vessels
under
finance
lease
    Dry dock
components
    Vessels
under
Construction
    Total  

Cost at February 12, 2013

     404,376        94,400        28,615        9,664        537,055   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

  —        —        6,199      62,578      68,777   

Vessel sales

  (18,037   —        (1,386   —        (19,423

Component disposal

  —        —        (4,480   —        (4,480
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost at December 31, 2013

  386,339      94,400      28,948      72,242      581,929   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

  —        —        11,397      130,480      141,877   

Vessel acquisitions (note 6(b))

  49,600      (49,600   —        —        —     

Vessel sales

  (140,340   —        (8,742   —        (149,082

Vessel deliveries

  146,174      —        —        (146,174   —     

Component disposal

  —        —        (5,346   —        (5,346
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost at December 31, 2014

  441,773      44,800      26,257      56,548      569,378   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

11


Exmar LPG BVBA

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

 

Accumulated Depreciation at February 12, 2013

  129,684      34,373      11,978      —        176,035   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation

  16,405      3,789      9,231      —        29,425   

Vessel sales

  (14,691   —        (1,065   —        (15,756

Component disposal

  —        —        (4,480   —        (4,480
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accumulated Depreciation at December 31, 2013

  131,398      38,162      15,664      —        185,224   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation

  17,639      3,007      7,598      —        28,244   

Vessel acquisitions (note 6(b))

  21,891      (21,891   —        —        —     

Vessel sales

  (59,219   —        (5,359   —        (64,578

Component disposal

  —        —        (5,346   —        (5,346
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accumulated Depreciation at December 31, 2014

  111,709      19,278      12,557      —        143,544   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Book Value at December 31, 2013

  254,941      56,238      13,284      72,242      396,705   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Book Value at December 31, 2014

  330,064      25,522      13,700      56,548      425,834   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company sold four vessels, the Eeklo , Flanders Harmony , Temse and Flanders Tenacity (which was a vessel under finance lease and purchased by the Company in 2014 immediately prior to the sale), resulting in a gain of $65.6 million. During the period from February 12, 2013 to December 31, 2013, the Company sold one vessel, the Donau , resulting in a gain of $1.8 million.

Interest costs capitalized to vessels for the year ended December 31, 2014 and for the period from February 12, 2013 to December 31, 2013 aggregated $1.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively.

 

(5)

Other Current Assets

 

     December 31,
2014
     December 31,
2013
 

Accrued revenues

     2,834         4,825   

Prepaid expenses

     3,829         4,730   

Advances to affiliated company (note 10(c))

     60,000         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
  66,663      9,555   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(6)

Long-term Debt and Finance Lease Obligations

 

  (a)

Long-term debt

 

     December 31,
2014
     December 31,
2013
 

U.S. Dollar denominated debt due through 2018

     208,600         185,300   

Less debt issuance costs

     (3,678      (4,494
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt

  204,922      180,806   

Less current portion

  (36,109   (39,600
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
  168,813      141,206   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

12


Exmar LPG BVBA

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

 

Annual maturities of long-term debt as of December 31, 2014 during the next four years are as follows:

 

     Long-
term
debt
 

2015

     36,109   

2016

     36,109   

2017

     36,109   

2018

     100,273   
  

 

 

 

Total

  208,600   
  

 

 

 

The long-term debt of the Company relate to the 5-year senior secured loan facility (the “LPG Facility”) of up to $355.0 million, consisting of: a revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) of $215.0 million and a newbuilding facility (the “Newbuilding Facility”) of up to $140.0 million. The LPG Facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 3.25%, the maturity date of the LPG Facility is March 28, 2018. The weighted-average effective interest rate for the Company’s long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was 3.45% and 3.45%, respectively.

The commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility are reduced by 20 consecutive quarterly reductions commencing on June 2013, the first 19 in an amount of $9.9 million and the last reduction in an amount of $26.9 million. The Newbuilding Facility is repayable in consecutive quarterly instalments, each in an amount equal to one sixtieth of the amount of that newbuilding advance.

All amounts due under the LPG Facility are secured by shareholder guarantees, a first priority mortgage, a first priority share pledge, the assignment of all earnings, insurances and existing or future time-charter contracts, and a first priority pledge of the earnings account.

The LPG Facility contains covenants that require, among other things, compliance with the following:

 

   

minimum aggregate cash and cash equivalents of the higher of (i) $20.0 million and (ii) 5% of financial indebtedness;

 

   

minimum consolidated working capital of $0;

 

   

minimum ratio of net financial indebtedness to consolidated total capitalization of 0.70;

 

   

minimum ratio of EBITDA to interest expense 2.50 to 1.00;

 

   

minimum security coverage ratio of 125%.

Consolidated working capital excludes shareholders’ loans. Dividends may be declared and paid providing that Exmar LPG BVBA and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the financial and other covenants; there is no event of default; and the minimum liquidity is respected.

 

  (b)

Finance lease obligations

The outstanding finance lease obligations as at December 31, 2014 relate to the lease arrangement for the LPG carrier Brussels and as at December 31, 2013, also included the LPG carrier Flanders Tenacity . At December 31, 2014, the weighted-average interest rate implicit in this remaining lease was 5.75%.

 

13


Exmar LPG BVBA

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

 

   

Flanders Tenacity

In 2004, Good Investment Ltd entered into a lease arrangement for the LPG carrier Flanders Tenacity . The initial lease period was for 10 years plus 5 years in charterers’ option. Lease rentals were payable on a monthly basis. The lease obligations were secured by a mortgage on the vessel. Exmar Shipping BVBA had the option to purchase the Flanders Tenacity during the initial lease period. If Good Investment Ltd did not extend the charter period for an additional 5 years, the Company (and/or nominee) was obligated to purchase the vessel for a fixed price. In 2014, the Company acquired the vessel from the lessor and was sold to a third party, see Note 4 – Vessels and Dry Dock Components.

 

   

Brussels

The Company entered into a lease arrangement for the LPG carrier Brussels . The lease period commenced January 2009 for a period of six years and three months. Lease rentals are payable on a quarterly basis. Exmar Shipping BVBA has the option to terminate the lease arrangement and to take title to the vessel on any payment date, provided that all amounts due, including the early termination amount, have been paid. At the expiration of the lease period, the Company is required to purchase the vessel at a fixed price, see Note 13 – Commitments.

As at December 31, 2014, the commitments under the remaining finance lease obligation approximated $22.1 million, including imputed interest of $0.6 million and the fixed price purchase obligation, repayable in 2015.

 

(7)

Shareholders’ Loans

As of December 31, 2014, the Company has loans outstanding to its shareholders of $163.4 million (December 31, 2013 – $163.4 million). These loans bear interest at LIBOR plus margins ranging from 0.50% to 2.0% and have no fixed repayment terms. As at December 31, 2014, the interest accrued on these advances was $2.0 million (December 31, 2013 – $0.7 million). Both the principal and the accrued interest on these loans are included as shareholders’ loans in the Company’s consolidated statements of financial position. The weighted-average effective interest rate for the Company’s shareholders’ loans outstanding at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was 0.73% and 0.74%, respectively.

 

(8)

Other Current Liabilities

 

     December 31,
2014
     December 31,
2013
 

Deferred revenues

     1,898         3,374   

Accrued interest expense

     242         36   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
  2,140      3,410   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(9)

Common Stock

Exmar LPG BVBA has authorized share capital of $132,832,000 divided into 1,328,320 registered shares of no par value, all of which shares have been fully paid, and the legal title and beneficial ownership of 50% of those shares is held by each of Exmar NV and Teekay Luxembourg S.a.r.l.

In 2012, prior to the investment by Teekay Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Exmar NV transferred certain wholly owned subsidiaries to the newly-formed entity, Exmar LPG BVBA in exchange for the registered shares. As this transaction occurred between entities under common control at the time of the transfer, the assets of the underlying entities were recorded at the book value of Exmar NV at the date of the transfer. The difference between the value of the share capital issued and the book value of the assets is recorded as a reserve and adjusted through equity.

 

14


(10)

Related Party Transactions

 

  (a)

Exmar NV provides general and corporate management services for the Company. Exmar Shipmanagement NV, a subsidiary of Exmar NV provides all services in relation to crew and technical management of the vessels. Exmar Marine NV, a subsidiary of Exmar NV, provides commercial management services. All amounts charged by Exmar NV, Exmar Shipmanagement NV and Exmar Marine NV to the Company are reflected in vessel operating expenses except for the management fee charged if and when a vessel is sold, these are netted in the gain on sale. Detail as follows:

 

     Year ended
December 31,
2014
     Period from
February 12,
2013 to
December 31,
2013
 

Exmar NV

     588         520   

Exmar Hong Kong

     115         97   

Exmar Shipmanagement NV

     2,903         2,521   

Exmar Marine NV

     4,447         2,199   

 

  (b)

Included in accounts payable is due to affiliated companies of $0.8 million and $0.4 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

  (c)

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company loaned $60.0 million to Solaia Shipping LLC, a company under common control. This amount is included as part of other current assets in the Company’s consolidated statements of financial position. In February 2015, the amount advanced to Solaia Shipping LLC was repaid.

 

(11)

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 – The fair value of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents approximates its carrying amounts reported in the consolidated statements of financial position.

Accounts receivable / Accounts payable – The fair value of the Company’s accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates the carrying amount given the short term nature of these instruments.

Advances to affiliated company included in other current assets – The fair value of the Company’s advances to an affiliated company as described in Note 10(c) – Related Party Transactions, approximates its carrying amount reported in the consolidated statements of financial position due to the short term nature.

Shareholders’ loans – The fair values of the Company’s shareholders’ loans are equal to the book value as the shareholders’ loans have no stated repayment terms and are due on demand.

Long-term debt – The fair values of the Company’s fixed-rate and variable-rate long-term debt is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on rates currently available for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities. The Company does not include credit enhancement in its fair valuation of long-term debt.

 

15


Exmar LPG BVBA

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

 

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.

The following table includes the estimated fair value and carrying value of those assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis, as well as the estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments that are not accounted for at a fair value on a recurring basis.

 

          December 31, 2014     December 31, 2013  
    

Fair
Value
Hierarchy
Level

   Carrying
Amount
Asset
(Liability)
    Fair
Value
Asset
(Liability)
    Carrying
Amount
Asset
(Liability)
    Fair
Value
Asset
(Liability)
 

Cash and cash equivalents

   Level 1      55,392        55,392        32,448        32,448   

Advances to affiliated company included in other current assets

   Level 3      60,000        60,000        —          —     

Shareholders’ loans

   Level 2      (165,350     (159,852     (164,139     (160,180

Long-term debt

   Level 2      (208,600     (211,061     (185,300     (187,480

 

16


Exmar LPG BVBA

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

 

(12)

Operating Leases

 

  (a)

Company as a lessor

The Company’s future minimum receipts under short to long term time charters at December 31, 2014 are as follows:

 

Less than one year

  121,606   

Between one and five years

  290,651   

More than five years

  200,528   
  

 

 

 
  612,785   
  

 

 

 

Minimum scheduled future revenues assume 100% utilization and do not include revenue generated from new contracts entered into after December 31, 2014, revenue from undelivered vessels, revenue from unexercised option periods of its time-charter contract that existed on December 31, 2014, 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.

 

  (b)

Company as a lessee

The Company leases a number of its vessels under operating lease agreements. The expense for 2014 relating to the operating leases amounts to $23.5 million ($20.4 million for 2013) and no payments for non-cancellable subleases were received. The future minimum payments under non-cancellable operating leases at December 31, 2014 are as follows:

 

Less than one year

  26,228   

Between one and five years

  63,397   

More than five years

  46,878   
  

 

 

 
  136,503   
  

 

 

 

 

(13)

Commitments

As of December 31, 2014, the Company has newbuilding contracts with Hyundai MIPO Dockyard Co, Ltd and HHIC – Phil Inc for the construction of nine LPG carriers at a total cost of $342.6 million. As at December 31, 2014, the estimated remaining costs to be incurred are $111.5 million (2015), $82.9 million (2016), $113.4 million (2017) and $34.9 million (2018). The Company intends to finance the newbuilding payments through its existing liquidity and expects to secure long-term debt financing for the units prior to their scheduled deliveries.

As described in Note 6(b) – Long-term Debt and Finance Lease Obligations, the Company is required to purchase the LPG carrier Brussels from the lessor at the expiration of the lease in 2015 for $19.9 million.

 

17


Exmar LPG BVBA

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

 

(14)

Financial Risk Management

The Company has exposure to the following risks from its use of financial instruments:

Credit risk

The Company trades only with recognized, creditworthy third parties. It is the Company’s policy that all customers who wish to trade on credit terms are subject to credit verification procedures. In addition, receivable balances are monitored on an ongoing basis with the result that the Company’s exposure to bad debts is not significant. The maximum exposure is the carrying amount as disclosed on the statements of financial position.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not have sufficient funds to meet its liabilities. The Company maintains liquidity and makes adjustments to it in light of changes to economic conditions, underlying risks inherent in its operations and capital requirements to maintain its operations. At December 31, 2014, the Company had $55.4 million of cash and cash equivalents ($32.4 million at December 31, 2013).

The following are the contractual maturities of financial liabilities, including estimated interest payments, as at December 31, 2014:

 

     Contractual cash flows  
     Carrying
amount
     Total      1 year or
less
     1-3
years
     3-5 years      More
than
5
years
 

Accounts payable

     6,889         6,889         6,889         —           —           —     

Accrued interest expense

     242         242         242         —           —           —     

Shareholders’ loans (1)

     165,350         165,350         165,350         —           —           —     

Long-term debt (2)(3)

     208,600         228,838         43,150         84,247         101,441         —     

Finance lease obligations

     21,547         22,148         22,148         —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  402,628      423,467      237,779      84,247      101,441      —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

The shareholders’ loans are due on demand however, the Company does not expect the shareholders to demand repayment in the next year.

(2)

Amount does not include debt issuance costs being netted against long-term debt of $3.7 million.

(3)

Contractual cash flows for long-term debt include estimated future variable interest payments of $20.1 million based on current interest rates.

 

18


Exmar LPG BVBA

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

 

Market risk

Interest Rate Risk

The Company is exposed to the impact of interest rate changes primarily through the borrowings that require the Company to make interest payments based on LIBOR. Significant increases in interest rates could adversely affect the operating margins, results of operations and the ability to service the debt. A 1% change in LIBOR would impact the Company’s consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income by $2.1 million.

Foreign Currency Risk

The Company’s functional currency is U.S. Dollars. The results of operations are affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The volatility in the financial results due to currency exchange rate fluctuations is attributed primarily to foreign currency expenses. A portion of the vessel operating expenses are denominated in Euro, which is primarily a function of the nationality of the crew. 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 vessel operating expenses. A 10 basis point change in foreign currency exchange rates would impact the Company’s consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income by approximately $1.0 million.

 

(15)

Employee expenses and director remuneration

Directors are appointed by the two joint venture partners. Director compensation is nil for the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

There are no key management personnel employed by the Company. Management of the Company is performed through corporate and ship management service agreements with Exmar Marine NV and Exmar Shipmanagement NV as described in Note 10 — Related Party Transactions. As a result, compensation for key management personnel amounts to nil for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.

The following employee expenses related to seafarers have been included in vessel and other operating expenses:

 

     Year ended
December 31,
2014
     For the
period from
February 12,
2013 to
December 31,
2013
 

Salaries, bonuses and other personnel expenses

     15,884         14,331   

 

19


Exmar LPG BVBA

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(all tabular amounts stated in thousands of U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

 

(16)

Capital Management

The Board defines “capital” to include funds raised through the issuance of ordinary share capital, accumulated profits and proceeds raised from debt facilities, including shareholder loans. The Board’s policy is to obtain additional capital for the construction or acquisition of new vessels through shareholder loan injections by the Company’s Joint Venture Partners and external debt facilities and to dividend out any available excess cash the Company generates. The Board regularly reviews and manages its capital structure to maintain a balance between the higher returns that might be possible with higher levels of borrowings and the advantages and security afforded by a sound capital position, and makes adjustments to the capital structure in light of changes in economic conditions.

 

(17)

Subsequent events

 

  (a)

In January 2015, one of the Company’s nine LPG newbuilding carriers, the Warisoulx , was delivered.

 

  (b)

In February 2015, the Company collected $60 million on the amount it advanced to Solaia Shipping LLC, and paid $70 million in aggregate to its shareholders as dividends and shareholders’ loan repayments.

 

  (c)

In April 2015, the Company purchased the LPG carrier Brussels from the lessor which was historically included as a finance lease (see Note 6(b) – Long-term Debt and Finance Lease Obligations).

 

20