UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 6-K

 

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of June 2015

Commission File Number 001-35866

 

 

KNOT Offshore Partners LP

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

 

2 Queen’s Cross,

Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

United Kingdom

AB15 4YB

United Kingdom

(Address of principal executive office)

 

 

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

Form 20-F   x             Form 40-F   ¨

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

Yes   ¨             No    x

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

Yes   ¨              No   x

 

 

 


THIS REPORT ON FORM 6-K IS HEREBY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THE FOLLOWING REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF THE REGISTRANT:

REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM F-3 (NO. 333-195976) ORIGINALLY FILED WITH THE SEC ON MAY 15, 2014

EXHIBITS.

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Exhibit Description

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated May 28, 2015, among KNOT Offshore Partners LP, KNOT Offshore Partners GP LLC, KNOT Offshore Partners UK LLC, KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS and Barclays Capital Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as representatives of the underwriters named therein
  4.1    Amendment No. 1 dated May 7, 2015 to the Administrative Services Agreement, dated February 26, 2013, between KNOT Offshore Partners LP, KNOT Offshore Partners UK LLC, Knutsen OAS (UK) Ltd. and Knutsen OAS Shipping AS
  4.2    Employment Agreement, dated May 7, 2015, between KNOT Offshore Partners UK LLC and Mr. John Costain
  4.3    Share Purchase Agreement, dated May 27, 2015, between Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS and KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS
  5.1    Opinion of Watson Farley & Williams LLP as to the validity of the securities
  8.1    Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to certain U.S. federal tax matters
  8.2    Opinion of Watson Farley & Williams LLP as to certain Marshall Islands tax matters
  8.3    Opinion of Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS as to certain Norway tax matters
99.1    Press release of KNOT Offshore Partners LP, dated May 28, 2015

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

    KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS LP

Date: June 2, 2015

   
    By:  

/s/ John Costain

      Name:  John Costain
      Title:    Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

 

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Exhibit 1.1

Execution Version

KNOT O FFSHORE P ARTNERS LP

5,000,000 Common Units

Representing Limited Partner Interests

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

New York, New York

May 28, 2015

Barclays Capital Inc.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                        Incorporated

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

as Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o Barclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

KNOT Offshore Partners LP, a limited partnership organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the “ Partnership ”), proposes to sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “ Underwriters ”), for whom you (the “ Representatives ”) are acting as representatives, 5,000,000 common units (the “ Firm Units ”), each representing a limited partner interest in the Partnership (the “ Common Units ”). The Partnership also proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to 750,000 additional Common Units (the “ Option Units ”) on the terms and for the purposes set forth in Section 2. The Firm Units and the Option Units are hereinafter collectively called the “ Units .” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 6 of Form F-3, which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. Certain terms used herein and not otherwise defined are defined in Section 20 hereof.


KNOT Offshore Partners GP LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the “ General Partner ”), serves as the sole general partner of the Partnership. KNOT Offshore Partners UK LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (“ KNOT UK ”), is a wholly owned direct subsidiary of the Partnership. KNOT UK owns, directly, a 100% ownership interest in KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS, a company organized under the laws of Norway (“ KNOT Shuttle Tankers ”).

KNOT Shuttle Tankers owns:

(1) 100% of KNOT Shuttle Tankers 12 AS, a company organized under the laws of Norway (“ KNOT Shuttle Tankers 12 ”), which owns the 90% limited partner interests in Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII KS, a limited partnership organized under the laws of Norway (“ Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII ”);

(2) 100% of Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII AS, a company organized under the laws of Norway (“ Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII GP ”), the sole general partner of Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII and the owner of the 10% general partner interest in Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII;

(3) 100% (indirect ownership through KNOT Shuttle Tankers 12 and Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII GP) of Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII, which owns 100% of each of the Recife Knutsen and the Fortaleza Knutsen ;

(4) 100% of KNOT Shuttle Tankers 17 AS, a company organized under the laws of Norway (“ KNOT Shuttle Tankers 17 ”), which owns 100% of the Bodil Knutsen ;

(5) 100% of KNOT Shuttle Tankers 18 AS, a company organized under the laws of Norway (“ KNOT Shuttle Tankers 18 ”), which owns 100% of the Windsor Knutsen ;

(6) 100% of Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 13 AS, a company organized under the laws of Norway (“ Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 13 ”), which owns 100% of the Carmen Knutsen ;

(7) 100% of Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 14 AS, a company organized under the laws of Norway (“ Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 14 ”), which owns 100% of the Hilda Knutsen ;

(8) 100% of Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 15 AS, a company organized under the laws of Norway (“ Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 15 ”), which owns 100% of the Torill Knutsen ; and

(9) 100% of KNOT Shuttle Tankers 20 AS, a company organized under the laws of Norway (“ KNOT Shuttle Tankers 20 ”), which owns 100% of the Dan Cisne .

 

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The Recife Knutsen , the Fortaleza Knutsen , the Carmen Knutsen , the Bodil Knutsen , the Windsor Knutsen , the Hilda Knutsen , the Torill Knutsen and the Dan Cisne are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Vessels .” In addition, KNOT Shuttle Tankers 12, Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII GP, Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII, KNOT Shuttle Tankers 17, KNOT Shuttle Tankers 18, Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 13, Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 14, Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 15 and KNOT Shuttle Tankers 20 are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Operating Subsidiaries .”

The Partnership, the General Partner, KNOT UK and KNOT Shuttle Tankers are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Partnership Parties ,” and together with the Operating Subsidiaries, the “ Partnership Entities .”

This is to confirm the agreement among the Partnership Parties and the Underwriters concerning the purchase of the Units from the Partnership by the Underwriters.

1. Representations and Warranties . Each of the Partnership Parties, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this Section 1.

a) Registration. The Partnership meets the requirements for use of Form F-3 under the Act and has prepared and filed with the Commission a registration statement (File Number 333-195976) on Form F-3, including a related Base Prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Units. Such Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto filed prior to the Execution Time, has become effective. The Partnership may have filed with the Commission, as part of an amendment to the Registration Statement or pursuant to Rule 424(b), one or more preliminary prospectus supplements relating to the Units, each of which has previously been furnished to the Representatives. The Partnership will file with the Commission a final prospectus supplement relating to the Units in accordance with Rule 424(b). As filed, such final prospectus supplement shall contain all information required by the Act and the rules thereunder, and, except to the extent the Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to the Representatives prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the Base Prospectus and any Preliminary Prospectus) as the Partnership has advised the Representatives, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or made therein. The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x). The initial Effective Date of the Registration Statement was not earlier than the date three years before the Execution Time.

b) No Material Misstatements or Omissions. On each Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date (as defined herein) and on any date on which Option Units are purchased, if such date is not the Closing Date (a “ settlement date ”), the Prospectus will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; on the Effective Date and at the Execution

 

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Time, the Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date and any settlement date, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; each of the statements made by the Partnership in the Registration Statement and in any Preliminary Prospectus provided to the Underwriters for use in connection with the public offering of the Units, and to be made in the Prospectus and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus within the coverage of Rule 175(b), including (but not limited to) any statements with respect to projected results of operations, estimated available cash and future cash distributions of the Partnership, was made or will be made with a reasonable basis and in good faith; provided, however, that the Partnership Parties make no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Partnership by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

c) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in the Disclosure Package. (i) The Disclosure Package and (ii) each bona fide electronic road show when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package, do not, as of the Execution Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein (or any supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

d) No Ineligible Issuer. (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Partnership or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Units and (ii) as of the Execution Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Partnership was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Partnership be considered an Ineligible Issuer.

e) Emerging Growth Company Status. As of the date of this Agreement, the Partnership qualifies as an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Act (an “ Emerging Growth Company ”).

 

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f) Testing-the-Waters Communication. The Partnership (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication and (ii) has not authorized anyone to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications.

g) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

h) Formation and Qualification of the Partnership Entities . Each of the Partnership Entities has been duly formed or incorporated and is validly existing as a limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation or other entity, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of formation or incorporation with all limited liability company, limited partnership, corporate or other entity power and authority, as applicable, to enter into and perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement (as defined herein) to which it is a party, to own or lease and to operate its properties currently owned or leased and to conduct its business as currently conducted or as to be conducted on the Closing Date and any settlement date, in each case as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Each of the Partnership Entities is, and at the Closing Date and any settlement date will be, duly qualified to do business as a foreign limited partnership, limited liability company corporation or other entity, as applicable, and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction that requires, and at the Closing Date and any settlement date will require, such qualification or registration except where the failure to be so qualified or registered would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to (i) have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, securityholders’ equity, results of operations, business or properties of the Partnership Entities taken as a whole (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”) or (ii) subject the limited partners of the Partnership to any material liability or disability.

i) Ownership of the General Partner . Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS, a company organized under the laws of Norway (“ KNOT ”), directly owns 100% of the limited liability company interest in the General Partner; such limited liability company interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of the General Partner (as the same may be amended and restated at or prior to the Closing Date, the “ General Partner LLC Agreement ”) and is fully paid (to the extent required by the General Partner LLC Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 20, 31, 40 and 49 of the Republic of the Marshall Islands Limited Liability Company Act of 1996 (the “ Marshall Islands LLC Act ”); and except as may otherwise be provided in the General Partner LLC Agreement, KNOT owns such limited liability company interest free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, charges, equities or other claims (“ Liens ”).

 

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j) Ownership of Subordinated Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights . KNOT owns (i) 8,567,500 Subordinated Units and (ii) 100% of the Incentive Distribution Rights (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) (as defined herein) (the “ Incentive Distribution Rights ”). All of the Subordinated Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights, and the limited partner interests represented thereby, have been duly authorized and delivered by the Partnership against payment therefor, and validly issued in accordance with the limited partnership agreement of the Partnership (as the same may be amended and restated at or prior to the Closing Date, the “ Partnership Agreement ”) and are fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 30, 41, 51 and 60 of the Republic of the Marshall Islands Limited Partnership Act (the “ Marshall Islands LP Act ”); and KNOT owns the Subordinated Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens pursuant to that certain Pledge and Security Agreement between KNOT and DNB Bank ASA, dated April 15, 2013).

k) Ownership of the General Partner Interest . The General Partner is the sole general partner of the Partnership, with a 2% general partner interest in the Partnership (the “ General Partner Interest ”), which is represented by 456,633 general partner units (the “ General Partner Units ”). The General Partner Units have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement); and the General Partner owns the General Partner Units free and clear of all Liens (except for restrictions on transferability contained in the Partnership Agreement).

l) Ownership of KNOT UK . The Partnership directly owns 100% of the limited liability company interest in KNOT UK; such limited liability company interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of KNOT UK (as the same may be amended and restated at or prior to the Closing Date, the “ KNOT UK LLC Agreement ”) and is fully paid (to the extent required under the KNOT UK LLC Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 20, 31, 40 and 49 of the Marshall Islands LLC Act); and except as may be otherwise provided in the KNOT UK LLC Agreement, the Partnership owns such limited liability company interest free and clear of all Liens.

m) Ownership of KNOT Shuttle Tankers. KNOT UK directly owns 100% of the ownership interest in KNOT Shuttle Tankers; such ownership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the organizational documents of KNOT Shuttle Tankers (as the same may be amended and restated at or prior to the Closing Date, the “ KNOT Shuttle Tankers Agreement ”) and is fully paid (to the extent required by the KNOT Shuttle Tankers Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by the laws of Norway); and KNOT UK owns such ownership interest free and clear of all Liens.

 

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n) Ownership of the Operating Subsidiaries . KNOT Shuttle Tankers owns, directly or indirectly, 100% of the equity interests in each of the Operating Subsidiaries; such equity interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the memorandum and articles of association or limited partnership agreement, as applicable and as amended from time to time, of each Operating Subsidiary (as the same may be amended or restated at or prior to the Closing Date, the “ Operating Subsidiaries’ Organizational Documents ”) and are fully paid (to the extent required under the Operating Subsidiaries’ Organizational Documents) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by the applicable statutes of the jurisdiction of formation of the applicable Operating Subsidiary and the Operating Subsidiaries Organizational Documents); and KNOT Shuttle Tankers owns such equity interests free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens pursuant to the credit facilities related to the Vessels).

o) No Other Subsidiaries . Except as described in Sections 1(i), 1(j), 1(k), 1(l), 1(m) and 1(n), none of the Partnership Entities own or, on the Closing Date or any settlement date, will own, directly or indirectly, any equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity.

p) Power and Authority to Act as General Partner of the Partnership . The General Partner has, and on the Closing Date and any settlement date, will have, full limited liability company power and authority to act as the general partner of the Partnership as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

q) Capitalization . At the Closing Date, assuming no exercise of the option provided in Section 2(b), the issued and outstanding limited partner interests of the Partnership will consist of 18,807,500 Common Units, 8,567,500 Subordinated Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights.

r) Valid Issuance of the Units . At the Closing Date and any settlement date thereafter, the Firm Units and the Option Units, as the case may be, and the limited partner interests represented thereby will be duly authorized by the Partnership Agreement and, when issued and delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, will be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 30, 41, 51 and 60 of the Marshall Islands LP Act).

s) No Preemptive Rights, Registration Rights or Options . Except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or contained in the relevant organizational documents of the Partnership Entities, there are no (i) preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any equity interests in the Partnership Entities or (ii) outstanding options or warrants to purchase any securities of the Partnership Entities. Neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Units as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any Common Units or other securities of the Partnership.

 

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t) Authority and Authorization . Each of the Partnership Parties has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and perform its obligations hereunder. The Partnership has all requisite limited partnership power and authority to issue, sell and deliver the Units to the Underwriters in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and upon the terms set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

u) Authorization, Execution and Delivery of this Agreement . This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Partnership Parties.

v) Authorization, Execution , Delivery and Enforceability of the Other Agreements. As of the date hereof:

    1) the General Partner LLC Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by KNOT and is a valid and legally binding agreement of KNOT, enforceable against KNOT in accordance with its terms;

    2) the Partnership Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the General Partner and KNOT and is a valid and legally binding agreement of the General Partner and KNOT, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms;

    3) the KNOT UK LLC Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Partnership and is a valid and legally binding agreement of the Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with its terms;

    4) KNOT Shuttle Tankers Agreement has have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by KNOT UK and is a valid and legally binding agreement of KNOT UK, enforceable against KNOT UK in accordance with its terms;

    5) each of the Operating Subsidiaries’ Organizational Documents has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the appropriate Partnership Entity and each such agreement is a valid and legally binding agreement, enforceable against each party thereto in accordance with the terms of such agreement; and

    6) the share purchase agreement, dated May 27, 2015, by and between KNOT and KNOT Shuttle Tankers (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), to acquire all of KNOT’s interest in KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 AS, a company organized under the laws of Norway (“ KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 ”), that owns and operates the shuttle tanker, Dan Sabia , has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by KNOT Shuttle Tankers, and such agreement is a valid and legally binding agreement of KNOT Shuttle Tankers, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms;

 

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provided , however, that with respect to each agreement described in this Section 1(v), the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and provided further that the indemnity, contribution and exoneration provisions with respect to violations of federal securities laws contained in any of such agreements may be limited by applicable laws and public policy.

The agreements described in clauses (1) through (5) of this Section 1(v) are herein collectively referred to as the “ Organizational Documents .”

w) No Conflicts . None of (i) the offering, issuance and sale by the Partnership of the Units to be issued and sold to the Underwriters pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Purchase Agreement by the Partnership Entities party hereto or thereto, or (iii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (A) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a violation of any agreement of limited partnership, limited liability company agreement, bylaws, certificate of formation, certificate of incorporation or other organizational documents of any of the Partnership Entities, (B) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default) under any indenture, contract, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of the Partnership Entities is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties may be bound, (C) violates or will violate any statute, law or regulation or any order, judgment, decree or injunction of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over any of the Partnership Entities or any of their properties or assets in a proceeding to which any of them or their property is a party or (D) resulted, results or will result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of any of the Partnership Entities, which conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults or Liens, in the case of clauses (B), (C) or (D), would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or would materially impair the ability of the Partnership Entities to perform their obligation under this Agreement or the Purchase Agreement.

x) No Consents . No permit, consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, filing or qualification of or with any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over any of the Partnership Entities or any of their properties or assets is required in connection with (i) the offering or sale by the Partnership of the Units, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Purchase Agreement or the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof by the Partnership Entities party hereto or thereto or (iii) the consummation of any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Purchase Agreement,

 

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except (A) for such permits, consents, approvals, filings and similar authorizations required under the Act, the Exchange Act and state securities or “Blue Sky” laws of any jurisdiction, (B) such consents that have been, or prior to the Closing Date will be, obtained, (C) such permits, consents, approvals, filings and similar authorizations as may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, (D) for such consents that, if not obtained, would not individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect and (E) as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

y) No Defaults . None of the Partnership Entities is (i) in violation of its agreement of limited partnership, limited liability company agreement, certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other organizational documents, (ii) in violation of any statute, law, rule or regulation or any order, judgment, decree or injunction of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over any of the Partnership Entities or any of their properties or assets or (iii) in breach, default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default) or violation in the performance of any obligation, agreement or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, which in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) would, if continued, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the ability of any of the Partnership Entities to perform their obligations under this Agreement or the Purchase Agreement.

z) Conformity of Units to Description . The Units, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Partnership Agreement against payment therefor as provided herein and therein, will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

aa) No Labor Dispute . Except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no labor problem or dispute with the employees of any Partnership Entity exists, or, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, is threatened or imminent, and none of the Partnership Parties is aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of the Partnership Entities’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, which, in any case, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

bb) No Material Adverse Change . Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) no Partnership Entity has sustained any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, investigation, order or decree, (ii) there has not been any material change in the capitalization or material increase in the long-term debt of the Partnership Entities or any material adverse change or any development involving or which could reasonably be expected to involve, individually or in the aggregate, a prospective material adverse change in or affecting the general affairs,

 

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management, condition (financial or otherwise), stockholders’ equity, partners’ equity, members’ equity, results of operations, business, properties, assets or prospects of the Partnership Entities, taken as a whole, and (iii) none of the Partnership Entities has incurred any liability or obligation, direct, indirect or contingent, or entered into any transactions, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, that, individually or in the aggregate, is material to the Partnership Entities, taken as a whole, or otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

cc) Financial Statements. The historical financial statements included in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby and on the basis stated therein, as of the dates and for the periods indicated; such financial statements comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of Regulation S-X under the Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein). All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Act, to the extent applicable. There are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so included as required and the Partnership Entities, do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not described in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto) or the preliminary prospectus. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“ XBRL ”) included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly present the information called for in all material respects and have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

dd) Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. Ernst & Young AS, who has audited certain financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus of the Partnership and its combined predecessors and delivered its reports with respect thereto, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to such entities within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder and the rules and regulations of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“ PCAOB ”).

ee) Absence of Litigation. There is no (i) action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, arbitrator or governmental agency, body or official, domestic or foreign, now pending or, to the knowledge of any of the Partnership Parties, threatened, to which any of the Partnership Entities is or may be a party or to which the property of any of the Partnership Entities is or may be subject or that would be required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, which is not adequately disclosed in the Disclosure Package and Prospectus as required, (ii) statute, rule, regulation or order that

 

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has been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency with respect to any Partnership Entity or (iii) injunction, restraining order or order of any nature issued by a federal or state court or foreign court of competent jurisdiction, to which any of the Partnership Entities is or may be subject, that, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to (A) have a Material Adverse Effect, (B) prevent or result in the suspension of the offering and sale of the Units or (C) in any manner draw into question the validity of this Agreement.

ff) Title to Properties. As of the Closing Date and any settlement date, the Partnership Entities will have good title to all personal property described in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus to be owned by the Partnership Entities, and each of Knutsen Shuttle Tanker XII, Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 13, KNOT Shuttle Tankers 17, KNOT Shuttle Tankers 18, Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 14, Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 15 and KNOT Shuttle Tankers 20 hold, directly or indirectly, the interest in the applicable Vessel set forth opposite its name on Exhibit B , in each case free and clear of all Liens except (i) as described, and subject to the limitations contained, in the Disclosure Package, (ii) that arise from the indebtedness of the Partnership Entities or (iii) as do not materially affect the value of such property, taken as a whole, and do not materially interfere with the use of such properties, taken as a whole, as they have been used in the past and are proposed to be used in the future, as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (the Liens described in clauses (i) through (iii) above being “ Permitted Liens ”); provided that with respect to any interest in real property and buildings held under lease by Partnership Entities, such real property and buildings are held under valid and subsisting and enforceable leases (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)).

gg) Vessel Registration. Each Vessel is duly registered under the laws of the jurisdiction set forth on Exhibit B in the name of the applicable entity identified on Exhibit B, free and clear of all liens except Permitted Liens.

hh) Tax Returns. Each of the Partnership Entities has filed all foreign, federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect) and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

ii) Insurance. The Partnership Entities carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance, with financially sound and reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as are generally maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar business, and all such insurance is in full force and effect. The Partnership Entities have no reason to believe that they will not be able to (i) renew their existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct their business as now conducted and at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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jj) Distribution Restrictions. No subsidiary of the Partnership is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any distributions to the Partnership, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s equity interests, from repaying to the Partnership any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Partnership or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Partnership or any other subsidiary of the Partnership, except as described in or contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

kk) Licenses and Permits. Except as described in or contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except for those that are the responsibility of the counterparties to obtain pursuant to the terms of the agreements set forth in Exhibit A relating to the Vessels as such agreements are currently in effect (the “ Charter Agreements ”), the Partnership Entities possess, and upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 will possess, such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “ Governmental Licenses ”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to own or lease and operate their properties in the manner described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure so to possess would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Partnership Entities are, and upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 will be, in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except where the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the Partnership Entities have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses that, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, the charter parties to the Charter Agreements possess, or reasonably expect to possess in the ordinary course of business as necessary, the Governmental Licenses that are the responsibility of the charter parties to obtain pursuant to the terms of the Charter Agreements.

ll) Environmental Laws. Each Partnership Entity (i) is in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to pollution or the protection of the environment or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning the use, handling, storage or management of any Hazardous

 

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Materials (as defined herein) (“ Environmental Laws ”), (ii) has received all permits required of it under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct its respective businesses as presently conducted (“ Environmental Permits ”) except for any such Environmental Permits that are the responsibility of the charter parties under the Charter Agreements and that the Partnership Parties reasonably expect such charter parties to obtain, (iii) is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permits and (iv) does not have any liability in connection with any known or threatened release into the environment of any Hazardous Material, except in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The term “ Hazardous Material ” means (A) any “hazardous substance” as defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, (B) any “hazardous waste” as defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, (C) any petroleum or petroleum product, (D) any polychlorinated biphenyl and (E) any hazardous, toxic chemical, material, waste or substance regulated under or within the meaning of any applicable Environmental Law. In the ordinary course of business, the Partnership Entities periodically review the effect of Environmental Laws on their business, operations and properties, in the course of which they identify and evaluate costs and liabilities that they believe are reasonably likely to be incurred pursuant to such Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws, or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review, the Partnership Entities have reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities relating to the Vessels would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, the parties to the Charter Agreements possess, or reasonably expect to possess in the ordinary course as necessary, the Environmental Permits that are the responsibility of the charter parties to obtain pursuant to the terms of the Charter Agreements.

mm) Intellectual Property. Except as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Partnership Entities own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, “ Intellectual Property ”) necessary to carry on their business in the manner described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and (ii) the Partnership Entities have not received any notice and are not otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances that would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interests in the Partnership Entities.

nn) Certain Relationships and Related Transactions. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any Partnership Entity, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, affiliates, customers or suppliers of any Partnership Entity, on the other hand, that is required to be described in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus but is not so described.

 

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oo) Description of Legal Proceedings and Contracts; Filing of Exhibits. There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, threatened or contemplated, against any of the Partnership Entities, or to which any of the Partnership Entities is a party, or to which any of their respective properties or assets is subject, that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus but are not so described, and there are no agreements, contracts, indentures, leases or other instruments that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required by the Act. The statements included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings in all material respects.

pp) Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. On the Closing Date and any settlement date, the Partnership will be in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith and the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange that are effective and applicable to the Partnership.

qq) Investment Company. None of the Partnership Entities is, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Units and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of the Partnership Entities will be, an “investment company” or a company “controlled by” an “investment company,” each as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”).

rr) Passive Foreign Investment Company. The Partnership will not be a Passive Foreign Investment Company (“ PFIC ”) within the meaning of Section 1297 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), for the taxable year ending December 31, 2015, and based on the Partnership’s current and expected assets, income and operations as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Partnership does not believe that it is likely to become a PFIC for any future tax year.

ss) Tax Status . The Partnership has properly elected to be classified as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes as of the date hereof. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, each of the Partnership Entities has properly elected to be classified as disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for United States federal income tax purposes.

tt) Books and Records. Each Partnership Entity maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and

 

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to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals, and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (v) the interactive data in XBRL included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

uu) Market Stabilization. None of the Partnership Entities has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.

vv) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. No Partnership Entity nor any director, officer, nor to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, any agent, employee or affiliate of any Partnership Entity, is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such Persons of applicable anti-corruption laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “ FCPA ”), in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in order to obtain or retain business or otherwise secure an improper business advantage. The Partnership Entities and, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, their affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and other applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure, and that are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

ww) Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Partnership Entities are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with, in each case to the extent applicable, financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the anti-money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules or regulations, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Anti-Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving any of the Partnership Entities with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, threatened.

xx) Office of Foreign Assets Control. None of the Partnership Entities, nor, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of a Partnership Entity is currently the subject of or engaged in any activity in violation of any sanctions administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or any other relevant sanctions authority (“ Sanctions ”); and the Partnership will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the

 

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offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing any activities of or with any person or entity, or in any country or territory that, at the time of such financing, is the subject of an Sanction or in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions by any person or entity participating in the offering, either as an underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise.

yy) Statistical Data. Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Partnership believes to be reliable and accurate.

zz) No Distribution of Other Offering Materials. None of the Partnership Entities has distributed or, prior to the Closing Date and completion of the distribution of the Units, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Units other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to which the Representatives have consented in accordance with this Agreement or any other materials, if any, permitted by the Act, including Rule 134 thereunder.

aaa) Listing on the New York Stock Exchange. The Units have been approved to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.

bbb) Disclosure Controls. (i) The Partnership has established and maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act); (ii) such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Partnership in the reports it files or will file or submit under the Exchange Act, as applicable, is accumulated and communicated to management of the Partnership to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure to be made and (iii) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established to the extent required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

ccc) Stamp Taxes . No stamp or other issuance or transfer taxes are payable by or on behalf of the Underwriters in connection with (A) the delivery of the Firm Units in the manner contemplated herein or (B) the sale and delivery by the Underwriters of the Units as contemplated herein.

ddd) Brokers . There are no contracts, arrangements or understandings between any Partnership Entity and any person that would give rise to a valid claim against any Partnership Entity or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with the offering of the Units.

Any certificate signed by any officer of any Partnership Entity and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Units shall be deemed a representation and warranty by such Partnership Entity, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

 

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2. Purchase and Sale . (a) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Partnership agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Partnership, at a purchase price of $22.90 per Unit, the number of Firm Units set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto.

b) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Partnership hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, the Option Units at the same purchase price per Unit as the Underwriters shall pay for the Firm Units, less an amount per unit equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Partnership and payable on the Firm Units but not payable on the Option Units. Said option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time on or before the 30th day after the date of the Prospectus upon written, electronic or telegraphic notice by the Representatives to the Partnership setting forth the number of Option Units as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option and the settlement date. The number of Option Units to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same percentage of the total number of Option Units to be purchased by the several Underwriters as such Underwriter is purchasing of Firm Units, subject to such adjustments as the Representatives in their absolute discretion shall make to eliminate any fractional Units.

3. Delivery and Payment . Delivery of and payment for the Firm Units and the Option Units (if the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof shall have been exercised on or before the third Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date) shall be made at the offices of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., 2200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 500W, Washington, DC 20037, at 10:00 AM, New York City time, on June 2, 2015, or at such time on such later date not more than three Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement among the Representatives and the Partnership or as provided in Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Units being called herein the “ Closing Date ”). Delivery of the Units shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the respective aggregate purchase price of the Units being sold by the Partnership to or upon the order of the Partnership by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to the accounts specified by the Partnership. Delivery of the Units shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

If the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof is exercised after the third Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date, the Partnership will deliver the Option Units (at the expense of the Partnership) to the Representatives, at 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York, on the date specified by the Representatives (which shall be within three Business Days after exercise of said option) for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Partnership by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to the accounts specified by the Partnership. If

 

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settlement for the Option Units occurs after the Closing Date, the Partnership will deliver to the Representatives on the settlement date for the Option Units, and the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase the Option Units shall be conditioned upon receipt of, supplemental opinions, certificates and letters confirming as of such date the opinions, certificates and letters delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

4. Offering by Underwriters . It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Units for sale to the public as set forth in the Prospectus.

5. Agreements . Each of the Partnership Parties, jointly and severally, agrees with the several Underwriters that:

a) Preparation of Prospectus and Registration Statement. Prior to the termination of the offering of the Units, the Partnership will not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement (including any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus) to the Base Prospectus or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement unless the Partnership has furnished the Representatives a copy for their review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object. The Partnership will cause the Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved by the Representatives with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing. The Partnership will promptly advise the Representatives (i) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or when any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have been filed with the Commission, (ii) when, prior to termination of the offering of the Units, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective, (iii) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the receipt by the Partnership of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Units for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Partnership will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its reasonable best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.

 

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b) Amendment or Supplement of Disclosure Package and Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. If, at any time prior to the filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package as of the Execution Time or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as of its date would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances prevailing at such time not misleading, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, the Partnership will (i) promptly notify the Representatives so that any use of the Disclosure Package or the Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, may cease until the Disclosure Package or such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to correct such statement, omission or conflict; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the Representatives in such quantities as they may reasonably request.

c) Amendment of Registration Statement or Supplement of Prospectus. If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Units is required to be delivered under the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement, file a new registration statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, including in connection with the use or delivery of the Prospectus, the Partnership promptly will (i) notify the Representatives of any such event; (ii) prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 5, an amendment, supplement or new registration statement that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; (iii) use its best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable in order to avoid any disruption in the use of the Prospectus, and (iv) supply any supplemented Prospectus to the Representatives in such quantities as they may reasonably request.

d) Reports to Unitholders. As soon as practicable, the Partnership will make generally available to its unitholders and to the Representatives an earnings statement or statements of the Partnership and its subsidiaries that will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158.

e) Signed Copies of the Registration Statement and Copies of the Prospectus. The Partnership will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, photocopies of signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

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f) Qualification of Units. The Partnership will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Units for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as reasonably required for the distribution of the Units; provided , however, that in no event shall the Partnership be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Units, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

g) Lock-Up Period. The Partnership Parties will not, without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc., offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by any of the Partnership Parties or any person in privity with the Partnership Parties or any of their affiliates, directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position (within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act) in any Common Units or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, Common Units; or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, for a period of 60 days after the date of this Agreement (the “ Lock-Up Period ”), provided , however, that the Partnership (A) may issue and sell Common Units pursuant to, and file a registration statement on Form S-8 relating to, any employee benefit plan of the Partnership in effect at the Execution Time and (B) the Partnership may issue Common Units upon the conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants outstanding at the Execution Time.

h) Price Manipulation. The Partnership Parties will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.

i) Expenses. The Partnership agrees to pay the costs and expenses relating to the following matters: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Units; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Units, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the execution of this Agreement or the original issuance and sale of the Units; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement,

 

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any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Units; (v) the registration of the Units under the Exchange Act and the listing of the Units on the New York Stock Exchange; (vi) any registration or qualification of the Units for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states (including filing fees); (vii) any filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”); (viii) the expenses (other than transportation expenses) incurred by or on behalf of Partnership representatives in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Units; (ix) the fees and expenses of the Partnership’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Partnership and KNOT; and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Partnership Parties of their obligations hereunder.

j) Free Writing Prospectus. The Partnership agrees that, unless it has obtained or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees with the Partnership that, unless it has obtained or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Partnership and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Units that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) required to be filed by the Partnership with the Commission or retained by the Partnership under Rule 433; provided , however, that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of each Free Writing Prospectus included in Schedule II hereto and any bona fide electronic road show within the meaning of Rule 433. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representatives or the Partnership is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus .” The Partnership agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (ii) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.

k) Rule 463 . The Partnership will file with the Commission such information in Form 20-F as may be required by Rule 463 under the Act.

l) Investment Company . As of the Closing Date, no Partnership Entity will be deemed an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act. For a period of five years after the later of the Closing Date and any settlement date, the Partnership will use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that no Partnership Entity, or any subsidiary thereof, shall become an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act. Unless there has occurred a material change in the nature of the operations of the Partnership, for a period of five years after the later of the Closing Date and any settlement date, the Partnership will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the Partnership shall not become a PFIC.

 

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m) Sanctions Laws and Regulations . The Partnership will not take, and will cause each subsidiary not to take, directly or indirectly, any action that would reasonably be expected to result in a violation by any U.S. person participating in the offering contemplated by this Agreement of the Sanction Laws and Regulations with respect to the sale of the Units hereunder.

n) Emerging Growth Company Status . The Partnership will promptly notify the Representatives if the Partnership ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the Units within the meaning of the Act and (ii) completion of the Lock-Up Period referred to in Section 5(g) hereof.

o) Written Testing-the-Waters Communication. If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any event occurs as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time not misleading, the Partnership will (i) promptly notify the Representatives so that use of the Written Testing-the-Waters Communication may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the Representatives in such quantities as may be reasonably requested.

6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters . The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Units and the Option Units, as the case may be, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Partnership Parties contained herein as of the Execution Time, the Closing Date and any settlement date pursuant to Section 3 hereof, to the accuracy of the statements of the Partnership Parties made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Partnership Parties of their respective obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

a) The Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, has been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); any material required to be filed by the Partnership pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.

b) The Partnership shall have requested and caused a written opinion relating to matters of Marshall Islands law to have been furnished to the Representatives, dated the Closing Date and any settlement date, as applicable, and addressed to the Representatives, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.

c) The Partnership shall have requested and caused Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., U.S. counsel to the Partnership Parties, to have furnished to the Representatives their written opinion, dated the Closing Date and any settlement date, as applicable, and addressed to the Representatives, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

 

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d) The Partnership shall have requested and caused special Norwegian counsel to the Partnership Parties to have furnished to the Representatives their written opinion, dated the Closing Date and any settlement date, as applicable, and addressed to the Representatives, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.

e) The Partnership shall have requested and caused special United Kingdom counsel to the Partnership Parties to have furnished to the Representatives their written opinion, dated the Closing Date and any settlement date, as applicable, and addressed to the Representatives, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.

f) The Representatives shall have received from Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and any settlement date, as applicable, and addressed to the Representatives, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Units, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Partnership shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

g) The Partnership shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate of the Partnership, signed on behalf of the Partnership, by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Partnership, dated the Closing Date and any settlement date, as applicable, to the effect that the signer of such certificate has carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as well as each bona fide electronic road show used in connection with the offering of the Units, and this Agreement and that:

(i) the representations and warranties of the Partnership Parties in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date and any settlement date, as applicable, with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date and any settlement date, as applicable, and each of the Partnership Parties has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date and any settlement date, as applicable;

(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Partnership’s knowledge, threatened; and

 

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(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there has been no Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

h) The Partnership Parties shall have requested and caused Ernst & Young AS to have furnished to the Representatives at the Execution Time and at the Closing Date and any settlement date, as applicable, letters, dated respectively as of the Execution Time and as of the Closing Date and any settlement date, as applicable, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, (i) confirming that they are an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder, adopted by the Commission and the PCAOB, and (ii) stating their conclusions and findings with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings in the United States.

i) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (h) of this Section 6 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Partnership Entities, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Units as contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof), the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

j) Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Partnership Entities’ debt securities, if any, by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.

k) The Units shall have been listed and admitted and authorized for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance, and reasonably satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Representatives.

 

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l) At the Execution Time, the Partnership Parties shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto from each of the persons listed on Schedule III hereto.

m) Prior to the Closing Date and any settlement date, as applicable, the Partnership Parties shall have furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Partnership in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel for the Partnership, at 2200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 500W, Washington, DC 20037, on the Closing Date.

7. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses . If the sale of the Units provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10(i) hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Partnership Parties to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Partnership Parties will reimburse the Underwriters severally through Barclays Capital Inc. on demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Units.

8. Indemnification and Contribution . (a) Each of the Partnership Parties jointly and severally agrees to (i) indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter, affiliates of the Underwriters who have participated in the distribution of the Units and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement for the registration of the Units as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (B) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or in

 

26


any Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (ii) reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided , however, that the Partnership Parties will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership Parties by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein, which information consists solely of the information set forth in the last sentence of Section 8(b). This indemnity will be in addition to any liability that the Partnership Parties may otherwise have.

b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Partnership Parties, each of their respective directors, each of the officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls any Partnership Party within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Partnership Parties to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Partnership Parties by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity will be in addition to any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have. Each Partnership Party acknowledges that the statements set forth (i) in the last paragraph of the cover page regarding delivery of the Units and, under the heading “Underwriting”, (ii) the list of Underwriters and their respective participation in the sale of the Units, (iii) the sentences related to concessions and reallowances and (iv) the paragraphs related to stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and short sales in any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any

 

27


separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ one separate counsel (in addition to local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Partnership Parties jointly and severally agree and the Underwriters severally but not jointly agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same) (collectively “ Losses ”) to which the Partnership Parties and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Partnership Parties on the one hand and by the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Units; provided , however, that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any agreement among underwriters relating to the offering of the Units) be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the Units purchased by such Underwriter hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Partnership Parties, jointly and severally, and the Underwriters severally but not jointly shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Partnership Parties on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Partnership Parties shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received

 

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by the Partnership, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Partnership Parties on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Partnership Parties and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the Partnership Parties within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of any of the Partnership Parties who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Partnership Parties shall have the same rights to contribution as the Partnership Parties, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (e).

9. Default by an Underwriter . If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Units agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally but not jointly to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the number of Units set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate number of Units set forth opposite the names of all of the remaining Underwriters) the Units that the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided , however, that in the event that the aggregate number of Units that the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate number of Units set forth in Schedule I hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Units, and if such nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Units, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter or the Partnership Parties. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Partnership Parties and any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

 

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10. Termination . This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Partnership prior to delivery of and payment for the Units, if at any time prior to such delivery and payment (i) trading in the Partnership’s Units shall have been suspended by the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange, (ii) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ National Market shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such exchange, (iii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by either U.S. Federal or New York State authorities or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Units as contemplated by the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

11. Representations and Indemnities to Survive . The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Partnership Parties or their respective officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Partnership Parties or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Units. The provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

12. Notices . All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to: Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Syndicate Registration, fax no.: (646) 834-8133, with a copy, in the case of any notice pursuant to Section 8(c), to the Director of Litigation, Office of the General Counsel, Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019; Attention: General Counsel; Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, at One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Syndicate Department (fax no.:(646) 855-3073), with a copy to ECM Legal (fax no.: (212) 230-8730); Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, 10013, Attention: General Counsel, fax no. (646) 291-1469; or, if sent to the Partnership, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to KNOT Offshore Partners LP (fax no.: +44 (0) 1224 624891) and confirmed to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer at KNOT Offshore Partners LP, 2 Queen’s Cross, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire AB15 4YB, United Kingdom, Attention: Arild Vik, with a copy to KNOT (fax no.: +47 52704040), Smedasundet 40, 5529 Haugesund, Norway, Attention: Trygve Seglem.

13. Successors . This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

 

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14. No Fiduciary Duty . Each of the Partnership Parties hereby acknowledges that (a) the purchase and sale of the Units pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Partnership, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on the other, (b) the Underwriters are acting as principal and not as an agent or fiduciary of the Partnership Parties and (c) the engagement of the Underwriters in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, each of the Partnership Parties agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any of the Underwriters has advised or is currently advising the Partnership Parties on related or other matters). Each of the Partnership Parties agrees that it will not claim that any of the Underwriters have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Partnership Parties, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the process leading thereto.

15. Integration . This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Partnership Parties and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

16. Applicable Law . This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.

17. Judicial Proceedings . (a) Each of the Partnership Parties and the Representatives irrevocably agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding against the Partnership Parties arising out of or based upon this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or alleged violations of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States will be instituted in any New York court. The Partnership Parties irrevocably (i) waive, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding in any New York court and (ii) submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Each of the Partnership Parties has appointed Watson Farley & Williams LLP, New York, New York, as its authorized agent (the “ Authorized Agent ”), upon whom process may be served in any such action arising out of or based on this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or any alleged violation of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States which may be instituted in any New York court, expressly consent to the jurisdiction of any such court in respect of any such action, and waive any other requirements of or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto. Such appointment shall be irrevocable. The Partnership Parties represent and warrant that the Authorized Agent has agreed to act as such agent for service of process and agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all documents and instruments, that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force and effect as aforesaid. Service of process upon the Authorized Agent and written notice of such service to the Partnership Parties shall be deemed, in every respect, effective service of process upon the Partnership Parties.

(b) If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder into any currency other than United States dollars, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures

 

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the Underwriters could purchase United States dollars with such other currency in the City of New York on the Business Day proceeding that on which final judgment is given. The obligations of the Partnership Parties in respect of any sum due from it to the Underwriters shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than United States dollars, not be discharged until the first Business Day, following receipt by the Underwriters of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency, on which (and only to the extent that) the Underwriters may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase United States dollars with such other currency; if the United States dollars so purchased are less than the sum originally due to the Underwriters hereunder, the Partnership Parties agree, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, that the party responsible for such judgment shall indemnify the Underwriters against such loss. If the United States dollars so purchased are greater than the sum originally due to the Underwriters hereunder, the Underwriters agree to pay to the Partnership Parties an amount equal to the excess of the dollars so purchased over the sum originally due to the Underwriters hereunder.

18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

19. Headings . The section headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

20. Definitions . The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

Act ” shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Base Prospectus ” shall mean the base prospectus referred to in Section 1(a) hereof contained in the Registration Statement at the Execution Time.

Business Day ” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.

Commission ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Disclosure Package ” shall mean (i) the Base Prospectus, (ii) Preliminary Prospectus, dated May 27, 2015, (iii) the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule II hereto and (iv) the information set forth on Schedule IV .

Effective Date ” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement became or becomes effective.

 

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Exchange Act ” shall mean the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Execution Time ” means 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) on May 28, 2015.

Free Writing Prospectus ” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433.

Preliminary Prospectus ” shall mean any preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus referred to in Section 1(a) hereof that is used prior to the filing of the Prospectus.

Prospectus ” shall mean the prospectus relating to the Units that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time, together with the Base Prospectus.

Registration Statement ” shall mean the registration statement referred to in Section 1(a) hereof, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus relating to the Units that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B, as amended at the Execution Time and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended or such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, as the case may be.

Rule 158 ”, “ Rule 172 ”, Rule 175 ”, Rule 405 ”, “ Rule 424 ”, “ Rule 430B ”, “ Rule 433 ”, and “ Rule 462 ” refer to such rules under the Act.

Rule 462(b) Registration Statement ” shall mean a registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) relating to the offering covered by the registration statement referred to in Section 1(a) hereof.

Testing-the-Waters Communication ” shall mean any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act.

Written Testing-the-Waters Communication ” shall mean any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication with the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act.

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Partnership Parties and the several Underwriters.

 

Very truly yours,
KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS LP
By: /s/ Arild Vik
Name: Arild Vik
Title: Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS GP LLC
By: /s/ Bjørn Bakkevig
Name: Bjørn Bakkevig
Title: Chairman of the Board
KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS UK LLC
By: /s/ Arild Vik
Name: Arild Vik
Title: Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
KNOT SHUTTLE TANKERS AS
By: /s/ Øystein Emberland
Name: Øystein Emberland
Title: Attorney-in-Fact

Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement


The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.
B ARCLAYS C APITAL I NC .
By: /s/ Victoria Hale
Name: Victoria Hale
Title: Vice President

M ERRILL L YNCH , P IERCE , F ENNER  & S MITH

                         I NCORPORATED

By:/s/ Loli Wu
Name: Loli Wu
Title: Managing Director
C ITIGROUP G LOBAL M ARKETS I NC .
By: /s/ Dylan C. Tornay
Name: Dylan C. Tornay
Title: Managing Director
For themselves and the other several Underwriters named in Schedule I to the foregoing Agreement.

Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement


SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriters

   Number of Firm Units
to be Purchased
 

Barclays Capital Inc.

     850,000   

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                     Incorporated

     700,000   

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

     700,000   

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

     550,000   

UBS Securities LLC

     550,000   

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     550,000   

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

     450,000   

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

     450,000   

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

     100,000   

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

     100,000   
  

 

 

 

Total

  5,000,000   
  

 

 

 


SCHEDULE II

Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Disclosure Package

None.


SCHEDULE III

Parties to Deliver Lock-Up Agreements

1. Trygve Seglem

2. Arild Vik

3. John Costain

4. Yoshiyuki Konuma

5. Hans Petter Aas

6. Edward A. Waryas, Jr.

7. Andrew Beveridge

8. Hiroaki Nishiyama

9. Simon Bird

10. Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS


SCHEDULE IV

 

1. Number of Firm Units: 5,000,000

 

2. Number of Option Units: 750,000

 

3. Public Offering Price: $23.76 per Unit


EXHIBIT A

CHARTER AGREEMENTS

Charter Agreements ” include the following agreements:

 

  a. Fortaleza Knutsen Standard Bareboat Charter Party, dated November 14, 2007, between Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII KS and Fronape International Company/Petrobras Transporte S.A.-Transpetro, novated by the Novation Agreement, dated June 27, 2012, between Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII KS, Knutsen OAS Shipping AS, Fronape International Company, Petrobras Transporte S.A.-Transpetro and Fronape International Company B.V.;

 

  b. Recife Knutsen Standard Bareboat Charter Party, dated November 14, 2007, between Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII KS and Fronape International Company/Petrobras Transporte S.A.-Transpetro, novated by the Novation Agreement, dated June 29, 2012, between Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII KS, Knutsen OAS Shipping AS, Fronape International Company, Petrobras Transporte S.A.-Transpetro and Fronape International Company B.V.;

 

  c. Windsor Knutsen Time Charter Party, dated July 29, 2014, between KNOT Shuttle Tankers 18 AS and KNOT Shuttle Tankers Pool AS;

 

  d. Bodil Knutsen Time Charter Party, dated October 7, 2010, between Knutsen Bøyelaster VI KS and Statoil ASA, amended by Addendum No. 1, dated March 29, 2011, between Knutsen Bøyelaster VI KS and Statoil ASA and novated by the Novation Agreement, dated February 18, 2013, between Knutsen Bøyelaster VI KS, KNOT Shuttle Tankers 17 AS and Statoil ASA;

 

  e. Carmen Knutsen Time Charter Party, dated November 30, 2010, between Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 13 AS and Repsol YPF Trading y Transporte, S.A., as amended by Addendum No. 1, dated November May 11, 2012, between Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 13 AS and Repsol YPF Trading y Transporte, S.A., as assigned by Repsol YPF Trading y Transporte, S.A. to Repsol Sinopec Brasil, B.V. pursuant to the Letter of Assignment, dated August 29, 2012, and as further amended by Addendum No. 2, dated October 31, 2012, between Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 13 AS and Repsol Sinopec Brasil, B.V.;

 

  f. Hilda Knutsen Time Charter Party, dated April 26, 2011, between the Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 14 AS and Eni Trading and Shipping S.p.A., as amended by Addendum No. 1, dated November 17, 2011, and as further amended by Addendum No. 2, dated May 2, 2013;

 

  g. Torill Knutsen Time Charter Party, dated May 31, 2011, between Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 15 AS and Eni Trading and Shipping S.p.A., as amended by Addendum No. 1, dated November 17, 2011; and


  h. Dan Cisne Bareboat Charter Party, dated 6 March 2008 entered into between Lauritzen Tankers A/S as owner and Fronape International Company (“FIC”) or Petrobras Transporte S.A.-Transpetro as charterers, as novated first from Lauritzen Tankers A/S to Lauritzen Shuttletankers Netherlands B.V. by way of a novation agreement dated September 5, 2011, then novated from FIC to Transpetro International B.V. by a novation agreement dated February 7, 2013, and as subsequently novated further from Lauritzen Shuttletankers Netherlands B.V. to KNOT Shuttle Tankers 20 AS pursuant to a novation agreement dated March 20, 2014.


EXHIBIT B

VESSELS

 

Vessel

  

Ownership

   Flag Jurisdiction
Fortaleza Knutsen    Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII KS    The Bahamas
Recife Knutsen    Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII KS    The Bahamas
Bodil Knutsen    KNOT Shuttle Tankers 17 AS    Isle of Man
Windsor Knutsen    KNOT Shuttle Tankers 18 AS    Norway
Carmen Knutsen    Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 13 AS    Malta
Hilda Knutsen    Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 14 AS    United Kingdom
Torill Knutsen    Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 15 AS    United Kingdom
Dan Cisne    KNOT Shuttle Tankers 20 AS    Denmark


EXHIBIT C

[Form of Lock-Up Agreement]

May 28, 2015

Barclays Capital Inc.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                    Incorporated

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

as Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o Barclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This letter is being delivered to you in connection with the proposed Underwriting Agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), between KNOT Offshore Partners GP LLC, KNOT Offshore Partners LP (the “ Partnership ”), KNOT Offshore Partners UK LLC and KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS, and each of you as representatives of a group of Underwriters named therein, relating to an underwritten public offering of common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ Common Units ”).

In order to induce you and the other Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement, the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc., offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any transaction that is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned or any person in privity with the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any Common Units or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Units, or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, for a period of 60 days after the date of the Underwriting Agreement, other than shares of Common Units disposed of as bona fide gifts approved by Barclays Capital Inc. where each recipient of a gift of shares of Common Units agrees in writing to be bound by the same restrictions in place for the undersigned pursuant to this letter for the duration that such restrictions remain in effect at the time of transfer.


Notwithstanding the foregoing, the restrictions herein shall not apply to transactions relating to the Common Units acquired in open market transactions after completion of the public offering, provided that with respect to any proposed subsequent sales of Common Units acquired in such open market transactions, it shall be a condition to such proposed subsequent sales that no filing by any party or its affiliates under the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with such sales.

If for any reason the Underwriting Agreement shall be terminated prior to the Closing Date (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement), the agreement set forth above shall likewise be terminated.

 

Yours very truly,
[Signature of officer, director or major unitholder]
[Name and address of officer, director or major unitholder]

Exhibit 4.1

AMENDMENT TO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDMENT TO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT, dated May 7, 2015 (this “ Amendment ”), is made effective the 1st day of June 2015, by and between KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS LP, a limited partnership duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the “ Partnership ”), KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS UK LLC, a company duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands (“ KNOT UK ”), KNUTSEN OAS (UK) LTD., a company limited by shares registered in England and Wales with company number 3765737, KNUTSEN OAS SHIPPING AS, a Norwegian private limited liability company, and KNOT MANAGEMENT AS, a Norwegian private limited liability company (“ KNOT Management ”).

WHEREAS, the parties to this Amendment desire to amend the Administrative Services Agreement, dated February 26, 2013, between the Partnership, KNOT UK, Knutsen OAS (UK) Ltd. and Knutsen OAS Shipping AS (the “ Administrative Services Agreement ”), pursuant to Section 18 thereof to reflect that (i) as of June 1, 2015, John Costain will become the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of KNOT UK, (ii) the Partnership will engage John Costain as a Manager to act as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Partnership and (iii) that KNOT Management AS will act as a subcontractor thereunder;

IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Amendments . The Administrative Services Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

(a) The introductory paragraph and signature page of the Administrative Services Agreement are hereby amended to add KNOT Management as a party thereto, and the definitions of “Party” and “Parties” thereunder are hereby amended to include KNOT Management.

(b) The fourth recital of the Administrative Services Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“D. KNOT UK may, from time to time, and in its sole discretion, subcontract such administrative support services to KOAS UK, KOAS and KNOT Management.”

(c) The definition of “Subcontractors” in Section 1 of the Administrative Services Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“Subcontractors ” means KOAS UK, KOAS and KNOT Management;”

(d) The word “either” in the first sentence of Section 3 of the Administrative Services Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the word “any.”

(e) Section 17 of the Administrative Services Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:


“Section 17. Notice . Notice under this Agreement shall be given (via hand delivery or facsimile) as follows:

If to the Partnership :

2 Queen’s Cross

Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

AB15 4YB United Kingdom

Attn: John Costain

Fax: +44 (0) 1224 624891

If to KNOT UK :

2 Queen’s Cross

Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

AB15 4YB United Kingdom

Attn: John Costain

Fax: +44 (0) 1224 624891

If to Subcontractors :

KNUTSEN OAS (UK) LIMITED

2 Queen’s Cross

Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

AB15 4YB United Kingdom

Attn: Harald Urheim

Fax: +44 (0) 1224 624891

KNUTSEN OAS SHIPPING AS

Smedasundet 40

5529 Haugesund

Norway

Attn: Geir Tore Henriksen

Fax: +47 52704040

KNOT MANAGEMENT AS

Smedasundet 40

5529 Haugesund

Norway

Attn: Karl Gerhard Dahl

Fax: +47 52704040”

(f) Schedule B to the Administrative Services Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with Schedule B attached to this Amendment.

 

2


Section 2. Definitions . Capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meanings set forth in the Administrative Services Agreement.

Section 3. Continuance of Terms . Except as amended by this Amendment, the Administrative Services Agreement shall continue in full force and effect according to its terms.

Section 4. Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which is an original and which shall together form one and the same instrument.

Section 5. Governing Law . This Amendment and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with it (including disputes as to regarding its existence, validity or termination) or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of England and Wales without reference to any choice of law principle that would result in the application of any other law.

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK]

 

3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the 7 th day of May, 2015 by their duly authorized signatories with effect on the 1st day of June 2015.

 

KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS LP

By:

/s/ Arild Vik

Name:

Arild Vik

Title:

Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS UK LLC

By:

/s/ Arild Vik

Name:

Arild Vik

Title:

Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

KNUTSEN OAS (UK) LIMITED

By:

/s/ Trygve Seglem

Name:

Trygve Seglem

Title:

KNUTSEN OAS SHIPPING AS

By:

/s/ Trygve Seglem

Name:

Trygve Seglem

Title:

KNOT MANAGEMENT AS

By:

/s/ Trygve Seglem

Name:

Trygve Seglem

Title:

S IGNATURE P AGE TO A MENDMENT TO

A DMINISTRATIVE S ERVICES A GREEMENT


SCHEDULE B

MANAGERS PROVIDING MANAGEMENT SERVICES

 

Name

  

Position With KNOT UK

  

Services to be Provided to the Partnership

John Costain    Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer    Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

 

B-1

Exhibit 4.2

D ATED

07 May 2015

S ERVICE A GREEMENT

between

KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS UK LLC

and

JOHN COSTAIN


THIS AGREEMENT is dated 7 May 2015

P ARTIES

 

(1) KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS UK LLC, a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands ( Company ).

 

(2) JOHN COSTAIN of 9 Durham Road, Raynes Park, London, SW20 0QH. ( Employee ).

A GREED TERMS

 

1. I NTERPRETATION

 

1.1 The definitions and rules of interpretation in this clause 1 apply in this agreement.

Appointment: the employment of the Employee by the Company on the terms of this agreement.

Associated Employer: has the meaning given to it in the Employment Rights Act 1996.

Board: the board of directors of the Company (including any committee of the board duly appointed by it).

Capacity: as agent, consultant, director, employee, owner, partner, shareholder or in any other capacity.

Commencement Date: 1 June 2015.

Confidential Information: information (whether or not recorded in documentary form, or stored on any magnetic or optical disk or memory) relating to the business, products, affairs and finances of any Group Undertaking for the time being confidential to any Group Undertaking and trade secrets including, without limitation, technical data and know-how relating to the business of any Group Undertaking or any of their business contacts.

Garden Leave: any period during which the Company has exercised its rights under clause 20.

Group Undertaking: the Company, any of its Subsidiary Undertakings and Parent Undertakings from time to time and any Subsidiary Undertakings of any Parent Undertakings from time to time.

Incapacity: any sickness, injury or other medical disorder or condition which prevents the Employee from carrying out his duties.

Intellectual Property Rights: patents, rights to Inventions, copyright and related rights, trademarks, trade names and domain names, rights in get-up, rights in goodwill or to sue for passing off, unfair competition rights, rights in designs, rights in computer software, database rights, topography rights, rights in confidential

 

1


information (including know-how and trade secrets) and any other intellectual property rights, in each case whether registered or unregistered and including all applications (or rights to apply) for, and renewals or extensions of, such rights and all similar or equivalent rights or forms of protection which subsist or will subsist now or in the future in any part of the world.

Invention: any invention, idea, discovery, development, improvement or innovation, whether or not patentable or capable of registration, and whether or not recorded in any medium.

Pre-Contractual Statement: any undertaking, promise, assurance, statement, representation, warranty or understanding (whether in writing or not) of any person (whether party to this agreement or not) relating to the Employee’s employment under this agreement which is not expressly set out in this agreement.

Restricted Business: the business of offshore DP shuttle tankers and any other parts of the business of the Company and any Group Undertaking with which the Employee was involved to a material extent in the 12 months before Termination.

Restricted Customer: any firm, company or person who, during the 12 months before Termination, was a customer or prospective customer of or was in the habit of dealing with the Company or any Group Undertaking with whom the Employee had contact or about whom he became aware or informed in the course of employment.

Restricted Person: anyone employed or engaged by the Company or any Group Undertaking at a manager level or above and with whom the Employee dealt in the 12 months before Termination in the course of employment.

Subsidiary Undertaking or Parent Undertaking: in relation to an Undertaking mean “subsidiary undertaking” and “parent undertaking” as defined in section 1162 of the Companies Act 2006.

Termination: the termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company however caused.

Undertaking: means “undertaking” as defined in section 1161 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

1.2 The headings in this agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect its construction.

 

1.3 A reference to a particular law is a reference to it as it is in force for the time being taking account of any amendment, extension, or re-enactment and includes any subordinate legislation for the time being in force made under it.

 

1.4 Unless the context otherwise requires, a reference to one gender shall include a reference to the other genders.

 

1.5 Unless the context otherwise requires, words in the singular include the plural and in the plural include the singular.

 

2


2. T ERM OF APPOINTMENT

 

2.1 The Appointment shall commence on the Commencement Date and shall continue, subject to the remaining terms of this agreement, until terminated by either party giving the other not less than 6 months’ prior notice in writing.

 

2.2 No employment with a previous employer counts towards the Employee’s period of continuous employment with the Company.

 

2.3 The Employee consents to the transfer of his employment under this agreement to an Associated Employer at any time during the Appointment.

 

3. E MPLOYEE WARRANTIES

 

3.1 The Employee represents and warrants to the Company that, by entering into this agreement or performing any of his obligations under it, he will not be in breach of any court order or any express or implied terms of any contract or other obligation binding on him.

 

3.2 The Employee warrants that he is entitled to work in the United Kingdom without any additional approvals and will notify the Company immediately if he ceases to be so entitled during the Appointment.

 

3.3 The Employee warrants that he is not subject to any restrictions which prevent him from holding office as a director.

 

4. D UTIES

 

4.1 The Employee shall serve the Company as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer or such other role as the Board considers appropriate.

 

4.2 During the Appointment the Employee shall:

 

  (a) act as a director of the Company and carry out duties on behalf of any other Group Undertaking including, if so required by the Board, acting as an officer or consultant of any such Group Undertaking;

 

  (b) comply with the articles of association (as amended from time to time) of any Group Undertaking of which he is a director;

 

  (c) abide by any statutory, fiduciary or common-law duties any Group Undertaking of which he is a director;

 

  (d) not do anything that would cause him to be disqualified from acting as a director;

 

3


  (e) comply with the Company’s and any Parent Undertaking’s anti-corruption and bribery policy and related procedures;

 

  (f) unless prevented by Incapacity or except to the extent permitted by the Board in writing from time to time, devote the whole of his time, attention and abilities to the business of the Company and any Group Undertaking of which he is an officer or consultant;

 

  (g) faithfully and diligently exercise such powers and perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board together with such person or persons as the Board may appoint to act jointly with him;

 

  (h) comply with all reasonable and lawful directions given to him by the Board;

 

  (i) promptly make such reports to Board in connection with the affairs of any Group Undertaking on such matters and at such times as are reasonably required;

 

  (j) use his best endeavours to promote, protect, develop and extend the business of the Group; and

 

  (k) comply with any electronic communication systems policy that the Company may issue from time to time.

 

4.3 The Employee shall comply with any rules, policies and procedures relating to the Company employees in effect from time to time. Such rules, policies and procedures do not form part of this agreement and the Company may amend them at any time. To the extent that there is any conflict between the terms of this agreement and such rules, policies and procedures, this agreement shall prevail.

 

4.4 All documents, manuals, hardware and software provided for the Employee’s use by the Company, and any data or documents (including copies) produced, maintained or stored on the Company’s computer systems or other electronic equipment (including mobile phones), remain the property of the Company.

 

5. P LACE OF WORK

 

5.1 The Employee’s normal places of work are at the Company’s offices in London or such other place within the United Kingdom which the Board may reasonably require for the proper performance and exercise of his duties.

 

5.2 The Employee agrees to travel on any Group Undertaking’s business (both within the United Kingdom or abroad) as may be required for the proper performance of his duties under the Appointment.

 

4


6. H OURS OF WORK

 

6.1 The Employee’s normal working hours shall be 9 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays and such additional hours as are necessary for the proper performance of his duties. The Employee acknowledges that he shall not receive further remuneration in respect of such additional hours.

 

6.2 The parties each agree that the nature of the Employee’s position is such that his working time cannot be measured and, accordingly, that the Appointment falls within the scope of regulation 20 of the Working Time Regulations 1998.

 

7. S ALARY

 

7.1 The Employee shall be paid an initial salary of £200,000 per annum (inclusive of any fees due to the Employee by any Group Undertaking as an officer of any Group Undertaking).

 

7.2 The Employee’s salary shall accrue from day to day and be payable monthly in arrears on or before the last day of each month directly into the Employee’s bank or building society.

 

7.3 The Employee’s salary shall be reviewed by the Board annually, the first such review to take place in June 2016. The Company is under no obligation to award an increase following a salary review. There will be no review of the salary after notice has been given by either party to terminate the Appointment.

 

7.4 The Company may deduct from the salary, or any other sums owed to the Employee, any money owed to any Group Undertaking by the Employee.

 

8. E XPENSES

 

8.1 The Company shall reimburse (or procure the reimbursement of) all reasonable expenses wholly, properly and necessarily incurred by the Employee in the course of the Appointment, subject to production of VAT receipts or other appropriate evidence of payment.

 

8.2 During the Appointment, the Company shall reimburse the Employee for reasonable costs incurred by Employee for personal tax advice with respect to remuneration earned by Employee during the Appointment, subject to production of VAT receipts or other appropriate evidence of payment.

 

8.3 The Employee shall abide by the Company’s policies on expenses as applicable to Company employees from time to time.

 

5


9. B ONUS

 

9.1 The Board may in its absolute discretion pay the Employee a bonus of such amount, at such intervals and subject to such conditions as the Board may in its absolute discretion determine from time to time.

 

9.2 Any bonus payment to the Employee shall be purely discretionary and shall not form part of the Employee’s contractual remuneration under this agreement. If the Company makes a bonus payment to the Employee, it shall not be obliged to make subsequent bonus payments.

 

9.3 Any bonus payments shall not be pensionable.

 

10. B ENEFITS

 

10.1 The Employee shall be entitled to participate in any Company’s insurance benefits offered from time to time to other senior executives of the Company, subject to:

 

  (a) the terms of the Company’s schemes, as amended from time to time;

 

  (b) the rules or insurance policies of the relevant insurance providers, as amended from time to time; and

 

  (c) the Employee satisfying the normal underwriting requirements of the relevant insurance providers and the premiums being at a rate which the Company considers reasonable.

 

10.2 The Company in its sole and absolute discretion reserves the right to discontinue, vary or amend any such insurance schemes (including the level of the Employee’s cover) at any time on reasonable notice to the Employee.

 

10.3 If any insurance provider refuses for any reason to provide any insurance benefit to the Employee, the Company shall not be liable to provide to the Employee any replacement benefit of the same or similar kind or to pay any compensation in lieu of such benefit.

 

11. H OLIDAYS

 

11.1 The Employee shall be entitled to 30 business days’ paid holiday in each holiday year together with the usual public holidays in England. The Company’s holiday year runs between 1 January and 31 December. If the Appointment commences or terminates part way through a holiday year, the Employee’s entitlement during that holiday year shall be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

 

6


11.2 To the extent reasonably possible, the Employee shall take holiday at such time or times that result in minimal disruption to the business of the Group. The Employee shall not without the written consent of the Board carry forward any accrued but untaken holiday entitlement to a subsequent holiday year.

 

11.3 The Employee shall have no entitlement to any payment in lieu of accrued but untaken holiday except on termination of the Appointment. Subject to clause 12.4 the amount of such payment in lieu shall be 1/260th of the Employee’s salary for each untaken day of the entitlement under clause 12.1 for the holiday year in which termination takes place and any untaken days carried forward from the preceding holiday year.

 

11.4 If the Company has terminated or would be entitled to terminate the Appointment under clause 19 or if the Employee has terminated the Appointment in breach of this agreement any payment due under clause 12.3 shall be limited to the Employee’s statutory entitlement under the Working Time Regulations 1998 and any paid holidays (including paid public holidays) taken shall be deemed first to have been taken in satisfaction of that statutory entitlement.

 

11.5 If on termination of the Appointment the Employee has taken in excess of his accrued holiday entitlement, the Company shall be entitled to recover from the Employee by way of deduction from any payments due to the Employee or otherwise one day’s pay calculated at 1/260th of the Employee’s salary for each excess day.

 

11.6 If either party has served notice to terminate the Appointment, the Board may require the Employee to take any accrued but unused holiday entitlement during the notice period. Any accrued but unused holiday entitlement shall be deemed to be taken during any period of Garden Leave under clause 20.

 

11.7 During any continuous period of absence due to Incapacity of one month or more the Employee shall not accrue holiday under this contract and the Employee’s entitlement under clause 12.1 for the holiday year in which such absence takes place shall be reduced pro rata save that it shall not fall below the Employee’s entitlement under the Working Time Regulations 1998.

 

12. I NCAPACITY

 

12.1 Subject to the Employee’s compliance with this agreement and the Company’s sickness absence procedures (as amended from time to time), the Employee shall continue to receive his full salary and contractual benefits during any period of absence due to Incapacity for up to an aggregate of 13 weeks in any 52-week period. Such payment shall be inclusive of any statutory sick pay due in accordance with applicable legislation.

 

7


12.2 The Employee agrees to consent to medical examinations (at the Company’s expense) by a doctor nominated by the Company should the Company so require. The Employee agrees that any report produced in connection with any such examination may be disclosed to the Company and the Company may discuss the contents of the report with the relevant doctor.

 

12.3 If the Incapacity is or appears to be occasioned by actionable negligence, nuisance or breach of any statutory duty on the part of a third party in respect of which damages are or may be recoverable, the Employee shall immediately notify the Board of that fact and of any claim, compromise, settlement or judgment made or awarded in connection with it and all relevant particulars that the Board may reasonably require. The Employee shall if required by the Board, refund to the Company that part of any damages or compensation recovered by him relating to the loss of earnings for the period of the Incapacity as the Board may reasonably determine less any costs borne by him in connection with the recovery of such damages or compensation, provided that the amount to be refunded shall not exceed the total amount paid to the Employee by the Company in respect of the period of Incapacity.

 

12.4 The rights of the Company to terminate the Appointment under the terms of this Agreement apply even when such termination would or might cause the Employee to forfeit any entitlement to sick pay, permanent health insurance or other benefits.

 

13. O UTSIDE INTERESTS

 

13.1 Subject to clause 14.2, during the Appointment the Employee shall not, except as a representative of the Company or with the prior written approval of the Board, whether paid or unpaid, be directly or indirectly engaged, concerned or have any financial interest in any Capacity in any other business, trade, profession or occupation (or the setting up of any business, trade, profession or occupation).

 

13.2 Notwithstanding clause 14.1, the Employee may hold an investment by way of shares or other securities of not more than 5% of the total issued share capital of any company (whether or not it is listed or dealt in on a recognised stock exchange) where such company does not carry on a business similar to or competitive with any business for the time being carried on by any Group Undertaking.

 

13.3 Notwithstanding clauses 4.2(f) and 13.1, the Employee may serve on corporate, industry, civic, religious or charitable boards or committees so long as such activities do not violate the terms of any other clause of this agreement, present a conflict of interest, or interfere in any material respect with the performance of the Employee’s duties and responsibilities pursuant to this agreement; provided, further that any service by the Employee on a board or committee of a for-profit entity shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Board.

 

8


14. C ONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

 

14.1 The Employee acknowledges that in the course of the Appointment he will have access to Confidential Information. The Employee has therefore agreed to accept the restrictions in this clause 15.

 

14.2 The Employee shall not (except in the proper course of his duties), either during the Appointment or at any time after its termination (however arising), use or disclose to any person, company or other organisation whatsoever (and shall use his best endeavours to prevent the publication or disclosure of) any Confidential Information. This shall not apply to:

 

  (a) any use or disclosure authorised by the Board or required by law;

 

  (b) any information which is already in, or comes into, the public domain other than through the Employee’s unauthorised disclosure; or

 

  (c) any protected disclosure within the meaning of section 43A of the Employment Rights Act 1996.

 

15. I NTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

 

15.1 The Employee shall give the Company full written details of all Inventions and of all works embodying Intellectual Property Rights made wholly or partially by him at any time during the course of the Appointment. The Employee acknowledges that all Intellectual Property Rights subsisting (or which may in the future subsist) in all such Inventions and works shall automatically, on creation, vest in the Company absolutely. To the extent that they do not vest automatically, the Employee holds them on trust for the Company. The Employee agrees promptly to execute all documents and do all acts as may, in the opinion of the Company, be necessary to give effect to this clause 16.1.

 

15.2 The Employee hereby irrevocably waives all moral rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (and all similar rights in other jurisdictions) which he has or will have in any existing or future works referred to in clause 16.1.

 

15.3 The Employee irrevocably appoints the Company to be his attorney in his name and on his behalf to execute documents, use the Employee’s name and do all things which are necessary or desirable for the Company to obtain for itself or its nominee the full benefit of this clause. A certificate in writing, signed by any director or the secretary of the Company, that any instrument or act falls within the authority conferred by this agreement shall be conclusive evidence that such is the case so far as any third party is concerned.

 

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16. C EASING TO BE A DIRECTOR

 

16.1 Except with the prior approval of the Board, or as provided in the articles of association of any Group Undertaking of which he is a director, the Employee shall not resign as a director of any Group Undertaking.

 

16.2 If during the Appointment the Employee ceases to be a director of any Group Undertaking (otherwise than by reason of his death, resignation or disqualification pursuant to the articles of association of the relevant Group Undertaking, as amended from time to time, or by statute or court order) the Appointment shall continue with the Employee as an employee only and the terms of this agreement (other than those relating to the holding of the office of director) shall continue in full force and effect. The Employee shall have no claims in respect of such cessation of office.

 

17. P AYMENT IN LIEU OF NOTICE

 

17.1 Notwithstanding clause 2, the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, terminate the Appointment at any time and with immediate effect by notifying the Employee that the Company is exercising its right under this clause 18.1 and that it will make within 28 days a payment in lieu of notice (Payment in Lieu) to the Employee. This Payment in Lieu will be equal to the basic salary (as at the date of termination) which the Employee would have been entitled to receive under this agreement during the notice period referred to at clause 2 (or, if notice has already been given, during the remainder of the notice period) less income tax and National Insurance contributions. For the avoidance of doubt, the Payment in Lieu shall not include any element in relation to:

 

  (a) any bonus or commission payments that might otherwise have been due during the period for which the Payment in Lieu is made;

 

  (b) any payment in respect of benefits which the Employee would have been entitled to receive during the period for which the Payment in Lieu is made; and

 

  (c) any payment in respect of any holiday entitlement that would have accrued during the period for which the Payment in Lieu is made.

 

17.2 The Company may pay any sums due under clause 18.1 in equal monthly instalments until the date on which the notice period referred to at clause 2 would have expired if notice had been given.

 

17.3 The Employee shall have no right to receive a Payment in Lieu unless the Company has exercised its discretion in clause 18.1. Nothing in this clause 18 shall prevent the Company from terminating the Appointment in breach.

 

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17.4 Notwithstanding clause 18.1 the Employee shall not be entitled to any Payment in Lieu if the Company would otherwise have been entitled to terminate the Appointment without notice in accordance with clause 19. In that case the Company shall also be entitled to recover from the Employee any Payment in Lieu (or instalments thereof) already made.

 

18. T ERMINATION WITHOUT NOTICE

 

18.1 The Company may also terminate the Appointment with immediate effect without notice and with no liability to make any further payment to the Employee (other than in respect of amounts accrued due at the date of termination) if the Employee:

 

  (a) is in breach of the Company’s or any Parent Company’s anti-corruption and bribery policy and related procedures;

 

  (b) is guilty of any gross misconduct affecting the business of any Group Undertaking;

 

  (c) commits any serious or repeated breach or non-observance of any of the provisions of this agreement or refuses or neglects to comply with any reasonable and lawful directions of the Board;

 

  (d) is, in the reasonable opinion of the Board, negligent and incompetent in the performance of his duties;

 

  (e) is declared bankrupt or makes any arrangement with or for the benefit of his creditors or has a county court administration order made against him under the County Court Act 1984;

 

  (f) is convicted of any criminal offence (other than an offence under any road traffic legislation in the United Kingdom or elsewhere for which a fine or non-custodial penalty is imposed);

 

  (g) becomes of unsound mind (which includes lacking capacity under the Mental Capacity Act 2005), or a patient under any statute relating to mental health;

 

  (h) ceases to be eligible to work in the United Kingdom;

 

  (i) is guilty of any fraud or dishonesty or acts in any manner which in the reasonable opinion of the Board brings or is likely to bring the Employee or any Group Undertaking into disrepute or is materially adverse to the interests of any Group Undertaking;

 

  (j) is guilty of a serious breach of any rules issued by the Company from time to time regarding its electronic communications systems; or

 

  (k) is unable by reason of Incapacity to perform his duties under this agreement for an aggregate period of 13 weeks in any 52-week period.

 

18.2 The rights of the Company under clause 18.1 are without prejudice to any other rights that it might have at law to terminate the Appointment or to accept any breach of this agreement by the Employee as having brought the agreement to an end. Any delay by the Company in exercising its rights to terminate shall not constitute a waiver thereof.

 

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19. G ARDEN LEAVE

 

19.1 Following service of notice to terminate the Appointment by either party, or if the Employee purports to terminate the Appointment in breach of contract, the Board may by written notice place the Employee on Garden Leave for the whole or part of the remainder of the Appointment.

 

19.2 During any period of Garden Leave:

 

  (a) the Company shall be under no obligation to provide any work to the Employee and may revoke any powers the Employee holds on behalf of the Company or any Group Undertaking;

 

  (b) the Company may require the Employee to carry out alternative duties or to only perform such specific duties as are expressly assigned to the Employee, at such location (including the Employee’s home) as the Company may decide;

 

  (c) the Employee shall continue to receive his basic salary and all contractual benefits in the usual way and subject to the terms of any benefit arrangement;

 

  (d) the Employee shall remain an employee of the Company and bound by the terms of this agreement (including any implied duties of good faith and fidelity);

 

  (e) the Company may exclude the Employee from any premises of the Company or any Group Undertaking; and

 

  (f) the Company may require the Employee not to contact or deal with (or attempt to contact or deal with) any officer, employee, consultant, client, customer, supplier, agent, distributor, shareholder, adviser or other business contact of the Company or any Group Undertaking.

 

20. O BLIGATIONS ON TERMINATION

 

20.1 On termination of the Appointment (however arising) or, if earlier, at the start of a period of Garden Leave, the Employee shall:

 

  (a) resign immediately without compensation from any office or trusteeship that he holds in or on behalf of any Group Undertaking;

 

  (b) subject to clause 21.2, immediately deliver to the Company all documents, books, materials, records, correspondence, papers and information (on whatever media and wherever located) relating to the business or affairs of any Group Undertaking or its business contacts, any keys, credit card and any other property of any Group Undertaking, which is in his possession or under his control;

 

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  (c) irretrievably delete any information relating to the business of any Group Undertaking stored on any magnetic or optical disk or memory and all matter derived from such sources which is in his possession or under his control outside the Company’s premises; and

 

  (d) provide a signed statement that he has complied fully with his obligations under this clause 21.1 together with such reasonable evidence of compliance as the Company may request.

 

20.2 Where the Employee has been placed on Garden Leave he shall not be required by clause 21.1 to return until the end of the Garden Leave period any property provided to him as a contractual benefit for use during the Appointment.

 

20.3 The Employee hereby irrevocably appoints the Company to be his attorney to execute and do any such instrument or thing and generally to use his name for the purpose of giving the Company or its nominee the full benefit of clause 21.1(a).

 

21. P OST - TERMINATION RESTRICTIONS

 

21.1 In order to protect the confidential information, trade secrets and business connections of the Company and each Group Undertaking to which he has access as a result of the Appointment, the Employee covenants with the Company (for itself and as trustee and agent for each Group Undertaking) that he shall not for 12 months after Termination:

 

  (a) solicit or endeavour to entice away from the Company or any Group Undertaking the business or custom of a Restricted Customer with a view to providing goods or services to that Restricted Customer in competition with any Restricted Business;

 

  (b) in the course of any business concern which is in competition with any Restricted Business, offer to employ or engage or otherwise endeavour to entice away from the Company or any Group Undertaking any Restricted Person;

 

  (c) in the course of any business concern which is in competition with any Restricted Business, employ or engage or otherwise facilitate the employment or engagement of any Restricted Person, whether or not such person would be in breach of contract as a result of such employment or engagement;

 

  (d) be involved in any Capacity with any business concern which is (or intends to be) in competition with any Restricted Business;

 

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  (e) be involved with the provision of goods or services to (or otherwise have any business dealings with) any Restricted Customer in the course of any business concern which is in competition with any Restricted Business, or

at any time after Termination, represent himself as connected with the Company or any Group Undertaking in any Capacity, other than as a former employee, or use any registered business names or trading names associated with the Company or any Group Undertaking.

 

21.2 None of the restrictions in clause 22.1 shall prevent the Employee from:

 

  (a) holding an investment by way of shares or other securities of not more than 5% of the total issued share capital of any company, whether or not it is listed or dealt in on a recognised stock exchange;

 

  (b) being engaged or concerned in any business concern insofar as the Employee’s duties or work shall relate solely to geographical areas where the business concern is not in competition with any Restricted Business; or

 

  (c) being engaged or concerned in any business concern, provided that the Employee’s duties or work shall relate solely to services or activities of a kind with which the Employee was not concerned to a material extent in the 12 months before Termination.

 

21.3 The restrictions imposed on the Employee by this clause 22 apply to him acting:

 

  (a) directly or indirectly; and

 

  (b) on his own behalf or on behalf of, or in conjunction with, any firm, company or person.

 

21.4 The period for which the restriction in clause 22.1 apply shall be reduced by any period that the Employee spends on Garden Leave immediately before Termination.

 

21.5 If the Employee receives an offer to be involved in a business concern in any Capacity during the Appointment, or before the expiry of the last of the covenants in this clause 22, the Employee shall give the person making the offer a copy of this clause 22.

 

21.6 The Company and the Employee entered into the restrictions in this clause 22 having been separately legally advised.

 

21.7 Each of the restrictions in this clause 22 is intended to be separate and severable. If any of the restrictions shall be held to be void but would be valid if part of their wording were deleted, such restriction shall apply with such deletion as may be necessary to make it valid or effective.

 

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21.8 If the Employee’s employment is transferred to any firm, company, person or entity other than a Group Undertaking (the “New Employer”) pursuant to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, the Employee will, if required, enter into an agreement with the New Employer containing post-termination restrictions corresponding to those restrictions in this clause 22, protecting the confidential information, trade secrets and business connections of the New Employer.

 

21.9 The Employee will, at the request and expense of the Company, enter into a separate agreement with any Group Undertaking in which he agrees to be bound by restrictions corresponding to those restrictions in this clause 22 (or such of those restrictions as the Company deems appropriate) in relation to that Group Undertaking.

 

22. D ISCIPLINARY AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

 

22.1 The Employee is subject to the Company’s disciplinary and grievance procedures. These procedures do not form part of the Employee’s contract of employment.

 

22.2 If the Employee wants to raise a grievance, he may apply in writing to the Board in accordance with the Company’s grievance procedure.

 

22.3 If the Employee wishes to appeal against a disciplinary decision he may apply in writing to Board in accordance with the Company’s disciplinary procedure.

 

22.4 The Board may suspend the Employee from any or all of his duties for a period of up to 21 days during any period in which the Company is investigating any disciplinary matter involving the Employee or while any disciplinary procedure against the Employee is outstanding.

 

22.5 During any period of suspension:

 

  (a) the Employee shall continue to receive his basic salary and all contractual benefits in the usual way and subject to the terms of any benefit arrangement;

 

  (b) the Employee shall remain an employee of the Company and bound by the terms of this agreement;

 

  (c) the Board may exclude the Employee from his place of work or any other premises of the Company or any Group Undertaking; and

 

  (d) the Board may require the Employee not to contact or deal with (or attempt to contact or deal with) any officer, employee, consultant, client, customer, supplier, agent, distributor, shareholder, adviser or other business contact of the Company or any Group Undertaking.

 

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23. P ENSIONS

 

23.1 A personal pension shall be provided by the Employee at his expense. A contracting out certificate is not in force in respect of the Appointment.

 

24. D ATA PROTECTION

 

24.1 The Employee consents to any Group Undertaking processing data relating to the Employee for legal, personnel, administrative and management purposes and in particular to the processing of any sensitive personal data (as defined in the Data Protection Act 1998) relating to the Employee, including, as appropriate:

 

  (a) information about the Employee’s physical or mental health or condition in order to monitor sick leave and take decisions as to the Employee’s fitness for work;

 

  (b) the Employee’s racial or ethnic origin or religious or similar information in order to monitor compliance with equal opportunities legislation; and

 

  (c) information relating to any criminal proceedings in which the Employee has been involved for insurance purposes and in order to comply with legal requirements and obligations to third parties.

 

24.2 The Company may make such information available to any Group Undertaking, those who provide products or services to any Group Undertaking (such as advisers and payroll administrators), regulatory authorities, potential or future employers, governmental or quasi-governmental organisations and potential purchasers of the Company or the business in which the Employee works.

 

24.3 The Employee consents to the transfer of such information to any Group Undertaking and any Group Undertaking’s business contacts outside the European Economic Area in order to further their business interests even where the country or territory in question does not maintain adequate data protection standards.

 

25. C OLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS

There is no collective agreement which directly affects the Appointment.

 

26. R ECONSTRUCTION AND AMALGAMATION

If the Appointment is terminated at any time by reason of any reconstruction or amalgamation of the Company or any Group Undertaking, whether by winding up or otherwise, and the Employee is offered employment with any concern or undertaking involved in or resulting from the reconstruction or amalgamation on terms which (considered in their entirety) are no less favourable to any material extent than the terms of this agreement, the Employee shall have no claim against the Company or any such undertaking arising out of or connected with the termination.

 

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27. N OTICES

 

27.1 A notice given to a party under this agreement shall be in writing in the English language and signed by or on behalf of the party giving it. It shall be delivered by hand or sent to the party at the address or fax number given in this agreement or as otherwise notified in writing to the other party.

 

27.2 Any such notice shall be deemed to have been received:

 

  (a) if delivered by hand, at the time the notice is left at the address or given to the addressee;

 

  (b) in the case of pre-paid first class UK post or other next working day delivery service, at 9.00 am on the second business day after posting or at the time recorded by the delivery service;

 

  (c) in the case of pre-paid airmail, 9.00 am on the fifth Business Day after posting or at the time recorded by the delivery service; or

 

  (d) in the case of fax, at the time of transmission.

 

27.3 A notice shall have effect from the earlier of its actual or deemed receipt by the addressee. For the purpose of calculating deemed receipt:

 

  (a) all references to time are to local time in the place of deemed receipt; and

 

  (b) if deemed receipt would occur on a Saturday or Sunday or a public holiday when banks are not open for business, deemed receipt is at 9.00 am on the next business day.

 

27.4 A notice required to be given under this agreement shall not be validly given if sent by e-mail.

 

27.5 This clause does not apply to the service of any proceedings or other documents in any legal action.

 

28. E NTIRE AGREEMENT

 

28.1 This agreement constitutes the whole agreement between the parties (and in the case of the Company, as agent for any Group Companies) and supersedes all previous discussions, correspondence, negotiations, arrangements, understandings and agreements between them.

 

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28.2 Each party acknowledges that in entering into this agreement it has not relied on and shall have no remedy in respect of any Pre-Contractual Statement.

 

28.3 Each party agrees that its only liability in respect of those representations and warranties that are set out in this agreement (whether made innocently or negligently) shall be for breach of contract.

 

28.4 Nothing in this agreement shall limit or exclude any liability for fraud.

 

29. V ARIATION

No variation or agreed termination of this agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by the parties (or their authorised representatives).

 

30. C OUNTERPARTS

This agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which, when executed, shall be an original, and all the counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

31. T HIRD PARTY RIGHTS

No person other than a party to this agreement may enforce any of its terms.

 

32. G OVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

 

32.1 This agreement and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales.

 

32.2 The parties irrevocably agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have non-exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim that arises out of or in connection with this agreement or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims).

This document has been executed as a deed and is delivered and takes effect on the date stated at the beginning of it.

 

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Executed as a deed by KNOT Offshore Partners UK LLC acting by Andrew Beveridge, Chairman and director Richard Beyer, a director.

/s/ Andrew Beveridge

Director

 

/s/ Richard Beyer

Director

Signed as a deed by John Costain in the presence of:

/s/ John Costain

John Costain

/s/ Phyllis Chan

Phyllis Chan

Flat 1, The Creechurch

4-8, Creechurch Lane

London

EC3A5AY

Chartered Accountant

 

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Exhibit 4.3

SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

Between

Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS

(as Seller)

And

KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS

(as Buyer)

 

 
for the sale and purchase of the shares in
KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 AS
 

 

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SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into the 27th May 2015 between:

 

(1) Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS , company registration no. 995 221 713

(the “ Seller ”), and

 

(2) KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS , company registration no. 998 942 829

(the “ Buyer ”).

The Seller and the Buyer are hereinafter individually referred to as a “ Party ” and jointly the “ Parties ”.

 

1 RECITALS

WHEREAS:

 

a) KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 AS, company registration no. 911 782 189, is a private limited liability company that has as its purpose to engage in shipowning activities, is duly incorporated under Norwegian law and has its registered place of business in Haugesund, Norway (the “ Company ”);

 

b) The Seller is the sole owner of the ownership interest in the Company, with a share capital of NOK 100,000;

 

c) The Company is the owner of the MT “Dan Sabia”, having IMO No. 9513438 (the “ Vessel ”); and

 

d) The Seller and the Buyer have agreed that the Buyer shall acquire 100% of the shares in the Company (the “ Shares ”) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

2 DEFINITIONS

In this Agreement, the following definitions shall have the following meanings:

 

a) Accounting Principles means the applicable Norwegian generally accepted accounting principles as defined by Norwegian law and regulations and accounting standards issued by the Norwegian Accounting Standards Board (Nw: Norsk Regnskapsstiftelse/NRS ), applied on a consistent basis;
b) Accounts means, in respect of the Company, its audited annual accounts ( årsregnskap ), consisting of the profit and loss account, balance sheet, statement of cash flow and the notes thereto , for the financial year ended on the Accounts Date attached as Schedule 2 ;

 

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c) Accounts Date means 31 December 2014;
d) Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the preamble to this Agreement;
e) Business means the current business of the Company, being to own the Vessel, and charter the same under the Charter;
f) Business Day means a day on which banks are open for general banking business in Norway;
g) Buyer shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the preamble to this Agreement;
h) Buyer Indemnitees shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 12.1;
i) Charter means the Bareboat Charter Party, dated 6 March 2008 entered into between Lauritzen Tankers A/S as owner and Fronape International Company (“FIC”) or Petrobras Transporte S.A.—Transpetro as charterers, as novated first from Lauritzen Tankers A/S to Lauritzen Shuttletankers Netherlands B.V. by way of a novation agreement dated 5 September 2011, then novated from FIC to Transpetro International B.V. by a novation agreement dated 7 February 2013, and as subsequently novated further from Lauritzen Shuttletankers Netherlands B.V. to the Company (as owner) pursuant to a novation agreement dated 20 March 2014 ;
j) Charterer means Petrobras Transporte S.A. – Transpetro or Transpetro International B.V. (whichever is acting as charterer under the Charter);
k) Closing shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 5.1;
l) Closing Date means the date when the Closing actually takes place according to Clause 5.1;
m) Companies Act means the Norwegian Limited Liability Companies Act of 1997
n) Company means KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 AS;
o) Dan Sabia Facility means the USD 172,500,000 Senior Secured Credit Facilities Agreement in respect of the Vessel and the vessel “Dan Cisne”, dated April 3, 2014, made between (i) the Company and KNOT Shuttle Tankers 20 AS as joint and several

 

3


borrowers, (ii) the Seller as original guarantor, (iii) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 thereto as lenders, (iv) Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe Limited and CommBank Europe Limited, as mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners, (v) SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Ltd as hedging bank and (vi) Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe Limited, as structuring bank and agent;
p) Encumbrance means any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, option or other security interest or restriction of any kind;
q) Governmental Authority means any domestic or foreign government, including federal, provincial, state, municipal, county or regional government or governmental or regulatory authority, domestic or foreign, and includes any department, commission, bureau, board, administrative agency or regulatory body of any of the foregoing and any multinational or supranational organization;
r) Indemnified Party shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 12.3;
s) Indemnifying Party shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 12.3;
t) Losses means any loss, liability, claim, damage, expense (including costs of investigation and defence and reasonable attorneys’ fees) or diminution of value, whether or not involving a third-party claim;
u) Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on the condition (financial, commercial, technical, legal or otherwise) of the Business, assets, results of operations or prospects of the Company;
v) Material Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 8.11;
w) Party shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the preamble to this Agreement;
x) Parties shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the preamble to this Agreement;
y) Partnership means KNOT Offshore Partners LP, a Marshall Islands limited partnership;
z) Purchase Price shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 4;
aa) Purchase Price Adjustments
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 5.4;
bb) Seller shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the preamble to this Agreement;

 

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cc) Seller Indemnitees shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 12.2;
dd) Shares shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 1;
ee) Signing Date means the date of this Agreement;
ff) Swap Agreements means (i) the ISDA Master Agreement dated 14 August 2014, and entered into between the Company and SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Ltd, and (ii) the ISDA Master Agreement dated 14 August 2014, and entered into between the Company and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, London, and the Schedules thereto and all Transactions and/or Confirmations (as each of the said expressions is defined in the Master Agreements) supplemental thereto relating to the loan for “Dan Sabia” under the Dan Sabia Facility;
gg) Swap Balance means the negative balance under the Swap Agreements as determined according to a mark-to-market determination as of the Closing Date, adjusted by USD 388,851 in favour of the Seller to cover the hedging margin compared to the rate at which the Swap Agreements were entered into;
hh) Taxes means all taxes (including value-added tax and similar taxes), however denominated, including interest, penalties and other additions to tax that may become payable or imposed by any applicable statute, rule or regulation or any governmental agency, including all taxes, withholdings and other charges in respect of income, profits, gains, payroll, social security or other social benefit taxes, sales, use, excise, real or personal property, stamps, transfers and workers’ compensation, which the Company is required to pay, withhold or collect; and
ii) Third-Party Claim shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 12.3; and
jj) Vessel shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 1.

 

3 SALE AND PURCHASE

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Seller agrees to sell, and the Buyer agrees to purchase, the Shares, together with all rights attached to them.

The Shares shall be transferred to the Buyer on the Closing Date, free and clear from any Encumbrances other than pursuant to the Dan Sabia Facility.

 

4 PURCHASE PRICE

The Seller agrees to sell and transfer to the Buyer, and the Buyer agrees to purchase from the Seller for USD 103,000,000, less USD 64,469,555 of outstanding debt obligations of the Company under the Dan Sabia Facility, (the “ Purchase Price ”), plus the Purchase Price Adjustments, all in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Shares.

 

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The Purchase Price is to be settled by way of a cash settlement.

 

5 CLOSING

 

5.1 Time and place

Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Clause 6, the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “ Closing ”) shall take place at the offices of the Seller at such time and date as the Parties agree.

 

5.2 The Seller’s Closing obligations

At the Closing, the Seller shall:

 

a) deliver to the Buyer a copy of the minutes of the meeting of the board of directors of the Seller authorising the execution of, and the consummation of the transaction completed by, this Agreement; and

 

b) in exchange for the payment of the Purchase Price, transfer the Shares to the Buyer and deliver to the Buyer the share register of the Company with the Buyer duly registered as the owner of the Shares, as well as the related notices according to Sections 4-7 and 4-10 of the Companies Act.

 

5.3 The Buyer’s Closing obligations

At the Closing, the Buyer shall

 

a) settle the Purchase Price in accordance with Clause 4;

 

b) on the Closing Date procure that the Company prepays USD 7,500,000 of the Facility A Tranche under the Dan Sabia Facility, in accordance with the terms of the Dan Sabia Facility; and

 

c) procure that the cash portion of the Purchase Price is paid to the nominated bank account of the Seller.

 

5.4 Post-Closing Adjustment

 

a) Within 15 days following the Closing Date, the Buyer and the Seller shall agree on the amount of the post-Closing adjustments to the Purchase Price based on the (i) Swap Balance and (ii) the Company’s working capital as of the Closing Date, including compensation by the Seller to the Buyer for the net intercompany balance with accumulated interest between a) the Company and the Seller, and b) the Company and KNOT Management AS, at the Closing Date (the “ Purchase Price Adjustments ”).

 

b) Within 15 days following the date on which the Purchase Price Adjustments have been agreed pursuant to Clause 5.4 a) above, the Buyer or the Seller (as the case may be) shall pay to the other Party an amount, in cash, equal to the Purchase Price Adjustments. Any amounts other than those covered by the Purchase Price Adjustments varying in the period between the Signing Date and the Closing Date shall be for Seller’s account.

 

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6 CLOSING CONDITIONS

 

6.1 Conditions to the Buyer’s Closing obligations

The obligations of the Buyer to purchase the Shares and to take the other actions required to be taken by it at the Closing are subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions (any of which may be waived in whole or in part by the Buyer) on or before the Closing Date:

 

a) there is no material breach of any of the representations and warranties of the Seller set forth in Clause 8 and Clause 9;

 

b) the Buyer shall have obtained the funds necessary to consummate the purchase of the Shares and to pay all related fees and expenses;

 

c) in all respects material to the transactions contemplated hereby, the Seller shall have performed or complied with all of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Seller at or prior to the Closing Date and shall have delivered each document or instrument to be delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement; and

 

d) the results of the searches, surveys, tests and inspections of the Vessel referred to in Clause 10.1 h) are reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer.

 

6.2 Conditions to the Seller’s Closing obligations

The obligations of the Seller to sell the Shares and to take the other actions required to be taken by it at the Closing are subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions (any of which may be waived in whole or in part by the Seller) on or before the Closing Date:

 

a) there is no material breach of any of the representations and warranties of the Buyer set forth in Clause 7;

 

b) At Closing, the Buyer shall procure that the Partnership accede to the Dan Sabia Facility as “Guarantor” by way of an “Accession Letter” set out therein, and that the Shares are pledged as contemplated by the Dan Sabia Facility, and procure that relevant conditions precedent under the Dan Sabia Facility relating to the Partnership and/or the Buyer have been satisfied. At Closing the Seller shall be released from its guarantee obligations under the Dan Sabia Facility with respect to outstanding amounts relating to the Vessel; and

 

c) in all respects material to the transactions contemplated hereby, the Buyer shall have performed or complied with all of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Buyer at or prior to the Closing Date and shall have delivered each document or instrument to be delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement.

 

6.3 Conditions of the Parties.

The obligations of Seller to sell the Shares and the obligations of Buyer to purchase the Shares are subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by each of Seller and Buyer) on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

 

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a) The Seller shall have received any and all written consents, permits, approvals or authorizations of any Governmental Authority or any other Person (including, but not limited to, with respect to the Charter, the Dan Sabia Facility and the Swap Agreements) and shall have made any and all notices or declarations to or filing with any Governmental Authority or any other Person, including those related to any environmental laws or regulations, required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder, including the transfer of the Shares; and

 

b) No legal or regulatory action or proceeding shall be pending or threatened by any Governmental Authority to enjoin, restrict or prohibit the purchase and sale of the Shares.

 

7 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER

The Buyer represents and warrants to the Seller that as of the Signing Date and on the Closing Date, unless otherwise expressly stated:

 

7.1 Corporate existence and power

The Buyer is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Norway.

The Buyer has not been declared insolvent; become the subject of a petition in bankruptcy; had a receiver appointed with respect to it or to the Business or part thereof; entered into any arrangement with, or made an assignment for the benefit of, its creditors; or ceased to function as a going concern.

 

7.2 Corporate authorisation and non-contravention

This Agreement and each other document or instrument delivered or to be delivered in connection with this Agreement has been duly authorised by all necessary corporate action(s) of the Buyer and constitutes or will, when executed, constitute valid and binding obligations of the Buyer enforceable in accordance with its respective terms.

The execution by the Buyer of this Agreement and each other document or instrument delivered or to be delivered in connection with it, and the performance by the Buyer of its obligations under this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions provided for in this Agreement, do not and will not result in a breach of any provision of the articles of association of the Buyer or of any applicable law, order, judgment or decree of any court or Governmental Authority or of any agreement to which the Buyer is bound.

The Buyer is not required to obtain any authorisations, consents, approvals or exemptions by any Governmental Authority in connection with the entering into or performance of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

8 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER

The Seller represents and warrants to the Buyer as of the Signing Date and on the Closing Date, unless otherwise expressly stated:

 

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8.1 Corporate existence and power

Each of the Company and the Seller is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Norway.

Each of the Company and the Seller has not been declared insolvent; become the subject of a petition in bankruptcy; had a receiver appointed with respect to it or to the Business or part thereof; entered into any arrangement with, or made an assignment for the benefit of, its creditors; or ceased to function as a going concern.

 

8.2 Corporate authorisation and non-contravention

This Agreement and each other document or instrument delivered or to be delivered in connection with this Agreement has been duly authorised by all necessary corporate action(s) of each of the Company and the Seller, as appropriate, and constitutes or will, when executed, constitute valid and binding obligations of each of the Company and the Seller, as appropriate, enforceable in accordance with its respective terms.

The execution by each of the Company and the Seller, as appropriate, of this Agreement and each other document or instrument delivered or to be delivered in connection with it, and the performance by each of the Company and the Seller, as appropriate, of its obligations under this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions provided for in this Agreement, do not and will not result in a breach of any provision of the articles of association of each of the Company and the Seller, as appropriate, or of any applicable law, order, judgment or decree of any court or Governmental Authority or of any agreement to which each of the Company and the Seller, as appropriate, is bound.

Each of the Company and the Seller, as appropriate, is not required to obtain any authorisations, consents, approvals or exemptions by any Governmental Authority in connection with the entering into or performance of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

8.3 Capitalisation and title

The Seller has full ownership to the Shares. The Shares are fully authorised, validly issued, fully paid and at Closing, free and clear from any Encumbrances.

There is no outstanding subscription, option or similar rights relating to the Shares.

 

8.4 Records

The Company’s articles of association and shareholders’ register are true, accurate, up-to-date and complete.

 

8.5 Charter documents; validity of the Charter

The Seller has supplied to the Buyer true and correct copies of the Charter and any related documents, as amended to the Closing Date. The Charter is a valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms and, to the knowledge of the Seller, the Charter is a valid and binding agreement of all other parties thereto enforceable against such parties in accordance with its terms.

 

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8.6 Accounts

The Accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles and in accordance with the books and records of the Company. The Accounts give a true and accurate view of the financial position, solvency, assets, liabilities, liquidity, cash flow and the result of the operations of the Company as of the Accounts Date.

 

8.7 No undisclosed liabilities

Neither the Company nor the Vessel has any Encumbrances, or other liabilities or obligations of any nature, whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise, and whether due or to become due (including, without limitation, any liability for Taxes and interest, penalties and other charges payable with respect to any such liability or obligation), except for such liabilities or obligations arising under the Dan Sabia Facility, the Swap Agreements, the inter-company balances described in Clause 8.8 and the Encumbrances appearing in the ship registry of the Vessel and arising under the Dan Sabia Facility and the Swap Agreements.

 

8.8 Loans and other financial facilities

All loans and other financial facilities available to the Company have been made available for review by the Buyer.

 

a) As of the Signing Date, the principal outstanding amount under the Dan Sabia Facility for which the Company will be responsible at the time of Closing (provided Closing takes place on or before 30 June 2015) is USD 64,469,555;

 

b) As of the Signing Date, the Company has an inter-company debt to the Seller in the amount of NOK 8,972,534.50, and the interest rate under such inter-company debt is 3.73% per annum; and

 

c) As of the Signing Date, the Company has a non interest bearing inter-company receivable from KNOT Management AS in the amount of NOK 7,236,719.

No event has occurred which gives, or after notice or lapse of time, or both, would give any third party the right to call for repayment from the Company prior to normal maturity of any loan or other financial facility. The Company shall not be indebted, directly or indirectly, to any person who is an officer, director, stockholder or employee of any of the Seller or any spouse, child or other relative or any affiliate of any such person, nor shall any such officer, director, stockholder, employee, relative or affiliate be indebted to the Company.

 

8.9 Assets

At the Closing Date, the Company shall not be using assets in the Business that it neither owns nor has the right to use pursuant to written agreements with third parties. At the Closing Date, the assets of the Company will comprise all the assets necessary for carrying on the Business fully and effectively to the extent to which it is conducted at the Signing Date.

 

8.10 Absence of certain changes or events

Since the Accounts Date, there has not occurred or arisen:

 

a) any change of accounting methods, principles or practices, accounting, invoicing and supplier practice or procedures for the Company;

 

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b) any acquisition or disposal of, or the entering into any agreement to acquire or dispose of, any asset, other than the sale of products in the ordinary course of business;

 

c) the termination of any Material Agreement;

 

d) any obligations, commitments or liabilities, contingent or otherwise, whether for Taxes or otherwise, except obligations, commitments and liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

e) any event or condition, whether covered by insurance or not, which has resulted in or may result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

f) the entering into of any agreements or commitments other than on customary terms.

 

8.11 Agreements

Each Material Agreement is in full force and effect. No other Material Agreements will be entered into by the Company prior the Closing Date without the prior consent of the Buyer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). The Company has fulfilled all material obligations required pursuant to the Material Agreements to have been performed by it prior to the Signing Date and has not waived any material rights thereunder.

There has not occurred any material default on the part of the Company under any of the Material Agreements, or to the knowledge of the Seller, on the part of any other party thereto, nor has any event occurred that with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute any material default on the part of the Company under any of the Material Agreements nor, to the knowledge of the Seller, has any event occurred that with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute any material default on the part of any other party to any of the Material Agreements.

The term “ Material Agreement ” means each agreement, contract or other undertaking by or of the Company (a) that is of material importance to the Business or (b) the value of which, in respect of total turnover during one year, is not less than NOK 500,000, provided, however, that such term includes the Charter, the Dan Sabia Facility and the Swap Agreements.

 

8.12 Insurance

The Company maintains insurance policies on fire, theft, loss, disruption, product and general liability and other forms of insurance with reputable insurers that would reasonably be judged to be sound and required for the Business.

The Company’s insurance policies do not contain any provisions regarding a change of control or ownership of the insured.

The Company is in compliance with all terms and conditions contained in the insurance policies, and nothing has been done or omitted to be done that would make any insurance policy or insurance void or voidable or that would result in a reduction of the coverage ( No: avkortning ).

 

8.13 Environmental matters

The Company is not and has not been in breach of any applicable laws (whether civil, criminal or administrative), statutes, regulations, directives, codes, judgments, orders or any other measures imposed by any governmental, statutory or regulatory body with regard to the pollution or the protection of the environment or to the protection of human health or human safety, or any other living organisms supported by the environment.

 

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There is no current governmental investigation or disciplinary proceeding relating to any alleged breach of any law or permit by the Company, and none is pending, nor threatened.

The Company has not, other than as permitted under applicable permits or applicable laws or regulations held from time to time, disposed of, discharged, released, placed, dumped or emitted any hazardous substances, such as pollutants, contaminants, hazardous or toxic materials, wastes or chemicals. Neither the Seller nor the Company has received any formal or informal notice or other communication from which it appears that the Company may be or has been in violation of any laws or permits. There are no actual or contingent obligations on the Company to pay money or carry out any work in order to keep or be granted an extension or renewal of any existing permit. There are no facts or circumstances that could result in such an obligation. The properties used by the Company are not made of or do not contain any form of asbestos or any other toxic substance that may cause damage to the health of the persons working or visiting the premises.

 

8.14 Compliance with laws

The Company has at all times conducted the Business in accordance with and has complied with any applicable laws in Norway and in any other relevant countries relating to its operations and the Business.

All necessary licences, consents, permits and authorisations have been obtained by the Company to enable the Company to carry on the Business in the places and in the manner in which such Business is now conducted and all such licences, consents, permits and authorisations are valid and subsisting and have been complied with in all respects.

 

8.15 Litigation

There are no claims, actions, lawsuits, administrative, governmental, arbitration or other legal proceedings (including but not limited to proceedings related to Taxes) pending or threatened against or involving the Company, the Business or properties or assets of the Company and which would result in a Material Adverse Effect if adversely determined.

 

8.16 Taxes

The Company has properly filed with the appropriate Tax authorities all Tax returns and reports required to be filed for all Tax periods ending prior to the Closing Date. Such filings are true, correct and complete. All information required for a correct assessment of Taxes has been provided.

The Tax returns of the Company have been assessed and approved by the Tax authorities through the Tax years up to and including the years for which such assessment and approval is required, and the Company is not subject to any dispute with any such authority.

All Taxes that have become due have been fully paid or fully provided for in the Accounts, and the Company shall not be liable for any additional Tax pertaining to the period before the Accounts Date. All Taxes for the period after the Accounts Date have been fully paid when due.

 

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There are no Tax audits, Tax disputes or Tax litigation pending or threatened against or involving the Company. There is no basis for assessment of any deficiency in any Taxes against the Company that has not been provided for in the Accounts or that has not been paid.

The Company is not and has not been involved in any transaction that could be considered as Tax-evasive. All losses for Tax purposes incurred by of the Company are trading losses and are available to be carried forward and set off against income in succeeding periods without limitation and have been accepted by the relevant Tax authorities.

The Company is not and has not been subject to any Tax outside its respective country of fiscal residence.

 

8.17 Relationship with the Seller

Except as disclosed to the Buyer, there are no written or oral agreements or arrangements between the Company and the Seller, and no liabilities or obligations (contingent or otherwise) owed by the Company to the Seller.

No services provided by the Seller to the Company are necessary in the ordinary course of business.

No payments of any kind, including, but not limited to management charges, have been made by the Company to the Seller, save for payments under agreements or arrangements made on an arm’s-length basis in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

 

8.18 Information

All documents provided to the Buyer by or on behalf of the Seller or the Company are true and correct, and no document provided to the Buyer by or on behalf of the Seller or the Company contains any untrue statement of a relevant fact or omits to state a relevant fact necessary to make the statements contained in the document not misleading.

There are no facts or circumstances known to the Seller, relating to the affairs of the Company, that have not been disclosed to the Buyer, which, if disclosed, reasonably could have been expected to influence the decision of the Buyer to purchase the Shares on the terms of this Agreement.

The Seller confirms that the Seller, prior to the Signing Date, has made, and until the Closing Date, shall continue to make, all investigations necessary in order to ensure that the statements in Clause 7 are correct.

 

9 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER REGARDING THE VESSEL

The Seller represents and warrants to the Buyer as of the Signing Date and on the Closing Date, unless otherwise expressly stated:

 

9.1 Flag and title

The Company is the registered owner of the Vessel and has good and marketable title to the Vessel, free and clear of any and all Encumbrances, other than those arising under the Dan Sabia Facility. The Vessel is properly registered in the name of the Seller under and pursuant to the flag and law of Denmark, and all fees due and payable in connection with such registration have been paid.

 

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9.2 Classification

The Vessel is entered with DNV GL and has the highest classification rating. The Vessel is in class without any recommendations or notation as to class or other requirement of the relevant classification society, and if the Vessel is in a port, it is in such condition that it cannot be detached by any port state authority or the flag state authority for any deficiency.

 

9.3 Maintenance

The Vessel has been maintained in a proper and efficient manner in accordance with internationally accepted standards for good ship maintenance, is in good operating order, condition and repair and is seaworthy, and all repairs made to the Vessel during the last two years and all known scheduled repairs due to be made and all known deficiencies have been disclosed to the Buyer.

 

9.4 Liens

The Vessel is not (a) under arrest or otherwise detained, (b) other than in the ordinary course of business, in the possession of any person (other than her master and crew) or (c) subject to a possessory lien.

 

9.5 Safety

The Vessel is supplied with valid and up-to-date safety, safety construction, safety equipment, radio, loadline, health, tonnage, trading and other certificates or documents as may for the time being be prescribed by the law of Denmark or of any other pertinent jurisdiction, or that would otherwise be deemed necessary by a shipowner acting in accordance with internationally accepted standards for good ship management and operations.

 

9.6 No blacklisting or boycotts

No blacklisting or boycotting of any type has been applied or currently exists against or in respect of the Vessel.

 

9.7 No options

There are not outstanding any options or other rights to purchase the Vessel.

 

9.8 Insurance

The insurance policies relating to the Vessel are as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, each of which is in full force and effect and, to the Seller’s knowledge, not subject to being voided or terminated for any reason.

 

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10 COVENANTS PRIOR TO THE CLOSING

 

10.1 Covenants of the Seller Prior to the Closing

From the Signing Date to the Closing Date, the Seller shall cause the Company to conduct its business in the usual, regular and ordinary course in substantially the same manner as previously conducted. The Seller shall not permit the Company to enter into any contracts or other written or oral agreements prior to the Closing Date, other than such contracts and agreements as have been disclosed to the Buyer prior to the Signing Date, without the prior consent of the Buyer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). In addition, the Seller shall not permit the Company to take any action that would result in any of the conditions to the purchase and sale of the Shares set forth in Clause 6 not being satisfied. Furthermore, the Seller hereby agrees and covenants that it:

 

a) shall use its best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary to consummate and make effective as promptly as possible the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to co-operate with the Buyer and others in connection with the foregoing;

 

b) shall use its best efforts to obtain the authorisations, consents, orders and approvals of regulatory bodies and officials that may be or become necessary for the performance of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement and the completion of the transactions contemplated by it;

 

c) shall co-operate with the Buyer and promptly seek to obtain such authorisations, consents, orders and approvals as may be necessary for the performance of the Parties’ respective obligations pursuant to this Agreement;

 

d) shall not amend, alter or otherwise modify or permit any amendment, alteration or modification of any material provision of or terminate the Charter or any other contract prior to the Closing Date without the prior written consent of the Buyer, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed;

 

e) shall not exercise or permit any exercise of any rights or options contained in the Charter, without the prior written consent of the Buyer, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed;

 

f) shall observe and perform in a timely manner, all of its covenants and obligations under the Charter, the Dan Sabia Facility and the Swap Agreements, if any, and in the case of a default by another party thereto, it shall forthwith advise the Buyer of such default and shall, if requested by the Buyer, enforce all of its rights under such Charter or the Dan Sabia Facility, as applicable, in respect of such default;

 

g) shall not cause or, to the extent reasonably within its control, permit any Encumbrances to attach to the Vessel other than in connection with the Dan Sabia Facility and the Swap Agreements; and

 

h) shall permit representatives of the Buyer to make, prior to the Closing Date, at the Buyer’s risk and expense, such surveys, tests and inspections of the Vessel as the Buyer may deem desirable, so long as such surveys, tests or inspections do not damage the Vessel or interfere with the activities of the Seller, the Company or the Charterer thereon and so long as the Buyer shall have furnished the Seller with evidence that adequate liability insurance is in full force and effect.

 

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10.2 Covenants of the Buyer Prior to the Closing

The Buyer hereby agrees and covenants that during the period of time after the Signing Date and prior to the Closing Date, the Buyer shall, in respect of the Shares to be transferred on the Closing Date, take, or cause to be taken, all necessary partnership action, steps and proceedings to approve or authorize validly and effectively the purchase and sale of the Shares and the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other agreements and documents contemplated hereby.

 

11 TERMINATION

 

11.1 Termination

This Agreement may be terminated, and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be abandoned, at any time prior to the Closing Date:

 

a) by either Party if a breach of any provision of this Agreement has been committed by the other Party, such breach has not been waived and such breach is material to the transactions contemplated hereby, the Business or the assets, financial condition or prospect of the Company;

 

b) by the Buyer if satisfaction of any of the conditions in Clause 6.1 is or becomes impossible (other than through the failure of the Buyer to comply with its obligations under this Agreement) and the Buyer has not waived such condition;

 

c) by the Seller if satisfaction of any of the conditions in Clause 6.2 is or becomes impossible (other than through the failure of the Seller to comply with its obligations under this Agreement) and the Seller has not waived such condition;

 

d) by either Party if satisfaction of any of the conditions in Clause 6.3 is or becomes impossible and Buyer and Seller have not waived such condition;

 

e) by the Buyer due to a change having occurred that has resulted or may result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

f) by mutual written consent of the Seller and the Buyer.

 

11.2 Rights on termination

If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Clause 11.1, all further obligations of the Parties pursuant to this Agreement shall terminate without further liability of a Party to the other, provided, however, that the obligations of the Parties contained in Clause 13 (Costs) and Clause 17 (Governing Law and arbitration) shall survive such termination, and further provided, that if this Agreement is terminated by a Party because of the breach of this Agreement by the other Party or because one or more of the conditions to the terminating Party’s obligations under this Agreement is not satisfied as a result of the other Party’s failure to comply with its obligations under this Agreement, the terminating Party’s right to pursue all legal remedies will survive such termination unimpaired.

 

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12 INDEMNIFICATION

 

12.1 Indemnity by the Seller

Following the Closing, the Seller shall be liable for, and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Buyer and its respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives (the “ Buyer Indemnitees ”) from and against, any Losses, suffered or incurred by such Buyer Indemnitees:

 

a) by reason of, arising out of or otherwise in respect of any inaccuracy in, breach of any representation or warranty, or a failure to perform or observe fully any covenant, agreement or obligation of, the Seller in or under this Agreement or in or under any document, instrument or agreement delivered pursuant to this Agreement by the Seller;

 

b) subject to Clause 13 b), any fees, expenses or other payments incurred or owed by the Seller to any brokers, financial advisors or comparable other persons retained or employed by it in connection with the transaction contemplated by this Agreement;

 

c) any Losses of the Company or the Vessel incurred prior to or on the Closing Date arising from any violation of any applicable law or regulation relating to protection of natural resources, health and safety and the environment;

 

d) all federal, state, foreign and local income tax liabilities attributable to the Company or operation of the Vessel prior to the Closing Date; or

 

e) any Losses suffered or incurred by such Buyer Indemnitees in connection with any claim for the repayment of hire or Losses in relation to the Vessel for periods prior to the Closing.

 

12.2 Indemnity by the Buyer

Following the Closing, the Buyer shall be liable for, and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Seller and its respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives (the “ Seller Indemnitees ”) from and against, any Losses, suffered or incurred by such Seller Indemnitees by reason of, arising out of or otherwise in respect of any inaccuracy in, breach of any representation or warranty, or a failure to perform or observe fully any covenant, agreement or obligation of, the Buyer in or under this Agreement or in or under any document, instrument or agreement delivered pursuant to this Agreement by the Buyer.

 

12.3 Indemnification procedures with respect to third-party claims

If the Seller or the Buyer, as the case may be (an “ Indemnified Party ”), shall receive notice of any claim by a third party that is or may be subject to indemnification or compensation from the other Party pursuant to this Agreement (a “ Third-Party Claim ”), the Indemnified Party shall give the other Party (the “ Indemnifying Party ”) prompt written notice of such Third-Party Claim and the Indemnifying Party shall, at the Indemnifying Party’s option, have the right to participate in the defence thereof by counsel at the Indemnifying Party’s own cost and expense. If the Indemnifying Party acknowledges within 30 days from such written notice in writing its obligation to indemnify the Indemnified Party against all Losses that may result from such Third-Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled, at the Indemnifying Party’s option, to assume and control the defence of such Third-Party Claim at the Indemnifying Party’s cost and expense and through counsel of the Indemnifying Party’s choice. No such Third-Party Claim may be settled by the Indemnifying Party without the written consent of the Indemnified Party, unless the settlement involves only the

 

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payment of money by the Indemnifying Party. No Third-Party Claim that is being defended in good faith by the Indemnifying Party shall be settled by the Indemnified Party without the written consent of the Indemnifying Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have no obligation to indemnify the Indemnified Party for any losses resulting from the settlement of Third-Party Claims in violation of the provisions of this Clause 12.3.

 

13 COSTS

 

a) Subject to Clause 13b), each party shall pay its own costs and expenses in connection with the preparation for and completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including but not limited to all fees and expenses of its own representatives, agents, brokers, legal and financial advisers and authorities and no such costs or expenses shall be charged to or paid by, neither directly or indirectly, the Company.

 

b) The fees and expenses related to the fairness opinion of AMA Securities Inc. dated 20th May 2015 will be divided equally between the Buyer and the Seller.

 

14 NOTICES

All notices, requests, demands, approvals, waivers and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement must be in writing in the English language and shall be deemed to have been received by a Party when:

 

a) delivered by post, unless actually received earlier, on the third Business Day after posting, if posted within Norway, or the fifth Business Day, if posted to or from a place outside Norway;

 

b) delivered by hand, on the day of delivery; or

 

c) delivered by fax, on the day of dispatch if supported by a written confirmation from the sender’s fax machine that the message has been properly transmitted.

All such notices and communications shall be addressed as set forth below or to such other addresses as may be given by written notice in accordance with this Clause 14.

If to the Seller:

Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS

Attention: Chairman of the Board

Smedasundet 40, Postboks 2017, 5504 Haugesund, Norway

Fax no.: +47 52 70 40 40

If to the Buyer:

KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS

Attention: Chairman of the Board

Smedasundet 40, Postboks 2017, 5504 Haugesund, Norway

Fax no.: +47 52 70 40 40

 

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15 ASSIGNMENT

This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors of the Parties, but shall not be assignable by any of the Parties without the prior written consent of the other Party. The benefit of this Agreement may, however, be assigned by either of the Parties to any group directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control of the assignor, provided that the assignor shall remain liable for its own debt and for all obligations under this Agreement.

 

16 MISCELLANEOUS

 

16.1 Further Assurances

From time to time after the Signing Date, and without any further consideration, the Parties agree to execute, acknowledge and deliver all such additional deeds, assignments, bills of sale, conveyances, instruments, notices, releases, acquittances and other documents, and shall do all such other acts and things, all in accordance with applicable law, as may be necessary or appropriate (a) more fully to assure that the applicable Parties own all of the properties, rights, titles, interests, estates, remedies, powers and privileges granted by this Agreement, or which are intended to be so granted, (b) more fully and effectively to vest in the applicable Parties and their respective successors and assigns beneficial and record title to the interests contributed and assigned by this Agreement or intended so to be and (c) more fully and effectively to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

 

16.2 Integration

This Agreement, the Schedules and Appendices hereto and the instruments referenced herein supersede all previous understandings or agreements among the Parties, whether oral or written, with respect to its subject matter hereof. This Agreement, the Schedules and Appendices hereto and the instruments referenced herein contain the entire understanding of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. No understanding, representation, promise or agreement, whether oral or written, is intended to be or shall be included in or form part of this Agreement unless it is contained in a written amendment hereto executed by the Parties hereto after the Signing Date.

 

16.3 No Broker’s Fees

No one is entitled to receive any finder’s fee, brokerage or other commission in connection with the purchase of the Shares or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

17 GOVERNING LAW AND ARBITRATION

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Norwegian law.

The Parties shall seek to solve through negotiations any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach, termination or invalidity hereof. If the Parties fail to solve such dispute, controversy or claim by a written agreement within 60 days after one of the Parties has requested such negotiations by notice to the other Party, such dispute, controversy or claim shall be finally settled by arbitration in Haugesund in the English language in accordance with the Norwegian Arbitration Act. The arbitration tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators, of which the

 

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Buyer shall appoint one arbitrator and the Seller shall appoint one arbitrator. The arbitrators so appointed shall appoint the third arbitrator, who shall be the chairman of the arbitration tribunal. In the event of failure by a Party to appoint its arbitrator within 30 days after the request for arbitration first is given, or the failure by the first two arbitrators to appoint the third arbitrator within 30 days after appointment of the last of the first two arbitrators to be appointed, such arbitrator or arbitrators shall be appointed by the district judge (No: “ Sorenskriver ”) of Haugesund District Court. Any Party may seek judgement upon any award in any court having jurisdiction, or an application may be made to such court for the judicial acceptance of the award and for an order of enforcement.

Notwithstanding the above, either Party may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction (a) for provisional relief pending the outcome of arbitration, including, without limitation, provisional injunctive relief or pre-judgement attachment of assets, or (b) to compel arbitration or enforce any arbitral award. For purposes of any proceeding authorised by this Clause 16, each Party hereby consents to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of Haugesund, Norway.

* * *

 

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This Agreement has been executed in two original copies, of which each Party has retained one copy.

 

Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS

KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS

By: /s/Bjørn Sande Urtegaard By: /s/ Øystein Emberland
Name: Bjørn Sande Urtegaard Name: Øystein Emberland
Title: Attorney-in-fact Title: Attorney-in-fact
By:  
Name:  
Title:  

 

21


Schedule 1

INSURANCES

Insurance Policies (all quoted values are USD)

 

Hull & Machinery
Hull Insured Value: $75,335,000   Policy Renewal: 28.12.2015   
Hull Interest Insured Value: $19,825,000   Policy Renewal: 28.12.2015   
Freight Interest Insured Value: $3,965,000   Policy Renewal: 28.12.2015   
P&I Insurance
Gross Tonnage: 36,303   Policy Renewal: 20.02.2016   
War Risk
Insured Value: $99.125.000   Policy Renewal: 28.12.2015   
Hull & Machinery

    MAPFRE SEGUROS GERAIS S/A

            100 %   
  Total           100 %   

Hull Interest/Freight Interest

100%

MAPFRE SEGUROS GERAIS S/A

War Risk

100%

MAPFRE SEGUROS GERAIS S/A

P&I

100%

UK P&I CLUB

 

22


Schedule 2

ACCOUNTS

[Separate attachment]

 

23


KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 AS

Annual Report 2014

 

 

LOGO


KNOT SHUTTLE TANKERS 21 AS

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2014

KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 AS owns one 57,607 DWT MR size DP2 shuttle tanker, M/T Dan Sabia, delivered from COSCO Nantong Shipyard in China in 2012.

The company operates out of Haugesund, Norway and has no employees and working environment. The daily operations of the company are managed by KNOT Management AS in Haugesund in accordance with separate agreement and the daily operations of the vessel are managed by KNOT Management Denmark A/S in Copenhagen, Denmark in accordance with separate agreement.

The company’s activity

M/T Dan Sabia with bare-boat charter was purchased from the J. Lauritzen group in Copenhagen, Denmark in August 2014. The vessel has been chartered out to Fronape/TransPetro in Brazil on a 12-year bareboat CP agreement from delivery at yard.

Result for the year

The operating result for KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 AS was NOK 6 234 501 in 2014 compared to minus NOK 12 099 in 2013. After net financial loss of NOK 33 034 698 in 2014, against a profit of NOK 1 029 in 2013, the results of the year were minus NOK 26 800 197 in 2014 compared to minus NOK 6 384 in 2013. The company have entered into the tonnage tax regime from 2014 as the company starts up the business with M/T Dan Sabia. There were not calculated any gain from entering into the tax regime.

The Board of Directors suggests the result for the year covered by the additional paid-in capital and the owner, Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS, contribute a group contribution of NOK 158 368 952 at 31.12.14 to increase the capital of the company.

Total cash flow from operating activities in the company was NOK 9 165 518, minus NOK

11 070 in 2013. The liquidity position was NOK 19 686 674 as per 31.12.2014 compared to NOK 118 764 as per 31.12.2013. The company’s ability to finance its investments is good. The company have financed the vessel with a senior and junior long-term mortgage loan and have in December repaid the junior loan and reduced the senior loan after lending the amount from Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS. The outstanding mortgage loan is at the end of 2014 USD 66 469 555.

The company’s short-term debt per 31.12.2014 was 2.0 % of total debt (0 % in 2013).

The company is exposed to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, especially USD, as the company’s income is denominated in USD. Since the majority of the company’s operating expenses and financial costs also are denominated in USD, this limits the company’s foreign exchange risk. The company has not entered into any forward contracts or other agreements in order to reduce the company’s foreign exchange risk, and thereby operating related market risk.

 

25


The company is also exposed to changes in the interest rate level, as its Tong-term debt carrying floating interest rate. 48% of the long-term debt is secured with long-term interest rate swaps at the end of the year.

Total capital was by the end of the year NOK 712 385 873, NOK 135 500 at the end of 2013. The equity Share as of 31.12.2014 was 20% down from 89% the year before after starting up the business in August.

The financial accounts are settled on the assumption of a going concern. The board confirms the assumption of a going concern. The Board of Directors confirms that the Financial Statements give a true picture of the company’s assets and liabilities, financial position and results.

The environment safety and quality control

The requirements for a safety operation of ships are increasing, and both the company and the manager KNOT Management AS are concerned with an operational excellence. KNOT Offshore Partners Group’ s fleet consists of modem ships, which are designed and engineered for safe, environmentally sound and efficient operations. The ships are maintained and upgraded continuously to meet the demands and expectations from a government and employers. The company and the manager put significant resources to the quality assurance and there are stritt requirements for safety systems and an operation of the ships.

The company is not aware of any significant pollution to the external environment, and the Board of Directors considers the working conditions on-board the ship as satisfactory. M/T Dan Sabia is certified in accordance with both ISM code and the ISPS code.

The company have no employees and thus no working environment. The company aims to be workplace where there is no discrimination related to gender, ethnicity, religion or disability. The company aims to avoid gender discrimination regarding salary, promotion and recruiting. The members of the Board of Directors are all men.

Future prospects

M/T Dan Sabia is operated on a long-term charter with Fronape/TransPetro in Brazil. The charterer and trading area is well known for the manager and the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors expect that 2015 will be a stable profitable year for the company.

Haugesund, February 27, 2015

 

 

/s/ Trygve Seglem

Trygve Seglem

Chairman of the Board

/s/ Karl Gerhard Bråstein Dahl

Karl Gerhard Bråstein Dahl

Member of the Board

/s/ Fumitake Shishido
Fumitake Shishido
Member of the Board

 

26


KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 AS

Profit & Loss Account

 

     Note      2014      2013  

Operating Income

        

Freight income

     2         23 663 197         0   

Commissions

        -7 638 653         0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Operating Income

  16 024 545      0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

Administration expenses

  6      856 044      12 099   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Operating Expenses

  856 044      12 099   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ordinary depreciation

  3      8 934 000      0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Result

  6 234 501      -12 099   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Financial Income and Expenses

Financial income

  4      1 024      1 029   

Foreign exchange profit/loss

  -17 482 771      0   

Financial expenses

  4      -15 552 951      0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Financial Items

  -33 034 698      1 029   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating result before tax

  -26 800 197      -11 070   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Taxes

  11      0      4 686   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Result for the year

  -26 800 197      -6 384   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

27


KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 AS

Balance Sheet as of 31. December

 

     Note      2014      2013  

Fixed Assets

        

Vessel

     3,  10         527 052 408         0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Fixed Assets

  527 052 408      0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Current Assets

Current receivables group

  165 646 790      16 736   

Bank deposits

  19 686 674      118 764   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Current Assets

  185 333 465      135 500   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

ASSETS

  712 385 873      135 500   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

28


KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 AS

Balance Sheet as of 31. December

 

     Note      2014      2013  

Shareholders Equity and Liabilities

        

Equity

        

Share capital

     5         100 000         100 000   

Share premium

        7 950         7 950   

Additional paid-in capital

        140 070 304         12 050   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total paid in capital

  140 178 255      120 000   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Equity

  5, 9      140 178 255      120 000   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other long-term liabilities

Liabilities to financial institutions

  10      402 497 382      0   

Long-term debt group

  158 368 952      15 500   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Long Term Debt

  560 866 334      15 500   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

Accounts payable

  7      315 251      0   

Other current liabilities

  11 026 033      0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Current Liabilities

  11 341 284      0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

  712 385 873      135 500   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Haugesund, February 27, 2015

 

/s/ Trygve Seglem /s/ Karl Gerhard Bråstein Dahl
Trygve Seglem Karl Gerhard Bråstein Dahl
Chairman of the Board Member of the Board

/s/ Fumitake Shishido

Fumitake Shishido

Member of the Board

 

29


KNOT SHUTTLE TANKERS 21 AS

CASH FLOW STATEMENT

 

     2014      2013  

Cashflow from operations

     

Total generated from operations 1)

     5 102 072         -11 070   

Change in working capital

     4 080 182         0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cashflow from operations

  9 182 254      -11 070   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cashflow from investments

Purchase vessel including contract

  -535 986 408      0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cashflow from investments

  -535 986 408      0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cashflow from financing

Paid-in capital, inlc share premium, net of expenses

  0      114 334   

Group contribution

  8 489 499      0   

Instalments/drawings—mortgage debt

  379 529 113      0   

Loan from group companies

  158 353 452      15 500   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cashflow from financing

  546 372 065      129 834   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net change in cashflow for the period

  19 567 910      118 764   

+ Cash balance per 01.01.

  118 764      0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

= Cash Balance per 31.12.

  19 686 674      118 764   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

1) Generated from operations:

The result for the period before taxes

  -26 800 197      -11 070   

+ Ordinary depreciation

  8 934 000      0   

+Amortization deferred debt issuance cost

  2 822 910      0   

+Realized currency gain mortgage debt

  20 145 359      0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

= Total generated from operations

  5 102 072      -11 070   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

30


KNOT SHUTTLE TANKERS 21 AS

Notes to the Financial Statement 31.12.2014

 

1 Accounting Principles

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Norwegian Accounting Act and generally accepted accounting principles in Norway.

Current Assets/Current Liabilities

Fixed assets are intended for long-term ownership and use. Other assets are classified as current assets. Short-term liabilities are due within one year or tied to the operation. Other liabilities are classified as long-term liabilities. Current assets are valued at the lower of cost and fair valne. Short-term liabilities are recorded at nominal value at the time of the entering.

This principle is not used for current items in foreign currency, which are valued at the rate of exchange at the year-end.

Income

The income from the bareboat is in USD, and income is recorded to the Profit & Loss account when actually earned.

Fixed Assets and Dry-Docking

The total cost of the vessel is capitalised at delivery and dcpreciated linearly to zero at the date 25 years after delivery of the vessel from newbuilding yard.

The total cost of the contract value is linearly capitalised over the contract period.

Dry-docking expenses are capitalised and expensed over the period till the next dry-docking. This is in line with the depreciation plan of the vessel, and takes into account that the vessel is classified to operate for an additional period. Dry-docking is carried out every 5th year for vessels less than 15 years, and every 2.5 year for vessels more than 15 years. Actual expenses related to repair and maintenance of the vessel are expensed when the work is executed.

The fixed assets are valued according to the lowest of the depreciated value and the market valne unless the fall in value is assumed to be temporary.

Interest-bearing loan and borrowings

All loans and borrowings are initially recognized at cost, being the fair value of the consideration received net of issue costs associated with the borrowing.

After initial recognition, interest-bearing loans and borrowings are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method; any difference between proceeds (net of transaction costs) and the redemption value is recorded in the profit and loss over the period of the interest-bearing liabilities. Amortized cost is calculated by taking into account any issue costs, and any discount or premium on settlement.

Gains and losses are recognized in the net profit and loss statement when the liabilities are devalued or depreciated, as well as through the amortization process.

Tax

The calculated tax costs in the accounting includes both the payable tax for the period in addition to the change in deferred tax. Deferred tax is calculated using 27 % as the basis for taxation on the temporary differences between the accounting and the taxable values in addition to the loss carried forward at the end of the financial year. Tax increasing and decreasing changes in temporary differences which are reversed or can be reversed in the same period are offset and the net valne is booked. The company is taxed based on the shipping tax regime. This means that companies are not taxed on the basis of its operating income. However it is calculated an annual tax of 27% on the company’s net financial income. At the same time companies are within the tonnage tax scheme. Tonnage tax is classified as an operating expense. To be within the scheme the company should meet certain requirements, such as only ownership of ship/ shares in the shipping companies, and only own certain types of financial assets.

 

31


Transactions in Foreign Currency

The income received in USD is recorded at the rate of exchange on the day the transaction is carried out. Income and expenditure in foreign currency are converted with the exchange rate at the time of the transaction.

All current assets and current liabilities in foreign currency are registered at the rate of exchange as per 31.12. Realised foreign exchange gain and loss are registered as financial items.

The debt is valued at the historical rate, to the extent that the future net nominal income flow exceed the borrowed amount. To the extent that long-term debt exceeds the net nominal income flow, the unrealised foreign exchange loss on the exceeding amount is recorded.

Realized and unrealized profit and loss on foreign exchange are recorded as financial income / expenses.

Cash flow statement

The cash flow statement is presented using the indirect method of NRS. The liquidity balance is defined as the sum of cash, bank deposits and other short term liquid assets.

 

2 Contracts

The company has secured employment of the vessel with a long-term fix bareboat contract which expires in September 2023. KNOT Management Denmark A/S operates as a manager on behalf of the company in accordance with management agreement.

 

3 Fixed Assets

M/T Dan Sabia, including bare-boat charter was purchased from J. Lauritzen Group in August 2014.

 

Vessel

   2014  

Purchase value 21.08

     535 986 408   

Additions

     0   

Ordinary annual depreciation

     8 934 000   
  

 

 

 

Book value 31.12.

  527 052 408   
  

 

 

 

 

4 Financial Income and-Expenses

 

     2014      2013  

Financial Income:

     

Other interest income

     1 024         1 029   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total financial income

  1 024      1 029   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Financial expenses:

Interest expenses

  10 417 602      0   

Interest expenses to group companies/related parties

  837 869      0   

Guarantee expenses group

  1 525 706      0   

Other financial expenses

  2 771 774      0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total financial expenses

  15 552 951      0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

5 Equity

Specification of the equity per 31.12.

 

     Share      Share      Additional      Other      Total  
     capital      premium      paid-in capital      equity      equity  

Equity 01.01

     100 000         7 950         12 050         0         120 000   

Group contribution, net

     0         0         166 858 451         0         166 858 451   

Result for the year

     0         0         -26 800 197         0         -26 800 197   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity 31.12.

  100 000      7 950      140 070 304      0      140 178 255   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Share capital consists of 100 shares NOK 1 000 each, all held by Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS.

The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS. Financial statements for the group can be obtained at company’s registered office, Smedasundet 40, 5529 Haugesund.

 

32


6 Remuneration

No remuneration is paid to the Board of Directors during the year.

The company have not given any loan or guarantees to any leading person or board member during the year.

 

Auditor’s fee (excl. VAT):

   2014      2013  

Auditing

     0         0   

Other consultancy

     0         0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
  0      0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

7 Balances with related parties

 

     2014      2013  

Accounts payable

     

TS Shipping Invest AS

     312 167         0   

KNOT Management Denmark AS

     3 084         0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
  315 251      0   

 

8 Salary and social costs

The company has no employees and thereby no pension liabilities (under the new OTP regulation).

 

9 Shares Owned by Board Members and Affiliates

Trygve Seglem controls TS Shipping Invest AS, which owns 50 % of the parent company Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS .

 

10 Mortgage Debt and Financial Instruments

 

31.12.2014

   USD      Historical rate      Rate per 31.12      NOK  

USD-loan

     66 469 555         6,1759         6,1759         410 509 325   

Deferred debt issuance

              -8 011 942   
           

 

 

 
  402 497 382   
           

 

 

 

Current portion:

USD-loan

  4 000 000      24 703 600   

Deferred debt issuance

  -892 246   
           

 

 

 
  23 811 354   
           

 

 

 

The USDNOK exchange rate at the year-end was 7,4299

Estimated outstanding debt per year end 2019 is USD 44.8 million.

Future income flows from fixed contracts in USD exceed debt in USD. Therefore it is not recognized foreign exchange gains on USD debt on the basis of the year-end exchange rate. The foreign exchange loss not recorded is NOK 83 million.

Security for the loan is made through a first priority mortgage in the vessel, transportation of income, pledged bank deposit, factoring agreement, pledged shares in the company and guarantees from the owner.

Book value of mortgaged assets is NOK 574 million.

The company has aimed to reduce the market risk by entering financial contracts. The company has entered long term freight contracts in USD, with the intention of having income, vessel investment and loans in the same currency in order to minimize the effects of exchange rate fluctuations. The company has also entered into interest rate swap contracts to minimize the effects of fluctuations in the interest rate. The Company has entered agreements on fixed interest rates on USD 32 million. Mark to market gain on the interest rate swaps have not been taken into account with USD 1.0 million.

 

33


11 Tax

The company is taxed based on the shipping tax regime after entrance to the regime in 2014. This means that companies are not taxed on the basis of its operating income. However it is calculated an annual tax of 27% on the company’s net financial income. At the same time companies within the tonnage tax scheme will have to pay a tonnage tax based on the size of the company’s operated vessels, which in 2014 amounted to NOK 30 888. Tonnage tax is classified as an operating expense. Entry into the tonnage tax regime resulted in no entrance tax.

The company should meet certain requirements to be within the scheme, such as only ownership of ship/ shares in the shipping companies, and only own certain types of financial assets.

Below is a specification of the temporary differences at the end of the financial year.

 

     2014      Change      2013  

Loss carried forward

     -14 661 865         -14 661 865         0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basis for deferred tax (benefit)

  -14 661 865      -14 661 865      0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax (benefit)

  -3 958 704      -3 958 704      0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax (benefit) booked

  0      0      0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Taxable result tonnage tax scheme:

     2014                

Net financial items

     -33 034 698         

Non-deductable currency loss

     12 932 014         
     0         

Interest deduction

     5 440 819         
  

 

 

       

Taxable income before loss carried forward

  -14 661 865   

Change in loss carried forward

  -14 661 865   
  

 

 

       

Taxable income

  0   
  

 

 

       

Tax payable

  0   

Change in deferred tax

  0   
  

 

 

       

Tax expense

  0   
  

 

 

       

Tax information from 2013 is within the normal norwegian tax regime. The tax information is not relevant any longer and therefor the information is not part of the notes.

 

34


LOGO Statsautoriserte revisorer Ernst & Young AS

Foretaksregisteret: NO 976 389 387 MVA

Tlf: +47 55 21 30 00

Fax: +47 55 21 30 01

 

Thormøhlens gate 53 D, NO-5006 Bergen Postboks 6163, NO-5892 Bergen

www.ey.no

Medlemmer av Den norske revisorforening

To the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting of

KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 AS

AUDITOR’S REPORT

Report on the financial statements

We have audited the accompanying financial statements of KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 AS, which comprise the balance sheet as at 31 December 2014, the statements of income and cash flows for the year then ended and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.

The Board of Directors’ responsibility for the financial statements

The Board of Directors are responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with the Norwegian Accounting Act and accounting standards and practices generally accepted in Norway, and for such internal control as the Board of Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Auditor’s responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with laws, regulations, and auditing standards and practices generally accepted in Norway, including International Standards on Auditing. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.


LOGO

 

Opinion

In our opinion, the financial statements of KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 AS have been prepared in accordance with laws and regulations and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as at 31 December 2014 and its financial performance and its cash fiows for the year then ended in accordance with the Norwegian Accounting Act and accounting standards and practices generally accepted in Norway.

Report on other legal and regulatory requirements

Opinion on the Board of Directors’ report

Based on our audit of the financial statements as described above, it is our opinion that the information presented in the Directors’ report concerning the financial statements and the going concern assumption is consistent with the financial statements and complies with the law and regulations.

Opinion on registration and documentation

Based on our audit of the financial statements as described above, and control procedures we have considered necessary in accordance with the International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3000, «Assurance Engagements Other than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information», it is our opinion that the Board of Directors have fulfilled their duty to ensure that the Company’s accounting information is properly recorded and documented as required by law and generally accepted bookkeeping practice in Norway.

Bergen, 3 March 2015

ERNST & YOUNG AS

/s/ Fredrik Gabrielsen

Fredrik Gabrielsen

State Autorised Public Accountant (Norway)

 

36

Exhibit 5.1

WATSON FARLEY

&

WILLIAMS

ATHENS   BANGKOK   DUBAI   FRANKFURT   HAMBURG   HONG KONG   LONDON

MADRID   MILAN   MUNICH   NEW YORK   PARIS   ROME   SINGAPORE

 

KNOT Offshore Partners LP

2 Queen’s Cross, Aberdeen

Aberdeenshire AB15 4YB

United Kingdom

Our reference: BERD2/28422.50004/80358169v3

June 2, 2015

Registration Statement on Form F-3 – Exhibit 5.1 Opinion

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel as to matters of the law of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (“ Marshall Islands Law ”) for KNOT Offshore Partners LP, a Marshall Islands limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), and various of its subsidiaries and affiliates, in connection with the issuance and sale by the Partnership of up to 5,750,000 common units (the “ Units ”) pursuant to the Partnership’s Registration Statement on Form F-3 (No. 333-195976) (the “ Registration Statement ”), the preliminary prospectus supplement dated May 27, 2015 (the “ Preliminary Prospectus ”) to the base prospectus dated May 28, 2014 and the prospectus supplement dated May 28, 2015 (the “ Prospectus ”) to the base prospectus dated May 28, 2014.

In rendering this opinion, we have examined originals or copies (certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of the following documents:

 

(i) the Registration Statement;

 

(ii) the Preliminary Prospectus;

 

(iii) the Prospectus;

 

(iv) the Underwriting Agreement, dated May 28, 2015 (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), among the Partnership, KNOT Offshore Partners GP LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company (the “ General Partner ”), KNOT Offshore Partners UK LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company (“ KNOT UK ”, and together with the Partnership and the General Partner, the “ Marshall Islands Entities ”), Knot Shuttle Tankers AS, a Norwegian company, and the underwriters named therein;

 

 

Watson Farley & Williams LLP 1133 Avenue of the Americas New York New York 10036 T + 1 212 922 2200 F + 1 212 922 1512 wfw.com

 

Watson Farley & Williams LLP is a limited liability partnership that (or a WFW Affiliated Entity) has an office in each of the cities listed above.


Page 2

WATSON FARLEY

&

WILLIAMS

 

(v) such other papers, documents, agreements, certificates of public officials and certificates of representatives of the Marshall Islands Entities and their affiliates as we have deemed relevant and necessary as the basis for the opinion hereafter expressed.

In such examination, we have assumed (a) the legal capacity of each natural person, (b) the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (c) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as conformed or photostatic copies, (d) that the documents reviewed by us in connection with the rendering of the opinion set forth herein are true, correct and complete and (e) the truthfulness of each statement as to all factual matters contained in any document or certificate encompassed within the due diligence review undertaken by us.

In rendering this opinion, we have also assumed:

 

(i) that the Underwriting Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by the parties thereto (other than the Marshall Islands Entities), and executed and delivered by such parties thereto; and

 

(ii) the validity and enforceability of the Underwriting Agreement against the parties thereto.

As to matters of fact material to this opinion that have not been independently established, we have relied upon the representations and certificates of officers or representatives of the Marshall Islands Entities and their affiliates and of public officials, in each case as we have deemed relevant and appropriate, and upon the representations and warranties of each of the Marshall Islands Entities in the Underwriting Agreement. We have not independently verified the facts so relied on.

This opinion letter is limited to Marshall Islands Law and is as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to advise of any development or circumstance of any kind, including any change of law or fact that may occur after the date of this opinion letter that might affect the opinion expressed herein.

Based on the foregoing, and having regard to legal considerations which we deem relevant, and subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that when the Units are issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Units will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.


Page 3

WATSON FARLEY

&

WILLIAMS

 

We consent to the discussion of this opinion in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K of the Partnership and to the references to our firm in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement within the meaning of the term “expert” as used in the Securities Act.

Very truly yours,

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

/s/ Watson Farley & Williams LLP

Exhibit 8.1

 

LOGO

June 2, 2015

KNOT Offshore Partners LP

2 Queen’s Cross

Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire AB15 4YB

United Kingdom

 

Re: KNOT Offshore Partners LP Registration Statement on Form F-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel for KNOT Offshore Partners LP, a Marshall Islands limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), with respect to certain legal matters in connection with the offer and sale of up to 5,750,000 common units representing limited partnership interests in the Partnership. We have also participated in the preparation of a Prospectus Supplement dated May 28, 2015 (the “ Prospectus Supplement ”) and the Prospectus dated May 28, 2014 (the “ Prospectus ”), forming part of the Registration Statement on Form F-3, No. 333-195976 (the “ Registration Statement ”).

This opinion is based on various facts and assumptions, and is conditioned upon certain representations made by the Partnership as to factual matters through a representation letter certified by an officer of the Partnership (the “ Officer’s Certificate ”). In addition, this opinion is based on the factual representations of the Partnership concerning its business, properties and governing documents as set forth in the Registration Statement.

In our capacity as counsel to the Partnership, we have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including an examination of originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such documents, corporate records and other instruments, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion. In our examination, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures thereon, the legal capacity of natural persons executing such documents and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. For the purpose of our opinion, we have not made an independent investigation or audit of the facts set forth in the above-referenced documents or in the Officer’s Certificate. In addition, in rendering this opinion we have assumed the truth and accuracy of all representations and statements made to us which are qualified as to knowledge or belief, without regard to such qualification.

 

Vinson & Elkins LLP Attorneys at Law

Abu Dhabi   Austin   Beijing   Dallas   Dubai   Hong Kong   Houston   London   Moscow   New York   Palo Alto   Riyadh San Francisco   Tokyo   Washington

1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500

Houston, TX 77002-6760

Tel + 1.713.758.2222 Fax + 1. 713.758.2346 www.velaw.com


LOGO Page 2

 

We are opining herein as to the effect on the subject transaction only of the federal income tax laws of the United States, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of other federal laws, foreign laws, the laws of any state or any other jurisdiction or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any other local agencies within any state. We hereby confirm that all statements of legal conclusions contained in the discussion in the Prospectus under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” as updated by the discussion in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” constitute the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. with respect to the matters set forth therein as of the date of the Prospectus Supplement, subject to the assumptions, qualifications, and limitations set forth therein. No opinion is expressed as to any matter not discussed therein.

This opinion is rendered to you as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update this opinion subsequent to the date hereof. This opinion is based on various statutory provisions, regulations promulgated thereunder and interpretations thereof by the Internal Revenue Service and the courts having jurisdiction over such matters, all of which are subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. Also, any variation or difference in the facts from those set forth in the representations described above, including in the Registration Statement and the Officer’s Certificate, may affect the conclusions stated herein.

This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or furnished to, assigned to, quoted to or relied upon by any other person, firm or other entity, for any purpose, without our prior written consent. However, this opinion may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely on it pursuant to applicable provisions of federal securities law, including persons purchasing common units pursuant to the Registration Statement.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the captions “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement. We further consent to the incorporation by reference of this letter and consent into any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act with respect to the common units. By giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.


LOGO Page 3

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

Exhibit 8.2

WATSON FARLEY

&

WILLIAMS

ATHENS   BANGKOK   DUBAI   FRANKFURT   HAMBURG   HONG KONG   LONDON

MADRID   MILAN   MUNICH   NEW YORK   PARIS   ROME   SINGAPORE

 

KNOT Offshore Partners LP

2 Queen’s Cross, Aberdeen

Aberdeenshire AB15 4YB

United Kingdom

Our reference: BERD2/28422.50004/80358180v5

June 2, 2015

Registration Statement on Form F-3 – Exhibit 8.2 Opinion

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel as to matters of the law of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (“ Marshall Islands Law ”) for KNOT Offshore Partners LP, a Marshall Islands limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), and various of its subsidiaries and affiliates, in connection with the issuance and sale by the Partnership of common units pursuant to the Partnership’s Registration Statement on Form F-3 (No. 333-195976) (the “ Registration Statement ”), the preliminary prospectus supplement dated May 27, 2015 (the “ Preliminary Prospectus ”) to the base prospectus dated May 28, 2014 and the prospectus supplement dated May 28, 2015 (the “ Prospectus ”) to the base prospectus dated May 28, 2014.

In rendering this opinion, we have examined originals or copies (certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of the following documents:

 

(i) the Registration Statement;

 

(ii) the Preliminary Prospectus;

 

(iii) the Prospectus; and

 

(iv) such other papers, documents, agreements, certificates of public officials and certificates of representatives of the Partnership, KNOT Offshore Partners GP LLC and other affiliates of the Partnership as we have deemed relevant and necessary as the basis for the opinions hereafter expressed.

In such examination, we have assumed (a) the legal capacity of each natural person, (b) the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (c) the conformity to original

 

 

Watson Farley & Williams LLP 1133 Avenue of the Americas New York New York 10036 T + 1 212 922 2200 F + 1 212 922 1512 wfw.com

 

Watson Farley & Williams LLP is a limited liability partnership that (or a WFW Affiliated Entity) has an office in each of the cities listed above.


Page 2

WATSON FARLEY

&

WILLIAMS

 

documents of all documents submitted to us as conformed or photostatic copies, (d) that the documents reviewed by us in connection with the rendering of the opinion set forth herein are true, correct and complete and (e) the truthfulness of each statement as to all factual matters contained in any document or certificate encompassed within the due diligence review undertaken by us. As to any questions of fact material to our opinion, we have, when relevant facts were not independently established, relied upon the aforesaid certificates.

This opinion letter is limited to Marshall Islands Law and is as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to advise of any development or circumstance of any kind, including any change of law or fact that may occur after the date of this opinion letter that might affect the opinion expressed herein.

Based on the facts as set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus and having regard to legal considerations which we deem relevant, and subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth herein, we hereby confirm that we have reviewed the discussion set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Non-United States Tax Considerations—Marshall Islands Tax Consequences” and that the statements in such discussion, to the extent they constitute summaries of law or legal conclusions, unless otherwise noted, are the opinion of Watson Farley & Williams LLP with respect to Marshall Islands tax consequences as of the date of the Prospectus (except for the representations and statements of fact of the Partnership included under such captions, as to which we express no opinion).

We consent to the discussion of this opinion in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K of the Partnership and to the references to our firm in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement within the meaning of the term “expert” as used in the Securities Act.

Very truly yours,

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

/s/ W atson Farley & Williams LLP

Exhibit 8.3

 

KNOT Offshore Partners LP

2 Queen’s Cross

Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire AB15 4YB

United Kingdom

 

Our reference:    8624408/2    Oslo, June 2, 2015
Responsible lawyer:    Henning Naas   

RE: KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS LP REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM F-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS (“ Thommesssen ”) is writing as Norwegian tax counsel to KNOT Offshore Partners LP (the “ Partnership ”), a Marshall Islands limited partnership, in connection with the offer and sale of up to 5,750,000 common units representing limited partnership interests in the Partnership. You have provided us with a prospectus supplement dated 28 May 2015 (the “ Prospectus Supplement ”) to the prospectus dated 28 May 2014 (the “ Prospectus ”), forming part of the registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-195976) (the “ Registration Statement ”).

This opinion is based on various facts and assumptions, and is conditioned upon certain representations made by the Partnership as to factual matters through a certificate of an officer of the Partnership (the “ Officer’s Certificate ”). In addition, this opinion is based upon the factual representations of the Partnership concerning its business, properties and governing documents as set forth in the Registration Statement.

For the purpose of our opinion, we have not made an independent investigation or audit of the facts set forth in the Registration Statement or in the Officer’s Certificate, nor in the Prospectus Supplement. In addition, in rendering this opinion we have assumed the truth and accuracy of all representations and statements made to us that are qualified as to knowledge or belief, without regard to such qualification. Consequently, we do not accept any responsibility whatsoever to any party in the event there are factual inaccuracies in these representations and statements that affect our opinion.

We are opining herein as to the effect on the subject transaction only of the income tax laws of the Kingdom of Norway, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of other Norwegian laws, foreign laws, the laws of any state or

 

 

 

LOGO

 

 

ADVOKATFIRMAET

THOMMESSEN AS

 

Foretaksregisteret

NO 957 423 248 MVA

thommessen.no

  

OSLO

Haakon VIIs gate 10

Postboks 1484 Vika

NO-0116 Oslo

T +47 23 11 11 11

F +47 23 11 10 10

  

BERGEN

Vestre Strømkaien 7

Postboks 43 Nygårdstangen

NO-5838 Bergen

T +47 55 30 61 00

F +47 55 30 61 01

  

LONDON

42 New Broad Street

GB-London EC2M 1JD

T +44 207 920 3090

F +44 207 920 3099


any other jurisdiction. We hereby confirm that all statements of law and legal conclusions with respect thereto contained in the discussion in the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Non-United States Tax Considerations—Norwegian Tax Consequences” constitute the opinion of Thommessen with respect to the matters set forth therein as of the effective date of the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth therein. No opinion is expressed as to any matter not discussed therein.

This opinion is rendered to you as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update this opinion subsequent to the date hereof. This opinion is based on various statutory provisions, regulations promulgated thereunder and interpretations thereof by the Norwegian Tax Administration and the courts having jurisdiction over such matters, all of which are subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. Also, any variation or difference in the facts from those set forth in the representations in the Registration Statement and the Officer’s Certificate, may affect the conclusions stated herein.

You should be aware that the practices followed by the Norwegian Tax Administration are not well defined in all areas. Thommessen is therefore not able to guarantee that the Norwegian Tax Administration will concur with this opinion.

This opinion is furnished to you, and is for your use in connection with the transactions set forth in the Registration Statement. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or furnished to, assigned to, quoted to or relied upon by any other person, firm or other entity, for any purpose, without our prior written consent. However, this opinion may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely on it pursuant to applicable provisions of U.S. federal securities law, including persons purchasing common units pursuant to the Registration Statement.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K of the Partnership and to the use of our name under the captions “Non-United States Tax Considerations—Norwegian Tax Consequences” in the Prospectus Supplement. We further consent to the incorporation by reference of this letter and consent into any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act with respect to the common units. By giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Yours sincerely

Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS

/s/ Henning Naas

Henning Naas

Advokat

 

2

LOGO

 

Exhibit 99.1

KNOT Offshore Partners LP announces pricing of public offering of 5,000,000 common units

Aberdeen, United Kingdom, May 28, 2015 – KNOT Offshore Partners LP (the “Partnership”) (NYSE: KNOP) announced today that it has priced its public offering of 5,000,000 common units, representing limited partner interests, at a price of $23.76 per unit. The Partnership has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 750,000 common units.

The Partnership intends to use the net proceeds that it receives in the offering and the related capital contribution by its general partner to maintain its 2% general partner interest to fund the cash portion of the purchase price of its previously announced acquisition of the shuttle tanker, Dan Sabia , from Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS (the “Acquisition”) and a prepayment on the senior secured loan facility related to the Dan Sabia , and the remainder for general partnership purposes. If the Acquisition does not close, the Partnership will use the net proceeds from the offering and the related capital contribution by its general partner for general partnership purposes.

The Partnership owns, operates and acquires shuttle tankers under long-term charters in the offshore oil production regions of the North Sea and Brazil. The Partnership is structured as a master limited partnership. The Partnership’s common units trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “KNOP.”

Barclays, BofA Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, UBS Investment Bank, Wells Fargo Securities, Raymond James and RBC Capital Markets are acting as the joint book-running managers in connection with the offering. In addition, BNP PARIBAS and SMBC Nikko are acting as the co-managers in connection with the offering.

When available, copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained free of charge on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov or from the underwriters of the offering as follows:

 

Barclays

c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions

1155 Long Island Avenue

Edgewood, NY 11717

Telephone: (888) 603-5847

Email: barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com

BofA Merrill Lynch

222 Broadway, New York, NY 10038

Attn: Prospectus Department

email: dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com

Citigroup

c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions

1155 Long Island Avenue

Edgewood, NY 11717

Telephone: (800) 831-9146

Morgan Stanley

Attention: Prospectus Department

180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor,

New York, NY 10014

UBS Investment Bank

Attn: Prospectus Dept.

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10019

Telephone: (888) 827-7275

Wells Fargo Securities

Attn: Equity Syndicate Department

375 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10152

Telephone: (800) 326-5897

cmclientsupport@wellsfargo.com


Raymond James

Attention: Equity Syndicate

880 Carillon Parkway

Tower 3, 5th Floor

St. Petersburg, Florida 33716

Telephone: (800) 248-8863

Email: prospectus@raymondjames.com

RBC Capital Markets

Attention: Equity Syndicate

Three World Financial Center

200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor

New York, New York 10281

Telephone: (877) 822-4089

Email: equityprospectus@rbccm.com

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The common units in the public offering will be offered and sold pursuant to an effective registration statement on Form F-3 previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) (File No. 333-195976). This offering may be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus, which will be filed with the SEC.

The statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Partnership’s management and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. The Partnership does not assume any obligation to update the information contained in this press release.

Media:

KNOT Offshore Partners LP

Arild Vik

Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

+44 758 1899 777

Source: KNOT Offshore Partners LP