Table of Contents

 

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

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016

Commission File Number: 001-35866

 

 

KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS LP

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

 

2 Queen’s Cross,

Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

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

 

 

 


Table of Contents

KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS LP

REPORT ON FORM 6-K FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2016

Table of Contents

 

     Page  

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015

     3   

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015

     4   

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June  30, 2016 and December 31, 2015

     5   

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015

     7   

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015

     8   

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

     9   

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

     23   

Forward-Looking Statements

     35   

Exhibits

     37   

Signatures

     38   

THIS REPORT ON FORM 6-K IS HEREBY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM F-3 (NO. 333-195976) ORIGINALLY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 15, 2014.

 

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KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS LP

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015

(U.S. Dollars in thousands, except per unit amounts)

 

       Three Months Ended
June 30,
     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
       2016      2015      2016      2015  

Operating revenues: (Notes 3 and 9)

             

Time charter and bareboat revenues

     $     42,864       $     36,981       $ 84,690       $     73,052   

Other income

       199         2         399         151   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

       43,063         36,983         85,089         73,203   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating expenses: (Note 9)

             

Vessel operating expenses

       7,975         7,164         15,622         13,971   

Depreciation

       13,913         11,560         27,805         22,960   

General and administrative expenses

       948         984         2,256         2,052   

Goodwill impairment charge (Note 4)

       —          6,217         —          6,217   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

       22,836         25,925         45,683         45,200   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

       20,227         11,058             39,406         28,003   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Finance income (expense) (Note 9):

             

Interest income

       0         2         3         3   

Interest expense

       (5,054      (4,212 )      (10,084      (8,398 )

Other finance expense

       (334      (79 )      (601      (99 )

Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments (Note 5)

       (3,176      253         (6,360      (5,370 )

Net loss on foreign currency transactions

       (82      (132 )      (117 )      (60 )
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total finance expense

       (8,646      (4,168 )      (17,159      (13,924 )
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

       11,581         6,890         22,247         14,079   

Income tax expense (Note 8)

       (3 )      (3 )      (6      (6 )
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

       11,578         6,887         22,241         14,073   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

General Partner’s interest in net income

       233         128         501         263   

Limited Partners’ interest in net income

       11,345         6,759         21,740         13,810   

Earnings per unit (Note 11):

             

Common unit (basic and diluted)

     $ 0.502       $ 0.280       $ 0.810       $ 0.553   

Subordinated unit (basic and diluted)

     $ —        $ 0.287       $ 0.767       $ 0.671   

General Partner unit (basic and diluted)

     $ 0.417       $ 0.262       $ 0.897       $ 0.557   

Cash distributions declared and paid per unit (Note 11)

     $ 0.520       $ 0.510       $ 0.520       $ 0.510   

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

 

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KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS LP

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015

(U.S. Dollars in thousands)

 

       Three Months Ended
June 30,
       Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
       2016        2015        2016        2015  

Net income

     $   11,578         $     6,887         $   22,241         $   14,073   

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

       —            —            —            —    
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

       11,578           6,887           22,241           14,073   
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

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

 

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KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS LP

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015

(U.S. Dollars in thousands)

 

     At June 30,
2016
       At December 31,
2015
 

ASSETS

       

Current assets:

       

Cash and cash equivalents (Note 6)

   $ 25,667         $ 23,573   

Amounts due from related parties (Note 9)

     25           58   

Inventories

     774           849   

Derivative assets (Notes 5 and 6)

     232           —    

Other current assets*

     1,705           1,800   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total current assets

     28,403           26,280   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Long-term assets:

       

Vessels and equipment:

       

Vessels

     1,351,838           1,351,219   

Less accumulated depreciation

     (183,598 )        (158,292 )
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net property, plant, and equipment

     1,168,240           1,192,927   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Derivative assets (Notes 5 and 6)

     —            695   

Accrued income

     706           —    
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 1,197,349         $ 1,219,902   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ EQUITY

       

Current liabilities:

       

Trade accounts payable

   $ 1,949         $ 1,995   

Accrued expenses

     3,469           3,888   

Current portion of long-term debt* (Notes 6 and 7)

     53,888           48,535   

Current portion of derivative liabilities (Notes 5 and 6)

     3,747           5,138   

Income taxes payable (Note 8)

     18           249   

Current portion of contract liabilities

     1,518           1,518   

Prepaid charter and deferred revenue

     6,999           3,365   

Amount due to related parties (Note 9)

     492           848   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     72,080           65,536   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Long-term liabilities:

       

Long-term debt* (Notes 6 and 7)

     594,621           619,187   

Derivative liabilities (Notes 5 and 6)

     6,028           1,232   

Contract liabilities

     8,998           9,757   

Deferred tax liabilities (Note 8)

     919           877   

Other long-term liabilities

     1,799           2,543   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     684,445           699,132   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)

       

Equity:

       

Partners’ capital:

       

Common unitholders

     502,756           411,317   

Subordinated unitholders

     —            99,158   

General partner interest

     10,148           10,295   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total partners’ capital

     512,904           520,770   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $     1,197,349         $     1,219,902   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

*

Effective January 1, 2016, the Partnership implemented ASU 2015-03, Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30), Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the

 

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  balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability rather than as an asset. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs is not affected. Therefore, these costs will continue to be amortized as interest expense using the effective interest method. The new guidance is applied retrospectively for all periods presented. As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 the carrying amount of the deferred debt issuance cost was $3.5 million and $4.0 million, respectively.

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

 

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KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS LP

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated

Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital

for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015

(U.S. Dollars in thousands)

 

       Partners’ Capital      Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
       Total Partners’
Capital
 
       Common
Units
     Subordinated
Units
     General
Partner
        

Consolidated balance at December 31, 2014

       307,544         103,680         8,141         —            419,365   

Net income

       8,065         5,745         263         —            14,073   

Other comprehensive income

       —          —          —          —            —    

Cash distributions

       (13,808      (9,250      (456      —            (23,514

Proceeds from public offering (5,000,000 common units), net of underwriters’ discount of $4,300 (Note 13)

       114,500         —          2,424              116,924   

Offering cost (Note 13)

       (314      —          (7           (321

Consolidated balance at June 30, 2015

     $     411,987       $ 100,175       $     10,365       $ —          $ 526,527   

Consolidated balance at December 31, 2015

       411,317         99,158         10,295         —            520,770   

Net income

       16,688         5,052         501         —            22,241   

Other comprehensive income

       —          —          —          —            —    

Cash distributions

       (19,372 )      (10,088 )      (648 )      —            (30,107

Conversion of subordinated units to common units

       94,123         (94,123      —              —            —    

Consolidated balance at June 30, 2016

     $ 502,756       $ —        $ 10,148       $ —          $ 512,904   

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

 

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KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS LP

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015

(U.S. Dollars in thousands)

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2016        2015  

Cash flows provided by operating activities:

       

Net income

   $ 22,241         $ 14,073   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:

       

Depreciation

     27,805           22,960   

Amortization of contract intangibles / liabilities

     (759        (759 )

Amortization of deferred revenue

     (886        (957 )

Amortization of deferred debt issuance cost

     573           570   

Drydocking expenditure

     (2,595        —    

Goodwill impairment charge

     —            6,217   

Income tax expense

     6           6   

Income taxes paid

     (241        (336 )

Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments

     3,868           3,011   

Unrealized loss (gain) on foreign currency transactions

     63           (46

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

       

Decrease in amounts due from related parties

     33           968   

Decrease in inventories

     75           124   

Decrease (increase) in other current assets

     94           (1,903 )

Increase (decrease) in trade accounts payable

     (87        825   

Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses

     (419 )        567   

Decrease (increase) in accrued revenue

     (706        —    

Increase in prepaid revenue

     3,776           432   

Decrease in amounts due to related parties

     (356        (1,625
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     52,485           44,127   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

       

Disposals (additions) to vessel and equipment

     (521 )        (770 )

Acquisition of Dan Sabia (net of cash acquired)

     —            (36,843 )
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (521 )        (37,613 )
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

       

Proceeds from long-term debt

     5,000           —    

Repayment of long-term debt

     (24,642        (46,859

Repayment of long-term debt from related parties

     —            (12,000 )

Payments of debt issuance cost

     (144        (8

Cash distribution

     (30,107 )        (23,514 )

Proceeds from public offering, net of underwriters’ discount

     —            116,924   

Offering cost

     —            (321 )
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (49,893        34,222   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     23           (79

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     2,094           40,657   

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

     23,573           30,746   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

   $     25,667         $     71,403   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

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

 

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KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS LP

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

1) Description of Business

KNOT Offshore Partners LP (the “Partnership”) is a publicly traded Marshall Islands limited partnership initially formed for the purpose of acquiring 100% ownership interests in four shuttle tankers owned by Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS (“KNOT”) in connection with the Partnership’s initial public offering of common units (the “IPO”) which was completed in April 2013.

As of June 30, 2016, the Partnership had a fleet of ten shuttle tankers, the Windsor Knutsen , the Bodil Knutsen , the Recife Knutsen , the Fortaleza Knutsen , the Carmen Knutsen, the Hilda Knutsen, the Torill Knutsen , the Dan Cisne , the Dan Sabia and the Ingrid Knutsen , each referred to as a “Vessel” and, collectively, as the “Vessels.” The Vessels operate under fixed charter contracts to charterers . The time charter for the Windsor Knutsen expires in 2017 and the charterer has six one-year extension options. The time charter for the Bodil Knutsen expires in 2017 and contains customer options for extension through 2019. The Recife Knutsen and the Fortaleza Knutsen are under bareboat charter contracts that expire in 2023. The time charter for the Carmen Knutsen expires in 2023 and contains customer options for extension through 2026. The time charters for the Hilda Knutsen and the Torill Knutsen each expire in 2018 and contain a customer option for extension through 2023. The Dan Cisne and the Dan Sabia are under bareboat charter contracts that expire in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The time charter for the Ingrid Knutsen expires in 2024 and contains customer options for extension through 2029.

2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a) Basis of Preparation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and applicable rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for interim financial information. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all the disclosures and information required for a complete set of annual financial statements; and, therefore, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015, which are included in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 20-F (the “2015 20-F”).

Under the Partnership’s First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”), KNOT Offshore Partners GP LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of KNOT, and the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), has irrevocably delegated to the Partnership’s board of directors the power to oversee and direct the operations of, manage and determine the strategies and policies of the Partnership. During the period from the Partnership’s IPO in April 2013 until the time of the Partnership’s first annual general meeting (“AGM”) on June 25, 2013, the General Partner retained the sole power to appoint, remove and replace all members of the Partnership’s board of directors. From the first AGM, four of the seven board members became electable by the common unitholders and accordingly, from this date, KNOT, as the owner of the General Partner, no longer retains the power to control the Partnership’s board of directors and, hence, the Partnership. As a result, the Partnership is no longer considered to be under common control with KNOT and as a consequence, the Partnership will not account for any vessel acquisitions from KNOT after June 25, 2013 as a transfer of equity interests between entities under common control.

(b) Significant accounting policies

The accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements are consistent with those followed in the preparation of the Partnership’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015, as contained in the Partnership’s 2015 20-F.

(c) Accounting pronouncement not yet adopted

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued revised guidance for leasing. The objective is to establish the principles that lessors and lessees shall apply to report useful information to users of financial statements about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from a lease. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Partnership is currently assessing the impact the adoption of this standard will have on the consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued a comprehensive revenue recognition standard that will supersede existing revenue guidance under US GAAP and IFRS, Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , (or ASU 2014-09) for U.S. GAAP. ASU 2014-09 will require an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This update creates a five-step model that requires an entity to exercise judgment when considering the terms of the contract(s) which include (i) identifying the contract(s) with the customer, (ii) identifying the separate performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determining the transaction price, (iv) allocating the transaction price to the separate performance obligations, and (v) recognizing revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. In August 2015, FASB issued an ASU (ASU 2015-14) to defer by one year the effective dates of its new revenue recognition standard for public and non-public entities reporting under US GAAP. As a result, the standard (ASU 2014-09) will be effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 (2018 for calendar-year public entities) and interim periods therein. ASU 2014-09 shall be applied retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. Early adoption is not permitted under U.S. GAAP. The Partnership is evaluating the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance.

 

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In August 2014, FASB issued Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40), Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (ASU 2014-15). ASU 2014-15 requires management to evaluate whether there are conditions and events that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the financial statements are issued (or available to be issued when applicable) and, if so, disclose that fact. Management will be required to make this evaluation for both annual and interim reporting periods, if applicable. Management also is required to evaluate and disclose whether its plans alleviate that doubt. The standard is effective for annual periods after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Partnership is evaluating the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance. The Partnership does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs . ASU 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. For KNOT Offshore Partners LP as a public business entity, the guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after 15 December 2015, and is to be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Partnership has adopted ASU 2015-03, Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. The adoption of the new standard has had an impact on the balance sheets and has reduced total assets and total liabilities.

3) Segment Information

The Partnership has not presented segment information as it considers its operations to occur in one reportable segment, the shuttle tanker market. As of June 30, 2016, the Partnership’s fleet consisted of ten vessels and operated under six time charters and four bareboat charters. As of June 30, 2015, the Partnership’s fleet consisted of nine vessels and operated under five time charters and four bareboat charters. Under the time charters and bareboat charters, the charterer, not the Partnership, controls the choice of which trading areas the applicable Vessel will serve. Accordingly, the Partnership’s management, including the chief operating decision makers, does not evaluate performance according to geographical region.

The following table presents revenues and percentage of consolidated revenues for customers that accounted for more than 10% of the Partnership’s consolidated revenues during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015. All of these customers are subsidiaries of major international oil companies, except KNOT, which was chartering the Windsor Knutsen until she was redelivered to BG Group in October, 2015.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 

(U.S. Dollars in thousands)

   2016     2015     2016     2015  
Fronape International Company,
a subsidiary of Petrobras
    Transporte S.A.
   $     11,249         26     9,206         25   $     22,498         27     17,882         24

Eni Trading and Shipping S.pA

     11,689         27     11,686         32 %     23,375         28     23,190         32

Statoil ASA

     5,710         13     5,783         16     10,229         12     11,481         16
Repsol Sinopec Brasil, S.A.,
a subsidiary of Repsol Sinopec
    Brasil, B.V.
     4,772         11     5,070         13     9,760         11     10,085         14
Brazil Shipping I Limited,
a subsidiary of BG Group Plc
     5,097         13 %     —                10,134         12 %     —            

Standard Marine Tønsberg, a

    subsidiary of ExxonMobil

     4,347         10 %     —                8,694         10 %     —            

Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS

     —                 5,236         14     —                10,414         14

4) Goodwill Impairment Charge

During the three months ended June 30, 2015, the Partnership concluded that indicators of impairment were present due to a significant reduction in the price of the Partnership’s common units during the quarter. Consequently, the Partnership performed an interim vessel and goodwill impairment analysis as of June 30, 2015 on its fleet, concluding that there was no impairment to the vessels’ values. However, the Partnership determined that the carrying value of the goodwill exceeded its fair value. The impairment charge relates mainly to capitalized goodwill which arose in 2008 when the Partnership’s predecessor acquired the Windsor Knutsen and three other vessels then under construction, in a transaction that was then accounted for as a step transaction. As a result, a goodwill impairment charge of $6.2 million was recognized in the condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015. The fair value was determined using the present value of the expected future cash flows discounted at a rate equivalent to a market participant’s weighed average cost of capital. The estimates and assumptions regarding expected future cash flows and appropriate discount rates are in part based upon existing contracts, future shuttle tanker rates, historical experience, financial forecasts and industry trends and conditions. This non-cash impairment charge, which does not affect the

 

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Partnership’s operations, cash flows, liquidity, or any of its loan covenants, reduced the Partnership’s remaining goodwill balance to zero as of June 30, 2015.

5) Derivative Instruments

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the results of interest rate swap contracts to manage the Partnership’s exposure related to changes in interest rates on its variable rate debt instruments and the results of foreign exchange forward contracts to manage its exposure related to changes in currency exchange rates on its operating expenses, mainly crew expenses, in currency other than U.S. Dollars and on its contract obligations. The Partnership does not apply hedge accounting for derivative instruments. The Partnership does not speculate using derivative instruments.

By using derivative financial instruments to economically hedge exposures to changes in interest rates, the Partnership exposes itself to credit risk and market risk. Derivative instruments that economically hedge exposures are used for risk management purposes, but these instruments are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. Credit risk is the failure of the counterparty to perform under the terms of the derivative instrument. When the fair value of a derivative instrument is positive, the counterparty owes the Partnership, which creates credit risk for the Partnership. When the fair value of a derivative instrument is negative, the Partnership owes the counterparty, and, therefore, the Partnership is not exposed to the counterparty’s credit risk in those circumstances. The Partnership minimizes counterparty credit risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with major banking and financial institutions. The derivative instruments entered into by the Partnership do not contain credit risk-related contingent features. The Partnership has not entered into master netting agreements with the counterparties to its derivative financial instrument contracts.

Market risk is the adverse effect on the value of a derivative instrument that results from a change in interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices. The market risk associated with interest rate contracts is managed by establishing and monitoring parameters that limit the types and degree of market risk that may be undertaken.

The Partnership assesses interest rate risk by monitoring changes in interest rate exposures that may adversely impact expected future cash flows and by evaluating economical hedging opportunities.

The Partnership’s variable interest rate mortgage debt obligations expose the Partnership to variability in interest payments due to changes in interest rates. The Partnership believes that it is prudent to limit the variability of a portion of its interest payments. To meet this objective, the Partnership entered into London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”)-based interest rate swap contracts to manage fluctuations in cash flows resulting from changes in the benchmark interest rate of LIBOR. These swaps change the variable rate cash flow exposure on the mortgage debt obligations to fixed cash flows. Under the terms of the interest rate swap contracts, the Partnership receives LIBOR-based variable interest rate payments and makes fixed interest rate payments, thereby creating the equivalent of fixed rate debt for the notional amount of its debt hedged.

As of June 30, 2016, the Partnership had entered into various interest swap agreements for a total notional amount of $407.7 million to hedge against the interest rate risks of its variable rate borrowings. Under the terms of the interest rate swap agreements, the Partnership receives interest based on three or six month LIBOR and pays a weighted average interest rate of 1.54%.

As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the total notional amount of the Partnership’s outstanding interest rate swap contracts that were entered into in order to hedge outstanding or forecasted debt obligations were $407.7 million and $410.0 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the carrying amount of the interest rate swaps contracts were net liabilities of $9.5 million and $3.6 million, respectively. See Note 6 —Fair Value Measurements.

Changes in the fair value of interest rate swap contracts are reported in realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments in the same period in which the related interest affects earnings.

The Partnership and its subsidiaries utilize the U.S. Dollar as their functional and reporting currency, because all of their revenues and the majority of their expenditures, including the majority of their investments in vessels and their financing transactions, are denominated in U.S. Dollars. Payment obligations in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar, and in particular operating expenses in Norwegian Kroner (NOK), expose the Partnership to variability in currency exchange rates. The Partnership believes that it is prudent to limit the variability of a portion of its currency exchange exposure. To meet this objective, the Partnership entered into foreign exchange forward contracts to manage fluctuations in cash flows resulting from changes in the exchange rates towards the U.S. Dollar. The agreements change the variable exchange rate to fixed exchange rates at agreed dates.

As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the total contract amount in foreign currency of the Partnership’s outstanding foreign exchange forward contracts that were entered into to economically hedge outstanding future payments in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar were NOK 292.7 million and NOK 289.8 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the carrying amount of the Partnership’s foreign exchange forward contracts was a liability of $0.1 million and $2.1 million, respectively. See Note 6 —Fair Value Measurements.

 

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The following table presents the realized and unrealized gains and losses that are recognized in earnings as net gain (loss) for derivative instruments for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015:

 

       Three Months Ended
June 30,
     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
(US $ in thousands)      2016        2015      2016        2015  

Realized (loss)

                 

Interest rate swap contracts

     $     (1,252      $     (1,333    $     (2,176      $     (2,359

Foreign exchange forward contracts

       (316        —          (316        —    

Unrealized gain (loss)

                 

Interest rate swap contracts

       (1,518        1,241         (5,866        (1,834

Foreign exchange forward contracts

       (90 )        345         1,998           (1,177
    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total realized and unrealized (loss) gain

       (3,176        253         (6,360        (5,370
    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

6) Fair Value Measurements

(a) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Partnership’s financial instruments as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. Fair value is defined as the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

 

     June 30, 2016      December 31, 2015  
(U.S. Dollars in thousands)    Carrying
Amount
     Fair Value      Carrying
Amount
     Fair Value  

Financial assets:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 25,667       $ 25,667       $ 23,573       $ 23,573   

Non-current derivative assets:

           

Interest rate swap contracts

     —          —          695         695   

Foreign exchange forward contracts

     232         232         —          —    

Financial liabilities:

           

Current derivative liabilities:

           

Interest rate swap contracts

     3,469         3,469         3,799         3,799   

Foreign exchange forward contracts

     278         278         1,339         1,339   

Non-current derivative liabilities:

           

Interest rate swap contracts

     6,028         6,028         527         527   

Foreign exchange forward contracts

     —          —          705         705   

Long-term debt, current and non-current

         648,509             648,509             667,772             667,772   

The carrying amounts shown in the table above are included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets under the indicated captions. The carrying value of trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable and receivables/payables to owners and affiliates approximate their fair value.

The fair values of the financial instruments shown in the above table as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 represent the amounts that would be received to sell those assets or that would be paid to transfer those liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at that date. Those fair value measurements maximize the use of observable inputs. However, in situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date, the fair value measurement reflects the Partnership’s own judgment about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Those judgments are developed by the Partnership based on the best information available in the circumstances, including expected cash flows, appropriately risk-adjusted discount rates and available observable and unobservable inputs.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments:

 

    Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash : The fair value of the Partnership’s cash balances approximates the carrying amounts due to the current nature of the amounts.

 

    Foreign exchange forward contracts : The fair value is calculated using mid-rates (excluding margins) as determined by counterparties based on available market rates as of the balance sheet date. The fair value is discounted from the value at expiration to the current value of the contracts.

 

    Interest rate swap contracts : The fair value of interest rate swap contracts is determined using an income approach using the following significant inputs: the term of the swap, the notional amount of the swap, discount rates interpolated based on relevant LIBOR swap curves and the rate on the fixed leg of the swap.

 

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    Long-term debt : With respect to long-term debt measurements, the Partnership uses market interest rates and adjusts that rate for all necessary risks, including its own credit risk. In determining an appropriate spread to reflect its credit standing, the Partnership considered interest rates currently offered to KNOT for similar debt instruments of comparable maturities by KNOT’s and the Partnership’s bankers as well as other banks that regularly compete to provide financing to the Partnership.

(b) Fair Value Hierarchy

The following table presents the placement in the fair value hierarchy of assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (including items that are required to be measured at fair value or for which fair value is required to be disclosed) as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

 

            Fair Value Measurements at
Reporting Date Using
 
(U.S. Dollars in thousands)    June 30,
2016
     Quoted Price
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 

Fi nancial assets:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 25,667       $ 25,667       $ —        $ —    

Non-current derivative assets:

           

Interest rate swap contracts

     —          —          —            —    

Foreign exchange forward contracts

     232         —          232         —    

Financial liabilities:

           

Current derivative liabilities:

           

Interest rate swap contracts

     3,469         —          3,469         —    

Foreign exchange forward contracts

     278         —          278         —    

Non-current derivative liabilities:

           

Interest rate swap contracts

     6,028         —          6,028         —    

Long-term debt, current and non-current

             648,509         —                  648,509         —    

 

            Fair Value Measurements at
Reporting Date Using
 
(U.S. Dollars in thousands)    December 31,
2015
     Quoted Price
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 

Financial assets:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 23,573       $ 23,573       $ —        $ —    

Non-current derivative assets:

           

Interest rate swap contracts

     695         —          695             —    

Financial liabilities:

           

Current derivative liabilities:

           

Interest rate swap contracts

     3,799         —          3,799         —    

Foreign exchange forward contracts

     1,339         —          1,339         —    

Non-current derivative liabilities:

           

Interest rate swap contracts

     527            527         —    

Foreign exchange forward contract

     705            705      

Long-term debt, current and non-current

             667,772         —                  667,772         —    

The Partnership’s accounting policy is to recognize transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy on the date of the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer. There were no transfers into or out of Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

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7) Long-Term Debt

As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Partnership had the following debt amounts outstanding:

 

(U.S. Dollars in thousands)    Vessel      June 30, 2016      December 31,
2015
 

$220 million loan facility

    

 

Windsor Knutsen, Bodil Knutsen,

Carmen Knutsen

  

  

   $ 188,572       $ 196,429   

$35 million revolving credit facility

    

 

Windsor Knutsen, Bodil Knutsen,

Carmen Knutsen

  

  

     5,000         —    

$140 million loan facility

    
 
Fortaleza Knutsen &
Recife Knutsen
 
  
     122,500         126,875   

$117 million loan facility

     Hilda Knutsen         79,334         81,797   

$117 million loan facility

     Torill Knutsen         80,569         83,033   

$172.5 million loan facility

     Dan Cisne, Dan Sabia         105,139         109,339   

$77.5 million loan facility

     Ingrid Knutsen         70,934         74,217   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

        652,048         671,690   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less: current installments

        55,084         49,684   

Less: unamortized deferred loan issuance costs

  

     1,196         1,149   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

  

     53,888         48,535   

Amounts due after one year

  

     596,964         622,006   

Less: unamortized deferred loan issuance costs

  

     2,343         2,819   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-term debt excluding current installments and unamortized deferred loan issuance costs

   

         594,621         619,187   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Partnership’s outstanding debt of $652.0 million as of June 30, 2016 is repayable as follows:

 

(US $ in thousands)    Period
repayment
     Balloon
repayment
 

Remainder of 2016

   $ 30,042       $ —    

2017

     50,084         —    

2018

     48,495         154,927   

2019

     28,582         237,678   

2020

     17,650         —    

2021 and thereafter

     71,650         12,940   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $     246,503       $     405,545   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of June 30, 2016, the interest rates on the Partnership’s loan agreements (other than tranche two of the $77.5 million loan facility) were the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a fixed margin ranging from 2.125% to 2.5%. On the export credit loan of $55.1 million which is tranche two of the $77.5 million loan facility secured by the Ingrid Knutsen , the annual rate is 3.85% composed of a 2.5% bank facility rate plus a commission of 1.35% to the export credit guarantor. The guarantee commission of 1.35% is classified as other finance expense.

On June 30, 2016, the Partnership’s subsidiaries KNOT Shuttle Tankers 18 AS, KNOT Shuttle Tankers 17 AS and Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 13 AS, as borrowers, entered into an amended and restated senior secured credit facility (the “Amended Senior Secured Loan Facility”), which amended the Partnership’s existing $240 million senior syndicated secured loan facility secured by the shuttle tankers Bodil Knutsen , Carmen Knutsen and Windsor Knutsen . The Amended Senior Secured Loan Facility includes a new revolving credit facility tranche of $15 million, bringing the total revolving credit commitments under the facility to $35 million. The new revolving credit facility matures in June 2019, bears interest at LIBOR plus a fixed margin of 2.5% and has a commitment fee equal to 40% of the margin of the revolving facility tranche calculated on the daily undrawn portion of such tranche. The other material terms from the original $240 million facility remain unaltered, including the margin on the original $20 million revolving credit facility, which remains 2.125%.

8) Income Taxes

Components of Current and Deferred Tax Expense

After the reorganization of the Partnership’s predecessor’s activities into the new group structure in February 2013, all profit from continuing operations in Norway is taxable within the Norwegian Tonnage Tax regime (“the tonnage tax regime”). The consequence of the reorganization was a one-time entrance tax into the tonnage tax regime due to the Partnership’s acquisition of the shares in the subsidiary that

 

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owns the Fortaleza Knutsen and the Recife Knutsen . Under the tonnage tax regime, the tax is based on the tonnage of the vessel and operating income is tax free. The net financial income and expense remains taxable as ordinary income tax for entities subject to the tonnage tax regime. For the portion of activities subject to the tonnage tax regime, tonnage taxes are classified as vessel operating expenses while the current and deferred taxes arising on net financial income and expense are reflected as income tax expense in the consolidated financial statements.

The total amount of the entrance tax was estimated to be approximately $3.0 million, which was recognized in the three months ended June 31, 2013. The entrance tax is payable over several years and is calculated by multiplying the tax rate by the declining balance of the gain, which will decline by 20% each year. The amount payable will be affected by the change in tax rate which was reduced to 25% in 2016 from 27% in 2014 and from 28% in 2013 and the fluctuation in currency rates. Approximately $0.2 and $0.1 million of the entrance tax was paid during the first and second quarter of 2015, respectively and $0.2 million was paid during the first quarter of 2016. UK income tax is presented as income taxes payable, while $0.9 million is presented as non-current deferred taxes payable. Profit and loss from continuing operation before income taxes was taxable to Norway and significant components of current and deferred income tax expense attributable to income from continuing operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 as follows:

 

       Three Months Ended
June 30,
     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
(US $ in thousands)      2016      2015      2016      2015  

Income before income taxes

     $     11,581       $     6,890       $     22,247       $     14,079   

Income tax (expense)

       (3)         (3)         (6      (6)   

Effective tax rate

       0      0      0 %      0

The Partnership records a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some of or all of the benefit from the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, which relates to financial loss carry forwards and other deferred tax assets within the tonnage tax regime, the Partnership considers whether it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized taking into account all the positive and negative evidence available,. As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 there are no deferred tax assets recognized.

9) Related Party Transactions

(a) Related Parties

Net expenses (income) from related parties included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
(US $ in thousands)    2016      2015      2016      2015  

Statements of operations:

           

Time charter and bareboat revenues:

           

Charter revenues from KNOT (1)

   $ —        $ 5,236       $ —        $ 10,414   

Other income:

           

Guarantee income from KNOT to vessel(2)

     192         —          381         —    

Operating expenses:

           

Technical and operational management fee from KNOT Management to Vessels (3)

     733         579         1,465         1,163   

General and administrative expenses:

           

Administration fee from KNOT Management (4)

     259         208         633         394   

Administration fee from KOAS (4)

     100         86         191         170   

Administration fee from KOAS UK (4)

     35         37         71         74   

Administration and management fee from KNOT (5)

     51         37         102         72   

Finance income (expense):

           

Interest expense charged from KNOT (6)

     —          (123 )      —          (268 )
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

         986             4,166             2,081             8,272   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(US $ in thousands)    At June 30,
2016
     At December 31,
2015
 

Balance Sheet:

     

Vessels:

     

Drydocking supervision fee from KNOT (7)

   $     38      $     —     

 

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Drydocking supervision fee from KOAS (7)

                 16                    —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     54        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Charter revenues from KNOT : Pursuant to the Omnibus Agreement KNOT entered into with the Partnership at the time of the IPO, KNOT agreed to guarantee the payments of the hire rate under the initial charters of each of the Bodil Knutsen and the Windsor Knutsen for a period of five years from the closing date of the IPO. BG Group, the charterer of the Windsor Knutsen , did not exercise its option to extend the Windsor Knutsen time charter after the expiration of its initial term, and on July 29, 2014 KNOT and the Partnership entered into a time charter for the vessel at a rate of hire that would have been in effect during the option period under the previous BG Group time charter. This charter was effective until the Windsor Knutsen commenced in October 2015 on a new BG Group time charter. See Note 9(b)—Related Party Transactions—Guarantees and Indemnifications.
(2) Guarantee income from KNOT : Pursuant to the Omnibus Agreement, KNOT agreed to guarantee the payments of the hire rate under the initial charter of the Bodil Knutsen and the Windsor Knutsen for a period of five years from the closing date of the IPO. In October 2015, the Windsor Knutsen commenced on a new BG Group time charter with a hire rate below the hire rate in the initial charter. The difference between the new hire rate and the initial rate is paid by KNOT. See Note 9(b)—Related Party Transactions—Guarantees and Indemnifications.
(3) Technical and operational management fee from KNOT Management to Vessels : KNOT Management AS (“KNOT Management”) provides technical and operational management of the vessels on time charter including crewing, purchasing, maintenance and other operational services. In addition, there is also a charge for 24-hour emergency response services provided by KNOT for all vessels managed by KNOT.
(4) Administration fee from KNOT Management and Knutsen OAS Shipping AS (“KOAS”) and Knutsen OAS (UK) Ltd. (“KOAS UK”) : Administration costs include the compensation and benefits of KNOT Management’s management and administrative staff as well as other general and administration expenses. Some benefits are also provided by KOAS and KOAS UK. Net administration costs are total administration cost plus a 5% margin, reduced for the total fees for services delivered by the administration staffs and the estimated shareholder costs for KNOT that have not been allocated. As such, the level of net administration costs as a basis for the allocation can vary from year to year based on the administration and financing services offered by KNOT to all the vessels in its fleet each year. KNOT Management also charges each subsidiaries a fixed annual fee for the preparation of the statutory financial statement.
(5) Administration and management fee from KNOT: For bareboat charters, the shipowner is not responsible for providing crewing or other operational services and the customer is responsible for all vessel operating expenses and voyage expenses. However, each of the vessels under bareboat charters are subject to management and administration agreements with either KNOT Management or KNOT Management Denmark, pursuant to which these companies provide general monitoring services for the vessels in exchange for an annual fee.
(6) Interest expense charged from KNOT : KNOT invoiced interest (expense) income for any outstanding payables to (receivable from) owners and affiliates to the vessel-owning subsidiaries.
(7) Drydocking supervision fee from KNOT and KOAS : KNOT and KOAS provide supervision and hire out service personnel during drydocking of the vessels. The fee is calculated as a daily fixed fee.

(b) Guarantees and Indemnifications

Pursuant to the Omnibus Agreement, KNOT agreed to guarantee the payments of the hire rate under the initial charters of each of the Bodil Knutsen and the Windsor Knutsen for a period of five years from the closing date of the IPO.

In April 2014, the Partnership was notified that BG Group would not exercise its option to extend the Windsor Knutsen time charter after the expiration of its initial term. The vessel was re-delivered on July 28, 2014. In order to comply with its obligations under the Omnibus Agreement, on July 29, 2014, KNOT and the Partnership entered into a time charter for the vessel at a rate of hire that would have been in effect during the option period under the previous BG Group time charter. This charter was effective until the new BG Group time charter commenced in October, 2015.

Under the Omnibus Agreement, KNOT has agreed to indemnify the Partnership until April 15, 2018, against certain environmental and toxic tort liabilities with respect to certain assets that KNOT contributed or sold to the Partnership to the extent arising prior to the time they were contributed or sold. However, claims are subject to a deductible of $0.5 million and an aggregate cap of $5 million.

In addition, pursuant to the Omnibus Agreement, KNOT agreed to indemnify the Partnership for any defects in title to certain assets contributed or sold to the Partnership and any failure to obtain, prior to April 15, 2013, certain consents and permits necessary to conduct the Partnership’s business, which liabilities arise within three years after the closing of the IPO on April 15, 2013.

(c) Transactions with Management and Directors

 

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See Note 9(a) for a discussion of the allocation principles for KNOT’s administrative costs, including management and administrative staff, included in the consolidated statements of operations.

(d) Amounts Due from (to) Related Parties

Balances with related parties consisted of the following:

 

(U.S. Dollars in thousands)    At June 30, 
2016
       At December 31, 
2015
 

Balance Sheets:

       

Trading balances due from KOAS

   $ 2         $ 10   

Trading balances due from KNOT and affiliates

     23           48   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Amount due from related parties

   $ 25         $ 58   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Trading balances due to KOAS

   $ 436         $ 448   

Trading balances due to KNOT and affiliates

     56           400   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Amount due to related parties

   $         492         $         848   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Amounts due from (to) related parties are unsecured and intended to be settled in the ordinary course of business. They primarily relate to vessel management and other fees due to KNOT and KOAS.

(e) Trade accounts payables

Trade accounts payables to related parties are included in total trade accounts payables in the balance sheet. The balances to related parties consisted of the following:

 

(U.S. Dollars in thousands)    At June 30, 
2016
       At December 31, 
2015
 

Balance Sheets:

       

Trading balances due to KOAS

   $         643         $         651   

Trading balances due to KNOT and affiliates

     310           360   
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Trade accounts payables to related parties

   $ 953         $ 1,011   

(f) Acquisitions from KNOT

On June 30, 2015, the Partnership acquired KNOT’s 100% interest in KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 AS, the company that owns and operates the Dan Sabia. This acquisition was accounted for as an acquisition of a business.

On October 15, 2015, the Partnership acquired KNOT’s 100% interest in Knutsen NYK Shuttle Tankers 16 AS, the company that owns and operates the Ingrid Knutsen. This acquisition was accounted for as an acquisition of a business.

The board of directors of the Partnership (the “Board”) and the conflicts committee of the Board (the “Conflicts Committee”) approved the purchase price for each transaction described above. The Conflicts Committee retained a financial advisor to assist with its evaluation of each of the transactions. See Note—12 Business Acquisitions.

10) Commitments and Contingencies

Assets Pledged

As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, Vessels with a book value of $1,168 million and $1,193 million, respectively, were pledged as security held as guarantee for the Partnership’s long-term debt and interest rate swap obligations. See Note 5 —Derivative Instruments and Note 7 —Long-Term Debt.

Claims and Legal Proceedings

From time to time, the Partnership is involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

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Insurance

The Partnership maintains insurance on all the Vessels to insure against marine and war risks, which include damage to or total loss of the Vessels, subject to deductible amounts that average $0.150 million per Vessel, and loss of hire.

Under the loss of hire policies, the insurer will pay a compensation for the lost hire rate agreed in respect of each Vessel for each day, in excess of 14 deductible days, for the time that the Vessel is out of service as a result of damage, for a maximum of 180 days. In addition, the Partnership maintains protection and indemnity insurance, which covers third-party legal liabilities arising in connection with the Vessels’ activities, including, among other things, the injury or death of third-party persons, loss or damage to cargo, claims arising from collisions with other vessels and other damage to other third-party property, including pollution arising from oil or other substances. This insurance is unlimited, except for pollution, which is limited to $1 billion per vessel per incident. The protection and indemnity insurance is maintained through a protection and indemnity association, and as a member of the association, the Partnership may be required to pay amounts above budgeted premiums if the member claims exceed association reserves, subject to certain reinsured amounts. If the Partnership experiences multiple claims each with individual deductibles, losses due to risks that are not insured or claims for insured risks that are not paid, it could have a material adverse effect on the Partnership’s results of operations and financial condition.

11) Earnings per Unit and Cash Distributions

The calculations of basic and diluted earnings per unit (1) are presented below:

 

(US $ in thousands, except per unit data)    Three
Months Ended 
June 30,
2016
     Three
Months Ended 
June 30,
2015
     Six
Months Ended 
June 30,
2016
     Six
Months Ended 
June 30,
2015
 

Net income attributable to the partners of KNOT Offshore Partners LP

   $     11,578       $         6,887       $     22,241       $         14,073   

Less: Distributions paid (2)

     15,027         14,747         30,122         26,800   

Under (over) distributed earnings

     (3,449 )      (7,860      (7,881 )      (12,727

Under (over) distributed earnings attributable to:

           

Common unitholders (3)

     (3,380 )      (5,292      (7,722 )      (8,569

Subordinated unitholders (3)

     —          (2,411      —          (3,903

General Partner

     (69 )      (157      (159 )      (255

Weighted average units outstanding (basic and diluted) (in thousands):

           

Common unitholders

     22,581         15,346         20,604         14,581   

Subordinated unitholders

     4,613         8,568         6,590         8,568   

General Partner

     559         488         559         472   

Earnings per unit (basic and diluted):

           

Common unitholders

   $ 0.502       $ 0.280       $ 0.810       $ 0.553   

Subordinated unitholders (4)

     —          0.287         0.767         0.671   

General Partner

     0.417         0.262         0.897         0.557   

Cash distributions declared and paid in the period per unit (5)

     0.520         0.510         1.040         1.000   

Subsequent event: Cash distributions declared and paid per unit relating to the period (6)

     0.520         0.510         0.520         0.510   

 

(1) Earnings per unit have been calculated in accordance with the cash distribution provisions set forth in the Partnership’s Partnership Agreement.
(2) This refers to distributions made or to be made in relation to the period irrespective of the declaration and payment dates and based on the number of units outstanding at the record date. This includes cash distributions to the IDR holder (KNOT) for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 of $0.6 million and of $0.5 million, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 of $1.2 million and of $0.9 million, respectively.
(3) On May 18, 2016 all subordinated units converted in to common units on a one-for-one basis.
(4) This includes the net income attributable to the IDR holder. The IDRs generally may not be transferred by KNOT until March 31, 2018. The net income attributable to IDRs for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 was $0.6 million and $0.5 million, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 was $1.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively.
(5) Refers to cash distributions declared and paid during the period.
(6) Refers to cash distributions declared and paid subsequent to the period end.

On May 18, 2016, the Partnership’s subordinated units, all of which were held by KNOT were converted to common units on a one-for one basis.

 

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As of June 30, 2016, 66.8% of the Partnership’s total number of units outstanding representing limited partner interests were held by the public (in the form of 18,536,226 common units, representing 68.2% of the Partnership’s common units) and 30.9% of such units were held by KNOT (in the form of 8,567,500 common units, representing 31.5% of the Partnership’s common units). In addition, KNOT, through its ownership of the General Partner, held the 2.01% general partner interest (in the form of 558,674 general partner units) and a 0.3% limited partner interest (in the form of 90,368 common units).

Earnings per unit is determined by dividing net income, after deducting the distribution paid or to be made in relation to the period, by the weighted-average number of units outstanding during the applicable period. The General Partner’s, common unitholders’ and subordinated unitholders’ interest in net income are calculated as if all net income was distributed according to the terms of the Partnership Agreement, regardless of whether those earnings would or could be distributed. The Partnership Agreement does not provide for the distribution of net income. Rather, it provides for the distribution of available cash, which is a contractually defined term that generally means all cash on hand at the end of each quarter less the amount of cash reserves established by the Board to provide for the proper conduct of the Partnership’s business, including reserves for maintenance and replacement capital expenditures and anticipated credit needs and capital requirements. In addition, KNOT, as the initial holder of all IDRs, has the right, at the time when there are no subordinated units outstanding and it has received incentive distributions at the highest level to which it is entitled (48.0% for each of the prior four consecutive fiscal quarters), to reset the initial cash target distribution levels at higher levels based on the distribution at the time of the exercise of the reset election. Unlike available cash, net income is affected by non-cash items, such as depreciation and amortization, unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments and unrealized foreign currency gains and losses.

For a description of the provisions of the Partnership Agreement relating to cash distributions, please see Note 21 in the Partnership’s audited consolidated financial statements contained in the 2015 20-F.

12) Business Acquisitions

In June 2015 and October 2015, the Partnership acquired from KNOT equity interests in certain subsidiaries which own and operate the Dan Sabia and the Ingrid Knutsen .

The Board and the Conflicts Committee approved the purchase price for each transaction. The Conflicts Committee retained a financial advisor to assist with its evaluation of each of the transactions. The details of each transaction are as follows:

 

(US $ in thousands)    Final Ingrid
Knutsen

October 15,
2015
     Final
Dan Sabia
June 15,
2015
 

Purchase consideration (1)

   $ 12,863       $ 41,186   

Less: Fair value of net assets acquired:

     

Vessel and equipment (2)

         115,000             103,389   

Cash

     4,744         4,343   

Inventories

     144         —    

Others current assets

     188         25   

Amounts due from related parties

     1         935   

Long-term debt

     (84,275 )      (64,470 )

Long-term debt from related parties

     (20,253 )       

Derivatives liabilities

            (802 )

Trade accounts payable

     (94 )      (4 )

Accrued expenses

     (1,555 )      (335 )

Prepaid charter and deferred revenue

     (762 )      (442 )

Amounts due to related parties

     (275 )      (1,453 )
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Sub total

     12,863         41,186   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Difference between the purchase price and fair value of net assets acquired

   $ —        $ —    

Goodwill

     —          —    

Difference between the purchase price and allocated values

   $ —        $ —    

 

(1) The purchase price is comprised of the following:

 

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(US $ in thousands)    Final 
Ingrid Knutsen
October 15,
2015
     Final
Dan Sabia
June 15,
2015
 

Cash consideration paid to KNOT

   $         10,472       $         38,531   

Purchase price adjustments

     2,391         2,655   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total purchase consideration

   $ 12,863       $ 41,186   

(2) Vessels and equipment includes allocation to dry docking for the Ingrid Knutsen of $1,263 and for the Dan Sabia of $389.

Dan Sabia

On June 15, 2015, the Partnership’s wholly owned subsidiary, KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS, acquired KNOT’s 100% interest in KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 AS, the company that owns and operates the Dan Sabia . The purchase price was $103.0 million less assumed bank debt of $64.5 million and other purchase price adjustments of $2.7 million. The cash portion of the purchase price was financed with the proceeds from the Partnership’s public offering of 5,000,000 common units which closed on June 2, 2015. See Note 13 – Equity Offerings. The Partnership accounted for this acquisition as an acquisition of a business. The purchase price of the acquisition has been allocated to the identifiable assets acquired. The allocation of the purchase price to acquired identifiable assets was based on their fair values at the date of acquisition.

Revenue and profit contributions

The Dan Sabia business contributed revenues of $0.4 million and net income of $0.1 million to the Partnership for the period from June 15, 2015 to June 30, 2015.

The table below shows comparative summarized consolidated pro forma financial information for the Partnership for the six months ended June 30, 2015, giving effect to the Partnership’s acquisition and financing of the Dan Sabia as if this acquisition had taken place on January 1, 2015.

 

(US $ in thousands)    Six Months Ended 
June 30, 2015
 

Revenue

   $         77,702   

Net income

     15,038   

Included in the pro forma adjustments are depreciation related to the purchase price allocation performed on the acquired identifiable assets as if the acquisitions had taken place on January 1, 2015. In addition, the pro forma adjustments include finance expenses related to the increased borrowings as if the acquisitions had taken place on January 1, 2015.

Ingrid Knutsen

On October 15, 2015, the Partnership’s wholly owned subsidiary, KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS, acquired KNOT’s 100% interest in Knutsen NYK Shuttle Tankers 16 AS, the company that owns and operates the Ingrid Knutsen . The purchase price was $115.0 million, less assumed bank debt of $104.5 million plus other purchase price adjustments of $2.4 million. The Partnership accounted for this acquisition as an acquisition of a business. The purchase price of the acquisition has been allocated to the identifiable assets acquired. The allocation of the purchase price to acquired identifiable assets was based on their fair values at the date of acquisition.

 

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13) Equity Offerings

 

(US $ in thousands)    June 2015
Offering
 

Gross proceeds received (1)

   $     121,224   

Less: Underwriters’ discount

     4,300   

Less: Offering expenses

     321   

Net proceeds received

     116,603   

 

(1) Includes General Partner’s 2% proportional capital contribution.

On June 2, 2015, the Partnership sold 5,000,000 common units, representing limited partner interests, in an underwritten public offering (the “June 2015 Offering”). In connection with the June 2015 Offering, the General Partner contributed a total of $2.4 million in order to maintain its 2% general partner interest in the Partnership. The Partnership’s total net proceeds from the June 2015 Offering and the related General Partner’s contribution were $116.6 million.

The Partnership used the net proceeds from the June 2015 Offering to fund the cash portion of the purchase price of the Dan Sabia and to repay debt and for general partnership purposes.

14) Unit Activity

The following table shows the movement in the number of common units, subordinated units and general partner units from December 31, 2014 until June 30, 2016.

 

(in units)    Common Units      Subordinated Units      General Partner Units  

December 31, 2014

     13,807,500         8,567,500         456,633   

June 2015

     5,000,000         —          102,041   

Repurchase program

     (180,906      —          —    

December 31, 2015

     18,626,594         8,567,500         558,674   

Subordinated units converted to common units

     8,567,500         (8,567,500      —    

June 30, 2016

     27,194,094         —          558,674   

On August 12, 2015, the Board authorized a program for the Partnership to repurchase up to 666,667 of its common units. The board of directors of KNOT Offshore Partners GP LLC (the “General Partner”) concurrently authorized the General Partner to purchase up to 333,333 common units of the Partnership.

All purchases will be made pursuant to a single program and will be allocated approximately two-thirds to the Partnership and one-third to the General Partner. There is no obligation to purchase any specific number of common units and the program may be modified, suspended, extended or terminated at any time. Common units repurchased by the Partnership under the program have been cancelled.

As of December 31, 2015, the Partnership had purchased 180,906 and the General Partner had purchased 90,368 common units pursuant to the program at an average purchase price of $12.71 per unit. No additional common units have been purchased by the Partnership or the General Partner in 2016.

The subordination period for the 8,567,500 subordinated units ended on May 18, 2016. All of the subordinated units, which were owned by KNOT, converted to common units on a one-for-one basis.

15) Subsequent Events

The Partnership has evaluated subsequent events from the balance sheet date through September 6, 2016, the date at which the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were available to be issued, and determined that there are no other items to disclose, except as follows:

On August 15, 2016, the Partnership paid a quarterly cash distribution of $0.52 per unit with respect to the quarter ended June 30, 2016. The total amount of the distribution was $15.1 million.

 

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On August 10, 2016, the Board and the board of directors of the General Partner authorized an extension of the common unit purchase program. Originally scheduled to expire on August 31, 2016, the program will conclude on August 31, 2017. As of August 31, 2016, the Partnership and the General Partner had purchased 180,906 and 90,368 common units, respectively, pursuant to the program at an average purchase price of $12.71 per unit. The Partnership and the General Partner may therefore purchase up to an additional 485,761 and 242,965 common units, respectively, under the extended program.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this report to the “Predecessor,” the “Partnership,” “we,” “our,” “us” or like terms, when used in a historical context (periods prior to April 15, 2013), refer to our predecessor for accounting purposes. References when used in the present tense or prospectively (after April 15, 2013), refer to KNOT Offshore Partners LP and its subsidiaries, also referred to as the “Partnership” or “we.” Those statements in this section that are not historical in nature should be deemed forward-looking statements that are inherently uncertain. See “Forward-Looking Statements” on page 35 for a discussion of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these statements.

This section should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the interim periods presented elsewhere in this report, as well as our historical consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31,2015 (the “2015 20-F”). Under our Partnership Agreement, KNOT Offshore Partners GP LLC, the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), has irrevocably delegated to the Partnership’s board of directors the power to oversee and direct the operations of, and to manage and determine the strategies and policies of, the Partnership. During the period from the Partnership’s initial public offering (“IPO”) in April 2013 until the time of the Partnership’s first annual general meeting (“AGM”) on June 25, 2013, the General Partner retained the sole power to appoint, remove and replace all members of the Partnership’s board of directors. From the first AGM, four of the seven board members became electable by the common unitholders and accordingly, from this date, the General Partner no longer retains the power to control the Partnership’s board of directors and, hence, the Partnership. As a result, the Partnership is no longer considered to be under common control with Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS (“KNOT”) and as a consequence, the Partnership will not account for any vessel acquisitions from KNOT as transfer of a business between entities under common control.

General

We are a limited partnership formed to own, operate and acquire offshore shuttle tankers under long-term charters, which we define as charters of five years or more. Our fleet of shuttle tankers has been contributed to us by KNOT or purchased by us from KNOT. KNOT is jointly owned by TS Shipping Invest AS (“TSSI”) and Nippon Yusen Kaisha (“NYK”). TSSI is controlled by our Chairman and is a private Norwegian company with ownership interests in shuttle tankers, LNG tankers and product/chemical tankers. NYK is a Japanese public company with a fleet of approximately 800 vessels, including bulk carriers, containerships, tankers and specialized vessels.

As of June 30, 2016, we have a modern fleet of ten shuttle tankers that operate under long-term charters with major oil and gas companies engaged in offshore production. We intend to operate our vessels under long-term charters with stable cash flows and to grow our position in the shuttle tanker market through acquisitions from KNOT and third parties. Pursuant to the Omnibus Agreement we have entered into with KNOT in connection with the IPO (the “Omnibus Agreement”); we have the right to purchase from KNOT any shuttle tankers operating under charters of five or more years. This right will continue throughout the entire term of the Omnibus Agreement.

Recent Developments

Conversion of Subordinated Units

The subordination period for the 8,567,500 subordinated units ended on May 18, 2016. All of the subordinated units, which were owned by KNOT, converted to common units on a one-for-one basis.

Cash Distributions

On May 16, 2016, we paid a quarterly cash distribution of $0.52 per unit with respect to the quarter ended March 31, 2016. This cash distribution amounted to $15.1 million.

On August 15, 2016, we paid a quarterly cash distribution of $0.52 per unit with respect to the quarter ended June 30, 2016. This cash distribution amounted to $15.0 million

Annual Meeting

On August 10, 2016, we held our 2016 annual meeting of limited partners at which Simon Bird was elected as a Class III director of the Partnership whose term will expire at the 2020 annual meeting of limited partners.

Common Unit Purchase Program

On August 10, 2016, the boards of directors of the Partnership and the General Partner each authorized an extension of the common unit purchase program. Originally approved on August 12, 2015, the program authorized the Partnership to repurchase up to 666,667 of its common units and the General Partner to purchase up to 333,333 common units of the Partnership. The program was originally scheduled to expire on August 31, 2016, and the extended program will conclude on August 31, 2017. As of August 31, 2016, the Partnership and the General Partner had

 

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purchased 180,906 and 90,368 common units, respectively, pursuant to the program at an average purchase price of $12.71 per unit. The Partnership and the General Partner may therefore purchase up to an additional 485,761 and 242,965 common units, respectively, under the extended program.

 

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Results of Operations

Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 Compared with the Three Months Ended June 30, 2015

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
               
(US $ in thousands)    2016      2015      Change      % Change  

Time charter and bareboat revenues

   $     42,864       $     36,981       $     5,883         16 %

Other income

     199         2         197         9,850

Vessel operating expenses

     7,975         7,164         811         11

Depreciation

     13,913         11,560         2,353         20 %

General and administrative expenses

     948         984         (36 )      (4 )%

Goodwill impairment charge

            6,217         (6,217      N/A   

Interest expense

     (5,055      (4,212      (843      20 %

Other finance expense

     (334      (79      (255 )      323

Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments

     (3,176      253         (3,429      (1355 )%

Net gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions

     (82      (132 )      50         (38 )%

Income tax benefit (expense)

     (3 )      (3 )      0         0 %

Net income

     11,578         6,887         4,690         68

Time Charter and Bareboat Revenues: Time charter and bareboat revenues increased by $5.9 million to $42.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $37.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015. This was mainly due to increased time charter earnings of $6.4 million from the Ingrid Knutsen and Dan Sabia being included in our results of operations from October 15, 2015 and June 15, 2015, respectively. The increase was partially offset by (i) a $0.2 million reduction in time charter earnings due to a reduction in the charter rate after extending the duration of the time charter for the Carmen Knutsen for five years effective October 1, 2015 and (ii) a $0.2 million reduction in time charter earnings from the Windsor Knutsen .

Other income: Other income for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was $199,000 compared to $2,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2015. Pursuant to the Omnibus Agreement, KNOT agreed to guarantee the payment of the hire rate that is equal to or greater than the hire rate payable under the initial charters of the Bodil Knutsen and Windsor Knutsen for a period of five years from the closing date of the IPO. In October 2015, the Windsor Knutsen commenced operating under a new BG Group time charter. The hire rate for the new charter is below the initial charter hire rate and the difference between the new hire rate and the initial rate is paid by KNOT. During the three months ended June 30, 2016, $191,000 was recognized as income pursuant to this guarantee.

Vessel operating expenses: Vessel operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2016 were $8.0 million, an increase of $0.8 million from $7.2 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015. The increase is mainly attributable to the increase of $1.4 million due to Ingrid Knutsen being included our results of operations from October 15, 2015 and an increase of $0.4 million due to higher technical expenses mainly related to stock up of spare parts. The increase was partially offset due to adjustment of receipt of insurance proceeds of $0.4 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016 and an insurance claim of $0.5 million expensed during the three months ended June 30, 2015.

Depreciation: Depreciation expense for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was $13.9 million, an increase of $2.3 million from $11.6 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015. This increase was mainly due to the Ingrid Knutsen being included in our results of operations from October 15, 2015, and the Dan Sabia being included in our results of operations from June 15, 2015.

General and administrative expenses: General and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2016 were $1.0 million, compared to $1.0 million for the same period in 2015.

Goodwill impairment charge: Goodwill impairment charge for three months ended June 30, 2016 was $nil compared to $6.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015. During the three months ended June 30, 2015, the Partnership concluded that indicators of impairment were present due to significant reduction in the price of the Partnership’s common units during the quarter and consequently, the Partnership performed an interim vessel and goodwill impairment analysis as of June 30, 2015 on its fleet. Based on the results of this analysis, the Partnership concluded that there was no impairment to the vessels’ values. However, the Partnership concluded that the carrying value of the goodwill, which related mainly to capitalized goodwill which arose in 2008 when the Partnership’s predecessor acquired the Windsor Knutsen and three other vessels under construction, in a transaction that was then accounted for as a step transaction, exceeded its fair values. As a result, a goodwill impairment charge of $6.2 million was recognized in the condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 2015. The fair value was determined using the present value of the expected future cash flows discounted at a rate equivalent to a market participant’s weighed average cost of capital. The estimates and assumptions regarding expected future cash flows and appropriate discount rates are in part based upon existing contracts, future shuttle tanker rates, historical experience, financial forecasts and industry trends and conditions.

Interest expense: Interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was $5.0 million, an increase of $0.8 million from $4.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015. This is principally due to increased interest expense of $1.0 million due to increased indebtedness related to the acquisitions of the Ingrid Knutsen and Dan Sabia which was partially offset by lower interest expense due to lower principal on indebtedness on the Partnership’s remaining vessels for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2015.

 

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Other finance expense: Other finance expense was $0.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and $0.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015. Other finance expense is primarily related to bank fees and guarantee commissions. The increase of $0.2 million is mainly due to the guarantee commission for the outstanding amount under Guarantee Institute for Export Credits (GIEC) guarantee for the Ingrid Knutsen facility

Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments: Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was a loss of $3.2 million, compared to a gain of $0.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, as set forth in the table below:

 

     Three Months
Ended
June 30,
        
(US $ in thousands)    2016      2015      $ change  

Realized (loss)

        

Interest rate swap contracts

   $     (1,251 )    $     (1,333 )    $ 82   

Foreign exchange forward contracts

     (316             (316

Unrealized gain (loss)

        

Interest rate swap contracts

     (1,518      1,241         (2,759 )

Foreign exchange forward contracts

     (91 )      345         (436 )

Total realized and unrealized gain (loss)

   $ (3,176    $ 253       $     (3,429 )

As of June 30, 2016, the total notional amount of the Partnership’s outstanding interest rate swap contracts that were entered into in order to hedge outstanding or forecasted debt obligations was $407.7 million. The increased unrealized loss on interest rate swap contracts was due to a decrease in long-term interest rates during the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2015. As of June 30, 2016, we had entered into foreign exchange forward contracts, selling a total notional amount of $35.0 million against NOK at an average exchange rate of NOK 8.36 per 1.0 U.S. Dollar, which are economic hedges for certain vessel operating expenses and general expenses in NOK. During the three months ended June 30, 2016, the Partnership executed one foreign exchange forward contract which resulted in a realized loss of $0.3 million and the Partnership entered into new foreign exchange forward contracts with the same notional amount.

Net loss on foreign currency transactions: Net loss on foreign currency transactions for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was $82,000 compared with $132,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2015.

Income tax benefit (expense): Income tax expense for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 was $3,000.

Net income: As a result of the foregoing, we earned net income of $11.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to net income of $6.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 Compared with the Six Months Ended June 30, 2015

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,
               
(US $ in thousands)    2016      2015      Change      % Change  

Time charter and bareboat revenues

   $     84,690       $     73,052       $     11,638         16

Other income

     399         151         248         164

Vessel operating expenses

     15,622         13,971         1,651         12

Depreciation

     27,805         22,960         4,845         21

General and administrative expenses

     2,256         2,052         204         10

Goodwill impairment charge

     —            6,217         (6,217 )      N/A   

Interest income

     3         3         0         0 %

Interest expense

     (10,084 )      (8,398 )      (1,686 )      20

Other finance expense

     (601 )      (99 )      (502 )      507 %

Realized and unrealized (loss) on derivative instruments

     (6,360 )      (5,370 )      (990 )      18 %

Net gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions

     (117 )      (60 )      (57 )      95 %

Income tax (expense)

     (6 )      (6 )      0         0 %

Net income

     22,241         14,073         8,168         58

 

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Time Charter and Bareboat Revenues: Time charter and bareboat revenues increased by $11.6 million to $84.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $73.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015. This was principally due to increased time charter earnings of $13.2 million resulting from the Ingrid Knutsen and the Dan Sabia being included in our results of operations from October 15, 2015 and June 15, 2015, respectively, and $0.5 million due to one additional calendar day during the six month period ended June 30, 2016. The increase was partially offset (i) by a $1.3 million reduction in time charter earnings due to the Bodil Knutsen drydocking during the six months ended June 30, 2016, (ii) a $0.5 million reduction in time charter earnings due to a reduction in the charter rate after extending the duration of the time charter for the Carmen Knutsen for five years effective October 1, 2015, (iii) a $0.4 million reduction in time charter earnings from the Windsor Knutsen .

Other income: Other income for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was $0.4 million compared to $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015. During the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, $0.4 million and $nil, respectively, was recognized as income pursuant to KNOT’s guarantee of the initial hire rate under the Windsor Knudsen time charter.

Vessel operating expenses: Vessel operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2016 were $15.6 million, an increase of $1.6 million from $14.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $2.6 million due to the Ingrid Knutsen being included in our results of operations from October 15, 2015. The increase was partially offset by $0.9 million in repair costs for weather damage of the bow door for the Hilda Knutsen during the six months ended June 30, 2015.

Depreciation: Depreciation expense for the six months ended June 30 2016 was $27.8 million, an increase of $4.8 million from $23.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The increase was mainly due to the Ingrid Knutsen and Dan Sabia being included in our results of operations from October 15, 2015 and June 15, 2015, respectively.

General and administrative expenses: General and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2016 were $2.3 million, an increase of $0.2 million from $2.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015. $0.1 million of the increase of $0.2 million is related to the Ingrid Knutsen and Dan Sabia being included in our results of operations from October 15, 2015 and June 15, 2015, respectively.

Goodwill impairment charge: As described above, goodwill impairment charge for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was $nil and $6.2 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015.

Interest income: Interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 was $3,000.

Interest expense: Interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was $10.1 million, an increase of $1.7 million from $8.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The increase is mainly due to the increased indebtedness related to the acquisitions of the Ingrid Knutsen and Dan Sabia on October 15, 2015 and June 15, 2015.

Other finance expense: Other finance expense for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was $0.6 million, an increase of $0.5 million from $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015.Other finance expenses is primarily related to bank fees and guarantee commissions. The increase is mainly due to the guarantee commission for the outstanding amount under the GIEC guarantee for the Ingrid Knutsen facility.

Realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments: Realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was $6.4 million, compared to $5.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, as set forth in the table below:

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,
        
(US $ in thousands)    2016      2015      Change  

Realized (loss)

        

Interest rate swap contracts

   $ (2,176 )    $ (2,359 )    $         183   

Foreign exchange forward contracts

     (316              —          (316 )

Unrealized (loss)

        

Interest rate swap contracts

     (5,866 )      (1,834 )      (4,032 )

Foreign exchange forward contracts

             1,998         (1,177 )      3,175   

Total realized and unrealized (loss)

   $ (6,360 )    $ (5,370 )    $ (990 )

The increased net realized and unrealized loss on derivative instruments was due to a decrease in long-term interest rates during the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2015.

Net loss on foreign currency transactions: Net loss on foreign currency transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was $117,000. For the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Partnership had a net loss on foreign currency transaction of $60,000.

Income tax expense: Income tax expense for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 was $6,000.

 

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Net income: As a result of the foregoing, we earned net income of $22.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to net income of $14.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity and Cash Needs

We operate in a capital-intensive industry, and we expect to finance the purchase of additional vessels and other capital expenditures through a combination of borrowings from commercial banks, cash generated from operations and debt and equity financings. In addition to paying distributions, our other liquidity requirements relate to servicing our debt, funding investments (including the equity portion of investments in vessels), funding working capital and maintaining cash reserves against fluctuations in operating cash flows. We believe our current resources are sufficient to meet our working capital requirements for our current business. Generally, our long-term sources of funds are cash from operations, long-term bank borrowings and other debt and equity financings. Because we distribute our available cash, we expect that we will rely upon external financing sources, including bank borrowings and the issuance of debt and equity securities, to fund acquisitions and other expansion capital expenditures.

Our funding and treasury activities are intended to maximize investment returns while maintaining appropriate liquidity. Cash and cash equivalents are held primarily in U.S. Dollars with some balances held in NOK, British Pounds and Euros. We have not made use of derivative instruments other than for interest rate and currency risk management purposes. We expect to continue to economically hedge our exposure to interest rate fluctuations in the future by entering into interest rate swap contracts.

We estimate that we will spend in total approximately $14.0 million for dry-docking and classification surveys for the six time charter vessels in our fleet in 2017 and 2018. As our fleet matures and expands, our dry-docking expenses will likely increase. Ongoing costs for compliance with environmental regulations are primarily included as part of our dry-docking and society classification survey costs or are a component of our vessel operating expenses. We are not aware of any regulatory changes or environmental liabilities that we anticipate will have a material impact on our current or future operations. There will be further costs related to voyages to and from the dry-docking yard that will depend on actual deviation from the vessel’s ordinary trading area to dry-docking yard.

As of June 30, 2016, the Partnership had available liquidity of $55.7 million, which consisted of cash and cash equivalents of $25.7 million and an undrawn revolving credit facility of $30 million.

On May 16, 2016, we paid a quarterly cash distribution of $0.52 per unit with respect to the quarter ended March 31, 2016. This cash distribution amounted to $15.1 million.

On August 15, 2016, we paid a quarterly cash distribution of $0.52 per unit with respect to the quarter ended June 30, 2016. This cash distribution amounted to $15.0 million.

On August 12, 2015, the Partnership’s board of directors authorized a program for the Partnership to repurchase up to 666,667 of its common units. The board of directors of the General Partner concurrently authorized the General Partner to purchase up to 333,333 common units of the Partnership. As of December 31, 2015, the Partnership and the General Partner had purchased 180,906 and 90,368 common units, respectively, at an average price of $12.71 per unit. No common units have been repurchased in 2016. On August 10, 2016, the boards of directors of the Partnership and the General Partner each authorized an extension of the program until August 31, 2017.

As of June 30, 2016, our current liabilities exceeded current assets by $43.7 million. Included within current liabilities are current portion of mark-to-market valuations of derivative instruments representing $3.7 million of these liabilities, and included within current assets are mark-to-market valuations of derivative instruments representing $0.2 million of these assets. We currently have no intention of terminating these swap derivative instruments and foreign currency contracts and hence realizing these liabilities.

We expect that the cash we generate from operations (assuming the current rates earned from existing charters) will be sufficient to cover our operational cash outflows and our ongoing obligations under our financing commitments to pay loan interest and make scheduled loan repayments and to make distributions. Accordingly, as of June 30, 2016, we believe that our current resources, including our undrawn revolving credit facility of $30.0 million, are sufficient to meet our working capital requirements for our current business for at least the next twelve months.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our net cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities and our cash and cash equivalents for the periods presented:

 

     Six Months Ended June 30,  
(US $ in thousands)    2016      2015  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $     52,485       $     44,127   

Net cash used in investing activities

     (521      (37,613

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (49,893 )      34,222   

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     23         (79

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     2,094         40,657   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     23,573         30,746   

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

     25,667         71,403   

 

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Net cash provided by operating activities

Net cash provided by operating activities increased by $8.4 million to $52.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $44.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. This was mainly due to higher earnings through the contributions from the Ingrid Knutsen and the Dan Sabia being included in our results of operations as of October 15, 2015 and June 30, 2015, respectively and general decrease of the working capital mainly due to increased prepaid revenue from the charters. The increase was partially offset by increased drydocking expenditures of $2.5 million for the scheduled drydocking of the Bodil Knutsen in the first quarter of 2016.

Net cash used in investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $0.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $37.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. Net cash used in investing activities in the six months ended June 30, 2015 was higher due to the acquisition of the Dan Sabia on June 15, 2015 for which we paid a net cash amount to cover the difference between the purchase consideration of $103.0 million less $64.5 million of outstanding indebtedness and other purchase price adjustments of $2.7 million. Net cash used in investing activities is net of cash acquired from the acquisition of the Dan Sabia of $4.3 million.

Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities

Net cash used in financing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2016 of $49.9 million mainly related to repayment of long-term debt of $24.6 million and payment of cash distributions of $30.1 million partially offset by a $5.0 million drawdown under our long-term revolving credit facility.

Net cash provided by financing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2015 of $34.2 million mainly related to the net proceeds from our June 2015 offering of common units of $116.6 million and partially offset by the following:

 

    repayment of long-term debt of $46.9 million;

 

    repayment of the seller’s credit from KNOT of $12.0 million related to the Dan Cisne acquisition; and

 

    payment of cash distributions of $23.5 million.

Borrowing Activities

Long-Term Debt

As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Partnership had the following debt amounts outstanding:

 

            June 30,      December 31,  
(U.S. Dollars in thousands)    Vessel      2016      2015  

$220 million loan facility

    

 

Windsor Knutsen, Bodil Knutsen,

Carmen Knutsen

  

  

   $         188,572       $         196,429   

$35 million revolving credit facility

    

 

Windsor Knutsen, Bodil Knutsen,

Carmen Knutsen

  

  

     5,000         —    

$140 million loan facility

    
 
Fortaleza Knutsen &
Recife Knutsen
 
  
     122,500         126,875   

$117 million loan facility

     Hilda Knutsen         79,334         81,797   

$117 million loan facility

     Torill Knutsen         80,569         83,033   

$172.5 million loan facility

     Dan Cisne, Dan Sabia         105,139         109,339   

$77.5 million loan facility

     Ingrid Knutsen         70,934         74,217   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

        652,048         671,690   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less: current installments

        55,084         49,684   

Less: unamortized deferred loan issuance costs

  

     1,196         1,149   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

  

     53,888         48,535   

Amounts due after one year

  

     596,964         622,006   

Less: unamortized deferred loan issuance costs

  

     2,343         2,819   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-term debt excluding current installments and unamortized deferred loan issuance costs

   

     594,621         619,187   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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The Partnership’s outstanding debt of $652.0 million as of June 30, 2016 is repayable as follows:

 

(US $ in thousands)    Period
repayment
     Balloon
repayment
 

Remainder of 2016

   $ 30,042       $ —    

2017

     50,084         —    

2018

     48,495         154,927   

2019

     28,582         237,678   

2020

     17,650         —    

2021 and thereafter

     71,650         12,940   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $     246,503       $     405,545   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of June 30, 2016, the interest rates on the Partnership’s loan agreements (other than tranche two of the $77.5 million loan facility) were the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a fixed margin ranging from 2.125% to 2.5%. On the export credit loan of $55.1 million which is tranche two of the $77.5 million loan facility secured by the Ingrid Knutsen , the annual rate is 3.85% composed of a 2.5% bank facility rate plus a commission of 1.35% to GIEC, the export credit guarantor. The guarantee commission of 1.35% is classified as other finance expense.

$240 Million Secured Loan Facility

In June 2014, the Partnership’s subsidiaries KNOT Shuttle Tankers 18 AS, KNOT Shuttle Tankers 17 AS and Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 13 AS entered into a senior syndicate secured loan facility in an aggregate amount of $240 million (the “Senior Secured Loan Facility”) to repay existing debt under previous credit facilities and a $10.5 million seller’s credit from KNOT. The Senior Secured Loan Facility consisted of (i) a $220 million term loan (the “Term Loan Facility”) and (ii) a $20 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Revolving Credit Facility terminates in June 2019, and bears interest at LIBOR plus a fixed margin of 2.125%, and has a commitment fee equal to 40% of the margin of the Revolving Credit Facility calculated on the daily undrawn portion of the Revolving Credit Facility. As of June 30, 2016, the Revolving Credit Facility was drawn by $5.0 million. The Term Loan Facility is repayable in quarterly installments over five years with a final balloon payment due at maturity at June 2019. The Term Loan Facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.125%.

On June 30, 2016, the Partnership’s subsidiaries KNOT Shuttle Tankers 18 AS, KNOT Shuttle Tankers 17 AS and Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 13 AS, as borrowers, entered into an amended and restated senior secured credit facility (the “Amended Senior Secured Loan Facility”), which amended the Senior Secured Loan Facility. The Amended Senior Secured Loan Facility includes a new revolving credit facility tranche of $15 million, bringing the total revolving credit commitments under the facility to $35 million. The new revolving credit facility matures in June 2019, bears interest at LIBOR plus a fixed margin of 2.5% and has a commitment fee equal to 40% of the margin of the revolving facility tranche calculated on the daily undrawn portion of such tranche. The other material terms of the Senior Secured Loan Facility remain unaltered.

The Windsor Knutsen, the Bodil Knutsen and the Carmen Knutsen , assignments of earnings, charterparty contracts and insurance proceeds are pledged as collateral for the Amended Senior Secured Loan Facility. The Amended Senior Secured Loan Facility is guaranteed by the Partnership and KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS, and secured by vessel mortgages on the Windsor Knutsen, the Bodil Knutsen and the Carmen Knutsen .

The Amended Senior Secured Loan Facility contains the following financial covenants:

 

    The aggregate market value of the Windsor Knutsen , Bodil Knutsen and Carmen Knutsen shall not be less than 110% of the outstanding balance under the Amended Senior Secured Loan Facility for the first two years, 120% for the third and fourth years, and 125% thereafter;

 

    Positive working capital for the borrowers and the Partnership;

 

    Minimum liquidity of the Partnership of $17 million plus increments of $1 million for each additional vessel acquired by the Partnership and $1.5 million for each owned vessel with less than 12 months remaining tenor on its employment contract;

 

    Minimum book equity ratio for the Partnership of 30%; and

 

    Minimum EBITDA to interest ratio for the Partnership of 2.50.

The Amended Senior Secured Loan Facility also identifies various events that may trigger mandatory reduction, prepayment and cancellation of the facility, including total loss or sale of a vessel and customary events of default. As of June 30, 2016, the borrowers and the guarantors were in compliance with all covenants under this facility.

$117 Million Hilda Loan Facility

In July 2011, Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 14 AS, the subsidiary owning the Hilda Knutsen , as the borrower, entered into a secured loan facility in an aggregate amount of $117 million (the “Hilda Facility”). The Hilda Facility is repayable in quarterly installments over five years with a final balloon payment due at maturity in July 2018. The Hilda Facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a fixed margin of 2.5%. The facility is secured by a vessel mortgage on the Hilda Knutsen. The Hilda Knutsen , assignments of earnings, charterparty contracts and insurance proceeds are pledged as collateral for the Hilda Facility.

 

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The Partnership and KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS are the sole guarantors. The Hilda Facility contains the following primary financial covenants:

 

    Market value of the Hilda Knutsen shall not be less than 110% of the outstanding balance under the Hilda Facility for the first two years, 120% for the third and fourth year, and 125% thereafter;

 

    Positive working capital of the borrower and the Partnership;

 

    Minimum liquidity of the Partnership of $17 million plus increments of $1 million for each additional vessel acquired by the Partnership and $1.5 million for each owned vessel with less than 12 months remaining tenor on its employment contract;

 

    Minimum book equity ratio for the Partnership of 30%; and

 

    Minimum EBITDA to interest ratio for the Partnership of 2.50.

The Hilda Facility also identifies various events that may trigger mandatory reduction, prepayment and cancellation of the facility, including total loss or sale of a vessel and customary events of default. As of June 30, 2016, the borrower and the guarantors were in compliance with all covenants under this facility.

$117 Million Torill Loan Facility

In November 2011, Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 15 AS, the subsidiary owning the Torill Knutsen , as the borrower, entered into a secured loan facility in an aggregate amount of $117 million (the “Torill Facility”). The Torill Facility is repayable in quarterly installments over five years with a final balloon payment due at maturity in October 2018. The Torill Facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a fixed margin of 2.5%. The facility is secured by a vessel mortgage on the Torill Knutsen . The Torill Knutsen , assignments of earnings, charterparty contracts and insurance proceeds are pledged as collateral for the Torill Facility. The Partnership and KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS are the sole guarantors. The Torill Facility contains the following primary financial covenants:

 

    Market value of the Torill Knutsen shall not be less than 110% of the outstanding balance under the Torill Facility for the first two years, 120% for the third and fourth year, and 125% thereafter;

 

    Positive working capital of the borrower and the Partnership;

 

    Minimum liquidity of the Partnership of $17 million plus increments of $1 million for each additional vessel acquired by the Partnership and $1.5 million for each owned vessel with less than 12 months remaining tenor on its employment contract;

 

    Minimum book equity ratio for the Partnership of 30%; and

 

    Minimum EBITDA to interest ratio for the Partnership of 2.50.

The Torill Facility also identifies various events that may trigger mandatory reduction, prepayment and cancellation of the facility, including total loss or sale of a vessel and customary events of default. As of June 30, 2016, the borrower and the guarantors were in compliance with all covenants under this facility.

$140 Million Secured Loan Facility

In June 2014, the Partnership’s subsidiary Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII KS, as the borrower, entered into a senior syndicate secured loan facility in the amount of $140 million (the “New Fortaleza and Recife Facility”). The New Fortaleza and Recife Facility was drawn in November 2014 and replaced a $160 million loan facility previously secured by the Fortaleza Knutsen and the Recife Knutsen . The New Fortaleza and Recife Facility is repayable in quarterly installments over five years with a final balloon payment due at maturity at June 2019. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.125%. The Fortaleza Knutsen and the Recife Knutsen , assignments of earnings, charterparty contracts and insurance proceeds are pledged as collateral for the New Fortaleza and Recife Facility. The facility is guaranteed by the Partnership and KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS and is secured by vessel mortgages on the Fortaleza Knutsen and the Recife Knutsen .

The New Fortaleza and Recife Facility contains the following financial covenants:

 

    The aggregate market value of the Fortaleza Knutsen and Recife Knutsen shall not be less than 110% of the outstanding balance under the New Fortaleza and Recife Facility for the first two years, 120% for the third and fourth year, and 125% thereafter;

 

    Positive working capital of the borrower and the Partnership;

 

    Minimum liquidity of the Partnership of $17 million plus increments of $1 million for each additional vessel acquired by the Partnership and $1.5 million for each owned vessel with less than 12 months remaining tenor on its employment contract;

 

    Minimum book equity ratio for the Partnership of 30%; and

 

    Minimum EBITDA to interest ratio for the Partnership of 2.50.

 

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The New Fortaleza and Recife Facility also identifies various events that may trigger mandatory reduction, prepayment and cancellation of the facility, including total loss or sale of a vessel and customary events of default. As of June 30, 2016, the borrower and the guarantors were in compliance with all covenants under this facility.

$172.5 Million Secured Loan Facility

In April 2014, KNOT Shuttle Tankers 20 AS and KNOT Shuttle Tankers 21 AS, the subsidiaries owning the Dan Cisne and Dan Sabia , as the borrowers, entered into a $172.5 million senior secured loan facility. In connection with the Partnership’s acquisition of the Dan Cisne , in December 2014, the $172.5 million senior secured loan facility was split into a tranche related to the Dan Cisne (the “Dan Cisne Facility”) and a tranche related to Dan Sabia (the “Dan Sabia Facility”).

The Dan Cisne Facility and the Dan Sabia Facility are guaranteed by the Partnership and secured by a vessel mortgage on the Dan Cisne and Dan Sabia . The Dan Cisne Facility and the Dan Sabia Facility bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.4% and are repayable in semiannual installments with a final balloon payment due at maturity at September 2023 and January 2024, respectively.

The facilities contain the following financial covenants:

 

    Market value of each of the Dan Cisne and Dan Sabia shall not be less than 100% of the outstanding balance under the Dan Cisne Facility and Dan Sabia Facility, respectively, for the first three years, and 125% thereafter;

 

    Minimum liquidity of the Partnership of $17 million plus increments of $1 million for each additional vessel acquired by the Partnership and $1.5 million for each owned vessel with less than 12 months remaining tenor on its employment contract;

 

    Minimum book equity ratio for the Partnership of 30%.

The facility also identifies various events that may trigger mandatory reduction, prepayment and cancellation of the facility, including total loss or sale of a vessel and customary events of default. As of June 30, 2016, the borrowers and the guarantor were in compliance with all covenants under this facility.

$77.5 Million Secured Loan Facility

In June 2012, Knutsen NYK Shuttle Tankers 16 AS, the subsidiary owning the Ingrid Knutsen , as the borrower, entered into a secured loan facility in an aggregate amount of $90.0 million (the “Ingrid Facility”). As of December 31, 2015, the aggregate amount outstanding under the facility was $77.5 million. The Ingrid Facility includes two tranches. Tranche one is a commercial bank loan of $22.4 million, repayable in semi-annual installments with a final balloon payment due at maturity in December 2018. Tranche one bears interest at LIBOR, plus a margin of 2.25%. Tranche two is an export credit loan of $55.1 million, repayable in semi-annual installments and maturing in November 2025. Tranche two bears interest at an annual fixed rate of 3.85%, composed of a 2.5% bank facility rate plus a commission of 1.35% to the export credit guarantor. The facility is secured by a vessel mortgage on the Ingrid Knutsen . The Ingrid Knutsen , assignments of earnings, charterparty contracts and insurance proceeds are pledged as collateral for the Ingrid Facility. The Partnership and KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS are the sole guarantors.

The Ingrid Facility contains the following financial covenants:

 

    Market value of the Ingrid Knutsen shall not be less than 125% of the outstanding balance under the Ingrid Facility;

 

    Positive working capital of the borrower and the Partnership;

 

    Minimum liquidity of the Partnership of $17 million plus increments of $1 million for each additional vessel acquired by the Partnership and $1.5 million for each owned vessel with less than 12 months remaining tenor on its employment contract;

 

    Minimum book equity ratio for the Partnership of 30%; and

 

    Minimum EBITDA to interest ratio for the Partnership of 2.50.

The Ingrid Facility also identifies various events that may trigger mandatory reduction, prepayment and cancellation of the facility, including total loss or sale of a vessel and customary events of default. As of June 30, 2016, the borrower and the guarantors were in compliance with all covenants under this facility.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

As of June 30, 2016, the Partnership had entered into various interest rate swap agreements maturing between April 2018 and January 2024, for a total notional amount of $407.7 million to hedge against the interest rate risks of its variable-rate borrowings. Under the terms of the interest rate swap agreements, the Partnership will receive from the counterparty interest on the notional amount based on three or six month LIBOR and will pay to the counterparty a fixed rate. Pursuant to the interest rate swap agreements, the Partnership will pay to the counterparty a weighted average interest rate of 1.54%.

We enter into foreign exchange forward contracts in order to manage our exposure to the risk of movements in foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. As of June 30, 2016, the total contract amount in foreign currency of our outstanding foreign exchange forward contracts that were entered into to economically hedge our outstanding future payments in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar was NOK 292.7 million. We do not apply hedge accounting for derivative instruments. We do not speculate using derivative instruments.

 

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Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our long-term contractual obligations as of June 30, 2016:

 

     Payments Due by Period  
(US $ in thousands)    Total      Less than 
1 Year
     1-3 Years      4-5 Years      More than 
5 Years
 

Long-term debt obligations (including interest)(1)

   $     729,982       $     78,693       $     523,938       $     44,639       $     82,712   

Total

   $ 729,982       $ 78,693       $ 523,938       $ 44,639       $ 82,712   

 

(1) The long-term debt obligations have been calculated assuming interest rates based on the 6-month LIBOR as of June 30, 2016, plus the applicable margin for all periods presented.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Currently, we do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities. We base these estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other information and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable. Our critical accounting estimates are important to the portrayal of both our financial condition and results of operations and require us to make subjective or complex assumptions or estimates about matters that are uncertain. For a description of our material accounting policies that involve higher degree of judgment, please read Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of our consolidate financial statement included in our 2015 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to various market risks, including interest rate, foreign currency exchange and concentration of credit risks. Historically, we have entered into certain derivative instruments and contracts to maintain the desired level of exposure arising from interest rate and certain foreign exchange risks. Our policy is to economically hedge our exposure to risks, where possible, within boundaries deemed appropriate by management.

Interest Rate Risks

A portion of our debt obligations and surplus funds placed with financial institutions are subject to movements in interest rates. It is our policy to obtain the most favorable interest rates available without increasing our foreign currency exposure. In keeping with this, our surplus funds may in the future be placed in fixed deposits with reputable financial institutions which yield better returns than bank deposits. The deposits generally have short-term maturities so as to provide us with the flexibility to meet working capital and capital investments.

We have historically used interest rate swaps to manage our exposure to interest rate risks. Interest rate swaps were used to convert floating rate debt obligations based on LIBOR to a fixed rate in order to achieve an overall desired position of fixed and floating rate debt. The extent to which interest rate swaps are used is determined by reference to our net debt exposure and our views regarding future interest rates. Our interest rate swaps do not qualify for hedge accounting and movements in their fair values are reflected in the statement of operations under “gain/(loss) on derivative financial instruments.” Interest rate swap agreements that have a positive fair value are recorded as “Derivative assets,” while swaps with a negative fair value are recorded as “Derivative liabilities.”

As of June 30, 2016, our net exposure to floating interest rate fluctuations on its outstanding debt was approximately $218.6 million, based on total net interest bearing debt of approximately $652.0 million less the notional amount of our floating to fixed interest rate swaps of $407.7 million, and less cash and cash equivalents of $25.7 million.

A 1% change in short-term interest rates would result in an increase or decrease to our interest expense of approximately $2.2 million on an annual basis as of June 30, 2016.

Foreign Currency Fluctuation Risks

We and our subsidiaries utilize the U.S. Dollar as our functional and reporting currency because all of our revenues and the majority of our expenditures, including the majority of our investments in vessels and our financing transactions, are denominated in U.S. Dollars. We could, however, earn revenue in other currencies and we currently incur a portion of our expenses in other currencies. Therefore, there is a risk that currency fluctuations could have an adverse effect on the value of our cash flows.

 

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Our foreign currency risk arises from:

 

    the measurement of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies converted to U.S. Dollars, with the resulting gain or loss recorded as “Foreign exchange gain/(loss);” and

 

    the impact of fluctuations in exchange rates on the reported amounts of our revenues, if any, and expenses that are denominated in foreign currencies.

As of June 30, 2016 we had entered into foreign exchange forward contracts, selling a total notional amount of $35.0 million against NOK at an average exchange rate of NOK 8.36 per 1.0 U.S. Dollar, which are economic hedges for certain vessel operating expenses and general expenses in NOK. We did not apply hedge accounting to our foreign exchange forward contracts.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The market for our services is the offshore oil transportation industry, and the customers consist primarily of major oil and gas companies, independent oil and gas producers and government-owned oil companies. As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, six customers accounted for substantially all of our revenues. Ongoing credit evaluations of our customers are performed and generally do not require collateral in our business agreements. Typically, under our time charters and bareboat charters, the customer pays for the month’s charter the first day of each month, which reduces our level of credit risk. Provisions for potential credit losses are maintained when necessary.

We have bank deposits that expose us to credit risk arising from possible default by the counterparty. We manage the risk by using credit-worthy financial institutions.

Retained Risk

For a description of our insurance coverage, including the risks retained by us related to our insurance policies, please read “Item 4. Information on the Partnership – Business Overview – Risk of Loss, Insurance and Risk Management” in our 2015 20-F.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Report on Form 6-K contains certain forward-looking statements concerning future events and our operations, performance and financial condition and assumptions related thereto. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” “plan,” “intend” or words or phrases of similar meanings. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to, among other things:

 

    market trends in the shuttle tanker or general tanker industries, including hire rates, factors affecting supply and demand, and opportunities for the profitable operations of shuttle tankers;

 

    KNOT’s and our ability to build shuttle tankers and the timing of the delivery and acceptance of any such vessels by their respective charterers;

 

    forecasts of our ability to make or increase distributions on our units and the amount of any such distributions;

 

    our ability to integrate and realize the expected benefits from acquisitions;

 

    our anticipated growth strategies;

 

    the effects of a worldwide or regional economic slowdown;

 

    turmoil in the global financial markets;

 

    fluctuations in currencies and interest rates;

 

    fluctuations in the price of oil;

 

    general market conditions, including fluctuations in hire rates and vessel values;

 

    changes in our operating expenses, including drydocking and insurance costs and bunker prices;

 

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

 

    the repayment of debt and settling of any interest rate swaps;

 

    our ability to make additional borrowings and to access debt and equity markets;

 

    planned capital expenditures and availability of capital resources to fund capital expenditures;

 

    our ability to maintain long-term relationships with major users of shuttle tonnage;

 

    our ability to leverage KNOT’s relationships and reputation in the shipping industry;

 

    our ability to purchase vessels from KNOT in the future;

 

    our continued ability to enter into long-term charters, which we define as charters of five years or more;

 

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

 

    the financial condition of our existing or future customers and their ability to fulfill their charter obligations;

 

    timely purchases and deliveries of newbuilds;

 

    future purchase prices of newbuilds and secondhand vessels;

 

    any impairment of the value of our vessels;

 

    our ability to compete successfully for future chartering and newbuild opportunities;

 

    acceptance of a vessel by its charterer;

 

    termination dates and extensions of charters;

 

    the expected cost of, and our ability to comply with, governmental regulations, maritime self-regulatory organization standards, as well as standard regulations imposed by its charterers applicable to our business;

 

    availability of skilled labor, vessel crews and management;

 

    our general and administrative expenses and fees and expenses payable under the technical management agreements, management and administration agreements and the management and administrative services agreement;

 

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    the anticipated taxation of KNOT Offshore Partners and distributions to our unitholders;

 

    estimated future maintenance and replacement capital expenditures;

 

    our ability to retain key employees;

 

    customers’ increasing emphasis on environmental and safety concerns;

 

    potential liability from any pending or future litigation;

 

    potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents, political events, piracy or acts by terrorists;

 

    future sales of our securities in the public market;

 

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

 

    other factors listed from time to time in the reports and other documents that we file with the SEC.

Forward-looking statements in this Report on Form 6-K are based upon management’s current plans, expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting us and therefore involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including those risks discussed in our 2015 20-F. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of these factors. Further, we cannot assess the impact of each such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We do not intend to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

 

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EXHIBITS

The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:

 

Exhibit

Number

   

Description

  4.1      Amendment and Restatement Agreement, dated June 30, 2016, related to the Term and Revolving Facilities Agreement, dated June 10, 2014, among KNOT Shuttle Tankers 18 AS, Knot Shuttle Tankers 17 AS and Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 13 AS, as borrowers, and the other parties thereto
  101     

The following financial information from KNOT Offshore Partners LP’s Report on Form 6-K for the three months ended June 30, 2016 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language):

 

(i) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015;

 

(ii) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015;

 

(iii) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015;

 

(iv) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015;

 

(v) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015; and

 

(vi) Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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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: September 7, 2016     By:       /s/ John Costain
      Name:       John Costain
      Title:       Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

 

38

EXHIBIT 4.1

30 June 2016

AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AGREEMENT

relating to a

TERM AND REVOLVING FACILITIES AGREEMENT

dated 10 June 2014

between

KNOT SHUTTLE TANKERS 18 AS, KNOT SHUTTLE TANKERS 17 AS and KNUTSEN

SHUTTLE TANKERS 13 AS

as borrowers

THE BORROWERS, KNOT SHUTTLE TANKERS AS and KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS L.P

as guarantors

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

listed in Schedule 1

as original lenders

ABN AMRO BANK N.V., BNP PARIBAS, DNB BANK ASA and NORDEA BANK FINLAND

PLC

as original hedging banks

ABN AMRO BANK N.V., OSLO BRANCH, BNP PARIBAS, DNB BANK ASA and NORDEA

BANK NORGE ASA

as mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners

NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA

as agent

 

 

LOGO


 

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THIS AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AGREEMENT (the “ Restatement Agreement ”) is dated 30 June 2016 and made between:

 

(1)

KNOT SHUTTLE TANKERS 18 AS , business enterprise no. NO 998 943 035, Smedasundet 40, NO-5529 Haugesund, Norway (the “ Vessel A Owner ”), KNOT SHUTTLE TANKERS 17 AS , business enterprise no. NO 998 942 969, Smedasundet 40, NO-5529 Haugesund, Norway (the “ Vessel B Owner ”) and KNUTSEN SHUTTLE TANKERS 13 AS , business enterprise no. NO 996 661 016, Smedasundet 40, NO-5529 Haugesund, Norway (the “ Vessel C Owner ”), as borrowers (the “ Borrowers ”);

 

(2)

THE BORROWERS , KNOT SHUTTLE TANKERS AS , business enterprise no. NO 998 942 829, Smedasundet 40, NO-5529 Haugesund, Norway and KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS L.P. , a limited partnership organised under the laws of the Marshall Islands and having its registered office at Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, the Marshall Islands and its principal executive office at 2 Queen’s Cross, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire AB15 4YB, United Kingdom (the “ Parent Guarantor ”), as guarantors (the “ Guarantors ”);

 

(3)

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Schedule 1 to the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement as original lenders (the “ Original Lenders ”);

 

(4)

ABN AMRO BANK N.V. , Gustav Mahlerlaan 10, 1082 PP Amsterdam, The Netherlands, BNP PARIBAS , 16, Boulevard des Italiens, 75009 Paris, France, DNB BANK ASA , Dronning Eufemias gate 30, NO-0191 Oslo, Norway and NORDEA BANK FINLAND PLC , Aleksis Kiven katu 9, FIN-00020 Nordea, Helsinki, Finland, as original hedging banks (the “ Original Hedging Banks ”);

 

(5)

ABN AMRO BANK N.V., OSLO BRANCH , Gustav Mahlerlaan 10, 1082 PP Amsterdam, The Netherlands, acting through its Oslo Branch, Olav V’s gt. 5, NO-0161 Oslo, Norway, BNP PARIBAS , 16, Boulevard des Italiens, 75009 Paris, France, DNB BANK ASA , Dronning Eufemias gate 30, NO-0191 Oslo, Norway and NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA , Essendrops gate 7, NO-0368 Oslo, Norway, as mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners (the “ Arrangers ”);

 

(6)

NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA , Essendrops gate 7, NO-0368 Oslo, Norway, as facility and security agent and trustee (the “ Agent ”).

WHEREAS:

 

(A)

Pursuant to a term and revolving facilities agreement dated 10 June 2014 (the “ Original Facilities Agreement ”) between the Borrowers, the Guarantors, the Original Lenders, the Original Hedging Banks, the Arrangers and the Agent, the Original Lenders made available to the Borrowers certain term and revolving facilities.

 

(B)

The parties hereto wish to make certain amendments to the Original Facilities Agreement by amending and restating the terms thereof as set out in the amended and restated term and revolving facilities agreement (the “ Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement ”) attached in Schedule 2 ( Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement ) hereto.

IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:


 

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1

INTERPRETATION

 

(a)

Capitalised terms defined in the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement have, unless expressly defined in this Restatement Agreement, the same meaning in this Restatement Agreement.

 

(b)

Restatement Date ” means:

 

 

(i)

the date on which the Agent notifies the Borrowers and the Original Lenders that it has received all of the documents and other evidence set out in Schedule 1 ( Conditions precedent documents ) of this Restatement Agreement in a form and substance satisfactory to the Agent; or

 

 

(ii)

such other date as the Borrowers and the Original Lenders agree.

 

(c)

On and after the Restatement Date each reference to the “Facilities Agreement” in any other Finance Document shall mean and be a reference to the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement. Nothing in this Restatement Agreement shall constitute or be construed as a waiver or release of any right or remedy of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents, nor otherwise prejudice any right or remedy of a Finance Party under the Original Facilities Agreement or any other Finance Document.

 

(d)

This Restatement Agreement shall, from the Restatement Date, be a Finance Document.

 

2

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

(a)

Subject as set out below, the Original Facilities Agreement will be amended and restated on and from the Restatement Date as set out in Schedule 2 ( Form of Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement ) of this Restatement Agreement.

 

(b)

The Restatement Date may not occur in the event that an Event of Default is continuing or would result from the occurrence of the Restatement Date.

 

(c)

If the Restatement Date has not occurred on or before 31 July 2016 or such later date as may be agreed in writing between the Borrowers and the Original Lenders, the Original Facilities Agreement will not be amended and restated by this Restatement Agreement and shall remain in full force and effect in the form of the Original Facilities Agreement.

 

3

REPRESENTATIONS

Each Obligor represents and warrants to each Finance Party that on the date of this Restatement Agreement and on the Restatement Date:

 

 

(a)

Powers and authority : it has the power to enter into and perform, and has taken all necessary action to authorise the entry into, performance and delivery of this Restatement Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby;


 

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(b)

Consents: all authorisations, approvals, consents, licences, exemptions, filings, registrations and other matters required by law for or in consequence of the entry into and performance by it of and/or the validity of this Restatement Agreement or the transactions to be implemented pursuant hereto have been obtained or effected or will be obtained or effected prior to the date required by law;

 

 

(c)

Legal validity : this Restatement Agreement constitutes its legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations in accordance with its terms; and

 

 

(d)

Non-conflict : the entry into and performance of this Restatement Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not conflict with:

 

 

(i)

any applicable law or regulation or any applicable official or judicial order in any respect; or

 

 

(ii)

its constitutional documents or any of its resolutions (having current effect) or the constitutional document or any other resolution of any of its Subsidiaries; or

 

 

(iii)

any agreement or instrument to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or which is binding upon any of them or on any of their assets.

 

4

SECURITY CONFIRMATION

 

(a)

Each Obligor confirms by its execution of this Restatement Agreement for the benefit of the Finance Parties that:

 

 

(i)

any Security in respect of the obligations of any of the Obligors under the Finance Documents (or any of them) which has been created by such Obligor in favour of the Agent or the Finance Parties, as the case may be, pursuant to any Security Document to which it is a party shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms;

 

 

(ii)

any Security created by it under the Security Documents shall extend to the obligations of any of the Obligors under the Finance Documents (including the Original Facilities Agreement as amended by this Restatement Agreement);

 

 

(iii)

the obligations of the Obligors arising under the Original Facilities Agreement as amended by this Restatement Agreement shall be secured by the Security Documents;

 

 

(iv)

it undertakes with respect to paragraph (i) to (iii) above, to do all such acts or execute all such documents the Agent may reasonably require in order to ensure that the existing security constituted by the Security Documents continues to be in full force and effect; and

 

 

(v)

all references to the “Facilities Agreement” in any of the existing Security Documents is a reference to the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement.

 

(b)

Each Guarantor that is a party to the Original Facilities Agreement confirms by its execution of this Restatement Agreement for the benefit of the Finance Parties that the guarantee and indemnities under Clause 18 ( Guarantee and indemnity ) of the Original Facilities Agreement given by such Guarantor (the “ Guarantee and Indemnity Obligations ”) shall remain in full


 

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force and effect notwithstanding the designation of any new document as a Finance Document or any additions, amendments, novation, substitution, or supplements of or to the Finance Documents and the imposition of any amended, new or more onerous obligations under the Finance Documents in relation to any Obligor and that the Guarantee and Indemnity Obligations extend to any new obligations assumed by any Obligor under the Original Facilities Agreement (as amended by this Restatement Agreement) and any amended or new Finance Documents.

 

5

FEES AND EXPENSES

 

(a)

The Borrowers shall pay to the Agent (for the account of the Arrangers) a non-refundable arrangement fee in the amount and at the times set out in a Fee Letter.

 

(b)

The Borrowers shall promptly on demand pay the Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by the Agent in connection with the negotiation, preparation, printing, execution and perfection of:

 

 

(i)

this Restatement Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Restatement Agreement; and

 

 

(ii)

any other Finance Documents executed after the date of this Restatement Agreement.

 

6

GOVERNING LAW

 

    

This Restatement Agreement is governed by Norwegian law.

 

7

ENFORCEMENT

 

7.1

Jurisdiction

 

(a)

The courts of Norway, with the Oslo district court as the court of first instance, have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Restatement Agreement (including a dispute relating to the existence, validity or termination of this Restatement Agreement (a “ Dispute ”).

 

(b)

This Clause 7.1 is for the benefit of the Finance Parties only. As a result, no Finance Party shall be prevented from taking proceedings relating to a Dispute in any other courts with jurisdiction. To the extent allowed by law, the Finance Parties may take concurrent proceedings in any number of jurisdictions.

 

6.2

Service of process

 

    

Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, each Obligor (other than an Obligor incorporated in Norway):

 

 

(i)

irrevocably appoints KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS, Smedasundet 40, NO-5529 Haugesund, Norway, Norway as its agent for service of process in relation to any proceedings before the Norwegian courts in connection with this Restatement Agreement; and

 

 

(ii)

agrees that failure by the process agent to notify the relevant Obligor of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned.


 

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SCHEDULE 1

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT DOCUMENTS

 

1.

In respect of each Obligor, certified copies of:

 

 

(i)

its articles of association, partnership agreement or similar documentation;

 

 

(ii)

its certificate of registration or good standing;

 

 

(iii)

a resolution of its board of directors authorising the execution of this Restatement Agreement and the other Finance Documents to which it is a party;

 

 

(iv)

if not included in the resolutions referred to in paragraph (iii) above, a power of attorney to its representatives for the execution and registration of this Restatement Agreement and the other Finance Documents to which it is a party;

 

 

(v)

if required under applicable law, a resolution of its shareholders or members approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, this Restatement Agreement and the other Finance Documents to which it is a party;

 

 

(vi)

a specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolutions referred to in paragraph (iii) above; and

 

 

(vii)

a certificate of an authorised signatory of the relevant Obligor certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this Schedule 1 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of this Restatement Agreement.

 

2.

Evidence that all fees due and payable under the Restatement Agreement have been paid or will be paid on or before the Restatement Date.

 

3.

Confirmation of acceptance from the Borrowers to the Agent’s letter in respect of effective annual interest.

 

4.

In respect of the Security Documents:

 

 

(i)

a second priority Mortgage and deed of covenants collateral thereto over Vessel B duly executed by the Vessel B Owner and registered in the Isle of Man ship registry;

 

 

(ii)

an amendment to the Mortgage over Vessel C duly executed by the Vessel C Owner and registered in the Maltese ship registry;

 

 

(iii)

an Assignment Agreement in respect of the Vessel C Charter duly executed by the Vessel C Owner;

 

 

(iv)

the notice of assignment and acknowledgement required to be executed under the Assignment Agreement referred to in paragraph (iii) above, duly executed, provided that the Vessel C Owner shall use its best commercial efforts to obtain acknowledgements from third parties in respect thereof; and

 

 

(v)

an amendment to the English law Assignment Agreement dated 23 June 2014 entered into by the Vessel B Owner with the Agent in relation to the time


 

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  charterparty with Statoil ASA dated 7 October 2010, duly executed by the Vessel B Owner.

 

5.

A copy of the Vessel C Charter.

 

6.

Consent to the increase of the Total Commitments from DNB Bank ASA as agent under the KST XII Facility Agreement in relation to the Intercreditor Agreement and the intercreditor agreement entered into in relation to the Second Share Pledge Agreement, such consent to be without any conditions or reservations and confirmed to the Agent in writing.

 

7.

Evidence that the process agent referred to in Clause 7.2 ( Service of process ) of the Restatement Agreement and any other process agent appointed pursuant to any of the Finance Documents, has accepted its appointment.

 

8.

Favourable legal opinions in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent from lawyers appointed by the Agent on matters concerning all relevant jurisdictions.

 

9.

A copy of any other Authorisation or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary or desirable (if it has notified the Borrowers accordingly) in connection with the entry into and performance of the transactions contemplated by any Finance Document or for the validity and enforceability of any Finance Document.


 

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SCHEDULE 2

AMENDED AND RESTATED FACILITIES AGREEMENT

30 June 2016

TERM AND REVOLVING FACILITIES AGREEMENT

between

KNOT SHUTTLE TANKERS 18 AS, KNOT SHUTTLE TANKERS 17 AS and KNUTSEN

SHUTTLE TANKERS 13 AS

as borrowers

THE BORROWERS, KNOT SHUTTLE TANKERS AS and KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS L.P

as guarantors

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

listed in Schedule 1

as original lenders

ABN AMRO BANK N.V., BNP PARIBAS, DNB BANK ASA and NORDEA BANK FINLAND

PLC

as original hedging banks

ABN AMRO BANK N.V., OSLO BRANCH, BNP PARIBAS, DNB BANK ASA and NORDEA

BANK NORGE ASA

as mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners

NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA

as agent

 

 

USD 223,571,432

 

 

 

LOGO


 

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INDEX

 

1

  

INTERPRETATION

     11   

2

  

THE FACILITIES

     37   

3

  

PURPOSE AND APPLICATION

     39   

4

  

CONDITIONS OF UTILISATION

     40   

5

  

UTILISATION

     40   

6

  

REPAYMENT

     42   

7

  

PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION

     43   

8

  

INTEREST

     47   

9

  

INTEREST PERIODS

     48   

10

  

CHANGES TO THE CALCULATION OF INTEREST

     49   

11

  

FEES

     50   

12

  

TAX GROSS UP AND INDEMNITIES

     51   

13

  

INCREASED COSTS

     55   

14

  

OTHER INDEMNITIES

     56   

15

  

MITIGATION BY THE LENDERS

     58   

16

  

COSTS AND EXPENSES

     58   

17

  

SECURITY

     59   

18

  

GUARANTEE AND INDEMNITY

     60   

19

  

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     64   

20

  

INFORMATION UNDERTAKINGS

     69   

21

  

FINANCIAL COVENANTS

     73   

22

  

GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS

     76   

23

  

VESSEL UNDERTAKINGS

     81   

24

  

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     85   

25

  

CHANGES TO THE LENDERS

     89   

26

  

CHANGES TO THE OBLIGORS

     93   

27

  

THE ROLE OF THE AGENT AND THE ARRANGERS

     93   

28

  

CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY THE FINANCE PARTIES

     99   

29

  

SHARING AMONG THE FINANCE PARTIES

     99   

30

  

PAYMENT MECHANICS

     101   

31

  

SET-OFF

     104   

32

  

NOTICES

     104   

33

  

CALCULATIONS AND CERTIFICATES

     106   

34

  

PARTIAL INVALIDITY

     106   


 

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35

  

REMEDIES AND WAIVERS

     107      

36

  

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

     107      

37

  

CONFIDENTIALITY

     110      

38

  

COUNTERPARTS

     112      

39

  

GOVERNING LAW

     112      

40

  

ENFORCEMENT

     113      

 

Schedules

     

Page

1.

  

Lenders and Commitments

  

114

2.

  

Conditions precedent documents

  

116

3.

  

Form of Utilisation Request

  

121

4.

  

Form of Selection Notice

  

122

5.

  

Form of Transfer Certificate

  

123

6.

  

Form of Increase Confirmation

  

125

7.

  

Form of Compliance Certificate

  

127

8.

  

List of Existing Hedging Agreements

  

130


 

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THIS AGREEMENT ( the “ Agreement ”) is dated 30 June 2016 and made between:     

 

(1)

KNOT SHUTTLE TANKERS 18 AS , business enterprise no. NO 998 943 035, Smedasundet 40, NO-5529 Haugesund, Norway (the “ Vessel A Owner ”), KNOT SHUTTLE TANKERS 17 AS , business enterprise no. NO 998 942 969, Smedasundet 40, NO-5529 Haugesund, Norway (the “ Vessel B Owner ”) and KNUTSEN SHUTTLE TANKERS 13 AS , business enterprise no. NO 996 661 016, Smedasundet 40, NO-5529 Haugesund, Norway (the “ Vessel C Owner ”), as borrowers (the “ Borrowers ”);

 

(2)

THE BORROWERS, KNOT SHUTTLE TANKERS AS , business enterprise no. NO 998 942 829, Smedasundet 40, NO-5529 Haugesund, Norway and KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS L.P. , a limited partnership organised under the laws of the Marshall Islands and having its registered office at Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, the Marshall Islands and its principal executive office at 2 Queen’s Cross, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire AB15 4YB, United Kingdom (the “ Parent Guarantor ”), as guarantors (the “ Guarantors ”);

 

(3)

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Schedule 1 as original lenders (the “Original Lenders”);

 

(4)

ABN AMRO BANK N.V. , Gustav Mahlerlaan 10, 1082 PP Amsterdam, The Netherlands, BNP PARIBAS , 16, Boulevard des Italiens, 75009 Paris, France, DNB BANK ASA , Dronning Eufemias gate 30, NO-0191 Oslo, Norway and NORDEA BANK FINLAND PLC , Aleksis Kiven katu 9, FIN-00020 Nordea, Helsinki, Finland, as original hedging banks (the “ Original Hedging Banks ”);

 

(5)

ABN AMRO BANK N.V., OSLO BRANCH , Gustav Mahlerlaan 10, 1082 PP Amsterdam, The Netherlands, acting through its Oslo Branch, Olav V’s gt. 5, NO-0161 Oslo, Norway, BNP PARIBAS , 16, Boulevard des Italiens, 75009 Paris, France, DNB BANK ASA , Dronning Eufemias gate 30, NO-0191 Oslo, Norway and NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA , Essendrops gate 7, NO-0368 Oslo, Norway, as mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners (the “ Arrangers ”);

 

(6)

NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA , Essendrops gate 7, NO-0368 Oslo, Norway, as facility and security agent and trustee (the “ Agent ”).

IT IS AGREED as follows :

 

1

INTERPRETATION

 

1.1

Definitions

 

    

In this Agreement:

    

Acceptable Bank

 

    

means a Lender or a bank or financial institution which has a rating for its long-term unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt obligations of A- or higher by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or Fitch Ratings Ltd or A3 or higher by Moody’s Investor Services Limited or a comparable rating from an internationally recognised credit rating agency.


 

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Account Pledge

 

    

means a first priority pledge of an Earnings Account, entered into or to be entered into between each Borrower and the Agent, in such form and substance as the Agent may require.

 

    

Affiliate

 

    

means, in relation to any person, a Subsidiary of that person or a Holding Company of that person or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company.

 

    

Approved Accounting Principles

 

    

means NGAAP in relation to the Borrowers and KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS and USGAAP in relation to the Parent Guarantor.

 

    

Approved Brokers

 

    

means Fearnleys A/S, Clarksons Platou AS, Lorentzen & Stemoco AS and any other ship broker approved by the Lenders.

 

    

Approved Ship Registers

 

    

means the official ship registers of Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Denmark, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, Liberia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Norway, Singapore, United Kingdom and any other jurisdictions approved by the Lenders.

 

    

Assignment Agreement

 

    

means a first priority assignment for each Vessel in respect of (i) all insurances to be taken out in respect of the Vessel and/or (ii) any contract of employment (including, inter alia, step-in rights) entered into or to be entered into in respect of the Vessel for a period exceeding 18 months (including any options, extensions and/or renewals), to be entered into between each Borrower and the Agent, in such form and substance as the Agent may require.

 

    

Authorisation

 

    

means an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration.

 

    

Availability Period

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

in relation to the Term Loan Facility, the period from and including the date of the Original Facilities Agreement to and including 30 June 2014;

 

 

(ii)

in relation to Revolving Facility A, the period from and including the date of the Original Facilities Agreement to and including the date falling one month prior to the Termination Date; and

 

 

(iii)

in relation to Revolving Facility B, the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and including the date falling one month prior to the Termination Date.


 

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Available Commitment

 

    

means, in relation to a Facility, a Lender’s Commitment under that Facility minus:

 

 

(i)

the amount of its participation in any outstanding Loans under that Facility; and

 

 

(ii)

in relation to any proposed Utilisation, the amount of its participation in any Loans that are due to be made under that Facility on or before the proposed Utilisation Date.

 

    

Available Facility

 

    

means, in relation to a Facility, the aggregate for the time being of each Lender’s Available Commitment in respect of that Facility.

 

    

Break Costs

 

    

means the amount (if any) by which:

 

 

(i)

the interest which a Lender should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in a Loan or Unpaid Sum to the last day of the current Interest Period in respect of that Loan or Unpaid Sum, had the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received been paid on the last day of that Interest Period;

 

    

exceeds:

 

 

(ii)

the amount which that Lender would be able to obtain by placing an amount equal to the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received by it on deposit with a leading bank in the London interbank market for a period starting on the Business Day following receipt or recovery and ending on the last day of the current Interest Period.

 

    

Business Day

 

    

means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for general business in Oslo, London, Amsterdam, Paris and New York.

 

    

Change of Control

 

    

has the meaning given to that term in Clause 7.2 ( Mandatory prepayment – Change of Control ).

 

    

Code

 

    

means the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

    

Commitment

 

    

means a Tranche A Commitment, a Tranche B Commitment, a Tranche C Commitment, a Revolving Facility A Commitment or a Revolving Facility B Commitment.


 

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Compliance Certificate

 

    

means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 7 ( Form of Compliance Certificate ).

 

    

Confidential Information

 

    

means all information relating to a Borrower, any Obligor, the Group, the Finance Documents or a Facility of which a Finance Party becomes aware in its capacity as, or for the purpose of becoming, a Finance Party or which is received by a Finance Party in relation to, or for the purpose of becoming a Finance Party under, the Finance Documents or the Facilities from either:

 

 

(i)

any member of the Group or any of its advisers; or

 

 

(ii)

another Finance Party, if the information was obtained by that Finance Party directly or indirectly from any member of the Group or any of its advisers,

 

    

in whatever form, and includes information given orally and any document, electronic file or any other way of representing or recording information which contains or is derived or copied from such information but excludes information that:

 

 

(iii)

is or becomes public information other than as a direct or indirect result of any breach by that Finance Party of Clause 37 ( Confidentiality ); or

 

 

(iv)

is identified in writing at the time of delivery as non-confidential by any member of the Group or any of its advisers; or

 

 

(v)

is known by that Finance Party before the date the information is disclosed to it in accordance with paragraphs (i) or (ii) above or is lawfully obtained by that Finance Party after that date, from a source which is, as far as that Finance Party is aware, unconnected with the Group and which, in either case, as far as that Finance Party is aware, has not been obtained in breach of, and is not otherwise subject to, any obligation of confidentiality.

 

    

Confidentiality Undertaking

 

    

means a confidentiality undertaking substantially in a recommended form of the LMA or in any other form agreed between the Borrowers and the Agent.

 

    

Default

 

    

means an Event of Default or any event or circumstance specified in Clause 24 ( Events of Default ) which would (with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination under the Finance Documents or any combination of any of the foregoing) be an Event of Default.

 

    

Defaulting Lender

 

    

means any Lender:

 

 

(i)

which has failed to make its participation in a Loan available or has notified the Agent that it will not make its participation in a Loan available by the Utilisation Date of that Loan in accordance with Clause 5.4 ( Lender’s participation );


 

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(ii)

which has otherwise rescinded or repudiated a Finance Document; or

 

 

(iii)

with respect to which an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing,

 

    

unless, in the case of paragraph (i) above;

 

 

(iv)

its failure to pay is caused by:

 

 

(A)

administrative or technical error; or

 

 

(B)

a Disruption Event; and

 

 

    

payment is made within three (3) Business Days of its due date; or

 

 

(v)

the Lender is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question.

 

    

Disruption Event

 

    

means either or both of:

 

 

(i)

a material disruption to those payment or communications systems or to those financial markets which are, in each case, required to operate in order for payments to be made in connection with a Facility (or otherwise in order for the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents to be carried out) which disruption is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, any of the Parties; or

 

 

(ii)

the occurrence of any other event which results in a disruption (of a technical or systems-related nature) to the treasury or payments operations of a Party preventing that, or any other Party:

 

 

(A)

from performing its payment obligations under the Finance Documents; or

 

 

(B)

from communicating with other Parties in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents,

 

 

    

and which (in either such case) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the Party whose operations are disrupted.

 

    

Earnings

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

all freight, hire and passage moneys payable to any of the Borrowers as a consequence of the operation of any of the Vessels;

 

 

(ii)

any claim under any guarantee in respect of any charterparty, pool agreement or other contract of employment entered into by any of the Borrowers in respect of any of the Vessels or otherwise related to freight, hire or passage moneys payable to any of the Borrowers as a consequence of the operation of any of the Vessels;


 

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(iii)

compensation payable to any of the Borrowers in the event of any requisition of any of the Vessels;

 

 

(iv)

remuneration for salvage, towage and other services performed by any of the Vessels and payable to any of the Borrowers;

 

 

(v)

demurrage and retention money receivable by any of the Borrowers in relation to any of the Vessels;

 

 

(vi)

all moneys which are at any time payable under the insurances in respect of loss of Earnings;

 

 

(vii)

if and whenever any Vessel is employed on terms whereby any moneys falling within (i) to (vi) above are pooled or shared with any other person, that proportion of the net receipts of the relevant pooling or sharing arrangement which is attributable to the relevant Vessel; and

 

 

(viii)

other money whatsoever due or to become due to any of the Borrowers from third parties in relation to any of the Vessels.

 

    

Earnings Account

 

    

means an account in the name of a Borrower with the Agent designated “Earnings Account” and to which any part of the Earnings of that Borrower shall be paid.

 

    

Environmental Approval

 

    

means any permit, licence, consent, approval and other authorisations and the filing of any notification, report or assessment required under any Environmental Law.

 

    

Environmental Claim

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

any claim by any governmental, judicial or regulatory authority which arises out of an Environmental Incident or an alleged Environmental Incident or which relates to any Environmental Law; or

 

 

(ii)

any claim by any other person which relates to an Environmental Incident or to an alleged Environmental Incident,

 

    

and “claim” means a claim for damages, compensation, fines, penalties or any other payment of any kind, whether or not similar to the foregoing; an order or direction to take, or not to take, certain action or to desist from or suspend certain action; and any form of enforcement or regulatory action, including the arrest or attachment of any asset.

 

    

Environmental Incident

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

any release of Environmentally Sensitive Material from a Vessel; or

 

 

(ii)

any incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released from another Vessel or vessel and which involves a collision between a Vessel and such other


 

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Vessel or vessel or some other incident of navigation or operation in connection with which a Vessel is actually or potentially liable to be arrested, attached, detained or injuncted and/or where a Vessel and/or an Obligor and/or any operator or manager of a Vessel is at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action; or

 

  (iii)

any other incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released otherwise than from a Vessel and in connection with which a Vessel is actually or potentially liable to be arrested, attached, detained or injuncted and/or where a Vessel and/or an Obligor and/or any operator or manager of a Vessel is at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action.

 

    

Environmental Law

 

    

means any law relating to pollution or protection of the environment, to the carriage of Environmentally Sensitive Material or to actual or threatened releases of Environmentally Sensitive Material.

 

    

Environmentally Sensitive Material

 

    

means oil, oil products and any other substance (including any chemical, gas or other hazardous or noxious substance) which is (or is capable of being or becoming) polluting, toxic or hazardous.

 

    

Event of Default

 

    

means an event specified as such in Clause 24 ( Events of Default ).

 

    

Existing Facilities

 

    

means:

 

  (i)

the USD 85,000,000 term loan facility agreement dated 25 April 2007 entered into between, amongst others, by the Vessel A Owner as borrower and with HSH Nordbank AG as lender and agent (as later amended and restated);

 

  (ii)

the USD 120,000,000 loan and guarantee facility agreement dated 11 February 2011 entered into between, amongst others, the Vessel B Owner as borrower, Eksportfinans ASA, DNB Bank ASA and Nordea Bank Norge ASA as lenders and Nordea Bank Norge ASA as agent (as later amended and restated); and

 

  (iii)

the USD 93,000,000 secured term loan facility agreement dated 11 July 2011 entered into between, amongst others, the Vessel C Owner as borrower, with DNB Bank ASA, Nordea Bank Norge ASA, ABN AMRO Bank N.V. Oslo Branch and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank as lenders and mandated lead arrangers and DNB Bank ASA as agent (as later amended and restated).

 

    

Existing Hedging Agreements

 

    

means the hedging agreements existing on the date of the Original Facilities Agreement and listed in Schedule 8 ( List of Existing Hedging Agreements ).


 

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Facility

 

    

means the Term Loan Facility or a Revolving Facility.

 

    

Facility Office

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

in respect of a Lender, the office or offices notified by that Lender to the Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender (or, following that date, by not less than five (5) Business Days’ written notice) as the office or offices through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement; or

 

 

(ii)

in respect of any other Finance Party, the office in the jurisdiction in which it is resident for tax purposes.

 

    

Factoring Agreement

 

    

means a floating charge (Norw.: Avtale om factoringpant ) over the trade receivables of a Borrower in the amount of USD 290,000,000, executed by each Borrower in favour of the Agent, in such form and substance as the Agent may require.

 

    

FATCA

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code or any associated regulations;

 

 

(ii)

any treaty, law or regulation of any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the US and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of any law or regulation referred to in paragraph (i) above; or

 

 

(iii)

any agreement pursuant to the implementation of any treaty, law or regulation referred to in paragraphs (i) or (ii) above with the US Internal Revenue Service, the US government or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction.

 

    

FATCA Application Date

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

in relation to a “withholdable payment” described in section 1473(1)(A)(i) of the Code (which relates to payments of interest and certain other payments from sources within the US), 1 July 2014;

 

 

(ii)

in relation to a “withholdable payment” described in section 1473(1)(A)(ii) of the Code (which relates to “gross proceeds” from the disposition of property of a type that can produce interest from sources within the US), 1 January 2019; or

 

 

(iii)

in relation to a “passthru payment” described in section 1471(d)(7) of the Code not falling within paragraphs (i) or (ii) above, 1 January 2019,


 

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or, in each case, such other date from which such payment may become subject to a deduction or withholding required by FATCA as a result of any change in FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

    

FATCA Deduction

 

    

means a deduction or withholding from a payment under a Finance Document required by FATCA.

 

    

FATCA Exempt Party

 

    

means a Party that is entitled to receive payments free from any FATCA Deduction.

 

    

Fee Letter

 

    

means the letters dated 2 April 2014 or on or about the date of this Agreement between the Agent and the Borrowers setting out certain of the fees referred to in Clause 11 ( Fees ).

 

    

Finance Document

 

    

means this Agreement, any Hedging Agreement, any Security Document, the Intercreditor Agreement, any Fee Letter and any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Borrowers.

 

    

Finance Lease

 

    

means any lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance with the Approved Accounting Principles, be treated as a finance or capital lease.

 

    

Finance Parties

 

    

means the Agent, the Arrangers, the Hedging Banks and the Lenders.

 

    

Financial Indebtedness

 

    

means any indebtedness for or in respect of:

 

  (i)

moneys borrowed and debit balances at banks or other financial institutions;

 

  (ii)

any acceptance under any acceptance credit or bill discounting facility (or dematerialised equivalent);

 

  (iii)

any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument;

 

  (iv)

the amount of any liability in respect of Finance Leases;

 

  (v)

receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a non-recourse basis);

 

  (vi)

any Treasury Transaction (and, when calculating the value of that Treasury Transaction, only the marked to market value (or, if any actual amount is due as a result of the termination or close-out of that Treasury Transaction, that amount) shall be taken into account);


 

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(vii)

any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial institution in respect of an underlying liability of an entity which is not a member of the Group which liability would fall within one of the other paragraphs of this definition;

 

 

(viii)

any amount raised by the issue of shares which are redeemable (other than at the option of the issuer) before the Termination Date or are otherwise classified as borrowings under the Approved Accounting Principles);

 

 

(ix)

any amount of any liability under an advance or deferred purchase agreement if (A) one of the primary reasons behind entering into the agreement is to raise finance or to finance the acquisition or construction of the asset or service in question or (B) the agreement is in respect of the supply of assets or services and payment is due more than ninety (90) days after the date of supply;

 

 

(x)

any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase, sale and sale back or sale and leaseback agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing or otherwise classified as borrowings under the Accounting Principles; and

 

 

(xi)

the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (i) to (x) above.

 

    

First Share Pledge Agreement

 

    

means the first priority pledge of all of the shares in each Borrower, entered into between KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS and the Agent, in such form and substance as the Agent may require.

 

    

General Partner

 

    

means KNOT Offshore Partners GP LLC, a limited liability company organised under the laws of the Marshall Islands and having its registered office at Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, the Marshall Islands and its principal executive office at 2 Queen’s Cross, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, AB15 4YB, United Kingdom, being the general partner in KNOT Offshore Partners LP.

 

    

Group

 

    

means the Parent Guarantor and its Subsidiaries from time to time.

 

    

Hedging Agreement

 

    

means any agreement entered into or to be entered into between a Borrower and a Hedging Bank for the hedging of the interest rate or currency exposure of that Borrower or any part thereof, including the Existing Hedging Agreements, in each case (other than in respect of the Existing Hedging Agreements) notified in writing by the relevant Hedging Bank to the Agent as being a “Hedging Agreement” for the purpose of this Agreement pursuant to paragraph (c) of Clause 17 ( Security ).


 

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Hedging Agreement Assignment Agreement

means a first priority assignment agreement in respect of the moneys payable to a Borrower under any Hedging Agreement to which it is a party, entered into or to be entered into between each relevant Borrower and the Agent, in such form and substance as the Agent may require.

 

    

Hedging Bank

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

any Original Hedging Bank; and

 

 

(ii)

any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender which has become a Party as a Hedging Bank in accordance with Clause 25.7 ( Accession of Hedging Banks ).

 

    

Holding Company

 

    

means, in relation to any company or corporation, any other company or corporation in respect of which it is a Subsidiary.

 

    

IFRS

 

    

means international accounting standards within the meaning of the IAS Regulation 1606/2002 to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements.

 

    

Impaired Agent

 

    

means the Agent at any time when:

 

 

(i)

it has failed to make (or has notified a Party that it will not make) a payment required to be made by it under the Finance Documents by the due date for payment;

 

 

(ii)

the Agent otherwise rescinds or repudiates a Finance Document;

 

 

(iii)

(if the Agent is also a Lender) it is a Defaulting Lender under paragraph (i) or (ii) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender”; or

 

 

(iv)

an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Agent;

 

    

unless, in the case of paragraph (i) above:

 

 

(v)

its failure to pay is caused by:

 

 

(A)

administrative or technical error; or

 

 

(B)

a Disruption Event; and

 

 

    

payment is made within five (5) Business Days of its due date; or

 

 

(vi)

the Agent is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question.


 

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Increase Confirmation

 

    

means a confirmation substantially in the form set out in Schedule 6 ( Form of Increase Confirmation ).

 

    

Increase Lender

 

    

has the meaning given to that term in Clause 2.2 ( Increase ).

 

    

Insolvency Event

 

    

in relation to a Finance Party means that the Finance Party:

 

 

(i)

is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger);

 

 

(ii)

becomes insolvent or is unable to pay its debts or fails or admits in writing its inability generally to pay its debts as they become due;

 

 

(iii)

makes a general assignment, arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors;

 

 

(iv)

institutes or has instituted against it, by a regulator, supervisor or any similar official with primary insolvency, rehabilitative or regulatory jurisdiction over it in the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organisation or the jurisdiction of its head or home office, a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation by it or such regulator, supervisor or similar official;

 

 

(v)

has instituted against it a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation, and, in the case of any such proceeding or petition instituted or presented against it, such proceeding or petition is instituted or presented by a person or entity not described in paragraph (iv) above and:

 

 

(A)

results in a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or the entry of an order for relief or the making of an order for its winding-up or liquidation; or

 

 

(B)

is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained in each case within thirty (30) days of the institution or presentation thereof;

 

 

(vi)

has a resolution passed for its winding-up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger);

 

 

(vii)

seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or substantially all its assets;

 

 

(viii)

has a secured party take possession of all or substantially all its assets or has a distress, execution, attachment, sequestration or other legal process levied, enforced or sued on or against all or substantially all its assets and such secured party maintains possession, or any such process is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained, in each case within thirty (30) days thereafter;


 

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(ix)

causes or is subject to any event with respect to it which, under the applicable laws of any jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in paragraphs (i) to (viii) above; or

 

 

(x)

takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the foregoing acts.

 

    

Intercreditor Agreement

 

    

means an intercreditor agreement entered into between the Agent, DNB Bank ASA as agent under the KST XII Facility Agreement, KNOT Shuttle Tankers 12 AS and KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS in relation to the ranking and priority of the First Share Pledge Agreement and the Second Share Pledge Agreement.

 

    

Interest Period

 

    

means, in relation to a Loan, each period determined in accordance with Clause 9 ( Interest Periods ) and, in relation to an Unpaid Sum, each period determined in accordance with Clause 8.3 ( Default interest ).

 

    

Interpolated Screen Rate

 

    

means, in relation to LIBOR for any Loan, the rate which results from interpolating on a linear basis between:

 

 

(i)

the applicable Screen Rate for the longest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which is less than the Interest Period of that Loan; and

 

 

(ii)

the applicable Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which exceeds the Interest Period of that Loan,

 

    

each as of 12:00 noon on the Quotation Day for the currency of that Loan.

 

    

ISM Code

 

    

means the International Safety Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevent.

 

    

ISPS Code

 

    

means the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code as adopted by the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Diplomatic Conference of December 2002.

 

    

KST XII Facility Agreement

 

    

means the USD 140,000,000 term loan facility agreement entered into between Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII KS as borrower, the Parent Guarantor and KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS as guarantors, the financial institutions listed in schedule 1 thereto as original lenders, the Original Hedging Banks as original hedging banks, the Arrangers as mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners and DNB Bank ASA as agent.


 

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Legal Reservations

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

the principle that equitable remedies may be granted or refused at the discretion of a court and the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to insolvency, reorganisation and other laws generally affecting the rights of creditors;

 

 

(ii)

the time barring of claims under applicable statutes of limitation, the possibility that an undertaking to assume liability for or indemnify a person against non-payment of stamp duty may be void and defences of set-off or counterclaim;

 

 

(iii)

similar principles, rights and defences under the laws of any relevant jurisdiction; and

 

 

(iv)

any other matters which are specifically set out as qualifications or reservations as to matters of law of general application in any legal opinion delivered in relation to the Finance Documents.

 

    

Lender

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

any Original Lender; and

 

 

(ii)

any bank or financial institution which has become a Party in accordance with Clause 25 ( Changes to the Lenders ),

 

    

which in each case has not ceased to be a Party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

    

LIBOR

 

    

means in relation to any Loan:

 

 

(i)

the applicable Screen Rate;

 

 

(ii)

(if no Screen Rate is available for the Interest Period of that Loan) the Interpolated Screen Rate for that Loan; or

 

 

(iii)

(if no Screen Rate is available for the Interest Period of that Loan and it is not possible to calculate an Interpolated Screen Rate for that Loan) the arithmetic mean (rounded upward to four decimal places) of the rates per annum, as supplied to the Agent at its request, quoted by each Reference Bank to leading banks in the London interbank market,

as of 12:00 noon on the applicable Quotation Day for the offering of deposits in USD for a period comparable to the Interest Period of the relevant Loan, and if that rate is less than zero, LIBOR shall be deemed to be zero.

     “ LMA

     means the Loan Market Association.


 

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Loan

 

    

means a Term Loan or a Revolving Facility Loan.

 

    

Loan Period

 

    

means the period commencing on the date of the Original Facilities Agreement and ending on the day on which all amounts outstanding under the Finance Documents, or any of them, have been repaid in full and no Commitment is longer in force.

 

    

“Majority Lenders

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

if there are no Loans then outstanding, a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than 66 2 / 3 per cent. of the Total Commitments (or, if the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, aggregated more than 66 2 / 3 per cent. of the Total Commitments immediately prior to the reduction); or

 

 

(ii)

at any other time, a Lender or Lenders whose participations in the Loans then outstanding aggregate more than 66 2 / 3 per cent. of all the Loans then outstanding.

 

    

Margin

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

in relation to each Term Loan and each Loan under Revolving Facility A, 2.125 (two point one hundred and twenty five) per cent. per annum; and

 

 

(ii)

in relation to each Loan under Revolving Facility B, 2.50 (two point fifty) per cent. per annum.

 

    

Market Value

 

    

means the fair market value of each Vessel denominated in USD and determined by calculating the arithmetic mean of the independent valuations of each Vessel obtained by the Borrowers from two (2) of the Approved Brokers. Such valuations to be made on the basis of a sale for prompt delivery, for cash at arm’s length on normal commercial terms as between a willing buyer and seller, on an “as is where is” basis free of any existing charter or other contract of employment and/or pool arrangements.

 

    

Material Adverse Effect

 

    

means in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders a material adverse effect on:

 

 

(i)

the business, operations, property or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Group taken as a whole; or

 

 

(ii)

the ability of any Obligor to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents; or


 

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(iii)

the validity or enforceability of, or the effectiveness or ranking of any Security granted or purporting to be granted pursuant to any of, the Finance Documents or the rights or remedies of any Finance Party under any of the Finance Documents.

 

    

Mortgage

 

    

means a first priority mortgage in respect of each Vessel (and a deed of covenants collateral thereto if required by the Agent or by the law of the relevant jurisdiction) executed and recorded by the relevant Borrower against each Vessel in the relevant ship register in favour of the Agent, in such form and substance as the Agent may require.

 

    

NGAAP

 

    

means generally accepted accounting principles in Norway.

 

    

Obligor

 

    

means a Borrower or a Guarantor.

 

    

Original Facilities Agreement

 

    

means the term and revolving facilities agreement dated 10 June 2014 made between the Borrowers, the Guarantors, the Original Lenders, the Original Hedging Banks, the Arrangers and the Agent.

 

    

Original Financial Statements

 

    

means the audited consolidated financial statements of the Parent Guarantor for the financial year ended 31 December 2013.

 

    

Party

 

    

means a party to this Agreement.

 

    

Quotation Day

 

    

means in relation to any period for which an interest rate is to be determined, two (2) Business Days before the first day of that period.

 

    

Reference Banks

 

    

means such banks as may be appointed by the Agent in consultation with the Borrowers and approved by the Majority Lenders.

 

    

Repayment Instalment

 

    

means each repayment instalment payable as set out in Clause 6.1 ( Repayment of Term Loans ).

 

    

Repeating Representations

 

    

means each of the representations set out in Clause 19 ( Representations and warranties ) other than those set out in Clause 19.7 ( Deduction of tax ), Clause 19.8 ( No filing or stamp


 

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taxes ), paragraph (a) and (b) of Clause 19.10 ( No misleading information ) and paragraph (a) of Clause 19.11 ( Financial statements ).

 

    

Representative

 

    

means any delegate, agent, manager, administrator, nominee, attorney, trustee or custodian.

 

    

Restricted Party

 

    

means a person:

 

  (i)

that is listed on any Sanctions List (whether designated by name or by reason of being included in a class of person);

 

  (ii)

that is domiciled, registered as located or having its main place of business in, or is incorporated under the laws of, a country which is subject to Sanctions Laws;

 

  (iii)

that is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by a person referred to in (i) and/or (ii) above; or

 

  (iv)

with which any Lender is prohibited from dealing or otherwise engaging in transactions with by any Sanctions Laws.

 

    

Revolving Facility

 

    

means Revolving Facility A or Revolving Facility B.

 

    

Revolving Facility A

 

    

means the revolving credit facility made available under this Agreement as described in paragraph (b) of Clause 2.1 ( The Facilities ).

 

    

Revolving Facility A Commitment

 

    

means:

 

  (i)

in relation to an Original Lender, the amount in USD set opposite its name under the heading “Revolving Facility A Commitment” in Schedule 1 ( Lenders and Commitments ) and the amount of any other Revolving Facility A Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 ( Increase ); and

 

  (ii)

in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any other Revolving Facility A Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 ( Increase ),

 

    

to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement.

 

    

Revolving Facility B

 

    

means the revolving credit facility made available under this Agreement as described in paragraph (c) of Clause 2.1 ( The Facilities ).


 

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Revolving Facility B Commitment

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

in relation to an Original Lender, the amount in USD set opposite its name under the heading “Revolving Facility B Commitment” in Schedule 1 ( Lenders and Commitments ) and the amount of any other Revolving Facility B Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 ( Increase ); and

 

 

(ii)

in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any other Revolving Facility B Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 ( Increase ),

 

    

to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement.

 

    

Revolving Facility Loan

 

    

means a loan made or to be made under a Revolving Facility or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that loan.

 

    

Rollover Loan

 

 

(i)

means one or more Revolving Facility Loans made or to be made under a Revolving Facility on the same day that a maturing Revolving Facility Loan under the same Revolving Facility is due to be repaid;

 

 

(ii)

the aggregate amount of which is equal to or less than the amount of the maturing Revolving Facility Loan; and

 

 

(iii)

made or to be made to the same Borrower for the purpose of refinancing that maturing Revolving Facility Loan.

 

    

Sanctions Authority

 

    

means the Norwegian State, the United Nations, the European Union, the member states of the European Union, the US and any authority acting on behalf of any of them in connection with Sanctions Laws, including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of Treasury (“OFAC ), the US Department of State and Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”).

 

    

Sanctions Laws

 

    

means the economic or financial sanctions laws and/or regulations, trade embargoes, prohibitions, restrictive measures, decisions, executive orders or notices from regulators implemented, adapted, imposed administered, enacted and/or enforced by any Sanctions Authority.

 

    

Sanctions List

 

    

means any list of persons or entities published in connections with Sanctions Laws by or on behalf of any Sanctions Authority, including, without limitation, the “Specially Designated


 

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  Nationals and Blocked Persons” list maintained by OFAC, the “Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets”, maintained by HMT.

 

    

Screen Rate

 

    

means the London interbank offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant currency and period displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen (or any replacement Reuters page which displays that rate), or on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Reuters. If such page or service ceases to be available, the Agent may specify another page or service displaying the relevant rate after consultation with the Borrowers.

 

    

Second Limited Partnership Pledge Agreement

 

    

means the second priority pledge of all of the limited partnership shares in Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII KS, to be entered into between KNOT Shuttle Tankers 12 AS and the Agent, and the second priority pledge of all the shares in Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII AS, entered into between KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS and the Agent, each in such form and substance as the Agent may require.

 

    

Second Share Pledge Agreement

 

    

means the second priority pledge of all of the shares in each Borrower, entered into between KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS and DNB Bank ASA as agent under the KST XII Facility Agreement.

 

    

Security Documents

 

    

means each of the documents referred to in Clause 17 ( Security ) and all such other documents which may be executed by any of the Obligors at any time in favour of the Agent or any of the Finance Parties directly as security for the obligations of any Obligor under the Finance Documents or any of them.

 

    

Security

 

    

means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other security interest securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect.

 

    

Selection Notice

 

    

means a notice substantially in the form set out in Schedule 4 ( Form of Selection Notice ) given in accordance with Clause 9 ( Interest Periods ).

 

    

Sponsor

 

    

means Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS, business enterprise no. NO 995 221 703, Smedasundet 40, NO-5529 Haugesund, Norway.

 

    

Subordinated Loan

 

    

means any loan made by a member of the Group to a Borrower which is subordinated to the rights of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents on terms acceptable to the Lenders.


 

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Subsidiary

 

    

means an entity of which a person has direct or indirect control or owns directly or indirectly more than fifty (50) per cent. of the voting capital or similar right of ownership, and “ control ” for this purpose means the power to direct the management and the policies of the entity whether through the ownership of voting capital, by contract or otherwise.

 

    

Tax

 

    

means any tax, levy, impost, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar nature (including any penalty or interest payable in connection with any failure to pay or any delay in paying any of the same).

 

    

Term Loan

 

    

means a loan made or to be made under the Term Loan Facility or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that loan.

 

    

Term Loan Facility

 

    

means the term loan facility made available under this Agreement as described in paragraph (a) of Clause 2.1 ( The Facilities ).

 

    

Termination Date

 

    

means the date falling five (5) years after the date of the Original Facilities Agreement.

 

    

Total Commitments

 

    

means the aggregate of the Total Term Loan Facility Commitments and the Total Revolving Facility Commitments, being USD 223,571,432 at the date of this Agreement.

 

    

Total Loss

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

an actual, constructive, compromised, agreed, arranged or other total loss of a Vessel;

 

 

(ii)

any expropriation, confiscation, requisition or acquisition of a Vessel, whether for full consideration, a consideration less than her proper value, a nominal consideration or without any consideration, which is effected by any government or official authority or by any person or persons claiming to be or to represent a government or official authority, excluding a requisition for hire for a fixed period against payment of market hire, not exceeding one year without any right to extension, or any piracy or hijacking of a Vessel, unless the relevant Vessel is released and restored to the relevant Borrower from such piracy, hijacking, expropriation, confiscation, requisition or acquisition within two (2) months after the occurrence thereof; and

 

 

(iii)

any condemnation of a Vessel by any tribunal or by any person or persons claiming to be a tribunal.


 

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Total Loss Date

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

in the case of an actual loss of a Vessel, the date on which it occurred or, if that is unknown, the date when the relevant Vessel was last heard of;

 

 

(ii)

in the case of a constructive, compromised, agreed or arranged total loss of a Vessel, the earlier of (A) the date on which a notice of the abandonment is given to the insurers, and (B) the date of any compromise, arrangement or agreement made by or on behalf of the relevant Borrower with the relevant Vessel’s insurers in which the insurers agree to treat the Vessel as a total loss; and

 

 

(iii)

in the case of any other type of total loss, on the date (or the most likely date) on which it appears to the Agent that the event constituting the total loss occurred.

 

    

Total Revolving Facility Commitments

 

    

means the aggregate of the Revolving Facility A Commitments and the Revolving Facility B Commitments, being USD 35,000,000 at the date of this Agreement.

 

    

Total Revolving Facility A Commitments

 

    

means the aggregate of the Revolving Facility A Commitments, being USD 20,000,000 at the date of this Agreement.

 

    

Total Revolving Facility B Commitments

 

    

means the aggregate of the Revolving Facility B Commitments, being USD 15,000,000 at the date of this Agreement.

 

    

Total Term Loan Facility Commitments

 

    

means the aggregate of the Tranche A Commitments, the Tranche B Commitments and the Tranche C Commitments, being USD 188,571,432 at the date of this Agreement.

 

    

Total Tranche A Commitments

 

    

means the aggregate of the Tranche A Commitments, being USD 58,513,838 at the date of this Agreement.

 

    

Total Tranche B Commitments

 

    

means the aggregate of the Tranche B Commitments, being USD 67,328,692 at the date of this Agreement.

 

    

Total Tranche C Commitments

 

    

means the aggregate of the Tranche C Commitments, being USD 62,728,902 at the date of this Agreement.

 

    

Tranche

 

    

means Tranche A, Tranche B or Tranche C.


 

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Tranche A

 

    

means a part of the Term Loan Facility made available to the Vessel A Owner.

 

    

Tranche A Commitment

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

in relation to an Original Lender, the amount in USD set opposite its name under the heading “Tranche A Commitment” in Schedule 1 ( Lenders and Commitments ) and the amount of any other Tranche A Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 ( Increase ); and

 

 

(ii)

in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any other Tranche A Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 ( Increase ),

 

    

to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement.

 

    

Tranche B

 

    

means a part of the Term Loan Facility made available to the Vessel B Owner.

 

    

Tranche B Commitment

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

in relation to an Original Lender, the amount in USD set opposite its name under the heading “Tranche B Commitment” in Schedule 1 ( Lenders and Commitments ) and the amount of any other Tranche B Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 ( Increase ); and

 

 

(ii)

in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any other Tranche B Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 ( Increase ),

 

    

to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement.

 

    

Tranche C

 

    

means a part of the Term Loan Facility made available to the Vessel C Owner.

 

    

Tranche C Commitment

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

in relation to an Original Lender, the amount in USD set opposite its name under the heading “Tranche C Commitment” in Schedule 1 ( Lenders and Commitments ) and the amount of any other Tranche C Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 ( Increase ); and


 

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(ii)

in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any other Tranche C Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 ( Increase ),

to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement.

Transaction Security

 

    

means the security created or expressed to be created in favour of the Agent pursuant to the Security Documents.

 

    

Transfer Certificate

 

    

means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 5 ( Form of Transfer Certificate ) or any other form agreed between the Agent and the Borrowers.

 

    

Transfer Date

 

    

means, in relation to an assignment or a transfer, the later of:

 

 

(i)

the proposed Transfer Date specified in the relevant Transfer Certificate; and

 

 

(ii)

the date on which the Agent executes the relevant Transfer Certificate.

 

    

Treasury Transaction

 

    

means any derivative transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price.

 

    

Unpaid Sum

 

    

means any sum due and payable but unpaid by an Obligor under any of the Finance Documents.

 

    

US

 

    

means the United States of America.

 

    

US Tax Obligor

 

    

means:

 

 

(i)

a Borrower if it is resident for tax purposes in the US; or

 

 

(ii)

an Obligor some or all of whose payments under the Finance Documents are from sources within the US for US federal income tax purposes.

 

    

USD

 

    

means the lawful currency for the time being of the US.

 

    

USGAAP

 

    

means generally accepted accounting principles in the US.


 

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Utilisation

means a utilisation of a Facility.

Utilisation Date

means the date of a Utilisation, being the date on which the relevant Loan is to be made.

Utilisation Request

means a notice substantially in the form set out in Schedule 3 ( Form of Utilisation Request ).

VAT

means value added tax as provided for in the Norwegian Value Added Tax Act of 19 June 2009 No. 58 and any other tax of a similar nature.

Vessel

means Vessel A, Vessel B or Vessel C.

Vessel A

means the 159,000 dwt suezmax tanker “Windsor Knutsen” built in 2007 and registered in the name of the Vessel A Owner in the Norwegian international ship registry.

Vessel B

means the 160,000 dwt suezmax tanker “Bodil Knutsen” built in 2011 and registered in the name of the Vessel B Owner in the Isle of Man ship registry.

Vessel C

means the 157,000 dwt suezmax tanker “Carmen Knutsen” built in 2013 and registered in the name of the Vessel C Owner in the Maltese ship registry.

Vessel C Charter

means the time charter party dated 30 November 2010 originally entered into between the Vessel C Owner and Repsol Trading S.A. (under its former name Repsol YPF Trading Y Transporte, S.A.) in respect of Vessel C as amended by addendum no. 1 thereto dated 22 May 2012, addendum no. 2 thereto dated 31 October 2013 and addendum no. 3 thereto dated 1 October 2015, as assigned to and assumed by Repsol Sinopec Brasil B.V. pursuant to a transfer agreement dated 29 August 2012.

 

1.2

Construction

 

(a)

Unless a contrary indication appears, any reference in this Agreement to:

 

 

(i)

the “ Agent ”, any “ Arranger ”, any “ Borrower ”, any “ Finance Party ”, any “ Guarantor ”, any “ Hedging Bank ”, any “ Lender ”, any “ Obligor ” or any “ Party


 

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  shall be construed so as to include its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted transferees;

 

 

(ii)

assets ” includes present and future properties, revenues and rights of every description;

 

 

(iii)

a “ Finance Document ” or any other agreement or instrument is a reference to that Finance Document or other agreement or instrument as amended, novated, supplemented, extended or restated;

 

 

(iv)

guarantee ” means (other than in Clause 18 ( Guarantee and indemnity )) any guarantee, letter of credit, bond, indemnity or similar assurance against loss, or any obligation, direct or indirect, actual or contingent, to purchase or assume any indebtedness of any person or to make an investment in or loan to any person or to purchase assets of any person where, in each case, such obligation is assumed in order to maintain or assist the ability of such person to meet its indebtedness;

 

 

(v)

indebtedness ” includes any obligation (whether incurred as principal or as surety) for the payment or repayment of money, whether present or future, actual or contingent;

 

 

(vi)

a “ person ” includes any individual, firm, company, corporation, government, state or agency of a state or any association, trust, joint venture, consortium, partnership or other entity (whether or not having separate legal personality);

 

 

(vii)

a “ regulation ” includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law) of any governmental, intergovernmental or supranational body, agency, department or of any regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation;

 

 

(viii)

Nordea Bank Norge ASA (either directly or indirectly in its capacity as Lender, Arranger and/or Agent or in any other capacity) and Nordea Bank Finland plc (either directly or indirectly in its capacity as Original Hedging Bank or in any other capacity) in the Finance Documents shall be automatically construed as a reference to Nordea Bank AB (publ) in the event of any corporate reconstruction, merger, amalgamation, consolidation between either of Nordea Bank Norge ASA and Nordea Bank Finland plc and Nordea Bank AB (publ) where Nordea Bank AB (publ) is the surviving entity and acquires all the rights of and assumes all the obligations of Nordea Bank Norge ASA and Nordea Bank Finland plc respectively, and nothing in the Finance Documents shall be construed so as to restrict, limit or impose any notification or other requirement or condition on either Nordea Bank Norge ASA, Nordea Bank Finland plc or Nordea Bank AB (publ) in respect of the acquisition of rights to or assumption of obligations by Nordea Bank AB (publ) hereunder pursuant to such merger;

 

 

(ix)

a provision of law is a reference to that provision as amended or re-enacted; and

 

 

(x)

a time of day is a reference to Oslo time.

 

(b)

Clause and Schedule headings are for ease of reference only.

 

(c)

Unless a contrary indication appears, a term used in any other Finance Document or in any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document has the same meaning in that Finance Document or notice as in this Agreement.


 

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(d)

A Default (other than an Event of Default) is “ continuing ” if it has not been remedied or waived and an Event of Default is “ continuing ” if it has not been waived.

 

1.3

Contractual recognition of bail-in

 

(a)

Notwithstanding any other term of any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding between the Parties, each Party acknowledges and accepts that any liability of any Party to any other Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be subject to Bail-In Action by the relevant Resolution Authority and acknowledges and accepts to be bound by the effect of:

 

 

(i)

any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability, including (without limitation):

 

 

(A)

a reduction, in full or in part, in the principal amount, or outstanding amount due (including any accrued but unpaid interest) in respect of any such liability;

 

 

(B)

a conversion of all, or part of, any such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership that may be issued to, or conferred on, it; and

 

 

(C)

a cancellation of any such liability; and

 

 

(ii)

a variation of any term of any Finance Document to the extent necessary to give effect to any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability.

 

(b)

In this Clause 1.3:

Bail-In Action

means the exercise of any Write-down and Conversion Powers.

Bail-In Legislation

means:

 

 

(i)

in relation to an EEA Member Country which has implemented, or which at any time implements, Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms, the relevant implementing law or regulation as described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time; and

 

 

(ii)

in relation to any other state, any analogous law or regulation from time to time which requires contractual recognition of any Write-down and Conversion Powers contained in that law or regulation.

EEA Member Country

means any member state of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.


 

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EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule

means the document described as such and published by the LMA (or any successor person) from time to time.

Resolution Authority

means any body which has authority to exercise any Write-down and Conversion Powers.

Write-down and Conversion Powers

means:

 

 

(i)

in relation to any Bail-In Legislation described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time, the powers described as such in relation to that Bail-In Legislation in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule; and

 

 

(ii)

in relation to any other applicable Bail-In Legislation:

 

 

(A)

any powers under that Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial institution or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and

 

 

(B)

any similar or analogous powers under that Bail-In Legislation.

 

2

THE FACILITIES

 

2.1

The Facilities

 

(a)

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Borrowers a term loan facility in an aggregate amount equal to the Total Term Loan Facility Commitments.

 

(b)

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Borrowers a revolving credit facility in an aggregate amount equal to the Total Revolving Facility A Commitments.

 

(c)

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Borrowers a revolving credit facility in an aggregate amount equal to the Total Revolving Facility B Commitments.

 

2.2

Increase

 

(a)

The Borrowers may by giving prior notice to the Agent by no later than the date falling five (5) Business Days after the effective date of a cancellation of:


 

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(i)

the Available Commitments of a Defaulting Lender in accordance with Clause 7.8 ( Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender ); or

 

 

(ii)

the Commitments of a Lender in accordance with Clause 7.1 ( Illegality ),

request that the Total Commitments be increased (and the Total Commitments shall be so increased) in an aggregate amount of up to the amount of the Available Commitments or Commitments so cancelled as follows:

 

 

(iii)

the increased Commitments will be assumed by one or more Lenders or other banks or financial institutions (each an “ Increase Lender ”) selected by the Borrowers (and which is acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably)) and each of which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of a Lender corresponding to that part of the increased Commitments which it is to assume, as if it had been an Original Lender;

 

 

(iv)

each of the Obligors and any Increase Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another as the Obligors and the Increase Lender would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender;

 

 

(v)

each Increase Lender shall become a Party as a “Lender” and any Increase Lender and each of the other Finance Parties shall assume obligations towards one another and acquire rights against one another as that Increase Lender and those Finance Parties would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender;

 

 

(vi)

the Commitments of the other Lenders shall continue in full force and effect; and

 

 

(vi)

any increase in the Total Commitments shall take effect on the date specified by the Borrowers in the notice referred to above or any later date on which the conditions set out in paragraph (b) below are satisfied.

 

(b)

An increase in the Total Commitments will only be effective on:

 

 

(i)

the execution by the Agent of an Increase Confirmation from the relevant Increase Lender; and

 

 

(ii)

in relation to an Increase Lender which is not a Lender immediately prior to the relevant increase, the performance by the Agent of all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the assumption of the increased Commitments by that Increase Lender, the completion of which the Agent shall promptly notify to the Borrowers and the Increase Lender.

 

(c)

Each Increase Lender, by executing the Increase Confirmation, confirms (for the avoidance of doubt) that the Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the date on which the increase becomes effective.

 

(d)

Unless the Agent otherwise agrees or the increased Commitment is assumed by an existing Lender, the Borrowers shall, on the date upon which the increase takes effect, promptly on


 

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demand pay the Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by it in connection with any increase in Commitments under this Clause 2.2.

 

(e)

The Borrowers may pay to the Increase Lender a fee in the amount and at the times agreed between the Borrowers and the Increase Lender.

 

(f)

Clause 25.4 ( Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders ) shall apply mutatis mutandis in this Clause 2.2 in relation to an Increase Lender as if references in that Clause to:

 

 

(i)

an “ Existing Lender ” were references to all the Lenders immediately prior to the relevant increase;

 

 

(ii)

the “ New Lender ” were references to that “ Increase Lender ”; and

 

 

(iii)

a “ re-transfer ” and “ re-assignment ” were references to respectively a “ transfer ” and “ assignment ”.

 

2.3

Finance Parties’ rights and obligations

 

(a)

The obligations of each Finance Party under the Finance Documents are several. Failure by a Finance Party to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents does not affect the obligations of any other Party under the Finance Documents. No Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Finance Party under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)

The rights of each Finance Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents are separate and independent rights and any debt arising under the Finance Documents to a Finance Party from an Obligor is a separate and independent debt in respect of which a Finance Party shall be entitled to enforce its rights in accordance with paragraph (c) below. The rights of each Finance Party include any debt owing to that Finance Party under the Finance Documents and, for the avoidance of doubt, any part of a Loan or any other amount owed by an Obligor which relates to a Finance Party’s participation in a Facility or its role under a Finance Document (including any such amount payable to the Agent on its behalf) is a debt owing to that Finance Party by that Obligor.

 

(c)

A Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents, separately enforce its rights under the Finance Documents.

 

3

PURPOSE AND APPLICATION

 

3.1

Purpose

 

(a)

Each Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed by it under the Term Loan Facility towards:

 

 

(i)

the refinancing of the Existing Facilities; and

 

 

(ii)

the financing of its general corporate purposes.

 

(b)

Each Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed by it under a Revolving Facility towards the financing of its general corporate purposes.


 

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3.2

Monitoring

No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any amount borrowed pursuant to this Agreement.

 

4

CONDITIONS OF UTILISATION

 

4.1

Initial conditions precedent

 

(a)

The obligation of each Lender to participate in the first Loan under the Term Loan Facility is subject to the condition precedent that the Agent has notified the Borrowers and the Lenders that it has received all of the documents set out in Part 1 of Schedule 2 ( Conditions precedent documents ), in a form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

 

(b)

The obligation of each Lender to participate in any further Loans under the Term Loan Facility is subject to the condition precedent that the Agent has notified the Borrowers and the Lenders that it has received all of the documents set out in Part 2 of Schedule 2 ( Conditions precedent documents ), in a form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

 

4.2

Further conditions precedent

The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 5.4 ( Lenders’ participation ) if on the date of the Utilisation Request and on the proposed Utilisation Date:

 

 

(i)

in the case of a Rollover Loan, no Event of Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Loan, and in the case of any other Utilisation, no Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Utilisation; and

 

 

(ii)

the Repeating Representations to be made by each Obligor are true in all material respects.

 

4.3

Maximum number of Loans

No Borrower may (unless otherwise agreed by the Majority Lenders) deliver a Utilisation Request if as a result of the proposed Utilisation:

 

 

(i)

more than one Loan under a Tranche would be outstanding;

 

 

(ii)

eleven (11) or more Loans would be outstanding under Revolving Facility A; or

 

 

(iii)

six (6) or more Loans would be outstanding under Revolving Facility B.

 

5

UTILISATION

 

5.1

Delivery of a Utilisation Request

A Borrower may utilise a Facility by delivery to the Agent of a duly completed Utilisation Request not later than 11:00 a.m. three (3) Business Days (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Lenders) prior to the requested Utilisation Date of such Utilisation.


 

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5.2

Completion of a Utilisation Request

 

(a)

Each Utilisation Request is irrevocable and will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless:

 

 

(i)

it identifies the Tranche and/or the Facility to be utilised;

 

 

(ii)

the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day within the Availability Period applicable to that Facility;

 

 

(iii)

the currency and amount of the Utilisation comply with Clause 5.3 ( Currency and amount ); and

 

 

(iv)

the proposed Interest Period complies with Clause 9 ( Interest Periods ).

 

(b)

Only one Loan may be requested in each Utilisation Request.

 

5.3

Currency and amount

 

(a)

The currency specified in a Utilisation Request must be USD.

 

(b)

The amount of the proposed Loan must be:

 

 

(i)

an amount not exceeding the Total Tranche A Commitments for Tranche A;

 

 

(ii)

an amount not exceeding the Total Tranche B Commitments for Tranche B;

 

 

(iii)

an amount not exceeding the Total Tranche C Commitments for Tranche C; or

 

 

(iv)

an amount equal to USD 1,000,000 and in integral multiples thereof or, if less, the Available Facility for the relevant Revolving Facility.

 

5.4

Lenders’ participation

 

(a)

If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, each Lender shall make its participation in each Loan available by the Utilisation Date through its Facility Office.

 

(b)

The amount of each Lender’s participation in each Loan will be equal to the proportion borne by its Available Commitment to the Available Facility immediately prior to making the Loan.

 

5.5

Limitations in Utilisations

No Revolving Facility shall be utilised unless the Term Loan Facility has been fully utilised.

 

5.6

Cancellation of Commitment

 

(a)

The Tranche A Commitments which, at that time, are not drawn shall be immediately cancelled at the end of the Availability Period for the Term Loan Facility.


 

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(b)

The Tranche B Commitments which, at that time, are not drawn shall be immediately cancelled at the end of the Availability Period for the Term Loan Facility.

 

(c)

The Tranche C Commitments which, at that time, are not drawn shall be immediately cancelled at the end of the Availability Period for the Term Loan Facility.

 

(d)

The Revolving Facility A Commitments which, at that time, are not drawn shall be immediately cancelled at the end of the Availability Period for Revolving Facility A.

 

(e)

The Revolving Facility B Commitments which, at that time, are not drawn shall be immediately cancelled at the end of the Availability Period for Revolving Facility B.

 

6

REPAYMENT

 

6.1

Repayment of Term Loans

 

(a)

The Vessel A Owner shall repay the Loan under Tranche A in twenty (20) consecutive equal quarterly instalments each in an amount of USD 1,580,649. The first instalment shall be payable on the date falling three (3) months after the Utilisation Date for Tranche A and the subsequent instalments shall be payable quarterly thereafter until the Termination Date. The balance of such Loan shall be repaid in full on the Termination Date.

 

(b)

The Vessel B Owner shall repay the Loan under Tranche B in twenty (20) consecutive equal quarterly instalments each in an amount of USD 1,294,156. The first instalment shall be payable on the date falling three (3) months after the Utilisation Date for Tranche B and the subsequent instalments shall be payable quarterly thereafter until the Termination Date. The balance of such Loan shall be repaid in full on the Termination Date.

 

(c)

The Vessel C Owner shall repay the Loan under Tranche C in twenty (20) consecutive equal quarterly instalments each in an amount of USD 1,053,766. The first instalment shall be payable on the date falling three (3) months after the Utilisation Date for Tranche C and the subsequent instalments shall be payable quarterly thereafter until the Termination Date. The balance of such Loan shall be repaid in full on the Termination Date.

 

6.2

Repayment of Revolving Facility Loans

 

(a)

Each Borrower which has drawn a Revolving Facility Loan shall repay that Loan on the last day of its Interest Period.

 

(b)

Without prejudice to each Borrower’s obligation under paragraph (a) above, if:

 

 

(i)

one or more Revolving Facility Loans are to be made available to a Borrower:

 

 

(A)

on the same day that a maturing Loan under the same Facility is due to be repaid by that Borrower; and

 

 

(B)

in whole or in part for the purpose of refinancing the maturing Revolving Facility Loan; and

 

 

(ii)

the proportion borne by each Lender’s participation in the maturing Revolving Facility Loan to the amount of that maturing Revolving Facility Loan is the same


 

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as the proportion borne by that Lender’s participation in the new Revolving Facility Loan(s) to the aggregate amount of those new Revolving Facility Loan(s),

the aggregate amount of the new Revolving Facility Loan(s) shall, unless the relevant Borrower notifies the Agent to the contrary in the relevant Utilisation Request, be treated as if applied in or towards repayment of the maturing Revolving Facility Loan so that:

 

 

(C)

if the amount of the maturing Revolving Facility Loan exceeds the aggregate amount of the new Revolving Facility Loan(s):

 

 

(1)

the relevant Borrower will only be required to pay an amount in cash in the relevant currency equal to that excess; and

 

 

(2)

each Lender’s participation in the new Revolving Facility Loan(s) shall be treated as having been made available and applied by the relevant Borrower in or towards repayment of that Lender’s participation in the maturing Revolving Facility Loan and that Lender will not be required to make its participation in the new Revolving Facility Loan(s) available in cash; and

 

 

(D)

if the amount of the maturing Revolving Facility Loan is equal to or less than the aggregate amount of the new Revolving Facility Loan(s):

 

 

(1)

the relevant Borrower will not be required to make any payment in cash; and

 

 

(2)

each Lender will be required to make its participation in the new Revolving Facility Loan(s) available in cash only to the extent that its participation in the new Revolving Facility Loan(s) exceeds that Lender’s participation in the maturing Revolving Facility Loan and the remainder of that Lender’s participation in the new Revolving Facility Loan(s) shall be treated as having been made available and applied by the relevant Borrower in or towards repayment of that Lender’s participation in the maturing Revolving Facility Loan.

 

6.3

Termination Date

On the Termination Date, each Borrower shall pay to the Finance Parties all amounts then outstanding and owing by it to the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents.

 

7

PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION

 

7.1

Illegality

If it becomes unlawful in any applicable jurisdiction for a Lender to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement or to fund or maintain its participation in any Loan:

 

 

(i)

that Lender shall promptly notify the Agent upon becoming aware of that event;


 

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(ii)

upon the Agent notifying the Borrowers, the Commitment of that Lender will be immediately cancelled; and

 

 

(iii)

each Borrower shall repay that Lender’s participation in all Loans made to it on the last day of the Interest Period for the relevant Loans occurring after the Agent has notified the Borrowers or, if earlier, the date specified by the Lender in the notice delivered to the Agent (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law).

 

7.2

Mandatory prepayment – Change of Control

 

(a)

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control all of the Commitments shall immediately be automatically cancelled in full and all amounts owing under the Finance Documents will become due and payable on the date falling sixty (60) days after the occurrence of the relevant Change of Control.

 

(b)

For the purpose of this Clause 7.2:

acting in concert

means a group of persons who, pursuant to an agreement or understanding (whether formal or informal), actively co-operate, through the acquisition directly or indirectly of units in the Parent Guarantor by any of them, either directly or indirectly, to obtain or consolidate control of the Parent Guarantor.

Change of Control

means:

 

 

(i)

that the Parent Guarantor does not own or is not able to vote for (directly or indirectly) all of the shares in a Borrower;

 

 

(ii)

that the Parent Guarantor does not own or is not able to vote for (directly or indirectly) all of the shares in KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS;

 

 

(iii)

that the Sponsor does not own or is not able to vote for (directly or indirectly) all of the shares in the General Partner;

 

 

(iv)

that the Sponsor does not own at least 25 per cent. of all of the units in the Parent Guarantor (capital and voting rights to be subject to the limitations on voting rights relating to election of board members, amendments and certain other matters as set out in the limited partnership agreement entered into in relation to the Parent Guarantor); or

 

 

(v)

that any person or group of persons acting in concert (other than the Sponsor and/or any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries) acquires, legally or beneficially, and either directly or indirectly, more than 33.33 per cent. of the capital or voting rights in the Parent Guarantor.

 

7.3

Mandatory prepayment – sale or Total Loss etc.

 

(a)

If a Vessel is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, or all of the shares in a Borrower are sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, or a Vessel becomes a Total Loss, the Borrowers


 

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shall make prepayment of the Loans, and the Total Term Loan Facility Commitments shall be reduced, in an amount equal to the higher of (i) the principal amount outstanding in respect of the Term Loan applied for the financing of the relevant Vessel or borrowed by the relevant Borrower (as the case may be) and (ii) an amount equivalent to a fraction of the Total Term Loan Facility Commitments of which the numerator is the relevant Vessel’s updated (not older than ninety (90) days) Market Value and the denominator is the aggregate updated (not older than ninety (90) days) Market Value of all the Vessels. In addition:

 

  (i)

the Total Revolving Facility A Commitments shall be reduced by an amount equal to one third thereof, and the Borrowers shall make repayments of the Loans under Revolving Facility A in order to ensure that the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Loans under Revolving Facility A does not exceed the reduced Total Revolving Facility A Commitments; and

 

  (ii)

in the event that the Vessel which sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, or becomes a Total Loss, is Vessel C, or all of the shares in the Vessel C Owner are sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, the Total Revolving Facility B Commitments shall immediately upon the occurrence thereof be cancelled in full and the Borrowers shall make prepayments of all outstanding Loans under Revolving Facility B.

 

(b)

Such prepayment, repayment and/or reduction shall be made:

 

  (i)

in the case of a sale, transfer or other disposal of a Vessel or all of the shares in a Borrower, on or before the date on which the sale, transfer or other disposal is completed by delivery of the Vessel or relevant shares to the buyer thereof; or

 

  (ii)

in the case of a Total Loss, on the earlier of (A) the date falling one hundred and eighty (180) days after the Total Loss Date, and (B) the date of receipt by the Agent of the proceeds of insurance or requisition for title relating to such Total Loss.

 

7.4

Mandatory prepayment – termination, expiry or amendments of the Vessel C Charter

 

(a)

If the Vessel C Charter for any reason whatsoever is terminated, cancelled, rescinded, novated, transferred or otherwise ceases to be in full force and effect prior to its original expiry date, or is amended, varied, supplemented or superseded, or any term thereof is waived by the Vessel C Owner, in each case without the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders, the Total Revolving Facility B Commitments shall immediately upon the occurrence thereof be cancelled in full and the Borrowers shall make prepayments of all outstanding Loans under Revolving Facility B. Such prepayments shall be made no later than three (3) Business Days after such termination, cancellation, rescission, transfer, amendment, variation, supplement, supersession, waiver or other event entered into effect.

 

(b)

The Borrowers shall promptly upon becoming aware thereof notify the Agent in writing of:

 

  (i)

any termination, cancellation, rescission or other event or circumstance which results in the Vessel C Charter ceasing to be in full force and effect prior to its original expiry date; and

 

  (ii)

any amendment, variation, supplement, supersession or waiver entered into, made or granted without the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders.


 

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7.5

Voluntary cancellation

A Borrower may, by giving not less than three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Agent (or such shorter period as the Agent may agree), cancel the whole or any part of the Available Facility (but, if in part, in an amount being a minimum of USD 5,000,000). Any cancellation under this Clause 7.5 shall reduce the Commitments of the Lenders rateably under that Facility.

 

7.6

Voluntary prepayment

A Borrower to which a Loan has been made may by giving not less than three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Agent (or such shorter period as the Agent may agree), prepay the whole or any part of that Loan (but, if in part, in an amount being a minimum of USD 5,000,000).

 

7.7

Right of replacement or repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender

 

(a)

If:

 

 

(i)

any sum payable to any Lender by an Obligor is required to be increased under paragraph (c) of Clause 12.2 ( Tax gross-up ); or

 

 

(ii)

any Lender claims indemnification from a Borrower under Clause 12.3 ( Tax indemnity ) or Clause 13 ( Increased costs ),

the Borrowers may with the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders, whilst the circumstance giving rise to the requirement for that increase or indemnification continues, give the Agent notice of cancellation of the Commitment of that Lender and its intention to procure the repayment of that Lender’s participation in the Loans or give the Agent notice of its intention to replace that Lender in accordance with paragraph (d) below.

 

(b)

On receipt of a notice referred to in paragraph (a) above in relation to a Lender, the Commitment of that Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero.

 

(c)

On the last day of each Interest Period which ends after the Borrowers have given notice of cancellation under paragraph (a) above (or, if earlier, the date specified by the Borrowers in that notice), the Borrowers shall repay that Lender’s participation in that Loan.

 

7.8

Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender

 

(a)

If any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, the Borrowers may, at any time whilst the Lender continues to be a Defaulting Lender, give the Agent five (5) Business Days’ notice of cancellation of each Available Commitment of that Lender.

 

(b)

On the notice referred to in paragraph (a) above becoming effective, each Available Commitment of the Defaulting Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero.

 

(c)

The Agent shall as soon as practicable after receipt of a notice referred to in paragraph (a) above, notify all the Lenders.


 

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7.9

Restrictions

 

(a)

Any notice of cancellation or prepayment given by any Party under this Clause 7 shall be irrevocable and, unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, shall specify the date or dates upon which the relevant cancellation or prepayment is to be made and the amount of that cancellation or prepayment.

 

(b)

Any prepayment under this Agreement shall be made together with accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, subject to any Break Costs, without premium or penalty.

 

(c)

No Borrower may reborrow any part of the Term Loan Facility which is prepaid.

 

(d)

Unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, any part of a Revolving Facility which is prepaid or repaid may be reborrowed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(e)

Any prepayment of any part of the Term Loan Facility shall be applied against the remaining Repayment Instalments thereof (including the balloon payment payable on the Termination Date) in the inverse order of maturity.

 

(f)

No Borrower shall repay or prepay all or any part of the Loans or cancel all or any part of the Commitments except at the times and in the manner expressly provided for in this Agreement.

 

(g)

No amount of the Total Commitments cancelled under this Agreement may be subsequently reinstated.

 

(h)

If the Agent receives a notice under this Clause 7, it shall promptly forward a copy of that notice to either the Borrowers or the affected Lender, as appropriate.

 

(i)

If all or part of a Loan under a Facility is repaid or prepaid and is not available for redrawing, an amount of the Commitments (equal to the amount of the Loan which is repaid or prepaid) in respect of that Facility will be deemed to be cancelled on the date of repayment or prepayment. Any cancellation under this paragraph (i) shall reduce the Commitments of the Lenders rateably under that Facility.

 

8

INTEREST

 

8.1

Calculation of interest

The rate of interest on each Loan for each Interest Period is the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of the applicable:

 

 

(i)

Margin; and

 

 

(ii)

LIBOR.

 

8.2

Payment of interest

The Borrower to which a Loan has been made shall pay accrued interest on that Loan on the last day of each Interest Period (and, if the Interest Period is longer than three (3) months, on the dates falling at three (3) monthly intervals after the first day of the Interest Period).


 

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8.3

Default interest

 

(a)

If an Obligor fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document on its due date, interest shall accrue on the Unpaid Sum from the due date up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which, subject to paragraph (b) below, is 2.00 percentage points higher than the rate which would have been payable if the Unpaid Sum had, during the period of non-payment, constituted a loan in the currency of the Unpaid Sum for successive Interest Periods, each of a duration selected by the Agent (acting reasonably). Any interest accruing under this Clause 8.3 shall be immediately payable by the Obligor on demand by the Agent.

 

(b)

If an Unpaid Sum consists of all or part of a Loan which became due on a day which was not the last day of an Interest Period relating to it:

 

 

(i)

the first Interest Period for that Unpaid Sum shall have a duration equal to the unexpired portion of the current Interest Period relating to that Loan; and

 

 

(ii)

the rate of interest applying to that Unpaid Sum during that first Interest Period shall be 2.00 percentage points higher than the rate which would have applied if that Unpaid Sum had not become due.

 

(c)

Default interest (if unpaid) arising on an Unpaid Sum will be compounded with the Unpaid Sum at the end of each Interest Period applicable to that Unpaid Sum but will remain immediately due and payable.

 

(d)

Additionally the rate of interest payable on any amount to which Clause 8.1 ( Calculation of interest ) continues to apply shall increase by 2.00 percentage points on the date following any notice served by the Agent to the Borrowers following an Event of Default and whilst it is continuing.

 

8.4

Notification of rates of interest

The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders and the relevant Borrower of the determination of a rate of interest under this Agreement.

 

9

INTEREST PERIODS

 

9.1

Selection of Interest Periods

 

(a)

A Borrower may select an Interest Period for a Loan in the Utilisation Request for that Loan or (if the Loan is a Term Loan and has already been borrowed) in a Selection Notice.

 

(b)

Each Selection Notice for a Term Loan is irrevocable and must be delivered to the Agent by the relevant Borrower not later than 11:00 a.m. three (3) Business Days prior to the last day of the then current Interest Period for such Loan.

 

(c)

If a Borrower fails to deliver a Selection Notice to the Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) above, the relevant Interest Period will be three (3) months.


 

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(d)

Subject to this Clause 9, a Borrower may select an Interest Period of three (3) or six (6) months or any other period agreed between the relevant Borrower and the Agent (acting on the instructions of all the Lenders in relation to the relevant Loan).

 

(e)

An Interest Period for a Loan shall not extend beyond the Termination Date.

 

(f)

Each Interest Period for a Term Loan shall start on the Utilisation Date or (if already made) on the last day of its preceding Interest Period.

 

(g)

A Revolving Facility Loan has one Interest Period only.

 

9.2

Non-Business Days

If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest Period will instead end on the next Business Day in that calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).

 

10

CHANGES TO THE CALCULATION OF INTEREST

 

10.1

Absence of quotation

Subject to Clause 10.2 ( Market disruption ), if LIBOR is to be determined by reference to the Reference Banks, but a Reference Bank does not supply a quotation by 12:00 noon on the Quotation Day, the applicable LIBOR shall be determined on the basis of the quotations of the remaining Reference Banks.

 

10.2

Market disruption

 

(a)

If a Market Disruption Event occurs in relation to a Loan for any Interest Period, then the rate of interest on each Lender’s share of that Loan for the Interest Period shall be the rate per annum which is the sum of:

 

 

(i)

the Margin; and

 

 

(ii)

the rate notified to the Agent by that Lender as soon as practicable, and in any event by 12:00 noon on the date falling one (1) Business Day after the Quotation Day (or, if earlier, on the date falling one (1) Business Day prior to the date on which interest is due to be paid in respect of that Interest Period), to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to that Lender of funding its participation in that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select.

 

(b)

In this Agreement “ Market Disruption Event ” means:

 

 

(i)

at or about 13:00 on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period the Screen Rate is not available and none or only one of the Reference Banks supplies a rate to the Agent to determine LIBOR for the relevant Interest Period; or

 

 

(ii)

before close of business in London on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period, the Agent receives notifications from a Lender or Lenders (whose participations in a Loan exceed 50 per cent. of that Loan) that the cost to it of


 

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obtaining matching deposits for the relevant Interest Period in the London interbank market would be in excess of LIBOR.

 

10.3

Alternative basis of interest or funding

 

(a)

If a Market Disruption Event occurs and the Agent or a Borrower so requires, the Agent and the Borrowers shall enter into negotiations (for a period of not more than thirty (30) days) with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest.

 

(b)

Any alternative basis agreed pursuant to paragraph (a) above shall, with the prior consent of all the Lenders and the Borrowers, be binding on all Parties.

 

10.4

Break Costs

 

(a)

The Borrowers shall, within three (3) Business Days of demand by a Finance Party, pay to that Finance Party its Break Costs attributable to all or any part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum being paid by a Borrower on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for that Loan or Unpaid Sum.

 

(b)

Each Lender shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Break Costs for any Interest Period in which they accrue, and the Agent shall upon receipt thereof at the written request of the relevant Borrower provide the relevant Borrower with a copy of such certificate.

 

11

FEES

 

11.1

Commitment fee

 

(a)

The Borrowers shall pay to the Agent (for the account of each Lender) a commitment fee in USD computed at the rate of:

 

  (i)

40 per cent. of the applicable Margin on that Lender’s Available Commitment under the Term Loan Facility for the period starting on the date of the Original Facilities Agreement and ending on the last date of the Availability Period applicable to the Term Loan Facility;

 

  (ii)

40 per cent. of the applicable Margin on that Lender’s Available Commitment under Revolving Facility A for the period starting on the date of the Original Facilities Agreement and ending on the last date of the Availability Period applicable to Revolving Facility A; and

 

  (iii)

40 per cent. of the applicable Margin on that Lender’s Available Commitment under Revolving Facility B for the period starting on the date of this Agreement and ending on the last date of the Availability Period applicable to Revolving Facility B.

 

(b)

The accrued commitment fee is payable on the last day of each successive period of three (3) months which ends during the relevant Availability Period, on the last day of the relevant Availability Period and, if cancelled in full, the commitment fee shall be calculated on the cancelled amount of the relevant Lender’s Available Commitment under the relevant Facility and be payable at the time the cancellation is effective.


 

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11.2

Agency and other fees

The Borrowers shall pay to the Agent (for its own account) a non-refundable annual agency fee and other fees in the amount and at the times set out in a Fee Letter.

 

11.3

Arrangement fee

The Borrowers shall pay to the Agent (for the account of the Arrangers) a non-refundable arrangement fee in the amount and at the times set out in a Fee Letter.

 

12

TAX GROSS UP AND INDEMNITIES

 

12.1

Definitions

 

(a)

In this Agreement:

Protected Party

means a Finance Party which is or will be subject to any liability, or required to make any payment, for or on account of Tax in relation to a sum received or receivable (or any sum deemed for the purposes of Tax to be received or receivable) under a Finance Document.

Tax Credit

means a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of any Tax.

Tax Deduction

means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under a Finance Document, other than a FATCA Deduction.

Tax Payment

means either the increase in a payment made by an Obligor to a Finance Party under Clause 12.2 ( Tax gross-up ) or a payment under Clause 12.3 ( Tax indemnity ).

 

(b)

Unless a contrary indication appears, in this Clause 12 a reference to “ determines ” or “ determined ” means a determination made in the absolute discretion of the person making the determination.

 

12.2

Tax gross-up

 

(a)

Each Obligor shall make all payments to be made by it without any Tax Deduction, unless a Tax Deduction is required by law.

 

(b)

An Obligor shall promptly upon becoming aware that an Obligor must make a Tax Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction) notify the Agent accordingly. Similarly, a Lender shall notify the Agent on becoming so aware in respect of a payment payable to that Lender. If the Agent receives such notification from a Lender it shall notify the Borrowers and that Obligor.


 

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(c)

If a Tax Deduction is required by law to be made by an Obligor, the amount of the payment due from that Obligor shall be increased to an amount which (after making any Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been required.

 

(d)

If an Obligor is required to make a Tax Deduction, that Obligor shall make that Tax Deduction and any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction within the time allowed and in the minimum amount required by law.

 

(e)

Within thirty (30) days of making either a Tax Deduction or any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction, the Obligor making that Tax Deduction shall deliver to the Agent for the Finance Party entitled to the payment evidence reasonably satisfactory to that Finance Party that the Tax Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment paid to the relevant taxing authority.

 

(f)

A Lender and each Obligor which makes a payment to which that Lender is entitled shall co-operate in completing any procedural formalities necessary for that Obligor to obtain authorisation to make that payment without a Tax Deduction.

 

12.3

Tax indemnity

 

(a)

The Borrowers shall (within three (3) Business Days of demand by the Agent) pay to a Protected Party an amount equal to the loss, liability or cost which that Protected Party determines will be or has been (directly or indirectly) suffered for or on account of Tax by that Protected Party in respect of a Finance Document.

 

(b)

Paragraph (a) above shall not apply:

 

 

(i)

with respect to any Tax assessed on a Finance Party:

 

 

(A)

under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party is incorporated or, if different, the jurisdiction (or jurisdictions) in which that Finance Party is treated as resident for tax purposes; or

 

 

(B)

under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party’s Facility Office is located in respect of amounts received or receivable in that jurisdiction,

 

 

    

if that Tax is imposed on or calculated by reference to the net income received or receivable (but not any sum deemed to be received or receivable) by that Finance Party; or

 

 

(ii)

to the extent a loss, liability or cost:

 

 

(A)

is compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 12.2 ( Tax gross-up ); or

 

 

(B)

relates to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party.

 

(c)

A Protected Party making, or intending to make, a claim under paragraph (a) above must promptly notify the Agent of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall notify the Borrowers.


 

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(d)

A Protected Party shall, on receiving a payment from an Obligor under this Clause 12.3, notify the Agent.

 

12.4

Tax Credit

If an Obligor makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines that:

 

 

(i)

a Tax Credit is attributable either to an increased payment of which that Tax Payment forms part, or to that Tax Payment; and

 

 

(ii)

that Finance Party has obtained, utilised and retained that Tax Credit,

 

    

the Finance Party shall pay an amount to the Obligor which that Finance Party determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in had the Tax Payment not been required to be made by the Obligor.

 

12.5

Stamp taxes

The Borrowers shall pay and, within three (3) Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability that Finance Party incurs in relation to all stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes payable in respect of any Finance Document, except for any such Tax payable in connection with the entering into of a Transfer Certificate.

 

12.6

VAT

 

(a)

All amounts expressed to be payable under a Finance Document by any Party to a Finance Party which (in whole or in part) constitute the consideration for any supply for VAT purposes are deemed to be exclusive of any VAT which is chargeable on that supply, and accordingly, subject to paragraph (b) below, if VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party to any Party under a Finance Document and such Finance Party is required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT, that Party must pay to such Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying any other consideration for such supply) an amount equal to the amount of the VAT (and such Finance Party must promptly provide an appropriate VAT invoice to that Party).

 

(b)

If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party (the “ Supplier ”) to any other Finance Party (the “ Recipient ”) under a Finance Document, and any Party other than the Recipient (the “ Relevant Party ”) is required by the terms of any Finance Document to pay an amount equal to the consideration for that supply to the Supplier (rather than being required to reimburse or indemnify the Recipient in respect of that consideration):

 

 

(i)

(where the Supplier is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT) the Relevant Party must also pay to the Supplier (at the same time as paying that amount) an additional amount equal to the amount of the VAT. The Recipient must (where this paragraph (i) applies) promptly pay to the Relevant Party an amount equal to any credit or repayment the Recipient receives from the relevant tax authority which the Recipient reasonably determines relates to the VAT chargeable on that supply; and


 

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(ii)

(where the Recipient is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT) the Relevant Party must promptly, following demand from the Recipient, pay to the Recipient an amount equal to the VAT chargeable on that supply but only to the extent that the Recipient reasonably determines that it is not entitled to credit or repayment from the relevant tax authority in respect of that VAT.

 

(c)

Where a Finance Document requires any Party to reimburse or indemnify a Finance Party for any cost or expense, that Party shall reimburse or indemnify (as the case may be) such Finance Party for the full amount of such cost or expense, including such part thereof as represents VAT, save to the extent that such Finance Party reasonably determines that it is entitled to credit or repayment in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority.

 

12.7

FATCA information

 

(a)

Subject to paragraph (c) below, each Party shall, within ten (10) Business Days of a reasonable request by another Party:

 

 

(i)

confirm to that other Party whether it is:

 

 

(A)

a FATCA Exempt Party; or

 

 

(B)

not a FATCA Exempt Party;

 

 

(ii)

supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Party’s compliance with FATCA; and

 

 

(iii)

supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Party’s compliance with any other law, regulation, or exchange of information regime.

 

(b)

If a Party confirms to another Party pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) above that it is a FATCA Exempt Party and it subsequently becomes aware that it is not, or has ceased to be a FATCA Exempt Party, that Party shall notify that other Party reasonably promptly.

 

(c)

Paragraph (a) above shall not oblige any Finance Party to do anything, and paragraph (a)(iii) above shall not oblige any other Party to do anything, which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of:

 

 

(i)

any law or regulation;

 

 

(ii)

any fiduciary duty; or

 

 

(iii)

any duty of confidentiality.

 

(d)

If a Party fails to confirm whether or not it is a FATCA Exempt Party or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with paragraph (a)(i) or (ii) above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where paragraph (c) above applies), then such Party shall be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents (and payments under them) as if it is not a FATCA Exempt Party until such time as the Party in question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information.


 

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12.8

FATCA Deduction

 

(a)

Each Party may make any FATCA Deduction it is required to make by FATCA, and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, and no Party shall be required to increase any payment in respect of which it makes such a FATCA Deduction or otherwise compensate the recipient of the payment for that FATCA Deduction.

 

(b)

Each Party shall promptly, upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such FATCA Deduction) notify the Party to whom it is making the payment and, in addition, shall notify the Company, the Agent and the other Finance Parties.

 

13

INCREASED COSTS

 

13.1

Increased costs

 

(a)

Subject to Clause 13.3 ( Exceptions ) the Borrowers shall, within three (3) Business Days of a demand by the Agent, pay for the account of a Finance Party the amount of any Increased Costs incurred by that Finance Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of (i) the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation, (ii) compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement or (iii) compliance with Basel III.

 

(b)

In this Agreement:

Basel III

means:

 

 

(i)

the agreements on capital requirements, a leverage ratio and liquidity standards contained in “Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems”, “Basel III: International framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring” and “Guidance for national authorities operating the countercyclical capital buffer” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010, each as amended, supplemented and/or restated;

 

 

(ii)

the rules for global systemically important banks contained in the “Globally systemically important banks: assessments, methodology and the additional loss absorbency requirements – Rules text” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in November 2011, as amended, supplemented and/or restated; and

 

 

(iii)

any further guidance or standards published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision relating to Basel III.

Increased Costs

means:


 

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(i)

a reduction in the rate of return from a Facility or on a Finance Party’s (or its Affiliate’s) overall capital;

 

 

(ii)

an additional or increased cost; or

 

 

(iii)

a reduction of any amount due and payable under any Finance Document,

which is incurred or suffered by a Finance Party or any of its Affiliates to the extent that it is attributable to that Finance Party having entered into its Commitment or funding or performing its obligations under any Finance Document.

 

13.2

Increased cost claims

 

(a)

A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 13.1 ( Increased costs ) shall notify the Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrowers.

 

(b)

Each Finance Party shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Increased Costs, and the Agent shall upon receipt thereof at the written request of the relevant Borrower provide the relevant Borrower with a copy of such certificate.

 

13.3

Exceptions

 

(a)

Clause 13.1 ( Increased costs ) does not apply to the extent any Increased Cost is:

 

 

(i)

attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by an Obligor;

 

 

(ii)

attributable to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party;

 

 

(iii)

compensated for under any other provision of this Agreement, other than any provision for the payment of interest, instalments, reductions or fees hereunder (or would have been compensated for under any such provision but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in any such provision applied); or

 

 

(iv)

attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Finance Party or its Affiliates of any law or regulation.

 

(b)

In this Clause 13.3, a reference to a “ Tax Deduction ” has the same meaning given to the term in Clause 12.1 ( Definitions ).

 

14

OTHER INDEMNITIES

 

14.1

Currency indemnity

 

(a)

If any sum due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (a “ Sum ”), or any order, judgment or award given or made in relation to a Sum, has to be converted from the currency (the “ First Currency ”) in which that Sum is payable into another currency (the “ Second Currency ”) for the purpose of:


 

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(i)

making or filing a claim or proof against that Obligor; or

 

 

(ii)

obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any litigation or arbitration proceedings,

that Obligor shall as an independent obligation, within three (3) Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party to whom that Sum is due against any cost, loss or liability arising out of or as a result of the conversion including any discrepancy between (A) the rate of exchange used to convert that Sum from the First Currency into the Second Currency and (B) the rate or rates of exchange available to that person at the time of its receipt of that Sum.

 

(b)

Each Obligor waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency or currency Vessel other than that in which it is expressed to be payable.

 

14.2

Other indemnities

The Borrowers shall, within three (3) Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability incurred by that Finance Party as a result of:

 

 

(i)

the occurrence of any Event of Default;

 

 

(ii)

any claim, action, civil penalty or fine against, any settlement, and any other kind of loss or liability, and all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred by the Agent or any other Finance Party as a result of conduct of any Obligor or any of its partners, directors, officers, employees, agents or advisors, that violates any Sanctions Laws;

 

 

(iii)

a failure by an Obligor to pay any amount due under a Finance Document on its due date, including without limitation, any cost, loss or liability arising as a result of Clause 29 ( Sharing among the Finance Parties );

 

 

(iv)

funding, or making arrangements to fund, its participation in a Loan requested by a Borrower in a Utilisation Request but not made by reason of the operation of any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement (other than by reason of default or negligence by that Finance Party alone); or

 

 

(v)

a Loan (or part of a Loan) not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of prepayment given by a Borrower.

 

14.3

Indemnity to the Agent

The Borrowers shall promptly indemnify the Agent against:

 

 

(i)

any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Agent (acting reasonably) as a result of:

 

 

(A)

any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Clause 16 ( Costs and expenses );

 

 

(B)

investigating any event which it reasonably believes is a Default;

 

 

(C)

acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised;


 

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(D)

any default by any Obligor in the performance of any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by it under the Finance Documents;

 

 

(E)

the taking, holding, protection or enforcement of the Transaction Security;

 

 

(F)

the exercise of any of its rights, powers, discretions, authorities and remedies vested in the Agent by the Finance Parties or by law; or

 

 

(G)

instructing lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts permitted under this Agreement; and

 

 

(ii)

any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Agent (otherwise than by reason of the Agent’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct) in acting as Agent under the Finance Documents.

 

15

MITIGATION BY THE LENDERS

 

15.1

Mitigation

 

(a)

Each Finance Party shall, in consultation with the Borrowers, take all reasonable steps to mitigate (unless the Borrowers expressly request it in writing not to do so) any circumstances which arise and which would result in any amount becoming payable under or pursuant to, or cancelled pursuant to, any of Clause 7.1 ( Illegality ), Clause 12 ( Tax gross-up and indemnities ) or Clause 13 ( Increased costs ) including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents to another Affiliate or Facility Office.

 

(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not in any way limit the obligations of any Obligor under the Finance Documents.

 

15.2

Limitation of liability

 

(a)

The Borrowers shall indemnify each Finance Party for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by that Finance Party as a result of steps taken by it under Clause 15.1 ( Mitigation ).

 

(b)

A Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under Clause 15.1 ( Mitigation ) if, in the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it.

 

16

COSTS AND EXPENSES

 

16.1

Transaction expenses

The Borrowers shall promptly on demand pay the Agent the amount of all documented costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, internal and external legal and collateral fees and costs relating to operating a secure website for communicating with the Lenders) reasonably incurred by the Agent and/or the Arrangers in connection with the negotiation, preparation, printing, execution, syndication and perfection of:

 

 

(i)

this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement; and


 

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(ii)

any other Finance Documents executed after the date of this Agreement.

 

16.2

Amendment costs

If (i) an Obligor requests an amendment, waiver or consent or (ii) an amendment is required pursuant to Clause 30.10 ( Change of currency ), the Borrowers shall, within three (3) Business Days of demand, reimburse the Agent for the amount of all costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, internal and external legal fees) reasonably incurred by the Agent in responding to, evaluating, negotiating or complying with that request or requirement.

 

16.3

Agent’s management time and additional remuneration

Any amount payable to the Agent under Clause 14.3 ( Indemnity to the Agent ) and this Clause 16 shall include the cost of utilising the Agent’s management time or other resources and will be calculated on the basis of such reasonable daily or hourly rates as the Agent may notify to the Borrowers and the Lenders, and is in addition to any other fee paid or payable to the Agent.

 

16.4

Enforcement costs

The Borrowers shall, within three (3) Business Days of demand, pay to each Finance Party the amount of all costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, external legal fees) incurred by that Finance Party in connection with the enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under, any Finance Document.

 

17

SECURITY

 

(a)

The obligations and liabilities of the Obligors under this Agreement and the other Finance Documents, including without limitation any derived liability whatsoever of the Obligors towards the Finance Parties in connection therewith, shall be secured by:

 

 

(i)

the Mortgages;

 

 

(ii)

the Assignment Agreements;

 

 

(iii)

the Factoring Agreements;

 

 

(iv)

the Account Pledges;

 

 

(v)

the Hedging Agreement Assignment Agreements;

 

 

(vi)

the First Share Pledge Agreement;

 

 

(vii)

the Second Limited Partnership Pledge Agreement; and

 

 

(viii)

the guarantee set out in Clause 18 ( Guarantee and indemnity ).

 

(b)

Each Hedging Bank hereby declares and agrees that:


 

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(i)

its rights under the Security Documents in relation to any Hedging Agreements shall always be subordinated to and rank in priority behind the rights of the other Finance Parties; and

 

 

(ii)

it shall not take any action to enforce any of its rights under any Security Document unless and until all monies outstanding to the other Finance Parties have been fully and irrevocably paid and discharged in full and no Commitment is longer in force.

 

(c)

Each Hedging Bank shall notify the Agent of any Hedging Agreement entered into with a Borrower without undue delay after the entering into thereof, and shall promptly upon request by the Agent provide the Agent with the details of any transactions entered into under any such Hedging Agreement, including the marked to market value thereof.

 

(d)

The Agent shall notify the Lenders upon receipt of any written notice from a Hedging Bank of any agreement being designated a “Hedging Agreement” for the purpose of this Agreement.

 

18

GUARANTEE AND INDEMNITY

 

18.1

Guarantee obligations

Each Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally, jointly and severally:

 

 

(i)

guarantees to each Finance Party punctual performance by each other Obligor of all of that Obligor’s obligations under the Finance Documents;

 

 

(ii)

undertakes with each Finance Party that whenever another Obligor does not pay any amount when due under or in connection with any Finance Document, it shall immediately on demand (Norw.: påkravsgaranti ) pay that amount as if it was the principal obligor; and

 

 

(iii)

agrees with each Finance Party that if any obligation guaranteed by it is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal, it will, as an independent and primary obligation, indemnify that Finance Party immediately on demand against any cost, loss or liability it incurs as a result of an Obligor not paying any amount which would, but for such unenforceability, invalidity or illegality, have been payable by it under any Finance Document on the date when it would have been due. The amount payable by a Guarantor under this indemnity will not exceed the amount it would have had to pay under this Clause 18 if the amount claimed had been recoverable on the basis of a guarantee.

 

18.2

Demands

Each Guarantor unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes immediately on written demand by the Agent from time to time to make payment in accordance with its obligations under Clause 18.1 ( Guarantee obligations ) where such demand is accompanied by a statement of the Agent that a payment has fallen due under the Finance Documents, that an Obligor has failed to make such payment when due and that notice of such non-payment has been issued. Each of such payments so demanded shall be made by the Guarantors to such account as the Agent may from time to time notify in writing.


 

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18.3

Maximum liability

The liability of each Guarantor under this guarantee shall be limited to USD 300,000,000 plus any unpaid amount of interest, fees and expenses in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby.

 

18.4

Number of claims

There is no limit on the number of claims that may be made by the Agent on behalf of the Finance Parties under this guarantee.

 

18.5

Continuing guarantee

This guarantee is a continuing guarantee and will extend to the ultimate balance of sums payable by any Obligor under the Finance Documents, regardless of any intermediate payment or discharge in whole or in part.

 

18.6

Reinstatement

If any discharge, release or arrangement (whether in respect of the obligations of any Obligor or any security for those obligations or otherwise) is made by a Finance Party in whole or in part on the basis of any payment, security or other disposition which is avoided or must be restored in insolvency, liquidation, administration or otherwise, without limitation, then the liability of each Guarantor under this Clause 18 will continue or be reinstated as if the discharge, release or arrangement had not occurred.

 

18.7

Waiver of defences

 

(a)

The obligations of each Guarantor under this Clause 18 will not be affected by an act, omission, matter or thing which, but for this Clause 18, would reduce, release or prejudice any of its obligations under this Clause 18 (without limitation and whether or not known to it or any Finance Party) including:

 

 

(i)

any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, any Obligor or other person;

 

 

(ii)

the release of any other Obligor or any other person under the terms of any composition or arrangement with any creditor of any member of the Group;

 

 

(iii)

the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce, any rights against, or security over assets of, any Obligor or other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any security;

 

 

(iv)

any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the members or status of an Obligor or any other person;

 

 

(v)

any amendment, novation, supplement, extension restatement (however fundamental and whether or not more onerous) or replacement of a Finance Document or any other document or security including, without limitation, any


 

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change in the purpose of, any extension of or increase in any facility or the addition of any new facility under any Finance Document or other document or security;

 

  (vi)

any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under any Finance Document or any other document or security; or

 

  (vii)

any insolvency or similar proceedings.

 

(b)

Each Guarantor specifically waives all defenses based on the Finance Documents, any relationship or circumstance in connection therewith and any transactions made in connection therewith.

 

18.8

Financial Agreements Act

Each Guarantor specifically waives all rights under the provisions of the Norwegian Financial Agreements Act of 25 June 1999 No. 46 not being mandatory provisions, including the following provisions (the main contents of the relevant provisions being as indicated in the brackets):

 

  (i)

§ 62 (1) (a) (to be notified of any security the giving of which was a precondition for the making of any Loan, but which has not been validly granted or has lapsed);

 

  (ii)

§ 63 (1) - (2) (to be notified of any event of default hereunder and to be kept informed thereof);

 

  (iii)

§ 63 (3) (to be notified of any extension granted to an Obligor in payment of principal and/or interest);

 

  (iv)

§ 63 (4) (to be notified of an Obligor’s bankruptcy proceedings or debt reorganisation proceedings and/or any application for the latter);

 

  (v)

§ 65 (3) (that the consent of the Guarantor is required for the Guarantor to be bound by amendments to the Finance Documents that may be detrimental to its interest);

 

  (vi)

§ 66 (1) - (2) (that the Guarantor shall be released from its liabilities hereunder if security which was given, or the giving of which was a precondition for the making of any Loan, is released by the Finance Parties without the consent of the Guarantor);

 

  (vii)

§ 66 (3) (that the Guarantor shall be released from its liabilities hereunder if, without its consent, security the giving of which was a precondition for the making of any Loan, was not validly granted);

 

  (viii)

§ 67 (2) (about reduction of the Guarantor’s liabilities hereunder);

 

  (ix)

§ 67 (4) (that the Guarantor’s liabilities hereunder shall lapse after ten (10) years, as the Guarantor shall remain liable hereunder as long as any amount is outstanding in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby);

 

  (x)

§ 70 (as the Guarantor shall have no right of subrogation into the rights of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents until and unless the Finance Parties


 

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  shall have received all amounts due or to become due to them in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby);

 

 

(xi)

§ 71 (as the Finance Parties shall have no liability first to make demand upon or seek to enforce remedies against any other Obligor or any other security provided in respect of the Obligors’ liabilities under the Finance Documents before demanding payment under or seeking to enforce the security created hereunder);

 

 

(xii)

§ 72 (as all interest and default interest due in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby shall be secured hereunder);

 

 

(xiii)

§ 73 ( 1 ) - ( 2 ) (as all costs and expenses related to a default in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby shall be secured hereunder); and

 

 

(xiv)

§ 74 ( 1 ) - ( 2 ) (as the Guarantor shall make no claim against any other Obligor for payment until and unless the Finance Parties first shall have received all amounts due or to become due to them in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby).

 

18.9

Guarantor intent

Without prejudice to the generality of Clauses 18.7 ( Waiver of defences ) and 18.8 ( Financial Agreements Act ), each Guarantor expressly confirms that it intends that this guarantee shall extend from time to time to any (however fundamental) variation, increase, extension or addition of or to any of the Finance Documents and/or any facility or amount made available under any of the Finance Documents for the purposes of or in connection with any of the following: business acquisitions of any nature; increasing working capital; enabling investor distributions to be made; carrying out restructurings; refinancing existing facilities; refinancing any other indebtedness; making facilities available to new borrowers; any other variation or extension of the purposes for which any such facility or amount might be made available from time to time; and any fees, costs and/or expenses associated with any of the foregoing.

 

18.10

Immediate recourse

Each Guarantor waives any right it may have of first requiring any Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) to proceed against or enforce any other rights or security or claim payment from any person before claiming from that Guarantor under this Clause 18. This waiver applies irrespective of any law or any provision of a Finance Document to the contrary.

 

18.11

Appropriations

Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full, each Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) may:

 

 

(i)

refrain from applying or enforcing any other moneys, security or rights held or received by that Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) in respect of those amounts, or apply and enforce the same in such manner and order as it sees fit (whether against those amounts or otherwise) and no Guarantor shall be entitled to the benefit of the same; and


 

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(ii)

hold in an interest-bearing suspense account any moneys received from any Guarantor or on account of any Guarantor’s liability under this Clause 18.

 

18.12

Deferral of Guarantors’ rights

 

(a)

Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full and unless the Agent otherwise directs, no Guarantor will exercise any rights which it may have by reason of performance by it of its obligations under the Finance Documents or by reason of any amount being payable, or liability arising, under this Clause 18:

 

 

(i)

to be indemnified by an Obligor;

 

 

(ii)

to claim any contribution from any other guarantor of any Obligor’s obligations under the Finance Documents;

 

 

(iii)

to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents or of any other guarantee or security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, the Finance Documents by any Finance Party;

 

 

(iv)

to bring legal or other proceedings for an order requiring any Obligor to make any payment, or perform any obligation, in respect of which any Guarantor has given a guarantee, undertaking or indemnity under this Clause 18;

 

 

(v)

to exercise any right of set-off against any Obligor; and/or

 

 

(vi)

to claim or prove as a creditor of any Obligor in competition with any Finance Party.

 

(b)

If a Guarantor receives any benefit, payment or distribution in relation to such rights as referred to in paragraph (a) above, it shall hold that benefit, payment or distribution to the extent necessary to enable all amounts which may be or become payable to the Finance Parties by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents to be repaid in full on behalf of and for the account of the Finance Parties and shall promptly pay or transfer the same to the Agent or as the Agent may direct for application in accordance with Clause 30 ( Payment mechanics ).

 

18.13

Additional security

This guarantee is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other guarantee or security now or subsequently held by any Finance Party.

 

19

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each Obligor makes the representations and warranties set out in this Clause 19 to each Finance Party on the date of this Agreement.


 

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19.1

Status

 

(a)

It and each of its Subsidiaries is a limited liability corporation (or in the case of the Parent Guarantor, a limited partnership), duly incorporated (or in the case of the Parent, formed) and validly existing under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation (or in the case of the Parent, formation).

 

(b)

It and each of its Subsidiaries has the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is being conducted.

 

19.2

Binding obligations

Subject to the Legal Reservations:

 

 

(i)

the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in each Finance Document to which it is a party are legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations; and

 

 

(ii)

(without limiting the generality of paragraph (i) above) each Security Document to which it is a party creates the security interests which that Security Document purports to create and those security interests are valid and effective.

 

19.3

Non-conflict with other obligations

The entry into and performance by it of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents and the granting of the Transaction Security do not and will not conflict with:

 

 

(i)

any law or regulation applicable to it;

 

 

(ii)

its or any of its Subsidiaries’ constitutional documents; or

 

 

(iii)

any agreement or instrument binding upon it or any member of the Group or any of its or any member of the Group’s assets or constitute a default or termination event (however described) under any such agreement or instrument.

 

19.4

Power and authority

It has the power to enter into, perform and deliver, and has taken all necessary action to authorise its entry into, performance and delivery of, the Finance Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated by those Finance Documents.

 

19.5

Validity and admissibility in evidence

All Authorisations required or desirable:

 

 

(i)

to enable it lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights and comply with its obligations in the Finance Documents to which it is a party; and

 

 

(ii)

to make the Finance Documents to which it is a party admissible in evidence in its jurisdiction of incorporation,

have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect.


 

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19.6

Governing law and enforcement

 

(a)

The choice of governing law of the Finance Documents will be recognised and enforced in its jurisdiction of incorporation.

 

(b)

Any judgment obtained in relation to a Finance Document in the jurisdiction of the governing law of that Finance Document will be recognised and enforced in its jurisdiction of incorporation.

 

19.7

Deduction of Tax

It is not required to make any deduction for or on account of Tax from any payment it may make under any Finance Document.

 

19.8

No filing or stamp taxes

Under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation it is not necessary that the Finance Documents be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in that jurisdiction or that any stamp, registration or similar tax be paid on or in relation to the Finance Documents or the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents other than:

 

 

(i)

registration of the Mortgages in the relevant Approved Ship Register; and

 

 

(ii)

registration of the Factoring Agreements in the Norwegian Register of Moveable Property ( Løsøreregisteret ).

 

19.9

No default

 

(a)

No Event of Default is continuing or is reasonably likely to result from the making of any Utilisation or the entry into, the performance of, or any transaction contemplated by, any Finance Document.

 

(b)

No other event or circumstance is outstanding which constitutes (or, with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination or any combination of any of the foregoing, would constitute) a default or termination event (however described) under any other agreement or instrument which is binding on it or any of its Subsidiaries (if applicable) or to which its (or any of its Subsidiaries’ (if applicable)) assets are subject which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

19.10

No misleading information

 

(a)

Any factual information provided by any member of the Group for the purposes of this Agreement was true and accurate in all material respects as at the date it was provided or as at the date (if any) at which it is stated.

 

(b)

Any financial projections provided to the Finance Parties in connection with this Agreement have been prepared on the basis of recent historical information and on the basis of reasonable assumptions.

 

(c)

Nothing has occurred or been omitted from the information given to the Finance Parties in connection with this Agreement and no information has been given or withheld that results


 

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in the information given to the Finance Parties in connection with this Agreement being untrue or misleading in any material respect.

 

19.11

Financial statements

 

(a)

Its Original Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with the Approved Accounting Principles consistently applied, and fairly represent its consolidated financial condition and operations during the relevant financial year.

 

(b)

There has been no material adverse change in its business or financial condition (or the business or consolidated financial condition of the Group, in the case of the Parent Guarantor) since the date of the financial statements most recently delivered to the Agent pursuant to Clause 20.1 ( Financial statements ).

 

19.12

Pari passu ranking

Its payment obligations under the Finance Documents rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors, except for obligations mandatorily preferred by law applying to companies generally.

 

19.13

No proceedings pending or threatened

No litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings or investigations of, or before, any court, arbitral body or agency which, if adversely determined, are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect have (to the best of its knowledge and belief (having made due and careful enquiry)) been started or threatened against it or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

19.14

Compliance with Environmental Laws and other laws

 

(a)

It is in compliance in all respects with the provisions of all Environmental Laws applicable to it and to the best of its knowledge and belief (having made due and careful enquiry) no circumstances have occurred which would prevent such compliance in a manner or to an extent which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)

No Environmental Claim has been commenced or (to the best of its knowledge and belief (having made due and careful enquiry)) is threatened against it or any of its Subsidiaries where that claim has or is reasonably likely, if determined against the relevant member of the Group, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)

It has not (and none of its Subsidiaries has) breached any law or regulation which breach has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

19.15

Taxation

It is not (and none of its Subsidiaries is) materially overdue in the filing of any Tax returns and is not overdue in the payment of any amount in respect of Tax, unless such payment has been contested in good faith and with due diligence and provided that it maintains adequate reserves in respect of thereof in accordance with the Approved Accounting Principles.


 

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19.16

Transaction Security

It has all of the rights, title and interest in the assets subject to the Transaction Security to the extent and in the manner contemplated by the Security Documents.

 

19.17

No money laundering

Each Borrower is acting for its own account and not as lender or trustee or in any other capacity whatsoever on behalf of any third party in relation to the Loans and in relation to the performance and the discharge of its obligations and liabilities under the Finance Documents and the transactions and other arrangements effected or contemplated by the Finance Documents, and the foregoing will not involve or lead to contravention of any law, official requirement or other regulatory measure or procedure implemented to combat money laundering (as defined in Directive 2005/60/EEC) of the Council of the European Communities).

 

19.18

Anti-corruption law

Each member of the Group has conducted its businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and has instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

 

19.19

Use of proceeds

The proceeds of the Loan will from time to time be applied for the purposes set out in Clause 3.1 ( Purpose ).

 

19.20

Sanctions

 

(a)

It and each of its Subsidiaries and joint ventures, and its or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and/or representatives has been and is in compliance with Sanctions Laws.

 

(b)

Neither it, nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any of its or their joint ventures, nor any of its or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives:

 

 

(i)

is a Restricted Party, or is involved in any transaction through which it is likely to become a Restricted Party; or

 

 

(ii)

is subject to or involved in any inquiry, claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation against it with respect to Sanctions Laws by any Sanctions Authority.

 

(c)

No funds derived directly or indirectly from trading with a Restricted Party, including but not limited to any party organized in or located in a country subject to comprehensive country-wide economic sanctions, shall be used for payment of any amount payable under any Finance Document.


 

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19.21

Repetition

The Repeating Representations are deemed to be made by each Obligor by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing on the date of each Utilisation Request, on each Utilisation Date and on the first day of each Interest Period.

 

20

INFORMATION UNDERTAKINGS

The undertakings in this Clause 20 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

20.1

Financial statements

 

(a)

Each Borrower and the Parent Guarantor shall supply to the Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders:

 

 

(i)

as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 150 days after the end of each of its financial years, its audited financial statements (consolidated if it has Subsidiaries) for that financial year; and

 

 

(ii)

as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 60 days after the end of each quarter of each of its financial years, its unaudited financial statements (consolidated if it has Subsidiaries) for that financial quarter.

 

(b)

The Parent Guarantor shall supply to the Agent as soon as reasonably practicable after the same are available (and in any event on or before 31 January each year), its consolidated budget and cash flow projections for that financial year and for the next five (5) financial years, and such updates of such budget and/or projections as the Agent may reasonably require.

 

20.2

Provision and contents of Compliance Certificate

 

(a)

The Parent Guarantor shall supply to the Agent, with each set of consolidated financial statements of the Parent Guarantor delivered pursuant to Clause 20.1 ( Financial statements ), a Compliance Certificate setting out (in reasonable detail) computations as to compliance with Clause 21 ( Financial covenants ).

 

(b)

Each Compliance Certificate shall be signed by the chief financial officer of the Parent Guarantor.

 

20.3

Requirements as to financial statements

 

(a)

Each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 20.1 ( Financial statements ) shall be certified by the chief financial officer of the Parent Guarantor as fairly representing the financial condition of the relevant Obligor as at the date as at which those financial statements were drawn up.

 

(b)

The Parent Guarantor shall procure that each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 20.1 ( Financial statements ) is prepared using the Approved Accounting Principles, accounting practices and financial reference periods consistent with those applied in the


 

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preparation of the Original Financial Statements unless, in relation to any set of financial statements, it notifies the Agent that there has been a change in the Approved Accounting Principles, the accounting practices or reference periods and the Parent Guarantor (or if required by any of the Lenders, its auditors) deliver to the Agent:

 

  (i)

a description of any change necessary for those financial statements to reflect the Approved Accounting Principles, accounting practices and reference periods upon which the Original Financial Statements were prepared; and

 

  (ii)

sufficient information, in form and substance as may be reasonably required by the Agent, to enable the Lenders to determine whether Clause 21 ( Financial covenants ) has been complied with and make an accurate comparison between the financial position indicated in those financial statements and the Original Financial Statements.

Any reference in this Agreement to those financial statements shall be construed as a reference to those financial statements as adjusted to reflect the basis upon which the Original Financial Statements were prepared.

 

20.4

Market valuations

 

(a)

The Parent Guarantor shall no later than ten (10) Business Days after the end of each of its financial years and each of its financial half years, or at such other intervals as may be required by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) in the event that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, forward to the Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders updated valuation reports (not more than thirty (30) days old) from two (2) of the Approved Brokers setting out the Market Value of each of the Vessels, as well as a calculation signed by the chief financial officer of the Parent Guarantor evidencing compliance with Clause 23.12 ( Minimum value ).

 

(b)

All such valuations referred to in paragraph (a) above shall be obtained at the cost of the Borrowers.

 

20.5

Information: miscellaneous

Each Obligor shall supply to the Agent (in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, if the Agent so requests):

 

  (i)

at the same time as they are dispatched, copies of all documents dispatched by it to its shareholders generally (or any class of them) or to its creditors generally (or any class of them);

 

  (ii)

promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any inquiry, claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation pursuant to Sanctions Laws by an Sanctions Authority against it, any of its direct or indirect owners, Subsidiaries or Affiliates, any of its or their joint ventures or any of its or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives, as well as information on what steps are being taken with regards to answer or oppose such inquiry, claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation;

 

  (iii)

promptly upon becoming aware that it, any of its direct or indirect owners, Subsidiaries or Affiliates, any of its or their joint ventures or any of its or their


 

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  respective directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives has become or is likely to become a Restricted Party;

 

 

(iv)

promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or pending against any member of the Group, and which, if adversely determined, are reasonably likely have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

 

(v)

promptly, such information as the Agent may reasonably require about any asset subject to the Transaction Security and compliance of the Obligors with the terms of any Security Document; and

 

 

(vi)

promptly on request, such further information regarding the financial condition, assets and operations of the Group and/or any member of the Group (including any requested amplification or explanation of any item in the financial statements, budgets or other material provided by any Obligor under this Agreement and an up to date copy of its shareholders’ register (or equivalent in any relevant jurisdiction)) as any Finance Party through the Agent may reasonably request.

 

20.6

Notification of Default and Change of Control

 

(a)

Each Obligor shall notify the Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence (unless that Obligor is aware that a notification has already been provided by another Obligor).

 

(b)

Promptly upon a request by the Agent, the Parent Guarantor shall supply to the Agent a certificate signed by two (2) of its directors or senior officers on its behalf certifying that no Default is continuing (or if a Default is continuing, specifying the Default and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it).

 

(c)

Each Obligor shall notify the Agent of the occurrence of any Change of Control promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence (unless that Obligor is aware that a notification has already been provided by another Obligor).

 

20.7

Use of websites

 

(a)

Each Obligor may satisfy its obligation under this Agreement to deliver any information in relation to the Lenders by posting this information onto an electronic website designated by the Obligors and the Agent (the “ Designated Website ”) if:

 

 

(i)

both the Obligors and the Agent are aware of the address of and any relevant password specifications for the Designated Website; and

 

 

(ii)

the information is in a format previously agreed between the Obligors and the Agent.

 

(b)

The Agent shall supply each Lender with the address of and any relevant password specifications for the Designated Website following designation of that website by the Obligors and the Agent.

 

(c)

an Obligor shall promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence notify the Agent if:

 

 

(i)

the Designated Website cannot be accessed due to technical failure;


 

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(ii)

the password specifications for the Designated Website change;

 

 

(iii)

any new information which is required to be provided under this Agreement is posted onto the Designated Website;

 

 

(iv)

any existing information which has been provided under this Agreement and posted onto the Designated Website is amended; or

 

 

(v)

it becomes aware that the Designated Website or any information posted onto the Designated Website is or has been infected by any electronic virus or similar software.

If and Obligor notifies the Agent under paragraph (c)(i) or paragraph (c)(v) above, all information to be provided by the Obligors under this Agreement after the date of that notice shall be supplied in paper form unless and until the Agent and each Lender is satisfied that the circumstances giving rise to the notification are no longer continuing.

 

(d)

Any Lender may request, through the Agent, one paper copy of any information required to be provided under this Agreement which is posted onto the Designated Website. The Obligors shall comply with any such request within ten (10) Business Days.

 

20.8

“Know your customer” checks

 

(a)

If:

 

 

(i)

the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement;

 

 

(ii)

any change in the status of an Obligor after the date of this Agreement; or

 

 

(iii)

a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer,

obliges the Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender) to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, the Obligors shall promptly upon the request of the Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or any Lender (for itself or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent, such Lender or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

(b)

Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself) in order for the Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.


 

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21

FINANCIAL COVENANTS

 

21.1

Financial definitions

In this Agreement:

Borrowings

means, at any time, the aggregate outstanding principal, capital or nominal amount (and any fixed or minimum premium payable on prepayment or redemption) of any indebtedness of members of the Group for or in respect of:

 

 

(i)

moneys borrowed and debit balances at banks or other financial institutions;

 

 

(ii)

any acceptances under any acceptance credit or bill discount facility (or dematerialised equivalent);

 

 

(iii)

any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument;

 

 

(iv)

any Finance Lease;

 

 

(v)

receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a non-recourse basis and meet any requirements for de-recognition under the Approved Accounting Principles);

 

 

(vi)

any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial institution in respect of an underlying liability of an entity which is not a member of the Group which liability would fall within one of the other paragraphs of this definition;

 

 

(vii)

any amount raised by the issue of shares which are redeemable (other than at the option of the issuer) before the Termination Date or are otherwise classified as borrowings under the Approved Accounting Principles;

 

 

(viii)

any amount of any liability under an advance or deferred purchase agreement if (A) one of the primary reasons behind the entry into the agreement is to raise finance or to finance the acquisition or construction of the asset or service in question, or (B) the agreement is in respect of the supply of assets or services and payment is due more than ninety (90) days after the date of supply;

 

 

(ix)

any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase agreement, sale and sale back or sale and leaseback agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing or otherwise classified as borrowings under the Approved Accounting Principles; and

 

 

(x)

(without double counting) the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee or indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (i) to (ix) above.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

means, at any time, the aggregate amount of:


 

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(i)

cash in hand or on deposit with any bank or financial institution;

 

 

(ii)

2/3 of the Available Facility in respect of Revolving Facility A; and

 

 

(iii)

cash equivalents (as reported in accordance with the Approved Accounting Principles),

to which any member of the Group is alone (or together with another member of the Group) beneficially entitled at that time and which is not issued or guaranteed by a member of the Group or subject to any security (other than Security arising under the Security Documents).

Current Assets

means the aggregate value of the Group’s (on a consolidated basis) or a Borrower’s (as the case may be) assets, which are treated as current assets in accordance with the Approved Accounting Principles.

Current Liabilities

means the aggregate amount of the Group’s (on a consolidated basis) or a Borrower’s (as the case may be) liabilities, which are treated as current liabilities in accordance with the Approved Accounting Principles, but excluding instalments on long-term debt and Finance Leases which fall due during the next twelve months.

EBITDA

means, in respect of any Relevant Period, earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation, not taking into account any exceptional or extraordinary items.

Finance Charges

means, for any Relevant Period, the aggregate amount of the accrued interest in respect of Borrowings paid or payable by any member of the Group (calculated on a consolidated basis) in cash in respect of that Relevant Period:

 

 

(i)

including the interest (but not the capital) element of payments in respect of Finance Leases;

 

 

(ii)

including any commission, fees, discounts and other finance payments payable by (and deducting any such amounts payable to) any member of the Group under any interest rate hedging arrangement; and

 

 

(iii)

excluding any capitalised interest in respect of any Subordinated Loan,

and so that no amount shall be added (or deducted) more than once.

Relevant Period

means each period of twelve (12) months ending on or about the last day of the financial year of the relevant Obligor and each period of twelve (12) months ending on or about the last day of each financial quarter of the relevant Obligor.


 

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Total Assets

means the aggregate book value of those assets which, according to the Approved Accounting Principles, shall be included as assets in a balance sheet.

Total Equity

means book equity.

Working Capital

means, on any date, Current Assets less Current Liabilities.

 

21.2

Calculations

 

(a)

Except as provided to the contrary in this Agreement, an accounting term used in this Clause 21 is to be construed in accordance with the principles applied in connection with the Original Financial Statements.

 

(b)

No item must be credited or deducted more than once in any calculation under this Clause 21.

 

21.3

Working Capital

 

(a)

The Parent Guarantor shall procure that the Working Capital of the Parent Guarantor (on a consolidated basis) measured at the end of each of its financial quarters (starting with the financial quarter ending 30 June 2014) shall at all times be positive.

 

(b)

Each Borrower shall procure that its Working Capital measured at the end of each of its financial quarters (starting with the financial quarter ending 30 June 2014) shall at all times be positive.

 

21.4

Equity ratio

The Parent Guarantor shall procure that the ratio of Total Equity to Total Assets of the Parent Guarantor (on a consolidated basis) measured at the end of each of its financial quarters (starting with the financial quarter ending 30 June 2014) shall not at any time be less than 0.30.

 

21.5

Interest cover ratio

The Parent Guarantor shall procure that the ratio of EBITDA to Finance Charges for it (on a consolidated basis) in respect of any Relevant Period (starting with the Relevant Period ending 30 June 2014) shall be no less than 2.50:1.00.

 

21.6

Liquidity

The Parent Guarantor shall procure that it (on a consolidated basis) at all times maintains Cash and Cash Equivalents in an amount equal to or greater than USD 15,000,000:


 

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(i)

plus an amount of USD 1,500,000 for each vessel owned by a member of the Group with no employment contract or an employment contract with less than twelve (12) months remaining tenor (excluding options), provided always that employment contracts entered into with the Sponsor or any of its Subsidiaries shall not count as employment contracts in relation to this paragraph (i); and

 

 

(ii)

plus an amount of USD 1,000,000 for each vessel owned by the members of the Group in excess of eight (8) vessels.

 

22

GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS

The undertakings in this Clause 22 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

22.1

Use of proceeds

No proceeds of the Loan shall be made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of a Restricted Party nor shall they otherwise be applied in a manner or for a purpose prohibited by Sanctions Laws.

 

22.2

Authorisations

 

(a)

Each Obligor shall promptly:

 

 

(i)

obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect; and

 

 

(ii)

supply certified copies to the Agent of,

any Authorisation required under any law or regulation of its jurisdiction of incorporation to enable it to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence in its jurisdiction of incorporation of any Finance Document.

 

(b)

The Obligors shall obtain or cause to be obtained, at the time the same are required, maintain or cause to be maintained in full force and effect and promptly renew or cause to be renewed and comply in all material respects with the conditions and restrictions (if any) imposed in, or in connection with, every Authorisation required to be obtained and maintained in order to continue the performance and operation of each Vessel under any contract entered into in respect of it and any law and regulation to which it and/or any Obligor may be subject.

 

22.3

Negative pledge

In this Clause 22.3, “ Quasi-Security ” means an arrangement or transaction described in paragraph (b) below.

 

(a)

No Borrower shall create or permit to subsist any Security over any of its assets and the Parent Guarantor shall not create or permit to subsist any Security over any of the shares or other ownership interests in any of the Borrowers (other than the Security granted under the


 

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Second Share Pledge Agreement), KNOT Offshore Partners UK LLC or KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS.

 

(b)

No Borrower shall:

 

 

(i)

sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets on terms whereby they are or may be leased to or re-acquired by any other member of the Group;

 

 

(ii)

sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its receivables on recourse terms;

 

 

(iii)

enter into any arrangement under which money or the benefit of a bank or other account may be applied, set-off or made subject to a combination of accounts; or

 

 

(iv)

enter into any other preferential arrangement having a similar effect,

in circumstances where the arrangement or transaction is entered into primarily as a method of raising Financial Indebtedness or of financing the acquisition of an asset.

 

(c)

Paragraphs (a) and (b) above do not apply to any Security or (as the case may be) Quasi-Security listed below:

 

 

(i)

any Security or Quasi-Security constituted by the Security Documents or entered into under a Finance Document;

 

 

(ii)

any Security or Quasi-Security disclosed in writing by a Borrower to the Agent prior to the date of this Agreement and approved in writing by the Agent (in its sole discretion) for the purposes of this Agreement;

 

 

(iii)

any Security or Quasi-Security comprising a netting or set-off arrangement entered into by a Borrower in the ordinary course of its banking arrangements for the purpose of netting debit and credit balances;

 

 

(iv)

any Security or Quasi-Security arising by operation of law or in the ordinary course of business securing obligations not more than 30 days overdue;

 

 

(v)

any Security or Quasi-Security to which the Lenders have given their prior written consent.

 

22.4

Financial Indebtedness restrictions

 

(a)

No Borrower shall incur, create or permit to subsist any Financial Indebtedness.

 

(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not apply to Financial Indebtedness:

 

 

(i)

incurred under the Finance Documents;

 

 

(ii)

incurred by way of a Subordinated Loan made at a time when no Default is continuing or would occur from the borrowing of such Subordinated Loan, and provided that the Parent Guarantor and the Borrowers will be in compliance with the financial covenants set out in Clause 21 ( Financial covenants ) following the borrowing of such Subordinated Loan; or

 

 

(iii)

incurred with the prior written consent of the Lenders.


 

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22.5

Change of business etc.

 

(a)

The Parent Guarantor shall procure that no substantial change is made to the general nature of the business of the Group from that carried on at the date of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Lenders.

 

(b)

No Borrower shall engage in any business other than the ownership and operation of the Vessel owned by it.

 

(c)

No Obligor shall change its type of company, legal name or jurisdiction of incorporation without the prior written consent of the Lenders.

 

22.6

Loans or credit

 

(a)

No Borrower shall be a creditor in respect of any Financial Indebtedness.

 

(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not apply to:

 

 

(i)

normal trade credit extended to its customers on normal commercial terms and in the ordinary course of its trading activities;

 

 

(ii)

any loan or other credit made to another member of the Group at a time when no Default is continuing or would occur from the making of such loan or other credit, and provided that the Parent Guarantor and the Borrowers will be in compliance with the financial covenants set out in Clause 21 ( Financial covenants ) following the making of such loan or other credit; or

 

 

(iii)

any creditor relationship entered into with the consent of the Lenders.

 

22.7

No guarantees or indemnities

 

(a)

No Borrower shall incur or allow to remain outstanding any guarantee or indemnity in respect of any obligation of any person.

 

(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not apply to a guarantee or indemnity which is:

 

 

(i)

granted pursuant to the Finance Documents;

 

 

(ii)

from time to time required in the ordinary course of business and operation of the Vessels, or by any protection and indemnity or war risks association with which a Vessel is entered, guarantees required to procure the release of that Vessel from any arrest, detention, attachment or levy or guarantees required for the salvage of that Vessel;

 

 

(iii)

granted in respect of any obligation of another member of the Group at a time when no Default is continuing or would occur from the granting of such guarantee or indemnity, and provided that the Parent Guarantor and the Borrowers will be in compliance with the financial covenants set out in Clause 21 ( Financial covenants ) following the granting of such guarantee or indemnity; or

 

 

(iv)

granted with the prior written consent of the Lenders.


 

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22.8

Merger

No Obligor shall enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger, consolidation or corporate reconstruction without the prior written consent of the Lenders.

 

22.9

Investments

No Borrower shall, without the prior written consent of the Lenders, make any further investments, other than investments relating to the Vessel owned by it, provided that such investment is made at a time when no Default is continuing or would occur from the making of the relevant investment, and provided further that the Parent Guarantor and the Borrowers will be in compliance with the financial covenants set out in Clause 21 ( Financial covenants ) following the making of the relevant investment.

 

22.10

Arm’s length terms

All agreements and transactions entered into by an Obligor with an Affiliate, a shareholder or an Affiliate of a shareholder shall be entered into and made on arm’s length terms.

 

22.11

Hedging

The Hedging Banks shall have the first right of refusal on competitive terms in relation to any interest hedging or other derivatives products relating to the Vessels or any of them or the Facilities or any of them.

 

22.12

Pari passu ranking

Each Obligor shall ensure that at all times any unsecured and unsubordinated claims of a Finance Party against it under the Finance Documents rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors except those creditors whose claims are mandatorily preferred by laws of general application to companies.

 

22.13

Dividend restrictions

 

(a)

No Obligor shall make, pay or declare any dividend, reduction of share capital or other distribution to its shareholders or any of them.

 

(b)

Paragraph (a) above shall not apply to dividend, reduction of share capital or other distributions where the following conditions are fulfilled:

 

 

(i)

no Default has occurred and is continuing at the time the making, payment or declaration of the relevant dividend, reduction of share capital or other distribution is made, or would result from the making, payment or declaration of the relevant dividend, reduction of share capital or other distribution; and

 

 

(ii)

the Parent Guarantor and the Borrowers will be in compliance with the financial covenants set out in Clause 21 ( Financial covenants ) following the making, payment or declaration of the relevant dividend, reduction of share capital or other distribution.


 

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22.14

Change of financial year

No Obligor will, without the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders, change its financial year.

 

22.15

Payment of Taxes

Each Obligor shall (and the Borrower shall ensure that each member of the Group will) pay and discharge all Taxes imposed upon it or its assets within the time period allowed without incurring penalties unless and only to the extent that:

 

 

(i)

such payment is being contested in good faith;

 

 

(ii)

adequate reserves are being maintained for those Taxes and the costs required to contest them which have been disclosed in its latest financial statements delivered to the Agent under Clause 20.1 ( Financial statements ); and

 

 

(iii)

such payment can be lawfully withheld.

 

22.16

Listing

The Parent Guarantor shall maintain its listing at the New York Stock Exchange or such other stock exchange as may be approved by the Lenders.

 

22.17

Further security

 

(a)

Each Borrower shall if it enters into any any contract of employment (including, inter alia, step-in rights) in respect of the Vessel owned by it for a period exceeding 18 months (including any options, extensions and/or renewals), within 30 days after the entering into of such contract enter into an Assignment Agreement with the Agent in respect of its rights under such contract, and do all such acts and execute all such documents in favour of the Agent and provide such documentation to the Agent as the Agent may reasonably require to perfect the security created or intended to be created thereunder and evidence that the Assignment Agreement has been validly executed by the relevant Borrower.

 

(b)

Each Borrower shall if it enters into any Hedging Agreement, within 30 days after the entering into of such Hedging Agreement enter into a Hedging Agreement Assignment Agreement with the Agent in respect of its claims relating to any such Hedging Agreement, and do all such acts and execute all such documents in favour of the Agent and provide such documentation to the Agent as the Agent may reasonably require to perfect the security created or intended to be created thereunder and evidence that the Hedging Agreement Assignment Agreement has been validly executed by the relevant Borrower.

 

22.18

Sanctions

 

(a)

No Obligor shall be or become, and each Obligor shall ensure that none of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or its or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives or any other persons acting on its or their behalf is or will become, a Restricted Party.

 

(b)

The Borrowers and the Parent shall ensure that its assets, the assets, including assets subject to the Security Documents (including the Vessels), shall not be used directly or indirectly:


 

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(i)

by or for the direct or indirect benefit of any Restricted Party; or

 

 

(ii)

in any trade which is prohibited under applicable Sanctions or which could expose a Borrower or the Parent, any of their assets, any assets subject to the Security Documents, any Vessel, any Finance Party or any other person being party to or which benefits from any Finance Document, any manager of a Vessel or any charterer or insurer of a Vessel to enforcement proceedings or any other consequences whatsoever arising from Sanctions.

 

(c)

The Borrowers and the Parent shall ensure that the Vessels shall not be trading to Iranian ports or carrying or storing/warehousing crude oil, petroleum products or petrochemical products or other products subject to Sanctions if they originate in Iran, or are being exported from Iran to any other country, as long as Iran is subject to Sanctions by a Sanctions Authority.

 

22.19

Most favoured lender status

If as a result of, or in connection with, or to obtain any consent or agreement of any finance party under any agreement in respect of Financial Indebtedness in an amount of USD 10,000,000 (or its equivalent) or more, a Borrower, the Parent Guarantor or Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII KS has entered into or enters into documentation or other arrangements containing any financial covenants more favourable to the finance party or finance parties than, or in addition to, those contained in this Agreement, the Borrower undertakes to immediately notify the Agent of the existence and details of such documentation or other arrangements and, if so requested by the Agent, the Obligors undertake to as soon as reasonably practicable (and in no event later than thirty (30) days after the occurrence thereof) enter into an amendment of this Agreement in the form reasonably required by the Majority Lenders for the purpose of incorporating equivalent (or the functional equivalent of such) financial covenants in this Agreement.

 

23

VESSEL UNDERTAKINGS

The undertakings in this Clause 23 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

23.1

Insurances

 

(a)

The Borrowers shall procure that each Vessel is fully insured on an agreed value basis against such risks (including, but not limited to Hull and Machinery, Hull Interest, Freight Interest, Protection & Indemnity (including a maximum club cover for oil pollution liability for each Vessel, presently USD 1,000,000,000) and War Risk (including terrorism, piracy, hijacking and confiscation)), in such amounts, on such terms (always applying Norwegian law and including the terms of the Nordic Marine Insurance Plan of 2013 (as amended from time to time) or such other terms as the Agent (acting reasonably) may approve in relation to losses payable thereunder) and with such insurance brokers and insurers as the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) may approve. The Borrowers will procure that the Agent is named as mortgagee and loss payee under the insurances, also if the insurances are effected by a charterer of a Vessel.


 

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(b)

The insured value of each Vessel shall at all times be equal to or greater than its Market Value, and the aggregate insured value of all Vessels shall be equal to or greater than 120 per cent. of the amount of the Total Commitments.

 

    

Furthermore, the Hull and Machinery insured value of each Vessel shall at all times cover at least 80 per cent. of the Market Value of the Vessel, and the aggregate Hull and Machinery insured value of the Vessels shall at all times cover at least an amount equal to the amount of the Total Commitments, while the remaining cover may be taken out by way of Hull and/or Freight Interest insurances.

 

(c)

In addition to the insurances specified above, the Agent shall take out (i) Mortgagee Interest Insurance and (ii) Mortgagee Interest Additional Perils Pollution Insurance, each such insurance to be taken out in an amount covering up to 120 per cent. of the Total Commitments, and the Borrowers shall reimburse to the Agent any and all sums paid as premium in respect of such insurance cover.

 

(d)

If any of the insurances referred to in paragraph (a) above form part of a fleet cover, the Borrowers shall procure that the insurers shall undertake to the Agent that they shall neither set-off against any claims in respect of a Vessel any premiums due in respect of other vessels under such fleet cover or any premiums due for other insurances, nor cancel any insurances in relation of a Vessel for reason of non-payment of premiums for other vessels under such fleet cover or of premiums for such other insurances, and shall undertake to issue a separate policy in respect of each Vessel if and when so requested by the Agent.

 

(e)

Not later than seven (7) days before the expiry date of the relevant insurances, the Borrowers shall deliver to the Agent a confirmation from the insurance broker(s) through whom the insurances relevant to the Vessels have been placed, evidencing that all insurances referred to in paragraph (a) above have been renewed and taken out in respect of the Vessels with insurance values as required by paragraph (b) above, that such insurances will be in full force and effect immediately upon the expiry of the expiring insurances and that the interests of the Finance Parties therein have been noted by the relevant insurers. The Borrowers shall procure that Letters of Undertaking, as required by the Agent, and copies of all insurance policies, cover notes and certificates of entry are delivered to the Agent.

 

(f)

The Borrowers shall procure that each Vessel is always employed in conformity with the terms of the instruments of insurance (including any expressed or implied warranties) applicable to it and shall comply with such requirements as to extra premium or otherwise as the insurers may prescribe.

 

(g)

The Agent shall prior to each Utilisation Date, for the account of the Borrowers, appoint an independent and well reputed insurance consultant to consider and determine whether each Vessel is fully and properly insured and employed in accordance with paragraphs (a) – (f) above. If at any time during the Loan Period, the contrary is so determined, the Borrowers shall, following a written request from the Agent (on behalf of the Finance Parties) immediately ensure that the relevant Vessel(s) is fully and properly insured and employed as set out in paragraphs (a) – (f) above and provide the Agent with evidence in a form and substance satisfactory to it thereof.

 

23.2

Notification

The Obligors shall immediately notify the Agent of:


 

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(i)

any accident to a Vessel involving repairs the cost of which is likely to exceed USD 3,000,000;

 

 

(iii)

any occurrence as a result of which a Vessel has become or is, by the passing of time or otherwise, likely to become a Total Loss;

 

 

(iv)

the occurrence of any Environmental Claim against an Obligor or a Vessel which is likely to be determined adversely to it, or any incident, event or circumstances which is likely to give rise to any such Environmental Claim and which, if so adversely determined or otherwise, is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

 

(v)

any capture, seizure, arrest, confiscation or detention of, or the exercise or purported exercise of any lien on, a Vessel, its insurances, its Earnings or any other assets of an Obligor.

 

23.3

Total Loss of a Vessel

In the event that a Vessel shall suffer a Total Loss, the Borrowers shall, within a period of ninety (90) days after the Total Loss Date, obtain and present to the Agent a written confirmation from the relevant insurers that the claim relating to the Total Loss has been accepted in full, or - if sooner - promptly upon receipt of insurance proceeds in respect of the Total Loss, apply such proceeds in prepayment of the Loans. Such prepayment shall in the event of Total Loss in any event be made within one hundred and eighty (180) days from the Total Loss Date, in accordance with Clause 7.3 ( Mandatory prepayment – sale or Total Loss etc. ).

 

23.4

Compliance with laws etc.

Each Obligor shall (and shall ensure that each of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, as well as any manager of any of the Vessels, shall):

 

 

(i)

comply with all laws or regulations:

 

 

(A)

applicable to its business; or

 

 

(B)

applicable to the Vessel, its ownership, employment, operation, management and registration,

 

 

    

including the ISM Code, the ISPS Code, all Environmental Laws, all Sanctions Laws and the laws of the flag of each Vessel; and

 

 

(ii)

obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect any Environmental Approvals,

and without limiting paragraph (a) above, not employ any Vessel nor allow its employment, operation or management in any manner, contrary to any law or regulation including but not limited to the ISM Code, the ISPS Code, all Environmental Laws and all Sanctions Laws.


 

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23.5

Class

 

(a)

The Borrowers shall procure that each Vessel is classified and maintained in the highest class, free of any overdue recommendations, with DNV GL or any other classification society approved by the Majority Lenders, and at all times complies with the rules and regulations of the relevant classification society. The Borrowers shall not change the classification society for a Vessel without the prior written consent of the Lenders.

 

(b)

The Borrowers shall procure that the classification society sends to the Agent, following receipt of a written request from the Agent, copies of all class records held by the classification society in relation to a Vessel.

 

(c)

The Borrowers shall at all times ensure compliance with all international conventions and regulations, including the SOLAS conventions, the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention and the International Ship and Port Security Code adopted by the International Maritime Organisation. In particular, the Borrowers shall ensure compliance with the ISM-Code and shall ensure that any charterer of a Vessel and any company performing management services on behalf of a Borrowers complies with said conventions and regulations.

 

23.6

Repair and maintenance

The Borrowers shall procure that each Vessel is kept in a good and safe condition and state of repair consistent with good ownership and operational standards, and that each Vessel is operated and maintained in accordance with the requirements of any employment contract entered into in respect of it.

 

23.7

Inspection

 

(a)

Each Borrower shall permit, and shall procure that any manager or charterer permits, the Agent (acting through surveyors or other persons appointed by it for that purpose) to board each Vessel once a year and with prior notice to the Borrower owning the relevant Vessel, and provided that such inspection does not unreasonably interfere with the relevant Borrower’s or end user’s normal operations (unless a Default has occurred and is continuing, in which case such inspections may be conducted at any time and on any number of occasions), to inspect its condition or to satisfy itself about proposed or executed repairs, and shall afford all proper facilities for such inspections.

 

(b)

Any such inspection made once a year, or in the event that a Default has occurred and is continuing, shall be made at the cost of the Borrower owning the relevant Vessel, and in any other event such costs shall be carried by the Lenders.

 

23.8

Flag, name and registry

The Borrowers shall procure that each Vessel is registered in an Approved Ship Register, or another ship registry acceptable to the Lenders, in the name of the relevant Borrower, keep each Vessel registered in such register and not do or suffer to be done anything, or omit to do anything the doing or omission of which could or might result in such registration being forfeited or imperilled. No Borrower shall change the flag, name or registry of a Vessel, or register a Vessel simultaneously in more than one registry, without the prior written consent of the Lenders.


 

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23.9

No sale or other disposal

The Obligors shall procure that no Vessel or shares in a Borrower is sold or otherwise disposed of without the prior written consent of the Lenders.

 

23.10

Management

The Borrowers shall procure that commercial and technical management of each Vessel at all times is performed by KNOT Management AS, another company controlled by the Parent Guarantor and/or any such other manager as may be approved by the Majority Lenders. No change of management shall take place without the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders.

 

23.11

Earnings Accounts

 

(a)

Each Borrower shall open and maintain an Earnings Account with the Agent and procure that all Earnings, insurance proceeds, requisition compensation and other sums payable in respect of the Vessel owned by it shall be paid directly to such Earnings Account without deductions.

 

(b)

The amounts credited to the Earnings Accounts shall be freely available to the relevant Borrower as long as no Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

23.12

Minimum value

 

(a)

The Borrowers shall ensure that the aggregate Market Value of the Vessels (plus any additional security previously provided by the Borrowers under paragraph (b) below) is at all times:

 

 

(i)

during the period from and including the first Utilisation Date until the second anniversary thereof, at least equal to 110 per cent. of the aggregate of the principal amount of the Loans;

 

 

(ii)

during the period from and including the second anniversary of the first Utilisation Date until fourth anniversary thereof, at least equal to 120 per cent. of the aggregate of the principal amount of the Loans; and

 

 

(iii)

at any time thereafter at least equal to 125 per cent. of the aggregate of the principal amount of the Loans.

 

(b)

The Borrowers shall, if the Market Value does not at any time comply with the requirements set out in paragraph (a) above, within thirty (30) days from receipt of a written demand from the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) either make a prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Clause 7.6 ( Voluntary prepayment ), or provide the Finance Parties with such additional security, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders, required to restore the aforesaid ratio.

 

24

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

Each of the events or circumstances set out in Clause 24 is an Event of Default (save for Clause 24.16 ( Acceleration )).


 

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24.1

Non-payment

An Obligor does not pay on the due date any amount payable pursuant to a Finance Document at the place and in the currency in which it is expressed to be payable unless:

 

 

(i)

its failure to pay is caused by:

 

 

(A)

a one-off administrative or technical error; or

 

 

(B)

a Disruption Event; and

 

 

(ii)

payment is made within three (3) Business Days of its due date.

 

24.2

Financial covenants

Any requirement of Clause 21 ( Financial covenants ) is not satisfied, or an Obligor does not comply with the provisions of Clause 20 ( Information undertakings ).

 

24.3

Other obligations

 

(a)

An Obligor does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents (other than those referred to in Clause 24.1 ( Non-payment ) and Clause 24.2 ( Financial covenants )).

 

(b)

No Event of Default under paragraph (a) above will occur if the failure to comply is capable of remedy and is remedied within fifteen (15) Business Days of the earlier of:

 

 

(i)

the Agent giving notice to the Borrower; and

 

 

(ii)

an Obligor becoming aware of the failure to comply.

 

(c)

For the avoidance of doubt, a breach of Clause 23.1 ( Insurances ) is not (at the discretion of the Lenders) capable of remedy.

 

24.4

Misrepresentation

Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by an Obligor in the Finance Documents or any other document delivered by or on behalf of any Obligor under or in connection with any Finance Document is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to be made.

 

24.5

Cross-default

 

(a)

Any Financial Indebtedness of an Obligor is not paid when due nor within any originally applicable grace period.

 

(b)

Any Financial Indebtedness of an Obligor is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described).

 

(c)

Any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of an Obligor is cancelled or suspended by a creditor of the relevant Obligor as a result of an event of default (however described).


 

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(d)

Any creditor of an Obligor becomes entitled to declare any Financial Indebtedness of an Obligor due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described).

 

(e)

No Event of Default will occur under this Clause 24.5 if the aggregate amount of Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness falling within paragraphs (a) to (d) above is less than USD 8,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currencies).

 

24.6

Insolvency

 

(a)

An Obligor is, or for the purpose of applicable law is deemed to be, unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due or becomes insolvent.

 

(b)

An Obligor suspends making payments on any of its debts or, by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness.

 

(c)

The value of the assets of an Obligor is less than its liabilities (taking into account contingent and prospective liabilities).

 

(d)

A moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of an Obligor.

 

24.7

Insolvency proceedings

 

(a)

Any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in relation to:

 

 

(i)

the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of an Obligor;

 

 

(ii)

a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of an Obligor;

 

 

(iii)

the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of an Obligor any of its assets;

 

 

(iv)

enforcement of any Security over any assets of an Obligor,

or any analogous procedure or step is taken in any jurisdiction.

 

(b)

Paragraph (a) above shall not apply to any winding-up petition which is being contested in good faith and with due diligence and is discharged, stayed or dismissed within 14 days of commencement.

 

24.8

Creditor’s process

Any expropriation, attachment, sequestration, lien, arrest, distress or execution affects any asset or assets of an Obligor, and is not discharged within 14 days of commencement.


 

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24.9

Cessation of business or winding up

An Obligor is wound up or ceases or threatens to cease to carry on all or a substantial part of its business or makes a substantial change in the nature of its business, without the prior written consent of the Lenders.

 

24.10

Loss of property

A substantial part of an Obligor’s business or assets is destroyed, abandoned, seized, appropriated or forfeited for any reason provided, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, that such occurrence has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

24.11

Failure to comply with final judgment

An Obligor fails (within five (5) Business Days after becoming obliged to do so) to comply with or pay any sum in an amount exceeding USD 8,000,000 (or the equivalent in any other currencies) due from it under any final judgment or any final order (being one against which there is no right of appeal or if a right of appeal exists the time limit for making such appeal has expired and no appeal has been made or if an appeal has been made such appeal has been dismissed) made or given by any court of competent jurisdiction, provided, however, that such event shall not constitute an Event of Default if the relevant Obligor is entitled to insurance cover for the whole of such sum and the relevant insurers have confirmed liability and undertaken to make payment of the whole of such sum in writing to the person(s) entitled to payment and it is likely (in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders) that the insurers will be able to make such payment within 30 days.

 

24.12

Unlawfulness and invalidity

 

(a)

It is or becomes unlawful for an Obligor to perform any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or any Transaction Security created or expressed to be created or evidenced by the Security Documents ceases to be effective or any subordination created in respect of a Subordinated Loan is or becomes unlawful.

 

(b)

Any obligation or obligations of any Obligor under any Finance Documents are not (subject to the Legal Reservations) or cease to be legal, valid, binding or enforceable and the cessation individually or cumulatively materially and adversely affects the interests of the Lenders under the Finance Documents.

 

(c)

Any Finance Document ceases to be in full force and effect or any Transaction Security or any subordination of any Subordinated Loan ceases to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable or effective or is alleged by a party to it (other than a Finance Party) to be ineffective.

 

24.13

Repudiation and rescission of agreements

 

(a)

An Obligor (or any other relevant party) rescinds or purports to rescind or repudiates or purports to repudiate a Finance Document or any of the Transaction Security or evidences an intention to rescind or repudiate a Finance Document or any Transaction Security.

 

(b)

Any party to an agreement or instrument entered into in relation to a Subordinated Loan rescinds or purports to rescind or repudiates or purports to repudiate any such agreement or instrument in whole or in part where to do so has or is, in the reasonable opinion of the


 

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Majority Lenders, likely to have a material adverse effect on the interests of the Lenders under the Finance Documents.

 

24.14

Litigation

Any litigation, arbitration, administrative, governmental, regulatory or other investigations, proceedings or disputes are commenced or threatened in relation to the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents or against any member of the Group or its assets which have or are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

24.15

Material adverse change

Any event or circumstance occurs which the Majority Lenders reasonably believe has or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

24.16

Acceleration

On and at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing the Agent may, and shall if so directed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrowers:-

 

 

(i)

cancel all or any part of the Commitments whereupon they shall immediately be cancelled;

 

 

(ii)

declare that all or part of the Loans, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents be immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall become immediately due and payable;

 

 

(iii)

declare that all or part of the Loans be payable on demand, whereupon they shall immediately become payable on demand by the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders; and/or

 

 

(iv)

exercise any or all of its rights, remedies, powers or discretions under the Finance Documents.

 

25

CHANGES TO THE LENDERS

 

25.1

Transfers by the Lenders

Subject to this Clause 25, a Lender (the “ Existing Lender ”) may:

 

 

(i)

assign any of its rights; or

 

 

(ii)

transfer any of its rights and obligations,

under the Finance Documents to another bank or financial institution or to a trust, fund or other entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (the “ New Lender ”).


 

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25.2

Conditions of assignment or transfer

 

(a)

The consent of the Agent and the Borrowers is required for an assignment or transfer by an Existing Lender, unless the assignment or transfer is to another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

(b)

The consent of the Agent and the Borrowers to an assignment or transfer must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Each Borrower will be deemed to have given its consent five (5) Business Days after the Existing Lender has requested it unless consent is expressly refused by the relevant Borrower within that time.

 

(c)

Unless the Borrowers and the relevant Lender otherwise agree, each assignment or transfer by an Existing Lender shall be in an amount equal to no less than USD 20,000,000, or, if lower, the entire participation of the relevant Lender under each of the Facilities.

 

(d)

An assignment or transfer will only be effective if the procedure set out in Clause 25.5 ( Procedure for transfer ) is complied with.

 

(e)

If:

 

 

(i)

a Lender assigns or transfers any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents or changes its Facility Office; and

 

 

(ii)

as a result of circumstances existing at the date the assignment, transfer or change occurs, a Borrower would be obliged to make a payment to the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office under Clause 12 ( Tax gross-up and indemnities ) or Clause 13 ( Increased Costs ),

then the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office is only entitled to receive payment under those Clauses to the same extent as the Existing Lender or Lender acting through its previous Facility Office would have been if the assignment, transfer or change had not occurred. This paragraph (e) shall not apply in respect of an assignment or transfer made in the ordinary course of the primary syndication of the Facilities.

 

(f)

Each New Lender, by executing the relevant Transfer Certificate, confirms, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the date on which the transfer becomes effective in accordance with this Agreement and that it is bound by that decision to the same extent as the Existing Lender would have been had it remained a Lender.

 

25.3

Transfer fee

The New Lender shall, on the date upon which a transfer takes effect, pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee of USD 3,500.

 

25.4

Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders

 

(a)

Unless expressly agreed to the contrary, an Existing Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility to a New Lender for:

 

 

(i)

the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the Finance Documents or any other documents;


 

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(ii)

the financial condition of any Obligor;

 

 

(iii)

the performance and observance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Finance Documents or any other documents; or

 

 

(iv)

the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Finance Document or any other document,

and any representations or warranties implied by law are excluded.

 

(b)

Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender and the other Finance Parties that it:

 

 

(i)

has made (and shall continue to make) its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and its related entities in connection with its participation in this Agreement and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

 

(ii)

will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and its related entities whilst any amount is or may be outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

(c)

Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to:

 

 

(i)

accept a re-transfer from a New Lender of any of the rights and obligations transferred under this Clause 25;

 

 

(ii)

support any losses directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Finance Documents or otherwise.

 

25.5

Procedure for transfer

 

(a)

Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 25.2 ( Conditions of assignment or transfer ) a transfer is effected in accordance with paragraph (c) below when the Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Agent shall, subject to paragraph (b) below, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Transfer Certificate appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Transfer Certificate.

 

(b)

The Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the transfer to such New Lender.

 

(c)

On the Transfer Date:

 

 

(i)

to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to transfer its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents each of the Obligors and the Existing Lender shall be released from further obligations towards one another under the Finance Documents and their respective rights against one another under


 

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  the Finance Documents shall be cancelled (being the “ Discharged Rights and Obligations ”);

 

 

(ii)

each of the Obligors and the New Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another which differ from the Discharged Rights and Obligations only insofar as that Obligor and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of that Obligor and the Existing Lender;

 

 

(iii)

the Agent, the New Lender and other Lenders shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves as they would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original Lender with the rights and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the transfer and to that extent the Agent and the Existing Lender shall each be released from further obligations to each other under the Finance Documents; and

 

 

(iv)

the New Lender shall become a Party as a “Lender”.

 

25.6

Copy of Transfer Certificate to the Borrowers

The Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after it has executed a Transfer Certificate, send to the Borrowers a copy of that Transfer Certificate.

 

25.7

Accession of Hedging Banks

Any Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender which shall become a party to this Agreement as a Hedging Bank shall execute a document in the form required by the Agent whereby it shall accede to this Agreement as a Hedging Bank.

 

25.8

Security over Lenders’ rights

In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this Clause 25, each Lender may without consulting with or obtaining consent from any Obligor, at any time charge, assign or otherwise create security in or over (whether by way of collateral or otherwise) all or any of its rights under any Finance Document to secure obligations of that Lender including, without limitation:

 

 

(i)

any charge, assignment or other Security to secure obligations to a federal reserve or central bank; and

 

 

(ii)

in the case of any Lender which is a fund, any charge, assignment or other security granted to any holders (or trustee or representatives of holders) of obligations owed, or securities issued, by that Lender as security for those obligations or securities,

except that no such charge, assignment or security shall:

 

 

(iii)

release a Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or substitute the beneficiary of the relevant charge, assignment or security for the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or


 

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(iv)

require any payments to be made by an Obligor other than or in excess of, or grant to any person any more extensive rights than, those required to be made or granted to the relevant Lender under the Finance Documents.

 

26

CHANGES TO THE OBLIGORS

 

26.1

Assignments and transfer by Obligors

No Obligor may assign, transfer or dispose of any of, or any interest in, its rights and/or obligations under any of the Finance Documents.

 

27

THE ROLE OF THE AGENT AND THE ARRANGERS

 

27.1

Appointment of the Agent

 

(a)

Each other Finance Party appoints the Agent to act as its agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

(b)

Each other Finance Party authorises the Agent to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions.

 

27.2

Duties of the Agent

 

(a)

Subject to paragraph (b) below, the Agent shall promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Agent for that Party by any other Party.

 

(b)

Without prejudice to Clause 25.6 ( Copy of Transfer Certificate to the Borrowers ), paragraph (a) above shall not apply to any Transfer Certificate.

 

(c)

Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, the Agent is not obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party.

 

(d)

If the Agent (in its capacity as agent) receives notice from a Party referring to this Agreement, describing a Default and stating that the circumstance described is a Default, it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties.

 

(e)

If the Agent (in its capacity as agent) is aware of the non-payment of any principal, interest, commitment fee or other fee payable to a Finance Party (other than the Agent or the Arrangers) under this Agreement it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties.

 

(f)

The Agent’s duties under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature.

 

27.3

Role of the Arrangers

Except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, no Arranger has any obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance Document.


 

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27.4

No fiduciary duties

 

(a)

Nothing in this Agreement constitutes the Agent or an Arranger as a trustee or fiduciary of any other person.

 

(b)

Neither the Agent nor any Arranger shall be bound to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account.

 

27.5

Business with the Group

The Agent and the Arrangers may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with any member of the Group.

 

27.6

Rights and discretions of the Agent

 

(a)

The Agent may rely on:

 

 

(i)

any representation, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorized; and

 

 

(ii)

any statement made by a director, authorised signatory or employee of any person regarding any matters which may reasonably be assumed to be within his knowledge or within his power to verify.

 

(b)

The Agent may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as agent for the Lenders) that:

 

 

(i)

no Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of a Default arising under Clause 24.1 ( Non-payment ));

 

 

(ii)

any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or the Majority Lenders has not been exercised; and

 

 

(iii)

any notice made by the Parent Guarantor or a Borrower is made on behalf of and with the consent and knowledge of all the Obligors.

 

(c)

The Agent may engage, pay for and rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, surveyors or other experts.

 

(d)

The Agent may act in relation to the Finance Documents through its personnel and agents.

 

(e)

The Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has received as agent under this Agreement.

 

(f)

Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (e) above, the Agent may disclose the identity of a Defaulting Lender to the other Finance Parties and the Obligors and shall disclose the same upon the written request of the Borrowers or the Majority Lenders.

 

(g)

Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Agent nor any Arranger is obliged to do or omit to do anything if it would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality.


 

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27.7

Majority Lenders’ instructions

 

(a)

Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, the Agent shall (i) exercise any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent in accordance with any instructions given to it by the Majority Lenders (or, if so instructed by the Majority Lenders, refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent) and (ii) not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from taking any action) in accordance with an instruction of the Majority Lenders.

 

(b)

Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given by the Majority Lenders will be binding on all the Finance Parties.

 

(c)

The Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with the instructions of the Majority Lenders (or, if appropriate, the Lenders) until it has received such security as it may require for any cost, loss or liability (together with any associated VAT) which it may incur in complying with the instructions.

 

(d)

In the absence of instructions from the Majority Lenders, (or, if appropriate, the Lenders) the Agent may act (or refrain from taking action) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Lenders.

 

(e)

The Agent is not authorised to act on behalf of a Lender (without first obtaining that Lender’s consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document.

 

27.8

Responsibility for documentation

Neither the Agent nor any Arranger:

 

 

(i)

is responsible for the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by the Agent, an Arranger, an Obligor or any other person given in or in connection with any Finance Document or the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents;

 

 

(ii)

is responsible for the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of or in connection with any Finance Document; or

 

 

(iii)

is responsible for any determination as to whether any information provided or to be provided to any Finance Party is non-public information the use of which may be regulated or prohibited by applicable law or regulation relating to insider dealing or otherwise.

 

27.9

Exclusion of liability

 

(a)

Without limiting paragraph (b) below, the Agent will not be liable for any action taken by it under or in connection with any Finance Document, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

(b)

No Party (other than the Agent) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of the Agent in respect of any claim it might have against the Agent or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document and any officer, employee or agent of the Agent may rely on this Clause 27.9.


 

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(c)

The Agent will not be liable for any delay (or any related consequences) in crediting an account with an amount required under the Finance Documents to be paid by the Agent if the Agent has taken all necessary steps as soon as reasonably practicable to comply with the regulations or operating procedures of any recognised clearing or settlement system used by the Agent for that purpose.

 

(d)

Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Agent or an Arranger to carry out any “know your customer” or other checks in relation to any person on behalf of any Lender and each Lender confirms to the Agent and each Arranger that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Agent or an Arranger.

 

27.10

Lenders’ indemnity to the Agent

Each Lender shall (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately prior to their reduction to zero) indemnify the Agent, within three (3) Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Agent (otherwise than by reason of the Agent’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct) in acting as Agent under the Finance Documents (unless the Agent has been reimbursed by an Obligor pursuant to a Finance Document).

 

27.11

Resignation of the Agent

 

(a)

The Agent may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates as successor by giving notice to the Lenders and the Borrowers.

 

(b)

Alternatively the Agent may resign by giving thirty (30) days notice to the Lenders and the Borrowers, in which case the Majority Lenders (after consultation with the Borrowers) may appoint a successor Agent.

 

(c)

If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) above within twenty (20) days after notice of resignation was given, the retiring Agent (after consultation with the Borrowers) may appoint a successor Agent.

 

(d)

If the Agent wishes to resign because (acting reasonably) it has concluded that it is no longer appropriate for it to remain as agent and the Agent is entitled to appoint a successor Agent under paragraph (c) above, the Agent may (if it concludes (acting reasonably) that it is necessary to do so in order to persuade the proposed successor Agent to become a party to this Agreement as Agent) agree with the proposed successor Agent amendments to this Clause 27 and any other term of this Agreement dealing with the rights or obligations of the Agent consistent with then current market practice for the appointment and protection of corporate trustees together with any reasonable amendments to the agency fee payable under this Agreement which are consistent with the successor Agent’s normal fee rates and those amendments will bind the Parties.

 

(e)

The retiring Agent shall, at its own cost, make available to the successor Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent under the Finance Documents.

 

(f)

The Agent’s resignation notice shall only take effect upon the appointment of a successor.


 

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(g)

Upon the appointment of a successor, the retiring Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents but shall remain entitled to the benefit of this Clause 27. Any successor and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party.

 

(h)

The Agent shall resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above (and, to the extent applicable, shall use reasonable endeavours to appoint a successor Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) above) if on or after the date which is three (3) months before the earliest FATCA Application Date relating to any payment to the Agent under the Finance Documents, either:

 

 

(i)

the Agent fails to respond to a request under Clause 12.7 ( FATCA information ) and a Lender reasonably believes that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date;

 

 

(ii)

the information supplied by the Agent pursuant to Clause 12.7 ( FATCA information ) indicates that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; or

 

 

(iii)

the Agent notifies the Borrowers and the Lenders that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date,

and (in each case) a Lender reasonably believes that a Party will be required to make a FATCA Deduction that would not be required if the Agent were a FATCA Exempt Party, and that Lender, by notice to the Agent, requires it to resign.

 

27.12

Replacement of the Agent

 

(a)

After consultation with the Borrowers, the Majority Lenders may, by giving thirty (30) days’ notice to the Agent (or, at any time the Agent is an Impaired Agent, by giving any shorter notice determined by the Majority Lenders) replace the Agent by appointing a successor Agent.

 

(b)

The retiring Agent shall (at its own cost if it is an Impaired Agent and otherwise at the expense of the Lenders) make available to the successor Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent under the Finance Documents.

 

(c)

The appointment of the successor Agent shall take effect on the date specified in the notice from the Majority Lenders to the retiring Agent. As from this date, the retiring Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents but shall remain entitled to the benefit of this Clause 27 (and any agency fees for the account of the retiring Agent shall cease to accrue from (and shall be payable on) that date).

 

(d)

Any successor Agent and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party.

 

27.13

Confidentiality

 

(a)

In acting as agent for the Finance Parties, the Agent shall be regarded as acting through its agency division which shall be treated as a separate entity from any other of its divisions or departments.


 

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(b)

If information is received by another division or department of the Agent, it may be treated as confidential to that division or department and the Agent shall not be deemed to have notice of it.

 

(c)

Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Agent nor any Arranger is obliged to disclose to any other person (i) any confidential information or (ii) any other information if the disclosure would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or a breach of a fiduciary duty.

 

27.14

Relationship with the Lenders

 

(a)

The Agent may treat the person shown in its records as Lender at the opening of business (in the place of the Agent’s principal office as notified to the Finance Parties from time to time) as the Lender acting through its Facility Office.

 

(b)

Any Lender may by notice to the Agent appoint a person to receive on its behalf all notices, communications, information and documents to be made or despatched to that Lender under the Finance Documents. Such notice shall contain the address, fax number and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by that means (and, in each case, the department or officer, if any, for whose attention communication is to be made) and be treated as a notification of a substitute address, fax number, electronic mail address, department and officer by that Lender for the purposes of Clause 32.2 ( Addresses ) and the Agent shall be entitled to treat such person as the person entitled to receive all such notices, communications, information and documents as though that person were that Lender.

 

27.15

Credit appraisal by the Lenders

Without affecting the responsibility of any Obligor for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender confirms to the Agent and each Arranger that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with any Finance Document including but not limited to:

 

 

(i)

the financial condition, status and nature of each member of the Group;

 

 

(ii)

the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document;

 

 

(iii)

whether that Lender has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

 

(iv)

the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information provided by the Agent, any Party or by any other person under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document.


 

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27.16

Reference Banks

If a Reference Bank (or, if a Reference Bank is not a Lender, the Lender of which it is an Affiliate) ceases to be a Lender, the Agent shall (in consultation with the Borrowers) appoint another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender to replace that Reference Bank.

 

27.17

Deduction from amounts payable by the Agent

If any Party owes an amount to the Agent under the Finance Documents the Agent may, after giving notice to that Party, deduct an amount not exceeding that amount from any payment to that Party which the Agent would otherwise be obliged to make under the Finance Documents and apply the amount deducted in or towards satisfaction of the amount owed. For the purposes of the Finance Documents that Party shall be regarded as having received any amount so deducted.

 

28

CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY THE FINANCE PARTIES

No provision of this Agreement will:

 

 

(i)

interfere with the right of any Finance Party to arrange its affairs (tax or otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit;

 

 

(ii)

oblige any Finance Party to investigate or claim any credit, relief, remission or repayment available to it or the extent, order and manner of any claim; or

 

 

(iii)

oblige any Finance Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs (tax or otherwise) or any computations in respect of Tax.

 

29

SHARING AMONG THE FINANCE PARTIES

 

29.1

Payments to the Finance Parties

Subject to paragraph (b) below, if a Finance Party (a “ Recovering Finance Party ”) receives or recovers any amount from an Obligor other than in accordance with Clause 30 ( Payment mechanics ) (a “ Recovered Amount ”) and applies that amount to a payment due under the Finance Documents then:

 

 

(i)

the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three (3) Business Days, notify details of the receipt or recovery, to the Agent;

 

 

(ii)

the Agent shall determine whether the receipt or recovery is in excess of the amount the Recovering Finance Party would have been paid had the receipt or recovery been received or made by the Agent and distributed in accordance with Clause 30 ( Payment mechanics ), without taking account of any Tax which would be imposed on the Agent in relation to the receipt, recovery or distribution; and

 

 

(iii)

the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three (3) Business Days of demand by the Agent, pay to the Agent an amount (the “ Sharing Payment ”) equal to such receipt or recovery less any amount which the Agent determines may be retained by the Recovering Finance Party as its share of any payment to be made, in accordance with Clause 30.6 ( Partial payments ).


 

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29.2

Redistribution of payments

The Agent shall treat the Sharing Payment as if it had been paid by the relevant Obligor and distribute it between the Finance Parties (other than the Recovering Finance Party) (the “ Sharing Finance Parties ”) in accordance with Clause 30.6 ( Partial payments ) towards the obligations of that Obligor to the Sharing Finance Parties.

 

29.3

Recovering Finance Party’s rights

On a distribution by the Agent under Clause 29.2 ( Redistribution of payments ) of a payment received by a Recovering Finance Party from an Obligor, as between the relevant Obligor and the Recovering Finance Party, an amount of the Recovered Amount equal to the Sharing Payment will be treated as not having been paid by that Obligor.

 

29.4

Reversal of redistribution

If any part of the Sharing Payment received or recovered by a Recovering Finance Party becomes repayable and is repaid by that Recovering Finance Party, then:

 

 

(i)

each Sharing Finance Party shall, upon request of the Agent, pay to the Agent for the account of that Recovering Finance Party an amount equal to the appropriate part of its share of the Sharing Payment (together with an amount as is necessary to reimburse that Recovering Finance Party for its proportion of any interest on the Sharing Payment which that Recovering Finance Party is required to pay) (the “ Redistributed Amount ”); and

 

 

(ii)

as between the relevant Obligor and each relevant Sharing Finance Party, an amount equal to the relevant Redistributed Amount will be treated as not having been paid by that Obligor.

 

29.5

Exceptions

 

(a)

This Clause 29 shall not apply to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party would not, after making any payment pursuant to this Clause, have a valid and enforceable claim against the relevant Obligor.

 

(b)

A Recovering Finance Party is not obliged to share with any other Finance Party any amount which the Recovering Finance Party has received or recovered as a result of taking legal or arbitration proceedings, if:

 

 

(i)

it notified the other Finance Party of the legal or arbitration proceedings; and

 

 

(ii)

the other Finance Party had an opportunity to participate in those legal or arbitration proceedings but did not do so as soon as reasonably practicable having received notice and did not take separate legal or arbitration proceedings.

 

29.6

Distribution of enforcement proceeds

All moneys from time to time received or recovered by the Agent in connection with the realisation and enforcement of all or any part of the Transaction Security shall be held by the


 

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Agent on trust to apply them as soon as reasonably practicable and to the extent permitted by applicable law, in the following order of priority:

 

 

(i)

firstly , in or towards payment of costs and expenses incurred by the Agent and the other Finance Parties in connection with such realisation and enforcement;

 

 

(ii)

secondly , in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under the Finance Documents other than any Hedging Agreements; and

 

 

(iii)

thirdly , in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under any Hedging Agreements.

 

30

PAYMENT MECHANICS

 

30.1

Payments to the Agent

 

(a)

On each date on which an Obligor or a Lender is required to make a payment under a Finance Document, that Obligor or Lender shall make the same available to the Agent (unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document) for value on the due date at the time and in such funds specified by the Agent as being customary at the time for settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place of payment.

 

(b)

Payment shall be made to such account in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency with such bank as the Agent specifies.

 

30.2

Distributions by the Agent

Each payment received by the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party shall, subject to Clause 30.3 ( Distributions to an Obligor ) and Clause 30.4 ( Clawback ) be made available by the Agent as soon as practicable after receipt to the Party entitled to receive payment in accordance with this Agreement (in the case of a Lender, for the account of its Facility Office), to such account as that Party may notify to the Agent by not less than five (5) Business Days’ notice with a bank in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency.

 

30.3

Distributions to an Obligor

The Agent may (with the consent of the relevant Obligor or in accordance with Clause 31 ( Set-Off )) apply any amount received by it for that Obligor in or towards payment (on the date and in the currency and funds of receipt) of any amount due from that Obligor under the Finance Documents or in or towards purchase of any amount of any currency to be so applied.

 

30.4

Clawback

 

(a)

Where a sum is to be paid to the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party, the Agent is not obliged to pay that sum to that other Party (or to enter into or perform any related exchange contract) until it has been able to establish to its satisfaction that it has actually received that sum.


 

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(b)

If the Agent pays an amount to another Party and it proves to be the case that the Agent had not actually received that amount, then the Party to whom that amount (or the proceeds of any related exchange contract) was paid by the Agent shall on demand refund the same to the Agent together with interest on that amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt by the Agent, calculated by the Agent to reflect its cost of funds.

 

30.5

Impaired Agent

 

(a)

If, at any time, the Agent becomes an Impaired Agent, an Obligor or a Lender which is required to make a payment under the Finance Documents to the Agent in accordance with Clause 30.1 ( Payments to the Agent ) may instead either pay that amount direct to the required recipient or pay that amount to an interest-bearing account held with an Acceptable Bank and in relation to which no Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing, in the name of the Obligor or the Lender making the payment and designated as a trust account for the benefit of the Party or Parties beneficially entitled to that payment under the Finance Documents. In each case such payments must be made on the due date for payment under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)

All interest accrued on the amount standing to the credit of the trust account shall be for the benefit of the beneficiaries of that trust account pro rata to their respective entitlements.

 

(c)

A Party which has made a payment in accordance with this Clause 30.5 shall be discharged of the relevant payment obligation under the Finance Documents and shall not take any credit risk with respect to the amounts standing to the credit of the trust account.

 

(d)

Promptly upon the appointment of a successor Agent in accordance with Clause 27.12 ( Replacement of the Agent ), each Party which has made a payment to a trust account in accordance with this Clause 30.5 shall give all requisite instructions to the bank with whom the trust account is held to transfer the amount (together with any accrued interest) to the successor Agent for distribution in accordance with Clause 30.2 ( Distributions by the Agent ).

 

30.6

Partial payments

 

(a)

If the Agent receives a payment for application against amounts due in respect of any Finance Documents that is insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due and payable by an Obligor under those Finance Documents, the Agent shall apply that payment towards the obligations of that Obligor under those Finance Documents in the following order:

 

 

(i)

first , in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses of the Agent under those Finance Documents;

 

 

(ii)

secondly , in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued interest, fee or commission due but unpaid under those Finance Documents (other than any Hedging Agreements);

 

 

(iii)

thirdly , in or towards payment pro rata of any principal due but unpaid under those Finance Documents (other than any Hedging Agreements);

 

 

(iv)

fourthly , in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under the Finance Documents (other than any Hedging Agreements); and

 

 

(v)

fifthly , in or towards payment pro rata of any sum due but unpaid under the Hedging Agreements.


 

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(b)

The Agent shall, if so directed by the Lenders, vary the order set out in paragraphs (a)(ii) to (iv) above.

 

(c)

Paragraphs (a) and (b) above will override any appropriation made by an Obligor.

 

30.7

No set-off by Obligors

All payments to be made by an Obligor under the Finance Documents shall be calculated and be made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or counterclaim.

 

30.8

Business Days

 

(a)

Any payment which is due to be made on a day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).

 

(b)

During any extension of the due date for payment of any principal or Unpaid Sum under this Agreement interest is payable on the principal or Unpaid Sum at the rate payable on the original due date.

 

30.9

Currency of account

 

(a)

Subject to paragraphs (b) to (e) below, USD is the currency of account and payment for any sum due from an Obligor under any Finance Document.

 

(b)

A repayment of a Loan or Unpaid Sum or a part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum shall be made in the currency in which that Loan or Unpaid Sum is denominated on its due date.

 

(c)

Each payment of interest shall be made in the currency in which the sum in respect of which the interest is payable was denominated when that interest accrued.

 

(d)

Each payment in respect of costs, expenses or Taxes shall be made in the currency in which the costs, expenses or Taxes are incurred.

 

(e)

Any amount expressed to be payable in a currency other than USD shall be paid in that other currency.

 

30.10

Change of currency

 

(a)

Unless otherwise prohibited by law, if more than one currency or currency unit are at the same time recognised by the central bank of any country as the lawful currency of that country, then:

 

 

(i)

any reference in the Finance Documents to, and any obligations arising under the Finance Documents in, the currency of that country shall be translated into, or paid in, the currency or currency unit of that country designated by the Agent (after consultation with the Borrowers); and

 

 

(ii)

any translation from one currency or currency unit to another shall be at the official rate of exchange recognised by the central bank for the conversion of that currency


 

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  or currency unit into the other, rounded up or down by the Agent (acting reasonably).

 

(b)

If a change in any currency of a country occurs, this Agreement will, to the extent the Agent (acting reasonably and after consultation with the Borrowers) specifies to be necessary, be amended to comply with any generally accepted conventions and market practice in the relevant interbank market and otherwise to reflect the change in currency.

 

31

SET-OFF

A Finance Party may set off any matured obligation due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (to the extent beneficially owned by that Finance Party) against any obligation owed by that Finance Party to that Obligor, regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation. If the obligations are in different currencies, the Finance Party may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in its usual course of business for the purpose of the set-off.

 

32

NOTICES

 

32.1

Communications in writing

Any communication to be made under or in connection with the Finance Documents shall be made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by fax, e-mail or letter.

 

32.2

Addresses

The postal address, e-mail address and fax number (and the department or officer, if any, for whose attention the communication is to be made) of the Agent and the Borrowers for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents is:

 

 

(i)

of the Agent :

 

    

Nordea Bank Norge ASA

    

Essendrops gate 7

    

NO-0368 Oslo

    

Norway

 

    

Telefax:            +47 22 48 66 68

 

    

Attn.: Nordea Agency

 

 

 

(iii)

of the Borrowers :

 

    

c/o KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS

    

Smedasundet 40

    

NO-5529 Haugesund

    

Norway

 

    

Telefax:            +47 52 70 40 40


 

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E-mail: omk@knotgroup.com

 

    

Attn.: Øystein M. Kalleklev

or any substitute postal address, e-mail address or fax number or department or officer as the Party may notify to the Agent (or the Agent may notify to the other Parties, if a change is made by the Agent) by the giving of not less than five (5) Business Days’ notice.

 

32.3

Delivery

 

(a)

Any communication or document made or delivered by one person to another under or in connection with the Finance Documents will only be effective:

 

 

(i)

if by way of fax or e-mail, when received in legible form; or

 

 

(ii)

if by way of letter, when it has been left at the relevant address or five (5) Business Days after being deposited in the post postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to it at that address;

and, if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address details provided under Clause 32.2 ( Addresses ), if addressed to that department or officer.

 

(b)

Any communication or document to be made or delivered to the Agent will be effective only when actually received by the Agent and then only if it is expressly marked for the attention of the department or officer identified with the Agent’s signature below (or any substitute department or officer as the Agent shall specify for this purpose).

 

(c)

All notices from or to an Obligor shall be sent through the Agent.

 

32.4

Notification of postal address, e-mail address and fax number

Promptly upon receipt of notification of a postal address, e-mail address or fax number or change of postal address, e-mail address or fax number pursuant to Clause 32.2 ( Addresses ) or changing its own postal address, e-mail address or fax number, the Agent shall notify the other Parties.

 

32.5

Electronic communication

 

(a)

Any communication to be made between any two Parties under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means, to the extent that those two Parties agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication and if those two Parties:

 

 

(i)

notify each other in writing of their electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by that means; and

 

 

(ii)

notify each other of any change to their address or any other such information supplied by them by not less than five (5) Business Days’ notice.

 

(b)

Any electronic communication made between those two parties will be effective only when actually received in readable form and in the case of any electronic communication made by


 

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  a Party to the Agent only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Agent shall specify for this purpose.

 

(c)

Any electronic communication which becomes effective, in accordance with paragraph (b) above, after 4.00 p.m. in the place of receipt shall be deemed only to become effective on the following day.

 

32.6

English language

 

(a)

Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document must be in English.

 

(b)

All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document must be:

 

 

(i)

in English; or

 

 

(ii)

if not in English, and if so required by the Agent, accompanied by a certified English translation and, in this case, the English translation will prevail unless the document is a constitutional, statutory or other official document.

 

33

CALCULATIONS AND CERTIFICATES

 

33.1

Accounts

In any litigation or arbitration proceedings arising out of or in connection with a Finance Document, the entries made in the accounts maintained by a Finance Party are prima facie evidence of the matters to which they relate.

 

33.2

Certificates and determinations

Any certification or determination by a Finance Party of a rate or amount under any Finance Document is, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive evidence of the matters to which it relates.

 

33.3

Day count convention

Any interest, commission or fee accruing under a Finance Document will accrue from day to day and is calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360 days or, in any case where the practice in the relevant interbank market differs, in accordance with that market practice.

 

34

PARTIAL INVALIDITY

If, at any time, any provision of the Finance Documents is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions nor the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction will in any way be affected or impaired.


 

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35

REMEDIES AND WAIVERS

No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Finance Party, any right or remedy under the Finance Documents shall operate as a waiver, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy prevent any further or other exercise or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided in this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

36

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

36.1

Required consents

 

(a)

Subject to Clause 36.2 ( Exceptions ) any term of the Finance Documents may be amended or waived only with the consent of the Majority Lenders and the Obligors and any such amendment or waiver will be binding on all Parties.

 

(b)

The Agent may effect, on behalf of any Finance Party, any amendment or waiver permitted by this Clause 36.

 

36.2

Exceptions

 

(a)

An amendment or waiver that has the effect of changing or which relates to:

 

 

(i)

the definition of “Majority Lenders” in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions );

 

 

(ii)

an extension to the date of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents;

 

 

(iii)

a reduction in the Margin or a reduction in the amount of any payment of principal, interest, fees or commission payable;

 

 

(iv)

an increase in or an extension of any Commitment;

 

 

(v)

a change to the Borrowers or the Guarantors;

 

 

(vi)

any provision which expressly requires the consent of all the Lenders;

 

 

(vii)

Clauses 2.3 ( Finance Parties’ rights and obligations ), 25 ( Changes to the Lenders ), or this Clause 36; or

 

 

(viii)

the release of any guarantee and indemnity granted under Clause 18 ( Guarantee and indemnity ) or of any Transaction Security unless permitted under this Agreement or any other Finance Document or relating to a sale or disposal of an asset which is the subject of the Transaction Security where such sale or disposal is expressly permitted under this Agreement or any other Finance Document,

may not be effected without the consent of all the Lenders.

 

(b)

An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Agent or an Arranger (each in its capacity as such) may not be effected without the consent of the Agent or the relevant Arranger.


 

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36.3

Replacement of Lender

 

(a)

If any Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender (as defined in paragraph (d) below), then the Borrowers may, on five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Agent and such Lender, replace such Lender by requiring such Lender to (and, to the extent permitted by law, such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to Clause 25 ( Changes to the Lenders ) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a Lender or other bank or financial institution (a “ Replacement Lender ”) selected by the Borrowers, which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of the transferring Lender in accordance with Clause 25 ( Changes to the Lenders ) for a purchase price in cash payable at the time of transfer in an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s participation in the outstanding Utilisations and all accrued interest, Break Costs and other amounts payable in relation thereto under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)

The replacement of a Lender pursuant to this Clause 36.3 shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

 

(i)

the Borrowers shall indemnify the Finance Parties in respect of all costs incurred by the Finance Parties in connection with the replacement of the Non-Consenting Lender;

 

 

(ii)

the Borrowers shall have no right to replace the Agent;

 

 

(iii)

neither the Agent nor the Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrowers to find a Replacement Lender;

 

 

(iv)

in the event of a replacement of a Non-Consenting Lender such replacement must take place no later than thirty (30) days after the date on which that Lender is deemed a Non-Consenting Lender;

 

 

(v)

in no event shall the Lender replaced under this Clause 36.3 be required to pay or surrender to such Replacement Lender any of the fees received by such Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents; and

 

 

(vi)

the Lender shall only be obliged to transfer its rights and obligations pursuant to paragraph (a) above once it is satisfied that it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to that transfer.

 

(c)

A Lender shall perform the checks described in paragraph (b)(vi) above as soon as reasonably practicable following delivery of a notice referred to in paragraph (a) above and shall notify the Agent and the Borrowers when it is satisfied that it has complied with those checks.

 

(d)

In the event that:

 

 

(i)

an Obligor or the Agent (at the request of an Obligor) has requested the Lenders to give a consent in relation to, or to agree to a waiver or amendment of, any provisions of the Finance Documents;

 

 

(ii)

the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires the approval of all the Lenders; and


 

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(iii)

Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than 66 2/3 per cent. of the Total Commitments (or, if the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, aggregated more than 66 2/3 per cent. of the Total Commitments prior to that reduction) have consented or agreed to such waiver or amendment,

then any Lender who does not and continues not to consent or agree to such waiver or amendment shall be deemed a “ Non-Consenting Lender ”.

 

36.4

Disenfranchisement of Defaulting Lenders

 

(a)

For so long as a Defaulting Lender has any Available Commitment, in ascertaining the Majority Lenders or whether any given percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of the Total Commitments has been obtained to approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote under the Finance Documents, that Defaulting Lender’s Commitment will be reduced by the amount of its Available Commitment.

 

(b)

For the purposes of this Clause 36.4, the Agent may assume that the following Lenders are Defaulting Lenders:

 

 

(i)

any Lender which has notified the Agent that it has become a Defaulting Lender;

 

 

(ii)

any Lender in relation to which it is aware that any of the events or circumstances referred to in paragraphs (i), (ii) or (iii) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender” has occurred,

unless it has received notice to the contrary from the Lender concerned (together with any supporting evidence reasonably requested by the Agent) or the Agent is otherwise aware that the Lender has ceased to be a Defaulting Lender.

 

36.5

Replacement of a Defaulting Lender

 

(a)

A Borrower may, at any time a Lender has become and continues to be a Defaulting Lender, by giving five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Agent and such Lender, replace such Lender by requiring such Lender to (and such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to Clause 25 ( Changes to the Lenders ) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a Lender or other bank or financial institution (a “ Replacement Lender ”) selected by that Borrower, and which (unless the Agent is an Impaired Agent) is acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably) and which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations or all the relevant obligations of the transferring Lender (including the assumption of the transferring Lender’s participations or unfunded participations (as the case may be) on the same basis as the transferring Lender) for a purchase price in cash payable at the time of transfer equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s participation in the outstanding Loans and all accrued interest and/or Break Costs and other amounts payable in relation thereto under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)

Any transfer of rights and obligations of a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Clause 36.5 shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

 

(i)

no Borrower shall have any right to replace the Agent;

 

 

(ii)

neither the Agent nor the Defaulting Lender shall have any obligation to any Borrower to find a Replacement Lender;


 

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(iii)

the transfer must take place no later than ten (10) Business Days after the notice referred to in paragraph (a) above; and

 

 

(iv)

in no event shall the Defaulting Lender be required to pay or surrender to the Replacement Lender any of the fees received by the Defaulting Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents.

 

37

CONFIDENTIALITY

 

37.1

Confidential Information

Each Finance Party agrees to keep all Confidential Information confidential and not to disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by Clause 37.2 ( Disclosure of Confidential Information ), and to ensure that all Confidential Information is protected with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to its own confidential information.

 

37.2

Disclosure of Confidential Information

Any Finance Party may disclose:

 

 

(i)

to any of its Affiliates and any of its or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, auditors, partners and Representatives such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if any person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given pursuant to this sub-paragraph (i) is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no such requirement to so inform if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the information or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information;

 

 

(ii)

to any person:

 

 

(A)

to (or through) whom it assigns or transfers (or may potentially assign or transfer) all or any of its rights and/or obligations under one or more Finance Documents and to any of that person’s Affiliates, Representatives and professional advisers;

 

 

(B)

with (or through) whom it enters into (or may potentially enter into), whether directly or indirectly, any sub-participation in relation to, or any other transaction under which payments are to be made or may be made by reference to, one or more Finance Documents and one or more Obligors and to any of that person’s Affiliates, Representatives and professional advisers;

 

 

(C)

appointed by any Finance Party or by a person to whom sub-paragraph (ii)(A) or (B) above applies to receive communications, notices, information or documents delivered pursuant to the Finance Documents on its behalf (including, without limitation, any person appointed under paragraph (b) of Clause 27.14 ( Relationship with the Lenders ));


 

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(D)

who invests in or otherwise finances (or may potentially invest in or otherwise finance), directly or indirectly, any transaction referred to in sub-paragraph (ii)(A) or (B) above;

 

 

(E)

to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation;

 

 

(F)

to whom or for whose benefit that Finance Party charges, assigns or otherwise creates Security (or may do so) pursuant to Clause 25.8 ( Security over Lenders’ rights );

 

 

(G)

to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes;

 

 

(H)

who is a Party; or

 

 

(I)

with the consent of the Borrowers;

 

 

    

in each case, such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if:

 

 

(J)

in relation to sub-paragraphs (ii)(A), (B) and (C) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking except that there shall be no requirement for a Confidentiality Undertaking if the recipient is a professional adviser and is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information;

 

 

(K)

in relation to sub-paragraph (ii)(D) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information they receive and is informed that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information;

 

 

(L)

in relation to sub-paragraphs (ii)(E), (F) and (G) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of that Finance Party, it is not practicable so to do in the circumstances; and

 

 

(iii)

to any person appointed by that Finance Party or by a person to whom sub-paragraph (ii)(A) or (B) above applies to provide administration or settlement services in respect of one or more of the Finance Documents including without limitation, in relation to the trading of participations in respect of the Finance Documents, such Confidential Information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such service provider to provide any of the services referred to in this paragraph (iii) if the service provider to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into such form of confidentiality undertaking agreed between the Borrower and the relevant Finance Party.


 

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37.3

Entire agreement

This Clause 37 constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties in relation to the obligations of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents regarding Confidential Information and supersedes any previous agreement, whether express or implied, regarding Confidential Information.

 

37.4

Inside information

Each of the Finance Parties acknowledges that some or all of the Confidential Information is or may be price-sensitive information and that the use of such information may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse and each of the Finance Parties undertakes not to use any Confidential Information for any unlawful purpose.

 

37.5

Notification of disclosure

Each of the Finance Parties agrees (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to inform the Borrowers:

 

 

(i)

of the circumstances of any disclosure of Confidential Information made pursuant to sub-paragraph (ii)(E) of Clause 37.2 ( Disclosure of Confidential Information ) except where such disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in that paragraph during the ordinary course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and

 

 

(ii)

upon becoming aware that Confidential Information has been disclosed in breach of this Clause 37.

 

37.6

Continuing obligations

The obligations in this Clause 37 are continuing and, in particular, shall survive and remain binding on each Finance Party for a period of twelve (12) months from the earlier of:

 

 

(i)

the date on which all amounts payable by the Obligors under or in connection with this Agreement have been paid in full and all Commitments have been cancelled or otherwise cease to be available; and

 

 

(ii)

the date on which such Finance Party otherwise ceases to be a Finance Party.

 

38

COUNTERPARTS

Each Finance Document may be executed in any number of counterparts, and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of the Finance Document.

 

39

GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement is governed by Norwegian law.


 

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40

ENFORCEMENT

 

40.1

Jurisdiction

 

(a)

The courts of Norway, with the Oslo district court as the court of first instance, have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (including a dispute relating to the existence, validity or termination of this Agreement (a “ Dispute ”).

 

(b)

This Clause 40.1 is for the benefit of the Finance Parties only. As a result, no Finance Party shall be prevented from taking proceedings relating to a Dispute in any other courts with jurisdiction. To the extent allowed by law, the Finance Parties may take concurrent proceedings in any number of jurisdictions.

 

40.2

Service of process

Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, each Obligor (other than an Obligor incorporated in Norway):

 

 

(i)

irrevocably appoints KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS, Smedasundet 40, NO-5529 Haugesund, Norway, Norway as its agent for service of process in relation to any proceedings before the Norwegian courts in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

 

(ii)

agrees that failure by the process agent to notify the relevant Obligor of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned.

This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.


 

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SCHEDULE 1

LENDERS AND COMMITMENTS

 

Original Lenders:

 

Tranche A

Commitment:

  

Tranche B

Commitment:

  

Tranche C

Commitment:

ABN AMRO Bank

N.V.,

Oslo Branch

Olav V’s gt. 5

NO-0161 Oslo

Norway

  USD 14,628,459.50    USD 16,832,173    USD 15,682,225.50

BNP Paribas

16, Boulevard des

Italiens

75009 Paris

France

  USD 14,628,459.50    USD 16,832,173    USD 15,682,225.50

DNB Bank ASA

Dronning Eufemias gate

30

NO-0191 Oslo

Norway

  USD 14,628,459.50    USD 16,832,173    USD 15,682,225.50

Nordea Bank Norge

ASA

Essendrops gate 7

NO-0368 Oslo

Norway

  USD 14,628,459.50    USD 16,832,173    USD 15,682,225.50

Total:

  USD 58,513,838    USD 67,328,692    USD 62,728,902


 

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Original Lenders:

 

Revolving Facility A

Commitment:

  

Revolving Facility B

Commitment:

ABN AMRO Bank

N.V.,

Oslo Branch

Olav V’s gt. 5

NO-0161 Oslo

Norway

  USD 5,000,000    USD 3,750,000

BNP Paribas

16, Boulevard des

Italiens

75009 Paris

France

  USD 5,000,000    USD 3,750,000

DNB Bank ASA

Dronning Eufemias gate

30

NO-0191 Oslo

Norway

  USD 5,000,000    USD 3,750,000

Nordea Bank Norge

ASA

Essendrops gate 7

NO-0368 Oslo

Norway

  USD 5,000,000    USD 3,750,000

Total:

  USD 20,000,000    USD 15,000,000


 

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SCHEDULE 2

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT DOCUMENTS

Part 1

(in respect of the first Utilisation of the Term Loan Facility)

 

1.

In respect of each Obligor, copies of:

 

 

(i)

its articles of association, partnership agreement or similar documentation;

 

 

(ii)

its certificate of registration or good standing;

 

 

(iii)

a resolution of its board of directors authorising the execution of this Agreement and the other Finance Documents to which it is a party;

 

 

(iv)

if not included in the resolutions referred to in paragraph (iii) above, a power of attorney to its representatives for the execution and registration of this Agreement and the other Finance Documents to which it is a party;

 

 

(v)

if required under applicable law, a resolution of its shareholders or members approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents to which it is a party;

 

 

(vi)

such other documents and evidence as the Agent (or any Lender through the Agent) shall from time to time require, based on law and regulations applicable from time to time and the Lenders’ own internal guidelines applicable from time to time to identify each Obligor and any other identification or similar document any Lender may reasonably require in order to satisfy any “know your customer” requirements applicable to such Lender;

 

 

(vii)

a specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolutions referred to in paragraph (iii) above and each person authorised to sign Utilisation Requests and Selection Notices; and

 

 

(viii)

a certificate of an authorised signatory of the relevant Obligor certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this Part 1 of Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement.

 

2.

Evidence that all fees due and payable under the Agreement on or before the first Utilisation Date have been paid or will be paid on or before the first Utilisation Date.

 

3.

Confirmation of acceptance from the Borrowers to the Agent’s letter in respect of effective annual interest.

 

4.

In respect of the Security Documents:

 

 

(i)

the Mortgage over the relevant Vessel duly executed by the owner thereof;

 

 

(ii)

the Assignment Agreement in relation to the relevant Vessel duly executed by the owner thereof;


 

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(iii)

the notices of assignment and acknowledgements required to be executed under the Assignment Agreement, duly executed, provided that the Obligors shall use their best commercial efforts to obtain acknowledgements from third parties in respect of the assignment of Earnings and/or contracts of employment;

 

 

(iv)

a Factoring Agreement duly executed by the relevant Borrower;

 

 

(v)

the Account Pledge in respect of the Earnings Account held by the owner of the relevant Vessel duly executed by such owner;

 

 

(vi)

the First Share Pledge Agreement duly executed by KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS;

 

 

(vii)

the notices and acknowledgements required to be executed under the First Share Pledge Agreement, duly executed, and delivery of an updated register of shareholders of each Borrower evidencing that the pledge has been duly noted therein;

 

 

(viii)

the Second Limited Partnership Pledge Agreement duly executed by KNOT Shuttle Tankers 12 AS and KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS;

 

 

(ix)

the notices and acknowledgements required to be executed under the Second Limited Partnership Pledge Agreement, duly executed, and delivery to the Agent of the original limited partnership share certificates of Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII KS and an updated register of shareholders of Knutsen Shuttle Tankers XII AS evidencing that the pledge of shares has been duly noted therein;

 

 

(x)

a Hedging Agreement Assignment Agreement duly executed by the relevant Borrower (if relevant); and

 

 

(xi)

the notices of assignment and acknowledgements and consents required to be executed under the Hedging Agreement Assignment Agreement, duly executed.

 

5.

In respect of the relevant Vessel:

 

 

(i)

certificates of valuation not older than 30 days from two (2) of the Approved Brokers;

 

 

(ii)

evidence that the Vessel is classed with the highest class in accordance with Clause 23.5 ( Class ), free of all material overdue recommendations of the relevant classification society;

 

 

(iii)

copies of the following documentation:

 

 

(A)

the ISM Code Document of Compliance;

 

 

(B)

the ISM Code Safety Management Certificate; and

 

 

(C)

the ISPS Code Ship Security Certificate;

 

 

(iv)

evidence by way of a transcript of registry issued by the relevant Approved Ship Register that the Vessel is registered in the name of the relevant Borrower, free from encumbrances other than the relevant Mortgage, and that the relevant Mortgage has been registered in favour of the Agent on first priority;


 

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(v)

copies of insurance policies/cover notes documenting that insurance cover has been taken out in respect of the Vessel in accordance with Clause 23.1 ( Insurances ), and evidence that the Agent’s security interests in the insurance policies have been noted in accordance with relevant notices and acknowledgements as required under the relevant Assignment Agreement;

 

 

(vi)

a report by the insurance consultant appointed by the Agent confirming, inter alia, that that insurance cover has been taken out in respect of the Vessel in accordance with Clause 23.1 ( Insurances );

 

 

(vii)

a copy of any contract of employment entered into in respect of the Vessel; and

 

 

(viii)

copies of all management agreements entered into in respect of the Vessel and a subordination undertaking in favour of the Finance Parties duly executed by each manager.

 

6.

The Intercreditor Agreement duly executed by the parties thereto.

 

7.

Evidence that the Earnings Account has been opened by the relevant Borrower with the Agent.

 

8.

Copies of the Original Financial Statements.

 

9.

A duly executed Compliance Certificate evidencing pro forma compliance with the financial covenants set out in Clause 21 ( Financial covenants ).

 

10.

An updated group structure chart showing all members of the Group and identifying the percentage of ownership in each member of the Group.

 

11.

Evidence that the relevant part of the Existing Facilities, and all commitments in respect thereof, have been, or at the latest simultaneously with the making of the first Utilisation will be, repaid and paid and cancelled in full, and that any Security (including, without limitation, any guarantee or indemnity undertaking) granted or undertaken by or in respect of any member of the Group under or in respect thereof, has been, or at the latest simultaneously with the making of the first Utilisation will be, unconditionally and irrevocably released and discharged in full by the holder(s) of any such Security.

 

12.

If relevant, assurance that any withholding tax under the Finance Documents will be paid or application to tax authorities is or will be sent on the Utilisation Date.

 

13.

Evidence that the process agent referred to in Clause 40.2 ( Service of process ) and any other process agent appointed pursuant to any of the Finance Documents, has accepted its appointment.

 

14.

Favourable legal opinions in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent from lawyers appointed by the Agent on matters concerning all relevant jurisdictions.

 

15.

A copy of any other Authorisation or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary or desirable (if it has notified the Borrowers accordingly) in connection with the entry into and performance of the transactions contemplated by any Finance Document or for the validity and enforceability of any Finance Document.


 

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Part 2

(in respect of each further Utilisation of the Term Loan Facility)

 

1.

A certificate of an authorised signatory of the relevant Borrower certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this Part 2 of Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date falling five (5) Business Days prior to the relevant Utilisation Date.

 

2.

In respect of the Security Documents:

 

 

(i)

the Mortgage over the relevant Vessel duly executed by the owner thereof;

 

 

(ii)

the Assignment Agreement in relation to the relevant Vessel duly executed by the owner thereof;

 

 

(iii)

the notices of assignment and acknowledgements required to be executed under the Assignment Agreement, duly executed, provided that the Obligors shall use their best commercial efforts to obtain acknowledgements from third parties in respect of the assignment of Earnings and/or contracts of employment;

 

 

(iv)

a Factoring Agreement duly executed by the relevant Borrower;

 

 

(v)

the Account Pledge in respect of the Earnings Account held by the owner of the relevant Vessel duly executed by such owner;

 

 

(vi)

a Hedging Agreement Assignment Agreement duly executed by the relevant Borrower (if relevant); and

 

 

(vii)

the notices of assignment and acknowledgements and consents required to be executed under the Hedging Agreement Assignment Agreement, duly executed.

 

3.

In respect of the relevant Vessel:

 

 

(i)

certificates of valuation not older than 30 days from two (2) of the Approved Brokers;

 

 

(ii)

evidence that the Vessel is classed with the highest class in accordance with Clause 23.5 ( Class ), free of all material overdue recommendations of the relevant classification society;

 

 

(iii)

copies of the following documentation:

 

 

(A)

the ISM Code Document of Compliance;

 

 

(B)

the ISM Code Safety Management Certificate; and

 

 

(C)

the ISPS Code Ship Security Certificate;

 

 

(iv)

evidence by way of a transcript of registry issued by the relevant Approved Ship Register that the Vessel is registered in the name of the relevant Borrower, free from encumbrances other than the relevant Mortgage, and that the relevant Mortgage has been registered in favour of the Agent on first priority;


 

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(v)

copies of insurance policies/cover notes documenting that insurance cover has been taken out in respect of the Vessel in accordance with Clause 23.1 ( Insurances ), and evidence that the Agent’s security interests in the insurance policies have been noted in accordance with relevant notices and acknowledgements as required under the relevant Assignment Agreement;

 

 

(vi)

a report by the insurance consultant appointed by the Agent confirming, inter alia, that that insurance cover has been taken out in respect of the Vessel in accordance with Clause 23.1 ( Insurances );

 

 

(vii)

a copy of any contract of employment entered into in respect of the Vessel; and

 

 

(viii)

copies of all management agreements entered into in respect of the Vessel and a subordination undertaking in favour of the Finance Parties duly executed by each manager.

 

6.

Evidence that the Earnings Account has been opened by the relevant Borrower with the Agent.

 

7.

Evidence that the relevant part of the Existing Facilities, and all commitments in respect thereof, have been, or at the latest simultaneously with the making of the first Utilisation will be, repaid and paid and cancelled in full, and that any Security (including, without limitation, any guarantee or indemnity undertaking) granted or undertaken by or in respect of any member of the Group under or in respect thereof, has been, or at the latest simultaneously with the making of the first Utilisation will be, unconditionally and irrevocably released and discharged in full by the holder(s) of any such Security.

 

8.

Evidence that any process agent appointed pursuant to any of the Security Documents referred to in paragraph 3 hereof, has accepted its appointment.

 

9.

Favourable legal opinions in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent from lawyers appointed by the Agent on matters concerning all relevant jurisdictions.

 

10.

A copy of any other Authorisation or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary or desirable (if it has notified the Borrowers accordingly) in connection with the entry into and performance of the transactions contemplated by any Finance Document or for the validity and enforceability of any Finance Document.


 

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SCHEDULE 3

FORM OF

UTILISATION REQUEST

 

To:

 

NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA as Agent

 

Telefax: +47 22 48 66 68

 

Attn: Nordea Agency

Date:    [         ]

AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM AND REVOLVING FACILITIES AGREEMENT DATED 30 JUNE 2016 (THE AGREEMENT )

 

1.

We refer to the Agreement. This is a Utilisation Request. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Utilisation Request unless given a different meaning in this Utilisation Request.

 

2.

We wish to borrow a Loan on the following terms:

 

           Borrower:

  

[        ]

           Proposed Utilisation Date:

  

[        ] (or, if that is not a Business Day,

the next Business Day)

           Tranche/Facility to be utilized:

  

[Tranche A1]/[Tranche A2]/[Tranche

B1]/[Tranche B2]/[Revolving Facility A]/

[Revolving Facility B]

           Amount:

  

USD [    ] or, if less, the Available Facility

           Interest Period:

  

[        ]

 

3.

We confirm that on the date of this Utilisation Request:

 

 

(i)

no Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Loan; and

 

 

(ii)

the Repeating Representations are true in all material respects.

 

4.

The proceeds of this Loan should be credited to [ account ].

 

5.

This Utilisation Request is irrevocable.

By:

[    ]

Authorised signatory


 

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SCHEDULE 4

FORM OF

SELECTION NOTICE

(applicable to a Term Loan)

 

To:

 

NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA as Agent

 

Telefax: +47 22 48 66 68

 

Attn: Nordea Agency

Date:    [         ]

AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM AND REVOLVING FACILITIES AGREEMENT DATED 30 JUNE 2016 (THE AGREEMENT )

 

1.

We refer to the Agreement. This is a Selection Notice. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Selection Notice unless given a different meaning in this Selection Notice.

 

2.

We refer to the Term Loan with an Interest Period ending on [                ].

 

3.

We request that the next Interest Period for the above Term Loan is [    ]].

 

4.

We confirm that on the date of this Selection Notice:

 

 

(i)

no Event of Default is continuing; and

 

 

(ii)

the Repeating Representations are true in all material respects.

 

5.

This Selection Notice is irrevocable.

By:

[    ]

Authorised signatory


 

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SCHEDULE 5

FORM OF

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE

 

To:

 

NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA as Agent

From:

 

[ The Existing Lender ] (the “ Existing Lender ”) and [ The New Lender ] (the “ New Lender ”)

Dated: [    ]

AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM AND REVOLVING FACILITIES AGREEMENT DATED 30 JUNE 2016 (THE AGREEMENT )

 

1.

We refer to the Agreement. This is a Transfer Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Transfer Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Transfer Certificate.

 

2.

We refer to Clause 25.5 ( Procedure for transfer ):

 

 

(i)

The Existing Lender and the New Lender agree to the Existing Lender transferring to the New Lender all or part of the Existing Lender’s Commitment, rights and obligations referred to in the Schedule in accordance with Clause 25.5 ( Procedure for transfer ) together with a proportional interest in the Security Documents.

 

 

(ii)

The proposed Transfer Date is [                ].

 

 

(iii)

The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices of the New Lender for the purposes of Clause 32.2 ( Addresses ) are set out in the Schedule.

 

3.

The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Existing Lender’s obligations set out in paragraph (c) of Clause 25.4 ( Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders ).

 

4.

This Transfer Certificate may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Transfer Certificate.

 

5.

This Transfer Certificate is governed by Norwegian law.

 

6.

This Transfer Certificate has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Transfer Certificate.


 

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THE SCHEDULE

Commitment/rights and obligations to be transferred

[ insert relevant details ]

[ Facility Office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for

payments ]

 

[Existing Lender]

   

[New Lender]

By:

     

By:

 

Name:

     

Name:

 

Title:

     

Title:

 

This Transfer Certificate is accepted by the Agent and the Transfer Date is confirmed as [                ].

Nordea Bank Norge ASA

By:

Name:

Title:


 

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SCHEDULE 6

FORM OF

INCREASE CONFIRMATION

 

To:

 

NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA as Agent and KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS L.P. as Parent Guarantor, for and on behalf of each Borrower

From:

 

[ The Increase Lender ] (the “ Increase Lender ”)

Dated:

 

[    ]

AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM AND REVOLVING FACILITIES AGREEMENT DATED 30 JUNE 2016 (THE “FACILITIES AGREEMENT”)

 

1.

We refer to the Facilities Agreement. This agreement (the “ Agreement ”) shall take effect as an Increase Confirmation for the purpose of the Facilities Agreement. Terms defined in the Facilities Agreement have the same meaning in this Agreement unless given a different meaning in this Agreement.

 

2.

We refer to Clause 2.2 ( Increase ) of the Facilities Agreement.

 

3.

The Increase Lender agrees to assume and will assume all of the obligations corresponding to the Commitment specified in the Schedule (the “ Relevant Commitment ”) as if it was an Original Lender under the Facilities Agreement.

 

4.

The proposed date on which the increase in relation to the Increase Lender and the Relevant Commitment is to take effect (the “ Increase Date ”) is [                ].

 

5.

On the Increase Date, the Increase Lender becomes party to the relevant Finance Documents as a Lender.

 

6.

The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices to the Increase Lender for the purposes of Clause 32.2 ( Addresses ) are set out in the Schedule.

 

7.

The Increase Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Lenders’ obligations referred to in paragraph (f) of Clause 2.2 ( Increase ).

 

8.

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Agreement.

 

9.

This Agreement is governed by Norwegian law.

 

10.

This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.


 

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THE SCHEDULE

Relevant Commitment/rights and obligations to be assumed by the Increase Lender

[ insert relevant details ]

[ Facility office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments ]

[Increase Lender]

By:

Name:

Title:

This Agreement is accepted as an Increase Confirmation for the purposes of the Facilities Agreement by the Agent and the Increase Date is confirmed as [        ].

Nordea Bank Norge ASA

By:

Name:

Title:


 

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SCHEDULE 7

FORM OF

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

To:

 

NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA as Agent

 

Telefax: +47 22 48 66 68

 

Attn: Nordea Agency

Date:    [         ]

AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM AND REVOLVING FACILITIES AGREEMENT DATED 30 JUNE 2016 (THE AGREEMENT )

We refer to Clause 20.2 ( Provision and contents of Compliance Certificate ) of the Agreement. This is a Compliance Certificate. Terms used in this Compliance Certificate have the same meanings as in the Agreement.

The undersigned, being the [chief financial officer] of the Parent Guarantor, hereby confirms that the Obligors are in compliance with the financial covenants set out in Clause 21 ( Financial covenants ), that no Event of Default set out in Clause 24 ( Events of Default ) has occurred or is threatened and that the representations and warranties set out in Clause 19 ( Representations and warranties ) are true in all respects.

Enclosed are copies of the [audited consolidated annual financial statements of the Parent Guarantor and each Borrower for the financial year ending 31 December [ ] / unaudited consolidated quarterly financial statements of the Parent Guarantor and each Borrower for the financial quarter ending [ ]] and the relevant calculations demonstrating compliance with financial covenants.

KNOT OFFSHORE PARTNERS L.P.

By:

Name:


 

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FINANCIAL COVENANTS

[quarter] [year]

Working Capital – Parent Guarantor:

 

Current Assets (a)

  

USD

Current Liabilities (b)

  

USD

(a) less (b)

  

            _________

Requirement: To be positive

Working Capital – Vessel A Owner:

 

Current Assets (c)

  

USD

Current Liabilities (d)

  

USD

(c) less (d)

  

            _________

Requirement: To be positive

Working Capital – Vessel B Owner:

 

Current Assets (e)

  

USD

Current Liabilities (f)

  

USD

(e) less (f)

  

            _________

Requirement: To be positive

Working Capital – Vessel C Owner:

 

Current Assets (g)

  

USD

Current Liabilities (h)

  

USD

(g) less (h)

  

            _________

Requirement: To be positive


 

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Equity ratio:

 

Total Equity (i)

  

USD

Total Assets (j)

  

USD

Ratio (i)/(j)

  

            _________

Requirement: Ratio not to be less than 0.30

Interest cover ratio:

 

EBITDA (k)

  

USD

Finance Charges (l)

  

USD

Ratio (k)/(l)

  

            _________

Requirement: Ratio not to be less than 2.50:1.00

Liquidity:

 

Cash in hand or on deposit

  

USD

2/3 of Available Facility in respect of Revolving Facility A

  

USD

Cash equivalents

  

USD

Total

  

USD

 

Number of vessels owned by the members of the Group

 

Number of vessels owned by the members of the Group

With an employment contract with less than twelve (12)

months remaining tenor (excluding options)

  

            _________

Requirement: USD [    ]


 

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SCHEDULE 8

LIST OF

EXISTING HEDGING AGREEMENTS

 

1.

ISDA Master Agreement dated 25 June 2013 entered into between KNOT Shuttle Tankers 17 AS and Nordea Bank Finland Plc

 

2.

ISDA Master Agreement dated 3 February 2014 entered into between Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 13 AS and Nordea Bank Finland Plc

 

3.

ISDA Master Agreement dated 20 June 2013 entered into between KNOT Shuttle Tankers 17 AS and DNB Bank ASA

 

4.

ISDA Master Agreement dated 3 February 2014 entered into between Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 13 AS and DNB Bank ASA


 

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SIGNATORIES

The Obligors:

KNOT Shuttle Tankers 18 AS

 

By:

 

/s/ Øystein M. Kalleklev

Name:

 

Øystein M. Kalleklev

Title:

 

Attorney-in-fact

in its capacities as Borrower and Guarantor

KNOT Shuttle Tankers 17 AS

 

By:

 

/s/ Øystein M. Kalleklev

Name:

 

Øystein M. Kalleklev

Title:

 

Attorney-in-fact

in its capacities as Borrower and Guarantor

Knutsen Shuttle Tankers 13 AS

 

By:

 

/s/ Øystein M. Kalleklev

Name:

 

Øystein M. Kalleklev

Title:

 

Attorney-in-fact

in its capacities as Borrower and Guarantor

KNOT Offshore Partners L.P.

 

By:

 

/s/ John Costain

Name:

 

John Costain

Title:

 

Attorney-in-fact

in its capacity as Guarantor

KNOT Shuttle Tankers AS

 

By:

 

/s/ Øystein M. Kalleklev

Name:

 

Øystein M. Kalleklev

Title:

 

Attorney-in-fact

in its capacities as Guarantor


 

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The Finance Parties:

ABN AMRO Bank N.V.

 

By:   /s/ Johan Rasmussen
Name:   Johan Rasmussen
Title:   Attorney-in-fact

in its capacity as Original Hedging Bank

ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Oslo Branch

 

By:   /s/ Johan Rasmussen
Name:   Johan Rasmussen
Title:   Attorney-in-fact

in its capacities as Arranger and Original Lender

BNP Paribas

 

By:   /s/ Johan Rasmussen
Name:   Johan Rasmussen
Title:   Attorney-in-fact

in its capacities as Arranger, Original Lender and Original Hedging Bank

DNB Bank ASA

 

By:   /s/ Johan Rasmussen
Name:   Johan Rasmussen
Title:   Attorney-in-fact

in its capacities as Arranger, Original Lender and Original Hedging Bank

Nordea Bank Norge ASA

 

By:   /s/ Johan Rasmussen
Name:   Johan Rasmussen
Title:   Attorney-in-fact

in its capacities as Agent, Arranger and Original Lender

Nordea Bank Finland Plc

 

By:   /s/ Johan Rasmussen
Name:   Johan Rasmussen
Title:   Attorney-in-fact

in its capacity as Original Hedging Bank