Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 20-F

 

 

(Mark One)

REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017

OR

 

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

OR

 

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

Date of event requiring this shell company report                        

For the transition period from                      to                        

Commission file number 001-33811

 

 

Navios Maritime Partners L.P.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Not Applicable

(Translation of Registrant’s Name into English)

Republic of Marshall Islands

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

7 Avenue de Grande Bretagne, Office 11B2

Monte Carlo, MC 98000 Monaco

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Todd E. Mason

Thompson Hine LLP

335 Madison Ave.

New York, NY 10017

todd.mason@thompsonhine.com

(212) 908-3946

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Units   New York Stock Exchange LLC

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act. None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act. None

 

 

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report: 147,797,720 Common Units

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or (15)(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter periods that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such reporting requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or emerging growth company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large Accelerated Filer   ☐   Accelerated Filer  ☒   Non-Accelerated Filer  ☐   Emerging Growth Company  ☐

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

 

        U.S. GAAP ☒   

International Financial Reporting Standards as issued

by the International Accounting Standards Board ☐

   Other ☐

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

☐  Item 17                ☐  Item 18

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     1  

PART I

     2  

Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers

     2  

Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

     3  

Item 3. Key Information

     3  

Item 4. Information on the Partnership

     37  

Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments

     57  

Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

     57  

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees

     85  

Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transaction

     90  

Item 8. Financial Information

     99  

Item 9. The Offer and Listing

     101  

Item 10. Additional Information

     101  

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     104  

NON-UNITED STATES TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     110  

Item  11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks

     110  

Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities

     111  

PART II

     111  

Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

     111  

Item  14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Unitholders and Use of Proceeds

     111  

Item 15. Controls and Procedures

     111  

Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert

     112  

Item 16B. Code of Ethics

     112  

Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

     112  

Item  16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

     113  

Item  16E. Purchases of Units by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

     113  

Item 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

     113  

Item 16G. Corporate Governance

     113  

Item 16H. Mine Safety Disclosures

     113  

Item 17. Financial Statements

     113  

Item 18. Financial Statements

     113  

Item 19. Exhibits

     113  

SIGNATURES

     117  

INDEX

     F-1  

 

EX-1.2

     242  

EX-8.1

     320  

EX-12.1

     322  

EX-12.2

     323  

EX-13.1

     324  

EX-15.1

     325  

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

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

Statements included in this annual report which are not historical facts (including our statements concerning plans and objectives of management for future operations or economic performance, or assumptions related thereto) are forward-looking statements. In addition, we and our representatives may from time to time make other oral or written statements which are also forward-looking statements. Such statements include, in particular, statements about our plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in our business, and the markets in which we operate as described in this annual report. In some cases, you can identify the forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “forecast,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “propose,” “potential,” “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.

Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places and include statements with respect to, among other things:

 

    our ability to make cash distributions on our common units;

 

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

 

    future levels of operating surplus and levels of distributions, as well as our future cash distribution policy;

 

    our current and future business and growth strategies and other plans and objectives for future operations;

 

    future charter hire rates and vessel values;

 

    the repayment of debt;

 

    our ability to access debt and equity markets;

 

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

 

    future supply of, and demand for, dry cargo commodities;

 

    increases in interest rates;

 

    our ability to maintain long-term relationships with major commodity traders, operators and liner companies;

 

    our ability to leverage to our advantage Navios Maritime Holdings Inc.’s (“Navios Holdings”) relationships and reputation in the shipping industry;

 

    our continued ability to enter into long-term, fixed-rate time charters;

 

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

 

    timely purchases and deliveries of newbuilding vessels;

 

    future purchase prices of newbuildings and secondhand vessels;

 

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

 

    our future financial condition or results of operations and our future revenues and expenses, including revenues from any profit sharing arrangements, and required levels of reserves;

 

    potential liability and costs due to environmental, safety and other incidents involving our vessels;

 

    our track record, and past and future performance, in safety, environmental and regulatory matters;

 

    our anticipated incremental general and administrative expenses as a publicly traded limited partnership and our expenses under the management agreement, as amended (the “Management Agreement”) and the administrative services agreement (the “Administrative Services Agreement”) with Navios ShipManagement Inc., a subsidiary of Navios Holdings (the “Manager”) and for reimbursements for fees and costs of our general partner;

 

    estimated future maintenance and replacement capital expenditures;

 

    future sales of our common units in the public market;

 

    a lack of sufficient cash to pay the quarterly distribution on our common units;

 

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    the cyclical nature of the international dry cargo and container shipping industry;

 

    fluctuations in charter rates for dry cargo carriers and container vessels;

 

    the high numbers of newbuildings currently under construction in the dry cargo industry;

 

    changes in the market values of our vessels and the vessels for which we have purchase options;

 

    an inability to expand relationships with existing customers and obtain new customers;

 

    the loss of any customer or charter or vessel;

 

    the aging of our fleet and resultant increases in operations costs;

 

    damage to our vessels;

 

    global economic outlook and growth and changes in general economic and business conditions;

 

    general domestic and international political conditions, including wars, terrorism and piracy;

 

    increases in costs and expenses, including but not limited to: crew wages, insurance, provisions, port expenses, lube oil, bunkers, repairs, maintenance and general and administrative expenses;

 

    the adequacy of our insurance arrangements and our ability to obtain insurance and required certifications;

 

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

 

    the changes to the regulatory requirements applicable to the shipping industry, including, without limitation, stricter requirements adopted by international organizations, such as the International Maritime Organization and the European Union, or by individual countries or charterers and actions taken by regulatory authorities and governing such areas as safety and environmental compliance;

 

    the anticipated taxation of our partnership and our unitholders;

 

    expected demand in the dry cargo shipping sector in general and the demand for our Panamax, Capesize, Ultra-Handymax and Container vessels in particular;

 

    our ability to retain key executive officers;

 

    customers’ increasing emphasis on environmental and safety concerns;

 

    changes in the availability and costs of funding due to conditions in the bank market, capital markets and other factors; and

 

    other factors detailed from time to time in our periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

These and other forward-looking statements are made 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 set forth below, as well as those risks discussed in “Item 3. Key Information”.

The risks and assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.

We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. 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.

PART I

Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers

Not Applicable.

 

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Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

Not Applicable.

Item 3. Key Information

A. Selected Financial Data

The selected consolidated historical financial information as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and operating results for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, were derived from our audited consolidated financial statements of Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (sometimes referred to as “Navios Partners”, the “Partnership”, “we” or “us”) which are included elsewhere in this report. The selected consolidated historical financial information as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 have been derived from our audited financial statements not included in this report. This information is qualified by reference to, and should be read in conjunction with, “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this report.

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2017     2016     2015     2014     2013  
     (Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars-except unit and per unit data)  

Statement of Income Data

          

Time charter and voyage revenues

   $ 211,652     $ 190,524     $ 223,676     $ 227,356     $ 198,159  

Time charter and voyage expenses

     (4,158     (5,673     (7,199     (15,390     (14,943

Direct vessel expenses

     (7,172     (6,381     (4,043     (761     —    

Management fees

     (67,310     (59,209     (56,504     (50,359     (36,173

General and administrative expenses

     (17,163     (12,351     (7,931     (7,839     (6,305

Depreciation and amortization

     (72,760     (92,370     (75,933     (95,822     (77,505

Vessel impairment losses

     (32,677     (27,201     —         —         —    

Loss on sale of securities

     —         (19,435     —         —         —    

Interest expense and finance cost, net

     (38,225     (31,247     (31,720     (28,761     (16,910

Interest income

     3,277       541       222       243       50  

Gain on change in control

     4,068       —         —         —         —    

Other income

     9,884       14,523       5,232       47,935       13,730  

Other expense

     (5,133     (4,270     (3,995     (1,749     (1,097

Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies

     866       —         —         —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss)/ income

   $ (14,851   $ (52,549   $ 41,805     $ 74,853     $ 59,006  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance Sheet Data (at period end)

          

Current assets, including cash

   $ 60,306     $ 56,349     $ 39,835     $ 115,197     $ 54,484  

Vessels, net

     1,099,015       1,037,206       1,230,049       1,139,426       1,026,153  

Total assets

     1,305,302       1,268,580       1,350,291       1,338,709 (2)       1,241,616 (2)  

Total long-term debt, including current portion net of discount

     493,463       523,776       598,078       575,974 (2)       524,861 (2)  

Total partners’ capital

     767,710       680,209       732,215       749,098       706,507  

Units issued and outstanding

          

Common unitholders

     147,797,720       83,323,911       83,079,710       77,359,163       71,034,163  

Weighted average units outstanding (basic and diluted)

          

Common unitholders

     132,610,330       83,107,066       82,437,128       76,587,656       66,317,588  

Earnings per unit (basic and diluted)

          

Common unit

   $ (0.11   $ (0.62   $ 0.48     $ 0.93     $ 0.84  

Dividends declared per unit

          

Dividend per common unit

   $ —       $ —       $ 1.54     $ 1.73     $ 1.66  

Dividend per general partner unit

   $ —       $ —       $ 2.57     $ 3.08     $ 2.96  

Cash Flow Data

          

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 53,934     $ 56,527     $ 123,276     $ 171,661     $ 104,842  

Net cash (used in)/ provided by investing activities

     (187,211     5,051       (149,301     (123,272     (382,673

 

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     Year ended December 31,  
     2017      2016     2015     2014      2013  
     (Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars-except unit and per unit data)  

Net cash provided by/ (used in) financing activities

             139,964        (70,968     (46,720     15,760        281,045  

Fleet Data:

            

Vessels at end of period (1)

     36                        32                       31                       32                        28  

 

(1) Includes owned and chartered-in vessels.
(2) The total assets and long-term debt, including current portion net of discount presented in this table have been revised to reflect the adoption of ASU 2015-03, which was effective beginning the first quarter ending March 31, 2015 and applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the Company’s financial statements.

B. Capitalization and indebtedness.

Not applicable.

C. Reasons for the offer and use of proceeds.

Not applicable.

D. Risk factors

Risks Inherent in Our Business

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

We may not have sufficient cash available to pay quarterly distributions or to maintain or increase distributions following the establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses. In February 2016, we announced that our board of directors decided to suspend the quarterly cash distributions to our unitholders, including the distribution for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, in order to conserve cash and improve our liquidity. In March 2018, the board determined to reinstate a distribution and any continued distribution will be at the discretion of our board of directors. The amount of cash we can distribute on our common units depends principally upon the amount of cash we generate from our operations, which may fluctuate based on numerous factors including, among other things:

 

    the rates we obtain from our charters and the market for long-term charters when we recharter our vessels;

 

    the level of our operating costs, such as the cost of crews and insurance, following the expiration of the fixed term of our management agreement pursuant to which we pay a fixed daily fee until December 2019;

 

    the number of unscheduled off-hire days for our fleet and the timing of, and number of days required for, scheduled inspection, maintenance or repairs of submerged parts, or drydocking, of our vessels;

 

    demand for dry cargo commodities;

 

    supply of dry cargo vessels;

 

    prevailing global and regional economic and political conditions;

 

    natural or man-made disasters that affect the ability of our vessels to use certain waterways;

 

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

The actual amount of cash we will have available for distribution also will depend on other factors, some of which are beyond our control, such as:

 

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

 

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

 

    interest rate fluctuations;

 

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    the cost of acquisitions, if any;

 

    fluctuations in our working capital needs;

 

    our ability to make working capital borrowings, including the payment of distributions to unitholders; and

 

    the amount of any cash reserves, including reserves for future maintenance and replacement capital expenditures, working capital and other matters, established by our board of directors in its discretion.

The amount of cash we generate from our operations may differ materially from our profit or loss for the period, which will be affected by non-cash items. As a result of this and the other factors mentioned above, we may make cash distributions during periods when we record losses and may not make cash distributions during periods when we record net income.

The cyclical nature of the international shipping industry may lead to decreases in charter rates and lower vessel values, resulting in decreased distributions to our common unitholders.

The shipping business, including the dry cargo market, is cyclical in varying degrees, experiencing severe fluctuations in charter rates, profitability and, consequently, vessel values. For example, during the period from January 1, 2016, to March 21, 2018, the Baltic Exchange’s Panamax time charter average daily rates experienced a low of $2,260 and a high of $13,740. Additionally, during the period from January 1, 2016, to March 21, 2018, the Baltic Exchange’s Capesize time charter average (BCI-5TCA) daily rates experienced a low of $1,985 and a high of $30,475, and the Baltic Dry Index (“BDI”) experienced a low of 290 points and a high of 1,743 points. While the BDI was 1,117 as of March 21, 2018, there can be no assurance that the drybulk charter market will increase further, and the market could decline. We anticipate that the future demand for our drybulk carriers and drybulk charter rates will be dependent upon demand for imported commodities, economic growth in the emerging markets, including the Asia Pacific region, of which China is particularly important, India, Brazil and Russia and the rest of the world, seasonal and regional changes in demand and changes to the capacity of the world fleet. In past years, China and India have had two of the world’s fastest growing economies in terms of gross domestic product and have been the main driving force behind increases in marine drybulk trade and the demand for drybulk vessels. If economic growth declines in China, Japan, India and other countries in the Asian region, we may face decreases in such drybulk trade and demand. For example, the recent slowdown of the Chinese economy has adversely affected demand for Capesize bulk carriers and, as a result, spot and period rates, as well as asset values, are currently at low levels. Moreover, a slowdown in the United States and Japanese economies or the economies of the European Union (the “EU”), as has occurred recently, or certain Asian countries will likely adversely affect economic growth in China, India and elsewhere. Adverse economic, political, social or other developments can decrease demand and prospects for growth in the shipping industry and thereby could reduce revenue significantly. A decline in demand for commodities transported in drybulk carriers or an increase in supply of drybulk vessels could cause a further decline in charter rates, which could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. If we sell a vessel at a time when the market value of our vessels has fallen, the sale may be at less than the vessel’s carrying amount, resulting in a loss.

Demand for container shipments declined significantly from 2008 to 2009 in the aftermath of the global financial crisis but has increased each year from 2009 to 2017. From 2009 to 2011, there was improvement on the Far East-to-Europe and Trans-Pacific Eastbound container trade lanes, alongside improvements also witnessed on other, non-main lane, trade routes including certain intra-Asia and North-South trade routes. However, Trans-Pacific Eastbound trade lane growth was less than 1% per year in 2011 and 2012, while the Far East to Europe trade was positive in 2011 but turned negative in 2012 due to the impact of the continuing European sovereign debt crisis and global economic slowdown, as well as uncertainty regarding the resolution of the budget ceiling and budgetary cuts in the United States. More recently, since the second half of 2015, a slowdown in demand in certain key container trade routes, including the Asia to Europe route at a time of increased vessel supply, has resulted in the highest annual scrapping on record. The oversupply in our market continued to prevent any significant rise in time charter rates for both short- and long-term periods. Additional orders for large and very large containerships have been placed since 2014, both increasing the expected future supply of larger vessels and having a spillover effect on the market segment for smaller vessels. Ordering of container ships slowed significantly in 2016 and 2017. Since the middle of 2016, as economic growth returned to world markets and in combination with continued scrapping, time charter rates rose and have remained above their 2016 lows. Still, liner companies have experienced a substantial drop-off in container shipping activity, resulting in decreased average freight rates since the second half of 2011, and the continuation of such decreased freight rates or any further declines in freight rates would negatively affect the liner companies to which we charter our containerships. Recently, there has been a global economic slowdown and disruptions in the credit markets which significantly reduced demand for products shipped in containers and, in turn, containership capacity.

The continuation of such containership oversupply or any declines in container freight rates could negatively affect the liner companies to which we seek to charter our containerships. The decline in the containership market has affected the major liner companies and the value of container vessels, which follow the trends of freight rates and containership charter rates, and can affect the earnings on our charters, and similarly, our cash flows and liquidity. The decline in the containership charter market has had and may continue to have additional adverse consequences for the container industry, including a less active secondhand market for the sale of vessels and charterers not performing under, or requesting modifications of, existing time charters.

 

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The demand for vessels has generally been influenced by, among other factors:

 

    global and regional economic conditions;

 

    developments in international trade;

 

    changes in seaborne and other transportation patterns, such as port congestion and canal closures or expansions;

 

    supply and demand for energy resources, drybulk products, commodities, semi-finished and finished consumer and industrial products;

 

    changes in the exploration or production of energy resources, commodities, semi-finished and finished consumer and industrial products;

 

    supply and demand for products shipped in containers;

 

    changes in global production of raw materials or products transported by containerships;

 

    the distance drybulk cargo or containers are to be moved by sea;

 

    the globalization of manufacturing;

 

    carrier alliances, vessel sharing or container slot sharing that seek to allocate container ship capacity on routes;

 

    weather and crop yields;

 

    armed conflicts and terrorist activities including piracy;

 

    political, environmental and other regulatory developments, including but not limited to governmental macroeconomic policy changes, import and export restrictions, central bank policies and pollution conventions or protocols;

 

    embargoes and strikes; and

 

    technical advances in ship design and construction.

The supply of vessel capacity has generally been influenced by, among other factors:

 

    the number of vessels that are in or out of service;

 

    the scrapping rate of older vessels;

 

    the availability of finance or lack thereof for ordering newbuildings or for facilitating ship sale and purchase transactions;

 

    port and canal traffic and congestion, including canal improvements that can affect employment of ships designed for older canals;

 

    the number of newbuilding deliveries;

 

    vessel casualties;

 

    changes in environmental and other regulations and standards that limit the profitability, operations or useful lives of vessels;

 

    the availability of shipyard capacity; and

 

    the economics of slow steaming.

The market value of our vessels, which has declined from historically high levels, may fluctuate significantly, which could cause us to breach covenants in our credit facilities and result in the foreclosure on our mortgaged vessels.

Factors that influence vessel values include:

 

    number of newbuilding deliveries;

 

    prevailing economic conditions in the markets in which drybulk or containerships operate;

 

    reduced demand for drybulk or containerships, including as a result of a substantial or extended decline in world trade;

 

    number of vessels scrapped or otherwise removed from the total fleet;

 

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    changes in environmental and other regulations that may limit the useful life of vessels;

 

    changes in global dry cargo commodity supply;

 

    types, sizes and age of vessels;

 

    sophistication and condition of the vessels;

 

    development of an increase in use of other modes of transportation;

 

    where the ship was built and as-built specification;

 

    lifetime maintenance record;

 

    cost of vessel acquisitions;

 

    governmental or other regulations;

 

    prevailing level of charter rates;

 

    the availability of finance or lack thereof for ordering newbuildings or for facilitating ship sale and purchase transactions;

 

    general economic and market conditions affecting the shipping industry; and

 

    the cost of retrofitting or modifying existing ships to respond to technological advances in vessel design or equipment, changes in applicable environmental or other regulations or standards, or otherwise.

If the market value of our owned vessels decreases, we may breach covenants contained in our credit facilities. We purchased the majority of our drybulk vessels from Navios Holdings based on market prices that were, for certain vessels, at historically high levels. If we breach the covenants in our credit facilities and are unable to remedy any relevant breach, our lenders could accelerate our debt and foreclose on the collateral, including our vessels. Any loss of vessels would significantly decrease our ability to generate positive cash flow from operations and therefore service our debt. In addition, if the book value of a vessel is impaired due to unfavorable market conditions, or a vessel is sold at a price below its book value, we would incur a loss. If a charter expires or is terminated, we may be unable to re-charter the vessel at an acceptable rate and, rather than continue to incur costs to maintain the vessel, may seek to dispose of it. Our inability to dispose of a vessel at a reasonable price could result in a loss on its sale and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Charter rates in the drybulk and container shipping industry have decreased from their historically high levels and may decrease further in the future, which may adversely affect our earnings and ability to pay dividends.

The current charter rates for dry cargo vessels have significantly decreased from their historic highs reached in the second quarter of 2008. If the drybulk shipping industry, which has been highly cyclical, is depressed in the future when our charters expire, our earnings and available cash flow may be adversely affected. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully charter our vessels in the future or renew our existing charters at rates sufficient to allow us to operate our business profitably, to meet our obligations, including payment of debt service to our lenders, or to pay dividends to our unitholders. Our ability to renew the charters on our vessels upon the expiration or termination of our current charters, or on vessels that we may acquire in the future, as well as, the charter rates payable under any replacement charters will depend upon, among other things, economic conditions in the sectors in which our vessels operate at that time, changes in the supply and demand for vessel capacity and changes in the supply and demand for the transportation of commodities.

All of our drybulk time charters are scheduled to expire on dates ranging from April 2018 to September 2022. If, upon expiration or termination of these or other contracts, long-term recharter rates are lower than existing rates, particularly considering that we intend to enter into long-term charters, or if we are unable to obtain replacement charters, our earnings, cash flow and our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders could be materially adversely affected.

Five of the seven containerships that we own are on long-term time charter for ten years until 2023 with our option to terminate after year seven. Two other owned containerships are on charter until 2018. Our ability to re-charter our containerships upon the expiration or termination of their current time charters and the charter rates payable under any renewal options or replacement time charters will depend upon, among other things, the prevailing state of the containership charter market, which can be affected by consumer demand for products shipped in containers. If the charter market is depressed when our containerships’ time charters expire, we may be forced to re-charter our containerships at reduced or even unprofitable rates, or we may not be able to re-charter them at all, which may reduce or eliminate our earnings, make our earnings volatile, affect our ability to generate cash flows and maintain liquidity.

 

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We are focused on employing vessels on long-term charters and we may have difficulties in doing so if a more active short-term or spot market develops.

One of our principal strategies is to enter into long-term charters, although we believe it is impractical to determine the typical charter length for vessels in our sectors due to factors such as market dynamics, charter strategy and the private nature of charter agreements. If a market for long-term time charters in the sectors in which we operate does not develop, we may have increased difficulty entering into long-term time charters upon expiration or early termination of the time charters for our vessels. As a result, our revenues and cash flows may become more volatile. In addition, an active short-term or spot charter market may require us to enter into charters based on changing market prices, as opposed to contracts based on fixed rates, which could result in a decrease in our revenues and cash flows, including cash available for distribution to unitholders, if we enter into charters during periods when the market price for shipping dry cargoes is depressed or these markets become depressed during the period of any adjustable rate charter.

An oversupply of drybulk carrier capacity may prolong or further depress the current low charter rates and, in turn, adversely affect our profitability.

The market supply of drybulk carriers has been increasing as a result of the delivery of numerous newbuilding orders over the last few years. Newbuildings have been delivered in significant numbers over the last few years and, as of March 21, 2018, newbuilding orders had been placed for an aggregate of less than 10% of the existing global drybulk fleet, with deliveries expected during the next three years. Due to lack of financing many analysts expect significant cancellations and/or slippage of newbuilding orders. While vessel supply will continue to be affected by the delivery of new vessels and the removal of vessels from the global fleet, either through scrapping or accidental losses, an over-supply of drybulk carrier capacity could exacerbate decreases in charter rates or prolong the period during which low charter rates prevail which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends.

An oversupply of containership capacity may depress charter rates, as has happened in the past, or prolong the period of depressed charter rates, and adversely affect our ability to charter our containerships at profitable rates or at all.

From 2005 through 2010, the containership orderbook was at historically high levels as a percentage of the in-water fleet reaching a high of 61.3% in November 2007, according to industry data. Since that time, deliveries of previously ordered containerships increased substantially and ordering momentum slowed somewhat with the total orderbook declining as a percentage of the existing fleet from 20.8% in October 2015 to an all-time low of 12.7% as of February 2018. The orderbook remains significantly skewed towards vessels over 8,000 TEU. An oversupply of large newbuilding vessel and/or re-chartered containership capacity entering the market, combined with any decline in the demand for containerships, may prolong or further depress the current low charter rates and may decrease our ability to charter our containerships when we are seeking new or replacement charters other than for unprofitable or reduced rates, or we may not be able to charter our containerships at all.

A number of third party owners have ordered so-called “eco-type” vessel designs, which offer substantial bunker savings as compared to older designs. Increased demand for and supply of “eco-type” vessels could reduce demand for our vessels that are not classified as such and expose us to lower vessel utilization and/or decreased charter rates.

New eco-type vessel designs purport to offer material bunker savings compared to older designs, including certain of our vessels. Such savings could result in a substantial reduction of bunker cost for charterers compared to such vessels of ours. Such savings may also increase as a result of the IMO 0.5% sulphur limitations on marine fuels due to come into force on January 1, 2020, which may increase the cost of fuels that meet these limits. As the supply of such “eco-type” vessel increases and if charterers prefer such vessels over our vessels that are not classified as such, this may reduce demand for our non-“eco-type” vessels, impair our ability to recharter such vessels at competitive rates and have a material adverse effect on our cash flows and operations.

We must make substantial capital expenditures to maintain the operating capacity of our fleet, which will reduce our cash available for distribution. In addition, each quarter our board of directors is required to deduct estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures from operating surplus, which may result in less or no cash available to unitholders than if actual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures were deducted.

We must make substantial capital expenditures to maintain, over the long term, the operating capacity of our fleet. These maintenance and replacement capital expenditures include capital expenditures associated with drydocking a vessel, modifying an existing vessel or acquiring a new vessel to the extent these expenditures are incurred to maintain the operating capacity of our fleet.

 

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These expenditures could increase as a result of changes in:

 

    the cost of our labor and materials;

 

    the cost of suitable replacement vessels;

 

    customer/market requirements;

 

    increases in the size of our fleet; and

 

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

Our significant maintenance and replacement capital expenditures may reduce or eliminate the amount of cash we have available for distribution to our unitholders. In each of October 2013, August 2014, February 2015 and February 2016, Navios Partners amended its existing management agreement with the Manager to fix the fees for ship management services of its owned fleet excluding drydocking expenses, which are reimbursed at cost by Navios Partners at: (a) $4,100 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4,200 daily rate per Panamax vessel; (c) $5,250 daily rate per Capesize vessel; (d) $6,700 daily rate per Container vessel of TEU 6,800; (e) $7,400 daily rate per Container vessel of more than TEU 8,000; and (f) $8,750 daily rate per very large Container vessel of more than TEU 13,000 through December 31, 2017. On November 14, 2017, Navios Partners agreed to extend the duration of its existing Management Agreement with the Manager until December 31, 2022 and to fix the rate for shipmanagement services of its owned fleet through December 31, 2019, effective from January 1, 2018. The new management fees, excluding drydocking expenses which are reimbursed at cost by Navios Partners, will be: (a) $4,225 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4,325 daily rate per Panamax vessel; (c) $5,250 daily rate per Capesize vessel; (d) $6,700 daily rate per Container vessel of TEU 6,800; (e) $7,400 daily rate per Container vessel of more than TEU 8,000; and (f) $8,750 daily rate per very large Container vessel of more than TEU 13,000.

Our partnership agreement requires our board of directors to deduct estimated, rather than actual, maintenance and replacement capital expenditures from operating surplus each quarter in an effort to reduce fluctuations in operating surplus. The amount of estimated capital expenditures deducted from operating surplus is subject to review and change by the conflicts committee of our board of directors at least once a year. If our board of directors underestimates the appropriate level of estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures, we may have less, if any, cash available for distribution in future periods when actual capital expenditures begin to exceed previous estimates.

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

The actual cost of a vessel varies significantly depending on the market price, the size and specifications of the vessel, governmental regulations and maritime self-regulatory organization standards.

If we purchase additional vessels in the future, we generally will be required to make installment payments prior to their delivery. If we finance these acquisition costs by issuing debt or equity securities, we will increase the aggregate amount of interest payments or distributions, to the extent we are making distributions, prior to generating cash from the operation of the vessel. We rely on the master limited partnership (“MLP”) structure and its appeal to investors for accessing debt and equity markets to finance our growth and repay or refinance our debt. The recent drop in energy prices has, among other factors, caused increased volatility and contributed to a dislocation in pricing for MLPs compared to their recent pricing history. The depressed trading price of our common units may affect our ability to access capital markets and, as a result, our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

To fund the remaining portion of these and other capital expenditures, we will be required to use cash from operations or incur borrowings or raise capital through the sale of debt or additional equity securities. Use of cash from operations may reduce or eliminate cash available for distributions to unitholders. Our ability to obtain bank financing or to access the capital markets for future offerings may be limited by our financial condition at the time of any such financing or offering as well as by adverse market conditions resulting from, among other things, general economic conditions and contingencies and uncertainties that are beyond our control. Our failure to obtain the funds for necessary future capital expenditures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and on our ability to make cash distributions. Even if we successfully obtain necessary funds, the terms of such financings could limit our ability to pay cash distributions to unitholders. In addition, incurring additional debt may significantly increase our interest expense and financial leverage, and issuing additional preferred and common equity securities may result in significant unitholder dilution and would increase the aggregate amount of cash required to make distributions to our common unitholders, to the extent we are making distributions, which could have a material adverse effect on our ability to make cash distributions to all of our unitholders.

 

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Our debt levels may limit our flexibility in obtaining additional financing and in pursuing other business opportunities and our interest rates under our credit facilities may fluctuate and may impact our operations.

As of December 31, 2017, all of our facilities were fully drawn and the total borrowings, net of unamortized discount, under our credit facilities amounted to $499.8 million. We have the ability to incur additional debt, subject to limitations in our credit facilities. Our level of debt could have important consequences to us, including the following:

 

    our ability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes may be impaired or such financing may not be available on favorable terms;

 

    we will need a substantial portion of our cash flow to make principal and interest payments on our debt, reducing the funds that would otherwise be available for operations, future business opportunities and distributions to unitholders;

 

    our debt level will make us more vulnerable than our competitors with less debt to competitive pressures or a downturn in our business or the economy generally; and

 

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

Our ability to service our debt depends upon, among other things, our future financial and operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, regulatory and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. Our ability to service debt under our credit facilities also will depend on market interest rates, since the interest rates applicable to our borrowings will fluctuate with the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), or the prime rate. We do not currently hedge against increases in such rates and, accordingly, significant increases in such rate would require increased debt levels and reduce distributable cash. If our operating results are not sufficient to service our current or future indebtedness, we will be forced to take actions such as reducing distributions, reducing or delaying our business activities, acquisitions, investments or capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing our debt, or seeking additional equity capital or bankruptcy protection. We may not be able to affect any of these remedies on satisfactory terms, or at all.

If the volatility in the London InterBank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, continues, it could affect our profitability, earnings and cash flow.

LIBOR has been volatile, with the spread between LIBOR and the prime lending rate widening significantly at times. These conditions are the result of the recent disruptions in the international credit markets. Because the interest rates borne by our outstanding indebtedness fluctuate with changes in LIBOR, if this volatility were to continue, it would affect the amount of interest payable on our debt, which in turn, could have an adverse effect on our profitability, earnings and cash flow.

Furthermore, interest in most loan agreements in our industry has been based on published LIBOR rates. Recently, however, lenders have insisted on provisions that entitle the lenders, in their discretion, to replace published LIBOR as the base for the interest calculation with their cost-of-funds rate. Such provisions could significantly increase our lending costs, which would have an adverse effect on our profitability, earnings and cash flow.

Our credit facilities contain restrictive covenants, which may limit our business and financing activities and may prevent us from paying distributions to unitholders, if our Board determines to do so again in the future.

We have a credit facility with DVB Bank S.E. (the “DVB Credit Facility”), a term loan facility (the “Term Loan B Credit Facility”) and a credit facility with BNP PARIBAS (the “BNP Credit Facility”). As of December 31, 2017, the outstanding loan balance under Navios Partners’ credit facilities was $499.8 million.

The operating and financial restrictions and covenants in our credit facilities and any future credit facilities could adversely affect our ability to finance future operations or capital needs to engage, expand or pursue our business activities and reduce cash available for distribution on our common units. For example, our credit facilities require the consent of our lenders or limit our ability to, among other items:

 

    incur or guarantee indebtedness;

 

    charge, pledge or encumber the vessels;

 

    merge or consolidate;

 

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    change the flag, class or commercial and technical management of our vessels;

 

    make cash distributions;

 

    make new investments; and

 

    sell or change the ownership or control of our vessels.

Our credit facilities also require us to comply with the International Safety Management Code (“ISM Code”), and International Ship and Port Facilities Security Code (“ISPS Code”) and to maintain valid safety management certificates and documents of compliance at all times.

The DVB Credit Facility and the BNP Credit Facility also require compliance with a number of financial covenants, including: (i) maintain a required security amount ranging over 120% to 140%; (ii) minimum free consolidated liquidity in an amount equal to at least $650 per owned vessel; (iii) maintain a ratio of EBITDA to interest expense of at least 2.00:1.00; (iv) maintain a ratio of total liabilities or total debt to total assets (as defined in our credit facilities) ranging of less than 0.75; and (v) maintain a minimum net worth to $135.0 million.

Failure to comply with these covenants constitutes an event of default under the credit facilities if such covenants are not complied with in accordance with the terms and may subject to the prepayment or cure provision of each facility.

The Term Loan B facility is secured by first priority mortgages covering certain vessels owned by subsidiaries of Navios Partners, in addition to other collateral, and guaranteed by each subsidiary of Navios Partners. The Term Loan B Agreement requires maintenance of a loan to value ratio of 0.8 to 1.0, and other restrictive covenants customary for facilities of this type (subject to negotiated exceptions and baskets), including restrictions on indebtedness, liens, acquisitions and investments, restricted payments and dispositions. The Term Loan B Agreement also provides for customary events of default, prepayment and cure provisions.

Our ability to comply with the covenants and restrictions that are contained in our credit facilities and any other debt instruments we may enter into in the future may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. If market or other economic conditions deteriorate, our ability to comply with these covenants may be impaired. If we are in breach of any of the restrictions, covenants, ratios or tests in our credit facilities, especially if we trigger a cross default currently contained in certain of our loan agreements, a significant portion of our obligations may become immediately due and payable, and our lenders’ commitment to make further loans to us may terminate. We may not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments. In addition, our obligations under our credit facilities are secured by certain of our vessels, and if we are unable to repay borrowings under such credit facilities, lenders could seek to foreclose on those vessels.

In addition, our credit facilities prohibit the payment of distributions if we are not in compliance with certain financial covenants or upon the occurrence of an event of default.

Events of default under our credit facilities include, among other things, the following:

 

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

 

    failure to observe any other agreement, security instrument, obligation or covenant beyond specified cure periods in certain cases;

 

    default under other indebtedness;

 

    an event of insolvency or bankruptcy;

 

    material adverse change in the financial position or prospects of us or our general partner;

 

    failure of any representation or warranty to be materially correct; and

 

    failure of Navios Holdings or its affiliates (as defined in the credit facilities agreements) to own at least 15% of us.

We anticipate that any subsequent refinancing of our current debt or any new debt will have similar restrictions.

 

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We are a holding company, and we depend on the ability of our subsidiaries to dividend funds to us in order to satisfy our financial obligations or pay distributions, if any, in the future.

We are a holding company and our subsidiaries conduct all of our operations and own all of our operating assets. We have no significant assets other than the equity interests in our subsidiaries. As a result, our ability to make distribution payments, if any, in the future depends on our subsidiaries and their ability to dividend funds to us. If we are unable to obtain funds from our subsidiaries, our board of directors may not exercise its discretion to pay distributions in the future. In addition, the declaration and payment of distributions, if any, in the future will depend on the provisions of Marshall Islands law affecting the payment of dividends to us. Marshall Islands law generally prohibits the payment of dividends if the subsidiary is insolvent or would be rendered insolvent upon payment of such dividend, and our distribution may be declared and paid out of our operating surplus. Dividends may be declared or paid out of net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and for the preceding fiscal year. Our ability to pay distributions, if any, in the future will also be subject to our satisfaction of certain requirements in accordance with financial covenants contained in our credit facilities.

We depend on Navios Holdings and its affiliates to assist us in operating and expanding our business.

Pursuant to the Management Agreement between us and the Manager, the Manager provides to us significant commercial and technical management services (including the commercial and technical management of our vessels, vessel maintenance and crewing, purchasing and insurance and shipyard supervision). In addition, pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement between us and the Manager, the Manager provides to us significant administrative, financial and other support services. Our operational success and ability to execute our growth strategy depends significantly upon the Manager’s satisfactory performance of these services. Our business will be harmed if the Manager fails to perform these services satisfactorily, if the Manager cancels either of these agreements, or if the Manager stops providing these services to us. We may also in the future contract with Navios Holdings for it to have newbuildings constructed on our behalf and to incur the construction-related financing. We would purchase the vessels on or after delivery based on an agreed-upon price.

Our ability to enter into new charters and expand our customer relationships will depend largely on our ability to leverage our relationship with Navios Holdings and its reputation and relationships in the shipping industry. If Navios Holdings suffers material damage to its reputation or relationships, it may harm our ability to:

 

    renew existing charters upon their expiration;

 

    obtain new charters;

 

    successfully interact with shipyards during periods of shipyard construction constraints;

 

    obtain financing on commercially acceptable terms; or

 

    maintain satisfactory relationships with suppliers and other third parties.

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

As we expand our business, we may have difficulty managing our growth, which could increase expenses.

We intend to seek to grow our fleet, either through purchases, the increase of the number of chartered-in vessels or through the acquisitions of businesses. The addition of vessels to our fleet or the acquisition of new businesses will impose significant additional responsibilities on our management. We will also have to increase our customer base to provide continued employment for the new vessels. Our growth will depend on:

 

    locating and acquiring suitable vessels;

 

    identifying and consummating acquisitions or joint ventures;

 

    integrating any acquired business successfully with our existing operations;

 

    enhancing our customer base;

 

    managing our expansion; and

 

    obtaining required financing.

Growing any business by acquisition presents numerous risks such as undisclosed liabilities and obligations, difficulty in obtaining additional qualified personnel, and managing relationships with customers and suppliers and integrating newly acquired operations into existing infrastructures. We cannot give any assurance that we will be successful in executing our growth plans or that we will not incur significant expenses and losses in connection therewith or that our acquisitions will perform as expected, which could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

 

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

Our growth depends on continued growth in demand for drybulk commodities, finished or semi-finished goods, and the shipping of drybulk cargoes as well as the shipping of containers.

Our growth strategy focuses on expansion in the dry cargo shipping sector. Accordingly, our growth depends on continued growth in world and regional demand for drybulk commodities, finished or semi-finished goods and the shipping of dry cargoes, which could be negatively affected by a number of factors, such as declines in prices for drybulk commodities or containerized cargoes, or general political and economic conditions.

Reduced demand for drybulk commodities and the shipping of dry cargoes would have a material adverse effect on our future growth and could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition. In particular, Asian Pacific economies, of which China is especially important, and India have been the main driving force behind the current increase in seaborne drybulk trade and the demand for drybulk carriers. The Asian Pacific (particularly the Chinese) and Indian economies have also been significant suppliers of manufactured goods currently shipped by container to the developed markets of the OECD. A negative change in economic conditions in any Asian Pacific country, but particularly in China, Japan or India, may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as our future prospects, by reducing demand and resultant charter rates.

A decrease in the level of China’s imports of raw materials or a decrease in trade globally could have a material adverse impact on our charterers’ business and, in turn, could cause a material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

China imports significant quantities of raw materials. For example, in 2017, China imported 1.058 billion tons of iron ore by sea out of a total of 1.477 billion tons shipped globally accounting for about 72% of the global seaborne iron ore trade. While it only accounted for 18% of seaborne coal movements of coal in 2017 according to current estimates (218 million tons imported compared to 1.203 billion tons of seaborne coal traded globally), that is a decline from over 22% in 2013 (265 million tons imported compared to 1.180 billion tons of seaborne coal traded globally). Our drybulk vessels are deployed by our charterers on routes involving drybulk trade in and out of emerging markets, and our charterers’ drybulk shipping and business revenue may be derived from the shipment of goods within and to the Asia Pacific region from various overseas export markets. Any reduction in or hindrance to China-based importers could have a material adverse effect on the growth rate of China’s imports and on our charterers’ business. For instance, the government of China has implemented economic policies aimed at reducing pollution, increasing consumption of domestically produced Chinese coal or promoting the export of such coal or increasing consumption of natural gas or increasing the production of electricity from renewable resources. This may have the effect of reducing the demand for imported raw materials and may, in turn, result in a decrease in demand for drybulk shipping. Additionally, though in China there is an increasing level of autonomy and a gradual shift in emphasis to a “market economy” and enterprise reform, many of the reforms, particularly some limited price reforms that result in the prices for certain commodities being principally determined by market forces, are unprecedented or experimental and may be subject to revision, change or abolition. The level of imports to and exports from China could be adversely affected by changes to these economic reforms by the Chinese government, as well as by changes in political, economic and social conditions or other relevant policies of the Chinese government.

Our operations expose us to the risk that increased trade protectionism from China or other nations will adversely affect our business. If the global recovery is undermined by downside risks and the recent economic downturn returns, governments may turn to trade barriers to protect their domestic industries against foreign imports, thereby depressing the demand for shipping. Specifically, increasing trade protectionism in the markets that our charterers serve may cause (i) a decrease in cargoes available to our charterers in favor of Chinese charterers and Chinese owned ships and (ii) an increase in the risks associated with importing goods to China. Any increased trade barriers or restrictions on trade, especially trade with China, would have an adverse impact on our charterers’ business, operating results and financial condition and could thereby affect their ability to make timely charter hire payments to us and to renew and increase the number of their time charters with us. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and our ability to pay cash distributions to our unitholders.

 

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The expansion of the Panama Canal may have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

In June 2016, the expansion of the Panama Canal, or the Canal, was completed. The new locks allow the Canal to accommodate significantly larger vessels, including capesize vessels, which we operate, however most capesize vessels cannot transit the new locks with a full load of cargo and some are still too wide for the new locks. Transit from the U.S. East Coast, the East Coast of Canada, the U.S. Gulf, the Caribbean or the Northern Coast of South America to Asia, a possible trade route for our customers using larger bulkers, can now be shortened by approximately 13-20 days compared to transiting via the Cape of Good Hope. Such transits by larger bulkers would be undertaken only if the cargo carried is close to the full capacity of the bulker and the fees charged by the Canal still allow for a savings in time and expenses compared to the alternative route. Any decrease in voyage time may increase the number of those larger bulkers available for cargo lifting and thereby increase industry capacity, which may have an adverse effect on Time Charter Equivalent rates (“TCE”).

Our growth depends on our ability to expand relationships with existing customers and obtain new customers, for which we will face substantial competition.

Long-term time charters have the potential to provide income at pre-determined rates over more extended periods of time. However, the process for obtaining longer term time charters is highly competitive and generally involves a lengthy, intensive and continuous screening and vetting process and the submission of competitive bids that often extends for several months. In addition to the quality, age and suitability of the vessel, longer term shipping contracts tend to be awarded based upon a variety of other factors relating to the vessel operator, including:

 

    the operator’s environmental, health and safety record;

 

    compliance with International Maritime Organization, or IMO, standards and the heightened industry standards that have been set by some energy companies;

 

    shipping industry relationships, reputation for customer service, technical and operating expertise;

 

    shipping experience and quality of ship operations, including cost-effectiveness;

 

    quality, experience and technical capability of crews;

 

    the ability to finance vessels at competitive rates and overall financial stability;

 

    relationships with shipyards and the ability to obtain suitable berths;

 

    construction management experience, including the ability to procure on-time delivery of new vessels according to customer specifications;

 

    willingness to accept operational risks pursuant to the charter, such as allowing termination of the charter for force majeure events; and

 

    competitiveness of the bid in terms of overall price.

It is likely that we will face substantial competition for long-term charter business from a number of experienced companies. We may not be able to compete profitably as we expand our business into new geographic regions or provide new services. New markets may require different skills, knowledge or strategies that we use in our current markets. Many of these competitors have significantly greater financial resources than we do. It is also likely that we will face increased numbers of competitors entering into our transportation sectors, including in the drybulk sector. Many of these competitors have strong reputations and extensive resources and experience. Increased competition may cause greater price competition, especially for long-term charters.

As a result of these factors, we may be unable to expand our relationships with existing customers or obtain new customers for long-term charters on a profitable basis, if at all. However, even if we are successful in employing our vessels under longer term charters, our vessels will not be available for trading in the spot market during an upturn in the dry cargo market cycle, when spot trading may be more profitable. If we cannot successfully employ our vessels in profitable time charters our results of operations and operating cash flow could be adversely affected.

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Additionally, the marine transportation and logistics industries are capital intensive, traditionally using substantial amounts of indebtedness to finance vessel acquisitions, capital expenditures and working capital needs. If we finance the purchase of our vessels through the issuance of debt securities, it could result in:

 

    default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating cash flow after a business combination or asset acquisition were insufficient to pay our debt obligations;

 

    acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we have made all principal and interest payments when due if the debt security contained covenants that required the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves and any such covenant were breached without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;

 

    our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security was payable on demand; and

 

    our inability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, if the debt security contained covenants restricting our ability to obtain additional financing while such security was outstanding.

In addition, our business plan and strategy is predicated on buying vessels at what we believe is near the low end of the cycle in what has typically been a cyclical industry. However, there is no assurance that charter rates and vessel asset values will not sink lower, or that there will be an upswing in shipping costs or vessel asset values in the near-term or at all, in which case our business plan and strategy may not succeed in the near-term or at all.

Delays in deliveries of second-hand vessels, our decision to cancel an order for purchase of a vessel or our inability to otherwise complete the acquisitions of additional vessels for our fleet, could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We expect to purchase second-hand vessels from time to time. The delivery of these vessels could be delayed, not completed or cancelled, which would delay or eliminate our expected receipt of revenues from the employment of these vessels. The seller could fail to deliver these vessels to us as agreed, or we could cancel a purchase contract because the seller has not met its obligations.

If the delivery of any vessel is materially delayed or cancelled, especially if we have committed the vessel to a charter for which we become responsible for substantial liquidated damages to the customer as a result of the delay or cancellation, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

If we purchase any newbuilding vessels, delays, cancellations or non-completion of deliveries of newbuilding vessels could harm our operating results.

If we purchase any newbuilding vessels, the shipbuilder could fail to deliver the newbuilding vessel as agreed or their counterparty could cancel the purchase contract if the shipbuilder fails to meet its obligations. In addition, under charters we may enter into that are related to a newbuilding, if our delivery of the newbuilding to our customer is delayed, we may be required to pay liquidated damages during the delay. For prolonged delays, the customer may terminate the charter and, in addition to the resulting loss of revenues, we may be responsible for additional, substantial liquidated damages. We do not derive any revenue from a vessel until after its delivery and will be required to pay substantial sums as progress payments during construction of a newbuilding. While we expect to have refund guarantees from financial institutions with respect to such progress payments in the event the vessel is not delivered by the shipyard or is otherwise not accepted by us, there is a the potential that we may not be able to collect all portion of such refund guarantees, in which case we would lose the amounts of monies we have advanced to the shipyards for such progress payments.

The completion and delivery of newbuildings could be delayed, cancelled or otherwise not completed because of:

 

    quality or engineering problems;

 

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

 

    work stoppages or other labor disturbances at the shipyard;

 

    bankruptcy or other financial crisis of the shipbuilder;

 

    a backlog of orders at the shipyard;

 

    political or economic disturbances;

 

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

 

    requests for changes to the original vessel specifications;

 

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

 

    inability to finance the construction or conversion of the vessels; or

 

    inability to obtain requisite permits or approvals.

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

 

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We rely on the MLP structure and its appeal to investors for accessing debt and equity markets to finance our growth and repay or refinance our debt. The recent drop in energy prices has, among other factors, caused increased volatility and contributed to a dislocation in pricing for MLPs. The depressed trading price of our common units may affect our ability to access capital markets and, as a result, our ability to pay distributions or repay our debt.

The fall in energy prices and, in particular, the price of oil, among other factors, has contributed to increased volatility in the pricing of MLPs and the energy debt markets, as a number of MLPs and other energy companies may be adversely affected by a lower energy prices environment. A number of MLPs, including certain maritime MLPs, have reduced or eliminated their distributions to unitholders.

We rely on our ability to raise capital in the equity and debt markets to grow our fleet and to refinance our debt. A protracted deterioration in the valuation of our common units would increase our cost of capital, make any equity issuance significantly dilutive and may affect our ability to access capital markets and, as a result, our capacity to pay distributions to our unitholders and refinance or repay our debt.

The loss of a customer, charter or vessel could result in a loss of revenues and cash flow in the event we are unable to replace such customer, charter or vessel.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, our customers representing 10% or more of total revenues were Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd. (“HMM”) and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (“Yang Ming”), which accounted for approximately 26.8% and 12.0%, respectively, of total revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2016, Navios Partners’ customers representing 10% or more of total revenues were HMM, Yang Ming and Mediterranean Shipping Co. S.A., which accounted for 29.6%, 13.0% and 11.6%, respectively, of total revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2015, Navios Partners’ customers representing 10% or more of total revenues were HMM, Navios Corporation and Yang Ming, which accounted for 24.0%, 17.4% and 11.4%, respectively of total revenues. No other customers accounted for 10% or more of total revenues for any of the years presented.

The charterers in the containership sector consist of a limited number of liner companies. The five container vessels acquired and delivered into our fleet in the fourth quarter of 2013 and the two container vessels acquired and delivered into our fleet in the third and fourth quarter of 2014, are respectively chartered out to the same counterparty on long-term charters, which have a significant impact on our revenues. The combination of any surplus of containership capacity and the expected increase in the size of the world containership fleet over the next few years may make it difficult to secure substitute employment for any of our containerships if our counterparties fail to perform their obligations under the currently arranged time charters, and any new charter arrangements we are able to secure may be at lower rates. Furthermore, the surplus of containerships available at lower charter rates and lack of demand for our customers’ liner services could negatively affect our charterers’ willingness to perform their obligations under our time charters, which in many cases provide for charter rates significantly above current market rates. We expect that a limited number of leading liner companies will continue to generate a substantial portion of our revenues. The cessation of business with these liner companies or their failure to fulfill their obligations under the time charters for our containerships could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

In 2016, HMM faced financial difficulties and developed a restructuring plan, which included restructuring agreements for five of our container vessels (see Note 19 — Notes Receivable). The loss of these customers could result in a significant loss of revenues, cash flows and our ability to maintain or improve distributions over the long term, and to service or refinance our debt. We could lose this or any customer or the benefits of a charter if, among other things:

 

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

 

    the customer continues to face financial difficulties forcing it to declare bankruptcy, restructure its operations or to default under the charters;

 

    the customer seeks to renegotiate the terms of the charter agreements due to prevailing economic and market conditions or due to continued poor performance by the charterer;

 

    the customer exercises certain rights to terminate the charter;

 

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

 

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    a prolonged force majeure event affecting the customer, including damage to or destruction of relevant production facilities, war or political unrest prevents us from performing services for that customer.

If we lose a charter, we may be unable to re-deploy the related vessel on terms as favorable to us due to the long-term nature of most charters and the cyclical nature of the industry or we may be forced to charter the vessel on the spot market at then market rates which may be less favorable than the charter that has been terminated. If we are unable to re-deploy a vessel for which the charter has been terminated, we will not receive any revenues from that vessel, but we may be required to pay expenses necessary to maintain the vessel in proper operating condition. If we lose a vessel, any replacement or newbuilding would not generate revenues during its construction acquisition period, and we may be unable to charter any replacement vessel on terms as favorable to us as those of the terminated charter.

Even if we successfully charter our vessels in the future, our charterers may go bankrupt or fail to perform their obligations under the charter agreements, they may delay payments or suspend payments altogether, they may terminate the charter agreements prior to the agreed-upon expiration date or they may attempt to renegotiate the terms of the charters. The permanent loss of a customer, time charter or vessel, or a decline in payments under our charters, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and our ability to make cash distributions in the event we are unable to replace such customer, time charter or vessel.

On August 31, 2016, Hanjin filed for rehabilitation. Navios Partners had two Capesize vessels chartered to Hanjin at a net rate of $29,356 per day until December 2020. In September 2016, both vessels were redelivered to Navios Partners’ commercial management and were rechartered to third parties. Navios has filed claims to the Seoul Central District Court for the lost revenues in accordance with the rehabilitation process. Rehabilitation proceedings were cancelled on February 2, 2017 and Hanjin entered into liquidation on February 17, 2017. Navios Partners’ claims were registered in the rehabilitation proceedings on October 24, 2016 and will be assessed during the bankruptcy proceedings. There is no notable change in the status of Hanjin’s bankruptcy proceedings since our last report of 2017. 

In August 2015, the Seoul Central District Court approved the second rehabilitation proceedings of Samsun Logix. One of our vessels chartered to Samsun Logix was redelivered in August 2015 and has been rechartered. The rehabilitation claim was sold to an unrelated third party. Navios Partners has no outstanding receivable from Samsun Logix.

On November 15, 2012 (as amended in March 2014), Navios Holdings and Navios Partners entered into an agreement (the “Navios Holdings Guarantee”) by which Navios Holdings agreed to provide supplemental credit default insurance with a maximum cash payment of $20.0 million. The final settlement of the amount due will take place at anytime but in no case later than December 31, 2019, in accordance with a letter of agreement effective as of December 29, 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company submitted claims for charterers’ default under this agreement to Navios Holdings for a total amount of $7.2 million and $9.2 million, respectively, net of applicable deductions, of which $7.6 million and $9.6 million, respectively, was presented under the caption “Other income”.

In January 2011, Korea Line Corporation (“KLC”) which is the charterer of the Navios Melodia filed for receivership. The charter contract was affirmed and was performed by KLC on its original terms, following an interim suspension period until April 2016 during which Navios Partners traded the vessel directly. On April 1, 2016, the vessel was delivered to KLC and the charter contract was resumed.

The risks and costs associated with vessels increase as the vessels age.

As of April 3, 2018, the vessels in our fleet had an average age of approximately 10.0 years and most dry cargo vessels have an expected life of approximately 25 years. We may acquire older vessels in the future. Older vessels are typically more costly to maintain than more recently constructed vessels due to improvements in engine technology. In some instances, charterers prefer newer vessels that are more fuel efficient than older vessels. Cargo insurance rates also increase with the age of a vessel, making older vessels less desirable to charterers as well. Governmental regulations, safety or other equipment standards related to the age of the vessels may require expenditures for alterations or the addition of new equipment to our vessels and may restrict the type of activities in which these vessels may engage. We cannot assure you that as our vessels age, market conditions will justify those expenditures or enable us to operate our vessels profitably during the remainder of their useful lives. If we sell vessels, we may have to sell them at a loss, and if charterers no longer charter out vessels due to their age, it could materially adversely affect our earnings.

 

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Vessels may suffer damage and we may face unexpected drydocking costs, which could affect our cash flow and financial condition.

If our owned vessels suffer damage, they may need to be repaired at a drydocking facility. The costs of drydock repairs are unpredictable and can be substantial. We may have to pay drydocking costs that insurance does not cover. The loss of earnings while these vessels are being repaired and repositioned, as well as the actual cost of these repairs, could decrease our revenues and earnings substantially, particularly if a number of vessels are damaged or drydocked at the same time. Under the terms of the management agreement with the Manager, the costs of drydocking repairs are not included in the daily management fee, but will be reimbursed at cost upon occurrence.

We may be subject to litigation that, if not resolved in our favor and not sufficiently insured against, could have a material adverse effect on us.

We have been and may be, from time to time, involved in various litigation matters. These matters may include, among other things, contract disputes, personal injury claims, environmental claims or proceedings, and other tort claims, employment matters, governmental claims for taxes or duties, and other litigation that arises in the ordinary course of our business. Although we intend to defend these matters vigorously, we cannot predict with certainty the outcome or effect of any claim or other litigation matter, and the ultimate outcome of any litigation or the potential costs to resolve them may have a material adverse effect on us. Insurance may not be applicable or sufficient in all cases and/or insurers may not remain solvent which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

We are subject to various laws, regulations and conventions, including environmental and safety laws, that could require significant expenditures both to maintain compliance with such laws and to pay for any uninsured environmental liabilities, including any resulting from a spill or other environmental incident.

The shipping business and vessel operation are materially affected by government regulation in the form of international conventions, national, state and local laws, and regulations in force in the jurisdictions in which vessels operate, as well as in the country or countries of their registration. Governmental regulations, safety or other equipment standards, as well as compliance with standards imposed by maritime self-regulatory organizations and customer requirements or competition, may require us to make capital and other expenditures. Because such conventions, laws and regulations are often revised, we cannot predict the ultimate cost of complying with such conventions, laws and regulations, or the impact thereof on the fair market price or useful life of our vessels. In order to satisfy any such requirements, we may be required to take any of our vessels out of service for extended periods of time, with corresponding losses of revenues. In the future, market conditions may not justify these expenditures or enable us to operate our vessels, particularly older vessels, profitably during the remainder of their economic lives. This could lead to significant asset write downs. In addition, violations of environmental and safety regulations can result in substantial penalties and, in certain instances, seizure or detention of our vessels.

Additional conventions, laws and regulations may be adopted that could limit our ability to do business, require capital expenditures or otherwise increase our cost of doing business, which may materially adversely affect our operations, as well as the shipping industry generally. For example, in various jurisdictions, legislation has been enacted, or is under consideration, that would impose more stringent requirements on air pollution and effluent discharges from our vessels. For example, the IMO periodically proposes and adopts amendments to revise the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (“MARPOL”), such as the revision to Annex VI which came into force on July 1, 2010. The revised Annex VI implements a phased reduction of the sulfur content of fuel and allows for stricter sulfur limits in designated emission control areas (“ECAs”). Thus far, ECAs have been formally adopted for the Baltic Sea area (limiting SOx emissions only), the North Sea area including the English Channel (limiting SOx emissions only), and the North American ECA (which came into effect on August 1, 2012 limiting SOx, NOx and particulate matter emissions). In October 2016, the IMO approved the designation of the North Sea and Baltic Sea as ECAs for NOx under Annex VI, which is scheduled for adoption in 2017 and would take effect in January 2021. The United States Caribbean Sea ECA entered into force on January 1, 2013 and has been effective since January 1, 2014, limiting SOx, NOx and particulate matter emissions. In January 2015, the limit for fuel oil sulfur levels fell to 0.10% m/m in ECAs established to limit SOx and particulate matter emissions.

After considering the issue for many years, the IMO announced on October 27, 2016 that it was proceeding with a requirement for 0.5% m/m sulfur content in marine fuel (down from current levels of 3.5%) outside the ECAs starting on January 1, 2020. Under Annex VI, the 2020 date was subject to review as to the availability of the required fuel oil. Annex VI required the fuel availability review to be completed by 2018 but was ultimately completed in 2016. Therefore, by 2020, ships will be required to remove sulfur from emissions through the use of emission control equipment, or purchase marine fuel with 0.5% sulfur content, which may see increased demand and higher prices due to supply constraints. Installing pollution control equipment or using lower sulfur fuel could result in significantly increased costs to our company. Similarly MARPOL Annex VI requires Tier III standards for NOx emissions to be applied to ships constructed and engines installed in ships operating in NOx ECAs from January 1, 2016.

California has adopted more stringent low sulfur fuel requirements within California-regulated waters. In addition, the IMO, the U.S. and states within the U.S. have proposed or implemented requirements relating to the management of ballast water to prevent the harmful effects of foreign invasive species.

 

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In February 2004, the IMO adopted the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (the “BWM Convention”). The BWM Convention’s implementing regulations call for a phased introduction of mandatory ballast water exchange requirements, to be replaced in time with mandatory concentration limits, as well as other obligations, including recordkeeping requirements and implementation of a Ballast Water and Sediments Management Plan. The BWM Convention entered into force on September 8, 2017. The BWM Convention requires ships to manage ballast water in a manner that removes, renders harmless or avoids the uptake or discharge of aquatic organisms and pathogens within ballast water and sediment. Recently updated Ballast Water and Sediment Management Plan guidance includes more robust testing and performance specifications. Enforcement of the BWM Convention and revised guidance will likely result in additional compliance costs, to be implemented over a period of time, depending upon the ship’s age and renewal survey cycle. Currently, all ships must have a ballast water management plan, a ballast water record book and an International Ballast Water Management Certificate. Existing ships built before September 8, 2017, are required to exchange ballast water in open seas, away from coastal areas or in designated areas. Ships built after September 8, 2017, are required to comply with discharge standards based on the maximum allowable amount of viable organisms, which usually involves the installation of ballast water treatment systems. Ships built before September 8, 2017 must comply with IMO discharge standards by the due date for their IOPPC renewal survey under MARPOL Annex 1. All ships must meet the IMO ballast water discharge standard by September 8, 2024. The entry of the BWM Convention and revised guidance will likely result in additional compliance costs.

The operation of vessels is also affected by the requirements set forth in the International Safety Management (“ISM”) Code. The ISM Code requires ship owners and bareboat charterers to develop and maintain an extensive “Safety Management System” that includes the adoption of a safety and environmental protection policy setting forth instructions and procedures for safe vessel operation and describing procedures for dealing with emergencies. Further to this, the IMO has introduced the first ever mandatory measures for an international greenhouse gas reduction regime for a global industry sector. The Energy Efficiency measures took effect on January 1, 2013 and apply to all ships of 400 gross tonnage and above. They include the development of a ship energy efficiency management plan (“SEEMP”) which is akin to a safety management plan, with which the industry will have to comply. The failure of a ship owner or bareboat charterer to comply with the ISM Code and IMO measures may subject such party to increased liability, may decrease available insurance coverage for the affected vessels, and may result in a denial of access to, or detention in, certain ports.

We operate a fleet of dry cargo vessels that are subject to national and international laws governing pollution from such vessels. Several international conventions impose and limit pollution liability from vessels. An owner of a tanker vessel carrying a cargo of “persistent oil” as defined by the International Convention for Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (the “CLC”) is subject under the convention to strict liability for any pollution damage caused in a contracting state by an escape or discharge from cargo or bunker tanks. This liability is subject to a financial limit calculated by reference to the tonnage of the ship, and the right to limit liability may be lost if the spill is caused by the ship owner’s intentional or reckless conduct. Liability may also be incurred under the CLC for a bunker spill from the vessel even when she is not carrying such cargo, but is in ballast.

When a tanker is carrying clean oil products that do not constitute “persistent oil” that would be covered under the CLC, liability for any pollution damage will generally fall outside the CLC and will depend on other international conventions or domestic laws in the jurisdiction where the spillage occurs. The same principle applies to any pollution from the vessel in a jurisdiction which is not a party to the CLC. The CLC applies in over 100 jurisdictions around the world, but it does not apply in the United States, where the corresponding liability laws such as the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (the “OPA”) discussed below, are particularly stringent.

For vessel operations not covered by the CLC, including those operated under our fleet, at present, international liability for oil pollution is governed by the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (the “Bunker Convention”). In 2001, the IMO adopted the Bunker Convention, which imposes strict liability on ship owners for pollution damage and response costs incurred in contracting states caused by discharges, or threatened discharges, of bunker oil from all classes of ships not covered by the CLC. The Bunker Convention also requires registered owners of ships over a certain size to maintain insurance to cover their liability for pollution damage in an amount equal to the limits of liability under the applicable national or international limitation regime, including liability limits calculated in accordance with the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976, as amended (the “1976 Convention”), discussed in more detail in the following paragraph. The Bunker Convention became effective in contracting states on November 21, 2008, and as of August 23, 2017, had 86 contracting states. In non-contracting states, liability for such bunker oil pollution typically is determined by the national or other domestic laws in the jurisdiction where the spillage occurs.

The CLC and Bunker Convention also provide vessel owners a right to limit their liability, depending on the applicable national or international regime. The CLC includes its own liability limits. The 1976 Convention is the most widely applicable international regime limiting maritime pollution liability. Rights to limit liability under the 1976 Convention are forfeited where a spill is caused by a ship owner’s intentional or reckless conduct. Certain jurisdictions have ratified the IMO’s Protocol of 1996 to the 1976 Convention, referred to herein as the “Protocol of 1996.” The Protocol of 1996 provides for substantially higher liability limits in those jurisdictions than the limits set forth in the 1976 Convention. Finally, some jurisdictions, such as the United States, are not a party to either the 1976 Convention or the Protocol of 1996, and, therefore, a ship owner’s rights to limit liability for maritime pollution in such jurisdictions may be uncertain.

 

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Environmental legislation in the United States merits particular mention as it is in many respects more onerous than international laws, representing a high-water mark of regulation with which ship owners and operators must comply, and of liability likely to be incurred in the event of non-compliance or an incident causing pollution.

Though it has been eight years since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico (the “Deepwater Horizon incident”), such regulation may become even stricter because of the incident’s impact. In the United States, the OPA establishes an extensive regulatory and liability regime for the protection and cleanup of the environment from cargo and bunker oil spills from vessels, including tankers. The OPA covers all owners and operators whose vessels trade in the United States, its territories and possessions or whose vessels operate in United States waters, which includes the United States’ territorial sea and its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone (the “EEZ”). Under the OPA, vessel owners, operators and bareboat charterers are “responsible parties” and are jointly, severally and strictly liable (unless the spill results solely from the act or omission of a third party, an act of God or an act of war) for all containment and clean-up costs and other damages arising from discharges or substantial threats of discharges, of oil from their vessels. In response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil incident in the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. House of Representatives passed and the U.S. Senate considered but did not pass a bill to strengthen certain requirements of the OPA; similar legislation may be introduced in the future.

In addition to potential liability under the federal OPA, vessel owners may in some instances incur liability on an even more stringent basis under state law in the particular state where the spillage occurred. For example, California regulations prohibit the discharge of oil, require an oil contingency plan be filed with the state, require that the ship owner contract with an oil response organization and require a valid certificate of financial responsibility, all prior to the vessel entering state waters.

In recent years, the EU has become increasingly active in the field of regulation of maritime safety and protection of the environment. In some areas of regulation the EU has introduced new laws without attempting to procure a corresponding amendment to international law. Notably, in 2005 the EU adopted a directive, as amended in 2009, on ship-source pollution, imposing criminal sanctions for pollution not only where pollution is caused by intent or recklessness (which would be an offence under MARPOL), but also where it is caused by “serious negligence.” The concept of “serious negligence” may be interpreted in practice to be little more than ordinary negligence. The directive could therefore result in criminal liability being incurred in circumstances where it would not be incurred under international law. In February 2017, EU members states met to consider independently regulating the shipping industry under the Emissions Trading System (“ETS”), which requires ETS-regulated businesses to report on carbon emissions and provides for a credit trading system for carbon allowances. On February 15, 2017, European Parliament voted in favor of a bill to include maritime shipping in the ETS by 2023 if the IMO has not promulgated a comparable system by 2021. In November 2017, the Council of Ministers, EU’s main decision making body, agreed that Europe should act on shipping emissions from 2023 if the IMO fails to deliver effective global measures. Last year, IMO’s urgent call to action to bring about ship greenhouse gas emissions reductions before 2023 was met with industry push-back by many countries. Depending on how fast IMO and the EU move on this issue, the ETS may result in additional compliance costs for our vessels.

In response to the Deepwater Horizon incident, the EU issued “Directive 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 12, 2013 on safety of offshore oil and gas operations.” Implemented on July 19, 2015, the objective of this Directive is to reduce as far as possible the occurrence of major accidents relating to offshore oil and gas operations and to limit their consequences, thus increasing the protection of the marine environment and coastal economies against pollution, establishing minimum conditions for safe offshore exploration and exploitation of oil and gas and limiting possible disruptions to Union indigenous energy production, and to improve the response mechanisms in case of an accident. As far as the environment is concerned, the UK has various regulations such as: the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Offshore Safety Directive) (Environmental Functions) Regulations 2015 (OSDEF), the 2015 amendments to the Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation Convention) Regulations 1998 (OPRC 1998) and other environmental Directive requirements, specifically the Environmental Management System. The Offshore Petroleum Licensing (Offshore Safety Directive) Regulations 2015 will implement the licensing Directive requirements.

Criminal liability for a pollution incident could not only result in us incurring substantial penalties or fines, but may also, in some jurisdictions, facilitate civil liability claims for greater compensation than would otherwise have been payable.

We maintain insurance coverage for each owned vessel in our fleet against pollution liability risks in the amount of $1.0 billion in the aggregate for any one event. The insured risks include penalties and fines as well as civil liabilities and expenses resulting from accidental pollution. However, this insurance coverage is subject to exclusions, deductibles and other terms and conditions. If any liabilities or expenses fall within an exclusion from coverage, or if damages from a catastrophic incident exceed the aggregate liability of $1.0 billion for any one event, our cash flow, profitability and financial position would be adversely impacted.

 

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Climate change and government laws and regulations related to climate change could negatively impact our financial condition.

We are and will be, directly and indirectly, subject to the effects of climate change and may, directly or indirectly, be affected by government laws and regulations related to climate change. A number of countries have adopted or are considering the adoption of, regulatory frameworks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen oxides. In the U.S., the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has declared greenhouse gases to be dangerous pollutants and has issued greenhouse gas reporting requirements for emissions sources in certain industries (which currently do not include the shipping industry). The EPA does require owners of vessels subject to MARPOL Annex VI to maintain records for nitrogen oxides standards and in-use fuel specifications.

In addition, while the emissions of greenhouse gases from international shipping are not subject to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the “UNFCC”), which requires adopting countries to implement national programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the IMO intends to develop limits on greenhouse gases from international shipping. It has responded to the global focus on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions by developing specific technical and operational efficiency measures and a work plan for market-based mechanisms in 2011. These include the mandatory measures of the ship energy efficiency management plan (“SEEMP”), outlined above, and an energy efficiency design index (“EEDI”) for new ships. The IMO is also considering its position on market-based measures through an expert working group. Among the numerous proposals being considered by the working group are the following: a port state levy based on the amount of fuel consumed by the vessel on its voyage to the port in question; a global emissions trading scheme which would allocate emissions allowances and set an emissions cap; and an international fund establishing a global reduction target for international shipping, to be set either by the UNFCCC or the IMO.

At its 64th session (2012), the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (the “MEPC”) indicated that 2015 was the target year for member states to identify market-based measures for international shipping. At its 66th session (2014), the MEPC continued its work on developing technical and operational measures relating to energy-efficiency measures for ships, following the entry into force of the mandatory efficiency measures on January 1, 2013. It adopted the 2014 Guidelines on the Method of Calculation of the Attained EEDI, applicable to new ships. It further adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI concerning the extension of the scope of application of the EEDI to Liquefied Natural Gas (“LNG”) carriers, ro-ro cargo ships (vehicle carriers), ro-ro cargo ships, ro-ro passenger ships and cruise passengers ships with nonconventional propulsion. At its 67th session (2014), the MEPC adopted the 2014 Guidelines on survey and certification of the EEDI, updating the previous version to reference ships fitted with dual-fuel engines using LNG and liquid fuel oil. The MEPC also adopted amendments to the 2013 Interim Guidelines for determining minimum propulsion power to maintain the maneuverability of ships in adverse conditions, to make the guidelines applicable to phase 1 (starting January 1, 2015) of the EEDI requirements. At its 68th session (2015), the MEPC amended the 2014 Guidelines on EEDI survey and certification as well as the method of calculating of EEDI for new ships, the latter of which was again amended at the 70th session (2016). At its 70th session, the MEPC also adopted mandatory requirements for ships of 5,000 gross tonnage or greater to collect fuel consumption data for each type of fuel used, and report the data to the flag State after the end of each calendar year.

In December 2011, UN climate change talks took place in Durban and concluded with an agreement referred to as the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action. The Durban Conference did not result in any proposals specifically addressing the shipping industry’s role in climate change but the progress that has been made by the IMO in this area was widely acknowledged throughout the negotiating bodies of the UNFCCC process, and an ad hoc working group was established.

Although regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping industry was discussed during the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris (the “Paris Conference”), the agreement reached among the 195 nations did not expressly reference the shipping industry. Following the Paris Conference, the IMO announced it would continue its efforts on this issue at the MEPC, and at its 70th session, the MEPC approved a Roadmap for developing a comprehensive GHG emissions reduction strategy for ships, which includes the goal of adopting an initial strategy and emission reduction commitments in 2018. The Roadmap also provides for additional studies and further intersessional work, to be continued at the 71st session in 2017, with a goal of adopting a revised strategy in 2023 to include short-, mid- and long-term reduction measures and schedules for implementation. In April 2018, the committee charged with creating the reduction strategy must finalize the initial draft of the strategy and submit a report to MEPC.

The EU announced in April 2007 that it planned to expand the EU emissions trading scheme by adding vessels, and a proposal from the European Commission (“EC”) was expected if no global regime for reduction of seaborne emissions had been agreed to by the end of 2011. As of January 31, 2013, the EC had stopped short of proposing that emissions from ships be included in the EU’s emissions-trading scheme. However, on October 1, 2012, it announced that it would propose measures to monitor, verify and report on greenhouse-gas emissions from the shipping sector. On June 28, 2013, the EC adopted a communication setting out a strategy for progressively including greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport in the EU’s policy for reducing its overall GHG emissions. The first step proposed by the EC was an EU Regulation (as defined below) to an EU-wide system for the monitoring, reporting and verification of carbon dioxide emissions from large ships starting in 2018. The EU Regulation (2015/757) was adopted on April 29,

 

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2015 and took effect on July 1, 2015, with monitoring, reporting and verification requirements beginning on January 1, 2018. This Regulation appears to be indicative of an intent to maintain pressure on the international negotiating process. The EC also adopted an Implementing Regulation, which entered into force in November 2016, setting templates for monitoring plans, emissions reports and compliance documents pursuant to Regulation 2015/757.

We cannot predict with any degree of certainty what effect, if any possible climate change and government laws and regulations related to climate change will have on our operations, whether directly or indirectly. However, we believe that climate change, including the possible increase in severe weather events resulting from climate change, and government laws and regulations related to climate change may affect, directly or indirectly, (i) the cost of the vessels we may acquire in the future, (ii) our ability to continue to operate as we have in the past, (iii) the cost of operating our vessels, and (iv) insurance premiums, deductibles and the availability of coverage. As a result, our financial condition could be negatively impacted by significant climate change and related governmental regulation, and that impact could be material.

The loss of key members of our senior management team could disrupt the management of our business.

We believe that our success depends on the continued contributions of the members of our senior management team, including Ms. Angeliki Frangou, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The loss of the services of Ms. Frangou or one of our other executive officers or those of Navios Holdings who provide us with significant managerial services could impair our ability to identify and secure new charter contracts, to maintain good customer relations and to otherwise manage our business, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial performance and our ability to compete.

The Manager acting on our behalf may be unable to attract and retain qualified, skilled employees or crew necessary to operate our business or may have to pay substantially increased costs for its employees and crew.

Our success will depend in part on the Manager’s ability to attract, hire, train and retain highly skilled and qualified personnel. In crewing our vessels, we require technically skilled employees with specialized training who can perform physically demanding work. Competition to attract, hire, train and retain qualified crew members is intense, and crew manning costs continue to increase. If we are not able to increase our hire rates to compensate for any crew cost increases, our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders may be adversely affected. Any inability we experience in the future to attract, hire, train and retain a sufficient number of qualified employees could impair our ability to manage, maintain and grow our business.

We are subject to vessel security regulations and will incur costs to comply with recently adopted regulations and we may be subject to costs to comply with similar regulations that may be adopted in the future in response to terrorism.

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, there have been a variety of initiatives intended to enhance vessel security. On November 25, 2002, the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, or MTSA, came into effect. To implement certain portions of the MTSA, in July 2003, the U.S. Coast Guard issued regulations requiring the implementation of certain security requirements aboard vessels operating in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Similarly, in December 2002, amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, or SOLAS, created a new chapter of the convention dealing specifically with maritime security. The new chapter went into effect in July 2004, and imposes various detailed security obligations on vessels and port authorities, most of which are contained in the newly created ISPS Code. Among the various requirements are:

 

    on-board installation of automatic information systems to enhance vessel-to-vessel and vessel-to-shore communications;

 

    on-board installation of ship security alert systems;

 

    the development of vessel security plans; and

 

    compliance with flag state security certification requirements.

Furthermore, additional security measures could be required in the future which could have a significant financial impact on us. The U.S. Coast Guard regulations, intended to be aligned with international maritime security standards, exempt non-U.S. vessels from MTSA vessel security measures, provided such vessels have on board a valid International Ship Security Certificate, or ISSC, that attests to the vessel’s compliance with SOLAS security requirements and the ISPS Code. We will implement the various security measures addressed by the MTSA, SOLAS and the ISPS Code and take measures for the vessels to attain compliance with all applicable security requirements within the prescribed time periods. Although management does not believe these additional requirements will have a material financial impact on our operations, there can be no assurance that there will not be an interruption in operations to bring vessels into compliance with the applicable requirements and any such interruption could cause a decrease in charter revenues. Furthermore, additional security measures could be required in the future which could have a significant financial impact on us.

 

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Our international activities increase the compliance risks associated with economic and trade sanctions imposed by the U.S., the EU and other jurisdictions.

Our international operations and activities could expose us to risks associated with trade and economic sanctions prohibitions or other restrictions imposed by the U.S. or other governments or organizations, including the United Nations, the EU and its member countries. Under economic and trade sanctions laws, governments may seek to impose modifications to, or prohibitions/restrictions on, business practices and activities, and modifications to compliance programs, which may increase compliance costs, and, in the event of a violation, may subject us to fines and other penalties.

Iran

During the last few years and until January 2016, the scope of sanctions imposed against Iran, the government of Iran and persons engaging in certain activities or doing certain business with and relating to Iran was expanded by a number of jurisdictions, including the United States, the European Union and Canada. In 2010, the U.S. enacted the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Accountability and Divestment Act (“CISADA”), which expanded the scope of the former Iran Sanctions Act. The scope of U.S. sanctions against Iran were expanded subsequent to CISADA by, among other U.S. laws, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 (the “2012 NDAA”), the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (“ITRA”), Executive Order 13662, and the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012 (“IFCA”). The foregoing laws, among other things, expanded the application of prohibitions to non-U.S. companies, such as our company, and introduced limits on the ability of non-U.S. companies and other non-U.S. persons to do business or trade with Iran when such activities relate to specific trade and investment activities involving Iran.

U.S. economic sanctions on Iran fall into two general categories: “Primary” sanctions, which prohibit U.S. persons or U.S. companies and their foreign branches, U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, persons within the territory of the United States from engaging in all direct and indirect trade and other transactions with Iran without U.S. government authorization, and “secondary” sanctions, which are mainly nuclear-related sanctions. While most of the U.S. nuclear-related sanctions with respect to Iran and the EU sanctions on Iran (including, among others, CISADA, ITRA, and IFCA) were lifted on January 16, 2016 through the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (“JCPOA”) entered into between the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) and Germany, there are still certain limitations in place with which we need to comply. The primary sanctions with which U.S. persons or transactions with a U.S. nexus must comply are still in force and have not been lifted or relaxed, except in a very limited fashion. Additionally, the sanctions lifted under the JCPOA could be reimposed (“snapped back”) at any time if Iran violates the JCPOA or the United States does not certify that Iran is in compliance with the JCPOA.

After the lifting of most of the nuclear-related sanctions on January 16, 2016, EU sanctions remain in place in relation to the export of arms and military goods listed in the EU common military list, missiles-related goods and items that might be used for internal repression. The main nuclear-related EU sanctions which remain in place include restrictions on:

 

  i. Graphite and certain raw or semi-finished metals such as corrosion-resistant high-grade steel, iron, aluminum and alloys, titanium and alloys and nickel and alloys (as listed in Annex VIIB to EU Regulation 267/2012 as updated by EU Regulation 2015/1861 (the “EU Regulation”);

 

  ii. Goods listed in the Nuclear Suppliers Group list (as listed in Annex I to the EU Regulation);

 

  iii. Goods that could contribute to nuclear-related or other activities inconsistent with the JCPOA (as listed in Annex II to the EU Regulation); and

 

  iv. Software designed for use in nuclear/military industries (as listed in Annex VIIA to the EU Regulation).

Dealing with the above is no longer prohibited, but prior authorization must be obtained first and is granted on a case-by-case basis. The remaining restrictions apply to the sale, supply, transfer or export, directly or indirectly, to any Iranian person/for use in Iran, as well as the provision of technical assistance, financing or financial assistance in relation to the restricted activity. Certain individuals and entities remain sanctioned and the prohibition to make available, directly or indirectly, economic resources or assets to or for the benefit of sanctioned parties remains. “Economic resources” is widely defined and it remains prohibited to provide vessels for a fixture from which a sanctioned party (or parties related to a sanctioned party) directly or indirectly benefits. It is therefore still necessary to carry out due diligence on the parties and cargoes involved in fixtures involving Iran.

 

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Russia/Ukraine

As a result of the crisis in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, both the U.S. and EU have implemented sanctions against certain persons and entities.

The EU has imposed travel bans and asset freezes on certain Russian persons and entities pursuant to which it is prohibited to make available, directly or indirectly, economic resources or assets to or for the benefit of the sanctioned parties. Certain Russian ports, including Kerch Commercial Seaport, Sevastopol Commercial Seaport and Port Feodosia, are subject to the above restrictions. Other entities are subject to sectoral sanctions which limit the provision of equity financing and loans to the listed entities. In addition, various restrictions on trade have been implemented which, amongst others, include a prohibition on the import into the EU of goods originating in Crimea or Sevastopol as well as restrictions on trade in certain dual-use and military items and restrictions in relation to various items of technology associated with the oil industry for use in deep water exploration and production, Arctic oil exploration and production or shale oil projects in Russia. As such, it is important to carry out due diligence on the parties and cargoes involved in fixtures relating to Russia.

The U.S. has imposed sanctions against certain designated Russian entities and individuals (“U.S. Russian Sanctions Targets”). These sanctions block the property and all interests in property of the U.S. Russian Sanctions Targets. This effectively prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in any economic or commercial transactions with the U.S. Russian Sanctions Targets unless the same are authorized by the U.S. Treasury Department. Similar to EU sanctions, U.S. sanctions also entail restrictions on certain exports from the United States to Russia and the imposition of Sectoral Sanctions which restrict the provision of equity and debt financing to designated Russian entities. While the prohibitions of these sanctions are not directly applicable to us, we have compliance measures in place to guard against transactions with U.S. Russian Sanctions Targets which may involve the United States or U.S. persons and thus implicate prohibitions. The United States also maintains prohibitions on trade with Crimea.

The U.S.’s “Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act” (Public Law 115-44) (CAATSA), authorizes imposition of new sanctions on Iran, Russia, and North Korea. The CAATSA sanctions with respect to Russia have not actually been imposed or implemented. CAATSA sanctions on Iran and North Korea enhance existing sanctions.

Venezuela-Related Sanctions

The U.S. sanctions with respect to Venezuela prohibit dealings with designated Venezuelan government officials, and curtail the provision of financing to PDVSA and other government entities. EU sanctions against Venezuela are primarily governed by EU Council Regulation 2017/2063 of November 13, 2017 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela. This includes financial sanctions and restrictions on listed persons and an, arms embargo and related prohibitions and restrictions including restrictions related to internal repression.

Other U.S. Economic Sanctions and Sanctions Targets

In addition to Iran and certain Russian entities and individuals, as indicated above, the United States maintains economic sanctions against Syria, Cuba, North Korea, and sanctions against entities and individuals (such as entities and individuals in the foregoing targeted countries, designated terrorists, narcotics traffickers) whose names appear on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the U.S. Treasury Department (collectively, “Sanctions Targets”). We are subject to the prohibitions of these sanctions to the extent that any transaction or activity we engage in involves Sanctions Targets and a U.S. person or otherwise has a nexus to the United States.

Other EU Economic Sanctions Targets

The EU also maintains sanctions against Syria, North Korea and certain other countries and against individuals listed by the EU. These restrictions apply to our operations and as such, to the extent that these countries may be involved in any business it is important to carry out checks to ensure compliance with all relevant restrictions and to carry out due diligence checks on counterparties and cargoes.

Compliance

Considering the aforementioned prohibitions of U.S. as well as EU sanctions and the nature of our business, there is a sanctions risk for us due to the worldwide trade of our vessels, which we seek to minimise by following our corporate written Ecomonic Sanctions Compliance Policy and Procedures and our compliance with all applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations. Although we believe that we are in compliance with all applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations, and intend to maintain such compliance, there can be no assurance that we will be in compliance in the future, particularly as the scope of certain laws may be

 

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unclear and may be subject to changing interpretations, and the law may change. Moreover, despite, for example, relevant provisions in charter parties forbidding the use of our vessels in trade that would violate economic sanctions, our charterers may nevertheless violate applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations as a result of actions that do not involve us or our vessels, and those violations could in turn negatively affect our reputation and be imputed to us. In addition, given our relationship with Navios Holdings, we cannot give any assurance that an adverse finding against Navios Holdings by a governmental or legal authority or others with respect to the matters discussed herein or any future matter related to regulatory compliance by Navios Holdings or ourselves will not have a material adverse impact on our business, reputation or the market price or trading of our common stock units.

We are constantly monitoring developments in the United States, the European Union and other jurisdictions that maintain economic sanctions against Iran, other countries, and other sanctions targets, including developments in implementation and enforcement of such sanctions programs. Expansion of sanctions programs, embargoes and other restrictions in the future (including additional designations of countries and persons subject to sanctions), or modifications in how existing sanctions are interpreted or enforced, could prevent our vessels from calling in ports in sanctioned countries or could limit their cargoes. If any of the risks described above materialize, it could have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations.

To reduce the risk of violating economic sanctions, we have a policy of compliance with applicable economic sanctions laws and have implemented and continue to implement and diligently follow compliance procedures to avoid economic sanctions violations.

We could be materially adversely affected by violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act and anti-corruption laws in other applicable jurisdictions.

As an international shipping company, we may operate in countries known to have a reputation for corruption. The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (the “FCPA”) and other anti-corruption laws and regulations in applicable jurisdictions generally prohibit companies registered with the SEC and their intermediaries from making improper payments to government officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Under the FCPA, U.S. companies may be held liable for some actions taken by strategic or local partners or representatives. Legislation in other countries includes the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 (the “U.K. Bribery Act”) which is broader in scope than the FCPA because it does not contain an exception for facilitation payments. We and our customers may be subject to these and similar anti-corruption laws in other applicable jurisdictions. Failure to comply with legal requirements could expose us to civil and/or criminal penalties, including fines, prosecution and significant reputational damage, all of which could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations, including our relationships with our customers, and our financial results. Compliance with the FCPA, the U.K. Bribery Act and other applicable anti-corruption laws and related regulations and policies imposes potentially significant costs and operational burdens on us. Moreover, the compliance and monitoring mechanisms that we have in place including our Code of Ethics and our anti-bribery and anti-corruption policy, may not adequately prevent or detect all possible violations under applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption legislation. However, we believe that the procedures we have in place to prevent bribery are adequate and that they should provide a defense in most circumstances to a violation or a mitigation of applicable penalties, at least under the U.K.’s Bribery Act.

The operation of ocean-going vessels entails the possibility of marine disasters including damage or destruction of the vessel due to accident, the loss of a vessel due to piracy or terrorism, damage or destruction of cargo and similar events that may cause a loss of revenue from affected vessels and damage our business reputation, which may in turn lead to loss of business.

The operation of ocean-going vessels entails certain inherent risks that may materially adversely affect our business and reputation, including:

 

    damage or destruction of vessel due to marine disaster such as a collision;

 

    the loss of a vessel due to piracy and terrorism;

 

    cargo and property losses or damage as a result of the foregoing or less drastic causes such as human error, mechanical failure, grounding, fire, explosions and bad weather;

 

    environmental accidents as a result of the foregoing; and

 

    business interruptions and delivery delays caused by mechanical failure, human error, war, terrorism, political action in various countries, labor strikes or adverse weather conditions.

Any of these circumstances or events could substantially increase our costs. For example, the costs of replacing a vessel or cleaning up a spill could substantially lower our revenues by taking vessels out of operation permanently or for periods of time. The involvement of our vessels in a disaster or delays in delivery or damages or loss of cargo may harm our reputation as a safe and reliable vessel operator and cause us to lose business.

 

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The operation of vessels, such as drybulk carriers, has certain unique risks. With a drybulk carrier, the cargo itself and its interaction with the vessel can be an operational risk. By their nature, drybulk cargoes are often heavy, dense, easily shift, and react badly to water exposure. In addition, drybulk carriers are often subjected to battering treatment during unloading operations with grabs, jackhammers (to pry encrusted cargoes out of the hold) and small bulldozers. This treatment may cause damage to the vessel. Vessels damaged due to treatment during unloading procedures may be more susceptible to breach to the sea. Hull breaches in drybulk carriers may lead to the flooding of the vessels’ holds. If a drybulk carrier suffers flooding in its forward holds, the bulk cargo may become so dense and waterlogged that its pressure may buckle the vessel’s bulkheads leading to the loss of a vessel.

The total loss or damage of any of our vessels or cargoes could harm our reputation as a safe and reliable vessel owner and operator. If we are unable to adequately maintain or safeguard our vessels, we may be unable to prevent any such damage, costs, or loss that could negatively impact our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay distributions.

Maritime claimants could arrest our vessels, which could interrupt our cash flow.

Crew members, suppliers of goods and services to a vessel, shippers of cargo, and other parties may be entitled to a maritime lien against a vessel for unsatisfied debts, claims or damages against such vessel. In many jurisdictions, a maritime lien holder may enforce its lien by arresting a vessel through foreclosure proceedings. The arrest or attachment of one or more of our vessels could interrupt our cash flow and require us to pay large sums of funds to have the arrest lifted. We are not currently aware of the existence of any such maritime lien on our vessels.

In addition, in some jurisdictions, such as South Africa, under the “sister ship” theory of liability, a claimant may arrest both the vessel which is subject to the claimant’s maritime lien and any “associated” vessel, which is any vessel owned or controlled by the same owner. Claimants could try to assert “sister ship” liability against one vessel in our fleet for claims relating to another vessel in the fleet.

The smuggling of drugs or other contraband onto our vessels may lead to governmental claims against us.

Our vessels may call in ports where smugglers may attempt to hide drugs and other contraband on vessels, with or without the knowledge of crew members. To the extent our vessels are found with contraband, whether inside or attached to the hull of our vessel and whether with or without the knowledge of any of our crew, we may face governmental or other regulatory claims which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and our ability to pay dividends. Under some jurisdictions, vessels used for the conveyance of illegal drugs could subject the vessel to forfeiture to the government of such jurisdiction.

A failure to pass inspection by classification societies could result in one or more vessels being unemployable unless and until they pass inspection, resulting in a loss of revenues from such vessels for that period and a corresponding decrease in operating cash flows.

The hull and machinery of every commercial vessel must be classed by a classification society authorized by its country of registry. The classification society certifies that a vessel is safe and seaworthy in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the country of registry of the vessel and with SOLAS. Our owned fleet is currently enrolled with American Bureau of Shipping, Nippon Kaiji Kiokai, Bureau Veritas, DNVGL, and Lloyd’s Register.

A vessel must undergo an annual survey, an intermediate survey and a special survey. In lieu of a special survey, a vessel’s machinery may be on a continuous survey cycle, under which the machinery would be surveyed periodically over a five-year period. Our vessels are on special survey cycles for hull inspection and continuous survey cycles for machinery inspection. Every vessel is also required to be drydocked every two to three years for inspection of the underwater parts of such vessel.

If any vessel fails any annual survey, intermediate survey or special survey, the vessel may be unable to trade between ports and, therefore, would be unemployable, potentially causing a negative impact on our revenues due to the loss of revenues from such vessel until she is able to trade again. Further, if any vessel fails a classification survey and the condition giving rise to the failure is not cured within a reasonable time, the vessel may lose coverage under various insurance programs, including hull & machinery insurance and/or protection & indemnity insurance.

Increased inspection procedures and tighter import and export controls could increase costs and disrupt our business.

International shipping is subject to various security and customs inspection and related procedures in countries of origin and destination and trans-shipment points. Inspection procedures may result in the seizure of contents of our vessels, delays in the loading, offloading, trans-shipment or delivery and the levying of customs duties, fines or other penalties against us.

 

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It is possible that changes to inspection procedures could impose additional financial and legal obligations on us. Changes to inspection procedures could also impose additional costs and obligations on our customers and may, in certain cases, render the shipment of certain types of cargo uneconomical or impractical. Any such changes or developments may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions.

We are subject to inherent operational risks that may not be adequately covered by our insurance.

The operation of ocean-going vessels in international trade is inherently risky. Although we carry insurance for our fleet against risks commonly insured against by vessel owners and operators, including hull and machinery insurance, war risks insurance and protection and indemnity insurance (which include environmental damage and pollution insurance), all risks may not be adequately insured against, and any particular claim may not be paid. We do not currently maintain strike or off-hire insurance, which would cover the loss of revenue during extended vessel off-hire periods, such as those that occur during an unscheduled drydocking due to damage to the vessel from accidents except in cases of loss of hire up to a limited number of days due to war or a piracy event. Other events that may lead to off-hire periods include natural or man-made disasters that result in the closure of certain waterways and prevent vessels from entering or leaving certain ports. Accordingly, any extended vessel off-hire, due to an accident or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our business and our ability to pay distributions to our unitholders. Any claims covered by insurance would be subject to deductibles, and since it is possible that a large number of claims may be brought, the aggregate amount of these deductibles could be material.

We may be unable to procure adequate insurance coverage at commercially reasonable rates in the future. For example, more stringent environmental regulations have led in the past to increased costs for, and in the future may result in the lack of availability of, insurance against risks of environmental damage or pollution. A catastrophic oil spill or marine disaster could exceed our insurance coverage, which could harm our business, financial condition and operating results. Changes in the insurance markets attributable to terrorist attacks may also make certain types of insurance more difficult for us to obtain. In addition, the insurance that may be available to us may be significantly more expensive than our existing coverage.

Even if our insurance coverage is adequate to cover our losses, we may not be able to timely obtain a replacement vessel in the event of a loss. Furthermore, in the future, we may not be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage at reasonable rates for our fleet. Our insurance policies also contain deductibles, limitations and exclusions which can result in significant increased overall costs to us.

Because we obtain some of our insurance through protection and indemnity associations, we may also be subject to calls, or premiums, in amounts based not only on our own claim records, but also the claim records of all other members of the protection and indemnity associations.

We may be subject to calls, or premiums, in amounts based not only on our claim records but also the claim records of all other members of the protection and indemnity associations through which we receive insurance coverage for tort liability, including pollution-related liability. Our payment of these calls could result in significant expenses to us, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Because we generate all of our revenues in U.S. dollars but incur a portion of our expenses in other currencies, exchange rate fluctuations could cause us to suffer exchange rate losses thereby increasing expenses and reducing income.

We engage in worldwide commerce with a variety of entities. Although our operations may expose us to certain levels of foreign currency risk, our transactions are at present predominantly U.S. dollar-denominated. Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency are translated at the exchange rate in effect at the date of each transaction. Expenses incurred in foreign currencies against which the U.S. dollar falls in value can increase thereby decreasing our income or vice versa if the U.S. dollar increases in value. For example, as of December 31, 2017, the value of the U.S. dollar as compared to the Euro decreased by approximately 12.1% compared with the respective value as of December 31, 2016. A greater percentage of our transactions and expenses in the future may be denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.

Political and government instability, terrorist attacks, increased hostilities or war could lead to further economic instability, increased costs and disruption of our business.

We are an international company and primarily conduct our operations outside the United States. Changing economic, political and governmental conditions in the countries where we are engaged in business or where our vessels are registered will affect us. Terrorist attacks, such as the attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001 and the United States’ continuing response to these attacks, and in Paris on January 7, 2015 and on November 13, 2015, the bombings in Spain on March 11, 2004 and in Brussels on March 22, 2016, and the attacks in London on July 7, 2005, the recent conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine and other current and future

 

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conflicts, and the continuing response of the United States to these attacks, as well as the threat of future terrorist attacks, continue to cause uncertainty in the world financial markets, including the energy markets. Continuing hostilities in the Middle East may lead to additional refugee flows, armed conflicts or to further acts of terrorism and civil disturbance in the United States or elsewhere, which could result in increased volatility and turmoil in the financial markets and may contribute further to economic instability. Current and future conflicts and terrorist attacks may adversely affect our business, operating results, financial condition, ability to raise capital and future growth. Terrorist attacks on vessels, such as the October 2002 attack on the M/V Limburg, a VLCC not related to us, may in the future also negatively affect our operations and financial condition and directly impact our vessels or our customers.

Furthermore, our operations may be adversely affected by changing or adverse political and governmental conditions in the countries where our vessels are flagged or registered and in the regions where we otherwise engage in business. Any disruption caused by these factors may interfere with the operation of our vessels, which could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our operations may also be adversely affected by expropriation of vessels, taxes, regulation, tariffs, trade embargoes, economic sanctions or a disruption of or limit to trading activities, or other adverse events or circumstances in or affecting the countries and regions where we operate or where we may operate in the future.

Governments could requisition our vessels during a period of war or emergency, resulting in a loss of earnings.

A government could requisition title or seize our vessels. Requisition of title occurs when a government takes a vessel and becomes the owner. A government could also requisition our vessels for hire, which would result in the government’s taking control of a vessel and effectively becoming the charterer at a dictated charter rate. Generally, requisitions occur during periods of war or emergency, although governments may elect to requisition vessels in other circumstances. Although we would be entitled to compensation in the event of a requisition of one or more of our vessels, requisition of one or more of our vessels would have a substantial negative effect on us as we would potentially lose all revenues and earnings from the requisitioned vessels and permanently lose the vessels. Such losses might be partially offset if the requisitioning government compensated us for the requisition.

We rely on our information systems to conduct our business, and failure to protect these systems against security breaches could adversely affect our business and results of operations. Additionally, if these systems fail or become unavailable for any significant period of time, our business could be harmed.

The efficient operation of our business is dependent on computer hardware and software systems. Information systems are vulnerable to security breaches by computer hackers and cyber terrorists. We rely on industry accepted security measures and technology to securely maintain confidential and proprietary information maintained on our information systems. However, these measures and technology may not adequately prevent security breaches. In addition, the unavailability of the information systems or the failure of these systems to perform as anticipated for any reason could disrupt our business and could result in decreased performance and increased operating costs, causing our business and results of operations to suffer. Any significant interruption or failure of our information systems or any significant breach of security could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, as well as our cash flows, including cash available for dividends to our stockholders.

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

The shipping industry has historically been affected by acts of piracy in regions such as the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Strait of Malacca, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia and the Red Sea. Although the frequency of sea piracy worldwide has decreased in recent years, sea piracy incidents continue to occur, particularly in the Gulf of Aden and towards the Mozambique Channel in the North Indian Ocean and increasingly in the Gulf of Guinea. A significant example of the heightened level of piracy came in February 2011 when the M/V Irene SL, a crude oil tanker which was not affiliated with us, was captured by pirates in the Arabian Sea while carrying crude oil estimated to be worth approximately $200 million. In December 2009, the Navios Apollon, one of our vessels, was seized by pirates 800 miles off the coast of Somalia while transporting fertilizer from Tampa, Florida to Rozi, India and was released on February 27, 2010. In January 2014, a vessel owned by our affiliate, Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation, the Nave Atropos, came under attack from a pirate action group in international waters off the coast of Yemen and in February 2016, the Nave Jupiter, a vessel also owned by Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation (“Navios Acquisition”), came under attack from pirate action groups on her way out from her loading terminal about 50NM off Bayelsa, Nigeria. In both instances, the crew and the on-board security team successfully implemented the counter piracy action plan and standard operating procedures to deter the attack with no consequences to the vessels or their crew. These piracy attacks resulted in regions (in which our vessels are deployed) being characterized by insurers as “war risk” zones or Joint War Committee “war and strikes” listed areas. Premiums payable for such insurance coverage could increase significantly and such insurance coverage may be more difficult to obtain. Crew costs, including those due to employing onboard security guards, could increase in such circumstances. While the use of security guards is intended to deter and prevent the hijacking of our vessels, it could also increase our risk of liability for death or injury to persons or damage to personal property. In addition, while we believe the charterer remains liable for charter payments when a vessel is seized by pirates, the charterer may dispute this and withhold charter hire until the vessel is released. A charterer may also claim that a vessel seized by

 

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pirates was not “on-hire” for a certain number of days and it is therefore entitled to cancel the charter party, a claim that we would dispute. We may not be adequately insured to cover losses from these incidents, which could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, detention hijacking as a result of an act of piracy against our vessels, or an increase in cost, or unavailability of insurance for our vessels, could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Acts of piracy on ocean-going vessels could adversely affect our business and operations.

Disruptions in world financial markets and the resulting governmental action in the United States and in other parts of the world could have a material adverse impact on our ability to obtain financing, our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows and could cause the market price of our common units to decline.

Global financial markets and economic conditions have been severely disrupted and volatile in recent years and remain subject to significant vulnerabilities, such as the deterioration of fiscal balances and the rapid accumulation of public debt, continued deleveraging in the banking sector and a limited supply of credit. Continuing turmoil and hostilities in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine, other current conflicts, the refugee crisis in Europe and the Middle East and continuing concerns relating to the European sovereign debt crisis, the socioeconomic and political crisis in Venezuela and the United Kingdom’s pending exit from the European Union have led to increased volatility in global credit and equity markets. Several European countries, including Greece, have been affected by increasing public debt burdens and weakening economic growth prospects. In recent years, Standard and Poor’s Rating Services and Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the long-term ratings of most European countries’ sovereign debt and initiated negative outlooks. Such downgrades could negatively affect those countries’ ability to access the public debt markets at reasonable rates or at all, materially affecting the financial conditions of banks in those countries, including those with which we maintain cash deposits and equivalents, or on which we rely on to finance our vessel and new business acquisitions.

Cash deposits and cash equivalents in excess of amounts covered by government-provided insurance are exposed to loss in the event of non-performance by financial institutions. We maintain cash deposits and equivalents in excess of government-provided insurance limits at banks in Greece and other European banks, which may expose us to a loss of cash deposits or cash equivalents.

During the financial crisis, credit markets worldwide and in the U.S. experienced significant contraction, de-leveraging and reduced liquidity, and the U.S. federal government, state governments and foreign governments took highly significant measures in response to such events, including the enactment of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 in the United States, and may implement other significant responses in the future. Additionally, uncertainty regarding trade barriers, including import tariffs, tax policy and government spending in the United States have created an uncertain environment which could reduce demand for our services. Securities and futures markets and the credit markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations and other requirements. The SEC, other regulators, self-regulatory organizations and exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of market emergencies, and may effect changes in law or interpretations of existing laws. Any changes to securities, tax, environmental, trade, or other laws or regulations, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows, and could cause the market price of our common units to decline.

Within the last several years, a number of financial institutions have experienced serious financial difficulties and, in some cases, have entered bankruptcy proceedings or are in regulatory enforcement actions. These difficulties resulted, in part, from declining markets for assets held by such institutions, particularly the reduction in the value of their mortgage and asset-backed securities portfolios. These difficulties were compounded by financial turmoil affecting the world’s debt, credit and capital markets, and the general decline in the willingness by banks and other financial institutions to extend credit, particularly to the shipping industry due to the historically low vessel earnings and values, and, in part, due to changes in overall banking regulations (for example, Basel III). As a result, the ability of banks and credit institutions to finance new projects, including the acquisition of new vessels in the future, were for a time uncertain. Following the stress tests run by the European Central Bank (the “ECB”), revised capital ratios have been communicated to European banks. This has reduced the uncertainty following the difficulties of the past several years, but it has also led to changes in each bank’s lending policies and ability to provide financing or refinancing. A recurrence of global economic weakness may adversely affect the financial institutions that provide our credit facilities and may impair their ability to continue to perform under their financing obligations to us, which could have an impact on our ability to fund current and future obligations.

Furthermore, we may experience difficulties obtaining financing commitments, including commitments to refinance our existing debt as balloon payments come due under our credit facilities, in the future if lenders are unwilling to extend financing to us or unable to meet their funding obligations due to their own liquidity, capital or solvency issues. Because we would possibly cover all or a portion of the cost of any new vessel acquisition with debt financing, such uncertainty, combined with restrictions imposed by our current debt, could hamper our ability to finance vessels or new business acquisitions.

In addition, the economic uncertainty worldwide has markedly reduced demand for shipping services and has decreased shipping rates, which may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Currently, the economies of China, Japan, other Pacific Asian countries and India are the main driving force behind the development in seaborne transportation. Reduced demand from such economies has in the past driven decreased rates and vessel values and could do so in the future.

 

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In addition, as a result of the ongoing political and economic turmoil in Greece resulting from the sovereign debt crisis and the related austerity measures implemented by the Greek government, the operations of our managers located in Greece may be subjected to new regulations and potential shift in government policies that may require us to incur new or additional compliance or other administrative costs and may require that we pay to the Greek government new taxes or other fees. We also face the risk that strikes, work stoppages, civil unrest and violence within Greece may disrupt the shoreside operations of our managers located in Greece.

We could face risks attendant to changes in economic environments, changes in interest rates, tax policies, and instability in certain securities markets, among other factors. Major market disruptions and the uncertainty in market conditions and the regulatory climate in the U.S., Europe and worldwide could adversely affect our business or impair our ability to borrow amounts under any future financial arrangements. The current market conditions may last longer than we anticipate. These recent and developing economic and governmental factors could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

The New York Stock Exchange may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit your ability to trade our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.

Our securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), a national securities exchange. Although we currently satisfy the NYSE minimum listing standards, which requires that we meet certain requirements relating to unitholders’ equity, including certain share price criteria, number of round-lot holders, market capitalization, aggregate market value of publicly held shares and distribution requirements, we cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on NYSE in the future.

If NYSE delists our securities from trading on its exchange, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:

 

    a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;

 

    a limited amount of news and analyst coverage for us;

 

    a decreased ability for us to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future;

 

    limited liquidity for our unitholders due to thin trading; and

 

    loss of our tax exemption under Section 883 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), loss of preferential capital gain tax rates for certain dividends received by certain non-corporate U.S. holders, and loss of “mark-to-market” election by U.S. holders in the event we are treated as a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”).

Increased competition in technology and innovation could reduce our charter hire income and the value of our vessels.

The charter rates and the value and operational life of a vessel are determined by a number of factors including the vessel’s efficiency, operational flexibility and physical life. Efficiency includes speed, fuel economy and the ability to load and discharge cargo quickly. Flexibility includes the ability to enter harbors, utilize related docking facilities and pass through canals and straits. The length of a vessel’s physical life is related to its original design and construction, its maintenance and the impact of the stress of operations. If new ships are built that are more efficient or more flexible or have longer physical lives than our vessels, competition from these more technologically advanced vessels could adversely affect our ability to recharter our vessels, the amount of charter payments we receive for our vessels once their initial charters expire and the resale value of our vessels could significantly decrease. As a result, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, and our ability to pay dividends, could be adversely affected.

Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition, Navios Maritime Midstream Partners L.P. (“Navios Midstream”), Navios Maritime Containers Inc. (“Navios Containers”) and their affiliates may compete with us.

Navios Partners has entered into an omnibus agreement with Navios Holdings (the “Partners Omnibus Agreement”) in connection with the closing of the Navios Partners’ IPO governing, among other things, Navios Holdings and its controlled affiliates (other than us, our general partner and our subsidiaries) generally agreed not to acquire or own Panamax or Capesize drybulk carriers under time charters of three or more years without the consent of an independent committee of Navios Holdings. The Omnibus Agreement, however, contains significant exceptions that allow Navios Holdings or any of its controlled affiliates to compete with us under specified circumstances which could harm our business. In addition, concurrently with the successful consummation of the initial business combination by Navios Acquisition, on May 28, 2010, because of the overlap between Navios Acquisition, Navios Holdings and us, with respect to possible acquisitions under the terms of the Omnibus Agreement, we entered into a business opportunity right of first refusal agreement which provides the types of business opportunities in the marine transportation and logistics industries, we, Navios Holdings and Navios Acquisition must share with the each other.

 

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In connection with the Navios Midstream initial public offering and effective November 18, 2014, Navios Partners entered into the Omnibus Agreement with Navios Midstream, Navios Acquisition and Navios Holdings (the “Navios Midstream Omnibus Agreement”) pursuant to which Navios Acquisition, Navios Holdings and Navios Partners have agreed not to acquire or own any VLCCs, crude oil tankers, refined petroleum product tankers, LPG tankers or chemical tankers under time charters of five or more years and also providing rights of first offer on certain tanker vessels.

In connection with the Navios Containers private placement and listing on the Norwegian over-the-counter market effective June 8,

2017, Navios Partners entered into an omnibus agreement with Navios Containers, Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios

Midstream (the “Navios Containers Omnibus Agreement”), pursuant to which Navios Partners, Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Midstream have granted to Navios Containers a right of first refusal over any container vessels to be sold or acquired in the future. The omnibus agreement contains significant exceptions that will allow Navios Partners, Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Midstream to compete with Navios Containers under specified circumstances.

Common unitholders have limited voting rights and our partnership agreement restricts the voting rights of common unitholders owning more than 4.9% of our common units.

Holders of our common units have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business. We hold a meeting of the limited partners every year to elect one or more members of our board of directors and to vote on any other matters that are properly brought before the meeting. Common unitholders may only elect four of the seven members of our board of directors. The elected directors are elected on a staggered basis and serve for three year terms. Our general partner in its sole discretion has the right to appoint the remaining three directors and to set the terms for which those directors will serve. The partnership agreement also contains provisions limiting the ability of unitholders to call meetings or to acquire information about our operations, as well as other provisions limiting the unitholders’ ability to influence the manner or direction of management. Unitholders will have no right to elect our general partner and our general partner may not be removed except by a vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding units, including any units owned by our general partner and its affiliates, voting together as a single class.

Our partnership agreement further restricts common unitholders’ voting rights by providing that if any person or group owns beneficially more than 4.9% of the common units then outstanding, any such common units owned by that person or group in excess of 4.9% may not be voted on any matter and will not be considered to be outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of unitholders, calculating required votes, except for purposes of nominating a person for election to our board, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes, unless required by law. The voting rights of any such common unitholders in excess of 4.9% will effectively be redistributed pro rata among the other common unitholders holding less than 4.9% of the voting power of all classes of units entitled to vote. Our general partner, its affiliates and persons who acquired common units with the prior approval of our board of directors will not be subject to this 4.9% limitation except with respect to voting their common units in the election of the elected independent directors.

Our general partner and its affiliates, including Navios Holdings, own a significant interest in us and have conflicts of interest and limited fiduciary and contractual duties, which may permit them to favor their own interests to the detriment of unitholders.

Navios Holdings indirectly owns a 2.0% general partner interest in us through our general partner, which Navios Holdings owns and controls, and directly owns an 18.2% limited partner interest in us. All of our officers and three of our directors are directors and/or officers of Navios Holdings and its affiliates, and our Chief Executive Officer is also the Chief Executive Officer of Navios Acquisition, Navios Midstream, and Navios Holdings. As such these individuals have fiduciary duties to Navios Holdings, Navios Midstream, and Navios Acquisition that may cause them to pursue business strategies that disproportionately benefit Navios Holdings, Navios Midstream, or Navios Acquisition or which otherwise are not in our best interests or those of our unitholders. Conflicts of interest may arise between Navios Acquisition, Navios Holdings, Navios Midstream and their respective affiliates including our general partner, on the one hand, and us and our unitholders on the other hand. As a result of these conflicts, our general partner and its affiliates may favor their own interests over the interests of our unitholders. These conflicts include, among others, the following situations:

 

    neither our partnership agreement nor any other agreement requires our general partner or Navios Holdings or its affiliates to pursue a business strategy that favors us or utilizes our assets, and Navios Holdings’ officers and directors have a fiduciary duty to make decisions in the best interests of the stockholders of Navios Holdings, which may be contrary to our interests;

 

    our general partner and our board of directors are allowed to take into account the interests of parties other than us, such as Navios Holdings, in resolving conflicts of interest, which has the effect of limiting their fiduciary duties to our unitholders;

 

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    our general partner and our directors have limited their liabilities and reduced their fiduciary duties under the laws of the Marshall Islands, while also restricting the remedies available to our unitholders, and, as a result of purchasing common units, unitholders are treated as having agreed to the modified standard of fiduciary duties and to certain actions that may be taken by our general partner and our directors, all as set forth in the partnership agreement;

 

    our general partner and our board of directors will be involved in determining the amount and timing of our asset purchases and sales, capital expenditures, borrowings, issuances of additional partnership securities and reserves, each of which can affect the amount of cash that is available for distribution to our unitholders;

 

    our general partner may have substantial influence over our board of directors’ decision to cause us to borrow funds in order to permit the payment of cash distributions, even if the purpose or effect of the borrowing is to make incentive distributions;

 

    our general partner is entitled to reimbursement of all reasonable costs incurred by it and its affiliates for our benefit;

 

    our partnership agreement does not restrict us from paying our general partner or its affiliates for any services rendered to us on terms that are fair and reasonable or entering into additional contractual arrangements with any of these entities on our behalf; and

 

    our general partner may exercise its right to call and purchase our common units if it and its affiliates own more than 80% of our common units.

Although a majority of our directors will be elected by common unitholders, our general partner will likely have substantial influence on decisions made by our board of directors.

Our officers face conflicts in the allocation of their time to our business.

Navios Holdings, Navios Midstream, and Navios Acquisition conduct businesses and activities of their own in which we have no economic interest. If these separate activities are significantly greater than our activities, there will be material competition for the time and effort of our officers, who also provide services to Navios Acquisition, Navios Holdings, Navios Midstream and their respective affiliates. Our officers are not required to work full-time on our affairs and are required to devote time to the affairs of Navios Acquisition, Navios Holdings, Navios Midstream and their respective affiliates. Our Chief Financial Officer is also an executive officer of Navios Holdings, and our Chief Executive Officer is the Chief Executive Officer of Navios Acquisition, Navios Midstream, and Navios Holdings.

Our partnership agreement limits our general partner’s and our directors’ fiduciary duties to our unitholders and restricts the remedies available to unitholders for actions taken by our general partner or our directors.

Our partnership agreement contains provisions that reduce the standards to which our general partner and directors would otherwise be held by Marshall Islands law. For example, our partnership agreement:

 

    permits our general partner to make a number of decisions in its individual capacity, as opposed to in its capacity as our general partner. Where our partnership agreement permits, our general partner may consider only the interests and factors that it desires, and in such cases it has no fiduciary duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting us, our affiliates or our unitholders. Decisions made by our general partner in its individual capacity will be made by its sole owner, Navios Holdings. Specifically, pursuant to our partnership agreement, our general partner will be considered to be acting in its individual capacity if it exercises its call right, pre-emptive rights or registration rights, consents or withholds consent to any merger or consolidation of the partnership;

 

    appoints any directors or votes for the election of any director, votes or refrains from voting on amendments to our partnership agreement that require a vote of the outstanding units, voluntarily withdraws from the partnership, transfers (to the extent permitted under our partnership agreement) or refrains from transferring its units, general partner interest or incentive distribution rights or votes upon the dissolution of the partnership;

 

    provides that our general partner and our directors are entitled to make other decisions in “good faith” if they reasonably believe that the decision is in our best interests;

 

    generally provides that affiliated transactions and resolutions of conflicts of interest not approved by the conflicts committee of our board of directors and not involving a vote of unitholders must be on terms no less favorable to us than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or be “fair and reasonable” to us and that, in determining whether a transaction or resolution is “fair and reasonable,” our board of directors may consider the totality of the relationships between the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly advantageous or beneficial to us; and

 

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    provides that neither our general partner nor our officers or our directors will be liable for monetary damages to us, our limited partners or assignees for any acts or omissions unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that our general partner or directors or our officers or directors or those other persons engaged in actual fraud or willful misconduct.

In order to become a limited partner of our partnership, a common unitholder is required to agree to be bound by the provisions in the partnership agreement, including the provisions discussed above.

Fees and cost reimbursements, which the Manager determines for services provided to us, are significant, are payable regardless of profitability and reduce our cash available for distribution.

Under the terms of our existing Management Agreement, as amended in each of October 2013, August 2014, February 2015, February 2016 and November 2017, with the Manager, we pay a fixed daily fee of: (a) $4,225 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4,325 daily rate per Panamax vessel; (c) $5,250 daily rate per Capesize vessel; (d) $6,700 daily rate per Container vessel of TEU 6,800; (e) $7,400 daily rate per Container vessel of more than TEU 8,000; and (f) $8,750 daily rate per very large Containers vessel of more than TEU 13,000 through December 31, 2019 for shipmanagement services provided to us by the Manager, effective from January 1, 2018. Maintenance for our vessels and expenses related to drydocking expenses under this agreement will be reimbursed at cost upon occurrence. The term of the management agreement is until December 31, 2022.

The fixed daily fee paid to the Manager includes all costs incurred in providing certain commercial and technical management services to us. All of the fees we are required to pay to the Manager under the management agreement are payable without regard to our financial condition or results of operations. In addition, the Manager provides us with administrative services, including the services of our officers and directors, pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement which has a term until December 31, 2022, and we reimburse the Manager for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with the provision of those services. The fees and reimbursement of expenses to the Manager are payable regardless of our profitability and could materially adversely affect our ability to pay cash distributions to unitholders.

Our partnership agreement contains provisions that may have the effect of discouraging a person or group from attempting to remove our current management or our general partner.

Our partnership agreement contains provisions that may have the effect of discouraging a person or group from attempting to remove our current management or our general partner.

 

    The vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3 % of all the then outstanding common units, voting together as a single class is required to remove the general partner. Navios Holdings currently owns approximately 18.2% of the total number of outstanding common units.

 

    Common unitholders elect only four of the seven members of our board of directors. Our general partner in its sole discretion has the right to appoint the remaining three directors.

 

    Election of the four directors elected by unitholders is staggered, meaning that the members of only one of three classes of our elected directors are selected each year. In addition, the directors appointed by our general partner will serve for terms determined by our general partner.

 

    Our partnership agreement contains provisions limiting the ability of unitholders to call meetings of unitholders, to nominate directors and to acquire information about our operations as well as other provisions limiting the unitholders’ ability to influence the manner or direction of management.

 

    Unitholders’ voting rights are further restricted by the partnership agreement provision providing that if any person or group owns beneficially more than 4.9% of the common units then outstanding, any such common units owned by that person or group in excess of 4.9% may not be voted on any matter and will not be considered to be outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of unitholders, calculating required votes, except for purposes of nominating a person for election to our board, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes, unless required by law. The voting rights of any such common unitholders in excess of 4.9% will be redistributed pro rata among the other common unitholders holding less than 4.9% of the voting power of all classes of units entitled to vote. Our general partner, its affiliates and persons who acquired common units with the prior approval of our board of directors will not be subject to this 4.9% limitation except with respect to voting their common units in the election of the elected directors.

 

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    We have substantial latitude in issuing equity securities without unitholder approval.

The control of our general partner may be transferred to a third party without unitholder consent.

Our general partner may transfer its general partner interest to a third party in a merger or in a sale of all or substantially all of its assets without the consent of the unitholders. In addition, our partnership agreement does not restrict the ability of the members of our general partner from transferring their respective membership interests in our general partner to a third party.

Substantial future sales of our common units in the public market including through our continuous offering sales program could cause the price of our common units to fall.

On November 18, 2016, we entered into a Continuous Offering Program Sales Agreement, which was further amended on June 2, 2017, with S. Goldman Capital LLC, as our sales agent, for the offer and sale of up to $25.0 million in aggregate amount of our common units from time to time through the sales agent. Sales of the units are to be made pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement, filed on Form F-3 with the SEC and declared effective on May 5, 2017. The sales agent is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of our common units but will use its commercially reasonable efforts, subject to the terms of the continuous offering program sales agreement, to sell that number of shares up to $25.0 million of our common units upon our request. Sales of the shares may be made by any means permitted by law and deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and will generally be made by means of brokers’ transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, or as otherwise agreed with the sales agent. Whether we choose to affect future sales under the continuous offering program will depend upon a variety of factors, including, among others, market conditions and the trading price of our common units relative to other sources of capital. The issuance from time to time of new common units through the continuous offering program or in any other equity offering, or the perception that such sales may occur, could have the effect of depressing the market price of our common units.

You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings and other issuances of our common units or other securities.

In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our common units or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common units, including convertible debt. We cannot predict the size of future issuances or sales of our common units, including those made pursuant to the continuous offering program sales agreement or in connection with future acquisitions or capital activities, or the effect, if any, that such issuances or sales may have on the market price of our common units. The issuance and sale of substantial amounts of common units, including issuance and sales pursuant to the continuous offering program sales agreement, or announcement that such issuance and sales may occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common units. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will be able to make future sales of our common units or other securities in any other offering at a price per unit that is equal to or greater than the price per unit paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights that are superior to existing unitholders. The price per unit at which we sell additional common units or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common units in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per unit in this offering, and could adversely impact the trading price of our common units.

Our management will have broad discretion with respect to the use of the proceeds resulting from the issuance of common units under the continuous offering program.

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from continuous offering program and could spend such proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common units. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses and cause the price of our common units to decline. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from continuous offering program in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value.

Our general partner has a limited call right that may require unitholders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price.

If at any time our general partner and its affiliates, including Navios Holdings, own more than 80% of the common units, our general partner will have the right, which it may assign to any of its affiliates or to us, but not the obligation, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the common units held by unaffiliated persons at a price not less than their then-current market price. As a result, unitholders may be required to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price and may not receive any return on their investment. Unitholders may also incur a tax liability upon a sale of their units.

 

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As of April 3, 2018, Navios Holdings directly owned 31,053,233 common units and 3,420,203 general partner units through our general partner (which Navios Holdings owns and controls), which together represent a 20.2% interest in us based on all outstanding common units and general partnership units.

Unitholders may not have limited liability if a court finds that unitholder action constitutes control of our business.

As a limited partner in a partnership organized under the laws of the Marshall Islands, unitholders could be held liable for our obligations to the same extent as a general partner if they participate in the “control” of our business. Our general partner generally has unlimited liability for the obligations of the partnership, such as its debts and environmental liabilities, except for those contractual obligations of the partnership that are expressly made without recourse to our general partner.

If we borrow money to pay distributions, it would reduce the amount of credit available to operate our business.

Our partnership agreement will allow us to make working capital borrowings to pay distributions. Accordingly, we can make distributions on all our units even though cash generated by our operations may not be sufficient to pay such distributions. Any working capital borrowings by us to make distributions will reduce the amount of working capital borrowings we can make for operating our business.

Increases in interest rates may cause the market price of our common units to decline.

An increase in interest rates may cause a corresponding decline in demand for equity investments in general and in particular for yield-based equity investments such as our common units. Any such increase in interest rates or reduction in demand for our common units resulting from other relatively more attractive investment opportunities may cause the trading price of our common units to decline. In addition, our interest expense will increase, since initially our debt will bear interest at a floating rate, subject to any interest rate swaps we may enter into the future.

Unitholders may have liability to repay distributions.

Under some circumstances, unitholders may have to repay amounts wrongfully returned or distributed to them. Under the Marshall Islands Act, we may not make a distribution to unitholders if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets. Marshall Islands law provides that for a period of three years from the date of the impermissible distribution, limited partners who received the distribution and who knew at the time of the distribution that it violated Marshall Islands law will be liable to the limited partnership for the distribution amount. Assignees who become substituted limited partners are liable for the obligations of the assignor to make contributions to the partnership that are known to the assignee at the time it became a limited partner and for unknown obligations if the liabilities could be determined from the partnership agreement. Liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interest and liabilities that are non-recourse to the partnership are not counted for purposes of determining whether a distribution is permitted.

We have been organized as a limited partnership under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which does not have a well-developed body of partnership law; as a result, unitholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests than would unitholders of a similarly organized limited partnership in the United States.

Our partnership affairs are governed by our partnership agreement and by the Marshall Islands Act. The provisions of the Marshall Islands Act resemble provisions of the limited partnership laws of a number of states in the United States, most notably Delaware. The Marshall Islands Act also provides that it is to be applied and construed to make it uniform with the Delaware Revised Uniform Partnership Act and, so long as it does not conflict with the Marshall Islands Act or decisions of the Marshall Islands courts, interpreted according to the non-statutory law (or case law) of the State of Delaware. There have been, however, few, if any, court cases in the Marshall Islands interpreting the Marshall Islands Act, in contrast to Delaware, which has a fairly well-developed body of case law interpreting its limited partnership statute. Accordingly, we cannot predict whether Marshall Islands courts would reach the same conclusions as the courts in Delaware. For example, the rights of our unitholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our general partner under Marshall Islands law are not as clearly established as under judicial precedent in existence in Delaware. As a result, unitholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions by our officers or directors than would unitholders of a similarly organized limited partnership in the United States.

 

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Because we are organized under the laws of the Marshall Islands and our business is operated primarily from our office in Monaco, it may be difficult to serve us with legal process or enforce judgments against us, our directors or our management.

We are organized under the laws of the Marshall Islands, and all of our assets are located outside of the United States. Our business is operated primarily from our office in Monaco. In addition, our general partner is a Marshall Islands limited liability company, and our directors and officers generally are or will be non-residents of the United States, and all or a substantial portion of the assets of these non-residents are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States if you believe that your rights have been infringed under securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Marshall Islands, Monaco and of other jurisdictions may prevent or restrict you from enforcing a judgment against our assets or the assets of our general partner or our directors or officers.

Tax Risks

In addition to the following risk factors, you should read the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” for a more complete discussion of the expected material U.S. federal and non-U.S. income tax considerations relating to us and the ownership and disposition of common units.

We may be subject to taxes, which may reduce our cash available for distribution to our unitholders.

We and our subsidiaries may be subject to tax in the jurisdictions in which we are organized or operate, reducing the amount of cash available for distribution. In computing our tax obligation in these jurisdictions, we are required to take various tax accounting and reporting positions on matters that are not entirely free from doubt and for which we have not received rulings from the governing authorities. We cannot assure you that upon review of these positions the applicable authorities will agree with our positions. A successful challenge by a tax authority could result in additional tax imposed on us or our subsidiaries, further reducing the cash available for distribution. In addition, changes in our operations or ownership could result in additional tax being imposed on us or our subsidiaries in jurisdictions in which operations are conducted.

In accordance with the currently applicable Greek law, foreign flagged vessels that are managed by Greek or foreign ship management companies having established an office in Greece are subject to duties towards the Greek state which are calculated on the basis of the relevant vessels’ tonnage. The payment of said duties exhausts the tax liability of the foreign ship owning company and the relevant manager against any tax, duty, charge or contribution payable on income from the exploitation of the foreign flagged vessel.

U.S. tax authorities could treat us as a “passive foreign investment company,” which could have adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. unitholders.

A non-U.S. entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be treated as a “passive foreign investment company,” or a PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes if at least 75.0% of its gross income for any taxable year consists of certain types of “passive income,” or at least 50.0% of the average value of the entity’s assets produce or are held for the production of those types of “passive income.” For purposes of these tests, “passive income” generally includes dividends, interest, gains from the sale or exchange of investment property, and rents and royalties other than rents and royalties that are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business. For purposes of these tests, income derived from the performance of services does not constitute “passive income.” U.S. unitholders of a PFIC are subject to a disadvantageous U.S. federal income tax regime with respect to the income derived by the PFIC, the distributions they receive from the PFIC, and the gain, if any, they derive from the sale or other disposition of their shares in the PFIC.

Based on our current and projected method of operation, and on opinion of counsel, we believe that we were not a PFIC for our 2017 taxable year, and we expect that we will not become a PFIC with respect to any other taxable year. Our U.S. counsel, Thompson Hine LLP, is of the opinion that (1) the income we receive from time chartering activities and the assets we own that are engaged in generating such income should not be treated as passive income or assets, respectively, and (2) so long as our income from time charters exceeds 25.0% of our gross income from all sources for each taxable year after our initial taxable year and the fair market value of our vessels contracted under time charters exceeds 50.0% of the average fair market value of all of our assets for each taxable year after our initial taxable year, we should not be a PFIC for any taxable year. This opinion is based on representations and projections provided by us to our counsel regarding our assets, income and charters, and its validity is conditioned on the accuracy of such representations and projections. We expect that all of the vessels in our fleet will be engaged in time chartering activities and intend to treat our income from those activities as non-passive income, and the vessels engaged in those activities as non-passive assets, for PFIC purposes. However, no assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, will accept this position.

We may have to pay tax on U.S.-source income, which would reduce our earnings.

Under the Code, 50.0% of the gross transportation income of a vessel- owning or chartering corporation that is attributable to transportation that either begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in the United States is characterized as U.S. Source International Transportation Income. U.S. Source International Transportation Income generally is subject to a 4.0% U.S. federal income tax without allowance for deduction or, if such U.S. Source International Transportation Income is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, U.S. federal corporate income tax (presently imposed at a 21.0% rate) as well as a branch profits tax (presently imposed at a 30.0% rate on effectively connected earnings) applies, unless the non-U.S. corporation qualifies for exemption from tax under Section 883 of the Code.

 

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Based on an opinion of counsel, and certain assumptions and representations, we believe that we have qualified for this statutory tax exemption, and we will take this position for U.S. federal income tax return reporting purposes for our 2017 taxable year. However, there are factual circumstances, including some that may be beyond our control that could cause us to lose the benefit of this tax exemption. Furthermore, our board of directors could determine that it is in our best interests to take an action that would result in this tax exemption not applying to us in the future. In addition, our conclusion that we qualify for this exemption, as well as the conclusions in this regard of our counsel, Thompson Hine LLP, is based upon legal authorities that do not expressly contemplate an organizational structure such as ours; specifically, although we have elected to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we are organized as a limited partnership under Marshall Islands law. Therefore, we can give no assurances that the IRS will not take a different position regarding our qualification for this tax exemption.

If we were not entitled to the Section 883 exemption for any taxable year, we generally would be subject to a 4.0% U.S. federal gross income tax with respect to our U.S. Source International Transportation Income or, if such U.S. Source International Transportation Income were effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, U.S. federal corporate income tax as well as a branch profits tax for those years. Our failure to qualify for the Section 883 exemption could have a negative effect on our business and would result in decreased earnings available for distribution to our unitholders.

You may be subject to income tax in one or more non-U.S. countries, including Greece, as a result of owning our common units if, under the laws of any such country, we are considered to be carrying on business there. Such laws may require you to file a tax return with and pay taxes to those countries.

We intend that our affairs and the business of each of our controlled affiliates will be conducted and operated in a manner that minimizes income taxes imposed upon us and these controlled affiliates or which may be imposed upon you as a result of owning our common units. However, because we are organized as a partnership, there is a risk in some jurisdictions that our activities and the activities of our subsidiaries may be attributed to our unitholders for tax purposes and, thus, that you will be subject to tax in one or more non-U.S. countries, including Greece, as a result of owning our common units if, under the laws of any such country, we are considered to be carrying on business there. If you are subject to tax in any such country, you may be required to file a tax return with and to pay tax in that country based on your allocable share of our income. We may be required to reduce distributions to you on account of any withholding obligations imposed upon us by that country in respect of such allocation to you. The United States may not allow a tax credit for any foreign income taxes that you directly or indirectly incur.

We believe we can conduct our activities in such a manner that our unitholders should not be considered to be carrying on business in one or more non-U.S. countries including Greece solely as a consequence of the acquisition, holding, disposition or redemption of our common units. However, the question of whether either we or any of our controlled affiliates will be treated as carrying on business in any particular country will be largely a question of fact to be determined based upon an analysis of contractual arrangements, including the management agreement and the administrative services agreement we will enter into with the Manager, and the way we conduct business or operations, all of which may change over time. Furthermore, the laws of Greece or any other country may change in a manner that causes that country’s taxing authorities to determine that we are carrying on business in such country and are subject to its taxation laws. Any foreign taxes imposed on us or any subsidiaries will reduce our cash available for distribution.

Item 4. Information on the Partnership

A. History and Development of the Partnership

Navios Partners is an international owner and operator of dry cargo vessels, formed on August 7, 2007 under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Navios GP L.L.C. (the “General Partner”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Navios Holdings, was also formed on that date to act as the general partner of Navios Partners and received a 2.0% general partner interest in Navios Partners.

Navios Partners is engaged in the seaborne transportation services of a wide range of dry cargo commodities including iron ore, coal, grain and fertilizer and also containers, chartering its vessels generally under medium to long-term charters. The operations of Navios Partners are managed by the Manager from its offices in Piraeus, Greece, Singapore and Monaco.

Pursuant to the initial public offering (“IPO”) on November 16, 2007, Navios Partners entered into the following agreements:

(a) the Management Agreement with the Manager pursuant to which the Manager provides Navios Partners commercial and technical management services;

 

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(b) the Administrative Services Agreement with the Manager pursuant to which the Manager provides Navios Partners administrative services; and

(c) the Omnibus Agreement with Navios Holdings, governing, among other things, when Navios Partners and Navios Holdings may compete against each other as well as rights of first offer on certain drybulk carriers.

Term Loan B Credit Facility Refinancing and Add-on

On March 14, 2017, Navios Partners completed the issuance of a new $405.0 million Term Loan B Credit Facility. The new Term Loan B Credit Facility bears an interest rate of LIBOR plus 500 basis points (“bps”), it is set to mature on September 14, 2020 and is repayable in equal quarterly installments of 1.25% of the initial principal amount. Navios Partners used the net proceeds of the Term Loan B Credit Facility to: (i) refinance the existing Term Loan B; and (ii) pay fees and expenses related to the Term Loan B. On August 10, 2017, Navios Partners completed the issuance of a $53.0 million add-on to its existing Term Loan B Credit Facility. The add-on to the Term Loan B Credit Facility bore the same terms as the Term Loan B Credit Facility. Navios Partners used the net proceeds to partially finance the acquisition of three vessels.

The Term Loan B Credit Facility is secured by first priority mortgages covering certain vessels owned by subsidiaries of Navios Partners, in addition to other collateral, and guaranteed by each subsidiary of Navios Partners.

Equity Offerings and Issuances

2018

On February 21, 2018, Navios Partners completed a registered direct offering of 18,422,000 common units at $1.90 per unit and raised gross proceeds of approximately $35.0 million, of which approximately $5.0 million was purchased by Navios Holdings. The net proceeds of this offering, including the placement agent fee and the estimated offering costs of $1.7 million in total, were approximately $33.3 million. Pursuant to this offering, Navios Partners issued 375,959 general partnership units to its general partner. The net proceeds from the issuance of the general partnership units were $0.7 million.

2017

In December 2017, Navios Partners authorized the granting of 1,370,044 restricted common units, which were issued on January 11, 2018, to its directors and/or officers, which are based on service conditions only and vest over three years. The fair value of restricted units was determined by reference to the quoted stock price on the date of grant. Compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, is recognized when it is probable that the performance criteria will be met based on a graded expense model over the vesting period. Navios Partners also issued 27,960 general partnership units to its general partner for net proceeds of $0.06 million.

On September 1, 2017 and as part of the acquisition agreement entered into between us and Rickmers Trust, Navios Partners authorized and issued 361,444 restricted common units and 7,376 general partnership units to its general partner for net proceeds of $0.6 million and $0.01 million, respectively. The fair value of restricted units was determined by reference to the quoted stock price on the date of grant. On September 25, 2017, the fair value of the restricted units described above amounted to $0.6 million and Navios Partners was compensated by Navios Containers in full amount. There were no restricted common units exercised, forfeited or expired during the year ended December 31, 2017. Restricted common units outstanding amounted to 361,444 units as of December 31, 2017.

On March 20, 2017, Navios Partners completed its public offering of 47,795,000 common units at $2.10 per unit and raised gross proceeds of approximately $100.4 million. The net proceeds of this offering, including the underwriting discount and the offering costs of $4.4 million in total, were approximately $96.0 million. Pursuant to this offering, Navios Partners issued 975,408 general partnership units to its general partner. The net proceeds from the issuance of the general partnership units were $2.0 million.

On March 17, 2017, Navios Holdings transferred to Navios Partners it rights to the fixed 12.7% interest on the Navios Europe I Navios Term Loans I and Navios Revolving Loans I (including the respective accrued receivable interest) for a total amount of $33.5 million for a cash consideration of $4.1 million and 13,076,923 newly issued common units of Navios Partners, with fair value net of costs at date of issuance of $28.9 million. Pursuant to this transaction, Navios Partners issued 266,876 general partnership units to its general partner for net cash proceeds of $0.5 million.

 

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2016

In December 2016, Navios Partners authorized the granting of 2,040,000 restricted common units, which were issued on January 31, 2017, to its directors and/or officers which are based on service conditions only and vest over three years. The fair value of restricted units was determined by reference to the quoted stock price on the date of grant. Compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, is recognized when it is probable that the performance criteria will be met based on a graded expense model over the vesting period. Navios Partners also issued 41,633 general partnership units to its general partner for net proceeds of $0.06 million. There were no restricted common units exercised, forfeited or expired during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. As of December 31, 2017, 686,665 restricted common units were vested.

On November 18, 2016, Navios Partners entered into a Continuous Offering Program Sales Agreement, pursuant to which Navios Partners may issue and sell from time to time through its agent common units representing limited partner interests having an aggregate offering price of up to $25.0 million. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, Navios Partners issued 1,200,442 and 244,201 common units and received net proceeds of $2.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively. Pursuant to the issuance of the common units, Navios Partners issued 24,498 and 4,984 general partnership units to its general partner in order to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the net proceeds from the issuance of the general partnership units were $0.05 million and $0.01 million, respectively.

2015

On February 11, 2015, Navios Partners completed its public offering of 4,000,000 common units at $13.09 per unit and raised gross proceeds of approximately $52.4 million. The net proceeds of this offering, including the underwriting discount, were approximately $50.1 million. Pursuant to this offering, Navios Partners issued 81,633 general partnership units to its general partner. The net proceeds from the issuance of the general partnership units were $1.1 million. On the same date, Navios Partners completed the exercise of the option previously granted to the underwriters in connection with the offering and issued 600,000 additional common units at the public offering price less the underwriting discount. As a result of the exercise of the option, Navios Partners raised additional gross proceeds of $7.9 million and net proceeds, including the underwriting discount, of approximately $7.5 million and issued 12,245 additional general partnership units to its general partner. The net proceeds from the issuance of the general partnership units were $0.2 million. In addition, Navios Partners completed a private placement of 1,120,547 common units and 22,868 general partner units at $13.09 per unit to Navios Holdings, raising additional gross proceeds of $15.0 million.

Navios Holdings currently owns a 20.2% interest in Navios Partners, which includes the 2.0% interest through Navios Partners’ general partner which Navios Holdings owns and controls.

Acquisitions and Sales of Vessels

• Acquisitions of Vessels

In March 2018, Navios Partners agreed to acquire from an unrelated third party, a 2005-built Panamax vessel of approximately 87,000 dwt, for a purchase price of $12.98 million. The vessel is expected to be delivered to Navios Partners’ owned fleet within the second quarter of 2018.

In January 2018, Navios Partners agreed to acquire from an unrelated third party, two 2006-built Panamax vessels of approximately 74,500 dwt each, for a purchase price of $22.0 million. The vessels are expected to be delivered to Navios Partners’ owned fleet within the second quarter of 2018. One of the vessels is chartered out for $9,375 net per day until May/November 2018 and the other vessel is chartered out for $9,844 net per day until March/August 2018.

On September 20, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Symphony, a 2010-built Capesize vessel of 178,132 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $28.0 million.

On August 21, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Aster, a 2010 Hyundai-built Capesize vessel of 179,314 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $28.9 million.

In November 2017, Navios Partners entered into a 10-year bareboat charter-in agreement for a Panamax vessel of approximately 81,000 dwt. Navios Partners has the option to acquire the vessel after the end of the fourth year. The vessel is expected to be delivered within the second half of 2019.

 

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On August 11, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from a related third party the Navios Christine B, a 2009 Tsuneishi Zhoushan-built Ultra-Handymax vessel of 58,058 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $14.0 million.

On July 17, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Sol, a 2009 Japanese-built Capesize vessel of 180,274 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $28.6 million.

On July 10, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Libertas, a 2007 South Korean-built Panamax vessel of 75,511 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $13.7 million.

On June 9, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Ace, a 2011 South Korean-built Capesize vessel of 179,016 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $31.4 million.

On June 7, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Prosperity I, a 2007 South Korean-built Panamax vessel of 75,527 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $13.7 million.

On December 30, 2016, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Beaufiks, a 2004 Japanese-built Capesize vessel of 180,310 dwt, for an acquisition cost of $15.3 million.

On April 22, 2015, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the MSC Cristina, a 2011 South Korean-built Container vessel of 13,100 TEU, for an acquisition cost of $147.8 million.

Sales of Vessels

On December 21, 2017, Navios Partners completed the sale of the Navios Gemini S, a 1994-built Panamax vessel of 68,636 dwt. The vessel was sold to an unrelated third party for a net sale price of $4.1 million.

On April 21, 2017, Navios Partners completed the sale of the Navios Apollon, a 2000-built Ultra-Handymax vessel of 52,073 dwt. The vessel was sold to an unrelated third party for a net sale price of $4.8 million.

On January 12, 2017, Navios Partners completed the sale of the MSC Cristina, a 2011 South Korean-built Container vessel of 13,100 TEU. The vessel was sold to an unrelated third party for a net sale price of $125.0 million (For the loss on sale of the vessel, see Note 23 — Other expense).

Cash Distribution

In March 2018, the Company’s board of directors announced a new distribution policy under which it intends to declare quarterly cash distribution in the amount of $0.02 per unit, or $0.08 annually. The Company announced the first quarterly distribution of $0.02 per unit for the first quarter of 2018, which will be payable on May 14, 2018 to all unitholders of record on May 10, 2018.

B. Business Overview

Introduction

We are an international owner and operator of dry cargo vessels formed by Navios Holdings (NYSE: NM), a vertically integrated seaborne shipping and logistics company with over 60 years of operating history in the dry cargo shipping industry. Our vessels are generally chartered-out under medium to long-term time charters with an average remaining term of approximately two years to a strong group of counterparties, including Yang Ming, SwissMarine Services S.A., Exelon Corporation (formerly Constellation Energy Group), Uniper Global Commodities and Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd.

Our Fleet

Navios Partners controls 17 Panamax vessels, 13 Capesize vessels, three Ultra-Handymax vessels and seven Container vessels, including the three Panamax vessels, which are expected to be delivered during the second quarter of 2018 and one Panamax charter-in vessel, which is expected to be delivered within the second half of 2019. Our fleet of dry cargo vessels has an average age of 10.0 years for drybulk and container vessels, which approximates the current industry average of about 9.1 years for drybulk vessels and 12.0 years for container vessels, respectively (both industry average as of December 31, 2017). Panamax vessels are highly flexible vessels capable of carrying a wide range of dry cargo commodities, including iron ore, coal, grain and fertilizer and being accommodated in most major discharge ports, while Capesize vessels are primarily dedicated to the carriage of iron ore and coal. Ultra-Handymax vessels are similar to Panamax vessels although with less carrying capacity and generally have self-loading and discharging gear on board to accommodate undeveloped ports. Container vessels are specifically constructed to transport containerized cargo. We may from time to time purchase additional vessels, including vessels from Navios Holdings.

We generate revenues by charging our customers for the use of our vessels to transport their dry cargo commodities. In general, the vessels in our fleet are chartered-out under time charters, which range in length from one to ten years at inception. From time to time, we operate vessels in the spot market until the vessels have been chartered under long-term charters.

 

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The following table provides summary information about our fleet as of April 3, 2018:

 

Owned Drybulk Vessels

   Type      Built      Capacity
(DWT)
     Charter
Expiration
Date (2)
     Charter-Out
Rate (1)
 

Navios Soleil

     Ultra-Handymax        2009        57,337        August 2018      $ 11,875  

Navios La Paix

     Ultra-Handymax        2014        61,485        June 2018      $ Index (3)  

Navios Christine B

     Ultra-Handymax        2009        58,058        December 2018      $ Index (4)  

Navios Libra II

     Panamax        1995        70,136        September 2018      $ 9,500  

Navios Felicity

     Panamax        1997        73,867        April 2018      $ 10,213  

Navios Galaxy I

     Panamax        2001        74,195        November 2018      $ 11,163  

Navios Hyperion

     Panamax        2004        75,707        April 2018      $ 9,263  

Navios Alegria

     Panamax        2004        76,466        May 2018      $ 10,450  

Navios Orbiter

     Panamax        2004        76,602        March 2018      $ 7,230  
              September 2018      $ Index (5)  

Navios Helios

     Panamax        2005        77,075        August 2018      $ 12,350  

Navios Sun

     Panamax        2005        76,619        September 2018      $ Index (5)  

Navios Hope

     Panamax        2005        75,397        June 2018      $ 11,080  
              August 2018      $ Index (5)  

Navios Sagittarius

     Panamax        2006        75,756        September 2018      $ 26,125  

Navios Harmony

     Panamax        2006        82,790        April 2018      $ 9,975  

Navios Prosperity I

     Panamax        2007        75,527        August 2018      $ 12,350  

Navios Libertas

     Panamax        2007        75,511        April 2018      $ 11,068  

Navios Fantastiks

     Capesize        2005        180,265        March 2019      $ Index (6)  

Navios Aurora II

     Capesize        2009        169,031        June 2018      $ Index (7)  

Navios Pollux

     Capesize        2009        180,727        May 2018      $ 100% of pool earnings  

Navios Fulvia

     Capesize        2010        179,263        February 2019      $ Index (8)  

Navios Melodia

     Capesize        2010        179,132        September 2022      $ 29,356 (9)  

Navios Luz

     Capesize        2010        179,144        February 2019      $ Index (10)  

Navios Buena Ventura

     Capesize        2010        179,259        February 2019      $ Index (8)  

Navios Joy

     Capesize        2013        181,389        February 2019      $ 16,150  

Navios Beaufiks

     Capesize        2004        180,310        January 2019      $ Index (11)  

Navios Ace

     Capesize        2011        179,016        April 2019      $ 18,169  

Navios Sol

     Capesize        2009        180,274        October 2018      $ Index (12)  

Navios Symphony

     Capesize        2010        178,132        February 2019      $ Index (11)  

Navios Aster

     Capesize        2010        179,314        April 2018      $ 14,963  

Owned Container Vessels

   Type      Built      TEU      Charter
Expiration
Date (2)
     Charter-Out
Rate (1)
 

Hyundai Hongkong

     Container        2006        6,800        December 2019      $ 24,095  
              December 2023      $ 30,119 (13)  

Hyundai Singapore

     Container        2006        6,800        December 2019      $ 24,095  
              December 2023      $ 30,119 (13)  

Hyundai Tokyo

     Container        2006        6,800        December 2019      $ 24,095  
              December 2023      $ 30,119 (13)  

Hyundai Shanghai

     Container        2006        6,800        December 2019      $ 24,095  
              December 2023      $ 30,119 (13)  

Hyundai Busan

     Container        2006        6,800        December 2019      $ 24,095  
              December 2023      $ 30,119 (13)  

YM Utmost

     Container        2006        8,204        August 2018      $ 34,266  

YM Unity

     Container        2006        8,204        October 2018      $ 34,266  

 

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Drybulk Vessels to be delivered

   Type    Built      Capacity
(DWT)
     Charter
Expiration
Date (2)
     Charter-Out
Rate (1)
 

TBN I (14)

   Panamax      2006        74,475        September 2018      $ 9,375  

TBN II (14)

   Panamax      2006        74,477        June 2018      $                             9,844  

TBN III (14)

   Panamax      2005        87,000        —        $ —    

Charter-in vessels

   Type    Built      Capacity
(DWT)
     Charter
Expiration
Date (2)
     Charter-Out
Rate (1)
 

TBN IV (15)

   Panamax      2019        81,000        —        $ —    

 

(1) Daily charter-out rate per day, net of commissions or settlement and insurance proceeds, where applicable.
(2) Expected redelivery basis midpoint of full redelivery period, excluding Navios Partners’ extension options, not declared yet.
(3) 110% average BSI.
(4) 100% average BSI.
(5) Average BPI 4TC minus $2,488 net per day.
(6) 103% average BCI 5TC.
(7) 98.75% average BCI C5.
(8) 101% average BCI 5TC.
(9) Profit sharing 50% above $37,500/day based on Baltic Exchange Capesize TC Average.
(10) 102% average BCI 5TC.
(11) 100% average BCI 5TC.
(12) 108% average BCI 5TC.
(13) Upon acquisition, the vessels are fixed on ten/twelve year charters with Navios Partners’ option to terminate after year seven.
(14) Expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2018.
(15) Expected to be delivered in the second half of 2019.

Our Competitive Strengths

We believe that our future prospects for success are enhanced by the following aspects of our business:

 

    Stable cash flows.  We believe that the remaining medium to long-term, fixed-rate nature of our charters will provide a stable base of revenue (during high market periods we seek to fix longer term charters and during low market periods we seek shorter period employment in order to take advantage of any market up turn). In addition, we believe that the potential opportunity to purchase additional vessels from Navios Holdings and through the secondary market provides future growth in our revenue and distributable cash flow. We believe that our management agreement, which has been extended until December 31, 2022 and provides for a fixed management fee until December 31, 2019, will continue to provide us with predictable expenses.

 

    Strong relationship with Navios Holdings.  We believe our relationship with Navios Holdings and its affiliates provides us with numerous benefits that are key to our long-term growth and success, including Navios Holdings’ expertise in commercial management and Navios Holdings’ reputation within the shipping industry and its network of strong relationships with many of the world’s dry cargo raw material producers, agricultural traders and exporters, industrial end-users, shipyards, and shipping companies. We also benefit from Navios Holdings’ expertise in technical management through its in-house technical manager, which provides efficient operations and maintenance for our vessels at costs below the industry average for vessels of a similar age. Navios Holdings’ expertise in fleet management is reflected in Navios Holdings’ history of a low number of off-hire days and in its record of no material incidents giving rise to loss of life or pollution or other environmental liability.

 

   

High-quality, flexible fleet.  Our fleet consists of 17 Panamax vessels, 13 Capesize vessels, three Ultra-Handymax vessels and seven Container vessels, including the three Panamax vessels, which are expected to be delivered during the second quarter of 2018 and one Panamax charter-in vessel, which is expected to be delivered within the second half of 2019. The average age of the vessels in our fleet approximates the average age of the world drybulk fleet. Our combined fleet had an average age of 10.0 years as of March 2018 (average age of 9.8 years for drybulk fleet and 11.6 years for containers fleet), compared to a current industry average age of about 9.1 years for the drybulk fleet and 12.0 years for the containers fleet (both industry averages as of December 31, 2017). Panamax vessels are highly flexible vessels capable of carrying a wide range of drybulk commodities, including iron ore, coal, grain and fertilizer, and of being accommodated in most major discharge ports. Ultra-Handymax vessels are similar to Panamax vessels although with less carrying capacity and generally have self-loading and discharging gear on board to accommodate undeveloped ports. Capesize vessels are

 

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primarily dedicated to the carriage of iron ore and coal. Container vessels are designed to carry manufactured, finished or semi-finished goods in steel shipping containers on specific routes. We believe that our high-quality, flexible fleet provides us with a competitive advantage in the dry cargo time charter market, where vessel age, flexibility and quality are of significant importance in competing for business.

 

    Operating visibility through long-term charters with strong counterparties . Our vessels are chartered-out under time charters with average remaining charter duration of approximately two years to a strong group of counterparties consisting of, amongst others Yang Ming, SwissMarine Services S.A., Exelon Corporation (formerly Constellation Energy Group), Uniper Global Commodities and Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd. We believe our existing charter coverage with strong counterparties provides us with predictable contracted revenues and operating visibility.

Business Strategies

Our primary business objective is to increase quarterly distributions per unit over time by executing the following strategies:

 

    Pursue stable cash flows through long-term charters for our fleet . We intend to continue to utilize the remaining medium to long-term, fixed-rate charters for our existing fleet. Currently, the vessels in our fleet have average remaining charter duration of approximately two years. We will seek to opportunistically re-charter our vessels in order to add incremental stable cash flow and improve the long-term charter terms.

 

    Continue to grow and diversify our fleet of owned and chartered-in vessels . We seek to make strategic acquisitions to expand our fleet in order to capitalize on the demand for container and drybulk vessels. We have the right to purchase certain additional drybulk vessels currently owned or chartered-in by Navios Holdings when those vessels are fixed under long-term charters for a period of three or more years. In addition, we may seek to expand and diversify our fleet through the open market purchase of owned and chartered-in drybulk vessels with charters of three or more years. We believe that our long-term charters and financial flexibility will assist us to make additional acquisitions.

 

    Capitalize on our relationship with Navios Holdings and expand our charters with recognized charterers . We believe that we can use our relationship with Navios Holdings and its established reputation in order to obtain favorable long-term time charters and attract new customers. We will continue to increase the number of vessels we charter to our existing charterers, as well as enter into charter agreements with new customers, in order to develop a portfolio that is diverse from a customer, geographic and maturity perspective.

 

    Provide superior customer service by maintaining high standards of performance, reliability and safety . Our customers seek transportation partners that have a reputation for high standards of performance, reliability and safety. We intend to use Navios Holdings’ operational expertise and customer relationships to further expand a sustainable competitive advantage with consistent delivery of superior customer service.

Our Customers

We provide or will provide seaborne shipping services under long-term time charters with customers that we believe are creditworthy. For the year ended December 31, 2017, our customers representing 10% or more of total revenues were HMM and Yang Ming which accounted for 26.8% and 12.0%, respectively, of total revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2016, Navios Partners’ customers representing 10% or more of total revenues were HMM, Yang Ming and Mediterranean Shipping Co. S.A. which accounted for 29.6%, 13.0% and 11.6%, respectively, of total revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2015, Navios Partners’ customers representing 10% or more of total revenues were HMM, Navios Corporation and Yang Ming, which accounted for 24.0%, 17.4% and 11.4%, respectively, of total revenues. No other customers accounted for 10% or more of total revenues for any of the years presented.

Although we believe that if any one of our charters were terminated, we could recharter the related vessel at the prevailing market rate relatively quickly, the permanent loss of a significant customer or a substantial decline in the amount of services requested by a significant customer could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations if we were unable to recharter our vessel on a favorable basis due to then-current market conditions, or otherwise.

Competition

The drybulk shipping market is extensive, diversified, competitive and highly fragmented, divided among approximately 1,941 independent drybulk carrier owners. The world’s active drybulk fleet consists of approximately 11,100 vessels, aggregating approximately 820.0 million dwt as of February 8, 2018. As a general principle, the smaller the cargo carrying capacity of a drybulk carrier, the more fragmented is its market, both with regard to charterers and vessel owner/operators. Even among the larger drybulk owners and operators, whose vessels are mainly in the larger sizes, only seven companies are known to have fleets of 100 vessels or

 

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more: China COSCO Shipping, Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Kawasaki Kisen, Fredriksen Group, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Wisdom Marine Group and Pacific Basin Shipping. There are about 43 owners known to have fleets of between 30 and 100 vessels. However, vessel ownership is not the only determining factor of fleet control. Many owners of bulk carriers charter their vessels out for extended periods, not just to end users (owners of cargo), but also to other owner/operators and to tonnage pools. Such operators may, at any given time, control a fleet many times the size of their owned tonnage. Navios Holdings is one such operator; others include Cargill, Pacific Basin Shipping, Bocimar, Zodiac Maritime, Louis Dreyfus/Cetragpa, Cobelfret, Torvald Klaveness and Swiss Marine.

The container shipping market is extensive, diversified, competitive and fragmented, divided among approximately 635 liner operators and independent owners. The world’s active containership fleet consists of approximately 5,200 vessels, aggregating approximately 21.1 million TEU as of February 7, 2018. As a general principle, the smaller the cargo carrying capacity of a containership, the more fragmented is its market, both with regard to charterers and vessel owner/operators. Even among the larger liner companies and containership owners and operators, whose vessels are mainly in the larger sizes, only nine companies are known to control fleets of 100 vessels or more: AP Moller, Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC), China COSCO Shipping, CMA CGM, Evergreen, Pacific International Lines, Hapag Lloyd, Seaspan and Peter Dohle. There are about 40 owners known to control fleets of between 14 and 75 vessels. However, vessel ownership is not the only determining factor of fleet control. Liner companies, who control the movement of containers on land and at sea, own vessels directly and charter in vessels on short and long-term charters. Many owners/managers of containerships charter their vessels out for extended periods but do not control the movement of any containers, the so called tonnage providers. Liner companies may, at any given time, control a fleet many times the size of their owned tonnage. AP Moller and MSC are such liner operators; whereas Peter Dohle, Seaspan and others including Navios Maritime Partners are tonnage providers.

It is likely that we will face substantial competition for long-term charter business from a number of experienced companies. Many of these competitors will have significantly greater financial resources than we do. It is also likely that we will face increased numbers of competitors entering into our transportation sectors, including in the container and drybulk sectors. Many of these competitors have strong reputations and extensive resources and experience. Increased competition may cause greater price competition, especially for long-term charters.

Time Charters

A time charter is a contract for the use of a vessel for a fixed period of time at a specified daily rate. Under a time charter, the vessel owner provides crewing and other services related to the vessel’s operation, the cost of which is included in the daily rate and the customer is responsible for substantially all of the vessel voyage costs. All of the vessels in our fleet are hired out under time charters, and we intend to continue to hire out our vessels under time charters. The following discussion describes the material terms common to all of our time charters.

Basic Hire Rate

“Basic hire rate” refers to the basic payment from the customer for the use of the vessel. The hire rate is generally payable semi-monthly, in advance, in U.S. dollars as specified in the charter.

Expenses

The charterer generally pays the voyage expenses, which include all expenses relating to particular voyages, including any bunker fuel expenses, port fees, cargo loading and unloading expenses, canal tolls, agency fees and commissions.

Off-hire

When the vessel is “off-hire,” the charterer generally is not required to pay the basic hire rate, and we are responsible for all costs. Prolonged off-hire may lead to vessel substitution or termination of the time charter. A vessel generally will be deemed off-hire if there is a loss of time due to, among other things:

 

    operational deficiencies; drydocking for repairs, maintenance or inspection; equipment breakdowns; or delays due to accidents, crewing strikes, certain vessel detentions or similar problems; or

 

    the ship owner’s failure to maintain the vessel in compliance with its specifications and contractual standards or to provide the required crew.

Under some of our charters, the charterer is permitted to terminate the time charter if the vessel is off-hire for an extended period, which is generally defined as a period of 90 or more consecutive off-hire days. Under some circumstances, an event of force majeure may also permit the charterer to terminate the time charter or suspend payment of charter hire.

 

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Termination

We are generally entitled to suspend performance under the time charters covering our vessels if the customer defaults in its payment obligations. Under some of our time charters, either party may terminate the charter in the event of war in specified countries or in locations that would significantly disrupt the free trade of the vessel. Some of our time charters covering our vessels require us to return to the charterer, upon the loss of the vessel, all advances paid by the charterer but not earned by us.

Classification, Inspection and Maintenance

Every sea going vessel must be “classed” by a classification society. The classification society certifies that the vessel is “in class,” signifying that the vessel has been built and maintained in accordance with the rules of the classification society and complies with applicable rules and regulations of the vessel’s country of registry and the international conventions of which that country is a member. In addition, where surveys are required by international conventions and corresponding laws and ordinances of a flag state, the classification society will undertake them on application or by official order, acting on behalf of the authorities concerned.

The classification society also undertakes, on request, other surveys and checks that are required by regulations and requirements of the flag state. These surveys are subject to agreements made in each individual case or to the regulations of the country concerned. For maintenance of the class, regular and extraordinary surveys of hull, machinery (including the electrical plant) and any special equipment classed are required to be performed as follows:

 

    Annual Surveys:  For seagoing ships, annual surveys are conducted for the hull and the machinery (including the electrical plant) and, where applicable, for special equipment classed, at intervals of 12 months from the date of commencement of the class period indicated in the certificate.

 

    Intermediate Surveys:  Extended annual surveys are referred to as intermediate surveys and typically are conducted two and a half years after commissioning and each class renewal. Intermediate surveys may be carried out on the occasion of the second or third annual survey.

 

    Class  Renewal Surveys:  Class renewal surveys, also known as special surveys, are carried out for the ship’s hull, machinery (including the electrical plant), and for any special equipment classed, at the intervals indicated by the character of classification for the hull. At the special survey, the vessel is thoroughly examined, including audio-gauging, to determine the thickness of its steel structure. Should the thickness be found to be less than class requirements, the classification society would prescribe steel renewals. The classification society may grant a one-year grace period for completion of the special survey. Substantial amounts of money may have to be spent for steel renewals to pass a special survey if the vessel experiences excessive wear and tear. In lieu of the special survey every four or five years, depending on whether a grace period was granted, a ship owner has the option of arranging with the classification society for the vessel’s integrated hull or machinery to be on a continuous survey cycle, in which every part of the vessel would be surveyed within a five-year cycle.

Management of Ship Operations, Administration and Safety

Navios Holdings provides, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Navios ShipManagement Inc., referred to as the Manager herein, expertise in various functions critical to our operations. Pursuant to the Management Agreement and the Administrative Services Agreement with the Manager, we have access to human resources, financial and other administrative functions, including:

 

    bookkeeping, audit and accounting services;

 

    administrative and clerical services;

 

    banking and financial services; and

 

    client and investor relations.

Technical management services are also provided, including:

 

    commercial management of the vessel;

 

    vessel maintenance and crewing;

 

    purchasing and insurance; and

 

    shipyard supervision.

 

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For more information on the management agreement we have with the Manager and the Administrative Services Agreement we have with the Manager, please read “Item 7. — Unitholders and Related Party Transactions”.

Crewing

The Manager crews its vessels primarily with Filipino, Ukrainian, Polish, Russian, Indian, Georgian, Romanian and Sri Lankan officers and Filipino, Georgian, Romanian, Ethiopian, Indian and Ukrainian seamen. For these nationalities, officers and seamen are referred to the Manager by local crewing agencies. The Manager is also responsible for travel and payroll of the crew. The crewing agencies handle each seaman’s training. The Manager requires that all of its seamen have the qualifications and licenses required to comply with international regulations and shipping conventions.

Risk of Loss and Liability Insurance

General

The operation of any cargo vessel includes risks such as mechanical failure, physical damage, collision, property loss, cargo loss or damage, business interruption due to political circumstances in foreign countries, hostilities, and labor strikes. In addition, there is always an inherent possibility of marine disaster, including oil spills and other environmental mishaps, and the liabilities arising from owning and operating vessels in international trade. The OPA, which imposes virtually unlimited liability upon owners, operators and demise charterers of any vessel trading in the United States exclusive economic zone for certain oil pollution accidents in the United States, has made liability insurance more expensive for ship owners and operators trading in the U.S. market. While we believe that our present insurance coverage is adequate, not all risks can be insured, and there can be no guarantee that any specific claim will be paid, or that we will always be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage at reasonable rates.

Hull and Machinery and War Risk Insurances

We have marine hull and machinery and war risk insurance, which include coverage of the risk of actual or constructive total loss, for all of our owned vessels. Each of the owned vessels is covered up to at least fair market value, with a deductible of $0.1 million per Handymax and Panamax vessels and $0.2 million per Capesize vessels for the hull and machinery insurance. We have also extended our war risk insurance to include war loss of hire for any loss of time to the vessel, including for physical repairs, caused by a warlike incident and piracy seizure for up to 270 days of detention / loss of time. There are no deductibles for the war risk insurance or the war loss of hire cover.

We have arranged, as necessary, increased value insurance for our vessels. With the increased value insurance, in case of total loss of the vessel, we will be able to recover the sum insured under the increased value policy in addition to the sum insured under the hull and machinery policy. Increased value insurance also covers excess liabilities that are not recoverable in full by the hull and machinery policies by reason of underinsurance. We do not expect to maintain loss of hire insurance for our vessels. Loss of hire insurance covers business interruptions that result in the loss of use of a vessel.

Protection and Indemnity Insurance

Protection and indemnity insurance is expected to be provided by mutual protection and indemnity associations, or P&I Associations, who indemnify members in respect of discharging their tortious, contractual or statutory third-party legal liabilities arising from the operation of an entered ship. Such liabilities include but are not limited to third-party liability and other related expenses from injury or death of crew, passengers and other third parties, loss or damage to cargo, claims arising from collisions with other vessels, damage to other third-party property, pollution arising from oil or other substances, and salvage, towing and other related costs, including wreck removal. Protection and indemnity insurance is a form of mutual indemnity insurance, extended by protection and indemnity mutual associations and always provided in accordance with the applicable associations’ rules and members’ agreed terms and conditions.

Navios Partners’ fleet is currently entered for protection and indemnity insurance with International Group associations where, in line with all International Group Clubs, coverage for oil pollution is limited to $1.0 billion per event. The 13 P&I Associations that comprise the International Group insure approximately 95% of the world’s commercial tonnage and have entered into a pooling agreement to collectively reinsure each association’s liabilities. Each vessel that Navios Partners acquires will be entered with P&I Associations of the International Group. Under the International Group reinsurance program for the current policy year, each P&I club in the International Group is responsible for the first $10.0 million of every claim. In every claim the amount in excess of $10.0 million and up to $80.0 million is shared by the clubs under the pooling agreement. Any claim in excess of $80.0 million is reinsured by the International Group in the international reinsurance market under the General Excess of Loss Reinsurance Contract. This policy currently provides an additional $2.0 billion of coverage for non-oil pollution claims. Further to this, an additional reinsurance layer has been placed by the International Group for claims up to $1.0 billion in excess of $2.08 billion, i.e. $3.08 billion in total. For passengers and crew claims, the overall limit is $3.0 billion for any one event on any one vessel with a sub-limit of

 

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$2.0 billion for passengers. With the exception of pollution, passenger or crew claims, should any other P&I claim exceed Group reinsurance limits, the provisions of all International Group Club’s overspill claim rules will operate and members of any International Group Club will be liable for additional contributions in accordance with such rules. To date, there has never been an overspill claim, or one even nearing this level.

As a member of the P&I Associations, which is a member of the International Group, Navios Partners will be subject to calls payable to the associations based on the individual fleet record, the associations’ overall claim records as well as the claim records of all other members of the individual associations, and members of the pool of P&I Associations comprising the International Group. The P&I Associations’ policy year commences on February 20th. Calls are levied by means of Estimated Total Premiums (“ETP”) and the amount of the final installment of the ETP varies according to the actual total premium ultimately required by the club for a particular policy year. Members have a liability to pay supplementary calls which might be levied by the board of directors of the club if the ETP is insufficient to cover amounts paid out by the club.

Should a member leave or entry cease with any of the associations, at the Club’s Managers discretion, they may be also be liable to pay release calls or provide adequate security for the same amount. Such calls are levied in respect of potential outstanding Club/Member liabilities on open policy years and include but are not limited to liabilities for deferred calls and supplementary calls.

Uninsured Risks

Not all risks are insured and not all risks are insurable. The principal insurable risks which nonetheless remain uninsured across our fleet are “loss of hire” and “strikes,” except in cases of loss of hire due to war or a piracy event. Specifically, Navios Partners does not insure these risks because the costs are regarded as disproportionate. These insurances provide, subject to a deductible, a limited indemnity for hire that would not be receivable by the ship owner for reasons set forth in the policy. Should a vessel on time charter, where the vessel is paid a fixed hire day by day, suffer a serious mechanical breakdown, the daily hire will no longer be payable by the charterer. The purpose of the loss of hire insurance is to secure the loss of hire during such periods. In the case of strikes insurance, if a vessel is being paid a fixed sum to perform a voyage and the ship becomes strike bound at a loading or discharging port, the insurance covers the loss of earnings during such periods.

Credit Risk Insurance

In August 2015, the Seoul Central District Court approved the second rehabilitation proceedings of Samsun Logix. One of our vessels chartered to Samsun Logix was redelivered in August 2015 and has been rechartered. The rehabilitation claim was sold to an unrelated third party. Navios Partners has no outstanding receivable from Samsun Logix.

On November 15, 2012 (as amended in March 2014), Navios Holdings and Navios Partners entered into an agreement (the “Navios Holdings Guarantee”) by which Navios Holdings agreed to provide supplemental credit default insurance with a maximum cash payment of $20.0 million. The final settlement of the amount due will take place at anytime but in no case later than December 31, 2019, in accordance with or letter of agreement effective as of December 29, 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company submitted claims for charterers’ default under this agreement to Navios Holdings for a total amount of $7.2 million and $9.2 million, respectively, net of applicable deductions, of which $7.6 million and $9.6 million, respectively, was presented under the caption “Other income”.

In January 2011, Korea Line Corporation (“KLC”) which is the charterer of the Navios Melodia filed for receivership. The charter contract was affirmed and was performed by KLC on its original terms, following an interim suspension period until April 2016 during which Navios Partners traded the vessel directly. On April 1, 2016, the vessel was delivered to KLC and the charter contract was resumed.

Regulation

Sources of applicable rules and standards

Shipping is one of the world’s most heavily regulated industries, and, in addition, it is subject to many industry standards. Government regulation significantly affects the ownership and operation of vessels. These regulations consist mainly of rules and standards established by international conventions, but they also include national, state, and local laws and regulations in force in jurisdictions where vessels may operate or are registered, and which are commonly more stringent than international rules and standards. This is the case particularly in the United States and, increasingly, in Europe.

 

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A variety of governmental and private entities subject vessels to both scheduled and unscheduled inspections. These entities include local port authorities (the U.S. Coast Guard, harbor masters or equivalent entities), classification societies, flag state administration (country vessel of registry), and charterers, particularly terminal operators. Certain of these entities require vessel owners to obtain permits, licenses, and certificates for the operation of their vessels. Failure to maintain necessary permits or approvals could require a vessel owner to incur substantial costs or temporarily suspend operation of one or more of its vessels.

Heightened levels of environmental and quality concerns among insurance underwriters, regulators, and charterers continue to lead to greater inspection and safety requirements on all vessels and may accelerate the scrapping of older vessels throughout the industry. Increasing environmental concerns have created a demand for vessels that conform to stricter environmental standards. Vessel owners are required to maintain operating standards for all vessels that will emphasize operational safety, quality maintenance, continuous training of officers and crews and compliance with U.S. and international regulations.

The International Maritime Organization, or IMO, has adopted a number of international conventions concerned with ship safety and with preventing, reducing or controlling pollution from ships. These fall into two main categories, consisting firstly of those concerned generally with ship safety standards, and secondly of those specifically concerned with measures to prevent pollution.

Ship safety regulation

In the former category the primary international instrument is the Safety of Life at Sea Convention of 1974, as amended, or SOLAS, together with the regulations and codes of practice that form part of its regime. Much of SOLAS is not directly concerned with preventing pollution, but some of its safety provisions are intended to prevent pollution as well as promote safety of life and preservation of property. These regulations have been and continue to be regularly amended as new and higher safety standards are introduced with which we are required to comply.

An amendment of SOLAS introduced the International Safety Management (ISM) Code, which has been effective since July 1998. Under the ISM Code the party with operational control of a vessel is required to develop an extensive safety management system that includes, among other things, the adoption of a safety and environmental protection policy setting forth instructions and procedures for operating its vessels safely and describing procedures for responding to emergencies. The ISM Code requires that vessel operators obtain a safety management certificate for each vessel they operate. This certificate evidences compliance by a vessel’s management with code requirements for a safety management system. No vessel can obtain a certificate unless its manager has been awarded a document of compliance, issued by the flag state for the vessel, under the ISM Code. Noncompliance with the ISM Code and other IMO regulations, such as the mandatory ship energy efficiency management plan (“SEEMP”) which is akin to a safety management plan and came into effect on 1 January 2013, may subject a ship owner to increased liability, may lead to decreases in available insurance coverage for affected vessels, and may result in the denial of access to, or detention in, some ports. For example, the United States Coast Guard and European Union authorities have indicated that vessels not in compliance with the ISM Code will be prohibited from trading in ports in the United States and European Union.

Another amendment of SOLAS, made after the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001, introduced special measures to enhance maritime security, including the International Ship and Port Facilities Security Code (ISPS Code).

Our owned fleet maintains ISM and ISPS certifications for safety and security of operations. Each vessel’s certificate must be periodically renewed and compliance must be periodically verified. In addition, the Manager voluntarily implements and maintains certifications pursuant to the International Organization for Standardization, or ISO, for its office and ships covering both quality of services and environmental protection (ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, respectively).

International regulations to prevent pollution from ships

In the second main category of international regulation, the primary instrument is the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, or MARPOL, which imposes environmental standards on the shipping industry set out in Annexes I-VI of MARPOL. These contain regulations for the prevention of pollution by oil (Annex I), by noxious liquid substances in bulk (Annex II), by harmful substances in packaged forms within the scope of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (Annex III), by sewage (Annex IV), by garbage (Annex V), and by air emissions (Annex VI).

These regulations have been and continue to be regularly amended as new and more stringent standards of pollution prevention are introduced with which we are required to comply. For example, MARPOL Annex VI, together with the NOx Technical Code established thereunder, sets limits on sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from ship exhausts and prohibits deliberate emissions of ozone depleting substances, such as chlorofluorocarbons. It also includes a global cap on the sulfur content of fuel oil and allows for special areas to be established with more stringent controls on emissions. Originally adopted in September 1997, Annex VI came into force in May 2005 and was amended in October 2008 (as was the NOx Technical Code) to provide for progressively more stringent limits on such emissions from 2010 onwards.

 

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The revised Annex VI provides, in particular, for a reduction of the global sulfur cap. After considering the issue for many years, the IMO announced on October 27, 2016 that it was proceeding with a requirement for 0.5% m/m sulfur content in marine fuel (down from current levels of 3.5%) outside the ECAs starting on January 1, 2020. Under Annex VI, the 2020 date was subject to review as to the availability of the required fuel oil. Annex VI required the fuel availability review to be completed by 2018 but was ultimately completed in 2016. Therefore, by 2020, ships will be required to remove sulfur from emissions through the use of emission control equipment, or purchase marine fuel with 0.5% sulfur content, which may see increased demand and higher prices due to supply constraints. Installing pollution control equipment or using lower sulfur fuel could result in significantly increased costs to our company. Similarly Annex VI requires Tier III standards for NOx emissions to be applied to ships constructed and engines installed in ships operating in NOx ECAs from January 1, 2016. We anticipate incurring costs to comply with these more stringent standards by implementing measures such as fuel switching, vessel modification adding distillate fuel storage capacity, or addition of exhaust gas cleaning scrubbers, and may require installation and operation of further control equipment at significantly increased cost.

The revised Annex VI further allows for designation, in response to proposals from member parties, of Emission Control Areas (ECAs) that impose accelerated and/or more stringent requirements for control of sulfur oxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxide emissions. Thus far, ECAs have been formally adopted for the Baltic Sea area (limits SOx emissions only); the North Sea area including the English Channel (limiting SOx emissions only) and the North American ECA (which came into effect from August 1, 2012 limiting SOx, NOx and particulate matter emissions). In October 2016, the IMO approved the designation of the North Sea and Baltic Sea as ECAs for NOx under Annex VI as well, which is scheduled for adoption in 2017 and would take effect in January 2021. The United States Caribbean Sea ECA entered into force on January 1, 2013 and has been effective since January 1, 2014, limiting SOx, NOx and particulate matter emissions. For the currently-designated ECAs, much lower sulfur limits on fuel oil content are being phased in (0.1% from January 1, 2015).

At its 66th Session, the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (the “MEPC”) adopted amendments (effective September 2015) to Annex VI, regulation 13, regarding NOx and the date for the implementation of the “Tier III” standards within ECAs. These amendments provide, inter alia, that such standards, applicable on January 1, 2016, apply to marine diesel engines installed on ships which operate in the North American ECA or the U.S. Caribbean Sea ECA and to installed marine diesel engines which operate in other ECAs which might be designated in the future for Tier III NOx control. At MEPC 69, Annex VI was also amended to require recordkeeping requirements to demonstrate compliance with the NOX Tier III ECA.

At its 64th session (2012), the MEPC indicated that 2015 was the target year for member states to identify market-based measures for international shipping. At its 66th session (2014), the MEPC continued its work on developing technical and operational measures relating to energy-efficiency measures for ships, following the entry into force of the mandatory efficiency measures on January 1, 2013. It adopted the 2014 Guidelines on the Method of Calculation of the Attained EEDI, applicable to new ships. It further adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI concerning the extension of the scope of application of the EEDI to Liquified Natural Gas (“LNG”) carriers, ro-ro cargo ships (vehicle carriers), ro-ro cargo ships, ro-ro passenger ships and cruise passengers ships with nonconventional propulsion. At its 67th session (2014), the MEPC adopted the 2014 Guidelines on survey and certification of the EEDI, updating the previous version to reference ships fitted with dual-fuel engines using LNG and liquid fuel oil. The MEPC also adopted amendments to the 2013 Interim Guidelines for determining minimum propulsion power to maintain the maneuverability of ships in adverse conditions, to make the guidelines applicable to phase 1 (starting January 1, 2015) of the EEDI requirements. At its 68th session (2015), the MEPC amended the 2014 Guidelines on EEDI survey and certification as well as the method of calculating of EEDI for new ships, the latter of which was again amended at the 70th session (2016). At its 70th session, the MEPC adopted mandatory requirements for ships of 5,000 gross tonnage or greater to collect fuel consumption data for each type of fuel used, and report the data to the flag State after the end of each calendar year.

The revised Annex I to the MARPOL Convention entered into force in January 2007. It incorporates various amendments to the MARPOL Convention and imposes construction requirements for oil tankers delivered on or after January 1, 2010. On August 1, 2007, Regulation 12A (an amendment to Annex I) came into force imposing performance standards for accidental oil fuel outflow and requiring oil fuel tanks to be located inside the double-hull in all ships with an aggregate oil fuel capacity of 600 cubic meters and above, and which are delivered on or after August 1, 2010, including ships for which the building contract is entered into on or after August 1, 2007 or, in the absence of a contract, for which keel is laid on or after February 1, 2008. We intend that all of our newbuilt tanker vessels, if any, will comply with Regulation 12A.

 

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Greenhouse gas emissions

In February 2005, the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change entered into force. Pursuant to the Kyoto Protocol, adopting countries are required to implement national programs to reduce emissions of certain gases, generally referred to as greenhouse gases, which are suspected of contributing to global warming. Currently, the greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping do not come under the Kyoto Protocol.

In December 2011, UN climate change talks took place in Durban and concluded with an agreement referred to as the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action. In preparation for the Durban Conference, the International Chamber of Shipping (“ICS”) produced a briefing document, confirming the shipping industry’s commitment to cut shipping emissions by 20% by 2020, with significant further reductions thereafter. The ICS called on the participants in the Durban Conference to give the IMO a clear mandate to deliver emissions reductions through market-based measures, for example a shipping industry environmental compensation fund. Notwithstanding the ICS’s request for global regulation of the shipping industry, the Durban Conference did not result in any proposals specifically addressing the shipping industry’s role in climate change.

Although regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping industry was discussed during the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris (the “Paris Conference”), the agreement reached among the 195 nations did not expressly reference the shipping industry. Following the Paris Conference, the IMO announced it would continue its efforts on this issue at the MEPC, and at its 70th session, the MEPC approved a Roadmap for developing a comprehensive GHG emissions reduction strategy for ships, which includes the goal of adopting an initial strategy and emission reduction commitments in 2018. The Roadmap also provides for additional studies and further intersessional work, to be continued at the 71st session in 2017, with a goal of adopting a revised strategy in 2023 to include short-, mid- and long-term reduction measures and schedules for implementation. In April 2018, the committee charged with creating the reduction strategy must finalize the initial draft of the strategy and submit a report to MEPC.

In April 2007, the EU announced its plan to add vessels to its emissions trading scheme. A proposal from the EC was expected if no global regime for reduction of seaborne emissions had been agreed by the end of 2011. As of January 31, 2013, the Commission stopped short of proposing that emissions from ships be included in the EU’s emissions-trading scheme (“ETS”). However, on October 1, 2012, it announced that it would propose measures to monitor, verify and report on greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping sector.

On June 28, 2013, the EC adopted a communication setting out a strategy for progressively including greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport in the EU’s policy for reducing its overall GHG emissions. The first step proposed by the EC was an EU regulation (as defined below) to an EU-wide system for the monitoring, reporting and verification of carbon dioxide emissions from large ships starting in 2018. EU Regulation 2015/757 was adopted on April 29, 2015 and took effect on July 1, 2015, with monitoring, reporting and verification requirements beginning on January 1, 2018. This Regulation appears to be indicative of an intent to maintain pressure on the international negotiating process. The EC also adopted an Implementing Regulation, which entered into force in November 2016, setting templates for monitoring plans, emissions reports and compliance documents pursuant to Regulation 2015/757.

Other international regulations to prevent pollution

In addition to MARPOL, other more specialized international instruments have been adopted to prevent different types of pollution or environmental harm from ships. In February 2004, the IMO adopted an International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, or the BWM Convention. The BWM Convention’s implementing regulations call for a phased introduction of mandatory ballast water exchange requirements, to be replaced in time with mandatory concentration limits, as well as other obligations including recordkeeping requirements and implementation of a Ballast Water and Sediments Management Plan.

The BWM Convention entered into force on September 8, 2017. The BWM Convention requires ships to manage ballast water in a manner that removes, renders harmless or avoids the uptake or discharge of aquatic organisms and pathogens within ballast water and sediment. Recently updated Ballast Water and Sediment Management Plan guidance includes more robust testing and performance specifications. The entry of the BWM Convention and revised guidance will likely result in additional compliance costs.

European regulations

European regulations in the maritime sector are in general based on international law. However, since the Erika incident in 1999, the European Community has become increasingly active in the field of regulation of maritime safety and protection of the environment. It has been the driving force behind a number of amendments of MARPOL (including, for example, changes to accelerate the time-table for the phase-out of single hull tankers, and to prohibit the carriage in such tankers of heavy grades of oil), and if dissatisfied either with the extent of such amendments or with the time-table for their introduction it has been prepared to legislate on a unilateral basis. It should be noted, for instance, that the EU has its own regime as far as ship emissions are concerned and whilst it does in some

 

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respects reflect the IMO regime, this is not always the case. As far as sulfur dioxide emissions are concerned, for example, the EU regulation has not just caught up with the IMO limits for sulfur in ECAs, but it continues to have certain elements that exceed IMO regulations (e.g., as of January 1, 2015, EU Member States must ensure that ships in the Baltic, the North Seam and the English Channel are using gas oils with a sulfur content of no more than 0.10%).

In some instances where it has done so, international regulations have subsequently been amended to the same level of stringency as that introduced in Europe, but the risk is well established that EU regulations may from time to time impose burdens and costs on ship owners and operators which are additional to those involved in complying with international rules and standards. In December 2016, the EU signed into law the National Emissions Ceiling (“NEC”) Directive, which entered into force on December 31, 2016. The NEC must be implemented by individual members states through particular laws in each state by June 30, 2018. The NEC aims to set stricter emissions limits on SO2, ammonia, non-methane volatile organic compounds, NOx and fine particulate (PM2.5) by setting new upper limits for emissions of these pollutants, starting in 2020. While the NEC is not specifically directed toward the shipping industry, the EU specifically mentions the shipping industry in its announcement of the NEC as a contributor to emissions of PM2.5, SO2 and NOx. Implementation of new laws by member states to reduce emissions may ultimately result in increased costs to us to comply with the more stringent standards.

In some areas of regulation the EU has introduced new laws without attempting to procure a corresponding amendment of international law. Notably, it adopted in 2005 a directive on ship-source pollution, imposing criminal sanctions for pollution not only where this is caused by intent or recklessness (which would be an offense under MARPOL), but also where it is caused by “serious negligence.” The directive could therefore result in criminal liability being incurred in circumstances where it would not be incurred under international law. Experience has shown that in the emotive atmosphere often associated with pollution incidents, retributive attitudes towards ship interests have found expression in negligence being alleged by prosecutors and found by courts. Moreover, there is skepticism that the notion of “serious negligence” is likely to prove any narrower in practice than ordinary negligence. Criminal liability for a pollution incident could not only result in us incurring substantial penalties or fines but may also, in some jurisdictions, facilitate civil liability claims for greater compensation than would otherwise have been payable.

United States environmental regulations and laws governing civil liability for pollution

Environmental legislation in the United States merits particular mention as it is in many respects more onerous than international laws, representing a high-water mark of regulation with which ship owners and operators must comply, and of liability likely to be incurred in the event of non-compliance or an incident causing pollution.

U.S. federal legislation, including notably the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or OPA, establishes an extensive regulatory and liability regime for the protection and cleanup of the environment from oil spills, including cargo or bunker oil spills from tankers. OPA affects all owners and operators whose vessels trade in the United States, its territories and possessions or whose vessels operate in United States waters, which includes the United States’ territorial sea and its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone. Under OPA, vessel owners, operators and bareboat charterers are “responsible parties” and are jointly, severally and strictly liable (unless the spill results solely from the act or omission of a third party, an act of God or an act of war) for all containment and clean-up costs and other damages arising from discharges or substantial threats of discharges, of oil from their vessels. In addition to potential liability under OPA as the relevant federal legislation, vessel owners may in some instances incur liability on an even more stringent basis under state law in the particular state where the spillage occurred.

Title VII of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004, or the CGMTA, amended OPA to require the owner or operator of any non-tank vessel of 400 gross tons or more, that carries oil of any kind as a fuel for main propulsion, including bunkers, to prepare and submit a response plan for each vessel on or before August 8, 2005. The implementing regulations took effect on October 30, 2013. The vessel response plans must include detailed information on actions to be taken by vessel personnel to prevent or mitigate any discharge or substantial threat of such a discharge of ore from the vessel due to operational activities or casualties.

OPA liability limits are periodically adjusted for inflation, and the U.S. Coast Guard issued a final rule on November 19, 2015 to reflect increases in the Consumer Price Index. With this adjustment, OPA currently limits liability of the responsible party for single-hull tank vessels over 3,000 gross tons to the greater of $3,500 per gross ton or $25.846 million (this amount is reduced to $7.05 million if the vessel is less than 3,000 gross tons). For tank vessels over 3,000 gross tons, other than a single-hull vessel, liability is limited to $2,200 per gross ton or $18.8 million (or $4.7 million for a vessel less than 3,000 gross tons), whichever is greater. Under the OPA, these liability limits do not apply if an incident was directly caused by violation of applicable United States federal safety, construction or operating regulations or by a responsible party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, or if the responsible party fails or refuses to report the incident or to cooperate and assist in connection with oil removal activities.

 

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In response to the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico, in 2010 the U.S. Congress proposed, but did not formally adopt, legislation to amend OPA to mandate stronger safety standards and increased liability and financial responsibility for offshore drilling operations. While Congressional activity on this topic is expected to continue to focus on offshore facilities rather than on vessels generally, it cannot be known with certainty what form any such new legislative initiatives may take.

In addition, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, or CERCLA, which applies to the discharge of hazardous substances (other than oil) whether on land or at sea, contains a similar liability regime and provides for cleanup, removal and natural resource damages. Liability under CERCLA is limited to the greater of $300 per gross ton or $0.5 million for vessels not carrying hazardous substances as cargo or residue, unless the incident is caused by gross negligence, willful misconduct, or a violation of certain regulations, in which case liability is unlimited.

Similarly, in response to the Deepwater Horizon incident, the EU issued “Directive 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 12, 2013 on safety of offshore oil and gas operations.” The objective of this Directive is to reduce as far as possible the occurrence of major accidents relating to offshore oil and gas operations and to limit their consequences, thus increasing the protection of the marine environment and coastal economies against pollution, establishing minimum conditions for safe offshore exploration and exploitation of oil and gas and limiting possible disruptions to Union indigenous energy production, and to improve the response mechanisms in case of an accident. Member states had to implement the Directive by July 19, 2015. As far as the environment is concerned, the UK has various regulations such as: the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Offshore Safety Directive) (Environmental Functions) Regulations 2015 (OSDEF), the 2015 amendments to the Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation Convention) Regulations 1998 (OPRC 1998) and other environmental Directive requirements, specifically the Environmental Management System. The Offshore Petroleum Licensing (Offshore Safety Directive) Regulations 2015 will implement the licensing Directive requirements.

We currently maintain, for each of our owned vessels, insurance coverage against pollution liability risks in the amount of $1.0 billion per incident. The insured risks include penalties and fines as well as civil liabilities and expenses resulting from accidental pollution. However, this insurance coverage is subject to exclusions, deductibles and other terms and conditions. If any liabilities or expenses fall within an exclusion from coverage, or if damages from a catastrophic incident exceed the $1.0 billion limitation of coverage per incident, our cash flow, profitability and financial position could be adversely impacted.

Under OPA, an owner or operator of a fleet of vessels is required only to demonstrate evidence of financial responsibility in an amount sufficient to cover the vessel in the fleet having the greatest maximum liability under OPA. Under the self-insurance provisions, the ship owner or operator must have a net worth and working capital, measured in assets located in the United States against liabilities located anywhere in the world, that exceeds the applicable amount of financial responsibility. We have complied with the U.S. Coast Guard regulations by providing a certificate of responsibility from third party entities that are acceptable to the U.S. Coast Guard evidencing sufficient self-insurance.

The U.S. Coast Guard’s regulations concerning certificates of financial responsibility provide, in accordance with OPA, that claimants may bring suit directly against an insurer or guarantor that furnishes certificates of financial responsibility. If such insurer or guarantor is sued directly, it is prohibited from asserting any contractual defense that it may have had against the responsible party and is limited to asserting those defenses available to the responsible party and the defense that the incident was caused by the willful misconduct of the responsible party. Certain organizations, which had typically provided certificates of financial responsibility under pre-OPA laws, including the major protection and indemnity organizations, have declined to furnish evidence of insurance for vessel owners and operators if they are subject to direct actions or required to waive insurance policy defenses. This requirement may have the effect of limiting the availability of the type of coverage required by the Coast Guard and could increase our costs of obtaining this insurance as well as the costs of our competitors that also require such coverage.

OPA specifically permits individual states to impose their own liability regimes with regard to oil pollution incidents occurring within their boundaries, and some states’ environmental laws impose unlimited liability for oil spills. In some cases, states which have enacted such legislation have not yet issued implementing regulations defining vessels owners’ responsibilities under these laws.

The United States Clean Water Act (“CWA”) prohibits the discharge of oil or hazardous substances in U.S. navigable waters and imposes strict liability in the form of penalties for unauthorized discharges. The CWA also imposes substantial liability for the costs of removal, remediation and damages and complements the remedies available under CERCLA. The EPA regulates the discharge of ballast water and other substances incidental to the normal operation of vessels in U.S. waters using a Vessel General Permit (VGP) system pursuant to the CWA, in order to combat the risk of harmful organisms that can travel in ballast water carried from foreign ports and to minimize the risk of water pollution through numerous specified effluent streams incidental to the normal operation of vessels. Compliance with the conditions of the VGP is required for commercial vessels 79 feet in length or longer (other than commercial fishing vessels.) On March 28, 2013 the EPA adopted the 2013 VGP which took effect on December 19, 2013. The 2013 VGP is valid for five years and expires at the end of this year. The VGP imposes a numeric standard to control the release of non-

 

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indigenous invasive species in ballast water discharges. On October 5, 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit found the EPA was arbitrary and capricious in issuing the ballast water provisions of the VCP, finding EPA failed to adequately explain why stricter technology-based effluent standards should not be applied. The court instructed EPA to reconsider these issues but held the 2013 VCP remains in effect until EPA addresses the issues. If EPA establishes more stringent numeric standards for ballast water discharges, we may incur costs to modify our vessels to comply with new standards. In addition, through the CWA certification provisions that allow U.S. states to place additional conditions on use of the VGP within state waters, a number of states have proposed or implemented a variety of stricter ballast water requirements including, in some states, specific treatment standards.

Because the VGP expires at the end of this year, there may be new U.S. federal and state requirements that could require the installation of equipment on our vessels to treat ballast water before it is discharged or the implementation of other port facility disposal arrangements or procedures at potentially substantial cost, and/or otherwise restrict our vessels from entering U.S. waters. Coast Guard regulations require commercial ships operating in U.S. waters to manage ballast water by meeting certain requirements, which include using a U.S. type-approved Ballast Water Management System (“BWMS”), temporarily using a foreign-type BWMS that has been accepted by the Coast Guard, using ballast water obtained from a U.S. Public Water System, discharge ballast water into a shore-side facility or not discharge ballast water within 12 nautical miles. Vessel owners/operators may request an extension to the compliance deadline by showing that, despite all efforts, it cannot comply with one of the approved systems or compliance methods. There are numerous foreign-approved Ballast Water Treatment Systems (“BWTS”) in the Coast Guard’s list of approved Alternate Management Systems. Since December 2016, the Coast Guard has type approved six Ballast Water Management System (“BWMS”), which claim to meet the range of requirements that most vessel owners and operators described in their extension requests in the past. Due to the increase in approvals, it will become more difficult to receive compliance extensions and thus could result in significant costs to install an approved BWTS. Failure to comply with U.S. ballast water regulations could result in civil or criminal fines or penalties.

The Federal Clean Air Act (“CAA”) requires the EPA to promulgate standards applicable to emissions of volatile organic compounds and other air contaminants. Our vessels are subject to CAA vapor control and recovery standards (“VCS”) for cleaning fuel tanks and conducting other operations in regulated port areas, and to CAA emissions standards for so-called “Category 3” marine diesel engines operating in U.S. waters. In April 2010, EPA adopted regulations implementing the provision of MARPOL Annex VI regarding emissions from Category 3 marine diesel engines. Under these regulations, both U.S. and foreign-flagged ships must comply with the applicable engine and fuel standards of Annex VI, including the stricter North America ECA standards which took effect in August 2012, when they enter U.S. ports or operate in most internal U.S. waters including the Great Lakes. Annex VI requirements are discussed in greater detail above under “International regulations to prevent pollution from ships.” We may incur costs to install control equipment on our vessels to comply with the new standards.

Also under the CAA, since 1990 the U.S. Coast Guard has regulated the safety of VCSs that are required under EPA and state rules. Our vessels operating in regulated port areas have installed VCSs that are compliant with EPA, state and U.S. Coast Guard requirements. On July 16, 2013, the U.S. Coast Guard adopted regulations that made its VCS requirements more compatible with new EPA and State regulations, reflected changes in VCS technology, and codified existing U.S. Coast Guard guidelines. We intend to comply with all applicable state and U.S. federal regulations in the ports where our vessels call.

International laws governing civil liability for oil pollution damage

We operate a fleet of dry cargo vessels that are subject to national and international laws governing pollution from such vessels. Several international conventions impose and limit pollution liability from vessels. An owner of a tanker vessel carrying a cargo of “persistent oil” as defined by the International Convention for Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (the “CLC”) is subject under the convention to strict liability for any pollution damage caused in a contracting state by an escape or discharge from cargo or bunker tanks. This liability is subject to a financial limit calculated by reference to the tonnage of the ship, and the right to limit liability may be lost if the spill is caused by the ship owner’s intentional or reckless conduct. Liability may also be incurred under the CLC for a bunker spill from the vessel even when she is not carrying such cargo, but is in ballast.

When a tanker is carrying clean oil products that do not constitute “persistent oil” that would be covered under the CLC, liability for any pollution damage will generally fall outside the CLC and will depend on other international conventions or domestic laws in the jurisdiction where the spillage occurs. The same principle applies to any pollution from the vessel in a jurisdiction which is not a party to the CLC. The CLC applies in over 100 jurisdictions around the world, but it does not apply in the United States, where the corresponding liability laws such as the OPA discussed above, are particularly stringent.

In 2001, the IMO adopted the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, or the Bunker Convention, which imposes strict liability on ship owners for pollution damage in jurisdictional waters of ratifying states caused by discharges of “bunker oil.” The Bunker Convention defines “bunker oil” as “any hydrocarbon mineral oil, including lubricating oil,

 

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used or intended to be used for the operation or propulsion of the ship, and any residues of such oil.” The Bunker Convention also requires registered owners of ships over a certain size to maintain insurance for pollution damage in an amount equal to the limits of liability under the applicable national or international limitation regime (but not exceeding the amount calculated in accordance with the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims of 1976, as amended, or the 1976 Convention). The Bunker Convention entered into force on November 21, 2008, and as of August 23, 2017 had 86 contracting states. In other jurisdictions liability for spills or releases of oil from ships’ bunkers continues to be determined by the national or other domestic laws in the jurisdiction where the events or damages occur.

Outside the United States, national laws generally provide for the owner to bear strict liability for pollution, subject to a right to limit liability under applicable national or international regimes for limitation of liability. The most widely applicable international regime limiting maritime pollution liability is the 1976 Convention. Rights to limit liability under the 1976 Convention are forfeited where a spill is caused by a ship owner’s intentional or reckless conduct. Some states have ratified the 1996 LLMC Protocol to the 1976 Convention, which provides for liability limits substantially higher than those set forth in the 1976 Convention to apply in such states. Finally, some jurisdictions are not a party to either the 1976 Convention or the 1996 LLMC Protocol, and, therefore, ship owners’ rights to limit liability for maritime pollution in such jurisdictions may be uncertain.

Security Regulations

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, there have been a variety of initiatives intended to enhance vessel security. On November 25, 2002, the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, or MTSA, came into effect. To implement certain portions of the MTSA, in July 2003, the U.S. Coast Guard issued regulations requiring the implementation of certain security requirements aboard vessels operating in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Similarly, in December 2002, amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, or SOLAS, created a new chapter of the convention dealing specifically with maritime security. The new chapter went into effect in July 2004, and imposes various detailed security obligations on vessels and port authorities, most of which are contained in the newly created ISPS Code. Among the various requirements are:

 

    on-board installation of automatic information systems to enhance vessel-to-vessel and vessel-to-shore communications;

 

    on-board installation of ship security alert systems;

 

    the development of vessel security plans; and

 

    compliance with flag state security certification requirements.

Furthermore, additional security measures could be required in the future which could have a significant financial impact on us. The U.S. Coast Guard regulations, intended to be aligned with international maritime security standards, exempt non-U.S. vessels from MTSA vessel security measures, provided such vessels have on board a valid International Ship Security Certificate, or ISSC, that attests to the vessel’s compliance with SOLAS security requirements and the ISPS Code. We will implement the various security measures addressed by the MTSA, SOLAS and the ISPS Code and take measures for the vessels to attain compliance with all applicable security requirements within the prescribed time periods. Although management does not believe these additional requirements will have a material financial impact on our operations, there can be no assurance that there will not be an interruption in operations to bring vessels into compliance with the applicable requirements and any such interruption could cause a decrease in charter revenues. Furthermore, additional security measures could be required in the future which could have a significant financial impact on us.

Taxation of the Partnership

United States Taxation

The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to us. This discussion is based upon provisions of the Code, final and temporary regulations thereunder (“Treasury Regulations”), and administrative rulings and court decisions, all as in effect currently and during our year ended December 31, 2017 and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. The following discussion is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to us.

Election to be Treated as a Corporation:  We have elected to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, we are subject to U.S. federal income tax on our income to the extent it is from U.S. sources or otherwise is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the Unites States as discussed below.

 

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Taxation of Operating Income:  Substantially all of our gross income is attributable to the transportation of drybulk and related products. For this purpose, gross income attributable to transportation (“Transportation Income”) includes income derived from, or in connection with, the use, the hiring for use, or the leasing for use (if any) of a vessel to transport cargo, or the performance of services directly related to the use of any vessel to transport cargo, and thus includes both time charter income and bareboat charter income (if any).

Transportation Income that is attributable to transportation that either begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end in the United States (“U.S. Source International Transportation Income”) is considered to be 50.0% derived from sources within the United States. Transportation Income attributable to transportation that both begins and ends in the United States (“U.S. Source Domestic Transportation Income”) is considered to be 100.0% derived from sources within the United States. Transportation Income attributable to transportation exclusively between non-U.S. destinations is considered to be 100.0% derived from sources outside the United States. Transportation Income derived from sources outside the United States generally is not subject to U.S. federal income tax.

We believe that we did not earn any U.S. Source Domestic Transportation Income for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and expect that we will not earn any such income for future years. However, certain of our activities gave rise to U.S. Source International Transportation Income, and future expansion of our operations could result in an increase in the amount of U.S. Source International Transportation Income, which generally would be subject to U.S. federal income taxation, unless the exemption from U.S. federal income taxation under Section 883 of the Code (the “Section 883 Exemption”) applied.

The Section  883 Exemption:  In general, the Section 883 Exemption provides that if a non-U.S. corporation satisfies the requirements of Section 883 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (the “Section 883 Regulations”), it will not be subject to the net basis and branch profit taxes or the 4.0% gross basis tax described below on its U.S. Source International Transportation Income. The Section 883 Exemption applies only to U.S. Source International Transportation Income and does not apply to U.S. Source Domestic Transportation Income. We qualify for the Section 883 Exemption if, among other matters, we meet the following three requirements:

 

    We are organized in a jurisdiction outside the United States that grants an equivalent exemption from tax to corporations organized in the United States with respect to the types of U.S. Source International Transportation Income that we earn (an “Equivalent Exemption”);

 

    We satisfy the Publicly Traded Test (as described below) or the Qualified Shareholder Stock Ownership Test (as described below); and

 

    We meet certain substantiation, reporting and other requirements.

We are organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The U.S. Treasury Department has recognized the Republic of the Marshall Islands as a jurisdiction that grants an Equivalent Exemption with respect to the type of income we have earned and are expected to earn. Consequently, our U.S. Source International Transportation Income (including for this purpose, any such income earned by our subsidiaries, that have elected to be disregarded as entities separate from us for U.S. federal income tax purposes) will be exempt from U.S. federal income taxation provided we meet the Publicly Traded Test or the Qualified Shareholder Stock Ownership Test and we satisfy certain substantiation, reporting and other requirements.

In order to meet the “Publicly Traded Test”, the equity interests in the non-U.S. corporation at issue must be “primarily traded” and “regularly traded” on an established securities market either in the United States or in a jurisdiction outside the United States that grants an Equivalent Exemption. The Section 883 Regulations generally provide, in pertinent part, that a class of equity interests in a non-U.S. corporation will be considered to be “primarily traded” on an established securities market in a given country if the number of units of such class that are traded during any taxable year on all established securities markets in that country exceeds the number of units in such class that are traded during that year on established securities markets in any other single country. Equity interests in a non-U.S. corporation will be considered to be “regularly traded” on an established securities market under the Section 883 Regulations provided one or more classes of such equity interests representing more than 50.0% of the aggregate vote and value of all of the outstanding equity interests in the non-U.S. corporation satisfy certain listing and trading volume requirements. These listing and trading volume requirements are satisfied with respect to a class of equity interests listed on an established securities market provided trades in such class are effected, other than in de minimis quantities, on such market on at least 60 days during the taxable year and the aggregate number of units in such class that are traded on such market or markets during the taxable year are at least 10% of the average number of units outstanding in that class during the taxable year (with special rules for short taxable years). In addition, a class of equity interests traded on an established securities market in the United States will be considered to satisfy the listing and trading volume requirements if the equity interests in such class are “regularly quoted by dealers making a market” in such class (within the meaning of the Section 883 Regulations). Notwithstanding these rules, a class of equity that would otherwise be treated as “regularly traded” on an established securities market will not be so treated if, for more than half of the number of days during the taxable year, one or more “5.0% unitholders” (i.e., unitholders owning, actually or constructively, at least 5.0% of the vote and value of that class) own in the aggregate 50.0% or more of the vote and value of that class (the “Closely Held Block Exception”), unless the corporation can establish that a sufficient proportion of such 5.0% unitholders are Qualified Shareholders (as defined below) so as to preclude other persons who are 5.0% unitholders from owning 50.0% or more of the value of that class for more than half the days during the taxable year.

 

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Because substantially all of our common units are and have been traded on the NYSE, which is considered to be an established securities market, our common units are and have been “primarily traded” on an established securities market for purposes of the Publicly Traded Test.

Further, although the matter is not free from doubt, based upon our expected cash flow and distributions on our outstanding equity interests, we believe that our common units represented more than 50.0% of the total value of all of our outstanding equity interests, and we believe that we satisfied the trading volume requirements described previously for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. We believe that we did not lose eligibility for the Section 883 Exemption as a result of the Closely Held Block Exception for such year, and consequently, we believe we satisfied the Publicly Traded Test for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

While there can be no assurance that we will continue to satisfy the requirements for the Publicly Traded Test in the future, and our board of directors could determine that it is in our best interests to take an action that would result in our not being able to satisfy the Publicly Traded Test, we presently expect, subject to the possibility that our common units may be delisted by a qualifying exchange, to continue to satisfy the requirements for the Publicly Traded Test and the Section 883 Exemption for future years. Please see below for a discussion of the consequences in the event we do not satisfy the Publicly Traded Test or otherwise fail to qualify for the Section 883 Exemption.

The Net Basis Tax and Branch Profits Tax: If we earn U.S. Source International Transportation Income and the Section 883 Exemption does not apply, the U.S. source portion of such income may be treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States (“Effectively Connected Income”) if we have a fixed place of business in the United States and substantially all of our U.S. Source International Transportation Income is attributable to regularly scheduled transportation or, in the case of bareboat charter income (if any), is attributable to a fixed place of business in the United States.

We believe that, for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, none of our U.S. Source International Transportation Income was attributable to regularly scheduled transportation or received pursuant to bareboat charters. As a result, we believe that none of our U.S. Source International Transportation Income for such year would be treated as Effectively Connected Income even in the event we did not qualify for the Section 883 Exemption. However, there is no assurance that we will not earn income pursuant to regularly scheduled transportation or bareboat charters attributable to a fixed place of business in the United States in the future, which would result in such income being treated as Effectively Connected Income. In addition, any U.S. Source Domestic Transportation Income may be treated as Effectively Connected Income. Any income we earn that is treated as Effectively Connected Income would be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax (presently imposed at a 21.0% rate) as well as 30.0% branch profits tax imposed under Section 884 of the Code. In addition, a 30.0% branch interest tax could be imposed on certain interest paid or deemed paid by us.

On the sale of a vessel that has produced Effectively Connected Income, we could be subject to the net basis corporate income tax as well as branch profits tax with respect to the gain recognized up to the amount of certain prior deductions for depreciation that reduced Effectively Connected Income. Otherwise, we would not be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to gain realized on the sale of a vessel, provided the gain is not attributable to an office or other fixed place of business maintained by us in the United States under U.S. federal income tax principles.

The 4.0% Gross Basis Tax:  If the Section 883 Exemption does not apply and the net basis tax does not apply, we would be subject to a 4.0% U.S. federal income tax on the U.S. source portion of our gross U.S. Source International Transportation Income, without benefit of deductions.

Marshall Islands Taxation

Based on the opinion of Reeder and Simpson, P.C., our counsel as to matters of the law of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, because we, our operating subsidiary and our controlled affiliates do not, and do not expect to, conduct business or operations in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, neither we nor our controlled affiliates will be subject to income, capital gains, profits or other taxation under current Marshall Islands law. As a result, distributions by our operating subsidiary and our controlled affiliates to us will not be subject to Marshall Islands taxation.

 

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Other Tax Jurisdictions

Certain of Navios Partners’ subsidiaries are incorporated in countries which impose taxes, such as Malta, however such taxes are immaterial to Navios Partners’ operations.

In accordance with the currently applicable Greek law, foreign flagged vessels that are managed by Greek or foreign ship management companies having established an office in Greece are subject to duties towards the Greek state which are calculated on the basis of the relevant vessel’s tonnage. The payment of said duties exhausts the tax liability of the foreign ship owning company and the relevant manager against any tax, duty, charge or contribution payable on income from the exploitation of the foreign flagged vessel.

C. Organizational Structure

Please read exhibit 8.1 to this Annual Report for a list of our significant subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017.

Affiliates included in the financial statements accounted for under the equity method:

In the consolidated financial statements of Navios Partners, Navios Europe Inc. (“Navios Europe I”), in which Navios Partners has an ownership interest of 5.0%, is included as an affiliate and is accounted for under the equity method, for such periods during which Navios Europe I was an affiliate of Navios Partners. As of December 31, 2017, Navios Partners had 0% voting interest in Navios Europe I.

In the consolidated financial statements of Navios Partners, Navios Europe (II) Inc. (“Navios Europe II”), in which Navios Partners has an ownership interest of 5.0%, is included as an affiliate and is accounted for under the equity method, for such periods during which Navios Europe II was an affiliate of Navios Partners. As of December 31, 2017, Navios Partners had 0% voting interest in Navios Europe II.

In the consolidated financial statements of Navios Partners, Navios Containers, in which Navios Partners has an ownership interest of 33.7% as of December 31, 2017, is included as an affiliate and is accounted for under the equity method, for such periods during which Navios Containers was an affiliate of Navios Partners.

D. Property, plants and equipment

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

Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable.

Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

Overview

We are an international owner and operator of dry cargo vessels, formed in August 2007 by Navios Holdings, a vertically integrated seaborne shipping and logistics company with over 60 years of operating history in the dry cargo shipping industry. We have been a public company since November 2007.

Equity Offerings and Issuances

On February 21, 2018, Navios Partners completed a registered direct offering of 18,422,000 common units at $1.90 per unit and raised gross proceeds of approximately $35.0 million, of which approximately $5.0 million was purchased by Navios Holdings. The net proceeds of this offering, including the placement agent fee and the estimated offering costs of $1.7 million in total, were approximately $33.3 million. Pursuant to this offering, Navios Partners issued 375,959 general partnership units to its general partner. The net proceeds from the issuance of the general partnership units were $0.7 million.

In December 2017, Navios Partners authorized the granting of 1,370,044 restricted common units, which were issued on January 11, 2018, to its directors and/or officers, which are based on service conditions only and vest over three years. The fair value of restricted units was determined by reference to the quoted stock price on the date of grant. Compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, is recognized when it is probable that the performance criteria will be met based on a graded expense model over the vesting period. Navios Partners also issued 27,960 general partnership units to its general partner for net proceeds of $0.06 million.

 

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On September 1, 2017 and as part of the acquisition agreement entered into between the Company and Rickmers Trust, Navios Partners authorized and issued 361,444 restricted common units and 7,376 general partnership units to its general partner for net proceeds of $0.6 million and $0.01 million, respectively. The fair value of restricted units was determined by reference to the quoted stock price on the date of grant. On September 25, 2017, the fair value of the restricted units described above amounted to $0.6 million and Navios Partners was compensated by Navios Containers in full amount. There were no restricted common units exercised, forfeited or expired during the year ended December 31, 2017. Restricted common units outstanding amounted to 361,444 units as of December 31, 2017.

On March 20, 2017, Navios Partners completed a public offering of 47,795,000 common units at $2.10 per unit and raised gross proceeds of approximately $100.4 million. The net proceeds of this offering, including the underwriting discount and the offering costs of $4.4 million in total, were approximately $96.0 million. Pursuant to this offering, Navios Partners issued 975,408 general partnership units to its general partner. The net proceeds from the issuance of the general partnership units were $2.0 million.

On March 17, 2017, Navios Holdings transferred to Navios Partners its rights to the fixed 12.7% interest on the Navios Europe I Navios Term Loans I and Navios Revolving Loans I (including the respective accrued receivable interest) for a total amount of $33.5 million for a cash consideration of $4.1 million and 13,076,923 newly issued common units of Navios Partners, with fair value net of costs at date of issuance of $28.9 million. Pursuant to this transaction, Navios Partners issued 266,876 general partnership units to its general partner for net cash proceeds of $0.5 million.

In December 2016, Navios Partners authorized the granting of 2,040,000 restricted common units, which were issued on January 31, 2017, to its directors and/or officers which are based on service conditions only and vest over three years. The fair value of restricted units was determined by reference to the quoted stock price on the date of grant. Compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, is recognized when it is probable that the performance criteria will be met based on a graded expense model over the vesting period. Navios Partners also issued 41,633 general partnership units to its general partner for net proceeds of $0.06 million. There were no restricted common units exercised, forfeited or expired during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. As of December 31, 2017, 686,665 restricted common units were vested.

On November 18, 2016, Navios Partners entered into a Continuous Offering Program Sales Agreement, which was further amended on June 2, 2017, pursuant to which Navios Partners may issue and sell from time to time through its agent common units representing limited partner interests having an aggregate offering price of up to $25.0 million. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, Navios Partners has issued 1,200,442 and 244,201 common units and received net proceeds of $2.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively, through the continuous offering program. Pursuant to the issuance of the common units, Navios Partners issued 24,498 and 4,984 general partnership units to its general partner in order to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the net proceeds from the issuance of such general partnership units were $0.05 million and $0.01 million, respectively.

On February 11, 2015, Navios Partners completed an equity offering, pursuant to which it issued 4,600,000 common units at $13.09 per unit and raised gross proceeds of $60.2 million (excluding the general partner contribution). Simultaneously, Navios Partners completed a private placement of 1,120,547 common units and 22,868 general partner units at $13.09 per unit to Navios Holdings, raising additional gross proceeds of $15.0 million.

As of April 3, 2018, there were outstanding: 167,589,764 common units and 3,420,203 general partnership units. Navios Holdings owns a 20.2% interest in Navios Partners, which includes the 2.0% general partner interest.

Please see “Item 4. — Information on the Partnership”.

Fleet Development

In March 2018, Navios Partners agreed to acquire from an unrelated third party, a 2005-built Panamax vessel of approximately 87,000 dwt, for a total purchase price of $12.98 million. The vessel is expected to be delivered to Navios Partners’ owned fleet within the second quarter of 2018.

In January 2018, Navios Partners agreed to acquire from an unrelated third party, two 2006-built Panamax vessels of approximately 74,500 dwt each, for a total purchase price of $22.0 million. The vessels are expected to be delivered to Navios Partners’ owned fleet within the second quarter of 2018. One of the vessels is chartered out for $9,375 net per day until May/November 2018 and the other vessel is chartered out for $9,844 net per day until March/August 2018.

 

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In November 2017, Navios Partners entered into a 10-year bareboat charter-in agreement for a Panamax vessel of approximately 81,000 dwt. Navios Partners has the option to acquire the vessel after the end of the fourth year. The vessel is expected to be delivered within the second half of 2019.

On December 21, 2017, Navios Partners completed the sale of the Navios Gemini S, a 1994-built Panamax vessel of 68,636 dwt. The vessel was sold to an unrelated third party for a net sale price of $4.1 million.

On September 20, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Symphony, a 2010-built Capesize vessel of 178,132 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $28.0 million.

On August 21, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Aster, a 2010 Hyundai-built Capesize vessel of 179,314 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $28.9 million.

On August 11, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from a related third party the Navios Christine B, a 2009 Tsuneishi Zhoushan-built Ultra-Handymax vessel of 58,058 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $14.0 million.

On July 17, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Sol, a 2009 Japanese-built Capesize vessel of 180,274 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $28.6 million.

On July 10, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Libertas, a 2007 South Korean-built Panamax vessel of 75,511 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $13.7 million.

On June 9, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Ace, a 2011 South Korean-built Capesize vessel of 179,016 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $31.4 million.

On June 7, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Prosperity I, a 2007 South Korean-built Panamax vessel of 75,527 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $13.7 million.

On April 21, 2017, Navios Partners completed the sale of the Navios Apollon, a 2000-built Ultra-Handymax vessel of 52,073 dwt. The vessel was sold to an unrelated third party for a net sale price of $4.8 million.

On January 12, 2017, Navios Partners completed the sale of the MSC Cristina, a 2011 South Korean-built Container vessel of 13,100 TEU. The vessel was sold to an unrelated third party for a net sale price of $125.0 million.

On December 30, 2016, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Beaufiks, a 2004 Japanese-built Capesize vessel of 180,310 dwt, for an acquisition cost of $15.3 million.

On April 22, 2015, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the MSC Cristina, a 2011 South Korean-built Container vessel of 13,100 TEU, for an acquisition cost of $147.8 million.

The historical results discussed below, and the historical financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report, present operating results of the fleet for the periods beginning from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017.

 

          Country of    Statements of Operations

Company name

   Vessel name    incorporation    2017    2016    2015

Libra Shipping Enterprises Corporation

   Navios Libra II    Marshall Is.    1/01  – 12/31    1/01  – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31

Alegria Shipping Corporation

   Navios Alegria    Marshall Is.    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31

Felicity Shipping Corporation

   Navios Felicity    Marshall Is.    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31

Gemini Shipping Corporation(****)

   Navios Gemini S    Marshall Is.    1/01 – 12/21    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31

Galaxy Shipping Corporation

   Navios Galaxy I    Marshall Is.    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31

Aurora Shipping Enterprises Ltd.

   Navios Hope    Marshall Is.    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31

Palermo Shipping S.A. (***)

   Navios Apollon    Marshall Is.    1/01 – 04/21    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31

Fantastiks Shipping Corporation

   Navios Fantastiks    Marshall Is.    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31

Sagittarius Shipping Corporation

   Navios Sagittarius    Marshall Is.    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31

Hyperion Enterprises Inc.

   Navios Hyperion    Marshall Is.    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31

Chilali Corp.

   Navios Aurora II    Marshall Is.    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31

Surf Maritime Co.

   Navios Pollux    Marshall Is.    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31

Pandora Marine Inc.

   Navios Melodia    Marshall Is.    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31

Customized Development S.A.

   Navios Fulvia    Liberia    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31

Kohylia Shipmanagement S.A.

   Navios Luz    Marshall Is.    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31    1/01 – 12/31

 

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            Country of
incorporation
     Statements of Operations  

Company name

   Vessel name         2017      2016      2015  

Orbiter Shipping Corp.

     Navios Orbiter        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Floral Marine Ltd.

     Navios Buena Ventura        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Golem Navigation Limited

     Navios Soleil        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Kymata Shipping Co.

     Navios Helios        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Joy Shipping Corporation

     Navios Joy        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Micaela Shipping Corporation

     Navios Harmony        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Pearl Shipping Corporation

     Navios Sun        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Velvet Shipping Corporation

     Navios La Paix        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Perigiali Navigation Limited

     Navios Beaufiks        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        12/30 – 12/31        —    

Finian Navigation Co.

     Navios Ace        Marshall Is.        6/09 – 12/31        —          —    

Ammos Shipping Corp.

     Navios Prosperity I        Marshall Is.        6/07 – 12/31        —          —    

Wave Shipping Corp.

     Navios Libertas        Marshall Is.        7/10 – 12/31        —          —    

Casual Shipholding Co.

     Navios Sol        Marshall Is.        7/17 – 12/31        —          —    

Avery Shipping Company

     Navios Symphony        Marshall Is.        9/20 – 12/31        —          —    

Coasters Ventures Ltd

     Navios Christine B        Marshall Is.        8/11 – 12/31        —          —    

Ianthe Maritime S.A.

     Navios Aster        Marshall Is.        8/21 – 12/31        —          —    

Rubina Shipping Corporation

     Hyundai Hongkong        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Topaz Shipping Corporation

     Hyundai Singapore        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Beryl Shipping Corporation

     Hyundai Tokyo        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Cheryl Shipping Corporation

     Hyundai Shanghai        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Christal Shipping Corporation

     Hyundai Busan        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Fairy Shipping Corporation

     YM Utmost        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Limestone Shipping Corporation

     YM Unity        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Dune Shipping Corp. (**)

     MSC Cristina        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 01/12        1/01 – 12/31        4/22 – 12/31  

Citrine Shipping Corporation

     —          Marshall Is.        —          —          —    

Cavalli Navigation Inc.

     —          Marshall Is.        —          —          —    

Cavos Navigation Co.

     —          Marshall Is.        —          —          —    

Seymour Trading Limited

     —          Marshall Is.        —          —          —    

Goldie Services Company

     —          Marshall Is.        —          —          —    

Olympia II Navigation Limited

     MOL Dominance        Marshall Is.        05/25 – 08/29        —          —    

Pingel Navigation Limited

     MOL Delight        Marshall Is.        05/25 – 08/29        —          —    

Ebba Navigation Limited

     MOL Destiny        Marshall Is.        05/25 – 08/29        —          —    

Clan Navigation Limited

     MOL Devotion        Marshall Is.        05/25 – 08/29        —          —    

Sui An Navigation Limited

     MOL Dedication        Marshall Is.        05/25 – 08/29        —          —    

Bertyl Ventures Co.

     Navios Azure        Marshall Is.        07/12 – 08/29        —          —    

Silvanus Marine Company

     Navios Summer        Marshall Is.        07/12 – 08/29        —          —    

Anthimar Marine Inc.

     Navios Amarillo        Marshall Is.        07/17 – 08/29        —          —    

Enplo Shipping Limited

     Navios Verde        Marshall Is.        07/17 – 08/29        —          —    

Morven Chartering Inc.

     Navios Verano        Marshall Is.        07/25 – 08/29        —          —    

Rodman Maritime Corp.

     Navios Spring        Marshall Is.        08/03 – 08/29        —          —    

Isolde Shipping Inc.

     Navios Indigo        Marshall Is.        08/03 – 08/29        —          —    

Velour Management Corp.

     Navios Vermilion        Marshall Is.        08/03 – 08/29        —          —    

Evian Shiptrade Ltd.

     Navios Amaranth        Marshall Is.        08/03 – 08/29        —          —    

Chartered-in vessels

              

Prosperity Shipping Corporation

     Navios Prosperity        Marshall Is.        —          —          1/01 – 03/05  

Aldebaran Shipping Corporation

     Navios Aldebaran        Marshall Is.        —          —          1/01 – 02/28  

Other

              

JTC Shipping and Trading Ltd (*)

     Holding Company        Malta        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Navios Maritime Partners L.P.

     N/A        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Navios Maritime Operating LLC

     N/A        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Navios Partners Finance (US) Inc.

     Co-Borrower        Delaware        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Navios Partners Europe Finance Inc.

     Sub-Holding Company        Marshall Is.        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31        1/01 – 12/31  

Navios Partners Containers Finance Inc.

     Sub-Holding Company        Marshall Is.        05/25 – 08/29        —          —    

Navios Partners Containers Inc.

     Sub-Holding Company        Marshall Is.        05/25 – 08/29        —          —    

Navios Maritime Containers Inc.

     Holding Company        Marshall Is.        04/28 – 08/29        —          —    

 

(*) Not a vessel-owning subsidiary and only holds right to charter-in contracts.
(**) The vessel was classified as held for sale as at December 31, 2016 and was sold on January 12, 2017.
(***) The vessel was sold on April 21, 2017.
(**** ) The vessel was sold on December 21, 2017.

 

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Our Charters

We generate revenues by charging our customers for the use of our vessels to transport their dry cargos. In general, the vessels in our fleet are chartered-out under time charters, which range in length from one to eleven years at inception. From time to time, we operate vessels in the spot market until the vessels have been chartered under long-term charters.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, our customers representing 10% or more of total revenues were HMM and Yang Ming, which accounted for approximately 26.8% and 12.0%, respectively, of total revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2016, Navios Partners’ customers representing 10% or more of total revenues were HMM, Yang Ming and Mediterranean Shipping Co. S.A., which accounted for approximately 29.6%, 13.0% and 11.6%, respectively, of total revenues. We believe that the combination of the long-term nature of our charters (which provide for the receipt of a fixed fee for the life of the charter) and our management agreement with the Manager, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navios Holdings (which provides for a fixed management fee until December 31, 2019), provides us with a strong base of stable cash flows.

Our revenues are driven by the number of vessels in the fleet, the number of days during which the vessels operate and our charter hire rates, which, in turn, are affected by a number of factors, including:

 

    the duration of the charters;

 

    the level of spot and long-term market rates at the time of charter;

 

    decisions relating to vessel acquisitions and disposals;

 

    the amount of time spent positioning vessels;

 

    the amount of time that vessels spend undergoing repairs and upgrades in drydock;

 

    the age, condition and specifications of the vessels; and

 

    the aggregate level of supply and demand in the dry cargo shipping industry.

Time charters are available for varying periods, ranging from a single trip (spot charter) to long-term which may be many years. In general, a long-term time charter assures the vessel owner of a consistent stream of revenue. Operating the vessel in the spot market affords the owner greater spot market opportunity, which may result in high rates when vessels are in high demand or low rates when vessel availability exceeds demand. We intend to operate our vessels in the long-term charter market. Vessel charter rates are affected by world economics, international events, weather conditions, strikes, governmental policies, supply and demand and many other factors that might be beyond our control.

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

 

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

 

    the customer exercises certain rights to terminate the charter of the vessel;

 

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

 

    a prolonged force majeure event affecting the customer, including damage to or destruction of relevant production facilities, war or political unrest prevents us from performing services for that customer.

Under some of our time charters, either party may terminate the charter contract in the event of war in specified countries or in locations that would significantly disrupt the free trade of the vessel. Some of the time charters covering our vessels require us to return to the charterer, upon the loss of the vessel, all advances paid by the charterer but not earned by us.

Vessel Operations

Under our charters, our vessel manager is generally responsible for commercial, technical, health and safety and other management services related to the vessels’ operation, and the charterer is responsible for bunkering and substantially all of the vessel voyage costs, including canal tolls and port charges.

Under the management agreement we entered into with the Manager, the Manager bears all of our vessel operating expenses in exchange for the payment of fees as described below. Under this agreement, the Manager is responsible for commercial, technical, health and safety and other management services related to the vessels’ operation, including chartering, technical support and

 

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maintenance, insurance but costs associated with special surveys and related drydockings will be reimbursed by Navios Partners at cost at occurrence. On November 14, 2017, Navios Partners extended the duration of its existing Management Agreement with the Manager until December 31, 2022 and the fixed rate for ship management services of its owned fleet through December 31, 2019, effective from January 1, 2018. The management fees, excluding drydocking expenses will be: (a) $4,225 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4,325 daily rate per Panamax vessel; (c) $5,250 daily rate per Capesize vessel; (d) $6,700 daily rate per Container vessel of TEU 6,800; (e) $7,400 daily rate per Container vessel of more than TEU 8,000; and (f) $8,750 daily rate per very large Containers vessel of more than TEU 13,000.

Extraordinary costs and expenses include fees and costs resulting from:

 

    time spent on insurance and salvage claims;

 

    time spent vetting and pre-vetting the vessels by any charterers in excess of 10 days per vessel per year;

 

    the deductible of any insurance claims relating to the vessels or for any claims that are within such deductible range;

 

    the significant increase in insurance premiums which are due to factors such as “acts of God” outside the control of the Manager;

 

    repairs, refurbishment or modifications, including those not covered by the guarantee of the shipbuilder or by the insurance covering the vessels, resulting from maritime accidents, collisions, other accidental damage or unforeseen events (except to the extent that such accidents, collisions, damage or events are due to the fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Manager, its employees or its agents, unless and to the extent otherwise covered by insurance);

 

    expenses imposed due to any improvement, upgrade or modification to, structural changes with respect to the installation of new equipment aboard any vessel that results from a change in, an introduction of new, or a change in the interpretation of, applicable laws, at the recommendation of the classification society for that vessel or otherwise;

 

    costs associated with increases in crew employment expenses resulting from an introduction of new, or a change in the interpretation of, applicable laws or resulting from the early termination of the charter of any vessel;

 

    any taxes, dues or fines imposed on the vessels or the Manager due to the operation of the vessels;

 

    expenses incurred in connection with the sale or acquisition of a vessel such as inspections and technical assistance; and

 

    any similar costs, liabilities and expenses that were not reasonably contemplated by us and the Manager as being encompassed by or a component of the fixed daily fees at the time the fixed daily fees were determined.

Payment of any extraordinary fees or expenses to the Manager could significantly increase our vessel operating expenses and impact our results of operations.

During the remaining term of the Management Agreement, we expect that we will reimburse the Manager for all of the actual operating costs and expenses it incurs in connection with the management of our fleet.

Administrative Services

Under the Administrative Services Agreement we entered into with the Manager, we reimburse the Manager for reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of the services under this agreement within 15 days after the Manager submits to us an invoice for such costs and expenses, together with any supporting detail that may be reasonably required. Under this agreement which expires in December 2022, the Manager provides significant administrative, financial and other support services to us.

Trends and Factors Affecting Our Future Results of Operations

We believe the principal factors that will affect our future results of operations are the economic, regulatory, political and governmental conditions that affect the shipping industry generally and that affect conditions in countries and markets in which our vessels engage in business. Other key factors that will be fundamental to our business, future financial condition and results of operations include:

 

    the demand for seaborne transportation services;

 

    the ability of Navios Holdings’ commercial and chartering operations to successfully employ our vessels at economically attractive rates, particularly as our fleet expands and our charters expire;

 

    the effective and efficient technical management of our vessels;

 

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    Navios Holdings’ ability to satisfy technical, health, safety and compliance standards of major commodity traders; and

 

    the strength of and growth in the number of our customer relationships, especially with major commodity traders.

In addition to the factors discussed above, we believe certain specific factors will impact our combined and consolidated results of operations. These factors include:

 

    the charter hire earned by our vessels under our charters;

 

    our access to capital required to acquire additional vessels and/or to implement our business strategy;

 

    our ability to sell vessels at prices we deem satisfactory;

 

    our level of debt and the related interest expense and amortization of principal; and

 

    the level of any distribution on our common units.

Please read “Risk Factors” for a discussion of certain risks inherent in our business.

A. Operating results

Year Ended December 31, 2017 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2016

The following table presents consolidated revenue and expense information for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. This information was derived from the audited consolidated revenue and expense accounts of Navios Partners for the respective periods.

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2017
(In thousands of
U.S dollars)
     Year Ended
December 31,
2016
(In thousands of
U.S dollars)
 

Time charter and voyage revenues (includes related party revenue of $0.7 million and $1.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively)

   $ 211,652      $ 190,524  

Time charter and voyage expenses

     (4,158      (5,673

Direct vessel expenses

     (7,172      (6,381

Management fees (entirely through related parties transactions)

     (67,310      (59,209

General and administrative expenses

     (17,163      (12,351

Depreciation and amortization

     (72,760      (92,370

Vessel impairment losses

     (32,677      (27,201

Loss on sale of securities

     —          (19,435

Interest expense and finance cost, net

     (38,225      (31,247

Interest income

     3,277        541  

Gain on change in control

     4,068        —    

Other income

     9,884        14,523  

Other expense

     (5,133      (4,270

Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies

     866        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (14,851    $ (52,549

Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest

   $ (239      —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Let loss attributable to Navios Partners unitholders

   $ (15,090    $ (52,549
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Time charter and voyage revenues: Time charter and voyage revenues from Navios Partners for the year ended December 31, 2017 increased by $8.8 million, or 4.6%, to $199.3 million, as compared to $190.5 million for the same period in 2016. The increase in time charter and voyage revenues was primarily due to the increase in revenue following the acquisition of the seven drybulk vessels in 2017 and one vessel in December 2016. The above increase was partially mitigated by: (i) the decrease in revenue due to the sale of the MSC Cristina and the Navios Apollon; and (ii) the decrease in TCE to $16,025 per day for the year ended December 31, 2017, from $16,364 per day for the year ended December 31, 2016. The available days of the fleet increased to 12,193 days for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to 11,296 days for the year ended December 31, 2016, mainly due to the increased fleet.

 

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Time charter and voyage revenues from Navios Containers for the period from April 28, 2017 (date of inception) to August 29, 2017 amounted to $12.4 million. Available days of the fleet were 627 days for the period from April 28, 2017 (date of inception) to August 29, 2017 and TCE for the period amounted to $19,338. There were no operations in the corresponding period in 2016.

Time charter and voyage expenses: Time charter and voyage expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017 decreased by $1.5 million, or 26.7%, to $4.2 million, as compared to $5.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease was mainly attributable to a: (i) $1.6 million decrease in bunkers expenses due to increased consumption resulted from the freight voyages in 2016 compared to 2017 when no freight voyages existed; and (ii) $0.1 million decrease in brokers’ commissions. The decrease was partially mitigated by a $0.2 million net increase in other voyage expenses.

Direct vessel expenses: Direct vessel expenses, comprising of the amortization of dry dock and special survey costs of certain vessels in our fleet, amounted to $7.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, out of which $6.7 million related to Navios Partners’ vessels and $0.5 million related to Navios Containers’ vessels. For the year ended December 31, 2016, direct vessel expenses of Navios Partners amounted to $6.4 million.

Management fees: Management fees for the year ended December 31, 2017, increased by $8.1 million, or 13.7%, to $67.3 million, as compared to $59.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase was mainly attributable to a: (i) $7.3 million in management fees paid to the Manager due to the increased number of owned vessels in Navios Partners’ fleet; (ii) $4.7 million management fees of Navios Containers for the period from April 28, 2017 (date of inception) to August 29, 2017; and (iii) $0.4 million management fees for the five Container vessels, first acquired by Navios Partners from Rickmers Trust. The increase was partially mitigated by $4.2 million decrease in management fees due to the sale of the MSC Cristina in January 2017, the Navios Apollon in April 2017 and the Navios Gemini S in December 2017.

Pursuant to the amended Management Agreement, in each of October 2013, August 2014, February 2015 and February 2016, the Manager, a wholly owned subsidiary of Navios Holdings, provided commercial and technical management services to Navios Partners’ vessels for a daily fee of: (a) $4,100 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4,200 daily rate per Panamax vessel; (c) $5,250 daily rate per Capesize vessel; (d) $6,700 daily rate per Container vessel of TEU 6,800; (e) $7,400 daily rate per Container vessel of more than TEU 8,000; and (f) $8,750 daily rate per very large Container vessel of more than TEU 13,000 through December 31, 2017. In November 2017, Navios Partners amended the existing management agreement with the Manager to fix the fees per shipmanagement services of its owned fleet at: (a) $4,225 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4,325 daily rate per Panamax vessel; (c) $5,250 daily rate per Capsize vessel; (d) $6,700 daily rate per Container vessel of TEU 6,800; (e) $7,400 daily rate per Container vessel of more than TEU 8,000; and (f) $8,750 daily rate per very large Container vessel of more than TEU 13,000 through December 31, 2019, effective from January 1, 2018. Drydocking expenses under this agreement are reimbursed by Navios Partners at cost at occurrence. Effective from August 31, 2016, Navios Partners could, upon request to Navios Holdings, partially or fully defer the reimbursement of dry docking and other extraordinary fees and expenses under the Management Agreement to a later date, but not later than January 5, 2018, and if reimbursed on a later date, such amounts would bear interest at a rate of 1% per annum over LIBOR.

Pursuant to a management agreement dated June 7, 2017, the Manager provides commercial and technical management services to Navios Containers’ vessels. The term of this agreement is for an initial period of five years with an automatic extension for successive one year periods thereafter unless a notice for termination is received by either party. The fee for the ship management services provided by the Manager is $6,100 daily rate for 4,250 TEU and 3,450 TEU container vessels. Drydocking expenses under this agreement are reimbursed by Navios Containers at cost.

General and administrative expenses:  General and administrative expenses increased by $4.8 million, or 39.0%, to $17.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $12.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase was mainly due to a: (i) $1.8 million increase in compensation to the directors and/ or officers of the Company (see also Note 10 - Accrued Expenses); (ii) $1.8 million related to equity compensation expense; (iii) $0.6 million increase in administrative fees paid to the Manager due to the increased number of vessels in Navios Partners’ fleet; and (iv) $0.7 million general and administrative expenses from Navios Containers for the period from April 28, 2017 (date of inception) to August 29, 2017. The above increase was partially mitigated by a $0.1 million decrease in legal and professional fees, as well as audit and recurring directors’ fees.

Pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement, the Manager also provides administrative services to Navios Partners, which include bookkeeping, audit and accounting services, legal and insurance services, administrative and clerical services, banking and financial services, advisory services, client and investor relations and other. The Manager is reimbursed for reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of these services. Navios Partners extended the duration of its existing Administrative Services Agreement with the Manager pursuant to the same terms, until December 31, 2022.

 

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Pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement dated June 7, 2017, the Manager also provides administrative services to Navios Containers, which include bookkeeping, audit and accounting services, legal and insurance services, administrative and clerical services, banking and financial services, advisory services, client and investor relations. The Manager is reimbursed for reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of these services. The term of this agreement is for an initial period of five years with an automatic extension for successive one year periods thereafter unless a notice for termination is received by either party.

For the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the expenses charged by the Manager for administrative fees (including Navios Containers administrative fees as of August 29, 2017) were $8.9 million and $7.8 million, respectively. The balance of $8.3 million and $4.6 million of general and administrative expenses, for the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, amounted $1.9 million related to equity compensation expense, $1.7 million related to legal and professional fees, $4.3 million related to audit fees as well as directors’ fees and compensation and $0.4 million related to other general and administrative expenses.

Depreciation and amortization: Depreciation and amortization amounted to $72.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $92.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease of $19.6 million was mainly attributable to a: (i) $20.5 million accelerated amortization and $3.5 million decrease in amortization of the Navios Luz and the Navios Buena Ventura favorable lease intangibles which were written off during the third quarter of 2016; and (ii) $3.2 million decrease in depreciation expense due to the sale of the MSC Cristina in January 2017, the Navios Apollon in April 2017 and the Navios Gemini S in December 2017. The above decrease was partially mitigated by a: (i) $4.8 million amortization expense of Navios Containers intangibles for the period from April 28, 2017 (date of inception) to August 29, 2017; (ii) $0.6 million increase in depreciation expense due to the delivery of the Navios Beaufiks in the fourth quarter of 2016; (iii) $1.0 million increase in depreciation expense due to the delivery of the Navios Prosperity I and the Navios Ace in the second quarter of 2017; (iv) $1.8 million increase in depreciation expense due to the delivery of the Navios Libertas, the Navios Sol, the Navios Christine B, the Navios Aster and the Navios Symphony in the third quarter of 2017; (v) $0.8 million increase in amortization of the intangibles for the five Container vessels, first acquired by Navios Partners from Rickmers Trust; and (vi) $0.1 million depreciation expense of the Navios Containers vessels for the period from April 28, 2017 (date of inception) to August 29, 2017. Depreciation of vessels is calculated using an estimated useful life of 25 and 30 years for drybulk and container vessels, respectively, from the date the vessel was originally delivered from the shipyard. Intangible assets are amortized over the contract periods, which range from one to ten years.

Vessel impairment losses: During the year ended December 31, 2017, Navios Partners recognized (i) an impairment loss of $30.3 million for one of its vessels; and (ii) an impairment loss of $2.4 million related to the sale of the Navios Gemini S which was completed on December 21, 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2016, Navios Partners recognized (i) an impairment loss of $17.2 million related to the sale of the MSC Cristina, which was held for sale as of December 31, 2016; and (ii) an impairment loss of $10.0 million related to the sale of the Navios Apollon which was completed on April 21, 2017 (see Note 7 — Vessels, net).

Loss on sale of securities: A loss of $19.4 million was recorded in relation to the loss on sale of the HMM securities as of December 31, 2016 (see Note 19 — Notes Receivable).

Interest expense and finance cost, net: Interest expense and finance cost, net for the year ended December 31, 2017 increased by $7.0 million, or 22.3%, to $38.2 million, as compared to $31.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase was mainly due to: (i) the increase in the Navios Partners’ weighted average interest rate of 5.76% for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to 4.67% for the same period in 2016; and (ii) $0.6 million interest expense and finance cost, net from Navios Containers. The increase was partially mitigated by the decrease of the Navios Partners’ average loan balance to $478.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to $558.1 million for the same period of 2016. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the outstanding loan balance under Navios Partners’ credit facilities was $499.8 million and $526.6 million, respectively.

Interest income: Interest income increased by $2.7 million to $3.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase of $2.7 million was mainly attributable to a: (i) $1.3 million increase of the interest income accrued under the loans granted to Navios Europe I and Navios Europe II; (ii) $0.2 million increase in 3.0% interest in relation to the HMM notes receivable (see Note 19 — Notes Receivable); (iii) $1.0 million increase in 6.0% interest in relation to the MSC Cristina note receivable (see Note 19 — Notes Receivable); and (iv) $0.2 million increase of the interest income accrued under the long-term note receivable from Navios Holdings in relation to the transfer of its rights on the Navios Europe I Navios Term Loans I and Navios Revolving Loans I to Navios Partners (see Note 18 — Transactions with related parties and affiliates).

 

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Gain on change in control: A gain on change in control amounted to $4.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 which is equal to the fair value of the Company’s investment in Navios Containers of $30.0 million (including the cash paid for retaining a 39.9%) less the Company’s 59.7% interest in Navios Containers’ net assets of approximately $43.5 million on August 29, 2017 (see Note 3 — Acquisition/Deconsolidation).

Other income: Other income for the year ended December 31, 2017 amounted to $9.9 million compared to $14.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease was mainly attributable to a: (i) $2.0 million decrease in relation to the claims submitted under the Navios Holdings Guarantee agreement; and (ii) $2.1 million gain on debt repayment in relation to the prepayment of the July 2012 Credit Facility on November 10, 2016.

Other expense: Other expense increased by $0.9 million to $5.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase of $0.9 million was mainly attributable to: (i) $1.5 million allowance for doubtful accounts; and (ii) $1.3 million loss related to the disposal of the MSC Cristina. The increase was partially mitigated by a $1.9 million decrease in other miscellaneous expenses.

Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies: Equity net earnings of affiliated companies amounted to $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. The amount of $0.9 million mainly consisted of: a (i) $0.1 million loss related to the investment in Navios Europe I; (ii) a $0.1 million income related to the investment in Navios Europe II; and (iii) a $0.9 million income related to the investment in Navios Containers.

Net loss: Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2017 amounted to $14.8 million compared to $52.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease in net loss of $37.7 million was due to the factors discussed above.

Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest amounted to $0.2 million for the period from April 28, 2017 (date of inception) to August 29, 2017.

Operating surplus: Navios Partners generated an Operating Surplus for the year ended December 31, 2017 of $92.6 million, as compared to $85.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. Operating Surplus is a non-GAAP financial measure used by certain investors to assist in evaluating a partnership’s ability to make quarterly cash distributions (See “Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Cash from Operating Activities, EBITDA and Operating Surplus” contained herein).

Seasonality:  Since Navios Partners’ vessels generally operate under long-term charters, the results of operations are not generally subject to the effect of seasonable variations in demand.

Year Ended December 31, 2016 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2015

The following table presents consolidated revenue and expense information for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. This information was derived from the audited consolidated revenue and expense accounts of Navios Partners for the respective periods.

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2016
(In thousands of
U.S dollars)
     Year Ended
December 31,
2015
(In thousands of
U.S dollars)
 

Time charter and voyage revenues (includes related party revenue of $1.9 million and $38.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively)

   $ 190,524      $ 223,676  

Time charter and voyage expenses

     (5,673      (7,199

Direct vessel expenses

     (6,381      (4,043

Management fees (entirely through related parties transactions)

     (59,209      (56,504

General and administrative expenses

     (12,351      (7,931

Depreciation and amortization

     (92,370      (75,933

Vessel impairment losses

     (27,201      —    

Loss on sale of securities

     (19,435      —    

Interest expense and finance cost, net

     (31,247      (31,720

Interest income

     541        222  

Other income

     14,523        5,232  

Other expense

     (4,270      (3,995
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net (loss)/ income

   $ (52,549    $ 41,805  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Time charter and voyage revenues: Time charter and voyage revenues for the year ended December 31, 2016 decreased by $33.2 million, or 14.8%, to $190.5 million, as compared to $223.7 million for the same period in 2015. The decrease in time charter and voyage revenues was primarily due to the decline in the freight market during 2016, as compared to the same period in 2015, and was partially mitigated by an increase in revenue due to the delivery of the MSC Cristina in April 2015. As a result of the vessel acquisition, available days of the fleet increased to 11,296 days for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to 11,051 days for the year ended December 31, 2015. Time Charter Equivalent rate per day (“TCE”) decreased to $16,364 per day for the year ended December 31, 2016, from $19,739 per day for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Time charter and voyage expenses: Time charter and voyage expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 decreased by $1.5 million, or 21.2%, to $5.7 million, as compared to $7.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The decrease was mainly attributable to the termination of the charter-in contracts of the Navios Prosperity and the Navios Aldebaran in the first quarter of 2015. On February 11, 2015, Navios Partners and Navios Holdings entered into a novation agreement whereby the rights to the time charter contracts of the Navios Aldebaran and the Navios Prosperity were transferred to Navios Holdings as of February 28, 2015 and March 5, 2015, respectively.

Direct vessel expenses: Direct vessel expenses, comprising of the amortization of dry dock and special survey costs, of certain vessels in our fleet amounted to $6.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to $4.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Management fees: Management fees for the year ended December 31, 2016, increased by $2.7 million, or 4.8%, to $59.2 million, as compared to $56.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase was mainly attributable to the increased daily management fee and the delivery of the MSC Cristina during the second quarter of 2015.

General and administrative expenses:  General and administrative expenses increased by $4.4 million, or 55.7%, to $12.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to $7.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase was mainly attributable to the increase in administrative fees paid to the Manager due to the delivery of the MSC Cristina in April 2015 and the increase in legal and professional fees, as well as audit fees and directors’ fees.

For the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the expenses charged by the Manager for administrative fees were $7.8 million and $6.2 million, respectively. The balance of $4.6 million and $1.7 million of general and administrative expenses, for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to legal and professional fees, as well as audit fees and directors’ fees.

Depreciation and amortization: Depreciation and amortization amounted to $92.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to $75.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase of $16.4 million was attributable to a $20.5 million accelerated amortization of the Navios Luz and the Navios Buena Ventura favorable lease intangibles due to change in their useful life. The above increase was partially mitigated by a: (i) $1.2 million decrease in depreciation expense due to the committed sale of the MSC Cristina in the second quarter of 2016; (ii) $1.5 million decrease in amortization of the intangible for the Navios Luz and the Navios Buena Ventura which were written off during the third quarter of 2016; and (iii) $1.4 million decrease in amortization of the intangibles mainly due to the Navios Fulvia which was written off during the third quarter of 2015. Depreciation of vessels is calculated using an estimated useful life of 25 and 30 years for drybulk and container vessels, respectively, from the date the vessel was originally delivered from the shipyard. Intangible assets are amortized over the contract periods, which range from one to ten years.

Vessel impairment losses: An impairment loss of $17.2 million was recorded in relation to the MSC Cristina, which was held for sale as of December 31, 2016. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had a current expectation that, more likely than not, the Navios Apollon would be sold before the end of its previously estimated useful life, and as a result performed an impairment test of the specific asset group and recorded an impairment loss of $10.0 million. There was no vessel impairment loss for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Loss on sale of securities: A loss of $19.4 million was recorded in relation to the loss on sale of the HMM securities as of December 31, 2016 (see Note 19 — Notes Receivable). There was no loss on sale of securities for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Interest expense and finance cost, net: Interest expense and finance cost, net for the year ended December 31, 2016 decreased by $0.5 million, or 1.5%, to $31.2 million, as compared to $31.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The decrease was mainly due to the decrease in the average outstanding loan balance to $558.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to $605.4 million for the same period in 2015. The decrease was partially mitigated by the higher weighted average interest rate of 4.67% for the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to 4.44% for the same period in 2015. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the outstanding loan balance under Navios Partners’ credit facilities was $526.6 million and $603.4 million, respectively.

 

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Interest income: Interest income increased by $0.3 million to $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Other income: Other income for the year ended December 31, 2016 amounted to $14.5 million compared to $5.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase was mainly attributable to the $9.6 million relating to claims submitted under the Navios Holdings Guarantee agreement.

Other expense: Other expense increased by $0.3 million to $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to $4.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Net (loss)/ income: Net (loss)/ income for the year ended December 31, 2016 amounted to $(52.5) million compared to $41.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The decrease in net income of $94.4 million was due to the factors discussed above.

Operating surplus: Navios Partners generated an Operating Surplus for the year ended December 31, 2016 of $85.0 million, as compared to $112.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. Operating Surplus is a non-GAAP financial measure used by certain investors to assist in evaluating a partnership’s ability to make quarterly cash distributions (See “Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Cash from Operating Activities, EBITDA and Operating Surplus” contained herein).

Seasonality:  Since Navios Partners’ vessels generally operate under long-term charters, the results of operations are not generally subject to the effect of seasonable variations in demand.

B. Liquidity and Capital Resources

Credit facilities

As December 31, 2017, the total borrowings, net under the Navios Partners’ credit facilities were $493.5 million.

Term Loan B Credit Facility: In June 2013, Navios Partners completed the issuance of the $250.0 million Term Loan B Credit Facility. On October 31, 2013 and November 1, 2013, Navios Partners completed the issuance of a $189.5 million add-on to its existing Term Loan B Credit Facility.

During 2015 and 2016, Navios Partners prepaid $21.0 million and $25.0 million, respectively, of the Term Loan B Credit Facility. These prepayments were fully applied to the balloon payment. Following the prepayment of March 2015 and May 2016, an amount of $0.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively, was written-off from the deferred finance fees.

On March 14, 2017, Navios Partners completed the issuance of a new $405.0 million Term Loan B Credit Facility. The new Term Loan B Credit Facility bears an interest rate of LIBOR plus 500 bps, it is set to mature on September 14, 2020 and is repayable in equal quarterly installments of 1.25% of the initial principal amount. Navios Partners used the net proceeds of the Term Loan B Credit Facility to: (i) refinance the existing Term Loan B; and (ii) pay fees and expenses related to the Term Loan B. Following the refinancing of the Term Loan B Credit Facility, an amount of $1.9 million and $1.3 million was written-off from the deferred finance fees and discount, respectively. On August 10, 2017, Navios Partners completed the issuance of a $53.0 million add-on to its existing Term Loan B Credit Facility. The add-on to the Term Loan B Credit Facility bore the same terms as the Term Loan B Credit Facility. Navios Partners used the net proceeds to partially finance the acquisition of three vessels.

The Term Loan B Credit Facility is secured by first priority mortgages covering certain vessels owned by subsidiaries of Navios Partners, in addition to other collateral and is guaranteed by each subsidiary of Navios Partners.

The Term Loan B Agreement requires maintenance of a loan to value ratio of 0.8 to 1.0, and other restrictive covenants customary for facilities of this type (subject to negotiated exceptions and baskets), including restrictions on indebtedness, liens, acquisitions and investments, restricted payments and dispositions. The Term Loan B Agreement also provides for customary events of default, prepayment and cure provisions.

As of December 31, 2017, the outstanding balance of the Term Loan B Credit Facility was $430.6 million, net of discount of $10.8 million, and is repayable in 10 quarterly installments of $5.7 million with a final payment of $384.1 million on the last repayment date. The final maturity date is September 14, 2020.

 

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ABN AMRO Credit Facility: On June 23, 2016, Navios Partners entered into the “June 2016 Credit Facility” of up to $30.0 million to be used for the general corporate purposes of the Borrower. The June 2016 Credit Facility bore interest at LIBOR plus 400 bps per annum. The final maturity date was January 30, 2017. On January 12, 2017, Navios Partners fully repaid the June 2016 Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2017, there was no outstanding amount under this facility.

BNP Credit Facility: On June 26, 2017, Navios Partners entered into a new credit facility with BNP PARIBAS (the “BNP Credit Facility”) of up to $32.0 million (divided into two tranches) in order to finance a portion of the purchase price payable in connection with the acquisition of the Navios Ace and the Navios Sol. On June 28, 2017, the first tranche of BNP Credit Facility of $17.0 million was drawn. The first tranche is repayable in 14 equal consecutive quarterly installments of $0.4 million each, with a final balloon payment of $10.8 million to be repaid on the last repayment date. On July 18, 2017, the second tranche of BNP Credit Facility of $15.0 million was drawn. The second tranche is repayable in 15 equal consecutive installments of $0.4 million each, with a final balloon payment of $8.3 million to be repaid on the last repayment date. The first and second tranche of the facility mature in the second and third quarter of 2021, respectively and bear interest at LIBOR plus 300 bps per annum. As of December 31, 2017, the outstanding balance of the BNP Credit Facility was $30.8 million.

Commerzbank/DVB Credit Facility: On January 8, 2016, Navios Partners prepaid the 2016 installments in the amount of $16.2 million of the Commerzbank/DVB Credit Facility (the “July 2012 Credit Facility”). On November 10, 2016, Navios Partners prepaid $28.1 million in cash for the settlement of a nominal amount of $30.2 million of the July 2012 Credit facility achieving a $2.1 million gain on debt repayment. The prepayments of 2016 of this facility were accounted for as debt modification in accordance with ASC470 Debt . Following these prepayments, an amount of $0.2 million was written-off from the deferred finance fees.

On June 28, 2017, Navios Partners entered into a new credit facility with DVB Bank S.E. (the “DVB Credit Facility”) of up to $39.0 million (divided into four tranches) in order to refinance the existing July 2012 Credit Facility and an additional amount of $7.0 million to partially finance the acquisition of the Navios Prosperity I. The facility matures the third and second quarter of 2020 and bears interest at LIBOR plus 310 bps per annum. The amounts of $7.0 million and $32.0 million were drawn on June 30, 2017 and November 3, 2017, respectively. The three of the four tranches (total $32.0 million) are repayable in 12 quarterly installments of between approximately $1.1 million and $1.5 million each, with a final balloon payment of $16.5 million to be repaid on the last repayment date. The fourth tranche is repayable in three equal consecutive quarterly installments of $0.33 million each and seven equal consecutive installments of $0.25 million each, with a final balloon of $3.6 million to be repaid on the last repayment date. As of December 31, 2017, the outstanding balance of the DVB Credit Facility was $38.4 million.

HSH Credit Facility: On April 16, 2015, Navios Partners, through certain of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, entered into a term loan facility agreement of up to $164.0 million (divided into two tranches) with HSH Nordbank AG (the “April 2015 Credit Facility”), in order to finance a portion of the purchase price payable in connection with the acquisition of the MSC Cristina and one more super-postpanamax 13,100 TEU container vessel. On September 30, 2015, the second tranche of April 2015 Credit Facility of $83.0 million was cancelled. The final maturity date was April 20, 2022. On January 12, 2017, Navios Partners fully repaid the April 2015 Credit Facility. Following the repayment, an amount of $0.5 million was written-off from the deferred finance fees. As of December 31, 2017, there was no outstanding amount under this facility.

Nordea/Skandinaviska Enskilda/NIBC Credit Facility: On March 26, 2018, Navios Partners entered into a new credit facility with Nordea Bank AB, Skandinaviska Enskilda BanKen AB and NIBC Bank N.V. (the “March 2018 Credit Facility”) of up to $14.3 million (divided into two tranches) in order to finance a portion of the purchase price payable in connection with the acquisition of the two Panamax vessels. The facility matures in the second quarter of 2023 and bears interest at LIBOR plus 300 bps per annum.

The Navios Holdings Credit Facility: In May 2015, Navios Partners entered into a term loan facility with Navios Holdings of up to $60.0 million (the “Navios Holdings Credit Facility”). The Navios Holdings Credit Facility bore interest at LIBOR plus 300 bps. The final maturity date was January 2, 2017. In April 2016, the Company drew down $21.0 million from Navios Holdings Credit Facility, which was fully repaid during April 2016. Following this prepayment, an amount of $0.6 million was written off from the deferred finance fees. As of December 31, 2017, there was no outstanding amount under this facility (see Note 18 — Transactions with related parties and affiliates).

Amounts drawn under the credit facilities are secured by first preferred mortgages on certain Navios Partners’ vessels and other collateral and are guaranteed by the respective vessel-owning subsidiaries. The Credit Facilities contain a number of restrictive covenants that prohibit or limit Navios Partners from, among other things: incurring or guaranteeing indebtedness; entering into affiliate transactions; charging, pledging or encumbering the vessels; changing the flag, class, management or ownership of Navios Partners’ vessels; changing the commercial and technical management of Navios Partners’ vessels; selling or changing the beneficial ownership or control of Navios Partners’ vessels; not maintaining Navios Holdings’ (or its affiliates) ownership in Navios Partners of at least 15.0%; and subordinating the obligations under the credit facilities to any general and administrative costs relating to the vessels, including the fixed daily fee payable under the management agreement.

 

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The Credit Facilities require compliance with a number of financial covenants, including: (i) maintain a required security amount ranging over 120% to 140%; (ii) minimum free consolidated liquidity in an amount equal to at least $650 per owned vessel; (iii) maintain a ratio of EBITDA to interest expense of at least 2.00:1.00; (iv) maintain a ratio of total liabilities or total debt to total assets (as defined in our credit facilities) ranging of less than 0.75; and (v) maintain a minimum net worth to $135.0 million.

It is an event of default under the credit facilities if such covenants are not complied with in accordance with the terms and subject to the prepayment or cure provision of the facility.

As of December 31, 2017, Navios Partners was in compliance with the financial covenants and/or the prepayment and/or the cure provisions as applicable in each of its credit facilities.

The credit facilities prohibit us from paying distributions to our unitholders or making new investments if, before and after giving effect to such distribution or investment we are not in compliance with the financial covenants described above or upon the occurrence of an event of default. Events of default under our credit facilities include:

 

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

 

    breach of certain undertakings, negative covenants and financial covenants contained in the credit facilities, any related security document or guarantee, including failure to maintain unencumbered title to any of the vessel-owning subsidiaries or any of the assets of the vessel-owning subsidiaries and failure to maintain proper insurance and in some cases subject to certain grace and due periods;

 

    default under other indebtedness;

 

    any representation, warranty or statement made by us in the credit facilities or any drawdown notice thereunder or related security document or guarantee is untrue or misleading when made;

 

    any of our or our subsidiaries’ assets are subject to any form of execution, attachment, arrest, sequestration or distress in that is not discharged within a specified period of time;

 

    an event of insolvency or bankruptcy;

 

    a material adverse change in the financial position or prospects of us or our General Partner;

 

    unlawfulness, non-effectiveness or repudiation of any material provision of our credit facilities, of any of the related finance and guarantee documents;

 

    failure of effectiveness of security documents or guarantee;

 

    instability affecting a country where the vessels are flagged; and

 

    failure of Navios Holdings or its affiliates (as defined in the credit facilities agreements) to own at least 15% of us.

Liquidity and Cash Sources and Uses

In addition to distributions on our units, our primary short-term liquidity needs are to fund general working capital requirements, cash reserve requirements including those under our credit facilities and debt service, while our long-term liquidity needs primarily relate to expansion and investment capital expenditures and other maintenance capital expenditures and debt repayment. Expansion capital expenditures are primarily for the purchase or construction of vessels to the extent the expenditures increase the operating capacity of or revenue generated by our fleet, while maintenance capital expenditures primarily consist of drydocking expenditures and expenditures to replace vessels in order to maintain the operating capacity of or revenue generated by our fleet. Investment capital expenditures are those capital expenditures that are neither maintenance capital expenditures nor expansion capital expenditures.

We anticipate that our primary sources of funds for our short-term liquidity needs will be cash flows from our equity offerings, operations, proceeds from asset sales, long term bank borrowings and other debt raisings. As of December 31, 2017, Navios Partners’ current assets totaled $60.3 million, while current liabilities totaled $54.2 million, resulting in a positive working capital position of $6.1 million. Generally, our long-term sources of funds derive from cash from operations, long-term bank borrowings and other debt or equity financings to fund acquisitions and expansion and investment capital expenditures, including opportunities we may pursue under the Omnibus Agreement. We cannot assure you that we will be able to raise the size of our credit facilities or obtaining additional funds on favorable terms.

Cash deposits and cash equivalents in excess of amounts covered by government provided insurance are exposed to loss in the event of non-performance by financial institutions. Navios Partners does maintain cash deposits and equivalents in excess of government provided insurance limits. Navios Partners also minimizes exposure to credit risk by dealing with a diversified group of major financial institutions.

Navios Partners’ cash forecast indicates that it will generate sufficient cash to make the required principal and interest payments on its indebtedness, provide for the normal working capital requirements of the business and remain in a positive working capital position through twelve months from April 4, 2018.

 

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Please See “Item 4.A — History and Development of the Partnership” for further discussion of Navios Partners’ Liquidity, Cash Sources and Uses.

Cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year ended December 31, 2016:

The following table presents cash flow information for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. This information was derived from the audited consolidated statements of cash flows of Navios Partners for the respective periods.

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2017
     Year Ended
December 31,
2016
 
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 53,934      $ 56,527  

Net cash (used in)/ provided by investing activities

     (187,211      5,051  

Net cash provided by/ (used in) financing activities

     139,964        (70,968
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Increase/ (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

   $ 6,687      $ (9,390
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2016:

Net cash provided by operating activities decreased by $2.6 million to $53.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $56.5 million for the same period in 2016.

Net loss decreased by $37.7 million to a net loss of $14.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, from a net loss of $52.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. In determining net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2017, net loss was adjusted for the effects of certain non-cash items, including $72.8 million depreciation and amortization, $32.7 million impairment loss for two of our vessels, $12.5 million non-cash accrued interest income and amortization of deferred revenue, $0.2 million non-cash interest income from receivable from affiliates, $9.7 million amortization and write-off of deferred finance costs and discount, $6.7 million amortization of deferred drydock and special survey costs, $0.9 million equity in net earnings of affiliated companies, $1.9 million equity compensation expense, $1.5 million allowance for doubtful accounts, $1.3 million loss related to the disposal of the MSC Cristina and $4.1 million gain on change in control. For the year ended December 31, 2016, net loss was adjusted for the effects of certain non-cash items, including $92.4 million depreciation and amortization, $17.2 million impairment loss in relation to the committed sale of the MSC Cristina held for sale, $10.0 million impairment loss on the sale of the Navios Apollon, $19.4 million loss in relation to the sale of the HMM securities, $2.1 million non-cash gain on debt repayment, $5.7 million non-cash accrued interest income and amortization of deferred revenue, $4.0 million amortization and write-off of deferred finance costs, $6.4 million amortization of deferred drydock and special survey costs, $0.1 million equity in net earnings of affiliated companies and $0.1 million equity compensation expense.

Accounts payable increased by $1.6 million. The amount consisted of $0.1 million from Navios Partners and $1.5 million from Navios Containers. The increase was mainly attributable to an increase in legal and professional payables by $0.8 million, an increase in brokers’ payable by $0.4 million and an increase in other payables by $0.4 million.

Accrued expenses increased by $6.6 million. The amount consisted of $5.6 million from Navios Partners and $1.0 million from Navios Containers. The increase was mainly attributable to an increase in accrued legal and professional fees by $2.7 million, an increase in accrued loan interest by $1.7 million and an increase in accrued voyage expenses by $2.3 million.

Deferred revenue primarily related to cash received from charterers prior to it being earned decreased by $2.2 million. Deferred revenue, net of commissions related to Navios Partners decreased by $1.9 million while deferred revenue, net of commissions related to Navios Containers decreased by $0.3 million.

Amounts due to related parties decreased by $11.1 million, from $11.1 million at December 31, 2016 to $0 at December 31, 2017. The decrease was mainly due to payments for drydock and special survey costs payable as of December 31, 2016.

Amounts due from related parties consisted of management fees and drydocking expenses prepaid to Navios Holdings in accordance with the Management and Administrative service agreements and the Navios Holdings Guarantee of up to $20.0 million. Amounts due from related parties increased by $26.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2017. The increase related to Navios Partners amounted to $26.4 million, which was partially mitigated by a decrease of $0.3 million from Navios Containers.

 

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Payments for drydock and special survey costs incurred for certain vessels of the fleet at December 31, 2017 were $3.3 million. There were no such costs at December 31, 2016.

Cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the cash provided by investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2016:

Net cash used in investing activities increased by $192.3 million to $187.2 million outflow for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $5.1 million inflow for the same period in 2016.

Cash used in investing activities of $187.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 was mainly due to: (i) a $158.2 million acquisition of the seven drybulk vessels in 2017; (ii) a $115.9 million acquisition of the 14 Container vessels from Rickmers Trust, net of cash; (iii) a $19.8 million decrease in cash balance representing the cash held by Navios Containers on the date of the deconsolidation; (iv) a $10.0 million investment in Navios Containers on November 9, 2017; (v) an $8.5 million loan granted to Navios Europe II and a $0.5 million loan granted to Navios Europe I; (vi) a $4.1 million payment for the transfer to Navios Partners the rights of Navios Holdings on the Navios Europe I Navios Term Loans I and Navios Revolving Loans I; and (vii) a $2.8 million deposit for the acquisition of a bulk carrier vessel expected to be delivered within the second half of 2019. The above decrease was partially mitigated by: (i) $113.8 million of proceeds from the sale of the MSC Cristina, the Navios Apollon and the Navios Gemini S; (ii) $14.0 million of proceeds from Navios Containers in relation to the seller’s credit; and (iii) $4.7 million of proceeds from the note receivable related to the sale of the MSC Cristina.

Cash provided by investing activities of $5.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 was mainly due to: (i) $20.8 million of proceeds from the sale of the HMM securities; (ii) $15.3 million paid for the acquisition of the Navios Beaufiks, which was delivered in December 2016; and (iii) a $0.5 million loan granted to Navios Europe II.

Cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2016:

Net cash provided by financing activities increased by $210.9 million to $140.0 million inflow for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $71.0 million outflow for the same period in 2016.

Cash provided by financing activities of $140.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 was due to: (i) $514.7 million of proceeds from the new Term Loan B Credit Facility including the add-on, net of discount and the new credit facilities; (ii) $98.0 million of proceeds from the issuance of 47,795,000 common units and 975,408 additional general partner units, net of offering costs, related to the public offering in March 2017; (iii) $2.3 million of proceeds from the issuance of 1,200,442 common units and 24,498 additional general partner units related to the Continuous Offering Program Sales Agreement; (iv) $0.5 million of proceeds from the issuance of 266,876 additional general partner units relating to the transfer of Navios Europe I Loans; (v) $0.6 million of proceeds from the issuance of 361,444 restricted common units and 12,244 additional general partner units related to the acquisition of the vessels from Rickmers Trust; (vi) a $1.4 million decrease in restricted cash related to the amounts held in retention accounts in order to service debt payments, as required by Navios Partners’ credit facilities; (vii) proceeds of $60.1 million from the credit facilities of Navios Containers, net of discount; and (viii) $17.3 million of proceeds from noncontrolling interest. This overall increase was partially offset by: (i) loan repayments of $546.5 million; (ii) payment of $7.8 million of deferred finance fees related to the refinancing of the Term Loan B Credit Facility and the new credit facilities; and (iii) a $0.7 million issuance cost relating to the transfer of Navios Europe I Loans.

Cash used in financing activities of $71.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 was due to: (i) loan repayments of $104.6 million; and (ii) a payment of $1.1 million of deferred financing costs relating to the June 2016 Credit Facility and the Navios Holdings Credit Facility. This overall decrease was partially offset by: (i) proceeds of $29.0 million on June 23, 2016, under the June 2016 Credit Facility; (ii) a $5.3 million decrease in restricted cash related to the amounts held in retention accounts in order to service debt payments, as required by Navios Partners’ credit facilities; and (iii) $0.4 million of proceeds from the issuance of 244,201 common units and additional general partner units in November 2016, net of offering costs.

Cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the year ended December 31, 2015:

The following table presents cash flow information for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. This information was derived from the audited consolidated statement of cash flows of Navios Partners for the respective periods.

 

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     Year Ended
December 31,
2016
     Year Ended
December 31,
2015
 
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 56,527      $ 123,276  

Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities

     5,051        (149,301

Net cash used in financing activities

     (70,968      (46,720
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

   $ (9,390    $ (72,745
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015:

Net cash provided by operating activities decreased by $66.7 million to $56.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to $123.3 million for the same period in 2015.

Net (loss)/ income decreased by $94.4 million to a net loss of $52.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, from a net income of $41.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. In determining net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2016, net loss was adjusted for the effects of certain non-cash items, including $92.4 million depreciation and amortization, $19.4 million loss in relation to the sale of the HMM securities, $17.2 million impairment loss in relation to the committed sale of the MSC Cristina held for sale, $10.0 million impairment loss on the sale of the Navios Apollon, $6.4 million amortization of deferred drydock and special survey costs, $5.7 million non-cash accrued interest income and amortization of deferred revenue, $4.0 million amortization and write-off of deferred finance costs, $2.1 million non-cash gain on debt repayment and $0.1 million equity compensation expense. For the year ended December 31, 2015, net income was adjusted for the effects of certain non-cash items, including $75.9 million depreciation and amortization, $3.7 million amortization and write-off of deferred financing costs and $4.0 million amortization of deferred drydock and special survey costs.

Accounts receivable increased by $6.0 million, from $4.0 million at December 31, 2015, to $10.0 million at December 31, 2016 due to the increase in amounts due from charterers.

Accounts payable increased by $0.6 million, from $2.7 million at December 31, 2015, to $3.3 million at December 31, 2016.

Accrued expenses increased by $1.9 million from $2.5 million at December 31, 2015, to $4.4 million at December 31, 2016. The increase was mainly due to an increase in accrued legal and professional fees of $2.0 million and an increase in accrued voyage expenses of $0.1 million. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in accrued loan interest of $0.2 million.

Deferred revenue primarily relates to cash received from charterers prior to it being earned. Deferred revenue, net of commissions decreased by $1.0 million from $6.1 million at December 31, 2015, to $5.1 million at December 31, 2016.

Amounts due to related parties amounted to $11.1 million as of December 31, 2016 and $8.7 million as of December 31, 2015. The balance mainly consisted of drydock and special survey expenses.

Amounts due from related parties amounted to $19.6 million as of December 31, 2016 and $0 as of December 31, 2015. The balance mainly consisted of management fees and other receivables.

Payments for drydock and special survey costs incurred at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were $0 and $13.5 million, respectively, and related to drydock and special survey costs incurred for certain vessels of the fleet.

Cash provided by/ (used in) investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015:

Net cash provided by investing activities increased by $154.4 million to $5.1 million inflow for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to $149.3 million outflow for the same period in 2015.

Cash provided by investing activities of $5.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 was mainly due to: (i) $20.8 million of proceeds from the sale of the HMM securities; (ii) $15.3 million paid for the acquisition of the Navios Beaufiks, which was delivered in December 2016; and (iii) $0.5 million loan granted to Navios Europe II.

 

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Cash used in investing activities of $149.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 was due to: (i) $147.8 million paid for the acquisition of the MSC Cristina, which was delivered in April 2015; (ii) $0.8 million loan granted to Navios Europe II; and (iii) $0.7 million used for investment in Navios Europe II.

Cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2015:

Net cash used in financing activities increased by $24.2 million to $71.0 million outflow for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to $46.7 million outflow for the same period in 2015.

Cash used in financing activities of $71.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 was due to: (i) loan repayments of $104.6 million; and (ii) a payment of $1.1 million of deferred financing costs relating to the June 2016 Credit Facility and the Navios Holdings Credit Facility. This overall decrease was partially offset by: (i) proceeds of $29.0 million on June 23, 2016, under the June 2016 Credit Facility; (ii) a $5.3 million decrease in restricted cash related to the amounts held in retention accounts in order to service debt payments, as required by Navios Partners’ credit facilities; and (iii) $0.4 million of proceeds from the issuance of 244,201 common units and additional general partner units in November 2016, net of offering costs.

Cash used in financing activities of $46.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 was due to: (i) $72.1 million of proceeds from the issuance of 4,600,000 common units in February 2015, net of offering costs; (ii) $1.5 million of proceeds from the issuance of additional general partnership units; and (iii) proceeds of $79.8 million on April 20, 2015, under the April 2015 Credit Facility. This overall increase was partially offset by: (i) loan repayments of $60.7 million; (ii) payment of a total cash distribution of $132.3 million; (iii) payment of $0.7 million of deferred finance costs relating to the April 2015 Credit Facility; and (iv) a $6.4 million increase in restricted cash related to the amounts held in retention accounts in order to service debt payments or as cash collateral, as required by Navios Partners’ credit facilities.

Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Cash from Operating Activities, EBITDA and Operating Surplus

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2017
     Year Ended
December 31,
2016
     Year Ended
December 31,
2015
 
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 53,934      $ 56,527      $ 123,276  

Net increase in operating assets

     35,097        37,133        8,499  

Net increase/ (decrease) in operating liabilities

     5,033        (4,524      (6,361

Net interest cost

     34,949        30,706        31,498  

Amortization and write-off of deferred financing cost

     (9,744      (4,003      (3,727

Non-cash accrued interest income and amortization of deferred revenue

     12,512        5,717        —    

Equity compensation expense

     (1,904      (93      —    

Gain on change in control

     4,068        —          —    

Vessel impairment losses

     (32,677      (27,201      —    

Loss on sale of securities

     —          (19,435      —    

Gain on debt repayment

     —          2,140        —    

Non cash accrued interest income from receivable from affiliates

     204        —          —    

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     (1,495      —          —    

Loss on vessel’s disposal

     (1,260      —          —    

Noncontrolling interest

     (239      —          —    

Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies

     866        (59      94  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

EBITDA (1)

   $ 99,344      $ 76,908      $ 153,279  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     1,495        —          —    

Loss on vessel’s disposal

     1,260        —          —    

Loss on sale of securities

     —          19,435        —    

Equity compensation expense

     1,904        —          —    

Reactivation cost

     447        —          —    

Gain on change in control

     (4,068      —          —    

 

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     Year Ended
December 31,
2017
     Year Ended
December 31,
2016
     Year Ended
December 31,
2015
 
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Vessel impairment losses

     32,677        27,201        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 133,059      $ 123,544      $ 153,279  

Cash interest income

     1,045        7        51  

Cash interest paid

     (26,630      (26,694      (26,787

Maintenance and replacement capital expenditures

     (14,859      (11,899      (13,811
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Surplus

   $ 92,615      $ 84,958      $ 112,732  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

(1)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2017
     Year Ended
December 31,
2016
     Year Ended
December 31,
2015
 
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 53,934      $ 56,527      $ 123,276  

Net cash (used in)/ provided by investing activities

   $ (187,211    $ 5,051      $ (149,301

Net cash provided by/ (used in) financing activities

   $ 139,964      $ (70,968    $ (46,720

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

EBITDA represents net income/(loss) attributable to Navios Partners’ unitholders before interest and finance costs, before depreciation and amortization (including intangible accelerated amortization) and income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA before equity compensation expense, loss on sale of vessel, impairment losses and allowance for doubtful accounts, reactivation costs, write-off of deferred finance charges and gain on change in control. Navios Partners uses Adjusted EBITDA as a liquidity measure and reconcile EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities, the most comparable U.S. GAAP liquidity measure. EBITDA in this document is calculated as follows: net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities adding back, when applicable and as the case may be, the effect of (i) net increase/(decrease) in operating assets, (ii) net (increase)/decrease in operating liabilities, (iii) net interest cost, (iv) amortization and write-off of deferred finance charges and other related expenses, (v) allowance for doubtful accounts, (vi) equity in net earnings of affiliated companies, (vii) payments for drydock and special survey costs, (viii) gain/(loss) on sale of assets/subsidiaries, (ix) impairment charges, (x) non-cash accrued interest income and amortization of deferred revenue, (xi) gain/(loss) on debt repayments, (xii) equity compensation expense, (xiii) gain on change in control and (xiv) noncontrolling interest. Navios Partners believes that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are each the basis upon which liquidity can be assessed and presents useful information to investors regarding Navios Partners’ ability to service and/or incur indebtedness, pay capital expenditures, meet working capital requirements and make cash distributions. Navios Partners also believes that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are used: (i) by potential lenders to evaluate potential transactions; (ii) to evaluate and price potential acquisition candidates; and (iii) by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the analysis of Navios Partners’ results as reported under U.S. GAAP. Some of these limitations are: (i) EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, working capital needs; and (ii) although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for such capital expenditures. Because of these limitations, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a principal indicator of Navios Partners’ performance. Furthermore, our calculation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to that reported by other companies due to differences in methods of calculation.

EBITDA of Navios Partners for the year ended December 31, 2017 was affected by the accounting effect of a: (i) $4.1 million gain on change in control from Navios Containers’ deconsolidation; (ii) $30.3 million impairment loss for one of our vessels; (iii) $2.4 million impairment loss on the sale of the Navios Gemini S; (iv) $1.5 million allowance for doubtful accounts; (v) $1.3 million loss related to the disposal of the MSC Cristina and; (vi) $1.9 million equity compensation expense. EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2016 was negatively affected by the accounting effect of a: (i) $27.2 million impairment loss on the sale of the MSC Cristina and the Navios Apollon; and (ii) $19.4 million loss on the sale of the HMM securities. Excluding these items, Adjusted EBITDA increased by $3.0 million to $126.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $123.5 million for the same period in 2016. The

 

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increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to: (i) an $8.8 million increase in revenue; (ii) a $1.8 million decrease in time charter and voyage expenses; (iii) a $1.9 million decrease in other expenses; and (iv) a $0.9 million increase in equity in net earnings of affiliated companies. The above increase was partially mitigated by a: (i) $3.4 million increase in management fees due to the increased fleet; (ii) $2.2 million increase in general and administrative expenses; and (iii) $4.6 million decrease in other income.

EBITDA of Navios Containers for the period from April 28, 2017 (date of inception) to August 29, 2017 was negatively affected by the accounting effect of $0.4 million relating to the reactivation costs of four laid-up vessels. Excluding this item, Adjusted EBITDA was $6.7 million for the period from April 28, 2017 to August 29, 2017.

EBITDA of Navios Partners for the year ended December 31, 2016 was negatively affected by the accounting effect of a: (i) $27.2 million impairment loss on the sale of the MSC Cristina and the Navios Apollon; and (ii) $19.4 million loss on the sale of the HMM securities. Excluding these items, Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $29.7 million to $123.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to $153.3 million for the same period in 2015. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to a: (i) $33.2 million decrease in revenue; (ii) $2.7 million increase in management fees due to the increased number of vessels and the increased daily management fee; (iii) $4.4 million increase in general and administrative expenses; and (iv) $0.3 million increase in other expenses. The above decrease was partially mitigated by a: (i) $1.5 million decrease in time charter and voyage expenses; and (ii) $9.3 million increase in other income.

Operating Surplus

Operating Surplus represents net income adjusted for depreciation and amortization expense, non-cash interest expense, non-cash interest income, equity compensation expense, estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures and one-off items. Maintenance and replacement capital expenditures are those capital expenditures required to maintain over the long term the operating capacity of, or the revenue generated by, Navios Partners’ capital assets.

Operating Surplus is a quantitative measure used in the publicly-traded partnership investment community to assist in evaluating a partnership’s ability to make quarterly cash distributions. Operating Surplus is not required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and should not be considered a substitute for net income, cash flow from operating activities and other operations or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States or as a measure of profitability or liquidity.

Borrowings

Navios Partners’ long-term third party borrowings are presented under the caption “Long-term debt, net” and “Current portion of long-term debt, net”. As of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, total debt, net amounted to $493.5 million and $523.8 million, respectively. The current portion of long-term debt, net amounted to $26.6 million at December 31, 2017 and $74.0 million at December 31, 2016.

Capital Expenditures

Navios Partners finances its capital expenditures with cash flow from operations, equity raisings, long term bank borrowings and other debt raisings. Capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 amounted to $276.9 million, $15.3 million and $147.8 million, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2017, expansion capital expenditures of $276.9 million related to the $115.9 million for the acquisition of the 14 Container vessels from Rickmers Trust, net of cash, $158.2 million paid for the acquisition of the seven drybulk vessels in 2017 and $2.8 million deposit for the acquisition of a bulk carrier vessel expected to be delivered within the second half of 2019. For the year ended December 31, 2016, expansion capital expenditures of $15.3 million related to the acquisition of the Navios Beaufiks in December 2016. For the year ended December 31, 2015, expansion capital expenditures of $147.8 million related to the acquisition of the MSC Cristina in April 2015. The reserve for estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 amounted to $14.9 million, $11.9 million and $13.8 million, respectively.

Maintenance for our vessels and expenses related to drydocking expenses are reimbursed at cost by Navios Partners to our Manager under the amended management agreement. In October 2011, Navios Partners extended the duration of its existing Management Agreement with the Manager until December 31, 2017. In each of October 2013, August 2014, February 2015 and February 2016, Navios Partners amended its existing Management Agreement with the Manager to fix the fees for ship management services of its owned fleet, excluding drydocking expenses, which are reimbursed at cost by Navios Partners at: (a) $4,100 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4,200 daily rate per Panamax vessel; (c) $5,250 daily rate per Capesize vessel; (d) $6,700 daily rate per Container vessel of TEU 6,800; (e) $7,400 daily rate per Container vessel of more than TEU 8,000; and (f) $8,750 daily rate per very

 

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large Container vessel of more than TEU 13,000 through December 31, 2017. In November 2017, Navios Partners extended the duration of its existing Management Agreement with the Manager until December 31, 2022 and the fixed rate for ship management services of its owned fleet through December 31, 2019, effective from January 1, 2018. The management fees, excluding drydocking expenses will be: (a) $4,225 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4,325 daily rate per Panamax vessel; (c) $5,250 daily rate per Capesize vessel; (d) $6,700 daily rate per Container vessel of TEU 6,800; (e) $7,400 daily rate per Container vessel of more than TEU 8,000; and (f) $8,750 daily rate per very large Containers vessel of more than TEU 13,000.

Maintenance and Replacement Capital Expenditures Reserve

Our annual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures reserve for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was $14.9 million and $11.9 million, respectively, for replacing our vessels at the end of their useful lives.

The amount for estimated replacement capital expenditures attributable to future vessel replacement was based on the following assumptions: (i) current market price to purchase a five year old vessel of similar size and specifications; (ii) a 25-year useful life for drybulk vessels and a 30-year useful life for container vessels; and (iii) a relative net investment rate.

The amount for estimated maintenance capital expenditures attributable to future vessel drydocking and special survey was based on certain assumptions including the remaining useful life of the owned vessels of our fleet, market costs of drydocking and special survey and a relative net investment rate.

Our Board of Directors, with the approval of the conflicts committee, may determine that one or more of our assumptions should be revised, which could cause our Board of Directors to increase or decrease the amount of estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures. The actual cost of replacing the vessels in our fleet will depend on a number of factors, including prevailing market conditions, charter hire rates and the availability and cost of financing at the time of replacement. We may elect to finance some or all of our maintenance and replacement capital expenditures through the issuance of additional common units which could be dilutive to existing unitholders.

Vessels to be delivered

In March 2018, Navios Partners agreed to acquire from an unrelated third party, a 2005-built Panamax vessel of approximately 87,000 dwt, for a total purchase price of $12.98 million. The vessel is expected to be delivered to Navios Partners’ owned fleet within the second quarter of 2018.

In January 2018, Navios Partners agreed to acquire from an unrelated third party, two 2006-built Panamax vessels of approximately 74,500 dwt each, for a total purchase price of $22.0 million. The vessels are expected to be delivered to Navios Partners’ owned fleet within the second quarter of 2018. One of the vessels is chartered out for $9,375 net per day until May/November 2018 and the other vessel is chartered out for $9,844 net per day until March/August 2018.

In November 2017, Navios Partners entered into a 10-year bareboat charter-in agreement for a Panamax vessel of approximately 81,000 dwt. Navios Partners has the option to acquire the vessel after the end of the fourth year. The vessel is expected to be delivered within the second half of 2019.

Although we do not currently have in place any other agreements relating to acquisitions of other vessels, we assess potential acquisition opportunities on a regular basis. Pursuant to our Omnibus Agreement with Navios Holdings, as amended in June 2009, we will have the opportunity to purchase additional drybulk vessels from Navios Holdings when those vessels are fixed under charters of three or more years upon their expiration of their current charters or upon completion of their construction. Subject to the terms of our loan agreements, we could elect to fund any future acquisitions with equity or debt or cash on hand or a combination of these forms of consideration. Any debt incurred for this purpose could make us more leveraged and increase our debt service obligations or could subject us to additional operational or financial restrictive covenants.

C. Research and development, patents and licenses, etc.

Not applicable.

 

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D. Trend information

Our results of operations depend primarily on the charter hire rates that we are able to realize for our vessels, which depend on the demand and supply dynamics characterizing the drybulk market at any given time. For other trends affecting our business please see other discussions in “Item 5 — Operating and Financial Review and Prospects”.

E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

F. Contractual Obligations and Contingencies

The following table summarizes our long-term contractual obligations as of December 31, 2017:

 

     Payments due by period
(Unaudited)
 
     Less than
1 year
     1-3 years      3-5 years      More than
5 years
     Total  
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Loan obligations( 1)

   $ 33,370      $ 456,087      $ 21,175        —        $ 510,632  

Operating Lease Obligations (Time Charters) for vessel to be delivered

     —        $ 2,725      $ 4,321      $ 13,771      $ 20,817  

Deposit for option to acquire vessel

   $ 2,770        —          —          —        $ 2,770  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total contractual obligations

   $ 36,140      $ 458,812      $ 25,496      $ 13,771      $ 534,219  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Represents principal payments on amounts drawn on our credit facilities that bear interest at applicable fixed interest rates ranging from 3.0% to 5.0% plus LIBOR per annum. The amounts in the table exclude expected interest payments of $31.6 million (less than 1 year), $49.6 million (1-3 years), $0.5 million (3-5 years) and $0 (more than 5 years). Expected interest payments are based on outstanding principal amounts, applicable currently effective interest rates and margins as of December 31, 2017, timing of scheduled payments and the term of the debt obligations.

Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Partners have made available to Navios Europe I revolving loans up to $24.1 million to fund working capital requirements (collectively, the “Navios Revolving Loans I”). As of December 31, 2017, there was no amount undrawn under the Navios Revolving Loans I (see Note 18 — Transactions with related parties and affiliates).

Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Partners have made available to Navios Europe II revolving loans up to $43.5 million to fund working capital requirements (collectively, the “Navios Revolving Loans II”). In March 2017, the availability under the Navios Revolving Loans II was increased by $14.0 million. As of December 31, 2017, the amounts undrawn from the Navios Revolving Loans II were $15.0 million, of which Navios Partners may be required to fund an amount ranging from $0 to $15.0 million (see Note 18 — Transactions with related parties and affiliates).

In November 2017, Navios Partners entered into a 10-year bareboat charter-in agreement for a Panamax vessel of approximately

81,000 dwt. Navios Partners has the option to acquire the vessel after the end of the fourth year. The vessel is expected to be delivered

within the second half of 2019. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company paid a deposit of $2.77 million, presented under the caption “Other long-term assets”. As of December 31, 2017, the Company is contingently liable to pay an additional deposit of $2.77 million during the fourth quarter of 2018.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with US GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates in the application of our accounting policies based on the best assumptions, judgments and opinions of management. Following is a discussion of the accounting policies that involve a higher degree of judgment and the methods of their application that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

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Critical accounting policies are those that reflect significant judgments or uncertainties, and potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. For a description of all of our significant accounting policies, see Note 2 — Summary of significant accounting policies to the notes to the consolidated financial statements, included elsewhere in this Annual Report.

Fair Value of Vessels: As of December 31, 2017, Navios Partners owned a fleet of 36 vessels, with an aggregate carrying value of $1,123.3 million, including the carrying value of existing time charters on its fleet of vessels. On a vessel-by-vessel basis, as of December 31, 2017, the carrying value of Navios Partners’ vessels (including the carrying value of the time charter and the unamortized portion of deferred drydock and special survey costs, if any, on the specified vessel) exceeded the estimated fair value of those same vessels (including the estimated fair value of the time charter, if any, on the specified vessel) by approximately $291.6 million in the aggregate (the unrealized loss).

A vessel-by-vessel summary as of December 31, 2017, follows (with an * indicating those individual vessels whose carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value, including the related time charter, if any):

 

Vessel name

   Date of
Acquisition
     Purchase
Price (1)
     Carrying
Value as of
December 31,
2017 (1)
 
     (In millions of U.S. dollars)  

Navios Libra II

     11/16/2007      $ 26.3      $ 7.8

Navios Alegria

     11/16/2007        38.9        21.2

Navios Felicity

     11/16/2007        31.3        11.9

Navios Galaxy I

     11/16/2007        30.7        15.4

Navios Hope (2)

     07/01/2008        80.0        16.5

Navios Fantastiks

     05/02/2008        87.7        52.8

Navios Sagittarius

     01/12/2010        59.4        24.6

Navios Hyperion

     01/08/2010        63.0        20.4

Navios Aurora II

     03/18/2010        110.3        49.2

Navios Pollux

     05/21/2010        110.0        52.5

Navios Melodia

     11/15/2010        78.8        54.9

Navios Fulvia

     11/15/2010        98.2        50.8

Navios Luz

     05/19/2011        78.0        43.1

Navios Orbiter

     05/19/2011        52.0        21.0

Navios Buena Ventura

     06/15/2012        67.5        37.9

Navios Soleil

     07/24/2012        21.1        17.1

Navios Helios

     07/27/2012        21.1        16.2

Navios Joy

     09/11/2013        47.5        40.8

Navios Harmony

     10/11/2013        18.0        15.3

Hyundai Hongkong

     12/04/2013        55.2        47.7

Hyundai Tokyo

     12/04/2013        55.1        47.8

Hyundai Singapore

     12/10/2013        55.2        47.7

Hyundai Shanghai

     12/13/2013        55.2        47.7

Hyundai Busan

     12/16/2013        55.8        48.2

Navios La Paix

     1/8/2014        28.5        24.5

Navios Sun

     1/17/2014        16.2        13.5

YM Utmost

     8/29/2014        59.1        53.2

YM Unity

     10/28/2014        59.1        53.3

Navios Beaufiks

     12/30/2016        15.3        14.7  

Navios Prosperity I

     06/07/2017        13.7        13.5  

Navios Ace

     06/09/2017        31.4        30.7

Navios Libertas

     07/10/2017        13.7        13.4  

Navios Sol

     07/17/2017        28.6        28.0

Navios Christine B

     08/11/2017        14.0        13.8  

Navios Aster

     08/21/2017        28.9        28.5

Navios Symphony

     09/20/2017        28.0        27.7
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
      $ 1,732.8      $ 1,123.3  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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(1) All amounts include related time charter, if any. Although the aforementioned excess of carrying value over fair value represents an estimate of the loss that Navios Partners would sustain on a hypothetical disposition of those vessels as of December 31, 2017, the recognition of the unrealized loss absent a disposition (i.e., as an impairment) would require, among other things, that a triggering event had occurred and that the undiscounted cash flows attributable to the vessel are also less than the carrying value of the vessel (including the carrying value of the time charter and the unamortized portion of deferred drydock and special survey costs, if any, on the specified vessel).
(2) As of December 31, 2017, we recorded an impairment loss of $30.3 million for the Navios Hope.

Use of Estimates: The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. On an on-going basis, management evaluates the estimates and judgments, including those related to uncompleted voyages, future drydock dates, the selection of useful lives for tangible assets and scrap value expected future cash flows from long-lived assets to support impairment tests, provisions necessary for accounts receivable, provisions for legal disputes, and contingencies and the valuation estimates inherent in the deconsolidation gain. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates under different assumptions and/or conditions.

Stock-based Compensation: In December 2017 and 2016, Navios Partners granted restricted common units to its directors and/or officers which are based on service conditions only and vest over three years. The fair value of restricted units was determined by reference to the quoted stock price on the date of grant. Compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, is recognized based on a graded expense model over the vesting period. Compensation expense for the awards that vest upon achievement of the performance criteria is recognized when it is probable that the performance criteria will be met and are being accounted for as equity. There were no restricted common units exercised, forfeited or expired during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. As of December 31, 2017, 686,665 restricted common units were vested.

Impairment of Long Lived Assets: Vessels, other fixed assets and other long lived assets held and used by Navios Partners are reviewed periodically for potential impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a particular asset may not be fully recoverable. Navios Partners’ management evaluates the carrying amounts and periods over which long-lived assets are depreciated to determine if events or changes in circumstances have occurred that would require modification to their carrying values or useful lives. Measurement of the impairment loss is based on the fair value of the asset. Navios Partners determines the fair value of its assets on the basis of management estimates and assumptions by making use of available market data and taking into consideration third party valuations performed on an individual vessel basis. In evaluating useful lives and carrying values of long-lived assets, certain indicators of potential impairment, are reviewed such as undiscounted projected operating cash flows, vessel sales and purchases, business plans and overall market conditions.

Undiscounted projected net operating cash flows are determined for each asset group and compared to the carrying value of the vessel, the unamortized portion of deferred drydock and special survey costs related to the vessel and the related carrying value of the intangible assets with respect to the time charter agreement attached to that vessel. Within the shipping industry, vessels are customarily bought and sold with a charter attached. The value of the charter may be favorable or unfavorable when comparing the charter rate to then current market rates. The loss recognized either on impairment (or on disposition) will reflect the excess of carrying value over fair value (selling price) for the vessel asset group.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017, the Company concluded that events occurred and circumstances had changed, which indicated that potential impairment of Navios Partners’ long-lived assets may exist. These indicators included volatility in the spot market and the related impact of the current drybulk and container sector has on management’s expectation for future revenues. As a result, Navios Partners performed step one of the impairment assessment of the Company’s long-lived assets by comparing the undiscounted projected net operating cash flows for each vessel to its carrying value together with the carrying value of deferred drydock and special survey costs related to the vessel and the carrying value of the related intangible assets, if applicable. The

 

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significant factors and assumptions the Company used in the undiscounted projected net operating cash flow analysis included: determining the projected net operating cash flows by considering the charter revenues from existing time charters for the fixed fleet days (Navios Partners’ remaining charter agreement rates) and an estimated daily time charter equivalent for the unfixed days (based on a combination of one-year average historical time charter rates for the first year and 10-year average historical one-year time charter rates for the remaining period, adjusted for outliers) over the remaining economic life of each vessel, net of brokerage and address commissions, excluding days of scheduled off-hires, management fees fixed until December 2019 and thereafter assuming an increase of 1.0% every second year and utilization rate of 98.6% based on the fleet’s historical performance.

As of December 31, 2017, our assessment concluded that step two of the impairment analysis was required for one of our vessels held and used, as the undiscounted projected net operating cash flows did not exceed the carrying value. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $30.3 million for this vessel, being the difference between the fair value and the vessel’s carrying value together with the carrying value of deferred drydock and special survey costs related to the vessel, presented under the caption “Vessel impairment losses” in the consolidated Statements of Operations. The assessment performed for 2016 and 2015 did not indicate a step two was necessary for the Company’s other vessels held and used (see Note 7 — Vessels, net).

As of December 31, 2017, the 10-year historical average rates for its vessels (which naturally vary by type of vessel) used in determining future cash flows for purposes of its impairment analysis were 13.6% higher than the Company’s average daily time charter equivalent rate achieved in fiscal year 2017 of $16,025 per day.

In addition, the Company compared the 10-year historical average (of the one-year charter rate for similar vessels), with the five-year, three-year and one-year historical averages (of the one-year charter rate for similar vessels). The table below compares the 10-year historical average (of the one-year charter rate) and the five-year, three-year and one-year historical averages (of the one-year charter rate for similar vessels), each as of December 31, 2017:

 

     Historical Average of One-year Charter Rates
(over Various Periods) vs. the 10-year Historical Average
(of the One-Year Charter Rate)
 
     Five-Year Average     Three-Year Average     One-Year Average  
     (% above (below) the 10-year average)  

Ultra-Handymax

     (30.1 %)      (38.3 %)      (25.5 %) 

Panamax

     (33.5 %)      (40.2 %)      (21.4 %) 

Capesize

     (34.9 %)      (48.4 %)      (32.0 %) 

Container 6,800 TEU

     n/a     (16.9 %)      (27.8 %) 

Container 8,200 TEU

     n/a     (9.9 %)      (18.9 %) 

 

* For the vessels with capacity of 6,800 TEU and 8,200 TEU and above, the average daily rates were only available for the years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

If testing for impairment using the five-year, three-year and one-year historical averages (of the one-year charter rate for similar vessels) in lieu of the 10-year historical average (of the one-year charter rate for similar vessels), Navios Partners estimates that 7, 13 and 3 of its vessels, respectively, would have carrying values in excess of their projected undiscounted future cash flows. As disclosed elsewhere, as of December 31, 2017, the Company’s fleet includes 32 vessels for which the carrying value (including the carrying value of the time charter, if any, on the specified vessel) exceeds the estimated fair value of those same vessels (including the estimated fair value of the time charter and the unamortized portion of deferred drydock and special survey costs, if any, on the specified vessel) by approximately $291.6 million in the aggregate (the unrealized loss).

In connection with its annual impairment testing on its vessels as of December 31, 2017, the Company performs sensitivity analysis on the most sensitive and/or subjective assumptions that have the potential to affect the outcome of the test, principally the projected charter rate used to forecast future cash flows for unfixed days. In that regard, there would continue to be no impairment required to be recognized on any of the Company’s vessels when assuming a decline in the 10-year average (of the one-year charter rate for similar vessels), which is the rate that the Company uses to forecast future cash flows for unfixed days, ranging from 20.7% to 65.4% (depending on the vessel).

As of December 31, 2017, an impairment loss of $2.4 million was recognized in connection with the committed sale of the Navios Gemini S as the carrying amount of the asset group was not recoverable and exceeded its fair value less costs to sell (see Note 7 — Vessels, net). As of December 31, 2016, an impairment loss of $27.2 million was recognized in connection with the committed sale of the MSC Cristina and the Navios Apollon as the carrying amount of each asset group was not recoverable and exceeded its fair value less costs to sell (see Note 7 — Vessels, net).

 

 

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The impairment loss is presented under the caption “Vessel impairment losses” in the consolidated Statements of Operations. Impairment loss recognized amounted to $32.7 million, $27.2 million and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Vessels, Net: Vessels are stated at historical cost, which consists of the contract price and any material expenses incurred upon acquisition (improvements and delivery expenses). Vessels acquired in an asset acquisition or in a business combination are recorded at fair value. Subsequent expenditures for major improvements and upgrades are capitalized, provided they appreciably extend the life, increase the earnings capacity or improve the efficiency or safety of the vessels. The cost and related accumulated depreciation of assets retired or sold are removed from the accounts at the time of sale or retirement and any gain or loss is included in the accompanying consolidated Statements of Operations.

Expenditures for routine maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.

Depreciation is computed using the straight line method over the useful life of the vessels, after considering the estimated residual value. Management estimates the residual values of our drybulk and container vessels based on a scrap value cost of steel times the weight of the ship noted in lightweight ton (“LWT”). Residual values are periodically reviewed and revised to recognize changes in conditions, new regulations or other reasons. Revisions of residual values affect the depreciable amount of the vessels and affects depreciation expense in the period of the revision and future periods. The management after considering current market trends for scrap rates and 10-year average historical scrap rates of the residual values of the Company’s vessels, estimates scrap value at a rate of $340 per LWT.

Management estimates the useful life of our vessels to be 25 and 30 years from the drybulk and container vessel’s original construction, respectively. However, when regulations place limitations over the ability of a vessel to trade on a worldwide basis, its useful life is re-estimated to end at the date such regulations become effective. An increase in the useful life of a vessel or in its residual value would have the effect of decreasing the annual depreciation charge and extending it into later periods. A decrease in the useful life of a vessel or in its residual value would have the effect of increasing the annual depreciation charge.

Deferred Drydock and Special Survey Costs: Navio s Partners’ vessels are subject to regularly scheduled drydocking and special surveys which are generally carried out every 30 or 60 months, depending on the vessels’ ages to coincide with the renewal of the related certificates issued by the classification societies, unless a further extension is obtained in rare cases and under certain conditions. The cost of drydocking and special surveys are deferred and amortized over the above periods or to the next drydocking or special survey date if such date has been determined.

Costs capitalized as part of the drydocking or special survey consist principally of the actual costs incurred at the yard, and expenses relating to spare parts, paints, lubricants and services incurred solely during the drydocking or special survey period.

Revenue and Expense Recognition : Revenue is recorded when services are rendered, under a signed charter agreement or other evidence of an arrangement, the price is fixed or determinable, and collection is reasonably assured. Revenue is generated from time charter of vessels.

Voyage revenues for the transportation of cargo are recognized ratably over the estimated relative transit time of each voyage. A voyage is deemed to commence when a vessel arrives at the loading port, as applicable under the contract, and is deemed to end upon the completion of the discharge of the current cargo. Under a voyage charter, the Company agrees to provide a vessel for the transportation of specific goods between specific ports in return for payment of an agreed upon freight rate per ton of cargo.

Revenues are recorded net of address commissions. Address commissions represent a discount provided directly to the charterers based on a fixed percentage of the agreed upon charter or freight rate. Since address commissions represent a discount (sales incentive) on services rendered by the Company and no identifiable benefit is received in exchange for the consideration provided to the charterer, these commissions are presented as a reduction of revenue.

Revenues from time chartering of vessels are accounted for as operating leases and are thus recognized on a straight line basis as the average minimum lease revenue over the rental periods of such charter agreements, as service is performed. A time charter involves placing a vessel at the charterers’ disposal for a period of time during which the charterer uses the vessel in return for the payment of a specified daily hire rate. Under time charters, operating costs such as for crews, maintenance and insurance are typically paid by the owner of the vessel.

Profit-sharing revenues are calculated at an agreed percentage of the excess of the charterer’s average daily income (calculated on a quarterly or half-yearly basis) or the Baltic Dry Index over an agreed amount and accounted for on an accrual basis based on provisional amounts and for those contracts that provisional accruals cannot be made due to the nature of the profit sharing elements, these are accounted for on the actual cash settlement.

 

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For vessels operating in pooling arrangements, the Company earns a portion of total revenues generated by the pool, net of expenses incurred by the pool. The amount allocated to each pool participant vessel, including the Company’s vessels, is determined in accordance with an agreed-upon formula, which is determined by points awarded to each vessel in the pool based on the vessel’s age, design and other performance characteristics. Revenue under pooling arrangements is accounted for on the accrual basis and is recognized when an agreement with the pool exists, price is fixed, service is provided and the collectability is reasonably assured. The allocation of such net revenue may be subject to future adjustments by the pool however, such changes are not expected to be material.

Investments in Equity Securities: Navios Partners evaluates its investments in Navios Europe I, Navios Europe II and Navios Containers for other-than-temporary impairment on a quarterly basis. Consideration is given to (i) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than the carrying value, (ii) the financial condition and near-term prospects of Navios Europe I, Navios Europe II and Navios Containers, and (iii) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in Navios Europe I, Navios Europe II and Navios Containers, for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value.

Navios Partners considers whether the fair values of its equity method investments have declined below their carrying values whenever adverse events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. If we consider any such decline to be “other-than-temporary” (based on various factors, including historical financial results, economic and industry events resulting in changes in the affiliate’s trading performance and the overall health of the affiliate’s industry), then we would write down the carrying amount of the investment to its estimated fair value.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2017, FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2017-09, “Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718)”. This update provides clarity and reduces both diversity in practice and cost and complexity when applying the guidance in Topic 718 to a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. The amendments in this update affect any entity that changes the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award and are effective for all entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period, for public business entities for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued and all other entities for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been made available for issuance. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The adoption of this new accounting standard is not expected to have material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In February 2017, FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2017-05, “Other Income—Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20)”. This update clarifies the scope of Subtopic 610-20 “Other Income—Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets” and provides guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets. Subtopic 610-20, which was issued in May 2014 as a part of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”, provides guidance for recognizing gains and losses from the transfer of nonfinancial assets in contracts with noncustomers. The amendments in ASU 2017-05 are effective at the same time as the amendments in ASU 2014-09. Therefore, for public entities, the amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2017-03 “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (Topic 250) and Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323).” The ASU amends the Codification for SEC staff announcements made at recent Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) meetings. The SEC guidance that specifically relates to our Consolidate Financial Statement was from the September 2016 meeting, where the SEC staff expressed its expectations about the extent of disclosures registrants should make about the effects of the new FASB guidance as well as any amendments issued prior to adoption, on revenue (ASU 2014-09), leases (ASU 2016-02) and credit losses on financial instruments (ASU 2016-13) in accordance with SAB Topic 11.M. Registrants are required to disclose the effect that recently issued accounting standards will have on their financial statements when adopted in a future period. In cases where a registrant cannot reasonably estimate the impact of the adoption, then additional qualitative disclosures should be considered. The ASU incorporates these SEC staff views into ASC 250 and adds references to that guidance in the transition paragraphs of each of the three new standards. The adoption of this new accounting guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In November 2016, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash”. This update addresses the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows under Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows. The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for all entities. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

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In August 2016, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments”. This update addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. This update was adopted as from January 1, 2018 and applied on a retrospective basis. The Company has assessed each of the eight specific presentation issues and determined that the adoption of this ASU does not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)”. ASU 2016-02 will apply to both capital (or finance) leases and operating leases. According to ASU 2016-02, lessees will be required to recognize assets (right of use asset) and liabilities (lease liability) on the balance sheet for both types of leases – capital (or finance) leases and operating leases – with terms greater than 12 months. ASU 2016 – 02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted.

This guidance requires companies to identify lease and non-lease components of a lease agreement. Lease components relate to the right to use the leased asset and non-lease components relate to payments for goods or services that are transferred separately from the right to use the underlying asset. Total lease consideration is allocated to lease and non-lease components on a relative standalone basis. The recognition of revenues related to lease components will be governed by ASC 842 while revenue related to non-lease components will be subject to ASC 606.

In January 2018, the FASB issued a proposed amendment to ASU 842, Leases, that would provide an entity the optional transition method to initially account for the impact of the adoption with a cumulative adjustment to accumulated deficit on the effective date of the ASU, January 1, 2019 rather than January 1, 2017, which would eliminate the need to restate amounts presented prior to January 1, 2019. In addition, this proposed amendment, lessors can elect, as a practical expedient, not to allocate the total consideration to lease and non-lease components based on their relative standalone selling prices. If adopted, this practical expedient will allow lessors to elect a combined single lease component presentation if (i) the timing and pattern of the revenue recognition of the combined single lease component is the same, and (ii) the related lease component and, the combined single lease component would be classified as an operating lease.

ASC 842 provides practical expedients that allow entities to not (i) reassess whether any expired or existing contracts are considered or contain leases; (ii) reassess the lease classification for any expired or existing leases; and (iii) reassess initial direct costs for any existing leases.

The Company plans to adopt the standard on January 1, 2019 and expects to elect the use of practical expedients. If the proposed amendment to ASU 842 is adopted, the Company would elect the transition method for adoption as described above.

The Company has not completed its analysis of this ASU. Based on a preliminary assessment, the Company is expecting that the adoption will not have a material effect on its financial statements since the Company is primarily a lessor and the changes are fairly minor. If the proposed practical expedient mentioned above is adopted and elected, goods and services embedded in the charter contract that qualify as non-lease components will be combined under a single lease component presentation. However, without the proposed practical expedient, the Company expects that it will continue to recognize the lease revenue component using an approach that is substantially equivalent to existing guidance. The components of the charter hire that are categorized as lease components will generally be a fixed rate per day with revenue recognized straight line over the lease contract. Other goods and services that are categorized as non-lease components will be recognized at either a point in time or over time based on the pattern of transfer of the underlying goods or services to our charterers.

The Company is continuing its assessment of other miscellaneous leases and may identify additional impacts this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures. The Company currently does not have any other miscellaneous leases that are greater than 12 months and the Company is the lessee that would be impacted by the adoption of this standard.

In January 2016, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-01, “Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10) – Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”. The amendments in this update require an entity (i) to measure equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee) at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; (ii) to perform a qualitative assessment to identify impairment in equity investments without readily determinable fair values; (iii) to present separately in other comprehensive income

 

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the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk; and (iv) to present separately financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (that is, securities or loans and receivables) on the balance sheet. The amendments also eliminate the requirement, for public business entities, to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet and clarify that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets. For public business entities, the update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this new standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, clarifying the method used to determine the timing and requirements for revenue recognition on the statements of income. Under the new standard, an entity must identify the performance obligations in a contract, the transaction price and allocate the price to specific performance obligations to recognize the revenue when the obligation is completed. The amendments in this update also require disclosure of sufficient information to allow users to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flow arising from contracts. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for all entities by one year. The standard will be effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods therein.

The Company will adopt the standard as of January 1, 2018 and will utilize the modified retrospective approach and is expecting that the adoption will not have a material effect on its financial statements. The Company has chartered certain of its vessels since inception in time charter agreements and in this respect revenue is accounted under ASC 840 Leases. The Company also operates certain of its vessels under voyage contracts, contracts for which currently revenue is recognized ratably from when a vessel becomes available for loading to the completion of the discharge of the current cargo, provided an agreed non-cancelable charter between the Company and the charterer is in existence. Upon adoption, the Company will recognize revenue ratably from the vessel’s arrival at the loading port, as applicable under the contract, to when the charterer’s cargo is discharged as well as defer costs that meet the definition of “costs to fulfill a contract” and relate directly to the contract. The estimated impact of the adoption of this standard is expected to be a minimal change in operating revenues and expenses and net income/(loss).

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees

A. Directors and Senior Management

The following table sets forth information regarding our current directors and senior management:

 

Name

   Age   

Position

Angeliki Frangou

   52    Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Efstratios Desypris

   44    Chief Financial Officer

George Achniotis

   53    Executive Vice President-Business Development and Director

Shunji Sasada

   59    Director

Serafeim Kriempardis

   69    Director (Class III)

Robert Pierot

   59    Director (Class I)

Lampros Theodorou

   71    Director (Class I)

Orthodoxia Zisimatou

   55    Director (Class II)

Vasiliki Papaefthymiou

   49    Secretary

Biographical information with respect to each of our current directors and our executive officers is set forth below. The business address for our directors and executive officers is 7 Avenue de Grande Bretagne, Monte Carlo, MC 98000 Monaco.

Angeliki Frangou has been our Chairman and CEO since August 2007. In addition, Ms. Frangou has been the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Navios Holdings (NYSE: NM), our sponsor, since August 2005, and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Navios Acquisition (NYSE: NNA), an affiliated corporation, since 2008, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Navios Midstream (NYSE: NAP), an affiliated limited partnership since October 2014 and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Navios Maritime Containers Inc. (N-OTC:NMCI), an affiliated corporation since April, 2017. Ms. Frangou has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Navios South American Logistics Inc. since its inception in December 2007. Previously, Ms. Frangou served as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of International Shipping Enterprises Inc., which acquired Navios Holdings. From 1990 until August 2005, Ms. Frangou was the Chief Executive Officer of Maritime Enterprises Management S.A. and its predecessor company, which specialized in the management of dry cargo vessels. Ms. Frangou is the non executive Chairman of IRF European Finance Investments Ltd., listed on the SFM of the London Stock Exchange. Ms. Frangou is Member of the Board of the United Kingdom Mutual Steam Ship Assurance Association (Bermuda) Limited, Vice Chairman of China Classification Society Mediterranean Committee, a member of the International General Committee and of the Hellenic and Black Sea Committee of Bureau

 

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Veritas, as well as a member of Greek Committee of Nippon Kaiji Kyokai. Since March 2016, Ms. Frangou is a Member of the DNV GL Greek National Committee. Since May 2014, Ms. Frangou has been a Member of the Board of The Hellenic Mutual War Risks Association (Bermuda) Limited. Since February 2015, Ms. Frangou has been a Member of the Board of the Union of Greek Shipowners. Since October 2015, Ms. Frangou has been a Member of the Board of Trustees of Fairleigh Dickinson University. Since July 2013, Ms. Frangou has been a Member of the Board of Visitors of the Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science. Ms. Frangou received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, summa cum laude, from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University.

Stratos Desypris is Chief Financial Officer of Navios Maritime Partners L.P. since January 2010. In addition, Mr. Desypris is the Chief Financial Controller of Navios Holdings, Navios Partners’ sponsor, since May 2006. Mr. Desypris is also a Director and Senior Vice President — Business Development of Navios Midstream since October 2014. He also serves as a Director and the SVP- Strategic Planning of Navios South American Logistics Inc and as a Director in Navios Europe. Before joining Navios Group, Mr. Desypris worked for nine years in the accounting profession, most recently as manager of the audit department at Ernst & Young in Greece. Mr. Desypris started his career as an auditor with Arthur Andersen & Co. in 1997. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Piraeus.

George Achniotis was appointed to our Board of Directors in August 2007 and he has been our Executive Vice President-Business Development since February 2008. Mr. Achniotis has been Navios Holdings’ Chief Financial Officer since April 12, 2007. Prior to being appointed Chief Financial Officer of Navios Holdings, Mr. Achniotis served as Senior Vice President — Business Development of Navios Holdings from August 2006 to April 2007. Prior to joining Navios Holdings, Mr. Achniotis was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers from 1999 to August 2006. Mr. Achniotis holds a Bachelors of Science degree in engineering from the University of Manchester and he is a member of the institute of chartered accountants in England and Wales. Mr. Achniotis is also a member of the institute of certified accountants in Cyprus.

Shunji Sasada was appointed to our Board of Directors in August 2007. Mr. Sasada also served as a director of Navios Holdings and President of Navios Corporation since January 2015, as director in Navios Midstream since October 2014. Mr. Sasada started his shipping career in 1981 in Japan with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (“MOSK”). In 1991, Mr. Sasada joined Trinity Bulk Carriers as its chartering manager as well as subsidiary board member representing MOSK as one of the shareholders. After an assignment in Norway, Mr. Sasada moved to London and started MOSK’s own Ultra Handymax operation as its General Manager. Mr. Sasada joined Navios Holdings in May 1997. Mr. Sasada was Senior Vice President — Fleet Development of Navios Holdings from October 1, 2005 to July 2007 and Chief Operating Officer to December 2014. Mr. Sasada is the member of the North American Committee of Nippon Kaiji Kyokai since inception. Mr. Sasada is a graduate of Keio University, Tokyo, with a B.A. degree in business and he is the member of Board of Trustee of Keio Academy of New York.

Serafeim Kriempardis  was appointed to our Board of Directors in December 2009. Mr. Kriempardis previously served as the Head of Shipping of Piraeus Bank from 2007 to 2009 and as the Head of Shipping of Emporiki Bank of Greece from 1999 to 2007. Prior to serving as Head of Shipping at Emporiki Bank, Mr. Kriempardis served in the Project Finance and Corporate and Feasibility departments of the bank. Mr. Kriempardis is an accountant by training and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Athens University of Economics and Business and a Diploma in Management from the McGill University of Canada. Mr Kriempardis also serves as chairman of the Audit Committee and chairman of the compensation committee. Mr Kriempardis is an independent director.

Robert Pierot was appointed to our Board of Directors in October 2007. Since 1979, Mr. Pierot has been engaged in brokering the sale and purchase of a variety of marine assets ranging from U.S. flag inland waterway marine assets, both United States and internationally flagged vessels ranging from large bulk carriers, tankers, container vessels, U.S. inland waterway equipment and vessels that are used to service the offshore oil and gas exploration and production facilities. Currently, Mr. Pierot serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jacq. Pierot Jr. & Sons, Inc., a privately held shipbrokers firm based in New York. Mr. Pierot served as a board member for Chiles Offshore prior to its sale to another U.S. publicly traded offshore drilling rig company. Previously, Mr. Pierot has served as a member of the United States Department of Transportation’s Shipbuilding Subcommittee, the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council. Since 1980, Mr. Pierot has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce and previously served as Chairman of the Board from mid 2011 to mid 2013.

Lampros Theodorou was appointed to our Board of Directors in June 2016. Mr. Theodorou founded Garnet & Associates Inc. in 2014 and has been director since that time. For almost 20 years, Mr. Theodorou worked at EFG Eurobank S.A., as Deputy General Manager and head of the Shipping Unit, while before that as Vice President and head of the Shipping Department at The Chase Manhattan Bank in Piraeus. Mr. Theodorou has served as a non-executive director of Paragon Shipping Inc. for the period May 2015 to April 2016. Mr Theodorou also serves on our Audit Committee and is an independent director. Mr. Theodorou earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Piraeus and a master’s degree in Business Operations from the University of Arkansas.

 

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Orthodoxia Zisimatou was appointed to our Board of Directors in June 2017. Mrs. Zisimatou has been a practicing maritime lawyer since 1988, focusing on S&P contracts and contracts of affreightment. She has been a member of the Permanent Committee of Maritime Policy, Security and Protection of the Environment and of the Legal Committee of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping since 2007. She has also served as a Maritime Arbitrator for the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping since 2007. Since 2009, Mrs. Zisimatou has acted as the Secretary General of the Union of Piraeus Shipping Lawyers. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Law from the faculty of Law of the University of Athens. Mrs. Zisimatou also serves on our Audit Committee and is an independent director.

Vasiliki Papaefthymiou was appointed our Secretary in August 2007. Ms. Papaefthymiou has been Executive Vice

President — Legal and a member of Navios Holdings’ board of directors since August 25, 2005, and prior to that was a member of the board of directors of ISE. Ms. Papaefthymiou has served as general counsel for Maritime Enterprises Management S.A. since October 2001, where she has advised the company on shipping, corporate and finance legal matters. Ms. Papaefthymiou provided similar services as general counsel to Franser Shipping from October 1991 to September 2001. Ms. Papaefthymiou received her undergraduate degree from the Law School of the University of Athens and a Master degree in Maritime Law from Southampton University in the United Kingdom. Ms. Papaefthymiou is admitted to practice law before the Bar in Piraeus, Greece.

B. Compensation

Reimbursement of Expenses of Our General Partner

Our General Partner does not receive any management fee or other compensation for services from us, although it will be entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred on our behalf. In addition, we reimburse the Manager and certain affiliates for expenses incurred pursuant to the Management Agreement and Administrative Services Agreement we entered into with the Manager. Our General Partner and its other affiliates are reimbursed for expenses incurred on our behalf. These expenses include all expenses necessary or appropriate for the conduct of our business and allocable to us, as determined by our General Partner. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 no amounts were paid to the General Partner.

Officers’ Compensation

We and our General Partner were formed in August 2007. Because our officers, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, are employees of Navios Holdings, their compensation is set and paid by Navios Holdings, and we reimburse Navios Holdings for time they spend on partnership matters pursuant to the administrative services agreement. Under the terms of the administrative agreement, we reimburse Navios Holdings for the actual costs and expenses it incurs in providing administrative support services to us. The amount of our reimbursements to Navios Holdings for the time of our officers depends on an estimate of the percentage of time our officers spent on our business and is based on a percentage of the salary and benefits that Navios Holdings pays to such officers. Our officers, and officers and employees of affiliates of our General Partner, may participate in employee benefit plans and arrangements sponsored by Navios Holdings, our General Partner or their affiliates, including plans that may be established in the future. Our board of directors may establish such plans without the approval of our limited partners. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the fees charged by the Manager for administrative services (including Navios Containers administrative fees as of August 29, 2017) was $8.9 million, $7.8 million and $6.2 million, respectively.

Compensation of Directors

Our officers or officers of Navios Holdings who also serve as our directors do not receive additional compensation for their service as directors. Each non-management director receives compensation for attending meetings of our board of directors, as well as committee meetings. Non-management directors receive a director fee of $0.45 million per year. Ms. Frangou receives a fee of $0.15 million per year for acting as a director and as our Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of our audit committee, our conflicts committee and our compensation committee receives an additional fee of $0.04 million per year. In addition, each director is reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses in connection with attending meetings of the board of directors or committees. Each director is fully indemnified by us for actions associated with being a director to the extent permitted under Marshall Islands law.

For each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the aggregate annual fees paid to our current non-management executive directors was $0.2 million and $0.15 million was paid to Ms. Frangou for acting as a director and as our Chairman of the Board.

In December 2017, the compensation committee of Navios Partners authorized and approved a cash payment of $1.8 million for which all service conditions had been met as of December 31, 2017. Also, the compensation committee of Navios Partners authorized and approved an additional $1.8 million cash payment to the directors and/or officers of the Company subject to fulfillment of certain service conditions in 2018.

 

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In December 2016, the compensation committee of Navios Partners authorized and approved a cash payment of $1.7 million for which all service conditions had been met as of December 31, 2016. Also, the compensation committee of Navios Partners authorized and approved an additional $1.7 million cash payment to the directors and/or officers of the Company for which all service conditions provided were met as of December 31, 2017.

For each of the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the aggregate compensation paid to our current non-management executive directors was $0.8 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

In December 2017 and 2016, Navios Partners authorized the granting of 1,370,044 and 2,040,000 restricted common units, respectively, which were issued on January 11, 2018 and January 31, 2017, respectively, to its directors and/or officers. These awards of restricted common units are based on service conditions only and vest ratably over a period of three years. There were no restricted common units exercised, forfeited or expired during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. As of December 31, 2017, 686,665 restricted common units were vested. As of December 31, 2016, no restricted common units were vested.

C. Board Practices

Our partnership agreement provides that our General Partner has delegated to our board of directors the authority to oversee and direct our operations, management and policies on an exclusive basis and such delegation will be binding on any successor general partner of the partnership. Our General Partner, Navios GP L.L.C., is wholly owned by Navios Holdings. Our executive officers manage our day-to-day activities consistent with the policies and procedures adopted by our board of directors. All of our executive officers and three of our directors also are executive officers, directors and/or affiliates of Navios Holdings and our Chief Executive Officer is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Navios Acquisition and Navios Holdings.

Following our first annual meeting of unitholders in 2008, our board of directors consisted of seven members, three persons who were appointed by our General Partner in its sole discretion and four who were elected by the common unitholders. Directors appointed by our general partner serve as directors for terms determined by our general partner. Directors elected by our common unitholders are divided into three classes serving staggered three-year terms. One of the four directors elected by our common unitholders was designated as the Class II elected director and will serve until our annual meeting of unitholders in 2016 as the term was renewed for three years during our 2013 annual meeting of unitholders; one director was designated as our Class III elected director and will serve until our annual meeting of unitholders in 2017 as the term was renewed for three years during our 2014 annual meeting of unitholders; and the remaining two directors were designated as the Class I elected directors and will serve until our annual meeting of unitholders in 2018, as their term was renewed for three years during our 2015 annual meeting of unitholders. At each subsequent annual meeting of unitholders, directors will be elected to succeed the class of directors whose terms have expired by a plurality of the votes of the common unitholders. Directors elected by our common unitholders will be nominated by the board of directors or by any limited partner or group of limited partners that holds at least 10% of the outstanding common units.

We have not been able to conduct business at our annual meetings since 2016 because we have not achieved a quorum of limited partners at any such duly called meeting. Most recently, we were not able to achieve a quorum for our annual meeting on October 27, 2017, despite substantial effort and expense. We undertook a court assisted process to clarify our limited partnership agreement to provide for lowering the quorum needed in order to conduct business at an adjourned annual meeting of limited partners. We intend to hold our next annual meeting in due course. If re-elected, the terms for those directors that were up for re-election in 2016 will expire in 2019, and the terms for those directors that were up for re-election in 2017 will expire in 2020.

With respect to our corporate governance, there are several significant differences between us and a domestic issuer in that the New York Stock Exchange does not require a listed limited partnership like us to have a majority of independent directors on our board of directors or to establish a compensation committee, although we do have one, or a nominating/corporate governance committee.

We have three committees: an audit committee, a conflicts committee and a compensation committee. Three independent members of our board of directors serve on a conflicts committee to review specific matters that the board believes may involve potential conflicts of interest. The conflicts committee determines if the resolution of the conflict of interest is fair and reasonable to us. The members of the conflicts committee may not be officers or employees of our general partner or directors, officers or employees of its affiliates, and must meet the independence standards established by the New York Stock Exchange to serve on an audit committee of a board of directors and certain other requirements. Any matters approved by the conflicts committee are conclusively deemed to be fair and reasonable to us, approved by all of our partners, and not a breach by our directors, our general partner or its affiliates of any duties any of them may owe us or our unitholders. The members of our conflicts committee are Messrs. Lampros Theodorou, Serafeim Kriempardis and Mrs. Orthodoxia Zisimatou.

 

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In addition, we have an audit committee of three independent directors. One of the members of the audit committee is an “audit committee financial expert” for purposes of SEC rules and regulations. The audit committee, among other things, reviews our external financial reporting, engages our external auditors and oversees our internal audit activities and procedures and the adequacy of our internal accounting controls. Our audit committee is comprised of Messrs. Serafeim Kriempardis and Lampros Theodorou and Mrs. Orthodoxia Zisimatou, and our audit committee financial expert is Mr. Serafeim Kriempardis.

Lastly, we have a compensation committee consisting of two independent directors, Messrs. Lampros Theodorou and Serafeim Kriempardis. The compensation committee is governed by a written charter, which was approved by our board of directors. The compensation committee is responsible for reviewing and approving the compensation of the Company’s executive officers, for establishing, reviewing and evaluating the long-term strategy of our compensation plan.

Employees of the Manager, a subsidiary of Navios Holdings, provide assistance to us and our operating subsidiaries pursuant to the Management Agreement and the Administrative Services Agreement.

Our Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Angeliki Frangou, and our Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Efstratios Desypris, allocate their time between managing our business and affairs and the business and affairs of Navios Holdings, and our Chief Executive Officer is also the Chief Executive Officer of Navios Acquisition, Navios Holdings, Navios Midstream and Navios Containers. While the amount of time each of them allocate between our business and the business of Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Midstream varies from time to time depending on various circumstances and the respective needs of the business, such as their relative levels of strategic activities, we anticipate that each of them will allocate approximately one quarter of their time to our business.

Our officers and other individuals providing services to us or our subsidiaries may face a conflict regarding the allocation of their time between our business and the other business interests of Navios Midstream, Navios Holdings and Navios Acquisition. We intend to cause our officers to devote as much time to the management of our business and affairs as is necessary for the proper conduct of our business and affairs.

Our General Partner owes a fiduciary duty to our unitholders, subject to limitations. Our General Partner is liable, as General Partner, for all of our debts (to the extent not paid from our assets), except for indebtedness or other obligations that are expressly non-recourse to it. Whenever possible, the partnership agreement directs that we should incur indebtedness or other obligations that are non-recourse to our General Partner.

Whenever our General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take an action in its individual capacity rather than in its capacity as our General Partner, it is entitled to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or any limited partner, and is not required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by our partnership agreement or under the Marshall Islands Act or any other law. Specifically, our General Partner will be considered to be acting in its individual capacity if it exercises its call right, pre-emptive rights or registration rights, consents or withholds consent to any merger or consolidation of the partnership, appoints any directors or votes for the appointment of any director, votes or refrains from voting on amendments to our partnership agreement that require a vote of the outstanding units, voluntarily withdraws from the partnership, transfers (to the extent permitted under our partnership agreement) or refrains from transferring its units, general partner interest or incentive distribution rights or votes upon the dissolution of the partnership. Actions of our General Partner, which are made in its individual capacity, are made by Navios Holdings as sole member of our General Partner.

D. Employees

Employees of the Manager provide assistance to us and our operating subsidiaries pursuant to the Management Agreement and the Administrative Services Agreement; therefore Navios Partners does not employ additional staff.

The Manager crews its vessels primarily with Ukrainian, Polish, Filipino, Russian, Indian, Georgian, Romanian and Sri Lankan officers and Filipino, Georgian, Romanian, Ethiopian, Indian and Ukrainian seamen. For these nationalities, officers and seamen are referred to the Manager by local crewing agencies. The crewing agencies handle each seaman’s training while the Manager handles their travel and payroll. Navios Holdings requires that all of its seamen have the qualifications and licenses required to comply with international regulations and shipping conventions.

The Manager also provides on-shore advisory, operational and administrative support to us pursuant to service agreements. Please see “Item 7. — Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions”.

 

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E. Unit Ownership

The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership, as of April 3, 2018, of our units by each of our officers and directors and by all of our directors and officers as a group. The information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purposes. Under SEC rules, a person or entity beneficially owns any units that the person or entity has the right to acquire as of June 2, 2018 (60 days after April 3, 2018) through the exercise of any unit option or other right. The percentage disclosed under “Common Units Beneficially Owned” is based on all outstanding common units (167,589,764), not including general partner units (3,420,203). Unless otherwise indicated, each person or entity has sole voting and investment power (or shares such powers with his or her spouse) with respect to the units set forth in the following table. Information for certain holders is based on information delivered to us.

Identity of Person or Group

 

     Common
Units
Owned
     Percentage of
Common Units
Owned
 

Angeliki Frangou (1)

     3,810,044        2.3

Efstratios Desypris

     —          —    

George Achniotis

               

Robert Pierot

               

Shunji Sasada

               

Serafeim Kriempardis

               

Lampros Theodorou

               

Orthodoxia Zisimatou

               

Vasiliki Papaefthymiou

     —          —    

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

     3,971,249        2.4

 

* Less than 1%
(1) Excludes units owned by Navios Holdings, on the board of which serves our Chief Executive Officer, Angeliki Frangou and our Secretary Vasiliki Papaefthymiou, as well as our director, Shunji Sasada. In addition, Ms. Frangou is Navios Holdings’ President and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Papaefthymiou is Navios Holdings’ Executive Vice President Legal and Mr. Achniotis is Navios Holdings’ Chief Financial Officer.
(2) Each director, executive officer and key employee, beneficially owns less than one percent of the outstanding common units, other than Angeliki Frangou.

Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transaction

A. Major Unitholders

The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership as of April 3, 2018, of our common units by each person we know to beneficially own more than 5% of the common units. The number of units beneficially owned by each person is determined under SEC rules and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under SEC rules, a person beneficially owns any units as to which the person has or shares voting or investment power. In addition, a person beneficially owns any units that the person or entity has the right to acquire as of June 2, 2018 (60 days after April 3, 2018) through the exercise of any unit option or other right. The percentage disclosed under “Common Units Beneficially Owned” is based all outstanding common units (171,009,967), which includes the general partner units (3,420,203).

 

     Common Units
Beneficially
Owned
 
     Number      Percentage  

Name of Beneficial Owner

     

Navios Holdings (1)(2)

     31,053,233        18.2

 

(1) Excludes the 2.0% general partner interest held by our general partner, a wholly owned subsidiary of Navios Holdings. The number of common units beneficially owned is based on a Schedule 13D/A, filed on April 4, 2018 with the SEC.
(2) Navios Holdings is a U.S. public company controlled by its board of directors, which consists of the following seven members: Angeliki Frangou, Vasiliki Papaefthymiou, Shunji Sasada, Spyridon Magoulas, John Stratakis, George Malanga and Efstathios Loizos.

 

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Our majority unitholders have the same voting rights as our other unitholders except as follows: each outstanding common unit is entitled to one vote on matters subject to a vote of common unitholders. However, to preserve our ability to be exempt from U.S. federal income tax under Section 883 of the Code, at any time, any person or group owns beneficially more than 4.9% of any class of units then outstanding, any such units owned by that person or group in excess of 4.9% may not be voted. The voting rights of any such unitholders in excess of 4.9% will effectively be redistributed pro rata among the other unitholders holding less than 4.9% of the voting power of such class of units. Our General Partner, its affiliates and persons who acquired common units with the prior approval of our board of directors will not be subject to this 4.9% limitation except with respect to voting their common units in the election of the elected directors.

B. Related Party Transactions

As of December 31, 2017, Navios Holdings, the sole member of our General Partner, owned 28,421,233 common units, which represented an 18.8% limited partner interest in us based on the then outstanding common units (20.8% including the 2.0% general partner interest). Navios Holdings’ ability, as sole member of our General Partner, to control the appointment of three of the seven members of our board of directors and to approve certain significant actions we may take, means that Navios Holdings, together with its affiliates, has the ability to exercise influence regarding our management.

Navios Europe I

Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Partners have made available to Navios Europe I (in each case, in proportion to their ownership interests in Navios Europe I) revolving loans up to $24.1 million to fund working capital requirements (collectively, the “Navios Revolving Loans I”) (see Note 20 — Investment in Affiliates). The Navios Revolving Loans I and the Navios Term Loans I earn interest and an annual preferred return, respectively, at 12.7% per annum, on a quarterly compounding basis and are repaid from free cash flow (as defined in the loan agreement) to the fullest extent possible at the end of each quarter. There are no covenant requirements or stated maturity dates.

As of December 31, 2017, Navios Partners’ portion of the outstanding amount relating to portion of the investment in Navios Europe I (5.0% of the $10.0 million) was $0.5 million, under the caption “Investment in affiliates” and the outstanding amount relating to the Navios Revolving Loans I capital was $1.2 million (December 31, 2016: $0.8 million), under the caption “Loans receivable from affiliates”. As of December 31, 2017, there was no amount undrawn under the Navios Revolving Loans I. As of December 31, 2016, the amount undrawn from the Navios Revolving Loans I was $9.1 million, of which Navios Partners’ portion was $0.5 million.

On March 17, 2017, Navios Holdings transferred to Navios Partners its rights to the fixed 12.7% interest on the Navios Europe I Navios Term Loans I and Navios Revolving Loans I (including the respective accrued receivable interest) in the amount of $33.5 million, which included a cash consideration of $4.1 million and 13,076,923 newly issued common units of Navios Partners. At the date of this transaction, the Company recognized a receivable at the fair value of its newly issued common units totaling to $29.4 million based on the closing price of $2.25 per unit as of March 16, 2017 given as consideration (see Note 18 — Transactions with related parties and affiliates). The receivable relating to the consideration settled with the issuance of 13,076,923 Navios Partners’ common units in the amount of $29.4 million has been classified contra equity within the consolidated statements of changes in Partners’ Capital as “Note receivable.” The receivable from Navios Holdings is payable on maturity in December 2023 and Navios Partners will receive approximately $50.9 million. Interest will accrue through maturity and will be recognized within “Interest income” for the receivable relating to the cash consideration of $4.1 million. As of December 31, 2017, the long-term note receivable from Navios Holdings amounted to $4.3 million (including the non-cash interest income of $0.2 million) and was included within “Note receivable from affiliates”. Navios Partners may require Navios Holdings, under certain conditions, to repurchase the loans after the third anniversary of the date of the transaction based on the then outstanding balance of the loans.

Navios Europe II

Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Partners have made available to Navios Europe II (in each case, in proportion to their ownership interests in Navios Europe II) revolving loans up to $43.5 million to fund working capital requirements (collectively, the “Navios Revolving Loans II”) (see Note 20 — Investment in Affiliates). The Navios Revolving Loans II and the Navios Term Loans II earn interest and an annual preferred return, respectively, at 18% per annum, on a quarterly compounding basis and are repaid from free cash flow (as defined in the loan agreement) to the fullest extent possible at the end of each quarter. There are no covenant requirements or stated maturity dates.

 

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As of December 31, 2017, Navios Partners’ portion of the outstanding amount relating to portion of the investment in Navios Europe II (5.0% of the $14.0 million) was $0.7 million, under the caption “Investment in affiliates” and the outstanding amount relating to the Navios Revolving Loans II capital was $9.8 million (December 31, 2016: $1.2 million), under the caption “Loans receivable from affiliates”. As of December 31, 2017, the amount undrawn under the Navios Revolving Loans II was $15.0 million, of which Navios Partners may be required to fund an amount ranging from $0 to $15.0 million. As of December 31, 2016, the amount undrawn from the Navios Revolving Loans II was $14.1 million, of which Navios Partners’ portion was $0.7 million.

Navios Containers

On June 8, 2017, Navios Containers closed its private placement and issued 10,057,645 shares for $50.3 million of gross proceeds at a subscription price of $5.00 per share. Navios Partners invested $30.0 million and received 6,000,000 shares, and Navios Holdings invested $5.0 million and received 1,000,000 shares. Each of Navios Partners and Navios Holdings also received warrants, with a five-year term, for 6.8% and 1.7% of the equity, respectively. On August 29, 2017, Navios Containers closed its private placement and issued 10,000,000 shares for $50.0 million of gross proceeds at a subscription price of $5.00 per share. Navios Partners invested $10.0 million and received 2,000,000 shares. Navios Partners and Navios Holdings also received warrants, with a five-year term, for 6.8% and 1.7% of the equity, respectively. On November 9, 2017, Navios Containers closed a private placement of 9,090,909 shares at a subscription price of $5.50 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $50.0 million. Navios Partners invested $10.0 million and received 1,818,182 shares. Navios Partners also received warrants, with a five-year term, for 6.8% of the newly issued equity. (See also Note 24—Subsequent Events)

As of December 31, 2017, Navios Partners held 9,818,182 common shares and received 33.7% of the equity, and Navios Holdings held 1,000,000 common shares and received 3.4% of the equity of Navios Containers. As of December 31, 2017, the carrying value of the investment in Navios Containers was $50.0 million (excluding accrued interest which represents the Company’s carrying value of the investment of $0.9 million). As of December 31, 2017, the market value of the investment in Navios Containers was $57.6 million. Investment income of $0.9 million was recognized in the Statements of Operations under the caption of “Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies” for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Share Purchase Agreements

On February 4, 2015, we completed a private placement to Navios Holdings of 1,120,547 common units and 22,868 general partner units, raising gross proceeds of $15.0 million.

Registration Rights Agreements

On February 4, 2015, in connection with the private placement as discussed above, we entered into a registration rights agreement with Navios Holdings pursuant to which we provide Navios Holdings with certain rights relating to the registration of the common units.

Omnibus Agreement

At the closing of the IPO, we entered into the Omnibus Agreement with Navios Holdings, our General Partner and our operating subsidiary. The following discussion describes certain provisions of the Omnibus Agreement.

Noncompetition

Under the Omnibus Agreement, Navios Holdings agreed, and caused its controlled affiliates (other than us, our General Partner and our subsidiaries) to agree, not to acquire or own Panamax or Capesize drybulk carriers under charter for three or more years. This restriction does not prevent Navios Holdings or any of its controlled affiliates (other than us and our subsidiaries) from:

 

  (1) acquiring or owning Panamax or Capesize drybulk carriers under charters for less than three years;

 

  (2) acquiring a Panamax or Capesize drybulk carrier under charter for three or more years after the closing of the IPO if Navios Holdings offers to sell to us the vessel for fair market value or (y) putting a Panamax or Capesize drybulk carrier that Navios Holdings owns under charter for three or more years if Navios Holdings offers to sell the vessel to us for fair market value at the time it is chartered for three or more years and, in each case, at each renewal or extension of that charter for three or more years;

 

  (3) acquiring a Panamax or Capesize drybulk carrier under charter for three or more years as part of the acquisition of a controlling interest in a business or package of assets and owning those vessels; provided, however, that:

 

  (a) if less than a majority of the value of the total assets or business acquired is attributable to those Panamax or Capesize drybulk carriers and related charters, as determined in good faith by the board of directors of Navios Holdings, Navios Holdings must offer to sell such Panamax or Capesize drybulk carriers and related charters to us for their fair market value plus any additional tax or other similar costs to Navios Holdings that would be required to transfer the Panamax and Capesize drybulk carriers and related charters to us separately from the acquired business; and

 

  (b) if a majority or more of the value of the total assets or business acquired is attributable to the Panamax or Capesize drybulk carriers and related charters, as determined in good faith by the board of directors of Navios Holdings, Navios Holdings shall notify us in writing, of the proposed acquisition. We shall, not later than the 15th calendar day following receipt of such notice, notify Navios Holdings if we wish to acquire such Panamax or Capesize drybulk carriers and related charters forming part of the business or package of assets in cooperation and simultaneously with Navios Holdings acquiring the non-Panamax or non-Capesize drybulk carriers and related charters forming part of that business or package of assets. If we do not notify Navios Holdings of our intent to pursue the acquisition within 15 calendar days, Navios Holdings may proceed with the acquisition as provided in (a) above.

 

  (4) acquiring a non-controlling interest in any company, business or pool of assets;

 

  (5) acquiring or owning any Panamax or Capesize drybulk carrier and related charter if we do not fulfill our obligation, under any existing or future written agreement, to purchase such vessel in accordance with the terms of any such agreement;

 

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  (6) acquiring or owning Panamax or Capesize drybulk carriers under charter for three or more years subject to the offers to us described in paragraphs (2) and (3) above pending our determination whether to accept such offers and pending the closing of any offers we accept;

 

  (7) providing ship management services relating to any vessel whatsoever, including to Panamax or Capesize drybulk carriers owned by the controlled affiliates of Navios Holdings; or

 

  (8) acquiring or owning Panamax or Capesize drybulk carriers under charter for three or more years if we have previously advised Navios Holdings that we consent to such acquisition, operation or charter.

Under the Omnibus Agreement, Navios Holdings will not be prohibited from operating chartered-in Panamax or Capesize drybulk carriers under charter-out contracts for three or more years, so long as immediately prior to the time such vessel is proposed to be put under such charter-out contract, Navios Holdings offers such charter-out opportunity to us in the event that (i) we have a Panamax or Capesize drybulk carrier that is available and comparable to Navios Holdings’ chartered-in vessel and (ii) it is acceptable to the charter customer.

If Navios Holdings or any of its controlled affiliates (other than us or our subsidiaries) acquires or owns Panamax or Capesize drybulk carriers pursuant to any of the exceptions described above, it may not subsequently expand that portion of its business other than pursuant to those exceptions.

In addition, under the Omnibus Agreement we agreed, and caused our subsidiaries to agree, to acquire, own, operate or charter Panamax or Capesize drybulk carriers with charters of three or more years only (any vessels that are not Panamax or Capesize drybulk carriers will in the following be referred to as the “Non-Panamax and Non-Capesize Drybulk Carriers”). This restriction will not:

 

  (1) prevent us or any of our subsidiaries from acquiring a Non-Panamax or Non-Capesize Drybulk Carrier and any related charters as part of the acquisition of a controlling interest in a business or package of assets and owning and operating or chartering those vessels, provided, however, that:

 

  (a) if less than a majority of the value of the total assets or business acquired is attributable to a Non-Panamax or Non-Capesize Drybulk Carrier and related charter, as determined in good faith by us; we must offer to sell such Non-Panamax or Non-Capesize Drybulk Carrier and related charter to Navios Holdings for their fair market value plus any additional tax or other similar costs to us that would be required to transfer the Non-Panamax and Non-Capesize Drybulk Carrier and related charter to Navios Holdings separately from the acquired business; and

 

  (b) if a majority or more of the value of the total assets or business acquired is attributable to a Non-Panamax or Non-Capesize Drybulk Carrier and related charter, as determined in good faith by us; we shall notify Navios Holdings in writing of the proposed acquisition. Navios Holdings shall, not later than the 15th calendar day following receipt of such notice, notify us if it wishes to acquire the Non-Panamax or Non-Capesize Drybulk Carrier forming part of the business or package of assets in cooperation and simultaneously with us acquiring the Panamax or Capesize Drybulk Carrier under charter for three or more years forming part of that business or package of assets. If Navios Holdings does not notify us of its intent to pursue the acquisition within 15 calendar days, we may proceed with the acquisition as provided in (a) above.

 

  (2) prevent us or any of our subsidiaries from owning, operating or chartering a Non-Panamax or Non-Capesize Drybulk Carrier subject to the offer to Navios Holdings described in paragraph (2) above, pending its determination whether to accept such offer and pending the closing of any offer it accepts; or

 

  (3) prevent us or any of our subsidiaries from acquiring, operating or chartering a Non-Panamax or Non-Capesize Drybulk Carrier if Navios Holdings has previously advised us that it consents to such acquisition, operation or charter.

If we or any of our subsidiaries owns, operates and charters Non-Panamax or Non-Capesize Drybulk Carriers pursuant to any of the exceptions described above, neither we nor such subsidiary may subsequently expand that portion of our business other than pursuant to those exceptions.

Upon a change of control of us or our General Partner, the noncompetition provisions of the Omnibus Agreement will terminate immediately. Upon a change of control of Navios Holdings, the noncompetition provisions of the Omnibus Agreement will terminate at the time that is the later of one year following the change of control and the date on which all of our outstanding subordinated units have converted to common units; provided, however, that in no event will the noncompetition provisions of the Omnibus Agreement terminate upon a change of control of Navios Holdings prior to the date that is four years following the date of the Omnibus Agreement.

 

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On June 9, 2009, Navios Holdings relieved Navios Partners from its obligation to purchase the Capesize vessel Navios Bonavis upon its delivery to Navios Holdings. Navios Holdings was released from the Omnibus Agreement restrictions for two years until June 29, 2011 in connection with acquiring vessels from third parties (but not from the requirement to offer to sell to Navios Partners qualifying vessels in Navios Holdings’ existing fleet). Pursuant to our release from the Omnibus Agreement restrictions, in June 2009, we waived our rights of first refusal with Navios Acquisition with respect to an acquisition opportunity until the earlier of: (a) the consummation of a business combination by Navios Acquisition; (b) the liquidation of Navios Acquisition; and (c) June 2011.

In addition, concurrently with the successful consummation of the initial business combination by Navios Acquisition, on May 28, 2010, because of the overlap between Navios Acquisition, Navios Holdings and us, with respect to possible acquisitions under the terms of our Omnibus Agreement, we entered into a business opportunity right of first refusal agreement which provides the types of business opportunities in the marine transportation and logistics industries, we, Navios Holdings and Navios Acquisition must share with each other.

Rights of First Offer

Under the Omnibus Agreement, we and our subsidiaries will grant to Navios Holdings a right of first offer on any proposed sale, transfer or other disposition of any of our Panamax or Capesize drybulk carriers and related charters or any Non-Panamax or Non-Capesize Drybulk Carriers and related charters owned or acquired by us. Likewise, Navios Holdings agreed (and caused its subsidiaries to agree) to grant a similar right of first offer to us for any Panamax or Capesize drybulk carrier under charter for three or more years it might own. These rights of first offer do not apply to a (a) sale, transfer or other disposition of vessels between any affiliated subsidiaries, or pursuant to the terms of any charter or other agreement with a charter party or (b) merger with or into, or sale of substantially all of the assets to, an unaffiliated third-party.

Prior to engaging in any negotiation regarding any vessel disposition with respect to a Panamax or Capesize drybulk carrier under charter for three or more years with a non-affiliated third-party or any Non-Panamax or Non-Capesize Drybulk Carrier and related charter, we or Navios Holdings, as the case may be, will deliver a written notice to the other party setting forth the material terms and conditions of the proposed transaction. During the 15-day period after the delivery of such notice, we and Navios Holdings will negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement on the transaction. If we do not reach an agreement within such 15-day period, we or Navios Holdings, as the case may be, will be able within the next 180 calendar days to sell, transfer, dispose or re-charter the vessel to a third party (or to agree in writing to undertake such transaction with a third party) on terms generally no less favorable to us or Navios Holdings, as the case may be, than those offered pursuant to the written notice.

Upon a change of control of us or our general partner, the right of first offer provisions of the Omnibus Agreement will terminate immediately. Upon a change of control of Navios Holdings, the right of first offer provisions of the Omnibus Agreement will terminate at the time that is the later of one year following the change of control and the date on which all of our outstanding subordinated units have converted to common units; provided, however, that in no event will the right of first offer provisions of the Omnibus Agreement terminate upon a change of control of Navios Holdings prior to the date that is four years following the date of the Omnibus Agreement.

Indemnification

Navios Holdings will also indemnify us for liabilities related to certain income tax liabilities attributable to the operation of the assets contributed to us prior to the time they were contributed.

Amendments

The Omnibus Agreement may not be amended without the prior approval of the conflicts committee of our board of directors if the proposed amendment will, in the reasonable discretion of our board of directors, adversely affect holders of our common units.

Similar Agreement with Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation

In connection with the initial public offering of Navios Acquisition, because of the overlap between Navios Acquisition, Navios Holdings and us, with respect to possible acquisitions under the terms of our Omnibus Agreement, we had entered into a business opportunity right of first refusal agreement, which provided that, commencing on June 25, 2008 and extending until the earlier of the consummation of an initial business combination by Navios Acquisition or its liquidation, we, Navios Holdings and Navios Acquisition would share business opportunities in the marine transportation and logistics industries.

 

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On June 9, 2009, Navios Holdings relieved Navios Partners from its obligation to purchase the Capesize vessel Navios Bonavis upon its delivery to Navios Holdings. Navios Holdings was released from the Omnibus Agreement restrictions for two years in connection with acquiring vessels from third parties until June 29, 2011 (but not from the requirement to offer to sell to Navios Partners qualifying vessels in Navios Holdings’ existing fleet). Pursuant to our release from the Omnibus Agreement restrictions, in June 2009, we had waived our rights of first refusal with Navios Acquisition with respect to an acquisition opportunity until the earlier of: (a) the consummation of a business combination by Navios Acquisition; (b) the liquidation of Navios Acquisition; and (c) June 2011. Such waiver ended with the successful consummation of the initial business combination by Navios Acquisition, on May 28, 2010, when we entered into the business opportunity right of first offer agreement.

The Acquisition Omnibus Agreement

Navios Partners entered into an omnibus agreement with Navios Acquisition and Navios Holdings (the “Acquisition Omnibus Agreement”) in connection with the closing of Navios Acquisition’s initial vessel acquisition, pursuant to which, among other things, Navios Holdings and Navios Partners agreed not to acquire, charter-in or own liquid shipment vessels, except for container vessels and vessels that are primarily employed in operations in South America, without the consent of an independent committee of Navios Acquisition. In addition, Navios Acquisition, under the Acquisition Omnibus Agreement, agreed to cause its subsidiaries not to acquire, own, operate or charter drybulk carriers subject to specific exceptions. Under the Acquisition Omnibus Agreement, Navios Acquisition and its subsidiaries granted to Navios Holdings and Navios Partners, a right of first offer on any proposed sale, transfer or other disposition of any of its drybulk carriers and related charters owned or acquired by Navios Acquisition. Likewise, Navios Holdings and Navios Partners agreed to grant a similar right of first offer to Navios Acquisition for any liquid shipment vessels it might own. These rights of first offer will not apply to a (i) sale, transfer or other disposition of vessels between any affiliated subsidiaries, or pursuant to the terms of any charter or other agreement with a counterparty, or (ii) merger with or into, or sale of substantially all of the assets to, an unaffiliated third party.

The Navios Midstream Omnibus Agreement

In connection with the Navios Midstream initial public offering and effective November 18, 2014, Navios Partners entered into the Omnibus Agreement with Navios Midstream, Navios Acquisition and Navios Holdings pursuant to which Navios Acquisition, Navios Holdings and Navios Partners have agreed not to acquire or own any VLCCs, crude oil tankers, refined petroleum product tankers, LPG tankers or chemical tankers under time charters of five or more years and also providing rights of first offer on certain tanker vessels.

The Navios Containers Omnibus Agreement

In connection with the Navios Containers private placement and listing on the Norwegian over-the-counter market effective June 8,

2017, Navios Partners entered into an omnibus agreement with Navios Containers, Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios

Midstream, pursuant to which Navios Partners, Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Midstream have granted to Navios Containers a right of first refusal over any container vessels to be sold or acquired in the future. The omnibus agreement contains significant exceptions that will allow Navios Partners, Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Midstream to compete with Navios Containers under specified circumstances.

Management Agreement

At the closing of the IPO, we entered into a management agreement, as amended, with the Manager, a subsidiary of Navios Holdings, pursuant to which the Manager has agreed to provide certain commercial and technical management services to us. These services are provided in a commercially reasonable manner in accordance with customary ship management practice and under our direction. The Manager provides these services to us directly but may subcontract for certain of these services with other entities, including other Navios Holdings subsidiaries.

The commercial and technical management services include:

 

    the commercial and technical management of the vessel : managing day-to-day vessel operations including negotiating charters and other employment contracts with respect to the vessels and monitoring payments thereunder, ensuring regulatory compliance, arranging for the vetting of vessels, procuring and arranging for port entrance and clearance, appointing counsel and negotiating the settlement of all claims in connection with the operation of each vessel, appointing adjusters and surveyors and technical consultants as necessary, and providing technical support,

 

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    vessel maintenance and crewing : including supervising the maintenance and general efficiency of vessels, and ensuring the vessels are in seaworthy and good operating condition, arranging our hire of qualified officers and crew, arranging for all transportation, board and lodging of the crew, negotiating the settlement and payment of all wages, and

 

    purchasing and insurance : purchasing stores, supplies and parts for vessels, arranging insurance for vessels (including marine hull and machinery insurance, protection and indemnity insurance and war risk and oil pollution insurance).

In October 2011, Navios Partners extended the duration of its existing Management Agreement with the Manager until December 31, 2017 and fixed the rate for shipmanagement services of its owned fleet through December 31, 2013. The management fees, including drydocking expenses were: (a) $4,650 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4,550 daily rate per Panamax vessel; and (c) $5,650 daily rate per Capesize vessel. In each of October 2013, August 2014, February 2015 and February 2016, Navios Partners amended its existing management agreement with the Manager to fix the fees for ship management services of its owned fleet excluding drydocking expenses which are reimbursed at cost by Navios Partners at: (a) $4,100 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4,200 daily rate per Panamax vessel; (c) $5,250 daily rate per Capesize vessel; (d) $6,700 daily rate per Container vessel of TEU 6,800; (e) $7,400 daily rate per Container vessel of more than TEU 8,000; and (f) $8,750 daily rate per very large Container vessel of more than TEU 13,000 through December 31, 2017. In November 2017, Navios Partners extended the duration of its existing Management Agreement with the Manager until December 31, 2022 and the fixed rate for ship management services of its owned fleet through December 31, 2019, effective from January 1, 2018. The management fees, excluding drydocking expenses will be: (a) $4,225 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4,325 daily rate per Panamax vessel; (c) $5,250 daily rate per Capesize vessel; (d) $6,700 daily rate per Container vessel of TEU 6,800; (e) $7,400 daily rate per Container vessel of more than TEU 8,000; and (f) $8,750 daily rate per very large Containers vessel of more than TEU 13,000. Drydocking expenses under this agreement are reimbursed by Navios Partners at cost at occurrence. Effective August 31, 2016, Navios Partners could, upon request to Navios Holdings, partially or fully defer the reimbursement of dry docking and other extraordinary fees and expenses under the Management Agreement to a later date, but not later than January 5, 2018, and if reimbursed on a later date, such amounts would bear interest at a rate of 1% per annum over LIBOR.

The management agreement may be terminated, prior to the end of its term by us upon 120 days notice if there is a change of control of the Manager, or by the Manager upon 120 days notice if there is a change of control of us or our general partner. In addition, the management agreement may be terminated by us or by the Manager upon 120 days notice if:

 

    the other party breaches the agreement;

 

    a receiver is appointed for all or substantially all of the property of the other party;

 

    an order is made to wind up the other party;

 

    a final judgment or order that materially and adversely affects the other party’s ability to perform the management agreement is obtained or entered and not vacated or discharged; or

 

    the other party makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, files a petition in bankruptcy or liquidation or commences any reorganization proceedings.

Furthermore, at any time after the first anniversary of the management agreement, the management agreement may be terminated prior to the end of its term by us or by the Manager upon 365 days notice for any reason other than those described above.

In addition to the fixed daily fees payable under the management agreement, the management agreement provides that the Manager is entitled to reasonable supplementary remuneration for extraordinary fees and costs resulting from:

 

    time spent on insurance and salvage claims;

 

    time spent vetting and pre-vetting the vessels by any charterers in excess of 10 days per vessel per year;

 

    the deductible of any insurance claims relating to the vessels or for any claims that are within such deductible range;

 

    the significant increase in insurance premiums which are due to factors such as “acts of God” outside the control of the Manager;

 

    repairs, refurbishment or modifications, including those not covered by the guarantee of the shipbuilder or by the insurance covering the vessels, resulting from maritime accidents, collisions, other accidental damage or unforeseen events (except to the extent that such accidents, collisions, damage or events are due to the fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Manager, its employees or its agents, unless and to the extent otherwise covered by insurance);

 

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    expenses imposed due to any improvement, upgrade or modification to, structural changes with respect to the installation of new equipment aboard any vessel that results from a change in, an introduction of new, or a change in the interpretation of, applicable laws, at the recommendation of the classification society for that vessel or otherwise;

 

    costs associated with increases in crew employment expenses resulting from an introduction of new, or a change in the interpretation of, applicable laws or resulting from the early termination of the charter of any vessel;

 

    any taxes, dues or fines imposed on the vessels or the Manager due to the operation of the vessels;

 

    expenses incurred in connection with the sale or acquisition of a vessel such as inspections and technical assistance; and

 

    any similar costs, liabilities and expenses that were not reasonably contemplated by us and the Manager as being encompassed by or a component of the fixed daily fees at the time the fixed daily fees were determined.

Under the management agreement, neither we nor the Manager are liable for failure to perform any of our or its obligations, respectively, under the management agreement by reason of any cause beyond our or its reasonable control.

In addition, the Manager has no liability for any loss arising in the course of the performance of the commercial and technical management services under the management agreement unless and to the extent that such loss is proved to have resulted solely from the fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Manager or its employees, in which case (except where such loss has resulted from the Manager’s intentional personal act or omission and with knowledge that such loss would probably result) the Manager’s liability is limited to $3.0 million for each incident or series of related incidents.

Further, under our management agreement, we have agreed to indemnify the Manager and its employees and agents against all actions which may be brought against them under the management agreement including, without limitation, all actions brought under the environmental laws of any jurisdiction, or otherwise relating to pollution or the environment, and against and in respect of all costs and expenses they may suffer or incur due to defending or settling such action; provided, however that such indemnity excludes any or all losses which may be caused by or due to the fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Manager or its employees or agents, or any breach of the management agreement by the Manager.

Administrative Services Agreement

At the closing of the IPO, we entered into the Administrative Services Agreement, as amended, with the Manager, pursuant to which the Manager has agreed to provide certain administrative management services to us. The agreement expires in December 2022.

The Administrative Services Agreement may be terminated prior to the end of its term by us upon 120 days notice if there is a change of control of the Manager or by the Manager upon 120 days notice if there is a change of control of us or our General Partner. In addition, the Administrative Services Agreement may be terminated by us or by the Manager upon 120 days notice if:

 

    the other party breaches the agreement;

 

    a receiver is appointed for all or substantially all of the property of the other party;

 

    an order is made to wind up the other party;

 

    a final judgment or order that materially and adversely affects the other party’s ability to perform the management agreement is obtained or entered and not vacated or discharged; or

 

    the other party makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, files a petition in bankruptcy or liquidation or commences any reorganization proceedings.

Furthermore, the administrative services agreement may be terminated by us or by the Manager upon 365 days notice for any reason other than those described above.

The administrative services include:

 

    bookkeeping, audit and accounting services: assistance with the maintenance of our corporate books and records, assistance with the preparation of our tax returns and arranging for the provision of audit and accounting services;

 

    legal and insurance services: arranging for the provision of legal, insurance and other professional services and maintaining our existence and good standing in necessary jurisdictions;

 

    administrative and clerical services: assistance with office space, arranging meetings for our common unitholders pursuant to the partnership agreement, arranging the provision of IT services, providing all administrative services required for subsequent debt and equity financings and attending to all other administrative matters necessary to ensure the professional management of our business;

 

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    banking and financial services : providing cash management including assistance with preparation of budgets, overseeing banking services and bank accounts, arranging for the deposit of funds, negotiating loan and credit terms with lenders and monitoring and maintaining compliance therewith;

 

    advisory services : assistance in complying with United States and other relevant securities laws;

 

    client and investor relations: arranging for the provision of, advisory, clerical and investor relations services to assist and support us in our communications with our common unitholders;

 

    integration of any acquired businesses; and

 

    client and investor relations.

We reimburse the Manager for reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of these services within 15 days after the Manager submits to us an invoice for such costs and expenses, together with any supporting detail that may be reasonably required.

Under the Administrative Services Agreement, we have agreed to indemnify the Manager and its employees against all actions which may be brought against them under the Administrative Services Agreement including, without limitation, all actions brought under the environmental laws of any jurisdiction, and against and in respect of all costs and expenses they may suffer or incur due to defending or settling such actions; provided, however that such indemnity excludes any or all losses which may be caused by or due to the fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Manager or its employees or agents.

Common Unit Purchase Agreement between Navios Partners and Amadeus Maritime S.A.

In connection with the IPO, we entered into a common unit purchase agreement with Amadeus Maritime S.A. (“Amadeus Maritime”), a corporation wholly-owned by Ms. Angeliki Frangou, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to which we sold 500,000 common units to Amadeus Maritime at a price per unit equal to the public offering price.

General and Administrative Expenses

We have entered into an administrative services agreement with the Manager, pursuant to which the Manager has agreed to provide certain administrative management services to us. Navios Partners extended the duration of its existing Administrative Services Agreement with the Manager pursuant to the same terms, until December 31, 2022. Total general and administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 (including Navios Containers administrative fees as of August 29, 2017) amounted to $8.9 million, $7.8 million and $6.2 million, respectively.

Management Fees

Pursuant to the management agreement dated November 16, 2007, which was revised in October 2009 and 2011, the Manager, provided commercial and technical management services to Navios Partners’ vessels for a daily fee of: (a) $4,500 daily rate per owned Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4,400 daily rate per owned Panamax vessel; and (c) $5,500 daily rate per owned Capesize vessel until November 16, 2011. In October 2011, Navios Partners extended the duration of its existing Management Agreement with the Manager until December 31, 2017 and fixed the rate for shipmanagement services of its owned fleet through December 31, 2013. The management fees, including drydocking expenses were: (a) $4,650 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4,550 daily rate per Panamax vessel; and (c) $5,650 daily rate per Capesize vessel. In each of October 2013, August 2014, February 2015 and February 2016, Navios Partners amended its existing management agreement with the Manager to fix the fees for ship management services of its owned fleet at: (a) $4,100 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4,200 daily rate per Panamax vessel; (c) $5,250 daily rate per Capesize vessel; (d) $6,700 daily rate per Container vessel of TEU 6,800; (e) $7,400 daily rate per Container vessel of more than TEU 8,000; and (f) $8,750 daily rate per very large Container vessel of more than TEU 13,000 through December 31, 2017. In November 2017, Navios Partners extended the duration of its existing Management Agreement with the Manager until December 31, 2022 and the fixed rate for ship management services of its owned fleet through December 31, 2019, effective from January 1, 2018. The management fees, excluding drydocking expenses will be: (a) $4,225 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4,325 daily rate per Panamax vessel; (c) $5,250 daily rate per Capesize vessel; (d) $6,700 daily rate per Container vessel of TEU 6,800; (e) $7,400 daily rate per Container vessel of more than TEU 8,000; and (f) $8,750 daily rate per very large Containers vessel of more than TEU 13,000.

 

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Total management fees for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 (including Navios Containers management fees as of August 29, 2017) amounted to $67.3 million, $59.2 million and $56.5 million, respectively.

Other

On November 15, 2012 (as amended in March 2014), Navios Holdings and Navios Partners entered into the Navios Holdings Guarantee by which Navios Holdings will provide supplemental credit default insurance with a maximum cash payment of $20.0 million. The final settlement of the amount due will take place at anytime but in no case later than December 31, 2019, in accordance with a letter of agreement effective as of December 29, 2017. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company submitted claims for charterers’ default under this agreement to Navios Holdings for a total amount of $7.2 million and $9.2 million, respectively, net of applicable deductions, of which $7.6 million and $9.6 million, respectively, was presented under the caption “Other income”.

Item 8. Financial Information

A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

Consolidated Financial Statements: See Item 18.

Legal Proceedings

On August 31, 2016, Hanjin filed for rehabilitation. Navios Partners had two Capesize vessels chartered to Hanjin at a net rate of $29,356 per day until December 2020. In September 2016, both vessels were redelivered to Navios Partners’ commercial management and were rechartered to third parties. Navios has filed claims to the Seoul Central District Court for the lost revenues in accordance with the rehabilitation process. Rehabilitation proceedings were cancelled on February 2, 2017 and Hanjin entered into liquidation on February 17, 2017. Navios Partners’ claims were registered in the rehabilitation proceedings on October 24, 2016 and will be assessed during the bankruptcy proceedings. There is no notable change in the status of Hanjin’s bankruptcy proceedings since our last report of 2017.

We are not involved in any other legal proceedings or aware of any proceedings against us, or contemplated to be brought against us, that we believe would have a have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations and liquidity.

From time to time, Navios Partners may be subject to legal proceedings and claims arising out of our operations in the normal course of business. We maintain insurance policies with insurers in amounts and with coverage and deductibles as our board of directors believes are reasonable and prudent. We expect that these claims would be covered by insurance, subject to customary deductibles. Those claims, even if lacking merit, could result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources.

Cash Distribution Policy

Limitations on Cash Distributions and Our Ability to Change Our Cash Distribution Policy

There is no guarantee that unitholders will receive quarterly distributions from us and beginning with the quarter ending December 31, 2015, our board of directors elected to suspend distributions on our common units in order to preserve cash and improve our liquidity. In March 2018, the Company’s board announced a new distribution policy under which it intends to declare quarterly cash distribution in the amount of $0.02 per unit, or $0.08 annually. The Company announced the first quarterly distribution of $0.02 per unit for the first quarter of 2018, which will be payable on May 14, 2018 to all unitholders of record on May 10, 2018. Our distribution policy is subject to certain restrictions and may be changed at any time, including:

 

    Our unitholders have no contractual or other legal right to receive distributions other than the obligation under our partnership agreement to distribute available cash on a quarterly basis, which is subject to the broad discretion of our board of directors to establish reserves and other limitations.

 

    While our partnership agreement requires us to distribute all of our available cash, our partnership agreement, including provisions requiring us to make cash distributions contained therein, may be amended. Although during the subordination period, with certain exceptions, our partnership agreement could not be amended without the approval of non-affiliated common unitholders, our partnership agreement can be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding common units after the subordination period has ended. Upon the closing of the IPO, Navios Holdings did not own any of our outstanding common units and owned 100.0% of our outstanding subordinated units.

 

    Even if our cash distribution policy is not modified or revoked, the amount of distributions we pay under our cash distribution policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our board of directors, taking into consideration the terms of our partnership agreement.

 

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

 

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    We may lack sufficient cash to pay distributions to our unitholders due to decreases in net revenues or increases in operating expenses, principal and interest payments on outstanding debt, tax expenses, working capital requirements, maintenance and replacement capital expenditures or anticipated cash needs.

 

    Our distribution policy is affected by restrictions on distributions under our credit facilities that we entered into in connection with the closing of the IPO. Specifically, our credit facilities contain material financial tests that must be satisfied and we will not pay any distributions that will cause us to violate our credit facilities or other debt instruments. Should we be unable to satisfy these restrictions included in our credit facilities or if we are otherwise in default under our credit facilities, our ability to make cash distributions to unitholders, notwithstanding our cash distribution policy, would be materially adversely affected.

 

    If we make distributions out of capital surplus, as opposed to operating surplus, such distributions will constitute a return of capital and will result in a reduction in the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels. We do not anticipate that we will make any distributions from capital surplus.

Our ability to make distributions to our unitholders depends on the performance of our subsidiaries and their ability to distribute funds to us. The ability of our subsidiaries to make distributions to us may be restricted by, among other things, the provisions of existing and future indebtedness, applicable partnership and limited liability company laws and other laws and regulations.

Quarterly Distribution

There is no guarantee that we will pay the quarterly distribution on the common units in any quarter. The amount of distributions paid under our policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our board of directors, taking into consideration the terms of our partnership agreement. We are prohibited from making any distributions to unitholders if it would cause an event of default, or an event of default exists, under our existing credit facilities.

Quarterly distributions were paid by the Company through September 2015. For the quarter ended December 31, 2015, the Company’s board of directors determined to suspend payment of the Company’s quarterly distributions in order to preserve cash and improve our liquidity. In March 2018, the Company’s board of directors announced a new distribution policy under which it intends to declare quarterly cash distribution in the amount of $0.02 per unit, or $0.08 annually. The Company announced the first quarterly distribution of $0.02 per unit for the first quarter of 2018, which will be payable on May 14, 2018 to all unitholders of record on May 10, 2018.

During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 the aggregate amount of cash distribution paid was $0, $0 and $132.3 million, respectively.

Incentive Distribution Rights

The following description of our incentive distribution rights reflects such rights in the event the distributions are reinstated and the indicated levels are achieved, of which there can be no assurance. Incentive distribution rights represent the right to receive an increasing percentage of quarterly distributions of available cash from Operating Surplus after the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels have been achieved. Our general partner currently holds the incentive distribution rights, but may transfer these rights separately from its general partner interest, subject to restrictions in the partnership agreement. Except for transfers of incentive distribution rights to an affiliate or another entity as part of our general partner’s merger or consolidation with or into, or sale of substantially all of its assets to such entity, the approval of a majority of our common units (excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates), voting separately as a class, generally is required for a transfer of the incentive distribution rights to a third party prior to December 31, 2017.

The following table illustrates the percentage allocations of the additional available cash from Operating Surplus among the unitholders and our general partner up to the various target distribution levels. The amounts set forth under “Marginal Percentage Interest in Distributions” are the percentage interests of the unitholders and our general partner in any available cash from Operating Surplus we distribute up to and including the corresponding amount in the column “Total Quarterly Distribution Target Amount,” until available cash from Operating Surplus we distribute reaches the next target distribution level, if any. The percentage interests shown for the unitholders and our general partner for the minimum quarterly distribution are also applicable to quarterly distribution amounts that are less than the minimum quarterly distribution. The percentage interests shown for our general partner assume that our general partner maintains its 2.0% general partner interest and assume our general partner has not transferred the incentive distribution rights.

 

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          Marginal Percentage Interest
in Distributions
 
     Total Quarterly Distribution
Target Amount
   Common
Unitholders
    General
Partner
 

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

   up to $0.35      98     2

First Target Distribution

   up to $0.4025      98     2

Second Target Distribution

   above $0.4025 up to $0.4375      85     15

Third Target Distribution

   above $0.4375 up to $0.525      75     25

Thereafter

   above $0.525      50     50

B. Significant Changes

No significant changes have occurred since the date of the annual financial statements included herein.

Item 9. The Offer and Listing

Our common units are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (or “NYSE”) under the symbol “NMM”. The following table sets forth the high and low closing sales prices for our common units on the NYSE for each of the periods indicated:

 

     Price Range  
     High      Low  

Year Ended:

     

December 31, 2017

   $ 2.63      $ 1.46  

December 31, 2016

   $ 3.07      $ 0.80  

December 31, 2015

   $ 13.89      $ 2.71  

December 31, 2014

   $ 20.40      $ 9.67  

December 31, 2013

   $ 19.45      $ 12.84  

Quarter Ended:

     

December 31, 2017

   $ 2.36      $ 1.89  

September 30, 2017

   $ 2.20      $ 1.46  

June 30, 2017

   $ 2.22      $ 1.50  

March 31, 2017

   $ 2.63      $ 1.47  

December 31, 2016

   $ 2.10      $ 1.18  

September 30, 2016

   $ 1.68      $ 1.28  

June 30, 2016

   $ 1.85      $ 1.17  

March 31, 2016

   $ 3.07      $ 0.80  

Month Ended:

     

April 30, 2018 (through April 2, 2018)

   $ 1.75      $ 1.75  

March 31, 2018

   $ 2.12      $ 1.68  

February 28, 2018

   $ 2.15      $ 1.90  

January 31, 2018

   $ 2.55      $ 2.08  

December 31, 2017

   $ 2.36      $ 2.04  

November 30, 2017

   $ 2.13      $ 1.89  

October 31, 2017

   $ 2.13      $ 2.02  

September 30, 2017

   $ 2.20      $ 2.05  

Item 10. Additional Information

A. Share Capital

Not applicable.

B. Memorandum and Articles of Association

The information required to be disclosed under Item 10.B is incorporated by reference to the following sections of the prospectus included in our Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the SEC on November 14, 2007: “The Partnership Agreement,” “Description of the Common Units — The Units”, “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties”, “How we make Cash Distributions” and “Our Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions.”

 

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On June 10, 2009, we executed the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Navios Partners. The Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership designated a new series of subordinated units as Subordinated Series A Units (the “Series A Units”).

On January 1, 2012, in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement, all of the then outstanding subordinated units converted into 7,621,843 shares of common units (conversion excluded the subordinated Series A units) and on June 29, 2012, the outstanding subordinated Series A units converted into 1,000,000 shares of common units.

On March 12, 2015, we executed the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Navios Partners in order to reflect the conversion of the Subordinated Units and the Subordinated Series A Units into Common Units.

On March 19, 2018, we executed the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Navios Partners in order to reflect the recent process to clarify the quorum necessary to conduct business at any adjourned meeting.

C. Material Contracts

The following is a summary of each material contract, other than material contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, to which we or any of our subsidiaries is a party, for the two years immediately preceding the date of this Annual Report, each of which is included in the list of exhibits in Item 19. Please read “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Trends and Factors Affecting Our Future Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources — credit facilities” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Facility Agreement for a $35.0 million term loan facility, dated May 27, 2011, among Navios Partners, Commerzbank AG and DVB Bank SE. Please read “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Supplemental Agreement, dated December 4, 2012, among Navios Partners, Commerzbank AG and DVB Bank SE relating to the $290.45 million term loan facility, dated July 31, 2012. Please read “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Supplemental Agreement, dated March 27, 2013, among Navios Partners, Commerzbank AG and DVB Bank SE relating to the $290.45 million term loan facility, dated July 31, 2012 to revise the lender majority vote requirement and expand the definition of Security Value. Please read “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Supplemental Agreement, dated December 24, 2015, among Navios Partners, Commerzbank AG and DVB Bank SE relating to the $290.45 million term loan facility, dated July 31, 2012. Please read “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Supplemental Agreement, dated March 22, 2016, among Navios Partners, Commerzbank AG and DVB Bank SE relating to the $290.45 million term loan facility, dated July 31, 2012. Please read “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Credit Agreement, dated June 27, 2013, among Navios Partners, Navios Partners Finance (US) Inc., as co-borrowers, JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as syndication agent, Citibank, N.A., as documentation agent, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent and the other lenders party thereto, for $250.0 million term loan facility. Please read “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Incremental Amendment No. 1, dated October 31, 2013, to the Credit Agreement, dated June 27, 2013, among Navios Partners, Navios Partners Finance (US) Inc., as co-borrowers, JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as syndication agent, Citibank, N.A., as documentation agent, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent and the other lenders party thereto, for $250.0 million term loan facility. Please read “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Incremental Amendment No. 2, dated November 1, 2013, to the Credit Agreement, dated June 27, 2013, among Navios Partners, Navios Partners Finance (US) Inc., as co-borrowers, JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as syndication agent, Citibank, N.A., as documentation agent, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent and the other lenders party thereto, for $250.0 million term loan facility. Please read “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

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    Facility Agreement for $164.0 million term loan facility, dated April 16, 2015, among Navios Partners and HSH Nordbank AG. Please read “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Credit Agreement for $405.0 million term loan, dated as of March 14, 2017, among Navios Maritime Partners L.P. and Navios Partners Finance (US) Inc., JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, S. Goldman Advisors LLC, DVB Capital Markets LLC, ABN AMRO Capital USA LLC, Credit Agricole Corporate Investment Bank, Clarkson Platou Securities, Inc. and the several Lenders from time to time party thereto.

 

    Loan Agreement for a $32.0 million term loan, dated June 26, 2017, among Finian Navigation Co., Casual ShipHolding Co., BNP Paribas and the Banks and Financial Institutions listed therein.

 

    Facility Agreement for a $39.0 million credit facility, dated June 28, 2017, among Fantastiks Shipping Corporation, Sagittarius Shipping Corporation, Customized Developments S.A., Ammos Shipping Corp., Navios Maritime Partners L.P., and DVB Bank SE.

 

    Omnibus Agreement, dated as of November 16, 2007, among Navios Holdings, Navios GP LLC, Navios Maritime Operating LLC., and Navios Partners. Please read “Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Amendment to Omnibus Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2009, among Navios Holdings, Navios GP LLC, Navios Maritime Operating LLC., and Navios Partners, relating to the Omnibus Agreement dated November 16, 2007. Please read “Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Acquisition Omnibus Agreement, dated as of May 28, 2010, among Navios Partners, Navios Acquisition and Navios Holdings. Please read “Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Navios Midstream Omnibus Agreement, dated as of November 18, 2014, among Navios Holdings, Navios Maritime Midstream Partners L.P., Navios Maritime Midstream GP LLC, Navios Maritime Midstream Operating LLC., Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation and Navios Partners. Please read “Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Omnibus Agreement, effective as of June 8, 2017, among Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation, Navios Maritime Holdings Inc., Navios Maritime Partners L.P., Navios Maritime Midstream Partners L.P., Navios Maritime Containers Inc. and Navios Partners Containers Finance Inc.

 

    Management Agreement dated November 16, 2007, between Navios Partners and Navios ShipManagement. Please read “Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Amendment to Management Agreement dated October 29, 2009, between Navios Partners and Navios ShipManagement relating to the Management Agreement dated November 16, 2007. Please read “Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Amendment No. 2 to Management Agreement dated October 21, 2011, between Navios Partners and Navios ShipManagement relating to the Management Agreement dated November 16, 2007. Please read “Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Amendment No. 3 to Management Agreement dated October 30, 2013, between Navios Partners and Navios ShipManagement relating to the Management Agreement dated November 16, 2007. Please read “Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

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    Amendment No. 4 to Management Agreement dated August 29, 2014, between Navios Partners and Navios ShipManagement relating to the Management Agreement dated November 16, 2007. Please read “Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Amendment No. 5 to Management Agreement dated February 10, 2015, between Navios Partners and Navios ShipManagement relating to the Management Agreement dated November 16, 2007. Please read “Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Amendment No. 6 to Management Agreement dated May 4, 2015, between Navios Partners and Navios ShipManagement relating to the Management Agreement dated November 16, 2007. Please read “Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Amendment No. 7 to Management Agreement dated February 4, 2016, between Navios Partners and Navios ShipManagement relating to the Management Agreement dated November 16, 2007. Please read “Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Amendment No. 8, dated November 14, 2017, to the Management Agreement, dated October 21, 2011, between Navios Maritime Partners L.P. and Navios ShipManagement Inc.

 

    Administrative Services Agreement, dated as of November 16, 2007, between Navios Partners and Navios ShipManagement. Please read “Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Amendment No. 1, dated October 21, 2011, to the Administrative Services Agreement, dated as of November 16, 2007, between Navios Partners and Navios ShipManagement. Please read “Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Amendment No. 2 to Administrative Services Agreement, dated November 14, 2017, between Navios Maritime Partners L.P. and Navios ShipManagement Inc.

 

    Registration Rights Agreement dated April 30, 2008. Please read “Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Waiver to Right of First Refusal and Corporate Opportunities Agreement, dated June 29, 2009, by Navios Partners. Please read “Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Continuous Offering Program Sales Agreement, dated November 18, 2016, between Navios Partners and S. Goldman Capital LLC. Please read “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” for a summary of certain contract terms.

 

    Amendment No. 1 to Continuous Offering Program Sales Agreement, dated June 2, 2017, with S. Goldman Capital LLC.

D. Exchange controls

We are not aware of any governmental laws, decrees or regulations, including foreign exchange controls, in the Marshall Islands, Liberia, Malta, the countries of incorporation of Navios Partners and its subsidiaries that restrict the export or import of capital, or that affect the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to non-resident holders of our securities.

We are not aware of any limitations on the right of non-resident or foreign owners to hold or vote our securities imposed by the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands or our Certificate of Formation and Limited Partnership Agreement.

E. Taxation of Holders

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to beneficial owners of our common units and, unless otherwise noted in the following discussion, is the opinion of Thompson Hine LLP, our U.S. counsel, insofar as it relates to matters of U.S. federal income tax law and legal conclusions with respect to those matters. The opinion of our counsel is dependent on the accuracy of representations made by us to them, including descriptions of our operations contained herein.

This discussion is based upon provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), U.S. Treasury Regulations, and administrative rulings and court decisions, all as in effect or in existence on the date of this filing and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or a court, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences of ownership of our common units to vary substantially from the consequences described below. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to “we,” “our” or “us” are references to Navios Maritime Partners L.P.

 

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The following discussion applies only to beneficial owners of common units that own the common units as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment purposes). The following discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation which may be important to particular beneficial owners of common units in light of their individual circumstances, such as (i) beneficial owners of common units subject to special tax rules ( e.g ., banks or other financial institutions, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, insurance companies, broker-dealers, traders that elect to mark-to-market for U.S. federal income tax purposes, tax-exempt organizations and retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and tax-deferred accounts, or former citizens or long-term residents of the United States) or to beneficial owners that will hold the common units as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, constructive sale, or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (ii) partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes or their partners, (iii) U.S. Holders (as defined below) that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar or (iv) beneficial owners of common units that own 2.0% or more (by vote or value) of our common units, all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized below. If a partnership or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common units, the tax treatment of its partners generally will depend upon the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. If you are a partner in a partnership holding our common units, you should consult your own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences to you of the partnership’s ownership of our common units.

No ruling has been obtained or will be requested from the IRS, regarding any matter affecting us or holders of our common units. The opinions and statements made herein may be challenged by the IRS and, if so challenged, may not be sustained upon review in a court.

This discussion does not contain information regarding any state or local, estate, gift or alternative minimum tax considerations concerning the ownership or disposition of common units.

Each beneficial owner of our common units should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local, and other tax consequences of the ownership or disposition of common units.

Election to Be Treated as a Corporation

We have elected to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Consequently, among other things, U.S. Holders (as defined below) will not directly be subject to U.S. federal income tax on their shares of our income, but rather will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on distributions received from us and dispositions of common units as described below.

U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders

As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our common units that:

 

    is an individual U.S. citizen or resident (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes),

 

    a corporation (or other entity that is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized under the laws of the United States or any of its political subdivisions,

 

    an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or

 

    a trust if (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary jurisdiction over the administration of the trust and one or more “United States persons” (as defined in the Code) have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) the trust has a valid election in effect under current U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a “United States person.”

Distributions

Subject to the discussion below of the rules applicable to a passive foreign investment company (a “PFIC”), any distributions to a U.S. Holder made by us with respect to our common units generally will constitute dividends, which will be taxable as ordinary income or “qualified dividend income” as described in more detail below, to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated first as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its common units on a dollar-for-dollar basis, and thereafter as capital gain, which will be either long-term or short-term capital gain depending upon whether the U.S. Holder held the common units for more than one year. U.S. Holders that are corporations generally will not be entitled to claim a dividend received deduction with respect to distributions they receive from us. Dividends received with respect to the common units will be treated as foreign source income and generally will be treated as “passive category income” for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes.

 

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Dividends received with respect to our common units by a U.S. Holder who is an individual, trust or estate (a “non-corporate U.S. Holder”) generally will be treated as “qualified dividend income” that is taxable to such non-corporate U.S. Holder at preferential capital gain tax rates, provided that: (i) subject to the possibility that our common units may be delisted by a qualifying exchange, our common units are traded on an “established securities market” in the United States (such as the NYSE where our common units are traded) and are “readily tradeable” on such an exchange; (ii) we are not a PFIC for the taxable year during which the dividend is paid or the immediately preceding taxable year (which we do not believe we are, have been or will be, as discussed below); (iii) the non-corporate U.S. Holder has owned the common units for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the date on which the common units become ex-dividend (and has not entered into certain risk limiting transactions with respect to such common units); and (iv) the non-corporate U.S. Holder is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Any dividends paid on our common units that are not eligible for these preferential rates will be taxed as ordinary income to a non-corporate U.S. Holder. In addition, a 3.8% tax may apply to certain investment income. See “Medicare Tax” below.

Special rules may apply to any amounts received in respect of our common units that are treated as “extraordinary dividends.” In general, an extraordinary dividend is a dividend with respect to a common unit that is equal to or in excess of 10.0% of a U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis (or fair market value upon the U.S. Holder’s election) in such common unit. In addition, extraordinary dividends include dividends received within a one-year period that, in the aggregate, equal or exceed 20.0% of a U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis (or fair market value) in a common unit. If we pay an “extraordinary dividend” on our common units that is treated as “qualified dividend income,” then any loss recognized by a U.S. Individual Holder from the sale or exchange of such common units will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the amount of such dividend.

Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of Common Units

Subject to the discussion of PFICs below, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of our common units in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized by the U.S. Holder from such sale, exchange or other disposition and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such units. The U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis in the common units generally will be the U.S. Holder’s purchase price for the common units and that tax basis will be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of any distributions on the common units that are treated as non-taxable returns of capital (as discussed under “Distributions” above). Such gain or loss will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period is greater than one year at the time of the sale, exchange or other disposition.

A corporate U.S. Holder’s capital gains, long-term and short-term, are taxed at ordinary income tax rates. If a corporate U.S. Holder recognizes a loss upon the disposition of our common units, such U.S. Holder is limited to using the loss to offset other capital gain. If a corporate U.S. Holder has no other capital gain in the tax year of the loss, it may carry the capital loss back three years and forward five years.

Long-term capital gains of non-corporate U.S. Holders are subject to the favorable tax rate of a maximum of 20%. In addition, a 3.8% tax may apply to certain investment income. See “Medicare Tax” below. A non-corporate U.S. Holder may deduct a capital loss resulting from a disposition of our common units to the extent of capital gains plus up to $3,000 ($1,500 for married individuals filing separate tax returns) annually and may carry forward a capital loss indefinitely.

PFIC Status and Significant Tax Consequences

In general, we will be treated as a PFIC with respect to a U.S. Holder if, for any taxable year in which the holder held our common units, either:

 

    at least 75.0% of our gross income (including the gross income of our vessel-owning subsidiaries) for such taxable year consists of passive income (e.g., dividends, interest, capital gains and rents derived other than in the active conduct of a rental business), or

 

    at least 50.0% of the average value of the assets held by us (including the assets of our vessel-owning subsidiaries) during such taxable year produce, or are held for the production of, passive income.

Income earned, or deemed earned, by us in connection with the performance of services would not constitute passive income. By contrast, rental income generally would constitute “passive income” unless we were treated as deriving our rental income in the active conduct of a trade or business under the applicable rules.

 

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Based on our current and projected methods of operations, and an opinion of counsel, we believe that we will not be a PFIC with respect to any taxable year. Our U.S. counsel, Thompson Hine LLP, is of the opinion that (1) the income we receive from the time chartering activities and assets engaged in generating such income should not be treated as passive income or assets, respectively, and (2) so long as our income from time charters exceeds 25.0% of our gross income for each taxable year after our initial taxable year and the value of our vessels contracted under time charters exceeds 50.0% of the average value of our assets for each taxable year after our initial taxable year, we should not be a PFIC. This opinion is based on representations and projections provided to our counsel by us regarding our assets, income and charters, and its validity is conditioned on the accuracy of such representations and projections.

Our counsel’s opinion is based principally on their conclusion that, for purposes of determining whether we are a PFIC, the gross income we derive or are deemed to derive from the time chartering activities of our wholly-owned subsidiaries should constitute services income, rather than rental income. Correspondingly, such income should not constitute passive income, and the assets that we or our subsidiaries own and operate in connection with the production of such income, in particular, the vessels we or our subsidiaries own that are subject to time charters, should not constitute passive assets for purposes of determining whether we are or have been a PFIC. We expect that all of the vessels in our fleet will be engaged in time chartering activities and intend to treat our income from those activities as non-passive income, and the vessels engaged in those activities as non-passive assets, for PFIC purposes.

Our counsel has advised us that there is a significant amount of legal authority consisting of the Code, legislative history, IRS pronouncements and rulings supporting our position that the income from our time chartering activities constitutes services income (rather than rental income). There is, however, no direct legal authority under the PFIC rules addressing whether income from time chartering activities is services income or rental income. Moreover, in a case not interpreting the PFIC rules, Tidewater Inc. v. United States , 565 F.3d 299 (5th Cir. 2009), the Fifth Circuit held that the vessel time charters at issue generated predominantly rental income rather than services income. However, the IRS stated in an Action on Decision (AOD 2010-001) that it disagrees with, and will not acquiesce to, the way that the rental versus services framework was applied to the facts in the Tidewater decision, and in its discussion stated that the time charters at issue in Tidewater would be treated as producing services income for PFIC purposes. The IRS’s AOD, however, is an administrative action that cannot be relied upon or otherwise cited as precedent by taxpayers.

The opinion of our counsel is not binding on the IRS or any court. Thus, while we have received an opinion of our counsel in support of our position, there is a possibility that the IRS or a court could disagree with this position and the opinion of our counsel. In addition, although we intend to conduct our affairs in a manner to avoid being classified as a PFIC with respect to any taxable year, we cannot assure you that the nature of our operations will not change in the future.

As discussed more fully below, if we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year in which a U.S. Holder owned our common units, the U.S. Holder would be subject to different taxation rules depending on whether the U.S. Holder makes an election to treat us as a “Qualified Electing Fund,” which we refer to as a “QEF election.” As an alternative to making a QEF election, the U.S. Holder may be able to make a “mark-to-market” election with respect to our common units, as discussed below. In addition, if we were treated as a PFIC for any taxable year in which a U.S. Holder owned our common units, the U.S. Holder would be required to file IRS Form 8621 with the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax return for each year to report the U.S. Holder’s ownership of such common units. In the event a U.S. Holder does not file IRS Form 8621, the statute of limitations on the assessment and collection of U.S. federal income taxes of such U.S. Holder for the related tax year will not close before the date which is three years after the date on which such report is filed.

It should also be noted that, if we were treated as a PFIC for any taxable year in which a U.S. Holder owned our common units and any of our non-U.S. subsidiaries were also a PFIC, the U.S. Holder would be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of the lower-tier PFIC for purposes of the application of these rules.

Taxation of U.S. Holders Making a Timely QEF Election

If we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, and a U.S. Holder makes a timely QEF election (any such U.S. Holder, an “Electing Holder”), the Electing Holder must report for U.S. federal income tax purposes its pro rata share of our ordinary earnings and net capital gain, if any, for our taxable year that ends with or within the Electing Holder’s taxable year, regardless of whether or not the Electing Holder received any distributions from us in that year. Such income inclusions would not be eligible for the preferential tax rates applicable to “qualified dividend income.” The Electing Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our common units will be increased to reflect taxed but undistributed earnings and profits. Distributions to the Electing Holder of our earnings and profits that were previously taxed will result in a corresponding reduction in the Electing Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our common units and will not be taxed again once distributed. The Electing Holder would not, however, be entitled to a deduction for its pro rata share of any losses that we incur with respect to any year. An Electing Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common units.

 

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Even if a U.S. Holder makes a QEF election for one of our taxable years, if we were a PFIC for a prior taxable year during which the U.S. Holder owned our common units and for which the U.S. Holder did not make a timely QEF election, the U.S. Holder would also be subject to the more adverse rules described below under “ Taxation of U.S. Holders Not Making a Timely QEF or Mark-to-Market Election.” However, under certain circumstances, a U.S. Holder may be permitted to make a retroactive QEF election with respect to us for any open taxable years in the U.S. Holder’s holding period for our common units in which we are treated as a PFIC. Additionally, to the extent that any of our subsidiaries is a PFIC, a U.S. Holder’s QEF election with respect to us would not be effective with respect to the U.S. Holder’s deemed ownership of the stock of such subsidiary and a separate QEF election with respect to such subsidiary would be required.

A U.S. Holder makes a QEF election with respect to any year that we are a PFIC by filing IRS Form 8621 with the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax return. If, contrary to our expectations, we were to determine that we are treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, we would notify all U.S. Holders and would provide all necessary information to any U.S. Holder that requests such information in order to make the QEF election described above with respect to us and the relevant subsidiaries. A QEF election would not apply to any taxable year for which we are not a PFIC, but would remain in effect with respect to any subsequent taxable year for which we are a PFIC, unless the IRS consents to the revocation of the election.

Taxation of U.S. Holders Making a “Mark-to-Market” Election

If we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year and, subject to the possibility that our common units may be delisted by a qualifying exchange, our common units were treated as “marketable stock,” then, as an alternative to making a QEF election, a U.S. Holder would be allowed to make a “mark-to-market” election with respect to our common units, provided the U.S. Holder completes and files IRS Form 8621 in accordance with the relevant instructions and related Treasury Regulations. If that election is made, the U.S. Holder generally would include as ordinary income in each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the U.S. Holder’s common units at the end of the taxable year over the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common units. The U.S. Holder also would be permitted an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common units over the fair market value thereof at the end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the U.S. Holder’s common units would be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss recognized. Gain recognized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common units would be treated as ordinary income, and any loss recognized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the common units would be treated as ordinary loss to the extent that such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included in income by the U.S. Holder. A mark-to-market election would not apply to our common units owned by a U.S. Holder in any taxable year during which we are not a PFIC, but would remain in effect with respect to any subsequent taxable year for which we are a PFIC, unless our common units are no longer treated as “marketable stock” or the IRS consents to the revocation of the election.

Even if a U.S. Holder makes a “mark-to-market” election for one of our taxable years, if we were a PFIC for a prior taxable during which the U.S. Holder owned our common units and for which the U.S. Holder did not make a timely mark-to-market election, the U.S. Holder would also be subject to the more adverse rules described below under “Taxation of U.S. Holders Not Making a Timely QEF or Mark-to-Market Election.” Additionally, to the extent that any of our subsidiaries is a PFIC, a “mark-to-market” election with respect to our common units would not apply to the U.S. Holder’s deemed ownership of the stock of such subsidiary.

Taxation of U.S. Holders Not Making a Timely QEF or Mark-to-Market Election

If we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder who does not make either a timely QEF election or a timely “mark-to-market” election for that year (i.e., the taxable year in which the U.S. Holder’s holding period commences), whom we refer to as a “Non-Electing Holder,” would be subject to special rules resulting in increased tax liability with respect to (1) any excess distribution ( i.e. , the portion of any distributions received by the Non-Electing Holder on our common units in a taxable year in excess of 125.0% of the average annual distributions received by the Non-Electing Holder in the three preceding taxable years, or, if shorter, the Non-Electing Holder’s holding period for the common units), and (2) any gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common units. Under these special rules:

 

    the excess distribution and any gain would be allocated ratably over the Non-Electing Holder’s aggregate holding period for the common units;

 

    the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any year prior to the year we were first treated as a PFIC with respect to the Non-Electing Holder would be taxed as ordinary income; and

 

    the amount allocated to each of the other taxable years would be subject to tax at the highest rate of tax in effect for the applicable class of taxpayer for that year, and an interest charge for the deemed deferral benefit would be imposed with respect to the resulting tax attributable to each such other taxable year.

 

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If we were treated as a PFIC for any taxable year and a Non-Electing Holder who is an individual dies while owning our common units, such holder’s successor generally would not receive a step-up in tax basis with respect to such common units. Additionally, to the extent that any of our subsidiaries is a PFIC, the foregoing consequences would apply to the U.S. Holder’s deemed receipt of any excess distribution on, or gain deemed realized on the disposition of, the stock of such subsidiary deemed owned by the U.S. Holder.

Medicare Tax

A U.S. Holder that is an individual or estate, or a trust that does not fall into a special class of trusts that is exempt from such tax, will generally be subject to a 3.8% tax on the lesser of (i) the U.S. Holder’s “net investment income” for a taxable year and (ii) the excess of the U.S. Holder’s modified adjusted gross income for such taxable year over $200,000 ($250,000 in the case of joint filers). For these purposes, “net investment income” will generally include dividends paid with respect to our common units and net gain attributable to the disposition of our common units not held in connection with certain trades or businesses, but will be reduced by any deductions properly allocable to such income or net gain.

U.S. Federal Income Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders

A beneficial owner of our common units (other than a partnership or an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is not a U.S. Holder is a “Non-U.S. Holder”.

Distributions

Distributions we pay to a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax or withholding tax if the Non-U.S. Holder is not engaged in a U.S. trade or business. If the Non-U.S. Holder is engaged in a U.S. trade or business, our distributions will be subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent they constitute income effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. trade or business (and a corporate Non-U.S. Holder may also be subject to U.S. federal branch profits tax). However, distributions paid to a Non-U.S. Holder who is engaged in a trade or business may be exempt from taxation under an income tax treaty if the income arising from the distribution is not attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder.

Disposition of Units

In general, a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax or withholding tax on any gain resulting from the disposition of our common units provided the Non-U.S. Holder is not engaged in a U.S. trade or business. A Non-U.S. Holder that is engaged in a U.S. trade or business will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the event the gain from the disposition of units is effectively connected with the conduct of such U.S. trade or business (provided, in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder entitled to the benefits of an income tax treaty with the United States, such gain also is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment). However, even if not engaged in a U.S. trade or business, individual Non-U.S. Holders may be subject to tax on gain resulting from the disposition of our common units if they are present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year in which those units are disposed and meet certain other requirements.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

In general, payments to a non-corporate U.S. Holder of distributions or the proceeds of a disposition of common units may be subject to information reporting. These payments to a non-corporate U.S. Holder also may be subject to backup withholding (currently at a rate of 24%), if the non-corporate U.S. Holder:

 

    fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number;

 

    is notified by the IRS that he has failed to report all interest or corporate distributions required to be reported on his U.S. federal income tax returns; or

 

    in certain circumstances, fails to comply with applicable certification requirements.

A U.S. Holder generally is required to certify its compliance with the backup withholding rules on IRS Form W-9.

Non-U.S. Holders may be required to establish their exemption from information reporting and backup withholding by certifying their status on IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, W-8ECI or W-8IMY, as applicable.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, a unitholder generally may obtain a credit for any amount withheld against his liability for U.S. federal income tax (and obtain a refund of any amounts withheld in excess of such liability) by filing a U.S. federal income tax return with the IRS.

 

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Individual U.S. Holders (and to the extent specified in applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations, certain individual Non-U.S. Holders and certain U.S. Holders that are entities) that hold “specified foreign financial assets,” including our common units, whose aggregate value exceeds $75,000 at any time during the taxable year or $50,000 on the last day of the taxable year (or such higher amounts as prescribed by applicable Treasury Regulations) are required to file a report on IRS Form 8938 with information relating to the assets for each such taxable year. Specified foreign financial assets would include, among other things, our common units, unless such common units are held in an account maintained by a U.S. “financial institution” (as defined). Substantial penalties apply to any failure to timely file IRS Form 8938, unless the failure is shown to be due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect. Additionally, in the event an individual U.S. Holder (and to the extent specified in applicable Treasury Regulations, an individual Non-U.S. Holder or a U.S. entity) that is required to file IRS Form 8938 does not file such form, the statute of limitations on the assessment and collection of U.S. federal income taxes of such holder for the related tax year may not close until three years after the date that the required information is filed. U.S. Holders (including U.S. entities) and Non-U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding their reporting obligations.

NON-UNITED STATES TAX CONSIDERATIONS

Marshall Islands Tax Consequences

The following discussion is based upon the opinion of Reeder & Simpson P.C., our counsel as to matters of the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the current laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands applicable to persons who do not reside in, maintain offices in or engage in business in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Because we and our subsidiaries do not and do not expect to conduct business or operations in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, under current Marshall Islands law you will not be subject to Marshall Islands taxation or withholding on distributions, including upon distribution treated as a return of capital, we make to you as a unitholder. In addition, you will not be subject to Marshall Islands stamp, capital gains or other taxes on the purchase, ownership or disposition of common units, and you will not be required by the Republic of the Marshall Islands to file a tax return relating to your ownership of common units.

EACH UNITHOLDER IS URGED TO CONSULT HIS OWN TAX, LEGAL AND OTHER ADVISORS REGARDING THE CONSEQUENCES OF OWNERSHIP OF COMMON UNITS UNDER THE UNITHOLDER’S PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

F. Dividends and paying agents

Not applicable.

G. Statements by experts

Not applicable.

H. Documents on display

We file reports and other information with the SEC. These materials, including this annual report and the accompanying exhibits, may be inspected and copied at the public facilities maintained by the Commission at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, or from the SEC’s website http://www.sec.gov. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling 1 (800) SEC-300 and you may obtain copies at prescribed rates.

I. Subsidiary information

Not applicable.

Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks

Foreign Exchange Risk

Our functional and reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. We engage in worldwide commerce with a variety of entities. Although our operations may expose us to certain levels of foreign currency risk, our transactions are predominantly U.S. dollar denominated. Transactions in currencies other than U.S. dollar are translated at the exchange rate in effect at the date of each transaction. Differences in exchange rates during the period between the date a transaction denominated in a foreign currency is consummated and the date on which it is either settled or translated, are recognized. Expenses incurred in foreign currencies against which the U.S. Dollar falls in value can increase thereby decreasing our income or vice versa if the U.S. dollar increases in value. For example, as of December 31, 2017, the value of the U.S. dollar as compared to the Euro decreased by approximately 12.1% compared with the respective value as of December 31, 2016.

 

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Interest Rate Risk

Borrowings under our credit facilities bear interest at rate based on a premium over U.S. LIBOR. Therefore, we are exposed to the risk that our interest expense may increase if interest rates rise. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, we paid interest on our outstanding debt at a weighted average interest rate of 5.8%, 4.7% and 4.4%, respectively. A 1% increase in LIBOR would have increased our interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, by $4.8 million, $5.5 million and $6.1 million, respectively.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments, which potentially subject us to significant concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of trade accounts receivable. We closely monitor our exposure to customers for credit risk. We have policies in place to ensure that we trade with customers with an appropriate credit history.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, our customers representing 10% or more of total revenues were HMM and Yang Ming which accounted for approximately 26.8% and 12.0%, respectively, of total revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2016, Navios Partners’ customers representing 10% or more of total revenues were HMM, Yang Ming and Mediterranean Shipping Co. S.A, which accounted for approximately 29.6%, 13.0% and 11.6%, respectively, of total revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2015, Navios Partners’ customers representing 10% or more of total revenues were HMM, Navios Corporation and Yang Ming, which accounted for 24.0%, 17.4% and 11.4%, respectively, of total revenues. No other customers accounted for 10% or more of total revenue for any of the years presented.

Following the termination of the credit default insurance through its third party insurer, entered into an agreement by which Navios Holdings will provide supplemental credit default insurance with a maximum cash payment of $20.0 million. The final settlement of the amount due will take place at anytime but in no case later than December 31, 2019, in accordance with a letter of agreement effective as of December 29, 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company submitted claims for charterers’ default under this agreement to Navios Holdings for a total amount in each period of $7.2 million and $9.2 million, respectively, net of applicable deductions, of which $7.6 million and $9.6 million, respectively, was presented under the caption “Other income”.

Inflation

Inflation has had a minimal impact on vessel operating expenses, drydocking expenses and general and administrative expenses. Our management does not consider inflation to be a significant risk to direct expenses in the current and foreseeable economic environment.

Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

None.

Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Unitholders and Use of Proceeds

None.

Item 15. Controls and Procedures

A. Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The management of Navios Partners, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation, pursuant to Rule 13a-15 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2017. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2017.

 

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Disclosure controls and procedures means controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

B. Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting

The management of Navios Partners is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Navios Partners’ internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”).

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Navios Partners’ management assessed the effectiveness of Navios Partners’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017. In making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013). Based on its assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2017, Navios Partners’ internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

Navios Partners’ independent registered public accounting firm has issued an attestation report on Navios Partners’ internal control over financial reporting.

C. Attestation report of the registered public accounting firm

Navios Partners’ independent registered public accounting firm has issued an audit report on Navios Partners’ internal control over financial reporting. This report appears on Page F-2 of the consolidated financial statements.

D. Changes in internal control over financial reporting

There have been no changes in internal controls over financial reporting (identified in connection with management’s evaluation of such internal controls over financial reporting) that occurred during the year covered by this annual report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Navios Partners’ internal controls over financial reporting.

Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert

Navios Partners’ Audit Committee consists of three independent directors, Orthodoxia Zisimatou, Serafeim Kriempardis and Lampros Theodorou. The Board of Directors has determined that Serafeim Kriempardis qualifies as “an audit committee financial expert” as defined in the instructions of Item 16A of Form 20-F. Mr. Kriempardis is independent under applicable NYSE and SEC standards.

Item 16B. Code of Ethics

Navios Partners has adopted a code of ethics applicable to officers, directors and employees that complies with applicable guidelines issued by the SEC. The Navios Partners Code of Corporate Conduct and Ethics is available for review on Navios Partners’ website at www.navios-mlp.com.

Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Audit Fees

Our principal Accountants for fiscal years 2017 and 2016 were PricewaterhouseCoopers S.A. The audit fees for the audit of the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 were $0.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

Audit-Related Fees

There were no audit-related fees billed in 2017 and 2016.

 

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Tax Fees

There were no tax fees billed in 2017 and 2016.

Other Fees

There were no other fees billed in 2017 and 2016.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, replacement, compensation, evaluation and oversight of the work of the independent auditors. As part of this responsibility, the audit committee pre-approves the audit and non-audit services performed by the independent auditors in order to assure that they do not impair the auditors’ independence from Navios Partners. The Audit Committee has adopted a policy which sets forth the procedures and the conditions pursuant to which services proposed to be performed by the independent auditors may be pre-approved.

The Audit Committee separately pre-approved all engagements and fees paid to our principal accountant in 2017.

Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

Not applicable.

Item 16E. Purchases of Units by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

None.

Please read “Item 7. — Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions”.

Item 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

Not applicable.

Item 16G. Corporate Governance

Pursuant to an exception for foreign private issuers, we are not required to comply with the corporate governance practices followed by U.S. companies under the NYSE listing standards. However, we have voluntarily adopted all of the NYSE required practices, except we do not have (i) a majority of independent board members, (ii) a nominating/governance committee consisting of independent directors or (iii) a nominating/governance committee charter specifying the purpose and responsibilities of the nominating/governance committee. Instead, all nomination/governance decisions, other than those nominating decisions dictated by our Partnership Agreement, are currently made by a majority of our independent board members.

Item 16H. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 17. Financial Statements

Not applicable.

Item 18. Financial Statements

The financial information required by this Item together with the related report of PricewaterhouseCoopers S.A., Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, thereon is filed as part of this annual report on Pages F-1 through F-40.

Item 19. Exhibits

 

1.1 Certificate of Limited Partnership of Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (1)

 

1.2 Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Navios Maritime Partners L.P.*

 

1.3 Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (28)

 

1.4 Certificate of Formation of Navios GP L.L.C. (1)

 

1.5 Limited Liability Company Agreement of Navios GP L.L.C. (1)

 

1.6 Certificate of Formation of Navios Maritime Operating L.L.C. (1)

 

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1.7 Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Navios GP L.L.C. (1)

 

1.8 Limited Liability Company Agreement of Navios Operating L.L.C. (1)

 

4.1 Omnibus Agreement, among Navios Maritime Holdings Inc., Navios GP L.L.C., Navios Maritime Operating L.L.C. and Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (1)

 

4.2 Management Agreement with Navios ShipManagement Inc. (1)

 

4.3 Administrative Services Agreement with Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. (1)

 

4.4 Form of First Contribution and Conveyance Agreement (1)

 

4.5 Form of Second Contribution and Conveyance Agreement (1)

 

4.6 Form of Share Purchase Agreement for Navios TBN I (1)

 

4.7 Form of Share Purchase Agreement for Navios TBN II (1)

 

4.8 Revolving Credit and Term Loan Facility Agreement (2)

 

4.9 Common Unit Purchase Agreement between Navios Maritime Partners L.P. and Amadeus Maritime S.A. (1)

 

4.10 Share Purchase Agreement for Navios Hope (3)

 

4.11 Registration Rights Agreement (3)

 

4.12 Supplemental Agreement, dated June  15, 2008, to the Facility Agreement (4)

 

4.13 Supplemental Agreement, dated January  30, 2009, to the Facility Agreement (5)

 

4.14 Amendment to Omnibus Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2009, relating to the Omnibus Agreement (6)

 

4.15 Amendment to Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of June  29, 2009, between Anemos Holdings and Navios Maritime Partners L.P. relating to the Share Purchase Agreement (6)

 

4.16 Waiver to Right of First Refusal and Corporate Opportunities Agreement, dated June  29, 2009, by Navios Maritime Partners
L.P. (7)

 

4.17 Amendment to Management Agreement, dated October  29, 2009, between Navios Maritime Partners L.P. and Navios ShipManagement Inc. relating to the Management Agreement (7)

 

4.18 Supplemental Agreement, dated January  11, 2010, to the Facility Agreement (8)

 

4.19 Supplemental Agreement, dated March  30, 2010, to the Facility Agreement (9)

 

4.20 Supplemental Agreement, dated June  1, 2010, to the Facility Agreement (10)

 

4.21 Supplemental Agreement, dated December  13, 2010, to the Facility Agreement (11)

 

4.22 Supplemental Agreement, dated May  31, 2011, to the Facility Agreement (12)

 

4.23 Supplemental Agreement, dated September  30, 2011, to the Facility Agreement (13)

 

4.24 Supplemental Agreement, dated March  30, 2012, to the Facility Agreement (15)

 

4.25 Facility Agreement for $35.0 million term loan facility, dated May 27, 2011 (12)

 

4.26 Facility Agreement for $290.45 million term loan facility, dated July 31, 2012 (16)

 

4.27 Supplemental Agreement, dated December 4, 2012, to Facility Agreement for $290.45  million term loan facility, dated July 31, 2012 (17)

 

4.28 Supplemental Agreement, dated March 27, 2013, to Facility Agreement for $290.45  million term loan facility, dated July 31, 2012 (18)

 

4.29 Supplemental Agreement, dated April 17, 2014, to Facility Agreement for $290.45  million term loan facility, dated July 31,
2012 (22)

 

4.30 Facility Agreement for $44.0 million term loan facility, dated August 8, 2012 (16)

 

4.31 Credit Agreement for $250.0 million term loan facility, dated June 27, 2013 (19)

 

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4.32 Incremental Amendment No. 1, dated October 31, 2013, to the Credit Agreement for a $250.0  million term loan facility, dated June 27, 2013 (20)

 

4.33 Incremental Amendment No. 2, dated November 1, 2013, to the Credit Agreement for a $250.0  million term loan facility, dated June 27, 2013 (20)

 

4.34 Facility Agreement for $56.0 million term loan facility, dated September 22, 2014 (23)

 

4.35 Amendment No. 1 to Administrative Services Agreement with Navios Maritime Holdings Inc., dated October 21, 2011 (14)

 

4.36 Amendment No. 2 to Management Agreement, dated October  29, 2009, between Navios Maritime Partners L.P. and Navios ShipManagement Inc. relating to the Management Agreement, dated October 21, 2011 (14)

 

4.37 Amendment No. 3, dated October 30, 2013, to the Management Agreement, dated November  16, 2007, between Navios Maritime Partners L.P. and Navios ShipManagement Inc. (20)

 

4.38 Amendment No. 4, dated August 29, 2014, to the Management Agreement, dated November  16, 2007, between Navios Maritime Partners L.P. and Navios ShipManagement Inc. (24)

 

4.39 Amendment No. 5, dated February 10, 2015, to the Management Agreement, dated November  16, 2007, between Navios Maritime Partners L.P. and Navios ShipManagement Inc. (26)

 

4.40 Amendment No. 6, dated May 4, 2015, to the Management Agreement, dated November  16, 2007, between Navios Maritime Partners L.P. and Navios ShipManagement Inc. (29)

 

4.41 Amendment No. 7, dated February 4, 2016, to the Management Agreement, dated October  21, 2011, between Navios Maritime Partners L.P. and Navios ShipManagement Inc. (32)

 

4.42 Facility Agreement for $164.0 million term loan facility, dated April 16, 2015 (29)

 

4.43 Supplemental Agreement, dated March 22, 2016, to Facility Agreement for $164.0 million term loan facility (32)

 

4.44 Supplemental Agreement, dated April 8, 2015, to Facility Agreement for $56.0  million term loan facility, dated September 22, 2014 (29)

 

4.45 Supplemental Agreement, dated March 22, 2016, to Facility Agreement for $56.0 million term loan facility (32)

 

4.46 Supplemental Agreement, dated March 22, 2016, to Facility Agreement for $290.45  million term loan facility, dated July 31, 2012 (32)

 

4.47 Credit Agreement for $60.0 million term loan facility, dated May 29, 2015 (30)

 

4.48 Acquisition Omnibus Agreement (21)

 

4.49 Navios Midstream Omnibus Agreement (27)

 

4.50 Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 4, 2015 (25)

 

4.51 Continuous Offering Program Sales Agreement, dated November  18, 2016 (36)

 

4.52 Form of Indenture (37)

 

4.53 Credit Agreement for $405.0 million term loan, dated as of March  14, 2017, among Navios Maritime Partners L.P. and Navios Partners Finance (US) Inc., JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner  & Smith Incorporated, S. Goldman Advisors LLC, DVB Capital Markets LLC, ABN AMRO Capital USA LLC, Credit Agricole Corporate Investment Bank, Clarkson Platou Securities, Inc. and the several Lenders from time to time party thereto (38)

 

4.54 Amendment No. 1 to Continuous Offering Program Sales Agreement, dated June 2, 2017, with S. Goldman Capital LLC (39)

 

4.55 Omnibus Agreement, effective as of June  8, 2017, among Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation, Navios Maritime Holdings Inc., Navios Maritime Partners L.P., Navios Maritime Midstream Partners L.P., Navios Maritime Containers Inc. and Navios Partners Containers Finance Inc. (40)

 

4.56 Loan Agreement for a $32.0 million term loan, dated June  26, 2017, among Finian Navigation Co., Casual ShipHolding Co., BNP Paribas and the Banks and Financial Institutions listed therein (40)

 

4.57 Facility Agreement for a $39.0 million credit facility, dated June  28, 2017, among Fantastiks Shipping Corporation, Sagittarius Shipping Corporation, Customized Developments S.A., Ammos Shipping Corp., Navios Maritime Partners L.P., and DVB Bank SE (40)

 

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4.58 Amendment No. 8, dated November 14, 2017, to the Management Agreement, dated October  21, 2011, between Navios Maritime Partners L.P. and Navios ShipManagement Inc. (41)

 

4.59 Amendment No. 2 to Administrative Services Agreement, dated November  14, 2017, between Navios Maritime Partners L.P. and Navios ShipManagement Inc. (41)

 

8.1 List of Subsidiaries of Navios Maritime Partners L.P.*

 

12.1 Section 302 Certification of Chief Executive Officer*

 

12.2 Section 302 Certification of Chief Financial Officer*

 

13.1 Section 906 Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Executive Officer*

 

15.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers S.A.*

 

101 The following materials from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2017 and 2016; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015; and (v) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements as blocks of text.

 

(1) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1, as amended (File No. 333-146972) as filed with the SEC and hereby incorporated by reference to the Annual Report.
(2) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on November 26, 2007 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(3) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on July 2, 2008 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(4) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on July 10, 2008 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(5) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on February 25, 2009 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(6) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on July 14, 2009 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(7) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on October 30, 2009 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(8) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on January 26, 2010 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(9) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on April 8, 2010 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(10) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on June 11, 2010 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(11) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on March 1, 2011 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(12) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on June 8, 2011 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(13) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on October 5, 2011 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(14) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on October 24, 2011 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(15) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on April 9, 2012 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(16) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on September 5, 2012 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(17) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on January 31, 2013 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(18) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on May 2, 2013 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(19) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on July 11, 2013 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(20) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on November 7, 2013 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(21) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2012 filed on March 15, 2013 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(22) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on July 31, 2014 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(23) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on September 30, 2014 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(24) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on October 30, 2014 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(25) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on February 12, 2015 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(26) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on February 17, 2015 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(27) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form F-1/A for Navios Maritime Midstream Partners L.P. filed on October 22, 2014 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(28) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed on March 13, 2015 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(29) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on May 5, 2015 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(30) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on August 3, 2015 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(31) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on November 12, 2015 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(32) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed on March 23, 2016 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(33) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on May 12, 2016 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(34) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on August 12, 2016 and hereby incorporated by reference.

 

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(35) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on November 14, 2016 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(36) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on November 23, 2016 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(37) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form F-3 filed on January 12, 2017 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(38) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on May 25, 2017 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(39) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on June 14, 2017 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(40) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on August 1, 2017 and hereby incorporated by reference.
(41) Previously filed as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K filed on February 5, 2018 and hereby incorporated by reference.
* Filed herewith.

SIGNATURES

Navios Maritime Partners L.P. hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this Annual Report on its behalf.

 

Navios Maritime Partners L.P.

/s/ Angeliki Frangou

By: Angeliki Frangou
Its: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Date: April 4, 2018

 

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INDEX

 

     Page  

NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

  

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

     F-2  

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AT DECEMBER 31, 2017 AND DECEMBER  31, 2016

     F-3  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR EACH OF THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2016 AND 2015

     F-4  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR EACH OF THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2016 AND 2015

     F-5  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS’ CAPITAL FOR EACH OF THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2016 AND 2015

     F-7  

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     F-8  

 

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Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders, Board of Directors and Partners of Navios Maritime Partners L.P.:

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Navios Maritime Partners L.P. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in partners’ capital and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 , and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.

Basis for Opinions

The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in “Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting” appearing under Item 15 (b) of the Company’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 20-F. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2007.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers S.A.

Athens, Greece

April 4, 2018

 

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Table of Contents

NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars except unit data)

 

     Notes      December 31,
2017
    December 31,
2016
 

ASSETS

       

Current assets

       

Cash and cash equivalents

     4      $ 24,047     $ 17,360  

Restricted cash

     4        5,886       7,728  

Accounts receivable, net

     5        14,121       10,022  

Amounts due from related parties

     18        10,545       19,639  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     6        905       1,600  

Notes receivable

     19        4,802       —    
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

        60,306       56,349  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Vessels, net

     7        1,099,015       1,037,206  

Vessel held for sale

     7        —         125,000  

Other long-term assets

     16        2,779       —    

Deferred drydock and special survey costs, net

        16,253       21,282  

Investment in affiliates

     20        52,122       1,257  

Loans receivable from affiliates

     18        11,706       2,422  

Intangible assets

     8        8,080       18,952  

Amounts due from related parties

     18        34,891       —    

Notes receivable, net of current portion

     19        15,897       6,112  

Note receivable from affiliates

     18        4,253       —    
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total non-current assets

        1,244,996       1,212,231  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

      $ 1,305,302     $ 1,268,580  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

       

Current liabilities

       

Accounts payable

     9      $ 3,718     $ 3,276  

Accrued expenses

     10        8,800       4,445  

Deferred revenue

     19        15,143       17,198  

Current portion of long-term debt, net

     11        26,586       74,031  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

        54,247       98,950  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term debt, net

     11        466,877       449,745  

Amounts due to related parties

     18        —         11,105  

Deferred revenue

     19        16,468       28,571  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total non-current liabilities

        483,345       489,421  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

      $ 537,592     $ 588,371  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

     16       

Partners’ capital:

       

Common Unitholders (147,797,720 and 83,323,911 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)

     13        791,669       677,081  

General Partner (3,016,284 and 1,700,493 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)

     13        5,464       3,128  

Notes receivable

     13,18        (29,423     —    
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total partners’ capital

        767,710       680,209  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and partners’ capital

      $ 1,305,302     $ 1,268,580  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

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Table of Contents

NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

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

 

     Notes      Year Ended
December 31,
2017
    Year Ended
December 31,
2016
    Year Ended
December 31,
2015
 
Time charter and voyage revenues includes related party revenue of $654, $1,939 and $38,809 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively)      14,18      $ 211,652     $ 190,524     $ 223,676  

Time charter and voyage expenses

        (4,158     (5,673     (7,199

Direct vessel expenses

        (7,172     (6,381     (4,043

Management fees (entirely through related parties transactions)

     18        (67,310     (59,209     (56,504

General and administrative expenses

     18        (17,163     (12,351     (7,931

Depreciation and amortization

     7,8        (72,760     (92,370     (75,933

Vessel impairment losses

     7        (32,677     (27,201     —    

Loss on sale of securities

        —         (19,435     —    

Interest expense and finance cost, net

        (38,225     (31,247     (31,720

Interest income

        3,277       541       222  

Gain on change in control

     3        4,068       —         —    

Other income

     22        9,884       14,523       5,232  

Other expense

     23        (5,133     (4,270     (3,995

Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies

     20        866       —         —    
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss)/ income

      $ (14,851   $ (52,549   $ 41,805  

Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest

      $ (239     —         —    
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss)/ income attributable to Navios Partners unitholders

      $ (15,090   $ (52,549   $ 41,805  
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per unit attributable to common unitholders (see Note 21):

 

            Year Ended
December 31,
2017
    Year Ended
December 31,
2016
    Year Ended
December 31,
2015
 

(Loss)/ earnings per unit:

         

Common unit (basic and diluted)

      $ (0.11   $ (0.62   $ 0.48  

See notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

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Table of Contents

NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)

 

     Notes      Year Ended
December 31,
2017
    Year Ended
December 31,
2016
    Year Ended
December 31,
2015
 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

         

Net (loss)/ income

      $ (14,851   $ (52,549   $ 41,805  

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) to net cash (used in)/ provided by operating activities:

         

Depreciation and amortization

     7,8        72,760       92,370       75,933  

Vessel impairment losses

        32,677       27,201       —    

Loss on sale of securities

        —         19,435       —    

Gain on debt repayment

        —         (2,140     —    

Non cash accrued interest income and amortization of deferred revenue

        (12,512     (5,717     —    

Non cash accrued interest income from receivable from affiliates

        (204     —         —    

Amortization and write-off of deferred finance cost and discount

        9,744       4,003       3,727  

Amortization of deferred drydock and special survey costs

        6,725       6,381       4,043  

Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies

        (866     59       (94

Equity compensation expense

     13        1,904       93       —    

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     5        1,495       —         —    

Loss on vessel disposal

     23        1,260       —         —    

Gain on change in control

     3        (4,068     —         —    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

         

Net decrease/ (increase) in restricted cash

        435       (5,286     (426

(Increase)/ decrease in accounts receivable

        (6,071     (6,023     9,279  

(Increase)/ decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets

        (40     (303     173  

Decrease in other long-term assets

        —         61       20  

Increase/ (decrease) in accounts payable

        1,630       570       (1,118

Increase/ (decrease) in accrued expenses

        6,642       1,929       (1,107

(Decrease)/ increase in deferred revenue

        (2,200     (1,000     1,786  

(Decrease)/ increase in amounts due to related parties

        (11,105     3,025       6,800  

Increase in amounts due from related parties

        (26,131     (20,089     —    

Payments for dry dock and special survey costs

        (3,290     (5,493     (17,545
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

        53,934       56,527       123,276  

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

         

Net cash proceeds from sale of vessels

     7        113,818       —         —    

Deposits for vessels acquisitions

        (9     —         —    

Deposit for option to acquire vessel

     16        (2,770     —         —    

Acquisition of vessels and favorable lease terms, net of cash acquired

     7,8        (158,241     (15,341     (147,830

Change to acquisition of Navios Containers assets and favorable lease terms, net of cash

     7        (115,884     —         —    

Repayments of notes receivable

     19        4,687       —         —    

Investment in affiliates

        (10,000     —         (700

Loans receivable from affiliates

        (9,005     (450     (771

Note receivable from affiliates

     18        (4,050     —         —    

Navios Containers repayment of seller’s credit to Navios Partners

     7        14,000       —         —    

Change in control of Navios Containers, including disposed cash

     3        (19,757     —         —    

Proceeds from sale of securities

     19        —         20,842       —    
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in)/ provided by investing activities

        (187,211     5,051       (149,301

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

         

Cash distributions paid

     21        —         —         (132,306

Net proceeds from issuance of general partner units

     13        2,638       10       1,528  

Proceeds from issuance of common units, net of offering cost

     13        98,774       440       72,090  

Common units issuance cost for Navios Europe I loans

     13        (726     —         —    

Proceeds from long-term debt

     11        514,703       29,000       79,819  

Net decrease in restricted cash

        1,407       5,347       (6,409

Repayment of long-term debt and payment of principal

     11        (546,465     (104,624     (60,696

Deferred finance cost

        (7,802     (1,141     (746

Proceeds from long-term borrowing of Navios Containers, net of financing cost

        60,111       —         —    

Noncontrolling interest of Navios Containers

        17,324       —         —    
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by/ (used in) financing activities

        139,964       (70,968     (46,720
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase/ (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

        6,687       (9,390     (72,745

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

        17,360       26,750       99,495  
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

      $ 24,047     $ 17,360     $ 26,750  
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

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Table of Contents
     Year Ended
December 31,
2017
    Year Ended
December 31,
2016
     Year Ended
December 31,
2015
 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information

       

Cash interest paid

   $ 26,630     $ 26,694      $ 26,787  

Non cash financing activities

       

Equity compensation expense

   $ 1,904     $ 93      $ —    

Receivable from affiliates

   $ (29,423   $ —        $ —    

Issuance of common units related to transfer of Navios Europe I loans

   $ 28,697     $ —        $ —    

Non cash investing activities

       

Notes receivable

   $ (7,540   $ 6,112      $ —    

Accrued interest on loan receivable from affiliates

   $ 278     $ 238      $ —    

 

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Table of Contents

NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars except unit data)

 

    Limited Partners                          
    General Partner     Common Unitholders                          
    Units     Amount     Units     Amount     Note
Receivable
    Total
Navios
Partners’
Capital
    Noncontrolling
interest
    Total
Partners’
Capital
 

Balance, December 31, 2014

    1,578,763     $ 5,023       77,359,163     $ 744,075     $ —       $ 749,098     $ —       $ 749,098  

Cash distribution paid

    —         (4,362     —         (127,944     —         (132,306     —         (132,306

Proceeds from issuance of common units, net of offering costs (see Note 13)

    —         —         5,720,547       72,090       —         72,090       —         72,090  

Net proceeds from issuance of general partner units (see Note 13)

    116,746       1,528       —         —         —         1,528       —         1,528  

Net income

    —         1,980       —         39,825       —         41,805       —         41,805  

Balance, December 31, 2015

    1,695,509     $ 4,169       83,079,710     $ 728,046     $ —       $ 732,215     $ —       $ 732,215  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity compensation expense

    —         —         —         93       —         93       —         93  

Proceeds from public offering and issuance of common units, net of offering costs (see Note 13)

    —         —         244,201       440       —         440       —         440  

Net proceeds from issuance of general partner units (see Note 13)

    4,984       10       —         —         —         10       —         10  

Net loss

    —         (1,051     —         (51,498     —         (52,549     —         (52,549

Balance, December 31, 2016

    1,700,493     $ 3,128       83,323,911     $ 677,081     $ —       $ 680,209     $ —       $ 680,209  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Formation of Navios Containers

    —         —         —         —         —         —         17,323       17,323  

Issuance of restricted common units (see Note 13)

    —         —         2,040,000       1,904       —         1,904       —         1,904  

Proceeds from public offering and issuance of common units, net of offering costs (see Note 13)

    —         —         48,995,442       98,175       —         98,175       —         98,175  

Net proceeds from issuance of general partner units (see Note 13)

    1,308,415       2,626       —         —         —         2,626       —         2,626  

Issuance of common units for transfer of Navios Europe I Loans (see Notes 12 & 18)

    —         —         13,076,923       28,697       (29,423     (726     —         (726

Issuance of restricted common units for acquisition of vessels from Rickmers Trust (see Note 13)

    7,376       12       361,444       600       —         612       —         612  

Net loss

    —         (302     —         (14,788     —         (15,090     239       (14,851

Navios Containers’ deconsolidation (see Note 3)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         (17,562     (17,562

Balance, December 31, 2017

    3,016,284     $ 5,464       147,797,720     $ 791,669     $ (29,423   $ 767,710     $ —       $ 767,710  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

NOTE 1 – DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (“Navios Partners” or the “Company”), is an international owner and operator of dry cargo vessels, formed on August 7, 2007 under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Navios GP L.L.C. (the “General Partner”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. (“Navios Holdings”), was also formed on that date to act as the general partner of Navios Partners and received a 2.0% general partner interest in Navios Partners.

Navios Partners is engaged in the seaborne transportation services of a wide range of dry cargo commodities including iron ore, coal, grain, fertilizer and also containers, chartering its vessels under medium to long-term charters. The operations of Navios Partners are managed by Navios ShipManagement Inc., a subsidiary of Navios Holdings (the “Manager”), from its offices in Piraeus, Greece, Singapore and Monaco.

Pursuant to the initial public offering (“IPO”) on November 16, 2007, Navios Partners entered into the following agreements:

(a) a management agreement with the Manager (the “Management Agreement”), pursuant to which the Manager provides Navios Partners commercial and technical management services;

(b) an administrative services agreement with the Manager (the “Administrative Services Agreement”), pursuant to which the Manager provides Navios Partners administrative services; and

(c) an omnibus agreement with Navios Holdings (the “Omnibus Agreement”), governing, among other things, when Navios Partners and Navios Holdings may compete against each other as well as rights of first offer on certain drybulk carriers.

As of December 31, 2017, there were outstanding: 147,797,720 common units and 3,016,284 general partnership units. As of December 31, 2017, Navios Holdings owned a 20.8% interest in Navios Partners, which included a 2.0% general partner interest.

Navios Containers

Navios Maritime Containers Inc. (“Navios Containers”), an affiliate of the Company, was established in the Republic of the Marshall Islands on April 28, 2017. The Company is a growth vehicle dedicated to the container sector of the maritime industry. On June 12, 2017, Navios Containers also registered and began trading on the Norwegian Over-The-Counter Market under the ticker NMCI.

On June 8, 2017, Navios Containers closed its private placement and issued 10,057,645 shares for total gross proceeds of $50,288 at a subscription price of $5.00 per share. Navios Partners invested $30,000 and received 59.7% of the equity, and Navios Holdings invested $5,000 and received 9.9% of the equity of Navios Containers. Each of Navios Partners and Navios Holdings also received warrants, with a five-year term, for 6.8% and 1.7% of the equity, respectively. Navios Containers used the proceeds to acquire five 4,250 TEU vessels from Navios Partners for a total purchase price of $64,000. These vessels, first acquired by Navios Partners from Rickmers Maritime Trust Pte. (“Rickmers Trust”), are employed on charters with a net daily charter rate of $26,850. The charters expire in 2018 and early 2019. In addition, Navios Containers acquired all the rights under the acquisition agreements entered into between Navios Partners and Rickmers Trust to purchase the remaining nine vessels (the “RMT Fleet”) in the original 14-vessel container fleet.

On August 29, 2017, Navios Containers closed its private placement of 10,000,000 shares at a subscription price of $5.00 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of $50,000. Navios Partners invested $10,000 and received 2,000,000 shares. Navios Partners and Navios Holdings also received warrants, with a five-year term, for 6.8% and 1.7% of the equity, respectively. As a result, from August 29, 2017, Navios Containers is considered an affiliate entity and the investment in Navios Containers is accounted for under the equity method due to the Company’s significant influence over Navios Containers (see Note 3 — Acquisition/Deconsolidation).

On November 9, 2017, Navios Containers closed a private placement of 9,090,909 shares at a subscription price of $5.50 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $50,000. Navios Partners invested $10,000 and received 1,818,182 shares. Navios Partners also received warrants, with a five-year term, for 6.8% of the newly issued equity.

In connection with the Navios Containers’ deconsolidation, the Company recognized an amount of $174 related to the dilution gain of its investment in Navios Containers. The amount was recognized in the Statements of Operations under the caption of “Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies” for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

As of December 31, 2017, Navios Partners held 9,818,182 common shares and received 33.7% of the equity, and Navios Holdings held 1,000,000 common shares and received 3.4% of the equity of Navios Containers.

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

(a) Basis of presentation : The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP).

The Company elected to early adopt the requirements of ASU 2017-01 effective beginning the second quarter ending June 30, 2017 and applied this guidance prospectively in the current period presented in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial information in connection with the acquisition of the five container vessels (see Note 7 — Vessels, net). The early adoption of this ASU did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

(b) Principles of consolidation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements include Navios Partners’ wholly owned subsidiaries incorporated under the laws of Marshall Islands, Malta, and Liberia from their dates of incorporation or, for chartered-in vessels, from the dates charter-in agreements were in effect. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in Navios Partners’ consolidated financial statements.

Navios Partners also consolidates entities that are determined to be variable interest entities (“VIE”) as defined in the accounting guidance, if it determines that it is the primary beneficiary. A VIE is defined as a legal entity where either (i) equity interest holders as a group lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest, including decision making ability and an interest in the entity’s residual risks and rewards, (ii) the equity holders have not provided sufficient equity investment to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, or (iii) the voting rights of some investors are not proportional to their obligations to absorb the expected losses of the entity, their rights to receive the expected residual returns of the entity, or both and substantially all of the entity’s activities either involve or are conducted on behalf of an investor that has disproportionately few voting rights.

Based on internal forecasts and projections that take into account reasonably possible changes in our trading performance, management believes that the Company has adequate financial resources to continue in operation and meet its financial commitments, including but not limited to capital expenditures and debt service obligations, for a period of at least twelve months from the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, the Company continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements.

Subsidiaries: Subsidiaries are those entities in which Navios Partners has an interest of more than one half of the voting rights or otherwise has power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the following entities:

 

        Country of  

Statements of Operations

Company name

 

Vessel name

 

incorporation

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

Libra Shipping Enterprises Corporation

  Navios Libra II   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Alegria Shipping Corporation

  Navios Alegria   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Felicity Shipping Corporation

  Navios Felicity   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Gemini Shipping Corporation(****)

  Navios Gemini S   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/21   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Galaxy Shipping Corporation

  Navios Galaxy I   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Aurora Shipping Enterprises Ltd.

  Navios Hope   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Palermo Shipping S.A. (***)

  Navios Apollon   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 04/21   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Fantastiks Shipping Corporation

  Navios Fantastiks   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Sagittarius Shipping Corporation

  Navios Sagittarius   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Hyperion Enterprises Inc.

  Navios Hyperion   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Chilali Corp.

  Navios Aurora II   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Surf Maritime Co.

  Navios Pollux   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Pandora Marine Inc.

  Navios Melodia   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Customized Development S.A.

  Navios Fulvia   Liberia   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Kohylia Shipmanagement S.A.

  Navios Luz   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Orbiter Shipping Corp.

  Navios Orbiter   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Floral Marine Ltd.

  Navios Buena Ventura   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Golem Navigation Limited

  Navios Soleil   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Kymata Shipping Co.

  Navios Helios   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

        Country of  

Statements of Operations

Company name

 

Vessel name

 

incorporation

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

Joy Shipping Corporation

  Navios Joy   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Micaela Shipping Corporation

  Navios Harmony   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Pearl Shipping Corporation

  Navios Sun   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Velvet Shipping Corporation

  Navios La Paix   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Perigiali Navigation Limited

  Navios Beaufiks   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   12/30 –12/31   —  

Finian Navigation Co.

  Navios Ace   Marshall Is.   6/09 – 12/31   —     —  

Ammos Shipping Corp.

  Navios Prosperity I   Marshall Is.   6/07 – 12/31   —     —  

Wave Shipping Corp.

  Navios Libertas   Marshall Is.   7/10 – 12/31   —     —  

Casual Shipholding Co.

  Navios Sol   Marshall Is.   7/17 – 12/31   —     —  

Avery Shipping Company

  Navios Symphony   Marshall Is.   9/20 – 12/31   —     —  

Coasters Ventures Ltd

  Navios Christine B   Marshall Is.   8/11 – 12/31   —     —  

Ianthe Maritime S.A.

  Navios Aster   Marshall Is.   8/21 – 12/31   —     —  

Rubina Shipping Corporation

  Hyundai Hongkong   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Topaz Shipping Corporation

  Hyundai Singapore   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Beryl Shipping Corporation

  Hyundai Tokyo   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Cheryl Shipping Corporation

  Hyundai Shanghai   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Christal Shipping Corporation

  Hyundai Busan   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Fairy Shipping Corporation

  YM Utmost   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Limestone Shipping Corporation

  YM Unity   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Dune Shipping Corp. (**)

  MSC Cristina   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 01/12   1/01 – 12/31   4/22 – 12/31

Citrine Shipping Corporation

  —     Marshall Is.   —     —     —  

Cavalli Navigation Inc.

  —     Marshall Is.   —     —     —  

Cavos Navigation Co.

  —     Marshall Is.   —     —     —  

Seymour Trading Limited

  —     Marshall Is.   —     —     —  

Goldie Services Company

  —     Marshall Is.   —     —     —  

Olympia II Navigation Limited

  MOL Dominance   Marshall Is.   05/25 – 08/29   —     —  

Pingel Navigation Limited

  MOL Delight   Marshall Is.   05/25 – 08/29   —     —  

Ebba Navigation Limited

  MOL Destiny   Marshall Is.   05/25 – 08/29   —     —  

Clan Navigation Limited

  MOL Devotion   Marshall Is.   05/25 – 08/29   —     —  

Sui An Navigation Limited

  MOL Dedication   Marshall Is.   05/25 – 08/29   —     —  

Bertyl Ventures Co.

  Navios Azure   Marshall Is.   07/12 – 08/29   —     —  

Silvanus Marine Company

  Navios Summer   Marshall Is.   07/12 – 08/29   —     —  

Anthimar Marine Inc.

  Navios Amarillo   Marshall Is.   07/17 – 08/29   —     —  

Enplo Shipping Limited

  Navios Verde   Marshall Is.   07/17 – 08/29   —     —  

Morven Chartering Inc.

  Navios Verano   Marshall Is.   07/25 – 08/29   —     —  

Rodman Maritime Corp.

  Navios Spring   Marshall Is.   08/03 – 08/29   —     —  

Isolde Shipping Inc.

  Navios Indigo   Marshall Is.   08/03 – 08/29   —     —  

Velour Management Corp.

  Navios Vermilion   Marshall Is.   08/03 – 08/29   —     —  

Evian Shiptrade Ltd.

  Navios Amaranth   Marshall Is.   08/03 – 08/29   —     —  

Chartered-in vessels

         

Prosperity Shipping Corporation

  Navios Prosperity   Marshall Is.   —     —     1/01 – 03/05

Aldebaran Shipping Corporation

  Navios Aldebaran   Marshall Is.   —     —     1/01 – 02/28

Other

         

JTC Shipping and Trading Ltd (*)

  Holding Company   Malta   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Navios Maritime Partners L.P.

  N/A   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Navios Maritime Operating LLC

  N/A   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Navios Partners Finance (US) Inc.

  Co-Borrower   Delaware   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Navios Partners Europe Finance Inc.

  Sub-Holding Company   Marshall Is.   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31   1/01 – 12/31

Navios Partners Containers Finance Inc.

  Sub-Holding Company   Marshall Is.   05/25 – 08/29   —     —  

Navios Partners Containers Inc.

  Sub-Holding Company   Marshall Is.   05/25 – 08/29   —     —  

Navios Maritime Containers Inc.

  Holding Company   Marshall Is.   04/28 – 08/29   —     —  

 

(*) Not a vessel-owning subsidiary and only holds right to charter-in contracts.
(**) The vessel was classified as held for sale as at December 31, 2016 and was sold on January 12, 2017 (see Note 7 — Vessels, net).
(***) The vessel was sold on April 21, 2017 (see Note 7 — Vessels, net).
(**** ) The vessel was sold on December 21, 2017 (see Note 7 — Vessels, net).

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

Investments in Affiliates: Affiliates are entities over which the Company generally has between 20% and 50% of the voting rights, or over which the Company has significant influence, but it does not exercise control. Investments in these entities are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Under this method, the Company records an investment in the stock of an affiliate at cost, and adjusts the carrying amount for its share of the earnings or losses of the affiliate subsequent to the date of investment and reports the recognized earnings or losses in income. Dividends received from an affiliate reduce the carrying amount of the investment. The Company recognizes gains and losses in earnings for the issuance of shares by its affiliates, provided that the issuance of such shares qualifies as a sale of such shares. When the Company’s share of losses in an affiliate equals or exceeds its interest in the affiliate, the Company does not recognize further losses, unless the Company has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the affiliate.

Affiliates included in the financial statements accounted for under the equity method : In the consolidated financial statements of Navios Partners, the following entities are included as affiliates and are accounted for under the equity method for such periods: (i) Navios Containers and its subsidiaries (ownership interest as of December 31, 2017 was 33.7%); (ii) Navios Europe I and its subsidiaries (ownership interest as of December 31, 2017 was 5.0%); and (iii) Navios Europe II and its subsidiaries (ownership interest as of December 31, 2017 was 5.0%).

 

(c) Use of Estimates: The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. On an on-going basis, management evaluates the estimates and judgments, including those related to uncompleted voyages, future drydock dates, the selection of useful lives for tangible assets and scrap value expected future cash flows from long-lived assets to support impairment tests, provisions necessary for accounts receivable, provisions for legal disputes, and contingencies and the valuation estimates inherent in the deconsolidation gain. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates under different assumptions and/or conditions.

 

(d) Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, deposits held on call with banks, and other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

 

(e) Restricted Cash : As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, restricted cash includes an amount of $386 and $2,228, respectively, which related to amounts held in retention accounts in order to service debt and interest payments, as required by Navios Partners’ credit facilities and an amount of $5,500 held as security in the form of a letter of guarantee relating to the chartering of a vessel. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the restricted cash was $5,886 and $7,728, respectively.

 

(f) Accounts Receivable, Net: The amount shown as accounts receivable, net at each balance sheet date includes receivables from charterers for hire, freight and demurrage billings, net of a provision for doubtful accounts. At each balance sheet date, all potentially uncollectible accounts are assessed individually for purposes of determining the appropriate provision for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 was $1,495 and $0, respectively.

 

(g) Inventories: Inventories, which are comprised of bunkers due to freight voyages, are valued at cost as determined on the first-in, first-out basis.

 

(h) Vessels, Net: Vessels are stated at historical cost, which consists of the contract price and any material expenses incurred upon acquisition (improvements and delivery expenses). Vessels acquired in an asset acquisition or in a business combination are recorded at fair value. Subsequent expenditures for major improvements and upgrades are capitalized, provided they appreciably extend the life, increase the earnings capacity or improve the efficiency or safety of the vessels. The cost and related accumulated depreciation of assets retired or sold are removed from the accounts at the time of sale or retirement and any gain or loss is included in the accompanying consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

Expenditures for routine maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.

Depreciation is computed using the straight line method over the useful life of the vessels, after considering the estimated residual value. Management estimates the residual values of our drybulk and container vessels based on a scrap value cost of steel times the weight of the ship noted in lightweight ton (“LWT”). Residual values are periodically reviewed and revised to recognize changes in conditions, new regulations or other reasons. Revisions of residual values affect the depreciable amount of the vessels and affects depreciation expense in the period of the revision and future periods. The management after considering current market trends for scrap rates and 10-year average historical scrap rates of the residual values of the Company’s vessels, estimates scrap value at a rate of $340 per LWT.

Management estimates the useful life of our vessels to be 25 and 30 years from the drybulk and container vessel’s original construction, respectively. However, when regulations place limitations over the ability of a vessel to trade on a worldwide basis, its useful life is re-estimated to end at the date such regulations become effective. An increase in the useful life of a vessel or in its residual value would have the effect of decreasing the annual depreciation charge and extending it into later periods. A decrease in the useful life of a vessel or in its residual value would have the effect of increasing the annual depreciation charge.

 

(i) Assets Held For Sale: It is the Company’s policy to dispose of vessels and other fixed assets when suitable opportunities occur and not necessarily to keep them until the end of their useful life. The Company classifies assets and disposal groups as being held for sale when the following criteria are met: management has committed to a plan to sell the vessel (disposal group); the asset (disposal group) is available for immediate sale in its present condition subject only to terms that are usual and customary for sales of vessels; an active program to locate a buyer and other actions required to complete the plan to sell the asset (disposal group) have been initiated; the sale of the asset (disposal group) is probable and transfer of the asset (disposal group) is expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale within one year; the asset (disposal group) is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value; and actions required to complete the plan indicate that it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn. Long-lived assets or disposal groups classified as held for sale are measured at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. These vessels are not depreciated once they meet the criteria to be held for sale. As of December 31, 2016, MSC Cristina had been classified as held for sale as the relevant criteria for the classification were met (see Note 7 — Vessels, net). No assets were classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2017.

 

(j) Impairment of Long Lived Assets: Vessels, other fixed assets and other long lived assets held and used by Navios Partners are reviewed periodically for potential impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a particular asset may not be fully recoverable. Navios Partners’ management evaluates the carrying amounts and periods over which long-lived assets are depreciated to determine if events or changes in circumstances have occurred that would require modification to their carrying values or useful lives. Measurement of the impairment loss is based on the fair value of the asset. Navios Partners determines the fair value of its assets on the basis of management estimates and assumptions by making use of available market data and taking into consideration third party valuations performed on an individual vessel basis. In evaluating useful lives and carrying values of long-lived assets, certain indicators of potential impairment, are reviewed such as undiscounted projected operating cash flows, vessel sales and purchases, business plans and overall market conditions.

Undiscounted projected net operating cash flows are determined for each asset group and compared to the carrying value of the vessel, the unamortized portion of deferred drydock and special survey costs related to the vessel and the related carrying value of the intangible assets with respect to the time charter agreement attached to that vessel or the carrying value of deposits for newbuildings. Within the shipping industry, vessels are customarily bought and sold with a charter attached. The value of the charter may be favorable or unfavorable when comparing the charter rate to then current market rates. The loss recognized either on impairment (or on disposition) will reflect the excess of carrying value over fair value (selling price) for the vessel asset group.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017, the Company concluded that events occurred and circumstances had changed, which indicated that potential impairment of Navios Partners’ long-lived assets may exist. These indicators included volatility in the spot market and the related impact of the current drybulk and container sector has on management’s expectation for future revenues. As a result, Navios Partners performed step one of the impairment assessment of the Company’s long-lived assets by comparing the undiscounted projected net operating cash flows for each vessel to its carrying value together with the carrying value of deferred drydock and special survey costs related to the vessel and the carrying value of the related intangible assets, if applicable. The significant factors and assumptions the Company used in the undiscounted projected net operating cash flow analysis included: determining the projected net operating cash flows by considering the charter revenues from existing time

 

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Table of Contents

NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

charters for the fixed fleet days (Navios Partners’ remaining charter agreement rates) and an estimated daily time charter equivalent for the unfixed days (based on a combination of one-year average historical time charter rates for the first year and 10-year average historical one-year time charter rates for the remaining period, adjusted for outliers) over the remaining economic life of each vessel, net of brokerage and address commissions, and excluding days of scheduled off-hires, management fees fixed until December 2019 and thereafter assuming an increase of 1.0% every second year and utilization rate of 98.6% based on the fleet’s historical performance.

As of December 31, 2017, our assessment concluded that step two of the impairment analysis was required for one of our vessels held and used, as the undiscounted projected net operating cash flows did not exceed the carrying value. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $30,304 for this vessel, being the difference between the fair value and the vessel’s carrying value together with the carrying value of deferred drydock and special survey costs related to the vessel, presented under the caption “Vessel impairment losses” in the consolidated Statements of Operations. The assessment performed for 2016 and 2015 did not indicate a step two was necessary for the Company’s other vessels held and used (see Note 7 — Vessels, net).

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, an impairment loss of $2,373, $17,193 and $10,008, respectively, was also recognized in connection with the committed sale of the Navios Gemini S, the MSC Cristina and the Navios Apollon as the carrying amount of each asset group was not recoverable and exceeded its fair value less costs to sell (see Note 7 — Vessels, net).

The impairment loss was presented under the caption “Vessel impairment losses” in the consolidated Statements of Operations. Impairment loss recognized amounted to $32,677, $27,201 and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

(k) Deferred Drydock and Special Survey Costs: Navio s Partners’ vessels are subject to regularly scheduled drydocking and special surveys which are generally carried out every 30 or 60 months, depending on the vessels’ ages to coincide with the renewal of the related certificates issued by the classification societies, unless a further extension is obtained in rare cases and under certain conditions. The cost of drydocking and special surveys are deferred and amortized over the above periods or to the next drydocking or special survey date if such date has been determined.

Costs capitalized as part of the drydocking or special survey consist principally of the actual costs incurred at the yard, and expenses relating to spare parts, paints, lubricants and services incurred solely during the drydocking or special survey period. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the amortization expense was $7,172, $6,381 and $4,043, respectively.

 

(l) Deferred Financing Cost: Deferred financing costs include fees, commissions and legal expenses associated with obtaining or modifying credit facilities. Deferred financing costs are presented as a deduction from the corresponding liability. These costs are amortized over the life of the related facility using the effective interest rate method, and are included in interest expense. Amortization and write-off of deferred financing costs, including amortization of debt discount, for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $9,744, $4,003 and $3,727, respectively.

 

(m) Investments in Equity Securities: Navios Partners evaluates its investments in Navios Europe I, Navios Europe II and Navios Containers for other-than-temporary impairment on a quarterly basis. Consideration is given to (i) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than the carrying value, (ii) the financial condition and near-term prospects of Navios Europe I, Navios Europe II and Navios Containers, and (iii) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in Navios Europe I, Navios Europe II and Navios Containers, for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value.

 

(n) Intangible Assets and Liabilities: Navios Partners’ intangible assets and liabilities consist of favorable lease terms and unfavorable lease terms. When intangible assets or liabilities associated with the acquisition of a vessel are identified, they are recorded at fair value. Fair value is determined by reference to market data and the discounted amount of expected future cash flows. Where charter rates are higher than market charter rates, an asset is recorded, being the difference between the acquired charter rate and the market charter rate for an equivalent vessel. Where charter rates are less than market charter rates, a liability is recorded, being the difference between the assumed charter rate and the market charter rate for an equivalent vessel. The determination of the fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities requires Navios Partners to make significant assumptions and estimates of many variables including market charter rates, expected future charter rates, the level of utilization of its vessels and its weighted average cost of capital. The use of different assumptions could result in a material change in the fair value of these items, which could have a material impact on Navios Partners’ financial position and results of operations.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

The amortizable value of favorable and unfavorable leases is amortized over the remaining life of the lease term and the amortization expense is included in the Statements of Operations under the caption “Depreciation and amortization” line item.

The amortizable value of favorable leases would be considered impaired if its carrying value could not be recovered from the future undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset. Management, after considering various indicators, performed on impairment test which included intangible assets as described in paragraph (j) above. As of December 31, 2017, there was no impairment of intangible assets.

 

(o) Foreign Currency Translation: Navios Partners’ functional and reporting currency is the U.S. Dollar. Navios Partners engages in worldwide commerce with a variety of entities. Although, its operations may expose it to certain levels of foreign currency risk, its transactions are predominantly U.S. dollar denominated. Additionally, Navios Partners’ wholly-owned vessel subsidiaries transacted a nominal amount of their operations in Euros; however, all of the subsidiaries’ primary cash flows are U.S. dollar denominated. Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency are translated at the exchange rate in effect at the date of each transaction. Differences in exchange rates during the period between the date a transaction denominated in a foreign currency is consummated and the date on which it is either settled or translated, are recognized in the Statements of Operations. The foreign currency gains/(losses) recognized in the accompanying consolidated Statements of Operations under the caption “Other income” or “Other expense”, for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $54, $11, and $19, respectively.

 

(p) Provisions: Navios Partners, in the ordinary course of its business, is subject to various claims, suits and complaints. Management, in consultation with internal and external advisors, will provide for a contingent loss in the financial statements if the contingency had been incurred as of the balance sheet date and the likelihood of loss was probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. If Navios Partners has determined that the reasonable estimate of the loss is a range and there is no best estimate within the range, Navios Partners will accrue the lower amount of the range.

Navios Partners, through the management agreement, participates in Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance coverage plans provided by mutual insurance societies known as P&I clubs. Under the terms of these plans, participants may be required to pay additional premiums (supplementary calls) to fund operating deficits incurred by the clubs (“back calls”). Obligations for back calls are accrued annually based on information provided by the P&I clubs.

 

(q) Segment Reporting: Navios Partners reports financial information and evaluates its operations by charter revenues and not by the length of ship employment for its customers. Navios Partners does not use discrete financial information to evaluate operating results for each type of charter or vessel type. Management does not identify expenses, profitability or other financial information by charter type. As a result, management reviews operating results solely by revenue per day and operating results of the fleet and thus Navios Partners has determined that it operates under one reportable segment. For the period from April 28, 2017 to August 29, 2017, the Company had two reportable segments from which it derived its revenues: Navios Partners Operations and Navios Containers Operations. The reportable segments reflect the internal organization of the Company whereby the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) reviews the discrete financial information of the Navios Partners’ controlled fleet and the Navios Containers’ controlled fleet.

 

(r) Revenue and Expense Recognition : Revenue is recorded when services are rendered, under a signed charter agreement or other evidence of an arrangement, the price is fixed or determinable, and collection is reasonably assured. Revenue is generated from time charter of vessels.

Voyage revenues for the transportation of cargo are recognized ratably over the estimated relative transit time of each voyage. A voyage is deemed to commence when a vessel arrives at the loading port, as applicable under the contract, and is deemed to end upon the completion of the discharge of the current cargo. Under a voyage charter, the Company agrees to provide a vessel for the transportation of specific goods between specific ports in return for payment of an agreed upon freight rate per ton of cargo.

Revenues are recorded net of address commissions. Address commissions represent a discount provided directly to the charterers based on a fixed percentage of the agreed upon charter or freight rate. Since address commissions represent a discount (sales incentive) on services rendered by the Company and no identifiable benefit is received in exchange for the consideration provided to the charterer, these commissions are presented as a reduction of revenue.

Revenues from time chartering of vessels are accounted for as operating leases and are thus recognized on a straight line basis as the average lease revenue over the rental periods of such charter agreements, as service is performed. A time charter involves placing a vessel at the charterers’ disposal for a period of time during which the charterer uses the vessel in return for the payment of a specified daily hire rate. Short period charters for less than three months are referred to as spot-charters. Charters extending three months to a year are generally referred to as medium-term charters. All other charters are considered long-term. Under time charters, operating costs such as for crews, maintenance and insurance are typically paid by the owner of the vessel.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

Profit-sharing revenues are calculated at an agreed percentage of the excess of the charterer’s average daily income (calculated on a quarterly or half-yearly basis) or the Baltic Dry Index over an agreed amount and accounted for on an accrual basis based on provisional amounts and for those contracts that provisional accruals cannot be made due to the nature of the profit sharing elements, these are accounted for on the actual cash settlement. Profit sharing for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 amounted to $1,819, $(9,123) and $(2,559), respectively.

For vessels operating in pooling arrangements, the Company earns a portion of total revenues generated by the pool, net of expenses incurred by the pool. The amount allocated to each pool participant vessel, including the Company’s vessels, is determined in accordance with an agreed-upon formula, which is determined by points awarded to each vessel in the pool based on the vessel’s age, design and other performance characteristics. Revenue under pooling arrangements is accounted for on the accrual basis and is recognized when an agreement with the pool exists, price is fixed, service is provided and the collectability is reasonably assured. Revenue for vessels operating in pooling arrangements amounted to $6,058, $3,949 and $0, for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The allocation of such net revenue may be subject to future adjustments by the pool however, such changes are not expected to be material.

Deferred Revenue and Cash Received in Advance:  Deferred revenue primarily relates to cash received from charterers prior to it being earned and the compensation received for the future reduction in the daily hire rates payable by HMM. These amounts are recognized as revenue over the voyage or charter period.

Time Charter and Voyage Expenses: Time charter and voyage expenses comprise all expenses related to each particular voyage, including time charter hire paid and voyage freight paid, bunkers, port charges, canal tolls, cargo handling, agency fees and brokerage commissions. Also included in time charter and voyage expenses are provision for losses on time charters and voyages in progress at year-end, direct port terminal expenses and other miscellaneous expenses. Time charter expenses are expensed over the period of the time charter and voyage expenses are recognized as incurred.

Direct Vessel Expenses: Direct vessel expenses comprise the amortization related to drydocking and special survey costs of certain vessels of Navios Partners’ fleet.

Prepaid Voyage Costs: Prepaid voyage costs relate to cash paid in advance for expenses associated with voyages. These amounts are recognized as expenses over the voyage or charter period.

Management Fees: Pursuant to the amended Management Agreement, in each of October 2013, August 2014, February 2015 and February 2016, the Manager, a wholly owned subsidiary of Navios Holdings, provides commercial and technical management services to Navios Partners’ vessels for a daily fee of: (a) $4.10 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4.20 daily rate per Panamax vessel; (c) $5.25 daily rate per Capesize vessel; (d) $6.70 daily rate per Container vessel of TEU 6,800; (e) $7.40 daily rate per Container vessel of TEU 8,000; and (f) $8.75 daily rate per very large Container vessel of more than TEU 13,000 through December 31, 2017. On November 14, 2017, Navios Partners agreed to extend the duration of its existing Management Agreement with the Manager until December 31, 2022 and to fix the rate for shipmanagement services of its owned fleet through December 31, 2019, effective from January 1, 2018. The new management fees, excluding drydocking expenses, will be: (a) $4.23 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4.33 daily rate per Panamax vessel; (c) $5.25 daily rate per Capesize vessel; (d) $6.70 daily rate per Container vessel of TEU 6,800; (e) $7.40 daily rate per Container vessel of more than TEU 8,000 and (f) $8.75 daily rate per very large Container vessel of more than TEU 13,000. Drydocking expenses under this agreement are reimbursed by Navios Partners at cost at occurrence.

General and Administrative Expenses: Pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement dated November 16, 2007, the Manager also provides administrative services to Navios Partners, which include bookkeeping, audit and accounting services, legal and insurance services, administrative and clerical services, banking and financial services, advisory services, client and investor relations and other. The Manager is reimbursed for reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of these services. Navios Partners extended the duration of its existing Administrative Services Agreement with the Manager pursuant to the same terms, until December 31, 2022.

 

(s) Financial Instruments: Financial instruments carried on the balance sheet include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade receivables and payables, other receivables and other liabilities and long-term debt. The particular recognition methods applicable to each class of financial instrument are disclosed in the applicable significant policy description of each item, or included below as applicable.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

Financial Risk Management:  Navios Partners’ activities expose it to a variety of financial risks including fluctuations in future freight rates, time charter hire rates, fuel prices, credit and interest rates risk. Risk management is carried out under policies approved by executive management. Guidelines are established for overall risk management, as well as specific areas of operations.

Credit risk:  Navios Partners closely monitors its credit exposure to customers and counter-parties for credit risk. Navios Partners has entered into the management agreement with the Manager, pursuant to which the Manager agreed to provide commercial and technical management services to Navios Partners. When negotiating on behalf of Navios Partners’ various vessel employment contracts, the Manager has policies in place to ensure that it trades with customers and counterparties with an appropriate credit history.

Financial instruments that potentially subject Navios Partners to concentrations of credit risk are accounts receivable and cash and cash equivalents. Navios Partners does not believe its exposure to credit risk is likely to have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, our customers representing 10% or more of total revenues were HMM and Yang Ming which accounted for approximately 26.8% and 12.0%, respectively, of total revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2016, Navios Partners’ customers representing 10% or more of total revenues were HMM, Yang Ming and Mediterranean Shipping Co. S.A. which accounted for approximately 29.6%, 13.0% and 11.6%, respectively, of total revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2015, Navios Partners’ customers representing 10% or more of total revenues were HMM, Navios Corporation and Yang Ming, which accounted for 24.0%, 17.4% and 11.4%, respectively, of total revenues. No other customers accounted for 10% or more of total revenues for any of the years presented.

Liquidity Risk: Prudent liquidity risk management implies maintaining sufficient cash and marketable securities, the availability of funding through an adequate amount of committed credit facilities and the ability to close out market positions. Navios Partners monitors cash balances appropriately to meet working capital needs.

Foreign Exchange Risk:  Foreign currency transactions are translated into the measurement currency rates prevailing at the dates of transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognized in the consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

(t) Cash Distribution: As per the Partnership Agreement, within 45 days following the end of each quarter, to the extent and as may be declared by the Board, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such quarter shall be distributed to the partners as of the record date selected by the Board of Directors.

Available Cash:  Generally means, for each fiscal quarter, all cash on hand at the end of the quarter:

 

    less the amount of cash reserves established by the board of directors to:

 

    provide for the proper conduct of the business (including reserve for Maintenance and Replacement Capital Expenditures)

 

    comply with applicable law, any of Navios Partners’ debt instruments, or other agreements; or

 

    provide funds for distributions to the unitholders and to the general partner for any one or more of the next four quarters;

 

    plus all cash on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash for the quarter resulting from working capital borrowings made after the end of the quarter. Working capital borrowings are generally borrowings that are made under any revolving credit or similar agreement used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to partners.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

Available Cash is a quantitative measure used in the publicly traded partnership investment community to assist in evaluating a partnership’s ability to make quarterly cash distributions. Available Cash is not required by US GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other indicator of Navios Partners’ performance required by US GAAP.

Cash distributions are recorded in the Company’s financial statements in the period in which they are declared. Navios Partners paid $0, $0 and $132,306 to its holders of record of common and general partner units during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. On February 3, 2016, Navios Partners announced that its board of directors decided to suspend the quarterly cash distributions to its unitholders, including the distribution for the quarter ended December 31, 2015. The amount of any distributions paid under Navios Partners’ policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by its board of directors, taking into consideration the terms of its partnership agreement (see also Note 24 – Subsequent Events).

Maintenance and Replacement Capital Expenditures :  Maintenance and Replacement capital expenditures are those capital expenditures required to maintain over the long-term the operating capacity of or the revenue generated by Navios Partners’ capital assets, and expansion capital expenditures are those capital expenditures that increase the operating capacity of or the revenue generated by the capital assets. To the extent, however, that capital expenditures associated with acquiring a new vessel increase the revenues or the operating capacity of our fleet, those capital expenditures would be classified as expansion capital expenditures. As of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, Maintenance and Replacement capital expenditures reserve approved by the Board of Directors was $14,859, $11,899 and $13,811, respectively.

 

(u) Stock-based compensation: In December 2017 and 2016, Navios Partners granted restricted common units to its directors and/or officers which are based on service conditions only and vest over three years. The fair value of restricted units was determined by reference to the quoted stock price on the date of grant. Compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, is recognized based on a graded expense model over the vesting period. Compensation expense for the awards that vest upon achievement of the performance criteria is recognized when it is probable that the performance criteria will be met and are being accounted for as equity. The effect of compensation expense arising from the restricted units described above amounted to $1,904 and $93 as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and was presented under the caption “General and administrative expenses” in the consolidated Statements of Operations. There were no restricted common units exercised, forfeited or expired during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. As of December 31, 2017, 686,665 restricted common units were vested.

 

(v) Income Taxes: The Company is a Marshall Islands Corporation. Pursuant to various treaties and the United States Internal Revenue Code, the Company believes that substantially all its operations are exempt from income taxes in the Marshall Islands and the United States of America. Under the laws of Marshall Islands, Malta and Liberia, the countries of the vessel-owning subsidiaries’ incorporation and vessels’ registration, the vessel-owning subsidiaries are subject to registration and tonnage taxes which have been included in vessel operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

(w) (Loss)/Earnings Per Unit: Basic (losses)/earnings per unit is computed by dividing net (loss)/income attributable to Navios Partners common unitholders by the weighted average number of common units outstanding during the periods presented. Diluted earnings per unit reflect the potential dilution that would occur if securities or other contracts to issue common units were exercised or converted. Diluted earnings per unit is calculated in the same manner as basic earnings per unit, except that the weighted average number of outstanding units increased to include the dilutive effect of outstanding unit options or phantom units.

 

(x) Guarantees: An asset for the fair value of a right undertaken in issuing the guarantee is recognized. The recognition of fair value is not required for certain guarantees such as the parent’s guarantee of a subsidiary’s debt to a third party or guarantees on product warranties. For those guarantees excluded from the above guidance requiring the fair value recognition of the asset, financial statement disclosures of their terms are made.

On November 15, 2012 (as amended in March 2014), Navios Holdings and Navios Partners entered into an agreement (the “Navios Holdings Guarantee”) by which Navios Holdings agreed to provide supplemental credit default insurance with a maximum cash payment of $20.0 million. During the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company submitted claims for charterers’ default under this agreement to Navios Holdings for a total amount of $7.2 million and $9.2 million, respectively, net of applicable deductions, of which $7.6 million and $9.6 million, respectively, was presented under the caption “Other income”.

 

(y) Leases: Vessel leases where Navios Partners is regarded as the lessor are classified as either finance leases or operating leases based on an assessment of the terms of the lease.

For charters classified as finance leases the minimum lease payments are recorded as the gross investment in the lease. The difference between the gross investment in the lease and the sum of the present values of the two components of the gross investment is recorded as unearned income which is amortized to income over the lease term as finance lease interest income to produce a constant periodic rate of return on the net investment in the lease.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

For charters classified as operating leases where Navios Partners is regarded as the lessor, refer to Note 2(r).

For charters classified as operating leases where Navios Partners is regarded as the lessee, the expense is recognized on a straight line basis over the rental periods of such charter agreements.

 

(z) Financial Instruments and Fair Value: Guidance on Fair Value Measurements provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level I measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level III measurements).

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. In determining the appropriate levels, the Company performs a detailed analysis of the assets and liabilities that are subject to guidance on Fair Value Measurements.

 

(aa) Recent Accounting Pronouncements: In May 2017, FASB issued ASU 2017-09, “Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718)”. This update provides clarity and reduces both diversity in practice and cost and complexity when applying the guidance in Topic 718 to a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. The amendments in this update affect any entity that changes the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award and are effective for all entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period, for public business entities for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued and all other entities for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been made available for issuance. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The adoption of this new accounting standard is not expected to have material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In February 2017, FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2017-05, “Other Income—Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20)”. This update clarifies the scope of Subtopic 610-20 “Other Income—Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets” and provides guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets. Subtopic 610-20, which was issued in May 2014 as a part of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”, provides guidance for recognizing gains and losses from the transfer of nonfinancial assets in contracts with noncustomers. The amendments in ASU 2017-05 are effective at the same time as the amendments in ASU 2014-09. Therefore, for public entities, the amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2017-03 “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (Topic 250) and Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323).” The ASU amends the Codification for SEC staff announcements made at recent Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) meetings. The SEC guidance that specifically relates to our Consolidate Financial Statement was from the September 2016 meeting, where the SEC staff expressed its expectations about the extent of disclosures registrants should make about the effects of the new FASB guidance as well as any amendments issued prior to adoption, on revenue (ASU 2014-09), leases (ASU 2016-02) and credit losses on financial instruments (ASU 2016-13) in accordance with SAB Topic 11.M. Registrants are required to disclose the effect that recently issued accounting standards will have on their financial statements when adopted in a future period. In cases where a registrant cannot reasonably estimate the impact of the adoption, then additional qualitative disclosures should be considered. The ASU incorporates these SEC staff views into ASC 250 and adds references to that guidance in the transition paragraphs of each of the three new standards. The adoption of this new accounting guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In November 2016, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash”. This update addresses the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows under Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows. The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for all entities. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

In August 2016, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments”. This update addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. This update was adopted as from January 1, 2018 and applied on a retrospective basis. The Company has assessed each of the eight specific presentation issues and determined that the adoption of this ASU does not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)”. ASU 2016-02 will apply to both capital (or finance) leases and operating leases. According to ASU 2016-02, lessees will be required to recognize assets (right of use asset) and liabilities (lease liability) on the balance sheet for both types of leases – capital (or finance) leases and operating leases – with terms greater than 12 months. ASU 2016 – 02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted.

This guidance requires companies to identify lease and non-lease components of a lease agreement. Lease components relate to the right to use the leased asset and non-lease components relate to payments for goods or services that are transferred separately from the right to use the underlying asset. Total lease consideration is allocated to lease and non-lease components on a relative standalone basis. The recognition of revenues related to lease components will be governed by ASC 842 while revenue related to non-lease components will be subject to ASC 606.

In January 2018, the FASB issued a proposed amendment to ASU 842, Leases, that would provide an entity the optional transition method to initially account for the impact of the adoption with a cumulative adjustment to accumulated deficit on the effective date of the ASU, January 1, 2019 rather than January 1, 2017, which would eliminate the need to restate amounts presented prior to January 1, 2019. In addition, this proposed amendment, lessors can elect, as a practical expedient, not to allocate the total consideration to lease and non-lease components based on their relative standalone selling prices. If adopted, this practical expedient will allow lessors to elect a combined single lease component presentation if (i) the timing and pattern of the revenue recognition of the combined single lease component is the same, and (ii) the related lease component and, the combined single lease component would be classified as an operating lease.

ASC 842 provides practical expedients that allow entities to not (i) reassess whether any expired or existing contracts are considered or contain leases; (ii) reassess the lease classification for any expired or existing leases; and (iii) reassess initial direct costs for any existing leases.

The Company plans to adopt the standard on January 1, 2019 and expects to elect the use of practical expedients. If the proposed amendment to ASU 842 is adopted, the Company would elect the transition method for adoption as described above.

The Company has not completed its analysis of this ASU. Based on a preliminary assessment, the Company is expecting that the adoption will not have a material effect on its financial statements since the Company is primarily a lessor and the changes are fairly minor. If the proposed practical expedient mentioned above is adopted and elected, goods and services embedded in the charter contract that qualify as non-lease components will be combined under a single lease component presentation. However, without the proposed practical expedient, the Company expects that it will continue to recognize the lease revenue component using an approach that is substantially equivalent to existing guidance. The components of the charter hire that are categorized as lease components will generally be a fixed rate per day with revenue recognized straight line over the lease contract. Other goods and services that are categorized as non-lease components will be recognized at either a point in time or over time based on the pattern of transfer of the underlying goods or services to our charterers.

The Company is continuing its assessment of other miscellaneous leases and may identify additional impacts this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures. The Company currently does not have any other miscellaneous leases that are greater than 12 months and the Company is the lessee that would be impacted by the adoption of this standard.

In January 2016, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-01, “Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10) – Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”. The amendments in this update require an entity (i) to measure equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee) at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; (ii) to perform a qualitative assessment to identify impairment in equity investments without readily determinable fair values; (iii) to present separately in other comprehensive income the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk; and (iv) to present separately financial assets

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (that is, securities or loans and receivables) on the balance sheet. The amendments also eliminate the requirement, for public business entities, to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet and clarify that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets. For public business entities, the update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this new standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, clarifying the method used to determine the timing and requirements for revenue recognition on the statements of income. Under the new standard, an entity must identify the performance obligations in a contract, the transaction price and allocate the price to specific performance obligations to recognize the revenue when the obligation is completed. The amendments in this update also require disclosure of sufficient information to allow users to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flow arising from contracts. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for all entities by one year. The standard will be effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods therein.

The Company will adopt the standard as of January 1, 2018 and will utilize the modified retrospective approach and is expecting that the adoption will not have a material effect on its financial statements. The Company has chartered certain of its vessels since inception in time charter agreements and in this respect revenue is accounted under ASC 840 Leases. The Company also operates certain of its vessels under voyage contracts, contracts for which currently revenue is recognized ratably from when a vessel becomes available for loading to the completion of the discharge of the current cargo, provided an agreed non-cancelable charter between the Company and the charterer is in existence. Upon adoption, the Company will recognize revenue ratably from the vessel’s arrival at the loading port, as applicable under the contract, to when the charterer’s cargo is discharged as well as defer costs that meet the definition of “costs to fulfill a contract” and relate directly to the contract. The estimated impact of the adoption of this standard is expected to be a minimal change in operating revenues and expenses and net income/ (loss).

NOTE 3: ACQUISITION/DECONSOLIDATION

On June 7, 2017, after its special meeting of stockholders, Navios Containers announced the approval of the acquisition of five 4,250 TEU container vessels from Navios Partners and the charter-out contracts for an aggregate purchase price of $64,000. Out of the total purchase price an amount of $40,000 was paid from the proceeds of the private placement on June 8, 2017 and the $24,000 balance as a seller’s credit by Navios Partners for a period of up to 90 days from the purchase date at LIBOR plus 375 bps. On June 30, 2017 and August 29, 2017, Navios Containers paid to Navios Partners $10,000 and $14,000, respectively, in relation to this agreement.

On August 29, 2017, Navios Containers closed its private placement of 10,000,000 shares at a subscription price of $5.00 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of $50,000. Navios Partners invested $10,000 and received 2,000,000 shares. Navios Partners and Navios Holdings also received warrants, with a five-year term, for 6.8% and 1.7% of the equity, respectively. Immediately after the Navios Containers’ private placement, Navios Partners’ ownership of the outstanding voting stocks of Navios Containers decreased to 39.9% and Navios Partners no longer controls a majority of the voting power of Navios Containers. From that date onwards, Navios Containers has been considered as an affiliate entity of Navios Partners and not as a controlled subsidiary of the Company and the investment in Navios Containers has been accounted for under the equity method due to the Company’s significant influence over Navios Containers.

On August 29, 2017, based on the equity method, the Company recorded an investment in Navios Containers of $40,000, which represents the fair value of the common stocks that were held by Navios Partners on such date. The remeasurement of the retained investment in Navios Containers was determined by reference to the share price of Navios Containers in the Norwegian Over-The-Counter Market and had no impact in Company’s income statement.

On August 29, 2017, the Company calculated a gain on change in control of $4,068 which is equal to the fair value of the Company’s investment in Navios Containers of $30,000 (including the cash paid for retaining a 39.9%) less the Company’s 59.7% interest in Navios Containers’ net assets of approximately $43,494 on August 29, 2017.

As of December 31, 2017, Navios Partners held 9,818,182 common shares and received 33.7% of the equity, and Navios Holdings held 1,000,000 common shares and received 3.4% of the equity of Navios Containers. Each of Navios Partners and Navios Holdings also received warrants, with a five-year term, for 6.8% and 1.7% of the equity, respectively.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

NOTE 4 – CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash and cash equivalents consist of the following:

 

     December 31,
2017
     December 31,
2016
 

Cash on hand and at banks

   $ 24,047      $ 17,360  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cash and cash equivalents

   $ 24,047      $ 17,360  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Short-term deposits and highly liquid funds relate to amounts held in banks for general financing purposes and represent deposits with an original maturity of less than three months.

Cash deposits and cash equivalents in excess of amounts covered by government-provided insurance are exposed to loss in the event of non-performance by financial institutions. Navios Partners does maintain cash deposits and equivalents in excess of government-provided insurance limits. Navios Partners also minimizes exposure to credit risk by dealing with a diversified group of major financial institutions.

Restricted cash, at each of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, included $386 and $2,228, respectively, which related to amounts held in retention accounts in order to service debt and interest payments, as required by certain of Navios Partners’ credit facilities. Also, as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, an amount of $5,500 was held as security in the form of a letter of guarantee, relating to the chartering of a vessel.

NOTE 5: ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET

Accounts receivable consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,
2017
     December 31,
2016
 

Accounts receivable

   $ 15,616      $ 10,022  

Less: Provision for doubtful accounts

     (1,495      —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accounts receivable, net

   $ 14,121      $ 10,022  

Charges to provisions for doubtful accounts are summarized as follows:

 

Allowance for doubtful receivables    Balance at
beginning of period
     Charges to costs
and expenses
     Amount utilized      Balance at
end of period
 

Year ended December 31, 2017

   $ —        $ (1,495    $ —        $ (1,495

Year ended December 31, 2016

   $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —    

Year ended December 31, 2015

   $ (49    $ —        $ 49      $ —    

Concentration of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is limited due to the Company’s large number of customers, who are internationally dispersed and have a variety of end markets in which they sell. Due to these factors, management believes that no additional credit risk beyond amounts provided for collection losses is inherent in the Company’s trade receivables. For the year ended December 31, 2017, two customers accounted for 26.8% and 12.0%, respectively, of the Company’s revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2016, three customers accounted for 29.6%, 13.0% and 11.6%, respectively, of the Company’s revenue and for the year ended December 31, 2015, three customers accounted for 24.0%, 17.4% and 11.4% of the Company’s revenue. Both customers for the fiscal year 2017 were the same with the prior years.

NOTE 6 – PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following:

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

     December 31,
2017
     December 31,
2016
 

Prepaid voyage costs

   $ 14      $ 27  

Inventory

     220        220  

Other

     671        1,353  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets

   $ 905      $ 1,600  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Inventories, which are comprised of bunkers due to freight voyages, are valued at cost as determined on the first-in, first-out basis. As of December 31, 2016, the amount of $1,353 represents the advances for working capital purposes for certain charter contracts.

NOTE 7 – VESSELS, NET

Navios Partners

 

Vessels    Cost      Accumulated
Depreciation
     Net Book
Value
 

Balance December 31, 2015

   $ 1,506,188      $ (276,139    $ 1,230,049  

Additions

     15,341        (55,983      (40,642

Vessel impairment losses

     (42,231      15,030        (27,201

Transfer to vessel held for sale

     (125,000      —          (125,000
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance December 31, 2016

   $ 1,354,298      $ (317,092    $ 1,037,206  

Additions

     158,241        (56,210      102,031  

Disposals

     (26,233      18,688        (7,545

Vessel impairment losses

     (66,228      33,551        (32,677
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance December 31, 2017

   $ 1,420,078      $ (321,063    $ 1,099,015  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Acquisition of Vessels

2017

On September 20, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Symphony, a 2010-built Capesize vessel of 178,132 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $27,961.

On August 21, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Aster, a 2010 Hyundai-built Capesize vessel of 179,314 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $28,855.

On August 11, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from a related third party the Navios Christine B, a 2009 Tsuneishi Zhoushan-built Ultra-Handymax vessel of 58,058 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $14,030.

On July 17, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Sol, a 2009 Japanese-built Capesize vessel of 180,274 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $28,607.

On July 10, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Libertas, a 2007 South Korean-built Panamax vessel of 75,511 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $13,737.

On June 9, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Ace, a 2011 South Korean-built Capesize vessel of 179,016 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $31,364.

On June 7, 2017, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Prosperity I, a 2007 South Korean-built Panamax vessel of 75,527 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $13,687.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

2016

On December 30, 2016, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the Navios Beaufiks, a 2004-Japanese-built Capesize vessel of 180,310 dwt, for an acquisition cost of approximately $15,341.

2015

On April 22, 2015, Navios Partners acquired from an unrelated third party the MSC Cristina, a 2011 South Korean-built Container vessel of 13,100 TEU, for an acquisition cost of $147,840.

Sales of Vessels

2017

On December 21, 2017, Navios Partners sold the Navios Gemini S to an unrelated third party for a net sale price of $4,078. The aggregate net carrying amount of the vessel including the remaining carrying balance of dry dock and special survey costs of $502 amounted to $6,451 as at the date of sale.

On April 21, 2017, Navios Partners sold the Navios Apollon to an unrelated third party for a net sale price of $4,750. The aggregate net carrying amount of the vessel including the remaining carrying balance of dry dock and special survey costs of $782 amounted to $14,758 as at the date of sale.

On January 12, 2017, Navios Partners sold the MSC Cristina to an unrelated third party for a net sale price of $125,000. The aggregate net carrying amount of the vessel amounted to $142,193 as at the date of sale. The loss on sale of the vessel was $1,260 (see Note 23 — Other expense).

Navios Containers

 

Vessels    Cost      Accumulated
Depreciation
     Net Book
Value
 

Balance June 8, 2017

   $ 32,350      $ —        $ 32,350  

Additions

     61,503        (114      61,389  

Navios Containers’ deconsolidation

     (93,853      114        (93,739
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance August 29, 2017

   $    $    $
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

On May 25, 2017, Navios Partners purchased five container vessels, including working capital items, and the charter out contracts from Rickmers Trust for a purchase price of $59,000 in cash plus transaction costs of $1,696. The vessel acquisitions were treated as asset acquisitions and recorded at fair value. The fair value of the vessels was $32,358 and the time charters of $27,457. Navios Containers used the proceeds of the private placement on June 8, 2017 to acquire from Navios Partners the five container vessels and the charter out contracts for a purchase price of $64,000. The payment terms included a $24,000 seller’s credit by Navios Partners for a period of up to 90 days from the purchase date at LIBOR plus 375 bps. On June 30, 2017 and August 29, 2017, Navios Containers paid to Navios Partners $10,000 and $14,000, respectively, in relation to this agreement. As of December 31, 2017, the amount due and the interest payable to Navios Partners related to this agreement was $0.

Vessel impairment losses

During year ended December 31, 2017, Navios Partners recorded an impairment loss of $30,304 for one of its vessels.

On November 27, 2017, Navios Partners entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with an unrelated third party for the disposal of the Navios Gemini S for a net sale price of $4,078. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had a current expectation that the vessel would be sold before the end of its previously estimated useful life, and as a result performed an impairment test of the specific asset group. An impairment loss of $2,373 was recognized under the caption “Vessel impairment losses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as of December 31, 2017. The vessel was sold on December 21, 2017.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

On January 9, 2017, Navios Partners entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with an unrelated third party for the disposal of the Navios Apollon for a net sale price of $4,750. The vessel was subject to an existing time charter with an unrelated charterer and was not immediately available for sale and therefore did not qualify as an asset held for sale as of December 31, 2016. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had a current expectation that the vessel would be sold before the end of its previously estimated useful life, and as a result performed an impairment test of the specific asset group. An impairment loss of $10,008 was recognized under the caption “Vessel impairment losses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as of December 31, 2016. The vessel was sold on April 21, 2017.

During June 2016, Navios Partners entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with an unrelated third party, for the disposal of the MSC Cristina. The vessel was subject to an existing time charter and management had committed to a plan to sell the vessel to the current charterer prior to June 2017.

As of December 31, 2016, the vessel had been classified as held for sale as the relevant criteria for the classification were met and, therefore, it was presented in the consolidated balance sheets at its fair value less cost to sell totaling $125,000. An impairment loss of $17,193 for the vessel held for sale was presented under the caption “Vessel impairment losses” in the consolidated Statements of Operations as of June 30, 2016. The vessel was sold on January 12, 2017 and proceeds from the sale of the vessel were used to fully repay the outstanding amount of the April 2015 Credit Facility and the June 2016 Credit Facility (see Note 11 — Borrowings). The loss on sale of the vessel was $1,260 (see Note 23 — Other expense).

NOTE 8 – INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Intangible assets as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 consisted of the following:

Navios Partners

 

     Cost      Accumulated
Amortization
     Net Book Value  

Favorable lease terms December 31, 2015

   $ 127,788      $ (72,449    $ 55,339  

Additions

     —          (15,861      (15,861

Accelerated amortization

     (44,072      23,546        (20,526
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Favorable lease terms December 31, 2016

   $ 83,716      $ (64,764    $ 18,952  

Additions

     —          (10,872      (10,872
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Favorable lease terms December 31, 2017

   $ 83,716      $ (75,636    $ 8,080  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amortization expense of favorable lease terms for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 is presented in the following table:

 

     Year Ended  
     December 31,
2017
     December 31,
2016
     December 31,
2015
 

Favorable lease terms

   $ (10,872    $ (15,861    $ (18,716

Acceleration of favorable lease terms

     —          (20,526      —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ (10,872    $ (36,387    $ (18,716
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The aggregate amortization of the intangibles for the 12-month period ended December 31 is estimated to be as follows:

 

Year

   Amount  

2018

   $ 3,748  

2019

     1,166  

2020

     1,166  

2021

     1,166  

2022 and thereafter

     834  
  

 

 

 
   $ 8,080  
  

 

 

 

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

As of December 31, 2016, Navios Partners accelerated $20,526 of amortization of the Navios Luz and the Navios Buena Ventura favorable lease intangibles due to a change in their useful life following the termination of the Charter Party and early re-delivery of the vessels from Hanjin Shipping Co. on September 13, 2016.

As of December 31, 2015, acquisition cost and accumulated amortization, each amounting to $31,199, was written-off as the intangible asset associated with the favorable lease that was fully amortized for the Navios Fulvia.

Intangible assets subject to amortization are amortized using straight line method over their estimated useful lives to their estimated residual value of zero. The weighted average useful lives were 10.0 years for favorable lease terms charter out, at inception.

Navios Containers

 

     Cost      Accumulated
Amortization
     Net Book Value  

Favorable lease terms June 8, 2017

   $ 26,662      $ —        $ 26,662  

Additions

     —          (5,564      (5,564

Navios Containers’ deconsolidation

     (26,662      5,564        (21,098
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Favorable lease terms August 29, 2017

   $ —      $ —      $ —  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

On May 25, 2017, Navios Partners purchased five container vessels and the charter out contracts from Rickmers Trust (see Note 7 — Vessels, net). Favorable lease terms recognized through this transaction amounted to $27,457 and were related to the acquisition of the rights on the time charter-out contracts of the vessels.

NOTE 9 – ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Accounts payable as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,
2017
     December 31,
2016
 

Creditors

   $ 1,099      $ 766  

Brokers

     1,936        1,796  

Insurances

     3        35  

Professional and legal fees

     680        679  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total accounts payable

   $ 3,718      $ 3,276  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NOTE 10 – ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accrued expenses as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,
2017
     December 31,
2016
 

Accrued voyage expenses

   $ 1,805      $ 1,526  

Accrued loan interest

     1,981        700  

Accrued legal and professional fees

     889        769  

Accrued bonus

     4,125        1,450  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total accrued expenses

   $ 8,800      $ 4,445  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

In December 2016, the Compensation Committee of Navios Partners authorized and approved an aggregate cash payment of $3,300 subject to fulfillment of certain service conditions that were provided and completed during 2016 and 2017. In December 2017, the Compensation Committee of Navios Partners authorized and approved a cash payment of $1,825 for which all service conditions had been met as of December 31, 2017. Also, the Compensation Committee of Navios Partners authorized and approved an additional $1,825 cash payment to the directors and/or officers of the Company subject to fulfillment of certain conditions in 2018. As of

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

December 31, 2017 and 2016, an accrued amount of $4,125 and $1,450 is included in accrued bonus and an amount of $800 and $200 was paid during 2017 and 2016, respectively. The total amount of $3,475 and $1,650 was recorded in general and administrative expenses in consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

NOTE 11 – BORROWINGS

Due to the deconsolidation of Navios Containers on August 29, 2017, the indebtedness of Navios Containers has not been presented in the table below. Upon deconsolidation on August 29, 2017, the outstanding balance of Navios Containers’ credit facilities was $60,247.

Borrowings as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,
2017
     December 31,
2016
 

Term Loan B facility

   $ 441,471      $ 386,292  

Credit facilities

     69,161        141,805  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total borrowings

   $ 510,632      $ 528,097  

Less: Long-term unamortized discount

     (10,824      (1,471

Less: Current portion of long-term debt, net

     (26,586      (74,031

Less: Deferred finance costs, net

     (6,345      (2,850
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-term debt, net

   $ 466,877      $ 449,745  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2017, the total borrowings, net under the Navios Partners’ credit facilities, were $493,463.

Navios Partners

Term Loan B Credit Facility: In June 2013, Navios Partners completed the issuance of the $250,000 Term Loan B Credit Facility. On October 31, 2013 and November 1, 2013, Navios Partners completed the issuance of an $189,500 add-on to its existing Term Loan B Credit Facility.

On March 14, 2017, Navios Partners completed the issuance of a new $405,000 Term Loan B Credit Facility. The new Term Loan B Credit Facility bears an interest rate of LIBOR plus 500 bps, it is set to mature on September 14, 2020 and is repayable in equal quarterly installments of 1.25% of the initial principal amount. Navios Partners used the net proceeds of the Term Loan B Credit Facility to: (i) refinance the existing Term Loan B; and (ii) pay fees and expenses related to the Term Loan B. Following the refinancing of the Term Loan B Credit Facility, an amount of $1,880 and $1,275, was written-off from the deferred finance fees and discount, respectively. On August 10, 2017, Navios Partners completed the issuance of a $53,000 add-on to its existing Term Loan B Credit Facility. The add-on to the Term Loan B Credit Facility bore the same terms as the Term Loan B Credit Facility. Navios Partners used the net proceeds to partially finance the acquisition of three vessels.

The Term Loan B Credit Facility is secured by first priority mortgages covering certain vessels owned by subsidiaries of Navios Partners, in addition to other collateral, and guaranteed by each subsidiary of Navios Partners.

The Term Loan B Agreement requires maintenance of a loan to value ratio of 0.8 to 1.0, and other restrictive covenants customary for facilities of this type (subject to negotiated exceptions and baskets), including restrictions on indebtedness, liens, acquisitions and investments, restricted payments and dispositions. The Term Loan B Agreement also provides for customary events of default, prepayment and cure provisions.

As of December 31, 2017, the outstanding balance of the Term Loan B Credit Facility was $430,647, net of discount of $10,824, and is repayable in 10 quarterly installments of $5,733 with a final payment of $384,138 on the last repayment date. The final maturity date is September 14, 2020.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

ABN AMRO Credit Facility: On June 23, 2016, Navios Partners entered into a new credit facility with ABN AMRO Bank N.V. (the “June 2016 Credit Facility”) of up to $30,000 to be used for the general corporate purposes of the Borrower. The June 2016 Credit Facility bore interest at LIBOR plus 400 bps per annum. The final maturity date was January 30, 2017. On January 12, 2017, Navios Partners fully repaid the June 2016 Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2017, there was no outstanding amount under this facility.

BNP Credit Facility: On June 26, 2017, Navios Partners entered into a new credit facility with BNP PARIBAS (the “BNP Credit Facility”) of up to $32,000 (divided into two tranches) in order to finance a portion of the purchase price payable in connection with the acquisition of the Navios Ace and the Navios Sol. On June 28, 2017, the first tranche of BNP Credit Facility of $17,000 was drawn. The first tranche is repayable in 14 equal consecutive quarterly installments of $386 each, with a final balloon payment of $10,824 to be repaid on the last repayment date. On July 18, 2017, the second tranche of BNP Credit Facility of $15,000 was drawn. The second tranche is repayable in 15 equal consecutive installments of $417 each, with a final balloon payment of $8,328 to be repaid on the last repayment date. The first and second tranches of the facility mature in the second and third quarter of 2021, respectively and bear interest at LIBOR plus 300 bps per annum. As of December 31, 2017, the outstanding balance of the BNP Credit Facility was $30,811.

Commerzbank/DVB Credit Facility: On January 8, 2016, Navios Partners prepaid the 2016 installments in the amount of $16,235 of the Commerzbank/DVB Credit Facility (the “July 2012 Credit Facility”). On November 10, 2016, Navios Partners prepaid $28,052 in cash for the settlement of a nominal amount of $30,192 of the July 2012 Credit Facility achieving a $2,140 gain on debt repayment. The prepayments of 2016 of this facility were accounted for as debt modification in accordance with ASC470 Debt . Following these prepayments, an amount of $161 was written-off from the deferred finance fees.

On June 28, 2017, Navios Partners entered into a new credit facility with DVB Bank S.E. of up to $39,000 (divided into four tranches) in order to refinance the existing July 2012 Credit Facility and an additional amount of $7,000 to partially finance the acquisition of the Navios Prosperity I. The facility matures in the third and second quarter of 2020, respectively, and bears interest at LIBOR plus 310 bps per annum. The amounts of $7,000 and $32,000 were drawn on June 30, 2017 and November 3, 2017, respectively. The three of the four tranches (total $32,000) are repayable in 12 quarterly installments of between approximately $1,143 and $1,500 each, with a final balloon payment of $16,500 to be repaid on the last repayment date. The fourth tranche is repayable in three equal consecutive quarterly installments of $325 each and seven equal consecutive installments of $250, with a final balloon of $3,625 to be repaid on the last repayment date. As of December 31, 2017, the outstanding balance of the DVB Credit Facility was $38,350.

HSH Credit Facility: On April 16, 2015, Navios Partners, through certain of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, entered into a term loan facility agreement of up to $164,000 (divided into two tranches) with HSH Nordbank AG (the “April 2015 Credit Facility”), in order to finance a portion of the purchase price payable in connection with the acquisition of the MSC Cristina and one more super-post-panamax 13,100 TEU container vessel. On September 30, 2015, the second tranche of April 2015 Credit Facility of $83,000 was cancelled. The final maturity date was April 20, 2022. On January 12, 2017, Navios Partners fully repaid the April 2015 Credit Facility. Following the repayment, an amount of $516 was written-off from the deferred finance fees. As of December 31, 2017, there was no outstanding amount under this facility.

The Navios Holdings Credit Facility: In May 2015, Navios Partners entered into a term loan facility with Navios Holdings of up to $60,000 (the “Navios Holdings Credit Facility”). The Navios Holdings Credit Facility bore interest at LIBOR plus 300 bps. The final maturity date was January 2, 2017. In April 2016, the Company drew $21,000 from the Navios Holdings Credit Facility, which was fully repaid during April 2016. Following this prepayment, an amount of $600 was written off from the deferred finance fees. As of December 31, 2017, there was no outstanding amount under this facility.

Amounts drawn under the credit facilities are secured by first preferred mortgages on certain Navios Partners’ vessels and other collateral and are guaranteed by the respective vessel-owning subsidiaries. The Credit Facilities contain a number of restrictive covenants that prohibit or limit Navios Partners from, among other things: incurring or guaranteeing indebtedness; entering into affiliate transactions; charging, pledging or encumbering the vessels; changing the flag, class, management or ownership of Navios Partners’ vessels; changing the commercial and technical management of Navios Partners’ vessels; selling or changing the beneficial ownership or control of Navios Partners’ vessels; not maintaining Navios Holdings’ (or its affiliates) ownership in Navios Partners of at least 15.0%; and subordinating the obligations under the credit facilities to any general and administrative costs relating to the vessels, including the fixed daily fee payable under the management agreement.

The Credit Facilities require compliance with a number of financial covenants, including: (i) maintain a required security amount ranging over 120% to 140%; (ii) minimum free consolidated liquidity in an amount equal to at least $650 per owned vessel; (iii) maintain a ratio of EBITDA to interest expense of at least 2.00:1.00; (iv) maintain a ratio of total liabilities or total debt to total assets (as defined in our credit facilities) ranging of less than 0.75; and (v) maintain a minimum net worth to $135,000.

 

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Table of Contents

NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

It is an event of default under the credit facilities if such covenants are not complied with in accordance with the terms and subject to the prepayment or cure provision of the facility.

As of December 31, 2017, Navios Partners was in compliance with the financial covenants and/or the prepayment and/or the cure provisions as applicable in each of its credit facilities.

The maturity table below reflects the gross principal payments due under its credit facilities for the 12-month periods ended December 31:

 

Year

   Amount  

2018

   $ 33,370  

2019

     32,074  

2020

     424,013  

2021

     21,175  

2022

     —    

2023 and thereafter

     —    
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 510,632  
  

 

 

 

NOTE 12 – FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The carrying value amounts of many of Navios Partners’ financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable and amounts due to related parties approximate their fair value due primarily to the short-term maturity of the related instruments.

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

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash: The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for interest bearing deposits and money market funds approximate their fair value because of the short maturity of these investments.

Other long-term debt, net: The book value has been adjusted to reflect the net presentation of deferred finance costs. The outstanding balance of floating rate loans continues to approximate its fair value, excluding the effect of any deferred finance costs.

Term Loan B Credit Facility: The fair value of the Company’s debt is estimated based on currently available debt with similar contract terms, interest rate and remaining maturities, as well as taking into account our creditworthiness. The book value has been adjusted to reflect the net presentation of deferred finance fees.

Due to related parties, long-term: The carrying amount of due to related parties, long-term reported in the balance sheet approximates its fair value due to the long-term nature of these payables.

Due from related parties, long-term: The carrying amount of due from related parties long-term reported in the balance sheet approximates its fair value due to the long-term nature of these receivables.

The estimated fair values of the Navios Partners’ financial instruments are as follows:

 

     December 31, 2017      December 31, 2016  
     Book Value      Fair Value      Book Value      Fair Value  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 24,047      $ 24,047      $ 17,360      $ 17,360  

Restricted cash

   $ 5,886      $ 5,886      $ 7,728      $ 7,728  

Loans receivable from affiliates

   $ 11,706      $ 11,706      $ 2,422      $ 2,422  

Amounts due to related parties, long-term

   $ —        $ —        $ 11,105      $ 11,105  

Amounts due from related parties, long-term

   $ 34,891      $ 34,891      $ —        $ —    

Amounts due from related parties, short-term

   $ 10,545      $ 10,545      $ 19,639      $ 19,639  

Term Loan B facility, net

   $ (425,144    $ (441,471    $ (382,653    $ (360,700

Other long-term debt, net

   $ (68,319    $ (69,161    $ (141,124    $ (141,805

Notes receivable

   $ 15,897      $ 15,897      $ 6,112      $ 6,112  

Note receivable from affiliates

   $ 4,253      $ 4,253      $ —        $ —    

 

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Table of Contents

NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

Fair Value Measurements

The estimated fair value of our financial instruments that are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis, categorized based upon the fair value hierarchy, are as follows:

Level I: Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that we have the ability to access. Valuation of these items does not entail a significant amount of judgment.

Level II: Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level I that are observable for the asset or liability through corroboration with market data at the measurement date.

Level III: Inputs that are unobservable. The Company did not use any Level III inputs as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

 

     Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2017  
     Total      Level I      Level II      Level III  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 24,047      $ 24,047      $ —        $ —    

Restricted cash

   $ 5,886      $ 5,886      $ —        $ —    

Loans receivable from affiliates

   $ 11,706      $ —        $ 11,706      $ —    

Term Loan B facility, net(1)

   $ (441,471    $ —        $ (441,471    $ —    

Other long-term debt, net(1)

   $ (69,161    $ —        $ (69,161    $ —    

Notes receivable(2)

   $ 15,897      $ —        $ 15,897      $ —    

Amounts due from related parties, long-term

   $ 34,891      $ 34,891      $ —        $ —    

Amounts due from related parties, short-term

   $ 10,545      $ 10,545      $ —        $ —    

Note receivable from affiliates

   $ 4,253      $ —        $ 4,253      $ —    
     Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2016  
     Total      Level I      Level II      Level III  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 17,360      $ 17,360      $ —        $ —    

Restricted cash

   $ 7,728      $ 7,728      $ —        $ —    

Loans receivable from affiliates

   $ 2,422      $ —        $ 2,422      $ —    

Amounts due to related parties, long-term

   $ 11,105      $ 11,105      $ —        $ —    

Term Loan B facility, net(1)

   $ (360,700    $ —        $ (360,700    $ —    

Other long-term debt, net(1)

   $ (141,805    $ —        $ (141,805    $ —    

Notes receivable(2)

   $ 6,112      $ —        $ 6,112      $ —    

The estimated fair value of our financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis, categorized based upon the fair value hierarchy, are as follows:

 

     Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2017  
     Total      Level I      Level II      Level III  

Vessels, net (for Navios Gemini S)

   $ 4,078      $ —        $ 4,078      $ —    
     Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2016  
     Total      Level I      Level II      Level III  

Vessels, net (for Navios Apollon)

   $ 4,750      $ —        $ 4,750      $ —    

Vessel held for sale (for MSC Cristina)

   $ 125,000      $ —        $ 125,000      $ —    

 

(1) The fair value of the Company’s debt is estimated based on currently available debt with similar contract terms, interest rate and remaining maturities as well as taking into account our creditworthiness.
(2) The fair value is estimated based on currently available information on the Company’s counterparty with similar contract terms, interest rate and remaining maturities.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

NOTE 13 – ISSUANCE OF UNITS

Navios Partners

In December 2017, Navios Partners authorized the granting of 1,370,044 restricted common units, which were issued on January 11, 2018, to its directors and/or officers, which are based on service conditions only and vest over three years. The fair value of restricted units was determined by reference to the quoted stock price on the date of grant. Compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, is recognized when it is probable that the performance criteria will be met based on a graded expense model over the vesting period. Navios Partners also issued 27,960 general partnership units to its general partner for net proceeds of $64. As of December 31, 2017, the effect of compensation expense arising from the restricted units described above amounted to $72 and was presented under the caption “General and administrative expenses” in the consolidated Statements of Operations.

On September 1, 2017 and as part of the acquisition agreement entered into between the Company and Rickmers Trust, Navios Partners authorized and issued 361,444 restricted common units and 7,376 general partnership units to its general partner for net proceeds of $600 and $12, respectively. The fair value of restricted units was determined by reference to the quoted stock price on the date of grant. On September 25, 2017, the fair value of the restricted units described above amounted to $600 and Navios Partners was compensated by Navios Containers in full amount. There were no restricted common units exercised, forfeited or expired during the year ended December 31, 2017. Restricted common units outstanding amounted to 361,444 units as of December 31, 2017.

On March 20, 2017, Navios Partners completed its public offering of 47,795,000 common units at $2.10 per unit and raised gross proceeds of approximately $100,369. The net proceeds of this offering, including the underwriting discount and the offering costs of $4,383 in total, were approximately $95,986. Pursuant to this offering, Navios Partners issued 975,408 general partnership units to its general partner. The net proceeds from the issuance of the general partnership units were $2,049.

On March 17, 2017, Navios Holdings transferred to Navios Partners it rights to the fixed 12.7% interest on the Navios Europe I Navios Term Loans I and Navios Revolving Loans I (including the respective accrued receivable interest) for a total amount of $33,473 for a cash consideration of $4,050 and 13,076,923 newly issued common units of Navios Partners, with fair value net of costs at date of issuance of $28,862 (see Note 18 — Transactions with related parties and affiliates). Pursuant to this transaction, Navios Partners issued 266,876 general partnership units to its general partner for net cash proceeds of $468.

In December 2016, Navios Partners authorized the granting of 2,040,000 restricted common units, which were issued on January 31, 2017, to its directors and/or officers which are based on service conditions only and vest over three years. The fair value of restricted units was determined by reference to the quoted stock price on the date of grant. Compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, is recognized when it is probable that the performance criteria will be met based on a graded expense model over the vesting period. Navios Partners also issued 41,633 general partnership units to its general partner for net proceeds of $63. The effect of compensation expense arising from the restricted units described above amounted to $1,832 and $93 as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and was presented under the caption “General and administrative expenses” in the consolidated Statements of Operations. There were no restricted common units exercised, forfeited or expired during the year ended December 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2017, 686,665 restricted common units were vested.

As of December 31, 2017, the estimated compensation cost relating to service conditions of non-vested restricted common units not yet recognized was $4,222.

On November 18, 2016, Navios Partners entered into a Continuous Offering Program Sales Agreement, which was further amended on June 2, 2017, pursuant to which Navios Partners may issue and sell from time to time through its agent common units representing limited partner interests having an aggregate offering price of up to $25,000. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, Navios Partners issued 1,200,442 and 244,201 common units and received net proceeds of $2,221 and $440, respectively. Pursuant to the issuance of the common units, Navios Partners issued 24,498 general partnership units to its general partner in order to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the net proceeds from the issuance of the general partnership units were $46 and $10, respectively.

Navios Holdings currently owns a 20.2% interest in Navios Partners, which includes the 2.0% interest through Navios Partners’ general partner which Navios Holdings owns and controls.

Navios Containers

On June 8, 2017, Navios Containers closed its private placement and issued 10,057,645 shares for $50,288 of gross proceeds at a subscription price of $5.00 per share. Navios Partners invested $30,000 and received 59.7% of the equity, and Navios Holdings invested $5,000 and received 9.9% of the equity of Navios Containers. Each of Navios Partners and Navios Holdings also received warrants, with a five-year term, for 6.8% and 1.7% of the equity, respectively. On August 29, 2017, Navios Containers closed its private placement and issued 10,000,000 shares for 50,000 of gross proceeds at a subscription price of $5.00 per share. Navios Partners invested $10,000 and received 2,000,000 shares. Navios Partners and Navios Holdings also received warrants, with a five-year term, for 6.8% and 1.7% of the equity, respectively.

On November 9, 2017, Navios Containers closed a private placement of 9,090,909 shares at a subscription price of $5.50 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $50,000. Navios Partners invested $10,000 and received 1,818,182 shares. Navios Partners also received warrants, with a five-year term, for 6.8% of the newly issued equity.

 

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

As of December 31, 2017, Navios Partners held 9,818,182 common shares and received 33.7% of the equity, and Navios Holdings held 1,000,000 common shares and received 3.4% of the equity of Navios Containers.

NOTE 14 – SEGMENT INFORMATION

For the period from April 28, 2017 to August 29, 2017, the Company had two reportable segments from which it derived its revenues: Navios Partners Operations and Navios Containers Operations. The reportable segments reflect the internal organization of the Company whereby the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) reviews the discrete financial information of the Navios Partners’ controlled fleet and the Navios Containers’ controlled fleet.

The Company measures segment performance based on net income/(loss) attributable to Navios Partners common unitholders. Summarized financial information concerning each of the Company’s reportable segments is as follows:

 

     Navios Partners Operations     Navios Containers Operations            Total  
     Twelve Month     Twelve Month     For the Period     Twelve Month            Twelve Month     Twelve Month  
     Period Ended     Period Ended     from April 28,     Period Ended            Period Ended     Period Ended  
     December 31,     December 31,     to August 29,     December 31,            December 31,     December 31,  
     2017     2016     2017     2016      Eliminations     2017     2016  

Revenue

   $ 199,297     $ 190,524     $ 12,355     $ —          —       $ 211,652     $ 190,524  

Management fees

     (62,595     (59,209     (4,715     —          —         (67,310     (59,209

Interest expense and finance cost, net

     (37,647     (31,247     (767     —          189       (38,225     (31,247

Depreciation and amortization

     (67,885     (92,370     (4,875     —          —         (72,760     (92,370

Net income/ (loss)

     (15,089     (52,549     593       —          (355     (14,851     (52,549

Total assets

     1,305,302       1,268,580       —         —          —         1,305,302       1,268,580  

Capital expenditures

     (217,019     (15,341     (59,885     —          —         (276,904     (15,341

Investment in affiliates

     52,122       1,257       —         —          —         52,122       1,257  

Cash and cash equivalents

     24,047       17,360       —         —          —         24,047       17,360  

Restricted cash

     5,886       7,728       —            —         5,886       7,728  

Long-term debt (including current and non-current portion), net

     493,463       523,776       —         —          —         493,463       523,776  

Navios Partners reports financial information and evaluates its operations by charter revenues. Navios Partners does not use discrete financial information to evaluate operating results for each type of charter or by sector. As a result, management reviews operating results solely by revenue per day and operating results of the fleet and thus Navios Partners has determined that it operates under one reportable segment.

The following table sets out operating revenue by geographic region for Navios Partners’ reportable segment. Revenue is allocated on the basis of the geographic region in which the customer is located. Drybulk and container vessels operate worldwide. Revenues from specific geographic region which contribute over 10% of total revenue are disclosed separately.

Revenue by Geographic Region

Vessels operate on a worldwide basis and are not restricted to specific locations. Accordingly, it is not possible to allocate the assets of these operations to specific countries.

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2017
     Year Ended
December 31,
2016
     Year Ended
December 31,
2015
 

Asia

   $ 125,618      $ 112,019      $ 133,542  

Europe

     47,308        54,006        70,121  

North America

     20,307        13,364        10,557  

Australia

     18,419        11,135        9,456  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 211,652      $ 190,524      $ 223,676  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

NOTE 15 – INCOME TAXES

Marshall Islands, Malta and Liberia do not impose a tax on international shipping income. Under the laws of Marshall Islands, Malta and Liberia, the countries of the vessel-owning subsidiaries’ incorporation and vessels’ registration, the vessel-owning subsidiaries are subject to registration and tonnage taxes which have been included in vessel operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated Statements of Operations.

In accordance with the currently applicable Greek law, foreign flagged vessels that are managed by Greek or foreign ship management companies having established an office in Greece are subject to duties towards the Greek state which are calculated on the basis of the relevant vessel’s tonnage. The payment of said duties exhausts the tax liability of the foreign ship owning company and the relevant manager against any tax, duty, charge or contribution payable on income from the exploitation of the foreign flagged vessel.

Pursuant to Section 883 of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States, U.S. source income from the international operation of ships is generally exempt from U.S. income tax if the company operating the ships meets certain incorporation and ownership requirements. Among other things, in order to qualify for this exemption, the company operating the ships must be incorporated in a country which grants an equivalent exemption from income taxes to U.S. corporations. All the vessel-owning subsidiaries satisfy these initial criteria.

In addition, these companies must meet an ownership test. The management of Navios Partners believes that this ownership test was satisfied prior to the IPO by virtue of a special rule applicable to situations where the ship operating companies are beneficially owned by a publicly traded company. Although not free from doubt, management also believes that the ownership test will be satisfied based on the trading volume and ownership of Navios Partners’ units, but no assurance can be given that this will remain so in the future.

NOTE 16 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Navios Partners is involved in various disputes and arbitration proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Provisions have been recognized in the financial statements for all such proceedings where Navios Partners believes that a liability may be probable, and for which the amounts are reasonably estimable, based upon facts known at the date the financial statements were prepared. Management believes the ultimate disposition of these matters will be immaterial individually and in the aggregate to Navios Partners’ financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

In November 2017, Navios Partners entered into a 10-year bareboat charter-in agreement for a Panamax vessel of approximately 81,000 dwt. Navios Partners has the option to acquire the vessel after the end of the fourth year. The vessel is expected to be delivered within the second half of 2019. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company paid a deposit of $2,770, presented under the caption “Other long-term assets”. As of December 31, 2017, the Company is contingently liable to pay an additional deposit of $2,770 during the fourth quarter of 2018.

The future minimum commitments for the 12-month periods ended December 31, of Navios Partners under its charter-in contract and for vessel delivery are as follows:

 

     Amount  

2018

   $ 2,770  

2019

     547  

2020

     2,178  

2021

     2,172  

2022 and thereafter

     15,920  
  

 

 

 
   $ 23,587  
  

 

 

 

NOTE 17 – LEASES

The future minimum contractual lease income (charter-out rates are presented net of commissions and assume no off-hires days) as of December 31, 2017, is as follows:

 

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

     Amount  

2018

   $ 103,971  

2019

     55,544  

2020

     65,862  

2021

     65,682  

2022 and thereafter

     306,965  
  

 

 

 
   $ 598,024  
  

 

 

 

NOTE 18 – TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES AND AFFILIATES

The Navios Holdings Credit Facility: In May 2015, Navios Partners entered into the Navios Holdings Credit Facility of up to $60,000. The Navios Holdings Credit Facility had a margin of LIBOR plus 300 bps. The final maturity date was January 2, 2017. As of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there were no outstanding amounts under this facility (see Note 11 — Borrowings).

Management fees: Pursuant to the amended Management Agreement, in each of October 2013, August 2014, February 2015 and February 2016, the Manager, a wholly owned subsidiary of Navios Holdings, provides commercial and technical management services to Navios Partners’ vessels for a daily fee of: (a) $4.10 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4.20 daily rate per Panamax vessel; (c) $5.25 daily rate per Capesize vessel; (d) $6.70 daily rate per Container vessel of TEU 6,800; (e) $7.40 daily rate per Container vessel of more than TEU 8,000; and (f) $8.75 daily rate per very large Container vessel of more than TEU 13,000 through December 31, 2017. On November 14, 2017, Navios Partners agreed to extend the duration of its existing Management Agreement with the Manager until December 31, 2022 and to fix the rate for shipmanagement services of its owned fleet through December 31, 2019, effective from January 1, 2018. The new management fees, excluding drydocking expenses which are reimbursed at cost by Navios Partners, will be: (a) $4.23 daily rate per Ultra-Handymax vessel; (b) $4.33 daily rate per Panamax vessel; (c) $5.25 daily rate per Capesize vessel; (d) $6.70 daily rate per Container vessel of TEU 6,800; (e) $7.40 daily rate per Container vessel of more than TEU 8,000 and (f) $8.75 daily rate per very large Container vessel of more than TEU 13,000. Drydocking expenses under this agreement are reimbursed by Navios Partners at cost at occurrence. Effective August 31, 2016, Navios Partners could, upon request to Navios Holdings, partially or fully defer the reimbursement of dry docking and other extraordinary fees and expenses under the Management Agreement to a later date, but not later than January 5, 2018, and if reimbursed on a later date, such amounts would bear interest at a rate of 1% per annum over LIBOR.

General and administrative expenses: Pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement, the Manager also provides administrative services to Navios Partners, which include bookkeeping, audit and accounting services, legal and insurance services, administrative and clerical services, banking and financial services, advisory services, client and investor relations and other. The Manager is reimbursed for reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of these services. Navios Partners extended the duration of its existing Administrative Services Agreement with the Manager, until December 31, 2022.

Navios Containers

Management fees : Pursuant to a management agreement dated June 7, 2017, the Manager provides commercial and technical management services to Navios Containers’ vessels. The term of this agreement is for an initial period of five years with an automatic extension for successive one year periods thereafter unless a notice for termination is received by either party. The fee for the ship management services provided by the Manager is $6.1 daily rate for 4,250 TEU and 3,450 TEU container vessels, payable on the last day of each month. Drydocking expenses under this agreement are reimbursed by Navios Containers at cost.

General  & administrative expenses: Pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement dated June 7, 2017, the Manager also provides administrative services to Navios Containers, which include bookkeeping, audit and accounting services, legal and insurance services, administrative and clerical services, banking and financial services, advisory services, client and investor relations and other The Manager is reimbursed for reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of these services. The term of this agreement is for an initial period of five years with an automatic extension for successive one year periods thereafter unless a notice for termination is received by either party.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

Total management fees for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 (including Navios Containers management fees as of August 29, 2017) amounted to $67,310, $59,209 and $56,504, respectively.

Total general and administrative expenses charged by Navios Holdings for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 (including Navios Containers administrative fees as of August 29, 2017) amounted to $8,877, $7,751 and $6,205, respectively.

Balance due from related parties (excluding Navios Europe I and Navios Europe II): Balance due from related parties as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 amounted to $43,146 and $19,040, respectively, of which current receivable was $8,255 and the long-term receivable was $34,891. The balance mainly consisted of management fees, drydocking expenses prepaid to Navios Holdings in accordance with the Management service agreement and the Navios Holdings Guarantee of up to $20,000.

Balance due to related parties: Balance due to related parties as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, was $0 and $11,105, respectively, which related to the non-current amount payable to Navios Holdings and its subsidiaries for drydock and special survey expenses.

Vessel Chartering: In 2012 and 2013, Navios Partners entered into various charters with a subsidiary of Navios Holdings for the Navios Apollon, the Navios Libra, the Navios Felicity and the Navios Hope. In April 2015, these charters were further extended for approximately one year at a net daily rate of $12.5, $12.0, $12.0 and $10.0, respectively, plus 50/50 profit sharing based on actual earnings at the end of the period. The vessels were redelivered as of April 2016.

In 2015, Navios Partners entered into various charters with a subsidiary of Navios Holdings for the Navios Gemini, the Navios Hyperion, the Navios Soleil, the Navios Harmony, the Navios Orbiter, the Navios Fantastiks, the Navios Alegria, the Navios Pollux and the Navios Sun. The terms of these charters were approximately nine to twelve months, at a net daily rate of $7.6, $12.0, $12.0, $12.0, $12.0, $12.5, $12.0, $11.4 and $12.0, respectively, plus 50/50 profit sharing based on actual earnings at the end of the period. The vessels were redelivered as of April 2016.

In November 2016, Navios Partners entered into a charter with a subsidiary of Navios Holdings for the Navios Fulvia, a 2010-built Capesize vessel. The term of this charter is approximately three months that commenced in November 2016, at a net daily rate of $11.5. The vessel was redelivered as of February 2017.

Total revenue of Navios Partners from the subsidiaries of Navios Holdings for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 amounted to $654, $1,939 and $38,809, respectively.

Share Purchase Agreements: On February 4, 2015, Navios Partners entered into a share purchase agreement with Navios Holdings pursuant to which Navios Holdings made an investment in Navios Partners by purchasing common units, and general partnership interests.

Registration Rights Agreement: On February 4, 2015, in connection with the share purchase agreement as discussed above, Navios Partners entered into a registration rights agreement with Navios Holdings pursuant to which Navios Partners provided Navios Holdings with certain rights relating to the registration of the common units.

Balance due from Navios Europe I: Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Partners have made available to Navios Europe I revolving loans up to $24,100 to fund working capital requirements (collectively, the “Navios Revolving Loans I”) (see Note 20 — Investment in Affiliates). The Navios Revolving Loans I and the Navios Term Loans I earn interest and an annual preferred return, respectively, at 12.7% per annum, on a quarterly compounding basis and are repaid from free cash flow (as defined in the loan agreement) to the fullest extent possible at the end of each quarter.

As of December 31, 2017, Navios Partners’ portion of the outstanding amount relating to portion of the investment in Navios Europe I (5.0% of the $10,000) was $500, under the caption “Investment in affiliates” and the outstanding amount relating to the Navios Revolving Loans I capital was $1,205 (December 31, 2016: $750), under the caption “Loans receivable from affiliates”. The accrued interest income earned under the Navios Revolving Loans I was $489 (December 31, 2016: $310) under the caption “Balance due from related parties” and the accrued interest income earned under the Navios Term Loans I was $334 (December 31, 2016: $235) under the caption “Loans receivable from affiliates”. As of December 31, 2017, there was no amount undrawn under the Navios Revolving Loans I.

Balance due from Navios Europe II: Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Partners have made available to Navios Europe II revolving loans up to $43,500 to fund working capital requirements (collectively, the “Navios Revolving Loans II”). In March 2017, the availability under the Navios Revolving Loans II was increased by $14,000 (see Note 20 — Investment in Affiliates). The Navios Revolving Loans II and the Navios Term Loans II earn interest and an annual preferred return, respectively, at 18% per annum, on a quarterly compounding basis and are repaid from free cash flow (as defined in the loan agreement) to the fullest extent possible at the end of each quarter.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

As of December 31, 2017, Navios Partners’ portion of the outstanding amount relating to portion of the investment in Navios Europe II (5.0% of the $14,000) was $700, under the caption “Investment in affiliates” and the outstanding amount relating to the Navios Revolving Loans II capital was $9,772 (December 31, 2016: $1,221), under the caption “Loans receivable from affiliates”. The accrued interest income earned under the Navios Revolving Loans II was $1,801 (December 31, 2016: $288) under the caption “Balance due from related parties” and the accrued interest income earned under the Navios Term Loans II was $395 (December 31, 2016: $216) under the caption “Loans receivable from affiliates”. As of December 31, 2017, the amount undrawn under the Navios Revolving Loans II was $15,003, of which Navios Partners may be required to fund an amount ranging from $0 to $15,003.

Note receivable from affiliates: On March 17, 2017, Navios Holdings transferred to Navios Partners its rights to the fixed 12.7% interest on the Navios Europe I Navios Term Loans I and Navios Revolving Loans I (including the respective accrued receivable interest) in the amount of $33,473, which included a cash consideration of $4,050 and 13,076,923 newly issued common units of Navios Partners. At the date of this transaction, the Company recognized a receivable at the fair value of its newly issued common units totaling to $29,423 based on the closing price of $2.25 per unit as of March 16, 2017 given as consideration (see Note 13 — Issuance of Units). The receivable relating to the consideration settled with the issuance of 13,076,923 Navios Partners’ common units in the amount of $29,423 has been classified contra equity within the consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital as “Note receivable”. The receivable from Navios Holdings is payable on maturity in December 2023 and Navios Partners will receive approximately $50,937. Interest will accrue through maturity and will be recognized within “Interest income” for the receivable relating to the cash consideration of $4,050. As of December 31, 2017, the long-term note receivable from Navios Holdings amounted to $4,253 (including the non-cash interest income of $203) and was included within “Note receivable from affiliates”. Navios Partners may require Navios Holdings, under certain conditions, to repurchase the loans after the third anniversary of the date of the transaction based on the then outstanding balance of the loans.

Others: Navios Partners has entered into an omnibus agreement with Navios Holdings (the “Partners Omnibus Agreement”) in connection with the closing of Navios Partners’ IPO governing, among other things, when Navios Holdings and Navios Partners may compete against each other as well as rights of first offer on certain drybulk carriers. Pursuant to the Partners Omnibus Agreement, Navios Partners generally agreed not to acquire or own Panamax or Capesize drybulk carriers under time charters of three or more years without the consent of an independent committee of Navios Partners. In addition, Navios Holdings has agreed to offer to Navios Partners the opportunity to purchase vessels from Navios Holdings when such vessels are fixed under time charters of three or more years.

Navios Partners entered into an omnibus agreement with Navios Acquisition and Navios Holdings (the “Acquisition Omnibus Agreement”) in connection with the closing of Navios Acquisition’s initial vessel acquisition, pursuant to which, among other things, Navios Holdings and Navios Partners agreed not to acquire, charter-in or own liquid shipment vessels, except for container vessels and vessels that are primarily employed in operations in South America, without the consent of an independent committee of Navios Acquisition. In addition, Navios Acquisition, under the Acquisition Omnibus Agreement, agreed to cause its subsidiaries not to acquire, own, operate or charter drybulk carriers subject to specific exceptions. Under the Acquisition Omnibus Agreement, Navios Acquisition and its subsidiaries granted to Navios Holdings and Navios Partners, a right of first offer on any proposed sale, transfer or other disposition of any of its drybulk carriers and related charters owned or acquired by Navios Acquisition. Likewise, Navios Holdings and Navios Partners agreed to grant a similar right of first offer to Navios Acquisition for any liquid shipment vessels it might own. These rights of first offer will not apply to a (i) sale, transfer or other disposition of vessels between any affiliated subsidiaries, or pursuant to the terms of any charter or other agreement with a counterparty, or (ii) merger with or into, or sale of substantially all of the assets to, an unaffiliated third party.

In connection with the Navios Maritime Midstream Partners L.P. (“Navios Midstream”) initial public offering and effective November 18, 2014, Navios Partners entered into an omnibus agreement with Navios Midstream, Navios Acquisition and Navios Holdings pursuant to which Navios Acquisition, Navios Holdings and Navios Partners have agreed not to acquire or own any VLCCs, crude oil tankers, refined petroleum product tankers, LPG tankers or chemical tankers under time charters of five or more years and also providing rights of first offer on certain tanker vessels.

On November 15, 2012 (as amended in March 2014), Navios Holdings and Navios Partners entered into an agreement (the “Navios Holdings Guarantee”) by which Navios Holdings will provide supplemental credit default insurance with a maximum cash payment of $20,000. The final settlement of the amount due will take place at anytime but in no case later than December 31, 2019, in accordance with a letter of agreement effective as of December 29, 2017. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company submitted claims for charterers’ default under this agreement to Navios Holdings for a total amount in each period of $7,242 and $9,153, respectively, net of applicable deductions, of which $7,623 and $9,635 was presented under the caption “Other income”.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

As of December 31, 2017, Navios Holdings held an 18.8% common unit interest in Navios Partners, represented by 28,421,233 common units and it also held a general partner interest of 2.0%.

In connection with the Navios Containers private placement and listing on the Norwegian over-the-counter market effective June 8, 2017, Navios Partners entered into an omnibus agreement with Navios Containers, Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Midstream, pursuant to which Navios Partners, Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Midstream have granted to Navios Containers a right of first refusal over any container vessels to be sold or acquired in the future. The omnibus agreement contains significant exceptions that will allow Navios Partners, Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Midstream to compete with Navios Containers under specified circumstances.

NOTE 19 – NOTES RECEIVABLE

On July 15, 2016, the Company entered into a charter restructuring agreement for the reduction of the hire rate for five Container vessels chartered out to Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. (“HMM”) which resulted in a decrease in cash charter hire to be received of approximately $38,461. More specifically, the reduction of the hire rate will be applied as follows:

 

    With effect from (and including) July 18, 2016 until (and including) December 31, 2019, hire rate shall be reduced to $24,400 per day pro rata.

 

    With effect from (and including) January 1, 2020, hire rate shall be restored to the rate of $30,500 per day pro rata until redelivery.

In exchange for the reduction of the hire rate, the Company received (i) $7,692 on principal amount of senior, unsecured notes, amortizing subject to available cash flows, accruing interest at 3% per annum payable on maturity in July 2024 and (ii) 3,657 freely tradable securities of HMM (publicly traded at the Stock Market Division of the Korean Exchange).

On July 18, 2016, the Company recognized the fair value of the HMM securities totaling $40,277 and also recognized the fair value of the senior unsecured notes totaling $5,931. The total fair value of the non-cash compensation received was recognized as deferred revenue, which will be amortized over the remaining duration of the each time charter. As of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the outstanding balance of the notes receivable including accrued interest and discount unwinding, amounted to $6,522 and $6,112, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded an amount of $12,102 and $5,537, respectively, of deferred revenue amortization in the consolidated Statements of Operations under the caption “Time charter and voyage revenues”.

As of December 31, 2017, the outstanding balances of the current and non-current portion of deferred revenue in relation to HMM amounted to $12,102 and $16,468, respectively.

During August 2016, the Company sold all the shares for net proceeds on sale of $20,842 resulting in a loss on sale of $19,435, which was presented under the caption “Loss on sale of securities” in the consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2016 and the proceeds were classified as investing activities in the consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2016. The Company recognized non-cash interest income and discount unwinding totaling to $410 and $180, for these instruments under the caption “Interest income” in the consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

On January 12, 2017, the Company sold the vessel the MSC Cristina (see Note 7 — Vessels, net) for a gross sale price of $126,000 and received a cash payment of $107,250 and a note receivable of $18,750 accruing interest at 6% per annum payable in 16 quarterly instalments. As of December 31, 2017, the outstanding balances of the current and non-current note receivable amounted to $4,687 and $9,375, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded an amount of $961, including accrued interest income of $115 under the caption “Interest income” in the consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

NOTE 20 – INVESTMENT IN AFFILIATES

Navios Europe I : On October 9, 2013, Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Partners established Navios Europe I and have ownership interests of 47.5%, 47.5% and 5.0%, respectively. On December 18, 2013, Navios Europe I acquired ten vessels for aggregate consideration consisting of: (i) cash which was funded with the proceeds of senior loan facilities (the “Senior Loans I”) and loans aggregating $10,000 from Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Partners (collectively, the “Navios Term Loans I”) and (ii) the assumption of a junior participating loan facility (the “Junior Loan I”). In addition to the Navios Term Loans I, Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Partners will also make available to Navios Europe I revolving loans up to $24,100 to fund working capital requirements (collectively, the “Navios Revolving Loans I”).

On an ongoing basis, Navios Europe I is required to distribute cash flows (after payment of operating expenses and amounts due pursuant to the terms of the Senior Loans I and repayments of the Navios Revolving Loans I) according to a defined waterfall calculation. Navios Partners evaluated its investment in Navios Europe I under ASC 810 and concluded that Navios Europe I is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and that they are not the party most closely associated with Navios Europe I and, accordingly, is not the primary beneficiary of Navios Europe I. Navios Partners further evaluated its investment in the common stock of Navios Europe I under ASC 323 and concluded that it has the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of Navios Europe I and, therefore, its investment in Navios Europe I is accounted for under the equity method.

As of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the estimated maximum potential loss by Navios Partners in Navios Europe I would have been $1,705 and $1,390, respectively, excluding accrued interest which represents the Company’s carrying value of the investment of $500 (December 31, 2016: $640) plus the Company’s balance of the Navios Revolving Loans I of $1,205 (December 31, 2016: $750), excluding accrued interest, and does not include the undrawn portion of the Navios Revolving Loans I.

As of December 31, 2017, the Navios Partners’ portion of the Navios Revolving Loan I outstanding was $1,205. Investment loss of $(140) was recognized in the Statements of Operations under the caption of “Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies” for the year ended December 31, 2017. Investment income of $74 was recognized in the Statements of Operations under the caption of “Other income” for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Navios Europe II : On February 18, 2015, Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Partners established Navios Europe II and have ownership interests of 47.5%, 47.5% and 5.0%, respectively. From June 8, 2015 through December 31, 2015, Navios Europe II acquired fourteen vessels for aggregate consideration consisting of: (i) cash consideration of $145,550 (which was funded with the proceeds of a $131,550 senior loan facilities net of loan discount amounting to $3,375 (the “Senior Loans II”) and loans aggregating $14,000 from Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Partners (collectively, the “Navios Term Loans II”); and (ii) the assumption of a junior participating loan facility (the “Junior Loan II”) with a face amount of $182,150 and fair value of $99,147, at the acquisition date. In addition to the Navios Term Loans II, Navios Holdings, Navios Acquisition and Navios Partners have also made available to Navios Europe II revolving loans up to $43,500 to fund working capital requirements (collectively, the “Navios Revolving Loans II”). In March 2017, the availability under the Navios Revolving Loans II was increased by $14,000.

On an ongoing basis, Navios Europe II is required to distribute cash flows (after payment of operating expenses, amounts due pursuant to the terms of the Senior Loans and repayments of the Navios Revolving Loans II) according to a defined waterfall calculation. Navios Partners evaluated its investment in Navios Europe II under ASC 810 and concluded that Navios Europe II is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and that it is not the party most closely associated with Navios Europe II and, accordingly, is not the primary beneficiary of Navios Europe II. Navios Partners further evaluated its investment in the common stock of Navios Europe II under ASC 323 and concluded that it has the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of Navios Europe II and, therefore, its investment in Navios Europe II is accounted for under the equity method.

As of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the estimated maximum potential loss by Navios Partners in Navios Europe II would have been $10,472 and $1,837, excluding accrued interest, which represents the Company’s carrying value of the investment of $700 (December 31, 2016: $616) plus the Company’s balance of the Navios Revolving Loans II of $9,772 (December 31, 2016: $1,221), excluding accrued interest, and does not include the undrawn portion of the Navios Revolving Loans II.

As of December 31, 2017, the Navios Partners’ portion of the Navios Revolving Loan II outstanding was $9,772. Investment income of $84 was recognized in the Statements of Operations under the caption of “Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies” for the year ended December 31, 2017. Investment loss of $(133) was recognized in the Statements of Operations under the caption of “Other income” for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Navios Containers: On June 8, 2017, Navios Containers closed its private placement and issued 10,057,645 shares for $50,288 of gross proceeds at a subscription price of $5.00 per share. Navios Partners invested $30,000 and received 6,000,000 shares, and Navios Holdings invested $5,000 and received 1,000,000 shares. Each of Navios Partners and Navios Holdings also received warrants, with a five-year term, for 6.8% and 1.7% of the equity, respectively. On August 29, 2017, Navios Containers closed its private placement and

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

issued 10,000,000 shares for $50,000 of gross proceeds at a subscription price of $5.00 per share. Navios Partners invested $10,000 and received 2,000,000 shares. Navios Partners and Navios Holdings also received warrants, with a five-year term, for 6.8% and 1.7% of the equity, respectively. On November 9, 2017, Navios Containers closed a private placement of 9,090,909 shares at a subscription price of $5.50 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $50,000. Navios Partners invested $10,000 and received 1,818,182 shares. Navios Partners also received warrants, with a five-year term, for 6.8% of the newly issued equity.

As of December 31, 2017, Navios Partners held 9,818,182 common shares and received 33.7% of the equity, and Navios Holdings held 1,000,000 common shares and received 3.4% of the equity of Navios Containers. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the carrying value of the investment in Navios Containers was $50,922 and $0, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, the market value of the investment in Navios Containers was $57,566. Investment income of $922 was recognized in the Statements of Operations under the caption of “Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies” for the year ended December 31, 2017.

NOTE 21 – CASH DISTRIBUTIONS AND EARNINGS PER UNIT

Navios Partners intends to make distributions to the holders of common units on a quarterly basis, to the extent and as may be declared by the Board and to the extent it has sufficient cash on hand to pay the distribution after the Company establishes cash reserves and pays fees and expenses. There is no guarantee that Navios Partners will pay a quarterly distribution on the common units in any quarter. On February 3, 2016, Navios Partners announced that its board of directors decided to suspend the quarterly cash distributions to its unitholders, including the distribution for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 (see also Note 24 – Subsequent Events). The amount of any distributions paid under Navios Partners’ policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by its board of directors, taking into consideration the terms of its partnership agreement. The Company is prohibited from making any distributions to unitholders if it would cause an event of default, or an event of default exists, under its existing credit facilities.

There is incentive distribution rights held by the General Partner, which are analyzed as follows:

 

          Marginal Percentage
Interest in Distributions
 
     Total Quarterly Distribution
Target Amount
   Common
Unitholders
    General
Partner
 

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

   up to $0.35      98     2

First Target Distribution

   up to $0.4025      98     2

Second Target Distribution

   above $0.4025 up to $0.4375      85     15

Third Target Distribution

   above $0.4375 up to $0.525      75     25

Thereafter

   above $0.525      50     50

The first 98% of the quarterly distribution is paid to all common units holders. The incentive distributions rights (held by the General Partner) apply only after a minimum quarterly distribution of $0.4025.

On January 26, 2015, the Board of Directors of Navios Partners authorized its quarterly cash distribution for the three month period ended December 31, 2014 of $0.4425 per unit. The distribution was paid on February 13, 2015 to all holders of record of common and general partner units on February 11, 2015, which included the unitholders participating in the February 2015 offering (See Note 13 — Issuance of units). The aggregate amount of the declared distribution was $38,097.

On April 28, 2015, the Board of Directors of Navios Partners authorized its quarterly cash distribution for the three month period ended March 31, 2015 of $0.4425 per unit. The distribution was paid on May 14, 2015 to all holders of record of common and general partner units on May 13, 2015. The aggregate amount of the declared distribution was $38,097.

On July 23, 2015, the Board of Directors of Navios Partners authorized its quarterly cash distribution for the three month period ended June 30, 2015 of $0.4425 per unit. The distribution was paid on August 14, 2015 to all holders of record of common and general partner units on August 13, 2015. The aggregate amount of the declared distribution was $38,097.

On November 3, 2015, the Board of Directors of Navios Partners authorized its quarterly cash distribution for the three month period ended September 30, 2015 of $0.2125 per unit. The distribution was paid on November 13, 2015 to all holders of record of common and general partner units on November 12, 2015. The aggregate amount of the declared distribution was $18,015.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

Navios Partners calculates earnings per unit by allocating reported net income for each period to each class of units based on the distribution waterfall for available cash specified in Navios Partners’ partnership agreement, net of the unallocated earnings (or losses). Basic (losses)/earnings per unit is determined by dividing net (loss)/income attributable to Navios Partners common unitholders by the weighted average number of common units outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per unit is calculated in the same manner as basic earnings per unit, except that the weighted average number of outstanding units increased to include the dilutive effect of outstanding unit options or phantom units. Net loss per unit undistributed is determined by taking the distributions in excess of net income and allocating between common units and general partner units on a 98%-2% basis. There were no options or phantom units outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

The calculations of the basic and diluted earnings per unit are presented below.

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2017
     Year Ended
December 31,
2016
     Year Ended
December 31,
2015
 

Net (loss)/income

   $ (15,090    $ (52,549    $ 41,805  

Earnings attributable to:

        

Common unitholders

     (14,788      (51,498      39,825  

Weighted average units outstanding (basic and diluted)

        

Common unitholders

     132,610,330        83,107,066        82,437,128  

Earnings per unit (basic and diluted):

        

Common unitholders

   $ (0.11    $ (0.62    $ 0.48  

Earnings per unit — distributed (basic and diluted):

        

Common unitholders

   $ —        $ —        $ 1.11  

Loss per unit — undistributed (basic and diluted):

        

Common unitholders

   $ (0.11    $ (0.62    $ (0.63

Potential common units of 1,353,335 and 0 relating to unvested restricted common units for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 have an anti-dilutive effect (i.e. those that increase income per unit or decrease loss per unit) and are therefore excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per unit.

NOTE 22 – OTHER INCOME

On November 15, 2012 (as amended in March 2014), Navios Holdings and Navios Partners entered into an agreement (the “Navios Holdings Guarantee”) by which Navios Holdings will provide supplemental credit default insurance with a maximum cash payment of $20,000. The final settlement of the amount due will take place at anytime but in no case later than December 31, 2019, in accordance with a letter of agreement effective as of December 29, 2017. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company submitted claims for charterers’ default under this agreement to Navios Holdings for a total amount in each period of $7,242 and $9,153, respectively, net of applicable deductions, of which $7,623 and $9,635, was presented under the caption “Other income”.

On November 10, 2016, Navios Partners repaid $28,052 in cash for the settlement of a nominal amount of $30,192 of the July 2012 Credit Facility achieving a $2,140 gain on debt repayment.

NOTE 23 – OTHER EXPENSE

As of December 31, 2017, the amount of $1,495 relating to an allowance for doubtful accounts from Hanjin prior to its bankruptcy, was presented under the caption “Other expense” of the consolidated Statements of Operations.

On January 12, 2017, Navios Partners sold the vessel the MSC Cristina, which was classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2016, to an unrelated third party. The carrying value of the vessel was $125,000 and sale proceeds less costs to sell totaled $123,740. As of December 31, 2017, a loss of $1,260 was recognized under the caption “Other expense” in the consolidated Statements of Operations.

NOTE 24 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In March 2018, the Company’s board of directors announced a new distribution policy under which it intends to declare quarterly cash distribution in the amount of $0.02 per unit, or $0.08 annually. The Company announced the first quarterly distribution of $0.02 per unit for the first quarter of 2018, which will be payable on May 14, 2018 to all unitholders of record on May 10, 2018.

 

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NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

In March 2018, Navios Partners agreed to acquire from an unrelated third party, a 2005-built Panamax vessel of approximately 87,000 dwt, for a purchase price of $12,975. The vessel is expected to be delivered to Navios Partners’ owned fleet within the second quarter of 2018.

On March 26, 2018, Navios Partners entered into a new credit facility with Nordea Bank AB, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB and NIBC Bank N.V. (the “March 2018 Credit Facility”) of up to $14,300 (divided into two tranches) in order to finance a portion of the purchase price payable in connection with the acquisition of the two Panamax vessels. The facility matures in the second quarter of 2023 and bears interest at LIBOR plus 300 bps per annum.

On March 13, 2018, Navios Containers closed a private placement of 5,454,546 shares at a subscription price of $5.50 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $30,000. The net proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including vessel acquisitions. Navios Partners invested $14,460 and received 2,629,095 shares. Navios Partners also received warrants, with a five-year term, for 6.8% of the newly issued equity. Following this transaction, Navios Partners owns approximately 36.0% of Navios Containers’ equity.

On February 21, 2018, Navios Partners completed a registered direct offering of 18,422,000 common units at $1.90 per unit and raised gross proceeds of approximately $35,002, of which approximately $5,000 was purchased by Navios Holdings. The net proceeds of this offering, including the placement agent fee and the estimated offering costs of $1,720 in total, were approximately $33,282. Pursuant to this offering, Navios Partners issued 375,959 general partnership units to its general partner. The net proceeds from the issuance of the general partnership units were $714.

In January 2018, Navios Partners agreed to acquire from an unrelated third party, two 2006-built Panamax vessels of approximately 74,500 dwt each, for a purchase price of $22,000. The vessels are expected to be delivered to Navios Partners’ owned fleet within the second quarter of 2018. One of the vessels is chartered out for $9,375 net per day until May/November 2018 and the other vessel is chartered out for $9,844 net per day until March/August 2018.

 

 

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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.

 

NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

 

By:  

/s/ Angeliki Frangou

  Angeliki Frangou
  Chief Executive Officer

Date: April 4, 2018

 

Exhibit 1.2

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Article I   DEFINITIONS      1  
Section 1.1   Definitions      1  
Section 1.2   Construction      18  
Article II   ORGANIZATION      18  
Section 2.1   Formation      18  
Section 2.2   Name      18  
Section 2.3   Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices      18  
Section 2.4   Purpose and Business      19  
Section 2.5   Powers      19  
Section 2.6   Power of Attorney      19  
Section 2.7   Term      20  
Section 2.8   Title to Partnership Assets      21  
Article III   RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS      21  
Section 3.1   Limitation of Liability      21  
Section 3.2   Management of Business      21  
Section 3.3   Outside Activities of the Limited Partners      21  
Section 3.4   Rights of Limited Partners      22  
Article IV   CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS      22  
Section 4.1   Certificates      22  
Section 4.2   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates      23  
Section 4.3   Record Holders      23  
Section 4.4   Transfer Generally      24  
Section 4.5   Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests      24  
Section 4.6   Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest      25  
Section 4.7   Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights      25  
Section 4.8   Restrictions on Transfers      26  
Article V   CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS      26  
Section 5.1   Contributions Prior to the Closing Date      26  
Section 5.2   Initial Unit Issuances      26  
Section 5.3   Contributions By Initial Limited Partners and Distributions to the General Partner and its Affiliates      27  
Section 5.4   Interest and Withdrawal      28  
Section 5.5   Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities      28  
Section 5.6   Limitations on Issuance of Additional Partnership Securities      29  

 

i


Section 5.7   Conversion of Subordinated Units      29  
Section 5.8   Conversion of Subordinated Series A Units      29  
Section 5.9   Limited Preemptive Right      29  
Section 5.10   Splits and Combinations      29  
Section 5.11   Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests      30  
Article VI   DISTRIBUTIONS      30  
Section 6.1   Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders      30  
Section 6.2   Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus      31  
Section 6.3   Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus      31  
Section 6.4   Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels      32  
Section 6.5   [Reserved.]      32  
Section 6.6   [Reserved.]      32  
Section 6.7   Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights      32  
Article VII   MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS      32  
Section 7.1   Management      32  
Section 7.2   The Board of Directors; Election and Appointment; Term; Manner of Acting      33  
Section 7.3   Nominations of Elected Directors      34  
Section 7.4   Removal of Members of Board of Directors      35  
Section 7.5   Resignations of Members of the Board of Directors      35  
Section 7.6   Vacancies on the Board of Directors      35  
Section 7.7   Meetings; Committees; Chairman      35  
Section 7.8   Officers      37  
Section 7.9   Compensation of Directors      39  
Section 7.10   Certificate of Limited Partnership      39  
Section 7.11   Restrictions on the Authority of the Board of Directors and the General Partner      39  
Section 7.12   Reimbursement of the General Partner      40  
Section 7.13   Outside Activities      40  
Section 7.14   Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members      42  
Section 7.15   Indemnification      42  
Section 7.16   Liability of Indemnitees      44  
Section 7.17   Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties      44  
Section 7.18   Other Matters Concerning the General Partner and the Board of Directors      46  
Section 7.19   Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities      47  
Section 7.20   Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates      47  
Section 7.21   Reliance by Third Parties      49  

 

ii


Article VIII   BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS      50  
Section 8.1   Records and Accounting      50  
Section 8.2   Fiscal Year      50  
Section 8.3   Reports      50  
Article IX   TAX MATTERS      51  
Section 9.1   Tax Elections and Information      51  
Section 9.2   Withholding      51  
Section 9.3   Conduct of Operations      51  
Article X   ADMISSION OF PARTNERS      51  
Section 10.1   Admission of Initial Limited Partners      51  
Section 10.2   Admission of Additional Limited Partners      51  
Section 10.3   Admission of Successor General Partner      52  
Section 10.4   Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership      52  
Article XI   WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS      53  
Section 11.1   Withdrawal of the General Partner      53  
Section 11.2   Removal of the General Partner      54  
Section 11.3   Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner      55  
Section 11.4   [Reserved.]      56  
Section 11.5   Withdrawal of Limited Partners      56  
Article XII   DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION      56  
Section 12.1   Dissolution      56  
Section 12.2   Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution      57  
Section 12.3   Liquidator      57  
Section 12.4   Liquidation      58  
Section 12.5   Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership      59  
Section 12.6   Return of Contributions      59  
Section 12.7   Waiver of Partition      59  
Article XIII   AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE      59  
Section 13.1   Amendments to be Adopted Without Approval of the Limited Partners or the General Partner      59  
Section 13.2   Amendment Procedures      60  
Section 13.3   Amendment Requirements      61  
Section 13.4   Special Meetings      61  
Section 13.5   Notice of a Meeting      62  
Section 13.6   Record Date      62  
Section 13.7   Adjournment      62  

 

iii


Section 13.8   Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes      63  
Section 13.9   Quorum and Voting      63  
Section 13.10   Conduct of a Meeting      63  
Section 13.11   Action Without a Meeting      64  
Section 13.12   Right to Vote and Related Matters      64  
Article XIV   MERGER      65  
Section 14.1   Authority      65  
Section 14.2   Procedure for Merger or Consolidation      65  
Section 14.3   Approval by Limited Partners of Merger or Consolidation      66  
Section 14.4   Certificate of Merger      67  
Section 14.5   Amendment of Partnership Agreement      67  
Section 14.6   Effect of Merger      67  
Article XV   RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS      68  
Section 15.1   Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests      68  
Article XVI   GENERAL PROVISIONS      69  
Section 16.1   Addresses and Notices      69  
Section 16.2   Further Action      70  
Section 16.3   Binding Effect      70  
Section 16.4   Integration      70  
Section 16.5   Creditors      70  
Section 16.6   Waiver      70  
Section 16.7   Counterparts      70  
Section 16.8   Applicable Law      70  
Section 16.9   Invalidity of Provisions      70  
Section 16.10   Consent of Partners      70  
Section 16.11   Facsimile Signatures      70  
Section 16.12   Third-Party Beneficiaries      70  

EXHIBIT A FORM OF CERTIFICATE

 

iv


FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED

PARTNERSHIP OF NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P.

THIS FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF NAVIOS MARITIME PARTNERS L.P., dated as of March 19, 2018, is entered into by and among Navios GP L.L.C., a Marshall Islands limited liability company, as the General Partner, and Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. (or any permitted successors and assigns hereunder), as the Organizational Limited Partner, together with any other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Navios GP L.L.C. and Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. formed the Partnership pursuant to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Navios Maritime Partners L.P. dated as of November 16, 2007 (the “ Initial Agreement ”) and a Certificate of Limited Partnership, which was filed with the registrar of the Republic of the Marshall Islands on such date; and

WHEREAS, the Partners of the Partnership amended and restated the Initial Agreement by entering into the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Navios Maritime Partners L.P., dated as of June 10, 2009 and the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Navios Maritime Partners L.P., dated as of March 12, 2015 (the “ Prior Agreement ”), to reflect the fact that (i) the Subordinated Units converted into Common Units and ceased to be outstanding as of January 1, 2012, and (ii) the Subordinated Series A Units converted into Common Units and ceased to be outstanding as of June 29, 2012; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has determined that amending and restating the Prior Agreement as set forth herein is necessary and appropriate to reflect that at any adjourned annual meeting of the Limited Partners, the holders of Outstanding Units present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat, shall constitute a quorum at such adjourned meeting.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions . The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.

Acquisition ” means any transaction in which any Group Member acquires (through an asset acquisition, merger, stock acquisition or other form of investment) control over all or a portion of the assets, properties or business of another Person for the purpose of increasing the operating capacity or asset base of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity or asset base of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such transaction; provided , however , that any acquisition of properties or assets of another Person that is made solely for investment purposes shall not constitute an Acquisition under this Agreement.

 

1


Adjusted Operating Surplus ” means, with respect to any period, Operating Surplus generated with respect to such period (a) less (i) any net increase in Working Capital Borrowings with respect to such period and (ii) any net decrease in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of any net increase in Working Capital Borrowings in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) with respect to such period to the extent such reduction does not relate to an Operating Expenditure made with respect to such period, and (b) plus (i) any net decrease in Working Capital Borrowings (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of any net decrease in Working Capital Borrowings in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) with respect to such period, and (ii) any net increase in cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of any net increase in cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period to the extent such reserve is required by any debt instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or premium. Adjusted Operating Surplus does not include that portion of Operating Surplus included in clause (a)(i) of the definition of Operating Surplus.

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Agreed Value ” means the fair market value of the applicable property or other consideration at the time of contribution or distribution, as the case may be, as determined by the Board of Directors.

Agreement ” means this Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Navios Maritime Partners L.P., as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Amadeus Maritime ” means Amadeus Maritime S.A., a Panama corporation.

Annual Meeting ” means the meeting of Limited Partners to be held every year commencing in 2008 to elect the Elected Directors as provided in Section 7.2 and to vote on any other matters brought before the meeting in accordance with this Agreement.

Appointed Directors ” means the members of the Board of Directors appointed by the General Partner in accordance with the provisions of Article VII.

Associate ” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person: (a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock or other voting interest; (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same principal residence as such Person.

 

2


Audit Committee ” means a committee of the Board of Directors composed of a minimum of three members of the Board of Directors then serving who meet the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading.

Available Cash ” means, with respect to any Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation Date:

 

  (a) the sum of (i) all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand at the end of such Quarter, and (ii) all additional cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter resulting from Working Capital Borrowings made subsequent to the end of such Quarter, less

 

  (b) the amount of any cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) established by the Board of Directors to (i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership Group) subsequent to such Quarter, (ii) comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject or (iii) provide funds for distributions under Sections 6.2 or 6.3 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters; provided , however , that the Board of Directors may not establish cash reserves pursuant to (iii) above if the effect of such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to distribute the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all Common Units with respect to such Quarter; and, provided further , that disbursements made by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such Quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash, within such Quarter if the Board of Directors so determines.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Available Cash” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.

Board of Directors ” means the board of directors of the Partnership, composed of Appointed Directors and Elected Directors appointed or elected, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions of Article VII and a majority of whom are not United States citizens or residents, which, pursuant to Section 7.1, and subject to Section 7.11, oversees and directs the operations, management and policies of the Partnership. The Board of Directors shall constitute a committee within the meaning of Section 30(2)(g) of the Marshall Islands Act.

 

3


Business Day ” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of New York shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

Capital Contribution ” means any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of Contributed Property that a Partner contributes to the Partnership.

Capital Improvement ” means any (a) addition or improvement to the capital assets owned by any Group Member or (b) acquisition of existing, or the construction of new, capital assets, in each case if such addition, improvement, acquisition or construction is made to increase the operating capacity or asset base of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity or asset base of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such addition, improvement, acquisition or construction.

Capital Surplus ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(a).

Cause ” means a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding a Person liable for actual fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as a general partner of the Partnership or as a member of the Board of Directors, as the case may be.

Certificate ” means a certificate (i) substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement, (ii) issued in global or book entry form in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Depositary or (iii) in such other form as may be adopted by the Board of Directors, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more Common Units or a certificate, in such form as may be adopted by the Board of Directors, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more other Partnership Securities.

Certificate of Limited Partnership ” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Registrar of Corporations of The Marshall Islands as referenced in Section 7.10 as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Change of Control ” means any of the following events: (a) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the Partnership’s assets to any other Person, unless immediately following such sale, lease, exchange or other transfer such assets are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Partnership; (b) the consolidation or merger of the Partnership with or into another Person pursuant to a transaction in which the then-Outstanding Units are changed into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where (i) the then-Outstanding Units Interests are changed into or exchanged for voting securities of the surviving Person or its parent and (ii) the holders of the Units immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, not less than a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving Person or its parent immediately after such transaction; and (c) a “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) being or becoming the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of all of the then-Outstanding Units, except in a merger or consolidation that would not constitute a Change of Control under clause (b) above.

 

4


claim ” (as used in Section 7.20(c)) has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.20(c).

Closing Date ” means the first date on which Common Units are sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters pursuant to the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.

Closing Price ” means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the date of determination, the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, regular way, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal National Securities Exchange on which the respective Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Limited Partner Interests are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, the last quoted price on such day or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by any quotation system then in use with respect to such Limited Partner Interests, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not quoted by any such system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class selected by the Board of Directors, or if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the Board of Directors.

Code ” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.

Combined Interest ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.3(a).

Commences Commercial Service ” and “ Commenced Commercial Service ” shall mean the date a Capital Improvement is first put into service by a Group Member following, if applicable, completion of construction and testing.

Commission ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Unit ” means a Partnership Security representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement.

Common Unit Purchase Agreement ” means the Common Unit Purchase Agreement dated November 12, 2007, between the Partnership and Amadeus Maritime providing for the purchase of 500,000 Common Units by Amadeus Maritime.

Concurrent Offering ” means the offering and sale of Common Units sold pursuant to the Common Unit Purchase Agreement.

 

5


Conflicts Committee ” means a committee of the Board of Directors composed entirely of three or more directors who are not (a) security holders, officers or employees of the General Partner, (b) officers, directors or employees of any Affiliate of the General Partner or (c) holders of any ownership interest in the Partnership Group other than Common Units and who also meet the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading.

Contributed Property ” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Marshall Islands Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership.

Current Market Price ” means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the date of determination, the average of the daily Closing Prices per Limited Partner Interest of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date.

Departing General Partner ” means a former General Partner from and after the effective date of any withdrawal or removal of such former General Partner pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2.

Depositary ” means, with respect to any Units issued in global form, The Depository Trust Company and its successors and permitted assigns.

Elected Directors ” means the members of the Board of Directors who are elected or appointed as such in accordance with the provisions of Article VII and at least three of whom are not (a) security holders, officers or employees of the General Partner, (b) officers, directors or employees of any Affiliate of the General Partner, (c) holders of any ownership interest in the Partnership Group other than Common Units and who also meet the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading or (d) United States citizens or residents.

Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures ” means an estimate made in good faith by the Board of Directors (with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee) of the average quarterly Maintenance Capital Expenditures that the Partnership will need to incur to maintain the operating capacity or asset base of the Partnership Group (including the Partnership’s proportionate share of the average quarterly Maintenance Capital Expenditures of its Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) existing at the time the estimate is made. The Board of Directors (with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee) will be permitted to make such estimate in any manner it determines reasonable. The estimate will be made at least annually and whenever an event occurs that is likely to result in a material adjustment to the amount of Maintenance Capital Expenditures on a long-term basis. The Partnership shall disclose to its Partners any change in the amount of Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures in its reports made in accordance with Section 8.3 to the extent not previously disclosed. Any adjustments to Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall be prospective only.

Event of Withdrawal ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(a).

 

6


Expansion Capital Expenditures ” means cash expenditures for Acquisitions or Capital Improvements. Expansion Capital Expenditures shall not include Maintenance Capital Expenditures. Expansion Capital Expenditures shall include interest (and related fees) on debt incurred and distributions on equity incurred, in each case, to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement and paid during the period beginning on the date that the Partnership enters into a binding obligation to commence construction of the Capital Improvement and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such Capital Improvement Commences Commercial Service or the date that such Capital Improvement is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred or equity issued to fund any such construction period interest payments, or such construction period distributions on equity paid during such period shall also be deemed to be debt or equity, as the case may be, incurred to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement.

First Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Contribution and Conveyance Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2007, among the General Partner, the Partnership, the Operating Company and Navios Maritime Holdings, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder.

First Target Distribution ” means $0.4025 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2007, it means the product of $0.4025 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and of which the denominator is the total number of days in the Quarter in which the Closing Date occurs), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 6.4.

Fully Diluted Basis ” means, when calculating the number of Outstanding Units for any period, a basis that includes, in addition to the Outstanding Units, all Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership (a) that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Units that are senior to or pari passu with the Common Units, (b) whose conversion, exercise or exchange price is less than the Current Market Price on the date of such calculation, (c) that may be converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units prior to or during the Quarter immediately following the end of the period for which the calculation is being made without the satisfaction of any contingency beyond the control of the holder other than the payment of consideration and the compliance with administrative mechanics applicable to such conversion, exercise or exchange and (d) that were not converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units during the period for which the calculation is being made; provided , however , that if consideration will be paid to any Group Member in connection with such conversion, exercise or exchange, the number of Units to be included in such calculation shall be that number equal to the difference between (i) the number of Units issuable upon such conversion, exercise or exchange and (ii) the number of Units that such consideration would purchase at the Current Market Price.

General Partner ” means Navios GP, L.L.C., a Marshall Islands limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Partnership as general partner of the Partnership, in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership (except as the context otherwise requires).

 

7


General Partner Interest ” means the ownership interest of the General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner and without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it), which is evidenced by General Partner Units and includes any and all benefits to which the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

General Partner Unit ” means a fractional part of the General Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the General Partner Interest. A General Partner Unit is not a Unit.

Group ” means a Person that, including with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates, has any agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons) or disposing of any Partnership Securities with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, Partnership Securities.

Group Member ” means a member of the Partnership Group.

Group Member Agreement ” means the partnership agreement of any Group Member, other than the Partnership, that is a limited or general partnership, the limited liability company agreement of any Group Member that is a limited liability company, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or similar organizational documents) of any Group Member that is a corporation, the joint venture agreement or similar governing document of any Group Member that is a joint venture and the governing or organizational or similar documents of any other Group Member that is a Person other than a limited or general partnership, limited liability company, corporation or joint venture, in each case as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Holder ” as used in Section 7.20, has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.20(a).

Incentive Distribution Right ” means a non-voting Limited Partner Interest, which Partnership Interest will confer upon the holder thereof only the rights and obligations specifically provided in this Agreement with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights (and no other rights otherwise available to or other obligations of a holder of a Partnership Interest). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the holder of an Incentive Distribution Right shall not be entitled to vote such Incentive Distribution Right on any Partnership matter except as may otherwise be required by law.

Indemnified Persons ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.20(c).

Indemnitee ” means (a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing General Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a member, partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of any Person which any of the preceding clauses of this definition describes, (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner as an officer, director, member, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another Person ( provided , however , that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services), (f) the members of the Board of Directors, (g) the Officers, and (h) any other Person the Board of Directors designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement.

 

8


Initial Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Navios Maritime Partners L.P., dated November 16, 2007.

Initial Common Units ” means the Common Units sold in the Initial Offering and the Concurrent Offering.

Initial General Partner Interest ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

Initial Limited Partner Interest ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

Initial Limited Partners ” means Amadeus Maritime, Navios Maritime Holdings and the General Partner (with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights received by it pursuant to Section 5.2(a)) and the Underwriters, in each case upon being admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 10.1.

Initial Offering ” means the initial offering and sale of Common Units to the public, as described in the Registration Statement.

Initial Unit Price ” means (a) with respect to the Common Units, the initial public offering price per Common Unit at which the Underwriters offered the Common Units to the public for sale as set forth on the cover page of the prospectus included as part of the Registration Statement and first issued at or after the time the Registration Statement first became effective, or (b) with respect to any other class or series of Units, the price per Unit at which such class or series of Units is initially sold by the Partnership, as determined by the Board of Directors, in each case adjusted as the Board of Directors determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units.

Interim Capital Transactions ” means the following transactions if they occur prior to the Liquidation Date: (a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of indebtedness (other than Working Capital Borrowings and other than for items purchased on open account in the ordinary course of business) by any Group Member and sales of debt securities of any Group Member; (b) sales of equity interests of any Group Member (including the Common Units sold to the Underwriters pursuant to the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option); (c) sales or other voluntary or involuntary dispositions of any assets of any Group Member other than (i) sales or other dispositions of inventory, accounts receivable and other assets in the ordinary course of business and (ii) sales or other dispositions of assets as part of normal retirements or replacements; (d) the termination of interest rate swap agreements; (e) capital contributions received; and (f) corporate reorganizations or restructurings.

Investment Capital Expenditures ” means capital expenditures other than Maintenance Capital Expenditures or Expansion Capital Expenditures.

Issue Price ” means the price at which a Unit is purchased from the Partnership, after deducting any sales commission or underwriting discount charged to the Partnership.

 

9


Limited Partner ” means, unless the context otherwise requires, the Organizational Limited Partner prior to its withdrawal from the Partnership, each Initial Limited Partner, each additional Person that becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and any Departing General Partner upon the change of its status from General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3, in each case, in such Person’s capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership; provided , however , that when the term “Limited Partner” is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any holder of an Incentive Distribution Right (solely with respect to such Incentive Distribution Rights and not with respect to any other Limited Partner Interest held by such Person) except as may otherwise be required by law. Limited Partners may include custodians, nominees or any other individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity.

Limited Partner Interest ” means the ownership interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership Securities or a combination thereof or interest therein, and includes any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement; provided , however , that when the term “Limited Partner Interest” is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any Incentive Distribution Right except as may otherwise be required by law.

Liquidation Date ” means (a) in the case of an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) of the first sentence of Section 12.2, the date on which the applicable time period during which the holders of Outstanding Units have the right to elect to continue the business of the Partnership has expired without such an election being made, and (b) in the case of any other event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership, the date on which such event occurs.

Liquidator ” means one or more Persons selected by the Board of Directors to perform the functions described in Section 12.4.

Maintenance Capital Expenditures ” means cash expenditures (including expenditures for the addition or improvement to the capital assets owned by any Group Member or for the acquisition of existing, or the construction of new, capital assets) if such expenditure is made to maintain the operating capacity or asset base of the Partnership Group. Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall not include (a) Expansion Capital Expenditures or (b) expenditures made solely for investment purposes (as opposed to maintenance purposes). Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall include interest (and related fees) on debt incurred and distributions on equity issued, in each case, to finance the construction of a replacement asset and paid during the period beginning on the date that the Group Member enters into a binding obligation to commence constructing a replacement asset and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such replacement asset Commences Commercial Service or the date that such replacement asset is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred to pay or equity issued to fund the construction period interest payments, or such construction period distributions on equity shall also be deemed to be debt or equity, as the case may be, incurred to finance the construction of a replacement asset.

 

10


Marshall Islands Act ” means the Limited Partnership Act of The Republic of the Marshall Islands, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.

Merger Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1.

Minimum Quarterly Distribution ” means $0.35 per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2007, it means the product of $0.35 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is the total number of days in the Quarter in which the Closing Date occurs), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 6.4.

Navios Maritime Holdings ” means Navios Maritime Holdings Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation.

National Securities Exchange ” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.

Net Agreed Value ” means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced by any indebtedness either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or to which such property is subject when contributed, and (b) in the case of any property distributed to a Partner by the Partnership, the Agreed Value of such property, reduced by any indebtedness either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution.

Notice of Election to Purchase ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(b).

Officers ” means the Chairman of the Board of Directors (unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise), the Executive Vice Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors (unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise), the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice Presidents, the Secretary, the Treasurer, any Assistant Secretaries or Assistant Treasurers, and any other officer of the Partnership appointed by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 7.8.

Omnibus Agreement ” means that Omnibus Agreement among Navios Maritime Holdings, the Partnership, the General Partner and the Operating Company, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Operating Company ” means Navios Maritime Operating L.L.C., a Marshall Islands limited liability company, and any successors thereto.

Operating Company Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Operating Company, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

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Operating Expenditures ” means all Partnership Group expenditures (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of expenditures in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned), including taxes, reimbursements of the General Partner, repayment of Working Capital Borrowings, debt service payments and capital expenditures, subject to the following:

 

  (a) repayment of Working Capital Borrowings deducted from Operating Surplus pursuant to clause (b)(iii) of the definition of Operating Surplus shall not constitute Operating Expenditures when actually repaid;

 

  (b) payments (including prepayments and prepayment penalties) of principal of and premium on indebtedness other than Working Capital Borrowings shall not constitute Operating Expenditures; and

 

  (c) Operating Expenditures shall not include (i) Expansion Capital Expenditures, Investment Capital Expenditures or actual Maintenance Capital Expenditures, but shall include Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures, (ii) payment of transaction expenses (including taxes) relating to Interim Capital Transactions or (iii) distributions to Partners, where capital expenditures consist of both (x) Maintenance Capital Expenditures and (y) Expansion Capital Expenditures and/or Investment Capital Expenditures, the General Partner, with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee, shall determine the allocation between the amounts paid for each.

Operating Surplus ” means, with respect to any period ending prior to the Liquidation Date, on a cumulative basis and without duplication:

 

  (a) the sum of (i) $20 million, (ii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, other than cash receipts from Interim Capital Transactions, (iii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) after the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of Operating Surplus with respect to such period resulting from Working Capital Borrowings and (iv) the amount of distributions paid on equity issued in connection with the construction of a Capital Improvement or replacement asset and paid during the period beginning on the date that the Group Member enters into a binding obligation to commence construction of such Capital Improvement or replacement asset and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such Capital Improvement or replacement asset Commences Commercial Service or the date that it is abandoned or disposed of (equity issued to fund the construction period interest payments on debt incurred (including periodic net payments under related interest rate swap agreements), or construction period distributions on equity issued, to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement or replacement asset shall also be deemed to be equity issued to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement or replacement asset for purposes of this clause (iv)), less

 

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  (b) the sum of (i) Operating Expenditures for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, (ii) the amount of cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) established by the Board of Directors to provide funds for future Operating Expenditures and (iii) all Working Capital Borrowings not repaid within twelve months after having been incurred; provided , however , that disbursements made (including contributions to a Group Member or disbursements on behalf of a Group Member) or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such period shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Operating Surplus, within such period if the Board of Directors so determines.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Operating Surplus” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the Partnership or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the Board of Directors.

Option Closing Date ” means the date or dates on which any Common Units are sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.

Organizational Limited Partner ” means Navios Maritime Holdings in its capacity as the organizational limited partner of the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.

Outstanding ” means, with respect to Partnership Securities, all Partnership Securities that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding on the Partnership’s books and records as of the date of determination; provided , however , that if at any time any Person or Group beneficially owns more than 4.9% of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding (or would own such percentage after application of this limitation), all Partnership Securities owned by such Person or Group in excess of 4.9% of the Outstanding Partnership Securities shall not be voted on any matter and shall not be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, except for purposes of nominating a Person for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 7.3, or determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Partnership Securities so owned shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Partnership Securities shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Securities for purposes of this Agreement); provided , further , that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to either of the following (other than when voting their Common Units as provided in Section 7.2(a)(ii)): (i) the General Partner or its Affiliates or (ii) any Person or Group who acquired more than 4.9% of any Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership with the prior approval of the Board of Directors after considering the potential tax effects of such approval on the Partnership.

Over-Allotment Option ” means the over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

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Partners ” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.

Partnership ” means Navios Maritime Partners L.P., a Marshall Islands limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

Partnership Group ” means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, including the Operating Company, treated as a single entity.

Partnership Interest ” means an interest in the Partnership, which shall include the General Partner Interest and Limited Partner Interests.

Partnership Security ” means any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership (but excluding any options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership), including Common Units and Incentive Distribution Rights.

Percentage Interest ” means as of any date of determination (a) as to the General Partner with respect to General Partner Units and as to any Unitholder with respect to Units, the product obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to clause (b) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of Units held by such Unitholder or the number of General Partner Units held by the General Partner, as the case may be, by (B) the total number of all Outstanding Units and General Partner Units, and (b) as to the holders of other Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.5, the percentage established as a part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest with respect to an Incentive Distribution Right shall at all times be zero.

Person ” means an individual or a corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, governmental agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

Prior Agreement ” means the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Navios Maritime Partners L.P., dated as of June 10, 2009.

Pro Rata ” means (a) when used with respect to Units or any class thereof, apportioned equally among all designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (b) when used with respect to Partners or Record Holders, apportioned among all Partners or Record Holders in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests and (c) when used with respect to holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, apportioned equally among all holders of Incentive Distribution Rights in accordance with the relative number or percentage of Incentive Distribution Rights held by each such holder.

Purchase Agreement ” means the Purchase Agreement dated November 12, 2007 among the Underwriters, the Partnership, the General Partner, the Operating Company, and Navios Maritime Holdings, providing for the purchase of Common Units by such Underwriters.

Purchase Date ” means the date determined by the General Partner as the date for purchase of all Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of a certain class (other than Limited Partner Interests owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) pursuant to Article XV.

 

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Quarter ” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter, or, with respect to the first fiscal quarter including the Closing Date, the portion of such fiscal quarter after the Closing Date, of the Partnership.

Record Date ” means the date established by the Board of Directors or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Limited Partners or entitled to vote by ballot or give approval of Partnership action in writing without a meeting or entitled to exercise rights in respect of any lawful action of Limited Partners or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer.

Record Holder ” means (a) the Person in whose name a Common Unit is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day, or (b) with respect to other Partnership Interests, the Person in whose name any such other Partnership Interest is registered on the books that the Board of Directors has caused to be kept as of the opening of business on such Business Day.

Registration Statement ” means the Registration Statement on Form F-1 (Registration No. 333-146972) as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common Units in the Initial Offering.

Second Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Contribution, Sale and Conveyance Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the General Partner, the Partnership, the Operating Company and Navios Maritime Holdings, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced therein.

Second Target Distribution ” means $0.4375 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2007, it means the product of $0.4375 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is the total number of days in the Quarter in which the Closing Date occurs), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 6.4.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.

Special Approval ” means approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee.

Subordinated Series A Unit ” means a Unit issued pursuant to the Prior Agreement that represented a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and had the rights and obligations specified with respect to Subordinated Series A Units in the Prior Agreement until it was converted into Common Units as of June 29, 2012.

Subordinated Unit ” means a Unit issued pursuant to the Prior Agreement that represented a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and had the rights and obligations specified with respect to Subordinated Units in the Prior Agreement until it was converted into Common Units as of January 1, 2012.

 

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Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries (as defined, but excluding subsection (d) of this definition) of such Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary (as defined, but excluding subsection (d) of this definition) of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries (as defined, but excluding subsection (d) of this definition) of such Person, or a combination thereof, (c) any other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries (as defined, but excluding subsection (d) of this definition) of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person, or (d) any other Person in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries (as defined, but excluding subsection (d) of this definition) of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) less than a majority ownership interest or (ii) less than the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person, provided that (A) such Person, one or more Subsidiaries (as defined, but excluding this subsection (d) of this definition) of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of the determination, has at least a 20% ownership interest in such other Person, (B) such Person accounts for such other Person (under U.S. GAAP, as in effect on the later of the date of investment in such other Person or material expansion of the operations of such other Person) on a consolidated or equity accounting basis, (C) such Person has directly or indirectly material negative control rights regarding such other Person including over such other Person’s ability to materially expand its operations beyond that contemplated at the date of investment in such other Person, and (D) such other Person is (i) other than with respect to the Operating Company, formed and maintained for the sole purpose of owning or leasing, operating and chartering no more than 10 vessels for a period of no more than 40 years, and (ii) obligated under its constituent documents, or as a result of a unanimous agreement of its owners, to distribute to its owners all of its income on at least an annual basis (less any cash reserves that are approved by such Person).

Surviving Business Entity ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.2(b).

Third Target Distribution ” means $0.525 per unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2007, it means the product of $0.525 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is the total number of days in the Quarter in which the Closing Date occurs), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 6.4.

 

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Trading Day ” means, for the purpose of determining the Current Market Price of any class of Limited Partner Interests, a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is listed is open for the transaction of business or, if Limited Partner Interests of a class are not listed on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are open.

transfer ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.4(a).

Transfer Agent ” means such bank, trust company or other Person (including the General Partner or one of its Affiliates) as shall be appointed from time to time by the Partnership to act as registrar and transfer agent for the Common Units; provided , however , that if no Transfer Agent is specifically designated for any other Partnership Securities, the Board of Directors shall act in such capacity.

Underwriter ” means each Person named as an underwriter in Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement who purchases Common Units pursuant thereto.

Unit ” means a Partnership Security that is designated as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units, but shall not include (i) General Partner Units (or the General Partner Interest represented thereby) or (ii) the Incentive Distribution Rights.

Unitholders ” means the holders of Units.

Unit Majority ” means at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units.

Unit Register ” means the register of the Partnership for the registration and transfer of Limited Partnership Interests as provided in Section 4.5.

Unrecovered Capital ” means at any time, with respect to a Unit, the Initial Unit Price less the sum of all distributions constituting Capital Surplus theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit and any distributions of cash (or the Net Agreed Value of any distributions in kind) in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit, adjusted as the Board of Directors determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of such Units.

U.S. GAAP ” means United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(b).

Working Capital Borrowings ” means borrowings used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to Partners made pursuant to a credit facility, commercial paper facility or similar financing arrangement available to a Group Member, provided that when such borrowing is incurred it is the intent of the borrower to repay such borrowing within 12 months from other than additional Working Capital Borrowings.

 

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Section 1.2 Construction . Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the term “include” or “includes” means includes, without limitation, and “including” means including, without limitation; and (d) the terms “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATION

Section 2.1 Formation . The General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner have previously formed the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Marshall Islands Act. The General Partner and the Limited Partners have previously entered into the Prior Agreement (which amended and restated the Initial Agreement in its entirety), and hereby amend and restate the Prior Agreement in its entirety. The purpose of this Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership is (i) to reflect (a) the reduction of the quorum to 33% of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called and (b) that at any adjourned annual meeting of the Limited Partners, the holders of Outstanding Units present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat, shall constitute a quorum at such adjourned meeting, and (ii) to make other miscellaneous revisions. This amendment and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Marshall Islands Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes and a Partner has no interest in specific Partnership property.

Section 2.2 Name . The name of the Partnership shall be “Navios Maritime Partners L.P.” The Partnership’s business may be conducted under any other name or names as determined by the Board of Directors. The words “Limited Partnership” or the letters “L.P.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The Board of Directors may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time in compliance with the requirements of the Marshall Islands Act to time and shall notify the General Partner and the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.

Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices . Unless and until changed by the Board of Directors, the registered office of the Partnership in The Marshall Islands shall be located at Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Island, Ajeltake Road, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH 96960, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in The Marshall Islands at such registered office shall be The Trust Company of The Marshall Islands, Inc. The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 85 Akti Miaouli Street,

 

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Piraeus, Greece 185 38, or such other place as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate by notice to the General Partner and the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside The Marshall Islands as the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be at 85 Akti Miaouli Street, Piraeus, Greece 185 38, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.

Section 2.4 Purpose and Business . The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to (a) engage directly in, or enter into or form any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Marshall Islands Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity, and (b) do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member.

Section 2.5 Powers . The Partnership shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary and appropriate for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described in Section 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership.

Section 2.6 Power of Attorney .

(a) Each Limited Partner hereby constitutes and appoints the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Partnership and, if a Liquidator shall have been selected pursuant to Section 12.3, the Liquidator, severally (and any successor to the Liquidator by merger, transfer, assignment, election or otherwise) and each of its authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with full power of substitution, as his true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his name, place and stead, to:

(i) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof) that the Board of Directors or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the Marshall Islands and in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership may conduct business or own property; (B) all certificates, documents and other instruments that the Board of Directors or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance with its terms, any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement; (C) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including conveyances and a certificate of cancellation) that the Board of Directors or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (D) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or other events described in, Articles IV, X, XI or XII; (E) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of Partnership Securities issued pursuant to Section 5.5; and (F) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including agreements and a certificate of merger) relating to a merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to Article XIV; and

 

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(ii) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other instruments that the Board of Directors or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to (A) make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action that is made or given by the Partners hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement or (B) effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement; provided , however , that when required by Section 13.3 or any other provision of this Agreement that requires the consent of the Board of Directors or establishes a percentage of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of any class or series required to take any action, the Board of Directors and the Liquidator may exercise the power of attorney made in this Section 2.6(a)(ii) only after the necessary consent of the Board of Directors or vote, consent or approval of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of such class or series, as applicable.

Nothing contained in this Section 2.6(a) shall be construed as authorizing the Board of Directors to make an amendment to this Agreement except in accordance with Article XIII or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement.

(b) The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and, to the maximum extent permitted by law, not be affected by the subsequent death, incompetency, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of any Limited Partner and the transfer of all or any portion of such Limited Partner’s Partnership Interest and shall extend to such Limited Partner’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. Each such Limited Partner hereby agrees to be bound by any representation made by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer or President of the Partnership or the Liquidator acting in good faith pursuant to such power of attorney; and each such Limited Partner, to the maximum extent permitted by law, hereby waives any and all defenses that may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer or President of the Partnership or the Liquidator taken in good faith under such power of attorney. Each Limited Partner shall execute and deliver to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer or President of the Partnership or the Liquidator, within 15 days after receipt of the request therefor, such further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer or President of the Partnership or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Partnership.

Section 2.7 Term . The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Limited Partnership in accordance with the Marshall Islands Act and shall continue in existence until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII. The existence of the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Marshall Islands Act.

 

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Section 2.8 Title to Partnership Assets . Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership, the General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees, as the Board of Directors may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which record title is held in the name of the General Partner or one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees shall be held by the General Partner or such Affiliate or nominee for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided , however , that the General Partner shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause record title to such assets (other than those assets in respect of which the Board of Directors determines that the expense and difficulty of conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the Partnership impracticable) to be vested in the Partnership as soon as reasonably practicable; and, provided further , that, prior to the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as soon thereafter as practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to effect the transfer of record title to the Partnership and, prior to any such transfer, will provide for the use of such assets in a manner satisfactory to the Board of Directors. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to such Partnership assets is held.

ARTICLE III

RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

Section 3.1 Limitation of Liability . The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided in this Agreement or the Marshall Islands Act.

Section 3.2 Management of Business . No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Marshall Islands Act) of the Partnership’s business, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. Any action taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall not be deemed to be participation in the control of the business of the Partnership by a limited partner of the Partnership (within the meaning of Section 30 of the Marshall Islands Act) and shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners under this Agreement.

Section 3.3 Outside Activities of the Limited Partners . Subject to the provisions of Section 7.13 and the Omnibus Agreement, which shall continue to be applicable to the Persons referred to therein, regardless of whether such Persons shall also be Limited Partners, any Limited Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Partnership Group. Neither the Partnership nor any of the other Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner.

 

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Section 3.4 Rights of Limited Partners .

(a) In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by applicable law, and except as limited by Section 3.4(b), each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand and at such Limited Partner’s own expense, to:

(i) have furnished to him a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner;

(ii) obtain true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a description and statement of the Net Agreed Value of any other Capital Contribution by each Partner and which each Partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which each became a Partner;

(iii) have furnished to him a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto, together with a copy of the executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which this Agreement, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto have been executed;

(iv) obtain true and full information regarding the status of the business and financial condition of the Partnership Group; and

(v) obtain such other information regarding the affairs of the Partnership as is just and reasonable.

(b) The Board of Directors may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the Board of Directors deems reasonable, (i) any information that the Board of Directors reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the Board of Directors in good faith believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or (C) that any Group Member is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set forth in this Section 3.4).

ARTICLE IV

CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

Section 4.1 Certificates . Upon the Partnership’s issuance of Common Units to any Person, the Partnership shall issue, upon the request of such Person, one or more Certificates in the name of such Person evidencing the number of such Units being so issued. In addition, (a) upon the General Partner’s request, the Partnership shall issue to it one or more Certificates in the name of the General Partner evidencing its General Partner Units and (b) upon the request of any Person owning Incentive Distribution Rights or any other Partnership Securities other than Common Units, the Partnership shall issue to such Person one or more certificates evidencing such Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership Securities other than Common Units. Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chief Financial Officer or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Partnership. No Common Unit Certificate shall be

 

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valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent; provided , however , that if the Board of Directors elects to issue Common Units in global form, the Common Unit Certificates shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Common Units have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership.

Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates .

(a) If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent, the appropriate Officers on behalf of the Partnership shall execute, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate evidencing the same number and type of Partnership Securities as the Certificate so surrendered.

(b) The appropriate Officers on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign, a new Certificate in place of any Certificate previously issued if the Record Holder of the Certificate:

(i) makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the Partnership, that a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen;

(ii) requests the issuance of a new Certificate before the Partnership has notice that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;

(iii) if requested by the Partnership, delivers to the Partnership a bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the Partnership, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the Board of Directors may direct to indemnify the Partnership, the Partners, the General Partner and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the Certificate; and

(iv) satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Board of Directors.

If a Limited Partner fails to notify the Partnership within a reasonable period of time after he has notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a Certificate, and a transfer of the Limited Partner Interests represented by the Certificate is registered before the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent receives such notification, the Limited Partner shall be precluded from making any claim against the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent for such transfer or for a new Certificate.

(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.2, the Partnership may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith.

Section 4.3 Record Holders . The Partnership shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner with respect to any Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such Partnership Interest on the part of any other Person, regardless of whether the Partnership shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent

 

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or in some other representative capacity for another Person in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such representative Person shall be the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest.

Section 4.4 Transfer Generally .

(a) The term “transfer,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction (i) by which the General Partner assigns its General Partner Interest to another Person or by which a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights assigns its Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise or (ii) by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest (other than an Incentive Distribution Right) assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is or becomes a Limited Partner, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise, including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.

(b) No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV. Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article IV shall be null and void.

(c) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent a disposition by any stockholder, member, partner or other owner of the General Partner of any or all of the shares of stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests in the General Partner.

Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests .

(a) The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Partnership a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the Partnership will provide for the registration and transfer of Limited Partner Interests. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar and transfer agent for the purpose of registering Common Units and transfers of such Common Units as herein provided. The Partnership shall not recognize transfers of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests unless such transfers are effected in the manner described in this Section 4.5. Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the appropriate Officers on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Common Units, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered.

(b) The Partnership shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are surrendered for registration of transfer. No charge shall be imposed by the Partnership for such transfer; provided , however , that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.5, the Partnership may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto.

 

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(c) The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their Common Units to one or more Persons.

Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest .

(a) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to December 31, 2017, the General Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) to a Person unless such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior written consent or vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) or (ii) is of all, but not less than all, of its General Partner Interest to (A) an Affiliate of the General Partner (other than an individual) or (B) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with (1) the merger or consolidation of the General Partner with or into such other Person or (2) the transfer by the General Partner of all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person.

(b) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after December 31, 2017, the General Partner may transfer all or any of its General Partner Interest without Unitholder approval.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of all or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner or of any limited partner or member of any other Group Member and (iii) such transferee also agrees to purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership or membership interest of the General Partner as the general partner or managing member, if any, of each other Group Member. In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 4.6, the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of Section 10.3, be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner immediately prior to the transfer of the General Partner Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.

Section 4.7 Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights . Prior to December 31, 2017, a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of the Incentive Distribution Rights held by such holder without any consent of the Unitholders to (a) an Affiliate of such holder (other than an individual) or (b) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with (i) the merger or consolidation of such holder of Incentive Distribution Rights with or into such other Person or (ii) the transfer by such holder of all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person. Any other transfer of the Incentive Distribution Rights prior to December 31, 2017 shall require the prior approval of holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates). On or after December 31, 2017, the General Partner or any other holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of its Incentive Distribution Rights without Unitholder approval. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person shall be permitted unless the transferee agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement. The General Partner and any transferee or transferees of the Incentive Distribution Rights may agree in a separate instrument as to the General Partner’s exercise of its rights with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights under Section 11.3 hereof.

 

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Section 4.8 Restrictions on Transfers .

(a) Except as provided in Section 4.8(c) below, but notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV, no transfer of any Partnership Interests shall be made if such transfer would (i) violate the then applicable U.S. federal or state securities laws, laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands or rules and regulations of the Commission, any state securities commission or any other governmental authority with jurisdiction over such transfer or (ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership or any Group Member under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation.

(b) [Reserved.]

(c) Nothing contained in this Article IV, or elsewhere in this Agreement, shall preclude the settlement of any transactions involving Partnership Interests entered into through the facilities of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

Section 5.1 Contributions Prior to the Closing Date .

(a) In connection with the formation of the Partnership under the Marshall Islands Act, the General Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $20, for a 2% General Partner Interest in the Partnership (the “ Initial General Partner Interest ”) and has been admitted as the General Partner of the Partnership, and the Organizational Limited Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $980 for a 98% limited partner interest in the Partnership (the “ Initial Limited Partner Interest ”) and has been admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership. As of the Closing Date, the Initial Limited Partner Interest was redeemed and the initial Capital Contribution of the Organizational Limited Partner was refunded. Ninety-eight percent of any interest or profit that resulted from the investment of such initial Capital Contribution was allocated and distributed to the Organizational Limited Partner, and the balance was allocated and distributed to the General Partner.

(b) On November 16, 2007, and pursuant to the First Contribution Agreement, Navios Maritime Holdings contributed all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Felicity Shipping Corporation to the Partnership in exchange for 4,195,000 Subordinated Units.

Section 5.2 Initial Unit Issuances .

(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Second Contribution Agreement: (i) The General Partner’s Initial General Partner Interest was converted into 369,834 General Partner Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights; (ii) Navios Maritime Holdings sold to the Partnership all of the shares of capital stock of Gemini Shipping Corporation, Alegria Shipping Corporation, Galaxy Shipping Corporation, Libra Shipping Enterprises Corporation, Prosperity Shipping Corporation, Aldebaran Shipping Corporation and Fantastiks Shipping Corporation in exchange for (A) the issuance to Navios Maritime Holdings of 3,426,843 Subordinated Units and a special interest representing the right to receive $353.3 million from the Partnership on the Closing Date and (B) the issuance to the General Partner of the Incentive Distribution Rights; and (iii) the Organizational Limited Partner’s Initial Limited Partner Interest was redeemed and its initial Capital Contribution was refunded.

 

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(b) Upon the issuance of any additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership (other than Common Units issued in the Initial Offering, including any Common Units issued pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option), the General Partner may, in exchange for a proportionate number of General Partner Units, make additional Capital Contributions in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the quotient determined by dividing (A) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest immediately prior to such issuance by (B) 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest immediately prior to such issuance by (ii) the amount contributed to the Partnership by the Limited Partners in exchange for such additional Limited Partner Interests. The General Partner shall not be obligated to make additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership.

Section 5.3 Contributions By Initial Limited Partners and Distributions to the General Partner and its Affiliates .

(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, each Underwriter contributed to the Partnership cash in an amount equal to the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit, multiplied by the number of Common Units specified in the Purchase Agreement to be purchased by such Underwriter at the Closing Date. In exchange for such Capital Contributions by the Underwriters, the Partnership issued Common Units to each Underwriter on whose behalf such Capital Contribution was made in an amount equal to the number of Common Units specified in the Purchase Agreement to be purchased by such Underwriter on the Closing Date.

(b) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Common Unit Purchase Agreement, Amadeus Maritime contributed to the Partnership cash in the amount of $10.0 million, and in exchange for such Capital Contribution, the Partnership issued 500,000 Common Units to Amadeus Maritime.

(c) Upon any exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, each Underwriter contributed to the Partnership cash in an amount equal to the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit, multiplied by the number of Common Units to be purchased by such Underwriter at the Option Closing Date. In exchange for such Capital Contributions by the Underwriters, the Partnership issued Common Units to each Underwriter on whose behalf such Capital Contribution was made in an amount equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the cash contributions to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Underwriter by (ii) the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit. Upon receipt by the Partnership of the Capital Contributions from the Underwriters as provided in this Section 5.3(c), the Partnership used such cash to redeem from Navios Maritime Holdings that number of Subordinated Units equal to the number of Common Units issued to the Underwriters as provided in this Section 5.3(c).

(d) No Limited Partner Interests were issued or issuable as of or at the Closing Date other than (i) the Common Units issuable pursuant to subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 5.3 in aggregate number equal to 10,500,000, (ii) the “ Option Units ” as such term is used in the Purchase Agreement in an aggregate number up to 1,500,000 issuable upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option pursuant to subparagraph (b) hereof, (iii) the 7,621,843 Subordinated Units issued or issuable to pursuant to Sections 5.1(b) and 5.2(a) hereof and (iv) the Incentive Distribution Rights.

 

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Section 5.4 Interest and Withdrawal . No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions. No Partner shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership may be considered and permitted as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner shall have priority over any other Partner either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions.

Section 5.5 Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities .

(a) The Partnership may issue additional Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to the Partnership Securities for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited Partners, but subject to the approval of the General Partner in the case where issuances of equity are not reasonably expected to be accretive to equity within twelve months of issuance or which would otherwise have a material adverse impact on the General Partner or the General Partner Interest.

(b) Each additional Partnership Security authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.5(a) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes and series of Partnership Securities), as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors, including (i) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (ii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iii) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Partnership Security (including sinking fund provisions); (iv) whether such Partnership Security is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (v) the terms and conditions upon which each Partnership Security will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vi) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Security; and (vii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Security to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Security.

(c) The Board of Directors shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 5.5, (ii) the conversion of the General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) or any Incentive Distribution Rights into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the admission of additional Limited Partners and (iv) all additional issuances of Partnership Securities. The Board of Directors shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Securities being so issued. The Board of Directors shall do all things necessary to comply with the Marshall Islands Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Securities or in connection with the conversion of the General Partner Interest or any Incentive Distribution Rights into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Securities are listed or admitted to trading.

 

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Section 5.6 Limitations on Issuance of Additional Partnership Securities . The Partnership may issue an unlimited number of Partnership Securities (or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights related thereto) pursuant to Section 5.5 without the approval of the Limited Partners; provided , however , that no fractional units shall be issued by the Partnership.

Section 5.7 Conversion of Subordinated Units . All previously issued Subordinated Units, in accordance with their terms as set forth in the Prior Agreement, converted into Common Units and ceased to be outstanding as of January 1, 2012.

Section 5.8 Conversion of Subordinated Series A Units . All previously issued Subordinated Series A Units, in accordance with their terms as set forth in the Prior Agreement, converted into Common Units and ceased to be outstanding as of June 29, 2012.

Section 5.9 Limited Preemptive Right . Except as provided in this Section 5.9 and in Section 5.2(b), no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Security, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created. The General Partner shall have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its Affiliates, to purchase Partnership Securities from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms that, the Partnership issues Partnership Securities to Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain the Percentage Interests of the General Partner and its Affiliates equal to that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership Securities.

Section 5.10 Splits and Combinations .

(a) Subject to Sections 5.10(d) and 6.4 (dealing with adjustments of distribution levels), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Securities to all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Securities so long as, after any such event, each Partner shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted.

(b) Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Securities is declared, the Board of Directors shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such Record Date to each Record Holder as of a date not less than 10 days prior to the date of such notice. The Board of Directors also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Partnership Securities to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The Board of Directors shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.

(c) Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may issue Certificates to the Record Holders of Partnership Securities as of the applicable Record Date representing the new number of Partnership Securities held by such Record Holders, or the Board of Directors may adopt such other procedures that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect such changes. If any such combination results in a smaller total number of Partnership Securities Outstanding, the Partnership shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of such new Certificate, the surrender of any Certificate held by such Record Holder immediately prior to such Record Date.

 

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(d) The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of this Section 5.10(d), each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall be rounded to the next higher Unit).

Section 5.11 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests . All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by the Marshall Islands Act.

ARTICLE VI

DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 6.1 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders .

(a) Within 45 days following the end of each Quarter commencing with the Quarter ending on December 31, 2007, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall, subject to Section 51 of the Marshall Islands Act, be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to the Partners as of the Record Date selected by the Board of Directors. All amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on any date from any source shall be deemed to be Operating Surplus until the sum of all amounts of Available Cash theretofore distributed by the Partnership to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.2 equals the Operating Surplus from the Closing Date through the close of the immediately preceding Quarter. Any remaining amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on such date shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.3, be deemed to be “ Capital Surplus .”

(b) Notwithstanding Section 6.1(a), in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, all receipts received during or after the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs, other than from borrowings described in (a)(ii) of the definition of Available Cash, shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4.

(c) Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the Partnership, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Such payment shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Partnership’s liability in respect of such payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason of an assignment or otherwise.

 

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Section 6.2 Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus .

(a) [Reserved.]

(b) Available Cash with respect to any Quarter that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Sections 6.1 or 6.3, shall, subject to Section 51 of the Marshall Islands Act, be distributed as follows, except as otherwise required by Section 5.5(b) in respect of additional Partnership Securities issued pursuant thereto:

(i) First, 100% to the General Partner and all holders of Common Units in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

(ii) Second, 100% to the General Partner and all holders of Common Units in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

(iii) Third, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all holders of Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (iii), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;

(iv) Fourth, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all holders of Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (A) and (B) of this clause (iv), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter; and

(v) Thereafter, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all holders of Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (v);

provided , however , that if the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.4, the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.2(b)(v).

Section 6.3 Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus . Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(a) shall, subject to Section 51 of the Marshall Islands Act, be distributed, unless the provisions of Section 6.1 require otherwise, 100% to the General Partner and all holders of Common Units in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until a hypothetical holder of a Common Unit acquired on the Closing Date has received with respect to such Common Unit, during the period since the Closing Date through such date, distributions of Available Cash that are deemed to be Capital Surplus in an aggregate amount equal to the Initial Unit Price. Thereafter, all Available Cash shall be distributed as if it were Operating Surplus and shall be distributed in accordance with Section 6.2.

 

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Section 6.4 Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels . The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution, and Third Target Distribution shall be proportionately adjusted in the event of any distribution, combination or subdivision (whether effected by a distribution payable in Units or otherwise) of Units or other Partnership Securities in accordance with Section 5.10. In the event of a distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be from Capital Surplus, the then applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be reduced in the same proportion that the distribution had to the fair market value of the Common Units prior to the announcement of the distribution. If the Common Units are publicly traded on a National Securities Exchange, the fair market value will be the Current Market Price before the ex-dividend date. If the Common Units are not publicly traded, the fair market value will be determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 6.5 [Reserved.]

Section 6.6 [Reserved.]

Section 6.7 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights (a) shall possess the rights and obligations provided in this Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to Articles III and VII and (b) shall not (i) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders of Outstanding Units, except as provided by law, or (ii) be entitled to any distributions other than as provided in Sections 6.2(b)(iii), 6.2(b)(iv) and 6.2(b)(v), and 12.4.

ARTICLE VII

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

Section 7.1 Management .

(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be vested exclusively in the Board of Directors and, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors and in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.11, the Officers. Neither the General Partner (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) nor any Limited Partner shall have any management power or control over the business and affairs of the Partnership. Thus, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, and the day-to-day activities of the Partnership shall be conducted on the Partnership’s behalf by the Officers. In order to enable the Board of Directors to manage the business and affairs of the Partnership, the General Partner, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, hereby irrevocably delegates to the Board of Directors all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership that it may now or hereafter

 

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possess under applicable law. The General Partner further agrees to take any and all action necessary and appropriate, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, to effect any duly authorized actions by the Board of Directors, including executing or filing any agreements, instruments or certificates, delivering all documents, providing all information and taking or refraining from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the effective delegation of power described in this Section 7.1(a). Each of the Partners and each Person who may acquire an interest in a Partnership Interest hereby approves, consents to, ratifies and confirms such delegation. The delegation by the General Partner to the Board of Directors of management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall not cause the General Partner to cease to be a general partner of the Partnership nor shall it cause the Board of Directors or any member thereof to be a general partner of the Partnership or to have or be subject to the liabilities of a general partner of the Partnership.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, the Marshall Islands Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Partnership Securities hereby (i) approves, consents to, ratifies and confirms the General Partner’s delegation of management powers to the Board of Directors pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 7.1; (ii) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this Agreement, the Purchase Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement, the First Contribution Agreement, the Second Contribution Agreement, any Group Member Agreement of any other Group Member and the other agreements described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement; (iii) agrees that the General Partner (on behalf of the Partnership) is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in clause (i) of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners or the other Persons who may acquire an interest in Partnership Securities; and (iv) agrees that the execution, delivery or performance by the Board of Directors, the General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them of this Agreement or any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement (including the exercise by the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV) shall not constitute a breach by the Board of Directors or the General Partner of any duty that the Board of Directors or the General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity.

Section 7.2 The Board of Directors; Election and Appointment; Term; Manner of Acting .

(a) Upon the Closing Date, the Board of Directors shall consist of seven individuals, all of whom shall be Appointed Directors. Following the first annual meeting of Unitholders after the Closing Date, the Board of Directors shall consist of seven individuals, three of which are Appointed Directors and four of which are Elected Directors. The Elected Directors shall be divided into three classes: Class I, comprising two Elected Directors, Class II, comprising one Elected Director, and Class III, comprising one Elected Director. The Board of Directors upon Closing shall consist of the following individuals, each of whom shall hold office until his or her successor is duly elected or appointed, as the case may be, and qualified, in accordance with subclauses (a)(i) and (a)(ii) below, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal:

 

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Appointed Directors: Angeliki Frangou, George Achniotis and Shunji Sasada; Elected Directors: Class I: Robert Pierot and John Karakadas, Class II: Efstathios Loizos and Class III: Leonidas Korres. Any vacancy among the Appointed Directors shall be filled as if an Appointed Director had resigned, in accordance with Section 7.6. The successors of the initial members of the Board of Directors shall be appointed or elected, as the case may be, as follows:

(i) The Appointed Directors shall be appointed by the General Partner on the date of the 2008 Annual Meeting and each Appointed Director shall hold office until his or her successor is duly appointed by the General Partner and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal; and

(ii) The Class I Elected Directors shall be elected at the 2008 Annual Meeting for a one-year term expiring on the date of the first succeeding Annual Meeting, the Class II Elected Director shall be elected at the 2008 Annual Meeting for a two-year term expiring on the second succeeding Annual Meeting and the Class III Elected Directors shall be elected at the 2008 Annual Meeting for a three-year term expiring on the third succeeding Annual Meeting, in each case by a plurality of the votes of the Outstanding Common Units present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting with each Outstanding Common Unit having one vote. At each Annual Meeting after the 2008 Annual Meeting, Elected Directors so classified who are elected to replace those whose terms expire at such Annual Meeting shall be elected to hold office until the third succeeding Annual Meeting.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(ii) above with respect to Elected Directors elected at the 2008 Annual Meeting, each member of the Board of Directors appointed or elected, as the case may be, at an Annual Meeting shall hold office until the third succeeding Annual Meeting and until his or her successor is duly elected or appointed, as the case may be, and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

(c) Each member of the Board of Directors shall have one vote. The vote of the majority of the members of the Board of Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. A majority of the number of members of the Board of Directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, but if less than a quorum is present at a meeting, a majority of the members of the Board of Directors present at such meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

Section 7.3 Nominations of Elected Directors . The Board of Directors shall be entitled to nominate individuals to stand for election as Elected Directors at an Annual Meeting. In addition, any Limited Partner or Group of Limited Partners that beneficially owns 10% or more of the Outstanding Common Units shall be entitled to nominate one or more individuals to stand for election as Elected Directors at an Annual Meeting by providing written notice thereof to the Board of Directors not more than 120 days and not less than 90 days prior to the date of such Annual Meeting; provided , however , that in the event that the date of the Annual Meeting was not publicly announced by the Partnership by mail, press release or otherwise more than 100 days prior to the date of such meeting, such notice, to be timely, must be delivered to the Board of Directors not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the date on which the date of the Annual Meeting was announced. Such notice shall set forth (i) the name and address of the Limited Partner or Limited Partners making the nomination or nominations, (ii) the number of Common Units beneficially owned by such Limited Partner or Limited Partners,

 

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(iii) such information regarding the nominee(s) proposed by the Limited Partner or Limited Partners as would be required to be included in a proxy statement relating to the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Commission had the nominee(s) been nominated or intended to be nominated to the Board of Directors, (iv) the written consent of each nominee to serve as a member of the Board of Directors if so elected and (v) a certification that such nominee(s) qualify as Elected Directors.

Section 7.4 Removal of Members of Board of Directors . Members of the Board of Directors may only be removed as follows:

(a) Any Appointed Director may be removed at any time, (i) without Cause, only by the General Partner and, (ii) with Cause, by (x) the General Partner, (y) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Units at a properly called meeting of the Limited Partners or (z) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the other members of the Board of Directors.

(b) Any and all of the Elected Directors may be removed at any time, with Cause, only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the other members of the Board of Directors or at a properly called meeting of the Limited Partners only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Common Units.

Section 7.5 Resignations of Members of the Board of Directors . Any member of the Board of Directors may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein.

Section 7.6 Vacancies on the Board of Directors . Vacancies on the Board of Directors may be filled only as follows:

(a) If any Appointed Director is removed, resigns or is otherwise unable to serve as a member of the Board of Directors, the General Partner shall, in its sole discretion, appoint an individual to fill the vacancy.

(b) If any Elected Director is removed, resigns or is unable to serve as a member of the Board of Directors, the vacancy shall be filled by a majority of the Elected Directors then serving.

(c) A director appointed or elected pursuant to this Section 7.6 to fill a vacancy shall be appointed or elected, as the case may be, for no more than the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in office.

Section 7.7 Meetings; Committees; Chairman .

(a) Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as shall be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. Notice of such regular meetings shall not be required. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors and shall be called by the Secretary upon the written request of two members of the Board of Directors, on at least 48 hours prior written notice to the other members. Any such notice, or waiver thereof, need not state the purpose of such meeting except as may otherwise be required by law. Attendance of a member of the Board of Directors at a meeting (including pursuant to the penultimate sentence of this Section 7.7(a)) shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such member attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not

 

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lawfully called or convened. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by all the members of the Board of Directors. Members of the Board of Directors may participate in and hold meetings by means of conference telephone, videoconference or similar communications equipment by means of which all Persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in such meetings shall constitute presence in person at the meeting. The Board of Directors may establish any additional rules governing the conduct of its meetings that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.

(b) The Board of Directors shall appoint the Audit Committee and the Conflicts Committee to consist, in each case, solely of a minimum of three of the Elected Directors then in office. The Audit Committee and the Conflicts Committee shall, in each case, perform the functions delegated to it pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and such other matters as may be delegated to it from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, may appoint one or more additional committees of the Board of Directors to consist of one or more members of the Board of Directors, which committee(s) shall have and may exercise such of the powers and authority of the Board of Directors (including in respect of Section 7.1) with respect to the management of the business and affairs of the Partnership as may be provided in a resolution of the Board of Directors. Any committee designated pursuant to this Section 7.7(b) shall choose its own chairman, shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors when requested, shall fix its own rules or procedures and shall meet at such times and at such place or places as may be provided by such rules or by resolution of such committee or resolution of the Board of Directors. At every meeting of any such committee, the presence of a majority of all the members thereof shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary for the taking of any action. Subject to the first sentence of this Section 7.7(b), the Board of Directors may designate one or more members of the Board of Directors as alternate members of any committee who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. Subject to the first sentence of this Section 7.7(b), in the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.

(c) The Appointed Directors may designate one of the members of the Board of Directors as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, and if present and acting, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, another member of the Board of Directors chosen by the Appointed Directors shall preside. If, at any time, in accordance with Section 7.2(b), the Board of Directors consists solely of Elected Directors, the Board of Directors may elect one of its members as Chairman of the Board of Directors and shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors at a meeting of the Board of Directors, choose another member of the Board of Directors to preside at the meeting.

 

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Section 7.8 Officers .

(a) The Board of Directors, as set forth below, shall appoint agents of the Partnership, referred to as “ Officers ” of the Partnership as described in this Section 7.8. Unless provided otherwise by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Officers shall have the titles, power, authority and duties described below in this Section 7.8.

(b) The Officers of the Partnership shall be the Chairman of the Board of Directors (unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise), Executive Vice Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors (unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise), the Chief Executive Officer, the President and any and all Vice Presidents, the Secretary and any and all Assistant Secretaries and any Treasurer and any and all Assistant Treasurers and any other Officers appointed pursuant to Section 7.8(j). There shall be appointed from time to time, in accordance with this Section 7.8, such Vice Presidents, Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Treasurers and Assistant Treasurers as the Board of Directors may desire. Any person may hold two or more offices.

(c) The Officers shall be appointed by the Board of Directors at such time and for such terms as the Board of Directors shall determine. Any Officer may be removed, with or without Cause, only by the Board of Directors. Vacancies in any office may be filled only by the Board of Directors.

(d) The Board of Directors may elect one of its members as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise, the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall be an Officer of the Partnership and shall have the powers, duties and authorities assigned by the Board of Directors.

(e) The Board of Directors may elect one of its members as Executive Vice Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. Unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise, the Executive Vice Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, as the case may be, shall be an Officer of the Partnership and shall have the powers, duties and authority of the chief executive officer of the Partnership and, as such, shall be responsible for the general and active management and direction of the Partnership and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect.

(f) Subject to the limitations imposed by this Agreement, any employment agreement, any employee plan or any determination of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, shall have the powers, duties and authority of the chief executive officer of the Partnership and, as such, shall be responsible for the management of the business and affairs of the Partnership, its other Officers, employees and agents, shall supervise generally the affairs of the Partnership and shall have full authority to execute all documents and take all actions that the Partnership may legally take. The Chief Executive Officer shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by this Agreement or the Board of Directors, including any duties and powers stated in any employment agreement approved by the Board of Directors.

(g) Subject to the limitations imposed by this Agreement, any employment agreement, any employee plan or any determination of the Board of Directors, the President, subject to the direction of the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, shall have the powers, duties and authority of the chief operating officer of the Partnership and, as such, shall be responsible

 

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for the direction of the day-to-day operations of the Partnership. In the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, the President shall have all of the powers and duties conferred upon the Chief Executive Officer, including the same power as the Chief Executive Officer to execute documents on behalf of the Partnership. The President shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Chief Executive Officer, this Agreement, or the Board of Directors, including any duties and powers stated in any employment agreement approved by the Board of Directors.

(h) In the absence of the President, each Vice President appointed by the Board of Directors shall have all of the powers and duties conferred upon the President, including the same power as the President to execute documents on behalf of the Partnership. Each such Vice President shall perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors or the President.

(i) The Secretary shall record or cause to be recorded in books provided for that purpose the minutes of the meetings or actions of the Board of Directors and Unitholders, shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and as required by law, shall be custodian of all records (other than financial), shall see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and all other documents and records required by law are properly kept and filed, and, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as may, from time to time, be assigned to him by this Agreement, the Board of Directors or the President. The Assistant Secretaries shall exercise the powers of the Secretary during that Officer’s absence or inability or refusal to act.

(j) The Treasurer shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the Partnership and shall render statements of the financial affairs of the Partnership in such form and as often as required by this Agreement, the Board of Directors or the President. The Treasurer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the Partnership. The Treasurer shall perform all other duties commonly incident to his or her office and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as this Agreement, the Board of Directors or the President, shall designate from time to time. The Assistant Treasurers shall exercise the power of the Treasurer during that Officer’s absence or inability or refusal to act. Each of the Assistant Treasurers shall possess the same power as the Treasurer to sign all certificates, contracts, obligations and other instruments of the Partnership. If no Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer is appointed and serving or in the absence of the appointed Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, or such other Officer as the Board of Directors shall select, shall have the powers and duties conferred upon the Treasurer.

(k) The Board of Directors may appoint such other Officers and agents as may from time to time appear to be necessary or advisable in the conduct of the affairs of the Partnership, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

(l) The Board of Directors may grant powers of attorney or other authority as appropriate to establish and evidence the authority of the Officers and other Persons.

(m) Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, no Officer shall have the power or authority to delegate to any Person such Officer’s rights and powers as an Officer to manage the business and affairs of the Partnership.

 

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Section 7.9 Compensation of Directors . The members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of the Partnership, the General Partner or its Affiliates shall receive such compensation for their services as members of the Board of Directors or members of a committee of the Board of Directors shall determine. In addition, the members of the Board of Directors shall be entitled to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in the course of their service hereunder.

Section 7.10 Certificate of Limited Partnership . The General Partner has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the Registrar of Corporations of The Marshall Islands as required by the Marshall Islands Act. The General Partner shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) in The Marshall Islands or any other jurisdiction in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent the Board of Directors determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of The Marshall Islands or of any other jurisdiction in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 3.4(a), the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.

Section 7.11 Restrictions on the Authority of the Board of Directors and the General Partner .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, neither the Board of Directors nor the General Partner may, without written approval of the specific act by holders of all of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests or by other written instrument executed and delivered by holders of all of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests subsequent to the date of this Agreement, take any action in contravention of this Agreement.

(b) Except as provided in Articles XII and XIV, the Board of Directors may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation, other combination or sale of ownership interests in the Partnership’s Subsidiaries) or dissolve the Partnership without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority and the General Partner; provided , however , that this provision shall not preclude or limit the ability of the Board of Directors to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance. The transfer of the General Partner Interest to and the election of a successor general partner of the Partnership shall be made in accordance with Sections 4.6, 11.1 and 11.2.

 

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Section 7.12 Reimbursement of the General Partner .

(a) Except as provided in this Section 7.12 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as a general partner or managing member of any Group Member.

(b) The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the Board of Directors may determine, for any direct and indirect expenses it incurs that are allocable to the Partnership Group or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person, including Affiliates of the General Partner, to perform services for the Partnership or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership Group, which amounts shall also include reimbursement for any Common Units purchased to satisfy obligations of the Partnership under any of its equity compensation plans). The Board of Directors shall determine the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.12 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.15.

(c) The Board of Directors, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Securities or options to purchase or rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Securities in connection with, or pursuant to, any employee benefit plan, employee program or employee practice maintained or sponsored by the Partnership, the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in each case for the benefit of employees of the Partnership, the General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate thereof, or any of them, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Securities that the General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any employees pursuant to any such employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices. Expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Securities purchased by the General Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership or in the open market to fulfill options or awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 7.12(b). Any and all obligations of the General Partner under any employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices adopted by the General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.12(c) shall constitute obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor General Partner approved pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6.

Section 7.13 Outside Activities .

(a) After the Closing Date, the General Partner, for so long as it is the General Partner of the Partnership (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as a general partner or managing member, as the case may be, of the Partnership and any other partnership or limited liability company of which the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner or member and to undertake activities that are ancillary or related thereto (including being a limited partner in the Partnership), (ii) shall not engage in any business or activity or incur any debts or liabilities

 

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except in connection with or incidental to (A) its performance as general partner or managing member, if any, of one or more Group Members or as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement or (B) the acquiring, owning or disposing of debt or equity securities in any Group Member and (iii) except to the extent permitted in the Omnibus Agreement, shall not, acquire or own Panamax Carrier Assets or Capesize Carrier Assets (as such terms are defined in the Omnibus Agreement).

(b) Navios Maritime Holdings, the Partnership, the General Partner and the Operating Company have entered into the Omnibus Agreement, which agreement sets forth certain restrictions on the ability of Navios Maritime Holdings and certain of its Affiliates to acquire or own Panamax Carrier Assets or Capesize Carrier Assets (as such terms are defined in the Omnibus Agreement).

(c) Except as specifically restricted by Section 7.13(a) or the Omnibus Agreement, each Indemnitee (other than the General Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty expressed or implied by law to any Group Member or any Partner. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the possessing of competitive interests and engaging in competitive activities by any Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.13 is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners and (ii) it shall be deemed not to be a breach of any fiduciary duty or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of the General Partner or of any Indemnitee for the Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) to engage in such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Partnership.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to an Indemnitee (including the General Partner) and, subject to the terms of Section 7.13(a), Section 7.13(b), Section 7.13(c) and the Omnibus Agreement, no Indemnitee (including the General Partner) who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Partnership shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Partnership, and, subject to the terms of Section 7.13(a), Section 7.13(b), Section 7.13(c) and the Omnibus Agreement, such Indemnitee (including the General Partner) shall not be liable to the Partnership, to any Limited Partner or any other Person for breach of any fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact that such Indemnitee (including the General Partner) pursues or acquires such opportunity for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Partnership.

(e) The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Securities in addition to those acquired on the Closing Date and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option, all rights relating to all Units or other Partnership Securities acquired by them. The term “ Affiliates ” as used in this Section 7.13(e) with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member.

 

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Section 7.14 Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members .

(a) The General Partner or any of its Affiliates may lend to and/or borrow from any Group Member, and any Group Member may lend to and/or borrow from the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, funds needed or desired by the Group Member for such periods of time and in such amounts as the General Partner and the Board of Directors may determine; provided , however , that in any such case the lending party may not charge the borrowing party interest at a rate greater than the rate that would be charged the borrowing party or impose terms less favorable to the borrowing party than would be charged or imposed on the borrowing party by unrelated lenders on comparable loans made on an arms’-length basis (without reference to the lending party’s financial abilities or guarantees), all as determined by the General Partner and the Board of Directors. The borrowing party shall reimburse the lending party for any costs (other than any additional interest costs) incurred by the lending party in connection with the borrowing of such funds. For purposes of this Section 7.14(a) and Section 7.14(b), the term “ Group Member ” shall include any Affiliate of a Group Member that is controlled by the Group Member.

(b) The Partnership may lend or contribute to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the Partnership, funds on terms and conditions determined by the Board of Directors.

(c) No borrowing by any Group Member or the approval thereof by the General Partner or the Board of Directors shall be deemed to constitute a breach of any duty, expressed or implied, of the General Partner or its Affiliates or the Board of Directors to the Partnership or the Limited Partners by reason of the fact that the purpose or effect of such borrowing is directly or indirectly to enable distributions to the General Partner or its Affiliates (including in their capacities as Limited Partners) to exceed the General Partner’s Percentage Interest of the total amount distributed to all partners.

Section 7.15 Indemnification .

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee; provided , however , that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.15, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful; and, provided further , that no indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.15 shall be available to the General Partner or its Affiliates (other than a Group Member) with respect to its or their obligations incurred pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement, the First Contribution Agreement or the Second Contribution Agreement (other than obligations incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership). Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.15 shall be made out of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that the General Partner shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.

 

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(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.15(a) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to a determination that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Partnership of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Section 7.15.

(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 7.15 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, as a matter of law or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.

(d) The Partnership may purchase and maintain (or reimburse the General Partner or its Affiliates for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of the Board of Directors and the General Partner, its Affiliates and such other Persons as the Board of Directors shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Person in connection with the Partnership’s activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement or law.

(e) For purposes of this Section 7.15, the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by the Indemnitee of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines” within the meaning of Section 7.15(a); and action taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Partnership.

(f) In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

(g) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 7.15 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

(h) The provisions of this Section 7.15 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.

 

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(i) No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.15 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Partnership, nor the obligations of the Partnership to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.15 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

Section 7.16 Liability of Indemnitees .

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Limited Partners or any other Persons who have acquired interests in the Partnership Securities, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was criminal.

(b) Subject to their obligations and duties as members of the Board of Directors or the General Partner, respectively, set forth in Section 7.1(a), members of the Board of Directors and the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to them and perform any of the duties imposed upon them hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and the members of the Board of Directors and the General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by the Board of Directors or the General Partner in good faith.

(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, the General Partner and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the Partnership’s business or affairs shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.

(d) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.16 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of the Indemnitees under this Section 7.16 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

Section 7.17 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties .

(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any member of the Board of Directors, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member or any Partner, on the other, any resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution

 

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or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), (iii) on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv) fair and reasonable to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership). The General Partner and the Board of Directors may but shall not be required in connection with the resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval of such resolution, and the General Partner or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval. If Special Approval is not sought and the Board of Directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) above, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision the Board of Directors, acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or any other Limited Partner or the Partnership challenging such approval, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming such presumption. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in the Registration Statement are hereby approved by all Partners.

(b) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Marshall Islands Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. In order for a determination or other action to be in “good faith” for purposes of this Agreement, the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action must reasonably believe that the determination or other action is in the best interests of the Partnership, unless the context otherwise requires.

(c) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, are entitled to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, and the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Marshall Islands Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrase, “at the option of the General Partner,” or some variation of that phrase, is used in this Agreement, it indicates that the General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Units, General Partner Interest or Incentive Distribution Rights, to the extent

 

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permitted under this Agreement, or refrains from voting or transferring its Units, General Partner Units or Incentive Distribution Rights, as appropriate, it shall be acting in its individual capacity. The General Partner’s organizational documents may provide that determinations to take or decline to take any action in its individual, rather than representative, capacity may or shall be determined by its members, if the General Partner is a limited liability company, stockholders, if the General Partner is a corporation, or the members or stockholders of the General Partner’s general partner, if the General Partner is a limited partnership.

(d) Whenever the Board of Directors makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the Board of Directors shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Marshall Islands Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. In order for a determination or other action to be in “good faith” for purposes of this Agreement, the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action must reasonably believe that the determination or other action is in the best interests of the Partnership, unless the context otherwise requires.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, neither the Board of Directors nor the General Partner and its Affiliates shall have a duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business or (ii) permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the General Partner and its Affiliates, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with such use. Any determination by the Board of Directors or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter into such contracts shall, in each case, be at their option.

(f) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor the Board of Directors or any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the Board of Directors or the General Partner or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Board of Directors or the General Partner or such other Indemnitee.

(g) The Unitholders hereby authorize the Board of Directors, on behalf of the Partnership as a partner or member of a Group Member, to approve of actions by the general partner or managing member of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 7.17.

Section 7.18 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner and the Board of Directors .

(a) The General Partner and the Board of Directors may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

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(b) The General Partner and the Board of Directors may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers selected by either of them, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the advice or opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the General Partner or the Board of Directors reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.

(c) The General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers, a duly appointed attorney or attorneys-in-fact or the duly authorized officers of the Partnership.

Section 7.19 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities . The Board of Directors may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Securities. As long as Partnership Securities are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Securities shall not be considered Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein. The General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner may purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Partnership Securities for its own account, subject to the provisions of Articles IV and X.

Section 7.20 Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates .

(a) If (i) the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner (including for purposes of this Section 7.20, any Person (including Angeliki Frangou) that is an Affiliate of the General Partner at the date hereof notwithstanding that it may later cease to be an Affiliate of the General Partner) holds Partnership Securities that it desires to sell and (ii) Rule 144 of the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from registration is not available to enable such holder of Partnership Securities (the “ Holder ”) to dispose of the number of Partnership Securities it desires to sell at the time it desires to do so without registration under the Securities Act, then at the option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a period of not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Partnership Securities covered by such registration statement have been sold, a registration statement under the Securities Act registering the offering and sale of the number of Partnership Securities specified by the Holder; provided , however , that the Partnership shall not be required to effect more than three registrations pursuant to this Section 7.20(a); and, provided further , that if the Conflicts Committee determines in good faith that the requested registration would be materially detrimental to the Partnership and its Partners, then the Partnership shall have the right to postpone such requested registration for a period of not more than 90 days after receipt of the Holder’s request. The Partnership shall use its reasonable best efforts to resolve any deferral with respect to any such registration and/or filing. In connection with any registration pursuant to this Section 7.20(a), the Partnership shall (i) promptly prepare and file (A) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to such registration under the securities laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably request ( provided , however , that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation or partnership doing business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of such registration), and (B) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the

 

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Partnership Securities subject to such registration on such National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request, and (ii) do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or appropriate to enable the Holder to consummate a public sale of such Partnership Securities in such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.20(c), all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.

(b) If the Partnership shall at any time propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act for an offering of Partnership Securities for cash (other than an offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan), the Partnership shall use all its reasonable best efforts to include such number or amount of Partnership Securities held by any Holder in such registration statement as the Holder shall request; provided , however , that the Partnership is not required to make any effort or take any action to so include the Partnership Securities of the Holder once the registration statement becomes or is declared effective by the Commission, including any registration statement providing for the offering from time to time of Partnership Securities pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act. If the proposed offering pursuant to this Section 7.20(b) shall be an underwritten offering, then, in the event that the managing underwriter or managing underwriters of such offering advise the Partnership and the Holder in writing that in their opinion the inclusion of all or some of the Holder’s Partnership Securities would adversely and materially affect the pricing of the offering, the Partnership shall include in such offering only that number or amount, if any, of Partnership Securities held by the Holder that, in the opinion of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, will not so adversely and materially affect the offering. Except as set forth in Section 7.20(c), all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.

(c) If underwriters are engaged in connection with any registration referred to in this Section 7.20, the Partnership shall provide indemnification, representations, covenants, opinions and other assurance to the underwriters in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such underwriters. Further, in addition to and not in limitation of the Partnership’s obligation under Section 7.15, the Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold harmless the Holder, its officers, directors and each Person who controls the Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent thereof (collectively, “ Indemnified Persons ”) from and against any and all losses, claims, demands, actions, causes of action, assessments, damages, liabilities (joint or several), costs and expenses (including interest, penalties and reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements), resulting to, imposed upon, or incurred by the Indemnified Persons, directly or indirectly, under the Securities Act or otherwise (hereinafter referred to in this Section 7.20(c) as a “ claim ” and in the plural as “ claims ”) based upon, arising out of or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement under which any Partnership Securities were registered under the Securities Act or any state securities or Blue Sky laws, in any preliminary prospectus or issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act (if used prior to the effective date of such registration statement), or in any summary or final prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (if used during the period the Partnership is required to keep the registration statement current), or arising out of, based upon or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading; provided , however , that the Partnership shall not be liable to any Indemnified Person to the extent that any such claim arises out of, is based upon or

 

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results from an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, such preliminary, summary or final prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

(d) The provisions of Section 7.20(a) and Section 7.20(b) shall continue to be applicable with respect to the General Partner (and any of the General Partner’s Affiliates) after it ceases to be a general partner of the Partnership, during a period of two years subsequent to the effective date of such cessation and for so long thereafter as is required for the Holder to sell all of the Partnership Securities with respect to which it has requested during such two-year period inclusion in a registration statement otherwise filed or that a registration statement be filed; provided , however , that the Partnership shall not be required to file successive registration statements covering the same Partnership Securities for which registration was demanded during such two-year period. The provisions of Section 7.20(c) shall continue in effect thereafter.

(e) The rights to cause the Partnership to register Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 7.20 may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee or assignee of such Partnership Securities, provided (i) the Partnership is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee and the Partnership Securities with respect to which such registration rights are being assigned, and (ii) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to be bound by and subject to the terms set forth in this Section 7.20.

(f) Any request to register Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 7.20 shall (i) specify the Partnership Securities intended to be offered and sold by the Person making the request, (ii) express such Person’s present intent to offer such Partnership Securities for distribution, (iii) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Partnership Securities, and (iv) contain the undertaking of such Person to provide all such information and materials and take all action as may be required in order to permit the Partnership to comply with all applicable requirements in connection with the registration of such Partnership Securities.

Section 7.21 Reliance by Third Parties . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the Board of Directors, the General Partner and any Officer authorized by the Board of Directors to act on behalf of and in the name of the Partnership has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Partnership and to enter into any authorized contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the Board of Directors, the General Partner or any such Officer as if it were the Partnership’s sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives any and all defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the Board of Directors, the General Partner or any such Officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the Board of Directors, the General Partner or any such Officer or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the Board of Directors, the General Partner or any such Officer or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Board of Directors, the General Partner, the Officers or representatives of the General

 

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Partner authorized by the General Partner or the Board of Directors shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.

ARTICLE VIII

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

Section 8.1 Records and Accounting . The Partnership shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to Section 3.4(a). Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business, including the record of the Record Holders of Units or other Partnership Securities, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided , however , that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Section 8.2 Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending December 31.

Section 8.3 Reports .

(a) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Partnership, the Partnership shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on the Partnership’s website), to each Record Holder of a Unit as of a date selected by the Board of Directors, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the Board of Directors.

(b) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the close of each Quarter except the last Quarter of each fiscal year, the Partnership shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on the Partnership’s website), to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the Board of Directors, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

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ARTICLE IX

TAX MATTERS

Section 9.1 Tax Elections and Information .

(a) The Partnership has elected to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Board of Directors shall determine whether the Partnership should make any other elections permitted by the Code.

(b) The tax information reasonably required by Record Holders generally for United States federal and state income tax reporting purposes with respect to a taxable year shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnership’s taxable year ends.

(c) Each Partner shall provide the Partnership with all information reasonably requested by the Partnership to enable the Partnership to claim the exemption from U.S. federal income tax under Section 883 of the Code.

Section 9.2 Withholding . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Board of Directors is authorized to take any action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other U.S. federal, state or local or any non-U.S. law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442 and 1445 of the Code. To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the distribution of income to any Partner, the Board of Directors may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.1 in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.

Section 9.3 Conduct of Operations . The Board of Directors and the General Partner shall use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct the business of the Partnership and its Affiliates in a manner that does not require a holder of Common Units to file a tax return in any jurisdiction with which the holder has no contact other than through ownership of Common Units.

ARTICLE X

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

Section 10.1 Admission of Initial Limited Partners . Upon the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights to the General Partner, Navios Maritime Holdings and the Underwriters as described in Sections 5.2 and 5.3, the Board of Directors admitted such parties to the Partnership as Initial Limited Partners in respect of the Common Units, Subordinated Units or Incentive Distribution Rights issued to them.

Section 10.2 Admission of Additional Limited Partners .

(a) By acceptance of the transfer of any Limited Partner Interests in accordance with Article IV or the acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to Article V or pursuant to a merger or consolidation pursuant to Article XIV, each transferee of, or other such Person acquiring, a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent or representative

 

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acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred or issued to such Person when any such transfer, issuance or admission is reflected in the books and records of the Partnership and such Limited Partner becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred, (ii) shall become bound by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, (iv) grants the powers of attorney set forth in this Agreement and (v) makes the consents and waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement. A Person may become a Limited Partner or Record Holder of a Limited Partner Interest without the consent or approval of any of the Partners. A Person may not become a Limited Partner until such Person acquires a Limited Partner Interest and such Person is reflected in the books and records of the Partnership as the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interest.

(b) The name and mailing address of each Limited Partner shall be listed on the books and records of the Partnership maintained for such purpose by the Partnership or the Transfer Agent. The General Partner shall update the books and records of the Partnership from time to time as necessary to reflect accurately the information therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do so, as applicable). A Limited Partner Interest may be represented by a Certificate, as provided in Section 4.1 hereof.

(c) Any transfer of a Limited Partner Interest shall not entitle the transferee to receive distributions or to any other rights to which the transferor was entitled until the transferee becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.2(a).

Section 10.3 Admission of Successor General Partner . A successor General Partner approved pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) pursuant to Section 4.6 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective immediately prior to the withdrawal or removal of the predecessor or transferring General Partner, pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2 or the transfer of the General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) pursuant to Section 4.6; provided , however , that no such successor shall be admitted to the Partnership until compliance with the terms of Section 4.6 has occurred and such successor has executed and delivered such other documents or instruments as may be required to effect such admission. Any such successor shall, subject to the terms hereof, carry on the business of the members of the Partnership Group without dissolution.

Section 10.4 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership . To effect the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the Board of Directors shall take all steps necessary or appropriate under the Marshall Islands Act to amend the records of the Partnership to reflect such admission and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practicable an amendment to this Agreement and, if required by law, the Board of Directors shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership and the Board of Directors may for this purpose, among others, exercise the power of attorney granted to it pursuant to Section 2.6.

 

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ARTICLE XI

WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner .

(a) The General Partner shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Partnership upon the occurrence of any one of the following events (each such event herein referred to as an “ Event of Withdrawal ”):

(i) The General Partner voluntarily withdraws from the Partnership by giving written notice to the other Partners;

(ii) The General Partner transfers all of its rights as General Partner pursuant to Section 4.6;

(iii) The General Partner is removed pursuant to Section 11.2;

(iv) The General Partner (A) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (B) files a voluntary petition in bankruptcy; (C) files a petition or answer seeking for itself a liquidation, dissolution or similar relief (but not a reorganization) under any law; (D) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the General Partner in a proceeding of the type described in clauses (A), (B) or (C) of this Section 11.1(a)(iv); or (E) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of the General Partner or of all or any substantial part of its properties;

(v) The General Partner is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or has entered against it an order for relief in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding; or

(vi) (A) in the event the General Partner is a corporation, the filing of a certificate of dissolution, or its equivalent, for the corporation or the revocation of its charter and the expiration of ninety (90) days after the date of notice to the corporation of revocation without a reinstatement of its charter; (B) in the event the General Partner is a partnership or a limited liability company, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the General Partner; (C) in the event the General Partner is acting in such capacity by virtue of being a trustee of a trust, the termination of the trust; (D) in the event the General Partner is a natural person, his death or adjudication of incompetency; and (E) otherwise in the event of the termination of the General Partner. If an Event of Withdrawal specified in Sections 11.1(a)(iv), 11.1(a)(v) or 11.1(a)(vi)(A), 11.1(a)(vi)(B), 11.1(a)(vi)(C) or 11.1(a)(vi)(E) occurs, the withdrawing General Partner shall give notice to the Limited Partners within 30 days after such occurrence. The Partners hereby agree that only the Events of Withdrawal described in this Section 11.1 shall result in the withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership.

(b) Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances:

(i) at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 12:00 midnight, prevailing Eastern Time, on December 31, 2017, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners; provided , however , that prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, the withdrawal is approved by Unitholders holding at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) and the General Partner delivers to the Partnership an Opinion of Counsel (“ Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel ”) that such withdrawal (following the selection of the successor General Partner) would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or any Group Member;

 

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(ii) at any time after 12:00 midnight, prevailing Eastern Time, on December 31, 2017, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice to the Unitholders, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice;

(iii) at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii) or is removed pursuant to Section 11.2; or

(iv) notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, at any time that the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such notice is given one Person and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) own beneficially or of record or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units. The withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), the holders of a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner. The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If, prior to the effective date of the General Partner’s withdrawal, a successor is not selected by the Unitholders as provided herein or, if applicable, the Partnership does not receive a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel, the Partnership shall be dissolved in accordance with Section 12.1. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.3.

Section 11.2 Removal of the General Partner . The General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by the Unitholders holding at least 66 2/3% of the Outstanding Units (including Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates), voting as a single class. Any such action by such holders or the Board of Directors for removal of the General Partner must also provide for the election of a successor General Partner by the majority vote of the outstanding Common Units. Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 10.3. The removal of the General Partner shall also automatically constitute the removal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If a Person is elected as a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2, such Person shall, upon admission pursuant to Section 10.3, automatically become a successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. The right of the holders of Outstanding Units to remove the General Partner shall not exist or be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel opining as to the matters covered by a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.3.

 

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Section 11.3 Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner .

(a) In the event of (i) withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement or (ii) removal of the General Partner by the holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist, if the successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Sections 11.1 or 11.2, the Departing General Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure of such Departing General Partner, to require its successor to purchase its General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) and its general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members and all of the Incentive Distribution Rights (collectively, the “ Combined Interest ”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of the effective date of its departure. If the General Partner is removed by the Unitholders under circumstances where Cause exists or if the General Partner withdraws under circumstances where such withdrawal violates this Agreement, and if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Sections 11.1 or 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner), such successor shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure of such Departing General Partner (or, in the event the business of the Partnership is continued, prior to the date the business of the Partnership is continued), to purchase the Combined Interest for such fair market value of such Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner. In either event, the Departing General Partner shall be entitled to receive all reimbursements due such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 7.12, including any employee-related liabilities (including severance liabilities), incurred in connection with the termination of any employees employed by the Departing General Partner for the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.

For purposes of this Section 11.3(a), the fair market value of the Departing General Partner’s Combined Interest shall be determined by agreement between the Departing General Partner and its successor or, failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of such Departing General Partner’s departure, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the Departing General Partner and its successor, which, in turn, may rely on other experts, and the determination of which shall be conclusive as to such matter. If such parties cannot agree upon one independent investment banking firm or other independent expert within 45 days after the effective date of such departure, then the Departing General Partner shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, the Departing General Partner’s successor shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, and such firms or experts shall mutually select a third independent investment banking firm or independent expert, which third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert shall determine the fair market value of the Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner. In making its determination, such third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert may consider the then current trading price of Units on any National Securities Exchange on which Units are then listed or admitted to trading, the value of the Partnership’s assets, the rights and obligations of the Departing General Partner and other factors it may deem relevant.

(b) If the Combined Interest is not purchased in the manner set forth in Section 11.3(a), the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) shall become a Limited Partner and its Combined Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a valuation made by an investment

 

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banking firm or other independent expert selected pursuant to Section 11.3(a), without reduction in such Partnership Interest (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of the admission of its successor). Any successor General Partner shall indemnify the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on which the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner to Common Units will be characterized as if the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) contributed its Combined Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.

(c) If a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Sections 11.1 or 11.2 (or if the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner) and the option described in Section 11.3(a) is not exercised by the party entitled to do so, the successor General Partner shall, at the effective date of its admission to the Partnership, contribute to the Partnership cash in the amount equal to the product of the Percentage Interest of the Departing General Partner and the Net Agreed Value of the Partnership’s assets on such date. In such event, such successor General Partner shall, subject to the following sentence, be entitled to its Percentage Interest of all Partnership allocations and distributions to which the Departing General Partner was entitled. In addition, the successor General Partner shall cause this Agreement to be amended to reflect that, from and after the date of such successor General Partner’s admission, the successor General Partner’s interest in all Partnership distributions and allocations shall be its Percentage Interest.

Section 11.4 [Reserved.]

Section 11.5 Withdrawal of Limited Partners . No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided , however , that when a transferee of a Limited Partner’s Limited Partner Interest becomes a Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interest so transferred, such transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interest so transferred.

ARTICLE XII

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

Section 12.1 Dissolution . The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the removal or withdrawal of the General Partner, if a successor General Partner is elected pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and the Board of Directors shall continue the business of the Partnership. The Partnership shall dissolve, and (subject to Section 12.2) its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

(a) an election to dissolve the Partnership by the General Partner and our Board of Directors that is approved by the holders of a Unit Majority;

(b) at any time there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued without dissolution in accordance with the Marshall Islands Act;

(c) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Marshall Islands Act; or

 

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(d) an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a) (other than Section 11.1(a)(ii)), unless a successor is elected and an Opinion of Counsel is received as provided in Sections 11.1(b) or 11.2 and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.3.

Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution . Upon (a) dissolution of the Partnership following an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in Sections 11.1(a)(i) or 11.1(a)(iii) and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing General Partner pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2, then within 90 days thereafter, or (b) dissolution of the Partnership upon an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in Sections 11.1(a)(iv), 11.1(a)(v) or 11.1(a)(vi), then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a Unit Majority may elect to continue the business of the Partnership on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement by appointing as a successor General Partner a Person approved by the holders of a Unit Majority. Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above, the Partnership shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If such an election is so made, then:

(i) the Partnership shall continue without dissolution unless earlier dissolved in accordance with this Article XII;

(ii) if the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner, then the interest of the former General Partner shall be treated in the manner provided in Section 11.3; and

(iii) the successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as General Partner, effective as of the Event of Withdrawal, by agreeing in writing to be bound by this Agreement; provided , however , that the right of the holders of a Unit Majority to approve a successor General Partner and to reconstitute and to continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that the exercise of the right would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner.

Section 12.3 Liquidator . Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2, the Board of Directors shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units. The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the Board of Directors and the General Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of

 

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such powers, other than the limitation on sale set forth in Section 7.11(b)) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.

Section 12.4 Liquidation . The Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Partnership, discharge its liabilities, and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as determined by the Liquidator, subject to Section 60 of the Marshall Islands Act and the following:

(a) The assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more Partners on such terms as the Liquidator and such Partner or Partners may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the Partner receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 12.4(c) to have received cash equal to its fair market value, and contemporaneously therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners. The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Partnership’s assets for a reasonable time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners. The Liquidator may distribute the Partnership’s assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners.

(b) Liabilities of the Partnership include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 12.3) and amounts to Partners otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights under Article VI. With respect to any liability that is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it thinks appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment. When paid, any unused portion of the reserve shall be distributed as additional liquidation proceeds.

(c) All property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in Section 12.4(b) shall be distributed as follows:

(i) If the Current Market Price of the Common Units as of the date three trading days prior to the announcement of the proposed liquidation exceeds the Unrecovered Capital for a Common Unit:

(A) First, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to such Current Market Price of a Common Unit;

(B) [Reserved]; and

(C) Thereafter (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (y) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (x) and (y) of this clause (i)(C).

(ii) If the Current Market Price of the Common Units as of the date three trading days prior to the announcement of the proposed liquidation is equal to or less than the Unrecovered Capital for a Common Unit:

 

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(A) First, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Unrecovered Capital for a Common Unit;

(B) [Reserved];

(C) [Reserved]; and

(D) Thereafter, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (y) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (x) and (y) of this clause (ii)(D).

Section 12.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership . Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in Section 12.4 in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the Marshall Islands shall be canceled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.

Section 12.6 Return of Contributions . The General Partner shall not be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners or Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Partnership assets.

Section 12.7 Waiver of Partition . To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of the Partnership property.

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

Section 13.1 Amendments to be Adopted Without Approval of the Limited Partners or the General Partner . The General Partner and each Limited Partner agree that the Board of Directors, without the approval of any Limited Partner or, subject to Section 5.5, the General Partner, may amend any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:

(a) a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal place of business of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership;

(b) admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement;

(c) a change that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue the qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability under the laws of The Marshall Islands;

 

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(d) a change that the Board of Directors determines (i) does not adversely affect the Limited Partners (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests) in any material respect, (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any Marshall Islands authority (including the Marshall Islands Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the Units or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are or will be listed, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 5.10 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;

(e) a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership including, if the Board of Directors shall so determine, a change in the definition of “Quarter” and the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership;

(f) an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, the members of the Board of Directors, or the General Partner or its or their directors, officers, trustees or agents from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, regardless of whether such regulations are substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;

(g) an amendment that the Board of Directors, and if required by Section 5.5, the General Partner, determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization of issuance of any class or series of Partnership Securities pursuant to Section 5.5;

(h) any amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the Board of Directors acting alone;

(i) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement approved in accordance with Section 14.3;

(j) an amendment that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for the formation by the Partnership of, or investment by the Partnership in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other Person, in connection with the conduct by the Partnership of activities permitted by the terms of Section 2.4;

(k) a conversion, merger or conveyance pursuant to Section 14.3(d); or

(l) any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.

Section 13.2 Amendment Procedures . Except as provided in Sections 13.1 and 13.3, all amendments to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the following requirements. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by, or with the written consent of, the Board of Directors; provided , however , that the Board of Directors shall have no duty or obligation to propose any amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and, in declining to propose an amendment, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law shall not be

 

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required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Marshall Islands Act or any other law, rule or regulation. A proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval by the Board of Directors and the holders of a Unit Majority, unless a greater or different percentage is required under this Agreement or by the Marshall Islands Act. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of Outstanding Units shall be set forth in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, the Board of Directors shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the Unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed amendment. The Board of Directors shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any such proposed amendments.

Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements .

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 13.1 and 13.2, no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner or its Affiliates) required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of reducing such voting percentage unless such amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate Outstanding Units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 13.1 and 13.2, no amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Limited Partner without its consent, unless such enlargement shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 13.3(c), (ii) enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable to, the General Partner or any of its Affiliates without its consent, which consent may be given or withheld at the General Partner’s option, (iii) change Section 12.1(a), or (iv) change the term of the Partnership or, except as set forth in Section 12.1(a), give any Person the right to dissolve the Partnership.

(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3, and without limitation of the Board of Directors’ authority to adopt amendments to this Agreement without the approval of any Limited Partners as contemplated in Section 13.1, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class of Partnership Interests in relation to other classes of Partnership Interests must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of the class affected.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, except for amendments pursuant to Section 13.1 and except as otherwise provided by Section 14.3(b), no amendments shall become effective without the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units voting as a single class unless the Partnership obtains an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment will not affect the limited liability of any Limited Partner under applicable law.

(e) Except as provided in Section 13.1, this Section 13.3 shall only be amended with the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units.

Section 13.4 Special Meetings . All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XIII. Special meetings of the Limited Partners may be called by the General Partner, the Board of Directors or by Limited

 

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Partners owning 20% or more of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting is proposed. Limited Partners shall call a special meeting by delivering to the Board of Directors one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Limited Partners wish to call a special meeting and indicating the general or specific purposes for which the special meeting is to be called, it being understood that the purposes of such special meeting may only be to vote on matters that require the vote of the Unitholders pursuant to this Agreement. Within 60 days after receipt of such a call from Limited Partners or within such greater time as may be reasonably necessary for the Partnership to comply with any statutes, rules, regulations, listing agreements or similar requirements governing the holding of a meeting or the solicitation of proxies for use at such a meeting, the Board of Directors shall send a notice of the meeting to the Limited Partners either directly or indirectly through the Transfer Agent. A meeting shall be held at a time and place determined by the Board of Directors on a date not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days after the mailing of notice of the meeting. Limited Partners shall not vote on matters that would cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability under the Marshall Islands Act or the law of any other jurisdiction in which the Partnership is qualified to do business.

Section 13.5 Notice of a Meeting . Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be given to the Record Holders of the class or classes of Units for which a meeting is proposed in writing by mail or other means of written communication in accordance with Section 16.1. The notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when deposited in the mail or sent by other means of written communication.

Section 13.6 Record Date . For purposes of determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners or to give approvals without a meeting as provided in Section 13.11, the Board of Directors may set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which Limited Partners are requested in writing by the Board of Directors to give such approvals. If the Board of Directors does not set a Record Date, then (a) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners shall be the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, and (b) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to give approvals without a meeting shall be the date the first written approval is deposited with the Partnership in care of the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 13.11.

Section 13.7 Adjournment . When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be for more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Partnership may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a new Record Date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with this Article XIII.

 

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Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes . The transactions of any meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and whenever held, shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened; and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove the consideration of matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if the disapproval is expressly made at the meeting.

Section 13.9 Quorum and Voting . The holders of a majority of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner) represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Limited Partners of such class or classes unless any such action by the Limited Partners requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of such Units, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. At any meeting of the Limited Partners duly called and held in accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is present, the act of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote and be present in person or by proxy at such meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners, unless a greater or different percentage is required with respect to such action under the provisions of this Agreement, in which case the act of the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent at least such greater or different percentage shall be required. The Limited Partners present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Limited Partners to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by the required percentage of Outstanding Units specified in this Agreement (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner). In the absence of a quorum, any meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote at such meeting (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner) represented either in person or by proxy, but no other business may be transacted, except as provided in Section 13.7; provided however, and anything to the contrary herein contained notwithstanding, at any adjourned annual meeting of the Limited Partners, the holders of Outstanding Units present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat, shall constitute a quorum at such adjourned meeting for the transaction of any business brought before such adjourned meeting and the act of the Limited Partners holding a majority of the units represented in person or by proxy at such adjourned meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners.

Section 13.10 Conduct of a Meeting . The Board of Directors shall have full power and authority concerning the manner of conducting any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of Section 13.4, the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall

 

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serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Partnership maintained by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may make such other regulations consistent with applicable law and this Agreement as it may deem advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including regulations in regard to the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of the right to vote, and the revocation of approvals in writing.

Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting . If authorized by the Board of Directors, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner) that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved the action in writing. The Board of Directors may specify that any written ballot submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the Board of Directors. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the Units held by the Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Units that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any action by the Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the Board of Directors, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) they are deposited with the Partnership in care of the Board of Directors, (b) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are dated as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date sufficient approvals are deposited with the Partnership and (c) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the Board of Directors to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken with respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the applicable statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the Partners.

Section 13.12 Right to Vote and Related Matters .

(a) Only those Record Holders of the Units on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 13.6 (and also subject to the limitations contained in the definition of “ Outstanding ”) shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Limited Partners or to act with respect to matters as to which the holders of the Outstanding Units have the right to vote or to act. All references in this Agreement to votes of, or other acts that may be taken by, the Outstanding Units shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Units.

(b) With respect to Units that are held for a Person’s account by another Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), in whose name such Units are registered, such other Person shall, in exercising the voting rights

 

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in respect of such Units on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, vote such Units in favor of, and at the direction of, the Person who is the beneficial owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume it is so acting without further inquiry. The provisions of this Section 13.12(b) (as well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the provisions of Section 4.3.

ARTICLE XIV

MERGER

Section 14.1 Authority . The Partnership may merge or consolidate with or into one or more corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership)), pursuant to a written agreement of merger or consolidation (“ Merger Agreement ”) in accordance with this Article XIV.

Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger or Consolidation . Merger or consolidation of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV requires the approval of the Board of Directors and the prior consent of the General Partner; provided , however , that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the Board of Directors nor the General Partner shall have a duty or obligation to consent to any merger or consolidation of the Partnership and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and, in declining to consent to a merger or consolidation, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Marshall Islands Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. If the Board of Directors and the General Partner shall determine to consent to the merger or consolidation, the Board of Directors and the General Partner shall approve the Merger Agreement, which shall set forth:

(a) the names and jurisdictions of formation or organization of each of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;

(b) the name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of the business entity that is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation (the “ Surviving Business Entity ”);

(c) the terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;

(d) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if any general or limited partner interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other Person (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such interests, securities or rights are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion of their interests, securities or rights, and (ii) in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other Person (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered;

 

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(e) a statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;

(f) the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement ( provided , that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of merger and stated therein); and

(g) such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation that the Board of Directors and the General Partner determine to be necessary or appropriate.

Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners of Merger or Consolidation .

(a) Except as provided in Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(e), the Board of Directors, upon its and the General Partner’s approval of the Merger Agreement, shall direct that the Merger Agreement be submitted to a vote of Limited Partners, whether at a special meeting or by written consent, in either case in accordance with the requirements of Article XIII. A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent.

(b) Except as provided in Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(e), the Merger Agreement shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority.

(c) Except as provided in Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(e), after such approval by vote or consent of the Limited Partners, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4, the merger or consolidation may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement.

(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the Board of Directors is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or any Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member into, or convey all of the Partnership’s assets to, another limited liability entity which shall be newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such conversion, merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group Member if (i) the Board of Directors has received an Opinion of Counsel that the conversion, merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner, (ii) the sole purpose of such conversion, merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the governing instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners, the General Partner and the Board of Directors with the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.

(e) Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the Board of Directors, with the prior consent of the General Partner, is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another

 

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entity if (i) the Board of Directors has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner, (ii) the merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to this Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant to Section 13.1, (iii) the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or consolidation, (iv) each Unit outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Unit of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, and (v) the number of Partnership Securities to be issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation does not exceed 20% of the Partnership Securities Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.

Section 14.4 Certificate of Merger . Upon the required approval by the Board of Directors, the General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement, a certificate of merger shall be executed and filed in conformity with the requirements of the Marshall Islands Act.

Section 14.5 Amendment of Partnership Agreement . Pursuant to Section 20(2) of the Marshall Islands Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with Section 20(2) of the Marshall Islands Act may (a) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (b) effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for a limited partnership if it is the Surviving Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 14.5 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.

Section 14.6 Effect of Merger .

(a) At the effective time of the certificate of merger:

(i) all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of the business entities that has merged or consolidated, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to any of those business entities and all other things and causes of action belonging to each of those business entities, shall be vested in the Surviving Business Entity and after the merger or consolidation shall be the property of the Surviving Business Entity to the extent they were of each constituent business entity;

(ii) the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in any of those constituent business entities shall not revert and is not in any way impaired because of the merger or consolidation;

(iii) all rights of creditors and all liens on or security interests in property of any of those constituent business entities shall be preserved unimpaired; and

(iv) all debts, liabilities and duties of those constituent business entities shall attach to the Surviving Business Entity and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.A merger or consolidation effected pursuant to this Article shall not be deemed to result in a transfer or assignment of assets or liabilities from one entity to another.

 

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ARTICLE XV

RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

Section 15.1 Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests .

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time the General Partner and its Affiliates hold more than 80% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any class then Outstanding, the General Partner shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership or any Affiliate of the General Partner, exercisable at its option, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, at the greater of (x) the Current Market Price as of the date three days prior to the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed and (y) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates for any such Limited Partner Interest of such class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed.

(b) If the General Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership elects to exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a), the General Partner shall deliver to the Transfer Agent notice of such election to purchase (the “ Notice of Election to Purchase ”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent to mail a copy of such Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Limited Partner Interests of such class (as of a Record Date selected by the General Partner) at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date. Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be published for a period of at least three consecutive days in at least two daily newspapers of general circulation printed in the English language and published in the Borough of Manhattan, New York. The Notice of Election to Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) at which Limited Partner Interests will be purchased and state that the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, elects to purchase such Limited Partner Interests, upon surrender of Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests in exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent as the Transfer Agent may specify, or as may be required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at his address as reflected in the records of the Transfer Agent shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Limited Partner Interests to be purchased in accordance with this Section 15.1. If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at least 10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of the holders of Limited Partner Interests subject to purchase as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that any Certificate shall not have been surrendered for purchase, all rights of the holders of such Limited Partner Interests (including any rights pursuant to Articles IV, V, VI and XII) shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive the applicable purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) for Limited Partner Interests therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent of the Certificates representing

 

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such Limited Partner Interests, and such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred to the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, on the record books of the Transfer Agent and the Partnership, and the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner, or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the owner of all such Limited Partner Interests from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the owner of such Limited Partner Interests (including all rights as owner of such Limited Partner Interests pursuant to Articles IV, V, VI and XII).

(c) At any time from and after the Purchase Date, a holder of an Outstanding Limited Partner Interest subject to purchase as provided in this Section 15.1 may surrender his Certificate evidencing such Limited Partner Interest to the Transfer Agent in exchange for payment of the amount described in Section 15.1(a), without interest thereon.

ARTICLE XVI

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 16.1 Addresses and Notices .

(a) Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the Partner at the address described below. Any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Partner hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such Partnership Securities at his address as shown on the records of the Transfer Agent or as otherwise shown on the records of the Partnership, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such Partnership Securities by reason of any assignment or otherwise. An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.1 executed by a member of the Board of Directors, the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report. If any notice, payment or report addressed to a Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder appearing on the books and records of the Transfer Agent or the Partnership is returned by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver it, such notice, payment or report and any subsequent notices, payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of a change in his address) if they are available for the Partner at the principal office of the Partnership for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report to the other Partners. Any notice to the Partnership shall be deemed given if received by the General Partner or the Board of Directors at the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3. The General Partner and the Board of Directors may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Partner or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.

 

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Section 16.2 Further Action . The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

Section 16.3 Binding Effect . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

Section 16.4 Integration . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.

Section 16.5 Creditors . None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership.

Section 16.6 Waiver . No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

Section 16.7 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto or, in the case of a Person acquiring a Limited Partner Interest, pursuant to Section 10.2(a) without execution hereof.

Section 16.8 Applicable Law . This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of The Republic of the Marshall Islands, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.

Section 16.9 Invalidity of Provisions . If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.

Section 16.10 Consent of Partners . Each Partner hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or consent of less than all of the Partners, such action may be so taken upon the concurrence of less than all of the Partners and each Partner shall be bound by the results of such action.

Section 16.11 Facsimile Signatures . The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of the transfer agent and registrar of the Partnership on certificates representing Common Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.

Section 16.12 Third-Party Beneficiaries . Each Partner agrees that any Indemnitee shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Indemnitee.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership as a Deed as of the date first written above.

 

GENERAL PARTNER:
Navios GP L.L.C.,
By:   Navios Maritime Holdings Inc., its sole member
 

/s/ Vasiliki Papaefthymiou

  Name: Vasiliki Papaefthymiou
  Title: Secretary/Director
ORGANIZATIONAL LIMITED PARTNER:
Navios Maritime Holdings Inc.,
By: /s/ Vasiliki Papaefthymiou                            
Name: Vasiliki Papaefthymiou
Title: Secretary/Director
LIMITED PARTNERS:
All Limited Partners now and hereafter admitted as Limited Partners of the Partnership, pursuant to powers of attorney now and hereafter executed in favor of, and granted and delivered to the Board of Directors.
By:   Angeliki Frangou, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Navios Maritime Partners L.P., as attorney-in-fact for all Limited Partners pursuant to the Power of Attorney granted under Section 2.6
 

/s/ Angeliki Frangou

  Name: Angeliki Frangou
  Title: Attorney-in-Fact


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF CERTIFICATE

Exhibit 8.1

Subsidiaries of Navios Maritime Partners L.P.

Navios Maritime Operating L.L.C., a Marshall Islands limited liability company

Alegria Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Felicity Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Galaxy Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Gemini Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Libra Shipping Enterprises Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Aldebaran Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Prosperity Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Fantastiks Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Aurora Shipping Enterprises Ltd., a Marshall Islands corporation

Sagittarius Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Palermo Shipping S.A., a Marshall Islands corporation

Hyperion Enterprises Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation

Chilali Corp., a Marshall Islands corporation

Surf Maritime Co., a Marshall Islands corporation

JTC Shipping and Trading Ltd., a Maltese corporation

Pandora Marine Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation

Customized Development S.A. a Liberian corporation

Orbiter Shipping Co., a Marshall Islands corporation

Kohylia Shipmanagement S.A, a Marshall Islands corporation

Floral Marine Ltd., a Marshall Islands corporation

Kymata Shipping Co., a Marshall Islands corporation

Golem Navigation Limited, a Marshall Islands corporation

Joy Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Micaela Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Pearl Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Velvet Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Rubina Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation


Topaz Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Beryl Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Cheryl Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Christal Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Fairy Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Limestone Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Dune Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Citrine Shipping Corporation, a Marshall Islands corporation

Perigiali Navigation Limited, a Marshall Islands corporation

Navios Partners Finance (US) Inc., a Delaware corporation

Navios Partners Europe Finance Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation

Finian Navigation Co., a Marshall Islands corporation

Ammos Shipping Corp., a Marshall Islands corporation

Wave Shipping Corp., a Marshall Islands corporation

Casual Shipholding Co., a Marshall Islands corporation

Avery Shipping Company, a Marshall Islands corporation

Coasters Ventures Ltd., a Marshall Islands corporation

Ianthe Maritime S.A., a Marshall Islands corporation

Cavalli Navigation Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation

Cavos Navigation Co., a Marshall Islands corporation

Seymour Trading Limited, a Marshall Islands corporation

Goldie Services Company, a Marshall Islands corporation

 

Exhibit 12.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Angeliki Frangou, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2017 of Navios Maritime Partners L.P.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting: and

5. The company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: April 4, 2018

 

/s/ Angeliki Frangou

Angeliki Frangou

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

Exhibit 12.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Efstratios Desypris, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2017 of Navios Maritime Partners L.P.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting: and

5. The company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: April 4, 2018

 

/s/ Efstratios Desypris

Efstratios Desypris

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

Exhibit 13.1

Certification

Pursuant To Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Of

2002

(Subsections (A) And (B) Of Section 1350,

Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code)

Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), each of the undersigned officers of Navios Maritime Partners L.P., (the “Company”), does hereby certify, to such officer’s knowledge, that:

(i) the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 (the “Form 20-F”) of the Company fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;

(ii) and the information contained in the Form 20-F fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Dated: April 4, 2018   

/s/ Angeliki Frangou

  

Angeliki Frangou

Chief Executive Officer

 

Dated: April 4, 2018   

/s/ Efstratios Desypris

   Efstratios Desypris
   Chief Financial Officer

 

Exhibit 15.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (333-215529) of Navios Maritime Partners L.P. of our report dated April 4, 2018 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in this Form 20-F.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers S.A.

Athens, Greece

April 4, 2018