UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2022
OR
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________ to __________
Commission File Number: 001-36437
Dorian LPG Ltd.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Marshall Islands |
| 66-0818228 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
| (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
c/o Dorian LPG (USA) LLC |
| |
27 Signal Road, Stamford, CT | 06902 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
| (Zip Code) |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (203) 674-9900
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report: Not Applicable
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
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 period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☒ | Non-accelerated filer ☐ | |||
Smaller reporting company ☐ | Emerging growth company ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, 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 whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of July 29, 2022, there were 40,136,600 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “PSLRA”), including analyses and other information based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable and statements relating to our future prospects, developments and business strategies. Such forward-looking statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided for under the sections referenced in the immediately preceding sentence and the PSLRA. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “pending,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seeks,” “should,” “targets,” “will,” “would,” and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Where we express an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, our forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which could cause actual future activities and results of operations to differ materially from future results expressed, projected, or implied by those forward-looking statements in this quarterly report.
These risks include the risks that are identified in the “Risk Factors” section of this quarterly report and of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, and also include, among others, risks associated with the following:
● | our future operating or financial results; |
● | our business strategies, including with respect to acquisitions and chartering, and expected capital spending or operating expenses, as well as any difficulty we may have in managing planned growth properly; |
● | shipping trends, including changes in charter rates applicable to alternative propulsion technologies, exhaust gas cleaning system (commonly referred to as a “scrubber”) equipped and non-scrubber equipped vessels, scrapping rates and vessel and other asset values; |
● | changes in trading patterns that impact tonnage requirements; |
● | compliance with laws, treaties, rules, regulations and policies (including amendments or other changes thereto) applicable to the liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG, shipping industry, including, without limitation, legislation adopted by international organizations such as the International Maritime Organization and the European Union or by individual countries, as well as the impact and costs of our compliance with, and the potential of liability under, such laws, treaties, rules, regulations and policies; |
● | investors’, banks’, counterparties’ and other stakeholders’ increasing emphasis on environmental and safety concerns and increasing scrutiny and changing expectations with respect to public company Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policies and costs related to compliance with ESG measures; |
● | general economic conditions and specific economic conditions in the oil and natural gas industry and the countries and regions where LPG is produced and consumed, including the impact of overall inflation and rising interest rates on demand for LPG; |
● | completion of infrastructure projects to support marine transportation of LPG, including export terminals and pipelines; |
● | factors affecting supply of and demand for LPG including propane, butane, isobutane, propylene and mixtures of these gases, LPG shipping, and LPG vessels, including, among other things: the production levels, price and worldwide consumption and storage of oil, refined petroleum products and natural gas, including production from United States shale fields; any oversupply of or limited demand for LPG vessels comparable to ours or higher specification vessels; trade conflicts and the imposition of tariffs or otherwise on LPG resulting from domestic and international political and geopolitical conditions, including the |
ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine; and shifts in consumer demand from LPG towards other energy sources; |
● | any decrease in the value of the charter-free market values of our vessels or reduction in our charter hire rates and profitability associated with such vessels as a result of increase in the supply of or decrease in the demand for LPG, LPG shipping or LPG vessels; |
● | business disruptions, including supply chain issues, due to natural or other disasters, or otherwise; |
● | greater than anticipated levels of LPG vessel newbuilding orders or lower than anticipated rates of LPG vessel scrapping; |
● | the aging of the Company’s fleet which could result in increased operating costs, impairment or loss of hire; |
● | our ability to profitably employ our vessels, including vessels participating in the Helios Pool (defined below); |
● | unavailability of spot charters and the volatility of prevailing spot market charter rates, which may affect our ability to realize the expected benefits from our time chartered-in vessels, including those in the Helios Pool; |
● | failure of our charterers or other counterparties to meet their obligations under our charter agreements; |
● | shareholders’ reliance on us to enforce our rights against contract counterparties; |
● | competition in the LPG shipping industry, including our ability to compete successfully for future chartering opportunities and newbuilding opportunities (if any); |
● | future purchase prices of newbuildings and secondhand vessels and timely deliveries of such vessels (if any) and, relatedly, the risks associated with the purchase of second-hand vessels; |
● | the performance of the Helios Pool, including the failure of its significant customers to perform their obligations and the loss or reduction in business from its significant customers (or if the same were to occur with respect to our significant customers); |
● | the availability of (and our ability to obtain such) financing and capital to refinance existing indebtedness and to fund capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes, the terms of such financing or capital and our ability to comply with the restrictions and other covenants set forth in our existing and future debt agreements and financing arrangements (and our ability to repay or refinance our existing debt and settling of interest rate swaps, if any); |
● | our costs, including crew wages, insurance, provisions, repairs and maintenance, general and administrative expenses, drydocking, and bunker prices, as applicable; |
● | any inability to retain and recruit qualified key executives, key employees, key consultants or skilled workers and, relatedly, our dependence on key personnel and the availability of skilled workers, and the related labor costs, including as a result of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine; |
● | the potential difference in interests between or among certain of our directors, officers, key executives and shareholders; |
● | quality and efficiency requirements from customers and developments regarding the technologies relating to oil exploration and the effects of and our ability to implement new products and new technology available in our industry, including with respect to equipment propulsion and overall vessel efficiency, including the reduction of traditional emissions; |
● | potential changes in regulation that would require the installation of Engine Power Limitation (EPL) systems on our vessels to reduce fuel use and carbon emissions, and increase the level of energy efficiency or, more generally, changes in global regional, and local regulatory requirements in respect of decarbonization, which could affect fuel cost, vessel speeds, or trading areas and could impose costs on certain air emissions; |
● | operating hazards in the maritime transportation industry, and catastrophic events, including accidents, political events, public health threats (including the outbreak of communicable diseases), international hostilities and instability, armed conflict, piracy, attacks on vessels or other petroleum-related infrastructures and acts by terrorists, which may cause potential disruption of shipping routes; |
● | the length and severity of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), including its impact on the demand for commercial seaborne transportation of LPG and the condition of financial markets and the potential knock-on impacts to our global operations; |
● | the adequacy of our insurance coverage in the event of a catastrophic event; |
● | the failure to protect our information systems against security breaches, or the failure or unavailability of these systems for a significant period; |
● | the arresting or attachment of one or more of our vessels by maritime claimants; |
● | compliance with and changes to governmental, tax, environmental and safety laws and regulations, which may add to our costs or the costs of our customers; |
● | fluctuations in currencies, interest rates and foreign exchange rates, and the impact of the discontinuance of the London Interbank Offered Rate for US Dollars (“LIBOR”) after June 30, 2023 on any of our debt referencing LIBOR in the interest rate or any impacts from the use of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) or such other benchmarks as we may be required to use; |
● | compliance with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the United Kingdom Bribery Act 2010, or other applicable regulations relating to bribery; |
● | the volatility of the price of shares of our common stock (our “common shares”) and future sales of our common shares; |
● | our incorporation under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the different rights to relief that may be available compared to other countries, including the United States; |
● | congestion at or blockages of ports or canals; |
● | any developments in the existing Panama Canal transportation structure as a result of the study announced by the Panamanian government and Energy Transfer LP to analyze the prospects of building an LPG pipeline, potentially running beside the existing Panama Canal and linking the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean; |
● | if we are required to pay tax on U.S. source income; |
● | if we are treated as a “passive foreign investment company”; and |
● | other factors detailed in this report and from time to time in our periodic reports. |
Actual results could differ materially from expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements if one or more of the underlying assumptions or expectations proves to be inaccurate or is not realized. You should thoroughly read this report with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from and worse than what we expect. Other sections of this report include additional factors that could adversely impact our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. We qualify all of the forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
We caution readers of this report not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date of this report, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
As used in this quarterly report and unless otherwise indicated, references to “Dorian,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” “us,” or similar terms refer to Dorian LPG Ltd. and its subsidiaries.
Dorian LPG Ltd.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Dorian LPG Ltd.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Expressed in United States Dollars, except for share data)
| As of |
| As of |
| |||
June 30, 2022 | March 31, 2022 |
| |||||
Assets | |||||||
Current assets | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 155,518,158 |
| $ | 236,758,927 | ||
Trade receivables, net and accrued revenues | 1,517,245 |
| 853,060 | ||||
Due from related parties |
| 60,936,121 |
| 57,782,831 | |||
Inventories |
| 2,189,564 |
| 2,266,351 | |||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 10,073,850 |
| 10,232,083 | ||||
Total current assets | 230,234,938 |
| 307,893,252 | ||||
Fixed assets | |||||||
Vessels, net |
| 1,223,273,413 |
| 1,238,061,690 | |||
Vessel under construction |
| 24,882,121 |
| 16,401,532 | |||
Other fixed assets, net |
| 93,664 |
| 54,101 | |||
Total fixed assets | 1,248,249,198 |
| 1,254,517,323 | ||||
Other non-current assets | |||||||
Deferred charges, net |
| 9,139,814 |
| 9,839,000 | |||
Derivative instruments |
| 8,966,713 |
| 6,512,479 | |||
Due from related parties—non-current | 19,800,000 | 19,800,000 | |||||
Restricted cash—non-current |
| 73,727 |
| 77,987 | |||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 6,410,060 | 8,087,014 | |||||
Other non-current assets | 574,078 | 635,038 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 1,523,448,528 |
| $ | 1,607,362,093 | ||
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity | |||||||
Current liabilities | |||||||
Trade accounts payable | $ | 7,927,555 |
| $ | 9,541,131 | ||
Accrued expenses |
| 5,053,515 |
| 3,801,448 | |||
Due to related parties |
| 31,535 |
| 37,433 | |||
Deferred income | 3,604 |
| 813,967 | ||||
Current portion of long-term operating lease liabilities | 5,785,527 | 8,073,364 | |||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
| 51,929,438 |
| 72,075,571 | |||
Dividends payable | 919,643 | 494,180 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 71,650,817 |
| 94,837,094 | ||||
Long-term liabilities | |||||||
Long-term debt—net of current portion and deferred financing fees |
| 605,106,749 |
| 590,687,387 | |||
Long-term operating lease liabilities | 622,769 | — | |||||
Other long-term liabilities | 1,718,858 | 1,686,197 | |||||
Total long-term liabilities | 607,448,376 |
| 592,373,584 | ||||
Total liabilities | 679,099,193 |
| 687,210,678 | ||||
Commitments and contingencies | |||||||
Shareholders’ equity | |||||||
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, none issued nor outstanding |
|
| |||||
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 450,000,000 shares authorized, 51,337,445 and 51,321,695 shares issued, 40,136,600 and 40,185,042 shares outstanding (net of treasury stock), as of June 30, 2022 and March 31, 2022, respectively |
| 513,375 |
| 513,217 | |||
Additional paid-in-capital |
| 760,764,708 |
| 760,105,994 | |||
Treasury stock, at cost; 11,200,845 and 11,136,653 shares as of June 30, 2022 and March 31, 2022, respectively | (122,198,003) |
| (121,226,936) | ||||
Retained earnings | 205,269,255 |
| 280,759,140 | ||||
Total shareholders’ equity | 844,349,335 |
| 920,151,415 | ||||
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 1,523,448,528 |
| $ | 1,607,362,093 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
1
Dorian LPG Ltd.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Expressed in United States Dollars)
Three months ended | |||||||
| June 30, 2022 |
| June 30, 2021 |
| |||
Revenues | |||||||
Net pool revenues—related party | $ | 70,171,001 | $ | 55,162,246 | |||
Time charter revenues | 6,241,915 | 5,346,139 | |||||
Other revenues, net | 410,806 | 2,442,353 | |||||
Total revenues | 76,823,722 | 62,950,738 | |||||
Expenses | |||||||
Voyage expenses |
| 775,545 |
| 1,356,392 | |||
Charter hire expenses | 5,402,145 | 3,508,070 | |||||
Vessel operating expenses |
| 17,067,913 |
| 20,281,554 | |||
Depreciation and amortization |
| 15,809,778 |
| 17,142,915 | |||
General and administrative expenses | 9,413,139 |
| 8,038,807 | ||||
Total expenses | 48,468,520 |
| 50,327,738 | ||||
Other income—related parties | 591,802 | 632,888 | |||||
Operating income | 28,947,004 |
| 13,255,888 | ||||
Other income/(expenses) | |||||||
Interest and finance costs |
| (7,958,554) |
| (5,649,774) | |||
Interest income | 408,278 |
| 186,299 | ||||
Unrealized gain on derivatives |
| 2,454,234 |
| 433,726 | |||
Realized loss on derivatives | (50,384) | (903,718) | |||||
Other gain/(loss), net | 1,047,142 |
| (1,453,321) | ||||
Total other income/(expenses), net | (4,099,284) |
| (7,386,788) | ||||
Net income | $ | 24,847,720 |
| $ | 5,869,100 | ||
Weighted average shares outstanding: | |||||||
Basic | 39,898,485 | 40,944,845 | |||||
Diluted | 40,124,705 | 41,165,138 | |||||
Earnings per common share—basic |
| $ | 0.62 |
| $ | 0.14 | |
Earnings per common share—diluted |
| $ | 0.62 |
| $ | 0.14 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
2
Dorian LPG Ltd.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
(Expressed in United States Dollars, except for number of shares)
Number of |
| Additional |
| |||||||||||||||
common | Common | Treasury | paid-in | Retained |
| |||||||||||||
| shares |
| stock |
| stock |
| capital |
| Earnings |
| Total |
| ||||||
Balance, April 1, 2021 |
| 51,071,409 | $ | 510,715 | $ | (99,862,114) | $ | 756,776,217 | $ | 289,400,512 |
| $ | 946,825,330 | |||||
Net income for the period | — | — | — | — | 5,869,100 | 5,869,100 | ||||||||||||
Restricted share award issuances | 15,800 | 158 | — | (158) | — | — | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | — | — | — | 647,124 | — | 647,124 | ||||||||||||
Purchase of treasury stock | — | — | (14,793,180) | — | — | (14,793,180) | ||||||||||||
Balance, June 30, 2021 |
| 51,087,209 |
| $ | 510,873 |
| $ | (114,655,294) |
| $ | 757,423,183 |
| $ | 295,269,612 |
| $ | 938,548,374 | |
Number of |
| Additional |
| |||||||||||||||
common | Common | Treasury | paid-in | Retained |
| |||||||||||||
shares |
| stock |
| stock |
| capital |
| Earnings |
| Total |
| |||||||
Balance, April 1, 2022 |
| 51,321,695 | $ | 513,217 | $ | (121,226,936) | $ | 760,105,994 | $ | 280,759,140 |
| $ | 920,151,415 | |||||
Net income for the period | — | — | — | — | 24,847,720 | 24,847,720 | ||||||||||||
Restricted share award issuances | 15,750 | 158 | — | (158) | — | — | ||||||||||||
Dividend | — | — | — | — | (100,337,605) | (100,337,605) | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | — | — | — | 658,872 | — | 658,872 | ||||||||||||
Purchase of treasury stock | — | — | (971,067) | — | — | (971,067) | ||||||||||||
Balance, June 30, 2022 |
| 51,337,445 |
| $ | 513,375 |
| $ | (122,198,003) |
| $ | 760,764,708 |
| $ | 205,269,255 |
| $ | 844,349,335 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
Dorian LPG Ltd.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Expressed in United States Dollars)
| Three months ended |
| |||||
June 30, 2022 | June 30, 2021 | ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Net income | $ | 24,847,720 | $ | 5,869,100 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 15,809,778 | 17,142,915 | |||||
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets | 2,447,611 | 2,360,289 | |||||
Amortization of financing costs | 909,047 | 689,841 | |||||
Unrealized gain on derivatives | (2,454,234) | (433,726) | |||||
Stock-based compensation expense | 658,872 | 647,124 | |||||
Unrealized foreign currency (gain)/loss, net | 581,145 | 4,602 | |||||
Other non-cash items, net | (1,532,311) | 1,386,734 | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities | |||||||
Trade receivables, net and accrued revenue | (664,185) | (90,832) | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (693,019) | (1,309,965) | |||||
Due from related parties | (3,153,290) | 13,704,299 | |||||
Inventories | 76,787 | 35,036 | |||||
Other non-current assets | 60,960 | (886) | |||||
Operating lease liabilities—current and long-term | (2,421,271) | (2,363,734) | |||||
Trade accounts payable | (899,490) | 1,140,387 | |||||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 532,888 | 675,379 | |||||
Due to related parties | (5,898) | (78,780) | |||||
Payments for drydocking costs | (6,736) | (1,306,463) | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 34,094,374 | 38,071,320 | |||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||
Payments for vessel under construction and vessel capital expenditures | (8,768,399) | (9,797,560) | |||||
Payments to acquire other fixed assets | (62,286) | — | |||||
Purchase of investment securities | — | (2,250,681) | |||||
Proceeds from sale of investment securities | 2,003,458 | — | |||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (6,827,227) | (12,048,241) | |||||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
Proceeds from long-term debt borrowings | 50,000,000 | — | |||||
Repayment of long-term debt borrowings | (56,358,620) | (12,955,071) | |||||
Repurchase of common stock | (952,250) | (14,064,071) | |||||
Financing costs paid | (1,036,330) | (68,604) | |||||
Dividends paid | (99,912,142) | — | |||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (108,259,342) | (27,087,746) | |||||
Effects of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents | (252,834) | (9,723) | |||||
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | (81,245,029) | (1,074,390) | |||||
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the beginning of the period | 236,836,914 | 84,727,199 | |||||
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the end of the period | $ | 155,591,885 | $ | 83,652,809 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
Dorian LPG Ltd.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in United States Dollars)
1. Basis of Presentation and General Information
Dorian LPG Ltd. (“Dorian”) was incorporated on July 1, 2013 under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, is headquartered in the United States, and is engaged in the transportation of liquefied petroleum gas (“LPG”) worldwide. Specifically, Dorian and its subsidiaries (together “we”, “us”, “our”, or the “Company”) are focused on owning and operating very large gas carriers (“VLGCs”), each with a cargo carrying capacity of greater than 80,000 cbm, in the LPG shipping industry. As of June 30, 2022, our fleet consists of twenty-two VLGCs, including nineteen fuel-efficient 84,000 cbm ECO-design VLGCs (“ECO-VLGCs”), one 82,000 cbm VLGCs and two time chartered-in ECO-VLGCs. As of June 30, 2022, thirteen of our ECO-VLGCs, including one of our time chartered-in ECO-VLGCs, are equipped with exhaust gas cleaning systems (commonly referred to as “scrubbers”) to reduce sulfur emissions. We provide in-house commercial management services for all of our vessels, including our vessels deployed in the Helios Pool (defined below), which may also receive commercial management services from Phoenix (defined below). Excluding our time chartered-in vessels, we provide in-house technical management services for all of our vessels, including our vessels deployed in the Helios Pool (defined below).
On April 1, 2015, Dorian and Phoenix Tankers Pte. Ltd. (“Phoenix”) began operations of Helios LPG Pool LLC (the “Helios Pool”), which entered into pool participation agreements for the purpose of establishing and operating, as charterer, under variable rate time charters to be entered into with owners or disponent owners of VLGCs, a commercial pool of VLGCs whereby revenues and expenses are shared. Refer to Note 3 below for further description of the Helios Pool.
The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and related Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In our opinion, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring items, necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, operating results and cash flows have been included in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended March 31, 2022 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 2, 2022.
Our interim results are subject to seasonal and other fluctuations, and the operating results for any quarter are therefore not necessarily indicative of results that may be otherwise expected for the entire year.
5
Our subsidiaries as of June 30, 2022, which are all wholly-owned and are incorporated in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (unless otherwise noted), are listed below.
Vessel Subsidiaries
| Type of |
|
|
|
| ||||
Subsidiary | vessel | Vessel’s name | Built | CBM(1) |
| ||||
CJNP LPG Transport LLC |
| VLGC |
| Captain John NP |
| 2007 |
| 82,000 | |
Comet LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Comet | 2014 | 84,000 | |||||
Corsair LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Corsair(2) | 2014 | 84,000 | |||||
Corvette LPG Transport LLC |
| VLGC |
| Corvette(2) |
| 2015 |
| 84,000 | |
Dorian Shanghai LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Cougar(2) | 2015 | 84,000 | |||||
Concorde LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Concorde(2) | 2015 | 84,000 | |||||
Dorian Houston LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Cobra | 2015 | 84,000 | |||||
Dorian Sao Paulo LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Continental | 2015 | 84,000 | |||||
Dorian Ulsan LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Constitution | 2015 | 84,000 | |||||
Dorian Amsterdam LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Commodore | 2015 | 84,000 | |||||
Dorian Dubai LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Cresques(2) | 2015 | 84,000 | |||||
Constellation LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Constellation | 2015 | 84,000 | |||||
Dorian Monaco LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Cheyenne | 2015 | 84,000 | |||||
Dorian Barcelona LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Clermont | 2015 | 84,000 | |||||
Dorian Geneva LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Cratis(2) | 2015 | 84,000 | |||||
Dorian Cape Town LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Chaparral(2) | 2015 | 84,000 | |||||
Dorian Tokyo LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Copernicus(2) | 2015 | 84,000 | |||||
Commander LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Commander | 2015 | 84,000 | |||||
Dorian Explorer LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Challenger | 2015 | 84,000 |
| ||||
Dorian Exporter LPG Transport LLC | VLGC | Caravelle(2) | 2016 | 84,000 | |||||
Dorian Sakura LPG Transport LLC(3) | VLGC | Hull No. 1755 | 2023(4) | 84,000 |
Management and Other Subsidiaries
| |
Subsidiary |
|
Dorian LPG Management Corp. | |
Dorian LPG (USA) LLC (incorporated in USA) | |
Dorian LPG (UK) Ltd. (incorporated in UK) | |
Dorian LPG Finance LLC | |
Occident River Trading Limited (incorporated in UK) | |
Dorian LPG (DK) ApS (incorporated in Denmark) | |
Dorian LPG Chartering LLC | |
Dorian LPG FFAS LLC |
(1) | CBM: Cubic meters, a standard measure for LPG tanker capacity |
(2) | Operated pursuant to a bareboat charter agreement as of June 30, 2022. Refer to Note 7 below for further information. |
(3) | Upon delivery, the applicable vessel will be operated pursuant to a bareboat charter agreement. Refer to Note 15 below for further information. |
(4) | The applicable vessel is expected to be delivered in calendar year 2023. |
COVID-19
Since the beginning of calendar year 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected economic conditions, the supply chain, the labor market, the demand for certain shipped goods regionally as well as globally and has also negatively impacted and may continue to impact our operations and the operations of our customers and suppliers. Measures taken to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus, including travel bans, quarantines, and other emergency public health measures, and a number of countries implemented lockdown measures resulted in a significant reduction in global economic activity and extreme volatility in the global financial markets. The global emergence of variants and subvariants of COVID-19, including the Delta and Omicron variant and subvariants such as BA.2 and BA.2.12.1 and more recently BA.4 and BA.5, has resulted in an increasing number of infections, including breakthrough infections in persons who have been vaccinated against the infection. The extent of COVID-19’s future impact on the global economy, the shipping industry and our financial and operational results, which could be material, will depend on the development of the pandemic, vaccination rates among the population, the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against COVID-19 and its variants and subvariants, and the extent to which measures such as those referenced above are reinstituted. Any new uncertainties regarding the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may likely result in market turmoil, which could also negatively impact our business, financial condition and cash flows. Over the course of the pandemic, governments
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approved large stimulus packages to mitigate the effects of the sudden decline in economic activity caused by the pandemic; however, we cannot predict the extent to which these measures will be sufficient to continue to sustain the business and financial condition of companies in the shipping industry. To date, we have experienced increases in crew wages and related costs, particularly in crew travel and medical costs, as a result of COVID-19.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The same accounting policies have been followed in these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements as those applied in the preparation of our consolidated audited financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2022 (refer to Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022).
Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (“ASU 2020-04”).” ASU 2020-04 provides temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the guidance in U.S. GAAP on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burdens related to the expected market transition from LIBOR and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. This ASU is effective for adoption at any time between March 12, 2020 and December 31, 2022. We are currently evaluating the impact of this adoption on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
3. Transactions with Related Parties
Dorian (Hellas), S.A.
Dorian (Hellas) S.A. (“DHSA”) formerly provided technical, crew, commercial management, insurance and accounting services to our vessels and had agreements to outsource certain of these services to Eagle Ocean Transport Inc. (“Eagle Ocean Transport”), which is 100% owned by Mr. John C. Hadjipateras, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Dorian LPG (USA) LLC and its subsidiaries entered into an agreement with DHSA, retroactive to July 2014 and superseding an agreement between Dorian LPG (UK) Ltd. and DHSA, for the provision by Dorian LPG (USA) LLC and its subsidiaries of certain chartering and marine operation services to DHSA, for which income was earned and included in “Other income-related parties” totaling less than $0.1 million for both the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021.
As of June 30, 2022, $1.0 million was due from DHSA and included in “Due from related parties” in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of March 31, 2022, $1.0 million was due from DHSA and included in “Due from related parties” in the audited consolidated balance sheets.
Helios LPG Pool LLC
On April 1, 2015, Dorian and Phoenix began operations of the Helios Pool, which entered into pool participation agreements for the purpose of establishing and operating, as charterer, under variable rate time charters to be entered into with owners or disponent owners of VLGCs, a commercial pool of VLGCs whereby revenues and expenses are shared. We hold a 50% interest in the Helios Pool as a joint venture with Phoenix and all significant rights and obligations are equally shared by both parties. All profits of the Helios Pool are distributed to the pool participants based on pool points assigned to each vessel as variable charter hire and, as a result, there are no profits available to the equity investors as a share of equity. We have determined that the Helios Pool is a variable interest entity as it does not have sufficient equity at risk. We do not consolidate the Helios Pool because we are not the primary beneficiary and do not have a controlling financial interest. In consideration of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810-10-50-4e, the significant factors considered and judgments made in determining that the power to direct the activities of the Helios Pool that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance are shared, in that all significant performance activities which relate to approval of pool policies and strategies related to pool customers and the marketing of the pool for the procurement
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of customers for the pool vessels, addition of new pool vessels and the pool cost management, require unanimous board consent from a board consisting of two members from each joint venture investor. Further, in accordance with the guidance in ASC 810-10-25-38D, the Company and Phoenix are not related parties as defined in ASC 850 nor are they de facto agents pursuant to ASC 810-10, the power over the significant activities of the Helios Pool is shared, and no party is the primary beneficiary in the Helios Pool, or has a controlling financial interest. As of June 30, 2022, the Helios Pool operated twenty-three VLGCs, including twenty vessels from our fleet (including two vessels time chartered-in from unrelated parties) and three Phoenix vessels.
As of June 30, 2022, we had net receivables from the Helios Pool of $79.6 million, including $23.1 million of working capital contributed for the operation of our vessels in the pool (of which $3.3 million was classified as current). As of March 31, 2022, we had net receivables from the Helios Pool of $76.5 million (net of an amount due to Helios Pool of $0.1 million which is reflected under “Due to related Parties”), including $23.1 million of working capital contributed for the operation of our vessels in the pool (of which $3.3 million was classified as current). Our maximum exposure to losses from the pool as of June 30, 2022 is limited to the receivables from the pool. The Helios Pool does not have any third-party debt obligations. The Helios Pool has entered into commercial management agreements with each of Dorian LPG (UK) Ltd. and Phoenix and has appointed both as the exclusive commercial managers of pool vessels. Dorian LPG (DK) ApS has assumed the responsibilities of Dorian LPG (UK) Ltd. under such agreements with the consolidation of our Copenhagen, Denmark and London, United Kingdom offices. Fees for such services earned by Dorian LPG (DK) ApS are included in “Other income-related parties” in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated statement of operations and were $0.5 million for both the three months ended June 30, 2022, and 2021. Additionally, we receive a fixed reimbursement of expenses such as costs for security guards and war risk insurance for vessels operating in high risk areas from the Helios Pool, for which we earned $0.3 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, and 2021, respectively, and are included in “Other revenues, net” in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Through our vessel owning subsidiaries, we have chartered vessels to the Helios Pool during the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021. The time charter revenue from the Helios Pool is variable depending upon the net results of the pool, operating days and pool points for each vessel. The Helios Pool enters into voyage and time charters with external parties and receives freight and related revenue and, where applicable, incurs voyage costs such as bunkers, port costs and commissions. At the end of each month, the Helios Pool calculates net pool revenues using gross revenues, less voyage expenses of all pool vessels, less fixed time charter hire for any chartered-in vessels, less the general and administrative expenses of the pool as variable rate time charter hire for the relevant vessel to participants based on pool points (vessel attributes such as cargo carrying capacity, scrubber-equipped, fuel consumption, and speed are taken into consideration) and number of days the vessel participated in the pool in the period. Net pool revenues, less any amounts required for working capital of the Helios Pool, are distributed, to the extent they have been collected from third-party customers of the Helios Pool. We recognize net pool revenues on a monthly basis, when each relevant vessel has participated in the pool during the period and the amount of net pool revenues for the month can be estimated reliably. Revenue earned from the Helios Pool is presented in Note 12.
4. Deferred Charges, Net
The analysis and movement of deferred charges is presented in the table below:
| Drydocking |
| ||
costs |
| |||
Balance, April 1, 2022 | $ | 9,839,000 | ||
Amortization | (699,186) | |||
Balance, June 30, 2022 |
| $ | 9,139,814 |
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5. Vessels, Net
|
| Accumulated |
|
| ||||||
Cost | depreciation | Net book Value |
| |||||||
Balance, April 1, 2022 | $ | 1,638,075,449 |
| $ | (400,013,759) |
| $ | 1,238,061,690 | ||
Other additions | 299,592 | — | 299,592 | |||||||
Depreciation | — | (15,087,869) | (15,087,869) | |||||||
Balance, June 30, 2022 | $ | 1,638,375,041 |
| $ | (415,101,628) |
| $ | 1,223,273,413 |
Additions to vessels, net mainly consisted of scrubber purchase and installation costs and other capital improvements for certain of our VLGCs during the three months ended June 30, 2022. Our vessels, with a total carrying value of $1,184.7 million and $1,198.7 million as of June 30, 2022 and March 31, 2022, respectively, are first-priority mortgaged as collateral for our long-term debt (refer to Note 7 below). Captain John NP is our only VLGC that is not first-priority mortgaged as collateral for our long-term debt as of June 30, 2022 and March 31, 2022. No impairment loss was recorded for the periods presented.
6. Vessel Under Construction
As further described in Note 15, we have entered into a thirteen-year bareboat charter agreement for a newbuilding dual-fuel VLGC that is expected to be delivered from Kawasaki Heavy Industries in March 2023. The analysis and movement of vessel under construction is presented in the table below:
Balance, April 1, 2022 |
| $ | 16,401,532 |
|
Installment payments | 8,000,000 | |||
Other capitalized expenditures | 234,649 | |||
Capitalized interest | 245,940 | |||
Balance, June 30, 2022 |
| $ | 24,882,121 |
7. Long-term Debt
2015 AR Facility
Refer to Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022 for information on our $758 million debt financing facility that we entered into in March 2015 with a group of banks and financial institutions (the “2015 Facility”), and the amendment and restatement of the 2015 Facility (the “2015 AR Facility”) on April 29, 2020. On April 21, 2022, we prepaid $25.0 million of the 2015 AR Facility’s then outstanding principal using cash on hand, consisting of $11.1 million of the commercial tranche, $11.1 million of the Export Import Bank of Korea (“KEXIM”) direct tranche, and $2.8 million of the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (“K-sure”) insured tranche. On May 19, 2022, we prepaid $20.0 million of the 2015 AR Facility’s then outstanding principal related to Cougar using proceeds from the Cougar Japanese Financing (defined below).
We were in compliance with all financial covenants as of June 30, 2022.
BALCAP Facility
Refer to Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022 for information on our $83.4 million debt financing facility that we entered into in December 2021 with Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC and other financial institutions (the “BALCAP Facility”).
We were in compliance with all financial covenants as of June 30, 2022.
Corsair Japanese Financing
Refer to Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022 for information on the refinancing of our 2014-built VLGC, Corsair, pursuant to a memorandum of agreement and a bareboat charter agreement (the “Corsair Japanese Financing”).
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Concorde Japanese Financing
Refer to Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022 for information on the refinancing of our 2015-built VLGC, Concorde, pursuant to a memorandum of agreement and a bareboat charter agreement (the “Concorde Japanese Financing”). On June 6, 2022, we exercised our repurchase option under the Concorde Japanese Financing by providing a three-month notice to the owners of Concorde of our intent to repurchase the vessel for approximately $41.2 million, including fees, in cash and applied the deposit amount of $14.0 million, which had been retained by the buyer in connection with the Concorde Japanese Financing towards the repurchase of the vessel. We gave notice of our intent to repurchase on June 6, 2022 and expect to complete the refinancing on or about September 6, 2022.
Corvette Japanese Financing
Refer to Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022 for information on the refinancing of our 2015-built VLGC, Corvette, pursuant to a memorandum of agreement and a bareboat charter agreement (the “Corvette Japanese Financing”). On June 6, 2022, we exercised our repurchase option under the Corvette Japanese Financing by providing a 45 day notice to the owners of Corvette of our intent to repurchase the vessel for $42.2 million, including fees, in cash and application of the deposit amount of $14.0 million, which had been retained by the buyer in connection with the Corvette Japanese Financing, towards the repurchase of the vessel (refer to Note 16 below). The repurchase transaction was completed on July 21, 2022.
CNML Japanese Financing
Refer to Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022 for information on the refinancing our 2008-built VLGC, Captain Nicholas ML, pursuant to a memorandum of agreement and a bareboat charter agreement (the “CNML Japanese Financing”).
Cresques Japanese Financing
Refer to Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022 for information on the refinancing our 2015-built VLGC, Cresques, pursuant to a memorandum of agreement and a bareboat charter agreement (the “Cresques Japanese Financing”).
Cratis Japanese Financing
Refer to Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022 for information on the refinancing our 2015-built VLGC, Cratis, pursuant to a memorandum of agreement and a bareboat charter agreement (the “Cratis Japanese Financing”).
Copernicus Japanese Financing
Refer to Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022 for information on the refinancing our 2015-built VLGC, Copernicus, pursuant to a memorandum of agreement and a bareboat charter agreement (the “Copernicus Japanese Financing”).
Chaparral Japanese Financing
Refer to Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022 for information on the refinancing our 2015-built VLGC, Chaparral, pursuant to a memorandum of agreement and a bareboat charter agreement (the “Chaparral Japanese Financing”).
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Caravelle Japanese Financing
Refer to Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022 for information on the refinancing our 2016-built VLGC, Caravelle, pursuant to a memorandum of agreement and a bareboat charter agreement (the “Caravelle Japanese Financing”).
Cougar Japanese Financing
On May 19, 2022, we refinanced a 2015-built VLGC, Cougar, pursuant to a memorandum of agreement and a bareboat charter agreement. In connection therewith, we transferred Cougar to the buyer for $70.0 million and, as part of the agreement, Dorian Shanghai LPG Transport LLC, our wholly-owned subsidiary, bareboat chartered the vessel back for a period of 10 years, with purchase options from the end of year 3 onwards through a mandatory buyout by 2032. We continue to technically manage, commercially charter, and operate Cougar. We received $50.0 million in cash as part of the transaction with $20.0 million to be retained by the buyer as a deposit (the “Cougar Deposit”), which can be used by us towards the repurchase of the vessel either pursuant to an early buyout option or at the end of the 10-year bareboat charter term. The refinancing proceeds of $50.0 million were used to prepay $20.0 million of the 2015 AR Facility’s then outstanding principal amount. The remaining proceeds will be used to pay legal fees associated with this transaction and for general corporate purposes. This transaction will be treated as a financing transaction and Cougar will continue to be recorded as an asset on our balance sheet. This debt financing has a floating interest rate of three-month SOFR plus a margin of 2.45%, not including financing costs of $0.4 million, monthly broker commission fees of 1.25% over the 10-year term on interest and principal payments made, broker commission fees of 0.5% on the exercise of the purchase option or obligation excluding the Cougar Deposit, and a quarterly fixed straight-line principal obligation of approximately $0.9 million over the 10-year term with a balloon payment of $14.0 million.
Debt Obligations
The table below presents our debt obligations:
| June 30, 2022 |
| March 31, 2022 |
| |||
2015 AR Facility | |||||||
Commercial Financing | $ | 71,596,370 | $ | 91,651,888 | |||
KEXIM Direct Financing | 29,087,824 | 44,406,733 | |||||
KEXIM Guaranteed | 40,158,551 | 47,190,358 | |||||
K-sure Insured | 17,814,236 | 23,132,295 | |||||
Total 2015 AR Facility | $ | 158,656,981 | $ | 206,381,274 | |||
Japanese Financings | |||||||
Corsair Japanese Financing | $ | 36,833,334 | $ | 37,645,833 | |||
Concorde Japanese Financing | 41,461,538 | 42,269,231 | |||||
Corvette Japanese Financing | 42,000,000 | 42,807,692 | |||||
Cresques Japanese Financing | 44,805,000 | 45,660,000 | |||||
Cratis Japanese Financing | 48,640,000 | 49,660,000 | |||||
Copernicus Japanese Financing | 48,640,000 | 49,660,000 | |||||
Chaparral Japanese Financing | 64,093,936 | 64,662,242 | |||||
Caravelle Japanese Financing | 48,800,000 | 49,700,000 | |||||
Cougar Japanese Financing | 50,000,000 | — | |||||
Total Japanese Financings | $ | 425,273,808 | $ | 382,064,998 | |||
BALCAP Facility | $ | 79,731,035 | $ | 81,574,172 | |||
Total debt obligations | $ | 663,661,824 | $ | 670,020,444 | |||
Less: deferred financing fees | 6,625,637 | 7,257,486 | |||||
Debt obligations—net of deferred financing fees | $ | 657,036,187 | $ | 662,762,958 | |||
Presented as follows: | |||||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
| $ | 51,929,438 | $ | 72,075,571 | ||
Long-term debt—net of current portion and deferred financing fees |
| 605,106,749 | 590,687,387 | ||||
Total |
| $ | 657,036,187 | $ | 662,762,958 |
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Deferred Financing Fees
The analysis and movement of deferred financing fees is presented in the table below:
| Financing | |||
costs | ||||
Balance, April 1, 2022 | $ | 7,257,486 | ||
Additions | 277,198 | |||
Amortization | (909,047) | |||
Balance, June 30, 2022 |
| $ | 6,625,637 |
8. Leases
Time charter-in contracts
During the three months ended June 30, 2022, we did not take delivery of any time chartered-in VLGCs. As of June 30, 2022, right-of-use assets and lease
of $5.6 million were recognized on our balance sheets related to one VLGC that we had previously time chartered-in for a period of greater than 12 months. Additionally, we previously time-chartered-in a VLGC that was delivered to us in October 2021 with a duration of 12 months with no option periods that was excluded from operating lease right-of-use asset and lease liability recognition on our consolidated balance sheet. Our time chartered-in VLGCs were deployed in the Helios Pool and earned net pool revenues of $6.8 million and $4.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.Charter hire expenses for the VLGCs time chartered in were as follows:
Three months ended | |||||||
June 30, 2022 | June 30, 2021 | ||||||
Charter hire expenses | $ | 5,402,145 | $ | 3,508,070 |
Office leases
We currently have operating leases for our offices in Stamford, Connecticut, USA; London, United Kingdom; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Athens, Greece, which we determined to be operating leases and record the lease expense as part of general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of operations. During the three months ended June 30, 2022, we extended the lease of our Stamford, Connecticut office for an additional five years. We also entered a new lease for our Copenhagen, Denmark office. The contract was signed during the three months ended June 30, 2022, with the lease commencing in August 2022.
Operating lease rent expense related to our office leases was as follows:
Three months ended | |||||||
June 30, 2022 | June 30, 2021 | ||||||
Operating lease rent expense | $ | 154,464 | $ | 151,676 |
For our office leases and time charter-in arrangement, the discount rate used ranged from 3.82% to 5.53%. The weighted average discount rate used to calculate the lease liability was 4.60%. The weighted average remaining lease term of our office leases and time chartered-in vessel as of June 30, 2022 is 13.0 months.
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Our operating lease right-of-use asset and lease liabilities as of June 30, 2022 were as follows:
Maturities of operating lease liabilities as of June 30, 2022 were as follows:
9. Dividends
On May 4, 2022, we announced that our board of directors (“Board of Directors”) declared a cash dividend of $2.50 per share of our common stock to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 16, 2022, totaling $100.3 million. We paid $99.7 million on June 2, 2022, with the remaining $0.6 million deferred until certain shares of restricted stock vest.
This was an irregular dividend. All declarations of dividends are subject to the determination and discretion of our Board of Directors based on its consideration of various factors, including our results of operations, financial condition, level of indebtedness, anticipated capital requirements, contractual restrictions, restrictions in its debt agreements, restrictions under applicable law, its business prospects and other factors that our Board of Directors may deem relevant.
On June 15, 2022, we paid $0.2 million of dividends that were deferred until the vesting of certain restricted stock.
10. Stock Repurchase Authority
On February 2, 2022, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of our common shares (the “2022 Common Share Repurchase Authority”). Under these authorizations, when in force, purchases were and may be made at our discretion in the form of open market repurchase programs, privately negotiated transactions, accelerated share repurchase programs or a combination of these methods. The actual amount and timing of share repurchases are subject to capital availability, our determination that share repurchases are in the best interest of our shareholders, and market conditions. As of June 30, 2022, our total purchases under the 2022 Common Share Repurchase Authority totaled 0.05 million shares for an aggregate consideration of $0.7 million. We are not obligated to make any common share repurchases.
11. Stock-Based Compensation Plans
Our stock-based compensation expense is included within general and administrative expenses in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated statements of operations and was $0.7 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Unrecognized compensation cost was $1.2 million as of June 30, 2022 and will be
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recognized over a remaining weighted average life of 0.67 years. For more information on our equity incentive plan, refer to Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022.
A summary of the activity of restricted shares and units awarded under our equity incentive plan as of June 30, 2022 and changes during the three months ended June 30, 2022, is as follows:
|
| Weighted-Average |
| |||
Grant-Date | ||||||
Incentive Share/Unit Awards | Number of Shares/Units | Fair Value | ||||
Unvested as of April 1, 2022 | 329,090 | $ | 10.56 | |||
Vested | (58,475) | (8.21) | ||||
Unvested as of June 30, 2022 | 270,615 | $ | 11.07 |
12. Revenues
Revenues comprise the following:
Net pool revenues—related party depend upon the net results of the Helios Pool, and the operating days and pool points for each vessel. Refer to Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022.
Other revenues, net mainly represent claim reimbursements and income from charterers relating to reimbursement of voyage expenses, such as costs for war risk insurance and security guards.
13. Financial Instruments and Fair Value Disclosures
Our principal financial assets consist of cash and cash equivalents, amounts due from related parties, investment securities, and trade accounts receivable. Our principal financial liabilities consist of long-term debt, accounts payable, amounts due to related parties, accrued liabilities, and derivative instruments.
(a) | Concentration of credit risk: Financial instruments, which may subject us to significant concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of amounts due from our charterers, including the receivables from Helios Pool, and cash and cash equivalents. We limit our credit risk with amounts due from our charterers, including those through the Helios Pool, by performing ongoing credit evaluations of our charterers’ financial condition and generally do not require collateral from our charterers. We limit our credit risk with our cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash by placing it with highly-rated financial institutions. |
(b) | Interest rate risk: Our long-term bank loans are based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and hence we are exposed to movements thereto. We entered into interest rate swap agreements in order to hedge a majority of our variable interest rate exposure related to our 2015 AR Facility. Refer to Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022 for information on our interest rate swap agreements related to the 2015 AR Facility. |
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Fair value measurements: Interest rate swaps are stated at fair value, which is determined using a discounted cash flow approach based on market‑based LIBOR swap yield rates. LIBOR swap rates are observable at commonly quoted intervals for the full terms of the swaps and, therefore, are considered Level 2 items in accordance with the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the interest rate swap agreements approximates the amount that we would have to pay or receive for the early termination of the agreements.
Additionally, we have previously taken positions in forward freight agreements (“FFAs”) as economic hedges to reduce the risk related to vessels trading in the spot market, including vessels operating in the Helios Pool, and to take advantage of fluctuations in spot market rates. Customary requirements for trading FFAs include the maintenance of initial and variation margins based on expected volatility, open position and mark-to-market of the contracts. FFAs are recorded as assets/liabilities until they are settled. Changes in fair value prior to settlement are recorded in unrealized gain/(loss) on derivatives. Upon settlement, if the contracted charter rate is less than the average of the rates for the specified route and time period, as reported by an identified index, the seller of the FFA is required to pay the buyer the settlement sum, being an amount equal to the difference between the contracted rate and the settlement rate, multiplied by the number of days in the specified period covered by the FFA. Conversely, if the contracted rate is greater than the settlement rate, the buyer is required to pay the seller the settlement sum. Settlements of FFAs are recorded in realized gain/(loss) on derivatives. FFAs are considered Level 2 items in accordance with the fair value hierarchy. We had no outstanding FFAs as of June 30, 2022, but we have taken positions in FFAs in the past and we may do so again in the future.
The following table summarizes the location on the balance sheet of the financial assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value on a recurring basis, which comprise our financial derivatives, all of which are considered Level 2 items in accordance with the fair value hierarchy:
The effect of derivative instruments within the unaudited interim condensed consolidated statements of operations for the periods presented is as follows:
As of June 30, 2022 and March 31, 2022, no fair value measurements for assets or liabilities under Level 1 or Level 3 were recognized in the consolidated balance sheets with the exception of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and investment securities. We did not have any other assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis during the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021.
(c) | Book values and fair values of financial instruments: In addition to the derivatives that we are required to record at fair value on our balance sheet (see (c) above) and investment securities that are included in other current assets in our balance sheet that we record at fair value, we have other financial instruments that are carried at historical cost. These financial instruments include trade accounts receivable, amounts due from related parties, cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts payable, amounts due to related parties |
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and accrued liabilities for which the historical carrying value approximates the fair value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and investment securities are considered Level 1 items. |
The summary of gains and losses on our investment securities included in other gain/(loss), net on our consolidated statements of operations for the periods presented is as follows:
We have long-term bank debt and the Cresques Japanese Financing for which we believe the carrying values approximate their fair values as the loans bear interest at variable interest rates, being LIBOR, which is observable at commonly quoted intervals for the full terms of the loans, and hence are considered as Level 2 items in accordance with the fair value hierarchy. We also have the Cougar Japanese Financing which bears interest at variable interest rates, being SOFR. We also have long-term debt related to the Corsair Japanese Financing, Concorde Japanese Financing, Corvette Japanese Financing, Cratis Japanese Financing, Copernicus Japanese Financing, Chaparral Japanese Financing, and Caravelle Japanese Financing (collectively the “Japanese Financings”) that incur interest at a fixed-rate. We have long-term debt related to the BALCAP Facility that incurs interest at a fixed-rate. The Japanese Financings and the BALCAP Facility are considered Level 2 items in accordance with the fair value hierarchy and the fair value of each is based on a discounted cash flow analysis using current observable interest rates. The following table summarizes the carrying value and estimated fair value of our fixed debt obligations as of:
14. Earnings Per Share (“EPS”)
Basic EPS represents net income attributable to common shareholders divided by the weighted average number of our common shares outstanding during the measurement period. Our restricted stock shares include rights to receive dividends that are subject to the risk of forfeiture if service requirements are not satisfied, and as a result, these shares are not considered participating securities and are excluded from the basic weighted-average shares outstanding calculation. Diluted EPS represent net income attributable to common shareholders divided by the weighted average number of our common shares outstanding during the measurement period while also giving effect to all potentially dilutive common shares that were outstanding during the period.
16
The calculations of basic and diluted EPS for the periods presented are as follows:
No shares of unvested restricted stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021.
15. Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments under Bareboat Charter Header Agreement
On March 31, 2021, we entered into a thirteen-year bareboat charter agreement for a newbuilding dual-fuel VLGC that is expected to be delivered from Kawasaki Heavy Industries in March 2023. The structure of the financing of the newbuilding is analogous to that of our Japanese Financings in which a third party will purchase the vessel and we will bareboat charter such vessel from the third party. As part of the agreement, we control the building of the vessel and the use of the vessel after it is delivered. The vessel will be built to our specifications; we will supervise the building of the vessel to meet these specifications; and we will technically and commercially manage the vessel after its delivery. Under the agreement, we had commitments of $24.0 million of predelivery costs as well as the cost of additional features to meet our specifications and supervision costs for an aggregate total of approximately $25.0 million. As of June 30, 2022, we had approximately $1.0 million of commitments under the agreement outstanding that we expect to settle during the year ending March 31, 2023. Construction of the vessel commenced in December 2021.
Operating Leases
We had the following commitments as a lessee under operating leases relating to our United States, Greece, United Kingdom, and Denmark offices:
June 30, 2022 | ||||
Less than one year | $ | 377,387 | ||
One to three years | 578,300 | |||
Three to five years | 333,530 | |||
Total | $ | 1,289,217 |
Time Charter-in
During the three months ended June 30, 2022, we did not time-charter in any VLGCs. Commitments as of June 30, 2022, relate to (i) three newbuilding dual-fuel Panamax LPG vessels that we previously entered into agreements to time-charter in with purchase options that are scheduled to be delivered in the second and third calendar quarters of 2023 for a period of seven years each; (ii) a one-year time chartered-in VLGC that was delivered to us in October 2021; and (iii) a three-year time chartered-in VLGC that was delivered to us in February 2020. We had the following time charter-in commitments relating to VLGCs:
June 30, 2022 | ||||
Less than one year | $ | 17,961,893 | ||
One to three years | 64,080,000 | |||
Three to five years | 64,080,000 | |||
Thereafter | 85,460,000 |
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Total | $ | 231,581,893 |
Fixed Time Charter Contracts
We had the following future minimum fixed time charter hire receipts based on non-cancelable long-term fixed time charter contracts:
June 30, 2022 | ||||
Less than one year | $ | 13,255,578 | ||
Total | $ | 13,255,578 |
Other
From time to time, we expect to be subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business, principally personal injury and property casualty claims. Such claims, even if lacking in merit, could result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources. We are not aware of any claim other than that described below, which is reasonably possible and should be disclosed or probable and for which a provision should be established in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
16. Subsequent Events
Repurchase of Corvette
On July 21, 2022, we repurchased Corvette for $42.2 million in cash, including fees, and application of the deposit amount of $14.0 million, which had been retained by the buyer in connection with the Corvette Japanese Financing, towards the repurchase of the vessel. Corvette was subsequently refinanced under the 2022 Debt Facility (defined below).
2022 Debt Facility
On July 29, 2022, we entered into a $260 million debt financing facility (the “2022 Debt Facility”) with Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (“CACIB”), ING Bank N.V. (“ING”), Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) (“SEB”), BNP Paribas (“BNP”), and Danish Ship Finance A/S (“DSF”) to refinance indebtedness under the 2015 AR Facility and the Concorde Japanese Financing (upon its repurchase in September 2022) and to releverage Corvette following the repurchase of that vessel from its owners on July 21, 2022. The 2022 Debt Facility consists of (i) a term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $240 million and (ii) a revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $20 million. The term loan is for a period of seven (7) years with an interest rate of SOFR plus a margin of 2.20%.
The 2022 Debt Facility is secured by, among other things, (i) first priority Bahamian mortgages on the vessels financed, (ii) first priority assignments of all of the financed vessels’ mandatory insurances and earnings and management agreements; (iii) first priority pledge in respect of all limited liability company interests of the borrowers and vessel-owning guarantors; (iv) first priority charter assignments of all of the financed vessels’ long-term charters to non-Helios LPG Pool parties with an original tenor greater than 13 months; and (v) a guaranty by the Company guaranteeing the obligations of the borrower and other guarantors under the facility agreement. The 2022 Debt Facility further provides that the facility is to be secured by assignments of the borrower’s rights under any hedging contracts in connection with the facility, but such assignments have not been entered into at this time.
The 2022 Debt Facility also contains customary covenants that require us to maintain adequate insurance coverage and to properly maintain the vessels. The loan facility includes customary events of default, including those relating to a failure to pay principal or interest, breaches of covenants, representations and warranties, a cross-default to certain other debt obligations and non-compliance with security documents, and customary restrictions on paying dividends if an event of default has occurred and is continuing, or if an event of default would result therefrom.
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The following financial covenants are the most restrictive from the 2022 Debt Facility with which the Company is required to comply, calculated on a consolidated basis, determined and defined according to the provisions of the loan agreement and its amendments:
● | The ratio of current assets and long-term restricted cash divided by current liabilities, excluding current portion of long-term debt, shall always be greater than ; |
●Maintain minimum shareholders’ equity at all times equal to the aggregate of $400 million;
●The ratio of consolidated net debt to consolidated total capitalization shall not exceed to ;
● | Fair market value of the mortgaged ships plus any additional security over the outstanding loan balance shall not be less than 145%; and |
● | Minimum liquidity covenant of the greater of (i) $27.5 million and (ii) 5% of consolidated interest-bearing debt. |
The margin can be decreased by
basis points if the leverage ratio (which is based on our aggregate market value ratio for vessels secured under the 2022 Debt Facility) is less than 35% or increased by basis points if it is greater than or equal to 45%. We have the potential to receive a basis point increase or reduction in the margin applicable to the 2022 Debt Facility for reductions in our average efficiency ratio (which weighs carbon emissions for a voyage against the design deadweight of a vessel and the distance traveled on such voyage) versus the level set by the IMO.We have reclassified $2.5 million from long-term debt to current portion of long-term debt as a result of this refinancing.
Dividend
On August 3, 2022, we announced that our Board of Directors declared an irregular cash dividend of $1.00 per share of the Company’s common stock to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 15, 2022, totaling $40.1 million. The dividend is payable on or about September 2, 2022.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, such as those set forth under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” herein and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Please also see the section “Forward-Looking Statements” included in this quarterly report.
Overview
We are a Marshall Islands corporation headquartered in the United States and primarily focused on owning and operating VLGCs, each with a cargo-carrying capacity of greater than 80,000 cbm, in the LPG shipping industry. Our fleet currently consists of twenty-two VLGC carriers, including nineteen fuel-efficient 84,000 cbm ECO-VLGCs, one 82,000 cbm VLGCs, and two time chartered-in ECO-VLGCs. Thirteen of our ECO-VLGCs, including one time chartered-in vessel, are currently equipped with scrubbers to reduce sulfur emissions.
Dorian’s nineteen ECO-VLGCs, which incorporate fuel efficiency, emission-reducing technologies, and certain custom features, were acquired by us for an aggregate purchase price of $1.4 billion and delivered to us between July 2014 and February 2016, seventeen of which were delivered during calendar year 2015 or later.
On April 1, 2015, Dorian and Phoenix began operations of the Helios Pool, which entered into pool participation agreements for the purpose of establishing and operating, as charterer, under a variable rate time charter to be entered into with owners or disponent owners of VLGCs, a commercial pool of VLGCs whereby revenues and expenses are shared. The vessels entered into the Helios Pool may operate either in the spot market, pursuant to contracts of affreightment, or COAs, or on time charters of two years' duration or less. As of July 29, 2022, twenty of our twenty-two VLGCs were employed in the Helios Pool, including our two time chartered-in VLGCs.
Our customers, either directly or through the Helios Pool, include or have included global energy companies such as Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp., China International United Petroleum & Chemicals Co., Ltd., Royal Dutch Shell plc, Equinor ASA, Total S.A., and Sunoco LP, commodity traders such as Glencore plc, Itochu Corporation, Bayegan Group, Vilma Oil SL, and the Vitol Group and importers such as E1 Corp., Indian Oil Corporation, SK Gas Co. Ltd., Astomos Energy Corporation, and Oriental Energy Company Ltd. or subsidiaries of the foregoing.
We continue to pursue a balanced chartering strategy by employing our vessels on a mix of multi-year time charters, some of which may include a profit-sharing component, shorter-term time charters, spot market voyages and COAs. Currently, two of our VLGCs are on fixed-rate time charters outside of the Helios Pool. See “Our Fleet” below for more information and the definition of Pool-TCO.
Recent Developments
Repurchase of Corvette
On July 21, 2022, we repurchased Corvette for $42.2 million, including fees, in cash and application of the deposit amount of $14.0 million, which had been retained by the buyer in connection with the Corvette Japanese Financing, towards the repurchase of the vessel. Corvette was subsequently refinanced under the 2022 Debt Facility.
Planned Repurchase of Concorde
On June 6, 2022, we gave 90 day notice to the owners of Concorde to repurchase the vessel on or about September 6, 2022. We expect that we will repurchase the vessel for $41.2 million, including fees, in cash and the application of the deposit amount of $14.0 million retained by the buyer in connection with the Concorde Japanese Financing. Concorde will also become part of the 2022 Debt Facility upon completion of the repurchase.
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2022 Debt Facility
On July 29, 2022, we entered into a $260 million debt financing facility (the “2022 Debt Facility”) with Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (“CACIB”), ING Bank N.V. (“ING”), Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) (“SEB”), BNP Paribas (“BNP”), and Danish Ship Finance A/S (“DSF”) to refinance indebtedness under the 2015 AR Facility and the Concorde Japanese Financing (upon its repurchase in September 2022) and to releverage Corvette following the repurchase of that vessel from its owners on July 21, 2022. The 2022 Debt Facility consists of (i) a term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $240 million and (ii) a revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $20 million. The term loan is for a period of seven (7) years with an interest rate of SOFR plus a margin of 2.20%.
The 2022 Debt Facility is secured by, among other things, (i) first priority Bahamian mortgages on the vessels financed, (ii) first priority assignments of all of the financed vessels’ mandatory insurances and earnings and management agreements; (iii) first priority pledge in respect of all limited liability company interests of the borrowers and vessel-owning guarantors; (iv) first priority charter assignments of all of the financed vessels’ long-term charters to non-Helios LPG Pool parties with an original tenor greater than 13 months; and (v) a guaranty by the Company guaranteeing the obligations of the borrower and other guarantors under the facility agreement. The 2022 Debt Facility further provides that the facility is to be secured by assignments of the borrower’s rights under any hedging contracts in connection with the facility, but such assignments have not been entered into at this time.
The 2022 Debt Facility also contains customary covenants that require us to maintain adequate insurance coverage and to properly maintain the vessels. The loan facility includes customary events of default, including those relating to a failure to pay principal or interest, breaches of covenants, representations and warranties, a cross-default to certain other debt obligations and non-compliance with security documents, and customary restrictions on paying dividends if an event of default has occurred and is continuing, or if an event of default would result therefrom.
The following financial covenants are the most restrictive from the 2022 Debt Facility with which the Company is required to comply, calculated on a consolidated basis, determined and defined according to the provisions of the loan agreement and its amendments:
● | The ratio of current assets and long-term restricted cash divided by current liabilities, excluding current portion of long-term debt, shall always be greater than 1.00; |
●Maintain minimum shareholders’ equity at all times equal to the aggregate of $400 million;
●The ratio of consolidated net debt to consolidated total capitalization shall not exceed 0.60 to 1.00;
● | Fair market value of the mortgaged ships plus any additional security over the outstanding loan balance shall not be less than 145%; and |
● | Minimum liquidity covenant of the greater of (i) $27.5 million and (ii) 5% of consolidated interest-bearing debt. |
The margin can be decreased by five basis points if the leverage ratio (which is based on our aggregate market value ratio for vessels secured under the 2022 Debt Facility) is less than 35% or increased by five basis points if it is greater than or equal to 45%. We have the potential to receive a five basis point increase or reduction in the margin applicable to the 2022 Debt Facility for changes in our average efficiency ratio (which weighs carbon emissions for a voyage against the design deadweight of a vessel and the distance traveled on such voyage).
Dividend
On August 3, 2022, we announced that our Board of Directors declared an irregular cash dividend of $1.00 per share of our common stock to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 15, 2022, totaling $40.1 million. The dividend is payable on or about September 2, 2022.
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Our Fleet
The following table sets forth certain information regarding our fleet as of July 29, 2022.
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Capacity | ECO | Scrubber | Charter |
| |||||||||||
(Cbm) | Shipyard | Year Built | Vessel(1) | Equipped | Employment | Expiration(2) |
| ||||||||
Dorian VLGCs | |||||||||||||||
Captain John NP |
| 82,000 |
| Hyundai |
| 2007 |
| — |
| — |
| Pool(4) |
| — | |
Comet |
| 84,000 |
| Hyundai |
| 2014 |
| X |
| X |
| Pool(4) |
| — | |
Corsair(3) |
| 84,000 |
| Hyundai |
| 2014 |
| X |
| X |
| Time Charter(6) |
| Q4 2022 | |
Corvette |
| 84,000 |
| Hyundai |
| 2015 |
| X |
| X |
| Pool(4) |
| — | |
Cougar(3) |
| 84,000 |
| Hyundai |
| 2015 |
| X |
| — |
| Pool(4) |
| — | |
Concorde(3) |
| 84,000 |
| Hyundai |
| 2015 |
| X |
| X |
| Time Charter(7) |
| Q1 2023 | |
Cobra |
| 84,000 |
| Hyundai |
| 2015 |
| X |
| — |
| Pool(4) |
| — | |
Continental |
| 84,000 |
| Hyundai |
| 2015 |
| X |
| — |
| Pool(4) |
| — | |
Constitution |
| 84,000 |
| Hyundai |
| 2015 |
| X |
| X |
| Pool(4) |
| — | |
Commodore |
| 84,000 |
| Hyundai |
| 2015 |
| X |
| — |
| Pool-TCO(5) |
| Q1 2023 | |
Cresques(3) |
| 84,000 |
| Daewoo |
| 2015 |
| X |
| X |
| Pool(4) |
| — | |
Constellation |
| 84,000 |
| Hyundai |
| 2015 |
| X |
| X |
| Pool(4) |
| — | |
Cheyenne |
| 84,000 |
| Hyundai |
| 2015 |
| X |
| X |
| Pool-TCO(5) |
| Q2 2023 | |
Clermont |
| 84,000 |
| Hyundai |
| 2015 |
| X |
| X |
| Pool-TCO(5) |
| Q1 2023 | |
Cratis(3) |
| 84,000 |
| Daewoo |
| 2015 |
| X |
| X |
| Pool(4) |
| — | |
Chaparral(3) |
| 84,000 |
| Hyundai |
| 2015 |
| X |
| — |
| Pool(4) |
| — | |
Copernicus(3) |
| 84,000 |
| Daewoo |
| 2015 |
| X |
| X |
| Pool(4) |
| — | |
Commander |
| 84,000 |
| Hyundai |
| 2015 |
| X |
| X |
| Pool(4) |
| — | |
Challenger |
| 84,000 |
| Hyundai |
| 2015 |
| X |
| — |
| Pool-TCO(5) | Q4 2022 | ||
Caravelle(3) |
| 84,000 |
| Hyundai |
| 2016 |
| X |
| — |
| Pool(4) |
| — | |
Total |
| 1,678,000 | |||||||||||||
Time chartered-in VLGCs | |||||||||||||||
Future Diamond(8) | 80,876 | Hyundai | 2020 | X | X | Pool(4) |
| — | |||||||
Astomos Venus(9) | 77,367 | Mitsubishi | 2016 | X | — | Pool(4) |
| — |
(1) | Represents vessels with very low revolutions per minute, long-stroke, electronically controlled engines, larger propellers, advanced hull design, and low friction paint. |
(2) | Represents calendar year quarters. |
(3) | Operated pursuant to a bareboat chartering agreement as of July 29, 2022. See Note 7 to our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included herein. |
(4) | “Pool” indicates that the vessel operates in the Helios Pool on a voyage charter with a third party and we receive a portion of the pool profits calculated according to a formula based on the vessel’s pro rata performance in the pool. |
(5) | “Pool-TCO” indicates that the vessel is operated in the Helios Pool on a time charter out to a third party and we receive a portion of the pool profits calculated according to a formula based on the vessel’s pro rata performance in the pool. |
(6) | Currently on a time charter with an oil major that began in November 2019. |
(7) | Currently on time charter with a major oil company that began in March 2019. |
(8) | Currently time chartered-in to our fleet with an expiration during the first calendar quarter of 2023. |
(9) | Currently time chartered-in to our fleet with an expiration during the fourth calendar quarter of 2022. |
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Results of Operations – For the three months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2021
Revenues
The following table compares our revenues for the three months ended June 30:
Increase / | Percent | |||||||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| (Decrease) |
| Change | |||||
Net pool revenues—related party |
| $ | 70,171,001 |
| $ | 55,162,246 |
| $ | 15,008,755 | 27.2 | % | |
Time charter revenues |
| 6,241,915 |
| 5,346,139 |
| 895,776 | 16.8 | % | ||||
Other revenues, net |
| 410,806 |
| 2,442,353 |
| (2,031,547) | (83.2) | % | ||||
Total |
| $ | 76,823,722 |
| $ | 62,950,738 |
| $ | 13,872,984 | 22.0 | % |
Revenues, which represent net pool revenues—related party, time charters and other revenues, net, were $76.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, an increase of $13.8 million, or 22.0%, from $63.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 primarily due to an increase in average TCE rates, despite a slight decrease in fleet utilization. Average TCE rates increased by $8,037 from $31,571 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 to $39,608 for the three months ended June 30, 2022, primarily due to higher spot rates despite higher bunker prices. The Baltic Exchange Liquid Petroleum Gas Index, an index published daily by the Baltic Exchange for the spot market rate for the benchmark Ras Tanura-Chiba route (expressed as U.S. dollars per metric ton), averaged $76.175 during the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to an average of $52.790 for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The average price of very low sulfur fuel oil (expressed as U.S. dollars per metric ton), from Singapore and Fujairah increased from $508 during the three months ended June 30, 2021, to $955 during the three months ended June 30, 2022. Our fleet utilization decreased from 96.1% during the three months ended June 30, 2021 to 95.9% during the three months ended June 30, 2022.
Charter Hire Expenses
Charter hire expenses for the vessels chartered in from third parties were $5.4 million and $3.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The increase of $1.9 million, or 54.0%, was mainly caused by an increase in the number of chartered-in days from 139 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 to 182 for the three months ended June 30, 2022.
Vessel Operating Expenses
Vessel operating expenses were $17.1 million during the three months ended June 30, 2022, or $9,378 per vessel per calendar day, which is calculated by dividing vessel operating expenses by calendar days for the relevant time-period for the technically-managed vessels that were in our fleet. The decrease of $3.2 million, or 15.8% from $20.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was due to a reduction of calendar days for our fleet from 2,002 during the three months ended June 30, 2021 to 1,820 during the three months ended June 30, 2022, driven by the sales of Captain Markos NL and Captain Nicholas ML prior to the three months ended June 30, 2022. The decrease of $753 per vessel per calendar day, from $10,131 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 to $9,378 per vessel per calendar day for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was partly the result of a $0.9 million, or $426 per vessel per calendar day, decrease in non-capitalizable operating expenses related to the drydocking of vessels. Adjusting for the non-capitalizable drydocking costs, vessel operating expenses per vessel per calendar day decreased $326 during the three months ended June 30, 2022, mainly due to lower crew wages and related costs.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses were $9.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, an increase of $1.4 million, or 17.1%, from $8.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021. This increase was driven by an increase of $1.6 million, representing the cash bonuses for the Company’s named executive officers that were approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and expensed and paid during the three months ended June 30, 2022, whereas the cash bonuses for the named executive officers of the Company in respect of the fiscal year ended March
23
31, 2021 were approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and expensed and paid during the three months ended September 30, 2021 and not during the three months ended June 30, 2021.
Interest and Finance Costs
Interest and finance costs amounted to $8.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, an increase of $2.4 million, or 40.9%, from $5.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The increase of $2.4 million during this period was mainly due to increases of $2.0 million in interest incurred on our long-term debt and $0.3 million in loan expenses driven by an increase in interest rates and average indebtedness, excluding deferred financing fees, from $600.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 to $687.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022. Average interest rates increased on our long-term debt from 3.7% to 4.1% due to rising LIBOR and SOFR on our floating-rate long-term debt. The increase in average indebtedness is due to the refinancings of the VLGCs Constellation, Commander, Cratis, Copernicus, Chaparral and Caravelle during the year ended March 31, 2022, as well as the refinancing of the VLGC Cougar during the three months ended June 30, 2022. As of June 30, 2022, the outstanding balance of our long-term debt, net of deferred financing fees of $6.6 million, was $657.0 million.
Unrealized Gain on Derivatives
Unrealized gain on derivatives amounted to $2.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $0.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The favorable $2.1 million difference is primarily attributable to an increase in favorable fair value changes to our interest rate swaps resulting from changes in forward LIBOR yield curves.
Realized Loss on Derivatives
Realized loss on derivatives amounted to $0.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $0.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The favorable $0.8 million difference is due to an increase in floating LIBOR resulting in the reduction of realized losses on our interest rate swaps.
Operating Statistics and Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Measures
To supplement our financial statements presented in accordance with U.S.GAAP, we present certain operating statistics and non-GAAP measures to assist in the evaluation of our business performance. These non-GAAP measures include Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) and time charter equivalent rate. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income and revenues, which are the most directly comparable measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
We use these non-GAAP measures in assessing the performance of our ongoing operations and in planning and forecasting future periods. These adjusted measures provide a more comparable basis to analyze operating results and earnings and are measures commonly used by shareholders to measure our performance. We believe that these adjusted measures, when considered together with the corresponding U.S. GAAP measures and the reconciliations to those measures, provide meaningful supplemental information to assist investors and analysts in understanding our business results and assessing our prospects for future performance.
24
(1) | Adjusted EBITDA is an unaudited non-U.S. GAAP measure and represents net income/(loss) before interest and finance costs, unrealized (gain)/loss on derivatives, realized (gain)/loss on interest rate swaps, stock-based compensation expense, impairment, and depreciation and amortization and is used as a supplemental measure by management to assess our financial and operating performance. We believe that adjusted EBITDA assists our management and investors by increasing the comparability of our performance from period to period and management makes business and resource-allocation decisions based on such comparisons. This increased comparability is achieved by excluding the potentially disparate effects between periods of derivatives, interest and finance costs, stock-based compensation expense, impairment, and depreciation and amortization expense, which items are affected by various and possibly changing financing methods, capital structure and historical cost basis and which items may significantly affect net income/(loss) between periods. We believe that including adjusted EBITDA as a financial and operating measure benefits investors in selecting between investing in us and other investment alternatives. |
Adjusted EBITDA has certain limitations in use and should not be considered an alternative to net income/(loss), operating income, cash flow from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income/(loss). Adjusted EBITDA as presented below may not be computed consistently with similarly titled measures of other companies and, therefore, might not be comparable with other companies.
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA (unaudited) for the periods presented:
(2) | We define calendar days as the total number of days in a period during which each vessel in our fleet was owned or operated pursuant to a bareboat charter. Calendar days are an indicator of the size of the fleet over a period and affect both the amount of revenues and the amount of expenses that are recorded during that period. |
(3) | We define time chartered-in days as the aggregate number of days in a period during which we time chartered-in vessels from third parties. Time chartered-in days are an indicator of the size of the fleet over a period and affect both the amount of revenues and the amount of charter hire expenses that are recorded during that period. |
(4) | We define available days as the sum of calendar days and time chartered-in days (collectively representing our commercially-managed vessels) less aggregate off hire days associated with scheduled maintenance, which include major repairs, drydockings, vessel upgrades or special or intermediate surveys. We use available days to measure the aggregate number of days in a period that our vessels should be capable of generating revenues. |
(5) | We define operating days as available days less the aggregate number of days that the commercially-managed vessels in our fleet are off‑hire for any reason other than scheduled maintenance (e.g., repositioning following drydocking, commercial |
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waiting, etc.). We use operating days to measure the number of days in a period that our operating vessels are on hire (refer to 8 below). |
(6) | We calculate fleet utilization by dividing the number of operating days during a period by the number of available days during that period. An increase in non-scheduled off-hire days would reduce our operating days, and, therefore, our fleet utilization. We use fleet utilization to measure our ability to efficiently find suitable employment for our vessels. |
(7) | Time charter equivalent rate, or TCE rate, is a non-U.S. GAAP measure of the average daily revenue performance of a vessel. TCE rate is a shipping industry performance measure used primarily to compare period‑to‑period changes in a shipping company’s performance despite changes in the mix of charter types (such as time charters, voyage charters) under which the vessels may be employed between the periods and is a factor in management’s business decisions. Our method of calculating TCE rate is to divide revenue net of voyage expenses by operating days for the relevant time period, which may not be calculated the same by other companies. Note that our calculation of TCE includes our portion of the net profit of the Helios Pool, which may also cause our calculation to differ from that of companies which do not account for pooling arrangements as we do. |
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of revenues to TCE rate (unaudited) for the periods presented:
* Adjusted for the effect of reallocations of pool profits in accordance with the pool participation agreements due to adjustments related to speed and consumption performance of the vessels operating in the Helios Pool.
(8) | We determine operating days for each vessel based on the underlying vessel employment, including our vessels in the Helios Pool, or the Company Methodology. If we were to calculate operating days for each vessel within the Helios Pool as a variable rate time charter, or the Alternate Methodology, our operating days and fleet utilization would be increased with a corresponding reduction to our TCE rate. Operating data using both methodologies is as follows: |
We believe that the Company Methodology using the underlying vessel employment provides more meaningful insight into market conditions and the performance of our vessels.
(9) | Daily vessel operating expenses are calculated by dividing vessel operating expenses by calendar days for the relevant time period. |
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our business is capital intensive, and our future success depends on our ability to maintain a high-quality fleet. As of June 30, 2022, we had cash and cash equivalents of $155.5 million and non-current restricted cash of $0.1 million.
Our primary sources of capital during the three months ended June 30, 2022 were $34.1 million in cash generated from operations, and $29.9 million in net proceeds from the refinancing of Cougar. As of June 30, 2022, the outstanding balance of our long-term debt, net of deferred financing fees of $6.6 million, was $657.0 million including $51.9 million of principal on our long-term debt scheduled to be repaid within the next twelve months.
Operating expenses, including expenses to maintain the quality of our vessels in order to comply with international shipping standards and environmental laws and regulations, the funding of working capital requirements, long-term debt repayments, financing costs, commitments under the bareboat charter for a newbuilding dual-fuel VLGC, and drydocking on certain of our VLGCs represent our short-term, medium-term and long-term liquidity needs as of June 30, 2022. We anticipate satisfying our liquidity needs for at least the next twelve months with cash on hand and cash from operations. We may also seek additional liquidity through alternative sources of debt financings and/or through equity financings by way of private or public offerings. However, if these sources are insufficient to satisfy our short-term liquidity needs, or to satisfy our future medium-term or long-term liquidity needs, we may need to seek alternative sources of financing and/or modifications of our existing credit facility and financing arrangements. There is no assurance that we will be able to obtain any such financing or modifications to our existing credit facility and financing arrangements on terms acceptable to us, or at all.
On February 2, 2022, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of our common shares (the “2022 Common Share Repurchase Authority”). Under these authorizations, when in force, purchases were and may be made at our discretion in the form of open market repurchase programs, privately negotiated transactions, accelerated share repurchase programs or a combination of these methods. The actual amount and timing of share repurchases are subject to capital availability, our determination that share repurchases are in the best interest of our shareholders, and market conditions. As of June 30, 2022, our total purchases under the 2022 Common Share Repurchase Authority totaled 0.05 million shares for an aggregate consideration of $0.7 million. We are not obligated to make any common share repurchases.
On May 4, 2022, we announced that our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $2.50 per share of our common stock to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 16, 2022, totaling $100.3 million. We paid $99.7 million on June 2, 2022 with the remaining $0.6 million deferred until certain shares of restricted stock vest.
This was an irregular dividend. All declarations of dividends are subject to the determination and discretion of our Board of Directors based on its consideration of various factors, including our results of operations, financial condition, level of indebtedness, anticipated capital requirements, contractual restrictions, restrictions in its debt agreements, restrictions under applicable law, its business prospects and other factors that our Board of Directors may deem relevant. Our dividend policy will also impact our future liquidity position. Marshall Islands law generally prohibits the payment of dividends other than from surplus or while a company is insolvent or would be rendered insolvent by the payment of such a dividend.
On June 15, 2022, we paid $0.2 million of dividends that were deferred until the vesting of certain restricted stock.
On May 19, 2022, we refinanced a 2015-built VLGC, Cougar, pursuant to a memorandum of agreement and a bareboat charter agreement. We received $50.0 million in cash as part of the transaction with $20.0 million to be retained by the buyer as a deposit, which can be used by us towards the repurchase of the vessel either pursuant to an early buyout option or at the end of the 10-year bareboat charter term. The refinancing proceeds of $50.0 million were used to prepay $20.0 million of the 2015 AR Facility’s then outstanding principal amount.
On June 6, 2022, we exercised our repurchase option under the Concorde Japanese Financing by providing a three-month notice to the owners of Concorde of our intent to repurchase the vessel for approximately $41.2 million,
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including fees, in cash and applied the deposit amount of $14.0 million, which had been retained by the buyer in connection with the Concorde Japanese Financing towards the repurchase of the vessel. We expect to complete this transaction in September 2022.
On July 21, 2022, we repurchased Corvette for $42.2 million in cash and application of the deposit amount of $14.0 million, which had been retained by the buyer in connection with the Corvette Japanese Financing, towards the repurchase of the vessel. Corvette was subsequently refinanced under the 2022 Debt Facility.
On July 29, 2022, we entered into a $260 million debt financing facility (the “2022 Debt Facility”) with Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (“CACIB”), ING Bank N.V. (“ING”), Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) (“SEB”), BNP Paribas (“BNP”), and Danish Ship Finance A/S (“DSF”) to refinance indebtedness under the 2015 AR Facility and the Concorde Japanese Financing (upon its repurchase in September 2022) and to releverage Corvette following the repurchase of that vessel from its owners on July 21, 2022. The 2022 Debt Facility consists of (i) a term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $240 million and (ii) a revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $20 million. The term loan is for a period of seven (7) years with an interest rate of SOFR plus a margin of 2.20%.
As part of our growth strategy, we will continue to consider strategic opportunities, including the acquisition or charter-in of additional vessels. We may choose to pursue such opportunities through internal growth, joint ventures, business acquisitions, or other transactions. We expect to finance the purchase price of any future acquisitions either through internally generated funds, public or private debt financings, public or private issuances of additional equity securities or a combination of these forms of financing.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash and cash equivalents provided by/(used in) operating, financing and investing activities for the three months ended June 30:
2022 | 2021 | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 34,094,374 | $ | 38,071,320 | ||
Net cash used in investing activities |
| (6,827,227) |
| (12,048,241) | ||
Net cash used in financing activities |
| (108,259,342) |
| (27,087,746) | ||
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | $ | (81,245,029) | $ | (1,074,390) |
Operating Cash Flows. Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was $34.1 million, compared to $38.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The decrease in cash generated from operations of $4.0 million is primarily related to changes in working capital, despite an increase in operating income. The unfavorable change in working capital was mainly from amounts due from the Helios Pool as distributions from the Helios Pool are impacted by the timing of the completion of voyages, spot market rates and bunker prices.
Net cash flow from operating activities depends upon our overall profitability, market rates for vessels employed on voyage charters and in the Helios Pool, charter rates agreed to for time charters, the timing and amount of payments for drydocking expenditures and unscheduled repairs and maintenance, fluctuations in working capital balances and bunker costs.
Investing Cash Flows. Net cash used in investing activities was $6.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared with $12.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021. For the three months ended June 30, 2022, net cash used in investing activities was comprised of $8.8 million of capital expenditure payments for vessels and vessels under construction, partially offset by $2.0 million in proceeds from the sale of investment securities. For the three months ended June 30, 2021, net cash used in investing activities was comprised of $9.8 million of payments for vessels under construction and vessel-related capital expenditures and $2.3 million in purchases of investment securities.
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Financing Cash Flows. Net cash used in financing activities was $108.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared with $27.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021. For the three months ended June 30, 2022, net cash used in financing activities primarily consisted of (i) dividend payments of $99.9 million; (ii) repayments of long-term debt of $56.4 million, including the voluntary prepayment of a portion of the 2015 AR Facility ($25 million) and the prepayment of a portion of the 2015 AR Facility in relation to the refinancing of Cougar ($20.0 million); (iii) payments to repurchase common stock of $1.0 million, and (iv) payments of financing costs totaling $1.0 million.
This is partially offset by proceeds of $50.0 million from the refinancing of Cougar. For the three months ended June 30, 2021, net cash used in financing activities consisted of payments to repurchase common stock of $14.1 million and repayments of long-term debt of $13.0 million.
Capital Expenditures. LPG transportation is a capital‑intensive business, requiring significant investment to maintain an efficient fleet and to stay in regulatory compliance.
We are generally required to complete a special survey for a vessel once every five years. Drydocking of vessels occurs every five years unless an extension is granted by the classification society to seven and one-half years and the vessel is not older than 20 years of age. Intermediate surveys are performed every two and one-half years after the first special survey. Drydocking each vessel takes approximately 10 to 20 days. We spend significant amounts for scheduled drydocking (including the cost of classification society surveys) for each of our vessels.
As our vessels age and our fleet expands, our drydocking expenses will increase. We estimate the current cash outlay for a VLGC special survey to be approximately $1.0 million per vessel (excluding any capital improvements, such as scrubbers and ballast water management systems, to the vessel that may be made during such drydockings and the cost of an intermediate survey to be between $100,000 and $200,000 per vessel. Ongoing costs for compliance with environmental regulations are primarily included as part of our drydocking and classification society survey costs. In order to comply with IMO mandated reductions in sulfur emissions that came into effect January 1, 2020, we have installed scrubbers on twelve of our vessels and have one chartered-in scrubber-equipped vessel, which allows us to burn heavy fuel oil. Our other vessels currently consume compliant fuels on board (0.5% sulfur), which are readily available globally, but at a significantly higher cost. Our newbuilding will have the capability to burn LPG. We have no contractual commitments related to additional scrubbers as of June 30, 2022. Please see "Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Company—We may incur increasing costs for the drydocking, maintenance or replacement of our vessels as they age, and, as our vessels age, the risks associated with older vessels could adversely affect our ability to obtain profitable charters” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022.
On March 31, 2021, we entered into a thirteen-year bareboat charter agreement for a newbuilding dual-fuel VLGC that is expected to be delivered from Kawasaki Heavy Industries in March 2023. The structure of the financing of the newbuilding is analogous to that of our Japanese Financings in which a third-party will purchase the vessel and we will bareboat charter such vessel from the third party. As part of the agreement, we control the building of the vessel and the use of the vessel after it is delivered. The vessel will be built to our specifications; we will supervise the building of the vessel to meet these specifications; and we will technically and commercially manage the vessel after its delivery. Under the agreement, we had commitments of $24.0 million of predelivery costs as well as the cost of additional features to meet our specifications and supervision costs for an aggregate total of approximately $25.0 million. As of June 30, 2022, we had approximately $1.0 million of commitments under the agreement outstanding that we expect to settle during the year ending March 31, 2023. Construction of the vessel commenced in December 2021.
Debt Agreements
For information relating to our secured term loan facilities, refer to Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022 and Note 7 to our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for June 30, 2022 included herein.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We currently do not have any off‑balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The following is an update to the Critical Accounting Estimates set forth in “Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022.
Impairment of long-lived assets. We review our vessels for impairment when events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. In addition, we compare independent appraisals to our carrying value for indicators of impairment to our vessels. When such indicators are present, an asset is tested for recoverability by comparing the estimate of future undiscounted net operating cash flows expected to be generated by the use of the asset over its remaining useful life and its eventual disposition to its carrying amount. An impairment charge is recognized if the carrying value is in excess of the estimated future undiscounted net operating cash flows. The impairment loss is measured based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair market value of the asset. The new lower cost basis would result in a lower annual depreciation than before the impairment.
Our estimates of fair market value assume that our vessels are all in good and seaworthy condition without need for repair and if inspected would be certified in class without notations of any kind. Our estimates are based on information available from various industry sources, including:
● | reports by industry analysts and data providers that focus on our industry and related dynamics affecting vessel values; |
● | news and industry reports of similar vessel sales; |
● | approximate market values for our vessels or similar vessels that we have received from shipbrokers, whether solicited or unsolicited, or that shipbrokers have generally disseminated; |
● | offers that we may have received from potential purchasers of our vessels; and |
● | vessel sale prices and values of which we are aware through both formal and informal communications with shipowners, shipbrokers, industry analysts and various other shipping industry participants and observers. |
As we obtain information from various industry and other sources, our estimates of fair market value are inherently uncertain. In addition, vessel values are highly volatile; as such, our estimates may not be indicative of the current or future fair market value of our vessels or prices that we could achieve if we were to sell them.
As of June 30, 2022, independent appraisals of our commercially and technically-managed VLGCs in our fleet had no indications of impairment on any of our VLGCs in accordance with ASC 360 Property, Plant, and Equipment. No impairment charges were recognized for June 30, 2022.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 2 to our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included herein for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.
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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
For additional discussion of our exposure to market risk, refer to “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022.
Interest Rate Risk
The LPG shipping industry is capital intensive, requiring significant amounts of investment. Much of this investment is provided in the form of long-term debt. Our 2015 AR Facility agreement and certain Japanese financings as described in footnote 7 contain interest rates that fluctuate with LIBOR and SOFR. We have entered into interest rate swap agreements to hedge exposure to fluctuations of interest rate risk associated with our 2015 Facility. We have hedged $220.9 million of amortizing principal of the 2015 Facility as of June 30, 2022. One of our floating-rate long-term debt agreements contains interest rates that fluctuate with SOFR, while another fluctuates with LIBOR, and thus increasing interest rates could adversely impact our future earnings due to additional interest expense on our unhedged debt. For the 12 months following June 30, 2022, a hypothetical increase or decrease of 20 basis points in the underlying LIBOR and SOFR rates would result in an increase or decrease of our interest expense on all of our non-hedged interest-bearing debt by $0.1 million assuming all other variables are held constant.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, and Chief Financial Officer, or CFO, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of June 30, 2022. Based on that evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in 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 is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those internal control systems determined to be effective can provide only a level of reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the three months ended June 30, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time, we expect to be subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business, principally personal injury and property casualty claims. Such claims, even if lacking in merit, could result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources. We are not aware of any claim that is reasonably possible and should be disclosed or probable and for which a provision should be established in the accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Our operations and financial results are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and the trading price of our common shares. For risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, please refer to “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2022.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The table below sets forth information regarding our purchases of our common shares during the quarterly period ended June 30, 2022:
Total | ||||||||||
Number of | ||||||||||
Shares | ||||||||||
Purchased as | ||||||||||
Part of | Maximum Dollar | |||||||||
Total | Publicly | Value of Shares | ||||||||
Number | Average | Announced | that May Yet Be | |||||||
of Shares | Price Paid | Plans or | Purchased Under the | |||||||
Period | Purchased | Per Share | Programs | Plan or Programs | ||||||
April 1 to 30, 2022 | 50,000 | $ | 14.97 | — | $ | 99,250,225 | ||||
May 1 to 31, 2022 | — | — | — | 99,250,225 | ||||||
June 1 to 30, 2022 | 14,192 | 15.60 | — | 99,250,225 | ||||||
Total | 64,192 | $ | 15.29 | — | $ | 99,250,225 |
Purchases of our common shares during the quarterly period ended June 30, 2022 represent share repurchases under our 2022 Common Share Repurchase Authority and common shares reacquired in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations upon vesting of employee restricted equity awards.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
See accompanying Exhibit Index for a list of exhibits filed or furnished with this report.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
† | This certification is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
Dorian LPG Ltd. | |
(Registrant) | |
Date: August 3, 2022 | /s/ John C. Hadjipateras |
John C. Hadjipateras | |
President and Chief Executive Officer | |
(Principal Executive Officer) |
Date: August 3, 2022 | /s/ Theodore B. Young |
Theodore B. Young | |
Chief Financial Officer | |
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
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Exhibit 10.1
Dated as of July 29, 2022
DORIAN LPG FINANCE LLC
as Borrower
and
DORIAN LPG LTD.
and THE COMPANIES
listed in Part C of Schedule 1
as joint and several Guarantors
and
THE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
listed in Part D of Schedule 1
as Lenders
and
THE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
listed in Part E of Schedule 1
as Swap Banks
and
Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
and ing bank n.v., LONDON BRANCH
as Bookrunners and Structurers
and
Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank,
ing bank n.v., LONDON BRANCH, BNP PARIBAS, DANISH SHIP FINANCE A/S and
SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL),
and
BNP PARIBAS
as Hedge Coordinator
and
Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
as Sustainability Coordinator
and
Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
as Agent and as Security Trustee
LOAN AGREEMENT
relating to
a senior secured term loan and revolving credit facility of up to US$260,000,000
Index
Schedules
Execution
Appendices
Appendix A Form of Compliance Certificate
Appendix B Form of Sustainability Certificate
THIS LOAN AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of July 29, 2022
(3) | THE COMPANIES listed in Part C of Schedule 1 as joint and several owner guarantors (collectively, the “Owner Guarantors”, and each separately an “Owner Guarantor”, and, together with the Parent Guarantor, the “Guarantors”, and each separately a “Guarantor” which expressions include their respective successors, transferees and assigns); |
(4) | THE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Part D of Schedule 1, as lenders (collectively, the “Lenders”, which expression includes their respective successors, transferees and assigns and any bank or financial institution that becomes a Lender hereto); |
(5) | THE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Part E of Schedule 1, as Swap Banks; |
(6) | CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK acting in such capacity through its office at 12, Place des Etats-Unis – CS 70052 – 92547 Montrouge Cedex, France, as agent for the Creditor Parties (in such capacity, the “Agent”, which expression includes its successors, transferees and assigns); and |
(7) | CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK, acting in such capacity through its office at 12, Place des Etats-Unis – CS 70052 – 92547 Montrouge Cedex, France, as security trustee for the Creditor Parties (in such capacity, the “Security Trustee”, which expression includes its successors, transferees and assigns). |
(B) | The Swap Banks may, at the Borrower’s request, enter into interest swap transactions with the Borrower from time to time to hedge the Borrower’s exposure under this Agreement to interest rate fluctuations. |
(C) | The Lenders and the Swap Banks have agreed to share the Collateral to be granted to the Security Trustee pursuant to the terms of this Agreement with the interest of the Swap Banks being secured on a pari passu basis. |
1 | Interpretation |
1.1 | Definitions |
Subject to Clause 1.5, in this Agreement:
“Approved Insurance Broker” means, (a) any of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Willis Towers Watson, Seascope Insurance Services (and its Affiliates), Parisco A/S, and any Lloyd’s of London registered broker, and (b) any other insurance broker approved by the Majority Lenders (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) in consultation with the Borrower; provided that any Approved Insurance Broker may cease to be an Approved Insurance Broker hereunder upon ten (10) Business Days prior written notice from the Agent (upon the instruction of the Majority Lenders) to the Borrower.
(b) | in respect of the commercial management of the Vessels, a subsidiary of the Parent Guarantor, Dorian LPG (DK) ApS or any other manager reasonably acceptable to the Majority Lenders; |
(c) | any other company proposed by the Borrower which the Agent may, with the consent of the Majority Lenders (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), approve from time to time as the technical and/or commercial manager of a Vessel. |
(a) | in the case of the Revolving Credit Facility, the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the date falling ninety (90) calendar days prior to the Maturity Date; and |
(b) | in respect of the Term Loan Facility, the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the date falling sixty (60) Business Days after the Effective Date; or |
(c) | in each case, if earlier, ending on the date on which the relevant Commitments are fully cancelled or terminated. |
(c) | any further guidance or standards published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision relating to “Basel III”. |
(a) | Daily Simple SOFR; or |
(a) | in the case of clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event”, the later of (i) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein |
“Bookrunners” means Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and ING Bank N.V., London Branch.
(b) | the climate alignment of that Vessel for such calendar year: |
(a) | securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof); |
(b) | time deposits, certificates of deposit or deposits in the interbank market of any commercial bank of recognized standing organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or any foreign jurisdiction having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000; |
(c) | commercial paper issued by any person incorporated in the United States of America rated at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof by Standard & Poor or at least P-1 or the equivalent |
thereof by Moody’s, and in each case maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition; |
(d) | any fund with daily redemptions that complies with the provisions of this definition; and |
(e) | such other securities or instruments as the Majority Lenders shall agree in writing. |
(a) | in respect of the Borrower, the Parent Guarantor ceases to own directly 100% of the Equity Interests in and control the Borrower; |
(b) | in respect of an Owner Guarantor, the Borrower ceases to own directly 100% of the Equity Interests in and control any Owner Guarantor; or |
(c) | in respect of the Parent Guarantor, |
(i) | a “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), other than a “person” or “group” over which John Hadjipateras has voting control or any individual director or individual officer who is holder of 5% or more of the Parent Guarantor’s equity interests as of the Effective Date, becomes the ultimate “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13(d)-3 under the Exchange Act and including by reason of any change in the ultimate “beneficial ownership” of the Equity Interests of the Parent Guarantor) of more than 33% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Parent Guarantor (calculated on a fully diluted basis); |
(ii) | individuals who at the beginning of any period of two (2) consecutive calendar years constituted the Board of Directors or equivalent governing body of the Parent Guarantor (together with any new directors (or equivalent) whose election by such Board of Directors or equivalent governing body or whose nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the members of such Board of Directors or equivalent governing body then still in office who either were members of such Board of Directors or equivalent governing body at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason (other than as a result of compliance with NYSE rules on independent directors) to constitute at least 50% of the members of such Board of Directors or equivalent governing body then in office; or |
(iii) | Mr. John Hadjipateras ceases to be a director of the Parent Guarantor, except by reason of his voluntary resignation. |
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
(a) | any Security Party or its advisers; or |
(b) | another Creditor Party, if the information was obtained by that Creditor Party directly or indirectly from any Security Party or any of its advisers, |
in whatever form, and includes information given orally and any document, electronic file or any other way of representing or recording information which contains or is derived or copied from such information but excludes any funding rate or any information that:
(i) | is or becomes public information other than as a direct or indirect result of any breach by that Creditor Party of Clause 27.13; or |
(ii) | is identified in writing at the time of delivery as non-confidential by any Security Party or any of its advisers; or |
(iii) | is known by that Creditor Party before the date the information is disclosed to it in accordance with paragraphs (a) or (b) above or is lawfully obtained by that Creditor Party after that date, from a source which is, as far as that Creditor Party is aware, unconnected with any Security Party and which, in either case, as far as that Creditor Party is aware, has not been obtained in breach of, and is not otherwise subject to, any obligation of confidentiality. |
(a) | all Financial Indebtedness; and |
(b) | all obligations to pay a specific purchase price for goods or services (other than vessel newbuildings and rights of use liabilities) whether or not delivered or accepted (including take-or-pay and similar obligations) which in accordance with GAAP would be shown on the liability side of a balance sheet; |
provided that balance sheet accruals for future drydock expenses shall not be classified as Consolidated Funded Debt.
(b) | which has otherwise rescinded or repudiated a Finance Document; or |
(c) | with respect to which any proceeding shall be instituted by or against such Lender seeking to adjudicate it bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property, excluding an Undisclosed Administration, |
unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above:
(i) | its failure to pay is caused by: |
(A) | an administrative or technical error; or |
(B) | a Disruption Event; and |
payment is made within 5 Business Days of its due date; or
(ii) | the Lender is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the relevant payment; |
and provided further that, a Lender’s designation as a Defaulting Lender hereunder shall not prohibit such Lender from retaining its voting rights under this Agreement where (x) its Commitment or the Maturity Date relating to its Contribution is being extended, (y) there is a forgiveness or reduction in outstanding principal of such Lender’s Contribution, and (z) such Lender would otherwise be adversely affected disproportionately to other Lenders.
(a) | it is entered into by the Borrower pursuant to a Master Agreement with a Swap Bank; |
(b) | its purpose is the hedging of the Borrower’s exposure under this Agreement to fluctuations in Term SOFR arising from the funding of the Loan (or any part thereof) for a period expiring no later than the Maturity Date; and |
(c) | it is designated by the Borrower, by delivery by the Borrower to the Agent of a notice of designation in the form set out in Schedule 8, as a Designated Transaction for the purposes of the Finance Documents. |
(a) | a material disruption to those payment or communications systems or to those financial markets which are, in each case, required to operate in order for payments to be made in connection with the Loan (or otherwise in order for the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents to be carried out) which disruption is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, a party to this Agreement (a “Party”); or |
(b) | the occurrence of any other event which results in a disruption (of a technical or systems-related nature) to the treasury or payments operations of a Party preventing that, or any other, Party: |
(i) | from performing its payment obligations under the Finance Documents; or |
(ii) | from communicating with other parties in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents. |
(a) | except to the extent that they fall within paragraph (b): |
(i) | all freight, hire and passage moneys; |
(ii) | compensation payable to the Owner Guarantor owning that Vessel or the Security Trustee in the event of requisition of that Vessel for hire; |
(iii) | remuneration for salvage and towage services; |
(iv) | demurrage and detention moneys; |
(v) | damages for breach (or payments for variation or termination) of any charterparty or other contract for the employment of that Vessel; and |
(vi) | all moneys which are at any time payable under Insurances in respect of loss of hire; and |
(a) | any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority; |
(b) | any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a party of an institution described in paragraph (a) of this definition; |
(c) | any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in paragraphs (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent. |
(a) | any claim by any governmental, judicial or regulatory authority which arises out of an Environmental Incident or which relates to any Environmental Law; or |
(b) | any claim by any other person which relates to an Environmental Incident, |
and “claim” means a claim for damages, compensation, indemnification, contribution, fines, penalties or any other payment of any kind whether or not similar to the foregoing; an order or direction to take, or not to take, certain action or to desist from or suspend certain action; and any form of enforcement or regulatory action, including the arrest or attachment of any asset.
(a) | any release of Environmentally Sensitive Material from a Vessel; or |
(b) | any incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released and which involves a collision or allision between a Vessel and another vessel or object, or some other incident of navigation or operation, in any case, in connection with which such Vessel is actually or potentially liable to be arrested, attached, detained or injuncted and/or such Vessel and/or the Borrower and/or the Owner Guarantor owning such Vessel and/or any operator or manager of the Vessel is at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action; or |
(c) | any other incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released otherwise than from a Vessel and in connection with which such Vessel is actually or potentially liable to be arrested and/or where the Borrower and/or the Owner Guarantor owning such Vessel and/or any operator or manager of such Vessel is at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action. |
(a) | any and all shares and other equity interests (including common stock, preferred stock, limited liability company interests and partnership interests) in such person; and |
(b) | all rights to purchase, warrants or options or convertible debt (whether or not currently exercisable), participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) such shares or other interests in such person; |
(a) | any failure by any Plan to satisfy the minimum funding standards (for purposes of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; |
(b) | the filing pursuant to Section 412 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; |
(c) | the failure by the Borrower or any Guarantor or any of their respective subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; |
(d) | a determination that any Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at risk” status (within the meaning of Section 430(i) of the Code); |
(e) | the incurrence by the Borrower or any Guarantor or any of their respective subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; |
(f) | a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA, or in endangered status within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA; |
(g) | any Reportable Event; or |
(h) | the existence of a non-exempt “prohibited transaction” for purposes of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code with respect to any employee benefit plan as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) in respect to which the Borrower or any Guarantor or any of their respective subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4062 or Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA and in respect of which a liability (other than one of an immaterial amount) could reasonably be expected to be incurred by any Security Party. |
(a) | the imposition of any lien in favor of the PBGC on any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or on any asset of any Security Party or any ERISA Affiliate in connection with any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; |
(b) | the receipt by the Borrower or any Guarantor or any of their respective subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention |
to terminate any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan or Multiemployer Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA; |
(c) | the receipt by the Borrower or any Guarantor or any of their respective subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice that a Multiemployer Plan is in critical status within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA; |
(d) | the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Plan under Section 4041 of ERISA; |
(e) | the termination of a Multiemployer Plan (or treatment of a plan amendment as a termination) under Section 4041A of ERISA; or |
(f) | the occurrence of any other event or condition which might reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan or Multiemployer Plan. |
(a) | as at a date not more than thirty (30) days prior to the date such valuation is delivered to the Agent (or such other time frame the Agent may, with the consent of the Majority Lenders, approve from time to time); |
(b) | by two or more Approved Brokers selected by the Borrower; |
(c) | on a “desk top” basis without physical inspection of that Vessel; and |
(d) | on the basis of a sale for prompt delivery for cash on normal arm’s length commercial terms as between a willing seller and a willing buyer, free of any existing charter or other contract of employment (and with no value to be given to any pooling arrangements); |
provided that (i) if a range of market values is provided in a particular appraisal, then the market value in such appraisal shall be deemed to be the mid-point within such range and (ii) if a third appraisal is obtained as provided in Clause 11.1(h), the market value of such Vessel shall be the average of the three appraisals obtained.
(a) | Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and any regulations thereunder issued by the United States Treasury; or |
(b) | any treaty, law or regulation of any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the US and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of any treaty, law or regulation referred to in paragraph (a) above; or |
(c) | any agreement pursuant to the implementation of any treaty, law or regulation referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) above with the US International Revenue Service, the US government or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction |
(a) | this Agreement; |
(b) | any Note; |
(c) | any Fee Letter; |
(d) | any Account Pledges; |
(e) | any Charter Assignment; |
(f) | any Earnings Assignments; |
(g) | any Insurance Assignments; |
(h) | any Master Agreement; |
(i) | any Master Agreement Assignment; |
(j) | any Mortgages; |
(k) | any Shares Pledge; |
(l) | any Manager’s Undertaking; |
(m) | any Subordination Agreement; and |
(n) | any other document (whether creating a Security Interest or not) which is executed at any time by any person as security for, or to establish any form of subordination or priorities arrangement in relation to, any amount payable to the Lenders and/or Swap Banks under this Agreement or any of the other documents referred to in this definition or which is entered into or to be entered into by any Security Party and is designated as a “Finance Document” by the Agent and the Borrower under and for the purposes of this Agreement. |
(a) | moneys borrowed (including principal, interest and other sums related to such principal and interest) and debit balances at banks or other financial institutions; |
(b) | any amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit facility or under any acceptance credit or other equivalent facility; |
(c) | any amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument; |
(d) | the amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance with GAAP, be treated as a finance or capital lease; |
(e) | receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a non-recourse basis); |
(f) | any Treasury Transaction (and, when calculating the value of that Treasury Transaction, only the negative marked to market value (or, if any actual amount is due as a result of the termination or close-out of that Treasury Transaction, that amount) shall be taken into account), it being understood and agreed that any positive marked to market value shall reduce the Financial Indebtedness accordingly; |
(g) | any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guaranty, indemnity, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial institution; |
(h) | any amount of any liability under an advance or deferred purchase agreement if (i) one of the primary reasons behind entering into the agreement is to raise finance or to finance the acquisition or construction of the asset or service in question or (ii) the agreement is in respect of the supply of assets or services and payment is due more than 180 days after the date of supply; |
(i) | any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase sale and sale back, sale and leaseback agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing or otherwise classified as borrowings under GAAP; and |
the amount of any liability in respect of any guaranty or indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (a) to (i) above.
(a) | all policies and contracts of insurance, including entries of that Vessel in any protection and indemnity or war risks association, effected in respect of that Vessel, the Earnings or otherwise in relation to that Vessel whether before, on or after the Effective Date; and |
(b) | all rights and other assets relating to, or derived from, any of the foregoing, including any rights to a return of a premium and any rights in respect of any claim whether or not the relevant policy, contract of insurance or entry has expired on or before the Effective Date. |
(a) | the Document of Compliance and Safety Management Certificate issued pursuant to the ISM Code in relation to that Vessel within the periods specified by the ISM Code; |
(b) | all other documents and data which are relevant to the safety management system and its implementation and verification which the Agent may require; and |
(c) | any other documents which are prepared or which are otherwise relevant to establish and maintain that Vessel’s compliance or the compliance of the Owner Guarantor that owns that Vessel or the relevant Approved Manager with the ISM Code which the Agent may require. |
(a) | the ISSC; and |
(b) | all other documents and data which are relevant to the ISPS Code and its implementation and verification which the Agent may require. |
Level | Margin | Leverage Ratio |
---|---|---|
I | 2.15% | Less than 35% |
II | 2.20% | Greater than or equal to 35% and less than 45% |
III | 2.25% | Greater than or equal to 45% |
(a) | Subject to clauses (b) and (c) below, the adjustment of the Margin (if any) will occur on the next Repayment Date occurring after the Agent’s receipt of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Clause 11.1(g). |
(c) | The Margin shall be re-calculated upon the drawing of each Advance during each Interest Period, such that if the Leverage Ratio increases, resulting in a different Level indicated above, then the Margin on the Loan would also increase on the relevant Drawdown Date of such Advance. |
(a) | any tax on the net income of a Creditor Party (but not a tax on gross income or individual items of income), whether collected by deduction or withholding or otherwise, which is levied by a taxing jurisdiction which: |
(i) | is located in the country under whose laws such entity is formed (or in the case of a natural person is a country of which such person is a citizen); or |
(ii) | with respect to any Lender, is located in the country of its Lending Office; or |
(iii) | with respect to any Creditor Party other than a Lender, is located in the country from which such party has originated its participation in this transaction; or |
(b) | any FATCA Deduction made on account of a payment to a FATCA Non-Exempt Party. |
(a) | either (i) is not subordinated in right of payment to any other Financial Indebtedness of such person or (ii) is subordinate in right of payment to the same Financial Indebtedness of such person as is the other and is so subordinate to the same extent; and |
(b) | is not subordinated in right of payment to the other or to any Financial Indebtedness of such person as to which the other is not so subordinate. |
(a) | Financial Indebtedness in respect of the Existing Facility Agreements, provided that such Financial Indebtedness relating to a Vessel shall be repaid on the Drawdown Date of the Advance under the Term Loan Facility relating to such Vessel; |
(b) | Financial Indebtedness in respect of the Loan; |
(c) | subject to Clause 11.1(r), loans made to a Security Party by an Affiliate, parent or subsidiary; or |
(d) | hedging agreements with third parties in the ordinary course of business for purposes of hedging foreign currency exchange, bunker costs and other risks. |
(a) | Security Interests created or otherwise permitted in connection with the Existing Facility Agreements, provided that such Security Interests relating to a Vessel or its Owner Guarantor shall be released in full on the Drawdown Date of the Advance under the Term Loan Facility relating to such Vessel, and all such Security Interests shall be released no later than the final Drawdown Date; |
(b) | Security Interests created or otherwise permitted by the Finance Documents; |
(c) | Permitted Vessel Liens; and |
(d) | any Security Interest approved by the Majority Lenders. |
(a) | any ship repairer’s or outfitter’s possessory lien in respect of such Vessel for an amount not exceeding the Major Casualty amount; |
(b) | any lien on such Vessel for master’s, officer’s or crew’s wages outstanding in accordance with usual maritime practice; |
(c) | any lien for master’s disbursements incurred in the ordinary course of trading, provided such liens do not secure amounts more than 30 days overdue (unless the amount is being contested by the Security Parties in good faith by appropriate steps); |
(d) | any lien on such Vessel for collision or salvage; |
(e) | liens in the aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any other greater amount approved by all the Lenders, in favor of suppliers of necessaries or other similar liens arising in the ordinary course of its trading (including, without limitation, any liens incurred in connection with regular dry docking), accrued for not more than ninety (90) days (unless any such lien is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or other acts and the relevant Owner Guarantor shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves in |
accordance with GAAP with respect to such lien and so long as such deferment in payment shall not subject its Ship to forfeiture or loss); |
(f) | liens in the aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any other amount approved by all the Lenders for loss, damage or expense which are not fully covered by Insurance, subject to applicable deductibles satisfactory to the Agent, or in respect of which a bond or other security has been posted by or on behalf of the relevant Owner Guarantor with the appropriate court or other tribunal to prevent the arrest or secure the release of the Vessel from arrest; |
(g) | liens for taxes or assessments or other governmental charges not yet due and payable or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate steps and in respect of which the Owner Guarantor shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP with respect to such lien and so long as such deferment in payment shall not subject its Vessel to forfeiture or loss; |
(h) | any other lien arising by operation of law or otherwise in the ordinary course of operation, repair or maintenance of a Vessel that does not subject the Vessel to forfeiture or loss; |
(i) | pledges of certificates of deposit or other cash collateral securing any Security Party’s reimbursement obligations in connection with letters of credit now or hereafter issued for the account of such Security Party in connection with the establishment of the financial responsibility of such Security Party under 33 C.F.R. Part 130 or 46 C.F.R. Part 540, as the case may be, as the same may be amended or replaced; and |
(j) | Security Interests for loss, damage or expense which are fully covered by insurance, subject to applicable deductibles satisfactory to the Agent. |
(a) | any Finance Document; |
(b) | any policy or contract of insurance contemplated by or referred to in Clause 13 or any other provision of this Agreement or another Finance Document; |
(c) | any other document contemplated by or referred to in any Finance Document; and |
(d) | any document which has been or is at any time sent by or to a Servicing Bank in contemplation of or in connection with any Finance Document or any policy, contract or document falling within paragraphs (b) or (c). |
(a) | the jurisdiction under the laws of which the company is incorporated or formed; |
(b) | a jurisdiction in which the company has the center of its main interests or in which the company’s central management and control is or has recently been exercised; |
(c) | a jurisdiction in which the overall net income of the company is subject to corporation tax, income tax or any similar tax; |
(d) | a jurisdiction in which assets of the company (other than securities issued by, or loans to, related companies) having a substantial value are situated, in which the company maintains a branch or permanent place of business, or in which a Security Interest created by the company must or should be registered in order to ensure its validity or priority; or |
(e) | a jurisdiction the courts of which have jurisdiction to make a winding up, administration or similar order in relation to the company whether as a main or territorial or ancillary proceedings or which would have such jurisdiction if their assistance were requested by the courts of a country referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) above. |
(a) | any transaction or matter contemplated by, arising out of, or in connection with a Pertinent Document; or |
(b) | any statement relating to a Pertinent Document or to a transaction or matter falling within paragraph (a), |
(a) | listed on any Sanctions List or targeted by Sanctions (whether designated by name or by reason of being included in a class of person); or |
(b) | located in or incorporated under the laws of any country or territory that is the target of comprehensive, country- or territory-wide Sanctions; or |
(c) | directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, or acting or purporting to act on behalf, at the direction, or for the benefit, of a person referred to in (a) and/or (to the extent relevant under Sanctions) (b) above; or |
(d) | otherwise a target of Sanctions; |
(a) | the lists of Sanctions designations and/or targets maintained by any Sanctions Authority and/or |
(b) | any other Sanctions designation or target listed and/or adopted by a Sanctions Authority, in all cases, as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time. |
(a) | a mortgage, encumbrance, charge (whether fixed or floating) or pledge, any maritime or other lien or privilege or any other security interest of any kind; |
(b) | the security rights of a plaintiff under an action in rem; and |
(a) | all amounts which have become due for payment by the Borrower or any other Security Party under the Finance Documents have been paid; |
(b) | no amount is owing or has accrued (without yet having become due for payment) under any Finance Document; and |
(c) | neither the Borrower nor any other Security Party has any future or contingent liability under Clause 21, 22 or 23 or any other provision of this Agreement or another Finance Document. |
(a) | if the Vessels’ average weighted Annual Efficiency Ratio (AER) is below the IMO trajectory target, the Margin shall be reduced by 0.05%; and |
(b) | if the Vessels’ average weighted Annual Efficiency Ratio (AER) is not below than the IMO trajectory target, or the Borrower does not provide the Sustainability Certificate within the period required under Clause 11.1(g), the Margin shall be increased by 0.05%; |
“Term Loan Facility Commitment” means, in relation to a Lender, the amount set opposite its name under the heading “Term Loan Facility Commitment” in Part II of Schedule 1 (The Parties) and the amount of any other Term Loan Facility Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement, and to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement.
(a) | actual, constructive, compromised, agreed or arranged total loss of that Vessel; |
right to an extension), unless it is within seventy-five (75) days redelivered to the full control of the Owner Guarantor owning that Vessel; or |
(a) | in the case of an actual loss of that Vessel, the date on which it occurred or, if that is unknown, the date when that Vessel was last heard of; |
(b) | in the case of a constructive, compromised, agreed or arranged total loss of that Vessel, the earliest of: |
(i) | the date on which a notice of abandonment is given to the insurers; |
(ii) | if the insurers do not admit such a claim, the date later determined by a competent court of law to have been the date on which the total loss happened; or |
(iii) | the date of any compromise, arrangement or agreement made by or on behalf of the Owner Guarantor owning that Vessel with the Vessel’s insurers in which the insurers agree to treat the Vessel as a total loss; and |
(c) | in the case of any expropriation, confiscation, requisition or acquisition of a Vessel ((excluding a requisition for hire for a fixed period not exceeding one (1) year without any right to an extension), the date it happened; and |
(d) | in the case of arrest, capture, seizure or detention of a Vessel, the date 30 days after date upon which it happened. |
(a) | with respect to the Term Loan Facility, in respect of each Vessel, the principal amount of $24,000,000, of the Total Term Loan Facility Commitments; and |
(b) | with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility to be made available to the Borrower, the principal amount of $20,000,000 of the Revolving Credit Commitments. |
(a) | with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and |
(b) | with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of |
any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or a part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers. |
1.2 | Construction of certain terms |
In this Agreement:
1.3 | Meaning of “month” |
A period of one or more “months” ends on the day in the relevant calendar month numerically corresponding to the day of the calendar month on which the period started (“the numerically corresponding day”), but:
(a) | on the Business Day following the numerically corresponding day if the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day or, if there is no later Business Day in the same calendar month, on the Business Day preceding the numerically corresponding day; or |
(b) | on the last Business Day in the relevant calendar month, if the period started on the last Business Day in a calendar month or if the last calendar month of the period has no numerically corresponding day, |
and “month” and “monthly” shall be construed accordingly.
1.4 | Meaning of “subsidiary” |
A company (S) is a subsidiary of another company (P) if:
(a) | a majority of the issued Equity Interests in S (or a majority of the issued Equity Interests in S which carry unlimited rights to capital and income distributions) are directly owned by P or are indirectly attributable to P; or |
(b) | P has direct or indirect control over a majority of the voting rights attaching to the issued Equity Interests of S; or |
(c) | P has the direct or indirect power to appoint or remove a majority of the directors (or equivalent) of S; or |
(d) | P otherwise has the direct or indirect power to ensure that the affairs of S are conducted in accordance with the wishes of P; |
and any company of which S is a subsidiary is a parent company of S; provided however that notwithstanding the foregoing, Helios LPG Pool shall not be considered a subsidiary of the Parent Guarantor.
1.5 | General interpretation |
In this Agreement:
(a) | references to, or to a provision of, a Finance Document or any other document are references to it as amended or supplemented, whether before the Effective Date or otherwise; |
(b) | references to, or to a provision of, any law or regulation include any amendment, extension, re-enactment or replacement, whether made before the Effective Date or otherwise; |
(c) | words denoting the singular number shall include the plural and vice versa; and |
(d) | Clauses 1.1 to 1.5 apply unless the contrary intention appears. |
1.6 | Headings |
In interpreting a Finance Document or any provision of a Finance Document, all clause, sub-clause and other headings in that and any other Finance Document shall be entirely disregarded.
1.7 | Accounting terms |
Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used in this Agreement and in the other Finance Documents shall be interpreted, and all financial statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be delivered to any Creditor Party under this Agreement shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP as from time to time in effect.
1.8 | Inferences regarding materiality |
To the extent that any representation, warranty, covenant or other undertaking of a Security Party in this Agreement or any other Finance Document is qualified by reference to those matters which are not reasonably expected to result in a “material adverse effect” or language of similar import, no inference shall be drawn therefrom that any Creditor Party has knowledge or approves of any noncompliance by such Security Party with any law or regulation.
2 | Facility |
2.1 | Amount of facility |
(a) | Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Lenders severally agree to make available to the Borrower the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan Facility, together in an aggregate amount not to exceed the lesser of $260,000,000 and 40% of the Fair Market Value of the Vessels, as determined no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the Effective Date (other than in the case of determining the Fair Market Value of the CORVETTE which may be determined earlier) (the “Maximum Available Amount”). |
(b) | On the Closing Date, to the extent the Maximum Available Amount is less than the Total Commitments, each Lender’s relevant Commitment and each Tranche shall be reduced pro rata, as notified by the Agent to each Lender and the Borrower. |
2.2 | Lenders’ participations in the Advances |
Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, (a) each Lender shall participate in each Revolving Advance in the proportion which, as at the relevant Drawdown Date, its Revolving Credit Commitment bears to the Total Revolving Facility Commitments, and (b) each Lender shall participate in each Term Loan Advance in the proportion which, as at the relevant Drawdown Date, its Term Loan Facility Commitment bears to the Total Term Loan Facility Commitments.
2.3 | Purpose of the Advances |
The Borrower undertakes with each Creditor Party to use each Advance only for the purpose stated in the Recitals of this Agreement.
2.4 | Cancellation of Commitments |
Any portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments or Term Loan Facility Commitments not disbursed to the Borrower shall be cancelled and terminated automatically on the expiration of the relevant Availability Period.
3 | Position of the Lenders and Swap Banks |
3.1 | Interests several |
The rights of the Lenders and of the Swap Banks under this Agreement and under the Master Agreements are several.
3.2 | Individual right of action |
Each Lender and each Swap Bank shall be entitled to sue for any amount which has become due and payable by a Security Party to it under this Agreement or under a Master Agreement without joining the Agent, the Security Trustee, or any other Lender or any other Swap Bank as additional parties in the proceedings.
3.3 | Proceedings requiring Majority Lender consent |
Except as provided in Clause 3.2, no Lender and no Swap Bank may commence proceedings against any Security Party in connection with a Finance Document without the prior consent of the Majority Lenders.
3.4 | Secured Liabilities several |
The obligations of the Lenders under this Agreement and of the Swap Banks under the Master Agreement to which it is a party are several; and a failure of a Lender to perform its obligations under this Agreement or a failure of a Swap Bank to perform its obligations under the Master Agreement to which it is a party shall not result in:
(a) | the obligations of the other Lenders or Swap Banks being increased; nor |
(b) | any Security Party, or any other Lender or any other Swap Bank being discharged (in whole or in part) from its obligations under any Finance Document, |
and in no circumstances shall a Lender or a Swap Bank have any responsibility for a failure of another Lender or another Swap Bank to perform its obligations under this Agreement or a Master Agreement.
4 | Drawdown |
4.1 | Request for Advance |
Subject to the following conditions, the Borrower may request an Advance to be made by delivering to the Agent a completed Drawdown Notice not later than 4:00 p.m. (Paris time) three (3) Business Days prior to the intended Drawdown Date.
4.2 | Availability |
The conditions referred to in Clause 4.1 are that:
(a) | the Drawdown Date must be a Business Day during the Availability Period; |
(b) | the Revolving Credit Facility shall be made available to the Borrower in a single Tranche consisting of multiple Advances for the purposes stated in Recital A; |
(c) | the Term Loan Facility shall be made available to the Borrower in ten (10) Tranches, consisting of one (1) Advance per Vessel, for the purposes stated in Recital A and may be drawn separately or in a single drawing; |
(d) | subject to Clause 2.1 (Facility Amount), the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Advances shall not exceed the lesser of (x) Revolving Credit Commitments and (y) $2,000,000 per Vessel whose Term Loan Facility Tranche has been drawn, and the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loan Advances shall not exceed the Term Loan Facility Commitments; |
(e) | the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Advances shall not exceed the Total Commitments; |
(f) | each Advance in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility shall be for an amount not less than $2,000,000; |
(g) | no more than three (3) Advances in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility may be requested in any fiscal quarter of the Parent Guarantor; and |
(h) | the applicable conditions precedent stated in Clause 9 hereof shall have been satisfied or waived as provided therein. |
4.3 | Notification to Lenders of receipt of a Drawdown Notice |
The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders that it has received a Drawdown Notice and shall inform each Lender of:
(a) | the amount of the Advance and the Drawdown Date; |
(b) | the amount of that Lender’s participation in the Advance; and |
(c) | the duration of the first Interest Period. |
4.4 | Drawdown Notice irrevocable |
A Drawdown Notice must be signed by an officer or a duly authorized attorney-in-fact of the Borrower and except as provided in Clauses 5.5 and 5.6(f), once served, a Drawdown Notice cannot be revoked or varied without the prior consent of the Agent, acting on the authority of the Majority Lenders (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld).
4.5 | Lenders to make available Contributions |
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, each Lender shall, before 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on and with value on the relevant Drawdown Date, make available to the Agent for the account of the Borrower the amount due from that Lender under Clause 2.2.
4.6 | Disbursement of Advance |
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Agent shall on the relevant Drawdown Date pay to the Borrower the amounts which the Agent receives from the Lenders under Clause 4.5 and that payment to the Borrower shall be made:
(a) | to the account(s) which the Borrower specifies in the relevant Drawdown Notice; and |
(b) | in the like funds as the Agent received the payments from the Lenders. |
4.7 | Disbursement of Advance to third party |
The payment by the Agent under Clause 4.6 to the account of a third party designated by the Borrower in a Drawdown Notice shall constitute the making of the Advance and the Borrower shall at that time become indebted, as principal and direct obligor, to each Lender in an amount equal to that Lender’s Contribution.
4.8 | Promissory note |
(a) | The obligation of the Borrower to pay the principal of, and interest on, the portion of each Advance made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more Notes in favor of the Agent (unless a Lender requests a Note evidencing its Contribution in which case an individual Note shall be issued to such Lender). |
(b) | Each Lender (or the Agent, as applicable), shall record on its internal records the amount of its (or each Lender’s) participation in each Advance and its payment in respect thereof, and will, prior to any transfer of a Note, endorse thereon the outstanding principal amount of the Contribution evidenced thereby. |
(c) | The failure to make any such endorsement shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower in respect of such Advance nor affect the validity of any transfer by the Agent or a Lender of a Note. |
(d) | On receipt of satisfactory evidence that a Note has been lost, mutilated or destroyed and on surrender of the remnants thereof, if any, the Borrower will promptly replace such Note, without charge to the Creditor Parties, with a similar Note. If such replacement Note replaces a lost Note it shall bear an endorsement to that effect. Any lost Note subsequently found shall be surrendered to the Borrower and cancelled. The Agent or the relevant Lender shall indemnify the Borrower for any losses, claims or damages resulting from the loss of such Note. |
5 | Interest and Hedging |
5.1 | Normal rate of interest |
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the rate of interest on the Loan or any part of each Advance for each Interest Period shall be the aggregate of the Margin, Term SOFR and the Mandatory Costs, if any.
5.2 | Payment of normal interest |
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, interest on the Loan in respect of each Interest Period shall be paid by the Borrower on the last day of that Interest Period.
5.3 | Payment of accrued interest |
In the case of an Interest Period longer than three (3) months, accrued interest shall be paid every three (3) months during that Interest Period and on the last day of that Interest Period.
5.4 | Notification of Interest Periods and rates of normal interest |
The Agent shall notify the Borrower and each Lender of:
(a) | each rate of interest; and |
(b) | the duration of each Interest Period (as determined under Clause 6.2), |
as soon as reasonably practicable after each is determined.
5.5 | Inability to Determine Rates |
Subject to Clause 5.6 (Benchmark Replacement Setting), if:
(a) | the Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that “Term SOFR” cannot be determined pursuant to the definition thereof on or prior to the first day of any Interest Period; or |
then, in each case, the Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each applicable Lender. Upon notice thereof by the Agent to the Borrower, any obligation of the Lenders to make Loans shall be suspended until the Agent (with respect to clause (b), at the instruction of the relevant Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending Drawdown Notice or, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such Drawdown Notice into a request for a Loan bearing interest at the sum of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus (ii) 0.50% and (iii) the Margin, in the amount specified therein and any outstanding affected Loans will (1) be deemed to have been converted into such a request at the end of the
applicable Interest Period or (2) be prepaid in full immediately at the end of the applicable Interest Period; provided that if no election is made by the Borrower by the date that is three (3) Business Days after receipt by the Borrower of such notice, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected clause (1) above. Upon any such prepayment, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Clause 8.18.
5.6 | Benchmark Replacement Setting. |
(b) | No Master Agreement shall be deemed to be a “Finance Document” for purposes of this Clause 5.6 (Benchmark Replacement Setting). |
(d) | Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (ii) the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement. The Agent will promptly notify the Borrower of the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Clause 5.6(e) and the commencement of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Clause 5.6(d), including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this |
Agreement or any other Finance Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Clause 5.6. |
(f) | Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any pending Drawdown Notice for an Advance of Loans to be made during any Benchmark Unavailability Period, or, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such Drawdown Notice into a request for a Loan bearing interest at the sum of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus (ii) 0.50% and (iii) the Margin, in the amount specified therein; and any outstanding affected Loans will be deemed to have been converted into such a request at the end of the applicable Interest Period. |
5.7 | Notice of prepayment |
If the Borrower does not agree with an interest rate set by the Agent under Clause 7.3, the Borrower may give the Agent not less than 15 Business Days’ notice of its intention to prepay the Loan (without premium or penalty but subject to any amounts payable under Clause 8.9) at the end of the Interest Period set by the Agent.
5.8 | Prepayment; termination of Commitments |
A notice under Clause 5.7 shall be irrevocable; the Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of the Borrower’s notice of intended prepayment and:
(a) | on the date on which the Agent serves that notice, the Total Commitments shall be cancelled; and |
(b) | on the last Business Day of the Interest Period set by the Agent, the Borrower shall prepay (without premium or penalty but subject to any amounts payable under Clause 8.9) the Loan, together with accrued interest thereon at the applicable rate plus the Margin and the Mandatory Costs (if any). |
5.9 | Application of prepayment |
The provisions of Clause 8 shall apply in relation to the prepayment.
5.10 | Hedging |
(a) | The Borrower may enter into Master Agreements and shall after the date it has entered into a Master Agreement maintain such Master Agreements in accordance with this Clause 5.10. |
(b) | Each Master Agreement shall: |
(i) | be with a Swap Bank; |
(ii) | have settlement dates coinciding with the last day of each Interest Period; and |
(iii) | provide the Termination Currency (as defined in the relevant Master Agreement) shall be Dollars. |
(c) | The rights of the Borrower under the Master Agreement shall be assigned by way of security under a Master Agreement Assignment. |
(d) | The parties to each Master Agreement must comply with the terms of that Master Agreement. |
(e) | Neither a Swap Bank nor the Borrower may amend, supplement, extend or waive the terms of any Master Agreement without giving prior written notice to the Security Trustee; |
(f) | Paragraph (e) above shall not apply to an amendment, supplement or waiver that is administrative and mechanical in nature and does not give rise to a conflict with any provision of this Agreement or any Master Agreement Assignment. |
(h) | Paragraph (g) above shall not apply to any Transactions in respect of any Master Agreement under which the Borrower has no actual or contingent indebtedness. |
(i) | The Agent must make a request under paragraph (g) above if so required by a Swap Bank. |
(j) | (i) If a Swap Bank or the Borrower terminates or closes out a transaction in respect of a Master Agreement (in whole or in part), (ii) in the event of non-payment under a Master Agreement by the Borrower unless the payment is made within three (3) Business Days of its due date; or (iii) if an Event of Default has occurred under Clauses 26.7, 26,8 or 26.9, the Borrower shall promptly notify the Agent of that termination or close out. |
(k) | If a Swap Bank is entitled to terminate or close out any transaction in respect of any Master Agreement, such Swap Bank shall promptly terminate or close out such transaction following a request to do so by the Security Trustee. |
(l) | Each Swap Bank consents to, and acknowledges notices of, the charging or assigning by way of security by the Borrower pursuant to the relevant Master Agreement Assignment of its rights under the Master Agreements to which it is party in favour of the Security Trustee. |
(m) | Any such assigning by way of security is without prejudice to, and after giving effect to, the operation of any payment or close-out netting in respect of any amounts owing under any Master Agreement. |
(n) | Neither the Borrower nor any Swap Bank shall assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under a Master Agreement without the consent of the Security Trustee. |
(o) | If a Lender ceases to be a party to this Agreement, such Lender or its Affiliate which is party to a Master Agreement may cease to be a party to such Master Agreement. |
6 | Interest Periods |
6.1 | Commencement of Interest Periods |
The first Interest Period applicable to an Advance shall commence on the relevant Drawdown Date and each subsequent Interest Period shall commence on the expiry of the preceding Interest Period.
6.2 | Duration of normal Interest Periods |
Subject to Clause 6.3, each Interest Period shall be:
(b) | in the case of the first Interest Period applicable to each Advance of the Term Loan Facility, a period ending on the date of the first Repayment Instalment; |
(c) | in the case of the first Interest Period applicable to each Advance other than the first Advance, a period ending on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the prior Advances then outstanding, whereupon all Advances shall be consolidated and treated as a single Advance; |
(d) | 3 months, if the Borrower fails to notify the Agent by the time specified in paragraph (a); or |
(e) | such other period as the Agent may, with the authorization of all the Lenders, agree with the Borrower. |
6.3 | No Interest Period to extend beyond Maturity Date |
No Interest Period shall end after the Maturity Date and any Interest Period which would otherwise extend beyond the Maturity Date shall instead end on the Maturity Date.
7 | Default Interest |
7.1 | Payment of default interest on overdue amounts |
A Security Party shall pay interest in accordance with the following provisions of this Clause 7 on any amount payable by such Security Party under any Finance Document which the Agent, the Security Trustee or any other designated payee does not receive on or before the relevant date, that is:
(a) | the date on which the Finance Documents provide that such amount is due for payment; or |
(b) | if a Finance Document provides that such amount is payable on demand, the date on which the demand is served; or |
(c) | if such amount has become immediately due and payable under Clause 21.4, the date on which it became immediately due and payable. |
7.2 | Default rate of interest |
Interest shall accrue on an overdue amount from (and including) the relevant date until the date of actual payment (as well after as before judgment) at the rate per annum determined by the Agent to be 2.00 percent above:
(a) | in the case of an overdue amount of principal, the rate set out at Clauses 7.3(a); or |
(b) | in the case of any other overdue amount, the rate set out at Clause 7.3(b). |
7.3 | Calculation of default rate of interest |
The rates referred to in Clause 7.2 are:
(a) | the rate applicable to the overdue principal amount immediately prior to the relevant date (but only for any unexpired part of any then current Interest Period); and |
7.4 | Notification of interest periods and default rates |
The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders and each relevant Security Party of each interest rate determined by the Agent under Clause 7.3 and of each period selected by the Agent for the purposes of paragraph (b) of that Clause; but this shall not be taken to imply that such Security Party is liable to pay such interest only with effect from the date of the Agent’s notification.
7.5 | Payment of accrued default interest |
Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, any interest due under this Clause: (a) shall be paid on the last day of the period by reference to which it was determined, (b) the payment shall
be made to the Agent for the account of the Creditor Party to which the overdue amount is due, and (c) it shall be immediately payable by the Borrower on demand by the Agent.
7.6 | Compounding of default interest |
Any such interest which is not paid at the end of the period by reference to which it was determined shall thereupon be compounded.
7.7 | Application to Master Agreements |
For the avoidance of doubt, this Clause 7 does not apply to any amount payable under a Master Agreement in respect of any continuing Designated Transaction as to which section 9(h) (Interest and Compensation) of that Master Agreement shall apply.
8 | Repayment, Prepayment, Reduction and Cancellation |
8.1 | Reduction and Repayment of the Total Commitments |
8.2 | Maturity Date |
On the Maturity Date, the Borrower shall repay all outstanding Advances (if any) and shall additionally pay to the Agent for the account of the Creditor Parties all other sums then accrued or owing under any Finance Document.
8.3 | Voluntary prepayment |
Subject to the conditions set forth in Clause 8.4, the Borrower may prepay the whole or any part of the Term Loan Facility or the Revolving Credit Facility without premium or penalty.
8.4 | Conditions for voluntary prepayment |
The conditions referred to in Clause 8.3 are that:
(a) | a partial prepayment shall be not less than $5,000,000 in respect of the Term Loan Facility and $1,000,000 in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility, and (unless such partial cancellation is in the outstanding amount of a Tranche) in a multiple of $1,000,000; |
(b) | the Agent has received from the Borrower at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice specifying the amount to be prepaid and the date on which the prepayment is to be made; and |
8.5 | Effect of notice of prepayment |
A prepayment notice may not be withdrawn or amended without the consent of the Agent, given with the authorization of the Majority Lenders (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), and the amount specified in the prepayment notice shall become due and payable by the Borrower on the date for prepayment specified in the prepayment notice.
8.6 | Notification of notice of prepayment |
The Agent shall notify the Lenders promptly upon receiving a prepayment notice, and shall provide any Lender which so requests with a copy of any document delivered by the Borrower under Clause 8.4(c).
8.7 | Mandatory reduction and prepayment upon Sale, Refinancing or Total Loss |
If a Vessel is sold or becomes a Total Loss, or the Advance incurred hereunder relating to such Vessel is refinanced, such Vessel’s Tranche under the Term Loan Facility shall be repaid and cancelled in full, and the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be reduced and cancelled by an amount equal to $2,000,000 to give effect to the release of the Security Interests in such Vessel under this Agreement and the Borrower shall additionally prepay any amount required to ensure compliance with the Collateral Maintenance Ratio:
(a) | in the case of a sale or a refinancing, on or before the date on which the sale is completed by delivery of the Vessel to the buyer or the refinancing is completed; or |
(c) | in the case of a Total Loss under paragraph (c) or (d) of the definition of the Total Loss Date, on the date on which the Vessel becomes a Total Loss. |
Following the sale of a Vessel and the prepayment of all amounts required pursuant to Clause 8.7 and 8.9, at the cost of the Borrower, the Creditor Parties shall release the relevant Owner Guarantor and Security Interest over the relevant Vessel (and its Earnings, Insurances and Charter) from this Agreement.
8.8 | Mandatory prepayment and cancellation upon Change of Control or Delisting Event |
If a Change of Control or Delisting Event occurs, the Borrower shall immediately prepay the total amount of all the outstanding Advances in full, and the Total Commitments shall be automatically cancelled.
8.9 | Amounts payable on prepayment |
A prepayment shall be made together with accrued interest (and any other amount payable under Clause 22 or otherwise) in respect of the amount prepaid and, if the prepayment is not made on the last day of an Interest Period together with any sums payable under Clause 8.18 or Clause 22.1(b), but without premium or penalty.
8.10 | Reborrowing |
Subject to Clause 8.1 and 8.7, any amount of the Revolving Credit Facility which has been repaid or prepaid may be reborrowed during the Availability Period. No amount of the Term Loan Facility which has been repaid or prepaid may be reborrowed during the Availability Period.
8.11 | Voluntary cancellation of Total Commitments |
Subject to the conditions set forth in Clause 8.12, the Borrower may cancel the whole or any part of the Total Commitments without premium or penalty.
8.12 | Conditions for voluntary cancellation of Total Commitments |
The conditions referred to in Clause 8.11 are that:
(a) | a partial cancellation shall be in the amount at least $1,000,000 and a multiple of $1,000,000; and |
(b) | the Agent has received from the Borrower at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice specifying the amount to be cancelled and the date on which the cancellation is to take effect. |
8.13 | Effect of notice of cancellation |
The service of a cancellation notice shall cause the amount of the Total Commitments specified in the notice to be permanently cancelled and any partial cancellation shall be applied against the Commitments of each Lender pro rata. For the avoidance of doubt, amounts of the Total Commitments cancelled pursuant to this Agreement may not be reinstated.
8.14 | Notification of notice of cancellation |
The Agent shall notify the Lenders promptly upon receiving a cancellation notice.
8.15 | Application of prepayments, Commitment cancellations and reductions |
(a) | In the case of any voluntary prepayment of the Term Loan Facility under Clause 8.3, any such partial prepayment shall be applied pro rata across the Repayment Instalments (excluding the Balloon Instalment). |
(b) | Except as provided in Clause 8.7, in the case of any mandatory prepayment in part of the Term Loan Facility required under this Agreement (including pursuant to Clause 15 (Collateral Maintenance Ratio)), any such partial prepayment shall be applied pro rata across all the then remaining Repayment Instalments and Balloon Instalment under the Revolving Facility and the Term Loan Facility (pro rata across each Tranche). |
(c) | In the case of any prepayment under Clause 24 or Clause 25, such prepayment of Term Loan Advances shall be applied against such Notifying Lender’s portion of the Repayment Instalments and Balloon Instalment. |
8.16 | Unwinding of Designated Transactions |
On or prior to any repayment, prepayment, reduction or cancellation of the Loan (or any part thereof) under this Clause 8 or any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall wholly or partially reverse, offset, unwind or otherwise terminate one or more of the continuing Designated Transactions so that the notional principal amount of the continuing Designated Transactions thereafter remaining does not and will not in the future (taking into account the scheduled amortization) exceed the amount of the Loan as reducing from time to time thereafter pursuant to Clause 8.1.
8.17 | Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender |
(c) | The Agent shall as soon as practicable after receipt of a notice referred to in paragraph (a) above, notify all the Lenders. |
8.18 | Compensation for Losses |
In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the failure to borrow or prepay any Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto, or (c) the assignment of any Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Clause 25.5, then, in connection with (a), (b) or (c) above, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for any loss, cost and expense attributable to such event, including any loss, cost or expense arising from the liquidation or redeployment of funds or from any fees payable. A certificate of any Lender setting forth in reasonable detail any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Clause shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.
9 | Conditions Precedent |
9.1 | Documents, fees and no default |
Each Lender’s obligation to make its Contribution to an Advance is subject to the following conditions precedent:
(a) | that, the Agent receives: |
(i) | on or before the service of the first Drawdown Notice, the documents described in Part A of Schedule 4 in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its lawyers; and |
(ii) | on or before the Effective Date, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent or a Lender in order for each to carry out and be satisfied with the results of all necessary “know your customer” or other checks which it is required to carry out in relation to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Finance Documents, including without limitation obtaining, verifying and recording certain information and documentation that will allow the Agent and each of the Lenders to identify each Security Party in accordance with the requirements of the PATRIOT Act; |
(c) | that, on or before the service of any Drawdown Notice, the Agent has received (or is satisfied that it will receive on or before the making of such Advance) payment of any commitment fee and any other fee set out in a Fee Letter, each referred to in Clause 21.1, which was due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Fee Letter, and has received (or is satisfied that it will receive) payment of the expenses which are due and payable referred to in Clause 21.2; |
(d) | that both at the date of each Drawdown Notice and at each Drawdown Date: |
(i) | no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred or would result from the borrowing of the Advance; |
(ii) | the representations and warranties in Clause 10 and those of the Borrower or any other Security Party which are set out in the other Finance Documents (other than those relating to a specific date) would be true and not misleading if repeated on each of those dates with reference to the circumstances then existing; |
(iii) | none of the circumstances contemplated by Clause 5.5 has occurred and is continuing; and |
(iv) | to the best knowledge of the Parent Guarantor, there has been no material change in the consolidated financial condition, operations or business of the Borrower and its subsidiaries since the date on which the Borrower provided information concerning those topics to the Agent and/or any Lender; |
(e) | that, on or before the Closing Date, the Agent has received evidence of the Maximum Available Amount; |
(f) | that, if the requested Advance is a Revolving Advance, if the Collateral Maintenance Ratio were applied immediately following the making of such Advance, the Borrower would not be required to provide additional Collateral or prepay part of the Loan under Clause 15 based on the most recently available appraisals determining the Fair Market Value of the Vessels; and |
(g) | that the Agent has received, and found to be acceptable to it, any further opinions, consents, agreements and documents in connection with the Finance Documents which the Agent may, with the authorization of the Majority Lenders, request by notice to the Borrower at least three (3) Business Days prior to the relevant Drawdown Date. |
9.2 | Waiver of conditions precedent |
Notwithstanding anything in Clause 9.1 to the contrary, if the Agent, with the consent of all Lenders, permits an Advance to be borrowed before certain of the conditions referred to in Clause 9.1 are satisfied, the Borrower shall ensure that such conditions are satisfied within such reasonable period after the relevant Drawdown Date as the Agent may specify in consultation with the Borrower.
10 | Representations and Warranties |
10.1 | General |
The Borrower and each of the Guarantors represents and warrants to each Creditor Party as of the Effective Date, the date of each Drawdown Notice, and on the first day of each Interest Period as follows.
10.2 | Status |
The Borrower and each Guarantor is:
(a) | duly incorporated or formed and validly existing and in good standing under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation; and |
(b) | duly qualified and in good standing as a foreign company in each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property or in which the conduct of its business requires it to so qualify or be licensed except where, in each case, the failure to so qualify or be licensed and be in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets or financial condition of the Borrower or a Guarantor or which may affect the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of the Finance Documents, |
and there are no proceedings or actions pending or contemplated by any Security Party, or to the knowledge of the Borrower or any Guarantor contemplated by any third party, seeking to adjudicate such Security Party as bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property.
10.3 | Company power; consents |
Each Security Party has the capacity and has taken all action, and no consent of any person is required, for:
(a) | it to own or lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted; |
(b) | it to execute each Finance Document to which it is or is to become a party; |
(c) | it to comply with its obligations under each Finance Document to which it is or is to become a party; |
(d) | it to grant the Security Interests granted by it pursuant to the Finance Documents to which it is or is to become a party; |
(e) | the perfection or maintenance of the Security Interests created by the Finance Documents (including the first priority nature thereof); and |
(f) | the exercise by any Creditor Party of their rights under any of the Finance Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Finance Documents to which it is a party, |
except, in each case, for consents which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect.
10.4 | Consents in force |
All the consents referred to in Clause 10.3 remain in force and nothing has occurred which makes any of them liable to revocation.
10.5 | Title |
(a) | Each Security Party owns (i) in the case of owned real property, good and marketable fee title to and (ii) in the case of owned personal property, good and valid title to, or, in the case of leased real or personal property, valid and enforceable leasehold interests (as the case may be) in, all of its properties and assets, tangible and intangible, of any nature whatsoever, free and clear in each case of all Security Interests or claims, except for Permitted Security Interests. |
(b) | No Security Party has created or is contractually bound to create any Security Interest on or with respect to any of its assets, properties, rights or revenues, except for Permitted Security Interests, and except as provided in this Agreement no Security Party is restricted by contract, applicable law or regulation or otherwise from creating Security Interests on any of its assets, properties, rights or revenues. |
(c) | Each Owner Guarantor has received all deeds, assignments, waivers, consents, non-disturbance and attornment or similar agreements, bills of sale and other documents, and has duly effected all recordings, filings and other actions necessary to establish, protect and perfect such Owner Guarantor’s right, title and interest in and to the Vessel owned or to be owned by it and other properties and assets (or arrangements for such recordings, filings and other actions acceptable to the Agent shall have been made). |
10.6 | Legal validity; effective first priority Security Interests |
Subject to any relevant insolvency laws affecting creditors’ rights generally:
(a) | the Finance Documents to which each Security Party is a party, constitute or, as the case may be, will constitute upon execution and delivery (and, where applicable, registration as provided for in the Finance Documents), such Security Party’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms; and |
(b) | the Finance Documents to which each Security Party is a party, create or, as the case may be, will create upon execution and delivery (and, where applicable, registration as provided for in the Finance Documents), legal, valid and binding first priority Security Interests enforceable in accordance with their respective terms over all the assets to which they, by their terms, relate; and |
10.7 | No third party Security Interests |
Without limiting the generality of Clauses 10.5 and 10.6, at the time of the execution and delivery of each Finance Document:
(a) | the relevant Security Party will have the right to create all the Security Interests which that Finance Document purports to create; and |
(b) | no third party will have any Security Interest (except for Permitted Security Interests) or any other interest, right or claim over, in or in relation to any asset to which any Security Interest which that Finance Document purports to create, by its terms, relates. |
10.8 | No conflicts |
The execution and delivery of each Finance Document, the borrowing of each Advance, and compliance with each Finance Document, will not involve or lead to a contravention of:
(a) | any law or regulation applicable to any Security Party; or |
(b) | the constitutional documents of any Security Party; or |
(c) | any contractual or other obligation or restriction which is binding on any Security Party or any of its assets. |
10.9 | Status of Secured Liabilities |
The Secured Liabilities constitute direct, unconditional and general obligations of each Security Party and rank (a) senior to all subordinated Financial Indebtedness and (b) at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors, except for obligations mandatorily preferred by law applying to companies generally.
10.10 | Taxes |
(b) | Each Security Party has timely filed or has caused to be filed all tax returns and other reports that it is required by law or regulation to file in the United States or any Pertinent Jurisdiction, and has paid or caused to be paid all taxes, assessments and other similar charges that are due and payable in the United States or any Pertinent Jurisdiction, other than taxes and charges: |
(i) | which (A) are not yet due and payable or (B) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established and as to which such failure to have paid such tax does not create any risk of sale, forfeiture, loss, confiscation or seizure of a Vessel or of criminal liability; or |
(ii) | the non-payment of which could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of such Security Party. |
The charges, accruals, and reserves on the books of each Security Party respecting taxes are adequate in accordance with GAAP.
(c) | No material claim for any tax has been asserted against a Security Party by any Pertinent Jurisdiction or other taxing authority other than claims that are included in the liabilities for taxes in the most recent balance sheet of such person or disclosed in the notes thereto, if any. |
(d) | The execution, delivery, filing and registration or recording (if applicable) of the Finance Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby will not cause any of the Creditor Parties to be required to make any registration with, give any notice to, obtain any license, permit or other authorization from, or file any declaration, return, report or other document with any governmental authority in any Pertinent Jurisdiction. |
(e) | No taxes are required by any governmental authority in any Pertinent Jurisdiction to be paid with respect to or in connection with the execution, delivery, filing, recording, performance or enforcement of any Finance Document except any applicable stamp, registration or similar taxes in connection with the registration of the Finance Documents in accordance with the laws of any relevant jurisdiction. |
(f) | The execution, delivery, filing, registration, recording, performance and enforcement of the Finance Documents by any of the Creditor Parties will not cause such Creditor Party to be subject to taxation under any law or regulation of any governmental authority in any Pertinent Jurisdiction of any Security Party. |
10.11 | No default |
No Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred or would result from the borrowing of an Advance.
10.12 | Information |
All financial statements, written information and other data furnished by or on behalf of a Security Party to any of the Creditor Parties:
(a) | Was, to the best of such Security Party’s knowledge, true and accurate at the time it was given or made in all material respects; |
(b) | such financial statements, if any, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP; |
(c) | to the best of any Security Party’s knowledge after due inquiry, there are no other facts or matters the omission of which would have made or make any such information false or misleading; |
(d) | to the best of any Security Party’s knowledge after due inquiry, there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition, operations or business of the Borrower or Guarantors since the date on which such information was provided other than as previously disclosed to the Agent in writing; and |
(e) | none of the Security Parties has any contingent obligations, liabilities for taxes or other outstanding financial obligations which are material in the aggregate except as disclosed in such statements, information and data. |
10.13 | No litigation |
No legal or administrative action involving a Security Party (including any action relating to any alleged or actual breach of the ISM Code, the ISPS Code, any Environmental Law or any Sanctions) has been commenced or taken by any person, or, to the Borrower’s or any Guarantor’s knowledge, is likely to be commenced or taken which, in either case, if adversely determined, would be likely to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets or financial condition of a Security Party or which may affect the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of the Finance Documents.
10.14 | Intellectual property |
Except for those with respect to which the failure to own or license could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect, each Security Party owns or has the right to use all patents, trademarks, permits, service marks, trade names, copyrights, franchises, formulas, licenses and other rights with respect thereto, and have obtained assignment of all licenses and other rights of whatsoever nature, that are material to its business as currently contemplated without any conflict with the rights of others.
10.15 | ISM Code and ISPS Code compliance; Ballast water treatment |
Each Owner Guarantor has obtained or will obtain or will cause to be obtained all necessary ISM Code Documentation and ISPS Code Documentation in connection with the Vessel owned or to be owned by it and its operation and will be or will cause such Vessel and the Approved Manager to be in full compliance with the ISM Code and the ISPS Code. Each Owner Guarantor confirms that installation of a ballast water treatment system for its Vessel is not required under IMO regulations before the third special survey applicable to its Vessel.
10.16 | Anti-Bribery and Corruption laws |
(a) | To the best knowledge of each Security Party, it has conducted and is conducting its businesses in compliance with Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws. |
(b) | Each Security Party has instituted and maintained systems, controls, policies and procedures designed: |
(i) | to prevent and detect incidences of bribery and corruption; and |
(ii) | to promote and achieve compliance with Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws including, but not limited to, maintaining thorough and accurate books and records, and utilization of commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the Security Party shall act in compliance with Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws. |
(c) | No Security Party, is (or ought reasonably to be) aware, that any of its directors or officers has: |
(i) | to its knowledge, directly or indirectly, made, offered to make, promised to make or authorized the offer, payment, or giving of, any value, including a financial or other advantage for an improper purpose within the meaning and in violation of Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws; |
(ii) | to its knowledge, directly or indirectly used any corporate funds for any contribution, gift, entertainment or other expense relating to political office or activity in violation of Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws; |
(iii) | to its knowledge made any direct or indirect payment or transfer of value to any public official or any company employee from corporate funds in violation of Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws; |
(iv) | to its knowledge received directly or indirectly any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other payment or transfer of value prohibited under Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws; or |
(v) | been or is subject to any litigation, arbitration or administrative, regulatory or criminal proceedings or investigation with regard to any actual or alleged unlawful payment, improper transfer of value or other violation of Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws. |
(d) | No Security Party will directly or, to its knowledge, indirectly use the proceeds of a Loan for any purpose which would be in violation of the Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws. |
10.17 | Validity and completeness of Charters. |
(a) | Each Charter constitutes valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Owner Guarantor party thereto in accordance with its terms and: |
(i) | the copy of such Charter delivered to the Agent is a true and complete copy; and |
(ii) | no amendments or additions to such Charter have been agreed nor has the Owner Guarantor party thereto waived any of its rights under such Charter. |
10.18 | Compliance with law; Environmentally Sensitive Material |
Except to the extent the following could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets or financial condition of any Security Party, or affect the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of the Finance Documents:
(a) | the operations and properties of each of the Security Parties comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including without limitation Environmental Laws, all necessary Environmental Permits have been obtained and are in effect for the operations and properties of each of the Security Parties and each of the Security Parties is in compliance in all material respects with all such Environmental Permits; and |
(b) | none of the Security Parties has received notice via email, or in writing at one of its principal places of business in Connecticut, Greece or Denmark, from any person that it or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates is potentially liable for the remedial or other costs with respect to treatment, storage, disposal, release, arrangement for disposal or transportation of any Environmentally Sensitive Material, except for costs incurred in the ordinary course of business with respect to treatment, storage, disposal or transportation of such Environmentally Sensitive Material. |
10.19 | Ownership structure |
(a) | All of the Equity Interests of the Borrower have been validly issued and are owned beneficially and of record by the Parent Guarantor. |
(b) | All of the Equity Interests of each Owner Guarantor have been validly issued and are owned beneficially and of record by the Borrower. |
(c) | All of the Equity Interests of the Borrower and each Guarantor (other than the Parent Guarantor) are free and clear of all Security Interests, other than Permitted Security Interests. |
(d) | None of the Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Guarantor (other than the Parent Guarantor) are subject to any existing option, warrant, call, right, commitment or other agreement of any character to which the Borrower or any Guarantor (other than the Parent Guarantor) is a party requiring, and there are no Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Guarantor (other than the Parent Guarantor) outstanding which upon conversion or exchange would require, the issuance, sale or transfer of any additional Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Guarantor (other than the Parent Guarantor) or other Equity Interests convertible into, exchangeable for or evidencing the right to subscribe for or purchase Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Guarantor (other than the Parent Guarantor). |
10.20 | ERISA |
(b) | The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions hereunder will not involve any non-exempt “prohibited transaction” for purposes of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, other than as attributable to the status or activities of a Creditor Party. |
(c) | None of the Security Parties is deemed to hold “plan assets” within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA. |
(d) | No ERISA Funding Event or ERISA Termination Event exists or has occurred, and no condition exists nor has any event occurred that could reasonably be expected to result in any ERISA Funding Event or ERISA Termination Event, in connection with which obligations and liabilities (contingent or otherwise) have arisen or could reasonably be expected to result in liability, individually or in the aggregate, to the Security Parties and their subsidiaries and ERISA Affiliates in excess of $500,000 following the date of this Agreement. |
(e) | No Foreign Plan Underfunding or Foreign Plan Termination Event exists or has occurred, and no condition exists nor has any event occurred that could reasonably be expected to result in any Foreign Plan Underfunding or Foreign Plan Termination Event, in connection with which obligations and liabilities (contingent or otherwise) have arisen or could reasonably be expected to result in liability, individually or in the aggregate, to the Security Parties and their subsidiaries in excess of $500,000 following the date of this Agreement. |
10.21 | Margin stock |
The Borrower is not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock or for any other purpose in violation of the Margin Regulations and no proceeds of any Advance will be used to buy or carry any Margin Stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of buying or carrying any Margin Stock.
10.22 | Investment company, public utility, etc. |
The Borrower is not:
(a) | an “investment company,” or an “affiliated person” of, or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for, an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or subject to regulation thereunder; or |
(b) | a “public utility” within the meaning of the United States Federal Power Act of 1920, as amended. |
10.23 | Sanctions |
(a) | No Security Party: |
(i) | is a Restricted Party; |
(ii) | is in breach of or has violated Sanctions; |
(iii) | owns or controls or is an Affiliate of a Restricted Party; or |
(iv) | has a Restricted Party serving as a director, officer or, to the best of its knowledge, employee; and |
(b) | no Vessel is a Sanctioned Vessel. |
10.24 | No money laundering |
Without prejudice to the generality of Clause 2.3, in relation to the borrowing by the Borrower of an Advance, the performance and discharge of its obligations and liabilities under the Finance
Documents, and the transactions and other arrangements affected or contemplated by the Finance Documents to which the Borrower is a party, the Borrower confirms that:
(a) | it is acting for its own account; |
(b) | it will use the proceeds of such Advance for its own benefit, under its full responsibility and exclusively for the purposes specified in this Agreement; and |
10.25 | Vessels |
As of the relevant Drawdown Date relating to a Vessel’s Tranche of the Term Loan Facility, each such Vessel is:
(a) | in the sole and absolute ownership of the Owner Guarantor that owns such Vessel and duly registered in such Owner Guarantor’s name under the law of an Approved Flag, unencumbered save and except for the Mortgage thereon in favor of the Security Trustee recorded against it and Permitted Security Interests; |
(b) | seaworthy for hull and machinery insurance warranty purposes and in every way fit for its intended service; |
(c) | insured in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the requirements hereof in respect of such insurances will have been complied with; |
(d) | in class in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the requirements hereof in respect of such classification will have been complied with; |
(e) | managed by an Approved Manager pursuant to an Approved Management Agreement; and |
(f) | not a vessel which any Security Party or Creditor Party is prohibited or restricted from dealing with under any Sanctions. |
10.26 | Place of business |
For purposes of the UCC, each Security Party has only one place of business located at, or, if it has more than one place of business, the chief executive office from which it manages the main part of its business operations and conducts its affairs is located at:
27 Signal Road
Stamford, CT 06902
10.27 | Solvency |
In the case of the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries:
(a) | the sum of their assets, at a fair valuation, taken as a whole, do and will exceed their liabilities, including, to the extent they are reportable as such in accordance with GAAP, contingent liabilities; |
(b) | the present fair market saleable value of their assets, taken as a whole, is not and shall not be less than the amount that will be required to pay their probable liability on their then existing debts, including, to the extent they are reportable as such in accordance with GAAP, contingent liabilities, as they mature; |
(c) | it does not and will not have unreasonably small working capital with which to continue its business; and |
(d) | they, on a consolidated basis, have not incurred, do not intend to incur and do not believe they will incur, debts beyond their ability to pay such debts as they mature. |
10.28 | Borrower’s business; Guarantors’ business |
(a) | From the date of its formation until the date hereof, none of the Borrower or the Owner Guarantors has conducted any business other than in connection with, or for the purpose of, directly or indirectly, owning and operating the (i) Vessels, (ii) vessels previously indirectly owned by the Borrower, and (iii) in the case of the Borrower, the Excluded Vessels. |
(b) | From the date of its formation until the date hereof, the Parent Guarantor has not conducted any business other than in connection with, or for the purpose of, directly or indirectly, owning, operating, managing and making investments in ocean-going vessels. |
10.29 | Immunity; enforcement; submission to jurisdiction; choice of law |
(a) | Each Security Party is subject to civil and commercial law with respect to its obligations under the Finance Documents, and the execution, delivery and performance by each Security Party of the Finance Documents to which it is a party constitute private and commercial acts rather than public or governmental acts. |
(b) | No Security Party or any of its properties has any immunity from suit, court jurisdiction, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of a judgment, set-off, execution of a judgment or from any other legal process in relation to any Finance Document. |
(c) | It is not necessary under the laws of any Security Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, in order to enable any Creditor Party to enforce its rights under any Finance Document or by reason of the execution of any Finance Document or the performance by any Security Party of its obligations under any Finance Document, that such Creditor Party should be licensed, qualified or otherwise entitled to carry on business in such Security Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation or formation. |
(d) | Other than the recording of each Mortgage in accordance with the laws of the Approved Flag and such filings as may be required in a Pertinent Jurisdiction in respect of certain of the Finance Documents, and the payment of fees consequent thereto, it is not necessary for the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility into evidence of this Agreement or any other Finance Document that any of them or any document relating thereto be registered, filed recorded or enrolled with any court or authority in any Pertinent Jurisdiction. |
(e) | The execution, delivery, filing, registration, recording, performance and enforcement of the Finance Documents by any of the Creditor Parties will not cause such Creditor Party to be deemed to be resident, domiciled or carrying on business in any Pertinent Jurisdiction of any Security Party or subject to taxation under any law or regulation of any governmental authority in any Pertinent Jurisdiction of any Security Party. |
(f) | Under the law of each Security Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, the choice of the law of New York to govern this Agreement and the other Finance Documents to which New York law is applicable is valid and binding. |
(g) | The submission by the Security Parties to the jurisdiction of the New York State courts and the U.S. Federal court sitting in New York County pursuant to Clause 32.2(a) is valid and binding and not subject to revocation, and service of process effected in the manner set forth in Clause 32.2(d) will be effective to confer personal jurisdiction over the Security Parties in such courts. |
(h) | As of the Effective Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all respects. |
10.30 | Repetition |
The representations and warranties set out in this Clause 10 are deemed to be repeated both on the date of the relevant Drawdown Notice and on the first day of each Interest Period.
11 | General Affirmative and Negative Covenants |
11.1 | Affirmative covenants |
From the first Drawdown Date until the Total Commitments have terminated and all amounts payable hereunder have been paid in full the Borrower and each of the Guarantors, as the case may be, undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply or cause compliance with the following provisions of this Clause 11.1 except as the Agent, with the consent of the Majority Lenders, may approve from time to time in writing, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld:
(a) | Performance of obligations. Each Security Party shall duly observe and perform its obligations under each Finance Document to which it is or is to become a party. |
(i) | the occurrence of an Event of Default or of any Potential Event of Default or any other event (including any litigation) which is reasonably likely to materially adversely affect any Security Party’s ability to perform its obligations under each Finance Document to which it is or is to become a party; and |
(ii) | any damage or injury caused by or to a Vessel in excess of $1,000,000. |
(i) | no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred; or |
(ii) | no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred, except for a specified event or matter, of which all material details are given. |
The Agent may serve requests under this Clause 11.1(c) from time to time but only if asked to do so by a Lender or Lenders having Contributions exceeding 40% of the Loan or (if no Advances have been made) Commitments exceeding 40% of the Total Commitments, and this Clause 11.1(c) does not affect the Borrower’s obligations under Clause 11.1(b).
(d) | Notification of litigation. The Borrower will provide the Agent with details of any material litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings involving the Borrower, any other Security Party, an Approved Manager that is an affiliate of the Borrower and managing any Vessel, or any Vessel, the Earnings or the Insurances as soon as such action is instituted or it becomes apparent to the Borrower that it is likely to be instituted, unless it is clear that the litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings cannot be considered material in the context of any Finance Document. |
(e) | Provision of further information. The Borrower and each Guarantor will, as soon as practicable after receiving the request, provide the Agent with any additional financial or other information relating to: |
(i) | the Borrower, the Guarantors or any their respective subsidiaries and Affiliates; |
(ii) | any assets subject to a Security Interest in favor of the Security Trustee and the compliance of any Security Party with any Finance Document; |
(iii) | the financial condition, assets and operations of the Security Parties; or |
(iv) | any other matter relevant to, or to any provision of, a Finance Document, |
which may be reasonably requested by the Agent, the Security Trustee, any Lender or any Swap Bank at any time.
(f) | Books of record and account; separate accounts. |
(i) | Each of the Borrower and the Guarantors shall keep separate and proper books of record and account in which full and materially correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions and the assets and business of each of the Borrower and the Guarantors in accordance with GAAP, and the Agent shall have the right to examine the books and records of each of the Borrower and the Guarantors wherever the same may be kept from time to time as it reasonably sees necessary, or to cause an examination to be made by a firm of accountants selected by it, provided that, in each case, any examination shall be done during normal business hours without undue interference with the day to day business operations of the Borrower or the Guarantors, as the case may be and it may not be done |
more than once per year (unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing) and at the Agent’s sole cost and expense (unless a Potential Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which case such examination shall be for the Borrower’s account). |
(ii) | Each of the Borrower and the Guarantors shall keep separate accounts and shall not co-mingle assets with each other or any other person except for funds held in the Earnings Accounts. |
(g) | Financial reports; Sustainability Certificate. The Borrower or the Parent Guarantor, as applicable, shall prepare and deliver to the Agent: |
(i) | as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each Fiscal Year, of the Parent Guarantor, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q (or any successor form) containing the unaudited consolidated financial statements for the Parent Guarantor in respect of each such fiscal quarter, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, certified as having been reviewed by its chief financial officer (or equivalent); |
(ii) | as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than 120 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Parent Guarantor to which they relate, an annual report on Form 10-K (or any successor form) containing the audited consolidated financial statements for the Parent Guarantor in respect of such Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, certified as having been audited by an Acceptable Accounting Firm; |
(iii) | as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event prior to the beginning of each Fiscal Year, an annual forecast, consisting of a profit and loss statement, a cash flow statement and a balance sheet for the upcoming Fiscal Year of the Parent Guarantor; |
(iv) | together with the financial statements that delivered in (i) and (ii) above, a Compliance Certificate signed by the chief financial officer (or equivalent) of the Parent Guarantor; |
(v) | within 180 days after the end of each calendar year, a Sustainability Certificate for the prior calendar year; provided that, a failure to deliver such Sustainability Certificate by such date shall not result in an Event of Default but shall result in a upward Sustainability Pricing Adjustment in accordance with the definition of Sustainability Pricing Adjustment; and |
(vi) | prior to each financial year, a consolidated budget (consisting of a profit and loss statement, a cash flow statement and a balance sheet for the upcoming financial year) with respect to the Parent Guarantor; |
(vii) | as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than five (5) Business Days after each June 30 and December 31, the mark-to-market value of the Transactions under the Master Agreements then in effect; and |
(viii) | such further relevant financial information (including without limitation fleet employment, operating expenses and debt levels per Vessel, subject always to the confidentially restrictions of the charterparty agreements relating to any such Vessel, such confidentiality restrictions being subject always to requirements of United States |
securities laws for disclosure) as may be reasonably requested by the Agent, each to be in such form as the Agent may reasonably request; |
provided that the Parent Guarantor will be deemed to have furnished to the Agent such reports and information in (i) and (ii) above if the Parent Guarantor has filed such reports and information with the SEC via the EDGAR (or any successor system) and such reports and information are publicly available.
(i) | at the Borrower’s expense, not later than thirty (30) days after the end of each of the second and fourth fiscal quarters; |
(ii) | at the Lenders’ expense, at all other times upon the request of the Agent or the Majority Lenders, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which case the Borrower shall procure it at its expense as often as requested; |
provided that if there is a difference of or in excess of 10% between the two valuations obtained, the Borrower shall, at its sole expense, obtain a third valuation from an Approved Broker appointed by the Agent in consultation with the Borrower; and provided further that for Vessels built in the same year and with similar specifications (“Sister Vessels”), valuation certificates issued by two (2) Approved Brokers setting forth the Fair Market Value for one (1) Sister Vessel shall be acceptable for each similar Sister Vessel.
(i) | Taxes. Each Security Party shall prepare and timely file all tax returns required to be filed by it and pay and discharge all taxes imposed upon it or in respect of any of its property and assets before the same shall become in default, as well as all lawful claims (including, without limitation, claims for labor, materials and supplies) which, if unpaid, might become a Security Interest upon the Collateral or any part thereof, except in each case, for any such taxes (i) as are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established, (ii) as to which such failure to have paid does not create any risk of sale, forfeiture, loss, confiscation or seizure of a Vessel or criminal liability, or (iii) the failure of which to pay or discharge would not be likely to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets or financial condition of the Borrower or any other Security Party or to affect the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of the Finance Documents. |
(j) | Consents. Each Security Party shall obtain or cause to be obtained, maintain in full force and effect and comply with the conditions and restrictions (if any) imposed in connection with, every consent and do all other acts and things which may from time to time be necessary or required for the continued due performance of all of its obligations under each Finance Document to which it is or is to become a party, and shall deliver a copy of all such consents to the Agent promptly upon its request. |
(k) | Compliance with applicable law. Each Security Party shall comply in all material respects with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, ordinances, rules, orders and regulations now in force or hereafter enacted, including, without limitation, all Environmental Laws and regulations relating thereto, the failure to comply with which would be likely to have a material adverse effect |
on the financial condition of such Security Party or affect the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of each Finance Document to which it is or is to become a party. |
(l) | Existence. Each Security Party shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, such jurisdiction to be acceptable to the Lenders, provided that Marshall Islands, Liberia and Singapore are deemed acceptable. |
(m) | Conduct of business. |
(i) | The Borrower shall conduct business only in connection with, or for the purpose of, directly or indirectly owning and operating the Vessels and the Excluded Vessels and directly or indirectly owning the Equity Interests of each of the Owner Guarantors and Excluded Subsidiaries and such other business ancillary or incidental thereto. |
(ii) | Each Owner Guarantor shall conduct business only in connection with, or for the purpose of, owning, managing, chartering and operating the Vessel owned by it. |
(iii) | Each Security Party shall conduct business in its own name and observe all corporate and other formalities required by its constitutional documents and no change will be made to the legal names of the Security Parties. |
(n) | Properties. |
(i) | Except to the extent the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets or financial condition of a Security Party or affect the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of the Finance Documents, each Security Party shall maintain and preserve all of its properties that are used or useful in the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted. |
(ii) | Each Security Party shall obtain and maintain good and marketable title or the right to use or occupy all real and personal properties and assets (including intellectual property) reasonably required for the conduct of its business. |
(iii) | Each Security Party shall maintain and protect its intellectual property and conduct its business and affairs without infringement of or interference with any intellectual property of any other person in any material respect and shall comply in all material respects with the terms of its licenses. |
(o) | Loan proceeds. The Borrower shall use the proceeds of each Advance solely (i) for the refinancing of the Financial Indebtedness under the Existing Facility Agreements (to the extent the Financial Indebtedness under such Existing Facility Agreement is outstanding on the relevant Drawdown Date) and (ii) for general corporate and working capital purposes. |
(p) | Change of place of business. The Borrower shall notify the Agent promptly of any change in the location of the place of business where it or any other Security Party conducts its affairs and keeps its records. |
(q) | Pollution liability. Each Security Party shall take, or cause to be taken, such actions as may be reasonably required to mitigate potential liability to it arising out of pollution incidents or as may be reasonably required to protect the interests of the Creditor Parties with respect thereto. |
(s) | Anti-Bribery and Corruption. Each Security Party shall: |
(i) | conduct its businesses in compliance with Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws; |
(ii) | maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws in force from time to time; and |
(iii) | use commercially reasonable efforts to procure that any third party acting on its behalf shall act in such capacity in compliance in all material respects with Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws. |
(t) | Sanctions. |
(i) | No Security Party shall take any action, make any omission or use (directly or indirectly) any proceeds of an Advance, in a manner that: |
(A) | is a breach of Sanctions; and/or; |
(B) | causes (or will cause) a breach of Sanctions by any Creditor Party. |
(ii) | No Security Party shall, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Term Loan Facility or the Revolving Credit Facility, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Restricted Party, or (ii) in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions by any person (including any person participating in the Facility, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor, or otherwise). |
(iii) | No Security Party shall fund any payment under the Loan out of proceeds derived from a Restricted Party. |
(v) | ERISA. Promptly upon a breach of Clause 10.20 (ERISA) (or an action that would be a breach of such representation when repeated pursuant to Clause 10.30 (Repetition)), the Borrower shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Agent, with copies for each of the Lenders, written notice |
thereof and the action, if any, which the relevant Security Party has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. |
(w) | Information provided to be accurate. All financial and other information which is provided in writing by or on behalf of any Security Party under or in connection with any Finance Document shall, to the knowledge of such Security Party after due inquiry, be true and not misleading in all material respects and shall not omit any material fact or consideration. |
(x) | Member and creditor notices. Each of the Borrower and the Guarantors shall send the Agent, at the same time as they are dispatched, copies of all material communications which are dispatched to its (i) members or shareholders (or equivalent) or any class of them or (ii) creditors generally provided that the Parent Guarantor will be deemed to have furnished to the Agent such information if the Parent Guarantor filed such information with the SEC via EDGAR (or any successor system) and such information is publicly available. |
(y) | Maintenance of Security Interests. Each of the Borrower and the Guarantors shall: |
(i) | at its own cost, do all that it reasonably can to ensure that any Finance Document validly creates the obligations and the Security Interests which it purports to create; and |
(ii) | without limiting the generality of paragraph (i), at its own cost, promptly register, file, record or enroll any Finance Document with any court or authority in all Pertinent Jurisdictions, pay any stamp, registration or similar tax in all Pertinent Jurisdictions in respect of any Finance Document, give any notice or take any other step which, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, is or has become necessary for any Finance Document to be valid, enforceable or admissible in evidence or to ensure or protect the priority of any Security Interest which it creates. |
(z) | “Know your customer” checks. If: |
(i) | the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the Effective Date; |
(ii) | any change in the status of the Borrower or any other Security Party after the Effective Date; or |
obliges the Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (iii), any prospective new Lender) to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, or an existing Lender’s internal procedures require updated “know your customer” checks on a periodic basis, the Borrower shall promptly upon the request of the Agent or the Lender concerned supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or the Lender concerned (for itself or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii), on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent, the Lender concerned or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii), any prospective new Lender to
carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.
(cc) | Further assurances. From time to time, at its reasonable expense, the Borrower and each of the Guarantors shall duly execute and deliver to the Agent such further documents and assurances as the Majority Lenders, the Swap Banks or the Agent may request to effectuate the purposes of this Agreement, the other Finance Documents or obtain the full benefit of any of the Collateral. |
11.2 | Negative covenants |
From the first Drawdown Date until the Total Commitments have terminated and all amounts payable hereunder have been paid in full the Borrower and each of the Guarantors, as the case may be, undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply or cause compliance with the following provisions of this Clause 11.2 except as the Agent, with the consent of the Majority Lenders, may approve from time to time in writing, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld:
(a) | Security Interests. (i) None of the Borrower or the Guarantors (other than the Parent Guarantor) shall create, assume or permit to exist any Security Interest whatsoever upon any of its properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except for Permitted Security Interests, and (ii) the Parent Guarantor shall not create, assume or permit to exist any Security Interest whatsoever upon any Collateral whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except for Permitted Security Interests. |
(c) | No contracts other than in ordinary course of business. None of the Borrower or the Guarantors (other than Parent Guarantor) shall enter into any transactions or series of related transactions with third parties other than in the ordinary course of its business. |
(d) | Affiliate transactions. None of the Borrower or the Owner Guarantors shall enter into any transaction or series of related transactions, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, with any Affiliate other than on terms and conditions substantially as favorable to such Borrower or Owner Guarantor as would be obtainable by it at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a person other than an Affiliate. |
(e) | Change of business. |
(i) | No substantial change will be made to the general nature of the business of the Parent Guarantor from that carried on as at the Effective Date. |
(ii) | The Borrower shall not change the nature of its business or commence any business other than in connection with, or for the purpose of, directly or indirectly owning and operating the Vessels and the Excluded Vessels and directly or indirectly owning the Equity Interests of each of Owner Guarantors and the Excluded Subsidiaries and such other business ancillary or incidental thereto. |
(iii) | None of the Owner Guarantors shall change the nature of its business or commence any business other than in connection with, or for the purpose of, owning, managing, chartering and operating the Vessel owned by it and such other business ancillary or incidental thereto. |
(g) | Increases in capital. None of the Security Parties (other than the Parent Guarantor) shall increase its capital by way of the issuance of any class or series of Equity Interests or create any new class of Equity Interests that is not subject to a Security Interest to secure the Secured Liabilities. |
(h) | Financial Indebtedness; Trade payables. |
(i) | None of the Borrower or the Owner Guarantors shall incur any Financial Indebtedness other than Permitted Financial Indebtedness. |
(ii) | None of the Owner Guarantors shall incur unsecured trade credit (excluding trade credit granted by it to its vendors on normal commercial terms in the ordinary course of its trading activities which is not overdue for payment. |
(i) | Dividends. If: |
(i) | an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; |
(ii) | an Event of Default would result therefrom; |
(iii) | the Parent Guarantor is not in compliance with any of the covenants in Clause 12 (Financial Covenants); or |
(iv) | any payment of dividends or any form of distribution or return of capital would result in the Parent Guarantor not being in compliance with any of the covenants in Clause 12 (Financial Covenants), |
neither the Parent Guarantor nor the Borrower nor any Owner Guarantor shall declare or pay any dividends or return any capital to its equity holders or authorize or make any other distribution, payment or delivery of property or cash to its equity holders, or redeem, retire, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, for value, any interest of any class or series of its Equity Interests (or acquire any rights, options or warrants relating thereto but not including convertible debt) now or hereafter outstanding, or repay any subordinated loans to equity holders or set aside any funds for any of the foregoing purposes.
Except as provided in this Clause 11.2(i) (Dividends), neither the Borrower nor any Owner Guarantor will permit any restriction (1) to declare or pay any dividends or return any capital to the Parent Guarantor or the Borrower, respectively, or authorize or make any other distribution, payment or delivery of property or cash to the Parent Guarantor or the Borrower, respectively, or redeem, retire, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, for value, any interest of any class or series of its Equity Interests (or acquire any rights, options or warrants relating thereto but not including convertible debt) now or hereafter outstanding or to pay any Financial Indebtedness owed to the Parent Guarantor or the Borrower, respectively, or (2) to repay and/or make any subordinated loans to the Parent Guarantor or the Borrower, respectively, or set aside any funds for any of the foregoing purposes, or (3) to transfer any of its assets to the Parent Guarantor or the Borrower, respectively.
(j) | Loans and investments. None of the Owner Guarantors or the Borrower shall make any loan or advance to, make any investment in, or enter into any working capital maintenance or similar agreement with respect to any person, whether by acquisition of Equity Interests or indebtedness, by loan, guarantee or otherwise provided that (i) the Borrower shall be permitted to make investments, but not make loans or advances (other than to a Security Party subject to Clause 11.1(r)) and (ii) the Borrower shall be permitted to make other investments and enter into working capital maintenance or similar agreements in connection with its indirect ownership in the Excluded Vessels provided that any such investments or expenditure shall not exceed $2,000,000 per Excluded Vessel and $28,000,000 in the aggregate. |
(k) | Acquisition of capital assets. None of the Borrower or the Owner Guarantors shall acquire any capital assets (including any vessel other than a Vessel) by purchase, charter or otherwise, |
provided that for the avoidance of doubt nothing in this Clause 11.2(k) shall prevent or be deemed to prevent capital improvements being made to a Vessel or an Excluded Vessel. |
(m) | Changes to Fiscal Year and accounting policies. (i) Without the permission of the stockholders of the Parent Guarantor and providing at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Agent, none of the Borrower or the Guarantors shall change its Fiscal Year, and (ii) none of the Borrower or the Guarantors shall make or permit any change in accounting policies affecting (x) the presentation of financial statements or (y) reporting practices, except in the case of this clause (ii) in accordance with GAAP or pursuant to the requirements of applicable laws or regulations. |
(p) | Change of location. None of the Borrower or the Guarantors shall change the location of its chief executive office or the office where its corporate records are kept or open any new office for the conduct of its business on less than thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Agent. |
(q) | ERISA. None of the Borrowers or the Guarantors shall act, permit or fail to act in any manner that results in any of the representations set forth in Clause 10.20(b)-(e) becoming untrue on any date during the term of this Agreement, with such representations being deemed repeated on each date during the term of this Agreement for purposes of this Clause 11.2(q). |
12 | Financial Covenants |
12.1 | General |
From the Effective Date until the Total Commitments have terminated and all amounts payable hereunder have been paid in full the Parent Guarantor undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply or cause compliance with the following provisions of this Clause 12 except as the Agent, with the consent of the Majority Lenders, may approve from time to time in writing, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld.
12.2 | Minimum consolidated liquidity |
The Parent Guarantor shall at all times maintain a Consolidated Liquidity of at least equal to the greater of (a) $27,500,000, and (b) 5% of consolidated interest-bearing debt, to be tested on the last day of each fiscal quarter.
12.3 | Maximum Leverage Ratio |
The Parent Guarantor shall at all times maintain a ratio of Consolidated Net Debt to Consolidated Total Capitalization of not more than 0.60 to 1.00, to be tested on the last day of each fiscal quarter.
12.4 | Minimum Shareholders’ Equity |
The Parent Guarantor shall at all times maintain minimum Shareholders’ Equity equal to $400,000,000, to be tested on the last day of each fiscal quarter.
12.5 | Working Capital |
The Borrower shall at all times maintain positive Working Capital, to be tested on the last day of each fiscal quarter.
13 | Marine Insurance Covenants |
13.1 | General |
From the first Drawdown Date until the Total Commitments have terminated and all amounts payable hereunder have been paid in full, the Borrower and each of the Guarantors, as the case may be, undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply or cause compliance with the following provisions of this Clause 13 except as the Agent and the Security Trustee, with the consent of the Majority Lenders, may approve from time to time in writing, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld.
13.2 | Maintenance of obligatory insurances |
Each Owner Guarantor shall keep the Vessel owned by it insured at its expense against:
(a) | fire and usual marine risks (including hull and machinery, hull interest and excess risks); |
(b) | war risks (including terrorism, piracy and confiscation); and |
(c) | protection and indemnity risks. |
13.3 | Terms of obligatory insurances |
Each Owner Guarantor shall affect such insurances in respect of the Vessel owned by it:
(a) | in Dollars; |
(b) | in the case of fire and usual marine risks and war risks, in an amount on an agreed value basis at least the greater of: |
(i) | when aggregated with the insured values of the other Vessels subject to a Mortgage, 120% of the sum of the available Commitments and Loan outstanding; and |
(ii) | the Fair Market Value of the Vessel owned by it; |
provided that, not less than 80% of the Fair Market Value shall be on a hull and machinery basis, while the remaining part of the insured value may be taken out by way of hull and/or freight interest insurance cover where the insurances are subject to the American Institute Clauses 1977.
(c) | in the case of oil pollution liability risks, for an aggregate amount equal to the highest level of cover from time to time available in the insurance market for vessels of similar age, size and type as such Vessel under basic protection and indemnity club entry and in the international marine insurance market (in the case of oil pollution liability risks, currently $1,000,000,000); |
(d) | in relation to protection and indemnity risks in respect of the full tonnage of the Vessel owned by it; |
(e) | on approved terms; and |
13.4 | Further protections for the Creditor Parties |
In addition to the terms set out in Clause 13.3, each Owner Guarantor shall procure that the obligatory insurances affected by it shall:
(a) | subject always to paragraph (b), name that Owner Guarantor as the sole named assured unless the interest of every other named assured is stated in the cover notes for the insurance policy and is limited: |
(i) | in respect of any obligatory insurances for hull and machinery and war risks; |
(A) | to any provable out-of-pocket expenses that it has incurred and which form part of any recoverable claim on underwriters; and |
(B) | to any third-party liability claims where cover for such claims is provided by the policy (and then only in respect of discharge of any claims made against it); and |
(ii) | in respect of any obligatory insurances for protection and indemnity risks, to any recoveries it is entitled to make by way of reimbursement following discharge of any third-party liability claims made specifically against it; |
and every other named assured has undertaken in writing to the Security Trustee (in such form as it requires) to subordinate or assign its interests in the Insurances and that any deductible shall be apportioned between that Owner Guarantor and every other named assured in proportion to the aggregate claims made or paid by each of them and that it shall do all things necessary and provide all documents, evidence and information to enable the Security Trustee to collect or recover any moneys which at any time become payable in respect of the obligatory insurances;
(c) | name the Security Trustee as mortgagee and loss payee with such directions for payment as the Security Trustee may specify; |
(d) | provide that all payments by or on behalf of the insurers under the obligatory insurances to the Security Trustee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim or deductions or condition whatsoever; |
(e) | provide that the obligatory insurances shall be primary without right of contribution from other insurances which may be carried by the Security Trustee or any other Creditor Party; and |
(f) | provide that the Security Trustee may make proof of loss if that Owner Guarantor fails to do so. |
13.5 | Renewal of obligatory insurances |
Each Owner Guarantor shall:
(b) | at least seven (7) days before the expiry of any obligatory insurance, renew that obligatory insurance; and |
13.6 | Copies of policies; letters of undertaking |
Each Owner Guarantor shall ensure that all brokers provide the Security Trustee with pro forma copies of all policies relating to the obligatory insurances which they are to affect or renew and of a letter or letters or undertaking in a form required by the Majority Lenders and including undertakings by the brokers that:
(a) | they will have endorsed on each policy, immediately upon issue, a loss payable clause and a notice of assignment in accordance with the requirements of the Insurance Assignment for that Owner Guarantor’s Vessel; |
(b) | they will hold such policies, and the benefit of such insurances, to the order of the Security Trustee in accordance with the said loss payable clause; |
(c) | they will advise the Security Trustee immediately of any material change to the terms of the obligatory insurances or if they cease to act as brokers; |
(d) | they will notify the Security Trustee, not less than 14 days before the expiry of the obligatory insurances, in the event of their not having received notice of renewal instructions from that Owner Guarantor or its agents and, in the event of their receiving instructions to renew, they will promptly notify the Security Trustee of the terms of the instructions; and |
(e) | they will not set off against any sum recoverable in respect of a claim relating to the Vessel owned by that Owner Guarantor under such obligatory insurances any premiums or other amounts due to them or any other person whether in respect of that Vessel or otherwise, they waive any lien on the policies, or any sums received under them, which they might have in respect of such premiums or other amounts, and they will not cancel such obligatory insurances by reason of non-payment of such premiums or other amounts, and will arrange for a separate policy to be issued in respect of that Vessel forthwith upon being so requested by the Security Trustee. |
13.7 | Copies of certificates of entry |
Each Owner Guarantor shall ensure that any protection and indemnity and/or war risks associations in which the Vessel owned by it is entered provides the Security Trustee with:
(a) | a certified copy of the certificate of entry for that Vessel; |
(b) | a letter or letters of undertaking in such form as may be required by the Majority Lenders; and |
(c) | a certified copy of each certificate of financial responsibility for pollution by oil or other Environmentally Sensitive Material issued by the relevant certifying authority in relation to that Vessel. |
13.8 | Deposit of original policies |
Each Owner Guarantor shall ensure that all policies relating to obligatory insurances are deposited with the brokers through which the insurances are effected or renewed.
13.9 | Payment of premiums |
Each Owner Guarantor shall punctually pay all premiums or other sums payable in respect of the obligatory insurances and produce all relevant receipts when so required by the Security Trustee.
13.10 | Guarantees |
Each Owner Guarantor shall ensure that any guarantees required by a protection and indemnity or war risks association are promptly issued and remain in full force and effect.
13.11 | Compliance with terms of insurances |
No Owner Guarantor shall do nor omit to do (nor permit to be done or not to be done) any act or thing which would or might render any obligatory insurance invalid, void, voidable or unenforceable or render any sum payable under an obligatory insurance repayable in whole or in part; and, in particular:
(a) | each Owner Guarantor shall take all necessary action and comply with all requirements which may from time to time be applicable to the obligatory insurances, and (without limiting the obligation contained in Clause 13.6(c)) ensure that the obligatory insurances are not made subject to any exclusions or qualifications to which the Security Trustee has not given its prior approval; |
(b) | no Owner Guarantor shall make any changes relating to the classification or classification society or manager or operator of the Vessel owned by it unless approved by the underwriters of the obligatory insurances; and |
(c) | no Owner Guarantor shall employ the Vessel owned by it, nor allow it to be employed, otherwise than in conformity with the terms and conditions of the obligatory insurances, without first obtaining the consent of the insurers and complying with any requirements (as to extra premium or otherwise) which the insurers specify. |
13.12 | Alteration to terms of insurances |
No Owner Guarantor shall either make or agree to any alteration to the terms of any obligatory insurance nor waive any right relating to any obligatory insurance.
13.13 | Settlement of claims |
No Owner Guarantor shall settle, compromise or abandon any claim under any obligatory insurance for Total Loss or for a Major Casualty without the consent of the Security Trustee, and if so requested by the Security Trustee, shall do all things necessary and provide all documents, evidence and information to enable the Security Trustee to collect or recover any moneys which at any time become payable in respect of the obligatory insurances.
13.14 | Provision of copies of communications |
Each Owner Guarantor shall provide the Security Trustee, at the time of each such communication, copies of all written communications between that Owner Guarantor and:
(a) | the brokers; |
(b) | the protection and indemnity and/or war risks associations; and |
(c) | the insurance companies and/or underwriters, which relate directly or indirectly to: |
(i) | that Owner Guarantor’s obligations relating to the obligatory insurances including, without limitation, all requisite declarations and payments of additional premiums or calls; and |
(ii) | any credit arrangements made between that Owner Guarantor and any of the persons referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) relating wholly or partly to the effecting or maintenance of the obligatory insurances. |
13.15 | Provision of information |
In addition, each Owner Guarantor shall promptly provide the Security Trustee (or any persons which it may designate) with any information which the Security Trustee (or any such designated person) requests for the purpose of:
(b) | effecting, maintaining or renewing any such insurances as are referred to in Clause 13.16 or dealing with or considering any matters relating to any such insurances; |
and that Owner Guarantor shall, forthwith upon demand, indemnify the Security Trustee in respect of all reasonable and documented fees and other expenses incurred by or for the account of the Security Trustee in connection with any such report as is referred to in paragraph (a), provided that the Security Trustee shall provide the Borrower with a “not to exceed” budget for such services for approval by the Borrower prior to the commencement of any such services, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld.
13.16 | Mortgagee’s interest, additional perils and political risk insurances |
The Security Trustee shall be entitled from time to time to effect, maintain and renew (i) mortgagee’s interest marine insurance, and/or (ii) mortgagee’s interest additional perils insurance in such amounts, on such terms, through such insurers and generally in such manner as the Security Trustee may from time to time consider appropriate and the Borrower and the Owner Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall upon demand fully indemnify the Security Trustee in respect of all premiums and other reasonable and documented expenses which are incurred in connection with or with a view to effecting, maintaining or renewing any such insurance or dealing with, or considering, any matter arising out of any such insurance.
13.17 | Review of insurance requirements |
The Security Trustee may and, on instruction of the Majority Lenders, shall review, at the reasonable expense of the Borrower, the requirements of this Clause 13 from time to time in order to take account of any changes in circumstances after the Effective Date which are, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent or the Majority Lenders significant and capable of affecting the relevant Security Party or a Vessel and its insurance (including, without limitation, changes in the availability or the cost of insurance coverage or the risks to which the relevant Security Party may be subject.)
13.18 | Modification of insurance requirements |
The Security Trustee shall notify the Borrower and the Owner Guarantors of any proposed modification under Clause 13.17 to the requirements of this Clause 13 which the Security Trustee may or, on instruction of the Majority Lenders, shall reasonably consider appropriate in the circumstances and such modification shall take effect on and from the date it is notified in writing to the Borrower and the Owner Guarantors as an amendment to this Clause 13 and shall bind the Borrower and the Owner Guarantors accordingly.
13.19 | Compliance with instructions |
The Security Trustee shall be entitled (without prejudice to or limitation of any other rights which it may have or acquire under any Finance Document) to require a Vessel to remain at any safe port
or to proceed to and remain at any safe port designated by the Security Trustee until the relevant Security Party implements any amendments to the terms of the obligatory insurances and any operational changes required as a result of a notice served under Clause 13.18.
14 | Vessel Covenants |
14.1 | General |
From the first Drawdown Date until the Total Commitments have terminated and all amounts payable hereunder have been paid in full, the Borrower and each of the Guarantors, as the case may be, undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply or cause compliance with the following provisions of this Clause 14 except as the Agent, with the consent of the Majority Lenders, may approve from time to time in writing, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld.
14.2 | Vessel’s name and registration; Mortgage |
Each Owner Guarantor shall:
(a) | keep the Vessel owned by it registered in its name under the law of an Approved Flag; |
(b) | not do, omit to do or allow to be done anything as a result of which such registration might be cancelled or imperiled; and |
(c) | do (or fail to do) or cause or permit another person to do (or omit to do) anything which is likely to make it unlawful or contrary to Sanctions for a Security Party to perform any of its obligations under the Finance Documents; and |
(d) | without prior notification to the Agent and without taking all such actions reasonably required by the Agent to ensure the Security Interest in the applicable Vessel and related assets under the Finance Documents remain in full force and effect (together with any applicable corporate authorizations and legal opinions), not change the name or port of registry on which such Vessel was registered when it became subject to a Mortgage; and |
(e) | ensure the Mortgage on its Vessel remains permanently registered until released in accordance with this Agreement. |
14.3 | Repair and classification |
Each Owner Guarantor shall keep the Vessel owned by it in a good and safe condition and state of repair:
(a) | consistent with first-class ship ownership and management practice; |
(b) | so as to maintain a class notation of 1A (or equivalent) for that Vessel with the Classification Society, free of material overdue recommendations and adverse notations; and |
(c) | so as to comply with all laws and regulations applicable to vessels registered under the law of the Approved Flag on which that Vessel is registered or to vessels trading to any jurisdiction to which that Vessel may trade from time to time, including but not limited to the ISM Code and the ISPS Code. |
14.4 | Classification Society instructions and undertaking |
Each Owner Guarantor shall instruct the Classification Society referred to in Clause 14.3(b) (and use commercially reasonable efforts to procure that the Classification Society undertakes with the Security Trustee) as follows, or provide another instruction to the Classification Society on such Classification Society’s standard form and in a form acceptable to the Agent:
(a) | to send to the Security Trustee, following receipt of a written request from the Security Trustee, certified true copies of all original class records held by the Classification Society in relation to that Owner Guarantor’s Vessel; |
(b) | to allow the Security Trustee (or its agents), at any time and from time to time, to inspect the original class and related records of that Owner Guarantor and the Vessel owned by it either (i) electronically (through the Classification Society directly or by way of indirect access via the Borrower’s account manager and designating the Security Trustee as a user or administrator of the system under its account) or (ii) in person at the offices of the Classification Society, and to take copies of them electronically or otherwise; |
(c) | to notify the Security Trustee immediately in writing if the Classification Society: |
(i) | receives notification from that Owner Guarantor or any other person that that Vessel’s Classification Society is to be changed; or |
(ii) | becomes aware of any facts or matters which may result in or have resulted in a condition of class or a recommendation, or a change, suspension, discontinuance, withdrawal or expiry of that Vessel’s class under the rules or terms and conditions of that Owner Guarantor’s or that Vessel’s membership of the Classification Society; |
(d) | following receipt of a written request from the Security Trustee: |
(i) | to confirm that that Owner Guarantor is not in default of any of its contractual obligations or liabilities to the Classification Society and, without limiting the foregoing, that it has paid in full all fees or other charges due and payable to the Classification Society; or |
(ii) | if that Owner Guarantor is in default of any of its contractual obligations or liabilities to the Classification Society, to specify to the Security Trustee in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances of such default, the consequences of such default, and any remedy period agreed or allowed by the Classification Society. |
14.5 | Modification |
No Owner Guarantor shall make any modification or repairs to, or replacement of, the Vessel owned by it or equipment installed on that Vessel which would materially alter the structure, type or performance characteristics of that Vessel or in a manner which materially reduces its value or negatively impacts its operations.
14.6 | Removal of parts |
No Owner Guarantor shall remove any material part of the Vessel owned by it, or any item of equipment installed on, that Vessel unless the part or item so removed is forthwith replaced by a suitable part or item which is in the same condition as or better condition than the part or item removed, is free from any Security Interest or any right in favor of any person other than the Security Trustee and becomes on installation on that Vessel, the property of that Owner Guarantor and subject to the security constituted by the Mortgage, provided that an Owner Guarantor may install and remove equipment owned by a third party if the equipment can be removed without any risk of damage to the Vessel owned by it.
14.7 | Surveys |
Each Owner Guarantor, at its sole expense, shall submit the Vessel owned by it regularly to all periodical or other surveys which are required for classification purposes and, if so required by the Majority Lenders, provide the Security Trustee, at that Owner Guarantor’s sole expense, with a copy of any survey reports.
14.8 | Inspection |
Each Owner Guarantor shall permit the Security Trustee (by surveyors or other persons appointed by it for that purpose at the cost of the Borrower and that Owner Guarantor) to board the Vessel owned by it at all reasonable times (provided that unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, there shall be no more than two (2) such persons permitted aboard the relevant Vessel at any time and any such person shall be appropriately insured against any personal injury sustained or death occurring abord a Vessel) but not more than one time per year with fifteen (15) Business Days prior written notice to the relevant Owner Guarantor to inspect its condition or to satisfy themselves about proposed or executed repairs and shall afford all proper facilities for such inspections. The Security Trustee shall ensure that the operation and commercial employment of that Vessel is not unreasonably interfered with, including requiring a deviation or causing a breach of any charterparty.
14.9 | Prevention of and release from arrest |
Each Owner Guarantor shall promptly discharge (but no sooner than the payment terms required in each case):
(a) | all liabilities which give or may give rise to maritime or possessory liens on or claims enforceable against the Vessel owned by it, the Earnings or the Insurances; |
(b) | all taxes, dues and other amounts charged in respect of the Vessel owned by it, the Earnings or the Insurances; and |
(c) | all other accounts payable whatsoever in respect of the Vessel owned by it, the Earnings or the Insurances, |
and, forthwith upon receiving notice of the arrest of the Vessel owned by it, or of its detention in exercise or purported exercise of any lien or claim, that Owner Guarantor shall procure its release
by providing bail or otherwise as the circumstances may require (except to the extent such arrest or detention results from illegal sovereign action).
14.10 | Compliance with laws etc. |
The Borrower and each Guarantor shall:
(a) | comply, or procure material compliance with, all laws or regulations: |
(i) | relating to its business generally; or |
(ii) | in the case of each Owner Guarantor, relating to the ownership, employment, operation and management of the Vessel owned by it, |
including but not limited to the ISM Code, the ISPS Code, the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention adopted by the IMO, all Environmental Laws and all Sanctions;
(c) | in the event of hostilities in any part of the world (whether war is declared or not), not cause or permit the Vessel owned by it to enter or trade to any zone which is declared a war zone by any government or by that Vessel’s war risks insurers unless the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders has been given and that Owner Guarantor has (at its expense) effected any special, additional or modified insurance cover which the Majority Lenders may require; and |
(d) | prevent the Vessel from being used, directly or, to the best of its knowledge, indirectly |
(i) | by, or for the benefit of, any Restricted Party in breach of Sanctions; and/or |
(ii) | in any trade which would reasonably be expected to expose the Vessel, any Creditor Party, any manager of the Vessel, the ship’s crew or the Vessel’s insurers to enforcement proceedings or any other negative consequences whatsoever arising from Sanctions; |
(e) | not cause or permit a Vessel to be registered in a Sanctioned Country; |
(f) | not cause or permit a Vessel to be used in or otherwise to go to, stop in or call at, a Sanctioned Country; and |
(g) | ensure that each Charter in respect of a Vessel contains contractual language which has the effect of prohibiting the use of the Vessel in violation of any Sanctions. |
14.11 | Provision of information |
Each Owner Guarantor shall promptly provide the Security Trustee with any information which the Majority Lenders reasonably request regarding the Vessel owned by it, its employment, position, use or operation, including details of towages and salvages.
14.12 | Notification of certain events |
Each Owner Guarantor shall immediately notify the Security Trustee by Email, confirmed forthwith by letter, of:
(a) | any casualty which is or is likely to be or to become a Major Casualty; |
(b) | any occurrence as a result of which the Vessel owned by it has become or is, by the passing of time or otherwise, likely to become a Total Loss; |
(c) | any requirement or condition made by any insurer or classification society or by any competent authority which is not promptly complied with; |
(d) | any arrest or detention of the Vessel owned by it, any exercise or purported exercise of any Security Interest on that Vessel or the Earnings or any requisition of that Vessel for hire; |
(e) | any confirmed dry docking of the Vessel owned by it; |
(f) | any Environmental Claim made against that Owner Guarantor or in connection with the Vessel owned by it, or any Environmental Incident; |
(g) | any legal or administrative action taken by any Sanctions Authority against or affecting any Security Party or any Vessel; |
(h) | any claim for breach of the ISM Code or the ISPS Code being made against that Owner Guarantor, the Approved Manager or otherwise in connection with the Vessel owned by it; or |
(i) | any other matter, event or incident, actual or threatened, the effect of which will or could lead to the ISM Code or the ISPS Code not being complied with; |
and that Owner Guarantor shall keep the Security Trustee advised in writing on a regular basis and in such detail as the Security Trustee shall require of that Owner Guarantor’s, an Approved Manager’s or any other person’s response to any of those events or matters.
14.13 | Restrictions on chartering, appointment of managers etc. |
No Owner Guarantor shall:
(a) | let the Vessel owned by it on demise or bareboat charter for any period; |
(b) | charter the Vessel owned by it otherwise than on bona fide arm’s length terms at the time when that Vessel is fixed (it being understood and agreed that a charter entered into with Helios LPG Pool shall not be automatically deemed to not be on arm’s length terms by virtue of such charter being entered into with Helios LPG Pool); |
(c) | appoint a manager of the Vessel owned by it other than an Approved Manager or agree to any material alteration to the terms or termination of any Approved Management Agreement; |
(d) | de-activate or lay up the Vessel owned by it; or |
(e) | change the classification society of the Vessel owned by it other than to another Classification Society; or |
(f) | charter in any vessel from a third party; or |
(g) | change the flag of the Vessel other than to another Approved Flag and provided the Owner Guarantor has taken all such actions reasonably required by the Agent to ensure the Security Interest in the applicable Vessel and related assets under the Finance Documents remain in full force and effect following such change (together with any applicable corporate authorizations and legal opinions); |
and in the case of paragraphs (d) or (f) above, without the consent of the Lenders, not to be unreasonably withheld.
14.14 | Copies of Charters; Charter Assignment |
Provided that all approvals necessary under Clause 14.13 have been previously obtained, each Owner Guarantor shall:
(a) | furnish promptly to the Agent a true and complete copy of any Charter, for the Vessel owned by it, all other documents related thereto and a true and complete copy of each material amendment or other modification thereof; and |
(b) | in respect of any such Charter, execute and deliver to the Agent a Charter Assignment and execute and deliver to the charterer the relevant notice required to be delivered thereunder. |
14.15 | Notice of Mortgage |
Each Owner Guarantor shall keep the Mortgage registered against the Vessel owned by it as a valid first preferred or first priority mortgage, as the case may be, carry on board that Vessel a certified copy of the Mortgage and place and maintain in a conspicuous place in the navigation room of that Vessel a laminated printed notice stating that such Vessel is mortgaged by that Owner Guarantor to the Security Trustee.
14.16 | Sharing of Earnings |
No Owner Guarantor shall enter into any agreement or arrangement for the sharing of any Earnings (other than a pooling arrangement approved pursuant to the terms of this agreement) with anyone else other than the other Owner Guarantors.
14.17 | ISPS Code |
Each Owner Guarantor shall comply with the ISPS Code and in particular, without limitation, shall:
(a) | procure that the Vessel owned by it and the company responsible for that Vessel’s compliance with the ISPS Code comply with the ISPS Code; and |
(b) | maintain for that Vessel an ISSC; and |
(c) | notify the Agent immediately in writing of any actual or threatened withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or modification of the ISSC. |
14.18 | Green Passport |
Each Owner Guarantor will procure that the Vessel owned by it maintains and carries on board a Green Passport, or equivalent document acceptable to the Agent.
15 | Collateral Maintenance Ratio |
15.1 | General |
From the first Drawdown Date until the Total Commitments have terminated and all amounts payable hereunder have been paid in full, the Borrower undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply with the following provisions of this Clause 15 except as the Agent, with the consent of the Majority Lenders, may approve from time to time in writing, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld.
15.2 | Collateral Maintenance Ratio |
If, at any time, the Agent notifies the Borrower that:
(a) | the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Vessels subject to a Mortgage and not the subject of a Total Loss; plus |
(b) | the net realizable value of any additional Collateral previously provided under this Clause 15, |
is below 145% of the Loans outstanding (such ratio being the “Collateral Maintenance Ratio”), the Agent (acting upon the instruction of the Majority Lenders) shall have the right to require the Borrower to comply with the requirements of Clause 15.3.
15.3 | Provision of additional Collateral; prepayment |
If the Agent serves a notice on the Borrower under Clause 15.2, the Borrower shall prepay such part (at least) of the Term Loan Facility or the Revolving Facility as will eliminate the shortfall on or before the date falling fourteen (14) days after the date on which the Agent’s notice is served under Clause 15.2 (the “Prepayment Date”) unless on or prior to the Prepayment Date it has provided, or ensured that a third party has provided, additional cash or security over other assets which, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, has a net realizable value at least equal to the shortfall and which has been documented in such terms as the Agent may, with the authorization of the Majority Lenders, approve or require.
15.4 | Value of additional vessel Collateral |
The net realizable value of any additional cash or other assets which is provided under Clause 15.3 and which consists of a Security Interest over a vessel shall be that shown by a valuation complying with the definition of Fair Market Value.
15.5 | Valuations binding |
Any valuation under Clause 15.3 or 15.4 shall be binding and conclusive as regards the Borrower and the Guarantors, as shall be any valuation which the Majority Lenders make of any additional cash or other assets which does not consist of or include a Security Interest.
15.6 | Provision of information |
The Borrower shall promptly provide the Agent and any Approved Broker acting under Clause 15.4 with any information which the Agent or the Approved Broker may request for the purposes of the valuation; and, if the Borrower fails to provide the information by the date specified in the request, the valuation may be made on any basis and assumptions which the Approved Broker considers prudent.
15.7 | Payment of valuation expenses |
Without prejudice to the generality of the Borrower’s obligations under Clauses 21.2, 21.3 and 22.3, the Borrower shall, on demand, pay the Agent the amount of the fees and expenses of any Approved Broker or other expert instructed by the Agent under this Clause 15 and all legal and other expenses incurred by any Creditor Party in connection with any matter arising out of this Clause 15, provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, for so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower shall be required to deliver and be responsible for the costs of valuations of the Vessels only on a semi-annual basis in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
15.8 | Release of additional Collateral |
Any additional Collateral provided pursuant to Clause 15.3 above shall be released within five (5) Business Days of the Borrower’s request provided the Collateral Maintenance Ratio has been met without such additional Collateral on the next testing date for which valuations are provided under Clause 11.1(h)(i).
15.9 | Application of prepayment |
Clause 8 shall apply in relation to any prepayment pursuant to Clause 15.3.
16 | Guarantee |
16.1 | Guarantee and indemnity |
In order to induce the Lenders to make the Loan to the Borrower and to induce the Swap Banks to enter into the Designated Transactions with the Borrower, each Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally, jointly and severally:
foregoing, “Guaranteed Secured Liabilities”, with respect to any Guarantor, shall not include any Excluded Swap Secured Liabilities of such Guarantor; |
(b) | undertakes with each Creditor Party that whenever the Borrower does not pay any Guaranteed Secured Liabilities when due, such Guarantor shall immediately on demand pay that Guaranteed Secured Liability as if it were the primary obligor; and |
(c) | indemnifies each Creditor Party immediately on demand against any cost, loss or liability suffered or incurred by that Creditor Party (i) if any Guaranteed Secured Liability is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal or (ii) by operation of law as a consequence of the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents. The amount of the cost, loss or liability shall be equal to the amount which that Creditor Party would otherwise have been entitled to recover. |
16.2 | Continuing guarantee |
This guarantee:
(a) | is a continuing guarantee; |
(b) | constitutes a guarantee of punctual performance and payment and not merely of collection; |
(c) | is joint and several with any other guarantee given in respect of the Guaranteed Secured Liabilities and shall not in any way be prejudiced by any other guarantee or security now or subsequently held by any Creditor Party in respect of the Guaranteed Secured Liabilities; |
(d) | shall remain in full force and effect until the later of the termination of the Total Commitments and the payment and performance in full of the Guaranteed Secured Liabilities and all other amounts payable hereunder regardless of any intermediate payment or discharge in whole or in part; and |
(e) | shall be binding upon each Guarantor, its successors and permitted assigns. |
16.3 | Performance of Guaranteed Secured Liabilities; obligations pari passu |
(a) | Each Guarantor agrees that the Guaranteed Secured Liabilities will be performed and paid strictly in accordance with the terms of the relevant Finance Document regardless of any law or regulation or order of any court: |
(i) | affecting (A) any term of such Finance Document or the rights of any of the Creditor Parties with respect thereto or (B) the Borrower’s ability or obligation to make or render, or right of any Creditor Party to receive, any payments or performance due thereunder; or |
(ii) | which might otherwise constitute a defense to, or a legal or equitable discharge of, the Borrower. |
(b) | The obligations of each Guarantor under this guarantee shall rank pari passu with all other unsecured obligations of such Guarantor. |
16.4 | Reinstatement |
If any payment of any of the Guaranteed Secured Liabilities is rescinded, discharged, avoided or reduced or must otherwise be returned by a Creditor Party or any other person upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower or any other Security Party or otherwise:
(a) | this guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, and the liability of each Guarantor hereunder shall continue or be reinstated, as the case may be, as if the payment, discharge, avoidance or reduction had not occurred; and |
(b) | each Creditor Party shall be entitled to recover the value or amount of that payment from each Guarantor, as if the payment, discharge, avoidance or reduction had not occurred. |
16.5 | Liability absolute and unconditional |
The obligations of each Guarantor under this Clause 16 shall be irrevocable, absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by an act, omission, matter or thing which, but for this Clause, would reduce, release or prejudice any of its obligations under this Clause 16, and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any defenses it may now have or hereafter acquire in any way relating to, any or all of the following:
(a) | any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, any Security Party or other person; |
(b) | the release of any other Security Party or any other person under the terms of any composition or arrangement with any creditor of any Security Party; |
(c) | the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce, any rights against, or security over assets of, any Security Party or other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realize the full value of any security; |
(d) | any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the corporate or company structure or status of a Security Party or any other person (including without limitation any change in the holding of such Security Party’s or other person’s Equity Interests); |
(e) | any amendment to or replacement of a Finance Document or any other document or security; |
(f) | any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any Security Party or any other person under any Finance Document or any other document or security; |
(g) | any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings; or |
(h) | any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a legal or equitable discharge of, any Security Party. |
16.6 | Waiver of promptness, etc. |
Each of the Guarantors hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives promptness, diligence, notice of acceptance, presentment, demand for performance, notice of non-performance, default, acceleration, protest or dishonor and any other notice with respect to any of the Guaranteed
Secured Liabilities and this guarantee and any requirement that a Creditor Party protect, secure, perfect or insure any Security Interest or any property subject thereto or exhaust any right or take any action against any Security Party or any other person or entity or any Collateral.
16.7 | Waiver of revocation, etc. |
Each Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives any right to revoke this guarantee.
16.8 | Waiver of certain defenses |
Each Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives:
(a) | any defense arising by reason of any claim or defense based upon an election of remedies by a Creditor Party that in any manner impairs, reduces, releases or otherwise adversely affects the subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification rights of such Guarantor or other rights of such Guarantor to proceed against the Borrower, any of the other Security Parties, any other guarantor or any other person or entity or any Collateral; and |
(b) | any defense based on any right of set-off or counterclaim against or in respect of the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder. |
16.9 | Waiver of disclosure, etc. |
Each Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives any duty on the part of any Creditor Party to disclose to the Guarantors any matter, fact or thing relating to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of the Borrower, any other Security Party or any of their respective subsidiaries now or hereafter known by any Creditor Party.
16.10 | Immediate recourse |
Each Guarantor waives any right it may have of first requiring any Creditor Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) to proceed against or enforce any other rights or security or claim payment from any person before claiming from the that Guarantor under this Clause 16.
16.11 | Acknowledgment of benefits |
Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Finance Documents and that the waivers set forth in this Clause 16 are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.
16.12 | Independent obligations |
The obligations of each Guarantor under or in respect of this guarantee are independent of the Guaranteed Secured Liabilities or any other obligations of the Borrower or any other Security Party under or in respect of the Finance Documents, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against each Guarantor to enforce this guarantee irrespective of whether any action is brought against the Borrower or any other Security Party or whether the Borrower or any other Security Party is joined in any such action or actions.
16.13 | Deferral of Guarantors’ rights |
Until the Guaranteed Secured Liabilities have been irrevocably paid and performed in full and unless the Agent otherwise directs, no Guarantor will exercise any rights which it may have by reason of performance by it of its obligations under the Finance Documents:
(a) | to be indemnified by another Security Party; |
(b) | to claim any contribution from any other guarantor of any Security Party’s obligations under the Finance Documents; and/or |
(c) | to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Creditor Parties under the Finance Documents or of any other guarantee or security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, the Finance Documents by any Creditor Party. |
16.14 | Limitation of liability |
Each of the Guarantors and the Creditor Parties hereby confirms that it is its intention that the Guaranteed Secured Liabilities not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of the United States Bankruptcy Code, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, each of the Guarantors and the Creditor Parties hereby irrevocably agrees that the Guaranteed Secured Liabilities guaranteed by each Guarantor shall be limited to such amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other (contingent or otherwise) liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws and after giving effect to any rights to contribution pursuant to any agreement providing for an equitable contribution among such Guarantor and the other Guarantors, result in the Guaranteed Secured Liabilities of such Guarantor in respect of such maximum amount not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
16.15 | Reliance of Creditor Parties |
Each of the Creditor Parties has entered into this Agreement in reliance upon, among other things, this guarantee.
16.16 | Release of an Owner Guarantor and of Owner Guarantors’ right of contribution |
Upon the sale of its Vessel or if its Vessel is a Total Loss, an Owner Guarantor may request to be released as an Owner Guarantor hereunder and in respect of its obligations under the other Finance Documents to which it is a party. Provided that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or would result therefrom, and that no payment is then due from that Owner Guarantor under any of the Finance Documents to which it is a party, upon the written approval of the Agent (acting with the consent of the Majority Lenders, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), such Owner Guarantor shall be deemed a retiring guarantor (in such capacity, a “Retiring Guarantor”) and shall cease to be an Owner Guarantor hereunder and released from its obligations hereunder and under the other Finance Documents, and on the date such Retiring Guarantor ceases to be an Owner Guarantor:
(a) | that Retiring Guarantor is released by each other Guarantor from any liability (whether past, present or future and whether actual or contingent) to make a contribution to any other Guarantor |
arising by reason of the performance by any other Guarantor of its obligations under the Finance Documents; and |
16.17 | Keepwell |
Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Security Party to honor all of its obligations under this guarantee in respect of Swap Obligations (provided that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall be liable under this Clause 16.17 only for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Clause 16.17, or otherwise under this guarantee, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Clause 16.17 shall remain in full force and effect until such Qualified ECP Guarantor is released pursuant to Clause 16.16. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Clause 16.17 constitute, and this Clause 16.17 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Guarantor for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
17 | Payments and Calculations |
17.1 | Currency and method of payments |
All payments to be made by the Lenders or by the Security Parties (upon receipt of an invoice not less than 5 Business Days before the due date) under a Finance Document (other than under a Master Agreement) shall be made to the Agent or to the Security Trustee, in the case of an amount payable to it:
(a) | by not later than 4:00 p.m. (Paris time) on the due date; |
(c) | in the case of an amount payable by a Lender to the Agent or by the Borrower or a Guarantor to the Agent or any Lender, to the account of the Agent, with the following account details: |
BANK NAME: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
ABA NO.: 021-000021
ACCOUNT NO.: 786419036
SWIFT CODE: CHASUS33XXX
BENEFICIARY: CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK
SWIFT CODE: BSUIFRPPXXX
FOR FURTHER CREDIT TO
ACCOUNT NAME: INSTANCE MIDDLE OFFICE
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 00 117 313 255
IBAN: FR7631489000100011731325547
REFERENCE: ATTN: DORAN LPG LOAN FACILITY
or to such other account with such other bank as the Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower, the other Security Parties and the other Creditor Parties; and
(d) | in the case of an amount payable to the Security Trustee, to such account as it may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the other Creditor Parties. |
17.2 | Payment on non-Business Day |
If any payment by a Security Party under a Finance Document (other than under a Master Agreement) would otherwise fall due on a day which is not a Business Day:
(a) | the due date shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day; or |
(b) | if the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar month, the due date shall be brought forward to the immediately preceding Business Day; |
and interest shall be payable during any extension under paragraph (a) at the rate payable on the original due date.
17.3 | Basis for calculation of periodic payments |
All interest and commitment fee and any other payments under any Finance Document (other than under a Master Agreement) which are of an annual or periodic nature shall accrue from day to day and shall be calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a 360-day year.
17.4 | Distribution of payments to Creditor Parties |
Subject to Clauses 17.5, 17.6 and 17.7:
(a) | any amount received by the Agent under a Finance Document for distribution or remittance to a Lender or the Security Trustee shall be made available by the Agent to that Lender or, as the case may be, the Security Trustee by payment, with funds having the same value as the funds received, to such account as the Lender or the Security Trustee may have notified to the Agent not less than five (5) Business Days previously; and |
(b) | amounts to be applied in satisfying amounts of a particular category which are due to the Lenders generally shall be distributed by the Agent to each Lender pro rata to the amount in that category which is due to it. |
17.5 | Permitted deductions by Agent |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other Finance Document, the Agent may, before making an amount available to a Lender, deduct and withhold from that amount any sum which is then due and payable to the Agent from that Lender under any Finance Document or any sum which the Agent is then entitled under any Finance Document to require that Lender to pay on demand.
17.6 | Agent only obliged to pay when monies received |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other Finance Document, the Agent shall not be obliged to make available to the Borrower or any Lender any sum which the Agent is expecting to receive for remittance or distribution to the Borrower or that Lender until the Agent has satisfied itself that it has received that sum.
17.7 | Refund to Agent of monies not received |
If and to the extent that the Agent makes available a sum to the Borrower or a Lender, without first having received that sum, the Borrower or (as the case may be) the Lender concerned shall, on demand:
(a) | refund the sum in full to the Agent; and |
(b) | pay to the Agent the amount (as certified by the Agent) which will indemnify the Agent against any funding or other loss, liability or expense incurred by the Agent as a result of making the sum available before receiving it. |
17.8 | Agent may assume receipt |
Clause 17.7 shall not affect any claim which the Agent has under the law of restitution, and applies irrespective of whether the Agent had any form of notice that it had not received the sum which it made available.
17.9 | Creditor Party accounts |
Each Creditor Party shall maintain accounts showing the amounts owing to it by the Borrower and each other Security Party under the Finance Documents and all payments in respect of those amounts made by the Borrower and any other Security Party.
17.10 | Agent’s memorandum account |
The Agent shall maintain a memorandum account showing the amounts advanced by the Lenders and all other sums owing to the Agent, the Security Trustee and each Lender from the Borrower and each other Security Party under the Finance Documents and all payments in respect of those amounts made by the Borrower and any other Security Party.
17.11 | Accounts prima facie evidence |
If any accounts maintained under Clauses 17.9 and 17.10 show an amount to be owing by the Borrower or any other Security Party to a Creditor Party, those accounts shall be prima facie evidence that that amount is owing to that Creditor Party.
18 | Application of Receipts |
18.1 | Normal order of application |
Except as any Finance Document may otherwise provide, any sums which are received or recovered by any Creditor Party under or by virtue of any Finance Document shall be applied:
(a) | FIRST: in or towards satisfaction of any amounts then due and payable under the Finance Documents in the following order and proportions: |
(b) | SECOND: any surplus shall be paid to the Borrower or to any other person appearing to be entitled to it. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amount received from any Guarantor in respect of its Guaranteed Secured Liabilities shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Secured Liabilities.
18.2 | Variation of order of application |
The Agent may, with the authorization of the Lenders and the Swap Banks, by notice to the Borrower, the other Security Parties and the other Creditor Parties provide for a different manner
of application from that set out in Clause 18.1 either as regards a specified sum or sums or as regards sums in a specified category or categories.
18.3 | Notice of variation of order of application |
The Agent may give notices under Clause 18.2 from time to time; and such a notice may be stated to apply not only to sums which may be received or recovered in the future, but also to any sum which has been received or recovered on or after the third Business Day before the date on which the notice is served.
18.4 | Appropriation rights overridden |
This Clause 18 and any notice which the Agent gives under Clause 18.2 shall override any right of appropriation possessed, and any appropriation made, by the Borrower or any other Security Party.
18.5 | Payments in excess of Contribution |
(c) | Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Clause 18.5, any Lender which shall have commenced or joined (as a plaintiff) in an action or proceeding in any court to recover sums due to it under any Finance Document and pursuant to a judgment obtained therein or a settlement or compromise of that action or proceeding shall have received any amount, such Lender shall not be required to share any proportion of that amount with a Lender which has the legal right to, but does not, join such action or proceeding or commence and diligently prosecute a separate action or proceeding to enforce its rights in the same or another court. |
(d) | Each Lender exercising or contemplating exercising any rights giving rise to a receipt or receiving any payment of the type referred to in this Clause 18.5 or instituting legal proceedings to recover sums owing to it under this Agreement shall, as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, give notice thereof to the Agent who shall give notice to the other Lenders. |
19 | Application of Earnings; Accounts |
19.1 | General |
From the Effective Date until the Total Commitments have terminated and all amounts payable hereunder have been paid in full, the Borrower and each of the Guarantors, as the case may be, undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply or cause compliance with the following provisions of this Clause 19 except as the Agent, with the consent of the Majority Lenders, may approve from time to time in writing, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld.
19.2 | Earnings Accounts |
(a) | The Borrower shall be the holder of an account with the Account Bank which is designated as an Earnings Account for the purposes of the Finance Documents. |
(b) | Each Owner Guarantor may, if required, open at any time, an account with the Account Bank which shall be designated as an Earnings Account for the purposes of the Finance Documents. |
(d) | None of the Security Parties shall withdraw amounts standing to the credit of an Earnings Account except as permitted by paragraph (d) below. |
19.3 | Location of accounts |
The Borrower and each of the Guarantors, as the case may be, shall promptly:
(a) | comply with any reasonable requirement of the Agent as to the location or re-location of the Earnings Accounts; and |
(b) | execute any documents which the Agent specifies to create or maintain in favor of the Security Trustee a Security Interest over (and/or rights of set-off, consolidation or other rights in relation to) the Earnings Accounts. |
19.4 | Debits for expenses etc. |
The Agent shall be entitled (but not obliged) from time to time to debit the Earnings Accounts with prior notice in order to discharge any amount due and payable under Clause 21 or 22 to a Creditor Party or payment of which any Creditor Party has become entitled to demand under Clause 21 or 22.
19.5 | Borrower’s obligations unaffected |
The provisions of this Clause 19 do not affect:
(a) | the liability of the Borrower to make payments of principal and interest on the due dates; or |
(b) | any other liability or obligation of the Borrower or any other Security Party under any Finance Document. |
19.6 | Restrictions on accounts |
None of the Borrower or any of the Owner Guarantors shall maintain any accounts with any bank or financial institution other than with the Account Bank or the Agent provided that any such account held by the Borrower or any of the Owner Guarantors is subject to an Account Pledge.
20 | Events of Default |
20.1 | Events of Default |
An Event of Default occurs if:
(b) | any breach occurs of any of Clauses 9.2, 11.1(b), 11.1(s), 12, 13 or 15.3; or |
(f) | an event of default, or an event or circumstance which, with the giving of any notice, the lapse of time or both would constitute an event of default, has occurred on the part of a Borrower or Guarantor under any contract or agreement (other than the Finance Documents) to which such Security Party is a party and the value of which exceeds (i) in the case of the Parent Guarantor, |
$10,000,000, and (ii) in the case of the Borrower or an Owner Guarantor, $1,000,000, and such event of default has not been cured within any applicable grace period; |
(g) | any Financial Indebtedness of the Parent Guarantor in excess of $10,000,000, or of an Owner Guarantor or the Borrower in excess of $1,000,000 is not paid when due (or if there is a grace period, within such grace period) or, only in the case of sums payable on demand, when first demanded, except for any such Financial Indebtedness which is being contested by such Security Party in good faith and through appropriate proceedings and in a manner that does not involve any risk of sale, forfeiture, loss, confiscation or seizure of any Vessel; or |
(i) | such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or |
(ii) | any of the actions sought in such involuntary proceeding (including, without limitation, the entry of an order for relief against, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for, it or for any substantial part of its property) shall occur; or |
(j) | all or a material part of the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues of, or shares or other ownership interest in, any Security Party are seized, nationalized, expropriated or compulsorily acquired by or under authority of any government; or |
(k) | a creditor attaches or takes possession of, or a distress, execution, sequestration or process (each an “action”) is levied or enforced upon or sued out against, a material part of the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues (the “assets”) of any Security Party in relation to a claim by such creditor which, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, is likely to materially and adversely affect the ability of such Security Party to perform all or any of its obligations under or otherwise to comply with the terms of any Finance Document to which it is a party and such Security Party does not procure that such action is lifted, released or expunged within twenty (20) Business Days of such action being (i) instituted and (ii) notified to such Security Party; or |
(l) | any judgment or order for the payment of money individually or in the aggregate in excess of $1,000,000, in respect of the Borrower or an Owner Guarantor, or $10,000,000 in respect of the Parent Guarantor, (exclusive of any amounts fully covered by insurance (less any applicable deductible) and as to which the insurer has acknowledged its responsibility to cover such judgment or order) shall be rendered against such Security Party and such judgment shall not have been vacated or discharged or stayed or bonded pending appeal within 30 days after the entry thereof or enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order; or |
(m) | any Security Party ceases or suspends or threatens to cease or suspend the carrying on of its business, or a part of its business which, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, is material in the context of this Agreement, except in the case of a sale or a proposed sale of the Vessel by the Owner Guarantor owning that Vessel or the Borrower; or |
(o) | it becomes unlawful or impossible: |
(i) | for any Security Party to discharge any liability under a Finance Document or to comply with any other obligation which the Majority Lenders reasonably consider material under a Finance Document; |
(ii) | for the Agent or the Security Trustee to exercise or enforce any right under, or to enforce any Security Interest created by, a Finance Document; or |
(p) | any consent necessary to enable an Owner Guarantor to own, operate or charter the Vessel owned by it or to enable the Borrower or any other Security Party to comply with any provision which the Majority Lenders consider material of a Finance Document is not granted, expires without being renewed, is revoked or becomes liable to revocation or any condition of such a consent is not fulfilled and such expiration or revocation remains unremedied for seven (7) Business Days; or |
(q) | a Finance Document or any material provision thereof becomes invalid or unenforceable, or a Security Interest created by a Finance Document proves to have been or becomes invalid or unenforceable or such a Security Interest proves to have ranked after, or loses its priority to, another Security Interest or any other third party claim or interest; or |
(r) | the security constituted by a Finance Document is in any way imperiled or in jeopardy; or |
(s) | an Event of Default (as defined in section 14 of a Master Agreement) has occurred and is continuing; |
(t) | there occurs or develops a change in the financial position, state of affairs of the Borrower or a Guarantor which, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, has a material adverse effect on such Security Party’s ability to discharge its liabilities under the Finance Documents as they fall due; |
(u) | any litigation, alternative dispute resolution, arbitration or administrative proceeding is taking place, or, to the best of the Parent Guarantor’s knowledge, likely to be commenced or taken against the Borrower or any Guarantor (including, without limitation, investigative proceedings) or any of its assets, rights or revenues which, if adversely determined, is reasonably likely to result in a material adverse effect on the business, assets or financial condition of the Borrower or a Guarantor; or |
(v) | there occurs a breach by the Borrower or any Guarantor of any applicable laws, rules or regulations that would result in a material adverse effect on the business, assets or financial condition of the Borrower or a Guarantor. |
20.2 | Actions following an Event of Default |
On, or at any time after, the occurrence of an Event of Default:
(a) | the Agent may, and if so instructed by the Majority Lenders, the Agent shall: |
(i) | serve on the Borrower a notice stating that the Commitments and all other obligations of each Lender to the Borrower under this Agreement are cancelled; and/or |
(b) | the Security Trustee may, and if so instructed by the Agent, acting with the authorization of the Majority Lenders, the Security Trustee shall, take any action which, as a result of the Event of Default or any notice served under paragraph (a)(i) or (ii), the Security Trustee, the Agent and/or the Lenders are entitled to take under any Finance Document or any applicable law to enforce the Security Interests created by this Agreement and any other Finance Document in any manner available to it and in such sequence as the Security Trustee may, in its absolute discretion, determine. |
20.3 | Termination of Commitments |
On the service of a notice under Clause 20.2(a)(i), the Commitments and all other obligations of each Lender to the Borrower under this Agreement shall be cancelled; provided, that in the case of an Event of Default under either of Clauses 20.1(h) or (i), the Total Commitments shall be automatically cancelled.
20.4 | Acceleration of Loan |
On the service of a notice under Clause 20.2(a)(iii) or upon an Event of Default under either of Clauses 20.1(h) or (i), all or, as the case may be, the part of the Loan specified in the notice (if any), together with accrued interest and all other amounts accrued or owing from the Borrower or any other Security Party under this Agreement and every other Finance Document shall become immediately due and payable or, as the case may be, payable on demand.
20.5 | Multiple notices; action without notice |
The Agent may serve notices under Clauses 20.2(a)(i) and (ii) simultaneously or on different dates and it and/or the Security Trustee may take any action referred to in Clause 20.2 if no such notice is served or simultaneously with or at any time after the service of both or either of such notices.
20.6 | Notification of Creditor Parties and Security Parties |
The Agent shall send to each Lender, the Security Trustee and each Security Party a copy of the text of any notice which the Agent serves on the Borrower under Clause 20.2. Such notice shall become effective when it is served on the Borrower, and no failure or delay by the Agent to send a copy or the text of the notice to any other person shall invalidate the notice or provide the Borrower or any Security Party with any form of claim or defense.
20.7 | Creditor Party rights unimpaired |
Nothing in this Clause shall be taken to impair or restrict the exercise of any right given to individual Lenders or Swap Counterparties under a Finance Document or the general law; and, in particular, this Clause is without prejudice to Clause 3.1.
20.8 | Exclusion of Creditor Party liability |
No Creditor Party, and no receiver or manager appointed by the Security Trustee, shall have any liability to any Security Party:
(a) | for any loss caused by an exercise of rights under, or enforcement of a Security Interest created by, a Finance Document or by any failure or delay to exercise such a right or to enforce such a Security Interest; or |
(b) | as mortgagee in possession or otherwise, for any income or principal amount which might have been produced by or realized from any asset comprised in such a Security Interest or for any reduction (however caused) in the value of such an asset, |
provided that nothing in this Clause 20.8 shall exempt a Creditor Party or a receiver or manager from liability for losses shown to have been directly and mainly caused by the gross negligence or the willful misconduct of such Creditor Party’s own officers and employees or (as the case may be) such receiver’s or manager’s own partners or employees.
21 | Fees and Expenses |
21.1 | Fees |
The Borrower shall pay:
(b) | such other fees in the amounts and at the times specified in each Fee Letter, to the person specified therein. |
21.2 | Costs of negotiation, preparation etc. |
The Borrower shall pay to the Agent within five (5) Business Days after the Agent’s demand therefor the amount of all reasonable and documented expenses incurred by the Agent in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution or registration of any Finance Document or any related document or with any transaction contemplated by a Finance Document or a related document, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of Seward & Kissel LLP as legal counsel to the Agent and any local counsel retained by them with the prior written approval of the Borrower (and whose fee estimate has been provided to the Borrower before such local counsel commences work).
21.3 | Costs of variations, amendments, enforcement etc. |
The Borrower shall pay to the Agent, within five (5) Business Days after the Agent’s demand, for the account of the Agent or the Security Trustee, as applicable, the amount of all documented and (in the case of (a), (b) and (c) below) reasonable expenses incurred by the Agent or the Security Trustee in connection with:
(a) | any amendment or supplement to a Finance Document, or any proposal for such an amendment to be made, in each case requested by the Security Parties; |
(b) | any amendment to the Finance Documents in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement or Conforming Changes pursuant to Clause 5.6 (Benchmark Replacement Setting), provided such expenses shall be limited to the reasonable costs of outside counsel for the Agent; |
(c) | any consent or waiver by a Creditor Party under or in connection with a Finance Document, or any request for such a consent or waiver by the Security Parties; |
(d) | the valuation of any Collateral provided or offered under Clause 15 or any other matter relating to such Collateral; or |
21.4 | Documentary taxes |
The Borrower shall promptly pay any documentary tax payable on or by reference to any Finance Document, and shall, on the Agent’s demand, fully indemnify each Creditor Party against any claims, expenses, liabilities and losses resulting from any failure or delay by the Borrower to pay such a tax.
21.5 | Certification of amounts |
A notice which is signed by an officer of a Creditor Party, which states that a specified amount, or aggregate amount, is due to that Creditor Party under this Clause 21 and which indicates in reasonable detail the matters in respect of which the amount, or aggregate amount, is due shall be prima facie evidence that the amount, or aggregate amount, is due.
22 | Indemnities |
22.1 | Indemnities regarding borrowing and repayment of Loan |
The Borrower shall fully indemnify the Agent and each Lender within five (5) Business Days of the Agent’s demand and the Security Trustee within five (5) Business Days of its demand in respect of all claims, expenses, liabilities and losses which are made or brought against or incurred by that Creditor Party, or which that Creditor Party reasonably and with due diligence estimates that it will incur, as a result of or in connection with:
(a) | an Advance not being borrowed on the date specified in the relevant Drawdown Notice for any reason other than a default by the Lender claiming the indemnity; |
(b) | the receipt or recovery of all or any part of the Loan or an overdue sum otherwise than on the last day of an Interest Period or other relevant period; |
(c) | any failure (for whatever reason) by the Borrower or any other Security Party to make payment of any amount due under a Finance Document on the due date or, if so payable, on demand (after giving credit for any default interest paid by the Borrower on the amount concerned under Clause 7); |
(d) | any law relating to safety at sea, the ISM Code, any Environmental Law or any Sanctions relating to the Vessels or the Security Parties; |
(e) | in connection with any Environmental Claim; or |
(f) | the occurrence of an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default and/or the acceleration of repayment of the Loan under Clause 20. |
It is understood that the indemnities provided in this Clause 22.1 shall not apply to any claim cost or expense which is a tax levied by a taxing authority on the indemnified party (which taxes are subject to indemnity solely as provided in Clause 23 below) but shall apply to any other costs associated with any tax which is not a Non-indemnified Tax.
22.2 | Breakage costs |
Without limiting its generality, Clause 22.1 covers any claim, expense, liability or loss, including a loss of a prospective profit, incurred by a Lender:
(a) | in liquidating or employing deposits from third parties acquired or arranged to fund or maintain all or any part of its Contribution and/or any overdue amount (or an aggregate amount which includes its Contribution or any overdue amount); and |
(b) | in terminating, or otherwise in connection with, any interest and/or currency swap or any other transaction entered into (whether with another legal entity or with another office or department of the Lender concerned) to hedge any exposure arising under this Agreement or that part which the Lender concerned determines is fairly attributable to this Agreement of the amount of the liabilities, expenses or losses (including losses of prospective profits) incurred by it in terminating, or otherwise in connection with, a number of transactions of which this Agreement is one. |
22.3 | Miscellaneous indemnities |
The Borrower shall fully indemnify each Creditor Party severally within five (5) Business Days on their respective demands in respect of all claims, expenses, liabilities and losses which may be made or brought against or incurred by a Creditor Party, in any country, as a result of or in connection with:
(a) | any action taken, or omitted or neglected to be taken, under or in connection with any Finance Document by the Agent, the Security Trustee or any other Creditor Party or by any receiver appointed under a Finance Document; or |
(b) | any other Pertinent Matter, |
other than claims, expenses, liabilities and losses which are shown to have been directly and mainly caused by the dishonesty or willful misconduct or gross negligence of the officers or employees of the Creditor Party concerned.
Without prejudice to its generality, this Clause 22.3 covers any claims, expenses, liabilities and losses which arise, or are asserted, under or in connection with any law relating to safety at sea, the ISM Code, the ISPS Code, any Environmental Law or any Sanctions.
22.4 | Currency indemnity |
If any sum due from the Borrower or any other Security Party to a Creditor Party under a Finance Document or under any order or judgment relating to a Finance Document has to be converted from the currency in which the Finance Document provided for the sum to be paid (the “Contractual Currency”) into another currency (the “Payment Currency”) for the purpose of:
(a) | making or lodging any claim or proof against the Borrower or any other Security Party, whether in its liquidation, any arrangement involving it or otherwise; or |
(b) | obtaining an order or judgment from any court or other tribunal; or |
(c) | enforcing any such order or judgment, |
the Borrower shall indemnify the Creditor Party concerned against the loss arising when the amount of the payment actually received by that Creditor Party is converted at the available rate of exchange into the Contractual Currency.
In this Clause 22.4, the “available rate of exchange” means the rate at which the Creditor Party concerned is able at the opening of business (New York time) on the Business Day after it receives the sum concerned to purchase the Contractual Currency with the Payment Currency.
This Clause 22.4 creates a separate liability of the Borrower which is distinct from its other liabilities under the Finance Documents and which shall not be merged in any judgment or order relating to those other liabilities.
22.5 | Application to Master Agreements |
For the avoidance of doubt, Clause 22.4 does not apply in respect of sums due from the Borrower to a Swap Bank under or in connection with a Master Agreement as to which sums the provisions of section 8 (Contractual Currency) of that Master Agreement shall apply.
22.6 | Certification of amounts |
A notice which is signed by an officer of a Creditor Party, which states that a specified amount, or aggregate amount, is due to that Creditor Party under this Clause 22 and which indicates in reasonable detail the matters in respect of which the amount, or aggregate amount, is due shall be prima facie evidence that the amount, or aggregate amount, is due.
22.7 | Sums deemed due to a Lender |
For the purposes of this Clause 22, a sum payable by the Borrower to the Agent or the Security Trustee for distribution to a Lender shall be treated as a sum due to that Lender.
23 | No Set-Off or Tax deduction; Tax Indemnity; FATCA |
23.1 | No deductions |
All amounts due from a Security Party under a Finance Document shall be paid:
(a) | without any form of set-off, cross-claim or condition; and |
(b) | free and clear of any tax deduction except a tax deduction which such Security Party is required by law to make. |
23.2 | Grossing-up for taxes |
If a Security Party is required by law to make a tax deduction from any payment:
(a) | such Security Party shall notify the Agent as soon as it becomes aware of the requirement; |
(b) | such Security Party shall pay the tax deducted to the appropriate taxation authority promptly, and in any event before any fine or penalty arises; and |
(c) | except if the deduction is for collection or payment of a Non-indemnified Tax of a Creditor Party or taxes imposed due to a Lender’s noncompliance with Clause 23.7, the amount due in respect of the payment shall be increased by the amount necessary to ensure that each Creditor Party receives and retains (free from any liability relating to the tax deduction) a net amount which, after the tax deduction, is equal to the full amount which it would otherwise have received. |
23.3 | Evidence of payment of taxes |
Within one (1) month after making any tax deduction, the relevant Security Party shall deliver to the Agent documentary evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Agent that the tax had been paid to the appropriate taxation authority, it being understood that a payment advice from the relevant
Security Party’s bank clearly identifying the recipient, amount, and date of payment, and date of receipt of funds, shall be deemed satisfactory for purposes of this Clause 23.3.
23.4 | Tax credits |
A Creditor Party which receives for its own account a repayment or credit in respect of tax on account of which the Borrower has made an increased payment under Clause 23.2 shall pay to the Borrower a sum equal to the proportion of the repayment or credit which that Creditor Party allocates to the amount due from the Borrower in respect of which the Borrower made the increased payment, provided that:
(a) | the Creditor Party shall not be obliged to allocate to this transaction any part of a tax repayment or credit which is referable to a class or number of transactions; |
(b) | nothing in this Clause 23.4 shall oblige a Creditor Party to arrange its tax affairs in any particular manner, to claim any type of relief, credit, allowance or deduction instead of, or in priority to, another or to make any such claim within any particular time; |
(c) | nothing in this Clause 23.4 shall oblige a Creditor Party to make a payment which would leave it in a worse position than it would have been in if the Borrower had not been required to make a tax deduction from a payment; and |
(d) | any allocation or determination made by a Creditor Party under or in connection with this Clause 23.4 shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower and the other Creditor Parties. |
23.5 | Indemnity for taxes |
The Borrower and each of the Guarantors hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold each Creditor Party harmless from and against all taxes other than Non-indemnified Taxes or taxes imposed due to a Lender’s noncompliance with Clause 23.7 levied on such Creditor Party (including, without limitation, taxes imposed on any amounts payable under this Clause 23.5) paid or payable by such person, whether or not such taxes or other taxes were correctly or legally asserted. Such indemnification shall be paid within 10 days from the date on which such Creditor Party makes written demand therefore specifying in reasonable detail the nature and amount of such taxes or other taxes.
23.6 | Exclusion from indemnity and gross-up for taxes |
The Borrower and the Guarantors shall not be required to indemnify any Creditor Party for a tax pursuant to Clause 23.5, or to pay any additional amounts to any Creditor Party pursuant to Clause 23.2, to the extent that the tax is collected by withholding on payments (a “Withholding”) and is levied by a Pertinent Jurisdiction of the payer and:
(a) | the person claiming such indemnity or additional amounts was not an original party to this agreement and under applicable law (after taking into account relevant treaties and assuming that such person has provided all forms it may legally and truthfully provided) on the date such person became a party to this Agreement a Withholding would have been required on such payment, provided that this exclusion shall not apply to the extent such Withholding does not exceed the Withholding that would have been applicable if such payment had been made to the person from |
whom such person acquired its rights under the Agreement and this exclusion shall not apply to the extent that such Withholding exceeds the amount of Withholding that would have been required under the law in effect on the date such person became a party to this Agreement; or |
(b) | the person claiming such indemnity or additional amounts is a Lender who has changed its Lending Office and under applicable law (after taking into account relevant treaties and assuming that such Lender has provided all forms it may legally and truthfully provide) on the date such Lender changed its Lending Office, Withholding would have been required on such payment, provided that this exclusion shall not apply to the extent such Withholding does not exceed the Withholding that would have been applicable to such payment if such Lender had not changed its Lending Office and this exclusion shall not apply to the extent that the Withholding exceeds the amount of Withholding that would have been required under the law in effect immediately after such Lender changed its Lending Office. |
23.7 | FATCA information |
(a) | Subject to paragraph (c) below, each FATCA Relevant Party confirms to each other FATCA Relevant Party that it is a FATCA Exempt Party on the date hereof (or in the case of a Transferee Lender, on the date of its Transfer Certificate, except as otherwise described therein) and thereafter within ten (10) Business Days of a reasonable request by another FATCA Relevant Party shall: |
(i) | confirm to that other party whether it is a FATCA Exempt Party or is not a FATCA Exempt Party; and |
(d) | If a FATCA Relevant Party fails to confirm its status or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or the provided information is insufficient under FATCA, then such party shall be treated as if it were a FATCA Non-Exempt Party until such time as the party in question provides sufficient confirmation, forms, documentation or other information to establish the relevant facts. |
(e) | Upon the reasonable written request of the Borrower, each Lender or transferee that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States (a “Non-U.S. Lender”) shall, if not delivered pursuant to paragraph (a) above, deliver to the Agent and the Borrower a properly completed and duly executed copy of (as applicable) IRS Form W-8BEN-E, W-8ECI or W-8IMY or, upon written request of the Borrower or the Agent, any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto, in each case claiming such reduced rate (which may be zero) of U.S. Federal withholding tax under Sections 1441 and 1442 of the Code with respect to payments of interest hereunder as such Non-U.S. Lender may properly claim. In addition, in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender claiming exemption from U.S. Federal withholding tax under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code, such Non-U.S. Lender shall, when so requested in writing by the Borrower provide to the Agent and the Borrower in addition to the IRS Form W-8BEN-E required above a certificate representing that such Non-U.S. Lender is not a bank for purposes of Section 881(c) of the Code, is not a 10-percent shareholder (within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code) of the Borrower and is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower (within the meaning of Section 864(d)(4) of the Code), and such Non-U.S. Lender agrees that it shall promptly notify the Agent in the event any representation in such certificate is no longer accurate. In the event that Withholding taxes may be imposed under the laws of any Pertinent Jurisdiction (other than the United States or any political subdivision or taxing jurisdiction thereof or therein) in respect of payments on the Loan or other amounts due under this Agreement and if certain documentation provided by a Lender could reduce or eliminate such Withholding taxes under the laws of such Pertinent Jurisdiction or any treaty to which the Pertinent Jurisdiction is a party, then, upon written request by a Security Party, a Lender that is entitled to an exemption from, or reduction in the amount of, such Withholding tax shall deliver to such Security Party (with a copy to the Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or promptly after receipt of the Security Party’s request, whichever is later, such properly completed and executed documentation requested by the Security Party, if any, as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding; provided that such Lender is legally entitled to complete, execute and deliver such documentation and in such Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or delivery would not materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender. Each Lender shall deliver such forms as required in this paragraph (e) within twenty (20) days after receipt of a written request therefor from the Agent or the Security Party. Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph (e), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any form pursuant to this paragraph (e) that such Lender is not legally entitled to deliver. |
23.8 | FATCA withholding |
(a) | A FATCA Relevant Party making a payment to any FATCA Non-Exempt Party shall make such FATCA Deduction as it determines is required by law and shall render payment to the IRS within the time allowed and in the amount required by FATCA. |
(b) | If a FATCA Deduction is required to be made by any FATCA Relevant Party to a FATCA Non-Exempt Party, the amount of the payment due from such FATCA Relevant Party under this Agreement shall be reduced by the amount of the FATCA Deduction reasonably determined to be required by such FATCA Relevant Party. |
(c) | Each FATCA Relevant Party shall promptly upon becoming aware that a FATCA Deduction is required with respect to any payment owed to it (or that there is any change in the rate or basis of a FATCA Deduction) notify each other FATCA Relevant Party accordingly. |
(d) | Within thirty days of making either a FATCA Deduction or any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, the party making such FATCA Deduction shall deliver to the Agent for delivery to the party on account of whom the FATCA Deduction was made evidence reasonably satisfactory to that party that the FATCA Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment paid to the IRS. |
(e) | A FATCA Relevant Party who becomes aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction in respect of a payment to another FATCA Relevant Party (or that there is any change in the rate or basis of such FATCA Deduction) shall notify that party and the Agent. |
(f) | The Agent shall promptly upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction in respect of a payment to a Lender which relates to a payment by the Borrower (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such a FATCA Deduction) notify the Borrower and the relevant Lender. |
(g) | If a FATCA Deduction is made as a result of any Creditor Party failing to be a FATCA Exempt Party, such party shall indemnify each other Creditor Party against any loss, cost or expense to it resulting from such FATCA Deduction. |
23.9 | FATCA mitigation |
(a) | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if a FATCA Deduction is or will be required to be made by any party under Clause 23.8 in respect of a payment to any FATCA Non-Exempt Lender, the FATCA Non-Exempt Lender may either: |
(i) | transfer its entire interest in the Loan to a U.S. branch or Affiliate, or |
(ii) | nominate one or more transferee lenders who upon becoming a Lender would be a FATCA Exempt Party, by notice in writing to the Agent and the Borrower specifying the terms of the proposed transfer, and cause such transferee lender(s) to purchase all of the FATCA Non-Exempt Lender’s interest in the Loan. |
23.10 | Application to a Master Agreement |
For the avoidance of doubt, Clause 23 does not apply in respect of sums due from the Borrower to a Swap Bank under or in connection with a Master Agreement as to which sums the provisions of section 2(d) (Deduction or Withholding for Tax) of that Master Agreement shall apply.
24 | Illegality, etc. |
24.1 | Illegality |
If it becomes unlawful or contrary to any Sanctions in any applicable jurisdiction for a Lender (for purposes of this Clause 24.1, the “Notifying Lender”) to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement, or to fund or maintain its participation in any Advance, or it becomes unlawful or contrary to any Sanctions for any Affiliate of a Lender for that Lender to do so:
(a) | the Notifying Lender shall promptly notify the Agent upon becoming aware of that event; |
24.2 | Mitigation |
If circumstances arise which would result in a notification under Clause 24.1 then, without in any way limiting the obligations of the Borrower under Clause 24.1, the Notifying Lender shall use reasonable commercial efforts to transfer its obligations, liabilities and rights under this Agreement and the Finance Documents to another office or financial institution not affected by the circumstances but the Notifying Lender shall not be under any obligation to take any such action if, in its opinion, to do would or might:
(a) | have a material adverse effect on its business, operations or financial condition; or |
(b) | involve it in any activity which is unlawful or prohibited or any activity that is contrary to, or inconsistent with, any regulation; or |
(c) | involve it in any expense (unless indemnified to its satisfaction) or tax disadvantage. |
25 | Increased Costs |
25.1 | Increased costs |
This Clause 25 applies if a Lender (for purposes of this Clause 25.1, the “Notifying Lender”) notifies the Agent that the Notifying Lender considers that as a result of:
(a) | the introduction or alteration after the Effective Date of a law or an alteration after the Effective Date in the manner in which a law is interpreted or applied (disregarding any effect which relates to the application to payments under this Agreement of a Non-indemnified Tax); or |
(b) | complying with any regulation (including any which relates to capital adequacy or liquidity controls or which affects the manner in which the Notifying Lender allocates capital resources to its obligations under this Agreement) which is introduced, or altered, or the interpretation or application of which is altered, after the Effective Date; or |
(c) | the introduction, implementation, application, administration or compliance with Basel III, Basel IV, CRD IV or CRR or any law or regulation which implements or applies Basel III, Basel IV, CRD IV or CRR (regardless of the date on which it is enacted, adopted or issued and regardless of whether any such implementation, application or compliance is by a government, regulator, the Creditor Party or any of its Affiliates), |
the Notifying Lender (or a parent company of it) has incurred or will incur an “increased cost”.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Basel III and BASEL IV, and all requests, rules, guidelines and directives promulgated thereunder, are deemed to have been introduced or adopted after the date hereof, regardless of the date enacted or adopted.
25.2 | Meaning of “increased costs” |
In this Clause 25, “increased costs” means, in relation to a Notifying Lender:
(a) | an additional or increased cost incurred as a result of, or in connection with, the Notifying Lender having entered into, or being a party to, this Agreement or having taken an assignment of rights under this Agreement, of funding or maintaining its Commitment or Contribution or performing its obligations under this Agreement, or of having outstanding all or any part of its Contribution or other unpaid sums; |
(b) | a reduction in the amount of any payment to the Notifying Lender under this Agreement or in the effective return which such a payment represents to the Notifying Lender or on its capital; |
(c) | an additional or increased cost of funding all or maintaining all or any of the advances comprised in a class of advances formed by or including the Notifying Lender’s Contribution or (as the case may require) the proportion of that cost attributable to the Contribution; or |
(d) | a liability to make a payment, or a return foregone, which is calculated by reference to any amounts received or receivable by the Notifying Lender under this Agreement; |
(e) | but not an item attributable to a change in the rate of tax on the overall net income of the Notifying Lender (or a parent company of it) or an item covered by the indemnity for tax in Clause 23 or a FATCA Deduction (whether such implementation, application or compliance is by a government, regulator, Creditor Party or any of its Affiliates). |
For the purposes of this Clause 25.2 the Notifying Lender may in good faith allocate or spread costs and/or losses among its assets and liabilities (or any class of its assets and liabilities) on such basis as it considers appropriate.
25.3 | Notification to Borrower of claim for increased costs |
The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the other Security Parties of the notice (and shall provide a copy of such notice) which the Agent received from the Notifying Lender under Clause 25.1.
25.4 | Payment of increased costs |
The Borrower shall pay to the Agent, within five (5) Business Days of the Agent’s demand, for the account of the Notifying Lender the amounts which the Agent from time to time notifies the Borrower that the Notifying Lender has specified to be necessary to compensate the Notifying Lender for the increased cost.
25.5 | Notice of prepayment |
If the Borrower is not willing to continue to compensate the Notifying Lender for the increased cost under Clause 25.4, the Borrower may give the Agent not less than 14 days’ notice of its intention to prepay the Notifying Lender’s Contribution at the end of an Interest Period.
25.6 | Prepayment; termination of Commitment |
A notice under Clause 25.5 shall be irrevocable; the Agent shall promptly notify the Notifying Lender of the Borrower’s notice of intended prepayment; and:
(a) | on the date on which the Agent serves that notice, the Commitment of the Notifying Lender shall be cancelled; and |
(b) | on the date specified in its notice of intended prepayment, the Borrower shall prepay (without premium or penalty but subject to any amounts payable under Clause 8.9) the Notifying Lender’s Contribution. |
25.7 | Application of prepayment |
The provisions of Clause 8 shall apply in relation to the prepayment.
26 | Set-Off |
26.1 | Application of credit balances |
Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Creditor Party may without prior notice:
(a) | apply any balance (whether or not then due) which at any time stands to the credit of any account in the name of the Borrower or any of the Guarantors at any office in any country of that Creditor Party in or towards satisfaction of any sum then due from the Borrower or any of the Guarantors to that Creditor Party under any of the Finance Documents; and |
(b) | for that purpose: |
(i) | break, or alter the maturity of, all or any part of a deposit of the Borrower or any Guarantor; |
(ii) | convert or translate all or any part of a deposit or other credit balance into Dollars; and |
(iii) | enter into any other transaction or make any entry with regard to the credit balance which the Creditor Party concerned considers appropriate. |
26.2 | Existing rights unaffected |
No Creditor Party shall be obliged to exercise any of its rights under Clause 26.1; and those rights shall be without prejudice and in addition to any right of set-off, combination of accounts, charge, lien or other right or remedy to which a Creditor Party is entitled (whether under the general law or any document).
26.3 | Sums deemed due to a Lender |
For the purposes of this Clause 26, a sum payable by the Borrower or any of the Guarantors to the Agent or the Security Trustee for distribution to, or for the account of, a Lender shall be treated as a sum due to that Lender; and each Lender’s proportion of a sum so payable for distribution to, or for the account of, the Lenders shall be treated as a sum due to such Lender.
26.4 | No Security Interest |
This Clause 26 gives the Creditor Parties a contractual right of set-off only, and does not create any Security Interest over any credit balance of the Borrower or any of the Guarantors.
27 | Transfers and Changes in Lending Offices |
27.1 | Transfer by Borrower or Guarantors |
Neither the Borrower nor any of the Guarantors may, without the consent of the Agent, given on the instructions of all the Lenders, transfer any of its rights, liabilities or obligations under any Finance Document.
27.2 | Transfer by a Lender |
Subject to Clause 27.4, a Lender (the “Transferor Lender”) may at any time, without additional costs to, but with the prior written consent of the Borrower and the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed and to be deemed granted within five (5) Business Days from the day it has been sought unless it has been expressly refused within that period), cause:
(a) | its rights in respect of all or part of its Contribution; or |
(b) | its obligations in respect of all or part of its Commitment; or |
(c) | a combination of (a) and (b), |
to be (in the case of its rights) transferred to, or (in the case of its obligations) assumed by, another bank or financial institution, any insurer, reinsurer, trust, fund or other entity (a “Transferee Lender”) which is (i) regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets and (ii) not an Affiliate of the Borrower by delivering to the Agent a completed certificate in the form set out in Schedule 5 with any modifications approved or required by the Agent (a “Transfer Certificate”) executed by the Transferor Lender and the Transferee Lender; provided that (1) no consent of the Borrower or the Agent shall be required if the transfer is to another Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, (2) no consent of the Borrower is required if the transfer is after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and (3) no consent of the Borrower is required for an assignment or transfer of any rights of such Lender to any refinancing entity including without limitation any insurer, reinsurer, securitization special purpose entity, trust or fund, for the purpose of that Lender refinancing or hedging its loan exposure, provided no such assignment or transfer shall either (a) release the Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or (b) require any payments to be made by a Security Party other than, or in excess of, or grant to any person any more extensive rights than, those required to be made or those granted to the relevant Lender
under the Finance Documents, and provided further that, notwithstanding the foregoing, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the consent of the Borrower shall be required for any assignment or transfer under this sub-clause (3) that is proposed to be made to an entity that is, or is controlled by, an Excluded Fund.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any rights and obligations of the Transferor Lender in its capacity as Agent or Security Trustee shall be determined in accordance with Clause 31.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any transfer by the Lender of its Contribution or its obligations in respect of all or part of its Commitment shall be made pro rata within the Term Loan Facility and Revolving Facility.
27.3 | Transfer Certificate, delivery and notification |
As soon as reasonably practicable after a Transfer Certificate is delivered to the Agent, it shall (unless it has reason to believe that the Transfer Certificate may be defective):
(a) | sign the Transfer Certificate on behalf of itself, the Borrower, the other Security Parties, the Security Trustee and each of the other Lenders and each Swap Bank; |
(b) | on behalf of the Transferee Lender, send to the Borrower and each other Security Party letters or Emails notifying them of the Transfer Certificate and attaching a copy of it; |
(c) | send to the Transferee Lender copies of the letters or Emails sent under paragraph (b), |
but the Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Transferor Lender and the Transferee Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations to the transfer to that Transferee Lender.
27.4 | Effective Date of Transfer Certificate |
A Transfer Certificate becomes effective on the date, if any, specified in the Transfer Certificate as its effective date, provided that it is signed by the Agent under Clause 27.3 on or before that date.
27.5 | No transfer without Transfer Certificate |
Except as provided in Clause 27.16, no assignment or transfer of any right or obligation of a Lender under any Finance Document is binding on, or effective in relation to, the Borrower, any other Security Party, the Agent or the Security Trustee unless it is effected, evidenced or perfected by a Transfer Certificate.
27.6 | Lender re-organization; waiver of Transfer Certificate |
If a Lender enters into any merger, de-merger or other reorganization as a result of which all its rights or obligations vest in a successor, the Agent may, if it sees fit, by notice to the successor and the Borrower and the Security Trustee waive the need for the execution and delivery of a Transfer Certificate and, upon service of the Agent’s notice, the successor shall become a Lender with the same Commitment and Contribution as were held by the predecessor Lender.
27.7 | Effect of Transfer Certificate |
The effect of a Transfer Certificate is as follows:
(a) | to the extent specified in the Transfer Certificate, all rights and interests (present, future or contingent) which the Transferor Lender has under or by virtue of the Finance Documents are assigned to the Transferee Lender absolutely, free of any defects in the Transferor Lender’s title and of any rights or equities which the Borrower or any other Security Party had against the Transferor Lender; |
(b) | the Transferor Lender’s Commitment is discharged to the extent specified in the Transfer Certificate; |
(c) | the Transferee Lender becomes a Lender with the Contribution previously held by the Transferor Lender and a Commitment of an amount specified in the Transfer Certificate; |
(d) | the Transferee Lender becomes bound by all the provisions of the Finance Documents which are applicable to the Lenders generally, including those about pro-rata sharing and the exclusion of liability on the part of, and the indemnification of, the Agent and the Security Trustee and, to the extent that the Transferee Lender becomes bound by those provisions (other than those relating to exclusion of liability), the Transferor Lender ceases to be bound by them; |
(e) | any part of the Loan which the Transferee Lender advances after the Transfer Certificate’s effective date ranks in point of priority and security in the same way as it would have ranked had it been advanced by the transferor, assuming that any defects in the transferor’s title and any rights or equities of the Borrower or any other Security Party against the Transferor Lender had not existed; |
(f) | the Transferee Lender becomes entitled to all the rights under the Finance Documents which are applicable to the Lenders generally, including but not limited to those relating to the Majority Lenders and those under Clause 5.5 and Clause 21, and to the extent that the Transferee Lender becomes entitled to such rights, the Transferor Lender ceases to be entitled to them; and |
(g) | in respect of any breach of a warranty, undertaking, condition or other provision of a Finance Document or any misrepresentation made in or in connection with a Finance Document, the Transferee Lender shall be entitled to recover damages by reference to the loss incurred by it as a result of the breach or misrepresentation, irrespective of whether the original Lender would have incurred a loss of that kind or amount. |
27.8 | Maintenance of register of Lenders |
During the Security Period the Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain a register in which it shall record the name, Commitment, Contribution and administrative details (including the lending office) from time to time of each Lender holding a Transfer Certificate and the effective date (in accordance with Clause 27.4) of the Transfer Certificate; and the Agent shall make the register available for inspection (including by Email) by any Lender, the Security Trustee and the Borrower during normal banking hours, subject to receiving at least three (3) Business Days’ prior notice.
27.9 | Reliance on register of Lenders |
The entries on that register shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive in determining the identities of the Lenders and the amounts of their Commitments and Contributions and the effective dates of Transfer Certificates and may be relied upon by the Agent and the other parties to the Finance Documents for all purposes relating to the Finance Documents.
27.10 | Authorization of Agent to sign Transfer Certificates |
The Security Trustee, each Lender and each Swap Bank (and, if the Borrower’s consent is deemed given pursuant to this Clause 27, the Borrower) irrevocably authorizes the Agent to sign Transfer Certificates on its behalf.
27.11 | Registration fee |
In respect of any Transfer Certificate, the Agent shall be entitled to recover a registration fee of $7,500 from the Transferor Lender or (at the Agent’s option) the Transferee Lender.
27.12 | Reserved |
27.13 | Confidential information |
(a) | Each Creditor Party agrees to keep all Confidential Information confidential and not to disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by paragraph (b) below, and to ensure that all Confidential Information is protected with the security measures and a degree of care that would apply to its own confidential information. |
(b) | Any Creditor Party may disclose: |
(ii) | to any person: |
(F) | to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitrations, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes; |
(G) | which is a classification society or other entity which a Lender has engaged to make the calculations necessary to enable that Lender to comply with its reporting obligations under the Poseidon Principles; |
(H) | who is a party hereto, a subsidiary of the Parent Guarantor or any related entity of a Security Party; |
(I) | as a result of the registration of any Finance Document as contemplated by any Finance Document or any legal opinion obtained in connection with any Finance Document; |
(J) | to whom or for whose benefit that Creditor Party charges, assigns or otherwise creates a Security Interest (or may do so) pursuant to Clause 27.16 (Security over Lenders’ rights), provided such recipient is informed of the confidential nature of such Confidential Information and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of that Creditor Party, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances; or |
(K) | with the consent of the Borrower; |
in each case, such Confidential Information as that Creditor Party shall consider appropriate if:
(1) | in relation to paragraphs (A), (B) and (C) of sub-paragraph (ii) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking except that there shall be no requirement for a Confidentiality Undertaking if the recipient is a professional adviser and is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information; |
(2) | in relation to paragraph (D) of sub-paragraph (ii) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information they receive and is informed that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information; |
(3) | in relation to paragraphs (E) and (F) of sub-paragraph (ii) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of that Creditor Party, it is not practicable so to do in the circumstances; |
(iv) | to any rating agency (including its professional advisers) such Confidential Information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such rating agency to carry out its normal rating activities in relation to the Finance Documents and/or the Security Parties, provided such rating agency is informed of the confidential nature of such Confidential Information and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive. |
27.14 | Change of lending office |
A Lender may change its lending office by giving notice to the Agent and the change shall become effective on the later of:
(a) | the date on which the Agent receives the notice; and |
(b) | the date, if any, specified in the notice as the date on which the change will come into effect. |
27.15 | Notification |
On receiving such a notice, the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Security Trustee; and, until the Agent receives such a notice, it shall be entitled to assume that a Lender is acting through the lending office of which the Agent last had notice.
27.16 | Security over Lenders’ rights |
In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this Clause 27, each Lender may without consulting with or obtaining consent from the Borrower or any other Security Party, at any time charge, assign or otherwise create a Security Interest in or over (whether by way of collateral or otherwise) all or any of its rights under any Finance Document to secure obligations of that Lender including, without limitation:
(a) | any charge, assignment or other Security Interest to secure obligations to a federal reserve or central bank; and |
(b) | in the case of any Lender which is a fund, any charge, assignment or other Security Interest granted to any holders (or trustee or representatives of holders) of obligations owed, or securities issued, by that Lender as security for those obligations or securities; |
except that no such charge, assignment or Security Interest shall:
(i) | release a Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or substitute the beneficiary of the relevant charge, assignment or Security Interest for the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or |
(ii) | require any payments to be made by the Borrower or any other Security Party or grant to any person any more extensive rights than those required to be made or granted to the relevant Lender under the Finance Documents. |
27.17 | Replacement of a Defaulting Lender |
(ii) | in an amount agreed between that Defaulting Lender, the Replacement Lender and the Borrower and which does not exceed the amount described in paragraph (i) above. |
(b) | Any transfer of rights and obligations of a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Clause 27.17 shall be subject to the following conditions: |
(i) | the Borrower shall have no right to replace the Agent or Security Trustee; |
(ii) | neither the Agent nor the Defaulting Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrower to find a Replacement Lender; |
(iii) | the transfer must take place no later than 3 Business Days after the notice referred to in paragraph (a) above; |
(iv) | in no event shall the Defaulting Lender be required to pay or surrender to the Replacement Lender any of the fees received by the Defaulting Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents; and |
27.18 | Excluded Commitments |
If any Defaulting Lender fails to respond to a request for a consent, waiver, amendment of or in relation to any term of any Finance Document or any other vote of Lenders under the terms of this Agreement within 3 Business Days of that request being made (unless the Borrower and the Agent agree to a longer time period in relation to any request):
(b) | its status as a Lender shall be disregarded for the purpose of ascertaining whether the agreement of any specified group of Lenders has been obtained to approve that request. |
27.19 | Disenfranchisement of Defaulting Lenders |
(a) | For so long as a Defaulting Lender has any undrawn Commitment, in ascertaining: |
(i) | the Majority Lenders; or |
(ii) | whether: |
(A) | any given percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of the Total Commitments under the Loan; or |
(B) | the agreement of any specified group of Lenders, |
has been obtained to approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote of Lenders under the Finance documents,
that Defaulting Lender’s Commitment under the Loan will be reduced by the amount of its undrawn Commitment under the Loan and, to the extent that that reduction results in that Defaulting Lender’s Commitment being zero, that Defaulting Lender shall be deemed not to be a Lender for the purposes of paragraphs (i) and (ii) above.
(b) | For the purposes of this Clause 27.19 the Agent may assume that the following Lenders are Defaulting Lenders: |
(i) | any Lender which has notified the Agent that it has become a Defaulting Lender; |
(ii) | any Lender in relation to which it is aware that any of the events or circumstances referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender” has occurred, |
unless it has received notice to the contrary from the Lender concerned (together with any supporting evidence reasonably requested by the Agent) or the Agent is otherwise aware that the Lender has ceased to be a Defaulting Lender.
28 | Variations and Waivers |
28.1 | Variations, waivers etc. by Majority Lenders |
Subject to Clause 5.6 and Clauses 28.2 and 28.3, a document shall be effective to vary, waive, suspend or limit any provision of a Finance Document, or any Creditor Party’s rights or remedies under such a provision or the general law, only if the document is signed, or specifically agreed to by Email, by the Borrower, by the Agent on behalf and with the approval of the Majority Lenders, by the Agent and the Security Trustee in their own rights, and, if the document relates to a Finance Document to which a Security Party is party, by that Security Party.
28.2 | Variations, waivers etc. requiring agreement of all Lenders |
As regards the following, Clause 28.1 applies as if the words “by the Agent on behalf and with the approval of the Majority Lenders” were replaced by the words “by or on behalf and with the approval of every Lender and every Swap Bank”:
(a) | a reduction in the Margin which is not otherwise contemplated in the definition of “Margin”; |
(b) | a postponement to the date for, or a reduction in the amount of, any payment of principal, interest, fees or other sum payable under this Agreement or the Note; |
(c) | an increase in any Lender’s Commitment; |
(d) | a change to the definition of “Change of Control”; |
(e) | a change to the definition of “Majority Lenders”; |
(f) | a change to Clause 15 (Collateral Maintenance Ratio) |
(g) | a change to Clause 28, Clause 31.10 or Clause 32; |
(h) | any change to Clauses 10.23, 11.1(t), 20.1(n) or the definition of Sanctions, Sanctions Authority, Sanctions List or Restricted Party; |
(i) | except in connection with the full repayment of an Advance in respect of a Vessel pursuant to Clause 8.7 (Mandatory reduction and prepayment upon Sale, Refinancing or Total Loss), any release of, or material variation to, a Security Interest, guarantee, indemnity or subordination arrangement set out in a Finance Document; |
(j) | an Event of Default caused due to a breach of Clause 11.1(z); and |
(k) | any other change or matter as regards which this Agreement or another Finance Document expressly provides that each Lender’s consent is required. |
28.3 | Variations, waivers etc. relating to the Specific Creditor Parties |
An amendment or waiver that relates to the rights or obligations of the Agent or the Security Trustee under Clause 31 may not be effected without the consent of the Agent or the Security Trustee.
28.4 | Exclusion of other or implied variations |
Except for a document which satisfies the requirements of Clauses 28.1, 28.2 or 28.3, no document, and no act, course of conduct, failure or neglect to act, delay or acquiescence on the part of the Creditor Parties or any of them (or any person acting on behalf of any of them) shall result in the Creditor Parties or any of them (or any person acting on behalf of any of them) being taken to have varied, waived, suspended or limited, or being precluded (permanently or temporarily) from enforcing, relying on or exercising:
(a) | a provision of this Agreement or another Finance Document; or |
(b) | an Event of Default; or |
(c) | a breach by the Borrower or another Security Party of an obligation under a Finance Document or the general law; or |
(d) | any right or remedy conferred by any Finance Document or by the general law, |
and there shall not be implied into any Finance Document any term or condition requiring any such provision to be enforced, or such right or remedy to be exercised, within a certain or reasonable time.
28.5 | EU Blocking Regulation Carveout |
Each Security Party and the Agent agree and confirm that the representations in Clause 10.23 and the undertakings in Clause 11.1(t) shall only be given by the Security Parties, and the Lenders shall only have the benefit of such provisions, to the extent permissible pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) 2271/96 and/or any associated and applicable national law, instrument or regulation related thereto.
29 | Notices |
29.1 | General |
Unless otherwise specifically provided, any notice under or in connection with any Finance Document shall be given by letter, electronic mail (“Email”) and references in the Finance Documents to written notices, notices in writing and notices signed by particular persons shall be construed accordingly.
29.2 | Addresses for communications |
The addresses and Email (if applicable) and the department (or officer, if any, for whose attention the communication is to be made) of each party for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents are:
(a) | in the case of the Borrower, that specified in Schedule 1, Part A; |
(b) | in the case of the Parent Guarantor, that specified in Schedule 1, 0; |
(c) | in the case of the Owner Guarantors, that specified in Schedule 1, Part C; |
(d) | in the case of each Lender, that specified in Schedule 1, Part D; |
(e) | in the case of Swap Bank, that specified in Schedule 1, Part E; and |
(f) | in the case of the Agent, the Security Trustee and each other Creditor Party, that specified in Schedule 1, Part F, |
or to such other address as a party may notify to the Agent (or the Agent may notify to the other parties, if a change is made by the Agent) by not less than five Business Days’ notice.
29.3 | Effective date of notices |
Subject to Clauses 29.4 and 29.5:
(a) | a notice which is delivered personally or posted shall be deemed to be served, and shall take effect, at the time when it is delivered; and |
(b) | a notice which is sent by Email shall be deemed to be served, and shall take effect, at the time when it is actually received in readable form. |
29.4 | Service outside business hours |
However, if under Clause 29.3 a notice would be deemed to be served:
(a) | on a day which is not a business day in the place of receipt; or |
(b) | on such a business day, but after 5:00 p.m. local time, |
the notice shall (subject to Clause 29.5) be deemed to be served, and shall take effect, at 9:00 a.m. on the next day which is such a business day.
29.5 | Illegible notices |
Clauses 29.3 and 29.4 do not apply if the recipient of a notice notifies the sender within one (1) Business Day after the time at which the notice would otherwise be deemed to be served that the notice has been received in a form which is illegible in a material respect.
29.6 | Valid notices |
A notice under or in connection with a Finance Document shall not be invalid by reason that its contents or the manner of serving it do not comply with the requirements of this Agreement or, where appropriate, any other Finance Document under which it is served if:
(a) | the failure to serve it in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement or other Finance Document, as the case may be, has not caused any party to suffer any significant loss or prejudice; or |
(b) | in the case of incorrect and/or incomplete contents, it should have been reasonably clear to the party on which the notice was served what the correct or missing particulars should have been. |
29.7 | Electronic communication between the Agent and a Lender |
Any communication to be made between the Agent and a Lender under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by Email or other electronic means, if the Agent and the relevant Lender:
(a) | agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication; |
(b) | notify each other in writing of their Email address and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by that means; and |
(c) | notify each other of any change to their respective Email addresses or any other such information supplied to them. |
Any electronic communication made between the Agent and a Lender will be effective only when actually received in readable form and, in the case of any electronic communication made by a Lender to the Agent, only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Agent shall specify for this purpose.
29.8 | English language |
Any notice under or in connection with a Finance Document shall be in English.
29.9 | Meaning of “notice” |
In this Clause 29, “notice” includes any demand, consent, authorization, approval, instruction, waiver or other communication.
30 | Supplemental |
30.1 | Rights cumulative, non-exclusive |
The rights and remedies which the Finance Documents give to each Creditor Party are:
(a) | cumulative; |
(b) | may be exercised as often as appears expedient; and |
(c) | shall not, unless a Finance Document explicitly and specifically states so, be taken to exclude or limit any right or remedy conferred by any law. |
30.2 | Severability of provisions |
If any provision of a Finance Document is or subsequently becomes void, unenforceable or illegal, that shall not affect the validity, enforceability or legality of the other provisions of that Finance Document or of the provisions of any other Finance Document.
30.3 | Counterparts |
A Finance Document may be executed in any number of counterparts.
30.4 | Binding Effect |
This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
30.5 | Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Finance Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Finance Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agree:
(a) | the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and |
(b) | the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable: |
(i) | a reduction, in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability; |
(ii) | a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Finance Documents; or |
(iii) | the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable Resolution Authority. |
30.6 | Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs. |
To the extent that the Finance Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Master Agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, for purposes of this Clause, “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, for purposes of this Clause 30.6, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Finance Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the Laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):
(a) | in the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, for purposes of this Clause, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Finance Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Finance Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support; and |
(b) | in addition to the specifically defined terms referenced in this Clause 30.6 that apply solely to this Clause 30.6, the following capitalized terms used in this Clause have the following meanings: |
(i) | “BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “Affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party. |
(ii) | “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b), (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). |
(iii) | “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. |
(iv) | “QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D). |
31 | The Servicing Banks |
31.1 | Appointment and Granting |
(a) | The Agent. Each of the Creditor Parties appoints and authorizes (with a right of revocation) the Agent to act as its agent hereunder and under any of the other Finance Documents with such powers as are specifically delegated to the Agent by the terms of this Agreement and of any of the other Finance Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. |
(b) | The Security Trustee. |
(i) | Authorization of Security Trustee. Each of the Creditor Parties appoints and authorizes (with a right of revocation) the Security Trustee to act as security trustee hereunder and under the other Finance Documents (other than the Notes) with such powers as are specifically delegated to the Security Trustee by the terms of this Agreement and such other Finance Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. |
(iii) | Acceptance of Trusts. The Security Trustee hereby accepts the trusts imposed upon it as Security Trustee by this Agreement, and the Security Trustee covenants and agrees to |
perform the same as herein expressed and agrees to receive and disburse all monies constituting part of the Estate in accordance with the terms hereof. |
31.2 | Scope of Duties |
Neither the Agent nor the Security Trustee (which terms as used in this sentence and in Clause 31.5 hereof shall include reference to their respective Affiliates and their own respective and their respective Affiliates’ officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact):
(a) | shall have any duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and in any of the Finance Documents, and shall not by reason of this Agreement or any of the Finance Documents be (except, with respect to the Security Trustee, as specifically stated to the contrary in this Agreement) a trustee for a Creditor Party; |
(b) | shall be responsible to the Creditor Parties for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties contained in this Agreement or in any of the Finance Documents, or in any certificate or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by any of them under, this Agreement or any of the other Finance Documents, or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any of the other Finance Documents or any other document referred to or provided for herein or therein or for any failure by a Security Party or any other person to perform any of its obligations hereunder or thereunder or for the location, condition or value of any property covered by any Security Interest under any of the Finance Documents or for the creation, perfection or priority of any such Security Interest; |
(c) | shall be required to initiate or conduct any litigation or collection proceedings hereunder or under any of the Finance Documents unless expressly instructed to do so in writing by the Majority Lenders; or |
(d) | shall be responsible for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder or under any of the Finance Documents or under any other document or instrument referred to or provided for herein or therein or in connection herewith or therewith, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Each of the Security Trustee and the Agent may employ agents and attorneys-in-fact and neither the Security Trustee nor the Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it in good faith. Each of the Security Trustee and the Agent may deem and treat the payee of a Note as the holder thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until a written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Agent. |
31.3 | Reliance |
Each of the Security Trustee and the Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any certification, notice or other communication (including any thereof by email) believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by or on behalf of the proper person or persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel, independent accountants and other experts selected by the Security Trustee or the Agent, as the case may be. As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement or any of the other Finance Documents, each of the Security Trustee and the Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder or thereunder in accordance with instructions signed by the Majority Lenders, and such instructions and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding on all of the Lenders.
31.4 | Knowledge |
Neither the Security Trustee nor the Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of a Potential Event of Default or Event of Default (other than, in the case of the Agent, the non-payment of principal of or interest on the Loan or actual knowledge thereof) unless each of the Security Trustee and the Agent has received notice from a Lender or the Borrower specifying such Potential Event of Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default”. If the Agent receives such a notice of the occurrence of such Potential Event of Default or Event of Default, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Creditor Parties (and shall give each Lender prompt notice of each such non-payment). Subject to Clause 31.8 hereof, the Security Trustee and the Agent shall take such action with respect to such Potential Event of Default or Event of Default or other event as shall be directed by the Majority Lenders, except that, unless and until the Security Trustee and the Agent shall have received such directions, each of the Security Trustee and the Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Potential Event of Default or Event of Default or other event as it shall deem advisable in the best interest of the Creditor Parties.
31.5 | Security Trustee and Agent as Lenders |
Each of the Security Trustee and the Agent (and any successor acting as Security Trustee or Agent, as the case may be) in its individual capacity as a Lender hereunder shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not acting as the Security Trustee or the Agent, as the case may be, and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, include each of the Security Trustee and the Agent in their respective individual capacities. Each of the Security Trustee and the Agent (and any successor acting as Security Trustee and Agent, as the case may be) and their respective affiliates may (without having to account therefor to a Lender) accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with the Borrower and any of its subsidiaries or affiliates as if it were not acting as the Security Trustee or the Agent, as the case may be, and each of the Security Trustee and the Agent and their respective affiliates may accept fees and other consideration from the Borrower for services in connection with this Agreement or otherwise without having to account for the same to the Lenders.
31.6 | Indemnification of Security Trustee and Agent |
The Lenders severally agree, ratably in accordance with the aggregate principal amount of each Lender’s Contribution in the Loan, to indemnify each of the Agent and the Security Trustee (to the extent not reimbursed under other provisions of this Agreement, but without limiting the obligations of the Borrower under said other provisions) for any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Security Trustee or the Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the other Finance Documents or any other documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the costs and expenses which the Borrower is to pay hereunder, but excluding, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, normal administrative costs and expenses incident to the performance of their respective agency duties hereunder) or the enforcement of any of the terms hereof or thereof or
of any such other documents, except that no Lender shall be liable for any of the foregoing to the extent they arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party to be indemnified.
31.7 | Reliance on Security Trustee or Agent |
Each Creditor Party agrees that it has, independently and without reliance on the Security Trustee, the Agent or any other Creditor Party, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of the Borrower and decision to enter into this Agreement and that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Security Trustee, the Agent or any other Creditor Party, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own analysis and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement or any of the Finance Documents. None of the Security Trustee or the Agent shall be required to keep itself informed as to the performance or observance by the Borrower or the Guarantors of this Agreement or any of the Finance Documents or any other document referred to or provided for herein or therein or to inspect the properties or books of the Borrower or any Guarantor. Except for notices, reports and other documents and information expressly required to be furnished to the Creditor Parties by the Security Trustee or the Agent hereunder, neither the Security Trustee nor the Agent shall have any duty or responsibility to provide a Creditor Party with any credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition or business of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any subsidiaries or affiliates thereof which may come into the possession of the Security Trustee, the Agent or any of their respective affiliates.
31.8 | Actions by Security Trustee and Agent |
Except for action expressly required of the Security Trustee or the Agent hereunder and under the other Finance Documents, each of the Security Trustee and the Agent shall in all cases be fully justified in failing or refusing to act hereunder and thereunder unless it shall receive further assurances to its satisfaction from the Lenders of their indemnification obligations under Clause 31.6 against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action.
31.9 | Resignation and Removal |
Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Security Trustee or Agent (as the case may be) as provided below, each of the Security Trustee and the Agent may resign at its own expense at any time by giving twenty (20) Business Days prior notice thereof to the Creditor Parties and the Borrower, and may be removed at any time with or without cause by the Majority Lenders by giving notice thereof to the Creditor Parties and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation or removal, the Majority Lenders shall have the right to appoint, in consultation with the Borrower, a successor Security Trustee or Agent, as the case may be. If no successor Security Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, shall have been so appointed by the Lenders or, if appointed, shall not have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Security Trustee’s or Agent’s, as the case may be, giving of notice of resignation or the Majority Lenders’ removal of the retiring Security Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, then the retiring Security Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Security Trustee or Agent in consultation with the Borrower. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Security Trustee or Agent hereunder by a successor Security Trustee or Agent, such successor Security Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights,
powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Security Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, and the retiring Security Trustee or Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. After any retiring Security Trustee or Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder as Security Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, the provisions of this Clause 31 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as the Security Trustee or the Agent, as the case may be.
31.10 | Release of Collateral |
Without the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders and the Swap Banks, neither the Security Trustee nor the Agent will consent to any modification, supplement or waiver under any of the Finance Documents nor without the prior written consent of all of the Lenders and the Swap Banks release any Collateral or otherwise terminate any Security Interest under the Finance Documents, except that no such consent is required, and each of the Security Trustee and the Agent is authorized, to release any Security Interest covering property if the Secured Liabilities have been paid and performed in full or which is the subject of a disposition of property or refinancing permitted hereunder or to which the Lenders have consented.
31.11 | Role of the Mandated Lead Arrangers, Bookrunners, Structurers and Hedging Coordinator |
Except as provided in the Finance Documents, none of the Mandated Lead Arrangers, Bookrunners, Structurers or Hedge Coordinator has any obligation of any kind to any other party to this Agreement under or in connection with any Finance Document.
31.12 | Erroneous Payments |
(d) | The parties hereto agree that payment of a Rescindable Amount shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Secured Liabilities owed by the Borrower or any other Security Party, except, in each case, to the extent such Rescindable Amount is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Rescindable Amount that is, comprised of funds received by the Agent from the Borrower or any other Security Party for the purpose of making such Rescindable Amount. For the avoidance of doubt, no provision in this Clause 31.12 shall be interpreted to increase (or accelerate the due date for) or have the effect of increasing (or accelerating the due date for), the Secured Liabilities of the Borrower or any other Security Party relative to the amount (and/or timing for payment) of the Secured Liabilities that would have been payable had the erroneous Rescindable Amount not been paid by the Agent. |
32 | Law and Jurisdiction |
32.1 | Governing Law |
THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER FINANCE DOCUMENTS (EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN A FINANCE DOCUMENT) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES.
32.2 | Consent to Jurisdiction. |
(b) | Nothing in this Clause 32.2 shall affect the right of a Creditor Party to bring any action or proceeding against a Security Party or its property in the courts of any other jurisdictions where such action or proceeding may be heard. |
(c) | Each of the Borrower and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so: |
(i) | any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Finance Document to which it is a party in any New York State or Federal court and the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court; and |
(ii) | any immunity from suit, the jurisdiction of any court in which judicial proceedings may at any time be commenced with respect to this Agreement or any other Finance Document or from any legal process with respect to itself or its property (including without limitation attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, set-off, execution of a judgment or any other legal process), and to the extent that in any such jurisdiction there may be attributed to such person such an immunity (whether or not claimed), such person hereby irrevocably agrees not to claim such immunity. |
32.3 | Creditor Party rights unaffected |
Nothing in this Clause 32 shall exclude or limit any right which any Creditor Party may have (whether under the law of any country, an international convention or otherwise) with regard to the bringing of proceedings, the service of process, the recognition or enforcement of a judgment or any similar or related matter in any jurisdiction.
32.4 | Meaning of “proceedings” |
In this Clause 32, “proceedings” means proceedings of any kind, including an application for a provisional or protective measure.
33 | Waiver of Jury Trial |
33.1 | WAIVER |
EACH OF THE BORROWER, THE GUARANTORS AND THE CREDITOR PARTIES MUTUALLY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
33.2 | PATRIOT Act Notice |
Each of the Agent and the Lenders hereby notifies the Borrower and the Guarantors that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act and the policies and practices of the Agent and each Lender, the Agent and each of the Lenders is required to obtain, verify and record certain information and documentation that identifies each Security Party, which information includes the name and address of each Security Party and such other information that will allow the Agent and each of the Lenders to identify each Security Party in accordance with the PATRIOT Act.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS ON NEXT PAGE]
WHEREFORE, the parties hereto have caused this Loan Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.
DORIAN LPG FINANCE LLC, as Borrower By: _/s/ Theodore Young__________ Name: Theodore Young Title: President | DORIAN LPG LTD., as Guarantor By: _/s/ Theodore Young__________ Name: Theodore Young Title: President |
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COMET LPG TRANSPORT LLC, as Guarantor By: _/s/ Theodore Young__________ Name: Theodore Young Title: President | CONCORDE LPG TRANSPORT LLC, as Guarantor By: _/s/ Theodore Young__________ Name: Theodore Young Title: President |
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DORIAN HOUSTON LPG TRANSPORT LLC, as Guarantor By: _/s/ Theodore Young__________ Name: Theodore Young Title: President | DORIAN SAO PAULO LPG TRANSPORT LLC, as Guarantor By: _/s/ Theodore Young__________ Name: Theodore Young Title: President |
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DORIAN ULSAN LPG TRANSPORT LLC, as Guarantor By: _/s/ Theodore Young__________ Name: Theodore Young Title: President | DORIAN AMSTERDAM LPG TRANSPORT LLC, as Guarantor By: _/s/ Theodore Young__________ Name: Theodore Young Title: President |
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DORIAN MONACO LPG TRANSPORT LLC, as Guarantor By: _/s/ Theodore Young__________ Name: Theodore Young Title: President | DORIAN BARCELONA LPG TRANSPORT LLC, as Guarantor By: _/s/ Theodore Young__________ Name: Theodore Young Title: President |
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CORVETTE LPG TRANSPORT LLC, as Guarantor By: _/s/ Theodore Young__________ Name: Theodore Young Title: President | DORIAN EXPLORER LPG TRANSPORT LLC, as Guarantor By: _/s/ Theodore Young__________ Name: Theodore Young Title: President |
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[Signature Page to Dorian Loan Agreement]
CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK, as Agent and Security Trustee By: _/s/ Megan Keating_________ Name: Megan Keating Title: Attorney-in-Fact | CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK, as Lender and Swap Bank By: _/s/ Megan Keating_________ Name: Megan Keating Title: Attorney-in-Fact |
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[Signature Page to Dorian Loan Agreement]
ING BANK N.V., LONDON BRANCH as Lender By: _/s/ Stephen Fewster ______ Name: Stephen Fewster Title: Managing Director, Global Head of Shipping By: _/s/ Adam Byrne___________ Name: Adam Byrne Title: Managing Director ING CAPITAL MARKETS LLC, as Swap Bank By: _/s/ Juan Carlos Vallarino____ Name: Juan Carlos Vallarino Title: Director By: _/s/ Paola Corradetti________ Name: Paola Corradetti Title: Director |
[Signature Page to Dorian Loan Agreement]
BNP PARIBAS, as Lender and Swap Bank By: __/s/ Eric Dulcire__________ Name: Eric Dulcire Title: Managing Director of BNP Paribas By: _/s/ Pierre Frachon________ Name: Pierre Frachon Title: Managing Director of BNP Paribas |
[Signature Page to Dorian Loan Agreement]
DANISH SHIP FINANCE A/S, as Lender and Swap Bank By: __/s/ Erik I. Lassen___________ Name: Erik I. Lassen Title: Chief Executive Officer By: __/s/ Christian Borly___________ Name: Christian Borly Title: SLM |
[Signature Page to Dorian Loan Agreement]
SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL), as Lender and Swap Bank By: __/s/ Erling Amundsen_________ Name: Erling Amundsen Title: Attorney-at-Law By: __/s/ Hans Christian Kjelsrud_____ Name: Hans Christian Kjelsrud Title: |
[Signature Page to Dorian Loan Agreement]
Name: | Dorian LPG Finance LLC |
Jurisdiction of Formation: | Marshall Islands |
963243 | |
Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands, MH 96960 | |
c/o Dorian LPG (USA) LLC 27 Signal Road Stamford, CT 06902 |
Name: | Dorian LPG Ltd. |
Jurisdiction of Formation: | Marshall Islands |
62405 | |
Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands, MH 96960 | |
c/o Dorian LPG (USA) LLC Attention: Mr. Ted Young, CFO 27 Signal Road Stamford, CT 06902 |
Name: | Comet LPG Transport LLC |
Jurisdiction of Formation: | Marshall Islands |
962663 | |
Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands, MH 96960 | |
c/o Dorian LPG (USA) LLC 27 Signal Road Stamford, CT 06902 |
Name: | Concorde LPG Transport LLC |
Jurisdiction of Formation: | Marshall Islands |
962864 | |
Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands, MH 96960 | |
c/o Dorian LPG (USA) LLC 27 Signal Road Stamford, CT 06902 |
Name: | Dorian Houston LPG Transport LLC |
Jurisdiction of Formation: | Marshall Islands |
Registration number (or equivalent, if any) | 962641 |
Registered address | Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands, MH 96960 |
Address for service of process and notices | c/o Dorian LPG (USA) LLC 27 Signal Road Stamford, CT 06902 |
Name: | Dorian Sao Paulo LPG Transport LLC |
Jurisdiction of Formation: | Marshall Islands |
962649 | |
Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands, MH 96960 | |
c/o Dorian LPG (USA) LLC 27 Signal Road Stamford, CT 06902 |
Name: | Dorian Ulsan LPG Transport LLC |
Jurisdiction of Formation: | Marshall Islands |
962664 | |
Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands, MH 96960 | |
c/o Dorian LPG (USA) LLC 27 Signal Road Stamford, CT 06902 |
Name: | Dorian Amsterdam LPG Transport LLC |
Jurisdiction of Formation: | Marshall Islands |
962642 | |
Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands, MH 96960 | |
c/o Dorian LPG (USA) LLC 27 Signal Road Stamford, CT 06902 |
Name: | Dorian Monaco LPG Transport LLC |
Jurisdiction of Formation: | Marshall Islands |
Registration number (or equivalent, if any) | 962645 |
Registered address | Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands, MH 96960 |
Address for service of process and notices | c/o Dorian LPG (USA) LLC 27 Signal Road Stamford, CT 06902 |
Name: | Dorian Barcelona LPG Transport LLC |
Jurisdiction of Formation: | Marshall Islands |
962643 | |
Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands, MH 96960 | |
c/o Dorian LPG (USA) LLC 27 Signal Road Stamford, CT 06902 |
Name: | Corvette LPG Transport LLC |
Jurisdiction of Formation: | Marshall Islands |
962466 | |
Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands, MH 96960 | |
c/o Dorian LPG (USA) LLC 27 Signal Road Stamford, CT 06902 |
Name: | Dorian Explorer LPG Transport LLC |
Jurisdiction of Formation: | Marshall Islands |
962682 | |
Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands, MH 96960 | |
c/o Dorian LPG (USA) LLC 27 Signal Road Stamford, CT 06902 |
Lender | Revolving Credit Commitment | Term Loan Facility Commitment | Total |
Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank 1301 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10019 United States Attn: George Gkanasoulis / Alex Foley Tel: +1 212 261 3869 / +1 212 261 7458 Email: George.GKANASOULIS@ca-cib.com alexander.foley@ca-cib.com NYShipFinance@ca-cib.com | $4,807,692 | $57,692,308 | $62,500,000 |
ING Bank N.V., London Branch 8-10 Moorgate London, EC2R 6DA Attention: Weilong Loan, Pauline Liadi Tel: +44 (0)7805 756 852 / +44 7917 958 527 Email: Weilong.liang@ing.com / Pauline.liadi@ing.com | $4,807,692 | $57,692,308 | $62,500,000 |
BNP Paribas 9 Rue du Débarcadère 93500 PANTIN (France) (ACI : CPE02A1 – Immeuble Océanie) Attention: Julie Bernard / Vanima Calinghee Tel: +33 1 87 74 60 39 / +33 1 58 16 62 27 Email: julie.3.bernard@bnpparibas.com / vanima.calinghee@bnpparibas.com | $3,460,000 | $41,520,000 | $45,000,000 |
Danish Ship Finance A/S Sankt Annae Plads 3 1250 Copenhagen K, Denmark Attention: Ole Stærgaard Tel: +45 33 74 10 27 Email: ols@shipfinance.dk | $3,460,000 | $41,520,000 | $45,000,000 |
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) Filipstad Brygge 1 P.O. Box 1843 Vika NO-0123 Oslo, Norway Attention: Gjert Moberg/ Kari Norheim Kvistad Tel: +47 99490831/ +4799439989 Email: Gjert.moberg@seb.no kari.kvistad@seb.no with copies to: SEB Structured Credit Operations: sco@se.no | $3,460,000 | $41,520,000 | $45,000,000 |
Total | $20,000,000 | $240,000,000 | $260,000,000 |
Swap Bank | Booking Office |
Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank | 1301 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10019 United States Attn: George Gkanasoulis / Alex Foley Telephone: +1 212 261 3869 / +1 212 261 7458 Email: George.GKANASOULIS@ca-cib.com / alexander.foley@ca-cib.com / NYShipFinance@ca-cib.com |
ING Capital Markets LLC | 1133 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10036 Attention: Juan Carlos Vallarino Email: juan.vallarino@ing.com Telephone: +1 646 424 6606 |
BNP Paribas | 9 Rue du Débarcadère 93500 PANTIN (France) (ACI : CPE02A1 – Immeuble Océanie) Attention: Julie BERNARD / Vanima CALINGHEE Email: julie.3.bernard@bnpparibas.com / vanima.calinghee@bnpparibas.com Telephone: +33 1 87 74 60 39 / +33 1 58 16 62 27 |
Danish Ship Finance A/S | Sankt Annae Plads 3 1250 Copenhagen K, Denmark Attention: Ole Stærgaard Email: ols@shipfinance.dk Telephone: +45 33 74 10 27 |
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) | Filipstad Brygge 1 P.O. Box 1843 Vika NO-0123 Oslo, Norway Attention: Gjert Moberg/Kari Norheim Kvistad Email: Gjert.moberg@seb.no kari.kvistad@seb.no with copies to SEB Structured Credit Operations: sco@se.no Telephone: +47 99490831/+47 99439989 |
Agent | Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank Asset Finance Groups – Ship Finance 12 Place des Etats-Unis CS 70052 92547 Montrouge Cedex, France Attn: Agency and Middle-Office for Shipping Telephone: +33 1 41 89 98 05 / +33 1 41898696 Email: anja.rakotoarimanana@ca-cib.com rosine.serra-joannides@ca-cib.com damien.ferkoune@ca-cib.com Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank 1301 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10019 United States Attn: George Gkanasoulis / Alex Foley Telephone: +1 212 261 3869 / +1 212 261 7458 Email: George.GKANASOULIS@ca-cib.com alexander.foley@ca-cib.com NYShipFinance@ca-cib.com |
Security Trustee | Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank Asset Finance Groups – Ship Finance 12 Place des Etats-Unis CS 70052 92547 Montrouge Cedex, France Attn: Agency and Middle-Office for Shipping Telephone: +33 1 41 89 98 05 / +33 1 41898696 Email: anja.rakotoarimanana@ca-cib.com rosine.serra-joannides@ca-cib.com damien.ferkoune@ca-cib.com Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank 1301 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10019 United States Attn: George Gkanasoulis / Alex Foley Telephone: +1 212 261 3869 / +1 212 261 7458 Email: George.GKANASOULIS@ca-cib.com alexander.foley@ca-cib.com NYShipFinance@ca-cib.com |
Vessel 1
Vessel Name | COMET |
Owner | Comet LPG Transport LLC |
Flag | Bahamas |
Official Number | 7000664 |
Gross Tonnage | 48,060 |
Net Tonnage | 18,641 |
Shipyard | Hyundai HI |
Build Year | 2014 |
Vessel 2
Vessel Name | CONCORDE |
Owner | Concorde LPG Transport LLC |
Flag | Bahamas |
Official Number | 7000781 |
Gross Tonnage | 48,060 |
Net Tonnage | 18,641 |
Shipyard | Hyundai HI |
Build Year | 2015 |
Vessel 3
Vessel Name | COBRA |
Owner | Dorian Houston LPG Transport LLC |
Flag | Bahamas |
Official Number | 7000750 |
Gross Tonnage | 47379 |
Net Tonnage | 18644 |
Shipyard | Hyundai SHI |
Build Year | 2015 |
Vessel 4
Vessel Name | CONTINENTAL |
Owner | Dorian Sao Paulo LPG Transport LLC |
Flag | Bahamas |
Official Number | 7000751 |
Gross Tonnage | 47379 |
Net Tonnage | 18644 |
Shipyard | Hyundai SHI |
Build Year | 2015 |
Vessel 5
Vessel Name | CONSTITUTION |
Owner | Dorian Ulsan LPG Transport LLC |
Flag | Bahamas |
Official Number | 7000782 |
Gross Tonnage | 47379 |
Net Tonnage | 18644 |
Shipyard | Hyundai SHI |
Build Year | 2015 |
Vessel 6
Vessel Name | COMMODORE |
Owner | Dorian Amsterdam LPG Transport LLC |
Flag | Bahamas |
Official Number | 7000780 |
Gross Tonnage | 47379 |
Net Tonnage | 18644 |
Shipyard | Hyundai SHI |
Build Year | 2015 |
Vessel 7
Vessel Name | CHEYENNE |
Owner | Dorian Monaco LPG Transport LLC |
Flag | Bahamas |
Official Number | 7000790 |
Gross Tonnage | 47379 |
Net Tonnage | 18644 |
Shipyard | Hyundai SHI |
Build Year | 2015 |
Vessel 8
Vessel Name | CLERMONT |
Owner | Dorian Barcelona LPG Transport LLC |
Flag | Bahamas |
Official Number | 7000794 |
Gross Tonnage | 47379 |
Net Tonnage | 18644 |
Shipyard | Hyundai SHI |
Build Year | 2015 |
Vessel 9
Vessel Name | CORVETTE |
Owner | Corvette LPG Transport LLC |
Flag | Bahamas |
Official Number | 7000668 |
Gross Tonnage | 48060 |
Net Tonnage | 18641 |
Shipyard | Hyundai SHI |
Build Year | 2015 |
Vessel 10
Vessel Name | CHALLENGER |
Owner | Dorian Explorer LPG Transport LLC |
Flag | Bahamas |
Official Number | 7000796 |
Gross Tonnage | 47379 |
Net Tonnage | 18644 |
Shipyard | Hyundai SHI |
Build Year | 2015 |
To:[AGENT], as Agent
[Address]
[Date]
DRAWDOWN NOTICE
2 | We request to borrow an Advance as follows: |
(a) | Amount: US$[–]; |
(b) | Drawdown Date: [–]; |
(c) | Type of Advance: [Term Loan Advance][Revolving Advance] |
(d) | [Duration of the first Interest Period shall be [–] months;] and |
(e) | Payment instructions: |
[–]
3 | We represent and warrant that: |
(a) | no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred or would result from the borrowing of the Advance; |
(b) | the representations and warranties in Clause 10 and those of the Borrower or any other Security Party which are set out in the other Finance Documents are true and not misleading as of the date of this Drawdown Notice and will be true and not misleading as of the Drawdown Date, in each case with reference to the circumstances then existing; |
(c) | there has been no material change in the consolidated financial condition, operations or business of the Borrower or of the Guarantors since the date on which the Borrower provided information concerning those topics to the Agent and/or any Lender[; and] |
(d) | [if the Collateral Maintenance Ratio were applied immediately following the making of the Revolving Advance, the Borrower would not be required to provide additional Collateral or prepay part of the Loan under Clause 15; and |
(e) | if the Leverage Ratio were applied immediately following the making of the Revolving Advance, the Margin would not change from its current Level as in effect immediately prior to such Revolving Advance.] |
4 | This notice cannot be revoked without the prior consent of the Majority Lenders. |
5 | [We authorize you to deduct the outstanding fees and expenses referred to in Clause 21 from the amount of the Advance.] |
_________________________________
Name:
Title:
for and on behalf of
DORIAN LPG FINANCE LLC
The following are the documents referred to in Clause 9.1(a)(i):
1 | A duly executed original of this Agreement and any Master Agreement (if applicable). |
3 | Copies of the constitutional documents and each amendment thereto of each of the Security Parties, certified as of a date reasonably near the date of the relevant Drawdown Notice by an authorized person of such party as being a true and correct copy thereof. |
4 | Copies of the resolutions of the directors (or equivalent governing body) and, where applicable, the shareholders (or equivalent equity holders), of each of the Security Parties authorizing the execution of each of the Finance Documents and, in the case of the Borrower, authorizing an authorized person of the Borrower to give the relevant Drawdown Notice and other notices required under the Finance Documents, in each case certified as of a date reasonably near the date of the relevant Drawdown Notice by an authorized person of such party as being a true and correct copy thereof. |
5 | An incumbency certificate in respect of the officers and directors (or equivalent) of each of the Security Parties and signature samples of any signatories to any Finance Document. |
6 | The original or a certified copy of any power of attorney under which any Finance Document is executed on behalf of a Security Party. |
7 | Copies of all consents which a Security Party requires to enter into, or make any payment under, any Finance Document, each certified as of a date reasonably near the date of the relevant Drawdown Notice by an authorized person of such party as being a true and correct copy thereof, or certification by such authorized person that no such consents are required. |
9 | On or before the Effective Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to any Security Party that qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation. |
The following are the documents referred to in Clause 9.1(b), with each reference to a “Vessel” below being deemed to refer to the Vessel for which an Advance is requested:
1 | A duly executed original of each Finance Document (and of each document required to be delivered by each Finance Document) other than those referred to in Part A(1). |
2 | Documentary evidence that: |
(a) | each Vessel is definitively and permanently registered in the name of the relevant Owner Guarantor under an Approved Flag; |
(b) | the Mortgage has been duly recorded against each Vessel as a valid first preferred or priority ship mortgage in accordance with the laws of the Approved Flag on which such Vessel is registered; |
(c) | the Security Interests intended to be created by each of the Finance Documents have been duly perfected under applicable law; |
(d) | each Vessel is in the absolute and unencumbered ownership of the relevant Owner Guarantor save as contemplated by the Finance Documents; |
(e) | each Vessel is insured in accordance with the provisions of Clause 13 of this Agreement and all requirements therein in respect of insurances have been complied with; and |
3 | Evidence satisfactory to the Agent that if the Collateral Maintenance Ratio were applied immediately following the making of such Advance, the Borrower would not be required to provide additional Collateral or prepay part of the Loan under Clause 15 based on the most recently available appraisals determining the Fair Market Value of the Vessels. |
5 | The following documents establishing that each Vessel will, as from the Drawdown Date in respect of such Vessel, be managed by an Approved Manager on terms acceptable to the Agent: |
(a) | a copy of each relevant Approved Management Agreement, certified as of the Drawdown Date in respect of such Vessel by an authorized person of the relevant Owner Guarantor as being a true and correct copy thereof; |
(b) | a Manager’s Undertaking executed by each Approved Manager providing technical or commercial management services, in favor of the Agent; and |
(c) | copies of each Approved Manager’s Document of Compliance and of the ISSC and Safety Management Certificate (together with any other details of the applicable safety management system which the Agent requires) and the tonnage certificate, certified as of the relevant Drawdown Date by an authorized person of the relevant Owner Guarantor as being a true and correct copy thereof. |
6 | A copy of the Green Passport relating to each Vessel. |
7 | Copies of any Charters relating to each Vessel. |
8 | Copies of any mandates or other documents required in connection with the opening or operation of the relevant Earnings Accounts, each certified as of a date reasonably near the Closing Date by an officer of the Borrower as being a true and correct copy thereof. |
9 | A favorable opinion from an independent insurance consultant acceptable to the Agent on such matters relating to the insurances for each Vessel as the Agent may require. |
10 | A Compliance Certificate, setting forth (among other things) (a) the Leverage Ratio and the corresponding Margin, (b) compliance with the covenants set forth in Clause 12 (Financial Covenants) for the period ending March 31, 2022, and (c) compliance with Clause 15 (Collateral Maintenance Ratio). |
11 | A Sustainability Certificate for the period ending December 31, 2021. |
12 | A favorable opinion of Watson Farley & Williams LLP, New York and Marshall Islands counsel for the Security Parties, in form, scope and substance satisfactory to the Creditor Parties. |
13 | Favorable legal opinions from lawyers appointed by the Borrower or the Agent on such matters concerning the laws of such relevant jurisdictions as the Agent may require. |
The Transferor and the Transferee accept exclusive responsibility for ensuring that this Certificate and the transaction to which it relates comply with all legal and regulatory requirements applicable to them respectively.
To: | [AGENT], for itself and for and on behalf of the Borrower, each other Security Party, the Security Trustee, each Lender and each Swap Bank, as defined in the Loan Agreement referred to below. |
[Date]
2 | In this Certificate, terms defined in the Loan Agreement shall, unless the contrary intention appears, have the same meanings when used in this Certificate and: |
3 | The effective date of this Certificate is [–], provided that this Certificate shall not come into effect unless it is signed by the Agent on or before that date. |
5 | [By virtue of this Certificate and Clause 28 of the Loan Agreement, the Transferor is discharged [entirely from its Commitment which amounts to $[–]] [from [–]% of its Commitment, which percentage represents $[–]] and the Transferee acquires a Commitment of $[–].] |
6 | The Transferee undertakes with the Transferor and each of the Relevant Parties that the Transferee will observe and perform all the obligations under the Finance Documents which Clause 28 of the Loan Agreement provides will become binding on it upon this Certificate taking effect. |
7 | The Agent, at the request of the Transferee (which request is hereby made) accepts, for the Agent itself and for and on behalf of every other Relevant Party, this Certificate as a Transfer Certificate taking effect in accordance with Clause 28 of the Loan Agreement. |
8 | The Transferor: |
(a) | warrants to the Transferee and each Relevant Party that: |
(i) | the Transferor has full capacity to enter into this transaction and has taken all corporate action and obtained all consents which are required in connection with this transaction; and |
(ii) | this Certificate is valid and binding as regards the Transferor; |
(b) | warrants to the Transferee that the Transferor is absolutely entitled, free of encumbrances, to all the rights and interests covered by the assignment in paragraph 4; and |
(c) | undertakes with the Transferee that the Transferor will, at its own expense, execute any documents which the Transferee reasonably requests for perfecting in any relevant jurisdiction the Transferee’s title under this Certificate or for a similar purpose. |
9 | The Transferee: |
(a) | confirms that it has received a copy of the Loan Agreement and each of the other Finance Documents; |
(b) | agrees that it will have no rights of recourse on any ground against the Transferor, the Agent, the Security Trustee or any Lender in the event that: |
(i) | any of the Finance Documents prove to be invalid or ineffective; |
(ii) | the Borrower or any other Security Party fails to observe or perform its obligations, or to discharge its liabilities, under any of the Finance Documents; |
(iii) | it proves impossible to realize any asset covered by a Security Interest created by a Finance Document, or the proceeds of such assets are insufficient to discharge the liabilities of the Borrower or any other Security Party under any of the Finance Documents; |
(c) | agrees that it will have no rights of recourse on any ground against the Agent, the Security Trustee or any Lender in the event that this Certificate proves to be invalid or ineffective; |
(d) | warrants to the Transferor and each Relevant Party that: |
(i) | it has full capacity to enter into this transaction and has taken all corporate action and obtained all consents which it needs to take or obtain in connection with this transaction; and |
(ii) | that this Certificate is valid and binding as regards the Transferee; |
(e) | confirms the accuracy of the administrative details set out below regarding the Transferee; and |
(f) | confirms that, immediately following the effective date of this Certificate, it will be a FATCA Exempt Party. |
11 | The Transferee shall repay to the Transferor on demand so much of any sum paid by the Transferor under paragraph 10 as exceeds one-half of the amount demanded by the Agent or the Security Trustee in respect of a claim, proceeding, liability or expense which was not reasonably foreseeable at the date of this Certificate; but nothing in this paragraph shall affect the liability of each of the Transferor and the Transferee to the Agent or the Security Trustee for the full amount demanded by it. |
[Name of Transferor][Name of Transferee]
By: _______________________By: _______________________
Name:Name:
Title:Title:
Date:Date:
Agent
Signed for itself and for and on behalf of itself
as Agent and for every other Relevant Party
[AGENT]
By: _______________________
Name:
Title:
Date:
Administrative Details of Transferee
Name of Transferee:
Lending Office:
Contact Person
(Loan Administration Department):
Telephone:
Email: Contact Person
(Credit Administration Department):
Telephone:
Note:This Transfer Certificate alone may not be sufficient to transfer a proportionate share of the Transferor’s interest in the security constituted by the Finance Documents in the Transferor’s or Transferee’s jurisdiction. It is the responsibility of each Lender to ascertain whether any other documents are required for this purpose.
Clarksons Valuations Limited
Gibsons Shipbrokers
Fearnleys A.S.
Braemar ACM Shipbroking
Simpson Spence Young Ltd
Arrow Shipbroking Group
Grieg Shipbrokers
Security Interests in the Equity Interests of the Excluded Subsidiaries
[–], as Agent
[Address]
[Date]
Dear Sirs
Loan Agreement dated as of [–], 2022 (the “Loan Agreement”) among ourselves, as Borrower, the Guarantors referred to therein, the Lenders referred to therein, the Bookrunners and Structurers referred to therein, the Mandatory Lead Arrangers referred to therein, the Swap Banks referred to therein, and yourselves as Agent and as Security Trustee in connection with a facility of up to US$260,000,000.
We refer to:
1 | the Loan Agreement; |
2 | the Master Agreement dated [–] made between ourselves and [–]; and |
3 | a Confirmation dated [–] delivered pursuant to the said Master Agreement and addressed by [–] to us. |
In accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement, we hereby give you notice of the said Confirmation and hereby confirm that the Transaction evidenced by it will be designated as a “Designated Transaction” for the purposes of the Loan Agreement and the Finance Documents.
Yours faithfully,
.................................................
Exhibit 31.1
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of the Chief Executive Officer
I, John C. Hadjipateras, certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Dorian LPG Ltd.; |
2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of and for, the periods presented in this report; |
4. | The registrant’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 registrant and have: |
| (a) | designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| (b) | designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| (c) | evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
| (d) | disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
5. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’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 registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
| (b) | any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
/s/ John C. Hadjipateras |
John C. Hadjipateras |
Chief Executive Officer |
Dated: August 3, 2022
Exhibit 31.2
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of the Chief Financial Officer
I, Theodore B. Young, certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Dorian LPG Ltd.; |
2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of and for, the periods presented in this report; |
4. | The registrant’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 registrant and have: |
| (a) | designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| (b) | designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| (c) | evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
| (d) | disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
5. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’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 registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
| (b) | any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
/s/ Theodore B. Young |
Theodore B. Young |
Chief Financial Officer |
Dated: August 3, 2022
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the quarterly report of Dorian LPG Ltd. (the “Company”), on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2022, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, John C. Hadjipateras, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, to the best of my knowledge, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
| 1. | the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934; and |
| 2. | the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
/s/ John C. Hadjipateras |
John C. Hadjipateras |
Chief Executive Officer |
Dated: August 3, 2022
Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the quarterly report of Dorian LPG Ltd. (the “Company”), on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2022, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Theodore B. Young, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, to the best of my knowledge, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
| 1. | the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934; and |
| 2. | the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
/s/ Theodore B. Young |
Theodore B. Young |
Chief Financial Officer |
Dated: August 3, 2022