ALPHA BANK S.A.
Exhibit 4.19
Dated: 1st November, 2022
ALPHA BANK S.A.
(as Lender)
- and -
GARU SHIPPING COMPANY INC.
(as Borrower)
LOAN AGREEMENT
for a secured floating interest rate loan facility of up to US$18,250,000
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![](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1481241/000114036123021095/image00001.jpg)
XXXX X. XXXXXXX & CO.
LAW OFFICES
Piraeus
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CLAUSE
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HEADINGS
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PAGE
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1.
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PURPOSE, DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
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1
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2.
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THE LOAN
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23
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3.
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INTEREST
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26
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4.
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REPAYMENT - PREPAYMENT
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32
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5.
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PAYMENTS, TAXES AND COMPUTATION
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34
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6.
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
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37
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7.
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CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
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43
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8.
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UNDERTAKINGS
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49
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9.
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EVENTS OF DEFAULT
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65
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10.
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INDEMNITIES - EXPENSES – FEES
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70
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11.
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SECURITY, APPLICATION, SET-OFF
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76
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12.
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UNLAWFULNESS, INCREASED COST AND BAIL-IN
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79
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13.
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OPERATING ACCOUNT
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81
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14.
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ASSIGNMENT, TRANSFER, PARTICIPATION, LENDING OFFICE
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83
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15.
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MISCELLANEOUS
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81
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16.
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NOTICES AND COMMUNICATIONS
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84
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17.
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LAW AND JURISDICTION
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86
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SCHEDULES
(1)
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Form of Drawdown Notice
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(2)
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Form of Insurance Letter
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(3)
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Form of Compliance Certifcate
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(1) |
ALPHA BANK S.A., a banking société anonyme incorporated in and pursuant to the laws of the Hellenic Republic with its head office at 00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, acting, except as otherwise herein provided, through its office at 93 Akti Miaouli, Piraeus, Greece, as lender (hereinafter called the “Lender”, which expression shall include its successors and assigns); and
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(2) |
GARU SHIPPING COMPANY INC., a corporation duly incorporated in the Republic of the Xxxxxxxx Islands, whose registered address is at Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Xxxxxxxx Islands MH 96960 (the “Borrower”, which expression shall include its successors)
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AND IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:
1.1 |
Amount and Purpose
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(a) |
Amount: This Agreement sets out the terms and conditions upon and subject to which it is agreed that the Lender will make available to the Borrower a secured term loan facility in the amount of up to the lesser of (a)
Eighteen million two hundred fifty thousand Dollars ($18,250,000) and (b) 50% of the Purchase Price (as hereinafter defined) of the Vessel, such loan facility to be made by one (1) Advance.
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(b) |
Purpose: The proceeds of the Loan shall be used for the purpose of partly financing the acquisition cost of the Vessel pursuant to the terms of the MOA.
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1.2 |
Definitions
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Subject to Clause 1.3 (Interpretation) and Clause 1.4 (Construction of certain terms), in this
Agreement (unless otherwise defined in the relevant Finance Document and unless the context otherwise requires) and the other Finance Documents each term or expression defined in the recital of the parties and in this Clause shall have the
meaning given to it in the recital of the parties and in this Clause:
“Accounts Pledge Agreement” means an agreement to be entered into between the Borrower and the
Lender for the creation of a pledge over the Operating Account in favour of the Lender, in form and substance as the Lender may approve or require, as the same may from time to time be amended and/or
supplemented;
“Advance” means each borrowing of the Commitment by the Borrower or (as the context may require) the principal amount of such
borrowing;
“Affiliate” means, in relation to any person, a subsidiary of that person or a parent company of that person or any
other subsidiary of that parent company;
“Approved Auditor” means Ernst & Xxxxx, KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx and any other independent and reputable auditor having
requisite experience acceptable to the Lender;
“Approved Manager” means for the time being Unitized Ocean Transport Limited, a corporation lawfully
incorporated in, and validly existing under the laws of, the Republic of the Xxxxxxxx Islands, and having a licensed office established in Greece pursuant to the Greek laws 378/68, 27/75, 2234/94, 3752/09 and 4150/13 (as amended and in
force at the date hereof) at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx or, in either case, any other person appointed by the Borrower with the consent of the
Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, as the commercial and/or technical manager of the Vessel, and includes its successors in title;
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“Approved Manager’s Undertaking” means a first priority letter of undertaking and subordination to be executed by the Approved Manager,
as manager of the Vessel, in favour of the Lender, such Approved Manager’s Undertaking to be in form and substance as the Lender may approve or require, as the
same may from time to time be amended and/or supplemented;
“Approved Shipbroker” means Intermodal Shipbrokers Co., Golden Destiny S.A., Allied Shipbroking Inc., Optima Shipping Services S.A.,
Clarksons, Fearnleys, Braemar, Arrows, Maersk Broker,xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx or any other first-class independent firm of internationally known shipbrokers, acceptable to the Lender, and includes their respective successors in title and “Approved Shipbrokers” means all of them;
“Article 55 BRRD” means Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit
institutions and investment firms;
“Assignable Charterparty” means any bareboat
charterparty (irrespective of the duration of such bareboat charterparty), or any time or consecutive voyage charter or contract of affreightment or related document in respect of the employment of the Vessel having a fixed duration of more
than 12 months (excluding any optional extensions) whether now existing or hereinafter entered or to be entered into by the Borrower or any person, firm or company on its behalf and a charterer, at a
daily rate and on terms and conditions acceptable to the Lender (and shall include any addenda thereto);
“Assignee” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Clause 14.3 (Assignment by the Lender);
“Availability Period” means the period starting on the date hereof and ending on:
(a) |
the 30th day of November, 2022 or until such later date as the Lender may agree in writing; or
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(b) |
such earlier date (if any): (i) on which the whole Commitment has been advanced by the Lender to the Borrower, or (ii) on which the Commitment is reduced to zero pursuant to Clauses 3.6 (Market
disruption), 9.2 (Consequences of Default – Acceleration), 12.1 (Unlawfulness) or any other Clause of this Agreement;
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“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-down and Conversion Powers;
“Bail-In Legislation” means:
(a) |
in relation to an EEA Member Country which has implemented, or which at any time implements, Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms, the
relevant implementing law or regulation as described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time; and
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(b) |
in relation to any other state, any analogous law or regulation from time to time which requires contractual recognition of any Write-down and Conversion Powers contained in that law or regulation;
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2
“Balloon Instalment” has the meaning given in Clause 4.1 (Repayment);
“Basel II Accord” means the ”International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards,
a Revised Framework” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in July 2004 in the form existing on the date of this Agreement;
“Basel II Approach” means either the Standardised Approach or the relevant Internal Ratings Based Approach (each as defined in the
Basel II Accord) adopted by the Lender (or its holding company) for the purposes of implementing or complying with the Basel II Accord;
“Basel II Regulation” means (a) any law or regulation implementing the Basel II Accord (including the relevant provisions of CRD IV and
CRR) to the extent only such law or regulation re-enacts and/or implements the requirement of the Basel II Accord but excluding any provision of such law or regulation implementing the Basel III Accord or (b) any Basel II Approach adopted by the
Lender(s);
“Basel III Accord” means:
(a) |
the agreements on capital requirements, leverage ratio and liquidity standards contained in “Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems”, “Basel III: International framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring” and “Guidance for national authorities operating the countercyclical
capital buffer” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010, each as amended, supplemented or restated;
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(b) |
the rules for global systemically important banks contained in “Global systemically important banks: assessment methodology and the additional loss absorbency requirement – Rules text”
published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in November 2011, as amended, supplemented or restated; and
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(c) |
any further guidance or standards published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision relating to Basel III;
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“Basel III Regulation” means any law or regulation implementing the Basel III Accord save and to the extent that it re-enacts a Basel
II Regulation;
“Borrowed Money” means Financial Indebtedness incurred in respect of (i) money borrowed or raised, (ii) any bond, note, loan stock,
debenture or similar instrument, (iii) acceptance of documentary credit facilities, (iv) deferred payments for assets or services acquired, (v) rental payments under leases (whether in respect of land, machinery, equipment or otherwise) entered
into primarily as a method of raising finance or of financing the acquisition of the asset leased, (vi) guarantees, bonds, stand-by letters of credit or other instruments issued in connection with the performance of contracts and (vii) guarantees
or other assurances against financial loss in respect of Financial Indebtedness of any person falling within any of sub-paragraphs (i) to (vi) above;
“Borrower” means the Borrower as specified at the beginning of this Agreement;
“Business Day” means:
(a) |
a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for general business in Athens and Piraeus;
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3
(b) |
in New York; and
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(in relation to the fixing of any interest rate which is required to be determined under this Agreement or any Finance Document), a US Government Securities Business Day;
“Charterparty Assignment” means an assignment of the rights of the Borrower under any Assignable Charterparty executed or to be
executed by the Borrower in favour of the Lender and the acknowledgement of notice of the assignment in respect of such Assignable Charterparty to be obtained only in case of an Event of Default which has occurred and is continuing in form and
substance as the Lender may approve or require, as the same may from time to time be amended and/or supplemented, and “Charterparty Assignments” means all of them;
“Classification” means the classification referred to in the Mortgage registered thereon with
the Classification Society or such other classification society as the Lender shall, at the request of the Borrower, have agreed in writing, shall be treated as the Classification Society for the purposes of the Finance Documents;
“Classification Society” means
such classification society which is a member of IACS (other than the China Classification Society and the Russian Maritime Registry of Shipping) and which the Lender shall, at the request of the
Borrower, have agreed in writing to be treated as the Classification Society for the purposes of the Finance Documents;
“Commitment” means the amount which the Lender agreed to lend to the Borrower under Clause 2.1 (Commitment
to Lend) as reduced by any relevant term of this Agreement;
“Commitment Letter” means the Commitment Letter dated 15th September, 2022 and endorsed by the Borrower on 16th September, 2022, addressed by the Lender to the Borrower and
accepted by them on the same date, and shall include any amendments or addenda thereto;
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form set out in
Schedule 3 (Form of Compliance Certificate) signed by the chief executive officer (“CEO”) of the Parent Company or, if the CEO is
not available, the chief financial officer of the Parent Company;
“Compulsory Acquisition” means requisition for title or other compulsory acquisition,
requisition, appropriation, expropriation, deprivation, forfeiture or confiscation for any reason of the Vessel, whether for full or part consideration, a consideration less than its proper value, a nominal consideration or without any
consideration, which is effected by any Government Entity or other competent authority, by any person or persons claiming to be or to represent any Government Entity, whether de jure or de facto, but shall exclude requisition for use or hire not
involving requisition of title;
“Corporate Guarantee” means an irrevocable and unconditional guarantee given or, as the context may require, to be given by the Parent
Company in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender as security for the Outstanding Indebtedness and any and all other obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the Security Documents, as the
same may from time to time be amended and/or supplemented;
4
“Corporate Guarantor” means the Parent Company and/or (where the context permits) any other person nominated by the Borrower and
acceptable to the Lender who may give a Corporate Guarantee, and includes its successors in title;
“CRD IV” means:
(a) |
Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment
firms, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC, as amended, supplemented or restated; and
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(b) |
any other law or regulation which implements Basel III;
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“CRR” means Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for
credit institutions and investment firms and amending regulation (EU) No. 648/2012, as amended, supplemented or restated;
“Default” means any Event of Default or any event or circumstance which with the giving of notice or
expiry of any grace period or the satisfaction of any other condition (or any combination thereof) would constitute an Event of Default;
“Default Rate” means that rate of interest per annum which is determined in accordance with the provisions of Clause 3.4 (Default Interest);
“Delivery” means the delivery of the Vessel from the Seller to, and the acceptance of the Vessel by, the
Borrower pursuant to the MOA;
“Delivery Date” means the date upon which the Delivery of the Vessel occurs;
“DOC” means a document of compliance issued to an Operator in accordance with rule 13 of the ISM Code;
“Dollars” (and the sign “$”) means the lawful currency for the time being of the United States of America;
“Drawdown Date” means the date, being a Business Day, requested by the Borrower for the Loan to be made available, or (as the context
requires) the date on which the Loan is actually borrowed;
“Drawdown Notice” means a notice substantially in the terms of Schedule 1 (Form of Drawdown Notice)
(or in any other form which the Lender approves);
“Earnings” means all moneys whatsoever which are now, or later become, payable (actually or contingently) to the Borrower and which
arise out of the use or operation of the Vessel, including (but not limited to) all freight, hire and passage moneys, compensation payable to the Borrower in the event of requisition of the Vessel for hire, remuneration for salvage and towage
services, demurrage and detention moneys, contributions of any nature whatsoever in respect of general average, damages for breach (or payments for variation or termination) of any charterparty or other contract for the employment of the Vessel
and any other earnings whatsoever due or to become due to the Borrower in respect of the Vessel and all sums recoverable under the Insurances in respect of loss of Earnings and includes, if and whenever the Vessel is employed on terms whereby any
and all such moneys as aforesaid are pooled or shared with any other person, that proportion of the net receipts of the relevant pooling or sharing agreement which is attributable to the Vessel;
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“EEA Member Country” means any member state of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway;
“Environmental Affiliate” means any agent or employee of the Borrower or any other Relevant Party or any person having a contractual
relationship with the Borrower or any other Relevant Party in connection with any Relevant Ship or her operation or the carriage of cargo thereon;
“Environmental Approval” means any consent, authorisation, licence or approval of any governmental or public body or authorities or
courts applicable to any Relevant Ship or her operation or the carriage of cargo thereon and/or passengers therein and/or provisions of goods and/or services on or from the Relevant Ship required under any Environmental Law;
(a) |
(b) |
in each case being for an amount in excess of $500,000 (or the equivalent in any other currency), and “claim” means a claim for damages, compensation, fines, penalties or any other payment of any kind whether or not similar to the foregoing; an order or direction to take, or not to take,
certain action or to desist from or suspend certain action; and any form of enforcement or regulatory action, including the arrest or attachment of any asset;
“Environmental Incident” means (i) any release of Material of Environmental Concern from
the Vessel, (ii) any incident in which Material of Environmental Concern is released from a vessel other than the Vessel and which involves collision between the Vessel and such other vessel or some other incident of navigation or operation, in
either case, where a Vessel, the Borrower or the Approved Manager is actually or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable (in whole or in part) or (iii) any incident in which Material of Environmental Concern is released from a vessel other than
the Vessel and where the Vessel is actually or potentially liable to be arrested as a result and/or where the Borrower or the Approved Manager is actually or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable;
“Environmental Laws” means all national, international and state laws, rules, regulations, treaties and conventions applicable to any
Relevant Ship pertaining to the pollution or protection of human health or the environment including, without limitation, the carriage of Materials of Environmental Concern and actual or threatened emissions, spills, releases or discharges of
Materials of Environmental Concern and actual or threatened emissions, spills, releases or discharges of Materials of Environmental Concern from any Relevant Ship (including, without limitation, the United States Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and
any comparable laws of the individual States of the United States of America);
“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the document described as such and published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor
person) from time to time;
“Event of Default” means any event or circumstance set out in Clause 9.1 (Events) or
described as such in any other of the Finance Documents;
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“Expenses” means the aggregate at any relevant time (to the extent that the same have not been received or recovered by the Lender) of:
(a) |
all losses, liabilities, costs, charges, expenses, damages and outgoings of whatever nature, (including, without limitation, Taxes, repair costs, registration fees and insurance premiums, crew wages, repatriation expenses and seamen’s
pension fund dues) suffered, incurred, charged to or paid or committed to be paid by the Lender in connection with the exercise of the powers referred to in or granted by any of the Finance Documents or otherwise payable by the Borrower
in accordance with the terms of any of the Finance Documents;
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(b) |
the expenses referred to in Clause 10.2 (Expenses); and
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(c) |
interest on all such losses, liabilities, costs, charges, expenses, damages and outgoings from, in the case of Expenses referred to in sub-paragraph (b) above, the date on which such Expenses were demanded by the Lender from the
Borrower and in all other cases, the date on which the same were suffered, incurred or paid by the Lender until the date of receipt or recovery thereof (whether before or after judgement) at the Default Rate (as conclusively certified by
the Lender) but always absent manifest error;
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“FATCA” means:
(a) |
sections 1471 to 1474 of the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) or any associated regulations or other associated official guidance;
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(b) |
any treaty, law, regulation or other official guidance enacted in any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the US and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case)
facilitates the implementation of paragraph (a) above; or
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(c) |
any agreement pursuant to the implementation of paragraphs (a) or (b) above with the US Internal Revenue Service, the US government or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction;
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“FATCA Deduction” means a deduction or withholding from a payment under a Finance Document required by FATCA;
“FATCA Exempt Party” means a party that is entitled to receive payments free from any FATCA Deduction;
“Final Maturity Date” means the date falling on the fifth (5th)
anniversary of the Drawdown Date;
“Finance Documents” means, together, this Agreement, the Security Documents, the Insurance Letters, any Compliance Certificate, any
Drawdown Notice, the Side Letter, any document which is executed for the purpose of establishing any priority or subordination arrangement in relation to the Outstanding Indebtedness and any other document designated as such by the Lender and the Borrower;
“Financial Indebtedness” means, in relation to a person (the “debtor”), a liability of the debtor:
(a) |
for principal, interest or any other sum payable in respect of any moneys borrowed or raised by the debtor;
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7
(b) |
under any loan stock, bond, note or other security issued by the debtor;
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(c) |
under any acceptance credit, guarantee or letter of credit facility made available to the debtor;
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(d) |
under a financial lease, a deferred purchase consideration arrangement or any other agreement having the commercial effect of a borrowing or raising of money by the debtor;
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(e) |
under any interest or currency swap or any other kind of derivative transaction entered into by the debtor or, if the agreement under which any such transaction is entered into requires netting of mutual liabilities, the liability of
the debtor for the net amount; or
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(f) |
under a guarantee, indemnity or similar obligation entered into by the debtor in respect of a liability of another person which would fall within (a) to (e) if the references to the debtor referred to the other person;
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“Financial Year” means, in relation to each of the Borrower and the Parent Company, each period
of one (1) year commencing on 1st January thereof in respect of which financial statements referred to in Clause 8.1(f) (Financial
statements) are or ought to be prepared;
“Flag State” means the Republic of the Xxxxxxxx Islands or such other state or territory
proposed in writing by the Borrower to the Lender and approved by the Lender (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, especially when requested for trading purposes), as being the “Flag State” of
the Vessel for the purposes of the Security Documents;
“General Assignment” means the first priority assignment of the Earnings, Insurances and Requisition Compensation collateral to the
Mortgage, executed or (as the context may require) to be executed by the Borrower in favour of the Lender, in form and substance as the Lender may approve or require, as the same may from time to time be
amended and/or supplemented;
“Government Entity” means and includes (whether having a distinct legal personality or not) any national or local government authority,
board, commission, department, division, organ, instrumentality, court or agency and any association, organisation or institution of which any of the foregoing is a member or to whose jurisdiction any of the foregoing is subject or in whose
activities any of the foregoing is a participant;
“Governmental Withholdings” means withholdings and any restrictions or conditions resulting in any charge whatsoever imposed, either
now or hereafter, by any sovereign state or by any political sub-division or taxing authority of any sovereign state;
“Group” means, together, the
Borrower, the Parent Company and its Subsidiaries, and “Group Member” means any member of the Group;
“Historic Term SOFR” means, in relation to the Loan or any part of the Loan, the most recent applicable
Term SOFR for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of the Loan or that part of the Loan and which is as of a day which is no more than three US Government Securities Business Days before the Quotation Day;
8
“Insurance Letter” means a letter from the Borrower in the form of Schedule 2 (Form of Insurance Letter), and “Insurance Letters” means any or all of them, as the context may require;
(a) |
all policies and contracts of insurance and reinsurance, policies or contracts, including entries of the Vessel in any protection and indemnity or war risks association, effected in respect of the Vessel,
its Earnings or otherwise in relation to it whether before, on or after the date of this Agreement; and
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(b) |
all rights (including, without limitation, any and all rights or claims which the Borrower may have under or in connection with any cut-through clause relative to any reinsurance contract relating to the
aforesaid policies or contracts of insurance) 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 date of this Agreement;
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“Interest Payment Date” means in respect of the Loan or any part thereof in respect of which a separate Interest Period is fixed the
last day of the relevant Interest Period and in case of any Interest Period longer than three (3) months the date(s) falling at successive three (3) monthly intervals during such longer Interest Period and the last day of such Interest Period, provided, however, that if any of the aforesaid dates falls on a day which is not a Business Day the Borrower shall pay the accrued interest on the first Business Day thereafter unless the result of such
extension would be to carry such Interest Payment Date over into another calendar month in which event such Interest Payment Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day;
“Interest Period” means in relation to the Loan or any part thereof, each period for the calculation of interest in respect of the Loan
or such part ascertained in accordance with Clauses 3.2 (Selection of Interest Period) and 3.3 (Determination of Interest Periods);
“Interpolated Historic Term SOFR” means,
in relation to the Loan or any part of the Loan, the rate (rounded to the same number of decimal places as Term SOFR) which results from interpolating on a linear basis between:
(a) |
either:
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(i) |
the most recent applicable Term SOFR (as of a day which is not more than three US Government Securities Business Days before the Quotation Day) for the longest period (for which Term SOFR is available) which is less than the Interest
Period of the Loan or that part of the Loan; or
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(ii) |
if no such Term SOFR is available for a period which is less than the Interest Period of the Loan or that part of the Loan, SOFR for a day which is no more than five US Government Securities Business Days (and no less than two US
Government Securities Business Days) before the Quotation Day; and
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(b) |
the most recent applicable Term SOFR (as of a day which is not more than three US Government Securities Business Days before the Quotation Day) for the shortest period (for which Term SOFR is available) which exceeds the Interest
Period of the Loan or that part of the Loan;
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9
“Interpolated Term SOFR” means, in relation to the
Loan or any part of the Loan, the rate (rounded to the same number of decimal places as Term SOFR) which results from interpolating on a linear basis between:
(a) |
either
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(i) |
the applicable Term SOFR (as of the Quotation Date) for the longest period (for which Term SOFR is available) which is less than the Interest Period of the Loan or that part of the Loan; or
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(ii) |
if no such Term SOFR is available for a period which is less than the Interest Period of the Loan or that part of the Loan, SOFR for the day which is two (2) US Government Securities Business Days before the Quotation Day; and
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(b) |
“ISM Code” means in relation to its application to the Borrower, the Vessel and her operation:
(a) |
“The International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention”, currently known or referred to as the “ISM Code”,
adopted by the Assembly of the International Maritime Organisation by Resolution A. 741(18) on 4th November, 1993 and incorporated on 19th May, 1994 into chapter IX of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974 (SOLAS 1974); and
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(b) |
all further resolutions, circulars, codes, guidelines, regulations and recommendations which are now or in the future issued by or on behalf of the International Maritime Organisation or any other entity with responsibility for
implementing the ISM Code, including without limitation, the “Guidelines on implementation or administering of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code by Administrations” produced by the
International Maritime Organisation pursuant to Resolution A. 788(19) adopted on 25th November, 1995;
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as the same may be amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time;
“ISM Code Documentation” includes:
(a) |
the DOC and SMC issued by a classification society in all respects acceptable to the Lender in its absolute discretion pursuant to the ISM Code in relation to the Vessel within the period specified by the ISM Code;
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(b) |
all other documents and data which are relevant to the ISM SMS and its implementation and verification which the Lender may require by request; and
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(c) |
any other documents which are prepared or which are otherwise relevant to establish and maintain the Vessel’s or the Borrower’s compliance with the ISM Code which the Lender may require by request;
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“ISM SMS” means the safety management system which is required to be developed, implemented and maintained under the ISM Code;
10
“ISPS Code” means the International Ship and Port Security Code of the International Maritime Organization and includes any amendments or extensions thereto and any regulation
issued pursuant thereto;
“ISSC” means an International Ship Security Certificate issued in respect of the Vessel pursuant to the ISPS Code;
“Lender” means the Lender as specified in the beginning of this Agreement, and includes its successors in title and transferees;
“Lending Office” means the office of the Lender appearing at the beginning of this Agreement or any other office of the Lender
designated by the Lender as the Lending Office by notice to the Borrower;
“Loan” means the aggregate principal amount borrowed by the Borrower in respect of the Commitment or (as the context may require) the
principal amount thereof owing to the Lender under this Agreement at any relevant time;
“Major Casualty” means any casualty to the Vessel in respect whereof the claim or the
aggregate of the claims against all insurers, before adjustment for any relevant franchise or deductible, exceeds the Major Casualty Amount;
“Major Casualty Amount” means Five hundred thousand Dollars ($500.000) or the equivalent in
any other currency;
“Management Agreement” means the agreement made between the Borrower and the Approved Manager
providing (inter alia) for the Approved Manager to manage the Vessel, as amended and/or supplemented from time to time;
“MAPI” has the meaning given in Clause 10.9 (MII and
MAPI costs);
“Market Disruption Rate” means the Reference Rate;
“Market Value” means the market value of the Vessel as determined in accordance with Clause 8.5(b) (Valuation
of Vessel);
“Material of Environmental Concern” means and includes pollutants, contaminants, toxic substances, oil as defined in the United
States Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and all hazardous substances as defined in the United States Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act 1980;
“Material Adverse Change” means any event or series of events which, in the reasonable opinion of the Lender, is
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect;
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material, in the reasonable opinion of the Lender, adverse effect on:
(a) |
(b) |
11
(c) |
Provided that the Total Loss of the Vessel shall not be considered as an event having a Material Adverse Effect on (a), (b) or (c) hereinabove so long as the Borrower comply with Clause
4.3 (Mandatory Prepayment in case of Total Loss or sale or refinancing of the Vessel);
“MII” has the meaning given in Clause 10.9 (MII and
MAPI costs);
“MOA” means the Memorandum of Agreement dated 23rd
August, 2022 entered into between the Sellers, as ‘Sellers’ and Performance Shipping Inc., of the Xxxxxxxx Islands, who nominated the Borrower, as ‘Buyers’ in respect of the sale by the Sellers and the purchase by the Borrower of the Vessel, and includes any and all addenda, side letters, supplements, annexes thereto;
“month” means a period beginning in one calendar month and ending in the next calendar month on the day numerically corresponding to
the day of the calendar month on which it started, provided that (i) if the period started on the last Business Day in a calendar month or if there is no such numerically corresponding day, it shall end on the last Business Day in such
next calendar month and (ii) if such numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day, the period shall end on the next following Business Day in the same calendar month but if there is no such Business Day it shall end on the preceding
Business Day and “months” and “monthly” shall be construed accordingly;
“Mortgage” means the first preferred ship mortgage on the Vessel to be executed by Borrxxxx
xx favour of the Lender in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender, as the same may from time to time be amended and/or supplemented;
“Operating Account” means the account to be opened and maintained in the name of Borrower with the Lending Office or with any other
branch of the Lender or any other office of the Lender or with such other bank as may be required by and at the discretion of the Lender pursuant to Clause 13.7 (Relocation of RIDER Operating Account) and
shall include any sub-accounts or call accounts (whether in Dollars or any other currency) opened under the same designation or any revised designation or number from time to time notified by the Lender to the Borrower, to which (inter alia)
all Earnings of the Vessel and/or any other moneys are to be paid in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and/or the General Assignment and/or any of the other Finance Documents;
“Operating Expenses” means the voyage and operating expenses of the Vessel, including, but not limited to, the expenses for
operating, crewing, victualing, insuring, maintaining, repairing and generally trading the Vessel (and if applicable, voyage expenses), the expenses for spares, administration and
management of the Vessel (inclusive of the management fees) as well as the reserves that the Borrower, acting reasonably, consider necessary for the commercial operation of the Vessel and the costs of intermediate and special surveys and dry
docking of the Vessel and any other relevant expenses necessary for the Vessels’ commercial operation and/or in accordance with any international/ environmental regulations which are
reasonably incurred for ships of the size and type of the Vessel;
“Operator” means any person who is from time to time during the Security Period concerned in the operation of the Vessel and falls
within the definition of “Company” set out in rule 1.1.2. of the ISM Code;
12
“Outstanding Indebtedness” means the aggregate of (a) the Loan and interest accrued and accruing thereon, (b) the Expenses and (c) all other sums of any nature (together with all interest on any of those sums) which from time to time may be payable by the Borrower to the Lender
pursuant to the Finance Documents, whether actually or contingently and (d) any damages payable as a result of any breach by the Borrower of any of the
Finance Documents and (e) any damages or other sums payable as a result of any of the obligations of the Borrower under or pursuant to any of the Finance Documents being disclaimed by a liquidator or
any other person, or, where the context permits, the amount thereof for the time being outstanding;
“Parent Company” means Performance Shipping Inc., a corporation incorporated under
the laws of the Republic of the Xxxxxxxx Islands, whose registered address is at Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Xxxxxxxx Islands MH 96960;
“Party” means a party to this Agreement, and “Parties” means any or all
of them, as the context may require;
“Permitted Security Interest” means:
(a) |
Security Interests created by the Finance Documents;
|
(b) |
liens for unpaid crew’s wages in accordance with usual maritime practice;
|
(c) |
liens for salvage;
|
(d) |
liens arising by operation of law for not more than 2 months’ prepaid hire under any charter in relation to the Vessel not prohibited by this Agreement;
|
(e) |
liens for master’s disbursements incurred in the ordinary course of trading and any other lien arising by operation of law or otherwise in the ordinary course of the operation, repair or maintenance of
the Vessel, provided such liens do not secure amounts more than 60 days overdue (unless the overdue amount is being contested in good faith by appropriate steps) and, in the case of liens for repair or maintenance, if the Vessel is
put in the possession of any person for the purpose of work being done upon her in an amount not exceeding or likely to exceed the Major Casualty Amount or in an amount exceeding or likely to
exceed the Major Casualty Amount provided in the latter case that (i) either that person has first given to the Lender and in terms satisfactory to it a written undertaking not to exercise any lien on the Vessel or her earnings for the cost of such work or (ii) the previous consent of the Lender shall have been obtained (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld);
|
(f) |
any Security Interest created in favour of a plaintiff or defendant in any action of the court or tribunal before whom such action is brought as security for costs and expenses where the Borrower is prosecuting or defending such action in good faith by appropriate steps; and
|
(g) |
Security Interests arising by operation of law in respect of taxes which are not overdue for payment other than taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate steps and in respect of which appropriate
reserves have been made;
|
“Pledged Deposit” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Clause 8.1(k) (Pledged Deposit);
“Purchase Price” in relation to the Vessel means the price to be paid by the Borrower to the Seller thereof pursuant to the terms of
the MOA (i.e. $36,500,000) or such other sum as is determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of the MOA;
13
“Quotation Day” means, in relation to any period for which an interest rate is to be
determined, two US Government Securities Business before the first day of that period unless market practice differs in the relevant syndicated loan market in which case the Quotation Date will be determined by the Lender in accordance with
market practice (and if quotations would normally be given on more than one day, the Quotation Date will be the last of those days);
“Reference Rate” means, in relation to the Loan or
any part of the Loan:
(a) |
the applicable Term SOFR as of the Quotation Day and for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of the Loan or that part of the Loan; or
|
(b) |
as otherwise determined pursuant to Clause 3.8 (Unavailability of Term SOFR),
|
and if, in either case, that rate is less than zero, the Reference Rate shall be deemed to be zero;
“Registry” means the offices of such registrar, commissioner or representative of the relevant Flag State who is duly authorised to
register the Vessel, the Borrower’s title thereto and the Mortgage over the Vessel under the laws and flag of the relevant Flag State;
“Regulatory Agency” means the Government Entity or other organization in the
relevant Flag State which has been designated by the government of the relevant Flag State to implement and/or administer and/or enforce the provisions of the ISM Code;
“Related Company” means any
company which is a Subsidiary of the Borrower and any Subsidiary of any such company (together, the “Related
Companies”);
“Relevant Jurisdiction” means any jurisdiction in which or where any Security Party is incorporated, resident, domiciled, has a
permanent establishment, carries on, or has a place of business or is otherwise effectively connected;
“Relevant Market” means
the market for overnight cash borrowing collateralised by US Government Securities;
“Relevant Nominating Body” means any applicable central bank, regulator or other supervisory authority or a group of
them, or any working group or committee sponsored or chaired by, or constituted at the request of, any of them or the Financial Stability Board;
“Relevant Party” means the
Borrower each Borrower’s Related Companies, the other corporate Security Parties and their respective Related Companies, and “Relevant Parties” means any or all of them, as the context may require;
“Relevant Ship” means each of the Vessel and any other vessel
from time to time (whether before or after the date of this Agreement) owned, managed or crewed by, or chartered to, by any Relevant Party, and “Relevant Ships” means any or all of them, as the context may require;
“Repayment Date” means each of the dates specified in Clause 4.1 (Repayment) on
which the Repayment Instalments shall be payable by the Borrower to the Lender, and “Repayment Dates” means any or all of them, as the context may require;
14
“Repayment Instalment” means each instalment of the Loan which becomes due for
repayment by the Borrower to the Lender on a Repayment Date pursuant to Clause 4.1 (Repayment) (together, the “Repayment Instalments”);
“Requisition Compensation” means
all sums of money or other compensation from time to time payable during the Security Period by reason of the Compulsory Acquisition of the Vessel;
“Resolution Authority” means any body which has authority to exercise any Write-down and Conversion Powers;
“Sanctions” means any economic, financial or trade sanctions laws, regulations, embargoes or other restrictive measures adopted,
administered, enacted or enforced by any Sanctions Authority, or otherwise imposed by any law or regulation to which the Borrower, any other Security Party and the Lender are subject (which shall include without limitation, any
extra-territorial sanctions imposed by law or regulation of the United States of America);
“Sanctions Authority” means:
(a) |
the government of the United States of America;
|
(b) |
the United Nations;
|
(c) |
the European Union (or the governments of any of its member states);
|
(d) |
the United Kingdom;
|
(e) |
the Flag State; or
|
(f) |
the respective governmental institutions and agencies of any of the foregoing including the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”),
the United States Department of State, the United States Department of Commerce and Her Majesty’s Treasury;
|
“Sanctions Restricted Jurisdiction” means any country or territory which is the subject of country-wide or territory-wide Sanctions;
“Sanctions Restricted Person” means a person that is, or is directly or indirectly, owned or controlled (as such terms are defined by
the relevant Sanctions Authority) by, or acting on behalf of, one or more persons or entities on any list (each as amended, supplemented or substituted from time to time) of restricted entities, persons or organisations (or equivalent)
published by a Sanctions Authority;
“Security Cover Ratio” means, at any relevant time, the aggregate of the Security Value expressed as a percentage of the outstanding
principal amount of the Loan at the relevant time;
“Security Documents” means:
(a) |
the Accounts Pledge Agreement;
|
(a) |
the Approved Manager’s Undertaking;
|
(b) |
the General Assignment;
|
(c) |
the Mortgage;
|
(d) |
the Charterparty Assignment in respect of any Assignable Charterparty;
|
15
(e) |
the Corporate Guarantee; and
|
(g) |
any other agreement or document (whether creating a Security Interest or not) that may have been or shall from time to time after the date of this Agreement be
executed to guarantee and/or secure all or any part of the Outstanding Indebtedness and/or any and all other obligations of the Borrower to the Lender pursuant to this Agreement and any other moneys from time to time owing or payable
by the Borrower under or in connection with this Agreement and/or any of the other documents referred to in this definition, as each such document may from time to time be amended and/or supplemented, and “Security Document” means any of them as the context may require;
|
“Security Interest” means:
(a) |
a mortgage, charge (whether fixed or floating), pledge, hypothecation, assignment or any maritime or other lien or any other security interest of any kind;
|
(b) |
the security rights of a plaintiff under an action in rem; and
|
(c) |
any trust arrangement or security interest or other encumbrance of any kind securing any obligation of any person or any type of preferential arrangement (including without limitation title transfer and/or retention, arrest, seizure,
garnishee order (whether nisi or absolute) or any other order or judgementarrangements having a similar effect);
|
“Security Party” means the Borrower, the Corporate Guarantor and any other person (other than the Lender, a third-party Approved
Manager and any charterer) who, as a surety or mortgagor, as a party to any subordination or priorities arrangement, or in any similar capacity, executes a document falling within the last paragraph of the definition of “Finance Documents”, and “Security Parties” means any or all of them, as the context may require;
“Security Period” means the period commencing on the Drawdown Date and ending on the date on which:
(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 Clauses 11 (Indemnities- Expenses-Fees) or 5 (Payments, Taxes and Computation) or any other provision of this Agreement or another Finance Document;
|
“Security Requirement” means the amount in Dollars (as certified by the Lender whose
certificate shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusively binding on the Borrower) which is at any relevant time equal to one hundred and twenty five (125%) of the Loan outstanding at the relevant time;
“Security Value” means the amount in Dollars (as certified by the Lender whose certificate
shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the Borrower) which, at any relevant time is the aggregate of (i) the Market Value of the Vessel as most recently determined in accordance with Clause 8.5(b) (Valuation of Vessel), (ii) the market value of any additional security provided under Clause 8.5(a) (Security
shortfall-Additional Security) and accepted by the Lender (if any) and (iii) the Pledged Deposit.
16
“Seller” means the person specified as “Sellers” in the MOA;
“Side Letter” means a letter to be executed by the persons referred to therein and addressed to the Lender, setting
out the Borrower’s and the Guarantor’s shareholding structure, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender;
“SMC” means a safety management certificate issued in respect of the Vessel in accordance with rule 13 of the ISM Code;
“SOFR” means the secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) published (before any correction, recalculation or republication by the administrator) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or any other person which takes over the
publication of that rate);
“Subsidiary” of a person means any company or entity directly or indirectly controlled by such person;
“Taxes” includes all present and future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, fees or charges of whatever nature together with interest
thereon and penalties in respect thereof (except taxes concerning the Lender and imposed on the net income of the Lender) and “Taxation” shall be construed accordingly;
“Term SOFR” means the term SOFR reference rate administered by CME Group Benchmark
Administration Limited (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant period published (before any correction, recalculation or republication by the administrator) by CME Group Benchmark Administration
Limited (or any other person which takes over the publication of that rate);
“Total Loss” means:
(a) |
actual, constructive, compromised or arranged total loss of the Vessel; or
|
(b) |
the Compulsory Acquisition of the Vessel unless it is within sixty (60) days from the date of such occurrence redelivered to the full control of the Borrower; or
|
(c) |
the condemnation, capture, seizure, confiscation, arrest or detention of the Vessel (other than where the same amounts to the Compulsory Acquisition of the Vessel) by any Government Entity, or by persons
acting on behalf of any Government Entity, unless the Vessel be released and restored to the Borrower from such condemnation, capture, seizure, confiscation arrest or detention within one
hundred and twenty (120) days after the occurrence thereof; and
|
(d) |
the hijacking, capture, seizure or confiscation of the Vessel arising as a result of a piracy or related incident unless the Vessel be released and restored to the Borrower from such hijacking, capture, seizure or confiscation within one hundred fifty (150) days after the occurrence thereof;
|
17
(a) |
in the case of an actual loss of the Vessel, the date on which it occurred or, if that is unknown, the date when the Vessel was last heard of;
|
(b) |
in the case of a constructive, compromised, agreed or arranged total loss of the Vessel, the earliest of:
|
(i) |
the date on which a notice of abandonment is given to the insurers; and
|
(ii) |
the date of any compromise, arrangement or agreement made by or on behalf of the Borrower with the Vessel’s insurers in which the insurers agree to treat the
Vessel as a total loss;
|
(c) |
in the case of the Compulsory Acquisition of the Vessel, on the date upon which the relevant requisition of title or other compulsory acquisition occurs;
|
(d) |
in the case of, any condemnation, capture, seizure, confiscation, arrest, or detention of the Vessel (other than where the same amounts to Compulsory Acquisition of the Vessel) by any Government Entity,
or by persons acting on behalf of any Government Entity, which deprives Borrower of the use of the Vessel for more than ninety (90) days, upon the expiry of the period of ninety (90) days
after the date upon which the relevant, condemnation, capture, seizure or confiscation, arrest or detention occurred; and
|
(e) |
in the case of hijacking, capture, seizure or confiscation of the Vessel arising as a result of a piracy or related incident upon the expiry of the period of one hundred fifty (150) days after the
occurrence thereof;
|
“Transferee” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Clause 14.3 (Assignment by the
Lender);
“UK Bail-In Legislation” means Part 1 of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 and any
other law or regulation applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutes or their Affiliates (otherwise than through liquidation, administration or other
insolvency proceedings);
“Underlying Documents” means, together, the MOA, any Assignable Charterparty and the Management Agreement, and in the singular means
any of them as the context requires;
“Unpaid Sum” means any sum due and payable but
unpaid by a Security Party under the Finance Documents;
“US” means the United States of America;
(a) |
a Saturday or a Sunday; and
|
(b) |
a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (or any successor organisation) recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in US
Government securities;
|
18
“US Tax Obligor” means:
(a) |
a Borrower which is resident for tax purposes in the US; or
|
(b) |
a Security Party some or all whose payments under the Finance Documents are from sources within the US for US federal income tax purposes;
|
“Vessel” means the crude oil/product carrier motor vessel “ALPINE XXXXXX”, of about 57,237 gt and 32,943 nt built in the year 2010 in S. Korea by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., having IMO No. 9460136, currently registered under the laws and flag of the Republic of the Liberia, purchased by the Borrower pursuant to the MOA and which upon her Delivery shall be registered
under the laws and flag of the Republic of the Xxxxxxxx Islands at the Ships Registry of the port of Majuro in the ownership of the Borrower with the new name “P. ALIKI”, together with all her boats, engines, machinery tackle outfit spare gear fuel consumable and other stores belongings and appurtenances whether on board or ashore and
whether now owned or hereafter acquired and all the additions, improvements and replacements in or on the above described vessel;
“Write-down and Conversion Powers” means:
(a) |
in relation to any Bail-In Legislation described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time, the powers described as such in relation to that Bail-In Legislation in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule; and
|
(b) |
in relation to any other applicable Bail-In Legislation:
|
(i) |
any powers under that Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial institution or Affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial
institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations
of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that
Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and
|
(ii) |
any similar or analogous powers under that Bail-In Legislation; and
|
(c) |
in relation to any UK Bail-In Legislation:
|
(i) |
any powers under that UK Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial institution or Affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial
institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations
of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that UK
Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and
|
(ii) |
any similar or analogous powers under that UK Bail-In Legislation.
|
19
1.3 |
Interpretation
|
In this Agreement:
(a) |
Clause headings and the table of contents are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the interpretation of this Agreement;
|
(b) |
subject to any specific provision of this Agreement or of any assignment and/or participation or syndication agreement of any nature whatsoever, reference to each of the parties hereto and to the other Finance Documents shall be
deemed to be reference to and/or to include, as appropriate, their respective successors and permitted assigns;
|
(c) |
where the context so admits, words in the singular include the plural and vice versa;
|
(d) |
the words “including” and “in particular” shall not be construed as limiting the generality of any foregoing words;
|
(e) |
references to (or to any specified provisions of) a Finance Document or any other agreement or instrument is a reference to that Finance Document or other agreement or instrument as it may from time to time be amended, restated,
novated or replaced, however fundamentally, whether before the date of this Agreement or otherwise;
|
(f) |
references to Clauses and Schedules are to be construed as references to the Clauses of, and the Schedules to, the relevant Finance Document and references to a Finance Document include all the terms of that Finance Document and any
Schedules, Annexes or Appendices thereto, which form an integral part of same;
|
(g) |
references to the opinion of the Lender or a determination or acceptance by the Lender or to documents, acts, or persons acceptable or satisfactory to the Lender or the like shall be construed as reference to opinion, determination,
acceptance or satisfaction of the Lender at the sole discretion of the Lender, and such opinion, determination, acceptance or satisfaction of the Lender shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower;
|
(h) |
references to a “regulation” include any present or future regulation, rule, directive,
requirement, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law) of any governmental or intergovernmental body, agency, authority, central bank or government department or any self-regulatory or other national or
supra-national authority or organisation and includes (without limitation) any Basel II Regulation or Basel III Regulation;
|
(i) |
references to any person include such person’s assignees and successors in title; and
|
(j) |
references to or to a provision of, any law include any amendment, extension, re-enactment or replacement, whether made before the date of this Agreement or otherwise.
|
1.4 |
Construction of certain terms
|
In this Agreement:
“asset” includes every kind of property, asset,
interest or right, including any present, future or contingent right to any revenues or other payment;
20
“company” includes any partnership, joint venture
and unincorporated association;
“consent” includes an authorisation, consent,
approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, registration, notarisation and legalisation;
“contingent liability” means a liability which is
not certain to arise and/or the amount of which remains unascertained;
“continuing”, in relation to any
Default or any Event of Default, means that the Default or the Event of Default has not been remedied or waived;
(a) |
(i) |
(ii) |
(iii) |
and “controlled” shall be construed accordingly;
“document” includes a deed; also a letter or fax;
“guarantee” means any guarantee, letter of credit,
bond, indemnity or similar assurance against loss, or any obligation, direct or indirect, actual or contingent, to purchase or assume any indebtedness of any person or to make an investment in or loan to any person or to purchase assets of any
person where, in each case, such obligation is assumed in order to maintain or assist the ability of such person to meet its indebtedness and “guaranteed” shall be construed accordingly;
“law” includes any form of delegated legislation,
any order or decree, any treaty or international convention and any regulation or resolution of the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the United Nations or its Security Council;
“liability” includes every kind of debt or
liability (present or future, certain or contingent), whether incurred as principal or surety or otherwise;
“person” includes any individual, firm, company,
corporation, unincorporated body of persons or any state, political sub-division or any agency thereof and local or municipal authority and any international organisation;
21
“policy”, in relation to any insurance, includes a
slip, cover note, certificate of entry or other document evidencing the contract of insurance or its terms;
“regulation” includes any regulation, rule,
official directive, request or guideline whether or not having the force of law of any governmental, intergovernmental or supranational body, agency, department or regulatory, self‑regulatory or other authority or organisation;
“right” means any right, privilege, power or
remedy, any proprietary interest in any asset and any other interest or remedy of any kind, whether actual or contingent, present or future, arising under contract or law, or in equity;
“successor” includes any person who is entitled (by
assignment, novation, merger or otherwise) to any other person’s rights under this Agreement or any other Finance Document (or any interest in those rights) or who, as administrator, liquidator or otherwise, is entitled to exercise those
rights; and in particular references to a successor include a person to whom those rights (or any interest in those rights) are transferred or pass as a result of a merger, division, reconstruction or other reorganisation of it or any other
person;
“liquidation”, “winding up”, “dissolution”, or “administration” of person or a “receiver” or “administrative receiver” or “administrator” in the context of insolvency proceedings or security enforcement actions in respect of a person shall be
construed so as to include any equivalent or analogous proceedings or any equivalent and analogous person or appointee (respectively) under the law of the jurisdiction in which such person is established or incorporated or any jurisdiction in
which such person carries on business including (in respect of proceedings) the seeking or occurrences of liquidation, winding-up, reorganisation, dissolution, administration, arrangement, adjustment, protection or relief of debtors.
1.5 |
Same meaning
|
Unless a contrary indication appears, a term used in any other Finance Document or in any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document has the same meaning in that Finance
Document or notice as in this Agreement.
1.6 |
Inconsistency
|
Unless a contrary indication appears, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any other Finance Document when dealing with the same or similar
subject matter (other than as relates to the creation and/or perfection of security) are subject to the terms of this Agreement and, in the event of any conflict between any provision of this Agreement and any provision of any Finance Document
(other than in relation to the creation and/or perfection of security) the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail.
1.7 |
Finance Documents
|
Where any other Finance Document provides that Clause 1.3 (Interpretation) and Clause 1.4 (Construction
of certain terms), shall apply to that Finance Document, any other provision of this Agreement which, by its terms, purports to apply to all or any of the Finance Documents and/or any Security Party shall apply to that Finance
Document as if set out in it but with all necessary changes.
22
2.1 |
Commitment to lend
|
The Lender, relying upon (inter alia) each of the representations and warranties set forth in Clause 6 (Representations and warranties) and in each
of the Security Documents, agrees to lend to the Borrower in one (1) Advance and upon and subject to the terms of this Agreement, the amount specified in Clause 1.1 (Amount and Purpose) and the
Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed under the Commitment in accordance with Clause 1.1 (Amount and Purpose).
2.2 |
Drawdown Notice irrevocable
|
A Drawdown Notice must be signed by a director or a duly authorised attorney-in-fact of the Borrower and shall be effective on actual receipt thereof by the Lender and, once served, it, subject as
provided in Clause 3.6 (Market disruption), cannot be revoked without the prior consent of the Lender.
2.3 |
Drawdown Notice and commitment to borrow
|
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Loan shall be advanced to the Borrower following receipt by the Lender from the Borrower of a Drawdown Notice not later than 10:00 a.m. (New
York time) on the second Business Day before the date on which the drawdown is intended to be made unless the Lender otherwise approves.
2.4 |
Number of Advances agreed
|
The Commitment shall be advanced to the Borrower, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, by one (1) Advance and any amount undrawn under the Commitment shall be cancelled and may not
be borrowed by the Borrower at a later date.
2.5 |
Disbursement
|
Upon receipt of the Drawdown Notice complying with the terms of this Agreement the Lender shall, subject to the provisions of Clause 7 (Conditions precedent),
on the date specified in the Drawdown Notice, make the Commitment available to the Borrower, and payment to the Borrower shall be made to the account which the Borrower specify in the Drawdown Notice.
2.6 |
Application of proceeds
|
Without prejudice to the Borrower’s obligations under Clause 8.1(d) (Use of Loan proceeds), the Lender is not bound to monitor or verify the
application of any amount borrowed pursuant to this Agreement and shall have no responsibility for the application of the proceeds of the Loan (or any part thereof) by the Borrower.
2.7 |
Termination date of the Commitment
|
Any part of the Commitment undrawn and uncancelled at the end of the Availability Period shall thereupon be automatically cancelled.
23
2.8 |
Evidence
|
It is hereby expressly agreed and admitted by the Borrower that abstracts or photocopies of the books of the Lender as well as statements of accounts or a certificate signed by an authorised officer
of the Lender shall be conclusive, binding and full evidence, save for manifest error, on the Borrower as to the existence and/or the amount of the at any time Outstanding Indebtedness, of any amount due under this Agreement, of the applicable
interest rate or Default Rate or any other rate provided for or referred to in this Agreement, the Interest Period, the value of additional securities under Clause 8.5(a) (Security shortfall Additional Security),
the payment or non-payment of any amount and the Borrower may rebut such evidence with any other means of evidence save for witnesses.. Nevertheless, enforcement procedures or any other court or out-of-court procedure can be commenced by the Lender
on the basis of the above mentioned means of evidence including written statements or certificates of the Lender.
2.9 |
Cancellation
|
The Borrower shall be entitled to cancel any undrawn part of the Commitment under this Agreement upon giving the Lender not less than five (5) Business Days’ notice in writing to that effect,
provided that no Drawdown Notice has been given to the Lender under Clause 2.3 (Drawdown Notice and commitment to borrow) for the full amount of the Commitment or in respect of the portion thereof in
respect of which cancellation is required by the Borrower. Any such notice of cancellation, once given, shall be irrevocable. Any amount cancelled may not be drawn. Notwithstanding any such cancellation pursuant to this Clause 2.9 the Borrower
shall continue to be liable for any and all amounts due to the Lender under this Agreement including without limitation any amounts due to the Lender under Clause 10 (Indemnities - Expenses – Fees).
2.10 |
No security or lien from other person
|
The Borrower has not taken or received, and the Borrower undertakes that until all moneys, obligations and liabilities due, owing or incurred by the Borrower under this Agreement and the Security
Documents have been paid in full, the Borrower will not take or receive, any security or lien from any other person liable or for any liability whatsoever.
2.11 |
Disbursement of the Commitment to Seller’s Bank or to the Escrow Agent’s Bank (as applicable)
|
(a) |
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Clause 2, in the event that any part of the Commitment is required to be drawn down prior to the satisfaction of the requirements of Clause 7 (Conditions
precedent) and remitted to the Seller’s Bank or to the Escrow Agent’s Bank (as applicable) in accordance with the relevant clause of the MOA (both hereinafter the “Seller’s Bank”), the Lender may in its absolute discretion agree to remit such amount to the Seller’s Bank prior to the satisfaction of the
requirements of Clause 7 (Conditions precedent) expressly subject to the following conditions:
|
(i) |
such amount is remitted to the Seller’s Bank to be held by it in an account in the Lender’s name and/or to the order of the Lender or to the Escrow Agent, as applicable, to be held in a separate account which shall be operated pursuant to
the terms and conditions of an Escrow Agreement to be approved by the Lender (the “deposit account”);
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(ii) |
the principal amount (the “deposited amount”) of such funds will only be released to the Seller
strictly in accordance with the Lender’s instructions set out in the SWIFT payment instructions or in the relevant Escrow Agreement, as applicable (together herein, the “SWIFT Instructions”) of the Lender to the Seller’s Bank (or to the Escrow Agent, as applicable);
|
24
(iii) |
the deposited amount so released may be used only for payment to the account of the Seller in satisfaction of the balance of the purchase price of the Vessel; and
|
(iv) |
in the event that:
|
aa) |
none of the said amount so remitted is released (whether on the expected Delivery Date or thereafter) in accordance with the SWIFT instructions or any part thereof is not so released, or
|
bb) |
the Seller’s Bank (or the Escrow Agent, as applicable) fails to remit (or to order the remittance, as applicable) the said amount and any earned interest to the Operating Account and/or any other account designated by the Lender in
accordance with the SWIFT Instructions:
|
(1) the continued failure of the Seller’s Bank (or the Escrow Agent, as applicable) to comply with the SWIFT instructions shall be deemed to be an Event of Default for the purposes
of this Agreement and (2) the Borrower shall forthwith upon demand by the Lender pay to the Lender such amounts that may be certified by the Lender as being the amount required to indemnify the Lender in respect of any cost transferred to the Lender
in relation to the deposited amount from the date of payment thereof to the Seller’s Bank (or to the Escrow Agent, as applicable) to the date of disbursement of the deposited amount to the Seller or the refund of the deposited amount to the Lender
less the amount (if any) of the earned interest received by the Lender from the Seller’s Bank (or the Escrow Agent, as applicable).
(b) |
Without prejudice to the obligations of the Borrower to indemnify the Lender on demand, the Lender shall in good faith take reasonable and proper steps diligently to seek recovery of the deposited amount from the Seller’s Bank (or the
Escrow Agent, as applicable) (provided that prior to taking such action the Borrower shall have agreed to indemnify the Lender for all costs and expenses which may be incurred in seeking recovery of such amount, including, without
limitation, all legal fees and disbursements reasonably and properly incurred) and if the Lender shall recover any part of the deposited amount (and provided that it has previously recovered full indemnification under Clause
2.11(a)(iv)) the Lender shall, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, pay to the Borrower the amount so recovered after subtracting any tax suffered or incurred thereon or Expenses incurred by the Lender.
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(c) |
The Lender shall have no liability whatsoever to the Borrower or any other person for any loss caused by the Seller’s Bank’s (or the Escrow Agent’s, as applicable) failure for any reason whatsoever to remit the said amount and any earned
interest to the designated account or to comply fully in accordance with the SWIFT Instructions.
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(d) |
Save that no Event of Default exists under this Agreement, any amounts remitted by the Seller’s Bank (or the Escrow Agent, as applicable) to the Lender and returned pursuant to this Clause 2.11 will be applied as follows, and express
authority is hereby given by the Borrower to the Lender to make such application: in case the purchase of the Vessel has been canceled or delayed these amounts shall be applied in or towards prepayment of the Loan in full, and the remaining
amount (if any) shall be freely available to the Borrower;
|
25
provided that if any such amount so returned is not a part of the amount of the Loan but part of the Borrower’s equity such amount shall be freely available to the Borrower.
For the purposes of this Clause, “Escrow Agent’s Bank” means (in case an Escrow Agent is appointed) the bank of the Escrow Agent
appointed by the relevant Borrower in accordance with the terms of the MOA and the provisions of any Escrow Agreement made between that Borrower, the Seller and the said Xxxxxx Agent, and acknowledged and agreed by the Lender.
The provisions of Clause 4.5 (Amounts payable on prepayment) shall apply to any prepayment of the Loan made under this Clause 2.11.
3.1 |
Calculation of interest
|
The Borrower shall pay interest on the Loan (or as the case may be, each portion thereof to which a different Interest Period relates) in respect of each Interest Period (or part thereof) on each
Interest Payment Date. The interest rate for the calculation of interest shall be the rate per annum determined by the Lender to be the aggregate of:
(a) |
the Margin; and
|
(b) |
the Reference Rate for that day.
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3.2 |
Selection of Interest Period
|
(a) |
Notice: The Borrower may by notice received by the Lender not later than 10:00 a.m. (New York time) on the second Business Day before the beginning of each Interest Period specify (subject to Clause 3.3 (Determination of Interest Periods) below) whether such Interest Period shall have a duration of one (1) or three (3) months (or such other period as may be requested by the Borrower and as the Lender, in its sole
discretion, may agree to).
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3.3 |
Determination of Interest Periods
|
Every Interest Period shall, subject to market availability to be conclusively determined by the Lender, be of the duration specified by the Borrower pursuant to Clause 3.2 (Selection of Interest Periods) but so that:
26
(a) |
Initial Interest Period: the initial Interest Period applicable to the Loan will commence on the Drawdown Date and each subsequent Interest Period will commence forthwith upon the expiry of the preceding Interest Period;
|
(b) |
Interest Period overrunning Repayment Date(s): if any Interest Period would otherwise overrun one or more Repayment Dates, then, in the case of the last Repayment Date, such Interest Period shall end on such Repayment Date, and in
the case of any other Repayment Date or Dates the Loan shall be divided into parts so that there is one part equal to the amount(s) of the Repayment Instalment(s) due on each Repayment Date falling during that Interest Period and having an
Interest Period ending on the relevant Repayment Date and another part equal to the amount of the balance of the Loan having an Interest Period determined in accordance with Clause 3.2 (Selection of
Interest Period) and the other provisions of this Clause 3.3 and the expression “Interest Period in respect of the Loan” when used in this Agreement refers to the Interest Period in respect of the balance of the Loan;
|
(c) |
Last Interest Period: the last Interest Period in respect of the Loan will terminate on the Final Maturity Date;
|
(d) |
Failure to notify: if the Borrower fails to specify the duration of an Interest Period in accordance with the provisions of Clause 3.2 (Selection of Interest Period) and this Clause
3.3, such Interest Period shall have a duration of three (3) months unless another period shall be agreed between the Lender and the Borrower provided, always, that such period (whether of three (3) months or of different duration)
shall comply with this Clause 3.3;
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(e) |
Interest Period not readily available: if the Lender determines that the duration of an Interest Period specified by the Borrower in accordance with Clause 3.2 (Selection of Interest Period)
is not readily available, then that Interest Period shall have such duration as the Lender, may determine;
|
provided, always, that:
(i) |
any Interest Period which commences on the last day of a calendar month, and any Interest Period which commences on the day on which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month during which such Interest Period is due
to end, shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month during which such Interest Period is due to end; and
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(ii) |
if the last day of an Interest Period is not a Business Day the Interest Period shall be extended until the next following Business Day unless such next following Business Day falls in the next calendar month in which case such Interest
Period shall be shortened to expire on the preceding Business Day.
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27
3.4 |
Default Interest
|
(b) |
If an Unpaid Sum consists of all or part of the Loan which became due on a day which was not the last day of an Interest Period relating to the Loan or that part of the Loan:
|
(i) |
the first Interest Period for that Unpaid Sum shall have a duration equal to the unexpired portion of the current Interest Period relating to the Loan or that part of the Loan; and
|
(ii) |
the rate of interest applying to that Unpaid Sum during that first Interest Period shall be 2.00% per annum higher than the rate which would have applied if that Unpaid Sum had not become due.
|
(c) |
Payment of accrued default interest: Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, any interest due under this Clause shall be paid on the last day of the period by reference to which it was determined.
|
(d) |
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 be compounded every six (6) months and shall be payable on demand.
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3.5 |
Notification of duration of Interest Periods and interest rate
|
The Lender shall notify the Borrower promptly of the duration of each Interest Period and of each rate of interest determined by it under this Clause 3 without prejudice to the right of the Lender
to make determinations at its sole discretion, but this shall not be taken to imply that the Borrower is liable to pay such interest only with effect from the date of the Lender’s notification. However, omission of the Lender to make such
notification (without the application of the Borrower) will not constitute and will not be interpreted as if to constitute a breach of obligation of the Lender except in case of wilful misconduct.
3.6 |
If before close of business in London on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period, the Lender determines (in its sole discretion)
that its cost of funds relating to the Loan would be in excess of the Market Disruption Rate, then Clause 3.7 (Cost of funds) shall apply to the Loan for the relevant Interest Period.
3.7 |
Cost of funds
|
(a) |
(i)
|
the Margin; and
|
28
(ii) |
the rate notified by Lender to the Borrower, which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the Lender’s cost of funds relating to the Loan or the relevant part thereof.
|
(b) |
If this Clause 3.7 (Cost of funds) applies and the Lender or the Borrower so requires, the Lender and the Borrower shall enter into negotiations (for a period of not
more than 20 days) with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest or (as the case may be) an alternative basis for funding.
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(c) |
Subject to Clause 3.9 (Changes to reference rates), any substitute or alternative basis agreed pursuant to paragraph (b) above shall,
with the prior consent of all the Lender and the Borrower, be binding on all Parties.
|
(d) |
If any rate notified to the Lender under sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (a) above is less than zero, the relevant rate shall be deemed to be zero.
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(e) |
(f) |
A notice under paragraph (e) above shall be irrevocable; and on the last Business Day of the interest period set by the Lender the Borrower shall prepay (without premium or penalty) the Loan, together
with accrued interest thereon at the applicable interest rate and the balance of the Outstanding Indebtedness.
|
(g) |
The provisions of Clause 4 (Repayment-Prepayment) shall apply in relation to the prepayment made hereunder.
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3.8 |
Unavailability of Term SOFR
|
(a) |
Interpolated Term SOFR: If no Term SOFR is available for the Interest Period of the Loan or any part of the Loan, the applicable Reference Rate shall be the
Interpolated Term SOFR for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of the Loan or that part of the Loan.
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(b) |
Historic Term SOFR: If no Term SOFR is available for the Interest Period of the Loan or any part of the Loan and it is not possible to calculate the Interpolated Term SOFR, the applicable
Reference Rate shall be the Historic Term SOFR for the Loan or that part of the Loan.
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(c) |
Interpolated Historic Term SOFR: If paragraph (b) above applies but no Historic Term SOFR is available for the Interest Period of the Loan or any
part of the Loan, the applicable Reference Rate shall be the Interpolated Historic Term SOFR for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of the Loan or that part of the Loan.
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(d) |
Cost of funds: If paragraph (c) above applies but it is not possible to calculate the Interpolated Historic Term SOFR, there shall be no Reference Rate for the Loan
or that part of the Loan (as applicable) and Clause 3.7 (Cost of Funds) shall apply to the Loan or that part of the Loan for that Interest Period.
|
29
3.9 |
Changes to Reference Rates
|
(a) |
If a Published Rate Replacement Event has occurred in relation to any Published Rate, any amendment or waiver which relates to:
|
(i)
|
providing for the use of a Replacement Reference Rate; and
|
(ii)
(A) |
aligning any provision of any Finance Document to the use of that Replacement Reference Rate;
|
(B) |
enabling that Replacement Reference Rate to be used for the calculation of interest under this Agreement (including, without limitation, any consequential changes required to enable that Replacement Reference Rate to be used for the
purposes of this Agreement);
|
(C) |
implementing market conventions applicable to that Replacement Reference Rate;
|
(D) |
providing for appropriate fallback (and market disruption) provisions for that Replacement Reference Rate; or
|
(E) |
adjusting the pricing to reduce or eliminate, to the extent reasonably practicable, any transfer of economic value from one Party to another as a result of the application of that Replacement Reference Rate (and if any adjustment or method
for calculating any adjustment has been formally designated, nominated or recommended by the Relevant Nominating Body, the adjustment shall be determined on the basis of that designation, nomination or recommendation),
|
may be made with the consent of the Lender and the Borrower.
(c)
|
In this Clause 3.9 (Changes to reference rates):
|
“Published Rate” means:
(a)
|
SOFR; or
|
(b)
|
Term SOFR for any Quoted Tenor.
|
“Published Rate Contingency Period” means, in relation to:
(a) |
Term SOFR (all Quoted Tenors), 10 US Government Securities Business Days; and
|
(b) |
SOFR, 10 US Government Securities Business Days.
|
“Published Rate Replacement Event” means, in relation to a Published Rate:
(a) |
the methodology, formula or other means of determining that Published Xxxx has, in the opinion of the Lender and the Borrower, materially changed;
|
30
(b)
(i)
(A) |
the administrator of that Published Rate or its supervisor publicly announces that such administrator is insolvent; or
|
(B) |
information is published in any order, decree, notice, petition or filing, however described, of or filed with a court, tribunal, exchange, regulatory authority or similar administrative, regulatory or judicial body which reasonably
confirms that the administrator of that Published Rate is insolvent,
|
provided that, in each case, at that time, there is no successor administrator to continue to provide that Published Rate;
(i) |
the administrator of that Published Rate publicly announces that it has ceased or will cease to provide that Published Rate permanently or indefinitely and, at that time, there is no successor administrator to continue to provide that
Published Rate;
|
(ii) |
the supervisor of the administrator of that Published Rate publicly announces that such Published Rate has been or will be permanently or indefinitely discontinued; or
|
(iii) |
the administrator of that Published Rate or its supervisor announces that that Published Rate may no longer be used; or
|
(c) |
the administrator of that Published Rate (or the administrator of an interest rate which is a constituent element of that Published Rate) determines that that Published Rate should be calculated in accordance with its reduced submissions
or other contingency or fallback policies or arrangements and either:
|
(i) |
the circumstance(s) or event(s) leading to such determination are not (in the opinion of the Lender and the Borrower) temporary; or
|
(ii) |
that Published Rate is calculated in accordance with any such policy or arrangement for a period no less than the applicable Published Rate Contingency Period; or
|
(d) |
in the opinion of the Lender and the Borrower, that Published Rate is otherwise no longer appropriate for the purposes of calculating interest under this Agreement.
|
“Quoted Tenor” means, in relation to Term SOFR, any period for which that rate is customarily displayed on the relevant page or screen
of an information service.
“Relevant Nominating Body” means any applicable central bank, regulator or other supervisory authority or a group of them, or any
working group or committee sponsored or chaired by, or constituted at the request of, any of them or the Financial Stability Board.
31
“Replacement Reference Rate” means a reference rate which is:
(a) |
formally designated, nominated or recommended as the replacement for a Published Rate by:
|
(i)
|
the administrator of that Published Rate; or
|
(ii)
|
any Relevant Nominating Body,
|
and if replacements have, at the relevant time, been formally designated, nominated or recommended under both paragraphs, the “Replacement
Reference Rate” will be the replacement under paragraph (ii) above;
(b) |
in the opinion of the Lender and the Borrower, generally accepted in the international or any relevant domestic syndicated loan markets as the appropriate successor or alternative to a Published Rate; or
|
(c) |
in the opinion of the Lender and the Borrower, an appropriate successor or alternative to a Published Rate.
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4.1 |
Repayment
|
The Borrower shall and it is expressly undertaken by the Borrower to repay the Loan by (a) twenty (20) quarterly repayment instalments (the “Repayment
Instalments”), the first of which to be repaid on the date falling three (3) months after the Drawdown Date and each of the subsequent ones consecutively falling due for payment on each of the dates falling three (3) months after the
immediately preceding Repayment Date with the last (the 20th) of such Repayment Instalments falling due for payment on the Final Maturity Date and (b) a balloon
installment in the amount of Dollars Eight million two hundred fifty thousand ($8,250,000) (the “Balloon Instalment”), such Balloon Instalment to be repaid together with the last (the 20th) Repayment Installment on the Final Maturity Date; subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the amount of each of the Repayment Instalments shall be in the amount of
Dollars Five hundred thousand ($500,000);
provided that (a) if the last Repayment Date would otherwise fall after the Final Maturity Date, the last Repayment Date shall be the Final Maturity Date, (b) there shall be no Repayment Dates
after the Final Maturity Date, (c) on the Final Maturity Date the Borrower shall also pay to the Lender any and all other monies then due and payable under this Agreement and the other Finance Documents, (d) if any part of the Commitment is not
advanced to the Borrower the amounts of the Repayment Instalments and the Balloon Instalment shall be reduced pro-rata, and (e) if any of the Repayment Instalments shall become due on a day which is not a Business Day, the due date therefor shall be
extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in the next calendar month, in which event such due date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day.
4.2 |
Voluntary Prepayment
|
The Borrower shall have the right, to prepay without premium or penalty, part or all of the Loan in each case together with all unpaid interest accrued thereon and all other sums of money whatsoever
due and owing from the Borrower to the Lender hereunder or pursuant to the other Finance Documents and all interest accrued thereon, provided that:
32
(a) |
the Lender shall have received from the Borrower not less than seven (7) Business Days’ prior notice in writing (which shall be irrevocable) of their intention to make such prepayment and specify the account and the date on which such
prepayment is to be made;
|
(b) |
any prepayment relating to the whole of the Loan may take place only on the last day of an Interest Period;
|
(c) |
each prepayment shall be equal to One hundred thousand Dollars ($100,000) or a whole multiple thereof or the balance of the Loan;
|
(d) |
any prepayment of less than the whole of the Loan will be applied in or towards pro-rata reduction of the Balloon Instalment and the remaining Repayment Instalments;
|
(e) |
every notice of prepayment shall be effective only on actual receipt by the Lender, shall be irrevocable and shall oblige the Borrower to make such prepayment on the date specified;
|
(f) |
the Borrower have provided evidence satisfactory to the Lender that any consent required by the Borrower or any Security Party in connection with the prepayment has been obtained and remains in force, and that any regulation relevant to
this Agreement which affects the Borrower or any Security Party has been complied with;
|
(g) |
no amount prepaid may be re-borrowed; and
|
(h) |
the Borrower may not prepay the Loan or any part thereof save as expressly provided in this Agreement or as otherwise agreed by the Lender;
|
Provided always that if the Borrower shall, subject always to Clause 4.2(a), make a prepayment on a Business Day other than the last day
of an Interest Period in respect of the whole of the Loan, it shall, in addition to the amount prepaid and accrued interest, pay to the Lender any amount which the Lender may certify is necessary to compensate the Lender for any Break Costs incurred
by the Lender as a result of the making of the prepayment in question.
4.3 |
Mandatory Prepayment in case of Total Loss or sale or refinancing of the Vessel
|
(a) |
Total Loss of Vessel: On the Vessel becoming a Total Loss:
|
(i) |
prior to the advancing of the Commitment, the obligation of the Lender to make available the Commitment shall immediately cease and the Commitment shall be reduced to zero; or
|
(ii) |
in case the Commitment (or any part thereof) has been already advanced, the Borrower shall prepay the Outstanding Indebtedness the latest on the date falling one hundred and twenty (120) days after the
Total Loss Date or, if earlier, on the date upon which the insurance proceeds in respect of such Total Loss are or Requisition Compensation is received by the Borrower (or the Lender pursuant to the Security Documents).
|
(b) |
Sale or refinancing of the Vessel: In the event of a sale or other disposal of the Vessel, or in case of refinancing by another bank or a financial institution or if the Borrower requests the Lender’s
consent for the discharge of the Mortgage on the Vessel, the Borrower shall prepay the Outstanding Indebtedness in full on or before the date on which such refinancing is effected or the sale is completed by delivery of the Vessel to the
buyer thereof;
|
33
4.4 |
Amounts payable on prepayment
|
Any prepayment of all or part of the Loan under this Agreement shall be made together with:
(a) |
accrued interest on the amount of the Loan to the date of such prepayment (calculated, in the case of a prepayment pursuant to Clause 3.6 (Market disruption) at a rate equal to the aggregate
of the Margin and the cost to the Lender of funding the Loan);
|
(b) |
any additional amount payable under Clause 5.3 (Gross Up);
|
(c) |
all other sums payable by the Borrower to the Lender under this Agreement or any of the other Finance Documents including, without limitation, any amounts payable under Clause 10 (Indemnities -
Expenses – Fees); and
|
5.1 |
Payments - No set-off or Counterclaims
|
34
5.2 |
Payments on Business Days
|
All payments due shall be made on a Business Day. If the due date for payment falls on a day which is not a Business Day, that payment due shall be made on the immediately following Business Day
unless such Business Day falls in the next calendar month, in which case payments shall fall due and be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.
5.3 |
Gross Up
|
If at any time any law, regulation, regulatory requirement or requirement of any governmental authority, monetary agency, central bank or the like compels the Borrower to make payment subject to
Governmental Withholdings (other than a FATCA Deduction), the Borrower shall pay to the Lender such additional amounts as may be necessary to ensure that there will be received by the Lender a net amount equal to the full amount which would have been
received had payment not been made subject to such Governmental Withholdings (other than a FATCA Deduction). The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender against any losses or costs incurred by the Lender by reason of any failure of the Borrower to make
any such deduction or withholding or by reason of any increased payment not being made on the due date for such payment. The Borrower shall, not later than thirty (30) days after each deduction, withholding or payment of any Governmental Withholdings
(other than a FATCA Deduction), forward to the Lender official receipts and any other documentary receipts and any other documentary evidence reasonably required by the Lender in respect of the payment made or to be made of any deduction or
withholding or Governmental Withholding (other than a FATCA Deduction). The obligations of the Borrower under this provision shall, subject to applicable law, remain in force notwithstanding the repayment of the Loan and the payment of all interest
due thereon pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
5.4 |
Mitigation
|
If circumstances arise which would result in an increased amount being payable by the Borrower under Clause 5.3 (Gross up) then,
without in any way limiting the rights of the Lender under Clause 5.3 (Gross up), the Lender shall use reasonable endeavours to transfer the obligations, liabilities and rights under this Agreement and
the Security Documents to another office or financial institution not affected by the circumstances, but the Lender shall be under no obligation to take any such action if in its opinion, to do so would or might:
(a) |
have an adverse effect on its business, operations or financial condition on the Lender; or
|
(b) |
involve it in any activity which is unlawful or prohibited or any activity that is contrary to, or inconsistent, with any regulation of the Lender; or
|
(c) |
involve the Lender in any expense (unless indemnified to its satisfaction) or tax disadvantage.
|
35
5.5 |
Claw-back of Tax benefit
|
If, following any such deduction or withholding as is referred to in Clause 5.3 (Gross-up) from any payment by the Borrower, the
Lender shall receive or be granted a credit against or remission for any Taxes payable by it, the Lender shall, subject to the Borrower having made any increased payment in accordance with Clause 5.3 (Gross-up)
and to the extent that the Lender can do so without prejudicing its retention of the amount of such credit or remission and without prejudice to the right of the Lender to obtain any other relief or allowance which may be available to it,
reimburse the Borrower with such amount as the Lender shall in its absolute discretion certify to be the proportion of such credit or remission as will leave the Lender (after such reimbursement) in no worse position than it would have been in had
there been no such deduction or withholding from the payment by the Borrower. Such reimbursement shall be made forthwith upon the Lender certifying that the amount of the credit or remission has been received by it, provided, always, that:
(a) |
the Lender shall not be obliged to allocate this transaction any part of a tax repayment or credit which is referable to a number of transactions;
|
(b) |
nothing in this Clause shall oblige the Lender to rearrange 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 or to disclose any information regarding its tax affairs and computations;
|
(c) |
nothing in this Clause shall oblige the Lender to make a payment which exceeds any repayment or credit in respect of tax on account of which the Borrower has made an increased payment under this Clause;
|
(d) |
any allocation or determination made by the Lender under or in connection with this Clause shall be binding on the Borrower; and
|
(e) |
without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower shall not, by virtue of this Clause 5.5, be entitled to enquire about the Lender’s tax affairs.
|
5.6 |
Loan Account
|
All sums advanced by the Lender to the Borrower under this Agreement and all interest accrued thereon and all other amounts due under this Agreement from time to time and all repayments and/or
payments thereof shall be debited and credited respectively to a separate loan account maintained by the Lender in accordance with its usual practices in the name of the Borrower. The Lender may, however, in accordance with its usual practices or for
its accounting needs, maintain more than one account, consolidate or separate them but all such accounts shall be considered parts of one single loan account maintained under this Agreement. In case that a ship mortgage in the form of Account
Current is granted as security under this Agreement, the account(s) referred to in this Clause shall be the Account Current referred to in such mortgage.
5.7 |
Computation
|
All interest and other payments payable by reference to a rate per annum under this Agreement shall accrue from day to day and be calculated on the basis of actual days elapsed and a 360 day year.
36
6.1 |
Continuing representations and warranties
|
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lender that;
(a) |
Due Incorporation/Valid Existence: Each of the Borrower and the other corporate Security Parties is duly incorporated and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective countries of incorporation, and have
power to own their respective property and assets, to carry on their respective business as the same are now being lawfully conducted and to purchase, own, finance and operate the Vessel, or, as the case may be, manage the Vessel, as well as
to undertake the obligations which such Security Party has undertaken or shall undertake pursuant to the Finance Documents and does not have a place of business in the United Kingdom or the United States of America;
|
(b) |
Due Corporate Authority: Each of the Borrower and the other corporate Security Parties has power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Finance Documents and each of the Underlying
Documents to which is or is to be a party and for the Borrower to borrow the Commitment and each of the Security Parties has power to execute and deliver and perform its/his obligations under the Finance Documents to which it/he is
or is to be a party; all necessary corporate, shareholder and other action has been taken to authorise the execution, delivery and performance of the same and no limitation on the powers of the Borrower to borrow will be exceeded as a result
of borrowing the Loan;
|
(c) |
No litigation etc.: no litigation or arbitration, tax claim or administrative proceeding (including action relating to any alleged or actual breach of the ISM Code and the ISPS Code in relation to sums exceeding Five hundred
thousand Dollars ($500,000) involving a potential liability of the Borrower or any other Security Party (and in the case of the Corporate Guarantor exceeding $5,000,000) is current or pending or (to its or its officers’ knowledge) threatened
against the Borrower or any other Security Party, which, if adversely determined, would have a Material Adverse Effect on any of them;
|
(d) |
No conflict with other obligations: the execution and delivery by the Borrower and each other Security Party of, the performance of its obligations under, and compliance with the provisions of, the Finance Documents and each of the Underlying Documents to which it is a party will not (i) contravene any existing applicable law, statute, rule or regulation or any judgment, decree or permit to which the Borrower or any
other Security Party is subject, (ii) conflict with, or result in any breach of any of the terms of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or other instrument to which the Borrower or any other Security Party is a party or is subject
to or by which it or any of its property is bound, (iii) contravene or conflict with any provision of the memorandum and articles of association/articles of incorporation/by-laws/statutes or other constitutional documents of the Borrower or
any other Security Party or (iv) result in the creation or imposition of or oblige the Borrower or any other Security Party to create any Security Interest (other than a Permitted Security Interest) on any of the undertakings, assets, rights
or revenues of the Borrower or any other Security Party;
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37
(e) |
Financial Condition: the financial condition of the Borrower and of the other Security Parties has not suffered any material deterioration since that condition was last disclosed to the Lender;
|
(f) |
No Immunity: neither the Borrower nor any other Security Party nor any of their respective assets are entitled to immunity on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise from any legal action or proceeding (which shall include, without
limitation, suit, attachment prior to judgement, execution or other enforcement);
|
(g) |
Shipping Company: each of the Borrower and the Approved Manager is a shipping company involved in the owning or, as the case may be, managing of ships engaged in international voyages and earning profits in free foreign currency;
|
(h) |
Licences/Authorisation: every consent, authorisation, license or approval of, or registration with or declaration to, governmental or public bodies or authorities or courts required by any Security Party to authorise, or required
by any Security Party in connection with, the execution, delivery, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of each of the Finance Documents or the performance by each Security Party of its obligations under the Finance Documents
to which such Security Party is or is to be a party has been obtained or made and is in full force and effect and there has been no default in the observance of any of the conditions or restrictions (if any) imposed in, or in connection with,
any of the same so far as the Borrower is aware;
|
(i) |
Perfected Securities: the Finance Documents and each of the Underlying Documents do now or, as the case may be, will, upon execution and delivery (and, where applicable, registration as provided for in the
Finance Documents):
|
(i) |
(ii) |
create legal, valid and binding Security Interests (having the priority specified in the relevant Finance Document) enforceable in accordance with their respective terms over all the assets and revenues intended to
be covered to which they, by their terms, relate, subject to any relevant insolvency laws affecting creditors’ rights generally;
|
(j) |
(i) |
(ii) |
no third party will have any Security Interests (except for Permitted Security Interests) or any other interest, right or claim over, in or in relation to any asset to which any such Security Interest, by its terms,
relates;
|
(k) |
No Notarisation/Filing/Recording: save for the registration of the Mortgage in the appropriate shipping Registry, it is not necessary to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of this Agreement
or any of the other Finance Documents that it or they or any other instrument be notarised, filed, recorded, registered or enrolled in any court, public office or elsewhere or that any stamp, registration or similar tax or charge be paid on
or in relation to this Agreement or the other Finance Documents;
|
38
(l) |
No conflict: there are no other agreements or arrangements which may adversely affect or conflict with the Finance Documents or the security thereby created;
|
(m) |
Taxes paid: the Borrower has paid all taxes applicable to, or imposed on or in relation to the Borrower, its business or the Vessel; and
|
(n) |
Valid Choice of Law: the choice of law agreed to govern this Agreement and/or any other Finance Document and the submission to the jurisdiction of the courts agreed in each of the Finance Documents are or will be, on execution of
the respective Finance Documents, valid and binding on the Borrower and any other Security Party which is or is to be a party thereto.
|
6.2 |
Initial representations and warranties
|
The Borrower further represents and warrants to the Lender that:
(a) |
Direct obligations - Pari Passu: the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement are direct, general and unconditional obligations of the Borrower and rank at least pari passu with all other present and future unsecured and
unsubordinated Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower with the exception of any obligations which are mandatorily preferred by law;
|
(b) |
Information: all information, accounts, statements of financial position, exhibits and reports furnished by or on behalf of any Security Party to the Lender in connection with the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement and
each of the other Finance Documents are true and accurate in all material respects and not misleading, do not omit material facts and all reasonable enquiries have been made to verify the facts and statements contained therein; to the best
knowledge of the Directors/Officers or shareholders of the Borrower there are no other facts the omission of which would make any fact or statement therein misleading and, in the case of accounts and statements of financial position, they
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted international accounting principles, standards and practices which have been consistently applied;
|
(c) |
No Event of Default: no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
|
(d) |
No Taxes: no Taxes are imposed by deduction, withholding or otherwise on any payment to be made by the Borrower under this Agreement and/or any other of the Finance Documents or are imposed on or by virtue of the execution or
delivery of this Agreement and/or any other of the Finance Documents or any document or instrument to be executed or delivered hereunder or thereunder. In case that any Tax exists now or will be imposed in the future, it will be borne by the
Borrower;
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(e) |
No Default under other Financial Indebtedness: none of the Borrower and the Corporate Guarantor is in default under any agreement relating to Financial Indebtedness in relation to sums exceeding, in the case of the Borrower, Five
hundred thousand Dollars ($500,000) and in the case of the Corporate Guarantor exceeding $5,000,000, to which it is a party or by which it is or may be bound;
|
39
(f) |
Ownership/Flag/Seaworthiness/Class/Insurance of the Vessel: the Vessel on the Delivery Date will be:
|
(i) |
in the absolute and free from Security Interests (other than Permitted Security Interests) ownership of the Borrower who will on and after the Delivery Date be the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Vessel;
|
(ii) |
registered in the name of the Borrower through the relevant Registry of the port of registry of the Flag State under the laws and flag of the Flag State;
|
(iii) |
operationally seaworthy and in every way fit for service;
|
(iv) |
classed with a Classification Society member of IACS, which has been approved by the Lender in writing and such classification is and will be free of any overdue recommendations of such Classification Society;
|
(v) |
insured in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Mortgage;
|
(vi) |
managed by the Approved Manager; and
|
(vii) |
in full compliance with the ISM and the ISPS Code;
|
(g) |
No Charter: save for any Assignable Charterparty and unless otherwise permitted in writing by the Lender, the Vessel will not on or before the Delivery Date be subject to any charter or contract nor to any agreement to enter into
any charter or contract which, if entered into after the Delivery Date would have required the consent of the Lender under any of the Finance Documents and there will not on or before the Delivery Date be any agreement or arrangement whereby
the Earnings of the Vessel may be shared with any other person;
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(h) |
No Security Interests: neither the Vessel, nor its Earnings, Requisition Compensation or Insurances nor any other properties or rights which are, or are to be, the subject of any of the Security
Documents nor any part thereof will, on the Drawdown Date, be subject to any Security Interests other than Permitted Security Interests or otherwise permitted by the Finance Documents;
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(i) |
Compliance with Environmental Laws and Approvals: except as may already have been disclosed by the Borrower in writing to, and acknowledged in writing by, the Lender:
|
(i) |
the Borrower and its Related Companies have complied with the provisions of all Environmental Laws;
|
(ii) |
the Borrower and its Related Companies have obtained all Environmental Approvals and are in compliance with all such Environmental Approvals; and
|
(iii) |
neither the Borrower nor any of its Related Companies have received notice of any Environmental Claim in excess of $500,000 that the Borrower or any of its Related Companies are not in compliance with any
Environmental Law or any Environmental Approval;
|
40
(j) |
No Environmental Claims: except as may already have been disclosed by the Borrower in writing to, and acknowledged in writing by, the Lender:
|
(i) |
there is no Environmental Claim in excess of $500,000 pending or, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief, threatened against the Borrower or the Vessel or the Borrower’s Related Companies or any other Relevant Ship; and
|
(ii) |
there has been no emission, spill, release or discharge of a Material of Environmental Concern from the Vessel or any other Relevant Ship or the Vessel owned by, managed or crewed by or chartered to the Borrower
which could give rise to an Environmental Claim in excess of $500,000;
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(l) |
Application made for DOC and SMC: in relation to the Vessel, the DOC applicable to the Approved Manager is presently in full effect, and the Operator has applied or, as the case may be, prior to her Delivery shall apply, to the
appropriate Regulatory Agency for a DOC for itself and an SMC in respect of the Vessel to be issued pursuant to the ISM Code within any time limit required or recommended by such Regulatory Agency and that neither the Borrower nor any
Operator is aware of any reason why such application may be refused;
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(m) |
Compliance with ISM Code: the Vessel will comply on the Delivery Date and the Operator complies with the requirements of the ISM Code and the SMC which has been or, as the case may be, shall be issued in respect of the Vessel shall
remain valid on the Delivery Date and thereafter throughout the Security Period;
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(n) |
Compliance with ISPS Code: the Borrower on the Delivery Date shall have a valid and current ISSC in respect thereof and will comply on the Delivery Date and the Operator complies, with the requirements of the ISPS Code and the ISSC
which shall be issued in respect of the Vessel shall remain valid on the Delivery Date and thereafter throughout the Security Period;
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(o) |
Shareholdings:
|
(i) |
all of the issued shares in the Borrower are held directly by the Parent Company (being as of the date of this Agreement the sole shareholder of the Borrower);
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(ii) |
the Parent Company is a company listed in the Nasdaq Capital Market and the Corporate Guarantor is and will continue to be managed by the Chief Executive Officer disclosed to the Lender at the negotiation of
this Agreement ;
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41
(iii) |
no change of control has been made directly or indirectly in the ownership of the Borrower as a Subsidiary of the Parent Company or the management of the Borrower or any
share therein or of the Vessel and 100% of the shares and voting rights in the Borrower will remain throughout the Security Period in the legal ownership of the Parent Company;
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(p) |
No US Tax Obligor: (other than as disclosed to the Lender) none of the Security Parties is a US Tax Obligor;
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(q) |
Sanctions: none of the Security Parties:
|
(i) |
(ii) |
owns or controls directly or indirectly a Sanctions Restricted Person; or
|
(iii) |
(iv) |
no proceeds of the Loan shall be made available, directly or to the knowledge of the Borrower indirectly, to or for the benefit of a Sanctions Restricted Person contrary to Sanctions or for transactions in a
Sanctions Restricted Jurisdiction nor shall they be otherwise directly or indirectly, applied in a manner or for a purpose prohibited by Sanctions;
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(r) |
Taxes paid: the Borrower has paid all taxes applicable to, or imposed on or in relation to itself, its business or the Vessel;
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(s) |
No default under MOA: the Borrower is not in default under any of its obligations under the MOA;
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(t) |
MOA Valid: the copy of the MOA to be delivered to the Lender shall be a true and complete copy of such document constituting valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto enforceable in accordance with its terms and no
amendments thereto or variations thereof shall have been (or will be) agreed nor shall any action been taken by the parties thereto which would in any way render such document inoperative or unenforceable; and
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(u) |
No Rebates: there will be no commissions, rebates premiums or other payments by or to or on account of the Borrower or any other Security Party or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any other person in connection with the MOA other
than as shall be disclosed to the Lender by the Borrower in writing.
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(v) |
Compliance with laws and regulations: the Borrower is in compliance in all material respects with any law or regulation applicable to it and pertaining to the labor and employment conditions, the occupational health and safety and
the public health, safety and security.
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42
6.3 |
Money laundering - acting for own account
|
The Borrower further represents and warrants and confirms to the Lender that it is the beneficiary for each part of the Loan made or to be made available to it and it will promptly inform the Lender by written notice if it is not, or ceases to be, the beneficiary and notify the Lender in writing of the name and the address of the new beneficiary/beneficiaries; the Borrower is
aware that under applicable money laundering provisions, it has an obligation to state for whose account the Loan is obtained; the Borrower confirms that, by entering into this Agreement and the other Finance Documents, it is acting on its own behalf
and for its own account and it is obtaining the Loan for its own account. In relation to the borrowing by the Borrower of the Loan, the performance and discharge of its obligations
and liabilities under this Agreement or any of the other Finance Documents and the transactions and other arrangements effected or contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Documents to which the Borrower is a party, it is acting for its own
account and that the foregoing will not involve or lead to a contravention of any law, official requirement or other regulatory measure or procedure which has been implemented to combat “money
laundering” (as defined in Article 1 of the Directive (91/308/EEC) of the Council of the European Community).
6.4 |
Representations Correct
|
At the time of entering into this Agreement all above representations and warranties or any other information given by the Borrower and/or the Corporate Guarantor to the Lender are true and accurate.
6.5 |
Repetition of Representations and Warranties
|
The representations and warranties in this Clause 6 (except in relation to the representations and warranties in Clause 6.2 (Initial
representations and warranties)) shall be deemed to be repeated by the Borrower:
(a) |
on the date of service of the Drawdown Notice;
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(b) |
on the Drawdown Date; and
|
(c) |
on each Interest Payment Date throughout the Security Period,
|
as if made with reference to the facts and circumstances existing on each such day.
7.1 |
Conditions precedent to the execution of this Agreement
|
The obligation of the Lender to make the Commitment or any part thereof available shall be subject to the condition that the Lender, shall have received, not later than two (2) Business Days before
the day on which the Drawdown Notice in respect of the Commitment or such part thereof is given, the following documents and evidence in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender:
(a) |
Constitutional Documents: a duly certified true copy of the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws or the Memorandum and Articles of Association, or of any other constitutional documents, as the case may be, of each corporate
Security Party;
|
(b) |
Certificates of incumbency: a recent certificate of incumbency of each corporate Security Party issued by the appropriate authority or, as appropriate, signed by the secretary or a director thereof:
|
(i) |
certifying that each copy document relating to it referred to in paragraph (a) of this Clause 7.1 is correct, complete and in full force and effect;
|
(ii) |
setting out the names of (A) the directors and officers of that Security Party and (B) the shareholders of that Security Party (other than the Parent Company) and the proportion of shares held by each shareholder thereof; and
|
43
(iii) |
confirming that borrowing or guaranteeing or securing, as appropriate, the Loan would not cause any borrowing, guarantee, security or similar limit binding on that Security Party to be exceeded;
|
(c) |
Shareholding: such documentation and other evidence, including the Side Letter, as is reasonably requested by the Lender in order for the Lender to comply with all necessary “know your customer”
or similar identification procedures in relation to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents;
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(d) |
Resolutions: minutes of separate meetings of (i) the directors of each corporate Security Party and (ii) the shareholders of each corporate Security Party (other than the Parent Company) at which there was approved (inter alia) the
entry into, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the other Finance Documents and any other documents executed or to be executed pursuant hereto or thereto to which the relevant corporate Security Party is or is to be a
party;
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(e) |
Powers of Attorney: the original of any power(s) of attorney and any further evidence of the due authority of any person signing this Agreement, the other Finance Documents, and any other documents executed or to be executed
pursuant hereto or thereto on behalf of any corporate person;
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(f) |
Consents: evidence that all necessary licences, consents, permits and authorisations (including exchange control ones) have been obtained by any Security Party for the execution, delivery, validity, enforceability, admissibility in
evidence and the due performance of the respective obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement and the other Finance Documents;
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(g) |
DOC: a copy of the DOC applicable to the Approved Manager certified as true and in effect;
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(h) |
Other documents: any other documents or recent certificates or other evidence which would be required by the Lender in relation to each Security Party evidencing that the relevant Security Party has been properly established,
continues to exist validly and is in good standing;
|
(i) |
MOA, Management Agreement - Assignable Charterparty: a copy of each of the following documents certified as true and complete by the legal counsel of the Borrower:
|
(i) |
The MOA;
|
(ii) |
the Management Agreement evidencing that the Vessel is managed by the Approved Manager on terms acceptable to the Lender; and
|
(iii) |
any Assignable Charterparty; and
|
(j) |
Operating Account: evidence that the Operating Account has been duly opened and all mandate forms and other legal documents required for the opening of an account under any applicable law, as well as signature cards and properly
adopted authorizations have been duly delivered to and have been accepted by the compliance department of the Lender.
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44
7.2 |
Conditions precedent to the making of the Commitment
|
The obligation of the Lender to advance the Commitment (or any part thereof) is subject to the further condition that the Lender shall have received prior to the drawdown or, where
this is not possible, simultaneously with or immediately following the drawdown of the Loan or the relevant part thereof:
(a) |
Conditions precedent: evidence that the conditions precedent set out in Clause 7.1 (Conditions precedent to the execution of this Agreement) remain fully
satisfied;
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(b) |
(c) |
Finance Documents: the originals of the Accounts Pledge Agreement, Guarantee, Mortgage,
General Assignment, Approved Manager’s Undertaking, Charterparty Assignment, Side Letter, any Compliance Certificate and Insurance Letter (and of each document to be delivered by each of them) and each duly executed and where appropriate duly registered with the Registry or any other competent authority (as required);
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(d) |
Title and no Security Interests: evidence that the Vessel is and on the Drawdown Date will be duly registered in the ownership of the Borrower with the Registry and under the laws and flag
of the Flag State free from any Security Interests save for those in favour of the Lender and otherwise as contemplated herein;
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(e) |
Insurances: evidence in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender that the Vessel will be insured in accordance with the insurance requirements provided for in this Agreement and the Security Documents, including a MII and a MAPI, together with an opinion from insurance consultants (appointed by the Lender at the Borrower’s expense) as to the adequacy of the insurances effected or to be effected in respect of the Vessel, to be followed by full copies of cover notes, policies, certificates of entry or other contracts of insurance and irrevocable authority is hereby given to the Lender at any time at its discretion to obtain
copies of the policies, certificates of entry or other contracts of insurance from the insurers and/or obtain any information in relation to the Insurances relating to the Vessel;
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(f) |
Insurers’ confirmations - Letters of Undertaking: all necessary confirmations by insurers of the Vessel that they will issue letters of undertaking and endorse notice of assignment and loss payable
clauses on the Insurances, in market standard form and - in the event of fleet cover - accompanied by waivers for liens for unpaid premium of other Vessel managed by the Approved Manager and
which are not subject to any mortgage in favour of the Lender;
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(g) |
MII: the MII and the MAPI shall have been reimbursed by the Borrower as provided in Clause 10.9 (MII and MAPI costs);
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(h) |
Access to class records: due authorisation in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender authorising the Lender to have access and/or obtain any copies of class records or other information at its discretion from the
Classification Society of the Vessel, provided however, that the Lender shall not exercise such right unless and until an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
|
45
(i) |
(j) |
(k) |
Trading certificates: copies of the trading certificates of the Vessel evidencing the same to be valid and in force;
|
(m) |
Trim and stability booklet: an extract of the trim and stability booklet certifying the lightweight of the Vessel;
|
(n) |
(o) |
ISM Code Documentation: copies of all ISM Code Documentation certified as true and complete in all material respects by the Borrower and the Approved Manager;
|
(p) |
ISPS Code compliance:
|
(ii) |
(q) |
Valuation: charter free valuation of the Vessel satisfactory to the Lender, to be obtained by the Lender, at the Borrower’s expense, made on the basis and in the manner specified in Clause
8.5(b) (Valuation of Vessel);
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(r) |
Security Parties’ process agent: a letter from each Security Party’s agent for receipt of service of proceedings referred to in each Security Document to which the relevant Security Party is a party, accepting its appointment under
each of the relevant Security Documents;
|
(s) |
No Security Interests: evidence that no Security Interests are registered against the Vessel on her previous register;
|
46
(v) |
(w) |
Pledged Deposit: deposit in the Operating Account the Pledged Deposit referred to in Clause 8.1(k) (Pledged Deposit)on
or prior to the Drawdown Date;
|
(x) |
Fees: evidence that the fees referred to in Clause 10.15 (Arrangement Fee) have been paid in full;
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(y) |
Condition survey report: if the Lender so requires, a satisfactory to the Lender physical condition survey report on the Vessel together with a comprehensive record inspection from a surveyor appointed by the Lender, at the
Borrower’s expense;
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(z) |
Financial covenants: evidence satisfactory to the Lender in the form of annual audited financial statements of the Parent Company for the period ending on December 31, 2021, including, without limitation the Compliance Certificate,
that the Parent Company complies fully with the requirements of Clause 8.8 (Financial Covenants - Compliance Certificate);
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(aa) |
Seller’s title: evidence to the full satisfaction of the Lender, proving the Seller’s title to the Vessel free of any Security Interests, debts or claims of any nature whatsoever;
|
(bb) |
Seller’s documents: duly certified copy of the Bill of Sale, the protocol of delivery and acceptance of the Vessel, as well as of all other Seller’s documents, upon her Delivery;
|
(cc) |
No Security Interests on previous register: evidence that no Security Interests are registered on Delivery against the Vessel on her previous register; and
|
(dd) |
Purchase Price paid: evidence that the purchase price of the Vessel has been (or upon her delivery will have been) paid in full in accordance with the provisions of the MOA.
|
7.3 |
No change of circumstances
|
The obligation of the Lender to advance the Commitment or any part thereof is subject to the further condition that at the time of the giving of the Drawdown
Notice and on advancing the Commitment:
(a) |
Representations and warranties: the representations and warranties set out in Clause 6 (Representations and warranties) and in each of the other Finance Documents are true and
correct on and as of each such time as if each was made with respect to the facts and circumstances existing at such time;
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(b) |
No Event of Default: no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the drawdown;
|
47
(c) |
No change of control: the Lender shall be satisfied that:
|
(i) |
the Corporate Guarantor remains listed in the NASDAQ Capital Market;
|
(ii) |
there has been no change in control directly or indirectly in the legal ownership, or management of the Borrower or any share in the Borrower or of the Vessel; and
|
(iii) |
there has been no Material Adverse Change in the financial condition of any Security Party which (change) might, in the reasonable opinion of the Lender, be detrimental to the interests of the Lender; and
|
(d) |
No Market Disruption Event: none of the circumstances contemplated by Xxxxxx 3.7 (Market disruption) has occurred and is continuing.
|
7.4 |
Know your customer and money laundering compliance
|
The obligation of the Lender to advance the Commitment or any part thereof is subject to the further condition that the Lender, prior to or simultaneously with the drawdown, shall have received, to
the extent required by any change in applicable law and regulation or any changes in the Lender’s own internal guidelines since the date on which the applicable documents and evidence were delivered to the Lender pursuant to Clause 8.9 (Know your customer and money laundering compliance), such further documents and evidence as the Lender shall require to identify the Borrower and the other Security Parties and any other persons involved
or affected by the transaction(s) contemplated by this Agreement.
7.5 |
Further documents
|
Without prejudice to the provisions of this Clause 7 the Borrower hereby undertakes with the Lender to make or procure to be made such amendments and/or additions to any of the documents delivered to
the Lender in accordance with this Clause 7 and to execute and/or deliver to the Lender or procure to be executed and/or delivered to the Lender such further documents as the Lender and its legal advisors may reasonably require to satisfy themselves
that all the terms and requirements of this Agreement have been complied with.
7.6 |
Waiver of conditions precedent
|
The conditions specified in this Clause 7 are inserted solely for the benefit of the Lender and may be waived by the Lender in whole or in part and with or without conditions. Without prejudice to
any of the other provisions of this Agreement, in the event that the Lender, in its sole and absolute discretion, makes the Commitment available to the Borrower prior to the satisfaction of all or any of the conditions referred to in Clauses 7.1 (Conditions precedent to the execution of this Agreement), 7.2 (Conditions precedent to the making of
the Commitment) and 7.3 (No change of circumstances), the Borrower hereby covenants and undertakes to satisfy or procure the satisfaction of
such condition or conditions by no later than fourteen (14) days after the Drawdown Date or within such longer period as the Lender may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to or specify.
48
8.1 |
General
|
The Borrower undertakes with the Lender that, from the date of this Agreement and until the full and complete payment and discharge
of the Outstanding Indebtedness, it will:
(a) |
Notice on Material Adverse Change or Event of Default: promptly inform the Lender upon becoming aware of any occurrence which might have a Material Adverse Effect on the ability of any Security Party to perform its obligations under
any of the Finance Documents and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, will inform the Lender of any Event of Default forthwith upon becoming aware thereof and will from time to time, if so requested by the Lender, confirm to the
Lender in writing that, save as otherwise stated in such confirmation, no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
|
(b) |
Notification of litigation: provide the Lender with details of any legal or administrative action relating to an amount exceeding Five hundred thousand Dollars ($500,000) involving the Borrower, the Vessel, the Earnings or the
Insurances in respect of the Vessel or the Corporate Guarantor relating to an amount exceeding Five million Dollars ($5,000,000) , as soon as such action is instituted, unless it is clear that the legal or administrative action cannot be
considered material in the context of any Finance Document, and the Borrower shall procure that all appropriate measures are taken to defend any such legal or administrative action;
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(c) |
Consents and licenses: without prejudice to Clauses 6 (Representations and warranties) and 7 (Conditions precedent), obtain or cause
to be obtained, maintain in full force and effect and comply in all material respects with the conditions and restrictions (if any) imposed in, or in connection with, every consent, authorisation, license or approval of governmental or public
bodies or authorities or courts and do or cause to be done, all other acts and things which may from time to time be necessary or desirable under applicable law for the continued due performance of all the obligations of the Security Parties
under each of the Finance Documents and the Underlying Documents to which it is a party;
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(d) |
Use of Loan proceeds: use the Loan exclusively for the purposes specified in Clause 1.1 (Amount and Purpose);
|
(e) |
Pari passu: ensure that its obligations under this Agreement shall, without prejudice to the provisions of this Clause 8.1, at all times rank at least pari passu with all its other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated
Financial Indebtedness with the exception of any obligations which are mandatorily preferred by law and not by contract;
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(f) |
Financial statements:
|
49
(iii) |
promptly, after each request by the Lender, such further financial or other information and accounts relating to the business, undertaking, assets, liabilities, revenues, financial condition or affairs in respect of
the Borrower, the Vessel, the Parent Company, the other Security Parties and the Group as the Lender from time to time may reasonably require;
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(g) |
Compliance Certificate: procure that the Parent Company supplies to the Lender with each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to sub-paragraph (i) of Clause 8.1(f) (Financial statements),
a Compliance Certificate setting out (in reasonable detail) computations as to compliance with Clause 8.12 (Financial Covenants) as at the date as at which those financial statements were drawn
up, such Compliance Certificate shall be signed by the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Parent Company;
|
(h) |
(i) |
(ii) |
(iii) |
fully disclose or provide for all significant liabilities of the Borrower, the Parent Company and the Group;
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(h) |
Provision of further information: promptly, when requested, provide the Lender with such financial and other information and accounts relating to the business, undertaking, assets, liabilities, revenues, financial condition or
affairs of the Borrower and each Security Party as the Lender from time to time may reasonably require;
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(i) |
Financial Information: provide the Lender from time to time as the Lender may reasonably request with information on the financial conditions, cash flow position, commitments and operations of the
Borrower including cash flow analysis and voyage accounts of the Vessel with a breakdown of income and running expenses showing net trading profit, trade payables and trade receivables, such financial
details to be certified by an authorized signatory of the Borrower as to their correctness;
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(j) |
Information on the employment of the Vessel: provide the Lender from time to time as the Lender may request with information on the employment of the Vessel, as well as on the terms and conditions of any charterparty, contract of
affreightment, agreement or related document in respect of the employment of the Vessel, such information to be certified by one of the directors of the Borrower as to their correctness;
|
50
(l) |
Banking operations: ensure that all banking operations in connection with the Vessel are carried out through the Lending Office of the Lender;
|
(m) |
Subordination: ensure that all Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower to its shareholders is fully subordinated to the rights of the Lender under the Finance Documents, all in a form
acceptable to the Lender, and to subordinate to the rights of the Lender under the Finance Documents any Financial Indebtedness issued to it by its shareholders, all in a form acceptable to the Lender;
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(n) |
Obligations under Finance Documents: duly and punctually perform each of the obligations expressed to be assumed by it under the Finance Documents;
|
(o) |
Payment on demand: pay to the Lender on demand any sum of money which is due and payable by the Borrower to the Lender under this Agreement but in respect of which it is not specified in any other Clause when it is due and payable;
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(p) |
Compliance with Laws and Regulations: comply, or procure compliance with all laws or regulations relating to it and/or the Vessel, its ownership, operation and management or to the business of the
Borrower and cause this Agreement and the other Finance Documents to comply with and satisfy all the requirements and formalities established by the applicable laws to perfect this Agreement and the other Finance
Documents as valid and enforceable Finance Documents;
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(r) |
(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 (p)) above, at its own cost, promptly register, file, record or enrol any Finance Document with any court or authority in all Relevant Jurisdictions, pay any stamp, registration or similar tax
in all Relevant Jurisdictions in respect of any Finance Document, give any notice or take any other step which may be or has become necessary or desirable 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;
|
(s) |
Registered Office: maintain its registered office at the address referred to in the Recitals; and will not establish, or do anything as a result of which it would be deemed to have, a place of business
in the United Kingdom or the United States of America;
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(t) |
Parent Company’s CEO: procure that the CEO of the Parent Company to be a person acceptable to the Lender throughout the Security Period; and
|
(u) |
Compliance with Covenants: duly and punctually perform all obligations under this Agreement and the other Finance Documents.
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51
8.2 |
Negative undertakings
|
The Borrower undertakes with the Lender that, from the date of this Agreement and until the full and complete payment and discharge of the Outstanding
Indebtedness it will not, without the prior written consent of the Lender:
(a) |
Negative pledge:
|
(i) |
create or permit any Security Interest (other than a Permitted Security Interest) to subsist, arise or be created or extended over all or any part of its present or future undertakings, assets, rights or revenues to secure or prefer any
present or future Financial Indebtedness or other liability or obligation of the Borrower other than in the normal course of its business of owning, financing, maintaining and operating the Vessel and owning or acquiring ship-owning
companies; and
|
(ii) |
cease to hold the legal title to, and own the entire beneficial interest in the Vessel, its Insurances and Earnings, free from all Security Interests (other than a Permitted Security Interest) and other interests and rights of every kind,
except for those created by the Finance Documents and the effect of the assignments contained in the General Assignment and any other Finance Documents;
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(b) |
No further Financial Indebtedness: incur any further Financial Indebtedness in excess of $500,000 nor authorise or accept any capital commitments (other than that normally associated with the day to day operations of the Borrower
and the Vessel, and the operation, maintenance and trading of the Vessel) nor enter into any agreement for payment on deferred terms or hire agreement;
|
(c) |
No merger: merge or consolidate with any other person;
|
(d) |
No disposals:
|
(i) |
sell, transfer, abandon, lend, lease or otherwise dispose of or cease to exercise direct control over any part (being either alone or when aggregated with all other disposals falling to be taken into account pursuant to this Clause 8.2(d)
material in the reasonable opinion of the Lender in relation to the undertakings, assets, rights and revenues of the Borrower) of its present or future undertaking, assets, rights or revenues (otherwise than by transfers, sales or disposals
for full consideration in the ordinary course of operations and trading) whether by one or a series of transactions related or not; and
|
(ii) |
transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any debt payable to it or any other right (present, future or contingent right) to receive a payment, including any right to damages or compensation;
|
but paragraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply to:
(aa) |
any charter of the Vessel; and
|
(bb) |
any sale of the Vessel to a bona fide third party on arm’s length terms, otherwise than as provided in Clause 4.3(b) (Sale or refinancing of the Vessel);
|
52
(e) |
No acquisitions: not acquire any further assets other than the Vessel and rights arising under contracts entered into by or on behalf of the Borrower other than in the ordinary course of its business of owning, operating and
chartering the Vessel;
|
(f) |
No other business: not undertake any type of business other than its current business of owning, financing and operating the Vessel and the chartering of the Vessel to third parties;
|
(g) |
No investments: make any investments in any person, asset, firm, corporation, joint venture or other entity;
|
(h) |
(i) |
(ii) |
liabilities or obligations reasonably incurred in the normal course of its business of trading, operating and chartering, maintaining and repairing the Vessel owned by it (and for the purposes of this Clause 8.2(h) fees to be paid pursuant
to the Management Agreement in respect of the Vessel shall be considered as permitted obligations under the Finance Documents) (including, without limitation, any Financial Indebtedness owing to its shareholder(s) or the Approved Manager,
subject to the Borrower ensuring on or prior to the Drawdown Date, that the rights of the Lender thereunder are fully subordinated in writing pursuant to a subordination agreement acceptable to the Lender);
|
(i) |
No borrowing: incur any Financial Indebtedness except for Financial Indebtedness pursuant to the Finance Documents or in the ordinary course of business of operating, maintaining and repairing the Vessel;
|
(j) |
No repayment of borrowings: repay the principal of, or pay interest on or any other sum in connection with, any of Financial Indebtedness except for Financial Indebtedness pursuant to the Finance Documents or in the ordinary course
of business of operating, maintaining and repairing the Vessel;
|
(k) |
No Payments: unless otherwise provided in this Agreement and the other Finance Documents (and then only to the extent expressly permitted by the same) not pay out any funds (whether out of the Earnings or out of moneys collected
under the General Assignment and/or the other Finance Documents or not) to any person except in connection with the administration of the Borrower and the operation and/or maintenance and/or repair and/or trading of the Vessel;
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(l) |
No guarantees: issue any guarantees or indemnities or otherwise become directly or contingently liable for the obligations of any person, firm, or corporation except pursuant to the Finance Documents and except for, in the case of
the Borrower, guarantees or indemnities from time to time required in the ordinary course of its business, the operation, maintenance and repair of the Vessel or by any protection and indemnity or war risks association with which the Vessel
is entered, guarantees required to procure the release of the Vessel from any arrest, detention, attachment or levy or guarantees or undertakings required for the salvage of the Vessel;
|
53
(m) |
No loans: make any loans or advances to, including (without limitation) any loan or advance or grant any credit (save for normal trade credit in the ordinary course of business) to any officer, director, stockholder or employee or
any other company managed by the Approved Manager directly or through the Approved Manager of the Vessel or agree to do so, provided, always, that any loans of its shareholders to the Borrower shall be fully subordinated to the
Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement and the other Finance Documents;
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(n) |
No securities: permit any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower to any person (other than the Lender) to be guaranteed by any person (save, in the case of the Borrower, for guarantees or indemnities from time to time required in
the ordinary course of business, the operation, maintenance and repair of the Vessel or by any protection and indemnity or war risks association with which the Vessel is entered, guarantees required to procure the release of the Vessel from
any arrest, detention, attachment or levy or guarantees or undertakings required for the salvage of the Vessel);
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(o) |
No dividends or distributions: if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing declare or pay any dividends or make other distribution under any name or description or effect any form of redemption, purchase or return of share
capital or otherwise dispose any of the issued shares or otherwise dispose of any of its present or future assets, undertakings, rights or revenues (which are all assigned to the Lender) to any of the shareholders of the Borrower without the
prior written consent of the Lender, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld;
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(p) |
No Subsidiaries: form or acquire any Subsidiaries;
|
(q) |
No change of business structure: change the nature, organisation and conduct of the business of the Borrower as owner of the Vessel, or carry on any business other than the business carried on at the date of this Agreement;
|
(r) |
No change of legal structure: (such consent not be unreasonably withheld) ensure that none of the documents defining the constitution of the Borrower shall be materially (in the Lender’s reasonable opinion) altered in any manner
whatsoever;
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(s) |
No Security Interest on assets: other than Permitted Security Interests, not allow any part of its undertaking, property, assets or rights, whether present or future, to be mortgaged, charged, pledged, used as a lien or otherwise
encumbered without the prior written consent of the Lender;
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(t) |
No amendment to Assignable Charterparty: not waive or fail to enforce, any Assignable Charterparty to which it is a party or any of its provisions, unless that waiver or failure to enforce
does not create a Material Adverse Effect, and will promptly notify the Lender of any amendment or supplement to any Assignable Charterparty;
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(u) |
Change of control: ensure that:
|
(i) |
no change shall be made directly or indirectly in the ownership, and management of the Borrower or any share in the Borrower or the Vessel;
|
54
(ii) |
the Guarantor shall remain listed in the NASDAQ Capital Market;
|
(iii) |
the Borrower shall remain wholly owned and controlled Subsidiary of the Guarantor;
|
(iv) |
the Guarantor shall remain holding company of shipowning, all being engaged in activities acceptable to the Lender; and
|
(v) |
each of the Relevant Executives holds such executive position within the management structure of the Parent Company as more particularly described in the Side Letter.
|
(w) |
No US Tax Obligor: procure that, unless otherwise agreed by the Lender, no Security Party shall become a US Tax Obligor; and
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(x) |
8.3 |
Undertakings concerning the Vessel
|
The Borrower undertakes with the Lender that, from the date of this Agreement and until the full and complete payment and discharge of the Outstanding
Indebtedness, it will:
(a) |
Conveyance on default: where the Vessel is (or is to be) sold in exercise of any power conferred on the Lender, execute, forthwith upon request by the Lender, such form of conveyance of the Vessel as the Lender may require;
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(b) |
Mortgage: it will execute, and procure the registration of the Mortgage over the Vessel under the laws and flag of the Flag State immediately upon registration of the Vessel in the ownership of the Borrower following her Delivery;
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(c) |
Chartering: not without the prior written consent of the Lender which shall not be unreasonably withheld (and then only subject to such conditions as the Lender may impose) let or agree to let the Vessel:
|
(i) |
on demise charter for any period; or
|
(ii) |
by any Assignable Charterparty; or
|
(iii) |
other than on an arms’ length basis;
|
(d) |
Laid-up: not de-activate or lay up the Vessel;
|
(e) |
Approved Manager: not without the prior written consent of the Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) agree or appoint a manager of the Vessel other than the Approved Manager;
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(f) |
Ownership/Management/Control: ensure that the Vessel will be registered on the Delivery Date in the ownership of the Borrower under the laws of the Flag State and thereafter ensure that the Vessel will maintain her registration,
ownership, management, control and beneficial ownership;
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55
(g) |
Class: ensure that the Vessel will remain in class free of overdue recommendations or average damage affecting class or permitted by the Classification Society and provide the Lender on demand with copies of all class and trading
certificates of the Vessel;
|
(h) |
Insurances:
|
(i) |
ensure that all Insurances (as defined in the Mortgage/General Assignment) of the Vessel is maintained and comply with all insurance requirements specified in this Agreement and in the Mortgage and in case of
failure to maintain the Vessel so insured, authorise the Lender (and such authorisation is hereby expressly given to the Lender) to have the right but not the obligation to effect such Insurances on
behalf of the Borrower (and in case that the Vessel remains in port for an extended period) to effect port risks insurances at the cost of the Borrower which, if
paid by the Lender, shall be Expenses;
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(ii) |
if (aa) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (bb) there has been any change in the insurance placement within such year or (cc) there has been a Material Adverse Change of the financial
condition of any of the insurers of any of the Vessel at the Lender’s reasonable opinion, the Lender shall be entitled to obtain once per year at Borrower’s expense such opinion from such insurance consultants (appointed by the Lender at
the Borrower’s expense) as to the adequacy of the insurances effected or to be effected in respect of the Vessel;
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(i) |
Transfer/Security Interests: not without the prior written consent of the Lender agrees the Vessel or any share therein to be sold or otherwise disposed of or create or agree to create or permit to subsist any Security Interest
over the Vessel (or any of them) (or any share or interest therein) other than Permitted Security Interests;
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(j) |
Not imperil Flag, Ownership, Insurances: ensure that the Vessel is maintained and trades in conformity with the laws of the Flag State, of its owning company or of the nationality of the officers, the requirements of the Insurances
and nothing is done or permitted to be done which could endanger the flag of the Vessel or its unencumbered (other than Security Interests in favour of the Lender and other Permitted Security Interests) ownership or its Insurances;
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(k) |
Mortgage Covenants: ensure that the Borrower always comply with all the covenants provided for in the Mortgage registered over the Vessel;
|
(l) |
No assignment of Earnings: ensure that the Borrower will not assign or agree to assign otherwise than to the Lender the Earnings or any part thereof;
|
(m) |
No sharing of Earnings: ensure that the Borrower:
|
(i) |
will not enter into any agreement or arrangement for the sharing of any Earnings; and/or
|
(ii) |
will not enter into any agreement or arrangement for the postponement of any date on which any Earnings are due or the reduction of the amount of any Earnings or otherwise for the release or adverse alteration of any right of the Borrower
to any Earnings; and/or
|
56
(iii) |
will not enter into any agreement or arrangement for the release of, or adverse alteration to, any guarantee or Security Interest relating to any Earnings.
|
(n) |
No amendment to Assignable Charterparty: not waive or fail to enforce, any Assignable Charterparty to which it is a party or any of its provisions, and will promptly
notify the Lender of any material, in the reasonable opinion of the Lender, amendment or supplement to any Assignable Charterparty;
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(o) |
Assignable Charterparty: ensure and procure that in the event of the Vessel being employed under an Assignable Charterparty:
|
(i) |
execute and deliver to the Lender within fifteen (15) days from the Lender’s relevant request a specific assignment of all its rights, title and interest in and to such charter in the form of a Charterparty
Assignment and a notice of such assignment addressed to the relevant charterer;
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(ii) |
in case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, ensure (on a best effort basis) that the relevant charterer agree to acknowledge to the Lender the specific assignment of such charter and charter
guarantee by executing an acknowledgement substantially in the form included in the relevant Charterparty Assignment;
|
(iii) |
in the case where such charter is a demise charter, ensure (on a best effort basis) that the relevant charterer shall (1) comply with all of the Borrower’s undertakings with regard to the employment,
insurances, operation, repairs and maintenance of the Vessel contained in this Agreement, the Mortgage and the General Assignment and (2) provide (inter alia) an assignment of its interest in the insurances of the Vessel in the form of a tripartite agreement in form and substance acceptable to the Lender, to be made between the Lender, the Borrower and such charterer;
|
(r) |
Trading: use the Vessel only for civil merchant trading;
|
(s) |
Compliance with ISM Code: procure that the Approved Manager and any Operator will:
|
57
(i) |
will comply with and ensure that the Vessel and any Operator by no later than the Delivery Date in respect of the Vessel complies with the requirements of the ISM Code, including (but not limited to) the maintenance and renewal of valid
certificates pursuant thereto throughout the Security Period;
|
(ii) |
immediately inform the Lender if there is any threatened or actual withdrawal of the Borrower’s, the Approved Manager’s or an Operator’s DOC or the SMC in respect of the Vessel; and
|
(iii) |
promptly inform the Lender upon the issue to the Borrower, the Approved Manager or any Operator of a DOC and to the Vessel of an SMC or the receipt by the Borrower, the Approved Manager or any Operator of notification that its application
for the same has been realised;
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(t) |
Compliance with ISPS Code: procure that the Approved Manager or any Operator will:
|
(i) |
maintain at all times a valid and current ISSC in respect of the Vessel;
|
(ii) |
immediately notify the Lender in writing of any actual or threatened withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or modification of the ISSC in respect of the Vessel; and
|
(iii) |
procure that the Vessel will comply at all times with the ISPS Code;
|
(u) |
Compliance with Environmental Laws: comply with, and procure that all Environmental Affiliates of any Relevant Party comply with, all Environmental Laws including without limitation, requirements relating to xxxxxxx and
establishment of financial responsibility and to obtain and comply with, and procure that all Environmental Affiliates of such Relevant Party obtain and comply with, all Environmental Approvals and to notify the Lender forthwith:
|
(i) |
of any Environmental Claim for an amount exceeding Five hundred thousand Dollars ($500,000) per incident made against the Vessel, any Relevant Ship and/or their respective owners; and
|
(ii) |
upon becoming aware of any incident which may give rise to an Environmental Claim for an amount exceeding Five hundred thousand Dollars ($500,000) and to keep the Lender advised in writing of the Borrower’s response to such Environmental
Claim on such regular basis and in such detail as the Lender shall require.
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(v) |
War Risk Insurance cover: in the event of hostilities in any part of the world (whether war is declared or
not), it will not cause or permit the Vessel to enter or trade to any zone which is declared a war zone by any government or by the Vessel’s war risks insurers unless first obtaining the consent to such employment or trade of the
insurers and complying with such requirements as to extra premium or otherwise as the insurers may prescribe.
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8.4 |
Validity of Securities – Earnings – Taxes etc.
|
The Borrower undertakes with the Lender that, from the date of this Agreement and until the full and complete payment and discharge of the Outstanding
Indebtedness, it will:
58
(a) |
Validity: ensure and procure that all governmental or other consents required by law and/or any other steps required for the validity, enforceability and legality of this Agreement and the other Finance Documents are maintained in
full force and effect and/or appropriately taken;
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(b) |
Earnings: ensure and procure that, unless and until directed by the Lender otherwise (i) all the Earnings of the Vessel shall be paid to the Operating Account and (ii) the persons from whom the
Earnings are from time to time due are irrevocably instructed to pay them to the Operating Account or to such account in the name of the Borrower as shall be from time to time determined by the Lender in accordance with the provisions hereof
and of the relevant Security Documents;
|
(c) |
Taxes: pay all Taxes, assessments and other governmental charges imposed on the Borrower when the same fall due, except to the extent that the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves
have been set aside for their payment if such proceedings fail;
|
(d) |
Additional Documents: from time to time and within fifteen (15) days after the request of the Lender, execute and deliver to the Lender or procure the execution and delivery to the Lender of all such documents as shall be deemed
desirable at the discretion of the Lender for giving full effect to this Agreement, and for perfecting, protecting the value of or enforcing any rights or securities granted to the Lender under any one or more of this Agreement, the other
Finance Documents and any other documents executed pursuant hereto or thereto and in case that any conditions precedent (with the Lender’s consent) have not been fulfilled prior to the Drawdown Date, such conditions shall be complied with
within fifteen (15) days after the Lender’s written request (unless the Lender agrees otherwise in writing) and failure to comply with this covenant shall be an Event of Default.
|
8.5 |
Secured Value to Security Requirement ratio – Valuation of the Vessel
|
(a) |
Security shortfall – Additional Security: If at any time during the Security Period, the Security Value shall be less than the Security Requirement, the Lender may give notice to the Borrower requiring that such deficiency be
remedied and then the Borrower shall (unless the sole cause of such deficiency is the Total Loss of the Vessel and the Borrower in full compliance with its obligations in relation to such Total Loss) either:
|
(i) |
prepay (in accordance with Clause 4.2 (Voluntary prepayment) (but without regard to the requirement for five (5) days’ notice) within a period of thirty (30) days of the date of receipt by
the Borrower of the Lender’s said notice (the “Prepayment Date”) such sum in Dollars as will result in the Security Requirement after such prepayment (taking into account any other
repayment of the Loan made between the date of the notice and the date of such prepayment) being at least equal to the Security Value; or
|
(ii) |
on or before the Prepayment Date constitute to the satisfaction of the Lender such further security for the Loan as shall be acceptable to the Lender having a value for security purposes (as determined by the Lender in its absolute
discretion) at the date upon which such further security shall be constituted which, when added to the Security Value, shall not be less than the Security Requirement as at such date. Such additional security shall be constituted by:
|
59
aa) |
additional pledged cash deposits in favor of the Lender in an amount equal to such shortfall with the Lender and in an account and manner to be determined by the Lender; and/or
|
bb) |
any other security acceptable to the Lender at its absolute discretion to be provided in a manner determined by the Lender.
|
Any such additional security provided by the Lender shall be promptly released by the Lender once the Security Requirement ratio has been restored. The provisions of Clauses 4.3 (Mandatory Prepayment in case of Total Loss or sale or refinancing of the Vessel) and 4.4 (Amounts payable on prepayment) shall apply to prepayments under
Clause 8.5(a)(i).
(b) |
Valuation of Vessel: The Vessel shall, for the purposes of this Clause 8.5, be valued in Dollars once a year or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at any other time that the Lender shall reasonably require by an
Approved Shipbroker, appointed by the Borrower and addressed to the Lender (such valuation to be made without, unless required by the Lender, physical inspection, and on the basis of a sale for prompt delivery for cash at arm’s length on
normal commercial terms as between a willing buyer and a willing seller, without taking into account the benefit of any charterparty or other engagement concerning the Vessel. The Lender and the Borrower agrees to accept such valuation made
by such Approved Shipbroker appointed as aforesaid as conclusive evidence of the Market Value of the Vessel at the date of such valuation and such valuation shall constitute the Market Value of the Vessel for the purposes of this Clause 8.5.
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The value of the Vessel determined in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 8.5 shall be binding upon the Borrower and the Lender until such time as any further such valuation shall be
obtained.
(c) |
Information: The Borrower undertakes to the Lender to provide the Lender and any such Approved Shipbrokers such information concerning the Vessel and its condition as such Approved Shipbrokers may reasonably require for the purpose
of making any such valuation.
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(d) |
Costs: All costs in connection with:
|
(i) |
the Lender obtaining any valuation of the Vessel referred to in Clause 8.5(b) (Valuation of Vessel); and
|
(ii) |
any valuation of any additional security for the purposes of ascertaining the Security Value at any time or necessitated by the Borrower electing to constitute additional security pursuant to Clause 8.5(a)(ii): and
|
(iii) |
all legal and other expenses incurred by the Lender in connection with any matter arising out of this Clause 8.5,
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shall be borne by the Borrower.
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(e) |
Valuation of additional security: For the purpose of this Clause 8.5, the market value of any additional security provided or to be provided to the Lender shall be determined by the Lender in its absolute discretion without any
necessity for the Lender assigning any reason thereto and if such security consists of a vessel shall be that shown by a valuation complying with the requirements of Clause 8.5(b) (Valuation of Vessel)
(whereas the costs shall be borne by the Borrower in accordance with Clause 8.5(d) (Costs)) or if the additional security is in the form of a cash deposit full credit shall be given for such
cash deposit on a Dollar for Dollar basis.
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(f) |
Documents and evidence: In connection with any additional security provided in accordance with this Clause 8.5, the Lender shall be entitled to receive such evidence and documents of the kind referred to in Clause 7.1 (Conditions precedent to the execution of this Agreement) as may in the Lender’s opinion be appropriate and such favourable legal opinions as the Lender shall in its absolute discretion require.
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8.6 |
Sanctions
|
(a) |
Without limiting Clause 8.7 (Compliance with laws etc.), the Borrower hereby undertakes with the Lender that, from the date of this Agreement and until the date that the Outstanding
Indebtedness is paid in full, it shall ensure that the Vessel:
|
(i) |
will not be used by or for the benefit of a Sanctions Restricted Person contrary to Sanctions; and/or
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(ii) |
will not be used in trading in any Sanctions Restricted Jurisdiction or in any manner contrary to Sanctions; and/or
|
(iii) |
will not be traded in any manner which would trigger the operation of any sanctions limitation or exclusion clause (or similar) in the Insurances.
|
(b) |
The Borrower shall:
|
(i) |
not directly or to its knowledge (after reasonable enquiry) indirectly use or permit to be used all or any part of the proceeds of the Loan, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds directly or to its knowledge (after
reasonable enquiry) indirectly, to any person or entity (i) to finance or facilitate any activity or transaction of or with any Sanctions Restricted Person contrary to Sanctions or in any Sanctions Restricted Jurisdiction, or (ii) in any
other manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any Party;
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(ii) |
shall not fund all or part of any payment under the Loan out of proceeds derived directly or to its knowledge (after reasonable enquiry) indirectly from any activity or transaction with a Sanctions Restricted Person contrary to Sanctions
or in a Sanctions Restricted Jurisdiction or which would otherwise cause any party to be in breach of any Sanctions; and
|
(iii) |
procure that no proceeds to its knowledge (after reasonable enquiry) from activities or business with a Sanctions Restricted Person contrary to Sanctions or in a Sanctions Restricted Jurisdiction are credited to any of the Accounts.
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8.7 |
Compliance with laws etc.
|
The Borrower shall:
(a) |
comply, or procure compliance with all laws or regulations by the relevant Security Party:
|
(i) |
relating to its respective business generally; and
|
(ii) |
relating to the Vessel, its ownership, employment, operation, management and registration including, but not limited to, the ISM Code, the ISPS Code, all Environmental Laws and the laws of the Flag State; and
|
(iii) |
all Sanctions;
|
(b) |
obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect any Environmental Approvals; and
|
(c) |
without limiting paragraph (i) above, not employ the Vessel nor allow its employment, operation or management in any manner contrary to any law or regulation including, but not limited to, the ISM Code, the ISPS Code and all Environmental
Laws which has or is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on any of the Security Parties.
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8.8 |
Covenants for the Securities Parties
|
8.9 |
The Borrower undertakes with the Lender that, from the date of this Agreement and until the full and complete payment and
discharge of the Outstanding Indebtedness, it will ensure and procure that all other Security Parties (other than the Approved Manager, except where appropriate in its capacity as Approved Manager)
and each of them duly and punctually comply, with the covenants in Clauses 8.1 (General), 8.3 (Undertakings concerning the Vessel), 8.4 (Validity of Securities - Earnings - Taxes etc.), 8.5 (Secured Value to Security Requirement ratio - Valuation of the Vessel), 8.6 (Sanctions) and 8.7 (Compliance with laws etc.) which are applicable to them mutatis mutandis.
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8.10 |
Know your customer and money laundering compliance
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8.11 |
The Borrower undertakes with the Lender that, from the date of this Agreement and until the full and complete payment and
discharge of the Outstanding Indebtedness, it will provide the Lender, or procure the provision of, such documentation and other evidence as the Lender shall from time to time require, based on applicable law and regulations from time to
time and the Lender’s own internal guidelines from time to time to identify the each of the Borrower and the other Security Parties, including the disclosure in writing of the ultimate legal and
beneficial owner or owners of such entities, and any other persons involved or affected by the transaction(s) contemplated by this Agreement in order for the 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.
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8.12 |
Financial Covenants
|
(a) |
Financial covenants-Compliance Certificate: the Borrower will ensure that:
|
(i) |
for the duration of the Security Period, the Parent Company’s consolidated financial position, based on the most recent Accounting Information to comply with the financial covenants set out below:
|
aa) |
Corporate Liquidity: maintain an aggregate amount of (a) Cash and (b) Cash Equivalents not less than the higher of:
|
1. |
an amount equal to the aggregate of (a) $9,000,000 in respect of the Fleet Vessels owned by members of the Group on the date of this Agreement plus (b) $500,000 per Fleet Vessel (including the Vessel), acquired by a member of the Group
after the date of this Agreement, if any; and
|
2. |
7.5% of the Total Debt; and
|
bb) |
Working Capital: maintain Working Capital greater than zero Dollars throughout the Security Period; and
|
cc) |
Value Adjusted Equity Ratio: maintain a Value Adjusted Equity Ratio at a minimum of 35%.
|
(b) |
Construction: The expressions used in this Clause 8.12 shall be construed in accordance with law and accounting principles internationally accepted as used in the Accounting
Information produced in accordance with Clause 8.1(f) (Financial statements-Compliance Certificate).
|
(c) |
Definitions: For the purposes of this Agreement:
|
“Accounting Information” means the annual audited consolidated financial
statements of the Parent Company, to be provided by the Borrower to the Lender in accordance with Clause 8.1(f) (Financial Statements - Compliance Certificate);
“Accounting Period” means each Financial Year falling during the Security Period for which the Accounting Information is required to be
delivered to the Lender pursuant to Clause 8.1(f) (Financial Statements - Compliance Certificate);
“Cash” means, at any date of determination under this
Agreement, the aggregate value of the Parents and its Subsidiaries credit balances on any deposit, savings or current account and cash in hand (including, without limitation, short term cash deposits with the Account Holder) to which the Parents
and/or its Subsidiaries (as applicable) have free, immediate and direct access but excluding any such credit balances and cash subject to an Encumbrance (other than Encumbrances in favour of the Lender) at any time;
63
“Cash Equivalents” means, at any date of determination
under this Agreement and the Guarantee, the aggregate value of the Group’s:
but excluding any of those assets subject to an Encumbrance (other than Encumbrances in favour of the Lender) at any time,
provided that the Parent and/or its Subsidiaries (as applicable) have free, immediate and direct access.
“Fleet Market Value” in relation to a Fleet Vessel means, as of the date of calculation, the Market Value of that Fleet Vessel as
determined in accordance with the provisions (mutatis-mutandis) of Clause 8.6(b) (Valuation of Vessel) of this Agreement;
“Fleet Vessel” means any vessels (including, but not limited to, the Vessel) from time to time owned by a member of the Group (directly)
but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any newbuilding vessels not delivered to the relevant member of the Group at the relevant time, which, at the relevant time, are included within the Total Assets of the Parent Company in the balance sheet of
the Accounting Information and “Fleet Vessels” means any or all of them as the context may require;
“Total Assets” means, in respect of an Accounting Period, the aggregate, on a consolidated basis, value of all assets of the Parent Company
included in the Accounting Information as “current assets” and the value of all investments and all other tangible and intangible assets of the Parent Company properly included in the Accounting Information
as “fixed assets” in accordance with IFRS or US GAAP; and
“Total Debt” means, in respect of an Accounting Period, the aggregate amount of the Financial Indebtedness all the members of the Group at
that time as shown in the Parent’s latest financial statements delivered to the Lender pursuant to RIDER Clause 8.1(f) (Financial statements).
“Value Adjusted Equity Ratio” means the amount of the Parent’s total shareholders’ equity as
reflected in the most recent Accounting Information adjusted by the difference between the Fleet Market Value and the book value of the Fleet Vessels divided by market value adjusted total assets, as evidenced by the latest financial statements.
64
“Working Capital” means the consolidated current assets minus the consolidated current liabilities (next year’s instalment on long-term
debt and subordinated shareholder loans shall be excluded from the current liabilities).
9.1 |
Events
|
(e) |
Cross‑default:
|
65
(ii) |
(iv) |
any guarantee given by any of the Borrower and the Corporate Guarantor in respect of Financial Indebtedness relating to an amount exceeding the Permitted Amount is not honoured when due and called upon; or
|
(h) |
Reduction or loss of capital: a meeting is convened by any of the Borrower for the purpose of passing any resolution to purchase, reduce or redeem any of its share capital; or
|
66
(n) |
Cessation of business: any Security Party suspends or ceases or threatens to suspend or cease to carry on its business; or
|
67
(z) |
(aa) |
ISM Code and ISPS Code: (without prejudice to the generality of Clause 9.1(c) (Breach of other obligations)) for any reason whatsoever the provisions of Clause 8.3(r) (Compliance with ISM Code) and Clause 8.3(s) (Compliance with ISPS Code) are not complied with and the Vessel ceases to comply with the ISM Code
or, as the case may be, the ISPS Code; or
|
68
(dd) |
Finance Documents: any other event of default (as howsoever described or defined therein) occurs under the Finance Documents (or any of them).
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9.2 |
Consequences of Default – Acceleration
|
The Lender may without prejudice to any other rights of the Lender (which will continue to be in force concurrently with the following), at any time after the happening of an Event of Default:
9.3 |
Multiple notices; action without notice
|
The Lender may serve notices under sub-Clauses (a) and (b) of Clause 9.2 (Consequences of
Default – Acceleration) simultaneously or on different dates and it may take any action referred to in that Clause if no such notice is served or simultaneously with or at any time after service of both or either of such notices, it
being understood and agreed that the non-service of a notice in respect of an Event of Default hereunder, or under any of the Finance Documents (whether known to the Lender or not), shall not be construed to mean that the Event of Default shall cease
to exist and bring about its lawful consequences.
9.4 |
Demand basis
|
If, pursuant to Clause 9.2(b), the Lender declares the Loan to be due and payable on demand, the Lender may by written notice to the Borrower (a) call for repayment of the
Loan on such date as may be specified whereupon the Loan shall become due and payable on the date so specified together with all interest accrued and all other sums payable under this Agreement or (b) withdraw such declaration with effect from the
date specified in such notice.
9.5 |
Proof of Default
|
It is agreed that (i) the non-payment of any sum of money in time will be proved conclusively by mere passage of time and (ii) the occurrence of this (non-payment) shall
be proved conclusively by a mere written statement of the Lender (save for manifest error and in absence of willful misconduct).
69
9.6 |
Exclusion of Xxxxxx’s liability
|
Neither the Lender nor any receiver or manager appointed by the Lender, shall have any liability to the Borrower or a Security Party:
except that this does not exempt the Lender or a receiver or manager from liability for losses shown to have been caused by the wilful misconduct of the Lender’s own officers and employees or (as the
case may be) such receiver’s or manager’s own partners or employees.
10.1 |
Miscellaneous indemnities
|
The Borrower shall on demand (and it is hereby expressly undertaken by the Borrower to) indemnify the Lender, without prejudice to any of the other rights of the Lender
under any of the Finance Documents, against any loss (excluding loss of the applicable Margin but including any Break Costs) or expense which the Lender shall certify as sustained or incurred as a
consequence of:
(a) |
(b) |
70
10.2 |
Expenses
|
The Borrower shall (and it is hereby expressly undertaken by the Borrower to) pay to the Lender on demand:
(d) |
10.3 |
Break Costs
|
If as a consequence of receipt or recovery of all or any part of the Loan (a “Payment”) on a day other than the last
day of an Interest Period applicable to the sum received or recovered the Lender has or will, with effect from a specified date, incur Break Costs:
(a) |
(b) |
(i) |
the interest which the Lender, should have received in accordance with Clause 3 (Interest) in respect of the sum received or recovered from the date of receipt or recovery of such Payment
to the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to the sum received or recovered had such Payment been made on the last day of such Interest Period;
|
71
(ii) |
the amount which the Lender, would be able to obtain by placing an amount equal to such Payment on deposit with a leading bank for a period commencing on the Business Day following receipt or recovery of such Payment (as the case may be)
and ending on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to the sum received or recovered.
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10.4 |
Value Added Tax
|
All fees and expenses payable pursuant to this Clause 10 shall be paid together with value added tax (if applicable) or any similar tax (if any) properly chargeable thereon. Any value added tax
chargeable in respect of any services supplied by the Lender under this Agreement shall, on delivery of the value added tax invoice, be paid in addition to any sum agreed to be paid hereunder.
10.5 |
Stamp duty etc.
|
The Borrower shall pay any and all stamp, registration and similar taxes or charges (including those payable by the Lender) imposed by governmental authorities in relation
to this Agreement and any of the other Finance Documents, and shall indemnify the Lender against any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from delay or omission on the part of the Borrower to pay such stamp taxes or charges.
10.6 |
Environmental Indemnity
|
The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender on demand and hold the Lender harmless from and against all costs, expenses, payments, charges, losses, demands, liabilities,
actions, proceedings (whether civil or criminal) penalties, fines, damages, judgements, orders, sanctions or other outgoings of whatever nature which may be suffered, incurred or paid by, or made or asserted against the Lender at any time, whether
before or after the repayment in full of principal and interest under this Agreement, relating to, or arising directly or indirectly in any manner or for any cause or reason out of an Environmental Claim made or asserted against the Lender if such
Environmental Claim would not have been, or been capable of being, made or asserted against the Lender if it had not entered into any of the Finance Documents and/or exercised any of its rights, powers and discretions thereby conferred and/or
performed any of its obligations thereunder and/or been involved in any of the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents.
10.7 |
Currency Indemnity
|
If any sum due from the Borrower under any of the Finance Documents or any order or judgement given or made in relation hereto has to be converted from the currency (the “first currency”) in which the same is payable under the relevant Finance Document or under such order or
judgement into another currency (the “second currency”) for the purpose of (i) making or filing a claim or
proof against the Borrower or any other Security Party, as the case may be or (ii) obtaining an order or judgement in any court or other tribunal or (iii) enforcing any order or judgement given or made in relation to any of the Finance Documents, the
Borrower shall (and it is hereby expressly undertaken by the Borrower to) indemnify and hold harmless the Lender from and against any loss suffered as a result of any difference between (a) the rate of exchange used for such purpose to convert the
sum in question from the first currency into the second currency and (b) the rate or rates of exchange at which the Lender may in the ordinary course of business purchase the first currency with the second currency upon receipt of a sum paid to it in
satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any such order, judgement, claim or proof. The term “rate of exchange”
includes any premium and costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of the first currency with the second currency.
72
10.8 |
Maintenance of the Indemnities
|
The indemnities contained in this Clause 10 shall apply irrespective of any indulgence granted to the Borrower or any other party from time to time and shall continue to
be in full force and effect notwithstanding any payment in favour of the Lender and any sum due from the Borrower under this Clause 10 will be due as a separate debt and shall not be affected by judgement being obtained for any other sums due under
any one or more of this Agreement, the other Finance Documents and any other documents executed pursuant hereto or thereto.
10.9 |
MII costs and MAPI costs
|
The Borrower shall reimburse the Lender on demand for any and all costs incurred by the Lender (as conclusively certified by the Lender) in effecting and keeping effected (a) a Mortgagee’s Interest Insurance (herein “MII”) and (b) a Mortgagee’s Interest Additional Perils (Pollution)
Insurance policy (herein “MAPI”), each of which the Lender may at any time
effect for an amount equal to 120% of the Loan and on such terms and with such insurers as shall from time to time
be determined by the Lender, provided, however, that the Lender shall in its absolute discretion appoint and instruct in respect of any such MII and MAPI policy the insurance brokers in respect of such Insurance and provided,
further, that in the event that the Lender effects any such Insurance on the basis of any mortgagee’s open cover, the Borrower shall pay on demand to the Lender its proportion of premium due in respect of the Vessel for which such insurance
cover has been effected by the Lender, and any certificate of the Lender in respect of any such premium due by the Borrower shall (save for manifest error) be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower.
10.10 |
Central Bank or European Central Bank reserve requirements indemnity
|
The Borrower shall on demand promptly indemnify the Lender against any cost incurred or loss suffered by the Lender as a result of its complying with the minimum reserve
requirements of the European Central Bank and/or with respect to maintaining required reserves with the relevant national Central Bank to the extent that such compliance relates to the Commitment or deposits obtained by it to fund the whole or part
of the Loan and to the extent such cost or loss is not recoverable by such Lender under Clause 12.2 (Increased cost).
10.11 |
Communications Indemnity
|
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10.12 |
Electronic communication
|
Any communication from the Lender made by electronic means will be sent unsecured and without electronic signature, however, the Borrower may request the Lender at any
time in writing to change the method of electronic communication from unsecured to secured electronic mail communication.
74
(b) |
If the Borrower or any other Security Party wish to cease all electronic communication, they shall give written notice to the Lender accordingly after receipt of which notice the Parties shall cease all electronic communication.
|
(c) |
(i) |
(ii) |
notify each other of any change to their respective addresses or any other such information supplied to them; and
|
(iii) |
in case electronic communication is sent to recipients with the domain <@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx>, the parties shall without undue delay inform each other if there are changes to the said domain or
if electronic communication shall thereafter be sent to individual e-mail addresses.
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10.13 |
10.14 |
FATCA status
|
(a) |
Subject to Clause 10.14(c) below, each party shall, within ten (10) Business Days of a reasonable request by another party:
|
(i) |
confirm to that other party whether it is:
|
(aa) |
a FATCA Exempt Party; or
|
(bb) |
not a FATCA Exempt Party; and
|
(ii) |
supply to that other party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA (including its applicable passthru percentage or other information required under the Treasury Regulations or other official
guidance including intergovernmental agreements) as that other party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other party’s compliance with FATCA.
|
(b) |
If a party confirms to another party pursuant to Clause 10.14(a)(i) above that it is a FATCA Exempt Party and it subsequently becomes aware that it is not, or has ceased to be a FATCA Exempt Party, that party shall notify that other party
reasonably promptly.
|
75
(c) |
Clause 10.14(a)(i) above shall not oblige the Lender to do anything which would or might in its opinion constitute a breach of:
|
(i) |
any law or regulation;
|
(ii) |
any fiduciary duty; or
|
(iii) |
any duty of confidentiality.
|
(d) |
If a party fails to confirm its status or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with Clause10.14(a) above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where Clause 10.14(c) above applies), then:
|
(i) |
if that party failed to confirm whether it is (and/or remains) a FATCA Exempt Party then such party shall be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents as if it is not a FATCA Exempt Party; and
|
(ii) |
if that party failed to confirm its applicable passthru percentage then such party shall be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents (and payments made thereunder) as if its applicable passthru percentage is 100%,
|
until (in each case) such time as the party in question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information.
10.15 |
Arrangement fee
|
(a) |
Arrangement fee: The Borrower shall pay to the Lender an arrangement fee in an amount of Dollars equal to zero point eight zero per cent. (0.80%) of the amount of the Loan.
|
(b) |
Non-refundable: The Arrangement Fee shall be payable by the Borrower to the Lender irrespective of utilisation/cancellation in part or in whole of the Commitment and/or the MOA cancellation or non-Delivery of the Vessel and shall be
non-refundable.
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11.1 |
Securities
|
As security for the due and punctual repayment of the Loan and payment of interest thereon as provided in this Agreement and of all other Outstanding Indebtedness, the
Borrower shall ensure and procure that the Security Documents are duly executed and, where required, registered in favour of the Lender in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender at the time specified
herein or otherwise as required by the Lender and ensure that such security consists, on the Drawdown Date of the Security Documents as provided in Clause 7 (Conditions Precedent).
11.2 |
Maintenance of Securities
|
It is hereby undertaken by the Borrower that the Finance Documents shall both at the date of execution and delivery thereof and so long as any moneys are owing and/or due under this Agreement and/or
under the other Finance Documents be valid and binding obligations of the respective Security Parties thereto and rights of the Lender enforceable in accordance with their respective terms and that they will, at the expense of the Borrower, execute,
sign, perfect and do any and every such further assurance, document, act, omission or thing as in the opinion of the Lender may be necessary or desirable for perfecting the security contemplated or constituted by the Finance Documents.
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11.3 |
Application of receipts
|
(i) |
FIRST: in or towards satisfaction of any amounts then due and payable under the Finance Documents in the following order and proportions:
|
bb) |
Secondly, in or towards payment of any default interest then due and payable to the Lender;
|
cc) |
dd) |
(ii) |
SECOND the surplus (if any), after the full and complete payment of the Outstanding Indebtedness, shall be paid to the Borrower or to any other person appearing to be entitled to it.
|
(b) |
Notice of variation of order of application: The Lender may, by notice to the Borrower and the Security Parties, provide, at its sole discretion, for a different order of application from that set out in
Clause 11.3(a) (Order of application) either as regards a specified sum or sums or as regards sums in a specified category or categories, without affecting the obligations of the Borrower to
the Lender.
|
(c) |
Effect of variation notice: The Lender may give notices under Clause 11.3(b) (Notice of variation of order of application) 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.
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(d) |
Insufficient balance: For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that such balance is insufficient to pay in full the whole of the Outstanding Indebtedness, the Lender shall be entitled to collect the shortfall
from the Borrower or any other person liable therefor.
|
77
(e) |
Appropriation rights overridden: This Clause 11.3 and any notice which the Lender gives under Clause 11.3(b) (Notice of variation of order
of application) shall override any right of appropriation possessed, and any appropriation made, by the Borrower or any other Security Party.
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11.4 |
(ii) |
in the name of the Borrower and/or the Lender to do all such acts and execute all such documents as may be necessary or expedient to effect such application; and
|
(iii) |
to combine and/or consolidate all or any accounts in the name of the Borrower with the Lender; and
|
aa) |
bb) |
cc) |
to enter into any other transaction or make any entry with regard to the credit balance which the Lender considers appropriate.
|
(b) |
Existing rights unaffected: The Lender shall not be obliged to exercise any right given by this Clause; 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 the Lender is entitled (whether under the general law or any document). For all or any of the above purposes authority is hereby given to the Lender to purchase with the moneys
standing to the credit of any such account or accounts such other currencies as may be necessary to effect such application. The Lender shall notify the Borrower forthwith upon the exercise of any right of set‑off giving full details in
relation thereto.
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12.1 |
Unlawfulness
|
If any change in, or introduction of, any law, regulation or regulatory requirement or any request of any central bank, monetary, regulatory or other authority or any order of any court renders it
unlawful or contrary to any such regulation, requirement, request or order for the Lender to advance the Commitment or the relevant part thereof (as the case may be) or to maintain or fund the Loan, notice shall be given promptly by the Lender to the
Borrower whereupon the Commitment shall be reduced to zero and the Borrower shall be obliged to prepay the Loan or to determine or charge interest rates based upon Term SOFR either
(i) forthwith or (ii) on a future specified date not being earlier than the latest date permitted by the relevant law or regulation, together with accrued interest thereon to the date of prepayment and all other sums payable by the Borrower under
this Agreement.
12.2 |
Increased Cost
|
If the result of any change in, or in the interpretation, implementation or application of, or the introduction of, any law or any regulation (whether or not having the
force of law, but, if not having the force of law, with which the Lender or, as the case may be, its holding company habitually complies), including (without limitation) those relating to Taxation, capital adequacy, liquidity, reserve assets, cash
ratio deposits and special deposits or other banking or monetary controls or requirements which affect the manner in which the Lender allocates capital resources to its obligations hereunder (including, without limitation, those resulting from the
implementation or application of or compliance with the Basel II Accord or the Basel III Accord or any Basel II Regulation or the Basel III Accord or any Basel III Regulation or any subsequent accord, approach or regulation thereto) (collectively, “Capital Adequacy Law”) or compliance by the Lender with any such Capital Adequacy Law or , is to:
(a) |
increase the cost to, or impose an additional cost on, the Lender or its holding company in making or keeping the Commitment available or maintaining or funding all or part of the Loan; and/or
|
(c) |
(i) |
the Lender shall notify the Borrower in writing of such event promptly upon it becoming aware of the same; and
|
79
For the purposes of this Clause 12 “holding company”
means the company or entity (if any) within the consolidated supervision of which the Lender is included.
12.3 |
Mitigation
|
If circumstances arise which would result in a notification under Clause 12.1 (Unlawfulness) or Clause
12.2 (Increased Cost), then, without in any way limiting the rights of the Lender under this Clause, the Lender shall use reasonable endeavours to transfer all the Lender’s obligations, liabilities and rights
under this agreement and the Finance Documents to another office or financial institution not affected by the circumstances, but the Lender shall not be under any obligation to take any such action if, in its opinion, to do so would or might: (a)
have an 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 involve it in any expense
(unless indemnified to its satisfaction) or tax disadvantage.
12.4 |
Claim for increased cost
|
The Lender will promptly notify the Borrower of any intention to claim indemnification pursuant to Clause 12.2 (Increased Cost) and
such notification will be a conclusive and full evidence binding on the Borrower as to the amount of any increased cost or reduction and the method of calculating the same and the Borrower shall be allowed to rebut such evidence by any means of
evidence save for witness. A claim under Clause 12.2 (Increased Cost) and must be discharged by the Borrower on the next Interest Payment Date or alternatively within seven (7) days of demand by the
Lender. It shall not be a defence to a claim by the Lender under this Clause 12.4 that any increased cost or reduction could have been avoided by the Lender. Any amount due from the Borrower under Clause 12.2 (Increased
Cost) shall be due as a separate debt and shall not be affected by judgement being obtained for any other sums due under or in respect of this Agreement.
12.5 |
Option to prepay
|
(b) |
Application of prepayment: Clause 4 (Repayment-Prepayment) shall apply in relation to the prepayment.
|
12.6 |
Exception
|
Nothing in Clause 12.2 (Increased Cost) shall entitle the Lender to receive any amount in respect of compensation for any
such liability to Taxes, increased or additional cost, reduction, payment, foregone return or loss to the extent that the same is subject of an additional payment under Clause 5.3 (Gross Up).
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12.7 |
Contractual recognition of bail-in
|
Notwithstanding any other term of any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding between the Parties, each Party acknowledges and accepts that
any liability of any Party to any other Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be subject to Bail-In Action by the relevant Resolution Authority and acknowledges and accepts to be bound by the effect of:
(a) |
any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability, including (without limitation):
|
(i) |
a reduction, in full or in part, in the principal amount, or outstanding amount due (including any accrued but unpaid interest) in respect of any such liability;
|
(ii) |
a conversion of all, or part of, any such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership that may be issued to, or conferred on, it; and
|
(iii) |
a cancellation of any such liability; and
|
(b) |
a variation of any term of any Finance Document to the extent necessary to give effect to any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability.
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13.1 |
General
|
(a) |
(b) |
ensure and procure that all moneys payable to the Borrower in respect of the Earnings of the Vessel and the Insurances thereon shall, unless and until the Lender directs to the contrary pursuant to the General Assignment, be paid to the
Operating Account, free from Security Interests and rights of set off other than those created by or under the Finance Documents and, shall be held there on trust for the Lender and shall be applied as provided in Clause 13.2 (Application of Earnings),
|
provided, always, that any moneys received in a currency other than Dollars, may be converted in Dollars by the Lender at the Lender’s spot rate of exchange.
13.2 |
Application of Earnings
|
Unless and until an Event
of Default shall occur (whereupon the provisions of Clause 11.3 (Application of receipts) shall be applicable) and subject to the terms and
conditions of the Accounts Pledge Agreement no monies shall be withdrawn from the Operating Account save as hereinafter provided. Subject to no Event of Default having occurred and being continuing, all monies paid to the Operating Account (whether
being Earnings or not) after discharging the costs (if any) incurred by the Lender, in collecting such monies, shall be applied by the Lender as follows:
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(b) |
Second: in or towards payment of the Operating Expenses; and
|
13.3 |
Interest
|
Any amounts for the time being standing to the credit of the Operating Account shall bear interest at the rate from time to time offered by
the Lender to its customers for Dollar deposits of similar amounts and for periods similar to those for which such amounts are likely to remain standing to the credit of the Operating Account. Such interest shall, provided that (a) the
foregoing provisions of this Clause 13 shall have been complied with and (b) no Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, be released to the Borrower.
13.4 |
Drawings from Operating Account
|
After the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing the Lender shall not permit the Borrower to make any drawings from their respective Operating Account.
13.5 |
Authorisation
|
The Lender shall be entitled (but not obliged) at any time, and to this respect the Lender is hereby authorised by the Borrower from time to time to debit the Operating
Account, without notice to the Borrower, in order to discharge any amount due and payable to the Lender under the terms of this Agreement and the Security
Documents or otherwise howsoever in connection with the Loan, including, without limitation, any payment of which the Lender has become entitled to demand under Clause 10 (Indemnities - Expenses – Fees).
The Lender shall notify the Borrower following any such discharge of any amount due and payable to the Lender giving the necessary details in relation thereto.
13.6 |
Obligations unaffected
|
(b) |
any other liability or obligation of the Borrower or any other Security Party under any Finance Document.
|
13.7 |
Relocation of Operating Account
|
The Borrower, at its own costs and expenses, undertakes with the Lender to comply with or cause to be complied with any written requirement of the Lender from time to time
as to the location or re-location of the Operating Account and will from time to time enter into such documentation as the Lender may require in order to create or maintain a security interest in the Operating Account.
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13.8 |
Application on Event of Default
|
Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing or at any time thereafter (whether or not notice of default has been given to the Borrower) when an Event of
Default continues the Lender shall be entitled to set off and apply all sums standing to the credit of the Operating Account and accrued interest (if any) without notice to the Borrower in the manner specified in Clause 11.3 (Application of Receipts) (and express and irrevocable authority is hereby given by the Borrower to the Lender so to set off by debiting the Operating Account accordingly by the same and the Borrower shall be released to the
extent of such set off and application.
13.9 |
No Security Interests
|
The Borrower hereby covenants with the Lender that the Operating Account and any moneys therein shall not be charged, assigned, transferred or pledged nor shall there be
granted by the Borrower or suffered to arise any third party rights over or against the whole or any part of the Operating Account other than in favour of the Lender as promised herein and in the General Assignment.
13.10 |
Operation of Operating Account
|
The Operating Account shall be operated by the Borrower to the degree permitted by this Agreement and the General Assignment in accordance with the Lender’s usual terms
and conditions (full knowledge of which the Borrower hereby acknowledges) and subject to the Lender’s usual charges levied on such accounts and/or transactions conducted on such accounts (as from time to time notified by the Lender to the Borrower).
13.11 |
Release
|
Upon payment in full of all the Outstanding Indebtedness in full, any balance then standing to the credit of the Operating Account shall be released and
paid to the Borrower or to whomsoever else may be entitled to receive such balance.
14.1 |
Binding Effect
|
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Lender and the Borrower and their respective successors and assigns.
14.2 |
No Assignment by the Borrower and other Security Parties
|
Neither the Borrower nor any other Security Parties may assign or transfer any of its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Finance Documents or any documents executed
pursuant to this Agreement and/or the other Finance Documents.
14.3 |
The Lender may at any time without the consent of, or consultation with, the Borrower and the other Security Parties but with thirty (30)
days prior notice to the Borrower, cause all or any part of its rights, benefits and/or obligations under this Agreement and the other Finance Documents to be assigned or transferred to:
83
(a) |
another branch, any Subsidiary or Affiliate of, or company controlled by, the Lender,
|
provided that the Assignee or Transferee, shall deliver to the Lender such undertaking as the Lender may approve, whereby it becomes bound by the terms of this
Agreement and agrees to perform all or, as the case may be, part of the Lender’s obligations under this Agreement; and
provided further that the liabilities of the Borrower and/or of any other Security Party under this Agreement and any other Finance Document shall not be increased
as a result of any such assignment or transfer and that in the event that the liabilities (actual or contingent) of the Borrower and/or of any other Security Party are increased, neither the Borrower nor any other Security Party shall be liable for any such excess.
14.4 |
Participation
|
The Lender may at any time without the consent of, or consultation with, or notice to the Borrower sub-participate all or any part of its rights, benefits and/or
obligations under this Agreement and the other Finance Documents without the consent of, or consultation with or notice to the Borrower and the other Security Parties, provided that the liabilities of the Borrower under this Agreement and any
other Finance Document shall not be increased as a result of any such sub-participation and that in the event that the Borrower’ liabilities (actual or contingent) are increased, the Borrower shall not be liable for any such excess.
14.5 |
Cost
|
Any cost of such assignment or transfer or granting sub-participation shall be for the account of the Lender and/or the Assignee, Transferee or sub-participant unless any
such assignment, transfer or sub-participation is undertaken at the request of the Borrower, in which case any cost arising therefrom shall be for the account of the Borrower.
14.6 |
Documenting assignments and transfers
|
If the Lender assigns, transfers or in any other manner grants participation in respect of all or any part of its rights or benefits or transfers all or any of its
obligations as provided in this Clause 14.6 the Borrower undertakes, immediately on being requested to do so by the Lender, to enter at the expense of the Lender into and procure that each Security Party enters into such documents as may be necessary
or desirable to transfer to the Assignee, Transferee or participant all or the relevant part of the interest of the Lender in the Finance Documents and all relevant references in this Agreement to the Lender shall thereafter be construed as a
reference to the Lender and/or assignee, transferee or participant of the Lender to the extent of their respective interests and, in the case of a transfer of all or part of the obligations of the Lender, the Borrower shall thereafter look only to
the Assignee, Transferee or participant in respect of that proportion of the obligations of the Lender under this Agreement assumed by such assignee, transferee or participant. Subject to the provisions of Clause 14.3 (Assignment by the Lender), the Borrower subject to Clause 14.3 (Assignment by the Lender) hereby expressly consents to
any subsequent transfer of the rights and obligations of the Lender and undertakes that it shall join in and execute such supplemental or substitute agreements as may be necessary to enable the Lender to assign and/or transfer and/or grant
participation in respect of its rights and obligations to another branch or to one or more banks or financial institutions in a syndicate or otherwise. The cost of any such assignment shall be borne by the Lender and/or the relevant Assignee or
Transferee.
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14.7 |
Disclosure of information
|
The Lender may disclose to a prospective assignee, substitute or transferee such information about the Borrower as the Lender shall consider appropriate if the Lender
first procures that the relevant prospective assignee, substitute or transferee (such person together with any prospective assignee, substitute or transferee being hereinafter described as the “Prospective Assignee”) shall undertake to the Lender by way of a non disclosure agreement to keep secret and confidential and shall not, without the
consent of the Borrower, disclose to any third party any of the information, reports or documents supplied by the Lender provided, however, that the Prospective Assignee shall be entitled to disclose such information, reports or documents in
the following situations:
(a) |
in relation to any proceedings arising out of this Agreement or the other Finance Documents to the extent considered necessary by the Prospective Assignee to protect its interest; or
|
(b) |
pursuant to a court order relating to discovery or otherwise; or
|
(c) |
pursuant to any law or regulation or to any fiscal, monetary, tax, governmental or other competent authority; or
|
(d) |
to its auditors, legal or other professional advisers.
|
In addition, the
Prospective Assignee shall be entitled to disclose or use any such information, reports or documents if the information contained therein shall have emanated in conditions free from confidentiality, bona fide from some person other than the Lender or
the Borrower.
14.8 |
Changes in constitution or reorganisation of the Lender
|
For the avoidance of doubt and without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 14.1 (Binding Effect), this Agreement shall
remain binding on the Borrower and the other Security Parties notwithstanding any change in the constitution of the Lender or its absorption in, or amalgamation with, or the acquisition of all or part of its
undertaking or assets by, any other person, or any reconstruction or reorganisation of any kind, to the intent that this Agreement shall remain valid and effective in all respects in favour of any Assignee, Transferee or other successor in title of
the Lender in the same manner as if such Assignee, Transferee or other successor in title had been named in this Agreement as a party instead of, or in addition to, the Lender.
14.9 |
Securitisation
|
The Lender may include all or any part of the Loan in a securitisation (or similar transaction) pursuant to Law 3156/2003, or any other relevant
legislation introduced or enacted after the date of this Agreement, without the consent of, or consultation with, but with notice to the Borrower. The Borrower will assist the Lender as necessary to achieve a successful securitisation (or similar
transaction) provided that the Borrower shall not be required to bear any third party costs related to any such securitisation (or similar transaction) and that such securitisation (or similar transaction) shall not result in an increase of
the Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement and the other Security Documents and need only provide any such information which any third parties may reasonably require.
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14.10 |
Lending Office
|
The Lender shall lend through its office at the address specified in the preamble of this Agreement or through any other office of the Lender selected from time to time by it through which the
Lender wishes to lend for the purposes of this Agreement. If the office through which the Lender is lending is changed pursuant to this Clause 14.10, the Lender shall notify the Borrower promptly of such change and upon notification of any such
transfer, the word “Lender” in this Agreement and in the other Finance Documents shall mean the Lender, acting through such branch or branches and the terms and provisions of this Agreement and of the other
Finance Documents shall be construed accordingly.
15. |
MISCELLANEOUS
|
15.1 |
Time of essence
|
Time is of the essence as regards every obligation of the Borrower under this Agreement.
15.2 |
Cumulative Remedies
|
The rights and remedies of the Lender contained in this Agreement and the other Finance Documents are cumulative and neither exclusive of each other nor of any other rights or remedies conferred by
law.
15.3 |
No implied waivers
|
No failure, delay or omission by the Lender to exercise any right, remedy or power vested in the Lender under this Agreement and/or the other Finance Documents or by law shall impair such right or
power, or be construed as a waiver of, or as an acquiescence in any default by the Borrower, nor shall any single or partial exercise by the Lender of any power, right or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other power, right or remedy. In the event of the Lender on any occasion agreeing to waive any such right, remedy or power, or consenting to any departure from the strict application of the provisions of this Agreement or of any other Finance
Document, such waiver shall not in any way prejudice or affect the powers conferred upon the Lender under this Agreement and the other Finance Documents or the right of the Lender thereafter to act strictly in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement and the other Finance Documents. No modification or waiver by the Lender of any provision of this Agreement or of any of the other Finance Documents nor any consent by the Lender to any departure therefrom by any Security Party shall be
effective unless the same shall be in writing and then shall only be effective in the specific case and for the specific purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on any such party in any such case shall entitle such party to any other or
further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.
15.4 |
Integration of Terms
|
This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and its provisions supersede the provisions of the Commitment Letter (save for the provisions thereof which relate to fees) and any and
all other prior correspondence and oral negotiation by the parties in respect of the matters regulated by this Agreement.
86
15.5 |
Recourse to other security
|
The Lender shall not be obliged to make any claim or demand or to resort to any Finance Document or other means of payment now or hereafter held by or available to it for enforcing this Agreement
or any of the other Finance Documents against the Security Parties (or any of them) or any other person liable and no action taken or omitted by the Lender in connection with any such Finance Document or other means of payment will discharge,
reduce, prejudice or affect the liability of any Security Party under this Agreement and the other Finance Documents to which it is, or is to be, a party.
15.6 |
Amendments - No modification, waiver etc. unless in writing
|
(a) |
This Agreement and any other Finance Documents shall not be amended or varied in their respective terms by any oral agreement or representation or in any other manner other than by an instrument in writing of even date herewith or
subsequent hereto executed by or on behalf of the parties hereto or thereto.
|
(b) |
No modification or waiver by the Lender of any provision of this Agreement or of any of the other Finance Documents nor any consent by the Lender to any
departure therefrom by any Security Party shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and then shall only be effective in the specific case and for the specific purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on any such party
in any such case shall entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.
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15.7 |
Severability of provisions
|
In the event of any provision contained in one or more of this Agreement, the other Finance Documents and any other documents executed pursuant hereto or thereto being invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law in any jurisdiction whatsoever, such provision shall be ineffective as to that jurisdiction only without affecting the remaining provisions hereof or thereof. If, however, this event becomes
known to the Lender prior to the drawdown of the Commitment or of any part thereof the Lender shall be entitled to refuse drawdown until this discrepancy is remedied. In case that the invalidity of a part results in the invalidity of the whole
Agreement, it is hereby agreed that there will exist a separate obligation of the Borrower for the prompt payment to the Lender of all the Outstanding Indebtedness. Where, however, the provisions of any such applicable law may be waived, they are
hereby waived by the parties hereto to the full extent permitted by the law to the intent that this Agreement, the other Finance Documents and any other documents executed pursuant hereto or thereto shall be deemed to be valid binding and
enforceable in accordance with their respective terms.
15.8 |
Language and genuineness of documents
|
(a) |
Language: All certificates, instruments and other documents to be delivered under or supplied in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Finance Documents shall be in the Greek or the English language (or such other
language as the Lender shall agree) or shall be accompanied by a certified Greek translation upon which the Lender shall be entitled to rely.
|
(b) |
Certification of documents: Any copies of documents delivered to the Lender shall be duly certified as true, complete and accurate copies by appropriate authorities or legal counsel practicing in Greece or otherwise as will be
acceptable to the Lender at the sole discretion of the Lender.
|
(c) |
Certification of signature: Signatures on Board or shareholder resolutions, Secretary’s certificates and any other documents are, at the discretion of the Lender, to be verified for their genuineness by appropriate Consul or
other competent authority.
|
87
15.9 |
Further assurances
|
The Borrower undertakes that the Finance Documents shall both at the date of execution and delivery thereof and so long as any moneys are owing under any of the Finance Documents be valid and
binding obligations of the respective parties thereto and enforceable in accordance with their respective terms and that it will, at its expense, execute, sign, perfect and do, and will procure the execution, signing, perfecting and doing by each
of the other Security Parties of, any and every such further assurance, document, act or thing as in the opinion of the Lender may be necessary or desirable for perfecting the security contemplated or constituted by the Finance Documents.
15.10 |
Counterparts
|
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and all such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute but one and the same instrument.
15.11 |
Confidentiality
|
(a) |
Each of the parties hereto agree and undertake to keep confidential any documentation and any confidential information concerning the business, affairs, directors or employees of the other which comes into its possession in connection
with this Agreement and not to use any such documentation, information for any purpose other than for which it was provided.
|
(b) |
The Borrower acknowledges and accepts that the Lender may be required by law regulation or regulatory requirement or any request of any central bank or any court order to disclose information and deliver documentation relating to the
Borrower and the transactions and matters in relation to this Agreement and/or the other Finance Documents to governmental or regulatory agencies and authorities.
|
(c) |
The Borrower acknowledges and accepts that in case of occurrence of any of the Events of Default which is continuing the Lender may disclose information and deliver documentation relating to the Borrower and the transactions and matters
in relation to this Agreement and/or the other Finance Documents to third parties to the extent that this is necessary for the enforcement or the contemplation of enforcement of the Lender’s rights or for any other purpose for which in the
opinion of the Lender, such disclosure would be useful or appropriate for the interests of the Lender or otherwise and the Borrower expressly authorises any such disclosure and delivery.
|
(d) |
The Borrower acknowledges and accepts that the Lender may be prohibited from disclosing information to the Borrower by reason of law or duties of confidentiality owed or to be owed to other persons.
|
(e) |
This Clause 15.11 shall be: (i) in addition to all other duties of confidentiality imposed on the Lender and its professional advisers under applicable law; and (ii) subject to any other applicable provisions contained in this Agreement
and the other Finance Documents.
|
88
15.12 |
Personal data
|
(a) |
Process of personal data: The Borrower hereby confirms that it has been informed that its personal data and/or the personal data of its director(s), officer(s) and legal representative(s) (together the “personal data”) contained in this Agreement or the personal data that have been or will be lawfully received by the Lender in relation to this Agreement and the Finance Documents will be included at the personal data
database maintained by the Lender as processing agent (Υπεύθυνη Επεξεργασίας) and will be processed by the Lender for the purpose of properly serving, supporting and monitoring their current
business relationship.
|
(b) |
Process of personal data to Teiresias: The Borrower hereby expressly gives its consent to the communication for process in the meaning of law 2472/97 by the Lender of its personal data contained in this Agreement, the Finance
Documents, in the Operating Account for onwards communication thereof to an inter-banking database record called “Teiresias” kept and solely used by banks and financial institutions. The Borrower is
entitled at any relevant time throughout the Security Period to revoke its consent given hereunder by written notice addressed to the Lender and the Registrar of “Teiresias A.E.” at 0, Xxxxxxxx
xxxxxx, 00000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx.
|
(c) |
Duration of the process: The personal data process shall survive the termination of this Agreement for such period as it is required by the applicable law.
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16. |
NOTICES AND COMMUNICATIONS
|
16.1 |
Notices
|
Every notice, request, demand or other communication under the Agreement or, unless otherwise provided therein, any of the other Finance Documents shall:
(a) |
be in writing delivered personally or by first-class prepaid letter (airmail if available), or shall be served through a process server or subject to Clauses 10.11 (Communications Indemnity), and Clause 10.12 (Electronic Communication) and 16.6 (Effect of electronic communication) by fax or electronic mail;
|
(b) |
be deemed to have been received, subject as otherwise provided in this Agreement or the relevant Finance Document, in the case of fax or electronic mail, at the time of dispatch as per transmission report (provided, in either case,
that if the date of despatch is not a business day in the country of the addressee it shall be deemed to have been received at the opening of business on the next such business day), and in the case of a letter when delivered or
served personally or five (5) days after it has been put into the post; and
|
(c) |
be sent:
|
(i) |
if to be sent to any Security Party, to:
|
c/o Unitized Ocean Transport limited,
000 Xxxxxxx Xxx. & 2-4 Ymittou Str.,
175 64 Palaio Faliro, Athens, Greece
Facsimile No: x00 000 000 0000
Attention: Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
E-mail:
and
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(ii) |
if to be sent to the Lender, to
|
Alpha Bank S.A.
93 Akti Miaouli
185 38 Piraeus, Greece
Fax No.: x00000 00 00 000
Attention: The Manager
E-mail:
or to such other person, address fax number or electronic address as is notified by the relevant Security Party or the Lender (as the case may be) to the
other parties to this Agreement and, in the case of any such change of address, or fax number or electronic address notified to the Lender, the same shall not become effective until notice of such change is
actually received by the Lender and a copy of the notice of such change is signed by the Lender.
16.2 |
Effective date of notices
|
Subject to Clauses 16.3 (Service outside business hours) and 17.4 (Illegible notices):
(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 fax or electronic mail shall be deemed to be served, and shall take effect, two hours after its transmission is completed.
|
16.3
|
Service outside business hours
|
However, if under Clause 16.2 (Effective date of notices) 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 p.m. local time,
|
the notice shall (subject to Clause 16.4 (Illegible notices)) be deemed to be served, and shall take effect, at 9 a.m. on the next day which is
such a Business Day.
16.4
|
Illegible notices
|
Clauses 16.2 (Effective date of notices) and 16.3 (Service outside business hours) do
not apply if the recipient of a notice notifies the sender within one hour 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.
16.5
|
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:
90
(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.
|
16.6
|
Effect of electronic communication
|
(a) |
Any communication to be made between any two Parties under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means (including, without limitation, by way of
posting to a secure website) if those two Parties:
|
(i) |
notify each other in writing of their electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the transmission of information by that means; and
|
(ii) |
notify each other of any change to their address or any other such information supplied by them by not less than five (5) Business Days’ notice.
|
(b) |
Any such electronic communication as specified in paragraph (a) above to be made between a Security Party and the Lender may only be made in that way to the extent that those two Parties agree that, unless and until notified to the
contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication.
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(c) |
Any such electronic communication as specified in paragraph (a) above made between any two Parties will be effective only when actually received (or made available) in readable form and in the case of any electronic communication made by
a Party to the Lender only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Lender shall specify for this purpose.
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(d) |
Any electronic communication which becomes effective, in accordance with paragraph (c) above, after 5.00 p.m. in the place in which the Party to whom the relevant communication is sent or made available has its address for the purpose of
this Agreement shall be deemed only to become effective on the following Business Day.
|
(e) |
Any reference in a Finance Document to a communication being sent or received shall be construed to include that communication being made available in accordance with this Clause 16.6.
|
16.7 |
Language
|
Any notice under or in connection with a Finance Document shall be in English.
16.8 |
Meaning of “notice”
|
In this Clause 16, “notice” includes any demand, consent, authorisation, approval, instruction, waiver or other
communication.
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17. |
LAW AND JURISDICTION
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17.1 |
Governing Law
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(a) |
This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations connected with it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English Law.
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(b) |
For the purposes of enforcement in Greece, it is hereby expressly agreed that English law as the governing law of this Agreement will be proved by an affidavit of a solicitor from an English law firm to be appointed by the Lender and the
said affidavit shall constitute full and conclusive evidence binding on the Borrower but the Borrower shall be allowed to rebut such evidence save for witness.
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17.2 |
Jurisdiction
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(a) |
The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any non-contractual obligations connected with it (including a dispute regarding the existence, validity or
termination of this Agreement and including claims arising out of tort or delict) (a “Dispute”).
The Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such courts.
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(b) |
The Parties agree that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle Disputes and accordingly no Party will argue to the contrary and waives any objections to the
inconvenience of England as a forum.
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(c) |
This Clause 17.2 is for the benefit of the Lender only. As a result, the Lender shall not be prevented from taking proceedings relating to a Dispute in any other courts with jurisdiction. To the extent allowed by law, the Lender may
take concurrent proceedings in any number of jurisdictions.
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17.3 |
Process Agent for English Proceedings
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Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law the Borrower irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers Messrs. Hill Xxxxxxxxx Services (London) Ltd, currently of The Broadgate Tower, 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx (hereinafter called the “Process
Agent for English Proceedings”), to receive for it and on its behalf, service of process issued out of the English courts in relation to any proceedings before the English courts in connection with any Finance Document, provided,
however, that:
(a) |
the Borrower xxxxxx agrees and undertakes to maintain a Process Agent for English Proceedings throughout the Security Period and xxxxxx agrees that in the event that if any Process Agent for English Proceedings is unable for any reason
to act as agent for service of process, the Borrower must immediately (and in any event within ten (10) days of such event taking place) appoint another agent on terms acceptable to the Lender. Failing this, the Lender may appoint for this
purpose a substitute Process Agent for English Proceedings and the Lender is hereby irrevocably authorised to effect such appointment on Xxxxxxxx’s behalf. The appointment of such Process Agent for English Proceedings shall be valid and
binding from the date notice of such appointment is given by the Lender to the Borrower in accordance with Clause 16.1 (Notices); and
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(b) |
the Borrower hereby agrees that failure by a Process Agent for English Proceedings to notify the Borrower of the
process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned.
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17.4 |
Proceedings in any other country
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If it is decided by the Lender that any such proceedings should be commenced in any other country, then any objections as to the jurisdiction or any claim as to the inconvenience of the forum is
hereby waived by the Borrower and it is agreed and undertaken by the Borrower to instruct lawyers in that country to accept service of legal process and not to
contest the validity of such proceedings as far as the jurisdiction of the court or courts involved is concerned and the Borrower agrees that any judgment or order obtained in an English court shall be
conclusive and binding on the Borrower and shall be enforceable without review in the courts of any other jurisdiction.
17.5 |
Process Agent (antiklitos) in Greece
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Mrs. Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, an Attorney-at-Law, currently c/o Unitized Ocean Transport limited, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxx. & 2-4 Ymittou Str. 175 00 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx (hereinafter called the “Process Agent for Greek Proceedings”) is hereby appointed by the Borrower as agent to accept service, upon whom any judicial process in respect of proceedings in Greece may be served
and any process notice, judicial or extra-judicial request, demand for payment, payment order, foreclosure proceedings, notarial announcement of claim, notice, request, demand or other communication under this Agreement or any of the Finance
Documents. In the event that the Process Agent for Greek Proceedings (or any substitute process agent notified to the Lender in accordance with the foregoing) cannot be found at the address specified above
(or, as the case may be, notified to the Lender), which will be conclusively proved by a deed of a process server to the effect that the Process Agent for Greek Proceedings was not found at such address,
any process notice, judicial or extra-judicial request, demand for payment, payment order, foreclosure proceedings, notarial announcement of claim or other communication to be sent to any Security Party may be validly served/notified in accordance
with the relevant provisions of the Hellenic Code on Civil Procedure.
17.6 |
Third Party Rights
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A person who is not a party to this Agreement has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement.
17.7 |
Meaning of “proceedings”
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In this Clause 17 “proceedings” means proceedings of any kind, including an application for a provisional or protective measure.
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SCHEDULE 1
Form of Drawdown Notice
(referred to in Clause 2.2)
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Schedule 2
Form of Insurance Letter
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Schedule 3
Form of Compliance Certificate
(referred to in Clauses 8.1(f) and 8.8)
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EXECUTION PAGE
IN WITNESS whereof the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed on the date first above written.
SIGNED by
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)
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Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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)
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for and on behalf of
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)
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GARU SHIPPING COMPANY INC.,
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)
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of the Xxxxxxxx Islands,
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)
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/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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in the presence of:
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)
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Attorney-in-fact
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Witness: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
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Address: 13 Defteras Merarchias
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Piraeus, Greece
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Occupation: t. Attorney-at-Law
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SIGNED by
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)
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Mrs. Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx and
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)
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/s/ Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
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Xxx. Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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)
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Attorney-in-fact
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for and on behalf of
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)
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ALPHA BANK S.A.,
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)
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of Greece,
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)
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in the presence of:
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)
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/s/ Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Attorney-in-fact
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Witness: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
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Address: 13 Defteras Merarchias
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Piraeus, Greece
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Occupation: t. Attorney-at-Law
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