MASTER MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit
4.9
This
Amended Master Management Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of
February 7th,, 2008 amends the Master Management Agreement dated as of September
29th 2006 and amended on the 17th of July
2007 between Euroseas Ltd. (the “Company”), in its own capacity
and as agent for each of its vessel owning subsidiaries identified in Schedule A
hereto together with any additional subsidiaries that may acquire vessels in the
future (the “Subsidiaries”) and Eurobulk
Ltd. (the “Manager”).
WHEREAS
(A)
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The
Subsidiaries are the registered owners of the ships (the “Vessels”) described in
Schedule A annexed hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to
time.
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(B)
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The
Company has retained the Manager to provide, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth herein, management services in respect of the Vessels
and to the Company and the Manager is willing and able to provide such
management services.
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(C)
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The
Company and the Manager wish to restate their current agreement in a
comprehensive manner. This Agreement is not intended to alter
any substantive arrangements between the parties except renewing its term
and adjusting the fees payable.
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NOW therefore, in
consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.
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APPOINTMENT
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1.
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The
Manager is hereby appointed by the Company as manager and the Manager
hereby agrees to act as manager of the Vessels and to the
Company.
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2.
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The
Manager undertakes to use its best endeavours to provide the following
services to the Vessels, namely: Crewing, Technical Management, Insurance,
Freight Management, Accounting, Chartering, Sale and Purchase, Provisions,
Bunkering and Operation (the “Services”). The
parties acknowledge that in performing these services the Manager may use
other agents, consultants, brokers etc as is customary, some of which may
be affiliates. In particular the parties acknowledge that the Manager’s
exclusive agent in respect of Chartering and Purchase and Sale
transactions is Eurochart S.A, an
affiliate.
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3.
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The
Manager undertakes to use its best endeavours to provide the following
services to the Company: compliance with SEC rules and regulations,
compliance with Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx and various other services related to the
proper administration of the Company’s obligations for the proper
operation of the Vessels (the “Services”).
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4.
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The
Manager shall render advice and provide executive services to the Company
from time to time, including, but not limited to, the services of a chief
executive officer, a chief financial officer, a chief administrative
officer, an internal auditor and a secretary and such other matters as may
be mutually agreed between the Manager and the Company. The executive
services shall only be performed by the following persons: President and
Chief Executive officer by Xxxxxxxxx X Xxxxxx; Chief Financial officer and
Treasurer by Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx; Chief Administrative Officer by Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Internal Auditor by Konstantine Xarhas and Secretary by
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx. Any other person performing any of these services must
first be approved by the Company in
writing.
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5.
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The
terms of conditions under which the Manager will provide the Services to
the Vessels are set out in the attached BIMCO standard Ship Management
Agreement (“XXXXXXX”) as amended,
which is hereby attached - Schedule B. Each Subsidiary will sign a
management agreement with the Manager. The terms and conditions of this
Agreement in relation to the Services to be provided by the Manager to the
Vessels shall prevail over the terms and conditions of the XXXXXXX to the
extent the two are inconsistent or in
conflict.
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6.
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In
the exercise of its duties to the Vessels, Manager shall act faithfully
and diligently according to prudent shipping management standards and is
entitled to provide the services in its own discretion, subject however to
the terms and conditions of
XXXXXXX.
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2.
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TERM
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The
engagement of the Manager shall start on February 7, 2008 and continue through
February 6, 2013 (the “Initial
Term”) and shall automatically be renewed thereafter for 5 years unless
terminated by the Company or Manager by written notice to the other on or before
the 90th day
preceding the scheduled termination date, unless sooner terminated as
hereinafter provided in section 6 below.
3.
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PLACE
OF PERFORMANCE
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The
Manager shall render the services at one or more suitable locations selected by
the parties.
4.
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REMUNERATION
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In
consideration of Manager’s Services, the Company will pay the Manager a fee
broken down in two parts:
1) a lump
sum fee payable directly by the Company of $1,100,000 per annum payable in
advance in four quarterly installments. This amount will be adjusted annually
(every February but valid retroactively since January 1st) for
inflation as measured by the official inflation rate in Greece for
the preceding year.
2) a
daily fee of Euro 630 per day per vessel payable by each Subsidiary. This amount
will be adjusted annually (every February but valid retroactively since January
1st)
for the official inflation rate in Greece for the preceding year.
5.
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EXPENSES
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In order
to facilitate Manager’s carrying out its duties hereunder to the Company, the
Company shall promptly reimburse Manager for all reasonable expenses paid or
incurred by or on behalf of the Manager in the performance of Manager’s Services
and shall reimburse the Manager for any fees and/or commissions
charged to the Manager by other agents,consultants,brokers etc.
6.
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TERMINATION
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This
Agreement can be terminated:
a)
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For
cause, which shall mean a party’s willful misconduct in any material
respect, or the material breach or material failure by a party to perform
its duties or responsibilities hereunder or under any XXXXXXX, which shall
not have been cured within 10 days after receipt of written
notice;
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b)
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On
at least 90 days written notice prior to the end of the Initial Term or
prior to the expiration of any applicable renewal
term;
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c)
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If
the Company or the Manager ceases to conduct business, or all or
substantially all of the properties or assets of either party is sold,
seized or appropriated; or
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d)
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The
Company or the Manager file a petition under any bankruptcy law or make an
assignment for the benefit of their creditors, or otherwise seek relief
under any law for the protection of debtors or shall adopt a plan of
liquidation or a petition shall be filed against Company or Manager
seeking to have it declared an insolvent or a bankrupt, and such petition
is not dismissed or stayed within 90 days of its filing, or if Company or
Manager shall admit in writing its insolvency or its inability to pay its
debts as they mature, or if an order is made for the appointment of a
liquidator, manager, receiver or trustee of Company or Manager of all or a
substantial part of its assets, then this Agreement shall forthwith
terminate and be of no further force and
effect.
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7.
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CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION
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Manager
agrees that, during its engagement by the Company and at all times thereafter,
it will not disclose to others except to its employees, agents, advisors or
representatives, directly or indirectly, any confidential information, which is
in the nature of trade secrets, relating to the business, prospects or plans of
the Company or the Subsidiaries. Upon termination of the engagement
with the Company, Manager shall surrender to the Company any and all work
papers, reports, manuals, documents and the like (including all originals and
copies thereof) in its or its agents or representatives’ possession which
contain any such confidential information.
8.
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NONEXCLUSIVE
ENGAGEMENT
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During
the term of this Agreement, Manager shall be permitted to engage in such other
business activities and perform services for entities other than the Company and
the Subsidiaries; provided, however, Manager
shall at all times provide sufficient staffing to satisfactorily perform the
Services to be provided hereunder and Manager’s engagement in rendering services
to entities other than the Company shall not substantially interfere with or
adversely affect its provision of the Services hereunder.
9.
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NOTICES
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Any and
all notices or other communications required or permitted to be given under any
of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given and received when delivered personally or three (3) days
after mailing, if mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested. Either party may change its mailing address for the
purposes of this Agreement by notice to the other as herein
provided.
10.
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AUTHORITY
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The
Company represents to Manager that this Agreement has been duly authorized on
behalf of the Company by its Board of Directors. Manager represents to the
Company that this Agreement has been duly authorized on behalf of the Manager by
its Board of Directors, that it is free to enter into this Agreement and that
its entering into this Agreement does not violate any obligation that it has to
any other person or legal entity.
11.
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SEPARABILITY
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In the
event that any provision of this Agreement would be held to be invalid or
unenforceable for any reason unless narrowed by construction, this Agreement
shall be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision had been more
narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid or unenforceable. If,
notwithstanding the foregoing, any provision of this Agreement shall be held to
be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such invalidity or unenforceability
shall attach only to such provision and shall not affect or render invalid or
unenforceable any other provision of this Agreement.
12.
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MISCELLANEOUS
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(a) This
Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the Company and Manager with
respect to the subject matter hereof and cannot be amended or modified except by
a writing signed by each of the parties hereto. No waiver of any
term, condition or obligation of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing
and signed by the waiving party. No failure or delay by either the
Company or Manager in exercising any right or remedy under this Agreement will
waive any provision of this Agreement, nor will any single or partial exercise
by either the Company or Manager of any right or remedy under this Agreement
preclude any of them from otherwise or further exercising the rights or remedies
contained herein, or any other rights or remedies granted by any law or any
related document.
(b) The
Section headings contained herein are for the purpose of convenience only and
are not intended to define or limit the contents of said
Sections.
(c) This
Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract under the laws of Greece and shall be
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of said state. Any dispute
under this Agreement shall be determined exclusively by the Courts of Athens.
However, for disputes arising between the Subsidiaries and the Manager, the
choice of law and the jurisdiction are governed by the terms of the
XXXXXXX.
(d) This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be
deemed an original and all of which, taken together, shall constitute a single
original document.
(e) It
is understood and agreed among the parties that in rendering services hereunder,
Manager is an independent contractor of the Company and shall not be deemed to
constitute a director, officer or employee of the Company solely in respect of
this Agreement.
(f) The
Company shall have no obligation to any person entitled to the benefits of this
Agreement with respect to any tax obligation any such person incurs as a result
of or attributable to this Agreement or arising from any payments made or to be
made hereunder or thereunder.
(g) The
provisions of this Agreement which by their terms call for performance
subsequent to termination of this Agreement shall so survive such
termination.
(h) This
Agreement may not be transferred, assigned or delegated by any of the parties
hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties
hereto.
(i) (1) The
Company hereby confirms to and agrees with Manager with respect to any and all
matters arising out of or in connection with its engagement as a Manager
hereunder, that Manager shall be entitled to receive the benefits of all
indemnification provisions contained in the bylaws of the Company to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law at the time of the assertion of any liability
against Manager. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the Company hereby covenants and agrees that Manager shall be entitled to
receive any and all indemnification to which Manager would have been entitled
had it or they acted as an officer or director of the Company, including,
without limitation, such indemnification benefits as may hereafter be extended
or otherwise made available by the Company to its executive
officers.
(2) Manager
shall cooperate fully with the Company in the prosecution or defense, as the
case may be, of any and all actions, governmental inquiries or other legal
proceedings in which Manager's assistance may be requested by the
Company. Such cooperation shall include, among other things, making
documents in Manager's custody or control available to the Company or its
counsel, making itself available for interviews by the Company or its counsel,
and making itself available to appear as a witness, at deposition, trial or
otherwise. Any and all reasonable and necessary vouchered
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Manager in fulfilling its obligations under
this paragraph 12(i) shall be reimbursed by the Company.
(3) The
provisions of this Section 12(i) shall survive the termination or expiration of
this Agreement.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Management Agreement as of the
date first written above.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Chairman of
the Board,President, CEO
Eurobulk Ltd.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Director