FACILITY AGREEMENT PROVIDING FOR A SENIOR SECURED TERM LOAN OF UP TO ¥6,280,000,000 EAST GULF SHIPHOLDING, INC. as Borrower, AND The Banks and Financial Institutions listed on Schedule I hereto, as Lenders, AND DNB NOR BANK ASA, as Facility Agent AND...
EXECUTION
VERSION
FACILITY
AGREEMENT PROVIDING FOR A
SENIOR
SECURED TERM LOAN
OF
UP TO ¥6,280,000,000
EAST
GULF SHIPHOLDING, INC.
as
Borrower,
AND
The
Banks and Financial Institutions listed on Schedule I
hereto,
as
Lenders,
AND
DNB
NOR BANK ASA,
as
Facility Agent
AND
DEUTSCHE
SCHIFFSBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT,
as
Security Trustee,
AND
INTERNATIONAL
SHIPHOLDING CORPORATION,
as
Guarantor
January
23, 2008
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Page
DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
|
1.1
|
Specific
Definitions
|
1
|
|
1.2
|
Computation
of Time Periods; Other Definitional Provisions 14
|
|
1.3
|
Accounting
Terms
|
14
|
|
1.4
|
Certain
Matters Regarding Materiality
|
14
|
2.
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
|
14
|
|
2.1
|
Representations
and Warranties
|
14
|
|
(a)
|
Due
Organization and Power
|
15
|
|
(b)
|
Authorization
and Consents
|
15
|
|
(c)
|
Binding
Obligations
|
15
|
|
(d)
|
No
Violation
|
15
|
|
(e)
|
Filings;
Stamp Taxes
|
15
|
|
(f)
|
Litigation
|
15
|
|
(g)
|
No
Default
|
15
|
|
(h)
|
Vessel
|
15
|
|
(i)
|
Insurance
|
16
|
|
(j)
|
Financial
Information
|
16
|
|
(k)
|
Tax
Returns
|
16
|
|
(l)
|
ERISA
|
16
|
|
(m)
|
Chief
Executive Office
|
17
|
|
(n)
|
Foreign
Trade Control Regulations
|
17
|
|
(o)
|
Equity
Ownership
|
17
|
|
(p)
|
Environmental
Matters and Claims
|
17
|
|
(q)
|
Liens
|
18
|
|
(r)
|
Indebtedness
|
18
|
|
(s)
|
Payment
Free of Taxes
|
18
|
|
(t)
|
No
Proceedings to Dissolve
|
18
|
|
(u)
|
Solvency
|
18
|
|
(v)
|
Compliance
with Laws
|
18
|
|
(w)
|
Survival
|
18
|
3.
|
THE
FACILITY
|
18
|
|
3.1
|
(a)
Purposes
|
18
|
|
(b)
|
Making
of the Facility
|
18
|
|
(c)
|
Availability
of Advances
|
19
|
|
(d)
|
One
Drawdown Date for Each Advance
|
19
|
|
3.2
|
Drawdown
Notice
|
19
|
|
3.3
|
Effect
of Drawdown Notice
|
19
|
4.
|
CONDITIONS
|
19
|
|
4.1
|
Conditions
Precedent to the Effectiveness of this Agreement
19
|
|
(a)
|
Corporate
Authority
|
19
|
|
(b)
|
The
Agreement
|
20
|
|
(c)
|
The
Note
|
20
|
|
(d)
|
The
Creditors
|
20
|
|
(e)
|
Fees
|
20
|
|
(f)
|
Environmental
Claims
|
20
|
|
(g)
|
Legal
Opinions
|
20
|
|
(h)
|
Officer's
Certificate
|
21
|
|
(i)
|
Shipsales
Contract
|
21
|
|
4.2
|
Condition
Precedent to Advance I
|
21
|
|
(a)
|
Security
Documents
|
21
|
|
4.3
|
Conditions
Precedent to Advance III
|
21
|
|
(a)
|
Vessel
Documents
|
21
|
|
(b)
|
Security
Documents
|
22
|
|
(c)
|
Vessel
Appraisals
|
22
|
|
(d)
|
ISM
DOC
|
22
|
|
(e)
|
Evidence
of Current COFR
|
22
|
|
(f)
|
Vessel
Liens
|
22
|
|
(g)
|
Vessel
Delivery
|
22
|
|
(h)
|
Maritime
Administration Approval
|
22
|
|
4.4
|
Further
Conditions Precedent
|
22
|
|
(a)
|
Drawdown
Notice
|
22
|
|
(b)
|
Representations
and Warranties True
|
22
|
|
(c)
|
No
Default
|
23
|
|
(d)
|
No
Material Adverse Effect
|
23
|
|
4.5
|
Breakfunding
Costs
|
23
|
|
4.6
|
Satisfaction
after Drawdown
|
23
|
5.
|
REPAYMENT
AND PREPAYMENT
|
23
|
|
5.1
|
Repayment
|
23
|
|
5.2
|
Voluntary
Prepayment; No Re-borrowing
|
23
|
|
5.3
|
Mandatory
Prepayment; Sale or Loss of Vessel
|
23
|
|
5.4
|
Optional
Reduction of Facility by the Lenders
|
24
|
|
5.5
|
Interest
and Cost With Application of Prepayments
|
24
|
|
5.6
|
Borrower's
Obligation Absolute
|
24
|
6.
|
INTEREST
AND RATE
|
24
|
|
6.1
|
Payment
of Interest; Interest Rate
|
24
|
|
6.2
|
Maximum
Interest
|
25
|
7.
|
PAYMENTS
|
25
|
|
7.1
|
Time
and Place of Payments, No Set Off
|
25
|
|
7.2
|
Tax
Credits
|
25
|
|
7.3
|
Computations;
Banking Days
|
25
|
8.
|
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT
|
26
|
|
8.1
|
Events
of Default
|
26
|
|
(a)
|
Principal
Payments
|
26
|
|
(b)
|
Interest
and other Payments
|
26
|
|
(c)
|
Representations,
etc
|
26
|
|
(d)
|
Impossibility,
Illegality
|
26
|
|
(e)
|
Mortgage
|
26
|
|
(f)
|
Certain
Covenants
|
26
|
|
(g)
|
Covenants
|
26
|
|
(h)
|
Indebtedness
and Other Obligations
|
26
|
|
(i)
|
Bankruptcy
|
27
|
|
(j)
|
Judgments
|
27
|
|
(k)
|
Inability
to Pay Debts
|
27
|
|
(l)
|
Termination
of Operations; Sale of Assets
|
27
|
|
(m)
|
Change
in Financial Position
|
27
|
|
(n)
|
Cross-Default
|
27
|
|
(o)
|
ERISA
Debt
|
27
|
|
8.2
|
Indemnification
|
28
|
|
8.3
|
Application
of Moneys
|
28
|
9.
|
COVENANTS
|
29
|
|
9.1
|
Affirmative
Covenants
|
29
|
|
(a)
|
Performance
of Agreements
|
29
|
|
(b)
|
Notice
of Default, etc
|
29
|
|
(c)
|
Obtain
Consents
|
29
|
|
(d)
|
Financial
Information
|
29
|
|
(e)
|
Contingent
Liabilities
|
30
|
|
(f)
|
Vessel
Valuations
|
30
|
|
(g)
|
Corporate
Existence
|
30
|
|
(h)
|
Books
and Records
|
30
|
|
(i)
|
Taxes
and Assessments
|
30
|
|
(j)
|
Inspection
|
31
|
|
(k)
|
Inspection
and Survey Reports
|
31
|
|
(l)
|
Compliance
with Statutes, Agreements, etc
|
31
|
|
(m)
|
Environmental
Matters
|
31
|
|
(n)
|
Insurance
|
31
|
|
(o)
|
Vessel
Management
|
31
|
|
(p)
|
Brokerage
Commissions, etc
|
31
|
|
(q)
|
ISM
Code, ISPS Code and MTSA Matters
|
32
|
|
(r)
|
ERISA
|
32
|
|
(s)
|
Evidence
of Current COFR
|
32
|
|
(t)
|
Mortgage
|
32
|
|
(u)
|
Listing
on NYSE
|
32
|
|
9.2
|
Negative
Covenants
|
32
|
|
(a)
|
Liens
|
32
|
|
(b)
|
Third
Party Guaranties
|
33
|
|
(c)
|
Liens
on Shares of Borrower
|
33
|
|
(d)
|
Subordination
of Inter-Company Indebtedness
|
33
|
|
(e)
|
Transaction
with Affiliates
|
33
|
|
(f)
|
Change
of Flag, Class, Management or Ownership
|
33
|
|
(g)
|
Chartering
|
33
|
|
(h)
|
Change
in Business
|
34
|
|
(i)
|
Sale
of Assets
|
34
|
|
(j)
|
Changes
in Offices or Names
|
34
|
|
(k)
|
Consolidation
and Merger
|
34
|
|
(l)
|
Change
Fiscal Year
|
34
|
|
(m)
|
Indebtedness
|
34
|
|
(n)
|
Limitations
on Ability to Make Distributions
|
34
|
|
(o)
|
Change
of Control
|
34
|
|
(p)
|
No
Money Laundering
|
34
|
|
(q)
|
Shipsales
Contract
|
34
|
|
9.3
|
Financial
Covenants
|
34
|
|
(a)
|
Consolidated
Indebtedness to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio
|
35
|
|
(b)
|
Working
Capital
|
35
|
|
(c)
|
Consolidated
Tangible Net Worth
|
35
|
|
(d)
|
Consolidated
EBITDA to Interest Expense
|
35
|
|
9.4
|
Asset
Maintenance
|
35
|
10.
|
Grant
of Security.
|
35
|
11.
|
GUARANTEE
|
36
|
|
11.1
|
The
Guarantee
|
36
|
|
11.2
|
Obligations
Unconditional
|
36
|
|
11.3
|
Reinstatement
|
37
|
|
11.4
|
Subrogation
|
37
|
|
11.5
|
Remedies
|
37
|
|
11.6
|
Joint,
Several and Solidary Liability
|
37
|
|
11.7
|
Continuing
Guarantee
|
37
|
12.
|
ASSIGNMENT
|
38
|
13.
|
ILLEGALITY,
INCREASED COST, NON-AVAILABILITY, ETC
|
38
|
|
13.1
|
Illegality
|
38
|
|
13.2
|
Increased
Costs
|
38
|
|
13.3
|
Nonavailability
of Funds
|
39
|
|
13.4
|
Lender's
Certificate Conclusive
|
39
|
|
13.5
|
Compensation
for Losses
|
39
|
14.
|
CURRENCY
INDEMNITY
|
40
|
|
14.1
|
Currency
Conversion
|
40
|
|
14.2
|
Change
in Exchange Rate
|
40
|
|
14.3
|
Additional
Debt Due
|
40
|
|
14.4
|
Rate
of Exchange
|
40
|
15.
|
FEES
AND EXPENSES
|
40
|
|
15.1
|
Fees
|
40
|
|
15.2
|
Expenses
|
41
|
16.
|
APPLICABLE
LAW, JURISDICTION AND WAIVER
|
41
|
|
16.1
|
Applicable
Law
|
41
|
|
16.2
|
Jurisdiction
|
41
|
|
16.3
|
WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL
|
41
|
17.
|
THE
AGENTS
|
42
|
|
17.1
|
Appointment
of Agents
|
42
|
|
17.2
|
Appointment
of Security Trustee
|
42
|
|
17.3
|
Distribution
of Payments
|
42
|
|
17.4
|
Holder
of Interest in Note
|
43
|
|
17.5
|
No
Duty to Examine, Etc
|
43
|
|
17.6
|
Agents
as Lenders
|
43
|
|
17.7
|
Acts
of the Agents
|
43
|
|
(a)
|
Obligations
of the Agents
|
43
|
|
(b)
|
No
Duty to Investigate
|
43
|
|
(c)
|
Discretion
of the Agents
|
43
|
|
(d)
|
Instructions
of Majority Lenders
|
43
|
|
17.8
|
Certain
Amendments
|
43
|
|
17.9
|
Assumption
re Event of Default
|
44
|
|
17.10Limitations
of Liability
44
|
|
17.11Indemnification
of the Agent and Security Trustee
44
|
|
17.12Consultation
with Counsel 45
|
|
17.13Resignation 45
|
|
17.14Representations
of Lenders 45
|
|
17.15Notification
of Event of Xxxxxxx 00
|
00.
|
NOTICES
AND DEMANDS
|
45
|
|
18.1
|
Notices
|
45
|
19.
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
46
|
|
19.1
|
Time
of Essence
|
46
|
|
19.2
|
Unenforceable,
etc., Provisions - Effect
|
46
|
|
19.3
|
References
|
46
|
|
19.4
|
Further
Assurances
|
46
|
|
19.5
|
Prior
Agreements, Merger
|
46
|
|
19.6
|
Entire
Agreement; Amendments
|
47
|
|
19.7
|
Indemnification
|
47
|
|
19.8
|
Headings
|
47
|
SCHEDULES
|
I
|
The
Lenders and the Commitments
|
II Approved
Ship Brokers
III Liens
IV Indebtedness
EXHIBITS
A Form
of Promissory Note
B Form
of Drawdown Notice
C Form
of Compliance Certificate
D Form
of Assignment and Assumption Agreement
E Form
of Earnings and Charterparties Assignment
F Form
of Insurances Assignment
G Form
of Shipsales Contract Assignment
H Form
of U.S. First Preferred Mortgage
I Form
of Panamanian First Priority Mortgage
J Form
of Xxxxxxxx Islands First Preferred Mortgage
-- |
SENIOR
LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT
THIS
SENIOR SECURED LOAN AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement” or “Agreement”) is made as of
the 23rd day of
January 2008, by and among (1) EAST GULF SHIPHOLDING, INC., a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the Xxxxxxxx Islands (the “Borrower”),
(2) INTERNATIONAL SHIPHOLDING CORPORATION, a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Guarantor”), as
guarantor, (3) the banks and financial institutions listed on Schedule I, as
lenders (together with any bank or financial institution which becomes a Lender
pursuant to Article 11, the “Lenders” and each a “Lender”), (4) DNB NOR
BANK ASA, as facility agent (in such capacity including any successor thereto,
the “Facility Agent”) and (5) DEUTSCHE SCHIFFSBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, as
security trustee for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Security Trustee” and,
together with the Facility Agent, the “Agents”).
WITNESSETH
THAT:
WHEREAS,
at the request of the Borrower, each of the Agents has agreed to serve in such
capacity under the terms of this Agreement and the Lenders have agreed to
provide to the Borrower a senior secured term loan facility in the amount of
up
to Six Billion Two Hundred Eighty Million Yen (¥6,280,000,000);
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, the covenants
and
agreements hereinafter set forth, and other good and valuable consideration,
the
receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree
as set forth below:
1. DEFINITIONS
1.1 Specific
Definitions. In this Agreement the words and expressions
specified below shall, except where the context otherwise requires, have the
meanings attributed to them below:
“Acceptable
Accounting Firm”
|
shall
mean Ernst & Young LLP, or such other Securities and Exchange
Commission recognized accounting firm as shall be approved by the
Facility
Agent, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld;
|
“Acceptable
Charter”
|
shall
mean a time charter in respect of the Vessel with a minimum term
(inclusive of the primary term and any renewal or extension term
options)
of five years in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the
Majority
Lenders;
|
“Advance
I”
|
shall
mean that certain portion of the Facility to be advanced at the request
of
the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.1(a) upon the completion of the
keel
laying of the Vessel, in the maximum principal amount of up to Seven
Hundred Eighty Five Million Yen (¥785,000,000);
|
“Advance
II”
|
shall
mean that certain portion of the Facility to be advanced at the request
of
the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.1(a) upon the completion of the
launching of the Vessel, in the maximum principal amount of up to
Seven
Hundred Eighty Five Million Yen (¥785,000,000) plus the amount, if any, of
Advance I not advanced to the Borrower on the Initial Drawdown
Date;
|
“Advance
III”
|
shall
mean that certain portion of the Facility to be advanced at the request
of
the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.1(a) upon the delivery of the
Vessel,
in the maximum principal amount of Four Billion Seven Hundred Ten
Million
Yen (¥4,710,000,000) plus the amount, if any, of Advance I and Advance
II
not previously advanced to the Borrower;
|
“Advance(s)”
|
shall
mean Advance I, Advance II and Advance III;
|
“Affiliate”
|
shall
mean with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly
controlled by or under common control with such Person. For the
purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative
meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) as
applied to any Person means the possession directly or indirectly of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies
of
that Person whether through ownership of voting securities or by
contract
or otherwise;
|
“Agents”
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble;
|
“Agreement”
|
shall
mean this Agreement, as the same shall be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time;
|
“Applicable
Margin”
|
shall
mean the rate per annum to be determined, subject to any adjustments
pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof, according to the Guarantor’s Pricing Ratio
as determined by the most recent Compliance Certificate in accordance
with
the following:
Pricing
Ratio Applicable Margin
>
4.0 to
1.0 1.10%
per annum
<
4.0 to
1.0 0.90%
per annum
provided
however, that after the Final Drawdown Date until the eighth
anniversary thereof, if the Vessel is subject to an Acceptable Charter,
“Applicable Margin” shall mean, for the duration of such Acceptable
Charter, the rate per annum to be determined, subject to any adjustments
pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof, according to the Guarantor’s Pricing Ratio
as determined by the most recent Compliance Certificate in accordance
with
the following:
Pricing
Ratio Applicable Margin
>
4.0 to
1.0 1.00%
per annum
<
4.0 to
1.0 0.80%
per annum
provided
further that following the eighth anniversary
of the Final Drawdown Date “Applicable Margin” shall mean the rate per
annum to be determined, subject to any adjustments pursuant to Section
6.1
hereof, according to the Guarantor’s Pricing Ratio as determined by the
most recent Compliance Certificate in accordance with the
following:
Pricing
Ratio Applicable Margin
Without
Acceptable Charter
>
4.0 to
1.0 1.25%
per annum
<
4.0 to
1.0 1.05%
per annum
With
Acceptable Charter
>
4.0 to
1.0 1.15%
per annum
<
4.0 to
1.0 0.95%
per annum
any
determination of Applicable Margin to be made and become effective
on the
first day following the expiry of the then current Interest Period
based
on the most recently delivered Compliance Certificate;
|
“Applicable
Rate”
|
shall
mean any rate of interest applicable to an Advance from time to
time pursuant to Section 6.1;
|
“Approved
Charter”
|
shall
mean any charter party agreement with respect to the Vessel with
charter
hire rates that are comparable to the then current market charter
hire
rates for similar vessels. Borrower shall provide the Facility
Agent with documented support for the then current market charter
hire
rates for vessels similar to the Vessel at least ninety days prior
to the
final delivery of the Vessel;
|
“Assignment
and Assumption Agreement(s)”
|
shall
mean any Assignment and Assumption Agreement(s) executed pursuant
to
Section 12 substantially in the form set out in
Exhibit D;
|
“Assignment
Notices”
|
shall
mean (a) the notice with respect to the Earnings and Charterparties
Assignment substantially in the form set out in Exhibit 1 thereto,
(b) the notice with respect to the Insurances Assignment substantially
in
the form set out in Exhibit 3 thereto, and (c) the notice with
respect to the Shipsales Contract Assignment substantially in the
form set
out in Exhibit 1 thereto;
|
“Assignments”
|
shall
mean the Earnings and Charterparties Assignment, the Insurances Assignment
and the Shipsales Contract Assignment;
|
“Banking
Day(s)”
|
|
“Borrower”
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble;
|
“Builder”
|
shall
mean Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., a Japanese
corporation;
|
“Change
of Control”
|
shall
mean (a) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of
the Exchange Act), other than the existing owners, that becomes the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 under the Exchange Act),
directly or indirectly, of a greater percentage of the total voting
power
of the Guarantor than the Xxxxxxx Family or (b) the Guarantor ceases
to own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Borrower or (c) the Board
of
Directors of the Borrower or the Guarantor ceases to consist of a
majority
of the directors existing on the date hereof or directors nominated
by at
least two-thirds (2/3) of the then existing directors or (d) the
Xxxxxxx
Family shall cease to own at least fifteen percent (15%) of the
Guarantor;
|
“Classification
Society”
|
shall
mean a member of the International Association of Classification
Societies
acceptable to the Lenders with whom the Vessel is entered and who
conducted periodic physical surveys and/or inspections of the
Vessel;
|
“Closing
Date”
|
shall
mean the day and year first written above;
|
“Code”
|
shall
mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor
statute and regulation promulgated thereunder;
|
“Collateral”
|
shall
mean, all property or other assets, real or personal, tangible or
intangible, whether now owned or hereafter acquired in which the
Security
Trustee or any Lender has been granted a security interest pursuant
to a
Security Document or this Facility Agreement;
|
“Commitment(s)”
|
shall
mean in relation to a Lender, the portion of the Facility set out
opposite
its name in Schedule I hereto or, as the case may be, in any relevant
Assignment and Assumption Agreement, as changed from time to time
pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement;
|
“Commitment
Fee”
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 15.1;
|
“Compliance
Certificate”
|
shall
mean a certificate certifying the compliance by each of the Security
Parties with all of its covenants contained herein and showing the
calculations thereof in reasonable detail, delivered by the chief
financial officer of the Guarantor to the Facility Agent from time
to time
pursuant to Section 9.1(d) in the form set out in Exhibit C or
in such other form as the Facility Agent may agree;
|
“Consolidated
EBITDA”
|
shall
mean, for any period, with respect to the Guarantor and the Subsidiaries,
the sum of (without duplication) (a) Consolidated Net Income; (b)
all
Interest Expenses of the Guarantor and the Subsidiaries; (c) income
taxes
of the Guarantor and the Subsidiaries; and (d) depreciation and
amortization, as well as other non-cash charges to the extent they
have
been deducted from income, of the Guarantor and the Subsidiaries
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP for such
period; provided that if any Subsidiary is not wholly-owned by the
Guarantor, Consolidated EBITDA shall be reduced (to the extent not
otherwise reduced in accordance with GAAP) by an amount equal to
(i) the
amount of Consolidated Net Income attributable to such Subsidiary
multiplied by (ii) the percentage ownership interest in the income
of such
Subsidiary not owned by the Guarantor on the last day of such period,
but
adding back other non-cash charges to the extent they have been deducted
from income in accordance with GAAP;
|
“Consolidated
Indebtedness”
|
all
Indebtedness of the Guarantor and the Subsidiaries determined on
a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;
|
“Consolidated
Net Income”
|
for
any period shall mean the consolidated net income of the Guarantor
and the
Subsidiaries for such period, as shown on the consolidated financial
statements of the Guarantor and the Subsidiaries delivered in accordance
with Section 9.1 (d);
|
“Consolidated
Tangible Net Worth”
|
shall
mean, with respect to the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, at any
date for
which a determination is to be made (determined on a consolidated
basis
without duplication in accordance with GAAP) (a) the amount of capital
stock (including its outstanding preferred stock); plus (b) the amount
of
surplus and retained earnings (or, in the case of a surplus or retained
earnings deficit, minus the amount of such deficit); plus (c) deferred
charges to the extent amortized and acquired contract costs net of
accumulated amortization as stated on the then most recent audited
balance
sheet of the Guarantor; minus (d) the sum of (i) the cost of treasury
shares and (ii) the book value of all assets that should be classified
as
intangibles (without duplication of deductions in respect of items
already
deducted in arriving at surplus and retained earnings) but in any
event
including goodwill, minority interests, research and development
costs,
trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents and franchises, unamortized
debt discount and expense, all reserves and any write up in the book
value
of assets resulting from a revaluation thereof subsequent to December
31,
1996;
|
“Creditors”
|
shall
mean, together, the Agents and the Lenders, each a
“Creditor”;
|
“Default”
|
shall
mean any event that would, with the giving of notice or passage of
time,
or both, be an Event of Default;
|
“Default
Rate”
|
shall
mean a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) over the Applicable
Rate
then in effect;
|
“DOC”
|
shall
mean a document of compliance issued to an Operator in accordance
with
rule 13 of the ISM Code;
|
“Dollars”
and the sign “$”
|
shall
mean the legal currency, at any relevant time hereunder, of the United
States of America and, in relation to all payments hereunder, in
same day
funds settled through the New York Clearing House Interbank Payments
System (or such other Dollar funds as may be determined by the Facility
Agent to be customary for the settlement in New York City of banking
transactions of the type herein involved);
|
“Drawdown
Date”
|
shall
mean the date, being a Banking Day, upon which the Borrower has requested
that an Advance be made available to the Borrower, and such Advance
is
made, as provided in Section 3;
|
“Drawdown
Notice”
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.2;
|
“Earnings
and Charterparties Assignment”
|
shall
mean the first priority assignment of earnings, charterparties and
requisition compensation in respect of (i) the earnings of the Vessel
from
any and all sources (including requisition compensation) and (ii)
any
charter or other contract relating to the Vessel, to be executed
by the
Borrower in favor of the Security Trustee pursuant to
Section 4.2(b)(ii), substantially in the form set out in
Exhibit E;
|
“Environmental
Affiliate(s)”
|
shall
mean, with respect to a Security Party, any Person or entity, the
liability of which for Environmental Claims any Security Party may
have
assumed by contract or operation of law;
|
“Environmental
Approval(s)”
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in
Section 2.1(p);
|
“Environmental
Claim(s)”
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in
Section 2.1(p);
|
“Environmental
Law(s)”
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in
Section 2.1(p);
|
“ERISA”
|
shall
mean the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended;
|
“ERISA
Affiliate”
|
shall
mean a trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is under
common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Sections 414(b),
(c), (m) or (o) of the Code;
|
“ERISA
Group”
|
shall
mean the Guarantor and its subsidiaries within the meaning of Section
424(f) of the Code;
|
“Event(s)
of Default”
|
shall
mean any of the events set out in Section 8.1;
|
“Exchange
Act”
|
shall
mean the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended;
|
“Facility”
|
shall
mean the facility to be made available by the Lenders to the Borrower
hereunder in three Advances pursuant to Section 3 in the aggregate
principal amount of the lesser of (i) eighty percent (80%) of the
final
delivered cost of the Vessel and (ii) Six Billion Two Hundred Eighty
Million Yen (¥6,280,000,000), or the balance thereof from time to time
outstanding, provided however that the Lenders
shall have the right at any time before the fourteenth (14) day prior
to
the Final Drawdown Date to reduce the facility to sixty-five (65%)
of the
final delivered cost of the Vessel pursuant to Section
5.4;
|
“Facility
Agent”
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble;
|
“Fair
Market Value”
|
shall
mean, in respect of the Vessel, the average of two appraisals (measured
in
Dollars) on a “willing seller, willing buyer” basis of the Vessel free
from any charterparty or other employment contract from ship brokers
listed in Schedule II or such other independent ship brokers approved
by
the Majority Lenders, no such appraisal to be dated more than thirty
(30)
days prior to the date on which a determination of Fair Market Value
is
required pursuant to this Agreement;
|
“Fee
Letter”
|
shall
mean fee letter of even date herewith between the Borrower and the
Facility Agent;
|
“Final
Drawdown Date”
|
shall
mean the Drawdown Date on which Advance III is made available to
the
Borrower;
|
“Final
Payment”
|
shall
mean the principal amount of Two Billion One Hundred
Ninety-Eight Million Twenty-Six Yen (¥2,198,000,026) (as such amount may
be adjusted pursuant to Section 5.4) plus such other amounts as may
be
necessary to repay the Facility in full together with accrued but
unpaid
interest and any other amounts owing by any Security Party to
any Creditor pursuant to this Agreement, the Note or any Security
Document;
|
“Final
Payment Date”
|
shall
mean September 15, 2020;
|
“GAAP”
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 1.3;
|
“Guaranteed
Obligations”
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 11.1;
|
“Guarantor”
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble;
|
“Indebtedness”
|
shall mean,
with respect to any Person at any date of determination (without
duplication), (i) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money,
(ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures,
notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such
Person in respect of letters of credit or other similar instruments
(including reimbursement obligations with respect thereto), (iv) all
obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase
price
of property or services, which purchase price is due more than six
months
after the date of placing such property in service or taking delivery
thereof or the completion of such services, except trade payables,
(v) all obligations on account of principal of such Person as lessee
under capitalized leases, (vi) all indebtedness of other Persons
secured by a lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such
indebtedness is assumed by such Person; provided that the amount
of such
indebtedness shall be the lesser of (a) the fair market value of such
asset at such date of determination and (b) the amount of such
indebtedness, and (vii) all indebtedness of other Persons guaranteed
by such Person to the extent guaranteed; the amount of Indebtedness
of any
Person at any date shall be the outstanding balance at such date
of all
unconditional obligations as described above and, with respect to
contingent obligations, the maximum liability upon the occurrence
of the
contingency giving rise to the obligation, provided that the amount
outstanding at any time of any indebtedness issued with original
issue
discount is the face amount of such indebtedness less the remaining
unamortized portion of the original issue discount of such
indebtedness at such time as determined in conformity with GAAP;
and
provided further that Indebtedness shall not include any liability
for
current or deferred federal, state, local or other taxes, or any
trade
payables;
|
“Indemnitee”
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 19.7;
|
“Initial
Drawdown Date”
|
shall
mean the Drawdown Date on which Advance I is made available to the
Borrower;
|
“Initial
Payment Date”
|
shall
mean December 15, 2010;
|
“Insurances
Assignment”
|
shall
mean the first priority assignment in respect of the insurances over
the
Vessel, to be executed by the Borrower in favor of the Security Trustee
pursuant to Section 4.2(b)(i), substantially in the form set out
in
Exhibit F;
|
“Interest
Expense”
|
shall
mean, with respect to the Guarantor and the Subsidiaries, on a
consolidated basis, for any period (without duplication), interest
expense, whether paid or accrued (including the interest component
of
capitalized leases), on all Indebtedness of the Guarantor and the
Subsidiaries for such period, net of interest income, all determined
in
accordance with GAAP;
|
“Interest
Period”
|
shall
mean period(s) of one, three, six or twelve months as selected by
the
Borrower, or as otherwise agreed by the Lenders and the
Borrower;
|
“Interest
Notice”
|
shall
mean a notice from the Borrower to the Facility Agent specifying
the
duration of any relevant Interest Period;
|
“Interest
Rate Agreements”
|
shall
mean any interest rate protection agreement, interest rate future
agreement, interest rate option agreement, interest rate swap agreement,
interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest
rate
hedge agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement entered
into
between the Borrower, the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Borrower
with
the Facility Agent, which is designed to protect the Borrower, the
Guarantor or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries against fluctuations
in
interest rates applicable under this Agreement, to or under which
the
Borrower, the Guarantor or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries is
a party
or a beneficiary on the date of this Agreement or becomes a party
or a
beneficiary hereafter;
|
“ISM
Code”
|
shall
mean the International Safety Management Code for the Safe Operating
of
Ships and for Pollution Prevention constituted pursuant to Resolution
A.741(18) of the International Maritime Organization and incorporated
into
the Safety of Life at Sea Convention and includes any amendments
or
extensions thereto and any regulation issued pursuant
thereto;
|
“ISPS
Code”
|
shall
mean the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code adopted
by the
International Maritime Organization at a conference in December,
2002 and
amending the Safety of Life at Sea Convention and includes any amendments
or extensions thereto and any regulation issued pursuant
thereto;
|
“ISSC”
|
shall
mean the International Ship Security Certificate issued pursuant
to the
ISPS Code;
|
“Xxxxxxx
Family”
|
shall
mean (i) Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx and
Xxxx X.
Xxxxxxx; (ii) the wives and issue of Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx and Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx; and (iii) any trust for the
benefit
of, or controlled by, any of foregoing;
|
“LIBOR
Rate”
|
shall
mean, for each Interest Period, the London Interbank Offered Rate
(“LIBOR”) as set and published by the British Banker's Association
(“BBA”), as selected by the Borrower three (3) Banking Days before the
first day of such Interest Period as obtained by the Facility Agent
from a
wire that is sent through Bloomberg, L.P. which rate is based by
BBA on an
average of the Interbank Offered Rates for Yen deposits in the London
market based on quotes from designated banks in the London market
two (2)
Banking Days before the first day of such Interest Period. In the
event
that LIBOR is no longer available from the BBA or Bloomberg,
L.P. for the applicable interest period, the “LIBOR Rate” for the interest
period shall be equal to the sum of (i) the Short Term Prime Rate
plus
(ii) twenty-five one hundredths of one percent (.25%);
|
“Majority
Lenders”
|
at
any time shall mean Lenders holding an aggregate of more than 66.66%
of
the Facility then outstanding;
|
“Material
Adverse Effect”
|
shall
mean a material adverse effect on the ability of the Borrower and/or
the
Guarantor to meet any of their respective obligations with regard
to (i)
the Facility and the financing arrangements established in connection
therewith or (ii) any of their respective other obligations that
are
material to the Borrower and the Guarantor considered as a
whole;
|
“Materials
of Environmental Concern”
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in
Section 2.1(p);
|
“Mortgage”
|
shall
mean the first preferred United States ship mortgage, the first priority
Panamanian naval mortgage or the first preferred Xxxxxxxx Islands
mortgage
on the Vessel, to be executed by the Borrower in favor of the Security
Trustee pursuant to Section 4.2(a)(i), substantially in the form set
out in Exhibit H;
|
“MTSA”
|
shall
mean the Maritime & Transportation Security Act, 2002, as amended,
inter alia, by Public Law 107-295;
|
“Multiemployer
Plan”
|
shall
mean, at any time, a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3)
of ERISA to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is making or
accruing an obligation to make contributions or has within any of
the
three preceding plan years made or accrued an obligation to make
contributions;
|
“Multiple
Employer Plan”
|
shall
mean, at any time, an employee benefit plan, other than a Multiemployer
Plan, subject to Title IV or ERISA, to which a Borrower or ERISA
Affiliate, and one or more employers other than a Borrower or ERISA
Affiliate, is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions
or,
in the event that any such plan has been terminated, to which a Borrower
or ERISA Affiliate made or accrued an obligation to make contributions
during any of the five plan years preceding the date of termination
of
such plan;
|
“Note”
|
shall
mean the promissory note to be executed by the Borrower to the order
of
the Facility Agent pursuant to Section 4.1(c), to evidence the
Facility substantially in the form set out in
Exhibit A;
|
“Operator”
|
shall
mean the Person who is concerned with the operation of the Vessel
and
falls within the definition of “Company” set out in rule 1.1.2 of the ISM
Code”;
|
“Payment
Dates”
|
means
the Initial Payment Date and the dates falling at three (3) month
intervals thereafter, the last of which is the Final Payment
Date;
|
“Person”
|
shall
mean any individual, sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership
(general or limited), limited liability company, business trust,
bank,
trust company, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust
or
other unincorporated organization, whether or not a legal entity,
or any
government or agency or political subdivision thereof;
|
“Plan”
|
shall
mean any employee benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan or
a
Multiple Employer Plan) covered by Title IV of ERISA;
|
“Pricing
Ratio”
|
shall
mean, at any time, the ratio of the Guarantor’s Consolidated Indebtedness
to Consolidated EBITDA determined on a trailing four quarter
basis;
|
“Proceeding”
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in
Section 8.1(i);
|
“Required
Percentage”
|
shall
mean (i) eighty five percent (85%) from the Final Drawdown Date until
the
second anniversary thereof, (ii) eighty percent (80%) from the second
anniversary of the Final Drawdown Date until the third anniversary
thereof, (iii) seventy five percent (75%) from the third anniversary
of
the Final Drawdown Date until the fourth anniversary thereof, (iv)
seventy
percent (70%) from the fourth anniversary of the Final Drawdown Date
until
the sixth anniversary thereof, and (v) sixty five percent (65%) from
the
sixth anniversary of the Final Drawdown Date and
thereafter;
|
“Second
Drawdown Date”
|
shall
mean the Drawdown Date on which Advance II is made available to the
Borrower;
|
“Security
Document(s)”
|
shall
mean the Mortgage, the Assignments and any other documents that may
be
executed as security for the Facility and the Borrower's obligations
in
connection therewith;
|
“Security
Party(ies)”
|
shall
mean each of the Borrower and the Guarantor;
|
“Security
Trustee”
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble;
|
“Shipsales
Contract”
|
means
that certain shipsales contract between Clio Marine Inc., a Liberian
corporation, and the Borrower dated September 21, 2007, providing for
the sale of the Vessel by Clio Marine Inc. and the purchase of the
Vessel
by the Borrower.
|
“Shipsales
Contract Assignment”
|
shall
mean the assignment of the Shipsales Contract, to be executed by
the
Borrower in favor of the Security Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1(i)(i),
substantially in the form set out in Exhibit G;
|
“Short
Term Prime Rate”
|
means
the rate quoted on Bloomberg page BTMM JN with the ticker symbol
PRIMJPN
Index;
|
“SMC”
|
shall
mean the safety management certificate issued in respect of a Vessel
in
accordance with rule 13 of the ISM code;
|
“subsidiary”
|
shall
mean, with respect to any Person, any business entity of which more
than
50% of the outstanding voting stock or other equity interest is owned
directly or indirectly by such Person and/or one or more other
subsidiaries of such Person;
|
“Subsidiary(ies)”
|
shall
mean all of the subsidiaries of the Guarantor;
|
“Taxes”
|
shall
mean any present or future income or other taxes, levies, duties,
charges,
fees, deductions or withholdings of any nature now or hereafter imposed,
levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any taxing authority
whatsoever, except for taxes on or measured by the overall net income
of
each Lender imposed by its jurisdiction of incorporation or applicable
lending office, the United States of America, the State or City of
New
York or any governmental subdivision or taxing authority of any thereof
or
by any other taxing authority having jurisdiction over such Lender
(unless
such jurisdiction is asserted by reason of the activities of the
Borrower
or any of the Subsidiaries);
|
“Termination
Event”
|
shall
mean (i) a “reportable event,” as defined in Section 403 of ERISA,
(ii) the withdrawal of a Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a
Multiemployer Plan during a plan year in which it was a “substantial
employer,” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, or the incurrence of
liability by a Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate under Section 4064
of ERISA
upon the termination of a Multiple Employer Plan, (iii) the filing of
a notice of intent to terminate a Plan under Section 4041 of ERISA
or the
treatment of a Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under
Section
4041A of ERISA, (iv) the institution of proceedings to terminate a
Plan or a Multiemployer Plan, or (v) any other event or condition
which might constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the
termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any
Plan or
Multiemployer Plan;
|
“Total
Loss”
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Mortgage;
|
“Transaction
Documents”
|
shall
mean each of this Agreement, the Note and the Security
Documents;
|
“Vessel”
|
shall
mean that certain 6,400 pure car truck carrier currently being constructed
by the Builder with an expected delivery date in the first quarter
of
2010, given Hull No. 2253;
|
“Withdrawal
Liability(ies)”
|
shall
have the meaning given to such term under Part 1 of Subtitle E of
Title IV
of ERISA.
|
“Yen”
and the sign “¥”
|
shall
mean the legal currency, at any relevant time hereunder, of
Japan;
|
1.2 Computation
of Time Periods; Other Definitional Provisions. In this
Agreement, the Note and the other Security Documents, in the computation of
periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from”
means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but
excluding”; words importing either gender include the other gender; references
to “writing” include printing, typing, lithography and other means of
reproducing words in a tangible visible form; the words “including,” “includes”
and “include” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;
references to articles, sections (or subdivisions of sections), exhibits,
annexes or schedules are to this Agreement, the Note or such Security Document,
as applicable; references to agreements and other contractual instruments
(including this Agreement, the Note and the Security Documents) shall be deemed
to include all subsequent amendments, amendments and restatements, supplements,
extensions, replacements and other modifications to such instruments (without,
however, limiting any prohibition on any such amendments, extensions and other
modifications by the terms of this Agreement, the Note or any Security
Document); references to any matter that is “approved” or requires “approval” of
a party shall mean approval given in the sole and absolute discretion of such
party unless otherwise specified.
1.3 Accounting
Terms. Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms
used in this Agreement, the Note and in the Security Documents shall be
interpreted, and all financial statements and certificates and reports as to
financial matters required to be delivered to the Facility Agent or to the
Lenders under this Agreement shall be prepared, in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles for the United States (“GAAP”), as amended from
time to time including amendments to GAAP made as a result of the conformity
of
GAAP to International Financial Reporting Standards.
1.4 Certain
Matters Regarding Materiality. To the extent that any
representation, warranty, covenant or other undertaking of the Borrower in
this
Agreement is qualified by reference to those which are not reasonably expected
to result in a “Material Adverse Effect” or language of similar import, no
inference shall be drawn therefrom that any Agent or Lender has knowledge or
approves of any noncompliance by the Borrower with any governmental
rule.
2. REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
2.1 Representations
and Warranties. In order to induce the Creditors to enter into
this Agreement and to make the Facility available, each Security Party hereby
represents and warrants to the Creditors (which representations and warranties
shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Note and
the
drawdown of the Facility) that:
(a) Due
Organization and Power. Each Security Party is duly formed and is
validly existing in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation or formation, has full power to carry on its business as now
being
conducted and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement,
the Note and the Security Documents to which it is a party, and has complied
with all statutory, regulatory and other requirements relative to such business
and such agreements;
(b) Authorization
and Consents. All necessary corporate action has been taken to
authorize, and all necessary consents and authorities have been obtained and
remain in full force and effect to permit, each Security Party to enter into
and
perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Note and the Security
Documents and, in the case of the Borrower to borrow, service and repay the
Facility and, as of the date of this Agreement, no further consents or
authorities are necessary for the service and repayment of the Facility or
any
part thereof;
(c) Binding
Obligations. This Agreement, the Note and the Security Documents
constitute or will, when executed and delivered, constitute the legal, valid
and
binding obligations of each Security Party that is a party thereto enforceable
against such Security Party in accordance with their respective terms, except
to
the extent that such enforcement may be limited by equitable principles,
principles of public policy or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting generally the enforcement
of
creditors' rights;
(d) No
Violation. The execution and delivery of, and the performance of
the provisions of, this Agreement, the Note and those of the Security Documents
to which it is to be a party by each Security Party do not contravene any
applicable law or regulation existing at the date hereof or any contractual
restriction binding on such Security Party or the certificate of incorporation
or by-laws (or equivalent instruments) thereof and that the proceeds of the
Facility shall be used by the Borrower exclusively for its own account or for
the account of a Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Borrower;
(e) Filings;
Stamp Taxes. Other than the recording of the Mortgage with the
appropriate authorities for the United States, the Republic of Panama or the
Republic of the Xxxxxxxx Islands (as applicable), and the filing of Uniform
Commercial Code Financing Statements with the Recorder of Deeds in the District
of Columbia in respect of the Assignments, and the payment and filing or
recording fees consequent thereto, it is not necessary for the legality,
validity, enforceability or admissibility into evidence of this Agreement,
the
Note or the Security Documents that any of them or any document relating thereto
be registered, filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or authority in any
relevant jurisdiction or that any stamp, registration or similar Taxes be paid
on or in relation to this Agreement, the Note or any of the Security
Documents;
(f) Litigation. No
action, suit or proceeding is pending or threatened against any Security Party
before any court, board of arbitration or administrative agency which could
or
might have a Material Adverse Effect;
(g) No
Default. No Security Party is in default under any material
agreement by which it is bound, or is in default in respect of any material
financial commitment or obligation;
(h) Vessel. Upon
delivery of the Vessel to the Borrower the Vessel:
(i)
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will
be in the sole and absolute ownership of the Borrower and duly registered
in the Borrower's name under United States, Panamanian or Xxxxxxxx
Islands
flag, unencumbered, save and except for the Mortgage and as permitted
thereby;
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(ii)
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will
be classed in the highest classification and rating for vessels of
the
same age and type with its Classification Society without any material
outstanding recommendations;
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(iii)
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will
be operationally seaworthy and in every way fit for its intended
service;
and
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(iv)
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will
be insured in accordance with the provisions of the Mortgage and
the
requirements thereof in respect of such insurances will have been
complied
with;
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(i) Insurance. Each
of the Security Parties has insured its properties and assets against such
risks
and in such amounts as are customary for companies engaged in similar
businesses;
(j) Financial
Information. Except as otherwise disclosed in writing to the
Facility Agent on or prior to the date hereof, all financial statements,
information and other data furnished by any Security Party to the Facility
Agent
are complete and correct, such financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP and accurately and fairly present the financial condition
of the parties covered thereby as of the respective dates thereof and the
results of the operations thereof for the period or respective periods covered
by such financial statements, and since the date of the Guarantor's financial
statements most recently delivered to the Facility Agent there has been no
Material Adverse Effect as to any of such parties and none thereof has any
contingent obligations, liabilities for taxes or other outstanding financial
obligations which are material in the aggregate except as disclosed in such
statements, information and data;
(k) Tax
Returns. Each Security Party has filed all material tax returns
required to be filed thereby and has paid all taxes payable thereby which have
become due, other than those not yet delinquent or the nonpayment of which
would
not have a Material Adverse Effect and except for those taxes being contested
in
good faith and by appropriate proceedings or other acts and for which adequate
reserves shall have been set aside on its books;
(l) ERISA. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions hereunder will not involve any prohibited transaction within the
meaning of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code and no condition exists or
event or transaction has occurred in connection with any Plan maintained or
contributed to by any member of the ERISA Group or any ERISA Affiliate resulting
from the failure of any thereof to comply with ERISA which is reasonably likely
to result in any member of the ERISA Group or any ERISA Affiliate incurring
any
liability, fine or penalty which individually or in the aggregate could have
a
Material Adverse Effect. No member of the ERISA Group nor any ERISA Affiliate,
individually or collectively, has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur,
Withdrawal Liabilities or liabilities upon the happening of a Termination Event
the aggregate of which for all such Withdrawal Liabilities and other liabilities
exceeds or would exceed $30,000,000. With respect to any
Multiemployer Plan, Multiple Employer Plan or Plan, no member of the ERISA
Group
nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of or has been notified that any “variance”
from the “minimum funding standard” has been requested (each such term as
defined in Part 3, Subtitle B, of Title 1 of
ERISA). No member of the ERISA Group nor any ERISA Affiliate has
received any notice that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization, within
the
meaning of Title IV of ERISA, which reorganization could have a Material
Adverse Effect;
(m) Chief
Executive Office. The chief executive office and chief place of
business of each Security Party and the office in which the records relating
to
the earnings and other receivables of each Security Party are kept is, and
will
continue to be, located at 00 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx
00000, XXX;
(n) Foreign
Trade Control Regulations. To the best knowledge of each of the
Security Parties, none of the transactions contemplated herein will violate
the
provisions of any statute or regulation enacted to prohibit or limit economic
transactions with certain foreign Persons including, without limitation, any
of
the provisions of the Foreign Assets Control Regulations of the United States
of
America (Title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter V,
Part 500, as amended);
(o) Equity
Ownership. The Borrower is owned, directly or indirectly, one
hundred percent (100%) by the Guarantor;
(p) Environmental
Matters and Claims. (a) Except as heretofore disclosed in
writing to the Facility Agent (i) the Borrower and its Affiliates (which
for purposes of this Section 2(p) shall be deemed to include the Guarantor
and
its respective Affiliates) will, when required to operate their business as
then
being conducted, be in compliance with all applicable United States federal
and
state, local, foreign and international laws, regulations, conventions and
agreements relating to pollution prevention or protection of human health or
the
environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground
water, navigable waters, waters of the contiguous zone, ocean waters
and international waters), including, without limitation, laws, regulations,
conventions and agreements relating to (1) emissions, discharges, releases
or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic
substances, hazardous materials, oil, hazardous substances, petroleum and
petroleum products and by-products (“Materials of Environmental Concern”), or
(2) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage,
disposal, transport or handling of Materials of Environmental Concern
(“Environmental Laws”); (ii) the Borrower and its Affiliates will, when
required, have all permits, licenses, approvals, rulings, variances, exemptions,
clearances, consents or other authorizations required under applicable
Environmental Laws (“Environmental Approvals”) and will, when required, be in
compliance with all Environmental Approvals required to operate their business
as then being conducted; (iii) the Borrower has not nor has any Affiliate
thereof received any notice of any claim, action, cause of action, investigation
or demand by any person, entity, enterprise or government, or any political
subdivision, intergovernmental body or agency, department or instrumentality
thereof, alleging potential liability for, or a requirement to incur, material
investigator costs, cleanup costs, response and/or remedial costs (whether
incurred by a governmental entity or otherwise), natural resources damages,
property damages, personal injuries, attorneys' fees and expenses, or fines
or
penalties, in each case arising out of, based on or resulting from (1) the
presence, or release or threat of release into the environment, of any Materials
of Environmental Concern at any location, whether or not owned by such person,
or (2) circumstances forming the basis of any violation, or alleged
violation, of any Environmental Law or Environmental Approval (“Environmental
Claim”) (other than Environmental Claims that have been fully and finally
adjudicated or otherwise determined and all fines, penalties and other costs,
if
any, payable by the Security Parties in respect thereof have been paid in full
or which are fully covered by insurance (including permitted deductibles));
and
(iv) there are no circumstances that may prevent or interfere with such
full compliance in the future; and (b) except as heretofore disclosed in
writing to the Facility Agent there is no Environmental Claim pending or
threatened against the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof and there are no past
or present actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents,
including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge or disposal
of
any Materials of Environmental Concern, that could form the basis of any
Environmental Claim against such persons the adverse disposition of which may
result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(q) Liens. Other
than as disclosed in Schedule III , there are no liens of any kind on any
property owned by any Security Party other than those liens created pursuant
to
this Agreement or the Security Documents or permitted thereby;
(r) Indebtedness. Other
than as disclosed in Schedule IV, neither of the Security Parties has any
Indebtedness;
(s) Payment
Free of Taxes. All payments made or to be made by the Security
Parties under or pursuant to this Agreement, the Note and the Security Documents
shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for an
account of, any Taxes;
(t) No
Proceedings to Dissolve. There are no proceedings or actions
pending or contemplated by any Security Party or, to the best knowledge of
any
Security Party, contemplated by any third party, to dissolve or terminate any
Security Party.
(u) Solvency. On
the Closing Date, in the case of each of the Security Parties, (a) the sum
of
its assets, at a fair valuation, does and will exceed its liabilities,
including, to the extent they are reportable as such in accordance with GAAP,
contingent liabilities, (b) the present fair market salable value of its assets
is not and shall not be less than the amount that will be required to pay its
probable liability on its then existing debts, including, to the extent they
are
reportable as such in accordance with GAAP, contingent liabilities, as they
mature, (c) it does not and will not have unreasonably small working capital
with which to continue its business and (d) it has not incurred, does not intend
to incur and does not believe it will incur debts beyond its ability to pay
such
debts as they mature;
(v) Compliance
with Laws. Each of the Security Parties is in compliance with all
applicable laws, except where any failure to comply with any such applicable
laws would not, alone or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;
and
(w) Survival. All
representations, covenants and warranties made herein and in any certificate
or
other document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive
the making of the Facility and the issuance of the Note.
3. THE
FACILITY
3.1 (a) Purposes. The
Lenders shall make the Facility available to the Borrower for the purpose of
financing up to one hundred percent (100%) of each of the remaining construction
and delivery installments under the Shipsales Contract.
(b) Making
of the Facility. Each of the Lenders, relying upon each of the
representations and warranties set out in Section 2, hereby severally and
not jointly agrees with the Borrower that, subject to and upon the terms of
this
Agreement, it will, not later than 11:00 a.m. on the Drawdown Dates, make
its portion of the relevant Advance, in Federal or other funds, immediately
available in New York City to the Facility Agent at its address set forth on
Schedule I or to such account of the Facility Agent most recently designated
by
it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. Unless the Facility
Agent determines that any applicable condition specified in Sections 4.2 or
4.3
has not been satisfied, the Facility Agent will make the funds so received
from
the Lenders available to the Borrower at the aforesaid address, subject to
the
receipt of the funds by the Facility Agent as provided in the immediately
preceding sentence, not later than 2:30 P.M. (New York City time) on the
Drawdown Date, and in any event as soon as practicable after
receipt.
(c) Availability
of Advances. Subject to satisfaction of the terms and conditions
set forth herein, the Facility will be made available in three Advances as
follows:
Advance
I
on the Initial Drawdown Date,
Advance
II on the Second Drawdown Date, and
Advance
III on the Final Drawdown Date.
(d) One
Drawdown Date for Each Advance. Each Advance will only be
available on a single Drawdown Date; provided, however, that to the extent
an
Advance is not drawn in full on its respective Drawdown Date, the remaining
amount of such Advance may be drawn down on any subsequent Drawdown
Date.
3.2 Drawdown
Notice. The Borrower shall, at least three (3) Banking Days
(or fewer Banking Days if agreed by the Lenders) before the Drawdown Date with
respect to Advance I and Advance II and at least twenty (20) days before the
Drawdown Date with respect to Advance III, serve a notice (a “Drawdown Notice”),
substantially in the form of Exhibit B, on the Facility Agent, which notice
shall (a) be in writing addressed to the Facility Agent, (b) be
effective on receipt by the Facility Agent, (c) specify the amount of the
Facility to be drawn, (d) specify the Banking Day on which the Facility is
to be drawn, (e) specify the disbursement instructions (which shall be
consistent in all material respects with Article II of the Shipsales Contract),
(f) specify the initial Interest Period and (g) be
irrevocable.
3.3 Effect
of Drawdown Notice. Delivery of a Drawdown Notice shall be deemed
to constitute a warranty by the Borrower (a) that the representations and
warranties stated in Section 2 (updated mutatis mutandis) are true and
correct on and as of the date of the Drawdown Notice and will be true and
correct on and as of the Drawdown Date as if made on such date, and
(b) that no Event of Default nor any event which with the giving of notice
or lapse of time or both would constitute an Event of Default has occurred
and
is continuing.
4. CONDITIONS
4.1 Conditions
Precedent to the Effectiveness of this Agreement. The
effectiveness of this Agreement and the obligation of the Lenders to make the
Facility available to the Borrower under this Agreement shall be expressly
subject to the following conditions precedent:
(i)
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copies,
certified as true and complete by an officer of each of the Security
Parties, of the resolutions of its board of directors and, with respect
to
the Borrower, shareholders evidencing approval of the Transaction
Documents to which each is a party and authorizing an appropriate
officer
or officers or attorney-in-fact or attorneys-in-fact to execute the
same
on its behalf, including the execution of the Drawdown
Notice;
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(ii)
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copies,
certified as true and complete by an officer of each of the Security
Parties, of the certificate or articles of incorporation and by-laws
or
similar constituent document
thereof;
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(iii)
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certificate
of the jurisdiction of incorporation of each Security Party as to
the good
standing thereof; and
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(iv)
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a
certificate signed by the Chairman, President, Executive Vice President,
Treasurer, Comptroller, Controller or chief financial officer of
each of
the Security Parties to the effect that (A) no Default or Event of
Default
shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) the representations
and
warranties of such Security Party contained in this Agreement are
true and
correct as of the date of such
certificate.
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(b) The
Agreement. Each of the Security Parties shall have duly executed
and delivered this Agreement to the Facility Agent.
(c) The
Note. The Borrower shall have duly executed and delivered the
Note to the Facility Agent.
(d) The
Creditors. The Facility Agent shall have received executed
counterparts of this Agreement from each of the Lenders (or, in the case of
any
Lender as to which an executed counterpart shall not have been received, the
Facility Agent shall have received in form satisfactory to it a telex, facsimile
or other written confirmation from such Lender of the execution of a counterpart
of this Agreement by such Lender).
(e) Fees. The
Creditors shall have received payment in full of all fees and expenses due
to
each thereof pursuant to the terms hereof on the date when due including,
without limitation, all fees and expenses due under Section 15.
(f) Environmental
Claims. The Lenders shall be satisfied that neither of the
Security Parties is subject to any Environmental Claim which could reasonably
be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(g) Legal
Opinions. The Facility Agent, on behalf of the Agents and the
Lenders, shall have received opinions addressed to the Facility Agent from
(i) Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Xxxxxxx, L.L.P.,
special counsel to the Security Parties, and (ii) Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP,
special counsel to the Agents and the Lenders, in each case in such form as
the
Facility Agent may require, as well as such other legal opinions as the Lenders
shall have required as to all or any matters under the laws of the State of
Delaware, the State of New York, the United States of America and the Xxxxxxxx
Islands covering certain of the representations and warranties and conditions
which are the subjects of Sections 2 and 4, respectively.
(h) Officer's
Certificate. The Facility Agent shall have received a certificate
signed by the President or other duly authorized executive officer of the
Borrower certifying that under applicable law existing on the date hereof,
the
Borrower shall not be compelled by law to withhold or deduct any Taxes from
any
amounts to become payable to the Facility Agent for the account of the Creditors
hereunder.
(i) Shipsales
Contract. The Borrower shall have delivered to the Facility Agent
a true and complete copy of the Shipsales Contract and evidence satisfactory
to
the Facility Agent that the Borrower has paid the first installment of twenty
percent (20%) of the Contract Price (as defined in the Shipsales Contract)
due
under the Shipsales Contract as required pursuant to Section 3(a) thereof.
4.2 Condition
Precedent to Advance I. The obligation of the Lenders to make
Advance I available to the Borrower under this Agreement shall be expressly
subject to the following condition precedent:
(a) Security
Documents. The Borrower shall have executed and delivered to the
Facility Agent:
(i)
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the
Shipsales Contract Assignment;
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(ii)
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the
Assignment Notice and the acknowledgement thereof in respect of (i)
above;
and
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(iii)
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such
Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statements (Forms UCC-1) as the Facility
Agent shall require.
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4.3 Conditions
Precedent to Advance III. The obligation of the Lenders to make
Advance III available to the Borrower under this Agreement on the Final Drawdown
Date shall be expressly subject to the following conditions
precedent:
(a) Vessel
Documents. The Facility Agent shall have received evidence
satisfactory to it and its counsel that the Vessel upon delivery to the Borrower
will be:
(i)
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in
the sole and absolute ownership of the Borrower and is duly registered
in
the Borrower's name under United States, Panamanian or Xxxxxxxx Islands
flag free of all liens and encumbrances of record other than its
Mortgage;
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(ii)
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insured
in accordance with the provisions of the Mortgage and all requirements
of
the Mortgage in respect of such insurance have been fulfilled (including,
but not limited to, letters of undertaking from the insurance brokers,
including confirmation notices of assignment, notices of cancellation
and
loss payable clauses acceptable to the
Lenders);
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(iii)
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classed
in the highest classification and rating for vessels of the same
age and
type with its Classification Society without any material outstanding
recommendations; and
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(iv)
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operationally
seaworthy and in every way fit for its intended
service;
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(b) Security
Documents. The Borrower shall have executed and delivered to the
Facility Agent:
(i)
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the
Insurances Assignment;
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(ii)
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the
Earnings and Charterparties
Assignment;
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(iii)
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the
Assignment Notices with respect to (i) and (ii) above;
and
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(iv)
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such
Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statements (Forms UCC-1) as the
Facility
Agent shall require.
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(c) Vessel
Appraisals. The Facility Agent shall have received appraisals, in
form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent, as to the Fair Market
Value of the Vessel.
(d) ISM
DOC. To the extent required to be obtained by the ISM Code the
Security Trustee shall have received a copy of the DOC for the
Vessel.
(e) Evidence
of Current COFR. If the Vessel is registered in the United
States, the Facility Agent shall have received copies of the current Certificate
of Financial Responsibility pursuant to the Oil Pollution Xxx 0000 for the
Vessel.
(f) Vessel
Liens. The Facility Agent shall have received evidence
satisfactory to it and to its legal advisor that, save for the liens created
by
the Mortgage and the Assignments, there are no liens, charges or encumbrances
of
any kind whatsoever on the Vessel or on its earnings except as permitted hereby
or by any of the Security Documents.
(g) Vessel
Delivery. The Facility Agent shall be satisfied that satisfactory
arrangements have been made for (x) the registration of the Vessel in the name
of the Borrower under Panamanian or United States flag, (y) the execution of
the
Mortgage and (z) the recordation of the Mortgage with the National Vessel
Documentation Center of the United States Coast Guard or the appropriate
authorities in the Republic of Panama or the Republic of the Xxxxxxxx Islands
(as applicable), in each case on the opening of business on the Banking Day
immediately following the delivery of the Vessel to the Borrower.
(h) Maritime
Administration Approval. If the Vessel is registered in the
United States, the Borrower shall have obtained pre-approval from the United
States Maritime Administration, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Lenders, for the possible transfer of the Vessel upon the exercise of the
Security Trustee’s rights under the Mortgage to a party not qualified to own and
document a vessel under United States flag and/or the re-documentation of the
Vessel under foreign flag.
4.4 Further
Conditions Precedent. The obligation of the Lenders to make any
Advance available to the Borrower shall also be expressly conditional
upon:
(a) Drawdown
Notice. The Facility Agent having received a Drawdown Notice in
accordance with the terms of Section 3.2.
(b) Representations
and Warranties True. The representations stated in Section 2
being true and correct as if made on that date.
(c) No
Default. No Default or Event of Default having occurred and being
continuing or would result from the making of the requested
Advance.
(d) No
Material Adverse Effect. There having been no Material Adverse
Effect since September 30, 2007.
4.5 Breakfunding
Costs. In the event that, on the date specified for the making of
an Advance in the relevant Drawdown Notice, the Lenders shall not be obliged
under this Agreement to make the requested Advance available under this
Agreement, the Borrower shall indemnify and hold the Lenders fully harmless
against any losses which the Lenders (or any thereof) may sustain as a result
of
borrowing or agreeing to borrow funds to meet the drawdown requirement of such
Drawdown Notice and the certificate of the relevant Lender or Lenders shall,
absent manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the Borrower as to the
extent of any such losses.
4.6 Satisfaction
after Drawdown. Without prejudice to any of the other terms and
conditions of this Agreement, in the event all of the Lenders elect, in their
sole discretion, to make the Facility prior to the satisfaction of all or any
of
the conditions referred to in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4, the Borrower hereby
covenants and undertakes to satisfy or procure the satisfaction of such
condition or conditions within seven (7) days after the Drawdown Date (or
such longer period as the Majority Lenders, in their sole discretion, may
agree).
5.1 Repayment. Subject
to the provisions of this Section 5 regarding application of prepayments,
the Borrower shall repay the principal of the Facility in forty (40) consecutive
quarterly installments beginning on the Initial Payment Date and ending on
the
Final Payment Date, the first thirty-nine (39) such installments being in equal
amounts, each in the amount of One Hundred Four Million Six Hundred Sixty-Six
Thousand Six Hundred Sixty-Six Yen (¥104,666,666) and the last such installment
being in the amount of the Final Payment, such last installment to be paid
on
the Final Payment Date.
5.2 Voluntary
Prepayment; No Re-borrowing. The Borrower may prepay, upon three
(3) Banking Days written notice, the Facility or any portion thereof, without
penalty, provided that if such prepayment is made on a day other than a Payment
Date, such prepayment shall be made together with the costs and expenses
provided for in Section 5.5. Each prepayment shall be in a minimum
amount of One Hundred Million Yen (¥100,000,000), plus any One Hundred Million
Yen (¥100,000,000) multiple thereof, or the full amount of the Facility then
outstanding. No part of the Facility once repaid or prepaid will be
available for re-borrowing.
5.3 Mandatory
Prepayment; Sale or Loss of Vessel. Upon (i) the sale of the
Vessel or (ii) the earlier of (x) ninety (90) days after the Total Loss (as
such
term is defined in the Mortgage) of the Vessel or (y) the date on which the
insurance proceeds in respect of such loss are received by the Borrower or
the
Security Trustee as assignee thereof, the Borrower shall either (I) deliver
to
the Security Trustee, such additional collateral, of equal or greater value
with
the Vessel, as may be satisfactory to the Lenders in their sole discretion
or
(II) repay the Facility in full, or such proceeds shall be applied by the
Facility Agent first, towards prepayment of the Facility and the Borrower's
other obligations hereunder in full and second, to the Borrower.
5.4 Optional
Reduction of Facility by the Lenders. Any Lender shall have the
right at any time before the fourteenth (14th) day prior
to the
Final Drawdown Date, upon written notice to the Borrower, to reduce the Facility
to sixty-five percent (65%) of the final delivered cost of the
Vessel. Should a Lender exercise the reduction option provided in
this Section 5.4 the repayments under Section 5.1 and each Lender’s Commitment
shall be reduced pro-rata.
5.5 Interest
and Cost With Application of Prepayments. Any and all prepayments
hereunder, whether mandatory or voluntary, shall be applied in the following
order:
(a) firstly,
towards accrued and unpaid interest and for fees due under this Agreement;
and
(b) secondly,
towards the installments of the Facility in the inverse order of their due
dates
for payment.
5.6 Borrower's
Obligation Absolute. The Borrower's obligation to pay each
Creditor hereunder and under the Note shall be absolute, unconditional and
irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms hereof
and
thereof, under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any set-off,
counterclaim or defense to payment which the Borrower may have or may have
had
against the Creditors.
6. INTEREST
AND RATE
6.1 Payment
of Interest; Interest Rate. (a) The Borrower hereby promises
to pay to the Lenders interest on the unpaid principal amount of the Facility
for the period commencing on the Initial Drawdown Date until but not including
the stated maturity thereof (whether by acceleration or otherwise) or the date
of prepayment thereof at the Applicable Rate, which shall be the rate per annum
which is equal to the aggregate of (a) the LIBOR Rate plus (b) the Applicable
Margin; provided, however, that if the Borrower has requested and the Lenders
have agreed to an Interest Period of less than one (1) month, for the purposes
of determining the Applicable Rate, the LIBOR Rate shall be replaced with the
rate equal to the sum of (i) the Short Term Prime Rate plus (ii) twenty-five
one
hundredths of one percent (.25%). The Facility Agent shall promptly
notify the Borrower and the Lenders in writing of the Applicable Rate as and
when determined. Each such determination, absent manifest error,
shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower. Interest for the
period beginning on the Initial Drawdown Date through September 15, 2010 shall
be payable quarterly on each three (3) month anniversary of the Initial Drawdown
Date with the exception of the interest payment due immediately prior to
September 15, 2010, which shall be due on September 15,
2010. Interest for the period beginning on September 15, 2010 through
the Final Payment Date shall be paid quarterly on the fifteenth day of the
month
in which it is due.
(b) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Borrower agrees that after the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, the Facility shall bear interest at the
Default Rate. In addition, the Borrower hereby promises to pay
interest (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally
enforceable) on any overdue interest, and on any other amount payable by the
Borrower hereunder which shall not be paid in full when due (whether at stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), for the period commencing on the due
date thereof until but not including the date the same is paid in full at the
Default Rate.
(c) The
Borrower shall give the Facility Agent an Interest Notice specifying the
Interest Period selected at least three (3) Banking Days prior to the end
of any then existing Interest Period, which notice the Facility Agent agrees
to
forward on to all Lenders as soon as practicable. If at the end of
any then existing Interest Period the Borrower fails to give an Interest Notice,
the relevant Interest Period shall be three (3) months. The
Borrower's right to select an Interest Period shall be subject to the
restriction that no selection of an Interest Period shall be effective unless
each Lender is satisfied that the necessary funds will be available to such
Lender for such period and that no Event of Default or event which, with the
giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing.
(d) Interest
payable at the Default Rate shall be payable from time to time on demand of
the
Facility Agent.
6.2 Maximum
Interest. Anything in this Agreement or the Note to the contrary
notwithstanding, the interest rate on the Facility shall in no event be in
excess of the maximum rate permitted by Applicable Law.
7. PAYMENTS
7.1 Time
and Place of Payments, No Set Off. All payments to be made
hereunder by the Borrower shall be made to the Facility Agent, not later than
3
p.m. New York time (any payment received after 3 p.m. New York time shall be
deemed to have been paid on the next Banking Day) on the Banking Day two Banking
Days prior to the due date of such payment, at its office located at 000 Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 or to such other office of the Facility Agent
as the Facility Agent may direct, without set-off or counterclaim and free
from,
clear of, and without deduction for, any Taxes, provided, however, that if
the
Borrower shall at any time be compelled by law to withhold or deduct any Taxes
from any amounts payable to the Lenders hereunder, then the Borrower shall
pay
such additional amounts in Dollars as may be necessary in order that the net
amounts received after withholding or deduction shall equal the amounts which
would have been received if such withholding or deduction were not required
and,
in the event any withholding or deduction is made, whether for Taxes or
otherwise, the Borrower shall promptly send to the Facility Agent such
documentary evidence with respect to such withholding or deduction as may be
required from time to time by the Lenders.
7.2 Tax
Credits. If any Lender obtains the benefit of a credit against
the liability thereof for federal income taxes imposed by any taxing authority
for all or part of the Taxes as to which the Borrower has paid additional
amounts as aforesaid (and each Lender agrees to use its best efforts to obtain
the benefit of any such credit which may be available to it, provided it has
knowledge that such credit is in fact available to it), then such Lender shall
reimburse the Borrower for the amount of the credit so obtained. Each
Lender agrees that in the event that Taxes are imposed on account of the situs
of its loans hereunder, such Lender, upon acquiring knowledge of such event,
shall, if commercially reasonable, shift such loans on its books to another
office of such Lender so as to avoid the imposition of such Taxes.
7.3 Computations;
Banking Days.
(a) All
computations of interest and fees shall be made by the Facility Agent or the
Lenders, as the case may be, on the basis of a 360-day year, in each case for
the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day)
occurring in the period for which interest or fees are payable. Each
determination by the Facility Agent or the Lenders of an interest rate or fee
hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest
error.
(b) Whenever
any payment hereunder or under the Note shall be stated to be due on a day
other
than a Banking Day, such payment shall be due and payable on the next succeeding
Banking Day unless the next succeeding Banking Day falls in the following
calendar month, in which case it shall be payable on the immediately preceding
Banking Day.
8. EVENTS
OF
DEFAULT
8.1 Events
of Default. In the event that any of the following events shall
occur and be continuing:
(a) Principal
Payments. Any principal of the Facility is not paid on the due
date therefor; or
(b) Interest
and other Payments. Any interest on the Facility or
any other amount becoming payable under this Agreement and under any Transaction
Document or under any of them, is not paid within three (3) Banking Days from
the date when due; or
(c) Representations,
etc. Any representation, warranty or other statement made by any
of the Security Parties in this Agreement or in any other instrument, document
or other agreement delivered in connection herewith proves to have been untrue
or misleading in any material respect as at the date as of which it was made;
or
(d) Impossibility,
Illegality. It becomes impossible or unlawful for any of the
Security Parties to fulfill any of the covenants and obligations contained
herein or in any Transaction Document, or for any of the Lenders to exercise
any
of the rights vested in any of them hereunder or under the other Transaction
Documents and such impossibility or illegality, in the reasonable opinion of
such Lender, will have a Material Adverse Effect on any of its rights hereunder
or under the other Transaction Documents or on any of its rights to enforce
any
thereof; or
(e) Mortgage. The
Mortgage is not recorded within three (3) Banking Days of the Final Drawdown
Date or there is any default under the Mortgage; or
(f) Certain
Covenants. Any Security Party defaults in the performance or
observance of any covenant contained in Section 9.1(b), 9.1(m), 9.2(i) and
9.3(a) through (d) inclusive; or
(g) Covenants. One
or more of the Security Parties default in the performance of any term, covenant
or agreement contained in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents,
or in any other instrument, document or other agreement delivered in connection
herewith or therewith, in each case other than an Event of Default referred
to
elsewhere in this Section 8.1, and such default continues unremedied for a
period of fifteen (15) days after written notice thereof has been given to
the
relevant Security Party or Parties by the Facility Agent at the request of
any
Lender; or
(h) Indebtedness
and Other Obligations. Any Security Party defaults in the payment
when due (subject to any applicable grace period) of any Indebtedness or of
any
other indebtedness, in either case, in an outstanding principal amount equal
to
or exceeding Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) or such Indebtedness or other
indebtedness is, or by reason of such default is subject to being, accelerated
or any party becomes entitled to enforce the security for any such Indebtedness
or other indebtedness and such party shall take steps to enforce the same,
unless such default or enforcement is being contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings or other acts and such Security Party has set
aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto; or
(i) Bankruptcy. Any
Security Party commences any proceedings relating to any substantial portion
of
its property under any reorganization, arrangement or readjustment of debt,
dissolution, winding up, adjustment, composition, bankruptcy or liquidation
law
or statute of any jurisdiction, whether now or hereafter in effect (a
“Proceeding”), or there is commenced against any thereof any Proceeding and such
Proceeding remains undismissed or unstayed for a period of sixty (60) days;
or any receiver, trustee, liquidator or sequestrator of, or for, any thereof
or
any substantial portion of the property of any thereof is appointed and is
not
discharged within a period of sixty (60) days; or any thereof by any act
indicates consent to or approval of or acquiescence in any Proceeding or to
the
appointment of any receiver, trustee, liquidator or sequestrator of, or for,
itself or any substantial portion of its property; or
(j) Judgments. Any
judgment or order is made the effect whereof would be to render invalid this
Agreement or any other Transaction Document or any material provision thereof
or
any Security Party asserts that any such agreement or provision thereof is
invalid; or judgments or orders for the payment of money (not paid or fully
covered by insurance, subject to applicable deductibles) in excess of $2,500,000
in the aggregate for the Guarantor or its Subsidiaries (or its equivalent in
any
other currency) shall be rendered against the Guarantor and/or any of its
Subsidiaries and such judgments or orders shall continue unsatisfied and
unstayed for a period of 30 days; or
(k) Inability
to Pay Debts. Any Security Party is unable to pay or admits its
inability to pay its debts as they fall due or a moratorium shall be declared
in
respect of any Indebtedness of any thereof; or
(l) Termination
of Operations; Sale of Assets. Except as expressly permitted
under this Agreement, any Security Party ceases its operations or sells or
otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets or all or
substantially all of the assets of any Security Party are seized or otherwise
appropriated; or
(m) Change
in Financial Position. Any change in the financial position of
any Security Party which, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders,
shall have a Material Adverse Effect; or
(n) Cross-Default. Any
Security Party defaults under any material contract or agreement to which it
is
a party or by which it is bound; or
(o) ERISA
Debt. Any member of the ERISA Group or any ERISA Affiliate shall
(i) fail to pay when due an amount or amounts aggregating in excess of
$1,000,000 which it or they shall have become liable to pay under Title IV
of ERISA or (ii) any member of the ERISA Group or any ERISA Affiliate,
individually or collectively, shall incur, or shall reasonably expect to incur,
any Withdrawal Liability or liability upon the happening of a Termination Event
and the aggregate of all such Withdrawal Liabilities and such other liabilities
shall be in excess of $10,000,000;
then,
the
Lenders' obligation to make the Facility available shall cease and the Facility
Agent on behalf of the Lenders may, with the Majority Lenders' consent and
shall, upon the Majority Lenders' instruction, by notice to the Borrower,
declare the entire Facility, accrued interest and any other sums payable by
the
Borrower hereunder, under the Note and under the other Transaction Documents
due
and payable whereupon the same shall forthwith be due and payable without
presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby
expressly waived; provided that upon the happening of an event specified in
subclauses (i) or (k) of this Section 8.1, the Facility, accrued
interest and any other sums payable by the Borrower hereunder, under the Note
and under the other Transaction Documents shall be immediately due and payable
without declaration, presentment, demand, protest or other notice to the
Borrower all of which are expressly waived. In such event, the
Creditors, or any thereof, may proceed to protect and enforce their respective
rights by action at law, suit in equity or in admiralty or other appropriate
proceeding, whether for specific performance of any covenant contained in this
Agreement or in the Note or in any other Transaction Document or in aid of
the
exercise of any power granted herein or therein, or the Lenders or the Facility
Agent may proceed to enforce the payment of the Note when due or to enforce
any
other legal or equitable right of the Lenders, or proceed to take any action
authorized or permitted by Applicable Law for the collection of all sums due,
or
so declared due, including, without limitation, the right to appropriate and
hold or apply (directly, by way of set-off or otherwise) to the payment of
the
obligations of the Borrower to any of the Creditors hereunder, under the Note
and/or under the other Transaction Documents (whether or not then due) all
moneys and other amounts of the Borrower then or thereafter in possession of
any
Creditor, the balance of any deposit account (demand or time, matured or
unmatured) of the Borrower then or thereafter with any Creditor and every other
claim of the Borrower then or thereafter against any of the
Creditors.
8.2 Indemnification. The
Borrower agrees to, and shall, indemnify and hold each of the Creditors harmless
against any loss, as well as against any reasonable costs or expenses (including
reasonable legal fees and expenses), which any of the Creditors sustains or
incurs as a consequence of any default in payment of the principal amount of
the
Facility, interest accrued thereon or any other amount payable hereunder, under
the Note or under the other Transaction Documents including, but not limited
to,
all actual losses incurred in liquidating or re-employing fixed deposits made
by
third parties or funds acquired to effect or maintain the Facility or any
portion thereof. Any Creditor's certification of such costs and
expenses shall, absent any manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the
Borrower.
8.3 Application
of Moneys. Except as otherwise provided in any Security Document,
all moneys received by the Creditors under or pursuant to this Agreement, the
Note or any of the Security Documents after the happening of any Event of
Default (unless cured to the satisfaction of the Majority Lenders) shall be
applied by the Facility Agent in the following manner:
(a) firstly,
in or towards the payment or reimbursement of any expenses or liabilities
incurred by any of the Creditors in connection with the ascertainment,
protection or enforcement of its rights and remedies hereunder, under the Note
and under the other Transaction Documents;
(b) secondly,
in or towards payment of any interest owing in respect of the
Facility;
(c) thirdly,
in or towards repayment of the principal of the Facility;
(d) fourthly,
in or towards payment of all other sums which may be owing to any of the
Creditors under this Agreement, under the Note and under the other Transaction
Documents;
(e) fifthly,
in or towards payments of any amounts then owed under any Interest Rate
Agreement; and
(f) sixthly,
the surplus (if any) shall be paid to the Borrower or to whomsoever else may
be
entitled thereto.
9. COVENANTS
9.1 Affirmative
Covenants. Each of the Security Parties hereby covenants and
undertakes with the Lenders that, from the date hereof and so long as any
principal, interest or other moneys are owing in respect of this Agreement,
the
Note or any of the Security Documents, it will:
(a) Performance
of Agreements. Duly perform and observe, and procure the
observance and performance by all other parties thereto (other than the Lenders)
of, the terms of this Agreement, the Note and the Security
Documents;
(b) Notice
of Default, etc. Promptly upon obtaining knowledge thereof,
inform the Facility Agent of the occurrence of (a) any Event of Default or
of any event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would
constitute an Event of Default, (b) any litigation or governmental
proceeding pending or threatened against any Security Party which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (c) the withdrawal
of
the Vessel's rating by its Classification Society or the issuance by the
Classification Society of any material recommendation or notation affecting
class and (d) any other event or condition which is reasonably likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect, in each case promptly, and in any event within
three (3) Banking Days after becoming aware of the occurrence
thereof;
(c) Obtain
Consents. Without prejudice to Section 2.1 and this
Section 9.1, obtain every consent and do all other acts and things which
may from time to time be necessary or advisable for the continued due
performance of all its and the other Security Parties' respective obligations
under this Agreement, under the Note and under the Security
Documents;
(d) Financial
Information. Deliver to the Facility Agent with sufficient copies
for the Lenders to be distributed to the Lenders by the Facility Agent promptly
upon the receipt thereof:
(i)
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as
soon as available, but not later than ninety (90) days after the end
of each fiscal year of the Guarantor, complete copies of the consolidated
financial reports of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries together
with a
separate financial report of the Borrower (together with a Compliance
Certificate), all in reasonable detail which shall include at least
the
consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries
and a
balance sheet for the Borrower as of the end of such year and the
related
statements of income and sources and uses of funds for such year,
each as
prepared in accordance with GAAP, all in reasonable detail, which
shall be
prepared by an Acceptable Accounting Firm and, with respect to the
Guarantor, be audited reports;
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(ii)
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as
soon as available, but not less than forty-five (45) days after the
end of
each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Guarantor,
a
quarterly interim balance sheets and profit and loss statements of
the
Guarantor and its Subsidiaries and the related profit and loss statements
and sources and uses of funds (together with a Compliance Certificate),
all in reasonable detail, unaudited, but certified to be true and
complete
by the chief financial officer of the
Guarantor;
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(iii)
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promptly
upon the mailing thereof to the shareholders of the Guarantor, copies
of
all financial statements, reports, proxy statements and other
communications provided to the Guarantor's
shareholders;
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(iv)
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within
ten (10) days of the Guarantor's receipt thereof, copies of all audit
letters or other correspondence from any external auditors including
material financial information in respect of the Guarantor and its
Subsidiaries; and
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(v)
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such
other statements (including, without limitation, monthly consolidated
statements of operating revenues and expenses), lists of assets and
accounts, budgets, forecasts, reports and other financial information
with
respect to its business as the Facility Agent may from time to time
reasonably request, certified to be true and complete by the chief
financial officer of the Guarantor;
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(e) Contingent
Liabilities. For inclusion with each Compliance Certificate
delivered in connection with Sections 9.1(d)(i) and 9.1(d)(ii), and in any
event upon the reasonable request of the Facility Agent, an accounting of all
of
the contingent liabilities of each Security Party;
(f) Vessel
Valuations. For inclusion with each Compliance Certificate
delivered pursuant to Section 9.1(d)(i) and 9.1(d)(ii) (for the third
quarter of each year), and in any event upon the reasonable request of the
Facility Agent, the Borrower shall obtain appraisals of the Fair Market Value
of
the Vessel, provided however, that at any time when the
Vessel is subject to an Acceptable Charter the Borrower shall not be required
to
deliver the appraisals of the Vessel together with the third quarter Compliance
Certificate. All valuations are to be at the Borrower's
cost. In the event the Borrower fails or refuses to obtain the
valuations requested pursuant to this Section 9.1 within ten (10) days
of the Facility Agent's request therefor, the Facility Agent will be authorized
to obtain such valuations, at the Borrower's cost, from one of the approved
ship
brokers listed on Schedule II, which valuations shall be deemed the equivalent
of valuations duly obtained by the Borrower pursuant to this
Section 9.1(f), but the Facility Agent's actions in doing so shall not
excuse any default of the Borrower under this Section 9.1(f);
(g) Corporate
Existence. Do or cause to be done all things necessary to
preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and all
licenses, franchises, permits and assets necessary to the conduct of its
business;
(h) Books
and Records. At all times keep proper books of record and account
into which full and correct entries shall be made in accordance with
GAAP;
(i) Taxes
and Assessments. Pay and discharge all material taxes,
assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its
income or property prior to the date upon which penalties attach thereto;
provided, however, that it shall not be required to pay and discharge, or cause
to be paid and discharged, any such tax, assessment, charge or levy so long
as
the legality thereof shall be contested in good faith and by appropriate
proceedings or other acts and it shall set aside on its books adequate reserves
with respect thereto;
(j) Inspection. Allow
any representative or representatives designated by the Facility Agent, subject
to applicable laws and regulations, to visit and inspect any of its properties,
and, on request, to examine its books of account, records, reports and other
papers and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers,
all
at such reasonable times and as often as the Facility Agent reasonably
requests;
(k) Inspection
and Survey Reports. If the Lenders shall so request, the Borrower
shall provide the Lenders with copies of all internally generated inspection
or
survey reports on the Vessel;
(l) Compliance
with Statutes, Agreements, etc. Do or cause to be done all things
necessary to comply with all material contracts or agreements to which any
of
the Security Parties is a party, and all material laws, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, applicable to such Security Party, including, without
limitation, those laws, rules and regulations relating to employee benefit
plans
and environmental matters except where failure to do so would not be reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(m) Environmental
Matters. Promptly upon the occurrence of any of the following
conditions, provide to the Facility Agent a certificate of a chief executive
officer of the Guarantor, specifying in detail the nature of such condition
and
its proposed response or the proposed response of any Environmental
Affiliate: (a) its receipt or the receipt by any Environmental
Affiliate of any written communication whatsoever that alleges that such Person
is not in compliance with any applicable Environmental Law or Environmental
Approval, if such noncompliance could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, (b) knowledge by it or any Environmental Affiliate that
there exists any Environmental Claim pending or threatened against any such
Person, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,
or
(c) any release, emission, discharge or disposal of any material that could
form the basis of any Environmental Claim against it or against any
Environmental Affiliate, if such Environmental Claim could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Upon the written request
by the Facility Agent, the Borrower will submit to the Facility Agent at
reasonable intervals, a report providing an update of the status of any issue
or
claim identified in any notice or certificate required pursuant to this
subsection;
(n) Insurance. Maintain
with financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance on all its
properties and against all such risks and in at least such amounts and with
such
deductibles as are usually insured against by companies of established
reputation engaged in the same or similar business from time to
time;
(o) Vessel
Management. Upon the delivery of the Vessel, cause the Vessel to
be managed both commercially and technically by the Guarantor, a wholly-owned
subsidiary thereof;
(p) Brokerage
Commissions, etc. Indemnify and hold each of the Agents and the
Lenders harmless from any claim for any brokerage commission, fee or
compensation from any broker or third party resulting from the transactions
contemplated hereby;
(q) ISM
Code, ISPS Code and MTSA Matters. Upon the delivery of the
Vessel, (i) procure that the Operator will comply with and ensure that the
Vessel will comply with the requirements of the ISM Code, ISPS Code and MTSA
in
accordance with the implementation schedules thereof, including (but not limited
to) the maintenance and renewal of valid certificates, and when required,
security plans, pursuant thereto throughout the term of the Facility; and (ii)
procure that the Operator will immediately inform the Facility Agent if there
is
any threatened or actual withdrawal of its DOC, SMC or the ISSC in respect
of
the Vessel; and (iii) procure that the Operator will promptly inform the
Facility Agent upon the issuance to the Borrower or Operator of a DOC and to
the
Vessel of an SMC or ISSC;
(r) ERISA.
Forthwith upon learning of the occurrence of any material liability of any
member of the ERISA Group or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant to ERISA in connection
with the termination of any Plan or withdrawal or partial withdrawal of any
multi-employer plan (as defined in ERISA) or of a failure to satisfy the minimum
funding standards of Section 412 of the Code or Part 3 of Title I of ERISA
by
any Plan for which any member of the ERISA Group or any ERISA Affiliate is
plan
administrator (as defined in ERISA), furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Lenders written notice thereof;
(s) Evidence
of Current COFR. If the Lenders shall so request, provide the
Lenders with copies of the current Certificate of Financial Responsibility
pursuant to the Oil Pollution Xxx 0000 for the Vessel; and
(t) Mortgage. Within
three (3) Banking Days of the Final Drawdown Date, cause the Mortgage to be
recorded with the National Vessel Documentation Center of the United States
Coast Guard or the appropriate authorities in the Republic of Panama or Republic
of the Xxxxxxxx Islands (as applicable).
(u) Listing
on NYSE. With respect to the Guarantor, maintain its listing on
the New York Stock Exchange.
9.2 Negative
Covenants. Each of the Security Parties hereby covenants and
undertakes with the Lenders that, from the date hereof and so long as any
principal, interest or other moneys are owing in respect of this Agreement,
the
Note or any other Transaction Documents, it will not, without the prior written
consent of the Majority Lenders (or all of the Lenders if required pursuant
to
Section 17.8):
(a) Liens. Create,
assume or permit to exist, any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, encumbrance
or
any security interest whatsoever upon any Collateral or, in respect of the
Borrower and the Guarantor, other property except:
(i)
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liens
disclosed in Schedule III;
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(ii)
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liens
to secure Indebtedness under Section 9.2(m), such liens to be limited
to
the vessels constructed or
acquired;
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(iii)
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liens
for taxes not yet payable for which adequate reserves have been
maintained;
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(iv)
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the
Mortgage, the Assignments and other liens in favor of the Security
Trustee
or the Lenders;
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(v)
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liens,
charges and encumbrances against the Vessel permitted to exist under
the
terms of the Mortgage;
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(vi)
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pledges
of certificates of deposit or other cash collateral securing reimbursement
obligations in connection with letters of credit now or hereinafter
issued
for its account in connection with the establishment of
its financial responsibility under 33C.F.R. Part 130 or 46
C.F.R. Part 540, as the case may be, as the same may be amended and
replaced;
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(vii)
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pledges
or deposits to secure obligations under workmen's compensation laws
or
similar legislation, deposits to secure public or statutory obligations,
warehousemen's or other like liens, or deposits to obtain the release
of
such liens and deposits to secure surety, appeal or customs bonds
on which
it is the principal, as to all of the foregoing, only to the extent
arising and continuing in the ordinary course of business;
and
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(viii)
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other
liens, charges and encumbrances incidental to the conduct of its
business,
the ownership of its property and assets and which do not in the
aggregate
materially detract from the value of its property or assets or materially
impair the use thereof in the operation of its
business;
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(b) Third
Party Guaranties. Guaranty the obligations of any third party,
except a direct or indirect subsidiary of the Guarantor, whether or not
affiliated with such Security Party;
(c) Liens
on Shares of Borrower. With respect to the Guarantor, create,
assume or permit to exist, any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, encumbrance
or
any security interest whatsoever upon the shares of the Borrower;
(d) Subordination
of Inter-Company Indebtedness. With respect to the Guarantor,
procure that, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of
Default, no payments are made by any Security Party on any inter-company
Indebtedness until such time as the Facility is paid in full;
(e) Transaction
with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction with an Affiliate,
other than on an arms length basis;
(f) Change
of Flag, Class, Management or Ownership. After delivery of the
Vessel to the Borrower, change the flag of the Vessel other than to a
jurisdiction reasonably acceptable to the Lenders, its Classification Society
other than to another member of the International Association of Classification
Societies, the technical management of the Vessel other than to one or more
technical management companies reasonably acceptable to the Lenders or the
immediate or ultimate ownership of the Vessel;
(g) Chartering. Enter
into any charter party agreement with respect to the Vessel, other than an
Approved Charter, without the prior consent of the Majority Lenders, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld;
(h) Change
in Business. Materially change the nature of its business or
commence any business materially different from its current
business;
(i) Sale
of Assets. Other than as reasonably acceptable to the Majority
Lenders, sell, or otherwise dispose of, the Vessel or any other asset (including
by way of spin-off, installment sale or otherwise) which is substantial in
relation to its assets taken as a whole; provided, however, that the Borrower
may sell the Vessel to a third party in an arm's length transaction provided
that the proceeds of such sale are distributed in accordance with Section 5.3
of
this Agreement;
(j) Changes
in Offices or Names. Change the location of its chief executive
office, its chief place of business or the office in which its records relating
to the earnings or insurances of the Vessel are kept or change its name unless
the Lenders shall have received sixty (60) days prior written notice of
such change;
(k) Consolidation
and Merger. Consolidate with, or merge into, any corporation or
other entity, or merge any corporation or other entity into it; provided,
however, that the Guarantor may merge with any Subsidiary or any other Person
if
(A) at the time of such transaction and after giving effect thereto, no Default
or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing, (B) the surviving
entity of such consolidation or merger shall be the Guarantor and (C) after
giving effect to the transaction, the Guarantor's Consolidated Tangible Net
Worth shall be greater or equal to its Consolidated Tangible Net Worth prior
to
the merger;
(l) Change
Fiscal Year. In the case of the Guarantor, change its fiscal
year;
(m) Indebtedness.
In the case of the Security Parties, incur any new Indebtedness (which, for
the
sake of clarity, shall exclude any Indebtedness pursuant to this Agreement)
other than Indebtedness incurred to finance the acquisition and/or construction
of any vessels, provided that the principal amount of such Indebtedness shall
not exceed eighty percent (80%) of such acquisition and/or construction price,
unless such Indebtedness is subordinated to all existing Indebtedness and this
Facility; and
(n) Limitations
on Ability to Make Distributions. Create or otherwise cause or
permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction
on
the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or make any other distributions
on its capital stock or limited liability company interests, as the case may
be,
to the Borrower or the Guarantor.
(o) Change
of Control. Cause or permit a Change of Control.
(p) No
Money Laundering. Contravene any law, official requirement or other
regulatory measure or procedure implemented to combat “money laundering” (as
defined in Article 1 of the Directive (91/308/EEC) of the Council of the
European Communities) and comparable United States Federal and state
laws.
(q) Shipsales
Contract. Amend any material provision in the Shipsales contract,
without the prior consent of the Facility Agent.
9.3 Financial
Covenants. The Guarantor hereby covenants and undertakes with the
Lenders that, from the date hereof and so long as any principal, interest or
other moneys are owing in respect of this Agreement, the Note or any of the
Security Documents, it will:
(a) Consolidated
Indebtedness to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio. Maintain, on a
consolidated basis, a ratio of Consolidated Indebtedness to Consolidated EBITDA
of not more than 4.25 to 1.00, as measured at the end of each fiscal quarter
based on the four most recent fiscal quarters for which financial information
is
available;
(b) Working
Capital. Maintain on a consolidated basis a ratio of current
assets to current liabilities of not less than 1.00 to 1.00, as measured at
the
end of each fiscal quarter;
(c) Consolidated
Tangible Net Worth. Maintain a Consolidated Tangible Net Worth,
as measured at the end of each fiscal quarter, in an amount of not less than
the
sum of (i) ninety percent (90%) of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth as of March
31, 2008 and (ii) the sum of fifty percent (50%) of (A) all net income of the
Guarantor (on a consolidated basis) earned after March 31, 2008, and
(B) the proceeds from the issuance of any common and/or preferred stock of
the
Guarantor on or after the date hereof;
(d) Consolidated
EBITDA to Interest Expense. Maintain a ratio of Consolidated
EBITDA to Interest Expense of not less than 2.50 to 1.00, measured at the end
of
each fiscal quarter based on the four most recent fiscal quarters for which
financial information is available;
9.4 Asset
Maintenance. If at any time during the term of this Agreement after
the Final Drawdown Date, the Fair Market Value of the Vessel is less than the
Required Percentage of the outstanding amount of the Facility, the Borrower
shall, within a period of thirty (30) days following receipt by the
Borrower of written notice from the Facility Agent notifying the Borrower of
such shortfall and specifying the amount thereof (which amount shall, in the
absence of manifest error, be deemed to be conclusive and binding on the
Borrower), either (i) prepay such amount of the Facility (together with
interest thereon and any other monies payable in respect of such prepayment
pursuant to Section 5.5) as shall result in the Fair Market Value of the Vessel
being not less than the Required Percentage of the outstanding amount of the
Facility or (ii) place on charged deposits with the Facility Agent an
amount in Dollars (together with interest thereon and any other monies payable
in respect of such prepayment pursuant to Section 5.5) as shall result in the
Fair Market Value of the Vessel together with the amount deposited being not
less than the Required Percentage of the outstanding amount of the
Facility. The charged deposit shall be released to the Borrower when
the Fair Market Value of the Vessel is not less than the Required Percentage
of
the outstanding amount of the Facility. For the purposes of this
Section 9.4, the outstanding amount of the Facility shall be measured in Dollars
based on the Facility Agent’s Yen/Dollar exchange rate at the time of such
measurement.
10. GRANT
OF SECURITY.
10.1 The
Borrower does hereby transfer, convey, mortgage, hypothecate, pledge, assign
and
grant a first priority security interest to the Security Trustee, in and to
any
Interest Rate Agreement and any forward foreign exchange contract to the extent
of its right, title and interest therein TO HAVE AND TO HOLD any such
Interest Rate Agreement or forward foreign exchange contract unto the Security
Trustee, and its successors and assigns, as security for the due and punctual
payment and performance of its obligations hereunder and under the Note;
provided however that, and these
presents are subject to the condition that, if the Borrower shall have paid
or
caused to be paid or performed all of the obligations hereunder and under the
Note which are due and owing on or before the Final Payment Date and no Event
of
Default shall have occurred and be subsisting, the security interest created
by
this Facility Agreement shall terminate and be discharged and upon the request
of the Borrower, the Lenders shall execute and deliver to the Borrower, at
the
expense of the Borrower, such instruments of satisfaction and release as may
be
appropriate.
11. GUARANTEE
11.1 The
Guarantee. The Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
guarantees to each of the Creditors and their respective successors and assigns
the prompt payment in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration
or otherwise) of the principal of and interest on the Facility made by the
Lenders to the Borrower and evidenced by the Note and all other amounts from
time to time owing to the Creditors by the Borrower under this Agreement, under
the Note and under any of the Security Documents, in each case strictly in
accordance with the terms thereof (such obligations being herein collectively
called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). The Guarantor hereby further agrees that
if the Borrower shall fail to pay in full when due (whether at stated maturity,
by acceleration or otherwise) any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Guarantor
will promptly pay the same, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that
in
the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Guaranteed
Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at
extended maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms
of
such extension or renewal.
11.2 Obligations
Unconditional. The obligations of the Guarantor under Section
11.1 are absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, irrespective of the value,
genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the obligations of the
Borrower under this Agreement, the Note or any other agreement or instrument
referred to herein or therein, or any substitution, release or exchange of
any
other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and,
to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, irrespective of any other
circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable
discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor, it being the intent of this
Section 11.2 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall
be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, under any and all
circumstances. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it
is agreed that the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not
alter or impair the liability of the Guarantor hereunder, which shall remain
absolute, unconditional and irrevocable as described above:
a)
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at
any time or from time to time, without notice to the Guarantor, the
time
for any performance of or compliance with any of the Guaranteed
Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance
shall be
waived;
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b)
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any
of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of this Agreement
or the
Note or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein
shall be done or omitted;
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c)
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the
maturity of any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be accelerated,
or any
of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be modified, supplemented or
amended
in any respect, or any right under this Agreement or the Note or
any other
agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be waived
or
any other guarantee of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security
therefor shall be released or exchanged, in whole or in part, or
otherwise
dealt with; or
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d)
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any
lien or security interest granted to, or in favor of, the Security
Trustee
or any Lender or Lenders as security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations
shall fail to be perfected.
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The
Guarantor hereby expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment,
protest and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that any Agent or any
Lender exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against the Borrower under
this Agreement or the Note or any other agreement or instrument referred to
herein or therein, or against any other Person under any other guarantee of,
or
security for, any of the Guaranteed Obligations.
11.3 Reinstatement. The
obligations of the Guarantor under this Section 11 shall be automatically
reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf
of the Borrower in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must
be
otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether
as a result of any Proceedings and the Guarantor agrees that it will indemnify
each Creditor on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses (including,
without limitation, fees of counsel) incurred by such Creditor in connection
with such recission or restoration, including any such costs and expenses
incurred in defending against any claim alleging that such payment constituted
a
preference, fraudulent transfer or similar payment under any bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar law.
11.4 Subrogation. The
Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives, but only until all amounts payable
hereunder by the Guarantor to the Creditors (or any of them) have been paid
in
full, any and all rights to which any of them may be entitled by operation
of
law or otherwise, upon making any payment hereunder to be subrogated to the
rights of the payee against the Borrower with respect to such payment or to
be
reimbursed, indemnified or exonerated by or to seek contribution from the
Borrower in respect thereof.
11.5 Remedies. The
Guarantor agrees that, as between the Guarantor and the Lenders, the obligations
of the Borrower under this Agreement and the Note may be declared to be
forthwith due and payable as provided in Section 8 (and shall be deemed to
have
become automatically due and payable in the circumstances provided in said
Section 8) for purposes of Section 11.1 notwithstanding any stay, injunction
or
other prohibition preventing such declaration (or such obligations from becoming
automatically due and payable) as against the Borrower and that, in the event
of
such declaration (or such obligations being deemed to have become automatically
due and payable), such obligations (whether or not due and payable by the
Borrower) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for purposes
of Section 11.1.
11.6 Joint,
Several and Solidary Liability. The Guarantor's obligations and
liability under this Agreement shall be on a “solidary” or “joint and several”
basis along with Borrower to the same degree and extent as if the Guarantor
had
been and/or will be a co-borrower, co-principal obligor and/or co-maker of
the
Guaranteed Obligations. In the event that there is more than one
Guarantor under this Agreement, or in the event that there are other guarantors,
endorsers or sureties of all or any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations,
the
Guarantor's obligations and liability hereunder shall further be on a “solidary”
or “joint and several” basis along with such other guarantors, endorsers and/or
sureties.
11.7 Continuing
Guarantee. The guarantee in this Section 11 is a continuing
guarantee, and shall apply to all Guaranteed Obligations whenever
arising.
12. ASSIGNMENT.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, each of the
Security Parties and each of the Creditors and their respective successors
and
assigns, except that the Guarantor may not assign any of its rights or
obligations hereunder without the written consent of the Lenders. The
Borrower may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the consent
of
the Lenders to another wholly-owned Subsidiary, subject to such Subsidiary
executing such documentation reasonably required by the Lenders, including
but
not limited to a promissory note, first priority vessel mortgage, assignment
of
earnings and assignment of insurances relating to the Vessel. Each
Lender shall be entitled to assign its rights and obligations under this
Agreement or grant participation(s) in the Facility to any subsidiary, holding
company or other affiliate of such Lender, to any subsidiary or other affiliate
company of any thereof or, with the consent of the Borrower (except upon the
occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, in which case
the
Borrower's consent shall not be required) and the Agents, in the case of the
Borrower such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, to any other bank or
financial institution (in a minimum amount of not less than ¥100,000,000), and
such Lender shall forthwith give notice of any such assignment or participation
to the Borrower and pay the other Lender an assignment fee of $3,000 for each
such assignment or participation; provided, however, that any such assignment
must be made pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement. The
Borrower will take all reasonable actions requested by the Agents or any Lender
to effect such assignment, including, without limitation, the execution of
a
written consent to any Assignment and Assumption Agreement.
13. ILLEGALITY,
INCREASED COST, NON-AVAILABILITY, ETC.
13.1 Illegality. In
the event that by reason of any change in any applicable law, regulation or
regulatory requirement or in the interpretation thereof, a Lender has a
reasonable basis to conclude that it has become unlawful for any Lender to
maintain or give effect to its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement,
such Lender shall inform the Facility Agent and the Borrower to that effect,
whereafter the liability of such Lender to make its Commitment available shall
forthwith cease and the Borrower shall be required either to repay to such
Lender that portion of the Facility advanced by such Lender immediately or,
if
such Lender so agrees, to repay such portion of the Facility to the Lender
on
the last day of the calendar month in accordance with and subject to the
provisions of Section 13.5. In any such event, but without
prejudice to the aforesaid obligations of the Borrower to repay such portion
of
the Facility, the Borrower and the relevant Lender shall negotiate in good
faith
with a view to agreeing on terms for making such portion of the Facility
available from another jurisdiction or otherwise restructuring such portion
of
the Facility on a basis which is not unlawful.
13.2 Increased
Costs. If any change in applicable law, regulation or regulatory
requirement, or in the interpretation or application thereof by any governmental
or other authority, shall:
(i)
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subject
any Lender to any Taxes with respect to its income from the Facility,
or
any part thereof, or
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(ii)
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change
the basis of taxation to any Lender of payments of principal or interest
or any other payment due or to become due pursuant to this Agreement
(other than a change in the basis effected by the jurisdiction of
organization of such Lender, the jurisdiction of the principal place
of
business of such Lender, the United States of America, the State
or City
of New York or any governmental subdivision or other taxing authority
having jurisdiction over such Lender (unless such jurisdiction is
asserted
by reason of the activities of any Security Party) or such other
jurisdiction where the Facility may be payable),
or
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(iii)
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impose,
modify or deem applicable any reserve requirements or require the
making
of any special deposits against or in respect of any assets or liabilities
of, deposits with or for the account of, or loans by, a Lender,
or
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(iv)
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impose
on any Lender any other condition affecting the Facility or any part
thereof,
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and
the
result of the foregoing is either to increase the cost to such Lender of making
available or maintaining its Commitment or any part thereof or to reduce the
amount of any payment received by such Lender, then and in any such case if
such
increase or reduction in the opinion of such Lender materially affects the
interests of such Lender under or in connection with this
Agreement:
(a) such
Lender shall notify the Facility Agent and the Borrower of the happening of
such
event, and
(b) the
Borrower agrees forthwith upon demand to pay to such Lender such amount as
such
Lender certifies to be necessary to compensate such Lender for such additional
cost or such reduction; provided however, that the foregoing provisions shall
not be applicable in the event that increased costs to the Lender result from
the exercise by the Lender of its right to assign its rights or obligations
under Section 12.
13.3 Nonavailability
of Funds. If the Facility Agent shall determine that, by reason
of circumstances affecting the London Interbank Market generally, adequate
and
reasonable means do not or will not exist for ascertaining the Applicable Rate,
the Facility Agent shall give notice of such determination to the Borrower
and
the Lenders. The Borrower, the Facility Agent and the Majority
Lenders shall then negotiate in good faith in order to agree upon a mutually
satisfactory interest rate to be substituted for that which would otherwise
have
applied under this Agreement. If the Borrower, the Facility Agent and
the Majority Lenders are unable to agree upon such a substituted interest rate
within thirty (30) days of the giving of such determination notice, the
Facility Agent shall set an interest rate to take effect at the Facility Agent's
direction, which rate shall be equal to the Applicable Margin plus the cost
to
the Lenders (as certified by each Lender) of funding the Facility.
13.4 Lender's
Certificate Conclusive. A certificate or determination notice of
the Facility Agent or any Lender, as the case may be, as to any of the matters
referred to in this Section 13 shall, absent manifest error, be conclusive
and binding on the Borrower.
13.5 Compensation
for Losses. Where any portion of the Facility is to be repaid by
the Borrower pursuant to this Section 13, the Borrower agrees
simultaneously with such repayment to pay to the relevant Lender all accrued
interest to the date of actual payment on the amount repaid and all other sums
then payable by the Borrower to the relevant Lender pursuant to this Agreement,
together with such amounts as may be certified by the relevant Lender to be
necessary to compensate such Lender for any actual loss, premium or penalties
incurred or to be incurred thereby on account of funds borrowed to make, fund
or
maintain its Commitment or such portion thereof for the remainder (if any)
of
the then current calendar month, but otherwise without penalty or
premium.
14. CURRENCY
INDEMNITY
14.1 Currency
Conversion. If for the purpose of obtaining or enforcing a
judgment in any court in any country it becomes necessary to convert into any
other currency (the “judgment currency”) an amount due in Dollars or Yen under
this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents then the conversion shall
be
made, in the discretion of the Facility Agent, at the rate of exchange
prevailing either on the date of default or on the day before the day on which
the judgment is given or the order for enforcement is made, as the case may
be
(the “conversion date”), provided that the Facility Agent shall not be entitled
to recover under this section any amount in the judgment currency which exceeds
at the conversion date the amount in Dollars or Yen, as applicable, due under
this Agreement, the Note and/or the other Transaction Documents.
14.2 Change
in Exchange Rate. If there is a change in the rate of exchange
prevailing between the conversion date and the date of actual payment of the
amount due, the Borrower shall pay such additional amounts (if any, but in
any
event not a lesser amount) as may be necessary to ensure that the amount paid
in
the judgment currency when converted at the rate of exchange prevailing on
the
date of payment will produce the amount then due under this Agreement, the
Note
and/or the other Transaction Documents in Yen; any excess over the amount due
received or collected by the Lenders shall be remitted to the
Borrower.
14.3 Additional
Debt Due. Any amount due from the Borrower under this
Section 14 shall be due as a separate debt and shall not be affected by
judgment being obtained for any other sums due under or in respect of this
Agreement, the Note and/or any of the Security Documents.
14.4 Rate
of Exchange. The term “rate of exchange” in this Section 14
means the rate at which the Facility Agent in accordance with its normal
practices is able on the relevant date to purchase Yen with the judgment
currency and includes any premium and costs of exchange payable in connection
with such purchase.
15. FEES
AND
EXPENSES
15.1 Fees. The
Borrower shall pay, for the account of the Lenders, a fee (the “Commitment Fee”)
equal to (i) seventeen and one-half of one percent (17.5%) of the Applicable
Margin from December 7, 2007 through March 31, 2010, and (ii) thirty-five
percent (35%) of the Applicable Margin from April 1, 2010 until the Final
Drawdown Date, in each case, on the average undrawn portion of the
Facility. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Borrower does not
draw down the maximum amount of any Advance on the Drawdown Date on which such
amount first becomes available, the Commitment Fee applicable to the undrawn
portion of such Advance shall be thirty-five percent (35%) of the Applicable
Margin. The Commitment Fee shall be payable on the undrawn portion of
the Facility, provided however, that if the
Lenders exercise their right to reduce the Facility pursuant to Section 5.4,
the
Commitment Fee will be calculated on the reduced amount of the
Facility. For the purposes of the Commitment Fee, if the Facility is
reduced pursuant to Section 5.4, the Facility shall be deemed to be reduced
as
of the Closing Date and the excess Commitment Fee paid up to the date of such
reduction shall be refunded to the Borrower.
The
Borrower shall also pay all fees in the Fee Letter.
15.2 Expenses. The
Borrower agrees, whether or not the transactions hereby contemplated are
consummated, on demand to pay, or reimburse the Agents for their payment of,
the
reasonable expenses of the Agents and (after the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default) the Lenders incident to said transactions
(and in connection with any supplements, amendments, waivers or consents
relating thereto or incurred in connection with the enforcement or defense
of
any of the Agents' and the Lenders' rights or remedies with respect thereto
or
in the preservation of the Agents' and the Lenders' priorities under the
documentation executed and delivered in connection therewith) including, without
limitation, all reasonable costs and expenses of preparation, negotiation,
execution and administration of this Agreement and the documents referred to
herein, the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Agents' counsel in
connection therewith, as well as the reasonable fees and expenses of any
independent appraisers, surveyors, engineers and other consultants retained
by
the Agents in connection with this transaction, all reasonable costs and
expenses, if any, in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement and
the
other Transaction Documents and stamp and other similar taxes, if any, incident
to the execution and delivery of the documents (including, without limitation,
the other Transaction Documents) herein contemplated and to hold the Agents
and
the Lenders free and harmless in connection with any liability arising from
the
nonpayment of any such stamp or other similar taxes. Such taxes and,
if any, interest and penalties related thereto as may become payable after
the
date hereof shall be paid immediately by the Borrower to the Agents or the
Lenders, as the case may be, when liability therefor is no longer contested
by
such party or parties or reimbursed immediately by the Borrower to such party
or
parties after payment thereof (if the Agents or the Lenders, at their sole
discretion, chooses to make such payment).
16. APPLICABLE
LAW, JURISDICTION AND WAIVER
16.1 Applicable
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
16.2 Jurisdiction.
The Borrower hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the courts
of the State of New York and of the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York in any action or proceeding brought against it
by
any of the Lenders or the Agents under this Agreement or under any document
delivered hereunder and hereby irrevocably agrees that valid service of summons
or other legal process on it may be effected by serving a copy of the summons
and other legal process in any such action or proceeding on the Borrower by
mailing or delivering the same by hand to the Borrower at the address indicated
for notices in Section 18.1. The service, as herein provided, of
such summons or other legal process in any such action or proceeding shall
be
deemed personal service and accepted by the Borrower as such, and shall be
legal
and binding upon the Borrower for all the purposes of any such action or
proceeding. Final judgment (a certified or exemplified copy of which
shall be conclusive evidence of the fact and of the amount of any indebtedness
of the Borrower to the Lenders or the Agent) against the Borrower in any such
legal action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other
jurisdictions by suit on the judgment. The Borrower will advise the
Facility Agent promptly of any change of address for the purpose of service
of
process. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Lenders
may bring any legal action or proceeding in any other appropriate
jurisdiction.
16.3 WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL. IT IS MUTUALLY AGREED BY AND AMONG EACH OF THE
SECURITY PARTIES AND EACH OF THE CREDITORS THAT EACH OF THEM HEREBY WAIVES
TRIAL
BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY HERETO
AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO ON ANY MATTER WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN
ANY
WAY CONNECTED WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER TRANSACTION
DOCUMENTS.
17. THE
AGENTS
17.1 Appointment
of Agents. Each of the Lenders irrevocably appoints and
authorizes the Facility Agent to take such action as facility agent on its
behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement, the Note and the other
Transaction Documents as are delegated to the Facility Agent by the terms hereof
and thereof. The Facility Agent nor any of its directors, officers,
employees or agents shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken
by it or them under this Agreement, the Note or the other Transaction Documents
or in connection therewith, except for its or their own gross negligence or
willful misconduct.
17.2 Appointment
of Security Trustee. Each of the Lenders irrevocably
appoints, designates and authorizes the Security Trustee to act as security
trustee on its behalf with regard to (i) the security, powers, rights,
titles, benefits and interests (both present and future) constituted by and
conferred on the Lenders or any of them or for the benefit thereof under or
pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents (including,
without limitation, the benefit of all covenants, undertakings, representations,
warranties and obligations given, made or undertaken to any Lender in the
Agreement or the other Transaction Documents), (ii) all moneys, property and
other assets paid or transferred to or vested in any Lender or any agent of
any
Lender or received or recovered by any Lender or any agent of any Lender
pursuant to, or in connection with, this Agreement or the other Transaction
Documents whether from any Security Party or any other person and (iii) all
money, investments, property and other assets at any time representing or
deriving from any of the foregoing, including all interest, income and other
sums at any time received or receivable by any Lender or any agent of any Lender
in respect of the same (or any part thereof). The Security Trustee hereby
accepts such appointment but shall have no obligations under this Agreement,
under the Note or under any of the Security Documents except those expressly
set
forth herein and therein.
17.3 Distribution
of Payments. Whenever any payment is received by the Facility
Agent or the Security Trustee from the Borrower or the Guarantor for the account
of the Lenders, or any of them, whether of principal or interest on the Note,
commissions, fees under Section 15 or otherwise, it will thereafter cause
to be distributed on the second day after receipt if received before
10 a.m. New York time, or on the third day after receipt if received
thereafter, like funds relating to such payment ratably to the Lenders according
to their respective Commitments, in each case to be applied according to the
terms of this Agreement. Unless the Facility Agent or the Security Trustee,
as
the case may be, shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the
date
when any payment is due hereunder that the Borrower will not make any payment
on
such date, the Facility Agent or the Security Trustee may assume that the
Borrower have made such payment to the Facility Agent or the Security Trustee,
as the case may be, on the relevant date and the Facility Agent or the Security
Trustee may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Lenders
on
such date a corresponding amount relating to such payment ratably to the Lenders
according to their respective Commitments. If and to the extent that
the Borrower shall not have so made such payment available to the Facility
Agent
or the Security Trustee, as the case may be, the Lenders and the Borrower (but
without duplication) severally agree to repay to the Facility Agent or the
Security Trustee, as the case may be, forthwith on demand such corresponding
amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount
is
made available to the Lenders until the date such amount is repaid to the
Facility Agent or the Security Trustee, as the case may be, as calculated by
the
Facility Agent or Security Trustee to reflect its cost of funds.
17.4 Holder
of Interest in Note. The Agents may treat each Lender as the
holder of all of the interest of such Lender in the Note.
17.5 No
Duty to Examine, Etc. The Agents shall not be under a duty to
examine or pass upon the validity, effectiveness or genuineness of any of this
Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or any instrument, document or
communication furnished pursuant to this Agreement or in connection therewith
or
in connection with any other Transaction Document, and the Agents shall be
entitled to assume that the same are valid, effective and genuine, have been
signed or sent by the proper parties and are what they purport to be.
17.6 Agents
as Lenders. With respect to that portion of the Facility made
available by it, each Agent shall have the same rights and powers hereunder
as
any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent,
and
the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall include the Agent in its capacity as a
Lender. Each Agent and its affiliates may accept deposits from, lend
money to and generally engage in any kind of business with, the Borrower and
the
Guarantor as if it were not an Agent.
17.7 Acts
of the Agents. Each Agent shall have duties and discretion, and
shall act as follows:
(a) Obligations
of the Agents. The obligations of each Agent under this
Agreement, the Note and the other Transaction Documents are only those expressly
set forth herein and therein;
(b) No
Duty to Investigate. No Agent shall at any time,
unless requested to do so by a Lender or Lenders, be under any duty to enquire
whether an Event of Default, or an event which with the giving of notice or
lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default, has occurred
or to
investigate the performance of this Agreement, the Note or any Security Document
by any Security Party; and
(c) Discretion
of the Agents. Each Agent shall be entitled to use its discretion
with respect to exercising or refraining from exercising any rights which may
be
vested in it by, and with respect to taking or refraining from taking any action
or actions which it may be able to take under or in respect of, this Agreement
and the other Transaction Documents, unless the Facility Agent shall have been
instructed by the Majority Lenders to exercise such rights or to take or refrain
from taking such action; provided, however, that no Agent shall be required
to
take any action which exposes it to personal liability or which is contrary
to
this Agreement or applicable law;
(d) Instructions
of Majority Lenders. Each Agent shall in all cases be fully
protected in acting or refraining from acting under this Agreement or under
any
other Transaction Document in accordance with the instructions of the Majority
Lenders, and any action taken or failure to act pursuant to such instructions
shall be binding on all of the Lenders.
17.8 Certain
Amendments. Neither this Agreement, the Note nor any of the
Security Documents nor any terms hereof or thereof may be amended unless such
amendment is approved by the Borrower and the Majority Lenders, provided that
no
such amendment shall, without the consent of each Lender affected thereby,
(i) reduce the interest rate or extend the time of payment of scheduled
principal payments or interest or fees on the Facility, or reduce the principal
amount of the Facility or any fees hereunder, (ii) increase or decrease the
Commitment of any Lender or subject any Lender to any additional obligation
(it
being understood that a waiver of any Event of Default or any mandatory
repayment of the Facility shall not constitute a change in the terms of any
Commitment of any Lender), (iii) amend, modify or waive any provision of
this Section 17.8, (iv) amend the definition of Majority Lenders or any
other definition referred to in this Section 17.8, (v) consent to the
assignment or transfer by the Borrower of any of its rights and obligations
under this Agreement, (vi) release any Security Party from any of its
obligations under any Security Document except as expressly provided herein
or
in such Security Document or (vii) amend any provision relating to the
maintenance of collateral under Section 9.4. All amendments
approved by the Majority Lenders under this Section 17.8 must be in writing
and signed by the Borrower and each of the Lenders. In the event that
any Lender is unable to or refuses to sign an amendment approved by the Majority
Lenders hereunder, such Lender hereby appoints the Agent as its Attorney-In-Fact
for the purposes of signing such amendment. No provision of this
Section 17 or any other provisions relating to the Agent may be modified
without the consent of the Agent.
17.9 Assumption
re Event of Default. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 17.15, the Facility Agent and the Security Trustee shall be
entitled to assume that no Event of Default, or event which with the giving
of
notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default, has
occurred and is continuing, unless it has been notified by any Security Party
of
such fact, or has been notified by a Lender that such Lender considers that
an
Event of Default or such an event (specifying in detail the nature thereof)
has
occurred and is continuing. In the event that either thereof shall
have been notified by any Security Party or any Lender in the manner set forth
in the preceding sentence of any Event of Default or of an event which with
the
giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of
Default, the Facility Agent shall notify the Lenders and shall take action
and
assert such rights under this Agreement, under the Note and under Security
Documents as the Majority Lenders shall request in writing.
17.10 Limitations
of Liability. No Agent or Lender shall be under any liability or
responsibility whatsoever:
(a) to
any
Security Party or any other person or entity as a consequence of any failure
or
delay in performance by, or any breach by, any other Lenders or any other person
of any of its or their obligations under this Agreement or under any Security
Document;
(b) to
any
Lender or Lenders as a consequence of any failure or delay in performance by,
or
any breach by, any Security Party of any of its respective obligations under
this Agreement or under the other Transaction Documents; or
(c) to
any
Lender or Lenders for any statements, representations or warranties contained
in
this Agreement, in any Security Document or in any document or instrument
delivered in connection with the transaction hereby contemplated; or for the
validity, effectiveness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement, any
other Transaction Document or any document or instrument delivered in connection
with the transactions hereby contemplated.
17.11 Indemnification
of the Agent and Security Trustee. The Lenders agree to indemnify
each Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by the Security Parties or any
thereof), pro rata according to the respective amounts of their Commitments,
from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages,
penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any
kind or nature whatsoever (including legal fees and expenses incurred in
investigating claims and defending itself against such liabilities) which may
be
imposed on, incurred by or asserted against, such Agent in any way relating
to
or arising out of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, any action
taken or omitted by such Agent thereunder or the preparation, administration,
amendment or enforcement of, or waiver of any provision of, this Agreement
or
any other Transaction Document, except that no Lender shall be liable for any
portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from
the gross negligence or willful misconduct of either such
Agent.
17.12 Consultation
with Counsel. Each of the Facility Agent and the Security Trustee may
consult with legal counsel selected by such Agent and shall not be liable for
any action taken, permitted or omitted by it in good faith in accordance with
the advice or opinion of such counsel.
17.13 Resignation. Any
Agent may resign at any time by giving sixty (60) days' written notice
thereof to the other Agents, the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any
such resignation, the Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor
Agent. If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the
Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within sixty (60) days
after the retiring Agent's giving notice of resignation, then the retiring
Agent
may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Agent which shall be a bank
or trust company of recognized standing. The appointment of any
successor Agent shall be subject to the prior written consent of the Borrower,
such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. After any retiring
Agent's resignation as Agent hereunder, the provisions of this Section 17
shall continue in effect for its benefit with respect to any actions taken
or
omitted by it while acting as Agent.
17.14 Representations
of Lenders. Each Lender represents and warrants to each other
Lender and the Agent that:
(a) in
making
its decision to enter into this Agreement and to make its Commitment available
hereunder, it has independently taken whatever steps it considers necessary
to
evaluate the financial condition and affairs of the Security Parties, that
it
has made an independent credit judgment and that it has not relied upon any
statement, representation or warranty by any other Lender or any Agent;
and
(b) so
long
as any portion of its Commitment remains outstanding, it will continue to make
its own independent evaluation of the financial condition and affairs of the
Security Parties.
17.15 Notification
of Event of Default. The Facility Agent hereby undertakes to
promptly notify the Lenders, and the Lenders hereby promptly undertake to notify
the Facility Agent and the other Lenders, of the existence of any Event of
Default which shall have occurred and be continuing of which such party has
actual knowledge.
18. NOTICES
AND DEMANDS
18.1 Notices. All
notices, requests, demands and other communications to any party hereunder
shall
be in writing (including prepaid overnight courier, facsimile transmission
or
similar writing) and shall be given to the Borrower or the Guarantor at the
address or facsimile number set forth below and to the Lenders and the Agents
at
their address and facsimile numbers set forth in Schedule I or at such
other address or facsimile numbers as such party may hereafter specify for
the
purpose by notice to each other party hereto. Each such notice,
request or other communication shall be effective (i) if given by
facsimile, when such facsimile is transmitted to the facsimile number specified
in this Section and telephonic confirmation of receipt thereof is obtained
or
(ii) if given by mail, prepaid overnight courier or any other means, when
received at the address specified in this Section or when delivery at such
address is refused.
If
to the
Borrower or the Guarantor:
00
Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile
No.: (000)-000-0000
Attention:
Chief Financial Officer
With
a
copy to
Xxx
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xx.
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
19. MISCELLANEOUS
19.1 Time
of Essence. Time is of the essence of this Agreement but no
failure or delay on the part of any Creditor to exercise any power or right
under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single
or
partial exercise by any Creditor of any power or right hereunder preclude any
other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other power or
right. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and are not
exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
19.2 Unenforceable,
etc., Provisions - Effect. In case any one or more of the
provisions contained in this Agreement or in the other Transaction
Documents would, if given effect, be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
respect under any law applicable in any relevant jurisdiction, said provision
shall not be enforceable against the relevant Security Party, but the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions herein or therein
contained shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
19.3 References. References
herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules are to be construed as
references to articles, sections of, exhibits to, and schedules to, this
Agreement or the other Transaction Documents as applicable, unless the context
otherwise requires.
19.4 Further
Assurances. Each of the Security Parties hereby agrees that if
this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents shall, in the
reasonable opinion of the Lenders, at any time be deemed by the Lenders for
any
reason insufficient in whole or in part to carry out the true intent and spirit
hereof or thereof, it will execute or cause to be executed such other and
further assurances and documents as in the opinion of the Lenders may be
required in order to more effectively accomplish the purposes of this Agreement
and/or the other Transaction Documents.
19.5 Prior
Agreements, Merger. Any and all prior understandings and
agreements heretofore entered into between the Security Parties on the one
part,
and the Creditors, on the other part, relating to the transactions contemplated
hereby, whether written or oral, are superseded by and merged into this
Agreement and the other agreements (the forms of which are exhibited hereto)
to
be executed and delivered in connection herewith to which the Security Parties,
the Agent, the Security Trustee and/or the Lenders are parties, which alone
fully and completely express the agreements between the Security Parties, the
Agents, and the Lenders.
19.6 Entire
Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties hereto including all parties added hereto pursuant
to
an Assignment and Assumption Agreement. Subject to Section 17.8, any
provision of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document may be amended
or
waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed
by
the Borrower, the Agents, and the Majority Lenders. This Agreement
may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed
an
original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
19.7 Indemnification.
Neither any Creditor nor any of its directors, officers, agents or
employees shall be liable to any of the Security Parties for any action taken
or
not taken thereby in connection herewith in the absence of its own gross
negligence or willful misconduct. The Borrower and the Guarantor
hereby jointly and severally agree to indemnify the Creditors, their respective
affiliates and the respective directors, officers, agents and employees of
the
foregoing (each an “Indemnitee”) and hold each Indemnitee harmless from and
against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, costs and expenses of any
kind, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements
of
counsel, which may be incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with any
investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding (whether or not such
Indemnitee shall be designated a party thereto) brought or threatened relating
to or arising out of this Agreement, any actual or proposed use of proceeds
of
the Facility hereunder, or any related transaction or claim; provided that
(i)
no Indemnitee shall have the right to be indemnified hereunder for such
Indemnitee's own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a
court
of competent jurisdiction and (ii) to the extent permitted by law, the
Indemnitee shall provide the Security Parties with prompt notice of any such
investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding after the Indemnitee
becomes aware of such proceeding; provided, however, that the Indemnitee's
failure to provide such notice in a timely manner shall not relieve the Security
Parties of their obligations hereunder.
19.8 Headings. In
this Agreement, Section headings are inserted for convenience of reference
only
and shall not be taken into account in the interpretation of this
Agreement.
[Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN
WITNESS whereof the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the day and year first
above written.
EAST
GULF SHIPHOLDING, INC.,
|
as
Borrower
|
By:___________________________________
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
INTERNATIONAL
SHIPHOLDING CORPORATION,
|
as
Guarantor
|
By:___________________________________
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
DNB
NOR BANK ASA,
|
as
Facility Agent and Lender
|
By:____________________________________
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
By:____________________________________
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
DEUTSCHE
SCHIFFSBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT,
|
as
Security Trustee and Lender
|
By:____________________________________
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
By:____________________________________
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
SCHEDULE
I
LENDERS COMMITMENT
DnB
NOR Bank ASA
New
York Branch
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Facsimile
No.: 000
000 0000
Telephone
No.: 000
000 0000
Email:
xxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xx
Attention:
Ms. Asa Jemseby
|
¥3,140,000,000
|
|
Deutsche
Schiffsbank Aktiengesellschaft
Domshof
17, D-28195 Bremen
Germany
Facsimile
No.: 000
00 000 00 00 000
Telephone
No.: 011
49 421 36 09 329
011
49 421 360-9329
Email:Xxxxxxxx.Xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Attention:
Dr. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
¥3,140,000,000
|
SCHEDULE
II
Approved
Ship Brokers
X.X.
Xxxxxx Shipbrokers
a.s. Faber
Shipping
Xxxxxx
XXX'x xxxx
00 Xxxxxxxx
00
Xxxx,
Xxxxxx DK-2950
Vedbek
Telephone
No.: x00 00 00 00
00 Copenhagen,
Denmark
Facsimile
No.: x00 00 00 00
00 Telephone No.: x00 0000
0000
Facsimile
No.: x00 0000
0000
Fearnleys
A/S
Xxxx
Xxxxxx xxxxx 0
Xxxx,
Xxxxxx
Telephone
No.: x00 00 00 00 00
Facsimile
No.: x00 00 00 00 00
X.
Xxxxxxxx & Company
00
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
XX0X 0XX
Xxxxxxx
Telephone
No.: x00 000 000 0000
Facsimile
No.: x00 000 000 0000
Braemar
Shipbrokers Ltd.
00
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
XX0 0XX
Xxxxxxx
Telephone
No.: x00 000 000 0000
Facsimile
No.: x00 000 000 0000
Jacq.
Pierot Jr. & Sons, Inc. (USA)
00
Xxxxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Telephone
No.: (000) 000 0000
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000 0000
Hesnes
Shipping AS
Rosanes
Ørsnesallen
20
X.X.
Xxx
00, Xxxx
0000
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Telephone
No.: x00 00 00 00 00
Facsimile
No.: x00 00 00 00 00
SCHEDULE
III
Security
Party Liens as of September 10, 2007
NONE
The
foregoing does not reflect Liens to be discharged as a result of Indebtedness
paid off with the proceeds of the Facility.
East
Gulf
Shipholding, Inc.
NONE
SCHEDULE
IV
Security
Party Indebtedness as of January 9, 2008
1.
|
Guarantee
of indebtedness in the amount of $0 to Whitney National Bank and
others,
which indebtedness has a maturity date of December 6,
2009.
|
2.
|
Guarantee
of indebtedness in the amount of $26,000,000 to DnB NOR Bank ASA
and
others, which indebtedness has a maturity date of September 26,
2015.
|
3.
|
Guarantee
of indebtedness in the amount of $59,261,000 to Deutsche Schiffsbank
AG
and others, which indebtedness has a maturity date of September 30,
2013.
|
4.
|
Guarantee
of indebtedness of $13,720,000 to Liberty Community Ventures III,
L.L.C.,
which indebtedness has a maturity date of December 14,
2012.
|
5.
|
Guarantee
of indebtedness of ¥4,931,818,182 to DnB NOR Bank ASA and others, which
indebtedness has a maturity date of September 10,
2010.
|
SK
00382 0150 837418
v6