VAN ASIA TANKERS CORPORATION - and - [VAN ASIA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED] MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT Dated as of [●], 2008
VAN
ASIA
TANKERS CORPORATION
-
and
-
[VAN
ASIA
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED]
________________________________
________________________________
Dated
as
of [●], 2008
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
1.
|
DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
|
1
|
1.1
Certain Definitions
|
1
|
|
1.2
Construction
|
7
|
|
1.3
Headings
|
8
|
|
2.
|
ENGAGEMENT
OF MANAGER
|
8
|
2.1
Engagement
|
8
|
|
2.2
Powers and Duties of the Manager
|
8
|
|
2.3
Ability to Subcontract
|
9
|
|
2.4
Technical Services Agreements
|
9
|
|
2.5
Outside Activities
|
9
|
|
2.6
Exclusive Appointment
|
9
|
|
2.7
Authority of the Parties; Enforceability
|
9
|
|
2.8
Inspection of Books and Records
|
10
|
|
3.
|
MANAGEMENT
SERVICES
|
10
|
3.1
Strategic Services
|
10
|
|
3.2
Commercial Management Services
|
11
|
|
3.3
Administrative Services
|
12
|
|
4.
|
SUPERVISORY
SERVICES
|
17
|
5.
|
EMPLOYEES
AND MANAGER’S PERSONNEL
|
18
|
5.1
Manager’s Personnel
|
18
|
|
5.2
Officers
|
18
|
|
5.3
Termination and Replacement of Executive Officers
|
19
|
|
5.4
Other Duties of Manager’s Personnel
|
19
|
|
5.5
Reporting Structure
|
19
|
|
6.
|
COVENANTS
OF THE MANAGER
|
19
|
7.
|
COVENANTS
OF THE COMPANY
|
20
|
8.
|
MANAGER’S
COMPENSATION
|
20
|
8.1
Management Services Fees
|
20
|
|
8.2
Expenses
|
21
|
|
8.3
Adjustment to Fees
|
22
|
|
8.4
Dispute Resolution of Fees
|
22
|
|
8.5
Technical Services Fees
|
22
|
|
8.6
Pre-delivery Services Fees
|
22
|
|
8.7
Incentivisation of the Manager
|
23
|
|
8.8
Direction to Pay
|
23
|
|
9.
|
LIABILITY
OF THE MANAGER; INDEMNIFICATION
|
23
|
9.1
Liability of the Manager
|
23
|
|
9.2
Extraordinary Costs and Capital Expenditures
|
23
|
|
9.3
Manager Indemnification
|
24
|
|
9.4
Company Indemnification
|
24
|
|
9.5
Limitation Regarding the Technical Services
|
24
|
|
10.
|
TERM
AND TERMINATION
|
24
|
10.1
Initial Term
|
24
|
|
10.2
Renewal Term
|
24
|
|
10.3
Termination by the Company
|
25
|
|
10.4
Termination by the Manager
|
25
|
|
10.5
Effects of Termination or Expiry
|
25
|
|
11.
|
DISPUTE
RESOLUTION
|
26
|
12.
|
GENERAL
|
26
|
12.1
Assignment
|
26
|
|
12.2
Force Majeure
|
26
|
|
12.3
Confidentiality
|
27
|
|
12.4
Change of Control
|
27
|
|
12.5
Notices
|
27
|
|
12.6
Third Party Rights
|
28
|
|
12.7
Severability
|
28
|
|
12.8
Governing Law
|
29
|
|
12.9
Binding Effect
|
29
|
|
12.10
Amendment and Waivers
|
29
|
|
12.11
Entire Agreement
|
29
|
|
12.12
Waiver
|
29
|
|
12.13
Counterparts
|
29
|
THIS
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
is made
on the [●] day of [●] 2008,
BY
AND BETWEEN:
(1)
VAN
ASIA TANKERS CORPORATION,
a
company organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Xxxxxxxx
Islands, having its registered office at [●] (the “Company”);
and
(2)
[VAN
ASIA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED],
a
company organized and existing under the laws of Bermuda, having its registered
office at Xxxxxx Court, 22 Victoria Street, Xxxxxxxx HM12, Bermuda (the
“Manager”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS:
(A)
Vanship
Holdings Limited (“Vanship”)
has
entered into an Amended and Restated Share Purchase Agreement (the “Share
Purchase Agreement”),
dated
December 3, 2007 (as amended), with the Company (then named Energy
Infrastructure Merger Corporation) and its holding company Energy Infrastructure
Acquisition Corp., pursuant to which Energy Infrastructure Acquisition Corp.
will merge into the Company, with the Company being the surviving entity, and
Vanship will sell to the Company all of the outstanding ordinary shares of
certain companies owning nine VLCCs (as defined below) (the “Merger
and Sale and Purchase”).
(B) Pursuant
to the Share Purchase Agreement, it is a condition of the Merger and Sale and
Purchase that the Company enter into a management agreement with the Manager
pursuant to which the Manager will receive fees and other consideration with
respect to the on-going strategic, commercial and administrative management
of
the Group (as defined below) and management of the Vessels (as defined
below).
(C) The
Manager is a professional manager of shipping companies and has the requisite
expertise to carry out the obligations set forth in this Agreement.
(D)
The
Company desires to retain the Manager, and the Manager desires to be retained,
to manage the Group and the Group’s business and to provide certain services to
the Group on and subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the mutual covenants and premises of the Parties (as defined
below) herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration (the
receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by each Party), the
Parties agree as follows:
1.
|
DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
|
1.1
|
Certain
Definitions
|
In
this
Agreement, including the Recitals hereto, unless the context requires otherwise,
the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Adjusted
Management Services Fee” has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 8.3.
“Administrative
Services”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.3.
“Affiliates”
means,
with respect to any Person as at any particular date, any other Person that
directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, is
Controlled by, or is under common Control with, the Person in question, and
“Affiliate”
means
any one of them.
1
“Agreement”
means
this management agreement as the same may be amended from time to time.
“Applicable
Laws”
means,
in respect of any Person, property, transaction or event, all laws, including,
without limitation, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC,
all statutes, ordinances, regulations, municipal by-laws, treaties, judgments
and decrees applicable to that Person, property, transaction or event and all
applicable official directives, rules, consents, approvals, authorizations,
guidelines, orders, codes of practice and policies of any Governmental Authority
having authority over that Person, property, transaction or event and having
the
force of law, and all general principles of common law and equity.
“Approved
Budget”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.3.4(c).
“Board
of Directors”
means
the board of directors of the Company as the same may be constituted from time
to time.
“Books
and Records”
means
all books of account and records, including tax records, sales and purchase
records, vessel records, computer software, formulae, business reports, plans
and projections and all other documents, files, correspondence and other
information of the Group with respect to the Vessels or the Crude Carrier
Business (whether or not in written, printed, electronic or computer printout
form).
“Business
Day”
means
a
day other than a Saturday, Sunday or statutory holiday on which the banks in
Hong Kong and New York are required to close.
“Chairman”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.2.1.
“Charter”
means
a
charter party agreement between the Company and any Person that relates to
any
of the Vessels.
“Charterer”
means
any Person that has entered into, or assumed the obligations by novation or
otherwise under, a Charter with a Group Company.
“Chief
Executive Officer”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.2.2.
“Chief
Financial Officer”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.2.4.
“Closing”
means
the closing of the Merger and Sale and Purchase.
“Commercial
Management Services”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.2.
“Common
Shares”
means
the shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company.
“Company
Breach”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10.4(b).
“Company
Change of Control”
means
the occurrence of any of the following:
(a)
|
the
sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than
by way
of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions,
of all or substantially all of the Group’s assets without the prior
written consent of the Manager
(which consent may be arbitrarily
withheld);
|
(b)
|
an
order made for or the adoption by the Board of Directors of a plan
of
liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
|
2
(c)
|
the
consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any
merger
or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as such term
is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the beneficial
owner, directly or indirectly, of a majority of the Company’s Voting
Securities (unless such person is the Manager or an Affiliate of
the
Manager), measured by voting power rather than number of shares without
the prior written consent of the Manager (which consent may be arbitrarily
withheld);
|
(d)
|
if,
at any time, the Company becomes insolvent, admits in writing its
inability to pay its debts as they become due, commits an act of
bankruptcy, is adjudged bankrupt or declares bankruptcy or makes
an
assignment for the benefit of creditors, a proposal or similar action
under the bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws of the Xxxxxxxx
Islands or any applicable jurisdiction or commences or consents to
proceedings relating to it under any reorganization, arrangement,
readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation law or statute of
any
jurisdiction;
|
(e)
|
a
change in directors after which a majority of the members of the
Board of
Directors are not Continuing Directors, unless such change in directors
occurs solely as a result of the nomination of new directors by Vanship;
or
|
(f)
|
the
consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company with
or
into, any “person”, or the consolidation of any “person” with, or the
merger of any “person” with or into, the Company, in any such event
pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Common
Shares
are converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property
or
receive a payment of cash, securities or other property, other than
any
such transaction where the Company’s voting stock outstanding immediately
prior to such transaction is converted into or exchanged for voting
stock
of the surviving or transferee “person” constituting a majority of the
outstanding shares of such voting stock of such surviving or transferee
“person” immediately after giving effect to such issuance and without the
prior written consent of the Manager (which consent may be arbitrarily
withheld);
|
provided,
however, that the Merger and Sale and Purchase shall not be deemed a Company
Change of Control.
“Company
Indemnified Persons”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.4.
“Continuing
Directors”
means,
as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors who (i)
was a member of the Board of Directors as of the date of the Closing, or (ii)
was nominated for election or elected to the Board of Directors with the
approval of 67% of the directors then still in office who were either directors
as of the date hereof or whose nomination or election was previously so
approved.
“Control”
or
“Controlled”
means,
with respect to any Person, the right to elect or appoint, directly or
indirectly, a majority of the directors of such Person or a majority of the
Persons who have the right, including any contractual right or ability to manage
and direct the business, affairs and operations of such Person, or the
possession of the power or ability to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of Voting
Securities, by contract, or otherwise.
“Credit
Facility Agreements”
means
the loan agreements entered into by a Vessel Owner or another Group Company,
on
the one hand, and the banks and financial institutions named therein, on the
other hand, in respect of financing provided, directly or indirectly, to such
Vessel Owner where such financing is secured by, among other items, a mortgage
on the Vessel owned by such Vessel Owner.
3
“Crew”
means
the master, officers, employees, ratings and other crew members of a Vessel.
“Crew
Employment and Support Expenses”
means
all Employment Expenses of the Crew and all expenses of a general nature
which
are not particularly referable to any individual member of the Crew or
individual Vessel which are incurred for the purpose of providing Technical
Services and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, shall
include the cost of Crew standby pay, training schemes for officers and ratings,
cadet training schemes, study pay, recruitment and interviews.
“Crude
Carrier”
means
any ocean-going vessel that is intended to be used primarily to transport
crude
oil, including VLCCs.
“Crude
Carrier Assets”
means
Crude Carriers and any assets that are customarily owned or operated in
conjunction with Crude Carriers, in each case, that are used or intended to
be
used in the course of carrying on a Crude Carrier Business.
“Crude
Carrier Business”
means
the business of trading or selling or purchasing Crude Carriers, or of
chartering or re-chartering Crude Carriers to others, and any lawful act or
activity customarily conducted in connection therewith.
“Draft
Budget”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.3.4(a).
“Employment
Expenses”
means
all costs, expenses, debts, liabilities and obligations related to or incurred
in respect of employment, including salaries, fees, wages, incentive pay,
gratuities, bonuses, vacation pay, holiday pay, other paid leave, overtime,
standby pay, sick pay, workers’ compensation legislation contributions or costs,
benefits and related costs, statutory contributions and remittances, pension
plan contributions and costs, recruitment costs, Severance Costs, payroll and
accounting costs, training and education costs, discounts, meals, accommodation,
legal costs associated arising from disputes, administrative costs, travel
costs, perquisites, relocation expenses and uniform expenses.
“Exchange
Act”
means
the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Existing
Management Group”
means:
|
(a)
|
any
of Captain Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Vanderperre, Mr. Xxxx Xxxxx, or
Xx.
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx or their respective estates, spouses or partners,
descendants or members of their household;
|
(b) |
any
trust in whole or in part for the benefit of the persons listed in
(a)
above;
or
|
(c) |
any
Affiliate of any of the persons listed in (a) or (b) above.
|
“Fair
Market Fee”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 8.4.
“Fiscal
Quarter”
means
a
fiscal quarter of the Company or, in the case of the first fiscal quarter of
the
Company, the portion of such fiscal quarter from the date of this Agreement
through the day prior to the commencement of the next fiscal quarter.
“Fiscal
Year”
means
the fiscal year of the Company, being the twelve month period ended December
31,
or, in the case of the first fiscal year of the Company, the portion of such
fiscal year from the date of this Agreement through the day prior to the
commencement of the next fiscal year.
“Force
Majeure Event”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 12.2.
4
“GAAP”
means
(i) generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied in the United
States or (ii) if the Company determines to report under IFRS, IFRS.
“Governmental
Authority”
means
any domestic or foreign government, including any federal, provincial, state,
territorial or municipal government, and any multinational or supranational
organization, government agency, including, without limitation, the SEC,
tribunal, labour relations board, commission, stock exchange, including, without
limitation, the American Stock Exchange, or other authority or organization
exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative
functions of, or pertaining to, government.
“Group”
means
the Company and its Subsidiaries.
“Group
Company”
means
any member of the Group.
“IFRS”
means
the International Financial Reporting Standards adopted by the International
Accounting Standards Board.
“Initial
Term”
means
the initial term of this Agreement as set out in Section 10.1.
“ISM
Code”
means
the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for
Pollution Prevention as adopted by the International Maritime Organization
(IMO)
by resolution A.741(18) or any subsequent amendment thereto.
“Legal
Action”
means
any action, claim, complaint, demand, suit, judgment, investigation or
proceedings, pending or threatened, by any Person or before any Governmental
Authority or any court, arbitral body or tribunal.
“Losses”
means
losses, expenses, costs, liabilities and damages, excluding lost profits and
consequential damages, but including interest charges, penalties, fines,
monetary sanctions and reasonable costs of investigation and fees and
disbursements of counsel.
“Manager
Breach”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10.3(a).
“Manager
Cause”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10.3(b).
“Manager
Change of Control”
means
the occurrence of any of the following:
(a)
|
the
sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than
by way
of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions,
of all or substantially all of the Manager’s assets, except such a
disposition to one or more members of the Existing Management
Group;
|
(b)
|
an
order made for, or the adoption by its board of directors of a plan
of,
liquidation or dissolution of the
Manager;
|
(c)
|
the
consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any
merger
or consolidation) the result of which is that any Person or group
of
Persons becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of
a
majority of the Manager’s Voting Securities (unless such Person or group
of Persons is a member or are members of the Existing Management
Group),
measured by voting power rather than number of shares;
or
|
(d)
|
if,
at any time, the Manager becomes insolvent, admits in writing its
inability to pay its debts as they become due, commits an act of
bankruptcy, is adjudged bankrupt or declares bankruptcy or makes
an
assignment for the benefit of creditors, or makes a proposal or similar
action under the bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws of
Bermuda
or any applicable jurisdiction or commences or consents to proceedings
relating to it under any reorganization, arrangement, readjustment
of
debt, dissolution or liquidation law or statute of any
jurisdiction.
|
5
“Manager
Indemnified Persons”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.3.
“Manager
Misconduct”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.1(a).
“Manager’s
Personnel”
means
all individuals that are employed by or have entered into consulting
arrangements with the Manager, including the Chief Executive Officer, the
President and Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Financial Officer.
“Management
Services”
means
the services to be provided by the Manager to the Company under Section 3,
comprising the Strategic Services, the Commercial Management Services and the
Administrative Services.
“Management
Services Fee”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 8.1(b).
“New
Build”
means
a
vessel under construction pursuant to a ship building contract between a Group
Company and a ship builder (whether by direct contract or as a result of
novation).
“New
Vessel”
means
each Vessel which is not owned by a Group Company as of the date
hereof.
“Option
Vessels”
means
each of the 298,000 deadweight tonnage newbuilding vessels to be constructed
by
Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. Ltd. with hull numbers T3000-35 and
T3000-36.
“Parties”
means
the Company and the Manager.
“Person”
means
an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint
venture, trust or trustee, unincorporated organization, association, government,
government agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.
“Pre-delivery
Services”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1.2.
“President
and Chief Operating Officer”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.2.3.
“Questioned
Items”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.3.4(b).
“Renewal
Term”
means
any renewal term of this Agreement referred to in Section 10.2.
“SEC”
means
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Severance
Costs”
means
the termination or severance liabilities, costs and expenses which employers
are
legally obliged, whether by Applicable Law, contract or otherwise, to provide
or
pay to or in respect of their employees, or the compensation or damages owed
in
lieu of such liabilities, costs and expenses, as a result of the termination
of
any employment.
“STCW
95”
means
the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping to Seafarers, 1978, as amended in 1995 or any subsequent amendment
thereto.
“Strategic
Services”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1.
6
“Subsidiary”
means,
with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the
voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any
contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of
such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination,
by such Person, by one or more corporations Controlled by such Person or a
combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which
such Person or a corporation Controlled by such Person is, at the date of
determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if
more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership (considering
all
of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned,
directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, one or
more corporations Controlled by such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c)
any other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such
Person, one or more corporations Controlled by such Person, or a combination
thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least
a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election
of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.
“Supervisory
Services”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in the Section 4.2.
“Technical
Manager”
means
a
shipping management company nominated by the Manager pursuant to Section 4
to
provide Technical Services to a Group Company in respect of a Vessel, or such
other services as may be agreed between the Manager and the Technical Manager
from time to time.
“Technical
Services”
means
the services to be provided by the Technical Manager, or the Technical
Sub-Manager or any subcontractor, as applicable, to the Vessel Owner pursuant
to
the Technical Services Agreement.
“Technical
Services Agreement”
means
an agreement in form and substance substantially the same as the form agreement
attached as Exhibit A hereto, pursuant to which the Technical Manager is
appointed to provide Technical Services to a Group Company in respect of a
Vessel.
“Technical
Services Fee”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Section 8.5.
“Technical
Sub-Manager”
means
a
shipping management company to which the Technical Manager subcontracts and
delegates its obligations under the Technical Services Agreement to provide
Technical Services to a Group Company.
“Term”
means
the Initial Term and any Renewal Term, in each case subject to any early
termination of this Agreement as permitted herein.
“Vessel”
means
each vessel owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from time to time,
including New Builds and the vessels listed in Schedule A, as such schedule
may
be amended from time to time in accordance with Section 7.1.
“Vessel
Owner”
means
any Group Company that owns a Vessel.
“VLCC”
means
very large crude carrier.
“Voting
Securities”
means
securities of all classes of a Person entitling the holders thereof to vote
on a
regular basis in the election of members of the board of directors or other
governing body of such Person.
7
1.2
|
Construction
|
In
this
Agreement, unless the context requires otherwise:
(a) |
references
to laws and regulations refer to such laws and regulations as they
may be
amended from time to time, and references to particular provisions
of a
law or regulation include any corresponding provisions of any succeeding
law or regulation;
|
(b)
|
references
to money refer to legal currency of the United States of America;
|
(c)
|
the
word “include”, “includes” or “including” when following any general term
or statement will not be construed as limiting the general term or
statement to the specific matter immediately following such word
or to
similar matters, and the general term or statement will be construed
as
referring to all matters that reasonably could fall within the broadest
possible scope of the general term or statement;
|
(d)
|
words
importing the singular include the plural and vice versa and words
importing gender, include all genders;
|
(e)
|
a
reference to an “approval”, “authorization”, “consent”, “notice” or
“agreement” means an approval, authorization, consent, notice of
agreement, as the case may be, in writing;
and
|
(f)
|
the
words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when
used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and
not to
any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section references
are to
this Agreement, unless otherwise specified.
|
1.3
|
Headings
|
All
article or section headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and
shall
not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the
provisions hereof.
2.
|
ENGAGEMENT
OF MANAGER
|
2.1
|
Engagement
|
The
Company hereby engages the Manager to provide the Management Services and
Supervisory Services specified herein to the Group, and the Manager hereby
accepts such engagement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in
this Agreement. Each of the Company and the Manager acknowledges that the
Manager is acting solely as a third party contractor, and not as agent, partner
or fiduciary for the account of the Company or any Group Company. The Manager
shall have no duties to the Company or any Group Company except to the extent
set forth herein. The Manager may advise Persons with whom it deals on behalf
of
the Company that it has authority to conduct such business for and on behalf
of
the Company.
2.2
|
Powers
and Duties of the Manager
|
The
Manager has the power and authority to take such actions on its own behalf
or on
behalf of the Group as it from time to time considers, subject to the customary
oversight and supervision of the Company and the Board of Directors, necessary
or appropriate to enable it to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
The
Manager shall use its reasonable best efforts to provide the Management Services
and Supervisory Services to be provided hereunder in accordance with customary
ship management practice and with the care, diligence and skill that a prudent
manager of vessels would possess and exercise, except that the Manager in the
performance of its management responsibilities under this Agreement may have
regard to its overall responsibility in relation to all vessels as may from
time
to time be entrusted to its management and in particular, but without prejudice
to the generality of the foregoing, the Manager may allocate available supplies,
manpower and services in such
manner as in the prevailing circumstances the Manager, acting reasonably,
considers in its business judgment to be fair and reasonable.
8
2.3
|
Ability
to Subcontract
|
The
Manager may subcontract and/or delegate any of its duties and obligations
hereunder to any of its Affiliates without the consent of the Company and may
subcontract and/or delegate any of its duties and obligations to Persons that
are not Affiliates with the prior written consent of the Company, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. In the event of such a
subcontract and/or delegation, the Manager shall promptly notify the Company
thereof and, solely to the extent set forth in Section 9.5, shall remain liable
for the due performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
2.4
|
Technical
Services Agreements
|
It
is the
intention of the Parties that any Technical Services Agreements entered into
between the Technical Sub-Manager and a Group Company be in form and substance
substantially the same as the form agreement attached as Exhibit A
hereto.
2.5
|
Outside
Activities
|
The
Company acknowledges that the Manager will have business interests and engage
in
business activities in addition to those relating to the Company and the other
Group Companies, for its own account and for the accounts of other Persons
(including Persons which own, charter, manage or otherwise are involved in
the
Crude Carrier Business or with Crude Carrier Assets), including:
(a)
|
the
trading, buying or selling of vessels, whether Crude Carriers, drybulk
vessels, containerships or other
vessels;
|
(b)
|
investing
or co-investing in, or in Persons involved in or with, Crude Carrier
Assets or Crude Carrier Businesses or drybulk vessels, containerships
or
other vessels or businesses relating to drybulk vessels, containerships
or
other vessels; and
|
(c)
|
the
provision of strategic, technical, commercial, administrative and
investment management services relating to Crude Carrier Assets or
drybulk
vessels, containerships or other vessels or Crude Carrier
Businesses.
|
Except
to
the extent prohibited by Applicable Laws, the Manager may, in its sole, absolute
and unfettered discretion, undertake activities that compete or may compete
with
the Company or any Group Company and allocate corporate or strategic
opportunities relating to the Crude Carrier Business or Crude Carrier Assets
to
other Persons (including Persons which own, charter, manage or otherwise are
involved in the Crude Carrier Business or with Crude Carrier Assets).
2.6
|
Exclusive
Appointment
|
The
Company acknowledges that the appointment of the Manager hereunder is an
exclusive appointment for the Term. The Company may not appoint other managers
with respect to the Group or the Vessels during the Term, except as otherwise
agreed by the Manager in writing or as contemplated by this Agreement. For
the
avoidance of doubt, this Section 2.6 does not prohibit the engagement of
Technical Managers by the Vessel Owners as contemplated by this Agreement.
2.7
|
Authority
of the Parties;
Enforceability
|
Each
Party represents to the others that it is duly authorized with full power and
authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, that it has duly
executed and delivered this Agreement and that (assuming due authorization,
execution and delivery by the other Party thereto and the validity and binding
effect on such other Party of this Agreement) this Agreement constitutes a
legal, valid and binding
obligation of it, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except
as
may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
and other similar laws of general application which may affect the enforcement
of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles. Without
limiting the foregoing, the Company represents that the engagement of the
Manager has been duly authorized by the Company and is in accordance with all
governing documents of the Company.
9
2.8
|
Inspection
of Books and Records
|
At
all
reasonable times and on reasonable notice, any person authorized by the Company
may inspect, examine, copy and audit the Books and Records of the Company kept
by the Manager pursuant to this Agreement at such times as may be mutually
agreed.
3.
|
MANAGEMENT
SERVICES
|
3.1
|
Strategic
Services
|
The
Manager shall provide the following strategic services (collectively referred
to
herein as “Strategic
Services”)
to the
Company:
3.1.1
|
Acquisitions,
Charter Parties and
Finance
|
The
Manager will provide strategic, corporate planning, business development and
advisory services to the Company as follows:
(a)
|
identifying,
negotiating and securing opportunities for the Company to acquire
or to
construct Crude Carriers, and negotiating and carrying out the purchase
of
both new and existing Crude
Carriers;
|
(b)
|
identifying,
negotiating and securing opportunities for the Company to acquire
or merge
with companies, partnerships or other entities that own or operate
Crude
Carriers or are otherwise involved in the crude oil shipping industry
and
working to integrate such acquired
businesses;
|
(c)
|
performing,
or engaging third parties to perform, class records reviews and physical
inspections and, at the request of the Company, making recommendations
to
the Company with respect to any additional Crude Carrier being considered
for purchase by the Company;
|
(d)
|
at
the request and under the direction of the Company, certain administrative
services in connection with the purchase or sale or taking physical
delivery of a Vessel by the Company or any Group
Company;
|
(e)
|
identifying,
negotiating and securing charterers and charter parties and other
employment for the Vessels and the conclusion (including the execution)
of
charter parties or other contracts relating to the employment of
the
Vessels, for and on behalf of the Company or the Vessel
Owners;
|
(f)
|
maintaining
and managing relationships between the Company and the Charterers
and
potential charterers, shipbuilders, insurers, lenders and potential
financiers of the Company and other shipping industry
participants;
|
(g)
|
arranging,
negotiating and procuring pre-delivery and post-delivery financing
or
refinancing for the construction of Crude Carriers and financing
or
refinancing for the acquisition of used Crude
Carriers;
|
(h)
|
identifying,
negotiating and securing potential divestitures or dispositions of
the
Vessels and any of the Company’s other Crude Carrier Assets, and
evaluating and recommending the sale of all or any part of the Crude
Carrier Business carried on by the
Group;
|
10
(i)
|
identifying,
investigating and implementing tax planning, leasing or other tax
savings
initiatives;
|
(j)
|
providing
general strategic planning services and implementing corporate strategy,
including, but not limited to, developing acquisition and divestiture
strategies; and
|
(k)
|
such
other strategic, corporate planning, business development and advisory
services as the Company may reasonably identify from time to
time.
|
3.1.2
|
Pre-delivery
Services
|
For
any
New Build, the Manager will oversee and supervise, in all material respects,
or
procure a third party to oversee and supervise, the design and construction
of
such New Build prior to its delivery and liaise, or procure a third party to
liaise, with the shipbuilder, classifications societies, suppliers and other
service providers to ensure that the New Build is being constructed in
accordance with the relevant shipbuilding contract and classification society
requirements (the “Pre-delivery
Services”).
For
the avoidance of doubt, none of the Administrative Services Fee, Management
Services Fees, the commissions set forth in Sections 8.1(c) or 8.1(d) or the
Technical Services Fees are inclusive of compensation or fees for the provision
of Pre-delivery Services by the Manager or any third party procured by the
Manager. Compensation, fees and other amounts payable with respect to the
provision of Pre-delivery Services by the Manager or any third party shall
be
separately negotiated and agreed between the Company and the Manager and any
third party procured to provide such services, as applicable.
3.2
|
Commercial
Management Services
|
The
Manager shall provide certain chartering services to the Group for each of
the
Vessels (collectively referred to herein as the “Commercial
Management Services”),
including, but not limited to:
(a)
|
administering
the Charters;
|
(b)
|
providing
voyage estimates and accounts and calculating of hire, profit
share, freights, demurrage and/or dispatch moneys due from or due
to the
Charterers;
|
(c)
|
monitoring
the payment to the Company or the Vessel Owners or their nominees
of all
hire, profit share, freight revenues or other moneys to which the
Company
or the Vessel Owners may be entitled arising out of the Charter or
other
employment of the Vessel;
|
(d)
|
furnishing
the Crew of each Vessel with appropriate voyage instructions and
monitoring voyage performance while using commercially reasonable
efforts
to achieve the most economical, efficient and quick dispatch of each
Vessel between ports and at ports and terminals, if required;
|
(e)
|
using
due diligence, to ensure that each Vessel will be employed between
safe
ports, safe anchorages and safe berths, so far as this can be established
by exercising due diligence, provided that the Manager shall only
be
required to exercise commercially reasonable efforts for such purpose;
|
(f)
|
arranging
the scheduling of each Vessel according to the terms of the Vessel’s
employment;
|
11
(g)
|
carrying
out all necessary communications with shippers, Charterers and others
involved with the receiving and handling of each Vessel at the loading
and
discharging ports, including sending any notices required under the
terms
of each Vessel’s employment; and
|
(h)
|
preparing
off-hire statements and/or hire statements including obtaining port
documents and expense supports necessary for such calculation.
|
3.3
|
Administrative
Services
|
The
Manager shall provide the following administrative services (collectively
referred to herein as the “Administrative
Services”)
to the
Company:
3.3.1
|
Accounting
and Records
|
The
Manager will, on behalf of the Company, establish an accounting system,
including the development, implementation, maintenance and monitoring of
internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and
procedures, and maintain Books and Records, with such adoptions or modifications
as may be necessary to comply with Applicable Laws. The Books and Records will
be the property of the Company but will be kept at the Manager’s primary office
or such other place as the Company and the Manager may mutually determine.
Upon
expiry or termination of this Agreement, all of the Books and Records will
be
provided to the Company or a new manager, reasonably promptly, pursuant to
Section 10.5.
3.3.2
|
Reporting
Requirements
|
The
Manager will prepare and deliver to the Chief Executive Officer, the President
and Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Financial Officer the following
reports:
(a)
|
a
monthly report to be delivered within forty-five (45) Business Days
of the
end of the month setting out the interim financial results of the
Company
for such month, including the comparison between the actual results
and
the budget, with an explanation for any major
variances;
|
(b)
|
a
quarterly report to be delivered within seventy-five (75) Business
Days of
the end of each Fiscal Quarter setting out the interim financial
results
of the Company for such quarter, including the comparison between
the
actual results and the budget, with an explanation for any major
variances;
|
(c)
|
a
draft of the reports, certificates, documents and other information
required under the Credit Facility Agreements to be delivered five
(5)
Business Days prior to their required delivery to the lenders
thereunder;
|
(d)
|
as
and when requested by the Board of Directors, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President and Chief Operating Officer
or the
Chief Financial Officer, draft reports regarding financial and other
information required in connection with the relevant Applicable Laws
(including annual, quarterly, current and other reports that may
be
required to be filed under the Exchange Act and all other Applicable
Laws); and
|
(e)
|
other
reports with respect to financial and other information of the Company
that may be, from time to time, reasonably requested by the Company
and
consistent with the Manager’s obligations
hereunder.
|
3.3.3
|
Financial
Statements and Tax Returns
|
At
the
instruction of the Chief Executive Officer, the President and Chief Operating
Officer or the Chief Financial Officer, the Manager shall prepare for review
by
the Chief Executive Officer, the President and Chief Operating Officer and
the
Chief Financial Officer and audit committee of the Board of Directors the
following:
12
(a)
|
within
seventy-five (75) Business Days of end of each six (6)-month period
ended
June 30, unaudited financial statements of the Company, to be reviewed
by
the external auditors of the Company, prepared in accordance with
GAAP and
the rules and regulations of the SEC, on a consolidated basis, for
the six
(6)-month period
ended June 30 of such Fiscal Year;
|
(b)
|
as
required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, Fiscal Year financial
statements of the Company, to be audited by the external auditors
of the
Company, prepared in accordance with GAAP and the rules and regulations
of
the SEC, on a consolidated basis, for the relevant Fiscal Year;
and
|
(c)
|
tax
returns for the Company and any other Group Company required by Applicable
Laws to be filed in the manner prescribed by Applicable Laws, including
attending to the time calculation and payment of all taxes payable
by the
Company.
|
At
the
instruction of the Chief Executive Officer, the President and Chief Operating
Officer or the Chief Financial Officer, the Manager will cause the Company’s
external auditors to review unaudited six (6) month financial statements, audit
Fiscal Year financial statements and cause the Company’s external tax advisors
to finalize tax returns. The Manager will make available to the Company’s
accountants the relevant Books and Records of the Company and will assist the
accountants in otherwise preparing the relevant financial statements and tax
returns.
3.3.4
|
Budget
and Corporate Planning
|
(a)
|
Draft
Budgets
|
On
or
before October 31 or
thereabouts of each year, the Manager, in consultation with the Chief Executive
Officer, the President and Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Financial
Officer, will prepare and submit to the Board of Directors a detailed draft
budget for the next Fiscal Year in a format acceptable to the Board of
Directors, which will include: (1) a statement of estimated revenue and
expenses; and (2) a proposed budget for capital expenditures, repairs or
alterations, including proposed expenditures in respect of dry-docking, together
with an analysis as to when and why such replacements, improvements, renovations
or expenditures may be required (the “Draft
Budget”).
(b) |
Process
for Finalizing the Draft Budget
|
For
a
period of thirty (30) days after receipt of the Draft Budget, the Board of
Directors, from time to time, may request further details and submit written
comments on the Draft Budget. The Company will give good faith consideration
to
the Draft Budget. If, after giving good faith consideration to the Draft Budget,
the Company does not agree with any term thereof, the Company will, within
the
same thirty (30)-day period, give the Manager notice of the Company’s enquiry to
the Draft Budget, which notice will include the list of the items under
consideration (the “Questioned
Items”)
and a
proposal for resolution of each such Questioned Item. The Company and the
Manager will endeavour, both acting reasonably, to resolve any such differences
between them with respect to the Questioned Items. In resolving any Questioned
Item, the Company and the Manager will have regard to the Company’s obligations
under the relevant Charters, any credit facilities or other financing documents,
the amount of the Administrative Services Fee, Management Services Fee and
commissions to be paid
to
the Manager and the amount of the Technical Services Fees to be paid to the
Technical Manager.
13
(c) |
Approved
Budget
|
By
December 31 of the relevant year, the Manager will prepare and deliver to the
Company a revised budget that has been approved by the Board of Directors (the
“Approved
Budget”).
However, the Company acknowledges that the Approved Budget is only an estimate
of the performance of the Vessels and the Manager makes no assurance,
representation or warranty that the actual performance of the Vessels in the
applicable Fiscal Year will correspond to the estimates contained in the
Approved Budget for that Fiscal Year. The Parties acknowledge that the
projections contained in the Approved Budget are subject to, and may be affected
by, changes in financial, economic, regulatory and other conditions and
circumstances beyond the control of the Parties.
(d) |
Amendments
to Approved Budget
|
The
Manager may, from time to time, in any Fiscal Year amend the Approved Budget.
Any amendment or increase to the Approved Budget in excess of 7.5% shall require
fifteen (15) days’ prior notice to the Company, in which event the Company will
have the right to approve the amendments in accordance with the process set
out
in Section 3.3.4(b) with the relevant time periods being amended accordingly
and
provided that any Questioned Items are resolved within forty-five (45) days
of
receipt of the notice by the Company. Whenever, due to circumstances beyond
the
reasonable control of the Manager, emergency expenditures are required to ensure
that the Vessels are being operated and maintained as required under the
Charters the Manager may make such emergency expenditures and reasonably request
prompt reimbursement, thereof even if such expenditures are not included or
reflected in the Approved Budget or subject to the amendment approval process
set forth in this Section 3.3.4(d).
(e) |
Advancement
of Budgeted Amount
|
On
or
before the first day of each month during the Term of this Agreement, the
Manager shall advance to the Technical Manager from the applicable Vessel
Owner’s bank accounts all amounts budgeted for the operation of each of the
Vessels for such month. At the end of each calendar month or quarter, at the
election of the Manager, the Manager shall with the Technical Manager
preliminarily reconcile the amounts advanced by it to the Technical Manager
with
the amounts actually expended by the Technical Manager for the operation of
each
of the Vessels, and the Technical Manager shall remit to the Manager for the
applicable Vessel Owner’s account, or credit to the Vessel Owner amounts to be
advanced to it hereunder for future months, any unused portion of the amounts
previously advanced by the Manager, or the Manager shall pay to the Technical
Manager from the applicable Vessel Owner’s bank accounts any amounts properly
expended by the Technical Manager for the Vessels in excess of the amounts
previously advanced by the Manager. The Manager and the Technical Manager will
reconcile any amounts due to the Vessel Owner by the Technical Manager or
amounts due to the Technical Manager by the Vessel Owner for each Fiscal Year
of
the Group as promptly as practicable following the close of each such Fiscal
Year.
3.3.5
|
Legal
and Compliance Services
|
(a)
|
Responsibility
of the Manager
|
14
The
Manager shall assist the Company with the following whether or not related
to
the Vessels:
(i) |
ensuring
that the Company is in compliance with all Applicable Laws, including
without limitation, all relevant securities laws, and the rules and
regulations of the SEC, the American Stock Exchange and any other
securities exchange upon which the Company’s securities are
listed;
|
(ii)
|
arranging
for the provision of advisory services to the Company with respect
to the
Company’s obligations under applicable securities legislation in the
United States and arranging for compliance with all disclosure and
reporting obligations under applicable securities legislation including
the preparation for review, approval and filing by the Company of
reports
and other documents with the SEC and all other applicable regulatory
authorities;
|
(iii)
|
maintaining
the Company’s corporate existence and good standing in all necessary
jurisdictions and assisting in all other corporate and regulatory
compliance matters;
|
(iv)
|
ensuring
that the Group owns or possesses all licenses, patents, copyrights
and
trademarks which are necessary and used in the operation of its
business;
|
(v)
|
investor
relations matters on behalf of the
Company;
|
(vi)
|
administering
and supervising Legal Actions by, against or in respect of any Vessel
or
any Group Company;
|
(vii)
|
adjusting
and negotiating settlements, with or on behalf of claimants or
underwriters, of any claim
or
damages which are recoverable under policies of insurance;
and
|
(viii)
|
obtaining
from the Technical Manager, at the request of the Company, all
documentation and records related to the Safety Management System
(SMS)
and/or the Crew, which the Company needs in order to demonstrate
compliance with the ISM Code and STCW 95 or to defend against a third
party.
|
(b)
|
Administration
and Settlement of Legal Actions
|
If
any
Legal Action is commenced against or is required to be commenced in favour
of
any Group Company or any Vessel, the Manager, with the approval of the President
and Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, will arrange for
the commencement or defence of such Legal Action, as the case may be, in the
name of, on behalf of and at the expense of the Group Company, including
retaining and instructing legal counsel, investigating the substance of the
Legal Action and entering pleadings with respect to the Legal Action. The
Manager may settle any Legal Action on behalf of the Group Company where the
amount of settlement is less than $50,000 with the approval of the President
and
Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Financial Officer and, in excess of such
amount, with the approval of the Board of Directors.
(c) |
Labour
Relations Proceedings
|
For
Legal
Actions in favour of or against any Group Company that relate to labour
relations or employment proceedings, strikes and collective bargaining other
than with respect to the Crew, the Manager will represent such Group Company
in
any such labour relations or employment proceedings and will undertake any
labour relations or employment negotiations in respect of any Group Company
on
behalf of such Group Company, should such representation or negotiations be
required, with such labour organization or other entity that becomes lawfully
entitled to represent employees of the Group other than the Crew. The Manager
will keep the Company and relevant Group Company advised of the progress of
any
such labour relations proceedings or negotiations. The Manager may enter into
collective bargaining agreements and other labour or employment agreements
with
respect to employees other
than the Crew and any material amendments thereto provided that such agreements
and amendments must have been approved by the Board of Directors if the terms
and conditions of such agreement or amendment are inconsistent, in a material
and adverse way to the Group Company, with other collective bargaining
agreements concerning or in respect of employees other than the
Crew.
15
3.3.6
|
Bank
Accounts
|
The
Manager will oversee banking services for the Company and the other Group
Companies and maintain the general ledgers of the Group and will establish
in
the name of the Company an operating account, a retention account and such
other
accounts and with such financial institutions as the Company may request. The
Manager will administer and manage all of the Group Companies’ accounts,
including making any deposits and withdrawals reasonably necessary for the
management of its business and day-to-day operations. The Manager will promptly
deposit all moneys payable to the Company or any Group Company and received
by
the Manager on behalf of the Company or such Group Company, as applicable,
into
a bank account held in the name of the Company or such Group Company, as
applicable. The Company will, and will cause each of the other Group Companies
to, name the Manager as its representative for its banking accounts and to
take
all other actions as may be required to enable the Manager to perform its
obligations hereunder.
3.3.7
|
Other
Administrative Services
|
The
Manager will:
(a)
|
develop,
maintain and monitor internal audit controls, disclosure controls
and
information technology for the
Company;
|
(b)
|
assist
with arranging meetings of the Board of Directors, director accommodation
and travel for meetings of the Board of Directors, and preparing
meeting
materials for meetings of the Board of
Directors;
|
(c)
|
prepare
detailed papers and agendas for scheduled meetings of the Board of
Directors (and any and all committees thereof) that, where applicable,
contain such information as is reasonably available to the Manager
to
enable the Board of Directors (and any such committees) to base their
opinion;
|
(d)
|
in
conjunction with the papers and agendas referred to in paragraph
(c)
above, prepare or cause to be prepared reports to be considered by
the
Board of Directors (or any applicable committee thereof) in accordance
with the Company’s internal policies and procedures on any acquisition,
investment or sale of any Crude Carrier or Group Company or any part
of
the Crude Carrier Business proposed for consideration by such Board
of
Directors and otherwise in respect of the performance of the Manager’s
obligations under this Agreement;
|
(e)
|
obtain
on behalf of the Company general insurance, director and officer
liability
insurance and other insurance of the Company not related to the Vessels
or
the Crews that would normally be obtained for a company in a similar
business to the Company;
|
(f)
|
administer
payroll services, benefits, directors fees, as applicable, for any
other
employee, officer or director of the Company other
than the Manager’s Personnel and the Crew;
|
(g)
|
provide
office space and office equipment for personnel of the Company in
Hong
Kong, including suitable office space for any clerical, secretarial,
accounting and administrative assistance as may be reasonably
necessary;
|
(h)
|
provide
assistance and advice to the Group with respect to any existing and
future
financings, including the monitoring and administration of the compliance
with any applicable financing terms and conditions in effect with
investors, banks or other financial
institutions;
|
16
(i)
|
negotiate
loan and credit terms with lenders in the ordinary course and monitor
and
maintain compliance therewith;
|
(j)
|
negotiate
and arrange for interest rate swap agreements, foreign currency contracts
and forward exchange contracts;
|
(k)
|
monitor
the performance of investment
managers;
|
(l)
|
at
the request and under the direction of the Company, handle all
administrative and clerical matters in respect of (i) the convening
and
arrangement of all annual and/or special meetings of shareholders,
(ii)
the preparation of all materials (including notices of meetings and
information circulars) in respect thereof and (iii) the submission
of all
such materials to the Company in sufficient time prior to the dates
upon
which they must be mailed, filed or otherwise relied upon so that
the
Company has a full opportunity to review, approve, execute and return
them
to the Manager for filing or mailing or other disposition as the
Company
may require or direct;
|
(m)
|
provide,
at the request and under the direction of the Company, such communications
to the transfer agent for the Company as may be necessary or
desirable;
|
(n)
|
make
recommendations to the Group Companies for the appointment of auditors,
accountants, legal counsel and other accounting, financial or legal
advisers, and technical, commercial, marketing or other independent
experts;
|
(o)
|
attend
to all matters necessary for any reorganization, bankruptcy or insolvency
petitions or proceedings, liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of any
Group Company;
|
(p)
|
except
as otherwise contemplated herein, representing any Group Company
generally
in its dealings and relations with third
parties;
|
(q)
|
providing
assistance in the preparation of periodic and other reports, proxy
statements, registration statements and other documents and reports
required by Applicable Law or the rules of any securities exchange
or
inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company
or
any Group Company may be listed or
quoted;
|
(r)
|
preparing
reports concerning the performance of the services hereunder and
the
performance of third parties with whom any member of the Group has
contractual relationships and furnishing advice and recommendations
with
respect to all aspects of the business affairs of such member of
the
Group; and
|
(s)
|
attend
to all other administrative matters necessary to ensure the professional
management of the Group’s business.
|
4.
|
SUPERVISORY
SERVICES
|
4.1
|
The
Manager shall procure the provision of the Technical Services, as
well as
any other usual and customary services with respect to the operation
of
each of the Vessels and the Crew, by the Technical Manager nominated
by
the Manager.
|
4.2
|
The
Manager shall supervise the provision of such Technical Services
by the
Technical Manager (the procurement and supervision of the Technical
Services, collectively referred to herein as the “Supervisory
Services”).
|
4.3
|
The
Manager shall procure that the Technical Manager, and the Company
shall
cause each Vessel Owner to, enter into a Technical Services
Agreement.
|
17
4.4
|
The
Company acknowledges that the Manager shall initially nominate Univan
Ship
Management International Limited as the Technical Manager. The Company
acknowledges that Univan Ship Management International Limited intends
to
subcontract and delegate the performance of the Technical Services
to
Univan Ship Management Limited of Hong Kong and agrees, and will
cause
each Group Company to agree, to any such subcontract and delegation
to
Univan Ship Management Limited of Hong
Kong.
|
4.5
|
For
the avoidance of doubt, the Manager may, in its sole discretion,
nominate
itself as the Technical Manager and enter into Technical Services
Agreements with the Vessel Owners.
|
5.
|
EMPLOYEES
AND MANAGER’S PERSONNEL
|
5.1
|
Manager’s
Personnel
|
The
Manager will provide the Management Services and the Supervisory Services
hereunder through the Manager’s Personnel. The Manager will be responsible for
all aspects of the employment or other relationship of such Manager’s Personnel,
including recruitment, training, staffing levels, compensation and benefits,
supervision, discipline and discharge, and other terms and conditions of
employment or contract, as required in order for the Manager to perform its
obligations hereunder.
5.2
|
Officers
|
5.2.1
|
Chairman
of the Board of Directors
|
The
Manager shall procure that its chairman, who shall initially be Captain
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Vanderperre, shall be available to serve as chairman
of the Company's Board of Directors (the “Chairman”).
5.2.2
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
The
Manager shall make available to the Company Mr. Xxxx Xxxxx to serve as the
chief
executive officer of the Company, provided that if he is unwilling or incapable
of so acting, the Manager shall appoint some other suitable person to serve
in
his place (Mr. Xxxx Xxxxx or such other person, the “Chief
Executive Officer”).
5.2.3
|
President
and Chief Operating
Officer
|
The
Manager shall make available to the Company Xx. Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx to manage
the
Company’s day-to-day operations and affairs as the president and chief operating
officer of the Company, provided that if he is unwilling or incapable of so
acting, the Manager shall appoint some other suitable person to serve in his
place (Xx. Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx or such other person, the “President
and Chief Operating Officer”).
5.2.4
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
The
Manager shall make available to the Company Xx. Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx to serve as
the
chief financial officer of the Company, provided that if he is unwilling or
incapable of so acting, the Manager shall appoint some other suitable person
to
serve in his place (Xx. Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx or such other person, the “Chief
Financial Officer”).
5.2.5
|
Other
Executives
|
The
Manager shall make available to the Company such other executive officers to
which the Company and the Manager agree, and may replace officers supplied
from
time to time. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company may employ directly any other officers or employees
as it may deem necessary that will not be subject to this
Agreement.
18
5.3
|
Termination
and Replacement of Executive
Officers
|
5.3.1
|
The
Board of Directors may require any officer (other than the Chairman,
the
Chief Executive Officer, the President and Chief Operating Officer
and
the Chief Financial Officer) that is provided by the Manager to be
an
executive officer (or otherwise perform the duties of an executive
officer) of the Company be relieved of his duties with respect to,
and no
longer serve as management for, the Company for any reason not prohibited
by Applicable Laws. Such officer may continue to be employed by the
Manager but shall no longer serve as management of the
Company.
|
5.3.2
|
The
Board of Directors may require the Chief Executive Officer, the President
and Chief Operating Officer or the Chief Financial Officer be relieved
of
his duties and no longer serve as chief executive officer, president
and
chief operating officer or chief financial officer, as the case may
be,
for the Company if the Board of Directors determines the Chief Executive
Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer or Chief Financial
Officer,
as the case may be, is not performing the tasks and duties associated
with
his office with the skill, diligence and care of a chief executive
officer, president and chief operating officer, chief financial officer,
as the case may be, of a similarly situated company. The Chief Executive
Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer or Chief Financial
Officer,
as the case may be, may continue to be employed by the Manager, but
shall
no longer serve as chief executive officer, president and chief operating
officer or chief financial officer, as the case may be, of the
Company.
|
5.3.3
|
If
any officer that is made available to the Company by the Manager
resigns,
is terminated or otherwise vacates his office, the Manager shall,
as soon
as reasonably practicable after acceptance of any resignation or
after
termination, use commercially reasonable efforts to identify suitable
candidates for replacement of such officer for the approval by the
Board
of Directors. The Manager and the Company shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to minimize interruption in the performance of
the
duties of such officer.
|
5.4
|
Other
Duties of Manager’s
Personnel
|
The
Company acknowledges that the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President
and Chief Operating Officer, Chief
Financial Officer and other officers provided by the Manager and the other
Manager’s Personnel that provide the Management Services or the Supervisory
Services may engage in business activities of the Manager and its Subsidiaries
and Affiliates that are unrelated to and may compete with the Company,
including, but not limited to, the provision of technical, commercial,
administrative and investment management services to others, and that conflicts
of interest may exist.
5.5
|
Reporting
Structure
|
The
Chief
Executive Officer will report to and be under the direction of the Board of
Directors. The Manager will report to the Company and the Board of Directors
through the Chief Executive Officer.
6.
|
COVENANTS
OF THE MANAGER
|
The
Manager hereby agrees and covenants with the Company that, for so long as this
Agreement is effective, the Manager shall:
(a)
|
obtain
professional indemnity insurance and other insurance and maintain
such
coverage as is reasonable having regard to the nature and extent
of the
Manager’s obligations under this Agreement and customary practice in the
Manager’s industry in Asia;
|
19
(b)
|
exercise
the same degree of due care, skill and diligence as is customary
for
managers of third party Crude Carrier Businesses in carrying out
its
duties under this Agreement as required by Applicable Laws;
|
(c)
|
provide
the Board of Directors with all information in relation to the performance
of the Manager’s obligations under this Agreement as the Board of
Directors may reasonably request;
|
(d)
|
ensure
that all material property of the Company is clearly identified as
such,
held separately from property of the Manager and, where applicable,
in
safe custody; and
|
(e)
|
ensure
that all property of the Company (other than money to be deposited
to any
bank account of the Company) is transferred to or otherwise held
in the
name of the Company or any nominee or custodian appointed by the
Company.
|
7.
|
COVENANTS
OF THE COMPANY
|
7.1
|
The
Company shall notify the Manager as soon as possible of any change
in the
Group as a result of the purchase of any Vessel or New Build, the
sale of
any Vessel, the purchase or sale of any direct or indirect subsidiary,
the
creation or divestiture of any subsidiary, or any other structural
change
and shall promptly amend Schedule A, as applicable, to be reflective
of
any such change. Such amended Schedule A shall be effective on any
such day as mutually agreed in writing by the Company and the Manager,
which date shall be no later than five (5) calendar days after delivery
of
such amended Schedule A to the Manager by the
Company.
|
7.2
|
For
each Vessel now or hereinafter owned by any Group Company, the Company
shall cause such Group Company to enter into a Technical Services
Agreement with the Technical Manager in the form of the Technical
Services
Agreements then in place between the Technical Services Manager and
the
Group Companies, with such alterations and additions as are appropriate
(provided, that any alterations or additions which materially vary
from
such form shall require the written approval of the Technical Manager
and
the Board of Directors).
|
7.3
|
The
Company shall, at the Manager’s option, either (i) include the Manager as
a co-insured party with respect to any general insurance, director
and
officer liability insurance and other insurance of the Company not
related
to the Vessels or the Crews that is obtained by the Manager on behalf
of
the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.3.7(e)
hereof
or (ii) reimburse the Manager for any insurance premiums payable
by the
Manager for policies entered into by the Manager for the Manager’s benefit
in respect of the services provided to the Company hereunder that
are of a
similar scope and level of benefits to those obtained by the Manager
on
behalf of the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section
3.3.7(e) hereof.
|
8.
|
MANAGER’S
COMPENSATION
|
8.1
|
Management
Services Fees
|
In
consideration of the Manager providing the Management Services and the
Supervisory Services, the Company shall pay the Manager the following
fees:
(a)
|
a
monthly administrative services fee, payable monthly in advance as
per the
following table:
|
For
the period beginning the date of Closing and ending June 30,
2009
|
$25,000
per month
|
For
the twelve months ending June 30, 2010
|
$50,000
per month
|
For
the twelve months ending June 30, 2011
|
$75,000
per month
|
(the
“Administrative
Services Fee”);
20
(b)
|
a
management fee of $3,500 per day per each New Vessel and for each
Option
Vessel for providing the commercial, chartering and administrative
services, payable monthly in advance (the “Management
Services Fee”);
|
(c)
|
a
commission fee equal to 1.25% calculated on the gross freight, demurrage,
charter hire, profit share and ballast bonus obtained for (i) the
employment of each Vessel on contracts or charter parties entered
into
during the term of this Agreement or (ii) the employment of each
New
Vessel, including each Option Vessel, on contracts or charter parties
entered into during, or entered into prior to and existing during,
the
term of this Agreement, in each case payable to the Manager within
30 days
of receipt of such freight, demurrage, charter hire, profit share
and
ballast bonus and only to the extent that such freight, demurrage,
charter
hire, profit share and ballast bonus, as the case may be, is paid
or
otherwise collected; provided, however, that, for the avoidance of
doubt,
no commission fee shall be payable on any contracts or charter parties
entered into prior to the date of this Agreement for the employment
of the
nine VLCCs which are the subject of the Merger and Sale and Purchase;
and
|
(d)
|
a
commission equal to 1.00% calculated on the price set forth in the
memorandum of agreement of any New Vessel bought or sold for or on
behalf
of any Group Company (including the Option Vessels), upon final delivery
to such Group Company.
|
The
Company hereby expressly authorizes the Manager to pay the Administrative
Services Fee, the Management Services Fee and the commissions set forth in
Sections 8.1(c) and 8.1(d) from the Company’s bank accounts to the Manager’s
bank account when such fees and commissions become due and payable.
8.2
|
Expenses
|
8.2.1
|
The
Company acknowledges and agrees that, except as otherwise provided
in
Section 8.2.2, the Manager shall provide the Management Services
and
Supervisory Services to the Company at the Company’s own cost and be
entitled to reimbursement by the Company for any and all costs and
expenses, except for those costs and expenses set forth in Section
8.2.2,
incurred by the Manager in the provision of the Management Services
and
Supervisory Services. For the avoidance of doubt, the Manager shall
have
no obligation to advance moneys to cover any costs and expenses incurred
in its provision of the Management Services and Supervisory Services,
except for those costs and expenses set forth in Section 8.2.2, and,
in
the event of any such advance, shall be entitled to interest at a
rate
equivalent to the Manager’s cost of funds.
|
8.2.2
|
The
Manager shall bear the usual costs and expenses of the Manager’s Personnel
(including salaries, wages, payroll taxes and costs of employee benefit
plans of such personnel other than the stock or incentive schemes
referred
to in Section 8.7; but not including any costs or expenses incurred
in
connection with travel of such personnel for the provision of the
Management Services and Supervisory Services) and the costs and expenses
relating to any office space maintained by the Manager and any related
overhead (including rent, utilities, furniture and equipment and
other
usual office expenses) incurred by the Manager in providing the Management
Services and Supervisory Services to the
Company.
|
21
8.3
|
Adjustment
to Fees
|
The
Administrative Services Fee and the Management Services Fee set forth in Section
8.1(a) and 8.1(b) above, respectively, shall remain in effect until June 30,
2011 and thereafter will be adjusted every year beginning July 1, 2011. Sixty
(60) days prior to June 30, 2011 and the end of each successive one (1)-year
period thereafter, the Manager and the Company will negotiate a new Management
Services Fee for the successive one (1)-year period (the
“Adjusted
Administrative Services Fee”
or
the
“Adjusted
Management Services Fee”,
as
applicable), which will be set at mutually agreed upon rates between the Company
and the Manager no later than thirty (30) days prior to the commencement of
the
successive one (1)-year period.
8.4
|
Dispute
Resolution of Fees
|
If
the
Company and the Manager are unable to agree on the Adjusted Administrative
Services Fee or the Adjusted Management Services Fee pursuant to Section 8.3
within thirty (30) days prior to the end of each such successive one (1)-year
period, or are unable to agree on a Technical Services Fee, the Company and
the
Manager will engage an independent arbitrator to determine the fair market
value
of the provision of the Management Services and the Supervisory Services to
the
Company, or the provision of the Technical Services by the Technical Manager,
as
the case may be, in accordance with this Agreement (the “Fair
Market Fee”).
In
determining the Fair Market Fee, the arbitrator will be provided with the
proposed terms of the Adjusted Administrative Services Fee and/or the Adjusted
Management Services Fee, as the case may be, discussed between the Company
and
the Manager in the prior thirty (30)-day period, or the proposed Technical
Services Fee, as the case may be, all the relevant historical information
regarding the Group and the Vessels for the previous one (1)-year period, the
anticipated costs in providing the Management Services and the Supervisory
Services for the next one (1)-year period or
in
providing the Technical Services, as the case may be, and any other information
that the Company or the Manager may deem relevant or that the arbitrator may
reasonably request. The arbitrator will determine the Fair Market Fee within
thirty (30) days of its engagement and furnish the Company and the Manager
with
its determination and the Adjusted Administrative Services Fee and/or the
Adjusted Management Services Fee for the ensuing one (1)-year period or
the
Technical Services Fee, as the case may be. Such decision of the arbitrator
shall be final and binding on the Parties absent manifest error. The Adjusted
Administrative Services Fee or the Adjusted Management Services Fee for any
one
(1)-year period, the Adjusted Administrative Fee or the Adjusted Management
Services Fee, as the case may be, will be the greater of (a) the Fair Market
Fee
determined by the arbitrator; and (b) the Adjusted Administrative Services
Fee
or the Management Services Fee, as the case may be, in effect for the preceding
one (1)-year period. The fees and expenses of the arbitrator will by paid by
the
Company.
8.5
|
Technical
Services Fees
|
For
the
avoidance of doubt, none of the Administrative Services Fee, the Management
Services Fees or the commissions set forth in Sections 8.1(c) or 8.1(d) are
inclusive of the fees and expenses to be paid to the Technical Manager in
consideration of the Technical Manager’s provision of the Technical Services
(the “Technical
Services Fee”),
which
shall be separately negotiated and set forth in the Technical Services
Agreement.
8.6
|
Pre-delivery
Services Fees
|
For
the
avoidance of doubt, none of the Administrative Services Fee, the Management
Services Fees, the commissions set forth in Sections 8.1(c) or 8.1(d) or the
Technical Services Fees are inclusive of compensation or fees for the provision
of Pre-delivery Services by the Manager or any third party procured by the
Manager. Compensation, fees and other amounts payable with respect to the
provision of Pre-delivery Services by the Manager or any third party shall
be
separately negotiated and agreed between the Company and the Manager and any
third party procured to provide such services, as applicable.
22
8.7
|
Incentivisation
of the Manager
|
The
Manager and the Company agree that the Manager and/or the Manager’s Personnel
shall be eligible to participate in any stock or other incentive scheme
established by the Company in such manner as the Board of Directors shall
determine from time to time. The Company shall inform the Manager of any
allocation of benefits under any such scheme to the Manager and/or the Manager’s
Personnel from time to time.
8.8
|
Direction
to Pay
|
By
written notice to the Company, the Manager may direct the Company to pay any
amounts owing under this Agreement to an Affiliate of the Manager, pursuant
to a
subcontract of any provisions of this Agreement, directly to such Affiliate.
9.
|
LIABILITY
OF THE MANAGER; INDEMNIFICATION
|
9.1
|
Liability
of the Manager
|
The
Manager shall not be liable whatsoever to the Company for any losses, expenses,
claims, costs, liabilities or damages or delays of whatsoever nature, whether
direct or indirect, (including, but not limited to, loss of profit or
consequential, special or punitive damages) unless and to the extent that such
loss, damage, delay or expense resulted from:
(a)
|
the
fraud, gross negligence or wilful misconduct of the Manager or any
of
Manager’s Personnel (“Manager
Misconduct”);
or
|
(b)
|
a
material and continuing breach of this Agreement by the
Manager;
|
in
which
case the Manager shall be liable only for direct, compensating losses, expenses,
claims, costs, liabilities or damages or delays arising therefrom. Under no
circumstances shall the Manager be liable for any indirect losses, expenses,
claims, costs, liabilities or damages or delays or any special, consequential
or
punitive damages.
9.2
|
Extraordinary
Costs and Capital
Expenditures
|
9.2.1
|
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Manager shall not
be
responsible for paying any losses, expenses, claims, costs, liabilities
or
damages or delays in respect of any
Vessel.
|
9.2.2
|
The
Technical Manager will be responsible for paying the costs associated
with
the provision of Technical Services as set forth in the Technical
Services
Agreement, but in no event will be responsible for certain “extraordinary
costs and expenses”, including:
|
(a)
|
repairs,
refurbishment or modifications resulting from maritime accidents,
collisions, other accidental damage or unforeseen events (except
to the
extent that such accidents, collisions, damage or events are due
to gross
negligence or wilful misconduct of the Technical Manager unless and
to the
extent otherwise covered by
insurance);
|
(b)
|
unscheduled
or non-routine dry-docking of a
Vessel;
|
(c)
|
any
improvement, upgrade or modification to, structural changes with
respect
to or the installation of new equipment aboard any Vessel that results
from a change in, an introduction of new, or a change in the
interpretation of, Applicable Laws, whether at the recommendation
of the
classification society for that Vessel or otherwise;
or
|
23
(d)
|
any
increase in Crew Employment and Support Expenses resulting from an
introduction of new, or a change in the interpretation of, Applicable
Laws, market forces or otherwise.
|
For
the
avoidance of doubt, if the Technical Manager should pay any extraordinary costs
and expenses of the type set forth in this Section 9.2.2, then the Technical
Manager shall be entitled to reimbursement from the relevant Vessel
Owner.
9.3
|
Manager
Indemnification
|
The
Company will indemnify and save harmless the Manager, and its respective current
and former directors, officers, employees, subcontractors and current and future
Affiliates (the “Manager
Indemnified Persons”)
from
and against any and all Losses incurred or suffered by the Manager Indemnified
Persons by reason of, resulting from, in connection with, or arising in any
manner whatsoever out of or in the course of their performance of this Agreement
or a Legal Action brought or threatened against such Manager Indemnified Persons
in connection with their performance of this Agreement, other than for any
Losses related to:
(a)
|
Manager
Misconduct; or
|
(b)
|
any
material and continuing breach of this Agreement by the Manager.
|
9.4
|
Company
Indemnification
|
The
Manager will indemnify and save harmless each Group Company, and its respective
current and former directors, officers, employees, subcontractors and current
and future Affiliates (the “Company
Indemnified Persons”)
from
and against any and all Losses incurred or suffered by the Company Indemnified
Persons, related to:
(a)
|
Manager
Misconduct; or
|
(b)
|
any
material and continuing breach of this Agreement by the Manager.
|
9.5
|
Limitation
Regarding the Technical Services
|
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Manager shall not be liable
for
any of the actions of the Technical Manager or any subcontractor engaged by
the
Technical Manager, even if such actions are negligent, grossly negligent or
wilful, except and only to the extent that they are shown to have resulted
from
a failure by the Manager to properly supervise the provision of Technical
Services by the Technical Manager pursuant to Section 4, in which case its
liability shall be determined in accordance with the terms of this Section
9.
10.
|
TERM
AND TERMINATION
|
10.1
|
Initial
Term
|
The
initial term of this Agreement shall be effective as of the Closing and end
on
December 31, 2028, unless terminated earlier pursuant to this Agreement (the
“Initial
Term”).
10.2
|
Renewal
Term
|
This
Agreement shall, without any further act or formality on the part of any
Parties, on the expiration of the Initial Term, or any Renewal Term, be
automatically renewed for a further term of five (5) years
(each a “Renewal
Term”)
unless
notice of termination is given by the Company to the Manager in accordance
with
Section 10.3(d) or by the Manager to the Company in accordance with Section
10.4(a).
24
10.3
|
Termination
by the Company
|
This
Agreement may be terminated by the Company:
(a)
|
if,
at any time, there has been a material breach of this Agreement by
the
Manager and the matter is not remedied or is unresolved pursuant
to the
dispute resolution procedures set forth in Section 11 after ninety
(90)
days (“Manager
Breach”);
|
(b)
|
if,
at any time,
|
(i)
|
the
Manager has been convicted of, has entered a plea of guilty with
respect
to, or has entered into a plea bargain or settlement admitting guilt
for,
a crime, which conviction, plea bargain or settlement is demonstrably
and
materially
injurious to the Company; and
|
(ii)
|
a
majority of the holders of the outstanding Common Shares elect to
terminate the Agreement;
|
(together,
“Manager
Cause”);
(c)
|
by
notice in writing given to the Manager within thirty (30) days after
the
occurrence of a Manager Change of Control for which the Board of
Directors
has not given its consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld
or
delayed); or
|
(d)
|
if
two-thirds of the independent members of the Board elect to terminate
this
Agreement at the end of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term by notice
in
writing given to the Manager no later than six (6) months before
the
expiry of the Initial Term or the Renewal Term (as the case may be).
|
10.4
|
Termination
by the Manager
|
This
Agreement may be terminated by the Manager:
(a)
|
at
the end of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term by notice in writing
given
to the Company no later than six (6) months before the expiry of
the
Initial Term or the Renewal Term (as the case may be);
|
(b)
|
if,
at any time, the Company materially breaches this Agreement and the
matter
is not remedied or is unresolved pursuant to the dispute resolution
procedures set forth in Section 11 after ninety (90) days (“Company
Breach”);
or
|
(c)
|
if,
at any time, the Manager becomes aware of the occurrence of a Company
Change of Control.
|
10.5
|
Effects
of Termination or Expiry
|
Upon
lawful termination or expiry of this Agreement, this Agreement will be void
and
there shall be no liability on the part of any Party (or their respective
officers, directors or employees) except that the obligation of the Company
to
pay to the Manager or its Affiliates the amounts accrued but outstanding under
Section 8 and the terms and conditions set forth in Sections 9, 10.6 and 12
shall survive such termination. Upon termination under this Section 10 or upon
expiry, the Company may direct
the Manager to undertake, at the cost of the Company, any actions reasonably
necessary to transfer any aspect of the ownership or control of the assets
of
the Group Companies to the Group Companies or to any nominee of the Group
Companies and to do all other things reasonably necessary to bring the
appointment of the Manager to an end at the appropriate time, and the Manager
shall comply with all such reasonable directions. Upon termination or expiry
of
this Agreement, the Manager shall deliver to any new manager or the Company
any
Books and Records held by the Manager under this Agreement and shall execute
and
deliver such instruments and do such things as may reasonably be required to
permit the new manager of the Company or Group Companies to assume its
responsibilities, in each case at the cost and expense of the
Company.
25
11.
|
DISPUTE
RESOLUTION
|
11.1.1
|
Any
dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall
be
referred to arbitration in London in accordance with the Arbitration
Act
1996 or any statutory modification or reenactment thereof save to
the
extent necessary to give effect to the provisions of this
Section.
|
11.1.2
|
The
arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the London Maritime
Arbitrators Association (LMAA) Terms current at the time when the
arbitration proceedings are
commenced.
|
11.1.3
|
All
disputes arising out of this Agreement shall be arbitrated in London
in
the following manner. One arbitrator is to be appointed by each of
the Parties
hereto and a third by the two so chosen. Their decision or that of
any two of them shall be final and, for the purpose of enforcing
any
award, this Agreement may be made a rule of the court. The
arbitrators shall be commercial persons, conversant with shipping
matters. Such arbitration is to be conducted in accordance
with the rules of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association terms
current at the time when the arbitration proceedings are commenced
and in
accordance with the Arbitration Act 1996 or any statutory modification
or
re-enactment thereof.
|
11.1.4
|
In
the event that the Owner or the Manager shall state a dispute and
designate an arbitrator, in writing, the other Party shall have twenty
(20) Business Days to designate its own arbitrator. Upon failure
to do so,
the arbitrator appointed by the other Party can render an award
hereunder.
|
11.1.5
|
Until
such time as the arbitrators finally close the hearings, either Party
shall have the right by written notice served on the arbitrators
and on
the other Party to specify further disputes or differences under
this
Agreement for hearing and
determination.
|
11.1.6
|
The
arbitrators may grant any relief, and render an award, which they
or a
majority of them deem just and equitable and within the scope of
the
Agreement of the parties, including but not limited to the posting
of
security. Awards pursuant to this Section 11 may include
costs, including a reasonable allowance for attorneys’ fees, and judgments
may be entered upon any award made herein in any court having
jurisdiction.
|
12.
|
GENERAL
|
12.1
|
Assignment
|
The
Parties may not assign any of their rights under this Agreement in whole or
in
part without the prior written consent of the other Parties, which consent
may
be arbitrarily withheld.
12.2
|
Force
Majeure
|
Neither
of the Parties shall be under any liability for any failure to perform any
of
their obligations hereunder if any of the following occurs (each a“Force
Majeure Event”):
(a)
|
any
event, cause or condition which is beyond the reasonable control
of any or
all of the Parties and which prevents any or all of the Parties from
performing any of its obligations under this Agreement;
|
(b)
|
acts
of God, including fire, explosions, unusually or unforeseeably bad
weather
conditions, epidemic, lightening, earthquake, tsunami or washout;
|
(c)
|
acts
of public enemies, including war or civil disturbance, vandalism,
sabotage, terrorism, blockade or insurrection;
|
(d)
|
acts
of a Governmental
Authority, including injunctions or restraining orders issued by
any
judicial, administrative or regulatory authority, expropriation or
requisition;
|
(e)
|
government
rule, regulation or legislation, embargo or national defence requirement;
or
|
(f)
|
labour
troubles or disputes, strikes or lockouts, including any failure
to settle
or prevent such event which is in the control of any Party.
|
A
Party
will give written notice to the other Party promptly upon the occurrence of
a
Force Majeure Event.
12.3
|
Confidentiality
|
Each
Party agrees that, except with the prior written consent of the other Party,
it
shall at all times keep confidential and not disclose, furnish or make
accessible to anyone (except to employees, agents, professional advisors or
sub
contractors in the ordinary course of business) any confidential or proprietary
information, knowledge or data concerning or relating to the other Party and
to
the business or financial affairs of the other Party to which such Party has
been or shall become privy by reason of this Agreement, except for any (a)
disclosure required by judicial or administrative process (including discovery
for litigation), (b) information that becomes publicly available through no
fault of such Party or otherwise ceases to be confidential, (c) information
required by law or applicable stock exchange rules, (d) disclosure made to
a
Person under a binding confidentiality agreement in favour of the Party whose
confidential or proprietary information is being disclosed or (e) for purposes
of enforcing this Agreement.
12.4
|
Change
of Control
|
12.4.1
|
The
Company shall give the Manager at least thirty (30) Business Days’ prior
written notice of a proposed Company Change of Control and shall
give the
Manager written confirmation of the occurrence thereof no later than
two
(2) Business Days after such
occurrence.
|
12.4.2
|
The
Manager shall give the Company written notice of a Manager Change
of
Control no later than ten (10) Business Days after the Manager becomes
aware of the occurrence thereof. If the Manager requests the consent
of
the Board of Directors to a Manager Change of Control, such consent
of the
Board of Directors shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed.
|
12.5
|
Notices
|
12.5.1
|
Each
notice, consent or request required to be given to a Party pursuant
to
this Agreement must be given in writing. A notice may be given by
delivery
to an individual or by fax, and will be validly given if delivered
on a
Business Day to an individual at the following address, or, if transmitted
on a Business Day by fax addressed to the following Party:
|
26
Van
Asia
Tankers Corporation
[TO
COME]
Fax:
[TO
COME]
Attention:
[TO COME]
[Van
Asia
Capital Management Limited]
[TO
COME]
Fax:
[TO
COME]
Attention:
[TO COME]
or
to any
other address, fax number or individual that the Party designates.
12.5.2
|
Any
notice
|
(a)
|
if
validly delivered, will be deemed to have been given when delivered;
|
(b)
|
if
validly transmitted by fax before 3:00 p.m. (local time at the place
of
receipt) on a Business Day, will be deemed to have been given on
that
Business Day; and
|
(c)
|
if
validly transmitted by fax after 3:00 p.m. (local time at the place
of
receipt) on a Business Day, will be deemed to have been given on
the
Business Day after the date of the transmission.
|
12.6
|
Third
Party Rights
|
The
provisions of this Agreement are enforceable solely by the Parties to this
Agreement, and no shareholder, employee, agent of any Party or any other Person
shall have the right, separate and apart from the Parties hereto to enforce
any
provision of this Agreement or to compel any Party to this Agreement to comply
with the terms of this Agreement.
12.7
|
Severability
|
Each
provision of this Agreement is several. If any provision of this Agreement
is or
becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the illegality,
invalidity or unenforceability of that provision will not affect:
(a)
|
the
legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions
of this
Agreement; or
|
(b)
|
the
legality, validity or enforceability of that provision in any other
jurisdiction;
|
except
that if:
(c)
|
on
the reasonable construction of this Agreement as a whole, the
applicability of the other provision presumes the validity and
enforceability of the particular provision, the other provision will
be
deemed also to be invalid or unenforceable; and
|
(d)
|
as
a result of the determination by a court of competent jurisdiction
that
any part of this Agreement is unenforceable or invalid and, as a
result of
this Section 12.7, the basic intentions of the parties in this Agreement
are entirely frustrated, the parties will use all reasonable efforts
to
amend, supplement or otherwise vary this Agreement to confirm their
mutual
intention in entering into this Agreement.
|
27
12.8 |
Governing
Law
|
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English
law.
12.9
|
Binding
Effect
|
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their successors, but shall not be assignable except as provided in Section
12.1.
12.10
|
Amendment
and Waivers
|
No
amendment, supplement, waiver, restatement or termination of any provision
of
this Agreement is binding unless it is in writing and signed by each Person
that
is a party to this Agreement at the time of the amendment, supplement,
restatement or termination.
12.11
|
Entire
Agreement
|
This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties pertaining to
the
subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings
pertaining thereto.
12.12
|
Waiver
|
No
failure by any Party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant,
duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or
remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such
breach or of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.
12.13
|
Counterparts
|
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which together
shall constitute one agreement binding on the Parties hereto.
[Signature
page follows.]
28
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the Parties hereto
as
of the date first above written.
VAN ASIA TANKERS CORPORATION | ||
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name: |
||
Title: |
[VAN ASIA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED] | ||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ | |
Name: |
||
Title: |
SCHEDULE
A
VESSELS
AND INITIAL TECHNICAL SERVICES FEES
The
following table lists the Vessels that are presently owned or will be acquired
by the Company on Closing.
Vessel
Name
|
Name
of Owner
|
IMO
No.
|
Official
No.
|
Year
Built and Date of Registry
|
Shinyo
Alliance
|
Shinyo
Alliance Limited
|
8919130
|
HK-0848
|
1991
17
May 2002
|
C.
Dream
|
Shinyo
Dream Limited
|
9182318
|
HK-0990
|
2000
17
February 2003
|
Shinyo
Xxxxxxx
|
Shinyo
Xxxxxxx Limited
|
9197870
|
HK-1423
|
2001
16
November 2004
|
Shinyo
Ocean
|
Shinyo
Ocean Limited
|
9197868
|
HK-1841
|
2001
9
January 2007
|
Shinyo
Jubilee
|
Shinyo
Jubilee Limited
|
8705979
|
HK-1469
|
1988
19
February 2005
|
Shinyo
Splendor
|
Shinyo
Loyalty Limited
|
9004530
|
HK-1236
|
1993
17
February 2004
|
Shinyo
Mariner
|
Shinyo
Mariner Limited
|
8917481
|
HK-1493
|
1991
19
March 2005
|
Shinyo
Navigator
|
Shinyo
Navigator Limited
|
9081186
|
HK-1804
|
1996
14
December 2006
|
Shinyo
Sawako
|
Shinyo
Sawako Limited
|
9083964
|
HK-1681
|
1995
9
March 2006
|
Sch.
A - 1
EXHIBIT
A
FORM
OF TECHNICAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
THIS
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
dated
_________ is made between
1.
|
[
] whose
registered office is [ ] (the "Vessel Owner");
and
|
2.
|
[
] whose
registered office is [ ] (the "Technical Manager").
|
Whereby
it is agreed: -
A |
Appointment
|
(1) |
The
Vessel Owner hereby appoints the Technical Manager, and the Technical
Manager hereby accepts the appointment, as technical manager of the
vessel
(the "Vessel") described briefly
as:
|
Name
of
Vessel :
Flag
& Port of Registry :
Registered
Tonnage :
Classification :
Year
Built :
(2)
|
The
Technical Manager shall during the continuance of this Agreement
have the
sole and exclusive management of the Vessel and shall to the best
of its
ability and in accordance with sound ship management practice represent
the Vessel Owner in connection with such management and the exercise
of
the powers hereby conferred upon
it.
|
B
|
Period
of Agreement
|
(1)
|
The
Technical Manager's appointment as manager of the Vessel shall be
deemed
to have commenced on the date hereof.
|
(2)
|
The
said appointment shall continue indefinitely unless and until it
is
terminated as specified below.
|
(3)
|
The
monthly management fee shall accrue from the earlier of (a) the date
hereof and (b) the date of delivery of the Vessel to the Technical
Manager
up to and including the effective termination date, as set out under
clauses B(4), B(5), B(6) and B(7)
below.
|
(4)
|
The
initial term of this Agreement shall be three (3) years from the
date
hereof. This Agreement shall, without any further act or formality
on the
part of the Vessel Owner or the Technical Manager, continue beyond
such
initial three (3) year term unless either the Vessel Owner or the
Technical Manager terminates this Agreement by giving to the other
at
least twelve (12) months prior written notice of termination of this
Agreement. The effective termination date will be the last day of
the
notice period except in the event that the actual physical delivery
of the
Vessel is not effected within the notice period, in which case this
Agreement shall be deemed to continue in full force up to and including
the day of actual physical delivery of the
Vessel.
|
(5)
|
If
(a) an order is made or (b) a resolution is passed for the winding
up,
dissolution, liquidation or bankruptcy of either the Vessel Owner
or the
Technical Manager (other than for the purpose of a reconstruction
or
amalgamation) or (c) a receiver is appointed of either party's business
or
property or (d) one of the parties suspends or ceases to carry on
its
business or makes any special arrangement or composition with its
creditors, (each of (a), (b), (c) and (d), an "Early Termination
Event")
then either the Vessel Owner or the Technical Manager may terminate this
Agreement at any time after such Early Termination Event has occurred
by
giving to the other party written notice of such Early Termination
Event,.
The effective termination date will be the day of actual physical
delivery
of the Vessel from the Technical Manager to the Vessel
Owner.
|
Ex.
A - 1
(6)
|
If
the Vessel is sold or disposed of, then this Agreement shall be deemed
to
be automatically terminated without notice. The effective termination
date
will be the date which falls three months after the day of actual
physical
delivery of the Vessel.
|
(7)
|
If
the Vessel becomes a total loss or is declared as a constructive
or
compromised or arranged total loss or is requisitioned, then this
Agreement shall be deemed to be automatically terminated without
notice.
The effective termination date will be the date which falls three
months
after the date as of which the Vessel is deemed to be lost or
requisitioned. The Vessel shall not be deemed to be lost unless either
(a)
she has become an actual total loss or (b) agreement has been reached
with
her underwriters in respect of her constructive, compromised or arranged
total loss, or if such agreement with her underwriters is not reached,
it
is adjudged by a competent tribunal that a constructive loss of the
Vessel
has occurred.
|
(8)
|
The
termination of this Agreement shall be without prejudice to all rights
accrued due between the parties up to and including the effective
termination date.
|
C
|
Technical
Services
|
(1)
|
The
Technical Manager shall, without in any way detracting from the generality
of any of its powers and obligations contained in this Agreement,
have the
right and power to act in its own or the Vessel Owner's name but
for the
account of the Vessel Owner to do or perform any or all of the following:
|
(a)
|
to
attend to and deal with the maintenance, xxxxxxx, equipment, furnishing,
victualling, provision of marine and engineer superintendents and
arranging and supervising surveys maintenance, repairs, alterations
and
renewals to hull, machinery, boilers, auxiliaries, accommodation
and
storage of Vessel;
|
(b)
|
to
provide all customary owner's duties in relation to xxxxxxx and crew
welfare and amenities for the crew of the
Vessel;
|
(c)
|
To
represent the Vessel Owner and negotiate agreements with the International
Transport Workers' Federation in respect of the Vessel's
crew.
|
(d)
|
to
provide deck, cabin and engine stores and spare gear and lubricating
oil
and other necessary or usual service to the
Vessel;
|
(e)
|
if
required by the Vessel Owner, to arrange and maintain the usual insurances
and P&I cover in respect of the Vessel (subject to the Vessel Owner's
prior approval of the brokers or the insurers and the amount and
scope of
cover) and any other customary or special insurance (including crew
personal accident insurance, defence cover and war
risks);
|
(f)
|
to
handle and settle (with insurance intermediaries and loss adjusters)
all
claims, negotiations and correspondence connected with the Vessel's
insurances (except cargo claims which will be handled by the Vessel
Owner
or their commercial managers) and any salvage, general and particular
average and other claims in respect of the
Vessel;
|
Ex.
A - 2
(g) |
to
provide the Vessel Owner with copies of all cover notes, insurance
policies and certificates of entries in P&I and insurers or brokers'
undertakings in respect of the Vessel if these are arranged by or
through
the Technical Manager;
|
(h)
|
to
attend to all matters relating to the operation and navigation of
the
Vessel (including compliance with STCW 95 requirements) and to make
all
disbursements in connection with the management or otherwise in relation
to the Vessel and to contract and pay on behalf of the Vessel Owner
such
debts and liabilities as are reasonably required in managing the
Vessel
and to maintain detailed and analysed accounts relating to the Vessel
and
supplying copies or abstracts as required or as are otherwise herein
provided for;
|
(i)
|
to
arrange and contract for all repairs to the Vessel including hull,
machinery, boilers, tackle, apparel, furniture, equipment and spare
parts
and including maintenance and voyage repairs and replacements necessary
to
maintain the Vessel in class and in an efficient state of repair
and
condition; and
|
(j)
|
to
report periodically to the Vessel Owner in respect of the Vessel's
technical and operational performance,
to control the budget and vessel’s
condition.
|
(2)
|
The
Technical Manager's powers shall exclude negotiating and/or concluding
any
charters or contracts of
affreightment.
|
(3)
|
The
Technical Manager shall be entitled to allocate its manpower; resources
and services, as it thinks fit between all vessels under its management
from time to time.
|
(4)
|
The
Technical Manager shall be deemed to be the "Company" as defined
in the
ISM Code and shall assume responsibility for the operation of the
Vessel
and for the duties and responsibilities imposed by the ISM
Code.
|
D
|
Expenses
|
(1)
|
Subject
to the provisions hereof the Vessel Owner will pay to the Technical
Manager all disbursements and expenses reasonably incurred by the
Technical Manager in the performance of its obligations under this
Agreement. The Technical Manager shall have no obligation to advance
moneys to fund the Vessel's expenses but if it does advance any funds
then
the Technical Manager shall be entitled to charge interest on the
sum
advanced to the Vessel Owner at the prevailing prime rate for US
dollars
quoted by the Technical Manager’s bankers plus 3% p.a. The Vessel Owner
shall also reimburse the Technical Manager for any exchange rate
loss
suffered or incurred by the Technical Manager in the course of carrying
out its duties hereunder.
|
(2)
|
The
Technical Manager will at the commencement of this Agreement and
every
October 31 or thereabouts provide the Vessel Owner with a budget
which
shall reflect estimated costs and expenses of running the Vessel
during
the calendar year following the said budget.
|
(3)
|
The
Vessel Owner shall pay to the Technical Manager in advance a sum
equal to
one-twelfth of the said annual budget by telegraphic remittance within
the
first week of each month unless the Vessel Owner notifies the Technical
Manager it will fund the Technical Manager in accordance with clause
D(7).
|
(4)
|
Not
later than the eighth (8th)
working day of each calendar month the Technical Manager shall send
to the
Vessel Owner by fax or a telex a summary of the actual operating
costs of
the Vessel during the preceding
month.
|
(5)
|
Not
later than the twentieth (20th)
working day of each calendar month the Technical Manager shall send
to the
Vessel Owner a written statement supported by vouchers showing the
actual
operating costs of the Vessel during the preceding
month.
|
Ex.
A - 3
(6)
|
Every
three (3) months the Technical Manager shall send to the Vessel Owner
a
full statement showing the actual operating costs of the Vessel during
the
proceeding three months and
including:
|
(a)
|
trial
balances prepared monthly during that three (3) months period following
receipt of the Master's monthly portage bills and expenses
report;
|
(b)
|
comparison
with the budget specified in clause D(2) hereof;
and
|
(c)
|
a
narrative report commenting on the operation of the Vessel and of
the
variances between the actual operating costs and the budgeted
costs.
|
(7)
|
Subject
to clause D(3), within three (3) days of receipt of the report referred
to
in clause D(4), the Vessel Owner shall remit each month an amount
equal to
the actual operating costs of the Vessel during the preceding month
as
specified in the said report.
|
(8)
|
After
inspecting the Vessel and having agreed with the Vessel Owner any
modifications and repairs necessary to put the Vessel in condition
to
satisfy the Technical Manager's minimum requirements for safe and
efficient operation, the Technical Manager will submit to the Vessel
Owner
a separate budget for initial expenses for repairs, modifications,
first
fitting and storing. The Vessel Owner will remit forthwith to the
Technical Manager such budgeted amount together with one-twelfth
of the
said annual budget to fund the expenses of the Vessel in the first
month.
|
(9)
|
Out
of the management fees specified in clause I(1) the Technical Manager
shall, at its own expense, provide all shore-based officers and office
staff necessary for the discharge of its duties hereunder and shall
pay
for all ordinary office stationery, postage, telephone and other
office
expenses incurred by it as the Technical Manager in the performance
of its
duties or the exercise of its powers pursuant to this
Agreement.
|
(10)
|
The
Vessel Owner shall reimburse the Technical Manager for all
telecommunication and radio accounting charges, officers' and crew's
wages, pensions and insurance contributions and all superintendent's
travelling and incidental expenses and all other expenses properly
and
reasonably incurred by the Technical Manager in relation to the Vessel
in
order to perform its obligations or exercise its powers under this
Agreement. In this regard, Superintendents visits for Vessel Inspection,
dry-docking, Repairs and Vessel Owners visits in excess of thirty-six
(36)
days
will be billed at a rate of US$500 per day or part thereof, such
rate to
be reviewed by the Vessel Owner and Technical Manager every two (2)
years
and revised as may be mutually agreed between them.
|
(11)
|
All
remittances to the Technical Manager referred to in this clause D
shall be
remitted by telegraphic transfer or SWIFT (SWIFT address [ ] for
credit to
[ ] client account [ ], account # [ ].
|
(12)
|
The
Vessel Owner shall provide the Technical Manager with a bank guarantee
from a first class European or American bank with an office in [Hong
Kong], or remit a deposit to the Technical Manager, equivalent to
one
month's budgeted expenses of the Vessel. If the Technical Manager
does not
receive any funds due to the Technical Manager pursuant to clause
D(3) or
D(7) by the fifteenth (15th)
working day of the then current month then the Technical Manager
may draw
upon the guarantee or the deposit. The Vessel Owner shall replace
immediately any security drawn upon by the Technical
Manager.
|
E |
Records
and Accounts
|
The
Technical Manager undertakes to keep on behalf of the Vessel Owner
proper
books records and accounts (which shall include all vouchers and
supporting documents) relating to the management, operations and
maintenance of the Vessel in accordance with good shipping accounting
practices. Such books, records and accounts will be available to
the
Vessel Owner or their representatives for inspection and audit at
reasonable times.
|
Ex.
A - 4
F |
Subcontracts
|
(1)
|
The
Technical Manager shall be entitled to subcontract and delegate to
[ ],
but not any other person or company without the prior written consent
of
the Vessel Owner (which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld),
any
or all of its obligations and rights pursuant to this Agreement and
ancillary to its appointment as the technical manager of the Vessel
([ ]
or such other person or company, the "Technical Sub-Manager"). The
Technical Manager shall procure that any such Technical Sub-Manager
provides a direct undertaking to the relevant Vessel Owners to perform
and
act in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such undertaking
from
the Technical Sub-Manager to be in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Technical
Manager.
|
(2)
|
The
Vessel Owner hereby authorizes the Technical Manager to advance or
remit
funds to the Technical Sub-Manager from the bank account aforesaid
for the
purposes of paying (in advance or in arrears) fees or expenses properly
incurred by the Technical Sub-Manager or by the Technical Manager
on
behalf of the Vessel Owner pursuant to the terms and authority of
this
Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Technical Sub-Manager
and
companies associated with the Technical Sub-Manager may be a payee,
beneficiary or recipient of such advances or remittances.
|
G |
Performance
|
The
Technical Manager undertakes to provide the services specified in
this
Agreement and to exercise all or any of its powers and duties in
accordance with the policies and instructions from time to time determined
by the Vessel Owner and notified to the Technical Manager. The Technical
Manager shall at all times use its best endeavours to promote and
protect
the interests of the Vessel Owner and shall procure that the Technical
Sub-Manager, if any, does the same.
|
H |
Other
Business
|
The
Technical Manager and/or the Technical Sub-Manager, if any, shall
not be
restricted from carrying on or being interested in any business in
which
they are engaged at the date hereof or may undertake hereafter which
is or
may be similar to or competitive with the business of the Vessel
Owner.
|
I |
Fees
|
(1)
|
Pre-Delivery
Fee. The Vessel Owner will pay to the Technical Manager an initial
pre-delivery fee of US$ prior to initial delivery of the Vessel.
Such fee
shall be paid simultaneously with the payment referred to in clause
D(8)
above, and in any event within three (3) business days of the date
of
actual physical delivery of the Vessel to the Technical Manager (or
the
Technical Sub-Manager, if any).
|
(2)
|
Management
Fee. The Vessel Owner will pay to the Technical Manager a management
fee
of US$ per month from the earlier of (a) the date hereof and (b)
the date
of delivery of the Vessel to the Technical Manager, up to and including
the effective termination date, as set out under clauses B(4), B(5),
B(6)
and B(7), respectively. Such management fee to be paid monthly in
advance
and pro rata for each partial month during this Agreement. Such management
fee to be payable on a gross basis without deduction for commissions,
brokerage fees, taxes or charges of any kind due or payable to third
parties. Such management fee to be reviewed and agreed two (2) months
before the beginning of each calendar
year.
|
(3)
|
Re-Delivery
Fee. The Vessel Owner will pay to the Technical Manager a re-delivery
fee
equal to one (1) month's management fee at the then prevailing rate
of the
Management Fee.
|
Ex.
A - 5
Such
re-delivery fee shall be paid at or before the day of actual physical delivery
of the Vessel to the Vessel Owner or its nominees or a buyer, as the case may
be.
(4)
|
Commissions
and Rebates. The Technical Manager shall be entitled to receive for
its
own account all normal or customary commissions, discounts and rebates
arising in consequence or in respect of the performance of any services
under this Agreement.
|
J |
Contracts
and Indemnities
|
(1)
|
The
Vessel Owner hereby ratifies, confirms and undertakes to ratify and
confirm all and whatsoever acts the Technical Manager or the Technical
Sub-Manager, if any, shall lawfully and reasonably do or permit or
cause
to be done in the performance of its duties under this Agreement.
|
(2)
|
The
Vessel Owner undertakes to indemnify the Technical Manager and the
Technical Sub-Manager, if any, at all times against (i) all actions,
proceedings, claims, demands or liabilities whatsoever against or
by the
Technical Manager or the Technical Sub-Manager, if any, in respect
of its
acts and omissions in the performance of its obligations or the exercise
of its powers (and/or the purported performance or exercise of powers)
pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) all costs, damages and expenses
which
the Technical Manager or the Technical Sub-Manager, if any, may incur
or
suffer in defending, settling or contesting the same or otherwise
in
consequence of the performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
However: -
|
(a)
|
the
provisions of this Clause shall be without prejudice to any claim
which
the Vessel Owner may have against the Technical Manager or the Technical
Sub-Manager, if any, for breach of duty; and
|
(b)
|
the
Technical Manager or the Technical Sub-Manager, if any, shall not
be
liable for the negligence of any officer or crew of the
Vessel.
|
(3)
|
The
Vessel Owner hereby undertakes to procure that:
|
(a)
|
the
Vessel shall be insured at all times with first class insurers for
its
sound market value and entered for its full gross tonnage for all
usual
risks which a prudent owner would insure against including (i) hull
and
machinery risks (including crew negligence and excess liabilities)
and
(ii) protection and indemnity risks (including pollution) and (iii)
war
risks;
|
(b)
|
the
Technical Manager and the Technical Sub-Manager, if any, shall be
named as
full joint members/co-assured in their respective capacities in all
insurance policies covering the Vessel; and
|
(c)
|
the
Technical Manager and the Technical Sub-Manager, if any, shall not
be
liable for payment of any premium or P&I call arising from such
policies and the Vessel Owner hereby indemnifies the Technical Manager
and
the Technical Sub-Manager, if any, against any such liability for
future
calls or premium.
|
(4)
|
The
Technical Manager's maximum liability to the Vessel Owner pursuant
to this
Agreement shall not exceed an amount equal to ten (10) times the
annual
management fee specified in clause
I(1).
|
K |
Lien
|
The
Technical Manager shall have a lien over the Vessel, its appurtenances
and
stores for the due performance by the Vessel Owner of its obligations
hereunder.
|
L |
Force
Majeure
|
Ex.
A - 6
The
Technical Manager and the Technical Sub-Manager, if any, shall have no
responsibility or liability for failure to perform the management services
by
reason of force majeure. The term "force majeure" shall be interpreted according
to English law from time to time but shall include all events or circumstances
beyond the control of either or both parties and which by using proper and
reasonable effort the parties are unable to prevent or overcome.
M |
Notices
|
(1)
|
Any
notices required to be served hereunder shall be in writing and may
be
served by sending the same by prepaid (airmail) letter post or telex
or by
delivering the same (against receipt) to the address or telex or
fax
number (as the case may be) of the party to be served as set out
below or
to such other address or telex or fax number as may from time to
time be
notified by that party for the
purpose.
|
(a) |
To
the Vessel Owner:
|
(b) |
To
the Technical Manager:
|
(2)
|
Notices
served by telex or fax as aforesaid shall be deemed to have been
served on
the business day following transmission provided the receiving party's
telex "Answerback" appears on the notice served by telex or the relevant
fax transmission report indicates "OK". Notices served by mail as
aforesaid shall be deemed to have been served on the fifth (5th)
business day following posting.
|
N |
Law
and Arbitration
|
(1)
|
This
Agreement shall be governed by English
law.
|
(2)
|
Any
dispute or difference arising between the parties hereto concerning
the
construction, meaning, intention or performance of this Agreement
shall be
determined by referring the matter to arbitration by one (1) arbitrator
jointly appointed in London subject to the Arbitration Act then
applicable. If the parties can not agree on a single arbitrator then
each
party hereto shall appoint one (1) arbitrator and both arbitrators
shall
nominate the third (3rd)
arbitrator or shall request the President for the time being of the
Law
Society of England and Wales to nominate the third
arbitrator.
|
O |
Confidentiality
|
The
parties hereto shall keep this Agreement confidential and shall not
disclose it to any third party unless compelled to do so by law or
by
Government decision.
|
P
|
Technical
Manager’s Right of
Assignment
|
The
Technical Manager may, in its discretion, assign all of its obligations
and rights pursuant to this Agreement and ancillary to this appointment
to
an affiliated company.
|
In
Witness whereof, this Agreement has been executed in duplicate by the parties
on
the date first above written.
For and on behalf of the Vessel Owner | For and on behalf of the Technical Manager |
Ex.
A - 7