Date 7 May 2010 ARGYLE MARITIME CORP. CATON MARITIME CORP. DORCHESTER MARITIME CORP. LONGWOODS MARITIME CORP. McHENRY MARITIME CORP. SUNSWYCK MARITIME CORP. as Joint and Several Obligors – and – THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC as Issuer AMENDING AND...
TBS
INTERNATIONAL PLC & SUBSIDIARIES EXHIBIT
10.2
AS AMENDED
Date
7 May 2010
ARGYLE
MARITIME CORP.
XXXXX
MARITIME CORP.
DORCHESTER
MARITIME CORP.
LONGWOODS
MARITIME CORP.
XxXXXXX
MARITIME CORP.
SUNSWYCK
MARITIME CORP.
as Joint
and Several Obligors
– and
–
THE
ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
as
Issuer
AMENDING
AND RESTATING AGREEMENT
relating
to
a
guarantee facility of up to US$84,000,000
INDEX
Clause | Page | ||||
1 |
INTERPRETATION
|
1 | |||
2 |
AGREEMENT
OF ALL PARTIES TO THE AMENDMENT OF THE FACILITY AGREEMENT AND EXISITING
FINANCE DOCUMENTS
|
2 | |||
3 |
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
|
2 | |||
4 |
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
|
2 | |||
5 |
AMENDMENT
OF FACILITY AGREEMENT AND EXISTING FINANCE DOCUMENTS
|
3 | |||
6 |
FURTHER
ASSURANCES
|
3 | |||
7 |
NOTICES
|
4 | |||
8 |
SUPPLEMENTAL
|
4 | |||
9 |
LAW
AND JURISDICTION
|
4 | |||
EXECUTION
PAGES
|
5 | ||||
APPENDIX
1
|
FORM
OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATED FACILITY AGREEMENT MARKED TO INDICATE AMENDMENTS
TO THE LOAN AGREEMENT
|
7 | |||
APPEDIX
2
|
FORM
OF CORPORATE GUARANTEE SUPPLEMENTS
|
8 |
THIS AGREEMENT is made on
7
May 2010
BETWEEN
(1)
|
ARGYLE MARITIME CORP.,
XXXXX MARITIME
CORP., DORCHESTER
MARITIME CORP., LONGWOODS MARITIME
CORP., XxXXXXX
MARITIME CORP. and SUNSWYCK MARITIME CORP.,
each a corporation organised and existing under the laws of the Xxxxxxxx
Islands and having its registered office at Trust Company Complex,
Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Xxxxxxxx Islands MH96960 as joint
and several obligors (the “Obligors”);
and
|
(2)
|
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND
PLC, a company incorporated in Scotland having its registered
office at 00 Xx. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx XX0 0XX, Xxxxxxxx acting through
the Shipping Business Centre at 0-00 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX,
Xxxxxxx as issuer (the “Issuer”).
|
BACKGROUND
(A)
|
By
a facility agreement dated 29 March 2007 as amended by a supplemental
agreement dated 27 March 2009, a side letter dated 31 December 2009 and a
supplemental agreement dated 7 January 2010 (the “Facility Agreement”) each made
between (inter alia) (i) the Obligors as joint and several obligors, (ii)
the Issuer, it was agreed that the Issuer would make available to the
Obligors a facility in an amount of up to Eighty four million United
States Dollars (US$84,000,000).
|
(B)
|
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement the Issuer has agreed with
the Obligors:
|
(i)
|
to
amend certain covenants in the Facility Agreement on the terms and
conditions set out herein; and
|
(ii)
|
that
the Obligors will pay additional
fees.
|
IT IS AGREED as
follows:
1
|
INTERPRETATION
|
1.1
|
Defined
expressions. Words and expressions defined in the
Facility Agreement shall have the same meanings when used in this
Agreement unless the context otherwise
requires.
|
1.2
|
Definitions. In
this Agreement, unless the contrary intention
appears:
|
“Additional Fee
Letter” means any letter or letters dated on or about the date
of this Agreement between the Obligors and the Issuer in respect of any
additional fees;
“Amended and Restated Facility
Agreement” means the Facility Agreement as amended and
restated by this Agreement in the form set out in Appendix 1;
“Corporate Guarantee
Supplements” means letters supplemental to each of the
Corporate Guarantee and the New Corporate Guarantee executed or to be executed
by the Corporate Guarantor and the New Corporate Guarantor for respectively in
favour of the Security Trustee substantially in the forms set out in Appendix
2;
“Effective
Date” means the date on which the Issuer notifies the Obligors
that the conditions precedent in Clause 3 have been
fulfilled;
“Existing Finance
Documents” means the Finance Documents which have been
executed prior to the date hereof; and
“Facility Agreement” means
the facility agreement dated 29 March 2007 as amended and supplemented from time
to time and as first referred to in Recital (A).
1.3
|
Application of construction and
interpretation provisions of Facility Agreement. Clauses
1.2, 1.5 and 1.6 of the Facility Agreement apply, with any necessary
modifications, to this Agreement.
|
2
|
AGREEMENT
OF ALL PARTIES TO THE AMENDMENT OF THE FACILITY AGREEMENT AND EXISTING
FINANCE DOCUMENTS
|
2.1
|
2.2
|
Effective Date. The
agreement of the parties to this Agreement contained in Clause 2.1 shall have effect on and from the Effective
Date.
|
3
|
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
|
3.1
|
3.2
|
Conditions
precedent. The conditions referred to in Clause 2.1 are that the Issuer shall have received the
following documents and evidence in all respects in form and substance
satisfactory to it and its lawyers on or before 14 May 2010 or such later
date as the Issuer may agree with the
Obligors:
|
(a)
|
in
relation to the Obligors, the New Corporate Guarantor and the Corporate
Guarantor, documents of the kind specified in paragraphs 2, 3, 4 and 5 of
Part A of Schedule 2 of the Facility Agreement with appropriate
modifications to refer to this Agreement, the Additional Fee Letter and
the Corporate Guarantee Supplements insofar as each is a party
thereto;
|
(b)
|
a
duly executed original of this Agreement duly executed by the parties to
it;
|
(c)
|
a
duly executed original of the Additional Fee
Letter;
|
(d)
|
a
duly executed original of the Corporate Guarantee
Supplements;
|
(e)
|
evidence
that the Issuer has received the fee payable to it pursuant to the
Additional Fee Letter;
|
(f)
|
documentary
evidence that the agent for service of process named in Clause 25 of the
Facility Agreement has accepted its appointment in respect of this
Agreement; and
|
(g)
|
any
further opinions, consents, agreements and documents in connection with
this Agreement, the Additional Fee Letter and the Corporate Guarantee
Supplements and the Finance Documents which the Agent may reasonably
request by notice to the Obligors prior to the Effective
Date.
|
4
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
|
4.1
|
Repetition of Facility
Agreement representations and warranties. The Obligors
represent and warrant to the Issuer that the representations and
warranties in clause 8 of the Facility Agreement, as amended and restated
by this Agreement and updated with appropriate modifications to refer to
this Agreement, remain true and not misleading if repeated on the date of
this Agreement with reference to the circumstances now
existing.
|
4.2
|
Repetition of representations
and warranties under Existing Finance Documents. The
Obligors represent and warrant to the Issuer that the representations and
warranties in the Existing Finance Documents to which they are a party, as
amended and restated by this Agreement and updated with appropriate
modifications to refer to this Agreement remain true and not misleading if
repeated on the date of this Agreement with reference to the circumstances
now existing.
|
5
|
AMENDMENT
OF FACILITY AGREEMENT AND EXISTING FINANCE
DOCUMENTS
|
5.1
|
Amendments
to Facility Agreement
|
(a)
|
With
effect on and from the Effective Date the Facility Agreement shall be, and
shall be deemed by this Agreement to be, amended and restated in the form
of the Amended and Restated Facility
Agreement.
|
(b)
|
As
so amended and restated pursuant to (a) above, the Facility Agreement
shall continue to be binding on each of the parties to it in accordance
with its terms.
|
5.2
|
Amendments to Existing Finance
Documents. With effect on and from the Effective Date
each of the Existing Finance Documents shall be, and shall be deemed by
this Agreement to be, amended as
follows:
|
(a)
|
the
definition of, and references throughout each of the Existing Finance
Documents to, the Facility Agreement and any of the Existing Finance
Documents shall be construed as if the same referred to the Facility
Agreement and those Existing Finance Documents as amended and restated or
supplemented by this Agreement;
|
(b)
|
by
construing references throughout each of the Existing Finance Documents to
“the Finance Documents” and other like expressions as if the same included
the Additional Fee Letter and the Corporate Guarantee Supplements;
and
|
(c)
|
by
construing references throughout each of the Existing Finance Documents to
“this Agreement”, “this Deed”, “hereunder” and other
like expressions as if the same referred to such Existing Finance
Documents as amended and supplemented by this
Agreement.
|
5.3
|
The Existing Finance Documents
to remain in full force and effect. The Existing Finance
Documents shall remain in full force and effect, as amended
by:
|
(a)
|
the
amendments contained or referred to in Clause 5.1 and 5.2; and
|
(b)
|
such
further or consequential modifications as may be necessary to give full
effect to the terms of this
Agreement.
|
6
|
FURTHER
ASSURANCES
|
6.1
|
Obligors’ obligations to
execute further documents etc. The Obligors
shall:
|
(a)
|
execute
and deliver to the Issuer (or as it may direct) any assignment, mortgage,
power of attorney, proxy or other document, governed by the law of England
or such other country as the Issuer may, in any particular case,
specify;
|
(b)
|
effect
any registration or notarisation, give any notice or take any other
step;
|
which the
Issuer may, by notice to the Obligors, reasonably specify for any of the
purposes described in Clause 6.2 or for any similar
or related purpose.
6.2
|
Purposes of further
assurances. Those purposes
are:
|
(a)
|
validly
and effectively to create any Security Interest or right of any kind which
the Issuer intended should be created by or pursuant to the Facility
Agreement or any other Finance Document, each as amended and restated or
supplemented by this Agreement; and
|
(b)
|
implementing
the terms and provisions of this
Agreement.
|
6.3
|
Terms of further
assurances. The Issuer may specify the terms of any
document to be executed by the Obligors under Clause 6.1, and those terms may include any covenants,
powers and provisions which the Issuer considers appropriate to protect
its interests.
|
7
|
NOTICES
|
7.1
|
General. The
provisions of clause 22 (Notices) of the
Facility Agreement, as amended and restated by this Agreement, shall apply
to this Agreement as if they were expressly incorporated in this Agreement
with any necessary modifications.
|
8
|
SUPPLEMENTAL
|
8.1
|
Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts.
|
8.2
|
Third party
rights. No person who is not a party to this Agreement
has any right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Xxx 0000 to
enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of this
Agreement.
|
9
|
LAW
AND JURISDICTION
|
9.1
|
Governing
law. This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations
arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with English law.
|
9.2
|
Incorporation of the Facility
Agreement provisions. The provisions of clause 25 (Law and jurisdiction) of
the Facility Agreement, as amended and restated by this Agreement, shall
apply to this Agreement as if they were expressly incorporated in this
Agreement with any necessary
modifications.
|
THIS AGREEMENT has been duly
executed as a deed on the date stated at the beginning of this
Agreement.
EXECUTION
PAGES
|
||
OBLIGORS
|
||
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
)
|
|
by
|
)
|
|
ARGYLE MARITIME
CORP.
|
)
|
|
acting
by Xxxxx Xxxxx
Lokholm
|
)
|
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx Lokholm |
)
|
||
its
duly authorid
attorney-in-fact
|
)
|
|
in
the presence of: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx
|
)
|
|
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
)
|
|
by
|
)
|
|
XXXXX MARITIME
CORP.
|
)
|
|
acting
by Xxxxx Xxxxx
Lokholm
|
)
|
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx Lokholm |
)
|
||
its
duly authorised
attorney-in-fact
|
)
|
|
in
the presence
of: /s/
Xxxxx
Xxxx
|
)
|
|
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
)
|
|
by
|
)
|
|
DORCHESTER MARITIME
CORP.
|
)
|
|
acting
by Xxxxx
Xxxxx Lokholm
|
)
|
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx Lokholm |
)
|
||
its
duly authorised
attorney-in-fact
|
)
|
|
in
the presence
of: /s/
Xxxxx
Xxxx
|
)
|
|
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
)
|
|
by
|
)
|
|
LONGWOODS MARITIME
CORP.
|
)
|
|
acting
by Xxxxx
Xxxxx Lokholm
|
)
|
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx Lokholm |
)
|
||
its
duly authorised
attorney-in-fact
|
)
|
|
in
the presence of: /s/ Xxxxx
Xxxx
|
)
|
|
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
)
|
|
by
|
)
|
|
XxXXXXX MARITIME
CORP.
|
)
|
|
acting
by Xxxxx
Xxxxx Lokholm
|
)
|
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx Lokholm |
)
|
||
its
duly authorised
attorney-in-fact
|
)
|
|
in
the presence of: /s/ Xxxxx
Xxxx
|
)
|
|
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
)
|
|
by
|
)
|
|
SUNSWYCK MARITIME
CORP.
|
)
|
|
acting
by Xxxxx
Xxxxx Lokholm
|
)
|
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx Lokholm |
)
|
||
its
duly authorised
attorney-in-fact
|
)
|
|
in
the presence
of: /s/
Xxxxx
Xxxx
|
)
|
|
ISSUER
|
||
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
)
|
|
by
|
)
|
|
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND
PLC
|
)
|
|
PLC
|
)
|
|
acting
by Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
|
)
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
)
|
||
its
duly authorised
attorney-in-fact
|
)
|
|
in
the presence of: /s/ Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
|
APPENDIX
1
FORM
OF AMENDED AND RESTATED FACILITY AGREEMENT AS AMENDED
Dated as
of 29 March 2007
ARGYLE
MARITIME CORP.
XXXXX
MARITIME CORP.
DORCHESTER
MARITIME CORP.
LONGWOODS
MARITIME CORP.
XxXXXXX
MARITIME CORP.
SUNSWYCK
MARITIME CORP.
as Joint
and Several Obligors
– and
–
THE
ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
as
Issuer
relating
to
a
US$84,000,000 guarantee facility
INDEX
Clause
|
Page
|
|
1
|
INTERPRETATION
|
1
|
2
|
GUARANTEE
FACILITY
|
9
|
3
|
REDUCTION
OF GUARANTEES
|
11
|
4
|
SETTLEMENT
OF GUARANTEES
|
11
|
5
|
INDEMNITY
OF THE OBLIGORs
|
11
|
6
|
DEFAULT
INTEREST
|
14
|
7
|
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
|
14
|
8
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
|
15
|
9
|
GENERAL
UNDERTAKINGS and FINANCIAL covenants
|
17
|
10
|
CORPORATE
UNDERTAKINGS
|
20
|
11
|
PAYMENTS
AND CALCULATIONS
|
21
|
12
|
APPLICATION
OF RECEIPTS
|
22
|
13
|
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT
|
23
|
14
|
FEES
AND EXPENSES
|
27
|
15
|
INDEMNITIES
|
27
|
16
|
NO
SET-OFF OR TAX DEDUCTION
|
29
|
17
|
ILLEGALITY,
ETC
|
30
|
18
|
INCREASED
COSTS
|
30
|
19
|
SET‑OFF
|
32
|
20
|
TRANSFERS
AND CHANGES IN ISSUING OFFICE
|
32
|
21
|
VARIATIONS
AND WAIVERS
|
33
|
22
|
NOTICES
|
34
|
23
|
joint
and several liability
|
35
|
24
|
SUPPLEMENTAL
|
36
|
25
|
LAW
AND JURISDICTION
|
36
|
SCHEDULE
1 GUARANTEE ISSUE REQUEST
|
38
|
|
SCHEDULE
2 CONDITION PRECEDENT DOCUMENTS
|
39
|
|
SCHEDULE
3 FINANCIAL COVENANTS
|
42
|
|
SCHEDULE
4 FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
|
51
|
|
EXECUTION
PAGE
|
53
|
|
APPENDIX
A FORM OF DELIVERY SECURITY ASSIGNMENT
|
55
|
|
APPENDIX
b FORM OF corporate guarantee
|
56
|
|
APPENDIX
c FORM OF guarantee
|
57
|
|
APPENDIX
D FORM OF INTERCREDITOR AgreemenT
|
58
|
|
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of
29 March 2007
BETWEEN
(1)
|
ARGYLE MARITIME CORP.,
XXXXX MARITIME
CORP., DORCHESTER
MARITIME CORP., LONGWOODS MARITIME
CORP., XxXXXXX
MARITIME CORP. and SUNSWYCK MARITIME CORP.,
as Joint and Several Obligors; and
|
(2)
|
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND
PLC, as Issuer
|
BACKGROUND
The
Issuer has agreed to make available to the Obligors a guarantee facility of up
to $84,000,000 to provide performance guarantees in relation to the payment of
the second, third and fourth scheduled stage payments payable under the
shipbuilding contracts for each of six newbuilding multipurpose carriers to be
built at Yahua Shipyard, China having hull nos. NYHS200720, NYHS200721,
NYHS200722, NYHS200723, NYHS200724 and NYHS200725.
IT IS AGREED as
follows:
1
|
INTERPRETATION
|
1.1
|
Definitions. Subject
to Clause 1.5, in this Agreement:
|
“Approved
Managers” means, Roymar Ship Management Inc., a company
incorporated under the laws of New York and having a place of business at 000
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, XXX or such other company as
the Issuer may from time to time approve as manager of the Ships;
“Availability
Period” means the period commencing on the date of this
Agreement and ending on:
(a)
|
30
April 2007 (or such later date as the Issuer may agree with the Obligors);
or
|
(b)
|
if
earlier, the date on which the Commitment is fully cancelled or
terminated;
|
“Available
Commitment” means, at any time, the Commitment less the
Outstandings at that time;
“Bank of America
Facilities” means the credit facilities made available to
Albermarle Maritime Corp and others pursuant to the amended and restated credit
agreement dated as of 28 March 2008 (as amended and in effect from time to time)
and made between Albermarle Maritime Corp, the New Corporate Guarantor, Bank of
America N.A. and others;
“Builder” means
Nantong Yahua Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., a corporation organised and existing under
the laws of the People’s Republic of Chins, having its registered office at 0
Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Jiangsu P.C. 226 361, The People’s Republic of
China;
“Business Day” means
a day on which banks are open for general business in London and, in respect of
a day on which a payment is required to be made under a Finance Document, also
in New York City;
“China
Communications” means China Communications Construction
Company Ltd, a corporation organised and existing under the laws of the People’s
Republic of China, having its registered office at Xx. X00, Xx Xxxx Xxx Xxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 000000, the People’s Republic of China;
“Commitment” means
$84,000,000 as that amount may be reduced, cancelled or terminated in accordance
with this Agreement;
“Contract
Price” means, in relation to each Ship, the aggregate amount
payable to the Seller pursuant to the terms of the Shipbuilding Contract for
such Ship being in each case $35,420,000;
“Contractual
Currency” has the meaning given in Clause 15.4;
“Corporate
Guarantee” means a guarantee in the form set out in Appendix
B;
“Corporate
Guarantor” means TBS International Limited, a company
incorporated under the laws of Bermuda having its principal office at Suite 306,
Commerce Building, One Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx XX00, Xxxxxxx;
“Dispute” has the
meaning given to that term in Clause 25.6;
“Dollars” and “$” means the lawful
currency for the time being of the United States of America;
“Event of
Default” means any of the events or circumstances described in
Clause 13.1;
“Fee Letter” means
any letter dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Issuer and
the Obligors setting out any fees referred to in Clause 14.1;
“Finance
Documents” means:
(a)
|
this
Agreement;
|
(b)
|
the
Corporate Guarantee;
|
(c)
|
the
New Corporate Guarantee;
|
(d)
|
the
Pre-delivery Security Assignments;
|
(e)
|
the
Fee Letter;
|
(f)
|
the
Intercreditor Agreement; and
|
(g)
|
any
other document (whether creating a Security Interest or not) which is
executed at any time by the Obligor or any other person as security for,
or to establish any form of subordination or priorities arrangement in
relation to, any amount payable to the Issuer under this Agreement or any
of the other documents referred to in this
definition;
|
“Financial
Indebtedness” means, in relation to a person (the “debtor”), a liability of the
debtor:
(a)
|
for
principal, interest or any other sum payable in respect of any moneys
borrowed or raised by the debtor;
|
(b)
|
under
any loan stock, bond, note or other security issued by the
debtor;
|
(c)
|
under
any acceptance credit, guarantee or letter of credit facility made
available to the debtor;
|
(d)
|
under
a financial lease, a deferred purchase consideration arrangement or any
other agreement having the commercial effect of a borrowing or raising of
money by the debtor (other than normal trade credit not exceeding 180
days);
|
(e)
|
under
any foreign exchange transaction, any interest or currency swap or any
other kind of derivative transaction entered into by the debtor or, if the
agreement under which any such transaction is entered into requires
netting of mutual liabilities, the liability of the debtor for the net
amount; or
|
(f)
|
under
a guarantee, indemnity or similar obligation entered into by the debtor in
respect of a liability of another person which would fall within
paragraphs (a) to (e) if the references to the debtor referred to the
other person;
|
“Guarantee” means
each guarantee issued or to be issued in favour of the Seller substantially in
the form set out in Appendix C;
“Guarantee Issue
Date” means, in relation to a Guarantee, the date requested by
the relevant Obligor for the Guarantee to be issued or (as the context requires)
the date on which the Guarantee is actually issued;
“Guarantee Issue
Request” means, in relation to a Guarantee, a notice in the
form of Schedule 1 (or in any other form which the Issuer approves or reasonably
requires);
“Guaranteed
Obligations” means, in relation to a Guarantee, the actual and
contingent, certain and future obligations and liabilities owed by the relevant
Obligor to the Seller and secured by the Guarantee;
“Intercreditor
Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement executed or to be
executed between the Obligors, the Issuer and the Security Trustee in the form
set out in Appendix D;
“Issuer” means The
Royal Bank of Scotland plc, acting through the Shipping Business Centre, 0-00
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX (or through another branch or office
notified to the Issuer under Clause 20.6) or its
direct or indirect successor or assign;
“LIBOR” means, for
any period for which a rate of interest is to be determined under this
Agreement:
(a)
|
the
rate per annum equal to the offered quotation for deposits in Dollars for
a period equal to, or as near as possible equal to, that period which
appears on REUTERS BBA Page LIBOR 01 at or about 11.00 a.m. (London time)
on the Quotation Date for that period (and, for the purposes of this
Agreement, “REUTERS BBA Page LIBOR 01” means the display designated as
“REUTERS BBA Page LIBOR 01” on the Reuters Money News Service or such
other page as may replace REUTERS BBA Page LIBOR 01 on that service for
the purpose of displaying rates comparable to that rate or on such other
service as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as the
information vendor for the purpose of displaying British Bankers’
Association Interest Settlement Rates for Dollars);
or
|
(b)
|
if
no rate is quoted on REUTERS BBA Page LIBOR 01 the rate per annum
determined by the Issuer to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars are
offered to the Issuer by leading banks in the London Interbank Market at
the Issuer’s request at or about 11.00 a.m. (London time) on the Quotation
Date for that period for a period equal to that period and for delivery on
the first Business Day of it;
|
“Loan
Agreement” means the loan agreement of even date herewith made
between (among others) the Obligors as joint and several borrowers, the banks
and financial institutions listed in the Schedule 1 thereto as lenders and the
Security Trustee relating to a loan facility of up to $150,000,000;
“New Corporate
Guarantee” means the corporate guarantee executed or to be
executed by the New Corporate Guarantor in favour of the Issuer, in such form as
the New Corporate Guarantor and the Issuer may agree;
“New Corporate
Guarantor” means TBS International Public Limited Company, a
company incorporated in Ireland having its registered office at Xxxxxx Xxx
Building, Earlsfort Centre, Earlsfort terrace, Xxxxxx 0, Xxxxxxx;
“Obligor A” means
Argyle Maritime Corp., being a corporation organised and existing under the laws
of the Xxxxxxxx Islands and having its registered office at Trust Company
Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX
00000;
“Obligor B” means
Xxxxx Maritime Corp., being a corporation organised and existing under the laws
of the Xxxxxxxx Islands and having its registered office at Trust Company
Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX
00000;
“Obligor C” means
Dorchester Maritime Corp., being a corporation organised and existing under the
laws of the Xxxxxxxx Islands and having its registered office at Trust Company
Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX
00000;
“Obligor D” means
Longwoods Maritime Corp., being a corporation organised and existing under the
laws of the Xxxxxxxx Islands and having its registered office at Trust Company
Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX
00000;
“Obligor E” means
XxXxxxx Maritime Corp., being a corporation organised and existing under the
laws of the Xxxxxxxx Islands and having its registered office at Trust Company
Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX
00000;
“Obligor F” means
Sunswyck Maritime Corp., being a corporation organised and existing under the
laws of the Xxxxxxxx Islands and having its registered office at Trust Company
Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX
00000;
“Obligors” means
together Obligor A, Obligor B, Obligor C, Obligor D, Obligor E and Obligor F
and, in the singular, means any of them;
“Other Pre-delivery Security
Assignments” means the Pre-delivery Security Assignments as
defined in the Loan Agreement;
“Outstanding Guarantee
Amount” means, in relation to a Guarantee, the maximum amount
for which the Guarantee was issued less the aggregate amount of all reductions
to it which have been made in accordance with the provisions of Clause 3.1;
“Outstandings” means,
at any time, the aggregate of the Outstanding Guarantee Amounts;
“Overall
Agreement” means the overall agreement dated 24 February 2007
relating to the Shipbuilding Contracts and made between the Corporate Guarantor
and the Seller;
“Payment
Currency” has the meaning given in Clause 15.4;
“Permitted Security
Interests” means:
(a)
|
Security
Interests created by the Finance Documents and Other Pre-delivery Security
Assignments;
|
(b)
|
any
Security Interest created in favour of a plaintiff or defendant in any
proceedings or arbitration as security for costs and expenses where the
relevant Obligor is actively prosecuting or defending such proceedings or
arbitration in good faith; and
|
(c)
|
Security
Interests arising by operation of law in respect of taxes which are not
overdue for payment or in respect of taxes being contested in good faith
by appropriate steps and in respect of which appropriate reserves have
been made;
|
“Pertinent
Jurisdiction”, in relation to a company, means:
(a)
|
England
and Wales;
|
(b)
|
the
country under the laws of which the company is incorporated or
formed;
|
(c)
|
a
country in which the company’s central management and control is or has
recently been exercised;
|
(d)
|
a
country in which the overall net income of the company is subject to
corporation tax, income tax or any similar
tax;
|
(e)
|
a
country in which assets of the company (other than securities issued by,
or loans to, related companies) having a substantial value are situated,
in which the company maintains a permanent place of business, or in which
a Security Interest created by the company must or should be registered in
order to ensure its validity or priority;
and
|
(f)
|
a
country the courts of which have jurisdiction to make a winding up,
administration or similar order in relation to the company or which would
have such jurisdiction if their assistance were requested by the courts of
a country referred to in paragraphs (b) or (c)
above;
|
“Potential Event of
Default” means an event or circumstance which, with the giving
of any notice, the lapse of time, a determination (where required) of the Issuer
and/or the satisfaction of any other condition, would constitute an Event of
Default;
“Pre-delivery Security
Assignment” means, in relation to each Shipbuilding Contract
and corresponding Refund Guarantees, an assignment of the relevant Obligor’s
rights under such Shipbuilding Contract and Refund Guarantees to be executed by
the relevant Obligor in favour of the Issuer in the form set out in Appendix
A;
“Quotation
Date” means, in relation to any period for which an interest
rate is to be determined under any provision of a Finance Document, the day on
which quotations would ordinarily be given by leading banks in the London
Interbank Market for deposits in the currency in relation to which such rate is
to be determined for delivery on the first day of that period;
“Refund
Guarantee” means, in relation to each Ship each refund
guarantee issued by the Refund Guarantor in favour of the relevant Obligor
pursuant to the Shipbuilding Agreement in respect of such Ship;
“Refund
Guarantor” means Bank of Communications acting through its
branch at 00 Xxx Xxxx Xx Xxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 000000, The People’s
Republic of China;
“Relevant
Person” has the meaning given in Clause 13.7;
“Security
Interest” means:
(a)
|
a
mortgage, charge (whether fixed or floating) or pledge, any maritime or
other lien or assignment by way of security or any other security interest
of any kind;
|
(b)
|
the
security rights of a plaintiff under an action in rem;
and
|
(c)
|
any
arrangement entered into by a person (A) the effect of which is to place
another person (B) in a position which is similar, in economic terms, to
the position in which B would have been had he held a security interest
over an asset of A; but this paragraph (c) does not apply to a right of
set off or combination of accounts conferred by the standard terms of
business of a bank or financial
institution;
|
“Security
Party” means the Corporate Guarantor, the New Corporate
Guarantor and any other person who, as a surety or mortgagor, as a party to any
subordination or priorities arrangement, or in any similar capacity, executes a
document falling within the last paragraph of the definition of “Finance
Documents” (but for the avoidance of doubt “Security Party” shall not
include the Issuer and the creditor parties under the Loan
Agreement);
“Security
Period” means the period commencing on the date of this
Agreement and ending on the date on which the Issuer notifies the Obligors and
the Security Parties that:
(a)
|
all
amounts which have become due for payment by the Obligors or any Security
Party under the Finance Documents have been
paid;
|
(b)
|
no
amount is owing or has accrued (without yet having become due for payment)
under any Finance Document;
|
(c)
|
(d)
|
the
Issuer does not consider that there is a significant risk that any payment
or transaction under a Finance Document would be set aside, or would have
to be reversed or adjusted, in any present or possible future bankruptcy
of an Obligor or a Security Party or in any present or possible future
proceeding relating to a Finance Document or any asset covered (or
previously covered) by a Security Interest created by a Finance Document;
and
|
(e)
|
each
Guarantee has been returned to the Issuer by the Seller endorsed to the
effect that it is cancelled;
|
“Security
Trustee” means The Royal Bank of Scotland plc acting in the
capacity of security trustee in relation to the Loan Agreement and the loan
facility to be made available thereunder;
“Seller” means
together China Communications and the Builder;
“Settlement
Amount” means, in relation to a Guarantee, the amount payable
or as the case may be paid by the Issuer to the Seller in respect of the
Guarantee;
“Settlement
Date” means, in relation to a Guarantee, the date on which
payment of the Settlement Amount is due to the Seller in respect of the
Guarantee;
“Ship A” means the
multipurpose bulk carrier of about 35,000 dwt having Builder’s Hull No.
NYHS200720 to be constructed and sold by the Seller and to be purchased by
Obligor A pursuant to the relevant Shipbuilding Contract;
“Ship B” means the
multipurpose bulk carrier of about 35,000 dwt having Builder’s Hull No.
NYHS200721 to be constructed and sold by the Seller and to be purchased by
Obligor B pursuant to the relevant Shipbuilding Contract;
“Ship C” means the
multipurpose bulk carrier of about 35,000 dwt having Builder’s Hull No.
NYHS200722 to be constructed and sold by the Seller and to be purchased by
Obligor C pursuant to the relevant Shipbuilding Contract;
“Ship D” means the
multipurpose bulk carrier of about 35,000 dwt having Builder’s Hull No.
NYHS200723 to be constructed and sold by the Seller and to be purchased by
Obligor D pursuant to the relevant Shipbuilding Contract;
“Ship E” means the
multipurpose bulk carrier of about 35,000 dwt having Builder’s Hull No.
NYHS200724 to be constructed and sold by the Seller and to be purchased by
Obligor E pursuant to the relevant Shipbuilding Contract;
“Ship F” means the
multipurpose bulk carrier of about 35,000 dwt having Builder’s Hull No.
NYHS200725 to be constructed and sold by the Seller and to be purchased by
Obligor F pursuant to the relevant Shipbuilding Contract;
“Shipbuilding
Contract” means, in relation to Ship A, the shipbuilding
contract dated 24 February 2007 made between the Seller and Obligor A in respect
of such Ship, in relation to Ship B, the shipbuilding contract dated 24 February
2007 made between the Seller and Obligor B in respect of such Ship, in relation
to Ship C, the shipbuilding contract dated 24 February 2007 made between the
Seller and Obligor C in respect of such Ship, in relation to Ship D, the
shipbuilding contract dated 24 February 2007 made between the Seller and Obligor
D in respect of such Ship, in relation to Ship E, the shipbuilding contract
dated 24 February 2007 made between the Seller and Obligor E in respect of such
Ship and, in relation to Ship F, the shipbuilding contract dated 24 February
2007 made between the Seller and Obligor F in respect of such Ship and in each
case, as supplemented by the Overall Agreement;
“Ships” means
together Ship A, Ship B, Ship C, Ship D, Ship E and Ship F and, in the singular,
means any of them; and
“Termination
Date” means:
(a)
|
in
relation to the Guarantee to be issued in respect of Ship A, 28 February
2010;
|
(b)
|
in
relation to the Guarantee to be issued in respect of Ship B, 31 August
2010;
|
(c)
|
in
relation to the Guarantee to be issued in respect of Ship C, 31 January
2011;
|
(d)
|
in
relation to the Guarantee to be issued in respect of Ship D, 31 May
2011;
|
(e)
|
in
relation to the Guarantee to be issued in respect of Ship E, 30 March
2011; and
|
(f)
|
in
relation to the Guarantee to be issued in respect of Ship F, 31 July
2011.
|
1.2
|
Construction of certain
terms. In this
Agreement:
|
“asset” includes
every kind of property, asset, interest or right, including any present, future
or contingent right to any revenues or other payment;
“company” includes
any partnership, joint venture and unincorporated association;
“consent” includes
an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing,
registration, notarisation and legalisation;
“contingent
liability” means a liability which is not certain to arise
and/or the amount of which remains unascertained;
“document” includes
a deed; also a letter, fax or telex;
“expense” means any
order or decree, any kind of cost, charge or expense (including all legal costs,
charges and expenses) and any applicable value added or other tax;
“law” includes any
order or decree, any form of delegated legislation, any treaty or international
convention and any regulation, directive, decision or resolution of the Council
of the European Union, the European Commission, the United Nations or its
Security Council;
“legal or administrative
action” means any legal proceeding or arbitration and any
administrative or regulatory action or investigation;
“liability” includes
every kind of debt or liability (present or future, certain or contingent),
whether incurred as principal or surety or otherwise;
“months” shall be
construed in accordance with Clause 1.3;
“parent company” has
the meaning given in Clause 1.4;
“person” includes any company;
any state, political sub-division of a state and local or municipal authority;
and any international organisation;
“policy”, in
relation to any insurance, includes a slip, cover note, certificate of entry or
other document evidencing the contract of insurance or its terms;
“regulation” includes
any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline whether or not
having the force of law of any governmental, intergovernmental or supranational
body, agency, department or regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or
organisation;
“subsidiary” has the
meaning given in Clause 1.4; and
“tax” includes any
present or future tax, duty, impost, levy or charge of any kind which is imposed
by any state, any political sub-division of a state or any local or municipal
authority (including any such imposed in connection with exchange controls), and
any connected penalty, interest or fine.
1.3
|
Meaning of
“month”. A period of one or more “months” ends on the day
in the relevant calendar month numerically corresponding to the day of the
calendar month on which the period started (“the numerically corresponding
day”), but:
|
(a)
|
on
the Business Day following the numerically corresponding day if the
numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day or, if there is no
later Business Day in the same calendar month, on the Business Day
preceding the numerically corresponding day;
or
|
(b)
|
on
the last Business Day in the relevant calendar month, if the period
started on the last Business Day in a calendar month or if the last
calendar month of the period has no numerically corresponding
day;
|
and
“month” and “monthly” shall be construed
accordingly.
1.4
|
Meaning of
“subsidiary”. A company (S) is a subsidiary of another
company (P) if:
|
(a)
|
a
majority of the issued shares in S (or a majority of the issued shares in
S which carry unlimited rights to capital and income distributions) are
directly owned by P or are indirectly attributable to P;
or
|
(b)
|
P
has direct or indirect control over a majority of the voting rights
attaching to the issued shares of S;
or
|
(c) P has the
direct or indirect power to appoint or remove a majority of the directors of S;
or
(d)
|
P
otherwise has the direct or indirect power to ensure that the affairs of S
are conducted in accordance with the wishes of
P;
|
and any
company of which S is a subsidiary is a parent company of S.
1.5
|
General
Interpretation. In this
Agreement:
|
(a)
|
references
in Clause 1.1 to a Finance Document or any
other document being in the form of a particular appendix include
references to that form with any modifications to that form which the
Issuer approves or reasonably
requires;
|
(b)
|
references
to, or to a provision of, a Finance Document or any other document are
references to it as amended or supplemented, whether before the date of
this Agreement or otherwise;
|
(c)
|
references
to, or to a provision of, any law include any amendment, extension,
re-enactment or replacement, whether made before the date of this
Agreement or otherwise;
|
(d)
|
words
denoting the singular number shall include the plural and vice versa;
and
|
1.6
|
Headings. In
interpreting a Finance Document or any provision of a Finance Document,
all clause, sub-clause and other headings in that and any other Finance
Document shall be entirely
disregarded.
|
2
|
GUARANTEE
FACILITY
|
2.1
|
Availability of guarantee
facility. Subject to the other provisions of this
Agreement, the Issuer shall make available to the Obligors a guarantee
facility in an amount of $84,000,000 which shall be made available by the
following Guarantees:
|
(a)
|
a
Guarantee in an amount not exceeding $14,000,000 as a performance
guarantee in favour of the Seller to secure the second, third and fourth
instalments of the Contract Price due from the relevant Obligor under the
Shipbuilding Contract for Ship A;
|
(b)
|
a
Guarantee in an amount not exceeding $14,000,000 as a performance
guarantee in favour of the Seller to secure the second, third and fourth
instalments of the Contract Price due from the relevant Obligor under the
Shipbuilding Contract for Ship B;
|
(c)
|
a
Guarantee in an amount not exceeding $14,000,000 as a performance
guarantee in favour of the Seller to secure the second, third and fourth
instalments of the Contract Price due from the relevant Obligor under the
Shipbuilding Contract for Ship C;
|
(d)
|
a
Guarantee in an amount not exceeding $14,000,000 as a performance
guarantee in favour of the Seller to secure the second, third and fourth
instalments of the Contract Price due from the relevant Obligor under the
Shipbuilding Contract for Ship D;
|
(e)
|
a
Guarantee in an amount not exceeding $14,000,000 as a performance
guarantee in favour of the Seller to secure the second, third and fourth
instalments of the Contract Price due from the relevant Obligor under the
Shipbuilding Contract for Ship E;
|
(f)
|
a
Guarantee in an amount not exceeding $14,000,000 as a performance
guarantee in favour of the Seller to secure the second, third and fourth
instalments of the Contract Price due from the relevant Obligor under the
Shipbuilding Contract for Ship F.
|
2.2
|
Request for issue of
Guarantees. Subject to the following conditions, an
Obligor may make a request for a Guarantee to be issued by ensuring that
the Issuer receives a completed Guarantee Issue Request not later than 11
a.m. (London time) 3 Business Days prior to the intended Guarantee Issue
Date.
|
2.3
|
Availability. The
conditions referred to in Clause 2.2 are
that:
|
(a)
|
a
Guarantee Issue Date has to be a Business Day during the Availability
Period;
|
(b)
|
the
maximum amount of a Guarantee shall be $14,000,000 and shall not, when
aggregated with the amount of all other issued Guarantees, exceed the
Commitment;
|
(c)
|
the
Issuer must receive, together with the Guarantee Issue Request, a final
draft of the form of Guarantee which it is being requested to issue on the
intended Guarantee Issue Date; and
|
(d)
|
the
form of each Guarantee has to be approved in writing by the Issuer at
least 2 Business Days prior to the intended Guarantee Issue Date but it
must in any event contain express
provisions:
|
(i)
|
limiting
the total amount payable by the Issuer under it to a stated maximum amount
in Dollars; and
|
(ii)
|
stating
that it shall expire or be reduced to zero not later than the relevant
Termination Date.
|
2.4
|
Cancellation of guarantee
facility. The Obligor may cancel the Available
Commitment in whole or in part subject to the condition that the Issuer
has received from the Obligor at least 7 Business Days’ prior written
notice specifying the amount to be cancelled and the date on which the
cancellation is to take effect. The Commitment shall be reduced
permanently by the amount of the Available Commitment so
cancelled.
|
2.5
|
Change of beneficial ownership
of Obligors or the Corporate Guarantor. If without the
consent of the Issuer a change occurs after the date of this Agreement in
the ultimate beneficial ownership of any shares in any Obligor or the
Corporate Guarantor or in the ultimate voting rights attaching to any of
those shares from that disclosed to the Issuer pursuant to Schedule 2 Part
A 10:
|
(a)
|
the
Obligors shall promptly notify the Issuer upon becoming aware of that
event; and
|
(b)
|
the
Issuer shall not be obliged to provide a Guarantee requested in a
Guarantee Issue Request and the Issuer may, by not more than 10 days’
notice to the Obligors cancel the Available Commitment and require the
Obligors either to procure the cancellation of any issued Guarantees or to
provide cash security in respect of such issued Guarantees on the same
terms mutatis mutandis as set out in Clause
5.6.
|
3
|
REDUCTION
OF GUARANTEES
|
3.1
|
Reduction of Outstanding
Guarantee Amounts. The Outstanding Guarantee Amount of a
Guarantee shall not be treated as reduced for the purposes of this
Agreement unless and until:
|
(a)
|
the
Issuer has received a written confirmation from the Seller of the amount
of such reduction; or
|
(b)
|
the
Issuer has notified the relevant Obligor in writing that (notwithstanding
the absence of a written confirmation from the Seller) it is satisfied
that its liability under the Guarantee has been irrevocably reduced or
discharged; or
|
(c)
|
the
amount of the Guarantee irrevocably and unconditionally reduces in
accordance with its terms; or
|
(d)
|
the
expiry date of the Guarantee elapses and the Issuer has notified the
relevant Obligor in writing that it is satisfied that no claim or demand
has been made, or may thereafter be made, under the Guarantee, such
notification not to be unreasonably withheld or
delayed.
|
4
|
SETTLEMENT
OF GUARANTEES
|
4.1
|
Notification of Settlement
Amounts. The Issuer shall, immediately after receiving a
demand from, or after being notified by, the Seller that it is required to
make payment under a Guarantee, notify the relevant Obligor that such
payment is due and of the Settlement Amount and the Settlement
Date.
|
4.2
|
Relevant Obligor’s settlement
obligation. The relevant Obligor
shall:
|
(a)
|
immediately
after notification from the Issuer under Clause 4.1, acknowledge to the
Issuer that it will reimburse the Settlement Amount;
and
|
(b)
|
pay
to the Issuer the Settlement Amount in Dollars on the Settlement
Date.
|
4.3
|
Relevant Obligor’s failure to
reimburse. If the relevant Obligor fails to reimburse
the Settlement Amount to the Issuer on the Settlement Date pursuant to
Clause 4.2, it shall pay to the Issuer interest on the Settlement Amount
from the Settlement Date to the date the Issuer is reimbursed by the
relevant Obligor at the rate described in Clause 6 such interest to be
compounded in accordance with Clause 6.6 and payable on
demand.
|
5
|
INDEMNITY
OF THE OBLIGORS
|
5.1
|
Obligors’ undertaking to
indemnify. Each Obligor agrees that it
shall:
|
(a)
|
pay
to the Issuer upon demand by the Issuer an amount equal to each
amount:
|
(i)
|
demanded
from the Issuer under a Guarantee;
or
|
(ii)
|
paid
by the Issuer to the Seller under Clause
5.8;
|
and which
is not otherwise fully reimbursed, paid or repaid by the Obligors under this
Agreement;
(b)
|
indemnify,
as a principal and independent debtor, the Issuer on demand against all
actions, claims, demands, liabilities, costs, losses, damages and expenses
incurred, suffered or sustained or any penalty or other expenditure which
may result or which the Issuer may incur, suffer or sustain in connection
with or arising out of or in relation to any Guaranteed Obligations and/or
the payment under or other performance of a Guarantee (including without
limitation any correspondent bank
charges).
|
5.2
|
Guarantee
payments. Each
Obligor:
|
(a)
|
irrevocably
authorises the Issuer to make any payment demanded from it pursuant to a
Guarantee if that demand is made in accordance with its
terms;
|
(b)
|
accepts
that any demand for payment made by the Seller pursuant to a Guarantee and
which is made in accordance with its terms shall be conclusive evidence
that the Issuer was liable to make payment under the Guarantee and any
payment which the Issuer makes pursuant to any such demand shall be
accepted by the Obligors as binding upon the Obligors;
and
|
(c)
|
acknowledges
and agrees that the Issuer shall not in any circumstances whatsoever be
liable to the Obligors in respect of any loss or damage suffered by the
Obligors by reason of the Issuer making a payment to the Seller in
connection with any payment demanded under a
Guarantee.
|
5.3
|
Continuing
indemnities. The liabilities and obligations of the
Obligors under the indemnities set out in Clause 5.1 shall remain in force
as a continuing security until:
|
(a)
|
the
full, prompt and complete performance of all the terms of such indemnities
including the proper and valid payment of all amounts that may become due
to the Issuer under this Clause 5.3;
and
|
(b)
|
subject
to Clause 5.4, an absolute discharge or release of the Obligors signed by
the Issuer;
|
and
accordingly the Obligors shall not have, as regards those indemnities, any of
the rights or defences of a surety.
5.4
|
Discharges. Any
such discharge or release referred to in Clause 5.3, and any composition
or arrangement which the Obligors may effect with the Issuer, shall be
deemed to be made subject to the condition that it will be void if any
payment or security which the Issuer, may previously have received or may
thereafter receive is set aside under any applicable law or proves to have
been for any reason invalid.
|
5.5
|
No
impairment. Without limiting the generality of Clauses
5.3 and 5.4, the Obligors shall neither be discharged from any of their
liabilities or obligations under Clause 5.1 by, nor have any claim against
the Issuer in respect of:
|
(a)
|
any
misrepresentation or non-disclosure respecting the affairs or condition of
the Issuer made to the Obligors by any person;
or
|
(b)
|
the
Seller and/or the Issuer releasing or granting any time or any indulgence
whatsoever or making any settlement, composition or arrangement with the
Obligors, the Seller or any other person;
or
|
(c)
|
the
Seller and/or the Issuer asserting or pursuing, failing or neglecting to
assert or pursue, or delaying in asserting or pursuing, or waiving, any of
their rights or remedies against the Obligors, the Seller or any other
person; or
|
(d)
|
the
Seller and/or the Issuer and/or the Obligors, with the consent of the
Obligors (or with or without the consent of the Obligors in the case of
any variation agreed between the Seller and the Obligors or the person
whose obligations are guaranteed thereby), making, whether expressly or by
conduct, any variation to any Guaranteed Obligations or a Guarantee;
or
|
(e)
|
the
Seller and/or the Issuer and/or the
Obligors:
|
(i)
|
taking,
accepting, varying, dealing with, enforcing, abstaining from enforcing,
surrendering or releasing any security in relation to the Seller or the
Issuer or any Obligor or any other person in such manner as it or they
think fit; or
|
(ii)
|
claiming,
proving for, accepting or transferring any payment in respect of the
obligations and liabilities of any Obligor and/or the Seller relative to
any Guaranteed Obligations or under this Agreement in any composition by,
or winding up of, any Obligor and/or any third party or abstaining from so
claiming, proving, accepting or transferring;
or
|
(f)
|
any
assignment or transfer by the Seller of, or any succession to, any of its
rights relative to any Guaranteed Obligations or a
Guarantee.
|
5.6
|
Provision of cash collateral
security. Forthwith upon, or at any time following the
occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing the Issuer shall be
entitled (but not obliged) to demand payment by the Obligors of, and the
Obligors forthwith upon such demand shall pay to the Issuer for credit to
an account of the Obligors with the Issuer (subject to such Security
Interest as the Issuer may reasonably specify or require), such amount as
shall be the aggregate of:
|
(i)
|
any
Settlement Amount then due from the Obligors to the Issuer pursuant to
Clause 4.2 and not reimbursed; and
|
(ii)
|
the
Outstandings.
|
5.7
|
Application of cash collateral
security. Subject always to the overriding provisions of
Clause 15, moneys received by the Issuer pursuant to Clause 5.6 shall be
applied (as between the Obligors on the one hand and the Issuer on the
other) in the following manner:
|
(a)
|
firstly,
in or towards payment of any Settlement Amount then due from the Obligors
to the Issuer pursuant to Clause 4.2 and not
reimbursed;
|
(b)
|
secondly,
in payment to the Issuer for application from time to time by it (and the
Obligors hereby irrevocably authorise the Issuer so to apply any such
moneys) in or towards payment of, or reimbursement to the Issuer for, any
amount which the Issuer shall or may at any time and from time to time
thereafter pay or be or become liable to pay to the Seller under or
pursuant to or in connection with a Guarantee (including any amount
payable under Clause 5.8); and
|
(c)
|
thirdly,
in or towards payment of all other sums which may be owing to the Issuer
under or in connection with a
Guarantee.
|
5.8
|
Negotiation with the
Seller. Each
Obligor:
|
(a)
|
irrevocably
authorises the Issuer to negotiate with the Seller at any time after the
occurrence of any Event of Default which is continuing with a view to
arranging for the prepayment by the Issuer, for the account of the
Obligors of any Guaranteed Obligations;
and
|
(b)
|
agrees
that at any time after the occurrence of any Event of Default which is
continuing the Issuer shall be entitled (but not, so far as the Obligors
are concerned, bound) to pay to the Seller, in such manner and upon such
terms as the Issuer and the Seller shall agree, any Guaranteed
Obligations.
|
6
|
DEFAULT
INTEREST
|
6.1
|
Payment of default interest on
overdue amounts. The Obligors shall pay interest in
accordance with the following provisions of this Clause 6 on any amount
payable by the Obligors under any Finance Document which the Issuer does
not receive on or before the relevant date, that
is:
|
(a)
|
the
date on which the Finance Documents provide that such amount is due for
payment; or
|
(b)
|
if
a Finance Document provides that such amount is payable on demand, the
date on which the demand is served on the Obligors;
or
|
(c)
|
if
such amount has become immediately due and payable under Clause 13.4, the
date on which it became immediately due and
payable.
|
6.2
|
Default rate of
interest. Interest shall accrue on an overdue amount
from (and including) the relevant date until the date of actual payment
(as well after as before judgment) at the rate per annum determined by the
Issuer to be 1.5 per cent. above, the rate set out in Clause
6.3.
|
6.3
|
Calculation of default rate of
interest. The rate referred to in Clause 6.2 is, in
respect of successive periods of any duration (including at call) up to 3
months which the Issuer may select from time to
time:
|
(a)
|
LIBOR;
or
|
(b)
|
if
the Issuer determines that Dollar deposits for any such period are not
being made available to it by leading banks in the London Interbank Market
in the ordinary course of business, a rate from time to time determined by
the Issuer by reference to the cost of funds to it from such other sources
as the Issuer may from time to time
determine.
|
6.4
|
Notification of interest
periods and default rates. The Issuer shall promptly
notify the Obligors of each interest rate determined by it under Clause
6.3 and of each period selected by it for the purposes of that Clause; but
this shall not be taken to imply that the Obligors are liable to pay such
interest only with effect from the date of the Issuer’s
notification.
|
6.5
|
Payment of accrued default
interest. Subject to the other provisions of this
Agreement, any interest due under this Clause shall be paid on the last
day of the period by reference to which it was
determined.
|
6.6
|
Compounding of default
interest. Any such interest which is not paid at the end
of the period by reference to which it was determined shall thereupon be
compounded.
|
7
|
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
|
7.1
|
Documents, fees and no
default. The Issuer’s obligation to issue any Guarantee
is subject to the following conditions
precedent:
|
(a)
|
that,
on or before the service of the first Guarantee Issue Request, the Issuer
receives the documents described in Part A of Schedule 2 in form and
substance satisfactory to it;
|
(b)
|
that,
on or before a Guarantee Issue Date but prior to the issue of a Guarantee,
the Issuer receives the documents described in Part B of Schedule 2 in a
form satisfactory to it;
|
(c)
|
that,
on or before each Guarantee Issue Date, the Issuer has received all
arrangement and commitment fees payable pursuant to Clause
18.1;
|
(d)
|
that
both at the date of each Guarantee Issue Request and at each Guarantee
Issue Date:
|
(i)
|
no
Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing or would result from the issue of the Guarantee;
and
|
(ii)
|
the
representations and warranties in Clause 8.1 and those of the Obligors or
any Security Party which are set out in the other Finance Documents would
be true and not misleading if repeated on each of those dates with
reference to the circumstances then
existing;
|
(e)
|
that
the Issuer has received, and found to be acceptable to it, any further
opinions, consents, agreements and documents in connection with the
Finance Documents which the Issuer may reasonably request by notice to the
Obligors prior to the Guarantee Issue
Date.
|
7.2
|
Waivers of conditions
precedent. If the Issuer, at its discretion, permits any
Guarantee to be issued before certain of the conditions referred to in
Clause 7.1 are satisfied, the Obligor shall ensure that those conditions
are satisfied within 14 Business days after the Guarantee Issue Date (or
such longer period as the Issuer may
specify).
|
8
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
|
8.1
|
General. Each
Obligor represents and warrants to the Issuer as
follows.
|
8.2
|
Status. It is
duly incorporated and validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the Xxxxxxxx Islands.
|
8.3
|
Share capital and
ownership. It has an authorised share capital of 500
registered and/or bearer shares without par value, all of which shares
have been issued, and the legal title and beneficial ownership of all
those shares is held, free of any Security Interest or other claim, by
Xxxxxxxxx Holdings Limited.
|
8.4
|
Corporate
power. It has the corporate capacity, and has taken all
corporate action and obtained all consents necessary for
it:
|
(a)
|
to
execute the Shipbuilding Contract to which it is a party and to purchase
and pay for its Ship under that Shipbuilding
Contract;
|
(b)
|
to
execute the Finance Documents to which it is a party;
and
|
(c)
|
to
make all the payments contemplated by, and to comply with, those Finance
Documents.
|
8.5
|
Consents in
force. All the consents referred to in Clause 8.4 remain
in force and nothing to the best of the Obligors’ knowledge and belief has
occurred which makes any of them liable to
revocation.
|
8.6
|
Legal validity; effective
Security Interests. The Finance Documents to which it is
a party, do now or, as the case may be, will, upon execution and delivery
(and, where applicable, registration as provided for in the Finance
Documents):
|
(a)
|
constitute
its legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable against it in
accordance with their respective terms;
and
|
(b)
|
create
legal, valid and binding Security Interests enforceable in accordance with
their respective terms over all the assets to which they, by their terms,
relate;
|
subject
to any relevant insolvency laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and
subject to any qualifications as to matters of law which are specifically
referred to in any legal opinion delivered to the Issuer pursuant to Schedule
2.
8.7
|
No third party Security
Interests. Without limiting the generality of Clause
8.6, at the time of the execution and delivery of each Finance
Document:
|
(a)
|
the
relevant Obligor or Obligors which are a party to that Finance Document
will have the right to create all the Security Interests which that
Finance Document purports to create;
and
|
(b)
|
no
third party will to the best of the Obligors’ knowledge and belief have
any Security Interest (except for Permitted Security Interests) or any
other interest, right or claim over, in or in relation to any asset to
which a Security Interest created by a Finance Document,
relates.
|
8.8
|
No
conflicts. The execution by that Obligor of each Finance
Document to which it is a party and its compliance with each Finance
Document to which it is a party will not involve or lead to a
contravention of:
|
(a)
|
any
law or regulation in force at the date of this Agreement;
or
|
(b)
|
the
constitutional documents of that Obligor;
or
|
(c)
|
any
contractual or other obligation or restriction which is binding on that
Obligor or any of its assets.
|
8.9
|
No withholding
taxes. No tax is imposed in any jurisdiction in which
that Obligor is ordinarily resident for tax by way of withholding or
deduction or otherwise on any payment to be made under this
Agreement.
|
8.10
|
No
default. No Event of Default or Potential Event of
Default has occurred and is
continuing.
|
8.11
|
Information. All
information which has been provided in writing by or on behalf of the
Obligors or any Security Party to the Issuer in connection with any
Finance Document was to the best of the Obligors’ knowledge and belief
true and not misleading as at the time it was given; all audited and
unaudited accounts which have been so provided satisfied the requirements
of Clause 9.6; and there has been no material adverse change in the
financial position or state of affairs of the Obligors from that disclosed
in the latest of those accounts.
|
8.12
|
No
litigation. No legal or administrative action involving
the Obligors has been commenced or taken or, to that Obligor’s knowledge,
is likely to be commenced or taken which, in either case, would be likely
to have a material adverse effect on the Obligors’ financial position or
profitability.
|
8.13
|
Validity and completeness of
Shipbuilding Contracts. Each Shipbuilding Contract
constitutes valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Seller and
the relevant Obligor respectively in accordance with its terms subject to
any relevant insolvency laws affecting creditors’ rights generally
and:
|
(a)
|
each
copy of the Shipbuilding Contracts delivered to the Issuer before the date
of this Agreement is a true and complete copy;
and
|
(b)
|
no
amendments or additions to the Shipbuilding Contracts have been agreed nor
has any Obligor or the Seller waived any of their respective rights under
the Shipbuilding Contracts.
|
8.14
|
No rebates
etc. There is no agreement or understanding to allow or
pay any rebate, premium, commission, discount or other benefit or payment
(howsoever described) to the Obligors, the Seller or a third party in
connection with the purchase by the Obligors of the Ships, other than as
disclosed to the Issuer in writing on or prior to the date of this
Agreement.
|
8.15
|
Compliance with certain
undertakings. At the date of this Agreement, each
Obligor is in compliance with Clause 9.12 and (save as disclosed in
writing to the Issuer) Clauses 9.3 and
9.8.
|
8.16
|
Taxes
paid. Each Obligor has paid all taxes applicable to, or
imposed on or in relation to it or its
business.
|
8.17
|
Conformity of Financial
Covenants. The financial covenants set out in Schedule 3
conform to the financial covenants given by the New Corporate Guarantor
and its subsidiaries under the Bank of America
Facilities.
|
9
|
GENERAL
UNDERTAKINGS AND FINANCIAL
COVENANTS
|
9.1
|
General. Each
Obligor undertakes with the Issuer to comply with the following provisions
of this Clause 9 at all times during the Security Period, except as the
Issuer may otherwise permit.
|
9.2
|
No disposal of
assets.
|
(a)
|
No
Obligor will transfer or otherwise dispose
of:
|
(i)
|
its
rights under the Shipbuilding Contract to which it is a party, whether by
one transaction or a number of transactions, whether related or not save
where the Guarantee relating thereto has been cancelled or where that
Obligor has provided cash security in relation to such Guarantee on the
same terms mutatis mutandis as set out in Clause 5.6;
or
|
(ii)
|
any
debt payable to it or any other right (present, future or contingent
right) to receive a payment, including any right to damages or
compensation.
|
(b)
|
No
Obligor will create or permit to arise any Security Interest (except for
Permitted Security Interests) over its rights under the Shipbuilding
Contract and the Refund Guarantees to which it is a
party.
|
9.3
|
No other liabilities or
obligations to be incurred. No Obligor will incur any
liability or obligation except:
|
(a)
|
liabilities
and obligations under the Shipbuilding Contract, the Finance Documents,
the Loan Agreement and the Finance Document (as defined in the Loan
Agreement) to which it is a party;
and
|
(b)
|
liabilities
or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of supervising the
construction of, providing supplies for, operating and chartering its Ship
(and for the avoidance of doubt the management fees payable by the
Obligors to the Approved Managers shall be a permitted expense);
and
|
(c)
|
provided
the terms of Clause 10.3(c) are complied with, inter-company Indebtedness
from other companies which are in the same ultimate beneficial ownership
as the Obligors.
|
9.4
|
Information provided to be
accurate. All financial and other information which is
provided in writing by or on behalf of each Obligor under or in connection
with any Finance Document will to the best of that Obligor’s knowledge and
belief be true and not misleading and will not omit any material fact or
consideration which, if disclosed would reasonably be expected to
adversely affect the decision of a person considering whether to enter
into this Agreement.
|
9.5
|
Provision of financial
statements. Each Obligor will procure that there is sent
to the Issuer:
|
(a)
|
as
soon as possible, but in no event later than 120 days after the end of
each of the Corporate Guarantor’s and the New Corporate Guarantor’s
financial years, the annual audited accounts of the Corporate Guarantor
and the New Corporate Guarantor and each of their consolidated
subsidiaries;
|
(b)
|
as
soon as possible, but in no event later than 30 days after the end of each
quarter in each of the Corporate Guarantor’s and the New Corporate
Guarantor’s financial years unaudited accounts of the Corporate Guarantor
and the New Corporate Guarantor and each of their consolidated
subsidiaries which are certified as to their correctness by its chief
financial officer;
|
(c)
|
by
the New Corporate Guarantor on a monthly basis, and in no event later than
the 20th
day of each month, monthly management information including information
from the preceding month in respect of sales, operating profit, net
income, EBITDA and available liquidity each on a consolidated basis and
each compared against the relevant budget numbers for that month;
and
|
(d)
|
by
the New Corporate Guarantor on a monthly basis, and in no event later than
the 30th
day of each month, updated financial projections including but not limited
to revenues, operating expenses, net income, cash balances, loan balances,
working capital requirements and equity for the period up to and including
the following 24 months.
|
9.6
|
Form of financial
statements. All accounts (audited and unaudited)
delivered under Clause 9.5 will:
|
(a)
|
be
prepared in accordance with all applicable laws and generally accepted
accounting principles of the U.S.A. consistently
applied;
|
(b)
|
give
a true and fair view of the financial condition of the relevant Obligor at
the date of those accounts and of its profit for the period to which those
accounts relate; and
|
(c)
|
fully
disclose or provide for all significant liabilities of the relevant
Obligor.
|
9.7
|
Shareholder and creditor
notices. Each Obligor will send the Issuer, at the same
time as they are despatched, copies of all communications which are
despatched to its shareholders or creditors or any class of
them.
|
9.8
|
Consents. Each
Obligor will maintain in force and promptly obtain or renew, and will
promptly send certified copies to the Issuer of, all consents
required:
|
(a)
|
for
that Obligor to perform its obligations under any
Finance Document to which it is a
party;
|
(b)
|
for
the validity or enforceability of any Finance Document to which it is a
party;
|
and the
Obligor will comply with the terms of all such consents.
9.9
|
Maintenance of Security
Interests. Each Obligor
will:
|
(a)
|
at
its own cost, do all that it reasonably can to ensure that any Finance
Document validly creates the obligations and the Security Interests which
it purports to create; and
|
(b)
|
without
limiting the generality of paragraph (a), at its own cost, promptly
register, file, record or enrol any Finance Document with any applicable
court or authority, pay any applicable stamp, registration or similar tax
in respect of any Finance Document, give any notice or take any other step
which, in the reasonable opinion of the Issuer is or has become necessary
or desirable for any Finance Document to be valid, enforceable or
admissible in evidence or to ensure or protect the priority of any
Security Interest which it creates.
|
9.10
|
Notification of
litigation. Each Obligor will provide the Issuer with
details of any legal or administrative action involving any Obligor or any
Security Party promptly upon becoming aware of the same where such legal
or administrative action might, if adversely determined, have a material
adverse effect on the ability of that Obligor to perform its obligations
under any Finance Document to which it is a
party
|
9.11
|
No amendment to Shipbuilding
Contracts. No Obligor will agree to any amendment or
supplement to, or waive or fail to enforce, the Shipbuilding Contract to
which it is a party or any of its provisions (and for the purposes of this
Clause 9.11 an amendment of a Shipbuilding Contract will always be
material if alone or with any previous variations it increases the
Contract Price thereunder by more than
5%).
|
9.12
|
Chief Executive
Office. Each Obligor will maintain its chief executive
office, and keep its corporate documents and records, at Suite 306,
Commerce Building, One Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX00,
Xxxxxxx.
|
9.13
|
Confirmation of no
default. Each Obligor will, within 2 Business Days after
service by the Issuer of a written request, serve on the Issuer a notice
which is signed by the representative director of such Obligor and
which:
|
(a)
|
states
that no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing; or
|
(b)
|
states
that no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred,
except for a specified event or matter, of which all material details are
given.
|
9.14
|
Notification of
default. Each Obligor will notify the Issuer as soon as
it becomes aware of:
|
(a)
|
the
occurrence of an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default;
or
|
(b)
|
any
matter which indicates that an Event of Default or a Potential Event of
Default may have occurred and is
continuing;
|
and will
keep the Issuer fully up-to-date with all developments.
9.15
|
Provision of further
information. Each Obligor will, as soon as practicable
after receiving the request, provide the Issuer with any additional
financial or other information
relating:
|
(a)
|
to
it and its Shipbuilding Contract;
or
|
(b)
|
to
any other matter relevant to, or to any provision of, a Finance
Document;
|
which may
be reasonably requested by the Issuer at any time.
9.16
|
Financial
Covenants.
|
(a)
|
the
Obligors undertake to comply at all times with the financial covenants set
out in Schedule 3;
|
(b)
|
the
Obligors shall provide to the Issuer within 60 days after the end of each
financial quarter of the New Corporate Guarantor’s financial year a
compliance certificate in the form set out in Schedule 4 executed by the
chief financial officer of the New Corporate Guarantor and confirming that
the financial covenants set out in Schedule 3 have been complied with
during each financial quarter;
|
(c)
|
a
formal review of the financial covenants set out in Schedule 3 will be
undertaken by the Issuer upon expiry and prepayment of the Bank of America
Facilities whichever is earlier;
and
|
(d)
|
the
parties to this Agreement shall review the financial covenants set out in
Schedule 3 on or around 1 May 2012.
|
9.17
|
No
Dividends. As long as no Event of Default has occurred
or would occur as a result of the payment of any dividend or the making of
any distribution the Obligors may pay any dividends or make other forms of
distributions to the New Corporate Guarantor. The Obligors
shall procure that the New Corporate Guarantor does not pay any dividend
or make any other form of distribution Provided that so long as
no Event of Default has occurred or would occur as a result of the payment
of any dividend or the making of any distribution the New Corporate
Guarantor may withhold stock in order that it be sold and the proceeds
used solely to pay any payroll withholding taxes as required in connection
with stock bonuses made to employees of the New Corporate Guarantor and
its subsidiaries.
|
9.18
|
Financial Covenants in other
facilities. The Obligors undertake to provide and to
procure that the New Corporate Guarantor provides the Creditor Parties
with the benefit of any additional or more favourable financial covenants
provided to other financing parties under other or future financing
agreements in order that the Creditor Parties shall be treated no less
favourably than any other of the financing parties to the New Corporate
Guarantor and/or any of its subsidiaries by providing details of such
financial covenants in order that appropriate amendments can be made by
this Agreement and the relevant Finance
Documents.
|
9.19
|
Provisions of Loan
Agreement. The provisions of clauses 11.23, 11.24, 11.25
and 11.26 of the Loan Agreement shall apply to this Agreement mutatis
mutandis.
|
10
|
CORPORATE
UNDERTAKINGS
|
10.1
|
General. Each
Obligor also undertakes with the Issuer to comply with the following
provisions of this Clause 10 at all times during the Security Period
except as the Issuer may otherwise
permit.
|
10.2
|
Maintenance of
status. Each Obligor will maintain its separate
corporate existence and remain in good standing under the laws of the
Xxxxxxxx Islands.
|
10.3
|
Negative
undertakings. No Obligor
will:
|
(a)
|
carry
on any business other than in relation to the construction, purchase and
eventual ownership, chartering and operation of its Ship;
or
|
(b)
|
effect
any form of redemption, purchase or return of share capital;
or
|
(c)
|
provide
any form of credit or financial assistance
to:
|
(i)
|
a
person who is directly or indirectly interested in that Obligor’s share or
loan capital; or
|
(ii)
|
any
company in or with which such a person is directly or indirectly
interested or connected;
|
or enter
into any transaction with or involving such a person or company on terms which
are, in any respect, less favourable to that Obligor than those which it could
obtain in a bargain made at arms’ length provided however that prior to an Event
of Default which is continuing that Obligor may provide loans to or incur
inter-company Indebtedness from other subsidiaries of the New Corporate
Guarantor and may service such inter-company Indebtedness provided that in the
case of any such inter- company Indebtedness the relevant lending company has
first executed an agreement in favour of the Issuer fully subordinating the
rights of such lending company in respect of such Indebtedness to those of the
Issuer under the Finance Documents and assigning its rights in respect of any
loan agreements relating to such inter-company Indebtedness made between it and
the Obligors;
(d)
|
issue,
allot or grant any person a right to any shares in its capital or
repurchase or reduce its issued share
capital;
|
(e)
|
acquire
any shares or other securities other than US or UK Treasury bills and
certificates of deposit issued by major North American or European banks,
or enter into any transaction in a derivative;
or
|
(f)
|
enter
into any form of amalgamation, merger or de-merger or any form of
reconstruction or reorganisation.
|
11
|
PAYMENTS
AND CALCULATIONS
|
11.1
|
Currency and method of
payments. All payments to be made by the Obligors to the
Issuer under a Finance Document shall be made to the
Issuer:
|
(a)
|
by
not later than 11.00 a.m. (New York City time) on the due
date;
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(b)
|
in
same day Dollar funds settled through the New York Clearing House
Interbank Payments System (or in such other Dollar funds and/or settled in
such other manner as the Issuer shall specify as being customary at the
time for the settlement of international transactions of the type
contemplated by this Agreement);
and
|
(c)
|
to
the account of the Issuer at American Express Bank Limited, 3 World
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000 XXX Account No
000261123 for credit to the Issuer reference “TBS : Argyle and Others :
Guarantee Facility”, or to such other account with such other bank as the
Issuer may from time to time notify to the
Obligors.
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11.2
|
Payment on non-Business
Day. If any payment by the Obligors under a Finance
Document would otherwise fall due on a day which is not a Business
Day:
|
(a)
|
the
due date shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day;
or
|
(b)
|
if
the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar month, the due
date shall be brought forward to the immediately preceding Business
Day;
|
and
interest shall be payable during any extension under paragraph (a) at the rate
payable on the original due date.
11.3
|
Basis for calculation of
periodic payments. All interest and commitment fee and
any other payments under any Finance Document which are of an annual or
periodic nature shall accrue from day to day and shall be calculated on
the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a 360 day
year.
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11.4
|
Issuer
accounts. The Issuer shall maintain an account showing
any and all sums owing to the Issuer from the Obligors and each Security
Party under the Finance Documents and all payments in respect of those
amounts made by the Obligors and any Security
Party.
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11.5
|
Accounts prima facie
evidence. If the account maintained under Clause 11.4
shows an amount to be owing by the Obligors or a Security Party to the
Issuer, that account shall be prima facie evidence that that amount is
owing to the Issuer.
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12
|
APPLICATION
OF RECEIPTS
|
12.1
|
Normal order of
application. Except as any Finance Document may
otherwise provide, any sums which are received or recovered by the Issuer
under or by virtue of any Finance Document shall be
applied:
|
(a)
|
FIRST:
in or towards satisfaction of any amounts then due and payable under the
Finance Documents (or any of them) in such order of application and/or
such proportions as the Issuer may specify by notice to the Obligors and
the Security Parties;
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(b)
|
SECONDLY:
in retention of an amount equal to any amount not then due and payable
under any Finance Document but which the Issuer, by notice to the Obligors
and the Security Parties, states in its opinion will or may become due and
payable in the future and, upon those amounts becoming due and payable, in
or towards satisfaction of them in accordance with the provisions of this
Clause; and
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(c)
|
THIRDLY:
any surplus shall be paid to the Obligors or to any other person appearing
to be entitled to it.
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12.2
|
Variation of order of
application. The Issuer may, by notice to the Obligors
and the Security Parties, provide for a different manner of application
from that set out in Clause 12.1 either as regards a specified sum or sums
or as regards sums in a specified category or
categories.
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12.3
|
Notice of variation of order of
application. The Issuer may give notices under Clause
12.2 from time to time; and such a notice may be stated to apply not only
to sums which may be received or recovered in the future, but also to any
sum which has been received or recovered on or after the third Business
Day before the date on which the notice is
served.
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12.4
|
Appropriation rights
overridden. This Clause 12 and any notice which the
Issuer gives under Clause 12.2 shall override any right of appropriation
possessed, and any appropriation made, by the Obligors or any Security
Party.
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13
|
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT
|
13.1
|
Events of
Default. An Event of Default occurs
if:
|
(a)
|
any
Obligor or any Security Party fails to pay when due or (if so payable) on
demand any sum payable under a Finance Document (and so that for this
purpose (i) sums payable on demand shall be treated as having been paid
when due within 3 Business Days of receipt of the demand and (ii) if the
failure is caused by a disruption to the payments system referred to in
Clause 11.1(b) which disruption is beyond the control of the Obligors,
such failure shall not constitute an Event of Default if payment is made
within 3 Business days of its due date);
or
|
(b)
|
any
breach occurs of Clause 7.2, 9.3, 10.2 or 10.3;
or
|
(c)
|
any
breach occurs of Clause 9.16(a); or
|
(d)
|
any
breach by any Obligor or any Security Party occurs of any provision of a
Finance Document (other than a breach covered by paragraph (a) or (b)) and
if, in the opinion of the Issuer, such default is capable of remedy, such
default continues unremedied 10 Business days after written notice from
the Issuer requesting action to remedy the same;
or
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(e)
|
any
representation, warranty or statement made by, or by an officer of, any
Obligor or a Security Party in a Finance Document or in a Guarantee Issue
Request or any other notice or document relating to a Finance Document is
untrue or misleading in any material respect when it is made;
or
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(f)
|
any
of the following occurs in relation to any Financial Indebtedness of a
Relevant Person:
|
(i)
|
any
Financial Indebtedness of a Relevant Person is not paid when due or, if so
payable, on demand (or in either such case, within any applicable grace
period); or
|
(ii)
|
any
Financial Indebtedness of a Relevant Person becomes due and payable or
capable of being declared due and payable prior to its stated maturity
date as a consequence of any event of default;
or
|
(iii)
|
a
lease, hire purchase agreement or charter creating any Financial
Indebtedness of a Relevant Person is terminated by the lessor or owner or
becomes capable of being terminated as a consequence of any termination
event; or
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(iv)
|
any
overdraft, loan, note issuance, acceptance credit, letter of credit,
guarantee, foreign exchange or other facility, or any swap or other
derivative contract or transaction, relating to any Financial Indebtedness
of a Relevant Person ceases to be available or becomes capable of being
terminated as a result of any event of default, or cash cover is required,
or becomes capable of being required, in respect of such a facility as a
result of any event of default; or
|
(v)
|
any
Security Interest securing any Financial Indebtedness of a Relevant Person
becomes enforceable;
|
Provided
that no Event of Default will occur under this Clause 13.1(f) in relation to the
New Corporate Guarantor if the amount of Financial Indebtedness falling within
paragraphs (i) to (v) above is less than $2,500,000 (or its equivalent in any
other currency or currencies),
(g)
|
any
of the following occurs in relation to a Relevant
Person:
|
(i)
|
a
Relevant Person becomes, in the opinion of the Issuer, unable to pay its
debts as they fall due; or
|
(ii)
|
all
or substantially all of the assets of a Relevant Person are subject to any
form of execution, attachment, arrest, sequestration or distress in
respect of a sum of, or sums aggregating, $500,000 or more or the
equivalent in another currency and is not discharged within 1 month of the
same being levied or sued out; or
|
(iii)
|
any
administrative or other receiver is appointed over any substantial part of
the assets of a Relevant Person; or
|
(iv)
|
an
administrator is appointed (whether by the court or otherwise) in respect
of a Relevant Person; or
|
(v)
|
any
formal declaration of bankruptcy or any formal statement to the effect
that a Relevant Person is insolvent or likely to become insolvent is made
by a Relevant Person or by the directors of a Relevant Person or, in any
proceedings, by a lawyer acting for a Relevant Person;
or
|
(vi)
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a
provisional liquidator is appointed in respect of a Relevant Person, a
winding up order is made in relation to a Relevant Person or a winding up
resolution is passed by a Relevant Person;
or
|
(vii)
|
a
resolution is passed, an administration notice is given or filed, an
application or petition to a court is made or presented or any other step
is taken by (aa) a Relevant Person, (bb) the members or directors of a
Relevant Person, (cc) a holder of Security Interests which together relate
to all or substantially all of the assets of a Relevant Person, or (dd) a
government minister or public or regulatory authority of a Pertinent
Jurisdiction having jurisdiction over that Relevant Person for or with a
view to the winding up of that or another Relevant Person or the
appointment of a provisional liquidator or administrator in respect of
that or another Relevant Person, or that or another Relevant Person
ceasing or suspending business operations or payments to creditors, save
that this paragraph does not apply to a fully solvent winding up of a
Relevant Person other than an Obligor which is, or is to be, effected for
the purposes of an amalgamation or reconstruction previously approved by
the Issuer and effected not later than 3 months after the commencement of
the winding up; or
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(viii)
|
an
administration notice is given or filed, an application or petition to a
court is made or presented or any other step is taken by a creditor of a
Relevant Person (other than a holder of Security Interests which together
relate to all or substantially all of the assets of a Relevant Person) for
the winding up of a Relevant Person or the appointment of a provisional
liquidator or administrator in respect of a Relevant Person in any
Pertinent Jurisdiction having jurisdiction over that Relevant Person,
unless the proposed winding up, appointment of a provisional liquidator or
administration is being contested in good faith, on substantial grounds
and not with a view to some other insolvency law procedure being
implemented instead and either (aa) the application or petition is
dismissed or withdrawn within 30 days of being made or presented, or (bb)
within 30 days of the administration notice being given or filed, or the
other relevant steps being taken, other action is taken which will ensure
that there will be no administration and (in both cases (aa) or (bb)) the
Relevant Person will continue to carry on business in the ordinary way and
without being the subject of any actual, interim or pending insolvency law
procedure; or
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(ix)
|
a
Relevant Person or its directors take any steps (whether by making or
presenting an application or petition to a court, or submitting or
presenting a document setting out a proposal or proposed terms, or
otherwise) with a view to obtaining, in relation to that or another
Relevant Person, any form of moratorium, suspension or deferral of
payments, reorganisation of debt (or certain debt) by reason of financial
difficulties or arrangement with all or a substantial proportion (by
number or value) of creditors or of any class of them or any such
moratorium, suspension or deferral of payments, reorganisation or
arrangement is effected by court order, by the filing of documents with a
court, by means of a contract or in any other way at all;
or
|
(x)
|
any
meeting of the members or directors, or of any committee of the board or
senior management, of a Relevant Person is held or summoned for the
purpose of considering a resolution or proposal to authorise or take any
action of a type described in paragraphs (iv) to (ix) or a step
preparatory to such action, or (with or without such a meeting) the
members, directors or such a committee resolve or agree that such an
action or step should be taken or should be taken if certain conditions
materialise or fail to materialise;
or
|
(xi)
|
in
a Pertinent Jurisdiction other than England or Wales or to the
jurisdiction of whose courts any part of that Relevant Person’s assets are
subject, any event occurs, any proceedings are opened or commenced or any
step is taken which, in the opinion of the Issuer is similar to any of the
foregoing; or
|
(h)
|
any
Obligor ceases or suspends carrying on its business or a part of its
business which, in the opinion of the Issuer, is material in the context
of this Agreement; or
|
(i)
|
it
becomes unlawful in any Pertinent Jurisdiction or
impossible:
|
(i)
|
for
any Obligor or any Security Party to discharge any liability under a
Finance Document or to comply with any other obligation which the Issuer
considers material under a Finance Document unless provided that none of
the interests of the Issuer is prejudiced in any way during the relevant
period, the discharge of that liability or compliance with that obligation
or exercise or enforcement of those rights ceases to be unlawful within 30
days; or
|
(ii)
|
for
the Issuer to exercise or enforce any right under, or to enforce any
Security Interest created by, a Finance Document;
or
|
(j)
|
any
official consent necessary to enable any Obligor or any Security Party to
comply with any provision which the Issuer considers material of a Finance
Document or any of the Shipbuilding Contracts is not granted, expires
without being renewed, is revoked or becomes liable to revocation or any
condition of such a consent is not fulfilled;
or
|
(k)
|
any
provision which the Issuer considers in its reasonable opinion material of
a Finance Document proves to have been or becomes invalid or
unenforceable, or a Security Interest created by a Finance Document proves
to have been or becomes invalid or unenforceable or such a Security
Interest proves to have ranked after, or loses its priority to, another
Security Interest or any other third party claim or interest;
or
|
(l)
|
the
security constituted by a Finance Document is in any way imperilled or in
jeopardy; or
|
(m)
|
an
Event of Default (as defined in the Loan Agreement) occurs;
or
|
(n)
|
any
other event occurs or any other circumstances arise or develop including,
without limitation a change in the financial position, state of affairs or
prospects of any Obligor in the light of which the Issuer considers that
there is a significant risk that any Obligor is, or will later become,
unable to discharge its liabilities under the Finance Documents as they
fall due.
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13.2
|
Actions following an Event of
Default. On, or at any time after, the occurrence of an
Event of Default and while the Event of Default is continuing the Issuer
may:
|
(a)
|
serve
on the Obligors a notice stating that all obligations of the Issuer to the
Obligors under this Agreement are terminated;
and/or
|
(b)
|
serve
on the Obligors a notice stating that all other amounts accrued or owing
under this Agreement are immediately due and payable or are due and
payable on demand; and/or
|
(c)
|
take
any other action which, as a result of the Event of Default or any notice
served under paragraph (a) or (b), the Issuer is entitled to take under
any Finance Document or any applicable
law.
|
13.3
|
Termination of
obligations. On the service of a notice under Clause
13.2(a), all the obligations of the Issuer to the Obligors under this
Agreement shall terminate and the amount specified in Clause 5.6 shall
become immediately due and payable or, as the case may be, payable on
demand.
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13.4
|
Acceleration of
liabilities. On the service of a notice under Clause
13.2(b), all amounts accrued or owing from the Obligors or any Security
Party under this Agreement and every other Finance Document shall become
immediately due and payable or, as the case may be, payable on
demand.
|
13.5
|
Multiple notices; action
without notice. The Issuer may serve notices under
Clauses 13.2(a) and (b) simultaneously or on different dates and it may
take any action referred to in Clauses 13.2 if no such notice is served or
simultaneously with or at any time after the service of both or either of
such notices.
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13.6
|
Exclusion of Issuer
liability. Neither the Issuer nor any receiver or
manager appointed by the Issuer, shall have any liability to the Obligors
or a Security Party:
|
(a)
|
for
any loss caused by an exercise of rights under, or enforcement of a
Security Interest created by, a Finance Document or by any failure or
delay to exercise such a right or to enforce such a Security Interest;
or
|
(b)
|
as
mortgagee in possession or otherwise, for any income or principal amount
which might have been produced by or realised from any asset comprised in
such a Security Interest or for any reduction (however caused) in the
value of such an asset;
|
except
that this does not exempt the Issuer or a receiver or manager from liability for
losses shown to have been caused directly and mainly by the dishonesty or the
wilful misconduct of the Issuer’s own officers and employees or (as the case may
be) such receiver’s or manager’s own partners or employees.
13.7
|
Relevant
Persons. In this Clause 13 a “Relevant Person” means
any Obligor and any Security Party.
|
13.8
|
Interpretation. In
Clause 13.1(f) references to an event of default or a termination event
include any event, howsoever described, which is similar to an event of
default in a facility agreement or a termination event in a finance lease;
and in Clause 13.1(g) “petition” includes an
application.
|
14
|
FEES
AND EXPENSES
|
14.1
|
Arrangement and commitment
fees. The Obligors shall pay to the
Issuer:
|
(a)
|
on
Guarantee Issue Date in respect of each Guarantee an arrangement fee in
respect of such Guarantee in the amount specified in the Fee Letter;
and
|
(b)
|
quarterly
in arrears during the period from (and including) 27 March 2009 to the
date of cancellation or termination of the last Guarantee and on the last
day of that period a commitment fee at the rate of one point five per
cent. (1.5%) per annum.
|
14.2
|
Costs of negotiation,
preparation etc. The Obligors shall pay to the Issuer on
its demand the amount of all expenses incurred by the Issuer in connection
with the negotiation, preparation, execution or registration of any
Finance Document or any related document or with any transaction
contemplated by a Finance Document or a related
document.
|
14.3
|
Costs of variation, amendments,
enforcement etc. The Obligors shall pay to the Issuer,
on the Issuer’s demand, the amount of all expenses incurred by the Issuer
(in the case of paragraphs (a) and (b) such expenses to be reasonably
incurred) in connection with:
|
(a)
|
any
amendment or supplement to a Finance Document, or any proposal for such an
amendment to be made;
|
(b)
|
any
consent or waiver by the Issuer under or in connection with a Finance
Document, or any request for such a consent or
waiver;
|
(c)
|
any
step taken by the Issuer with a view to the protection, exercise or
enforcement of any right or Security Interest created by a Finance
Document or for any similar
purpose.
|
There
shall be recoverable under paragraph (c) the full amount of all legal expenses,
whether or not such as would be allowed under rules of court or any taxation or
other procedure carried out under such rules.
14.4
|
Documentary
taxes. The Obligors shall promptly pay any tax payable
on or by reference to any Finance Document, and shall, on the Issuer’s
demand, fully indemnify the Issuer against any claims, expenses,
liabilities and losses resulting from any failure or delay by the Obligors
to pay such a tax.
|
14.5
|
Certification of
amounts. A notice which is signed by 2 officers of the
Issuer, which states that a specified amount, or aggregate amount, is due
to the Issuer under this Clause 14 and which indicates (without
necessarily specifying a detailed breakdown) the matters in respect of
which the amount, or aggregate amount, is due shall (save in the case of
manifest error) be prima facie evidence that the amount, or aggregate
amount, is due.
|
15
|
INDEMNITIES
|
15.1
|
Indemnities regarding issue of
Guarantees. Without prejudice to the Obligors’ indemnity
contained in Clause 5, the Obligors shall fully indemnify the Issuer on
its demand in respect of all claims, expenses, liabilities and losses
which are made or brought against or incurred by the Issuer, or which the
Issuer reasonably and with due diligence estimates that it will incur, as
a result of or in connection with:
|
(a)
|
a
Guarantee not being issued on the date specified in the relevant Guarantee
Issue Request for any reason other than a default by the
Issuer;
|
(b)
|
any
failure (for whatever reason) by the Obligors to make payment of any
amount due under a Finance Document on the due date or, if so payable, on
demand (after giving credit for any default interest paid by the Obligors
on the amount concerned under Clause
6);
|
(c)
|
the
occurrence and/or continuance of an Event of Default or a Potential Event
of Default;
|
and in
respect of any tax (other than tax on its overall net income) for which the
Issuer is liable in connection with any amount paid or payable to the Issuer
(whether for its own account or otherwise) under any Finance
Document.
15.2
|
Breakage
costs. Without limiting its generality, Clause 15.1
covers any claim, expense, liability or loss, including a loss of a
prospective profit, incurred by the Issuer in liquidating or employing
deposits from third parties acquired or arranged to fund or maintain any
overdue amount.
|
15.3
|
Miscellaneous
indemnities. The Obligors shall fully indemnify the
Issuer on its demand in respect of all claims, expenses, liabilities and
losses which may be made or brought against or incurred by the Issuer, in
any country, as a result of or in connection with any action taken, or
omitted or neglected to be taken, under or in connection with any Finance
Document by the Issuer or by any receiver appointed under a Finance
Document other than claims, expenses, liabilities and losses which are
shown to have been directly and mainly caused by the dishonesty or wilful
misconduct or reckless action with knowledge of the probable consequences
of the officers or employees of the
Issuer.
|
15.4
|
Currency
indemnity. If any sum due from the Obligors or any
Security Party to the Issuer under a Finance Document or under any order
or judgment relating to a Finance Document has to be converted from the
currency in which the Finance Document provided for the sum to be paid
(the “Contractual
Currency”) into another currency (the “Payment Currency”) for
the purpose of:
|
(a)
|
making
or lodging any claim or proof against the Obligors or any Security Party,
whether in its liquidation, any arrangement involving it or otherwise;
or
|
(b)
|
obtaining
an order or judgment from any court or other tribunal;
or
|
(c)
|
enforcing
any such order or judgment;
|
the
Obligors shall indemnify the Issuer against the loss arising when the amount of
the payment actually received by the Issuer is converted at the available rate
of exchange into the Contractual Currency.
In this
Clause 15.4, the “available
rate of exchange” means the rate at which the Issuer is able at the
opening of business (London time) on the Business Day after it receives the sum
concerned to purchase the Contractual Currency with the Payment
Currency.
This
Clause 15.4 creates a separate liability of the Obligors which is distinct from
their other liabilities under the Finance Documents and which shall not be
merged in any judgment or order relating to those other
liabilities.
15.5
|
Certification of
amounts. A notice which is signed by 2 officers of the
Issuer, which states that a specified amount, or aggregate amount, is due
to the Issuer under this Clause 15 and which indicates (without
necessarily specifying a detailed breakdown) the matters in respect of
which the amount, or aggregate amount, is due shall (save in the case of
manifest error) be prima facie evidence that the amount, or aggregate
amount, is due.
|
16
|
NO
SET-OFF OR TAX DEDUCTION
|
16.1
|
No
deductions. All amounts due from an Obligor under a
Finance Document shall be paid:
|
(a)
|
without
any form of set-off, cross-claim or condition;
and
|
(b)
|
free
and clear of any tax deduction except a tax deduction which that Obligor
is required by law to make.
|
16.2
|
Grossing-up for
taxes. If an Obligor is required by law to make a tax
deduction from any payment:
|
(a)
|
that
Obligor shall notify the Issuer as soon as it becomes aware of the
requirement;
|
(b)
|
that
Obligor shall pay the tax deducted to the appropriate taxation authority
promptly, and in any event before any fine or penalty
arises;
|
(c)
|
the
amount due in respect of the payment shall be increased by the amount
necessary to ensure that the Issuer receives and retains (free from any
liability relating to the tax deduction) a net amount which, after the tax
deduction, is equal to the full amount which it would otherwise have
received.
|
No
Obligor shall be obliged to pay any additional amount pursuant to paragraph (c)
above in respect of any deduction which would not have been required if the
Issuer had completed a declaration, claim, exemption, or other form which it has
been requested by the Obligors or an applicable taxation authority to complete
and which it is able to complete.
16.3
|
Evidence of payment of
taxes. Within one month after making any tax deduction,
the Obligor concerned shall deliver to the Issuer documentary evidence
satisfactory to the Issuer that the tax had been paid to the appropriate
taxation authority.
|
16.4
|
Tax
credits. If the Issuer receives for its own account a
repayment or obtains relief or credit in respect of tax paid or otherwise
payable by it in respect of or calculated by reference to the increased
payment made by an Obligor under Clause 16.2, it shall pay to the relevant
Obligor a sum equal to the proportion of the repayment, relief or credit
which it allocates to the amount due from that Obligor in respect of which
that Obligor made the increased
payment:
|
(a)
|
the
Issuer shall not be obliged to allocate to this transaction any part of a
tax repayment, relief or credit which is referable to a class or number of
transactions;
|
(b)
|
nothing
in this Clause 16.4 shall oblige the Issuer to arrange its tax affairs in
any particular manner, to claim any type of relief, credit, allowance or
deduction instead of, or in priority to, another or to make any such claim
within any particular time;
|
(c)
|
nothing
in this Clause 16.4 shall oblige the Issuer to make a payment which would
leave it in a worse position than it would have been in if the relevant
Obligor had not been required to make a tax deduction from a payment;
and
|
(d)
|
any
allocation or determination made by the Issuer under or in connection with
this Clause 16.4 shall (save in the case of manifest error) be conclusive
and binding on the Obligors.
|
16.5
|
Exclusion of tax on overall net
income. In this Clause 16 “tax deduction” means any
deduction or withholding for or on account of any present or future tax
except tax on the Issuer’s overall net
income.
|
17
|
ILLEGALITY,
ETC
|
17.1
|
Illegality. This
Clause 17 applies if the Issuer notifies the Obligors that it has become,
or will with effect from a specified date,
become:
|
(a)
|
unlawful
or prohibited as a result of the introduction of a new law, an amendment
to an existing law or a change in the manner in which an existing law is
or will be interpreted or applied;
or
|
(b)
|
contrary
to, or inconsistent with, any
regulation,
|
for the
Issuer to maintain or give effect to any of its obligations under this Agreement
or any Guarantee in the manner contemplated by this Agreement.
17.2
|
Notification and effect of
illegality. On the Issuer notifying the Obligors under
Clause 17.1:
|
(a)
|
the
Commitment shall be cancelled;
|
(b)
|
the
Obligors shall use their best endeavours to procure the prompt
cancellation of the Outstandings and the return of each Guarantee to the
Issuer endorsed by the Seller to the effect that it is cancelled;
and
|
(c)
|
by
no later than the date specified in the Issuer’s notice under Clause 17.1
as the date on which the notified event would become effective, the
Obligors shall pay to the Issuer the amount due under Clause
5.6.
|
17.3
|
Mitigation. If
circumstances arise which would result in a notification under Clause 17.1
then, without in any way limiting the rights of the Issuer under Clause
17.2, the Issuer shall notify the Obligor and shall use reasonable
endeavours to transfer its obligations and liabilities under this
Agreement and the Guarantees and its rights under this Agreement and the
Finance Documents to another office or financial institution not affected
by the circumstances but the Issuer shall not be under any obligation to
take any such action if, in its opinion, to do so would or
might:
|
(a)
|
have
an adverse effect on its business, operations or financial condition;
or
|
(b)
|
involve
it in any activity which is unlawful or prohibited or any activity that is
contrary to, or inconsistent with, any official requirement;
or
|
(c)
|
involve
it in any expense (unless indemnified to its satisfaction) or tax
disadvantage.
|
18
|
INCREASED
COSTS
|
18.1
|
Increased
costs. This Clause 18 applies if the Issuer notifies the
Obligors that it considers that as a result
of:
|
(a)
|
the
introduction or alteration after the date of this Agreement of a law or an
alteration after the date of this Agreement in the manner in which a law
is interpreted or applied (disregarding any effect which relates to the
application to payments under this Agreement of a tax on the Issuer’s
overall net income); or
|
(b)
|
complying
with any regulation (including any which relates to capital adequacy or
liquidity controls or which affects the manner in which the Issuer
allocates capital resources to its obligations under this Agreement) which
is introduced, or altered, or the interpretation or application of which
is altered, after the date of this
Agreement,
|
the
Issuer (or a parent company of it) has incurred or will incur an “increased cost”.
18.2
|
Meaning of “increased
costs”. In this Clause 18, “increased costs”
means:
|
(a)
|
an
additional or increased cost incurred as a result of, or in connection
with, the Issuer having entered into, or being a party to, this Agreement
or having taken an assignment of rights under this Agreement, of funding
or maintaining the Outstandings or other unpaid sums or performing its
obligations under this Agreement, or of having outstanding all or any part
of the Outstandings or other unpaid sums;
or
|
(b)
|
a
reduction in the amount of any payment to the Issuer under this Agreement
or in the effective return which such a payment represents to the Issuer
or on its capital;
|
(c)
|
an
additional or increased cost of funding all or maintaining all or any part
of the Outstandings or other unpaid sums or (as the case may require) the
proportion of that cost attributable to the Outstandings or other unpaid
sums; or
|
(d)
|
a
liability to make a payment, or a return foregone, which is calculated by
reference to any amounts received or receivable by the Issuer under this
Agreement;
|
but not
an item attributable to a change in the rate of tax on the overall net income of
the Issuer (or a parent company of it) or an item covered by the indemnity for
tax in Clause 15.1 or by Clause 16 or an item arising directly out of the
implementation by the applicable authorities having jurisdiction over the Issuer
of the matters set out in the statement of the Basle Committee on Banking
Regulations and Supervisory Practices dated July, 1988 and entitled
“International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards”, to the
extent and according to the timetable provided for in the
statement.
For the
purposes of this Clause 18.2 the Issuer may in good faith allocate or spread
costs and/or losses among its assets and liabilities (or any class of its assets
and liabilities) on such basis as it considers appropriate.
18.3
|
Payment of increased
costs. The Obligors shall pay to the Issuer, on its
demand, the amounts which the Issuer from time to time notifies the
Obligors that it has specified to be necessary to compensate it for the
increased cost (provided that such demand is accompanied by a certificate
from the Issuer confirming the amount of its increased cost and
including a calculation thereof).
|
18.4
|
Notice of
cancellation. If the Obligors are not willing to
continue to compensate the Issuer for the increased cost under Clause
18.3, the Obligors may give the Issuer not less than 14 days’ notice of
its intention to cancel the Commitment and procure the cancellation of the
Outstandings.
|
18.5
|
Cancellation. A
notice under Clause 18.4 shall be irrevocable; and on the date specified
in its notice of intended
cancellation:
|
(a)
|
the
Commitment shall be cancelled;
|
(b)
|
the
Obligors shall procure the cancellation of the Outstandings and the return
of each Guarantee to the Issuer endorsed by the Seller to the effect that
it is cancelled; and
|
(c)
|
the
Obligors shall pay to the Issuer the amount due under Clause
5.6.
|
18.6
|
Mitigation. If
circumstances arise which would result in a notification under Clause 18.1
then, without in any way limiting the rights of the Issuer under Clause
18.3, the Issuer shall notify the Obligor and shall use reasonable
endeavours to transfer its obligations and liabilities under this
Agreement and the Guarantees and its rights under this Agreement and the
Finance Documents to another office or financial institution not affected
by the circumstances but the Issuer shall not be under any obligation to
take any such action if, in its opinion, to do so would or
might:
|
(a)
|
have
an adverse effect on its business, operations or financial condition;
or
|
(b)
|
involve
it in any activity which is unlawful or prohibited or any activity that is
contrary to, or inconsistent with, any official requirement;
or
|
(c)
|
involve
it in any expense (unless indemnified to its satisfaction) or tax
disadvantage.
|
19
|
SET-OFF
|
19.1
|
Application of credit
balances. The Issuer may without prior notice following
the occurrence of an Event of Default which is
continuing:
|
(a)
|
apply
any balance (whether or not then due) which at any time stands to the
credit of any account in the name of any Obligors at any office in any
country of the Issuer in or towards satisfaction of any sum then due from
the Obligors to the Issuer under any of the Finance Documents;
and
|
(b)
|
for
that purpose:
|
(i)
|
break,
or alter the maturity of, all or any part of a deposit of any
Obligor;
|
(ii)
|
convert
or translate all or any part of a deposit or other credit balance into
Dollars;
|
(iii)
|
enter
into any other transaction or make any entry with regard to the credit
balance which the Issuer considers
appropriate.
|
19.2
|
Existing rights
unaffected. The Issuer shall not be obliged to exercise
any of its rights under Clause 19.1; and those rights shall be without
prejudice and in addition to any right of set-off, combination of
accounts, charge, lien or other right or remedy to which the Issuer is
entitled (whether under the general law or any
document).
|
19.3
|
No Security
Interest. This Clause 19 gives the Issuer a contractual
right of set-off only, and does not create any equitable charge or other
Security Interest over any credit balance of the
Obligors.
|
20
|
TRANSFERS
AND CHANGES IN ISSUING OFFICE
|
20.1
|
Transfer by
Obligor. No Obligor may, without the consent of the
Issuer transfer any of its rights, liabilities or obligations under any
Finance Document.
|
20.2
|
Transfer by
Issuer. The Issuer may transfer all or any of the rights
and interests which it has under or by virtue of the Finance Documents
with the prior written consent of the Obligors, (not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed) or without the consent of the Obligors if an Event of
Default or a Potential Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing.
|
20.3
|
Rights of
transferee. In respect of any breach of a warranty,
undertaking, condition or other provision of a Finance Document, or any
misrepresentation made in or in connection with a Finance Document, a
transferee of any of the Issuer’s rights or interests under or by virtue
of the Finance Documents shall be entitled to recover damages by reference
to the loss incurred by that transferee as a result of the breach or
misrepresentation irrespective of whether the Issuer would have incurred a
loss of that kind or amount.
|
20.4
|
Sub-participation; subrogation
assignment. The Issuer may sub-participate all or any
part of its rights and/or obligations under or in connection with the
Finance Documents without the consent of, or any notice to, the Obligors;
and the Issuer may assign, in any manner and terms agreed by it, all or
any part of those rights to an insurer or surety who has become subrogated
to them.
|
20.5
|
Disclosure of
information. The Issuer may disclose to a potential
assignee or sub-participant any information which the Issuer has received
in relation to the Obligors, any Security Party or their affairs under or
in connection with any Finance
Document.
|
20.6
|
Change of issuing
office. The Issuer may change its issuing office by
giving notice to the Obligors and the change shall become effective on the
later of:
|
(a)
|
the
date on which the Obligors receive the notice;
and
|
(b)
|
the
date, if any, specified in the notice as the date on which the change will
come into effect.
|
20.7
|
No additional
costs. If the Issuer transfers or sub-participates any
part of its rights and/or obligations under the Finance Documents or
changes its issuing office pursuant to this Clause 20 and as a result of
circumstances existing at the date the transfer, sub-participation or
change occurs, the Obligors would be obliged to make an increased payment
to the Issuer under any applicable Clauses of this Agreement then the
Issuer is only entitled to recover payment under those Clauses to the same
extent as the Issuer would have been if the transfer, sub-participation or
change of issuing office had not
occurred.
|
21
|
VARIATIONS
AND WAIVERS
|
21.1
|
Variations, waivers etc. by
Issuer. A document shall be effective to vary, waive,
suspend or limit any provision of a Finance Document, or the Issuer’s
rights or remedies under such a provision or the general law, only if the
document is signed, or specifically agreed to by fax, by the Obligors and
the Issuer and, if the document relates to a Finance Document to which a
Security Party is party, by that Security
Party.
|
21.2
|
Exclusion of other or implied
variations. Except for a document which satisfies the
requirements of Clauses 21.1, no document, and no act, course of conduct,
failure or neglect to act, delay or acquiescence on the part of the Issuer
(or any person acting on its behalf) shall result in the Issuer (or any
person acting on its behalf) being taken to have varied, waived, suspended
or limited, or being precluded (permanently or temporarily) from
enforcing, relying on or
exercising:
|
(a)
|
a
provision of this Agreement or another Finance Document;
or
|
(b)
|
an
Event of Default; or
|
(c)
|
a
breach by any Obligor or a Security Party of an obligation under a Finance
Document or the general law; or
|
(d)
|
any
right or remedy conferred by any Finance Document or by the general
law;
|
and there
shall not be implied into any Finance Document any term or condition requiring
any such provision to be enforced, or such right or remedy to be exercised,
within a certain or reasonable time.
22
|
NOTICES
|
22.1
|
General. Unless
otherwise specifically provided, any notice under or in connection with
any Finance Document shall be given by letter or fax and references in the
Finance Documents to written notices, notices in writing and notices
signed by particular persons shall be construed
accordingly.
|
22.2
|
Addresses for
communications. A notice shall be
sent:
|
(a)
|
to
the
Obligors: Suite
306
|
Commerce
Building
One
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx
XX00
Xxxxxxx
Mailing
Address:
P.O. Box
HM 2522
Xxxxxxxx
HMGX
Bermuda
Attention: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxx
Fax: x0-000-000-0000
With a copy
to:
TBS
Shipping Services Inc.
000 Xxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000 U.S.A.
Attention: Xxxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
Fax
: x0-000-000-0000
(b)
|
to
the
Issuer: The
Royal Bank of Scotland plc
|
Shipping Business Centre
0-00 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX
Fax
No: x00
000 000 0000
Attention: Ship Finance Portfolio
Management
or to
such other address as the relevant party may notify the other.
22.3
|
Effective date of
notices. Subject to Clauses 22.4 and
22.5:
|
(a)
|
a
notice which is delivered personally or posted shall be deemed to be
served, and shall take effect, at the time when it is
delivered;
|
(b)
|
a
notice which is sent by fax shall be deemed to be served, and shall take
effect, 2 hours after its transmission is
completed.
|
22.4
|
Service outside business
hours. However, if under Clause 22.3 a notice would be
deemed to be served:
|
(a)
|
on
a day which is not a business day in the place of receipt;
or
|
(b)
|
on
such a business day, but after 5 p.m. local
time;
|
the
notice shall (subject to Clause 22.5) be deemed to be served, and shall take
effect, at 9 a.m. on the next day which is such a business day.
22.5
|
Illegible
notices. Clauses 22.3 and 22.4 do not apply if the
recipient of a notice notifies the sender within 1 hour after the time at
which the notice would otherwise be deemed to be served that the notice
has been received in a form which is illegible in a material
respect.
|
22.6
|
Valid
notices. A notice under or in connection with a Finance
Document shall not be invalid by reason that its contents or the manner of
serving it do not comply with the requirements of this Agreement or, where
appropriate, any other Finance Document under which it is served
if:
|
(a)
|
the
failure to serve it in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement
or other Finance Document, as the case may be, has not caused any party to
suffer any significant loss or prejudice;
or
|
(b)
|
in
the case of incorrect and/or incomplete contents, it should have been
reasonably clear to the party on which the notice was served what the
correct or missing particulars should have
been.
|
22.7
|
English
language. Any notice under or in connection with a
Finance Document shall be in
English.
|
22.8
|
Meaning of
“notice”. In this Clause 22 “notice” includes any
demand, consent, authorisation, approval, instruction, waiver or other
communication.
|
23
|
JOINT
AND SEVERAL LIABILITY
|
23.1
|
General. All
liabilities and obligations of the Obligors under this Agreement shall,
whether expressed to be so or not, be several and, if and to the extent
consistent with Clause 23.2, joint.
|
23.2
|
No impairment of Obligor’s
obligations. The liabilities and obligations of an
Obligor shall not be impaired by:
|
(a)
|
this
Agreement being or later becoming void, unenforceable or illegal as
regards any other Obligor;
|
(b)
|
the
Issuer entering into any rescheduling, refinancing or other arrangement of
any kind with any other Obligor;
|
(c)
|
the
Issuer releasing any other Obligor or any Security Interest created by a
Finance Document; or
|
(d)
|
any
combination of the foregoing.
|
23.3
|
Principal
debtors. Each Obligor declares that it is and will,
throughout the Security Period, remain a principal debtor for all amounts
owing under this Agreement and the Finance Documents and no Obligor shall
in any circumstances be construed to be a surety for the obligations of
any other Obligor under this
Agreement.
|
23.4
|
Subordination. Subject
to Clause 23.5, during the Security Period, no Obligor
shall:
|
(a)
|
claim
any amount which may be due to it from any other Obligor whether in
respect of a payment made, or matter arising out of, this Agreement or any
Finance Document, or any matter unconnected with this Agreement or any
Finance Document; or
|
(b)
|
take
or enforce any form of security from any other Obligor for such an amount,
or in any other way seek to have recourse in respect of such an amount
against any asset of any other Obligor;
or
|
(c)
|
set
off such an amount against any sum due from it to any other Obligor;
or
|
(d)
|
prove
or claim for such an amount in any liquidation, administration,
arrangement or similar procedure involving any other Obligor or other
Security Party; or
|
(e)
|
exercise
or assert any combination of the
foregoing.
|
23.5
|
Obligor’s required
action. If during the Security Period, the Issuer, by
notice to a Obligor, requires it to take any action referred to in
paragraphs (a) to (d) of Clause 23.4, in relation to any other Obligor,
that Obligor shall take that action as soon as practicable after receiving
the Issuer’s notice.
|
24
|
SUPPLEMENTAL
|
24.1
|
Rights cumulative,
non-exclusive. The rights and remedies which the Finance
Documents give to the Issuer are:
|
(a)
|
cumulative;
|
(b)
|
may
be exercised as often as appears expedient;
and
|
(c)
|
shall
not, unless a Finance Document explicitly and specifically states so, be
taken to exclude or limit any right or remedy conferred by any
law.
|
24.2
|
Severability of
provisions. If any provision of a Finance Document is or
subsequently becomes void, unenforceable or illegal, that shall not affect
the validity, enforceability or legality of the other provisions of that
Finance Document or of the provisions of any other Finance
Document.
|
24.3
|
Counterparts. A
Finance Document may be executed in any number of
counterparts.
|
24.4
|
Third party
rights. A person who is not a party to this Agreement
has no right under the Contracts (of Third Parties) Xxx 0000 to enforce or
to enjoy the benefit of any term of this
Agreement.
|
25
|
LAW
AND JURISDICTION
|
25.1
|
English
law. This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations
arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, English
law.
|
25.2
|
Exclusive English
jurisdiction. Subject to Clause 25.3, the courts of
England shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any
Dispute.
|
25.3
|
Choice of forum for the
exclusive benefit of the Issuer. Clause 25.2 is for the
exclusive benefit of the Issuer, which reserves the
rights:
|
(a)
|
to
commence proceedings in relation to any Dispute in the courts of any
country other than England and which have or claim jurisdiction to that
Dispute; and
|
(b)
|
to
commence such proceedings in the courts of any such country or countries
concurrently with or in addition to proceedings in England or without
commencing proceedings in England.
|
No
Obligor shall commence any proceedings in any country other than England in
relation to a Dispute.
25.4
|
Process
agent. Each Obligor irrevocably appoints Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx LLP at its registered office for the time being, presently at 0
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx XX00 0XX, to act as its agent to
receive and accept on its behalf any process or other document relating to
any proceedings in the English courts which are connected with a
Dispute.
|
25.5
|
Issuer’s rights
unaffected. Nothing in this Clause 25 shall exclude or
limit any right which the Issuer may have (whether under the law of any
country, an international convention or otherwise) with regard to the
bringing of proceedings, the service of process, the recognition or
enforcement of a judgment or any similar or related matter in any
jurisdiction.
|
25.6
|
Meaning of
“proceedings”. In this Clause 25, “proceedings” means
proceedings of any kind, including an application for a provisional or
protective measure and a “Dispute” means any
dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (including a
dispute relating to the existence, validity or termination of this
Agreement) or any contractual obligation arising out of or in connection
with this Agreement.
|
THIS AGREEMENT has been
entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
SCHEDULE
1
GUARANTEE
ISSUE REQUEST
To: The
Royal Bank of Scotland plc
0-00
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
XX0X 0XX
Attention:
[l]
[l] 2007
|
GUARANTEE
ISSUE REQUEST
|
1
|
We
refer to the facility agreement (the “Facility Agreement”)
dated as of 29 March 2007 and made between Argyle Maritime Corp., Xxxxx
Maritime Corp., Dorchester Maritime Corp., Longwoods Maritime Corp.,
XxXxxxx Maritime Corp. and Sunswyck Maritime Corp., as Obligors, and
yourselves, as Issuer, in connection with a guarantee facility of up to
US$84,000,000. Terms defined in the Facility Agreement have
their defined meanings when used in this Guarantee Issue
Request.
|
2
|
We
request the issue of a Guarantee in the form attached as
follows:
|
(a)
|
Amount
of the Guarantee: [l];
|
(b)
|
Guarantee
Issue Date: [l];
|
(c)
|
Expiry
date of the Guarantee: [l];
|
(d)
|
Delivery
Instructions: [l].
|
3
|
We
represent and warrant that:
|
(a)
|
the
representations and warranties in Clause 8 of the Facility Agreement would
remain true and not misleading if repeated on the date of this notice with
reference to the circumstances now
existing;
|
(b)
|
no
Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing or will result from the issue of the
Guarantee.
|
4
|
This
notice cannot be revoked without the prior consent of the
Issuer.
|
[Name of
Signatory]
For and
on behalf of
[relevant
Obligor]
SCHEDULE
2
CONDITION
PRECEDENT DOCUMENTS
PART
A
The
following are the documents referred to in Clause 7.1(a) required before service
of the first Guarantee Issue Request
1
|
A
duly executed original of each Finance Document (and of each document
required to be delivered by each Finance Document) other than those
referred to in Part B
|
2
|
Copies
of the certificate of incorporation and constitutional documents and
evidence of the goodstanding (or its equivalent) of each Obligor and each
Security Party.
|
3
|
Copies
of resolutions of the directors of each Obligor and each Security Party
and copies of the resolutions of the shareholders of each Obligor, in each
case authorising the execution of each of the Finance Documents to which
that Obligor or that Security Party is a party and, in the case of each
Obligor, authorising named officers to make Guarantee Issue Requests and
ratifying execution of the Shipbuilding
Contracts.
|
4
|
The
original of any power of attorney under which any Finance Document is
executed on behalf of the Obligor or a Security
Party.
|
5
|
Copies
of all consents which any Obligor or any Security Party requires to enter
into, or make any payment under, any Finance Document or the Shipbuilding
Contracts.
|
6
|
Copies
of the Shipbuilding Contracts of the Overall
Agreement.
|
7
|
Such
documentary evidence as the Issuer and its legal advisers may require in
relation to the due authorisation and execution by the Seller of the
Shipbuilding Contracts of the Overall
Agreement.
|
8
|
Documentary
evidence that the agent for service of process named in Clause 28 has
accepted its appointment.
|
9
|
Favourable
legal opinions from lawyers appointed by the Issuer on such matters
concerning the laws of Bermuda and Xxxxxxxx
Islands.
|
10
|
A
written statement from a person acceptable to the Issuer confirming the
identity of the ultimate beneficial owner or owners of the shares in the
Obligors, the Corporate Guarantor and each other Security Party and of the
identity of the person or persons controlling the voting rights attached
to those shares.
|
11
|
Such
documents and evidence as the Issuer shall require in relation to each
Security Party based on applicable law and regulations, and the Issuer’s
owner internal guidelines, relating to the Issuer’s knowledge of its
customers.
|
12
|
Such
documentary evidence as the Issuer and its legal advisers may require in
relation to the due authorisation and execution by the parties to the
Intercreditor Agreement (other than the
Issuer).
|
13
|
If
the Issuer so requires, in respect of any of the documents referred to
above, a certified English translation prepared by a translator approved
by the Issuer.
|
Each of
the documents specified in paragraphs 2, 3, 5, 6 and every other copy document
delivered under this Schedule shall be certified as a true and up to date copy
by a director, representative director or the secretary (or equivalent officer)
of the relevant Obligor.
PART
B
The
following are the documents referred to in Clause 7.1(b) required before the
issue of a Guarantee:
1
|
the
Pre-delivery Security Assignment in respect of the Shipbuilding Contract
relating to such Ship (and of each document to be delivered thereunder);
and
|
2
|
favourable
legal opinions from lawyers appointed by the Issuer on such matters
concerning the laws of the Xxxxxxxx Islands and
China.
|
3
|
a
copy of the relevant Refund Guarantee together with such documentary
evidence as the Agent, and its legal advisers may require in relation to
the due authorisation and execution by the Refund Guarantor of that Refund
Guarantee and that such Refund Guarantee has been registered with the
State Administration of Foreign Exchange in
China;
|
SCHEDULE
3
FINANCIAL
COVENANTS
Pursuant
to Clause 11.18 of this Agreement the Obligors undertake that at all times they
shall not:
(a)
|
Minimum Cash
Liquidity. For each calendar month ending on or after
the date hereof, permit Qualified Cash of the Security Parties to be less
than $15,000,000 at any time during such calendar month provided that the
Obligors shall ensure that at least $5,000,000 (excluding any restricted
cash) is deposited with the Agent at all times in any such calendar
month.
|
(b)
|
Maximum Consolidated Leverage
Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the
end of any fiscal quarter set forth below and for the period of four
fiscal quarters then ending of Holdings and its Subsidiaries to be greater
than the ratio set forth below opposite such time
period:
|
Four
Fiscal Quarter Ending:
|
Maximum
Consolidated Leverage Ratio
|
30
June 2010
|
5.00:1.00
|
30
September 2010
|
3.75:1.00
|
31
December 2010
|
3.00:1.00
|
31
March 2011
|
3.00:1.00
|
30
June 2011
|
2.75:1.00
|
30
September 2011 and thereafter
|
2.50:1.00
|
(c)
|
Minimum Consolidated Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter set forth below
and for the period of four fiscal quarters then ending of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries to be less than the ratio set forth below opposite such time
period:
|
Four
Fiscal Quarter Ending:
|
Minimum
Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
|
31
December 2010
|
1.10:1.00
|
31
March 2011
|
1.30:1.00
|
30
June 2011
|
1.50:1.00
|
30
September 2011 and thereafter
|
1.75:1.00
|
(d)
|
Minimum Consolidated Interest
Charges Coverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Interest
Charges Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter set forth below
and for the period of four fiscal quarters then ending of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries to be less than the ratio set forth below opposite such time
period:
|
Four
Fiscal Quarter Ending:
|
Minimum
Consolidated Interest Charges Coverage Ratio
|
31
March 2010
|
2.50:1.00
|
30
June 2010
|
3.00:1.00
|
30
September 2010
|
3.75:1.00
|
For the
avoidance of doubt the Consolidated Interest Charges Coverage Ratio will not be
measured for any fiscal quarter ending after 30 September 2010.
For the
purposes of this Schedule 3 the following terms shall have the following
meanings.
“Attributable
Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any
Capitalised Lease of any Person, the capitalised amount thereof that would
appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance
with GAAP, (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalised
amount of the remaining lease or similar payments under the relevant lease or
other applicable agreement or instrument that would appear on a balance sheet of
such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease or
other agreement or instrument were accounted for as a Capitalised Lease and (c)
all Synthetic Debt of such Person;
“Availability” means
the amount available for drawing under the Bank of America
Facilities;
“Capitalised
Leases” means all leases that have been or should be, in
accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalised leases;
“Cash
Equivalents” means any of the following types of Investments,
to the extent owned by Holdings or any of their Subsidiaries free and clear of
all Security Interests (other than (i) a Security Interest in favour of the Bank
of America, N.A. in respect of the obligations arising under the Bank of America
Facilities and/or (ii) Permitted Security Interests):
(a)
|
readily
marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured
by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof
having maturities of not more than 360 days from the date of acquisition
thereof; provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of
America is pledged in support
thereof;
|
(b)
|
time
deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances
of, any commercial bank that (i) (A) is a Lender or (B) is organised under
the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the
District of Columbia or is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank
holding company organised under the laws of the United States of America,
any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and is a member of the
Federal Reserve System, (ii) issues (or the parent of which issues)
commercial paper rated as described in Clause (c) of this definition and
(iii) has combined capital and surplus of at least $1,000,000,000, in each
case with maturities of not more than 90 days from the date of acquisition
thereof;
|
(c)
|
commercial
paper issued by any Person organised under the laws of any state of the
United States of America and rated at least “Prime-1” (or the then
equivalent grade) by Moody’s or at least “A-1” (or the then equivalent
grade) by S&P, in each case with maturities of not more than 180 days
from the date of acquisition thereof;
and
|
(d)
|
Investments,
classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Obligors or
any of their Subsidiaries, in money market investment programs registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which are administered by
financial institutions that have the highest rating obtainable from either
Moody’s or S&P, and the portfolios of which are limited solely to
Investments of the character, quality and maturity described in Clauses
(a), (b) and (c) of this
definition;
|
“Consolidated
EBITDA” means, at any date of determination,
an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis for the most recently completed Measurement Period, plus (a)
the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income
(and without duplication ): (i) Consolidated Interest Charges, (ii) the
provision for Federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable, (iii)
depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) net losses from the sales of vessels
as permitted under this Agreement, (v) any non-cash impairment charges incurred
during each fiscal year of Holdings and its Subsidiaries ending December 31,
2008, December 31, 2009, December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2011 in respect of
any of Holdings or its Subsidiaries goodwill and Vessels (in each
case of or by Holdings and its Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period), (vi)
costs incurred during such Measurement Period in connection with the
redomicilation of Holdings in an aggregate amount not to exceed $3,000,000 for
all Measurement Periods, and (vii) any non-cash compensation in the form of
Equity Interests or other equity awards made to employees of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries in the fiscal years of Holdings and its Subsidiaries ending
December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2011 in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$10,000,000 in each such fiscal year (in each case of or by Holdings and its
Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period), and minus (b) the following to the
extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: all net gains from
the sales of vessels as permitted under this Agreement (in each case of or by
Holdings and its Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period ); provided that, to
the extent characterized as interest on the income statements of Holdings and
its Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period pursuant to FASB Interpretation No.
133 – Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (June 1998),
non-cash adjustments in connection with any interest rate Swap Contract entered
into by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, shall be excluded;
“Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio” means, at any date of determination, the ratio
of:
(a)
|
the
result of (i) Consolidated EBITDA, less (ii) the sum of (x) federal,
state, local and foreign income taxes paid in cash and (y) Restricted
Payments made, in each case, for the most recently completed Measurement
Period, to
|
(b)
|
the
sum of (i) Consolidated Interest Charges for the most recently completed
Measurement Period, (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all regularly
scheduled principal payments or redemptions or similar acquisitions for
value of outstanding debt for borrowed money for the period of twelve (12)
consecutive months following such date of determination, but excluding any
principal payments to be made in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility
(as defined in the Bank of America
Facilities);
|
“Consolidated Funded
Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for
Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of:
(a)
|
the
outstanding principal amount of all obligations, whether current or
long-term, for borrowed money (including Obligations under and as defined
in the Bank of America Facilities) and all obligations evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar
instruments;
|
(b)
|
all
purchase money Indebtedness;
|
(c)
|
all
direct obligations arising under letters of credit (including standby and
commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and
similar instruments;
|
(d)
|
all
obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or
services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of
business);
|
(e)
|
all
Attributable Indebtedness;
|
(f)
|
without
duplication, all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of
the types specified in Clauses (a) through (e) above of Persons other than
the Obligors or any Subsidiary; and
|
(g)
|
all
Indebtedness of the types referred to in Clauses (a) through (f) above of
any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is
itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which an Obligor or
a Subsidiary is a general partner or joint venturer, unless such
Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Obligor or such
Subsidiary;
|
“Consolidated Interest
Charges” means, for any Measurement Period, the sum of (a) all
interest, premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses in
connection with borrowed money (including capitalized interest but excluding
capitalized interest on Permitted New Vessel Construction Indebtedness) or in
connection with the deferred purchase price of assets, in each case to the
extent treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, (b) all interest paid or
payable with respect to discontinued operations and (c) the portion of rent
expense under Capitalized Leases that is treated as interest in accordance with
GAAP, in each case, of or by Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis for the most recently completed Measurement Period; provided that, to the
extent characterized as interest on the income statements of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period pursuant to FASB Interpretation No. 133
– Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (June 1998),
non-cash adjustments in connection with any interest rate Swap Contract entered
into by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, shall be excluded;
“Consolidated Interest Charges
Coverage Ratio” means, at any date of determination, the ratio
of (a) the result of (i) Consolidated EBITDA less (ii) the sums of Federal,
State, local and foreign income taxes paid in cash for the most recently
completed Measurement Period to (b) Consolidated Interest Charges for the most
recently completed Measurement Period;
Consolidated Leverage
Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio
of:
(a)
|
Consolidated
Funded Indebtedness as of such date
to:
|
(b)
|
Consolidated
EBITDA of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the
most recently completed Measurement
Period;
|
“Consolidated Net
Income” means, at any date of determination, the net income
(or loss) of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the most
recently completed Measurement Period; provided that Consolidated Net Income
shall exclude:
(a)
|
extraordinary
gains and extraordinary losses for such Measurement
Period;
|
(b)
|
the
net income of any Subsidiary during such Measurement Period to the extent
that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by
such Subsidiary of such income is not permitted by operation of the terms
of its Organisation Documents or any agreement, instrument or law
applicable to such Subsidiary during such Measurement Period, except that
Holdings’ equity in any net loss of any such Subsidiary for
such-Measurement Period shall be included in determining Consolidated Net
Income; and
|
(c)
|
any
income (or loss) for such Measurement Period of any Person if such Person
is not a Subsidiary, except that Holdings’ equity in the net income of any
such Person for such Measurement Period shall be included in Consolidated
Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such
Person during such Period to Holdings or a Subsidiary as a dividend or
other distribution (and in the case of a dividend or other distribution to
a Subsidiary, such Subsidiary is not precluded from further distributing
such amount to Holdings as described in Clause (b) of this
proviso);
|
“Debtor Relief
Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all
other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganisation,
or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable
jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors
generally;
“Equity
Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the
shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such
Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase of
acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or ownership or
profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit
interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or
acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all
of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including
partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting,
and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are
outstanding on any date of determination;
“GAAP” means
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be
approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United
States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of
determination, consistently applied;
“Guarantee” means,
as to any Person:
(a)
|
any
obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having
the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation
payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any
manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of
such Person, direct or indirect,_ (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or
supply funds the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other
obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for
the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or
other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or
other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any
other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or
cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to
pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the
purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such
Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or
to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in
part), or
|
(b)
|
any
Security Interest on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness
or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness
or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or
otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Security
Interest). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an
amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary
obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made
or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated
liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in
good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has
a corresponding meaning;
|
“Holdings” means the
New Corporate Guarantor;
“Indebtedness” means,
as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the
following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance
with GAAP:
(a)
|
all
obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other
similar instruments;
|
(b)
|
the
maximum amount of all direct or contingent obligations of such Person
arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial),
bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar
instruments;
|
(c)
|
net
obligations of such Person under any Swap
Contract;
|
(d)
|
all
obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property
or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of
business and not past due for more than 60 days after the date on which
such trade account was created);
|
(e)
|
indebtedness
(excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Security Interest on
property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness
arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements),
whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or
is limited in recourse;
|
(f)
|
all
Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capitalised Lease and Synthetic
Lease Obligations of such Person and all Synthetic Debt of such
Person;
|
(g)
|
all
obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or
otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such
Person or any other Person or any warrant, right or option to acquire such
Equity Interest, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest,
at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus
accrued and unpaid dividends; and
|
(h)
|
all
Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the
foregoing.
|
For all
purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness
of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a
corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general
partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made
non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under
any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value
thereof as of such date;
“Intangible
Assets” means assets that are considered to be intangible
assets under GAAP, including customer lists, goodwill, computer software,
copyrights, trade names, trademarks, patents, franchises, licenses, unamortised
deferred charges, unamortised debt discount and capitalised research and
development costs;
“Investment” means,
as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such
Person, whether by means of:
(a)
|
the
purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests of another
Person;
|
(b)
|
a
loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt
of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or interest in,
another Person;
|
(c)
|
the
purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of
transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit
or all or a substantial part of the business of, such Person;
or
|
(d)
|
the
acquisition or construction of a vessel. For purposes of covenant
compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually
invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the
value of such Investment;
|
“Measurement
Period” means, at any date of determination, the most recently
completed four fiscal quarters of Holdings;
“Moody’s” means
Xxxxx’x Investors Service Inc., and any successor thereto;
“Organisation
Documents” means:
(a)
|
with
respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation
and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with
respect to any non-U.S.
jurisdiction);
|
(b)
|
with
respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of
formation or organisation and operating agreement;
and
|
(c)
|
with
respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business
entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of
formation or organisation and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice
with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or
organisation with the applicable governmental authority in the
jurisdiction of its formation or organisation and, if applicable, any
certificate or articles of formation or organisation of such
entity;
|
“Permitted New Vessel Construction
Indebtedness” means Indebtedness incurred after the date when
all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 of the Bank of America Credit
Facilities are satisfied or waived by Subsidiaries of Holdings that are not
borrowers or guarantors under the Bank of America Credit Facilities in
connection with the construction of up to twelve (12) multipurpose tweendecks or
bulk carrier shipping vessels;
“Person” means any
natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture,
association, company, partnership, governmental authority or other
entity;
“Qualified
Cash” means, as of any date of determination, the amount of
cash and Cash Equivalents which is freely transferable and not subject to a
Security Interest (other than (i) a Security Interest in favour of the Bank of
America, N.A. in respect of the obligations arising under the Bank of America
Facilities and/or (ii) a Permitted Security Interest) pledge, security interest,
encumbrance, escrow or cash collateral arrangement or any other restriction on
its use;
“Restricted
Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in
cash, securities or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other
Equity Interest of any Person or any of its Subsidiaries, or any payment
(whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or
similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance,
acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other
Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to any Person’s
stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent of any thereof), or any
option, warrant or other right to acquire any such dividend or other
distribution or payment;
“Shareholders’
Equity” means, as of any date of determination, consolidated
shareholders’ equity of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of that date determined
in accordance with GAAP;
“S&P” means
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of the XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies
Inc., and any successor thereto;
“Subsidiary” of a
Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability
company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities
or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or
other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only
by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned,
or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless
otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a
Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of Holdings;
“Swap
Contract” means:
(a)
|
any
and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative
transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity
options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or
options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond
or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate
options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor
transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions,
cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts,
or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the
foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing),
whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any
master agreement; and
|
(b)
|
any
and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are
subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master
agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives
Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or
any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any
related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations
or liabilities under any Master
Agreement;
|
“Swap Termination
Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts,
after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting
agreement relating to such Swap Contracts:
(a)
|
for
any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and
termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination
value(s); and
|
(b)
|
for
any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s)
determined as the xxxx-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as
determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available
quotations provided by any recognised dealer in such Swap
Contracts;
|
“Synthetic
Debt” means, with respect to any Person as of any date of
determination thereof, obligations of such Person in respect of transactions
entered into by such Person that are intended to function primarily as a
borrowing of funds (including any minority interest transactions that function
primarily as a borrowing) but are not otherwise included in the definition of
“Indebtedness” or as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such
Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.
“Synthetic Lease
Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person
under:
(a)
|
a
so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease;
or
|
(b)
|
an
agreement for the use or possession of property (including sale and
leaseback transactions), in each case, creating obligations that do not
appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the application
of any Debtor Relief Laws to such Person, would be characterised as the
indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting
treatment).
|
SCHEDULE
4
FORM
OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
To: The
Royal Bank of Scotland plc
Shipping
Business Centre
0-00
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
XX0X 0XX
Attention: Ship
Finance Portfolio Management
From: TSB
International Public Limited Company
OFFICER’S
CERTIFICATE
This
Certificate is rendered pursuant to clause 9.16(b) of the facility agreement
dated as of 29 March 2007 (the “Facility Agreement”) and
entered into between (i) Argyle Maritime Corp, Xxxxx Maritime Corp, Dorchester
Maritime Corp, Longwood Maritime Corp, XxXxxxx Maritime Corp and Sunswyck
Maritime Corp and (ii) The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as Issuer relating to a
guarantee facility of US$84,000,000. Words and expressions defined in
the Facility Agreement shall have the same meanings when used
herein.
I, the
Chief Financial Officer of the New Corporate Guarantor, hereby certify
that:
1
|
Attached
to this Certificate are the latest [audited][unaudited] accounts of the
Guarantor and its consolidated subsidiaries for the financial year
[quarter] ending on [l].
|
2
|
Set
out below are the respective amounts, in US Dollars, of Cash Equivalents,
Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Interest Charges, Consolidated Net
Income and Qualified Cash:
|
US
Dollars
|
|
Cash
Equivalents
|
[l]
|
Consolidated
EBITDA
|
[l]
|
Consolidated
Interest Charges
|
[l]
|
Consolidated
Net Income
|
[l]
|
Qualified
Cash
|
[l]
|
3
|
Accordingly,
as at the date of this Certificate the financial covenants set out in
Appendix 8 of the Loan Agreement [are][are not] complied with, in
that as at [l]:
|
(a)
|
Minimum
Cash
Liquidity US$[l];
|
(b)
|
Maximum
Consolidated Leverage
Ratio [x.xx];
|
(c)
|
Minimum
Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio [x.xx].
|
4
|
As
at [l] no
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing [or, specify / identify
any Event of Default].
|
……………………………………………..
Chief
financial officer
TBS
International Public Limited Company
|
EXECUTION
PAGE
|
[INTENTIONALLY
OMITTED]
APPENDIX
A
FORM
OF DELIVERY SECURITY ASSIGNMENT
APPENDIX
B
FORM
OF CORPORATE GUARANTEE
APPENDIX
C
FORM
OF GUARANTEE
APPENDIX
D
FORM
OF INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
APPENDIX
2
FORM
OF CORPORATE GUARANTEE SUPPLEMENTS