MASTER MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
10.9
This
Master Management Agreement (the “Agreement”)
is
made as of September 29th 2006 between Euroseas Ltd. (the “Company”),
in
its own capacity and as agent for each of its vessel owning subsidiaries
identified in Schedule A hereto together with any additional subsidiaries that
may acquire vessels in the future (the “Subsidiaries”)
and
Eurobulk Ltd. (the “Manager”).
WHEREAS
(A)
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The
Subsidiaries are the registered owners of the ships (the “Vessels”)
described in Schedule A annexed hereto, as such Schedule may be amended
from time to time.
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(B)
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The
Company wishes to retain the Manager to provide, subject to the terms
and
conditions set forth herein, management services in respect of the
Vessels
and to the Company and the Manager is willing and able to provide
such
management services.
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NOW
therefore, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable
consideration, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.
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APPOINTMENT
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1.
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The
Manager is hereby appointed by the Company as manager and the Manager
hereby agrees to act as manager of the Vessels and to the
Company.
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2.
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The
Manager undertakes to use its best endeavours to provide the following
services to the Vessels, namely: Crewing, Technical Management, Insurance,
Freight Management, Accounting, Chartering, Sale and Purchase, Provisions,
Bunkering and Operation (the “Services”).
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3.
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The
Manager undertakes to use its best endeavours to provide the following
services to the Company: compliance with SEC rules and regulations,
compliance with Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx and various other services related
to the
proper administration of the Company’s obligations for the proper
operation of the Vessels (the “Services”).
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4.
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The
Manager shall render advise and provide executive services to the
Company
from time to time, including, but not limited to, the services of
a chief
executive officer, a chief financial officer and a secretary and
such
other matters as may be mutually agreed between the Manager and the
Company. The executive services shall only be performed by the following
persons: President and Chief Executive officer by Xxxxxxxxx X Xxxxxx;
Chief Financial officer and Treasurer by Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx; and
Secretary
by Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx. Any other person performing any of these services
must first be approved by the Company in
writing.
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5.
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The
terms of conditions under which the Manager will provide the Services
to
the Vessels are set out in the attached BIMCO standard Ship Management
Agreement (“XXXXXXX”)
as amended, which is hereby attached - Schedule B. Each Subsidiary
will
sign a management agreement with the Manager. The terms and conditions
of
this Agreement in relation to the Services to be provided by the
Manager
to the Vessels shall prevail over the terms and conditions of the
XXXXXXX
to the extent the two are inconsistent or in conflict.
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6.
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In
the exercise of its duties to the Vessels, Manager shall act faithfully
and diligently according to prudent shipping management standards
and is
entitled to provide the services in its own discretion, subject however
to
the terms and conditions of XXXXXXX.
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2.
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TERM
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The
engagement of the Manager shall start on October 1st
2006 and
continue through 30 June 2011 (the “Initial
Term”)
and
shall automatically be renewed thereafter for 5 years unless terminated by
the
Company or Manager by written notice to the other on or before the
90th
day
preceding the scheduled termination date, unless sooner terminated as
hereinafter provided in section 6 below.
3.
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PLACE
OF PERFORMANCE
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The
Manager shall render the services at one or more suitable locations selected
by
the parties.
4.
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REMUNERATION
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In
consideration of Manager’s Services, the Company will pay the Manager a fee
broken down in two parts:
1)a
lump sum fee payable directly by the Company of $517,500 per annum payable
in
advance in four quarterly installments. This amount will be adjusted annually
(every July) for inflation as measured by the official inflation rate in
Greece
for the preceding year.
2)a
daily fee of Euro 610 per day per vessel payable by each Subsidiary. This
amount
will be adjusted annually (every February) for the official inflation rate
in
Greece for the preceding year.
5.
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EXPENSES
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In
order
to facilitate Manager’s carrying out its duties hereunder to the Company, the
Company shall promptly reimburse Manager for all reasonable expenses paid or
incurred by or on behalf of the Manager in the performance of Manager’s
Services.
6.
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TERMINATION
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This
Agreement can be terminated:
a)
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For
cause, which shall mean a party’s willful misconduct in any material
respect, or the material breach or material failure by a party to
perform
its duties or responsibilities hereunder or under any XXXXXXX, which
shall
not have been cured within 10 days after receipt of written
notice;
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b) |
On
at least 90 days written notice prior to the end of the Initial Term
or
prior to the expiration of any applicable renewal term;
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c) |
If
the Company or the Manager ceases to conduct business, or all or
substantially all of the properties or assets of either party is
sold,
seized or appropriated; or
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d) |
The
Company or the Manager file a petition under any bankruptcy law or
make an
assignment for the benefit of their creditors, or otherwise seek
relief
under any law for the protection of debtors or shall adopt a plan
of
liquidation or a petition shall be filed against Company or Manager
seeking to have it declared an insolvent or a bankrupt, and such
petition
is not dismissed or stayed within 90 days of its filing, or if Company
or
Manager shall admit in writing its insolvency or its inability to
pay its
debts as they mature, or if an order is made for the appointment
of a
liquidator, manager, receiver or trustee of Company or Manager of
all or a
substantial part of its assets, then this Agreement shall forthwith
terminate and be of no further force and
effect.
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7.
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CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION
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Manager
agrees that, during its engagement by the Company and at all times thereafter,
it will not disclose to others except to its employees, agents, advisors or
representatives, directly or indirectly, any confidential information, which
is
in the nature of trade secrets, relating to the business, prospects or plans
of
the Company or the Subsidiaries. Upon termination of the engagement with the
Company, Manager shall surrender to the Company any and all work papers,
reports, manuals, documents and the like (including all originals and copies
thereof) in its or its agents or representatives’ possession which contain any
such confidential information.
8.
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NONEXCLUSIVE
ENGAGEMENT
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During
the term of this Agreement, Manager shall be permitted to engage in such other
business activities and perform services for entities other than the Company
and
the Subsidiaries; provided,
however,
Manager
shall at all times provide sufficient staffing to satisfactorily perform the
Services to be provided hereunder and Manager’s engagement in rendering services
to entities other than the Company shall not substantially interfere with or
adversely affect its provision of the Services hereunder.
9.
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NOTICES
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Any
and
all notices or other communications required or permitted to be given under
any
of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed
to
have been duly given and received when delivered personally or three (3) days
after mailing, if mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested. Either party may change its mailing address for the purposes of
this
Agreement by notice to the other as herein provided.
10.
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AUTHORITY
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The
Company represents to Manager that this Agreement has been duly authorized
on
behalf of the Company by its Board of Directors. Manager represents to the
Company that this Agreement has been duly authorized on behalf of the Manager
by
its Board of Directors, that it is free to enter into this Agreement and that
its entering into this Agreement does not violate any obligation that it has
to
any other person or legal entity.
11.
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SEPARABILITY
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In
the
event that any provision of this Agreement would be held to be invalid or
unenforceable for any reason unless narrowed by construction, this Agreement
shall be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision had been more
narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid or unenforceable. If, notwithstanding
the
foregoing, any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or
unenforceable for any reason, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach
only to such provision and shall not affect or render invalid or unenforceable
any other provision of this Agreement.
12.
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MISCELLANEOUS
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(a) This
Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the Company and Manager with
respect to the subject matter hereof and cannot be amended or modified except
by
a writing signed by each of the parties hereto. No waiver of any term, condition
or obligation of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed
by
the waiving party. No failure or delay by either the Company or Manager in
exercising any right or remedy under this Agreement will waive any provision
of
this Agreement, nor will any single or partial exercise by either the Company
or
Manager of any right or remedy under this Agreement preclude any of them from
otherwise or further exercising the rights or remedies contained herein, or
any
other rights or remedies granted by any law or any related
document.
(b) The
Section headings contained herein are for the purpose of convenience only and
are not intended to define or limit the contents of said Sections.
(c) This
Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract under the laws of Greece and shall
be
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of said state. Any dispute
under this Agreement shall be determined exclusively by the Courts of Athens.
However, for disputes arising between the Subsidiaries and the Manager, the
choice of law and the jurisdiction are governed by the terms of the
XXXXXXX.
(d) This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall
be
deemed an original and all of which, taken together, shall constitute a single
original document.
(e) It
is
understood and agreed among the parties that in rendering services hereunder,
Manager is an independent contractor of the Company and shall not be deemed
to
constitute a director, officer or employee of the Company solely in respect
of
this Agreement.
(f) The
Company shall have no obligation to any person entitled to the benefits of
this
Agreement with respect to any tax obligation any such person incurs as a result
of or attributable to this Agreement or arising from any payments made or to
be
made hereunder or thereunder.
(g) The
provisions of this Agreement which by their terms call for performance
subsequent to termination of this Agreement shall so survive such
termination.
(h) This
Agreement may not be transferred, assigned or delegated by any of the parties
hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties
hereto.
(i) (1) The
Company hereby confirms to and agrees with Manager with respect to any and
all
matters arising out of or in connection with its engagement as a Manager
hereunder, that Manager shall be entitled to receive the benefits of all
indemnification provisions contained in the bylaws of the Company to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law at the time of the assertion of any liability
against Manager. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company
hereby covenants and agrees that Manager shall be entitled to receive any and
all indemnification to which Manager would have been entitled had it or they
acted as an officer or director of the Company, including, without limitation,
such indemnification benefits as may hereafter be extended or otherwise made
available by the Company to its executive officers.
(2) Manager
shall cooperate fully with the Company in the prosecution or defense, as the
case may be, of any and all actions, governmental inquiries or other legal
proceedings in which Manager's assistance may be requested by the Company.
Such
cooperation shall include, among other things, making documents in Manager's
custody or control available to the Company or its counsel, making itself
available for interviews by the Company or its counsel, and making itself
available to appear as a witness, at deposition, trial or otherwise. Any and
all
reasonable and necessary vouchered out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Manager
in
fulfilling its obligations under this paragraph 12(i) shall be reimbursed by
the
Company.
(3) The
provisions of this Section 12(i) shall survive the termination or expiration
of
this Agreement.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Management Agreement as of
the
date first written above.
By:_/s/
Xxxxxxxxx X. Pittas________
Name:
Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
Eurobulk
Ltd.
By:_/s/
Nikolas Pittas___________
Name:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title:
Director