Seward & Kissel llp
ONE BATTERY PARK PLAZA
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004
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WRITER'S DIRECT DIAL
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TELEPHONE: (212) 574-1200
FACSIMILE: (212) 480-8421
WWW.SEWKIS.COM
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901 K STREET, NW
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001
TELEPHONE: (202) 737-8833
FACSIMILE: (202) 737-5184
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August 23, 2013
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Re:
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Nordic American Tankers Limited
Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form F-3
Filed June 28, 2013
Comment Letter dated July 31, 2013
File No.333-187400
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1.
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We note your response to prior comment 2. The second sentence of the last paragraph on page 3 represents an inappropriate limitation on reliance. Purchasers in the offering are entitled to rely unconditionally on the legality opinion. Please have counsel revise its opinion accordingly.
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Sincerely,
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/s/ Gary J. Wolfe
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Gary J. Wolfe
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cc:
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J. Nolan McWilliams
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Division of Corporation Finance
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Securities and Exchange Commission
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Herbjørn Hansson
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Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
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Nordic American Tankers Limited
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NORDIC AMERICAN TANKERS LIMITED
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[Ÿ] 2013
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e-mail:
direct dial:
appleby ref:
[Ÿ] 2013
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NORDIC AMERICAN TANKERS LIMITED
LOM Building
27 Reid Street
Hamilton HM 11
Bermuda
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(a)
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the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of all Documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic original Documents of all Documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, notarised or photostatic copies;
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(b)
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the genuineness of all signatures on the Documents;
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(c)
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the authority, capacity and power of persons signing the Documents, other than the Directors of the Company in relation to the Resolutions and other than in relation to any certification made by an officer of the Company in relation to the Resolutions or the Constitutional Documents;
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(d)
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that any representation, warranty or statement of fact or law, other than the laws of Bermuda made in any of the Documents, is true, accurate and complete;
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(e)
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that there are no provisions of the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction other than Bermuda which would have any implication in relation to the opinions expressed herein;
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NORDIC AMERICAN TANKERS LIMITED
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[Ÿ] 2013
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(f)
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that there are no provisions of the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction other than Bermuda which would be contravened by any actions taken by the Company in connection with the Registration Statement or which would have any implication in relation to the opinion expressed herein and that, in so far as any obligation under, or action to be taken under, the Registration Statement is required to be performed or taken in any jurisdiction outside Bermuda, the performance of such obligation or the taking of such action will constitute a valid and binding obligation of each of the parties thereto under the laws of that jurisdiction and will not be illegal by virtue of the laws of that jurisdiction;
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(g)
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that no litigation, administrative or other proceeding of or before any governmental authority of Bermuda is pending against or affecting the Company; (ii) that no notice to the Registrar of Companies of the passing of a resolution of members or creditors to wind up or the appointment of a liquidator or receiver has been given to petition to wind up the Company; and (iii) that no application to reorganise the affairs of the Company pursuant to a scheme of arrangement or application for the appointment of a receiver has been filed with the Supreme Court; and
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(h)
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that the Directors of the Company acted in good faith upon their adoption of the Resolutions.
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Opinion
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(1)
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The Shares, when the terms of the issuance and sale thereof have been duly approved by the Board of Directors of the Company in conformity with the Company's Memorandum of Association, the Bye-Laws and the Plan will when issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the Plan will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
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(2)
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Subject as otherwise provided in this opinion, and except as provided in this paragraph, no consent, licence or authorisation of, filing with, or other act by or in respect of, any governmental authority or court of Bermuda is required to be obtained by the Company in connection with the issuance of the Shares except that the Registration Statement and any other offering documents must be filed with the Registrar of Companies prior to or as soon as reasonably practicable after any Shares are offered to the public and must comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Part III of the Companies Act 1981.
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Reservations
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We have the following reservations:
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(a)
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We express no opinion as to any law other than Bermuda law and none of the opinions expressed herein relates to compliance with or matters governed by the laws of any jurisdiction except Bermuda. This opinion is limited to Bermuda law as applied by the courts of Bermuda at the date hereof.
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NORDIC AMERICAN TANKERS LIMITED
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[Ÿ] 2013
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(b)
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Any reference in this opinion to shares being "non-assessable" shall mean, in relation to fully-paid shares of the Company and subject to any contrary provision in any agreement in writing between the Company and the holder of shares, that: no shareholder shall be obliged to contribute further amounts to the capital of the Company, either in order to complete payment for their shares, to satisfy claims of creditors of the Company, or otherwise; and no shareholder shall be bound by an alteration of the Memorandum of Association or Bye-Laws of the Company after the date on which he became a shareholder, if and so far as the alteration requires him to take, or subscribe for additional shares, or in any way increases his liability to contribute to the share capital of, or otherwise to pay money to, the Company.
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NORDIC AMERICAN TANKERS LIMITED
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[Ÿ] 2013
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1.
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The entries and filings shown in respect of the Company on the file of the Company maintained in the Register of Companies at the office of the Registrar of Companies in Hamilton, Bermuda, as revealed by a search on [Ÿ] 2013 (the "Company Search");
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2.
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Copies of the Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum of Association and Bye-laws for the Company (collectively referred to as the "Constitutional Documents");
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3.
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A certified copy of the Unanimous Written Consent adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company effective 14 March 2013 (the "Resolutions"); and
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4.
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A copy of the Registration Statement on Form F-3, dated 18 March 2013, as amended on June 28, 2013 and as further amended on [Ÿ], 2013, under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Registration Statement").
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NORDIC AMERICAN TANKERS LIMITED
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[Ÿ] 2013
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e-mail:
jwilson@applebyglobal.com
direct dial:
Tel +1 441 298 3559
appleby ref:
JW/100154.0025
By Email
[Ÿ] 2013
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NORDIC AMERICAN TANKERS LIMITED
LOM Building
27 Reid Street
Hamilton HM 11
Bermuda
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(i)
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the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of all Documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic original Documents of all Documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, notarised or photostatic copies;
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(j)
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the genuineness of all signatures on the Documents;
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(k)
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the authority, capacity and power of persons signing the Documents, other than the Directors of the Company in relation to the Resolutions and other than in relation to any certification made by an officer of the Company in relation to the Resolutions or the Constitutional Documents;
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(l)
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that any representation, warranty or statement of fact or law, other than the laws of Bermuda made in any of the Documents, is true, accurate and complete;
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(m)
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that there are no provisions of the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction other than Bermuda which would have any implication in relation to the opinions expressed herein;
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NORDIC AMERICAN TANKERS LIMITED
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[Ÿ] 2013
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(n)
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that there are no provisions of the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction other than Bermuda which would be contravened by any actions taken by the Company in connection with the Registration Statement or which would have any implication in relation to the opinion expressed herein and that, in so far as any obligation under, or action to be taken under, the Registration Statement is required to be performed or taken in any jurisdiction outside Bermuda, the performance of such obligation or the taking of such action will constitute a valid and binding obligation of each of the parties thereto under the laws of that jurisdiction and will not be illegal by virtue of the laws of that jurisdiction;
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(o)
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that no litigation, administrative or other proceeding of or before any governmental authority of Bermuda is pending against or affecting the Company; (ii) that no notice to the Registrar of Companies of the passing of a resolution of members or creditors to wind up or the appointment of a liquidator or receiver has been given to petition to wind up the Company; and (iii) that no application to reorganise the affairs of the Company pursuant to a scheme of arrangement or application for the appointment of a receiver has been filed with the Supreme Court; and
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(p)
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that the Directors of the Company acted in good faith upon their adoption of the Resolutions.
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(3)
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The Shares, when the terms of the issuance and sale thereof have been duly approved by the Board of Directors of the Company in conformity with the Company's Memorandum of Association, the Bye-Laws and the Plan will when issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the Plan will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
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(4)
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Subject as otherwise provided in this opinion, and except as provided in this paragraph, no consent, licence or authorisation of, filing with, or other act by or in respect of, any governmental authority or court of Bermuda is required to be obtained by the Company in connection with the issuance of the Shares except that the Registration Statement and any other offering documents must be filed with the Registrar of Companies prior to or as soon as reasonably practicable after any Shares are offered to the public and must comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Part III of the Companies Act 1981.
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(c)
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We express no opinion as to any law other than Bermuda law and none of the opinions expressed herein relates to compliance with or matters governed by the laws of any jurisdiction except Bermuda. This opinion is limited to Bermuda law as applied by the courts of Bermuda at the date hereof.
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NORDIC AMERICAN TANKERS LIMITED
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[Ÿ] 2013
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(d)
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Any reference in this opinion to shares being "non-assessable" shall mean, in relation to fully-paid shares of the Company and subject to any contrary provision in any agreement in writing between the Company and the holder of shares, that: no shareholder shall be obliged to contribute further amounts to the capital of the Company, either in order to complete payment for their shares, to satisfy claims of creditors of the Company, or otherwise; and no shareholder shall be bound by an alteration of the Memorandum of Association or Bye-Laws of the Company after the date on which he became a shareholder, if and so far as the alteration requires him to take, or subscribe for additional shares, or in any way increases his liability to contribute to the share capital of, or otherwise to pay money to, the Company.
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NORDIC AMERICAN TANKERS LIMITED
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[Ÿ] 2013
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5.
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The entries and filings shown in respect of the Company on the file of the Company maintained in the Register of Companies at the office of the Registrar of Companies in Hamilton, Bermuda, as revealed by a search on [Ÿ] 2013 (the "Company Search");
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6.
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Copies of the Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum of Association and Bye-laws for the Company (collectively referred to as the "Constitutional Documents");
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7.
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A certified copy of the Unanimous Written Consent adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company effective 14 March 2013 (the "Resolutions"); and
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8.
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A copy of the Registration Statement on Form F-3, dated 18 March 2013, as amended on June 28, 2013 and as further amended on [Ÿ], 2013, under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Registration Statement").
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![]() |
Nordic
American
Tankers
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August 23, 2013 | |
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●
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should the Commission or the Staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the filing effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing;
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●
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the action of the Commission or the Staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, in declaring the filing effective, does not relieve the Company from its full responsibility for the adequacy of the disclosure in the filing; and
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●
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the Company may not assert Staff comments and the declaration of effectiveness as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.
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Yours faithfully,
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NORDIC AMERICAN TANKERS LTD.
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By:
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/s/ Herbjørn Hansson
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Name:
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Herbjørn Hansson
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Title:
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Chairman & CEO
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