EX-3.5 4 d698906_ex3-5.txt Exhibit 3.5 ================================================================================ AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF EAGLE SHIPPING INTERNATIONAL (USA) LLC A Marshall Islands Limited Liability Company ================================================================================ TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 DEFINED TERMS........................................................1 2 ORGANIZATION.........................................................2 2.1 Formation...................................................2 2.2 Name........................................................3 2.3 Purpose.....................................................3 2.4 Registered Office; Registered Agent.........................3 2.5 Principal Office............................................3 2.6 Term........................................................3 2.7 Authorized LLC Shares; Vote.................................3 3 CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS................................................4 3.1 Capital Contributions.......................................4 3.2 No Interest on Capital Contributions........................4 4 MANAGEMENT...........................................................4 4.1 Management By Member........................................4 4.2 Delegation of Authority and Duties..........................5 5 LIABILITY, EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION...........................6 5.1 Liability...................................................6 5.2 Exculpation.................................................6 5.3 Indemnification.............................................7 5.4 Expenses....................................................7 5.5 Severability................................................7 5.6 No Third Party Rights.......................................7 6 DISTRIBUTIONS........................................................8 6.1 Distributions/Available Cash................................8 7 BOOKS AND RECORDS; FISCAL YEAR; TAX MATTERS..........................8 7.1 Books and Records...........................................8 7.2 Fiscal Year.................................................8 7.3 Tax Matters.................................................8 8 MISCELLANEOUS........................................................8 8.1 Complete Agreement..........................................8 8.2 Governing Law...............................................8 8.3 Headings....................................................9 8.4 Severability................................................9 8.5 Amendment...................................................9 Schedule 1: Ownership of LLC Shares AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT This Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement (the "Agreement") of EAGLE SHIPPING INTERNATIONAL (USA) LLC (the "Company"), is made and entered into effective as of the 29th day of August, 2006, by and among (i) the Company and (ii) Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the "Member"). RECITALS WHEREAS, the Member desires to amend and restate the Company's existing Limited Liability Company Agreement providing for the management of the Company and its affairs and for the conduct of its business. NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed as follows: 1 DEFINED TERMS The terms used in this Agreement, with their initial letters capitalized, shall, unless the context thereof otherwise requires, have the meanings specified in this Article 1. The singular shall include the plural and the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter, and vice versa, as the context requires. When used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below: (a) "Act" shall mean the Limited Liability Company Act of 1996 of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as the same may be amended from time to time. (b) "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to a specified Person, any Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the specified Person. As used in this definition, the term "control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. (c) "Agreement" shall mean this Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement as originally executed and as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. (d) "Amendment" shall mean the certificate of amendment of the Certificate of Eagle Shipping filed pursuant to the Act with the Republic of the Marshall Islands Registrar of Corporations pursuant to which the name of the Company was changed from Eagle Shipping LLC to Eagle Shipping International (USA) LLC. (e) "Business" shall mean engaging in any lawful business, purpose or activity permitted by the Act. (f) "Certificate" shall mean the Certificate of Formation filed pursuant to the Act with the Republic of the Marshall Islands Registrar of Corporations pursuant to which Eagle Shipping was organized as a Marshall Islands limited liability company. (g) "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble. (h) "Covered Person" means the Member, an Affiliate of the Member, any officer, director, shareholder, partner, member, employee, representative or agent of the Member or any of their respective Affiliates, or any current or former officer, employee or agent of the Company or any of its Affiliates. (i) "Eagle Shipping" shall mean Eagle Shipping LLC, the predecessor name of the Company as set forth in the Certificate. (j) "LLC Shares" shall mean the aggregate limited liability company interests of the Company authorized to be issued pursuant to this Agreement. (k) "Member" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall have the same meaning as the term "member" under the Act. (l) "Officers" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2 of this Agreement. (m) "Person" shall mean a natural person, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, estate, unincorporated association, limited liability company, or any other juridical entity. 2 ORGANIZATION 2.1 Formation. Eagle Shipping was formed as a limited liability company under the Act on January 26, 2005 by the filing of the Certificate with the office of the Marshall Islands Registrar of Corporations. The name set forth in the Certificate was changed by the filing of the Amendment with the office of the Marshall Islands Registrar of Corporations on March 7, 2005. Any and all actions in connection with such formation and change of name are hereby ratified, confirmed and approved. 2.2 Name. The name of the Company formed by the filing of the Certificate, as amended by the Amendment, is "Eagle Shipping International (USA) LLC" and all Business of the Company shall be conducted in the name set forth in the Certificate, as amended by the Amendment, or such other names that comply with applicable law as the Member may from time to time designate. 2.3 Purpose. The purpose for which the Company is established is to engage in the Business and in any lawful activity permitted by the Act as the Company may deem necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, convenient or incidental to or for the furtherance of the Business. 2.4 Registered Office; Registered Agent. The registered office of the Company required by the Act to be maintained in the Republic of the Marshall Islands shall be the office of the initial registered agent named in the Certificate or such other office as the Member may designate from time to time in the manner provided by law. The registered agent of the Company in the Republic of the Marshall Islands shall be the initial registered agent named in the Certificate or such other person or persons as the Member may designate from time to time in the manner provided by law. 2.5 Principal Office. The principal office of the Company shall be the Company's registered office except as otherwise may be determined by the Member. 2.6 Term. The Company commenced its existence on the date the Certificate was accept for filing by the Registrar of Corporations, and shall have perpetual existence unless the Company is dissolved in accordance with the Act. 2.7 Authorized LLC Shares; Vote (a) The aggregate number of LLC Shares of the Company authorized to be issued pursuant to this Agreement is one hundred (100). (b) The Member's ownership of LLC Shares in the Company is set forth in Schedule 1 hereto. (c) Each LLC Share owned by a Member shall entitle the Member to one (1) vote on any matter brought before the Members for a vote. The Member shall own all of the LLC Shares issued and outstanding. 3 CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS 3.1 Capital Contributions. The Member shall contribute such sums and/or assets as it, in its sole discretion, shall deem necessary or appropriate to enable the Company to carry out its Business. 3.2 No Interest on Capital Contributions. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Member shall not receive any interest on its capital contributions to the Company. 4 MANAGEMENT 4.1 Management By Member. The management of the Company shall be vested exclusively in the Member. The Member, in its capacity as sole Member, may make all decisions and take all actions for the Company as in its sole discretion it shall deem necessary or appropriate to enable the Company to carry out the purposes for which the Company was formed including, without limitation, the following: (a) entering into, making and performing contracts, agreements, undertakings and guarantees of whatsoever kind and nature in the name and on behalf of the Company; (b) setting aside reserves, opening and maintaining bank and investment accounts and arrangements, drawing checks and other orders for the payment of money, and designating individuals with authority to sign or give instructions with respect to those accounts and arrangements; (c) selling, conveying, mortgaging, pledging, exchanging and disposing of property; (d) incurring liabilities, borrowing money, issuing notes, bonds and other obligations and securing any of the Company's obligations by mortgage or pledge of any of the Company's property or income; (e) collecting sums due to the Company; bringing and defending on behalf of the Company actions and proceedings at law or in equity before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or commission or otherwise; (f) selecting, removing, and changing the authority and responsibility of lawyers, auditors and other advisers and consultants; (g) issuing Powers of Attorney in favor of such persons as it may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out and implement any decisions made or actions taken on behalf of the Company pursuant to this Section 4.1; and (h) the adoption of such resolutions, including by unanimous written consent, as it may deem necessary or appropriate to approve any decisions made or actions taken on behalf of the Company pursuant to this Section 4.1. Any correspondence sent by the Member, in its capacity as sole Member, on behalf of the Company and any agreements, contracts, undertakings, Powers of Attorney or other documents executed by the Member, in its capacity as sole Member, on behalf of the Company shall be signed by the Member as follows: EAGLE SHIPPING INTERNATIONAL (USA) LLC By: EAGLE BULK SHIPPING INC., its Sole Member By: ______________________________________ (Authorized Signatory) 4.2 Delegation of Authority and Duties. (a) Subject to the provisions of the next sentence, the Member hereby may, from time to time as it deems advisable, appoint and elect a President (who shall also be Chief Executive Officer), a Treasurer (who shall also be Chief Financial Officer), a Secretary and such other officer positions assigned to individuals (collectively, the "Officers"). Following the date hereof, the President shall have the right to appoint and elect the Officers of the corporation, subject to the prior approval of the Member (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld). Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. Unless otherwise provided in an employment or services agreement between the Company and such Officer, the Member, in its capacity as sole Member, may remove or replace any Officer at any time, with or without cause. (b) Unless the Member decides otherwise or unless otherwise provided in an employment or services agreement between the Company and such Officer, if the title of any person authorized to act on behalf of the Company under this Section 4.2 is one commonly used for officers of a business corporation formed under the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act, the assignment of such title shall constitute the delegation to such person of the authority and duties that are normally associated with that office, subject to any specific delegation of, or restriction on, authority and duties made pursuant to this Section 4.2. Unless otherwise provided in an employment or services agreement between the Company and such Officer, any delegation or restriction pursuant to this Section 4.2(b) may be revoked at any time by the Member, with or without cause. (c) Any person dealing with the Company may rely upon the authority of the Member, in its capacity as sole Member, or any Officer appointed in Section 4.2(a) or otherwise designated in writing as such by the Member in accordance with this Section 4.2 in taking any action in the name of the Company without inquiry into the provisions of this Agreement or compliance herewith. (d) Unless authorized to do so by this Agreement or the Member, in its capacity as sole Member, no Officer, agent or employee of the Company shall have any power or authority to bind the Company in any way, to pledge its credit, or to render it liable pecuniarily for any purpose. (e) The Member hereby appoints the following persons as officers of the Company, effective as of the date hereof: Sophocles N. Zoullas President and Chief Executive Officer Alan S. Ginsberg Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer 5 LIABILITY, EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION 5.1 Liability. Except as otherwise provided by the Act, all debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company (including, without limitation, under a judgment, decree or order of a court), whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and no Covered Person shall be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being a Covered Person. 5.2 Exculpation. No Covered Person shall be liable to the Company or any other Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Covered Person in good faith on behalf of the Company and in a manner believed to be within the scope of authority conferred on such Covered Person by this Agreement, except that a Covered Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Covered Person's gross negligence, willful misconduct or willful breach of this Agreement. 5.3 Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Covered Person from and against any and all losses, claims, demands, liabilities, expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits, proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which the Covered Person may be involved, or threatened to be involved; as a party or otherwise, by reason of its management of the affairs of the Company or which relates to or arises out of the Company or its property, business or affairs, except that no Covered Person shall be entitled to such indemnification with respect to any loss, damage or claim incurred by such Covered Person by reason of such Covered Person's gross negligence, willful misconduct or willful breach of this Agreement; provided, that any indemnity under this Section 5.3 shall be provided out of and to the extent of Company assets only, and no Covered Person shall have any personal liability on account thereof. 5.4 Expenses. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees, disbursements, fines and amounts paid in settlement) incurred by a Covered Person in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding relating to or arising out of their performance of their duties on behalf of the Company shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Covered Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in Section 5.3. 5.5 Severability. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, if any portion of this Article 5 shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify each Covered Person as to costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including an action by or in the right of the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article 5 that shall not have been invalidated. 5.6 No Third Party Rights. Except as expressly provided herein, none of the provisions of this Article 5 shall be deemed to create or grant any rights in favor of any third party, including, without limitation, any right of subrogation in favor of any insurer or surety. The rights of indemnification granted hereunder shall survive the dissolution, winding up and termination of the Company. 6 DISTRIBUTIONS 6.1 Distributions/Available Cash. The Member, in its capacity as sole Member, shall in its sole discretion determine from time to time to what extent (if any) the Company's cash on hand exceeds the current and anticipated needs of the Company. To the extent any such excess exists, the Member may make distributions to itself as sole Member, subject to Section 40 of the Act. 7 BOOKS AND RECORDS; FISCAL YEAR; TAX MATTERS 7.1 Books and Records. The books and records of the Company shall, at the cost and expense of the Company, be kept and cause to be kept by the Company at the principal office of the Company or at such other location as the Member may from time to time determine. 7.2 Fiscal Year. Unless otherwise determined by the Member, the Company's books and records shall be kept on a December 31 calendar year basis and shall reflect all Company transactions and be appropriate and adequate for conducting the Company's affairs. 7.3 Tax Matters. The Member intends and acknowledges that, for so long as it remains the sole Member of the Company, the Company shall be disregarded as a separate entity from the sole Member for U.S. federal income tax purposes and the Member shall file such elections with the U.S. tax authorities as may be required to assure such tax status as such. 8 MISCELLANEOUS 8.1 Complete Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the complete and exclusive statement of the agreement regarding the management and governance of the Company and it affairs and replaces and supersedes all prior agreements regarding the management and governance of the Company and its affairs. 8.2 Governing Law. This Agreement and the rights of the parties hereunder will be governed by, interpreted, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands without giving regard to principles of conflicts of law. 8.3 Headings. All headings herein are inserted only for convenience and ease of reference and are not to be considered in the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement. 8.4 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under the present or future laws effective during the term of this Agreement, such provision will be fully severable; this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part of this Agreement; and the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance from this Agreement. Furthermore, in lieu of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision, there will be added automatically as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be legal, valid and enforceable. 8.5 Amendment. All amendments to this Agreement must be in writing and signed by the Company and all of the Members. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Member and the Company have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first set forth above. EAGLE BULK SHIPPING INC. By: /s/ Sophocles N. Zoullas -------------------------- Name: Sophocles N. Zoullas Title: President and Chief Executive Officer EAGLE SHIPPING INTERNATIONAL (USA) LLC By: Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc., its sole member By: /s/ Sophocles N. Zoullas -------------------------- Name: Sophocles N. Zoullas Title: President and Chief Executive Officer Schedule 1 ---------- Member's Ownership of LLC Shares -------------------------------- Member LLC Shares ------ ---------- Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. 100.0 ------------- Total LLC Shares 100.0