EX-4.4 5 c76714_ex4-4.htm

Exhibit 4.4

 

Safety Management Overseas S.A.
32 Avenue K. Karamanli
P.O. Box 70837
16605 Voula
Athens, Greece

 

February 25, 2014

 

Safe Bulkers, Inc.
32 Avenue K. Karamanli
P.O. Box 70837
16605 Voula
Athens, Greece

 

Re: Amendment No. 3 to Management Agreement

 

To Whom It May Concern:

 

Reference is hereby made to the attached Management Agreement (the “Management Agreement”), dated as of May 29, 2008, as amended thereafter, by and between Safe Bulkers, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands (the “Parent”), and Safety Management Overseas S.A., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Panama (the “Manager”).

 

1.In accordance with Section 18.1 of the Management Agreement, the Parent and the Manager hereby amend the Management Agreement by replacing in its entirety clause (b) of Section 12.4 thereto with the following:

 

“(b) Subject to Section 4.10, the Manager may engage in Manager Competitive Activities pursuant to its involvement with the Parent and with respect to the following: (i) Drybulk Vessels that are owned or operated (which includes chartering−in activities) by the Hajioannou Entities or the children of Polys Hajioannou and (ii) Drybulk Vessel Businesses that are acquired, invested in or controlled by the Hajioannou Entities or the children of Polys Hajioannou, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), subject to compliance with, or waivers of, the Hajioannou Restrictive Covenant Agreement and the Other Restrictive Covenant Agreements, as applicable.”

 

2.Except as expressly amended or modified by this letter agreement, the Management Agreement shall continue and remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

 

3.This letter agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of England.
 
4.(a)Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this letter agreement shall be referred to arbitration in London in accordance with the Arbitration Act 1996 or any statutory modification or reenactment thereof save to the extent necessary to give effect to the provisions of this Section 4. The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) Terms current at the time when the arbitration proceedings are commenced.

 

(b)The reference shall be to three arbitrators. If a party wishes to refer a dispute to arbitration, that party shall appoint its arbitrator and send notice of such appointment in writing to the other party requiring the other party to appoint its own arbitrator within 14 calendar days of that notice and stating that it will appoint its arbitrator as sole arbitrator unless the other party appoints its own arbitrator and gives notice that it has done so within the 14 days specified. If the other party does not appoint its own arbitrator and give notice that it has done so within the 14 days specified, the party referring a dispute to arbitration may, without the requirement of any further prior notice to the other party, appoint its arbitrator as sole arbitrator and shall advise the other party accordingly. The award of a sole arbitrator shall be binding on both parties as if he had been appointed by agreement. Nothing herein shall prevent the parties agreeing in writing to vary these provisions to provide for the appointment of a sole arbitrator.

 

5.This letter agreement may not be amended, waived or discharged except by an instrument in writing executed by the party against whom enforcement of such amendment, waiver or discharge is sought.

 

6.This letter agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

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If the foregoing is acceptable to you, please sign and return a copy of this letter, whereupon it will constitute a binding amendment to the Management Agreement.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  SAFETY MANAGEMENT OVERSEAS S.A.
   
  By: /s/ George Papadorpoulos  
  Name: George Papadorpoulos
  Title: President

 

Accepted and agreed to as of the date first written above by:

 

SAFE BULKERS, INC.  
   
By: /s/ Loukas Barmparis  
Name: Loukas Barmparis  
Title: President  

 

[Signature Page - Amendment to the Management Agreement]