EX-10.12 17 d718227dex1012.htm EX-10.12 EX-10.12

Exhibit 10.12

Date 23 OCTOBER 2008

FIORANO SHIPHOLDING LIMITED

as Borrower

– and –

THE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

listed in Schedule 1

as Lenders

– and –

THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA

as Agent

and as Security Trustee

 

 

LOAN AGREEMENT

 

 

relating to a

facility of up to US$76,000,000 to finance a newbuilding suezmax

tanker of about 158,000 dwt having Hull No. 1893 at Samsung

Watson, Farley & Williams

London


INDEX

 

Clause    Page  

1

 

INTERPRETATION

     1   

2

 

FACILITY

     14   

3

 

POSITION OF THE LENDERS

     15   

4

 

DRAWDOWN

     16   

5

 

INTEREST

     17   

6

 

INTEREST PERIODS

     19   

7

 

DEFAULT INTEREST

     19   

8

 

REPAYMENT AND PREPAYMENT

     20   

9

 

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     22   

10

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     23   

11

 

GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS

     25   

12

 

CORPORATE UNDERTAKINGS

     29   

13

 

INSURANCE

     30   

14

 

SHIP COVENANTS

     33   

15

 

SECURITY COVER

     36   

16

 

PAYMENTS AND CALCULATIONS

     37   

17

 

APPLICATION OF RECEIPTS

     39   

18

 

APPLICATION OF EARNINGS

     39   

19

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     40   

20

 

FEES AND EXPENSES

     44   

21

 

INDEMNITIES

     45   

22

 

NO SET-OFF OR TAX DEDUCTION

     47   

23

 

ILLEGALITY, ETC

     48   

24

 

INCREASED COSTS

     48   

25

 

SET-OFF

     50   

26

 

TRANSFERS AND CHANGES IN LENDING OFFICES

     50   


27

 

VARIATIONS AND WAIVERS

     54   

28

 

NOTICES

     55   

29

 

SUPPLEMENTAL

     57   

30

 

LAW AND JURISDICTION

     57   

SCHEDULE 1 LENDERS AND COMMITMENTS

     59   

SCHEDULE 2 DRAWDOWN NOTICE

     60   

SCHEDULE 3 CONDITION PRECEDENT DOCUMENTS

     61   

SCHEDULE 4 TRANSFER CERTIFICATE

     64   

SCHEDULE 5 MANDATORY COST

     66   

EXECUTION PAGE

     69   


THIS AGREEMENT is made on 23 OCTOBER 2008

BETWEEN

 

(1) FIORANO SHIPHOLDING LIMITED, a company incorporated in Hong Kong whose registered office is at Room 3206, 32nd Floor, Lippo Centre, Tower Two, No. 89 Queensway, Hong Kong (the “Borrower”);

 

(2) THE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Schedule 1, as Lenders;

 

(3) THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as Agent; and

 

(4) THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as Security Trustee.

BACKGROUND

The Lenders have agreed to make available to the Borrower a facility of up to $76,000,000 (comprising Loan Amount A and the Charter Top-Up Amount) for the purpose of part financing the purchase price of the Ship to be constructed by the Builder for, and purchased by, the Borrower.

IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1 INTERPRETATION

 

1.1 Definitions. Subject to Clause 1.5, in this Agreement:

Account Bank” means Scotiabank Europe plc acting through its office at Scotia House, 33 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1BB, England;

Account Security Deed” means a deed creating security in respect of the Earnings Account in the Agreed Form;

Advance” means the principal amount of each borrowing by the Borrower under this Agreement;

Agency and Trust Agreement” means the agency and trust agreement dated the same date as this Agreement and made between the same parties;

Agent” means The Bank of Nova Scotia, a company registered in Canada and acting in such capacity through its office at Scotia House, 33 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1BB, England, or any successor of it appointed under clause 5 of the Agency and Trust Agreement;

Agreed Form” means in relation to any document, that document in the form approved in writing by the Agent (acting with the instructions of all the Lenders) and mutually agreed with the Borrower or as otherwise approved in accordance with any other approval procedure specified in any relevant provision of any Finance Document;

Approved Flag” means Greek flag or such other flag as the Agent (acting with the authorisation of all the Lenders) may approve as the flag on which the Ship shall be registered at delivery;

Approved Manager” means Guarantor B or any of its subsidiaries or any other company incorporated by the Borrower with the prior written consent of the Agent (acting with the authorisations of the Majority Lenders) not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed;


Availability Period” means the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on:

 

  (a) the Final Availability Date; or

 

  (b) if earlier, the date on which the Total Commitments are fully borrowed, cancelled or terminated;

Bretta Tankers” means Bretta Tankers Holdings Inc. a company incorporated in Panama and having its registered office at 16th Floor, 53rd Street, Urbanization Marbella, MMG Tower, Panama, Republic of Panama;

Builder” means Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., a company incorporated in the Republic of Korea whose registered office is at Samsung Life Insurance Seocho Tower 1321-15, Seocho-Dong, Seocho-Gu, Seoul, Korea;

Business Day” means a day on which banks are open in London, Brussels, Dublin and in Monaco and, in respect of a day on which a payment is required to be made under a Finance Document, also in New York City;

Charter” means any time charter in respect of the Ship which satisfies the requirements of Clause 2.4(a);

Charter Assignment” means an assignment of any Charter and any supporting guarantee for the Charter (if any) in the Agreed Form;

Charter Top-Up Amount” means an amount which, in addition to the scheduled amortisation of Loan Amount A, will amortise to zero from the Earnings in the fixed period of the Charter (without any extensions) Provided that the aggregate of Loan Amount A and the Charter Top-Up Amount shall not exceed the lesser of (i) $76,000,000 and (ii) 80 per cent. of the Market Value on the Delivery Date;

Commitment” means, in relation to a Lender, the amount set opposite its name in Schedule 1, or, as the case may require, the amount specified in the relevant Transfer Certificate, as that amount may be reduced, cancelled or terminated in accordance with this Agreement;

Contract Price” means the contract price payable by the Borrower to the Builder under the Shipbuilding Contract which, at the date of this Agreement, is $95,830,000;

Contractual Currency” has the meaning given in Clause 21.4;

Contribution” means, in relation to a Lender, the part of the Loan which is owing to that Lender;

Counter Guarantee” means the counter guarantee of the Counter Guarantor in the Agreed Form;

Counter Guarantor” means the company nominated by the Borrower and accepted by the Agent (acting with the authority of the Lenders) in the Guarantee Nomination Letter as the company to provide the Counter Guarantee;

Creditor Party” means the Agent, the Security Trustee or any Lender, whether as at the date of this Agreement or at any later time;

Delivery Date” means the date on which the Ship is delivered to, and accepted by, the Borrower under the Shipbuilding Contract;

 

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Dollars” and “$” means the lawful currency for the time being of the United States of America;

Drawdown Date” means, in relation to each Advance, the date requested by the Borrower for the Advance to be made, or (as the context requires) the date on which the Advance is actually made;

Drawdown Notice” means a notice in the form set out in Schedule 2 (or in any other form which the Agent approves or reasonably requires);

Earnings” means all moneys whatsoever which are now, or later become, payable (actually or contingently) to the Borrower or the Security Trustee and which arise out of the use or operation of the Ship, including (but not limited to):

 

  (a) except to the extent that they fall within paragraph (b);

 

  (i) all freight, hire and passage moneys;

 

  (ii) compensation payable to the Borrower or the Security Trustee in the event of requisition of the Ship for hire;

 

  (iii) remuneration for salvage and towage services;

 

  (iv) demurrage and detention moneys;

 

  (v) damages for breach (or payments for variation or termination) of any charterparty or other contract for the employment of the Ship; and

 

  (vi) all moneys which are at any time payable under any Insurances in respect of any loss; and

 

  (b) if and whenever the Ship is employed on terms whereby any moneys falling within paragraphs (a)(i) to (vi) are pooled or shared with any other person, that proportion of the net receipts of the relevant pooling or sharing arrangement which is attributable to the Ship;

Earnings Account” means an account in the name of the Borrower with the Account Bank in London designated “FIORANO SHIPHOLDING - Earnings Account”, or any other account (with that or another office of the Account Bank or with a bank or financial institution other than the Account Bank) which is designated by the Agent as the Earnings Account for the purposes of this Agreement;

Environmental Claim” means:

 

  (a) any claim by any governmental, judicial or regulatory authority which arises out of an Environmental Incident or an alleged Environmental Incident or which relates to any Environmental Law; or

 

  (b) any claim by any other person which relates to an Environmental Incident or to an alleged Environmental Incident,

and “claim” means a claim for damages, compensation, fines, penalties or any other payment of any kind whether or not similar to the foregoing; an order or direction to take, or not to take, certain action or to desist from or suspend certain action; and any form of enforcement or regulatory action, including the arrest or attachment of any asset;

 

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Environmental Incident” means:

 

  (a) any release of Environmentally Sensitive Material from the Ship; or

 

  (b) any incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released from a vessel other than the Ship and which involves a collision between the Ship and such other vessel or some other incident of navigation or operation, in either case, in connection with which the Ship is actually or reasonably likely to be arrested, attached, detained or injuncted and/or the Ship and/or the Borrower and/or any operator or manager of the Ship is at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action; or

 

  (c) any other incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released otherwise than from the Ship and in connection with which the Ship is actually or reasonably likely to be arrested and/or where the Borrower and/or any operator or manager of the Ship is at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action;

Environmental Law” means any law relating to pollution or protection of the environment, to the carriage of Environmentally Sensitive Material or to actual or threatened releases of Environmentally Sensitive Material;

Environmentally Sensitive Material” means oil, oil products and any other substance (including any chemical, gas or other hazardous or noxious substance) which is (or is capable of being or becoming) polluting, toxic or hazardous;

Euronav Hong Kong” means Euronav Hong Kong Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong and having its registered office at Room 3206, 32nd Floor, Lippo Centre, Tower Two, No. 89 Queensway, Hong Kong;

Event of Default” means any of the events or circumstances described in Clause 19.1;

Fee Letter” means any letter or letters dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Agent and the Borrower setting out any of the fees referred to in Clause 20;

Final Availability Date” means:

 

  (a) 26 February 2012; or

 

  (b) in the event of arbitration proceedings in connection with the Shipbuilding Contract, with the prior consent of the Agent (with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders) which is not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, the day falling 365 days after the commencement of such arbitration (if later than 26 February 2012); or

 

  (c) such later date as the Agent (with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders) may agree in writing

Provided that any such extension under paragraphs (b) or (c) shall not extend beyond the expiry of the Refund Guarantee;

Finance Documents” means:

 

  (a) this Agreement;

 

  (b) the Agency and Trust Agreement;

 

  (c) the Guarantees;

 

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  (d) the Predelivery Security Assignment;

 

  (e) the General Assignment;

 

  (f) the Charter Assignment (if any);

 

  (g) the Mortgage;

 

  (h) the Account Security Deed;

 

  (i) the Counter Guarantee;

 

  (j) the Negative Pledge;

 

  (k) the Fee Letter;

 

  (l) any Transfer Certificate;

 

  (m) the Guarantee Nomination Letter;

 

  (n) any other document (whether creating a Security Interest or not) which is executed at any time by the Borrower 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 Lenders under this Agreement and/or any of the other documents referred to in this definition; and

 

  (o) any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Borrower;

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 or dematerialised equivalent 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;

 

  (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;

General Assignment” means a general assignment of the Earnings, the Insurances and any Requisition Compensation in the Agreed Form;

Guarantee A” means a guarantee of Guarantor A in the Agreed Form;

Guarantee B” means a guarantee of Guarantor B in the Agreed Form;

 

5


Guarantees” means, together, Guarantee A and Guarantee B;

Guarantee Nomination Letter” means the letter dated 27 OCTOBER 2008 nominating the Counter Guarantor as the company to provide the Counter Guarantee and made between the Agent, the Borrower and the Counter Guarantor;

Guarantor A” means J.M. Maritime Investments Inc., a company incorporated in Panama whose registered office is at Capital Plaza Building, Floor 8, Paseo Roberto Motta, Costa del Este, Panama City, Republic of Panama;

Guarantor B” means Euronav NV, a company incorporated in Belgium whose registered office is at de Gerlachekaai 20, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium;

Guarantors” means, together, Guarantor A and Guarantor B;

IFRS” means international accounting standards within the meaning of the IAS Regulations 1606/2002 to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements;

Insurances” means:

 

  (a) all policies and contracts of insurance, including entries of the Ship in any protection and indemnity or war risks association, which are effected in respect of the Ship, her Earnings or otherwise in relation to her; and

 

  (b) all rights and other assets relating to, or derived from, any of the foregoing, including any rights to a return of a premium;

Interest Period” means a period determined in accordance with Clause 6;

ISM Code” means the International Safety Management Code (including the guidelines on its implementation), adopted by the International Maritime Organisation, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time (and the terms “safety management system”, “Safety Management Certificate” and “Document of Compliance” have the same meanings as are given to them in the ISM Code);

ISPS Code” means the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code as adopted by the International Maritime Organisation, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time;

ISSC” means a valid and current International Ship Security Certificate issued under the ISPS Code;

Lender” means a bank or financial institution listed in Schedule 1 and acting through its branch indicated in Schedule 1 (or through another branch notified to the Borrower under Clause 26.14) or its transferee, successor or assign, which in each case has not ceased to be a party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

LIBOR” means, for an Interest Period:

 

  (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, the relevant Interest Period which appears on Reuters BBA Page LIBOR 01 at or about 11.00 a.m. (London time) on the Quotation Date for that Interest Period (and, for the purposes of this Agreement, “Reuters BBA Page LIBOR 01” means the display designated as “Page 01” on the Reuters Money News Service or such other page as may replace Page 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 the British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rates for Dollars);

 

6


  (b) if no rate is quoted on REUTERS BBA Page LIBOR 01, the rate per annum determined by the Agent to be the arithmetic mean (rounded upwards to 4 decimal places) of the rates, as supplied to the Agent at its request, quoted by each Reference Bank to leading banks in the London Interbank Market as of 11 a.m. (London time) on the Quotation Date for that period for the offering of deposits in the relevant currency and for a period comparable to that period;

Loan” means a loan made or to be made under this Agreement or the principal amount for the time being outstanding under this Agreement;

Loan Amount A” means an amount equal to the lesser of (i) $71,250,000 and (ii) 75 per cent. of the Market Value on the Delivery Date;

Major Casualty” means any casualty to the Ship in respect of which the claim or the aggregate of the claims against all insurers, before adjustment for any relevant franchise or deductible exceeds $5,000,000 or the equivalent in any other currency;

Majority Lenders” means:

 

  (a) before any Advance has been made, Lender or Lenders whose Commitments total more than 66.66 per cent. of the Total Commitments; and

 

  (b) at any other time, Lender or Lenders whose Contributions in the Loan outstanding total more than 66.66 per cent. of all the Loan then outstanding;

Mandatory Cost” means the percentage rate, which represents the cost to the Lenders, relative to the Loan, of compliance with the requirements of the Bank of England, the Financial Services Authority or any other regulatory authority, as determined by the Agent in accordance with the formula detailed in Schedule 5;

Margin” means:

 

  (a) 1.225 per cent. per annum; or

 

  (b) such other amount as may be agreed between the Lenders and the Borrower pursuant to Clause 2.5, which shall take effect as the applicable margin on the Margin Reset Date subject to the Lenders and the Borrower agreeing the amount of the new margin;

Margin Reset Date” means the earlier of:

 

  (a) the date falling 5 years after the Delivery Date; and

 

  (b) 26 February 2017;

Market Disruption Event” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 5.7(b);

Market Value” means the market value of the Ship as determined in accordance with Clause 15.3;

Maturity Date” means:

 

  (a) if the Agent requests the Borrower to prepay the Loan in accordance with Clause 8.9, the Margin Reset Date; or

 

  (b) if the Agent does not request the Borrower to prepay the Loan in accordance with Clause 8.9, the date falling 8 years after the Delivery Date or, if earlier, 26 February 2020;

 

7


Mortgage” means the first preferred Greek ship mortgage or the first priority statutory ship mortgage or first preferred ship mortgage and, if applicable, collateral deed of covenant in the form appropriate for the flag of the Ship in the event that the Approved Flag is not Greek flag in the Agreed Form;

Negative Pledge” means the negative pledge in relation to the shares of the Borrower to be executed by the Shareholders in favour of the Security Trustee in the Agreed Form;

Negotiation Period” has the meaning given in Clause 5.9;

Notifying Lender” has the meaning given in Clause 23.1 or Clause 24.1 as the context requires;

Payment Currency” has the meaning given in Clause 21.4;

Permitted Security Interests” means:

 

  (a) Security Interests created by the Finance Documents;

 

  (b) liens for unpaid master’s and crew’s wages in accordance with usual maritime practice;

 

  (c) liens for salvage;

 

  (d) liens arising by operation of law for not more than 2 months’ prepaid hire under any charter in relation to the Ship not prohibited by this Agreement;

 

  (e) liens for master’s disbursements incurred in the ordinary course of trading and any other lien arising by operation of law or otherwise in the ordinary course of the operation, repair or maintenance of the Ship or in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower, provided such liens do not secure amounts more than 30 days overdue (unless the overdue amount is being contested by the Borrower in good faith by appropriate steps) and subject, in the case of liens for repair or maintenance, to Clause 14.12(f);

 

  (f) any Security Interest created in favour of a plaintiff or defendant in any proceedings or arbitration as security for costs and expenses where the Borrower is actively prosecuting or defending such proceedings or arbitration in good faith; and

 

  (g) 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 Document” means:

 

  (a) any Finance Document;

 

  (b) any policy or contract of insurance contemplated by or referred to in Clause 13 or any other provision of this Agreement or another Finance Document;

 

  (c) any other document contemplated by or referred to in any Finance Document; and

 

  (d) any document which has been or is at any time sent by or to a Servicing Bank in contemplation of or in connection with any Finance Document or any policy, contract or document falling within paragraphs (b) or (c);

 

8


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 has the centre of its main interests or 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 branch or 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, whether as main or territorial or ancillary proceedings 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;

Pertinent Matter” means:

 

  (a) any transaction or matter contemplated by, arising out of, or in connection with a Pertinent Document; or

 

  (b) any statement relating to a Pertinent Document or to a transaction or matter falling within paragraph (a);

and covers any such transaction, matter or statement, whether entered into, arising or made at any time before the signing of this Agreement or on or at any time after that signing;

Potential Event of Default” means an event or circumstance which, with the giving of any notice, the lapse of time, a reasonable determination of the Majority Lenders and/or the satisfaction of any other condition, would constitute an Event of Default;

Predelivery Security Assignment” means an assignment in the Agreed Form of the Shipbuilding Contract, the Refund Guarantee and the Supervision Agreement;

Quotation Date” means, in relation to any Interest Period (or any other 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 Interest Period or other period;

Reference Banks” means, subject to Clause 26.16, the London, Dublin or Toronto (as the case may be) branches of each of the Lenders or such other banks as may be appointed by the Agent in consultation with the Borrower;

 

9


Refund Guarantee” means the guarantee dated 25 July 2008 (with guarantee number 11000078) issued by the Refund Guarantor in favour of the Borrower under the Shipbuilding Contract;

Refund Guarantor” means Kookmin Bank of 9-1, 2-Ga, Namdaemun-Ro, Jung-Gu, Seoul 100-703, Korea;

Relevant Interbank Market” means the London Interbank Market;

Relevant Person” has the meaning given in Clause 19.9;

Repayment Date” means a date on which a repayment is required to be made under Clause 8;

Requisition Compensation” includes all compensation or other moneys payable by reason of any act or event such as is referred to in paragraph (b) of the definition of “Total Loss”;

Secured Liabilities” means all monies from time to time due or owing, and all obligations and other actual or contingent liabilities incurred by the Borrower, the Security Parties or any of them to any Creditor Party, at the date of this Agreement or at any later time or times, in whatever currency, whether due, owing or incurred alone or jointly with others or as principal, surety or otherwise under or in connection with any Finance Document or any judgment relating to any Finance Document; and for this purpose, there shall be disregarded any total or partial discharge of these liabilities, or variation of their terms, which is effected by, or in connection with, any bankruptcy, liquidation, arrangement or other procedure under the insolvency laws of any country;

Security Interest” means:

 

  (a) a mortgage, charge (whether fixed or floating) or pledge, any maritime or other lien 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 Guarantors, the Counter Guarantor, each Shareholder and any other person (except a Creditor Party) 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 definition of “Finance Documents”;

Security Period” means the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on the date on which the Agent notifies the Borrower, the Security Parties and the Creditor Parties that:

 

  (a) all amounts which have become due for payment by the Borrower 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;

 

10


  (c) neither the Borrower nor any Security Party has any future or contingent liability under Clause 20, 21 or 22 or any other provision of this Agreement or another Finance Document; and

 

  (d) the Agent, the Security Trustee and the Majority Lenders do 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 the Borrower 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;

Security Trustee” means The Bank of Nova Scotia, a company incorporated in Canada and acting in such capacity through its office at Scotia House, 33 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1BB, England or any successor of it appointed under clause 5 of the Agency and Trust Agreement;

Servicing Bank” means the Agent or the Security Trustee;

Shareholders” means Bretta Tankers and Euronav Hong Kong;

Ship” means the Suezmax tanker with hull no. 1893 of 158,000 dwt which is to be constructed by the Builder for, and purchased by, the Borrower under the Shipbuilding Contract and upon delivery registered in the name of the Borrower under an Approved Flag;

Shipbuilding Contract” means the Shipbuilding Contract dated 25 July 2008 made between the Builder and the Borrower for the construction by the Builder of the Ship and its purchase by the Borrower as supplemented and amended from time to time;

Supervision Agreement” means the agreement dated 17 September 2008 in respect of the supervision of the construction of the Ship between the Supervisor and the Borrower;

Supervisor” means Guarantor B or any of its subsidiaries with the prior written consent of the Agent (acting with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders) not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed;

Total Commitments” means the aggregate of the Commitments of all the Lenders being the Loan Amount A plus, if such amount is made available pursuant to Clause 2.4, the Charter Top-Up Amount;

Total Loss” means:

 

  (a) actual, constructive, compromised, agreed or arranged total loss of the Ship;

 

  (b) any expropriation, confiscation, requisition or acquisition of the Ship, whether for full consideration, a consideration less than its proper value, a nominal consideration or without any consideration, which is effected by any government or official authority or by any person or persons claiming to be or to represent a government or official authority (excluding a requisition for hire for a fixed period not exceeding 1 year without any right to an extension) unless it is within 3 months redelivered to the Borrower’s full control; and

 

  (c) any arrest, capture, seizure or detention of the Ship (including any hijacking or theft) unless it is within 3 months redelivered to the Borrower’s full control;

 

11


Total Loss Date” means:

 

  (a) in the case of an actual loss of the Ship, the date on which it occurred or, if that is unknown, the date when the Ship was last heard of;

 

  (b) in the case of a constructive, compromised, agreed or arranged total loss of the Ship, the earliest of:

 

  (i) the date on which a notice of abandonment is given to the insurers; and

 

  (ii) the date of any compromise, arrangement or agreement made by or on behalf of the Borrower with the Ship’s insurers in which the insurers agree to treat the Ship as a total loss; and

 

  (c) in the case of any other type of total loss, on the date (or the most likely date) on which it appears to the Agent that the event constituting the total loss occurred;

Transfer Certificate” has the meaning given in Clause 26.2; and

Trust Property” has the meaning given in clause 3.1 of the Agency and Trust Agreement.

 

1.2 Construction of certain terms. In this Agreement:

administration notice” means a notice appointing an administrator, a notice of intended appointment and any other notice which is required by law (generally or in the case concerned) to be filed with the court or given to a person prior to, or in connection with, the appointment of an administrator;

approved” means, for the purposes of Clause 13, approved in writing by the Agent;

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;

continuing” means, in relation to any Event of Default, the Event of Default has not been remedied to the satisfaction of, or waived by the Majority Lenders;

document” includes a deed; also a letter or fax;

excess risks” means the proportion of claims for general average, salvage and salvage charges not recoverable under the hull and machinery policies in respect of the Ship in consequence of its insured value being less than the value at which the Ship is assessed for the purpose of such claims;

expense” means 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 or resolution of the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the United Nations or its Security Council;

 

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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;

obligatory insurances” means all insurances effected, or which the Borrower is obliged to effect, under Clause 13 or any other provision of this Agreement or another Finance Document;

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;

protection and indemnity risks” means the usual risks covered by a protection and indemnity association managed in London, including pollution risks and the proportion (if any) of any sums payable to any other person or persons in case of collision which are not recoverable under the hull and machinery policies by reason of the incorporation in them of clause 6 of the International Hull Clauses (1/11/02 or 1/11/03), clause 8 of the Institute Time Clauses (Hulls) (1/11/1995) or clause 8 of the Institute Time Clauses (Hulls) (1/10/83) or the Institute Amended Running Down Clause (1/10/71) or any equivalent provision;

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;

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; and

war risks” includes the risk of mines and all risks excluded by clause 29 of the International Hull Clauses (1/11/02 or 1/11/03) or clause 24 of the Institute Time Clauses (Hulls)(1/11/95) or clause 23 of the Institute Time Clauses (Hulls) (1/10/83).

 

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.

 

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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 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;

 

(b) 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;

 

(c) words denoting the singular number shall include the plural and vice versa; and

 

(d) Clauses 1.1 to 1.5 apply unless the contrary intention appears.

 

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 FACILITY

 

2.1 Amount of facility. Subject to Clause 2.4 and the other provisions of this Agreement, the Lenders shall make available to the Borrower a term loan facility in an aggregate amount equal to the Total Commitments to enable the Borrower to finance its acquisition of the Ship by 5 Advances as follows:

 

(a) a first Advance of up to $14,250,000 to enable the Borrower to refinance the first pre-delivery instalment of the Contract Price under the Shipbuilding Contract paid to the Builder upon signing of the Shipbuilding Contract;

 

(b) a second Advance of up to $7,125,000 to enable the Borrower to meet the second pre-delivery instalment of the Contract Price under the Shipbuilding Contract to be paid to the Builder on the date falling 12 calendar months after the date of the Shipbuilding Contract;

 

(c) a third Advance of up to $7,125,000 to enable the Borrower to meet the third pre-delivery instalment of the Contract Price under the Shipbuilding Contract to be paid to the Builder upon keel laying;

 

(d) a fourth Advance of up to $7,125,000 to enable the Borrower to meet the fourth pre-delivery instalment of the Contract Price under the Shipbuilding Contract to be paid to the Builder upon launching;

 

(e) a fifth Advance of up to $35,625,000 to enable the Borrower to meet the final instalment of the Contract Price under the Shipbuilding Contract to be paid to the Builder upon delivery of the Ship.

 

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2.2 Lenders’ participations in Loan. Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, each Lender shall participate in each Advance in the proportion which, as at the relevant Drawdown Date, its Commitment bears to the Total Commitments. No Creditor Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any amount borrowed pursuant to this Agreement.

 

2.3 Purpose of Loan. The Borrower undertakes with each Creditor Party to use each Advance only for the purpose stated in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

2.4 Charter Top-Up Amount. The Lenders agree to also advance the Charter Top-Up Amount to the Borrower on the Delivery Date if requested to do so by the Borrower subject to the following conditions:

 

(a) the Borrower providing evidence that the Ship is or will be subject to a charter from the Delivery Date for a period not less than 3 years and on terms (including rates), and to a charterer, in each case acceptable to the Lenders in their absolute discretion; and

 

(b) the Borrower executes and delivers to the Agent the Charter Assignment (and each document to be delivered under it).

 

2.5 Margin renegotiation. The Borrower shall renegotiate the Margin with the Agent during the 3 month period commencing 6 months prior to the Margin Reset Date so as to agree a new Margin to apply with effect from the Margin Reset Date. If the Borrower and the Agent agree on a new Margin that shall be the Margin with effect from the Margin Reset Date throughout the remainder of the Security Period. If the Borrower and the Agent do not agree on a new Margin the Margin shall remain as 1.225 per cent. per annum unless the Agent requests the Borrower to repay the Loan in accordance with Clause 8.9.

 

3 POSITION OF THE LENDERS

 

3.1 Interests of Lenders several. The rights of the Lenders under this Agreement are several.

 

3.2 Individual Lender’s right of action. Subject to Clause 3.3, each Lender shall be entitled to sue for any amount which has become due and payable by the Borrower to it under this Agreement without joining the Agent, the Security Trustee or any other Lender as additional parties in the proceedings.

 

3.3 Proceedings by individual Lender requiring Majority Lender consent. No Lender may commence proceedings against the Borrower or any Security Party in connection with a Finance Document without the prior consent of the Majority Lenders.

 

3.4 Obligations of Lenders several. The obligations of the Lenders under this Agreement are several; and a failure of a Lender to perform its obligations under this Agreement shall not result in:

 

(a) the obligations of the other Lenders being increased; nor

 

(b) the Borrower, any Security Party or any other Lender being discharged (in whole or in part) from its obligations under any Finance Document,

and in no circumstances shall a Lender have any responsibility for a failure of another Lender to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

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4 DRAWDOWN

 

4.1 Request for Advance. Subject to the following conditions, the Borrower may request an Advance to be made by ensuring that the Agent receives a completed Drawdown Notice not later than 11.00 a.m. (London time) 3 Business Days prior to the intended Drawdown Date or such shorter period as the Agent and the Borrower mutually agree.

 

4.2 Availability. The conditions referred to in Clause 4.1 are that:

 

(a) a Drawdown Date has to be a Business Day within the Availability Period

 

(b) the amount of the Advance requested complies with Clause 2.1;

 

(c) each Advance in relation to Loan Amount A shall not exceed 75 per cent. of the amount of the instalment under the Shipbuilding Contract which is being financed by that Advance;

 

(d) the Charter Top-Up Amount shall only be available on the Delivery Date subject to Clause 2.4 and shall not exceed the amount referred to in the definition of Charter Top-Up Amount;

 

(e) the aggregate amount of the Advances shall not exceed the Total Commitments;

 

(f) the proposed Interest Period complies with Clause 6; and

 

(g) and the conditions set out in Clause 9.1 are met.

 

4.3 Notification to Lenders of receipt of a Drawdown Notice. The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders that it has received a Drawdown Notice and shall inform each Lender of:

 

(a) the amount of the Advance and the Drawdown Date;

 

(b) the amount of that Lender’s participation in the Advance; and

 

(c) the duration of the first Interest Period.

 

4.4 Drawdown Notice irrevocable. A Drawdown Notice must be signed by a director or officer or an authorised person of the Borrower; and once served, a Drawdown Notice cannot be revoked without the prior consent of the Agent, acting on the authorisation of the Majority Lenders.

 

4.5 Lenders to make available Contributions. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, and in particular Clause 9, each Lender shall, on and with value on each Drawdown Date, make available to the Agent for the account of the Borrower the amount due from that Lender on that Drawdown Date under Clause 2.2.

 

4.6 Disbursement of Advance. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Agent shall on each Drawdown Date pay to the Borrower the amounts which the Agent receives from the Lenders under Clause 4.5; and that payment to the Borrower shall be made:

 

(a) to the account of the Builder which the Borrower specifies in the Drawdown Notice; and

 

(b) in the like funds as the Agent received the payments from the Lenders.

 

4.7 Disbursement of Advance to third party. The payment by the Agent under Clause 4.6 to the Builder shall constitute the making of the Advance and the Borrower shall at that time become indebted, as principal and direct obligor, to each Lender in an amount equal to that Lender’s Contribution.

 

4.8 Cancellation of Total Commitments. The Total Commitments shall be immediately cancelled at the end of the Availability Period.

 

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5 INTEREST

 

5.1 Payment of normal interest. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, interest on the Loan in respect of each Interest Period shall be paid by the Borrower on the last day of that Interest Period.

 

5.2 Normal rate of interest. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the rate of interest on the Loan in respect of an Interest Period shall be the aggregate of:

 

(a) the Margin;

 

(b) the Mandatory Cost, if any; and

 

(c) LIBOR for that Interest Period.

 

5.3 Payment of accrued interest. In the case of an Interest Period longer than 3 months, accrued interest shall be paid every 3 months during that Interest Period and on the last day of that Interest Period.

 

5.4 Notification of Interest Periods and rates of normal interest. The Agent shall notify the Borrower and each Lender of:

 

(a) each rate of interest; and

 

(b) the duration of each Interest Period,

as soon as reasonably practicable after each is determined.

 

5.5 Obligation of Reference Banks to quote. A Lender which is a Reference Bank shall use all reasonable efforts to supply the quotation required of it for the purposes of fixing a rate of interest under this Agreement.

 

5.6 Absence of quotations by Reference Banks. If any Reference Bank fails to supply a quotation, the Agent shall determine the relevant LIBOR on the basis of the quotations supplied by the other Reference Bank or Banks; but if 2 or more of the Reference Banks fail to provide a quotation, the relevant rate of interest shall be set in accordance with the following provisions of this Clause 5.

 

5.7 Market disruption.

 

(a) If a Market Disruption Event occurs in relation to an Advance for any Interest Period, then the rate of interest on each Lender’s share of that Advance for the Interest Period shall be the percentage rate per annum which is the sum of:

 

  (i) the Margin;

 

  (ii) the rate notified to the Agent by that Lender as soon as practicable and in any event before interest is due to be paid in respect of that Interest Period, to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to that Lender of funding its participation in that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select; and

 

  (iii) the Mandatory Cost, if any, applicable to that Lender’s participation in the Advance.

 

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(b) In this Agreement “Market Disruption Event” means:

 

  (i) at or about noon on the Quotation Date for the relevant Interest Period the Reuters BBA Page LIBOR 01 is not available and none or only one of the Reference Banks supplies a rate to the Agent to determine LIBOR for dollars for the relevant Interest Period; or

 

  (ii) before close of business in London on the Quotation Date for the relevant Interest Period, the Agent receives notifications from a Lender or Lenders that the cost to it or them obtaining matching deposits in the Relevant Interbank Market would be in excess of LIBOR.

 

5.8 Notification of market disruption. The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and each of the Lenders stating the circumstances falling within Clause 5.7 which have caused its notice to be given.

 

5.9 Negotiation of alternative rate of interest. If the Agent’s notice under Clause 5.8 is served after an Advance is made, the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders shall use reasonable endeavours to agree, within the 30 days after the date on which the Agent serves its notice under Clause 5.8 (the “Negotiation Period”), an alternative interest rate or (as the case may be) an alternative basis for the Lenders to fund or continue to fund their or its Contribution during the Interest Period concerned.

 

5.10 Application of agreed alternative rate of interest. Any alternative interest rate or an alternative basis which is agreed during the Negotiation Period shall take effect in accordance with the terms agreed.

 

5.11 Alternative rate of interest in absence of agreement. If an alternative interest rate or alternative basis is not agreed within the Negotiation Period, and the relevant circumstances are continuing at the end of the Negotiation Period, then the Agent shall, with the agreement of each Lender, set an interest period and interest rate representing the cost of funding of the Lenders in Dollars or in any available currency of their or its Contribution plus the Margin; and the procedure provided for by this Clause 5.11 shall be repeated if the relevant circumstances are continuing at the end of the interest period so set by the Agent.

 

5.12 Notice of prepayment. If the Borrower does not agree with an interest rate set by the Agent under Clause 5.11, the Borrower may give the Agent not less than 15 Business Days’ notice of its intention to prepay at the end of the interest period set by the Agent.

 

5.13 Prepayment; termination of Commitments. A notice under Clause 5.12 shall be irrevocable; the Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of the Borrower’s notice of intended prepayment; and:

 

(a) on the date on which the Agent serves that notice, the Total Commitments shall be cancelled; and

 

(b) on the last Business Day of the interest period set by the Agent, the Borrower shall prepay (without premium or penalty) the Loan together with accrued interest thereon at the applicable rate plus the Margin.

 

5.14 Application of prepayment. The provisions of Clause 8 shall apply in relation to the prepayment made pursuant to Clause 5.12.

 

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6 INTEREST PERIODS

 

6.1 Commencement of Interest Periods. The first Interest Period applicable to an Advance shall commence on the Drawdown Date and each subsequent Interest Period shall commence on the expiry of the preceding Interest Period.

 

6.2 Duration of normal Interest Periods. Subject to Clauses 6.3 and 6.4, each Interest Period shall be:

 

(a) 3 or 6 months as notified by the Borrower to the Agent not later than 11.00 a.m. (London time) 3 Business Days before the commencement of the Interest Period; or

 

(b) in the case of the first Interest Period applicable to the second and any subsequent Advance, a period ending on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the first Advance then current, whereupon all of the Advances shall be consolidated and treated as a single Advance;

 

(c) 3 months, if the Borrower fails to notify the Agent by the time specified in paragraph (a); or

 

(d) such other period as the Agent may, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, agree with the Borrower.

 

6.3 Duration of Interest Periods for repayment instalments. In respect of an amount due to be repaid under Clause 8 on a particular Repayment Date, an Interest Period shall end on that Repayment Date.

 

6.4 Non-availability of matching deposits for Interest Period selected. If, after the Borrower has selected and the Lenders have agreed an Interest Period longer than 3 months, any Lender notifies the Agent by 11.00 a.m. (London time) on the third Business Day before the commencement of the Interest Period that it is not satisfied that deposits in Dollars for a period equal to the Interest Period will be available to it in the London Interbank Market when the Interest Period commences, the Interest Period shall be of 3 months.

 

7 DEFAULT INTEREST

 

7.1 Payment of default interest on overdue amounts. The Borrower shall pay interest in accordance with the following provisions of this Clause 7 on any amount payable by the Borrower under any Finance Document which the Agent, the Security Trustee or the other designated payee 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; or

 

(c) if such amount has become immediately due and payable under Clause 19.4, the date on which it became immediately due and payable.

 

7.2 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 Agent to be 1 per cent. above:

 

(a) in the case of an overdue amount of principal, the higher of the rates set out at Clauses 7.3(a) and (b); or

 

(b) in the case of any other overdue amount, the rate set out at Clause 7.3(b).

 

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7.3 Calculation of default rate of interest. The rates referred to in Clause 7.2 are:

 

(a) the rate applicable to the overdue principal amount immediately prior to the relevant date (but only for any unexpired part of any then current Interest Period);

 

(b) the Margin and the Mandatory Cost, if any, plus, in respect of successive periods of any duration (including at call) up to 3 months which the Agent may select from time to time:

 

  (i) LIBOR; or

 

  (ii) if the Agent (after consultation with the Reference Banks) determines that Dollar deposits for any such period are not being made available to any Reference Bank by leading banks in the London Interbank Market in the ordinary course of business, a rate from time to time determined by the Agent by reference to the cost of funds to the Reference Banks from such other sources as the Agent (after consultation with the Reference Banks) may from time to time determine.

 

7.4 Notification of interest periods and default rates. The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders and the Borrower of each interest rate determined by the Agent under Clause 7.3 and of each period selected by the Agent for the purposes of paragraph (b) of that Clause; but this shall not be taken to imply that the Borrower is liable to pay such interest only with effect from the date of the Agent’s notification.

 

7.5 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; and the payment shall be made to the Agent for the account of the Creditor Party to which the overdue amount is due.

 

7.6 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.

 

8 REPAYMENT AND PREPAYMENT

 

8.1 Amount of repayment instalments.

A. Loan Amount A. The Borrower shall repay Loan Amount A by equal consecutive quarterly instalments of $1,062,500 each together with a balloon instalment in an amount equal to the remaining amount of Loan Amount A payable simultaneously with the final instalment.

B. Charter Top-Up Amount. If the Charter Top-Up Amount is made available to the Borrower pursuant to Clause 2.4, the Borrower shall repay the Charter Top-Up Amount by quarterly equal instalments so as to amortise that amount to zero on the earlier of the Maturity Date and the expiry date (without any extensions) of the Charter.

The Agent shall provide the Borrower with a repayment schedule for the Charter Top-Up Amount promptly after receiving a Drawdown Notice for the Charter Top-Up Amount.

 

8.2 Repayment Dates. The first instalment in relation to Loan Amount A and the Charter Top-Up Amount shall be repaid on the date falling 3 months after the Delivery Date and the last instalment together with the balloon (i) in the case of Loan Amount A, on the Maturity Date and (ii) in the case of the Charter Top-Up Amount, the earlier of the Maturity Date and the expiry date (without any extensions) of the Charter.

 

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8.3 Maturity Date. On the Maturity Date, the Borrower shall additionally pay to the Agent for the account of the Creditor Parties all other sums then accrued or owing under any Finance Document.

 

8.4 Voluntary prepayment. Subject to the following conditions, the Borrower may, without penalty, prepay the whole or any part of the Loan on the last day of an Interest Period for that Advance.

 

8.5 Conditions for voluntary prepayment. The conditions referred to in Clause 8.4 are that:

 

(a) a partial prepayment shall be $500,000 or a multiple of $500,000 or such other amount agreed by the Agent;

 

(b) the Agent has received from the Borrower at least 5 Business Days’ prior written notice specifying the amount to be prepaid and the date on which the prepayment is to be made; and

 

(c) the Borrower has provided evidence satisfactory to the Agent that any consent required by the Borrower or any Security Party in connection with the prepayment has been obtained and remains in force, and that any requirement relevant to this Agreement which affects the Borrower or any Security Party has been complied with.

 

8.6 Effect of notice of prepayment. A prepayment notice may not be withdrawn or amended without the consent of the Agent, given with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, and the amount specified in the prepayment notice shall become due and payable by the Borrower on the date for prepayment specified in the prepayment notice.

 

8.7 Notification of notice of prepayment. The Agent shall notify the Lenders promptly upon receiving a prepayment notice, and shall provide any Lender which so requests with a copy of any document delivered by the Borrower under Clause 8.5(c).

 

8.8 Mandatory prepayment on sale or Total Loss or in relation to the Shipbuilding Contract. The Borrower shall be obliged to prepay the whole of the Loan:

 

(a) if the Ship is sold, on or before the date on which such sale is completed by delivery of the Ship to the buyer Provided that the Borrower shall not be required to prepay the Loan if the Ship is sold to a subsidiary of either Guarantor pursuant to the proviso to Clause 11.3.; or

 

(b) if the Ship becomes a Total Loss, on the earlier of the date falling 180 days after the Total Loss Date and the date of receipt by the Security Trustee of the proceeds of insurance relating to such Total Loss;

 

(c) if any of the following occurs, on demand by the Agent:

 

  (i) either the Shipbuilding Contract or the Refund Guarantee is cancelled, terminated, rescinded or suspended or otherwise ceases to remain in force for any reason; or

 

  (ii) the Shipbuilding Contract is materially amended or materially varied without the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders except for any such amendment or variation as is permitted by this Agreement or any other relevant Finance Document; or

 

  (iii) the Ship has not for any reason been delivered to, and accepted by, the Borrower under the Shipbuilding Contract by the date specified in Article III.5 of the Shipbuilding Contract as the date giving rise to the right of cancellation for excessive late delivery.

 

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8.9 Mandatory Prepayment on failing to agree new Margin. If the Borrower and the Agent fail to reach agreement on the new Margin to apply with effect from the Margin Reset Date, the Borrower shall prepay the Loan on the Margin Reset Date if requested to do so by the Agent.

 

8.10 Mandatory prepayment on termination or expiry of the Charter. The Borrower shall prepay the outstanding amount of the Charter Top-Up Amount if the Charter is terminated or otherwise cease to remain in full force and effect within 15 Business Days of the date of such termination or expiration.

 

8.11 Amounts payable on prepayment. A prepayment shall be made together with accrued interest (and any other amount payable under Clause 21 or otherwise) in respect of the amount prepaid and, if the prepayment is not made on the last day of an Interest Period together with any sums payable under Clause 21.1(b) but without premium or penalty. Unless such prepayment is made pursuant to Clause 8.10, any prepayment shall be applied first against Loan Amount A and then against the Charter Top-Up Amount.

 

8.12 Application of partial prepayment. Each partial prepayment shall be applied first against the balloon and then against the repayment instalments specified in Clause 8.1 in inverse order of maturity.

 

8.13 No reborrowing. No amount prepaid may be reborrowed.

 

9 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

9.1 Documents, fees and no default. Each Lender’s obligation to contribute to an Advance is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a) that, on or before the service of the first Drawdown Notice, the Agent receives the documents described in Part A of Schedule 3 in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its lawyers;

 

(b) that, on or before the first Drawdown Date for, but prior to the making of, an Advance (other than the final Advance), the Agent receives or is satisfied that it will receive on the making of such Advance the documents described in Part B of Schedule 3 in form and substance satisfactory to it and its lawyers;

 

(c) that before the final Drawdown Date for, but prior to the making of, the final Advance, the Agent receives or is satisfied that it will receive on the making of such Advance the documents described in Part C of Schedule 3 in form and substance satisfactory to it and its lawyers;

 

(d) that, on or before the service of the first Drawdown Notice, the Agent receives the arrangement fee referred to in Clause 20.1, all accrued commitment fee payable pursuant to Clause 20.1 and has received payment of the expenses referred to in Clause 20.2; and

 

(e) that both at the date of each Drawdown Notice and at each Drawdown Date:

 

  (i) no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred or would result from the borrowing of the Loan;

 

  (ii) the representations and warranties in Clause 10.1 and those of the Borrower 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; and

 

  (iii) none of the circumstances contemplated by Clause 5.7 has occurred and is continuing; and

 

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(f) that, if the ratio set out in Clause 15.1 were applied immediately following the making of the Advance, the Borrower would not be obliged to provide additional security or prepay part of the Loan under that Clause; and

 

(g) that the Agent has received, and found to be acceptable to it, any further opinions, consents, agreements and documents in connection with the Finance Documents which the Agent may, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, request by notice to the Borrower prior to the Drawdown Date.

 

9.2 Waiver of conditions precedent. If the Majority Lenders, at their discretion, permit an Advance to be borrowed before certain of the conditions referred to in Clause 9.1 are satisfied, the Borrower shall ensure that those conditions are satisfied within 5 Business Days after the Drawdown Date (or such longer period as the Agent may, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, specify).

 

10 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

10.1 General. The Borrower represents and warrants to each Creditor Party as follows.

 

10.2 Status. The Borrower is duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of Hong Kong.

 

10.3 Share capital and ownership. The Borrower has an authorised share capital of $10,000 divided into 10,000 shares of $1 each, two (2) of which shares have been issued fully paid, and the legal title and beneficial ownership of one (1) share is held free of any Security Interest or other claim by Bretta Tankers and the other one (1) share is held free of any Security Interest or other claim by Euronav Hong Kong.

 

10.4 Corporate power. The Borrower has the corporate capacity, and has taken all corporate action and obtained all consents necessary for it:

 

(a) to execute the Shipbuilding Contract, to purchase and pay for the Ship under the Shipbuilding Contract and register the Ship in its name under the Approved Flag;

 

(b) to execute the Finance Documents to which the Borrower is a party; and

 

(c) to borrow under this Agreement and to make all the payments contemplated by, and to comply with, those Finance Documents.

 

10.5 Consents in force. All the consents referred to in Clause 10.4 remain in force and nothing has occurred which makes any of them liable to revocation.

 

10.6 Legal validity; effective Security Interests. The Finance Documents to which the Borrower 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 the Borrower’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable against the Borrower 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.

 

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10.7 No third party Security Interests. Without limiting the generality of Clause 10.6, at the time of the execution and delivery of each Finance Document:

 

(a) the Borrower will have the right to create all the Security Interests which that Finance Document purports to create; and

 

(b) no third party will 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 any such Security Interest, by its terms, relates.

 

10.8 No conflicts. The execution by the Borrower of each Finance Document, and the borrowing by the Borrower of the Loan, and its compliance with each Finance Document will not involve or lead to a contravention of:

 

(a) any law or regulation; or

 

(b) the constitutional documents of the Borrower; or

 

(c) any contractual or other obligation or restriction which is binding on the Borrower or any of its assets.

 

10.9 Governing law and enforcement.

 

(a) The choice of English law as the governing law of the Finance Documents will be recognised and enforced in its jurisdiction of incorporation.

 

(b) Any judgment obtained in England in relation to a Finance Document will be recognised and enforced in its jurisdiction of incorporation.

 

10.10 No withholding taxes. All payments which the Borrower is liable to make under the Finance Documents must be made without deduction or withholding for or on account of any tax payable under any law of any Pertinent Jurisdiction.

 

10.11 No default. No Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred.

 

10.12 Information. All information which has been provided in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Security Party to any Creditor Party in connection with any Finance Document satisfied the requirements of Clause 11.5; all audited and unaudited accounts which have been so provided satisfied the requirements of Clause 11.7; and there has been no material adverse change in the financial position or state of affairs of the Borrower from that disclosed in the latest of those accounts.

 

10.13 No litigation. No legal or administrative action involving the Borrower (including action relating to any alleged or actual breach of the ISM Code or the ISPS Code) has been commenced or taken or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, is likely to be commenced or taken which, in either case, would be likely to have a material adverse effect on the Borrower’s financial position or profitability.

 

10.14 Validity and completeness of Shipbuilding Contract. The Shipbuilding Contract constitutes valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Builder and the Borrower respectively in accordance with its terms; and:

 

(a) the copy of the Shipbuilding Contract delivered to the Agent before the date of this Agreement is a true and complete copy; and

 

(b) no amendments or additions to the Shipbuilding Contract as delivered to the Agent before the date of this Agreement have been agreed (except for those amendments which are permitted under Clause 11.12) nor has the Borrower or the Builder waived any of their respective rights under the Shipbuilding Contract.

 

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10.15 Validity and completeness of Supervision Agreement. The Supervision Agreement constitutes valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Supervisor and the Borrower respective in accordance with its terms; and:

 

(a) the copy of the Supervision Agreement delivered to the Agent before the date of this Agreement is a true and complete copy; and

 

(b) no amendments or additions to the Supervision Agreement as delivered to the Agent before the date of this Agreement have been agreed nor has the Borrower or the Supervisor waived any of their respective rights under the Supervision Agreement.

 

10.16 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 Borrower, the Builder or a third party in connection with the purchase by the Borrower of the Ship, other than as disclosed to the Lenders in writing on or prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

10.17 Compliance with certain undertakings. At the date of this Agreement, the Borrower is in compliance with Clauses 11.2, 11.4, 11.9 and 11.13.

 

10.18 Taxes paid. The Borrower has paid all taxes applicable to, or imposed on or in relation to the Borrower, its business or the Ship.

 

10.19 ISM Code and ISPS Code compliance. All requirements of the ISM Code and the ISPS Code as they relate to the Borrower, the Approved Manager and the Ship have been complied with or shall be complied with as from the delivery of the Ship to the Borrower under the Shipbuilding Contract.

 

10.20 No money laundering. Without prejudice to the generality of Clause 2.3, in relation to the borrowing by the Borrower of the Loan, the performance and discharge of its obligations and liabilities under the Finance Documents, and the transactions and other arrangements affected or contemplated by the Finance Documents to which the Borrower is a party, the Borrower confirms (i) that it is acting for its own account; (ii) that it will use the proceeds of the Loan for its own benefit, under its full responsibility and exclusively for the purposes specified in this Agreement; and (iii) that the foregoing will not involve or lead to a contravention of any law, official requirement or other regulatory measure or procedure implemented to combat “money laundering” (as defined in Article 1 of Directive (91/308) EEC of the Council of the European Communities).

 

11 GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS

 

11.1 General. The Borrower undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply with the following provisions of this Clause 11 at all times during the Security Period except as the Agent may, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, otherwise permit (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed in the case of Clause 11.12).

 

11.2 Title; negative pledge. The Borrower will:

 

(a) keep its rights under the Shipbuilding Contract, the Supervision Agreement and the Refund Guarantee and with effect from delivery of the Ship under the Shipbuilding Contract will hold the legal title to, and own the entire beneficial interest in the Ship, the Insurances and Earnings, free from all Security Interests and other interests and rights of every kind, except for those created by the Finance Documents and the effect of assignments contained in the Finance Documents and except for Permitted Security Interests; or

 

(b) not create or permit to arise any Security Interest (except for Permitted Security Interests) over any other asset, present or future.

 

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11.3 No disposal of assets. The Borrower will not transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of:

 

(a) all or a substantial part of its assets, whether by one transaction or a number of transactions, whether related or not except for those in the ordinary course of business and for fair market value payable in cash upon completion of such transaction; or

 

(b) 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.;

but paragraph (a) does not apply to any charter of the Ship as to which Clause 14.13 applies,

Provided that the Borrower may sell the Ship to another subsidiary of either Guarantor subject to the following conditions:

 

  (i) there is no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default which is continuing;

 

  (ii) the new owning company and the jurisdiction of incorporation being acceptable to the Lenders;

 

  (iii) the Borrower and the Security Parties entering into such amendments to this Agreement and the other Finance Documents as may be required by the Lenders in order to document the change of ownership;

 

  (iv) the new owning company entering into such other security documents which are required by the Lenders so as to maintain the same security for the Lenders on the transfer of ownership; and

 

  (v) the new owner shall pay to the Agent on demand all expenses (including but not limited to legal expenses) relating to the said documentation.

 

11.4 No other liabilities or obligations to be incurred. The Borrower will not incur any liability or obligation except liabilities and obligations under the Shipbuilding Contract, the Supervision Agreement and the Finance Documents and liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of its business (including operating and chartering the Ship).

 

11.5 Information provided to be accurate. All financial and other information which is provided in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower under or in connection with any Finance Document will be true and not misleading and will not omit any material fact or consideration.

 

11.6 Provision of financial statements. The Borrower will send to the Agent:

 

(a) as soon as possible, but in no event later than 180 days after the end of each financial year of the Borrower, (commencing with the financial year ending 31 December 2010), the audited accounts of the Borrower;

 

(b) as soon as possible, but in no event later than 90 days after the end of each financial half year of the Borrower (commencing with the financial half year ending 30 June 2010) unaudited management accounts of the Borrower which are certified as to their correctness by the chief financial officer of the Borrower.

 

11.7 Form of financial statements. All accounts (audited and unaudited) delivered under Clause 11.6 will:

 

(a) be prepared in accordance with all applicable laws and IFRS consistently applied;

 

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(b) fairly represent the financial condition of the Borrower 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 Borrower.

 

11.8 Creditor notices. The Borrower will send the Agent, at the same time as they are despatched, copies of all material communications which are despatched to the Borrower’s creditors or any class of them.

 

11.9 Consents. The Borrower will maintain in force and promptly obtain or renew, and will promptly send certified copies to the Agent of, all consents required:

 

(a) for the Borrower to perform its obligations under any Finance Document;

 

(b) for the validity or enforceability of any Finance Document; and

 

(c) for the Borrower to continue to own and operate the Ship,

and the Borrower will comply with the terms of all such consents.

 

11.10 Maintenance of Security Interests. The Borrower 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 court or authority in all Pertinent Jurisdictions, pay any stamp, registration or similar tax in all Pertinent Jurisdictions in respect of any Finance Document, give any notice or take any other step which, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, 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.

 

11.11 Notification of litigation. The Borrower will provide the Agent with details of any legal or administrative action involving the Borrower, any Security Party, the Approved Manager or the Ship, the Earnings or the Insurances as soon as such action is instituted or it becomes apparent to the Borrower that it is likely to be instituted, unless it is clear that the legal or administrative action cannot be considered material in the context of any Finance Document.

 

11.12 No amendment to Shipbuilding Contract. The Borrower will not agree to any material amendment or supplement to, or waive the Supervision Agreement or the Shipbuilding Contract or any of their provisions without the prior written consent of the Agent save that the Borrower may without requiring such consent of the Agent, agree with the Builder to amend the Shipbuilding Contract if such amendment:

 

(a) does not alter the intended size, commercial use or purpose of the Ship;

 

(b) does not alter the construction milestones for payment of the instalments of the Contract Price under the Shipbuilding Contract;

 

(c) does not alter the identity of the Refund Guarantor nor the form, and amount, of the Refund Guarantee to be provided nor impair the effectiveness of the Refund Guarantee; and

 

(d) will not materially reduce the Ship’s anticipated value when completed.

 

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11.13 Principal place of business. The Borrower will maintain its place of business, and keep its corporate documents and records, at the address stated at the commencement of this Agreement; and the Borrower will not establish, or do anything as a result of which it would be deemed to have, a place of business in any country other than Hong Kong.

 

11.14 Confirmation of no default. The Borrower will, within 5 Business Days after service by the Agent of a written request, serve on the Agent a notice which is signed by 2 directors of the Borrower and which:

 

(a) states that no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred; 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.

The Agent may serve requests under this Clause 11.14 from time to time but only if reasonably asked to do so by a Lender or Lenders having Contributions exceeding 10 per cent. of the Loan or (if the Loan has not been made) Commitments exceeding 10 per cent of the Total Commitments; and this Clause 11.14 does not affect the Borrower’s obligations under Clause 11.15.

 

11.15 Notification of default. The Borrower will notify the Agent as soon as the Borrower 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 will keep the Agent fully up-to-date with all developments.

 

11.16 Provision of further information. The Borrower will, as soon as practicable after receiving the request, provide the Agent with any additional financial or other information relating:

 

(a) to the Borrower, the Ship, the Earnings or the Insurances; or

 

(b) to any other matter relevant to, or to any provision of, a Finance Document,

which may reasonably be requested by the Agent, the Security Trustee or any Lender at any time.

 

11.17 “Know your customer” checks. If:

 

(a) the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement;

 

(b) any change in the status of the Borrower or any Security Party after the date of this Agreement; or

 

(c) a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer,

obliges the Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (c), any prospective new Lender) to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, the Borrower shall promptly upon the request of the Agent or the Lender concerned supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or the Lender concerned

 

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(for itself or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (c), on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent, the Lender concerned or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (c), any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

12 CORPORATE UNDERTAKINGS

 

12.1 General. The Borrower also undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply with the following provisions of this Clause 12 at all times during the Security Period after the Ship has been delivered to the Borrower under the Shipbuilding Contract except as the Agent may, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, otherwise permit.

 

12.2 Maintenance of status. The Borrower will maintain its separate corporate existence and remain in good standing under the laws of Hong Kong.

 

12.3 Negative undertakings. The Borrower will not:

 

(a) carry on any business other than the ownership, chartering and operation of the Ship; or

 

(b) effect any form of redemption purchase or return of share capital or 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 the Borrower’s share or loan capital; or

 

  (ii) any company in or with which such a person is directly or indirectly interested or connected; or

 

  (iii) enter into any transaction with or involving such a person or company on terms which are, in any respect, less favourable to the Borrower than those which it could obtain in a bargain made at arms’ length,

and the Borrower agrees to subordinate any inter-company loans to the Loan on such terms as the Lenders may reasonably require;

 

(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;

 

(f) enter into any form of amalgamation, merger or de-merger or any form of reconstruction or reorganisation; or

 

(g) enter into any freight forwarding agreements.

 

12.4 Payment of dividends. The Borrower may pay dividends provided that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

12.5 Minimum Liquidity. The Borrower shall ensure that from the Delivery Date and throughout the Security Period there is at all times standing to the credit of the Earnings Account free of any Security Interest other than in favour of the Security Trustee an amount of not less than $300,000 increasing to $500,000 with effect from the first anniversary of the Delivery Date.

 

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13 INSURANCE

 

13.1 General. The Borrower also undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply with the following provisions of this Clause 13 at all times during the Security Period (after the Delivery Date) except as the Agent may, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, otherwise permit (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed in the case of Clauses 13.11(b) and 13.12).

 

13.2 Maintenance of obligatory insurances. The Borrower shall keep the Ship insured at the expense of the Borrower against:

 

(a) fire and usual marine risks (including hull and machinery and excess risks);

 

(b) war risks;

 

(c) protection and indemnity risks; and

 

(d) any other risks against which the Majority Lenders consider, having regard to practices and other circumstances prevailing at the relevant time, it would in the opinion of the Majority Lenders be reasonable for the Borrower to insure and which are specified by the Security Trustee by notice to the Borrower.

 

13.3 Terms of obligatory insurances. The Borrower shall effect such insurances:

 

(a) in Dollars;

 

(b) in the case of fire and usual marine risks and war risks, in an amount on an agreed value basis at least the greater of (i) 120 per cent. of the Loan and (ii) the market value of the Ship; and

 

(c) in the case of oil pollution liability risks, for an aggregate amount equal to the highest level of cover from time to time available under basic protection and indemnity club entry and in the international marine insurance market;

 

(d) in relation to protection and indemnity risks in respect of the Ship’s full tonnage;

 

(e) on approved terms; and

 

(f) through approved brokers and with approved insurance companies and/or underwriters or, in the case of war risks and protection and indemnity risks, in approved war risks and protection and indemnity risks associations.

 

13.4 Further protections for the Creditor Parties. In addition to the terms set out in Clause 13.3, the Borrower shall procure that the obligatory insurances shall:

 

(a) whenever the Security Trustee requires, name (or be amended to name) the Security Trustee as additional named assured for its rights and interests, warranted no operational interest and with full waiver of rights of subrogation against the Security Trustee, but without the Security Trustee thereby being liable to pay (but having the right to pay) premiums, calls or other assessments in respect of such insurance;

 

(b) name the Security Trustee as loss payee with such directions for payment as the Security Trustee may specify;

 

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(c) provide that all payments by or on behalf of the insurers under the obligatory insurances to the Security Trustee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim or deductions or condition whatsoever;

 

(d) provide that such obligatory insurances shall be primary without right of contribution from other insurances which may be carried by the Security Trustee or any other Creditor Party; and

 

(e) provide that the Security Trustee may make proof of loss if the Borrower fails to do so.

 

13.5 Renewal of obligatory insurances. The Borrower shall:

 

(a) at least 14 days before the expiry of any obligatory insurance, renew that obligatory insurance; and

 

(b) promptly after each such renewal, there is provided to the Agent details of the terms and conditions on which such obligatory insurances have been renewed.

 

13.6 Copies of policies; letters of undertaking. The Borrower shall ensure that all approved brokers provide the Security Trustee with a letter or letters of undertaking in a form required by the Majority Lenders and including undertakings by the approved brokers that:

 

(a) they will have endorsed on each policy, immediately upon issue, a loss payable clause and a notice of assignment complying with the provisions of Clause 13.4;

 

(b) they will hold such policies, and the benefit of such insurances, to the order of the Security Trustee in accordance with the said loss payable clause;

 

(c) they will advise the Security Trustee immediately of any material change to the terms of the obligatory insurances;

 

(d) they will notify the Security Trustee, not less than 14 days before the expiry of the obligatory insurances, in the event of their not having received notice of renewal instructions from the Borrower or its agents and, in the event of their receiving instructions to renew, they will promptly notify the Security Trustee of the terms of the instructions; and

 

(e) they will not set off against any sum recoverable in respect of a claim relating to the Ship under such obligatory insurances any premiums or other amounts due to them or any other person whether in respect of the Ship or otherwise, they waive any lien on the policies, or any sums received under them, which they might have in respect of such premiums or other amounts, and they will not cancel such obligatory insurances by reason of non-payment of such premiums or other amounts, and will arrange for a separate policy to be issued in respect of the Ship forthwith upon being so requested by the Security Trustee.

 

13.7 Copies of certificates of entry. The Borrower shall ensure that any protection and indemnity and/or war risks associations in which the Ship is entered provides the Security Trustee with:

 

(a) a certified copy of the certificate of entry for the Ship;

 

(b) a letter or letters of undertaking in such form as may be required by the Majority Lenders; and

 

(c) a certified copy of each certificate of financial responsibility for pollution by oil or other Environmentally Sensitive Material issued by the relevant certifying authority in relation to the Ship.

 

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13.8 Deposit of original policies. The Borrower shall ensure that all policies relating to obligatory insurances are deposited with the approved brokers through which the insurances are effected or renewed.

 

13.9 Payment of premiums. The Borrower shall punctually pay all premiums or other sums payable in respect of the obligatory insurances and produce all relevant receipts when so required by the Security Trustee.

 

13.10 Guarantees. The Borrower shall ensure that any guarantees required by a protection and indemnity or war risks association are promptly issued and remain in full force and effect.

 

13.11 Compliance with terms of insurances. The Borrower shall neither do nor omit to do (nor permit to be done or not to be done) any act or thing which would or might render any obligatory insurance invalid, void, voidable or unenforceable or render any sum payable under an obligatory insurance repayable in whole or in part; and, in particular:

 

(a) the Borrower shall take all necessary action and comply with all requirements which may from time to time be applicable to the obligatory insurances, and (without limiting the obligation contained in Clause 13.6(c)) ensure that the obligatory insurances are not made subject to any exclusions or qualifications to which the Security Trustee has not given its prior approval;

 

(b) the Borrower shall not make any changes relating to the classification or classification society or manager or operator of the Ship approved by the underwriters of the obligatory insurances;

 

(c) the Borrower shall make (and promptly supply copies to the Agent of) all quarterly or other voyage declarations which may be required by the protection and indemnity risks association in which the Ship is entered to maintain cover for trading to the United States of America and Exclusive Economic Zone (as defined in the United States Oil Pollution Act 1990 or any other applicable legislation); and

 

(d) the Borrower shall not employ the Ship, nor allow it to be employed, otherwise than in conformity with the terms and conditions of the obligatory insurances, without first obtaining the consent of the insurers and complying with any requirements (as to extra premium or otherwise) which the insurers specify.

 

13.12 Alteration to terms of insurances. The Borrower shall neither make or agree to any material alteration to the terms of any obligatory insurance nor waive any right relating to any obligatory insurance without the consent of the Agent.

 

13.13 Settlement of claims. The Borrower shall not settle, compromise or abandon any claim under any obligatory insurance for Total Loss or for a Major Casualty, and shall do all things necessary and provide all documents, evidence and information to enable the Security Trustee to collect or recover any moneys which at any time become payable in respect of the obligatory insurances.

 

13.14 Provision of information. In addition, the Borrower shall promptly provide the Security Trustee (or any persons which it may designate) with any information which the Security Trustee (or any such designated person) reasonably requests for the purpose of:

 

(a) obtaining or preparing any report from an independent marine insurance broker as to the adequacy of the obligatory insurances effected or proposed to be effected; and/or

 

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(b) effecting, maintaining or renewing any such insurances as are referred to in Clause 13.15 or dealing with or considering any matters relating to any such insurances,

and the Borrower shall, forthwith upon demand, indemnify the Security Trustee in respect of all fees and other expenses incurred by or for the account of the Security Trustee in connection with any such report as is referred to in paragraph (a).

 

13.15 Mortgagee’s interest and additional perils insurances. The Security Trustee shall be entitled from time to time to effect, maintain and renew a mortgagee’s interest additional perils insurance and a mortgagee’s interest marine insurance each in an amount of 110 per cent. of the Loan and on such terms, through such insurers and generally in such manner as the Majority Lenders may from time to time consider appropriate and the Borrower shall upon demand fully indemnify the Creditor Parties in respect of all premiums and other expenses which are incurred in connection with or with a view to effecting, maintaining or renewing any such insurance or dealing with, or considering, any matter arising out of any such insurance.

 

14 SHIP COVENANTS

 

14.1 General. The Borrower also undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply with the following provisions of this Clause 14 at all times during the Security Period (after the Delivery Date) except as the Agent, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, may otherwise permit.

 

14.2 Ship’s name and registration. The Borrower shall keep the Ship registered in its name under the relevant Approved Flag at its relevant port of registry; shall not do or omit to do or allow to be done anything as a result of which such registration might be cancelled or imperilled; and shall not change the name or port of registry of the Ship.

 

14.3 Repair and classification. The Borrower shall keep the Ship in a good and safe condition and state of repair:

 

(a) consistent with first-class ship ownership and management practice;

 

(b) so as to maintain the Ship’s class (namely A1(E), “Oil Carrier ESP”, AMS, ACCU, SPM, VEC(-L), CSR, Safeship-CM, RES, ES, TEM, Green Passport, POT, UWILD (sea chest blanking devices shall not be provided), CPS at American Bureau of Shipping) free of overdue recommendations and conditions; and

 

(c) so as to comply with all laws and regulations applicable to vessels registered at ports in Greece or to vessels trading to any jurisdiction to which the Ship may trade from time to time, including but not limited to the ISM Code or the ISPS Code.

 

14.4 Modification. The Borrower shall not make any modification or repairs to, or replacement of, the Ship or equipment installed on it which would or might materially alter the structure, type or performance characteristics of the Ship or materially reduce its value.

 

14.5 Removal of parts. The Borrower shall not remove any material part of the Ship, or any item of equipment installed on, the Ship unless the part or item so removed is forthwith replaced by a suitable part or item which is in the same condition as or better condition than the part or item removed, is free from any Security Interest or any right in favour of any person other than the Security Trustee and becomes on installation on the Ship the property of the Borrower and subject to the security constituted by the Mortgage Provided that the Borrower may install equipment owned by a third party if the equipment can be removed without any risk of damage to the Ship.

 

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14.6 Surveys. The Borrower shall submit the Ship regularly to all periodical or other surveys which may be required for classification purposes and, if so required by the Majority Lenders provide the Security Trustee, with copies of all survey reports.

 

14.7 Inspection. The Borrower shall permit the Security Trustee (by surveyors or other persons appointed by it for that purpose) to board the Ship at all reasonable times to inspect its condition or to satisfy themselves about proposed or executed repairs and shall afford all proper facilities for such inspections provided that prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default reasonable notice of such inspection is given and such inspection does not materially affect the Ship’s commercial operation.

 

14.8 Prevention of and release from arrest. The Borrower shall promptly discharge:

 

(a) all liabilities which give or may give rise to maritime or possessory liens on or claims enforceable against the Ship, the Earnings or the Insurances;

 

(b) all taxes, dues and other amounts charged in respect of the Ship, the Earnings or the Insurances; and

 

(c) all other outgoings whatsoever in respect of the Ship, the Earnings or the Insurances,

and, forthwith upon receiving notice of the arrest of the Ship, or of its detention in exercise or purported exercise of any lien or claim, the Borrower shall procure its release by providing bail or otherwise as the circumstances may require.

 

14.9 Compliance with laws etc. The Borrower shall:

 

(a) comply, or procure compliance with the ISM Code, the ISPS Code, all Environmental Laws and all other laws or regulations relating to the Ship, its ownership, operation and management or to the business of the Borrower;

 

(b) not employ the Ship nor allow its employment in any manner contrary to any law or regulation in any relevant jurisdiction including but not limited to the ISM Code and the ISPS Code; and

 

(c) in the event of hostilities in any part of the world (whether war is declared or not), not cause or permit the Ship to enter or trade to any zone which is declared a war zone by any government or by the Ship’s war risks insurers unless the Borrower (at its expense) effected any necessary special, additional or modified insurance cover and, upon the Agent’s request, the Borrower will confirm that they have effected such insurance cover.

 

14.10 Provision of information. The Borrower shall promptly provide the Security Trustee with any information which the Majority Lenders reasonably request regarding:

 

(a) the Ship, its employment, position and engagements;

 

(b) the Earnings and payments and amounts due to the Ship’s master and crew;

 

(c) any expenses incurred, or likely to be incurred, in connection with the operation, maintenance or repair of the Ship and any payments made in respect of the Ship;

 

(d) any towages and salvages; and

 

(e)

the Borrower’s, the Approved Manager’s or the Ship’s compliance with the ISM code and the ISPS code,

 

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  and, upon the Security Trustee’s request, provide copies of any current charter relating to the Ship and of any current charter guarantee, and copies of the Borrower’s or the Approved Manager’s Document of Compliance.

 

14.11 Notification of certain events. The Borrower shall immediately notify the Security Trustee by fax, confirmed forthwith by letter, of:

 

(a) any casualty which is or is likely to be or to become a Major Casualty;

 

(b) any occurrence as a result of which the Ship has become or is, by the passing of time or otherwise, likely to become a Total Loss;

 

(c) any overdue requirement or recommendation made by any insurer or classification society or by any competent authority which is not immediately complied with;

 

(d) any arrest or detention of the Ship, any exercise or purported exercise of any lien on the Ship or its Earnings or any requisition of the Ship for hire;

 

(e) any intended dry docking of the Ship other than a routine dry docking;

 

(f) any Environmental Claim made against the Borrower or in connection with the Ship, or any Environmental Incident;

 

(g) any claim for breach of the ISM Code or the ISPS Code being made against the Borrower, the Approved Manager or otherwise in connection with the Ship; or

 

(h) any other matter, event or incident, actual or threatened, the effect of which will or could lead to the ISM Code or ISPS Code not being complied with,

and the Borrower shall keep the Security Trustee advised in writing on a regular basis and in such detail as the Security Trustee shall require of the Borrower’s, the Approved Manager’s or any other person’s response to any of those events or matters.

 

14.12 Restrictions on chartering, appointment of managers etc. The Borrower shall not:

 

(a) let the Ship on demise charter for any period;

 

(b) enter into any charter in relation to the Ship under which more than 2 months’ hire (or the equivalent) is payable in advance;

 

(c) charter the Ship otherwise than on bona fide arm’s length terms at the time when the Ship is fixed;

 

(d) appoint a manager of the Ship other than the Approved Manager or agree to any alteration to the terms of the Approved Manager’s appointment;

 

(e) de-activate or lay up the Ship; or

 

(f) put the Ship into the possession of any person for the purpose of work being done upon it in an amount exceeding or likely to exceed the Major Casualty amount unless either:

 

  (i) that person has first given to the Security Trustee and in terms satisfactory to it a written undertaking not to exercise any lien on the Ship or its Earnings for the cost of such work or for any other reason; or

 

  (ii) the Borrower has established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Security Trustee that the Borrower has sufficient reserves to pay for the cost of such work.

 

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14.13 Notice of Mortgage. The Borrower shall keep the Mortgage registered against the Ship as a valid first priority mortgage, carry on board the Ship a certified copy of the Mortgage and place and maintain in a conspicuous place in the navigation room and the Master’s cabin of the Ship a framed printed notice stating that the Ship is mortgaged by the Borrower to the Security Trustee.

 

14.14 Sharing of Earnings. The Borrower shall not enter into any agreement or arrangement for the sharing of any Earnings without the prior approval of the Agent such approval not to be unreasonably withheld. For the avoidance of doubt the Agent’s approval shall not be required in relation to:

 

(a) any “profit split” of hire between the Borrower and a charterer of the Ship; or

 

(b) the entry into an established pool or a pool established by Guarantor B in both cases on usual commercial terms and at a market rate allocation.

 

15 SECURITY COVER

 

15.1 Minimum required security cover. Clause 15.2 applies if (after the Delivery Date) the Agent notifies the Borrower that, according to the determination mechanism under Clause 15.3:

 

(a) the market value (determined as provided in Clause 15.3) of the Ship; plus

 

(b) the net realisable value of any additional security previously provided under this Clause 15,

is below 125 per cent. of the Loan.

 

15.2 Provision of additional security; prepayment. If the Agent serves a notice on the Borrower under Clause 15.1, the Borrower shall, within 1 month after the date on which the Agent’s notice is served, either:

 

(a) provide, or ensure that a third party provides, additional security which is acceptable to the Agent and, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, has a net realisable value at least equal to the shortfall and is documented in such terms as the Agent may, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, approve or require; or

 

(b) prepay such part (at least) of the Loan as will eliminate the shortfall.

 

15.3 Valuation of Ship. The market value of the Ship at any date is that shown by the average of 2 valuations addressed to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders and prepared:

 

(a) as at a date not more than 14 days previously;

 

(b) by 2 independent first class sale and purchase shipbrokers which the Agent has approved or appointed for the purpose;

 

(c) with or without physical inspection of the Ship (as the Agent may require);

 

(d) on the basis of a sale for prompt delivery for cash on normal arm’s length commercial terms as between a willing seller and a willing buyer, free of any existing charter or other contract of employment; and

 

(e) after deducting the estimated amount of the usual and reasonable expenses which would be incurred in connection with the sale.

 

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15.4 Value of additional vessel security. The net realisable value of any additional security which is provided under Clause 15.2 and which consists of a Security Interest over a vessel shall be that shown by a valuation complying with the requirements of Clause 15.3.

 

15.5 Valuations binding. Any valuation under Clause 15.2, 15.3 or 15.4 shall be binding and conclusive as regards the Borrower, as shall be any valuation which the Majority Lenders make of any additional security which does not consist of or include a Security Interest.

 

15.6 Provision of information. The Borrower shall promptly provide the Agent and any shipbroker or expert acting under Clause 15.3 or 15.4 with any information which the Agent or the shipbroker or expert may reasonably request for the purposes of the valuation;

 

15.7 Payment of valuation expenses. Without prejudice to the generality of the Borrower’s obligations under Clauses 20.2, 20.3 and 21.3, the Borrower shall, on demand, pay the Agent the amount of the fees and expenses of any shipbroker or expert instructed by the Agent under this Clause and all legal and other expenses incurred by any Creditor Party in connection with any matter arising out of this Clause.

 

15.8 Application of prepayment. Clause 8 shall apply in relation to any prepayment pursuant to Clause 15.2(b).

 

16 PAYMENTS AND CALCULATIONS

 

16.1 Currency and method of payments. All payments to be made by the Lenders or by the Borrower under a Finance Document shall be made to the Agent or to the Security Trustee, in the case of an amount payable to it:

 

(a) by not later than 11.00 a.m. (New York City time) on the due date;

 

(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 Agent shall specify as being customary at the time for the settlement of international transactions of the type contemplated by this Agreement);

 

(c) in the case of an amount payable by a Lender to the Agent or by the Borrower to the Agent or any Lender, to such account as the Agent may advise from time to time; and

 

(d) in the case of an amount payable to the Security Trustee, to such account as it may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the other Creditor Parties.

 

16.2 Payment on non-Business Day. If any payment by the Borrower 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.

 

16.3 Basis for calculation of periodic payments. All interest, commitment fee and commission 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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16.4 Distribution of payments to Creditor Parties. Subject to Clauses 16.5, 16.6 and 16.7:

 

(a) any amount received by the Agent under a Finance Document for distribution or remittance to a Lender or the Security Trustee shall be made available by the Agent to that Lender or, as the case may be, the Security Trustee by payment, with funds having the same value as the funds received, to such account as the Lender or the Security Trustee may have notified to the Agent not less than 5 Business Days previously; and

 

(b) amounts to be applied in satisfying amounts of a particular category which are due to the Lenders generally shall be distributed by the Agent to each Lender pro rata to the amount in that category which is due to it.

 

16.5 Permitted deductions by Agent. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other Finance Document, the Agent may, before making an amount available to a Lender, deduct and withhold from that amount any sum which is then due and payable to the Agent from that Lender under any Finance Document or any sum which the Agent is then entitled under any Finance Document to require that Lender to pay on demand.

 

16.6 Agent only obliged to pay when monies received. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other Finance Document, the Agent shall not be obliged to make available to the Borrower or any Lender any sum which the Agent is expecting to receive for remittance or distribution to the Borrower or that Lender until the Agent has satisfied itself that it has received that sum.

 

16.7 Refund to Agent of monies not received. If and to the extent that the Agent makes available a sum to the Borrower or a Lender, without first having received that sum, the Borrower or (as the case may be) the Lender concerned shall, on demand:

 

(a) refund the sum in full to the Agent; and

 

(b) pay to the Agent the amount (as certified by the Agent) which will indemnify the Agent against any funding or other loss, liability or expense incurred by the Agent as a result of making the sum available before receiving it.

 

16.8 Agent may assume receipt. Clause 16.7 shall not affect any claim which the Agent has under the law of restitution, and applies irrespective of whether the Agent had any form of notice that it had not received the sum which it made available.

 

16.9 Creditor Party accounts. Each Creditor Party shall maintain accounts showing the amounts owing to it by the Borrower and each Security Party under the Finance Documents and all payments in respect of those amounts made by the Borrower and any Security Party.

 

16.10 Agent’s memorandum account. The Agent shall maintain a memorandum account showing the amounts advanced by the Lenders and all other sums owing to the Agent, the Security Trustee and each Lender from the Borrower and each Security Party under the Finance Documents and all payments in respect of those amounts made by the Borrower and any Security Party.

 

16.11 Accounts prima facie evidence. If any accounts maintained under Clauses 16.9 and 16.10 show an amount to be owing by the Borrower or a Security Party to a Creditor Party, those accounts shall be prima facie evidence that that amount is owing to that Creditor Party.

 

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17 APPLICATION OF RECEIPTS

 

17.1 Normal order of application. Except as any Finance Document may otherwise provide, any sums which are received or recovered by any Creditor Party under or by virtue of any Finance Document shall be applied:

 

(a) FIRST: in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses of the Agent and the Security Trustee under the Finance Documents;

 

(b) SECONDLY: in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued interest or commission due but unpaid under this Agreement;

 

(c) THIRDLY: in or towards payment pro rata of any principal due but unpaid under this Agreement;

 

(d) FOURTHLY: in or towards payment pro rata of any other amounts due but unpaid under any Finance Document;

 

(e) FIFTHLY: in retention of an amount equal to any amount not then due and payable under any Finance Document but which the Agent, by notice to the Borrower, the Security Parties and the other Creditor 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 Clause 17.1(a), 17.1(b), 17.1(c) and 17.1(d); and

 

(f) SIXTHLY: any surplus shall be paid to the Borrower or to any other person appearing to be entitled to it.

 

17.2 Variation of order of application. The Agent may, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, the Security Parties and the other Creditor Parties provide for a different manner of application from that set out in Clause 17.1 either as regards a specified sum or sums or as regards sums in a specified category or categories.

 

17.3 Notice of variation of order of application. The Agent may give notices under Clause 17.2 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.

 

17.4 Appropriation rights overridden. This Clause 17 and any notice which the Agent gives under Clause 17.2 shall override any right of appropriation possessed, and any appropriation made, by the Borrower or any Security Party.

 

18 APPLICATION OF EARNINGS

 

18.1 Payment of Earnings. The Borrower undertakes with each Creditor Party to ensure that, throughout the Security Period (and subject only to the provisions of the General Assignment), all the Earnings are paid to the Earnings Account.

 

18.2 Interest accrued on Earnings Account. Any credit balance on the Earnings Account shall bear interest at the rate from time to time offered by the Agent to its customers for Dollar deposits of similar amounts and for periods similar to those for which such balances appear to the Agent likely to remain on the Earnings Account.

 

18.3 Monies on Earnings. Any monies standing to the credit of the Earnings Account shall, provided that the provisions of Clause 12.5 are complied with and provided that no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default shall have occurred, be at the free disposal of the Borrower.

 

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18.4 Location of accounts. The Borrower shall promptly:

 

(a) comply with any requirement of the Agent as to the location or re-location of the Earnings Account; and

 

(b) execute any documents which the Agent specifies to create or maintain in favour of the Security Trustee a Security Interest over (and/or rights of set-off, consolidation or other rights in relation to) the Earnings Account.

 

18.5 Debits for expenses etc. Following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing the Agent shall be entitled (but not obliged) from time to time to debit the Earnings Account without prior notice in order to discharge any amount due and payable to it under Clause 20 or 21 to a Creditor Party or payment of which any Creditor Party has become entitled to demand under Clause 20 or 21.

 

19 EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

19.1 Events of Default. An Event of Default occurs if:

 

(a) the Borrower or any Security Party fails to pay within 3 Business Days of the date when due any sum payable under a Finance Document or under any document relating to a Finance Document; or

 

(b) any breach occurs of Clause 9.2, 11.2, 11.3, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5 or 15.2; or

 

(c) any breach by the Borrower or any Security Party occurs of any provision of a Finance Document (other than a breach covered by paragraphs (a) or (b)) which, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, is capable of remedy, and such default continues unremedied 30 days after written notice from the Agent requesting action to remedy the same; or

 

(d) any representation, warranty or statement made or repeated by, or by an officer of, the Borrower or a Security Party in a Finance Document or in a Drawdown Notice or any other notice or document relating to a Finance Document is untrue or misleading when it is made or repeated; or

 

(e) any of the following occurs in relation to any Financial Indebtedness of a Relevant Person in respect of a sum, or sums aggregating, $5,000,000 or more in the case of the Borrower and $15,000,000 or more in the case of each Guarantor and the Counter Guarantor or the equivalent in another currency:

 

  (i) any Financial Indebtedness of a Relevant Person is not paid when due; 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

 

  (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; or

 

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(f) any of the following occurs in relation to a Relevant Person:

 

  (i) a Relevant Person becomes, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, unable to pay its debts as they fall due; or

 

  (ii) any 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, $5,000,000 or more in the case of the Borrower and $15,000,000 or more in the case of each Guarantor and the Counter Guarantor or the equivalent in another currency; or

 

  (iii) any administrative or other receiver is appointed over any asset 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) 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 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 the Borrower or either Guarantor or Counter Guarantor which is, or is to be, effected for the purposes of an amalgamation or reconstruction previously approved by the Majority Lenders and effected not later than 3 months after the commencement of the winding up; or

 

  (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, 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) 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, any event occurs, any proceedings are opened or commenced or any step is taken which, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders is similar to any of the foregoing; or

 

(g) the Borrower ceases or suspends carrying on its business or a part of its business which, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, is material in the context of this Agreement; or

 

(h) it becomes unlawful in any Pertinent Jurisdiction or impossible:

 

  (i) for the Borrower or any Security Party to discharge any liability under a Finance Document or to comply with any other obligation which the Majority Lenders consider material under a Finance Document; or

 

  (ii) for the Agent, the Security Trustee or the Lenders to exercise or enforce any right under, or to enforce any Security Interest created by, a Finance Document; or

 

(i) any consent necessary to enable the Borrower to own, operate or charter the Ship or to enable the Borrower or any Security Party to comply with any provision which the Majority Lenders consider material of a Finance Document or the Shipbuilding Contract 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

 

(j) without the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders there is a change of control in the direct and ultimate ownership of the Borrower Provided that a transfer of shares in the Borrower as between the Guarantors or any of their subsidiaries is permitted subject always to the new shareholder entering into a Negative Pledge in substantially the same form as entered into by the Shareholders at the date of this Agreement and subject to the new shareholder being a 100 per cent subsidiary of the acquiring Guarantor; or

 

(k) any provision which the Majority Lenders reasonably consider 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

 

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(m) any event or circumstance occurs which the Majority Lenders determine has, or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect:

 

  (i) on the ability of the Borrower or a Guarantor or the Counter Guarantor to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents; or

 

  (ii) on the property, assets, nature of assets, operations, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or Guarantor A or the Counter Guarantor.

 

19.2 Actions following an Event of Default. On, or at any time after, the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing:

 

(a) the Agent may, and if so instructed by the Majority Lenders, the Agent shall:

 

  (i) serve on the Borrower a notice stating that the Commitments and all other obligations of each Lender to the Borrower under this Agreement are cancelled; and/or

 

  (ii) serve on the Borrower a notice stating that the Loan, all accrued interest and all other amounts accrued or owing under this Agreement are immediately due and payable or are due and payable on demand; and/or

 

  (iii) take any other action which, as a result of the Event of Default or any notice served under paragraph (i) or (ii), the Agent and/or the Lenders are entitled to take under any Finance Document or any applicable law; and/or

 

(b) the Security Trustee may, and if so instructed by the Agent, acting with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, the Security Trustee shall take any action which, as a result of the Event of Default or any notice served under paragraph (a) (i) or (ii), the Security Trustee, the Agent and/or the Lenders are entitled to take under any Finance Document or any applicable law.

 

19.3 Termination of Commitments. On the service of a notice under Clause 19.2(a)(i), the Commitments and all other obligations of each Lender to the Borrower under this Agreement shall be cancelled.

 

19.4 Acceleration of Loan. On the service of a notice under Clause 19.2(a)(ii), the Loan, all accrued interest and all other amounts accrued or owing from the Borrower 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.

 

19.5 Multiple notices; action without notice. The Agent may serve notices under Clauses 19.2(a)(i) or (ii) simultaneously or on different dates and it and/or the Security Trustee may take any action referred to in Clause 19.2 if no such notice is served or simultaneously with or at any time after the service of both or either of such notices.

 

19.6 Notification of Creditor Parties and Security Parties. The Agent shall send to each Lender, the Security Trustee and each Security Party a copy or the text of any notice which the Agent serves on the Borrower under Clause 19.2; but the notice shall become effective when it is served on the Borrower, and no failure or delay by the Agent to send a copy or the text of the notice to any other person shall invalidate the notice or provide the Borrower or any Security Party with any form of claim or defence.

 

19.7 Lender’s rights unimpaired. Nothing in this Clause shall be taken to impair or restrict the exercise of any right given to individual Lenders under a Finance Document or the general law; and, in particular, this Clause is without prejudice to Clause 3.1.

 

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19.8 Exclusion of Creditor Party liability. No Creditor Party, and no receiver or manager appointed by the Security Trustee, shall have any liability to the Borrower 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 a Creditor Party or a receiver or manager from liability for losses shown to have been directly and mainly caused by the dishonesty or the wilful misconduct of such Creditor Party’s own officers and employees or (as the case may be) such receiver’s or manager’s own partners or employees.

 

19.9 Relevant Persons. In this Clause 19, a “Relevant Person” means the Borrower and any Security Party.

 

19.10 Interpretation. In Clause 19.1(e), 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 19.1(f) “petition” includes an application.

 

20 FEES AND EXPENSES

 

20.1 Arrangement and commitment fees. The Borrower shall pay:

 

(a) to the Agent an arrangement fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter; and

 

(b) to the Agent (for the account of each Lender) quarterly in arrears during the period from (and including) the date of this Agreement to the earlier of (i) the final Drawdown Date and (ii) the last day of the Availability Period, for the account of the Lenders, a commitment fee at the rate of 0.50 per cent. per annum on the amount of the Total Commitments less the amount of the Loan, for distribution among the Lenders pro rata to their Commitments.

 

20.2 Costs of negotiation, preparation etc. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent on its demand the amount of all expenses incurred by the Agent or the Security Trustee 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.

 

20.3 Costs of variations, amendments, enforcement etc. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent, on the Agent’s demand, for the account of the Creditor Party concerned the amount of all expenses incurred by a Creditor Party 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 Lenders, the Majority Lenders or the Creditor Party concerned under or in connection with a Finance Document, or any request for such a consent or waiver;

 

(c) the valuation of any security provided or offered under Clause 15 or any other matter relating to such security; or

 

(d) any step taken by the Creditor Party concerned 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.

 

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There shall be recoverable under paragraph (d) 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.

 

20.4 Documentary taxes. The Borrower shall promptly pay any tax payable on or by reference to any Finance Document, and shall, on the Agent’s demand, fully indemnify each Creditor Party against any claims, expenses, liabilities and losses resulting from any failure or delay by the Borrower to pay such a tax.

 

20.5 Certification of amounts. A notice which is signed by 2 officers of a Creditor Party, which states that a specified amount, or aggregate amount, is due to that Creditor Party under this Clause 20 and which indicates (without necessarily specifying a detailed breakdown) the matters in respect of which the amount, or aggregate amount, is due shall be prima facie evidence that the amount, or aggregate amount, is due.

 

21 INDEMNITIES

 

21.1 Indemnities regarding borrowing and repayment of Loan. The Borrower shall fully indemnify the Agent and each Lender on the Agent’s demand and the Security Trustee on its demand in respect of all claims, expenses, liabilities and losses which are made or brought against or incurred by that Creditor Party, or which that Creditor Party reasonably and with due diligence estimates that it will incur, as a result of or in connection with:

 

(a) an Advance not being borrowed on the date specified in the Drawdown Notice for any reason other than a default by the Lender claiming the indemnity;

 

(b) the receipt or recovery of all or any part of the Loan or an overdue sum otherwise than on the last day of an Interest Period or other relevant period;

 

(c) any failure (for whatever reason) by the Borrower 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 Borrower on the amount concerned under Clause 7);

 

(d) the occurrence of an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default and/or the acceleration of repayment of the Loan under Clause 19,

and in respect of any tax (other than tax on its overall net income) for which a Creditor Party is liable in connection with any amount paid or payable to that Creditor Party (whether for its own account or otherwise) under any Finance Document.

 

21.2 Breakage costs. Without limiting its generality, Clause 21.1 covers any claim, expense, liability or loss, including a loss of a prospective profit, incurred by a Lender:

 

(a) in liquidating or employing deposits from third parties acquired or arranged to fund or maintain all or any part of its Contribution and/or any overdue amount (or an aggregate amount which includes its Contribution or any overdue amount); and

 

(b) in terminating, or otherwise in connection with, any interest and/or currency swap or any other transaction entered into (whether with another legal entity or with another office or department of the Lender concerned) to hedge any exposure arising under this Agreement or a number of transactions of which this Agreement is one.

 

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In the circumstances referred to in Clause 21.1(b) such costs shall include an amount equal to the Margin which would, but, for receipt or recovery of the relevant part of the Loan, have accrued on the relevant part of the Loan, from the date of such receipt or recovery to the end of the then current Interest Period relating thereto.

 

21.3 Miscellaneous indemnities. The Borrower shall fully indemnify each Creditor Party severally on their respective demands in respect of all claims, expenses, liabilities and losses which may be made or brought against or incurred by a Creditor Party, in any country, as a result of or in connection with:

 

(a) any action taken, or omitted or neglected to be taken, under or in connection with any Finance Document by the Agent, the Security Trustee or any other Creditor Party or by any receiver appointed under a Finance Document; or

 

(b) any other Pertinent Matter,

other than claims, expenses, liabilities and losses which are shown to have been directly and mainly caused by the dishonesty, gross negligence or wilful misconduct of the officers or employees of the Creditor Party concerned.

Without prejudice to its generality, this Clause 21.3 covers any claims, expenses, liabilities and losses which arise, or are asserted, under or in connection with any law relating to safety at sea, the ISM Code, the ISPS Code or any Environmental Law.

 

21.4 Currency indemnity. If any sum due from the Borrower or any Security Party to a Creditor Party 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 Borrower 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 Borrower shall indemnify the Creditor Party concerned against the loss arising when the amount of the payment actually received by that Creditor Party is converted at the available rate of exchange into the Contractual Currency.

In this Clause 21.4, the “available rate of exchange” means the rate at which the Creditor Party concerned 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 21.4 creates a separate liability of the Borrower which is distinct from its other liabilities under the Finance Documents and which shall not be merged in any judgment or order relating to those other liabilities.

 

21.5 Certification of amounts. A notice which is signed by 2 officers of a Creditor Party, which states that a specified amount, or aggregate amount, is due to that Creditor Party under this Clause 21 and which indicates (without necessarily specifying a detailed breakdown) the matters in respect of which the amount, or aggregate amount, is due shall be prima facie evidence that the amount, or aggregate amount, is due.

 

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21.6 Sums deemed due to a Lender. For the purposes of this Clause 21, a sum payable by the Borrower to the Agent or the Security Trustee for distribution to a Lender shall be treated as a sum due to that Lender.

 

22 NO SET-OFF OR TAX DEDUCTION

 

22.1 No deductions. All amounts due from the Borrower 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 the Borrower is required by law to make.

 

22.2 Grossing-up for taxes. If the Borrower is required by law to make a tax deduction from any payment:

 

(a) the Borrower shall notify the Agent as soon as it becomes aware of the requirement;

 

(b) the Borrower shall pay the tax deducted to the appropriate taxation authority promptly, and in any event before any fine or penalty arises; and

 

(c) the amount due in respect of the payment shall be increased by the amount necessary to ensure that each Creditor Party 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.

 

22.3 Evidence of payment of taxes. Within 1 month after making any tax deduction, the Borrower shall deliver to the Agent documentary evidence satisfactory to the Agent that the tax had been paid to the appropriate taxation authority.

 

22.4 Tax credits. If a Creditor Party receives for its own account a repayment or credit in respect of tax on account of which the Borrower has made an increased payment under Clause 22.2, it shall pay to the Borrower a sum equal to the proportion of the repayment or credit which it allocates to the amount due from the Borrower in respect of which the Borrower made the increased payment:

 

(a) a Creditor Party shall not be obliged to allocate to this transaction any part of a tax repayment or credit which is referable to a class or number of transactions;

 

(b) nothing in this Clause 22.4 shall oblige a Creditor Party 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 22.4 shall oblige a Creditor Party to make a payment which would leave it in a worse position than it would have been in if the Borrower had not been required to make a tax deduction from a payment; and

 

(d) any allocation or determination made by a Creditor Party under or in connection with this Clause 22.4 shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower.

 

22.5 Exclusion of tax on overall net income. In this Clause 22 “tax deduction” means any deduction or withholding for or on account of any present or future tax except tax on a Creditor Party’s overall net income.

 

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23 ILLEGALITY, ETC

 

23.1 Illegality. This Clause 23 applies if a Lender (the “Notifying Lender”) notifies the Agent 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 Notifying Lender to maintain or give effect to any of its obligations under this Agreement in the manner contemplated by this Agreement.

 

23.2 Notification of illegality. The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower, the Security Parties, the Security Trustee and the other Lenders of the notice under Clause 23.1 which the Agent receives from the Notifying Lender.

 

23.3 Prepayment; termination of Commitment. On the Agent notifying the Borrower under Clause 23.2, the Notifying Lender’s Commitment shall terminate; and thereupon or, if later, on the date specified in the Notifying Lender’s notice under Clause 23.1 as the date on which the notified event would become effective the Borrower shall prepay the Notifying Lender’s Contribution in accordance with Clause 8.

 

23.4 Mitigation. If circumstances arise which would result in a notification under Clause 23.1 then, without in any way limiting the rights of the Notifying Lender under Clause 23.3, the Notifying Lender shall use reasonable endeavours to transfer its obligations, liabilities and rights under this Agreement and the Finance Documents to another office or financial institution not affected by the circumstances but the Notifying Lender shall not be under any obligation to take any such action if, in its opinion, to do 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 regulation; or

 

(c) involve it in any expense (unless indemnified to its satisfaction) or tax disadvantage.

 

24 INCREASED COSTS

 

24.1 Increased costs. This Clause 24 applies if a Lender (the “Notifying Lender”) notifies the Agent that the Notifying Lender 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 Lender’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 Notifying Lender 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 Notifying Lender (or a parent company of it) has incurred or will incur an “increased cost”.

 

24.2 Meaning of “increased cost”. In this Clause 24, “increased cost” means, in relation to a Notifying Lender:

 

(a) an additional or increased cost incurred as a result of, or in connection with, the Notifying Lender having entered into, or being a party to, this Agreement or a Transfer Certificate, of funding or maintaining its Commitment or Contribution or performing its obligations under this Agreement, or of having outstanding all or any part of its Contribution or other unpaid sums;

 

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(b) a reduction in the amount of any payment to the Notifying Lender under this Agreement or in the effective return which such a payment represents to the Notifying Lender or on its capital;

 

(c) an additional or increased cost of funding all or maintaining all or any of the advances comprised in a class of advances formed by or including the Notifying Lender’s Contribution or (as the case may require) the proportion of that cost attributable to the Contribution; 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 Notifying Lender under this Agreement;

but not an item attributable to a change in the rate of tax on the overall net income of the Notifying Lender (or a parent company of it) or an item covered by the indemnity for tax in Clause 21.1 or by Clause 22 or an item arising directly out of the implementation or application of or compliance with the “International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards, a Revised Framework” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in June 2004, in the form existing on the date of this Agreement (“Basel II”) or any other law or regulation which implements Basel II (whether such implementation, application or compliance is by a government, regulator, Creditor Party or any of its affiliates.

For the purposes of this Clause 24.2 the Notifying Lender 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.

 

24.3 Notification to Borrower of claim for increased costs. The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Security Parties of the notice which the Agent received from the Notifying Lender under Clause 24.1.

 

24.4 Payment of increased costs. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent, on the Agent’s demand, for the account of the Notifying Lender the amounts which the Agent from time to time notifies the Borrower that the Notifying Lender has specified to be necessary to compensate the Notifying Lender for the increased cost.

 

24.5 Notice of prepayment. If the Borrower is not willing to continue to compensate the Notifying Lender for the increased cost under Clause 24.4, the Borrower may give the Agent not less than 14 days’ notice of its intention to prepay the Notifying Lender’s Contribution at the end of an Interest Period.

 

24.6 Prepayment; termination of Commitment. A notice under Clause 24.5 shall be irrevocable; the Agent shall promptly notify the Notifying Lender of the Borrower’s notice of intended prepayment; and:

 

(a) on the date on which the Agent serves that notice, the Commitment of the Notifying Lender shall be cancelled; and

 

(b) on the date specified in its notice of intended prepayment, the Borrower shall prepay (without premium or penalty) the Notifying Lender’s Contribution, together with accrued interest thereon at the applicable rate plus the Margin.

 

24.7 Application of prepayment. Clause 8 shall apply in relation to the prepayment.

 

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25 SET-OFF

 

25.1 Application of credit balances. At any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing, each Creditor Party may without prior notice:

 

(a) apply any balance (whether or not then due) which at any time stands to the credit of any account in the name of the Borrower at any office in any country of that Creditor Party in or towards satisfaction of any sum then due from the Borrower to that Creditor Party 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 the Borrower;

 

  (ii) convert or translate all or any part of a deposit or other credit balance into Dollars; and

 

  (iii) enter into any other transaction or make any entry with regard to the credit balance which the Creditor Party concerned considers appropriate.

 

25.2 Existing rights unaffected. No Creditor Party shall be obliged to exercise any of its rights under Clause 25.1; 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 a Creditor Party is entitled (whether under the general law or any document).

 

25.3 Sums deemed due to a Lender. For the purposes of this Clause 25, a sum payable by the Borrower to the Agent or the Security Trustee for distribution to, or for the account of, a Lender shall be treated as a sum due to that Lender; and each Lender’s proportion of a sum so payable for distribution to, or for the account of, the Lenders shall be treated as a sum due to such Lender.

 

25.4 No Security Interest. This Clause 25 gives the Creditor Parties a contractual right of set-off only and does not create any equitable charge or other Security Interest over any credit balance of the Borrower.

 

26 TRANSFERS AND CHANGES IN LENDING OFFICES

 

26.1 Transfer by Borrower. The Borrower may not transfer any of its rights, liabilities or obligations under any Finance Document.

 

26.2 Transfer by a Lender. Subject to Clause 26.4, a Lender (the “Transferor Lender”) may, at its own cost, with the prior written consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) or without the consent of the Borrower if an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, cause:

 

(a) its rights in respect of all or part of its Contribution; or

 

(b) its obligations in respect of all or part of its Commitment; or

 

(c) a combination of (a) and (b),

to be (in the case of its rights) transferred to, or (in the case of its obligations) assumed by, another bank or financial institution or a trust; fund or the entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (a “Transferee Lender”) by delivering to the Agent a completed certificate in the form set out in Schedule 4 with any modifications approved or required by the Agent (a “Transfer Certificate”) executed by the Transferor Lender and the Transferee Lender,

 

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Provided that a Lender may cause such transfer without needing the consent of the Borrower or any Security Party if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or if the Transferee Lender is:

 

(a) another branch of the Transferor Lender;

 

(b) a direct or indirect subsidiary or affiliate of the Transferor Lender;

 

(c) a company of which the Transferor Lender is a subsidiary; or

 

(d) a company which is under the same control as the Lender.

However any rights and obligations of the Transferor Lender in its capacity as Agent or Security Trustee will have to be dealt with separately in accordance with the Agency and Trust Agreement.

 

26.3 Transfer Certificate, delivery and notification. As soon as reasonably practicable after a Transfer Certificate is delivered to the Agent, it shall (unless it has reason to believe that the Transfer Certificate may be defective):

 

(a) sign the Transfer Certificate on behalf of itself, the Borrower, the Security Parties, the Security Trustee and each of the other Lenders;

 

(b) on behalf of the Transferee Lender, send to the Borrower letters or faxes notifying them of the Transfer Certificate and attaching a copy of it;

 

(c) send to the Transferee Lender copies of the letters or faxes sent under paragraph (b) above,

but the Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Transferor Lender and the Transferee Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the transfer to that Transferee Lender.

 

26.4 Effective Date of Transfer Certificate. A Transfer Certificate becomes effective on the date, if any, specified in the Transfer Certificate as its effective date Provided that it is signed by the Agent under Clause 26.3 on or before that date.

 

26.5 No transfer without Transfer Certificate. No assignment or transfer of any right or obligation of a Lender under any Finance Document is binding on, or effective in relation to, the Borrower, any Security Party, the Agent or the Security Trustee unless it is effected, evidenced or perfected by a Transfer Certificate.

 

26.6 Lender re-organisation; waiver of Transfer Certificate. However, if a Lender enters into any merger, de-merger or other reorganisation as a result of which all its rights or obligations vest in another person (the “successor”), the Agent may, if it sees fit, by notice to the successor and the Borrower and the Security Trustee waive the need for the execution and delivery of a Transfer Certificate; and, upon service of the Agent’s notice, the successor shall become a Lender with the same Commitment and Contribution as were held by the predecessor Lender.

 

26.7 Effect of Transfer Certificate. A Transfer Certificate takes effect in accordance with English law as follows:

 

(a) to the extent specified in the Transfer Certificate, all rights and interests (present, future or contingent) which the Transferor Lender has under or by virtue of the Finance Documents are assigned to the Transferee Lender absolutely, free of any defects in the Transferor Lender’s title and of any rights or equities which the Borrower or any Security Party had against the Transferor Lender;

 

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(b) the Transferor Lender’s Commitment is discharged to the extent specified in the Transfer Certificate;

 

(c) the Transferee Lender becomes a Lender with the Contribution previously held by the Transferor Lender and a Commitment of an amount specified in the Transfer Certificate;

 

(d) the Transferee Lender becomes bound by all the provisions of the Finance Documents which are applicable to the Lenders generally, including those about pro-rata sharing and the exclusion of liability on the part of, and the indemnification of, the Agent and the Security Trustee and, to the extent that the Transferee Lender becomes bound by those provisions (other than those relating to exclusion of liability), the Transferor Lender ceases to be bound by them;

 

(e) any part of the Loan which the Transferee Lender advances after the Transfer Certificate’s effective date ranks in point of priority and security in the same way as it would have ranked had it been advanced by the transferor, assuming that any defects in the transferor’s title and any rights or equities of the Borrower or any Security Party against the Transferor Lender had not existed;

 

(f) the Transferee Lender becomes entitled to all the rights under the Finance Documents which are applicable to the Lenders generally, including but not limited to those relating to the Majority Lenders and those under Clause 5.7 and Clause 20, and to the extent that the Transferee Lender becomes entitled to such rights, the Transferor Lender ceases to be entitled to them; and

 

(g) 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, the Transferee Lender shall be entitled to recover damages by reference to the loss incurred by it as a result of the breach or misrepresentation, irrespective of whether the original Lender would have incurred a loss of that kind or amount.

The rights and equities of the Borrower or any Security Party referred to above include, but are not limited to, any right of set off and any other kind of cross-claim.

 

26.8 Maintenance of register of Lenders. During the Security Period the Agent shall maintain a register in which it shall record the name, Commitment, Contribution and administrative details (including the lending office) from time to time of each Lender holding a Transfer Certificate and the effective date (in accordance with Clause 26.4) of the Transfer Certificate; and the Agent shall make the register available for inspection by any Lender, the Security Trustee and the Borrower during normal banking hours, subject to receiving at least 3 Business Days’ prior notice.

 

26.9 Reliance on register of Lenders. The entries on that register shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive in determining the identities of the Lenders and the amounts of their Commitments and Contributions and the effective dates of Transfer Certificates and may be relied upon by the Agent and the other parties to the Finance Documents for all purposes relating to the Finance Documents.

 

26.10 Authorisation of Agent to sign Transfer Certificates. The Borrower, the Security Trustee and each Lender irrevocably authorise the Agent to sign Transfer Certificates on its behalf.

 

26.11 Registration fee. In respect of any Transfer Certificate, the Agent shall be entitled to recover a registration fee of $3,000 from the Transferee Lender.

 

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26.12 Sub-participation; subrogation assignment. A Lender 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 Borrower, any Security Party, the Agent or the Security Trustee; and the Lenders may assign, in any manner and terms agreed by the Majority Lenders, the Agent and the Security Trustee, all or any part of those rights to an insurer or surety who has become subrogated to them.

 

26.13 Disclosure of information. A Lender may with the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) disclose to a potential Transferee Lender or sub-participant any information which the Lender has received in relation to the Borrower, any Security Party or their affairs under or in connection with any Finance Document, unless the information is clearly of a confidential nature.

 

26.14 Change of lending office. A Lender may change its lending office by giving notice to the Agent and the change shall become effective on the later of:

 

(a) the date on which the Agent receives the notice; and

 

(b) the date, if any, specified in the notice as the date on which the change will come into effect.

 

26.15 Notification. On receiving such a notice, the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Security Trustee; and, until the Agent receives such a notice, it shall be entitled to assume that a Lender is acting through the lending office of which the Agent last had notice.

 

26.16 Replacement of Reference Bank. If any Reference Bank ceases to be a Lender or is unable on a continuing basis to supply quotations for the purposes of Clause 5 then, unless the Borrower, the Agent and the Majority Lenders otherwise agree, the Agent, acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders, and after consulting the Borrower, shall appoint another bank (whether or not a Lender) to be a replacement Reference Bank; and, when that appointment comes into effect, the first-mentioned Reference Bank’s appointment shall cease to be effective.

 

26.17 Tax indemnity, tax gross-up and increased costs on assignment, transfer and change of lending office. If:

 

(a) the Lender assigns or transfers any rights or obligations under the Finance Documents pursuant to Clause 26.2 or changes its lending office; and

 

(b) as a result of circumstances existing at the date of assignment, transfer or change occurs the Borrower would be obliged to make a payment to the Transferee Lender or Lender acting through its new lending office under Clause 21.1 in respect of any tax, Clause 22 or 24,

then the Transferee Lender or the Lender acting through its new lending office is only entitled to receive payment under those Clauses to the same extent as the Transferor Lender or the Lender acting through its previous lending office would have been if the assignment, transfer or change had not occurred.

 

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27 VARIATIONS AND WAIVERS

 

27.1 Variations, waivers etc. by Majority Lenders. Subject to Clause 27.2, a document shall be effective to vary, waive, suspend or limit any provision of a Finance Document, or any Creditor Party’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 Borrower, by the Agent on behalf of the Majority Lenders, by the Agent and the Security Trustee in their own rights, and, if the document relates to a Finance Document to which a Security Party is party, by that Security Party.

 

27.2 Variations, waivers etc. requiring agreement of all Lenders. However, as regards the following, Clause 27.1 applies as if the words “by the Agent on behalf of the Majority Lenders” were replaced by the words “by or on behalf of every Lender”:

 

(a) a change in the Margin or in the definition of LIBOR;

 

(b) a change to the date for, the amount of, any payment of principal, interest, fees, or other sum payable under this Agreement;

 

(c) a change to any Lender’s Commitment;

 

(d) an extension of Availability Period;

 

(e) a change to the definition of “Majority Lenders” or “Finance Documents”;

 

(f) a change to the preamble or to Clause 2, 3, 4, 5.1, 17, 18 or 30;

 

(g) a change to this Clause 27;

 

(h) any release of, or material variation to, a Security Interest, guarantee, indemnity or subordination arrangement set out in a Finance Document; and

 

(i) any other change or matter as regards which this Agreement or another Finance Document expressly provides that each Lender’s consent is required.

 

27.3 Exclusion of other or implied variations. Except for a document which satisfies the requirements of Clauses 27.1 and 27.2, no document, and no act, course of conduct, failure or neglect to act, delay or acquiescence on the part of the Creditor Parties or any of them (or any person acting on behalf of any of them) shall result in the Creditor Parties or any of them (or any person acting on behalf of any of them) 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 the Borrower 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.

 

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28 NOTICES

 

28.1 Communications in writing. Any communication to be made under or in connection with the Finance Documents shall be made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by fax or letter.

 

28.2 Addresses. The address and fax number (and the department or officer, if any, for whose attention the communication is to be made) of each party to this Agreement for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents is:

 

(a) in the case of the Borrower, that identified with its name below;

 

(b) in the case of each Lender or any Security Party, that notified in writing to the Agent on or prior to the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement;

 

(c) in the case of the Agent, the Security Trustee or the Lead Arranger that identified with its name below,

or any substitute address or fax number or department or officer as the party to this Agreement may notify to the Agent (or the Agent may notify to the parties to this Agreement, if a change is made by the Agent) by not less than five Business Days’ notice:

 

to the Borrower:    c/o Euronav NV
   De Gerlachekaai 20
   2000 Antwerp
   Fax No: +32 3 247 4409
to the Lender:    At the address below its name in Schedule 1 or (as the case may require) in the relevant Transfer Certificate
to the Agent:    The Bank of Nova Scotia
   Scotia House
   33 Finsbury Square
   London EC2M 1BB
   Attention: David Stuart
   Fax No: +44 207 454 9019
to the Security Trustee:    The Bank of Nova Scotia
   Scotia House
   33 Finsbury Square
   London EC2M 1BB
   Attention: David Stuart
   Fax No: +44 207 454 9019

or to such other address as the relevant party may notify the Agent or, if the relevant party is the Agent or the Security Trustee, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Security Parties.

 

28.3 Delivery.

 

(a) Any communication or document made or delivered by one person to another under or in connection with the Finance Documents will only be effective:

 

  (i) if by way of fax, when received in legible form; or

 

  (ii) if by way of letter, when it has been left at the relevant address or five Business Days after being deposited in the post postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to it at that address;

 

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and, if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address details provided under Clause 28.2, if addressed to that department or officer.

 

(b) Any communication or document to be made or delivered to the Agent will be effective only when actually received by the Agent and then only if it is expressly marked for the attention of the department or officer identified with the Agent’s signature below (or any substitute department or officer as the Agent shall specify for this purpose).

 

(c) All notices from or to the Borrower or a Security Party shall be sent through the Agent.

 

(d) Any communication or document made or delivered to the Borrower in accordance with this Clause will be deemed to have been made or delivered to each Security Party.

 

28.4 Notification of address and fax number. Promptly upon receipt of notification of an address or fax number or change of address or fax number pursuant to Clause 28.2 (Addresses) or changing its own address or fax number, the Agent shall notify the other parties to this Agreement.

 

28.5 Electronic communication.

 

(a) Any communication to be made between the Agent and a Lender under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means, if the Agent and the relevant Lender:

 

  (i) agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication;

 

  (ii) notify each other in writing of their electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by that means; and

 

  (iii) notify each other of any change to their address or any other such information supplied by them.

 

(b) Any electronic communication made between the Agent and a Lender will be effective only when actually received in readable form and in the case of any electronic communication made by a Lender to the Agent only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Agent shall specify for this purpose.

 

28.6 English language.

 

(a) Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document must be in English.

 

(b) All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document must be:

 

  (i) in English; or

 

  (ii) if not in English, and if so required by the Agent, accompanied by a certified English translation and, in this case, the English translation will prevail unless the document is a constitutional, statutory or other official document.

 

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29 SUPPLEMENTAL

 

29.1 Rights cumulative, non-exclusive. The rights and remedies which the Finance Documents give to each Creditor Party 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.

 

29.2 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.

 

29.3 Counterparts. A Finance Document may be executed in any number of counterparts.

 

29.4 Third Party rights. A person who is not a party to this Agreement has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement.

 

30 LAW AND JURISDICTION

 

30.1 English law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, English law.

 

30.2 Exclusive English jurisdiction. Subject to Clause 30.3, the courts of England shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement.

 

30.3 Choice of forum for the exclusive benefit of the Creditor Parties. Clause 30.2 is for the exclusive benefit of the Creditor Parties, each of which reserves the right:

 

(a) to commence proceedings in relation to any matter which arises out of or in connection with this Agreement in the courts of any country other than England and which have or claim jurisdiction to that matter; 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.

 

30.4 Process agent. The Borrower irrevocably appoints Unisea Maritime Ltd at its registered office for the time being, presently at 14 Headfort Place, London SW1 7DH, 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 this Agreement.

 

30.5 Creditor Party rights unaffected. Nothing in this Clause 30 shall exclude or limit any right which any Creditor Party 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.

 

57


30.6 Meaning of “proceedings”. In this Clause 30, “proceedings” means proceedings of any kind, including an application for a provisional or protective measure.

THIS AGREEMENT has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.

 

58


SCHEDULE 1

LENDERS AND COMMITMENTS

 

Lender    Lending Office    Commitment
(US Dollars)
 

Scotiabank (Ireland) Limited

  

I.F.S.C. House

Custom House Quay

Dublin 1

Ireland

     76,000,000   

 

59


SCHEDULE 2

DRAWDOWN NOTICE

 

To:    The Bank of Nova Scotia
   Scotia House
   33 Finsbury Square
   London EC2A 1BB
Attention:    Loans Administration

[] 2008

DRAWDOWN NOTICE

 

1 We refer to the loan agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) dated [] 2008 and made between ourselves, as Borrower, the Lenders referred to therein, and yourselves as Agent and as Security Trustee in connection with a facility of up to US$76,000,000. Terms defined in the Loan Agreement have their defined meanings when used in this Drawdown Notice.

 

2 We request to borrow as follows:

 

(a) Amount: US$[];

 

(b) [Advance as specified in Clause 2.1 [first, second, third, etc]] [the Charter Top-Up Amount];

 

(c) Drawdown Date: [];

 

(d) Duration of the first Interest Period shall be [] months; and

 

(e) Payment instructions: account of [] and numbered [] with [] of [].

 

3 We represent and warrant that:

 

(a) the representations and warranties in Clause 10 of the Loan Agreement would remain true and not misleading if repeated on the date of this notice with reference to the circumstances now existing; and

 

(b) no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred or will result from the borrowing of the Loan.

 

4 This notice cannot be revoked without the prior consent of the Majority Lenders.

 

5 We authorise you to deduct the arrangement fee referred to in Clause 20 from the amount of the Advance.

 

[Name of Signatory]

 

 

Director

for and on behalf of

[]

 

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SCHEDULE 3

CONDITION PRECEDENT DOCUMENTS

PART A

The following are the documents referred to in Clause 9.1(a) before the service of the first Drawdown Notice.

 

1 A duly executed original of this Agreement, the Guarantee Nomination Letter, the Agency and Trust Agreement, the Negative Pledge, each Guarantee, the Counter Guarantee and the Account Security Deed.

 

2 Copies of the certificate of incorporation and constitutional documents of the Borrower, each Guarantor, the Counter Guarantor and each Shareholder (and in relation to the Borrower a copy of the shareholders agreement or joint venture agreement entered into by its shareholders).

 

3 Copies of resolutions of directors of the Borrower, each Guarantor (except for Guarantor B), the Counter Guarantor and each Shareholder and copies of resolutions of the shareholders of the Borrower and the Counter Guarantor authorising the execution of each of the Finance Documents to which the Borrower, that Guarantor, the Counter Guarantor or that Shareholder is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, authorising named officers to give the Drawdown Notices and other notices under this Agreement and ratifying the execution of the Shipbuilding Contract and the Supervision Agreement.

 

4 The original of any power of attorney under which any Finance Document is executed on behalf of the Borrower, a Guarantor, the Counter Guarantor or the Shareholder.

 

5 Copies of all consents which the Borrower or any Security Party requires to enter into, or make any payment under, any Finance Document or the Shipbuilding Contract or the Supervision Agreement.

 

6 The originals of any mandates or other documents required in connection with the opening or operation of the Earnings Account.

 

7 Documentary evidence that the agent for service of process named in Clause 30 has accepted its appointment.

 

8 Favourable legal opinions from lawyers appointed by the Lender on such matters concerning the laws of Hong Kong, Belgium, Panama, Bermuda and such other relevant jurisdictions as the Lenders may require.

 

9 Receipt of all documentation required by the Lenders in respect of the Borrower, any Security Party or the ultimate beneficial ownership of each Guarantor or the Counter Guarantor pursuant to that Lenders “know your customer” requirements.

 

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PART B

The following are the documents referred to in Clause 9.1(b) required before the drawdown of an Advance (other than the final Advance):

 

1 Evidence that the relevant pre-delivery instalment of the Contract Price payable under the Shipbuilding Contract has fallen due for payment and that such part of such instalment not being met out of the proceeds of an Advance has been paid or shall be paid by the Borrower simultaneously with the making of such Advance.

 

2 A duly executed original of the Predelivery Security Assignment (and of each document required to be delivered thereunder).

 

3 A certified copy of the Shipbuilding Contract and Supervision Agreement and a certified copy of the Refund Guarantee.

 

4 Such documentary evidence as the Lender and its legal advisers may require in relation to the due authorisation and execution by the Builder of the Shipbuilding Contract, by the Supervisor of the Supervision Agreement and by the Refund Guarantor of the Refund Guarantee.

 

5 Favourable legal opinions from lawyers appointed by the Lender on such matters concerning the laws of Korea and such other relevant jurisdictions as the Lender may require.

 

62


PART C

The following are the documents referred to in Clause 9.1(c) required before the Drawdown of the final Advance.

 

1 A duly executed original of the Mortgage, of the Charter Assignment (if any Charter) and of the General Assignment (and of each document to be delivered by each of them).

 

2 Documentary evidence that:

 

(a) the Ship has been unconditionally delivered by the Builder to, and accepted by, the Borrower under the Shipbuilding Contract, and the full purchase price payable under the Shipbuilding Contract (in addition to the part to be financed by the Loan) has been duly paid;

 

(b) the Ship is definitively and permanently registered in the name of the Borrower under the relevant Approved Flag at its relevant port of registry;

 

(c) the Ship is in the absolute and unencumbered ownership of the Borrower save as contemplated by the Finance Documents;

 

(d) the Ship maintains the class (namely A1(E), “Oil Carrier ESP”, AMS, ACCU, SPM, VEC(-L), CSR, Safeship-CM, RES, ES, TEM, Green Passport, POT, UWILD (sea chest blanking devices shall not be provided), CPS with American Bureau of Shipping free of all recommendations and conditions of such Classification Society;

 

(e) the Mortgage has been duly recorded against the Ship as a valid first preferred/priority ship mortgage in accordance with the laws of the relevant Approved Flag;

 

(f) the Ship is insured in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and all requirements therein in respect of insurances have been complied with; and

 

(g) such part of the acquisition cost of the Ship which has not been funded out of the proceeds of the Loan and which has been borrowed by the Borrower is subordinated to the obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders under this Agreement in terms satisfactory to the Lenders in their absolute discretion;

 

3 Documents establishing that the Ship will, as from the final Drawdown Date, be managed by the Approved Manager on terms acceptable to the Lenders, together with:

 

(a) a letter of undertaking executed by the Approved Manager in favour of the Agent in the terms agreed between the Agent and the Approved Manager agreeing certain matters in relation to the management of the Ship and subordinating the rights of the Approved Manager against the Ship and the Borrower to the rights of the Creditor Parties under the Finance Documents; and

 

(b) copies of the Approved Manager’s Document of Compliance and of the Ship’s Safety Management Certificate (together with any other details of the applicable safety management system which the Lenders require) and ISSC.

 

4 A favourable opinion from an independent insurance consultant acceptable to the Agent on such matters relating to the insurances for the Ship as the Agent may require.

 

5 Favourable legal opinions from lawyers appointed by the Agent on such matters concerning the laws of Greece (or such other jurisdiction as may be appropriate if the Ship is not registered on Greek flag) and such other relevant jurisdictions as the Agent may require.

 

63


SCHEDULE 4

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE

The Transferor and the Transferee accept exclusive responsibility for ensuring that this Certificate and the transaction to which it relates comply with all legal and regulatory requirements applicable to them respectively.

 

To:    [] as Agent.
From:    [The Existing Lender] (the “Transferor”) and [The New Lender] (the “Transferee”)
Dated:    [] 2008

US$76,000,000 Loan Agreement to Fiorano Shipbuilding Limited

dated [] 2008 (the “Agreement”)

 

1 We refer to the Agreement. This is a Transfer Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Transfer Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Transfer Certificate.

 

2 We refer to Clause 26 of the Agreement.

 

(a) The Transferor and the Transferee agree to the Transferor transferring to the Transferee by novation all or part of the Transferor’s Commitment, rights and obligations referred to in the Schedule in accordance with Clause 26.

 

(b) The proposed Transfer Date is [].

 

(c) the lending office and address, fax number and attention details for notices of the Transferee for the purposes of Clause 28.2 (Addresses) are set out in the Schedule.

 

3 The Transferee expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Transferor’s obligations set out in Clause 26.

 

4 [The Transferee confirms that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document is either:

 

(a) a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes; or

 

(b) a partnership each number of which is:

 

  (i) a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or

 

  (ii) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (for the purposes of section 11 (2) of the [Taxes Act] the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of sections 114 and 115 of the [Taxes Act]; or

 

(c) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (for the purposes of Section 11(2) of the [Taxes Act] of that company.]

 

64


[4/5] This Transfer Certificate may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Transfer Certificate.

 

[5/6] This Transfer Certificate is governed by English law.

THE SCHEDULE

Commitment/rights and obligations to be transferred

[insert relevant details]

[Facility Office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments]

 

Transferor     Transferee
By:     By:

This Transfer Certificate is accepted by the Agent and the Transfer Date is confirmed as [].

 

[Agent]
By:

 

65


SCHEDULE 5

MANDATORY COST

 

1 The Mandatory Cost is an addition to the interest rate to compensate Lenders for the cost of compliance with (a) the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority (or, in either case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) or (b) the requirements of the European Central Bank.

 

2 On the first day of each Interest Period (or as soon as possible thereafter) the Agent shall calculate, as a percentage rate, a rate (the “Additional Cost Rate”) for each Lender, in accordance with the paragraphs set out below. The Mandatory Cost will be calculated by the Agent as a weighted average of the Lenders’ Additional Cost Rates (weighted in proportion to the percentage participation of each Lender in the Loan) and will be expressed as a percentage rate per annum.

 

3 The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a lending office in a Participating Member State will be the percentage notified by that Lender to the Agent. This percentage will be certified by that Lender in its notice to the Agent to be its reasonable determination of the cost (expressed as a percentage of that Lender’s participation in all Loans made from that lending office) of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank in respect of loans made from that lending office.

 

4 The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a lending office in the United Kingdom will be calculated by the Agent as follows:

 

(a) in relation to a sterling Loan:

 

AB + C(B – D) + E x  0.01

   per cent. per annum
100 – (A + C)   

 

(b) in relation to a Loan in any currency other than sterling:

 

E x 0.01

   per cent. per annum
300   

Where:

 

  A is the percentage of Eligible Liabilities (assuming these to be in excess of any stated minimum) which that Lender is from time to time required to maintain as an interest free cash ratio deposit with the Bank of England to comply with cash ratio requirements.

 

  B is the percentage rate of interest (excluding the Margin and the Mandatory Cost and, if the Loan is an Unpaid Sum, the additional rate of interest specified in paragraph (a) of Clause 7.2 (Default rate of interest)) payable for the relevant Interest Period on the Loan.

 

  C is the percentage (if any) of Eligible Liabilities which that Lender is required from time to time to maintain as interest bearing Special Deposits with the Bank of England.

 

66


  D is the percentage rate per annum payable by the Bank of England to the Agent on interest bearing Special Deposits.

 

  E is designed to compensate Lenders for amounts payable under the Fees Rules and is calculated by the Agent as being the average of the most recent rates of charge supplied by the Reference Banks to the Agent pursuant to paragraph 7 below and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000.

 

5 For the purposes of this Schedule:

 

(a) Eligible Liabilities” and “Special Deposits” have the meanings given to them from time to time under or pursuant to the Bank of England Act 1998 or (as may be appropriate) by the Bank of England;

 

(b) Fees Rules” means the rules on periodic fees contained in the FSA Supervision Manual or such other law or regulation as may be in force from time to time in respect of the payment of fees for the acceptance of deposits;

 

(c) Fee Tariffs” means the fee tariffs specified in the Fees Rules under the activity group A. 1 Deposit acceptors (ignoring any minimum fee or zero rated fee required pursuant to the Fees Rules but taking into account any applicable discount rate); and

 

(d) Tariff Base” has the meaning given to it in, and will be calculated in accordance with, the Fees Rules.

 

(e) Unpaid Sum” means any sum due and payable but unpaid by the Borrower or a Security Party under the Finance Documents.

 

6 In application of the above formulae, A, B, C and D will be included in the formulae as percentages (i.e. 5 per cent. will be included in the formula as 5 and not as 0.05). A negative result obtained by subtracting D from B shall be taken as zero. The resulting figures shall be rounded to four decimal places.

 

7 If requested by the Agent, each Reference Bank shall, as soon as practicable after publication by the Financial Services Authority, supply to the Agent, the rate of charge payable by that Reference Bank to the Financial Services Authority pursuant to the Fees Rules in respect of the relevant financial year of the Financial Services Authority (calculated for this purpose by that Reference Bank as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to that Reference Bank for that financial year) and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000 of the Tariff Base of that Reference Bank.

 

8 Each Lender shall supply any information required by the Agent for the purpose of calculating its Additional Cost Rate. In particular, but without limitation, each Lender shall supply the following information on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Lender:

 

(a) the jurisdiction of its lending office; and

 

(b) any other information that the Agent may reasonably require for such purpose.

Each Lender shall promptly notify the Agent of any change to the information provided by it pursuant to this paragraph.

 

9

The percentages of each Lender for the purpose of A and C above and the rates of charge of each Reference Bank for the purpose of E above shall be determined by the Agent based upon the information supplied to it pursuant to paragraphs 7 and 8 above and on

 

67


  the assumption that, unless a Lender notifies the Agent to the contrary, each Lender’s obligations in relation to cash ratio deposits and Special Deposits are the same as those of a typical bank from its jurisdiction of incorporation with a lending office in the same jurisdiction as its lending office.

 

10 The Agent shall have no liability to any person if such determination results in an Additional Cost Rate which over or under compensates any Lender and shall be entitled to assume that the information provided by any Lender or Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 7 and 8 above is true and correct in all respects.

 

11 The Agent shall distribute the additional amounts received as a result of the Mandatory Cost to the Lenders on the basis of the Additional Cost Rate for each Lender based on the information provided by each Lender and each Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 7 and 8 above.

 

12 Any determination by the Agent pursuant to this Schedule in relation to a formula, the Mandatory Cost, an Additional Cost Rate or any amount payable to a Lender shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all parties to the Loan Agreement.

 

13 The Agent may from time to time, after consultation with the Borrower and the Lenders, determine and notify to all parties to the Loan Agreement any amendments which are required to be made to this Schedule in order to comply with any change in law, regulation or any requirements from time to time imposed by the Bank of England, the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank (or, in any case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) and any such determination shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all parties to the Loan Agreement.

 

68


EXECUTION PAGE

 

BORROWER         
SIGNED by    )   

LOGO

  
NAHEEMA WALJI    )      
for and on behalf of    )      
FIORANO SHIPHOLDING LIMITED    )       Naheema Walji
in the presence of:    )       Attorney-in-fact
        

Patrick Moore

      LOGO   

Trainee Solicitor

        

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

        

15 Appold Street

        

London EC2A 2HB

        
        
LENDERS         
SIGNED by    )      
GARY WALSH    )   

LOGO

  
for and on behalf of    )      
SCOTIABANK (IRELAND) LIMITED    )      
in the presence of:    )      

Patrick Moore

     

Gary Walsh

Attorney-in-Fact

  

Trainee Solicitor

     

LOGO

  

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

        

15 Appold Street

        

London EC2A 2HB

        
        
AGENT         
SIGNED by    )   

LOGO

  
GARY WALSH    )      
for and on behalf of    )      
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA    )    Gary Walsh   
in the presence of:    )    Attorney-in-Fact   

Patrick Moore

      LOGO   

Trainee Solicitor

        

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

        

15 Appold Street

        

London EC2A 2HB

        
        
SECURITY TRUSTEE         
SIGNED by    )   

LOGO

  
GARY WALSH    )      
for and on behalf of    )      
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA    )    Gary Walsh   
in the presence of:    )    Attorney-in-Fact   

 

Patrick Moore

     

LOGO

  

Trainee Solicitor

        

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

        

15 Appold Street

        

London EC2A 2HB

        

 

69


FIORANO SHIPHOLDING LIMITED

DRAWDOWN NOTICE

 

To:    The Bank of Nova Scotia   
   Scotia House, 33 Finsbury Square   
   London EC2A 1BB   
   Attention: Loans Administration    28th October 2008                    

DRAWDOWN NOTICE

 

1 We refer to the loan agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) dated 23rd October 2008 and made between ourselves, as Borrower, the Lenders referred to therein, and yourselves as Agent and as Security Trustee in connection with a facility of up to US$76,000,000. Terms defined in the Loan Agreement have their defined meanings when used in this Drawdown Notice.

 

2 We request to borrow as follows:

 

(a) Amount: US$14,250,000.—;

 

(b) Advance as specified in Clause 2.1 (a) (“first Advance”);

 

(c) Drawdown Date: 31st October 2008;

 

(d) Duration of the first Interest Period shall be 1 month; and

 

(e) Payment instructions:

PLEASE TRANSFER FUNDS TO MONEGHETTI SHIPHOLDING LIMITED ACCOUNT IBAN NUMBER CH88 0868 6001 0867 0400 1 HELD WITH BNP PARIBAS (SUISSE) SA - GENEVE, SWITZERLAND (SWIFT BPPBCHGG)

 

3 We represent and warrant that:

 

(a) the representations and warranties in Clause 10 of the Loan Agreement would remain true and not misleading if repeated on the date of this notice with reference to the circumstances now existing; and

 

(b) no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred or will result from the borrowing of the Loan.

 

4 This notice cannot be revoked without the prior consent of the Majority Lenders.

 

5 We authorise you to deduct the arrangement fee referred to in Clause 20 from the amount of the Advance.

 

   LOGO   
  

 

  
   Luigi Pulcini   
Attorney-in-fact for and on behalf of FIORANO SHIPHOLDING LIMITED

 

Room 3206, 32nd Floor, Lippo Centre, Tower Two, No.89 Queensway, Hong Kong