UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of May 2020

Commission File Number 001-37889

TOP SHIPS INC.
(Translation of registrant's name into English)

1 VAS. SOFIAS & MEG.
ALEXANDROU STREET
151 24, MAROUSSI
ATHENS, GREECE

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F [X]       Form 40-F [  ]

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): [  ].

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): [  ].

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.



INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT

On May 8, 2020, TOP Ships Inc. (the “Company”) (NASDAQ:TOPS) announced that it acquired for $18 million from a company affiliated with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, a 100% ownership interest in three Marshall Island companies that each own one ultra-high specification scrubber-fitted 50,000 dwt eco MR product/chemical tanker, all currently under construction in Hyundai Mipo shipyard in South Korea.  The consideration will be paid in instalments through the vessels’ delivery dates. The three tankers are scheduled to be delivered in the first quarter of 2021. The Company also anticipates it will enter into financing arrangements for the vessels prior to their delivery from the shipyard.
 
The acquisitions were approved by a special committee composed of independent members of the Company's board of directors, (the “Transaction Committee”). The Transaction Committee obtained a fairness opinion relating to the consideration paid in this transaction from an independent financial advisor.
 
Each of the three product tankers have time charters with Central Tankers Chartering Inc, a company affiliated with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, for a firm term of five years plus two additional optional years. The total potential gross revenue backlog from these contracts is about $127.5 million.

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this report may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.

The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “intends,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “potential,” “may,” “should,” “expect” “pending” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this report are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.

The information contained in this report on Form 6-K is hereby incorporated by reference into the Company's registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-234281) that was filed with the SEC and became effective on November 4, 2019.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


 
 
TOP SHIPS INC.
 
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dated:  May 8, 2020
By:
/s/ Evangelos Pistiolis
 
 
 
 
Evangelos Pistiolis
Chief Executive Officer