REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) or (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Title of Each Class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of Each Exchange on which Registered | ||
International Financial Reporting Standards as Issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ☐ |
Other | ☐ |
NAVIGATOR HOLDINGS LTD.
INDEX TO REPORT ON FORM 20-F
| 1 | ||||||
| Item 1. |
1 | |||||
| Item 2. |
1 | |||||
| Item 3. |
1 | |||||
| A. |
1 | |||||
| B. |
4 | |||||
| C. |
4 | |||||
| D. |
4 | |||||
| Item 4. |
37 | |||||
| A. |
37 | |||||
| B. |
38 | |||||
| C. |
67 | |||||
| D. |
67 | |||||
| Item 4A. |
67 | |||||
| Item 5. |
67 | |||||
| A. |
67 | |||||
| B. |
78 | |||||
| C. |
87 | |||||
| D. |
87 | |||||
| E. |
89 | |||||
| Item 6. |
90 | |||||
| A. |
90 | |||||
| B. |
92 | |||||
| C. |
96 | |||||
| D. |
96 | |||||
| E. |
96 | |||||
| F. |
Disclosure of a Registrant’s Action to Recover Erroneously Awarded Compensation |
97 | ||||
| Item 7. |
97 | |||||
| A. |
97 | |||||
| B. |
98 | |||||
| C. |
98 | |||||
| Item 8. |
98 | |||||
| A. |
98 | |||||
| B. |
99 | |||||
| Item 9. |
99 | |||||
| A. |
99 | |||||
| B. |
99 | |||||
| C. |
99 | |||||
| Item 10. |
99 | |||||
| A. |
99 | |||||
| B. |
99 | |||||
| C. |
99 | |||||
| D. |
101 | |||||
| E. |
101 | |||||
| F. |
107 | |||||
| G. |
107 | |||||
| H. |
107 | |||||
| I. |
107 | |||||
i
| J. |
107 | |||||
| Item 11. |
107 | |||||
| Item 12. |
108 | |||||
| 109 | ||||||
| Item 13. |
109 | |||||
| Item 14. |
Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds |
109 | ||||
| Item 15. |
109 | |||||
| Item 16A. |
110 | |||||
| Item 16B. |
110 | |||||
| Item 16C. |
110 | |||||
| Item 16D. |
111 | |||||
| Item 16E. |
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers |
111 | ||||
| Item 16F. |
112 | |||||
| Item 16G. |
112 | |||||
| Item 16H. |
112 | |||||
| Item 16I. |
Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections |
112 | ||||
| 113 | ||||||
| Item 17. |
113 | |||||
| Item 18. |
113 | |||||
| Item 19. |
113 | |||||
Presentation of Information in this Annual Report
This annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, or this “annual report,” should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this annual report. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this annual report to “Navigator Holdings,” “our,” “we,” “us” and the “Company” refer to Navigator Holdings Ltd., a Marshall Islands corporation. All references in this annual report to our wholly-owned subsidiary “Navigator Gas L.L.C.” refer to Navigator Gas L.L.C., a Marshall Islands limited liability company. As used in this annual report, unless the context indicates or otherwise requires, references to “our fleet” or “our vessels” include the 53 vessels we owned and operated as of December 31, 2022 and the four vessels acquired, or if the context requires, expected to be acquired, after December 31, 2022 through our joint venture (the “Navigator Greater Bay Joint Venture”) with Greater Bay Gas Co. Ltd (“Greater Bay Gas”).
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This annual report contains certain forward-looking statements concerning plans and objectives of management for future operations or economic performance, or assumptions related thereto, including our financial forecast. In addition, we and our representatives may from time to time make other oral or written statements that are also forward-looking statements. Such statements include, in particular, statements about our plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in our business and the markets in which we operate as described in this annual report. In some cases, you can identify the forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “forecast,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “propose,” “potential,” “continue,” “scheduled,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this annual report. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:
| • | future operating or financial results; |
| • | pending acquisitions, business strategy and expected capital spending; |
| • | operating expenses, availability of crew, number of off-hire days, drydocking requirements and insurance costs; |
ii
| • | fluctuations in currencies and interest rates; |
| • | general market conditions and shipping market trends, including charter rates and factors affecting supply and demand; |
| • | our ability to continue to comply with all our debt covenants; |
| • | our financial condition and liquidity, including our ability to refinance our indebtedness as it matures or obtain additional financing in the future to fund capital expenditures, acquisitions and other corporate activities; |
| • | estimated future capital expenditures needed to preserve our capital base; |
| • | our expectations about the availability of vessels to purchase, or the useful lives of our vessels; |
| • | our continued ability to enter into long-term, fixed-rate time charters with our customers; |
| • | our vessels engaging in ship to ship transfers of liquefied petroleum gas (“LPG”) or petrochemical cargoes which may ultimately be discharged in sanctioned areas or to sanctioned individuals without our knowledge; |
| • | the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine; |
| • | changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities; |
| • | global epidemics or other health crises such as the outbreak of COVID-19, including its impact on our business; |
| • | potential liability from future litigation; |
| • | our expectations relating to the payment of dividends; |
| • | our ability to maintain appropriate internal control over financial reporting and our disclosure controls and procedures; |
| • | our expectations regarding the financial success of the ethylene export marine terminal at Morgan’s Point, Texas (the “Ethylene Export Terminal”) and our related 50/50 joint venture (the “Export Terminal Joint Venture”) and our expectations regarding the completion of construction and financing, and the financial success, of the capital project to expand the Ethylene Export Terminal (the “Expansion Project”); |
| • | our expectations regarding the financial success of our Luna Pool collaborative arrangement (as defined below) and our Navigator Greater Bay Joint Venture; |
| • | our expectations regarding the integration, profitability and success of the vessels and businesses acquired in the Ultragas Transaction (as defined below) and the operational and financial benefits from the combined businesses and fleet; and |
| • | other factors discussed in “Item 3—Key Information—Risk Factors” of this annual report. |
All forward-looking statements included in this annual report are made only as of the date of this annual report. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of these factors. Further, we cannot assess the impact of each such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether because of future events, new information, a change in our views or expectations, or otherwise. We make no prediction or statement about the performance of our common stock.
iii
PART I
| Item 1. | Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers |
Not applicable.
| Item 2. | Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable |
Not applicable.
| Item 3. | Key Information |
| A. | Selected Financial Data |
The following table presents selected historical financial data for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 which has been derived in part from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report and should be read together with and qualified in its entirety by reference to such audited consolidated financial statements. The following table should be read together with “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.”
| Navigator Holdings | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data, fleet data and average daily results) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Income Statement Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues |
$ | 310,046 | $ | 301,385 | $ | 319,665 | $ | 352,922 | $ | 405,346 | ||||||||||
| Operating revenues—Unigas Pool |
— | — | — | 27,004 | 46,345 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues—Luna Pool collaborative arrangements |
— | — | 12,830 | 26,555 | 22,101 | |||||||||||||||
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| Total operating revenues |
$ | 310,046 | $ | 301,385 | $ | 332,495 | $ | 406,481 | $ | 473,792 | ||||||||||
| Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Brokerage commissions |
5,142 | 4,938 | 5,095 | 4,802 | 5,900 | |||||||||||||||
| Voyage expenses |
61,634 | 55,310 | 63,372 | 71,953 | 78,674 | |||||||||||||||
| Voyage expenses—Luna Pool collaborative arrangements |
— | — | 12,418 | 20,913 | 20,716 | |||||||||||||||
| Vessel operating expenses |
106,719 | 111,475 | 109,503 | 131,183 | 159,266 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
76,140 | 76,173 | 76,681 | 88,486 | 126,220 | |||||||||||||||
| Impairment losses on vessels |
— | — | — | 63,581 | — | |||||||||||||||
| Profit on sale of vessels |
— | — | — | — | (4,721 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| General and administrative costs |
18,931 | 20,878 | 23,871 | 28,881 | 27,439 | |||||||||||||||
| Other Income |
— | — | (199 | ) | (367 | ) | (364 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Total operating expenses |
268,566 | 268,774 | 290,741 | 409,432 | 413,130 | |||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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| Operating income/(loss) |
$ | 41,480 | $ | 32,611 | $ | 41,754 | $ | (2,951 | ) | $ | 60,662 | |||||||||
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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| Foreign currency exchange gain/(loss) on senior secured bonds |
2,360 | 969 | (1,931 | ) | 2,146 | 6,589 | ||||||||||||||
| Realized loss on cross currency interest rate swap |
— | — | — | — | (6,270 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Unrealized (loss)/gain on non-designated derivative instruments |
(5,154 | ) | (615 | ) | 2,762 | 791 | 25,124 | |||||||||||||
| Loss on repayment of senior bonds |
— | — | (479 | ) | — | (1,102 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Write off of deferred financing costs |
— | (403 | ) | (155 | ) | — | (212 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Net interest expense |
(44,054 | ) | (47,691 | ) | (40,672 | ) | (38,380 | ) | (49,758 | ) | ||||||||||
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|
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| Income/(loss) before income taxes and share of result of equity method investments |
$ | (5,368 | ) | $ | (15,129 | ) | $ | 1,279 | $ | (38,394 | ) | $ | 35,033 | |||||||
| Income taxes |
(333 | ) | (352 | ) | (617 | ) | (1,969 | ) | (5,949 | ) | ||||||||||
| Share of result of equity method investments |
(38 | ) | (1,126 | ) | 651 | 11,147 | 25,794 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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| Net income/(loss) |
$ | (5,739 | ) | $ | (16,607 | ) | $ | 1,313 | $ | (29,216 | ) | $ | 54,878 | |||||||
| Net income attributable to non-controlling interest |
— | (99 | ) | (1,756 | ) | (1,748 | ) | (1,405 | ) | |||||||||||
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|
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| Net income/(loss) attributable to stockholders of Navigator Holdings Ltd. |
$ | (5,739 | ) | $ | (16,706 | ) | $ | (443 | ) | $ | (30,964 | ) | $ | 53,473 | ||||||
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1
| Navigator Holdings | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data, fleet data and average daily results) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings /(loss) per share attributable to stockholders of Navigator Holdings Ltd.: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic |
$ | (0.10 | ) | $ | (0.30 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.48 | ) | $ | 0.69 | ||||||
| Diluted |
$ | (0.10 | ) | $ | (0.30 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.48 | ) | $ | 0.69 | ||||||
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic |
55,629,023 | 55,792,711 | 55,885,376 | 64,669,567 | 77,234,830 | |||||||||||||||
| Diluted |
55,629,023 | 55,792,711 | 55,885,376 | 64,669,567 | 77,558,494 | |||||||||||||||
| Navigator Holdings | ||||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data, fleet data and average daily results) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance Sheet Data (at end of period): |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
$ | 71,515 | $ | 66,130 | $ | 59,271 | $ | 124,223 | $ | 153,194 | ||||||||||
| Total assets |
1,832,751 | 1,874,253 | 1,839,408 | 2,157,425 | 2,096,738 | |||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities |
877,641 | 934,351 | 897,013 | 1,039,971 | 923,326 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Navigator Holdings Ltd. stockholders’ equity |
955,110 | 939,803 | 940,540 | 1,113,851 | 1,162,494 | |||||||||||||||
| Cash Flows Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 77,517 | $ | 49,700 | $ | 44,879 | $ | 97,941 | $ | 130,308 | ||||||||||
| Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities |
(42,327 | ) | (90,409 | ) | (16,151 | ) | 33,057 | 35,640 | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities |
(25,784 | ) | 35,324 | (35,381 | ) | (66,094 | ) | (134,140 | ) | |||||||||||
| Fleet Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average number of vessels(2) |
38.0 | 38.0 | 38.0 | 40.9 | 43.9 | |||||||||||||||
| Ownership days(3) |
13,870 | 13,870 | 13,908 | 14,941 | 16,047 | |||||||||||||||
| Available days(4) |
13,767 | 13,608 | 13,684 | 14,525 | 15,741 | |||||||||||||||
| Earning days(5) |
12,247 | 11,813 | 11,880 | 12,688 | 14,010 | |||||||||||||||
| Fleet utilization(6) |
89.0 | % | 86.8 | % | 86.8 | % | 87.4 | % | 89.0 | % | ||||||||||
| Average Daily Results: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Time charter equivalent rate(7) |
$ | 20,284 | $ | 20,831 | $ | 21,573 | $ | 22,145 | $ | 23,317 | ||||||||||
| Daily vessel operating expenses(8) |
$ | 7,694 | $ | 8,037 | $ | 7,873 | $ | 7,954 | $ | 8,210 | ||||||||||
| Other Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| EBITDA(1) |
$ | 114,788 | $ | 107,609 | $ | 119,283 | $ | 99,619 | $ | 236,805 | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) |
$ | 117,582 | $ | 107,658 | $ | 119,086 | $ | 160,263 | $ | 212,676 | ||||||||||
| (1) | EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measurements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP (non-GAAP financial measures). EBITDA represents net income before net interest expense, income taxes and depreciation and amortization. We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA before foreign currency exchange gain or loss on senior secured bonds, realized loss on cross currency interest rate swap, unrealized gain or loss on non-designated derivative instruments, loss on repayment of bonds, written off deferred financing costs and vessel impairment losses. Management believes that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are useful to investors in evaluating the operating performance of the Company. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not represent and should not be considered alternatives to consolidated net income, cash generated from operations or any measure prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and our calculation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. |
2
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation, or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under U.S. GAAP. Some of these limitations are:
| • | EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; |
| • | EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not recognize the interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt; |
| • | EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA ignore changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; and |
| • | other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures. |
Because of these limitations, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered measures of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business.
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income / (loss), our most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, for the periods presented:
| Navigator Holdings | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) |
$ | (5,739 | ) | $ | (16,607 | ) | $ | 1,313 | $ | (29,216 | ) | $ | 54,878 | |||||||
| Net interest expense |
44,054 | 47,691 | 40,672 | 38,380 | 49,758 | |||||||||||||||
| Income taxes |
333 | 352 | 617 | 1,969 | 5,949 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
76,140 | 76,173 | 76,681 | 88,486 | 126,220 | |||||||||||||||
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| EBITDA |
$ | 114,788 | $ | 107,609 | $ | 119,283 | $ | 99,619 | $ | 236,805 | ||||||||||
| Foreign currency exchange (gain)/loss on senior secured bonds |
(2,360 | ) | (969 | ) | 1,931 | (2,146 | ) | (6,589 | ) | |||||||||||
| Realized loss on the cross currency interest rate swap |
— | — | — | — | 6,270 | |||||||||||||||
| Unrealized loss/(gain) on non-designated derivative instruments |
5,154 | 615 | (2,762 | ) | (791 | ) | (25,124 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Loss on repayment of bonds |
— | — | 479 | — | 1,102 | |||||||||||||||
| Write off of deferred financing costs |
— | 403 | 155 | — | 212 | |||||||||||||||
| Impairment losses on vessels |
— | — | — | 63,581 | — | |||||||||||||||
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| Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 117,582 | $ | 107,658 | $ | 119,086 | $ | 160,263 | $ | 212,676 | ||||||||||
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| (2) | We calculate the weighted average number of vessels during a period by dividing the number of total ownership days during that period by the number of calendar days during that period. This calculation does not include our nine owned smaller vessels in the independent commercially managed Unigas Pool or the four vessels in the Luna Pool owned by Pacific Gas. |
| (3) | We define ownership days as the aggregate number of days in a period that each vessel in our fleet has been owned by us (excluding our nine smaller vessels in the independent commercially managed Unigas Pool). Ownership days are an indicator of the size of our fleet over a period and the potential amount of revenue that we record during a period. |
| (4) | We define available days as ownership days less aggregate off-hire days associated with scheduled maintenance, which includes drydockings, vessel upgrades or special or intermediate surveys. We use available days to measure the aggregate number of days in a period that our vessels should be capable of generating revenues. |
3
| (5) | We define earning days as available days less the aggregate number of days that our vessels are off-hire for any reason other than scheduled maintenance. We use earning days to measure the aggregate number of days in a period that our vessels are providing services to our customers. |
| (6) | We calculate fleet utilization by dividing the number of earning days during a period by the number of available days during that period. We use fleet utilization to measure our ability to efficiently find suitable employment for our vessels. |
| (7) | Time charter equivalent (“TCE”) rate is a measure of the average daily revenue performance of a vessel. TCE is not calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For all charters, we calculate TCE by dividing total operating revenues (excluding collaborative arrangements and revenues from the Unigas Pool), less any voyage expenses (excluding collaborative arrangements), by the number of earning days for the relevant period. TCE rates exclude the effects of the collaborative arrangements, as earning days and fleet utilization, on which TCE rates are based, are calculated for our owned vessels, and not the average of all pool vessels. Under a time charter, the charterer pays substantially all of the vessel voyage related expenses, whereas for voyage charters, also known as spot market charters, we pay all voyage expenses. TCE rate is a shipping industry performance measure used primarily to compare period-to-period changes in a company’s performance despite changes in the mix of charter types (i.e., spot charters, time charters and contracts of affreightment (“COAs”)) under which the vessels may be employed between the periods. We include the average daily TCE rate, as we believe it provides additional meaningful information in conjunction with net operating revenues, because it assists our management in making decisions regarding the deployment and use of our vessels and in evaluating their financial performance. Our calculation of TCE rate may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. |
The following table represents a reconciliation of TCE rate to operating revenues, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP for the periods presented:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except earning days and average daily time charter equivalent rate) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Fleet Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues (excluding collaborative arrangements) |
$ | 310,046 | $ | 301,385 | $ | 319,665 | $ | 352,922 | $ | 405,346 | ||||||||||
| Voyage expenses (excluding collaborative arrangements) |
(61,634 | ) | (55,310 | ) | (63,372 | ) | (71,953 | ) | (78,674 | ) | ||||||||||
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| Operating revenues less Voyage expenses |
248,412 | 246,075 | 256,293 | 280,969 | 326,672 | |||||||||||||||
| Earning days |
12,247 | 11,813 | 11,880 | 12,688 | 14,010 | |||||||||||||||
| Average daily time charter equivalent rate |
$ | 20,284 | $ | 20,831 | $ | 21,573 | $ | 22,145 | $ | 23,317 | ||||||||||
| (8) | Daily vessel operating expenses are calculated by dividing vessel operating expenses by ownership days for the relevant time period. |
| B. | Capitalization and Indebtedness |
Not applicable.
| C. | Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds |
Not applicable.
| D. | Risk Factors |
You should carefully consider the following risk factors together with all of the other information included in this annual report in evaluating an investment in our common stock. If any of the following risks were actually to
4
occur, our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows could be materially adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Risk Factor Summary
The risk factors summarized and detailed below could materially and adversely affect our business, our financial condition, our operating results and the trading price of our common stock. These material risks include, but are not limited to, those relating to:
| • | Charter rates for liquefied gas carriers are cyclical in nature. |
| • | Future growth in the demand for our services will depend on changes in supply and demand, economic growth in the world economy and demand for petrochemical and liquefied petroleum gas transportation. Adverse economic, political, or social developments or other global financial turmoil, could have a material adverse effect on world economic growth and on us. |
| • | We are partially dependent on voyage charters in the spot market, and any decrease in spot charter rates in the future may adversely affect our earnings. |
| • | We operate several of our vessels through the Luna Pool and the Unigas Pool. Failure by the Luna Pool or the Unigas Pool to find profitable employment for these vessels could adversely affect us. |
| • | We may be unable to charter our vessels at attractive rates. |
| • | A significant portion of our revenues are generated from a limited number of customers. |
| • | The demand for liquefied gases and the seaborne transportation of liquefied gases may not grow. |
| • | The expected growth in the supply of petrochemical gases, including ethane and ethylene, available for seaborne transport may not materialize, which would deprive us of the opportunity to obtain premium charters for petrochemical cargoes. |
| • | The market values of our vessels may decline if market conditions deteriorate. This could cause us to incur impairment charges, which could cause us to breach covenants in our debt facilities. |
| • | Over the long-term, we will be required to make substantial capital expenditures to preserve the operating capacity of, and to grow, our fleet. |
| • | We may be unable to make, or realize the expected benefits from, acquisitions and the failure to successfully implement our growth strategy through acquisitions could adversely affect us. |
| • | From time to time, we may selectively pursue new strategic acquisitions or ventures we believe to be complementary to our seaborne transportation services and any strategic transactions that are a departure from our historical operations could present unforeseen challenges and result in a competitive disadvantage relative to our more-established competitors. |
| • | We may be unable to realize the expected benefits from our investment in the Ethylene Export Terminal including the Expansion Project. |
| • | Conflicts between countries, such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine could restrict or prohibit our vessels from calling at certain ports or from trading with some of our customers. |
| • | We operate in countries which can expose us to political, governmental and economic instability. |
| • | If our vessels call on ports located in countries that are subject to trade restrictions, or perform ship to ship transfers of cargoes to other vessels that may call on ports located in countries that are subject to trade restrictions our reputation and the market for our securities could be adversely affected. |
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| • | Operating our vessels in sanctioned areas or chartering our vessels to sanctioned persons may harm us. |
| • | We provide in-house technical management for certain vessels in our fleet which may impose significant additional responsibilities on our management and staff. |
| • | A fluctuation in fuel prices may adversely affect our charter rates for time charters and our cost structure for voyage charters and COAs. |
| • | The required drydocking of our vessels may have a more adverse impact on revenues than anticipated. |
| • | Our operating costs are likely to increase in the future as our vessels age. |
| • | The operation of ocean going vessels entails the possibility of marine disasters including damage or destruction of the vessel due to natural disasters, accident, the loss of a vessel due to piracy or terrorism, damage or destruction of cargo and similar events that may adversely affect us. |
| • | The loss of or inability to operate any of our vessels would result in a loss of revenues and cash flow. |
| • | Adverse global economic conditions or disease outbreaks could have a material adverse effect us. |
| • | Due to our lack of vessel diversification, adverse developments in the seaborne liquefied gas transportation business could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. |
| • | If in the future our business activities involve countries, entities or individuals that are subject to restrictions imposed by the U.S. or other governments, we could be subject to enforcement action and our reputation and the market for our common stock could be adversely affected. |
| • | Failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the UK Bribery Act and other anti-bribery laws could result in fines, criminal penalties, contract termination and adversely effect us. |
| • | We rely on our information systems to conduct our business, and failure to protect these systems against security breaches could disrupt our business and adversely affect our results of operations. |
| • | Our business is subject to laws and regulations regarding privacy and data protection. |
| • | Maritime claimants could arrest our vessels, which could interrupt our cash flow. |
| • | A shortage of qualified officers would make it more difficult to crew our vessels and increase our operating costs. If a shortage were to develop, it could impair our ability to operate. |
| • | Compliance with safety and other vessel requirements imposed by classification societies may be costly. |
| • | Delays in deliveries of newbuildings or acquired vessels, or deliveries of vessels with significant defects, could harm our operating results and lead to the termination of any related charters. |
| • | Our growth depends on our ability to expand relationships with existing customers and obtain new customers, for which we will face substantial competition. |
| • | The marine transportation industry is subject to substantial environmental and other regulations. |
| • | Climate change concerns and greenhouse gas regulations may adversely impact us. |
| • | Increased scrutiny from stakeholders and others regarding climate change, as well as our ESG practices and reporting responsibilities, could result in additional costs or risks and adversely impact our business and reputation. |
| • | Changes in the law and regulations relating to the use of, or a decrease in the demand for, single use plastics and increased concerns or restrictions relating to waste plastics could adversely impact us. |
| • | Marine transportation is inherently risky. An incident involving significant loss of product or environmental contamination by any of our vessels could adversely affect us. |
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| • | Competition from more technologically advanced liquefied gas carriers could reduce our charter hire income and the value of our vessels. |
| • | Acts of piracy on any of our vessels or on ocean going vessels could adversely affect us. |
| • | Terrorist attacks, increased hostilities, piracy, political change or war could lead to further economic instability, increased costs and disruption of business. |
| • | Exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations results in fluctuations in cash flows and in our results. |
| • | Our insurance may be insufficient to cover losses. |
| • | Restrictive covenants in our secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities and in our unsecured bonds and our Terminal Facility impose, and any future debt facilities may impose, restrictions on us. |
| • | The secured term loan facilities and the Terminal Facility are reducing facilities. The required repayments under the secured term loan facilities and the Terminal Facility may adversely affect us. |
| • | Our consolidated variable interest entity may enter into different financing arrangements. |
| • | Interest rate increases affect the interest rates under our credit facilities, which adversely affects our operating results. |
| • | The derivative contracts we have or may enter into to hedge our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates could result in higher interest rates and reductions in our shareholders’ equity, as well as charges against our income. |
| • | Our business depends upon certain key employees. |
| • | We are a holding company, and we depend on the ability of our subsidiaries to distribute funds to us. |
| • | We may issue additional equity securities without your approval, which would dilute your ownership. |
| • | Future sales of our common stock could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. |
| • | BW Group and Ultranav, collectively, own an aggregate of approximately 57.3% of our common stock. Each may exert considerable influence on, and together they could control, actions requiring a shareholder vote, and they could acquire additional shares of our common stock, further reducing liquidity in the market. |
| • | We currently do not pay dividends on our common stock. |
| • | The obligations of with being a public company requires resources and management attention. |
| • | If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud, and shareholders could lose confidence in our financial and other public reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our common stock. |
| • | We may lose our foreign private issuer status in the future, which could result in additional costs. |
| • | Our operations may be subject to economic substance requirements. |
| • | We are formed in the Marshall Islands, which does not have a well-developed body of corporate law. |
| • | Because we are a Marshall Islands corporation, it may be difficult to serve us with legal process or enforce judgments against us, our directors or our management. |
| • | Provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws may have anti-takeover effects. |
| • | We may be subject to additional taxes, which could adversely impact us. |
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| • | U.S. tax authorities could treat us as a “passive foreign investment company,” which could have adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. shareholders. |
| • | We may have to pay tax on U.S. source income with respect to the operation of our vessels, and business conducted within the United States, which would reduce our cash flow. |
In addition, risks not presently known to us or risks that we currently deem immaterial could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and the trading price of our common shares.
Risks Related to Our Business
Charter rates for liquefied gas carriers are cyclical in nature.
The international liquefied gas carrier market is cyclical with attendant volatility in terms of charter rates, profitability and vessel values. The degree of charter rate volatility among different types of liquefied gas carriers has varied widely. Because many factors influencing the supply of, and demand for, vessel capacity are unpredictable, the timing, direction and degree of changes in the international liquefied gas carrier market are also unpredictable.
Future growth in the demand for our services will depend on changes in supply and demand, economic growth in the world economy and demand for petrochemical and liquefied petroleum gas transportation relative to changes in worldwide fleet capacity. Adverse economic, political, or social developments or other global financial turmoil, could have a material adverse effect on world economic growth and thus on our business, financial condition and operating results.
The charter rates we receive will be dependent upon, among other things:
| • | changes in the supply of vessel capacity for the seaborne transportation of liquefied gases, which is influenced by the following factors: |
| • | the number of newbuilding deliveries and the ability of shipyards to deliver newbuildings by contracted delivery dates and capacity levels of shipyards; |
| • | the scrapping rate of older vessels; |
| • | the number of vessels that are out of service, as a result of vessel casualties, repairs and drydockings; |
| • | changes in environmental and other regulations that may limit the useful lives of vessels; and |
| • | changes in liquefied gas carrier prices. |
| • | changes in the level of demand for seaborne transportation of liquefied gases, which is influenced by the following factors: |
| • | changes to the arbitrage of such liquefied gases in different countries, regions or continents; |
| • | the level of production of liquefied gases in net export regions; |
| • | the level of demand for liquefied gases in net import regions such as Asia, Europe, Latin America and India; |
| • | the level of internal demand for petrochemicals to supply integrated petrochemical facilities in net export regions; |
| • | a reduction in global demand for petrochemicals due to ecological or environmental concerns about the use of single use plastics and waste plastics; |
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| • | a reduction in global or general industrial activity specifically in the plastics and chemical industry; |
| • | changes in the cost of petroleum and natural gas from which liquefied gases are derived; |
| • | prevailing global and regional economic conditions; |
| • | political changes and armed conflicts in the regions traveled by our vessels and the regions where the cargoes we carry are produced or consumed that interrupt production, trade routes or consumption of liquefied gases and associated products; |
| • | developments in international trade; |
| • | the distances between exporting and importing regions over which liquefied gases are to be transported by sea; |
| • | infrastructure to support seaborne liquefied gases, including pipelines, railways and terminals; |
| • | the availability of alternative transportation means, including pipelines; |
| • | changes in seaborne and other transportation patterns; and |
| • | changes in environmental and other regulations that may limit the production or consumption of liquefied gases. |
Adverse changes in any of the foregoing factors could have an adverse effect on our revenues, profitability, liquidity, cash flow and financial position.
We are partially dependent on voyage charters in the spot market, and any decrease in spot charter rates in the future may adversely affect our earnings.
We currently own and operate a fleet of 56 vessels, some of which are employed in the spot market, exposing us to fluctuations in spot market charter rates.
Although spot chartering is common in our industry the spot market may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. The successful operation of our vessels in the competitive spot market depends upon, among other things, obtaining profitable spot charters and minimizing, to the extent possible, time spent waiting for charters and time spent traveling in ballast and picking up cargoes. If future spot charter rates decline, we may be unable to operate our vessels trading in the spot market profitably or meet our obligations, including payments on indebtedness. Furthermore, as charter rates for spot charters are fixed for a single voyage or multiple voyages which may last up to several weeks or months, during periods in which spot charter rates are rising, we will generally experience delays in realizing the benefits from such increases.
We operate several of our vessels through the Luna Pool and the Unigas Pool. Failure by the Luna Pool and Unigas Pool to find profitable employment for these vessels could adversely affect our operations.
The Luna Pool (the “Luna Pool”), collaborative arrangements derive revenue from time charters, voyage charters and COAs from the vessels in the pool and from which we share in the pool net revenues generated by the other participant’s vessels in the pool as well as the other participant sharing in the pool net revenues generated by our participating vessels. The Luna Pool, which comprises fourteen ethylene vessels and focuses on the transportation of ethylene and ethane. Our wholly-owned subsidiary, NGT Services (UK) Limited, is the commercial and accounting manager of the Luna Pool. If the Luna Pool is not able to find profitable employment or re-deploy our or any of the other pool participants’ vessels, we will receive reduced or no revenues from the Luna Pool. A sustained decline in charter or spot rates or a failure by the Luna Pool to successfully charter participating vessels could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and our ability to meet our financing obligations.
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Nine of our vessels are commercially managed by the Unigas Pool (the “Unigas Pool”). The Unigas Pool is an independently managed pool that has operated since 1969. Revenue is generated from time charters, voyage charters and COAs from the vessels in the pool and is allocated to the pool participants in accordance with agreed pool points. A sustained decline in charter or spot rates or a loss of COA’s by the Unigas Pool could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and our ability to meet our financing obligations.
We may be unable to charter our vessels at attractive rates, which would have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Payments under our charters represent a substantial majority of our operating cash flow. Our time charters expire on a regular basis. If demand for liquefied gas carriers has declined at the time that our charters expire, we may not be able to charter our vessels at favorable rates or at all. If more vessels are added to the overall fleet through newbuilding programs, charter rates may reduce. In addition, while longer-term charters would become more attractive to us at a time when charter rates are declining, our customers may not want to enter into longer-term charters in such an environment. As a result, if our charters expire at a time when charter rates are declining, we may have to accept charters with lower rates or shorter terms than would be desirable. Furthermore, we may be unable to charter our vessels immediately after the expiration of their charters resulting in periods of non-utilization for our vessels. Our inability to charter our vessels at favorable rates or terms or at all would adversely impact our business, financial condition and operating results.
A significant portion of our revenues are generated from a limited number of customers.
We have derived, and believe that we will continue to derive, a significant portion of our revenues from a limited number of customers. Our customers include major oil and gas companies, chemical companies, energy trading companies, state owned oil companies and various other entities that depend upon marine transportation. Our top three customers accounted for between 8% and 10% each, and in aggregate, 26.5% of our total operating revenues during the year ended December 31, 2022, equivalent to $108.4 million of our total revenue. During the year ended December 31, 2021, two of our customers accounted for 10% or more, and in aggregate, 20.7% of our total operating revenues, equivalent to $73.2 million of our total revenue. The loss of any significant customer or a substantial decline in the amount of services requested by a significant customer, or the inability of a significant customer to pay for our services, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If the demand for liquefied gases and the seaborne transportation of liquefied gases does not grow, our business, financial condition and operating results could be adversely affected.
Our growth depends on continued growth in the world and regional demand for liquefied gases and the seaborne transportation of liquefied gases, each of which could be adversely affected by a number of factors, such as:
| • | increases in the demand for industrial and residential natural gas in areas linked by pipelines to producing areas, or the conversion of existing non-gas pipelines to natural gas pipelines in those markets; |
| • | increases in demand for chemical feedstocks in net exporting regions, leading to less liquefied gases for export; |
| • | decreases in the consumption of petrochemical gases; |
| • | decreases in the consumption of LPG due to increases in its price relative to other energy sources or other factors making consumption of liquefied gas less attractive; |
| • | the availability of competing, alternative energy sources, transportation fuels or propulsion systems; |
| • | decreases in demand for liquefied gases resulting from changes in feedstock capabilities of petrochemical plants in net importing regions; |
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| • | changes in the relative values of hydrocarbon and liquefied gases; |
| • | a reduction in global industrial activity, especially in the plastics and petrochemical industries, particularly in regions with high demand growth for liquefied gas, such as Asia; |
| • | adverse global or regional economic or political conditions, particularly in liquefied gas exporting or importing regions, which could reduce liquefied gas shipping or energy consumption; |
| • | changes in governmental regulations, such as the elimination of economic incentives or initiatives designed to encourage the use of liquefied gases over other fuel sources; or |
| • | decreases in the capacity of petrochemical plants and crude oil refineries worldwide or the failure of anticipated new capacity to come online. |
Reduced demand for liquefied gases and the seaborne transportation of liquefied gases would have a material adverse effect on our future growth and could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
The expected growth in the supply of petrochemical gases, including ethane and ethylene, available for seaborne transport may not materialize, which would deprive us of the opportunity to obtain premium charters for petrochemical cargoes.
Charter rates for petrochemical gas cargoes, can be higher than those for other liquefied gases, with charter rates for ethylene and ethane historically commanding a premium, due to a smaller global fleet of ethylene or ethane capable vessels. While we believe that growth in production at petrochemical production facilities and regional supply and pricing arbitrage will create opportunities for us to transport petrochemical gas cargoes, including ethane and ethylene, factors that are beyond our control may cause the supply of petrochemical gases available for seaborne transport to remain constant or even decline. If the supply of petrochemical gases available for seaborne transport does not increase, we will not have the opportunity to obtain the increased charter rates associated with petrochemical gas cargoes, including ethane and ethylene, and our expectations regarding the growth of our business may not be met.
The market values of our vessels may decline if market conditions deteriorate. This could cause us to incur impairment charges, which could cause us to breach covenants in our debt facilities.
The market value of liquefied gas carriers fluctuates. The market values of our vessels may be subject to a potential significant decline depending on a number of factors including, among other things: energy and environmental efficiency of our vessels, general economic and market conditions affecting the shipping industry, prevailing charter rates, competition from other shipping companies, other modes of transportation, other types, sizes and age of vessels, shipyard capacity and the cost of newbuildings and applicable governmental regulations.
In addition, when vessel prices are considered to be low, companies not usually involved in shipping may make speculative vessel orders, thereby increasing the supply of vessel capacity, satisfying demand sooner and potentially suppressing charter rates.
Also, if the book value of a vessel is impaired due to unfavorable market conditions or a vessel is sold at a price below its book value, we would incur a loss that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
We review our vessels for impairment when events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the vessel may not be recoverable. When such indicators are present, a vessel is tested for recoverability and we recognize an impairment loss if the sum of the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and excluding interest charges that will be recognized as an expense when incurred) expected to be generated by the vessel over its estimated remaining useful life is less than its carrying value. If we determine that a vessel’s undiscounted cash flows are
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less than its carrying value, we record an impairment loss equal to the amount by which its carrying amount exceeds its fair value. We cannot assure you that we will not recognize impairment losses on our vessels in the future.
Furthermore, our loan agreements have covenants relating to asset values, whereby if vessel values were to reduce to below those set out in the covenants, a breach would occur and could cause the loan amounts to be immediately repayable. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Over the long-term, we will be required to make substantial capital expenditures to preserve the operating capacity of, and to grow, our fleet.
We must make substantial capital expenditures over the long-term to maintain the operating capacity and expansion of our fleet in order to preserve our capital base.
We estimate that drydocking expenditures can cost up to $2.0 million per vessel per drydocking, although these expenditures could vary significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year and could increase as a result of changes in:
| • | the location and required repositioning of the vessel; |
| • | the cost of labor and materials; |
| • | the types of vessels in our fleet; |
| • | the age of the vessels in our fleet; |
| • | governmental regulations and maritime self-regulatory organization standards relating to safety, security or the environment; |
| • | competitive standards; and |
| • | high demand for drydock usage. |
Our ability to obtain bank financing or to access the capital markets for future debt or equity offerings in order to finance the expansion of our fleet may be limited by our financial condition at the time of any such financing or offering as well as by adverse market conditions resulting from, among other things, general economic conditions and contingencies and uncertainties that are beyond our control. Our failure to obtain the funds for future capital expenditures could limit our ability to expand our fleet. Even if we are successful in obtaining necessary funds, the terms of such financings may significantly increase our interest expense and financial leverage and issuing additional equity securities may result in significant shareholder dilution. Please read “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Liquidity and Cash Needs.”
We may be unable to make, or realize the expected benefits from, acquisitions and the failure to successfully implement our growth strategy through acquisitions could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Our growth strategy may include selectively acquiring existing liquefied gas carriers or newbuildings and investing in complementary assets. Factors such as competition from other companies, many of which have significantly greater financial resources than we do, could reduce our acquisition and investment opportunities or cause us to pay higher prices.
Any existing vessel or newbuilding we acquire may not be profitable at or after the time of acquisition or delivery and may not generate cash flow sufficient to cover the cost of acquisition. Market conditions at the time of delivery of any newbuildings may be such that charter rates are not favorable and the revenue generated by such vessels is not sufficient to provide satisfactory returns relative to their purchase prices.
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In addition, our acquisition and investment growth strategy exposes us to risks that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results, including risks that we may:
| • | fail to realize anticipated benefits of acquisitions, such as new customer relationships, cost savings or increased cash flow; |
| • | not be able to obtain charters at favorable rates or at all; |
| • | be unable to hire, train or retain qualified shore and seafaring personnel to manage and operate our growing business and fleet; |
| • | fail to integrate investments of complementary assets or vessels in capacity ranges outside our current operations in a profitable manner; |
| • | not have adequate operating and financial systems in place as we implement our expansion plan; |
| • | decrease our liquidity through the use of a significant portion of available cash or borrowing capacity to finance acquisitions; |
| • | significantly increase our interest expense or financial leverage if we incur additional debt to finance acquisitions; or |
| • | incur or assume unanticipated liabilities, losses or costs associated with the business or vessels acquired. |
Unlike newbuildings, existing vessels typically do not carry warranties as to their condition. While we inspect existing vessels prior to purchase, such an inspection would normally not provide us with as much knowledge of a vessel’s condition as we would possess if it had been built for us and operated by us during its life. Repairs and maintenance costs for existing vessels are difficult to predict and may be substantially higher than for vessels we have operated since they were built. These costs could decrease our cash flow and reduce our liquidity.
From time to time, we may selectively pursue new strategic acquisitions or ventures we believe to be complementary to our seaborne transportation services and any strategic transactions that are a departure from our historical operations could present unforeseen challenges and result in a competitive disadvantage relative to our more-established competitors.
We may pursue strategic acquisitions or investment opportunities we believe to be complementary to our core business of owning and operating handysize liquefied gas carriers and the transportation of LPG, petrochemical gases and ammonia. For example, in November 2022, we announced our participation in the Expansion Project to provide additional ethylene refrigeration capacity for our Ethylene Export Terminal Such ventures may include, but are not limited to, operating liquefied gas carriers in different size categories, expanding the types of cargo we carry and/or ventures or facilities involved in the export, distribution, mixing and/or storage of liquefied gas cargoes. While we have general knowledge and experience in the seaborne transportation services industry, we currently have limited operating history outside of the ownership and operation of liquified gas carriers and the transportation of petrochemicals, LPG and ammonia.
Any investments we pursue outside of our historical provision of seaborne transportation services could result in unforeseen operating difficulties and may require significant financial and managerial resources that would otherwise be available for the ongoing operation and growth of our fleet.
We may face several factors that could impair our ability to successfully execute these acquisitions or investments including, among others, the following:
| • | delays in obtaining regulatory approvals, licenses or permits from different governmental or regulatory authorities, including environmental permits; |
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| • | unexpected cost increases or shortages in the equipment, materials or labor required for the venture, which could cause the venture to become economically unfeasible; and |
| • | unforeseen engineering, design or environmental problems. |
Any of these factors could delay any such acquisitions or investment opportunities and could increase our projected capital costs. If we are unable to successfully integrate acquisitions or investments into our historical business, any costs incurred in connection with these projects may not be recoverable. If we experience delays, cost overruns, or changes in market circumstances, we may not be able to demonstrate the commercial viability of such acquisitions or investment opportunities or achieve the intended economic benefits, which would materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
We may be unable to realize the expected benefits from our investment in the Ethylene Export Terminal, including the Expansion Project.
There are a number of factors that could impact our ability to benefit from the Ethylene Export Terminal in the U.S. Gulf, including the Expansion Project, on a timely basis or at all, or at the level we anticipate, including, among others, the following:
| • | the ability to receive on a timely basis regulatory approval to construct or operate the Expansion Project; |
| • | availability of funding for our investment in the Expansion Project; |
| • | any inability of the Ethylene Export Terminal to operate due to operational issues; |
| • | any inability of the Ethylene Export Terminal to operate due to adverse weather conditions or due to damage as a result of storms, flooding or other adverse weather events; and |
| • | any inability of the Ethylene Export Terminal to operate due to adverse weather conditions or due to damage as a result of storms, flooding or other adverse weather events; and |
| • | any existing customers not renewing their contracts at the end of their existing terms, or any inability of the Ethylene Export Terminal to otherwise maintain fully committed throughput. |
In addition, our 50/50 joint venture partner in the Export Terminal Joint Venture is the sole managing member of the Export Terminal Joint Venture and is also the operator of the related Ethylene Export Terminal. The success of the 50/50 owned Export Terminal Joint Venture and the Ethylene Export Terminal is dependent on the successful management and operation thereof by the managing member and operator. Further, the managing member’s and operator’s interests may not be entirely aligned with our interests.
Conflicts between countries, such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine could restrict or prohibit our vessels from calling at certain ports or from trading with some of our customers which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, which may lead to wider regional and international conflicts. It is possible that such conflict could disrupt supply chains and cause instability in the global economy. Additionally, the ongoing conflict has resulted in the imposition of economic sanctions by, among others, the United States and the European Union against Russia and could result in the imposition of further sanctions. While much uncertainty remains regarding the global impact of the invasion, it is possible that such tensions could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Two of our vessels, Navigator Leo and Navigator Libra are on ten year time charters to a Russian counterparty and these charters are scheduled to expire in December 2023. These time charters cannot be terminated earlier without the consent of both parties, unless the counterparty was to become a sanctioned entity or our dealings with that counterparty were to be otherwise prohibited by sanctions, which would render the charters void. The counterparty remains unsanctioned.
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In addition, there could be restrictions or imposed prohibitions on our vessels from calling at certain ports, such as ports in the Black Sea where it is currently unsafe to enter due to Russian naval activity.
We continue to employ both Russian and Ukrainian officers on board our vessels, albeit a reduced number since prior to the Ukrainian conflict. Although we have only experienced solidarity among our officers onboard our vessels and we have not experienced any operational issues with such officers, we will continue to monitor this situation, as there may be governmental restrictions, logistical challenges or an inability to employ either or both nationalities in the future, which if unavailable in the future, could impair our ability to operate and increase the cost of crewing our vessels and, thus, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
We operate in countries which can expose us to political, governmental and economic instability, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Our operations are conducted in many jurisdictions outside of the United States, and may be affected by economic, political and governmental conditions in the countries where we engage in business or where our vessels are registered. Any disruption caused by these conditions could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and operating results. We derive some of our revenues from transporting gas cargoes from, to and within politically unstable regions. Conflicts in these regions have included attacks on ships and other efforts to disrupt shipping. In addition, vessels operating in some of these regions have been subject to piracy. Hostilities or other political instability in regions where we operate or may operate could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, in addition to sanctions announced by the United States and several European countries against Russia and any forthcoming sanctions, may also adversely impact our business. In addition, tariffs, trade embargoes and other economic sanctions by the United States or other countries against countries where we engage in business may limit, restrict or prohibit our trading activities with those countries, which could also harm our business. Finally, a government could requisition one or more of our vessels, which is most likely during a war or national emergency. Any such requisition would cause a loss of the vessel and would harm our business, financial condition and operating results.
If our vessels call on ports located in countries that are subject to restrictions imposed by the U.S. government, or perform ship to ship transfers of cargoes to other vessels that may call on ports located in countries that are subject to restrictions imposed by the U.S. government, our reputation and the market for our securities could be adversely affected.
Although no vessels owned or operated by us have called on ports located in countries/regions subject to comprehensive sanctions and embargoes imposed by the U.S. government and other authorities, such as Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, in the future our vessels may call on ports in these countries/regions from time to time on charterers’ instructions in violation of contractual provisions that prohibit them from doing so. In addition, our vessels do not knowingly engage in ship to ship transfers of LPG or petrochemical cargoes which may ultimately be discharged in sanctioned areas or to sanctioned individuals. Sanctions and embargo laws and regulations vary in their application, as they do not all apply to the same covered persons or proscribe the same activities, and such sanctions and embargo laws and regulations may be amended or strengthened over time.
Although we believe that we have been in compliance with all applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations, and intend to maintain such compliance, there can be no assurance that we will be in compliance in the future, particularly as the scope of certain laws may be unclear and may be subject to changing interpretations. Any such violation could result in fines, penalties or other sanctions that could severely impact the market for our common shares, our ability to access U.S. capital markets and conduct our business and could result in some investors deciding, or being required, to divest their interest, or not to invest, in us.
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Our charterers, or vessels to which we engage in ship to ship transfers of cargoes, may violate applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations as a result of actions that do not involve us or our vessels and those violations could in turn negatively affect our reputation or the ability of our charters to meet their obligations to us or result in fines, penalties or sanctions.
Operating our vessels in sanctioned areas or chartering our vessels to sanctioned individuals or entities could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
We have obligations and believe we comply fully with the various sanctions regimes around the world, not just the sanctions authorities of the United States, but also the relevant departments within the United Nations, European Union and other individual countries, as well as governmental institutions and agencies of those countries. Our vessels transport LPG and other liquefied petrochemical gases throughout the globe and we are vigilant in ensuring our vessels do not call to countries or ports or trade with persons that may be on any lists which restrict or inhibit such trade or relationship. Any actual or alleged violations could materially damage our reputation and ability to do business.
Our vessels engage in hundreds of regular ship to ship transfers of LPG or petrochemical cargoes annually and these cargoes may ultimately be discharged in sanctioned areas or to sanctioned individuals without our knowledge. For example, three of our vessels were named in a 2019 U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) Advisory to the Maritime Petroleum Shipping Community as ships that had engaged in such ship to ship transfers of cargoes in 2017 that may have ultimately been destined for Syria.
Furthermore, if any of our customers were to become a sanctioned entity, the charterparty would end immediately and become void which could lead to one or more vessels being redelivered to us, ending what may be a long-term charter commitment.
We provide in-house technical management for certain vessels in our fleet which may impose significant additional responsibilities on our management and staff.
We currently provide in-house technical management for 36 of the 56 vessels in our fleet. Providing in-house technical management for any vessel in our fleet may impose significant additional responsibilities on our management and staff.
The cost of providing in-house technical management for those vessels may be higher than if they were managed by third party technical managers, as we may not have the benefits of economics of scale with only 36 vessels under in-house technical management, compared to third party managers who may have hundreds of vessels under their management.
If we are not successful with respect to any vessel for which we may provide technical management in-house, our reputation and ability to charter vessels may be negatively impacted, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
A fluctuation in fuel prices may adversely affect our charter rates for time charters and our cost structure for voyage charters and COAs and consequently adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The price and supply of bunker fuel are unpredictable and fluctuate based on events outside our control, including geopolitical developments, supply and demand for oil, actions by members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) and other oil and gas producers, war and unrest in oil producing countries and regions, regional production patterns and environmental concerns and regulations.
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Bunker fuel is a significant expense for our vessels employed in the spot market and can have a significant impact on our earnings. We have installed scrubbers on only four of our vessels, which removes sulfur oxides from exhaust gases, enabling the consumption of cheaper high sulfur bunker fuel. As bunker prices increase, our customers may be less willing to enter into time charters under which they bear the full risk of bunker fuel price increases or may shorten the periods for which they are willing to make such commitments. Under voyage charters and COAs, we bear the cost of bunker fuel used to power our vessels which could reduce our profitability and adversely affect our results of operations.
The required drydocking of our vessels could have a more significant adverse impact on our revenues than we anticipate, which would adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Our vessels require drydocking every five years until the age of 15 years and every two and a half years thereafter. The drydocking of our vessels requires significant capital expenditures and results in loss of revenue while our vessels are off-hire. Any significant increase in the number of days of off-hire due to such drydocking or in the costs of any repairs could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. Although we attempt to limit the number of vessels that will be out of service at any given time, this may not always be possible due to the number of vessels in our fleet, as we may underestimate the time required to drydock our vessels, or unanticipated problems may arise during drydocking. Currently, six of our vessels are over the age of 15 years and will therefore require more regular drydocking.
Our operating costs are likely to increase in the future as our vessels age, which would adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
In general, the cost of maintaining a vessel in good operating condition increases with the age of the vessel. As our vessels age, we will incur increased costs. Older vessels are typically less fuel-efficient and more costly to maintain than newer vessels due to improvements in engine technology. If equipment on board becomes obsolete and it is not cost effective to repair it, such equipment would have to be replaced. Governmental regulations, including energy and environmental efficiencies, safety, or other equipment standards related to the age of vessels may also require expenditures for alterations, or the addition of new equipment, to our vessels to comply. These laws or regulations may also restrict the type of activities in which our vessels may engage or limit their operation in certain geographic regions. We cannot assure you that, as our vessels age, market conditions will justify those expenditures or enable us to operate our vessels as profitably as our younger vessels during the remainder of their expected useful lives.
The operation of ocean going vessels entails the possibility of marine disasters including damage or destruction of the vessel due to natural disasters, accident, the loss of a vessel due to piracy or terrorism, damage or destruction of cargo and similar events that may cause a loss of revenue from affected vessels and damage our business reputation, which may in turn lead to loss of business.
The operation of ocean going vessels entails certain inherent risks that may materially adversely affect our business and reputation, including:
| • | damage or destruction of vessel due to natural disasters; |
| • | damage or destruction of vessel due to marine disasters such as a collision; |
| • | the loss of a vessel due to piracy and terrorism; |
| • | cargo and property losses or damage as a result of the foregoing or less drastic causes such as human error, cargo contamination, mechanical failure, grounding, fire, explosions and bad weather; |
| • | environmental accidents as a result of the foregoing; |
| • | risks to the onboard vessel management personnel as a result of the foregoing; and |
| • | business interruptions and delivery delays caused by mechanical failure, human error, war, terrorism, political action in various countries, labor strikes or adverse weather conditions. |
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Any of these circumstances or events could substantially increase our costs. For example, the costs of replacing a vessel or cleaning up a spill could substantially lower our revenues by taking vessels out of operation for long periods of time. The involvement of our vessels in a disaster or delays in delivery or loss of cargo may harm our reputation as a safe and reliable vessel operator and cause us to lose business.
The total loss or damage of any of our vessels or cargoes could harm our reputation as a safe and reliable vessel owner and operator. If we are unable to adequately maintain or safeguard our vessels, we may be unable to prevent any such damage, costs, or loss that could negatively impact our business, financial condition and operating results.
The loss of or inability to operate any of our vessels would result in a significant loss of revenues and cash flow which would adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
We do not carry loss of hire insurance. If, at any time, we cannot operate any of our vessels due to mechanical problems, lack of seafarers to crew a vessel, prolonged drydocking periods, loss of certification, the loss of any charter or otherwise, our business, financial condition and operating results will be materially adversely affected. In the worst case, we may not receive any revenues because of the inability to operate any of our vessels, but we may be required to pay expenses necessary to maintain the vessel in proper operating condition.
Adverse global economic conditions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Adverse global economic conditions may negatively impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows in ways that we cannot predict. Adverse economic conditions may lead to a decline in our customers’ operations or ability to pay for our services, which could result in decreased demand for our vessels. There has historically been a strong link between the development of the world economy and the demand for energy, including liquefied gases. Global financial markets and economic conditions have been volatile in recent years and remain subject to significant vulnerabilities, including trade wars between the U.S. and China or others, the effects of volatile energy prices and continuing turmoil and hostilities in Russia, Ukraine, the Middle East, the Korean Peninsula, North Africa and other geographic areas. An extended period of adverse development in global economic conditions or a tightening of the credit markets could reduce the overall demand for liquefied gases and have a negative impact on our customers. These potential developments, or market perceptions concerning these and related issues, could affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Furthermore, a future economic slowdown could have an impact on our customers and/or suppliers including, among other things, causing them to fail to meet their obligations to us. Similarly, a future economic slowdown could affect lenders participating in our secured term loan and revolving credit facilities, making them unable to fulfill their commitments and obligations to us. Any reductions in activity owing to such conditions or failure by our customers, suppliers, or lenders to meet their contractual obligations to us could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Outbreaks of epidemics and pandemics could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Our operations are subject to risks related to outbreaks of infectious diseases. Epidemics, pandemics or other health crises, such as the outbreak of COVID-19, as well as other potential outbreaks of infectious diseases in the future, may negatively affect economic conditions or restrict the seaborne transportation of products, including LPG and petrochemical products.
During the outbreak of COVID-19, governments throughout the world imposed travel bans, quarantines and other emergency public health measures. Any reinstatement of such restrictions or any other restriction on the
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ability to transport LPG and petrochemicals to countries or continents could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results, principally through reduced revenues and resultant reduced cashflows. This may affect our ability to comply with our loan covenant obligations.
Due to our lack of vessel diversification, adverse developments in the seaborne liquefied gas transportation business could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
We rely primarily on the cash flow generated from vessels that operate in the seaborne liquefied gas transportation business. Unlike many other shipping companies, which have vessels that carry drybulk, crude oil and oil products, we depend exclusively on the transport of LPG, petrochemicals and ammonia. Due to our lack of diversification, an adverse development in the international liquefied gas shipping industry would have a significantly greater impact on our business, financial condition and operating results than it would if we maintained a more diverse fleet of vessels.
If in the future our business activities involve countries, entities or individuals that are subject to restrictions imposed by the U.S. or other governments, we could be subject to enforcement action and our reputation and the market for our common stock could be adversely affected.
The tightening of U.S. sanctions in recent years has affected non-U.S. companies. In particular, sanctions against Iran have been significantly expanded. In 2012 the U.S. signed into law the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (“TRA”), which placed further restrictions on the ability of non-U.S. companies to do business or trade with Iran and Syria. A major provision in the TRA is that issuers of securities must disclose to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “SEC,” in their annual and quarterly reports if the issuer or “any affiliate” has “knowingly” engaged in certain activities involving Iran during the timeframe covered by the report. This disclosure obligation is broad in scope in that it requires the reporting of activity that would not be considered a violation of U.S. sanctions as well as violative conduct and is not subject to a materiality threshold. The SEC publishes these disclosures on its website and the President of the United States must initiate an investigation in response to all disclosures.
In addition to the sanctions against Iran, the U.S. also maintains sanctions that target other countries, entities and individuals. Although non-U.S. persons generally are not subject to these sanctions, they can be held liable if they engage in transactions completed in part in the United States or by U.S. persons (for example, by wiring an international payment that clears through a U.S. financial institution). In addition, the U.S. maintains certain indirect, or secondary, sanctions that provide authority for the imposition of U.S. sanctions on non-U.S. persons that engage in certain sanctionable conduct that need to be considered by non-U.S. companies. It should also be noted that other governments have implemented versions of U.S. sanctions. We believe that we are in compliance with all applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations imposed by the U.S., the United Nations and European Union countries and intend to maintain such compliance. However, there can be no assurance that we will comply in the future, particularly as the scope of certain laws may be unclear and may be subject to changing interpretations. Violations of U.S. sanctions via transactions with a U.S. jurisdictional nexus can result in substantial civil or criminal penalties. A range of sanctions may be imposed on non-U.S. companies that engage in sanctionable activities within the scope of U.S. secondary sanctions, up to and including the blocking of any property subject to U.S. jurisdiction in which the sanctioned company has an interest, which effectively results in a prohibition on transactions or dealings involving securities of the sanctioned company or the sanctioned company losing access to the U.S. financial system.
Any such violation could also result in fines or other penalties and could result in some investors deciding, or being required, to divest their interest, or not to invest, in our common stock. Additionally, some investors may decide to divest their interest, or not to invest, in our common stock simply because we may do business with companies that do business in sanctioned countries. Investor perception of the value of our common stock may also be adversely affected by the consequences of war, the effects of terrorism, civil unrest and governmental actions in these and surrounding countries.
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Failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the UK Bribery Act and other anti-bribery legislation in other jurisdictions could result in fines, criminal penalties, contract termination and an adverse effect on our business.
We operate in several countries throughout the world, including countries known to have a reputation for corruption. We are committed to doing business in accordance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics. We are subject, however, to the risk that we, our affiliated entities or our or their respective officers, directors, employees and agents may take actions determined to be in violation of anti-corruption laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and the Bribery Act 2010 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Any such violation could result in substantial fines, sanctions, civil and/or criminal penalties, curtailment of operations in certain jurisdictions, and might adversely affect our business, operating results or financial condition. In addition, actual or alleged violations could damage our reputation and ability to do business. Furthermore, detecting, investigating, and resolving actual or alleged violations is expensive and could consume significant time and attention of our senior management.
We rely on our information systems to conduct our business, and failure to protect these systems against security breaches could disrupt our business and adversely affect our results of operations.
We rely on information technology systems and networks in our operations, and those of our third-party technical managers and other providers, including processing, transmitting and storing electronic and financial information, communication with our vessels and the administration of our business. Information systems are vulnerable to security breaches by computer hackers and cyber terrorists and our operations could be targeted by individuals or groups seeking to sabotage or disrupt our information technology systems and networks, or to steal data. A successful cyber-attack could materially disrupt our operations, including the safety of our operations, or lead to unauthorized release of information or alteration of information on our systems. Any such attack or other breach of our information technology systems could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition, our reputation, or cash flows. In addition, the unavailability of the information systems or the failure of these systems to perform as anticipated including any failure in disaster recovery plans or data backups for us or our third-party technical managers for any reason could disrupt our business. We may be required to incur significant additional costs to remediate, modify or enhance our information technology systems or to try to prevent any such attacks.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been accompanied by cyber-attacks against the Ukrainian government and other countries in the region. It is possible that these attacks could have collateral effects on additional critical infrastructure and financial institutions globally, which could adversely affect our operations. Further, we or our customers or suppliers may be subject to retaliatory cyberattacks perpetrated by Russia or others at its direction in response to economic sanctions and other actions taken against Russia as a result of its invasion of Ukraine. It is difficult to assess the likelihood of such threat and any potential impact, but it could adversely affect our business, and financial condition.
Our business is subject to complex and evolving laws and regulations regarding privacy and data protection (“data protection laws”).
The regulatory environment surrounding data privacy and protection is constantly evolving and can be subject to significant change. Laws and regulations governing data privacy and the unauthorized collection, processing or disclosure of personal information, including the European Union General Data Protection Regulation and a growing number of U.S. state laws and regulations such as the California Consumer Privacy Act, pose increasingly complex compliance challenges and potentially elevate our costs. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with applicable data protection laws could result in proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or others, subject us to significant fines, penalties, judgments and negative publicity, require us to change our business practices, increase the costs and complexity of compliance, and adversely affect our business. As noted above, we are also subject to the possibility of cyber-attacks, which themselves may result in a violation of these laws.
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Maritime claimants could arrest our vessels, which could interrupt our cash flow.
Crew members, suppliers of goods and services to a vessel, shippers of cargo, cargo receivers and other parties may be entitled to a maritime lien against that vessel for unsatisfied debts, claims or damages. In many jurisdictions, a maritime lienholder may enforce its lien by arresting a vessel through foreclosure proceedings. The arrest or attachment of one or more of our vessels could interrupt our cash flow and require us to pay large sums to have the arrest lifted.
In addition, in some jurisdictions, such as South Africa, under the “sister ship” theory of liability, a claimant may arrest both the vessel that is subject to the claimant’s maritime lien and any “associated” vessel, which is any vessel owned or controlled by the same owner. Claimants could try to assert “sister ship” liability against all of the vessels in our fleet for claims relating to only one of our ships. The arrest of any of our vessels would adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
A shortage of qualified officers would make it more difficult to crew our vessels and increase our operating costs. If a shortage were to develop, it could impair our ability to operate and have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Our liquefied gas carriers require technically skilled officers with specialized training. As the global liquefied gas carrier fleet and the liquefied natural gas, or “LNG,” carrier fleet grows, the demand for such technically skilled officers increases and could lead to a shortage of such personnel. If we or our crewing managers were to be unable to employ such technically skilled officers, including as a result of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and government responses thereto, we or they would not be able to adequately staff our vessels and effectively train crews. The development of a deficit in the supply of technically skilled officers or an inability of us or our crewing managers to attract and retain such qualified officers could impair our ability to operate and increase the cost of crewing our vessels and, thus, materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. Please read “Item 4—Information on the Company—Business Overview—Crewing.”
Compliance with safety and other vessel requirements imposed by classification societies may be very costly and could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
The hull and machinery of every commercial vessel must be classed by a classification society authorized by its country of registry. The classification society certifies that a vessel is safe and seaworthy in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations and in accordance with the country of registry of the vessel and the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS). Our vessels are currently enrolled with Lloyds Register and DNV.
As part of the certification process, a vessel must undergo annual surveys, intermediate surveys and special surveys. A vessel’s machinery is subject to a continuous survey cycle, under which the machinery would be surveyed periodically over a five-year period. All of the vessels in our existing fleet operate a planned maintenance system, or “PMS,” and as such the classification society attends on-board once every year to survey on-board equipment, ensuring all equipment subject to survey, is surveyed once in every five year period. Each of the vessels in our fleet must conduct an underwater hull survey two times every five years. One survey must be completed while dry docked and the other may be an in-water survey in lieu of a dry dock. The in-water survey must be performed by an approved diving company in the presence of a surveyor from the classification society. Vessels older than 15 years old must dry dock at each hull survey.
If any vessel does not maintain its class and/or fails any annual survey, intermediate survey or special survey, the vessel will be unable to trade between ports and will be unemployable. This would adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
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Delays in deliveries of newbuildings or acquired vessels, or deliveries of vessels with significant defects, could harm our operating results and lead to the termination of any related charters that may be entered into prior to their delivery.
Although we currently have no vessels on order or under construction, we may purchase or order additional vessels from time to time. The delivery of these vessels could be delayed, not completed or cancelled, which would delay or eliminate our expected receipt of revenues from the employment of these vessels. The delivery of any acquired vessel or newbuilding with substantial defects could have similar consequences.
Our receipt of newbuildings we may order or agree to purchase could be delayed because of many factors, including:
| • | quality or engineering problems; |
| • | changes in governmental regulations or maritime self-regulatory organization standards; |
| • | work stoppages or other labor disturbances at the shipyard; |
| • | bankruptcy or other financial crisis of the shipbuilder; |
| • | hostilities or political or economic disturbances in the locations where the vessels are being built; |
| • | weather interference or catastrophic event, such as a major earthquake or fire; |
| • | our requests for changes to the original vessel specifications; |
| • | shortages of, or delays in the receipt of necessary construction materials, such as steel; |
| • | our inability to obtain sufficient finance for the purchase of the vessels or to make timely payments; or |
| • | our inability to obtain requisite permits or approvals. |
We do not typically carry delay of delivery insurance to cover any losses that are not covered by delay penalties in our construction contracts. As a result, if delivery of a vessel is materially delayed, it could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Our growth depends on our ability to expand relationships with existing customers and obtain new customers, for which we will face substantial competition.
The process of obtaining new charters is highly competitive, generally involves an intensive screening process and competitive bids, and often extends for several months or even years. Contracts are awarded based upon a variety of factors, including:
| • | the shipowner’s industry relationships, experience and reputation for customer service, quality operations and safety record; |
| • | the competitiveness of the bid in terms of the vessel’s overall economics; |
| • | the quality, experience and technical capability of the crew; |
| • | the age, type, capability and versatility of our vessels; and |
| • | the shipowner’s willingness to accept operational risks pursuant to the charter, such as allowing termination of the charter for force majeure events. |
We expect substantial competition for providing seaborne transportation services from a number of experienced companies. As a result, we may be unable to expand our relationships with existing customers or to obtain new customers on a profitable basis, if at all, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
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The marine transportation industry is subject to substantial environmental and other regulations, which may limit our operations and increase our expenses.
Our operations are affected by extensive and changing environmental protection laws and other regulations and international treaties and conventions, including those relating to equipping and operating vessels and vessel safety. These regulations include the U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or “OPA 90,” the U.S. Clean Water Act, the U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 and regulations of the International Maritime Organization (“IMO”), including the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969, as from time to time amended and generally referred to as the CLC, the IMO International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 1975, as from time to time amended and generally referred to as MARPOL, the International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution of 1973, the IMO International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1974, as from time to time amended and generally referred to as SOLAS, the IMO International Convention on Load Lines of 1966, as from time to time amended, the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention, or the “ISM Code,” the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, generally referred to as the Bunker Convention, and the European Union 2015 Regulation on the monitoring, reporting, and verification of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport. We have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, substantial expenses in complying with these laws and regulations, including expenses for vessel modifications and changes in operating procedures. Additional laws and regulations may be adopted that could limit our ability to do business or further increase costs, which could harm our business. In addition, failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations may result in administrative and civil penalties, criminal sanctions or the suspension or termination of operations.
In addition, we believe that the heightened environmental, quality and security concerns of the public, regulators, insurance underwriters and charterers will generally lead to additional regulatory requirements, including enhanced risk assessment and security requirements, greater inspection and safety requirements on all vessels in the marine transportation markets and possibly restrictions on the emissions of greenhouse gases from the operation of vessels. These requirements are likely to add incremental costs to our operations and the failure to comply with these requirements may affect the ability of our vessels to obtain and, possibly, collect on insurance or to obtain the required certificates for entry into the different ports where we operate. Please read “Item 4—Information on the Company—Business Overview—Environmental and Other Regulation” for a more detailed discussion on these topics.
Climate change concerns and greenhouse gas regulations may adversely impact our operations and markets.
Due to concern over the risk of climate change, a number of countries and the IMO have adopted, or are considering the adoption of, regulatory frameworks to reduce greenhouse gases from vessel emissions. These regulatory measures may include, among others, adoption of cap and trade regimes, carbon taxes, increased energy efficiency standards and incentives or mandates for renewable energy. Additionally, laws and/or a treaty may be adopted in the future that includes restrictions on shipping emissions. Compliance with changes in laws and regulations relating to climate change could increase our costs of operating and maintaining our vessels and could require us to make significant financial expenditures that we cannot predict with certainty at this time.
Adverse effects upon the oil and gas industry relating to climate change, including growing public concern about the environmental impact of climate change, may also have an effect on demand for our services and our vessels. For example, increased regulation of greenhouse gases or other concerns relating to climate change may reduce the demand for oil and gas in the future or create greater incentives for use of alternative energy sources. Our customers may also limit the age of vessels that they charter as a result of changes in environmental laws or emission standards, resulting in shortened estimated useful lives of our vessels. Any long-term material adverse effect on the oil and gas industry or customer preference for younger vessels could have a significant financial and operational adverse impact on our business that we cannot predict with certainty at this time.
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Over the past several years, changing weather patterns and climatic conditions have added to the unpredictability and frequency of natural disasters in certain parts of the world, including regions in which we operate or intend to operate, and have created additional uncertainty as to future weather trends. Our Ethylene Export Terminal is situated in Houston, Texas, along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Climate change is expected to have adverse physical impacts on this geographical region and necessary mitigation would therefore be required. There are a range of climatic events that could cause a significant impact on our Ethylene Export Terminal. For example, rising sea levels induced by thermal expansion and the continued melting of polar ice caps may halt operations in the long-term in the event of coastal erosion or severe local flooding. Extreme weather events, such as the hurricanes witnessed in 2020 and the ‘Texas freeze’ of February 2021 could become more frequent and/or of higher intensity. While there is a marginal degree of predictability, the dynamic and fast-moving nature of climate change will continue to present a significant operational and financial risk over the short- and long term as more frequent disasters mean less time to prepare for each one. Further, we cannot predict whether or to what extent damage that may be caused by natural events, such as hurricanes, monsoons and other severe or catastrophic storms, will cause damage to our vessels and disruption to our operations and cause other adverse financial and operational impacts, including impacts on our customers. In particular, if one of the regions in which our vessels are operating is impacted by such a natural catastrophe in the future, it could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Increased scrutiny from stakeholders and others regarding climate change, as well as our ESG practices and reporting responsibilities, could result in additional costs or risks and adversely impact our business and reputation.
Companies across all industries have been subject to increasing scrutiny relating to their Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) policies. The investment community, including investment advisors and certain sovereign wealth, pension and endowment funds are increasingly focused on ESG practices and in recent years have placed growing importance on the implications and social cost of their investments.
In February 2021, the Acting Chair of the SEC issued a statement directing the Division of Corporation Finance to enhance its focus on climate-related disclosure in public company filings and in March 2021 the SEC announced the creation of a Climate and ESG Task Force in the Division of Enforcement (the “Task Force”). The Task Force’s goal is to develop initiatives to proactively identify ESG-related misconduct consistent with increased investor reliance on climate and ESG-related disclosure and investment. To implement the Task Force’s purpose, the SEC has taken several enforcement actions, with the first enforcement action taking place in May 2022, and promulgated new rules. On March 21, 2022, the SEC proposed that all public companies are to include extensive climate-related information in their SEC filings. On May 25, 2022, SEC proposed a second set of rules aiming to curb the practice of “greenwashing” (i.e., making false or misleading claims about one’s ESG efforts) and would add proposed amendments to rules and reporting forms that apply to registered investment companies and advisers, advisers exempt from registration, and business development companies.
The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (“MEPC”) introduced draft amendments to Annex VI which impose new regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships. These amendments introduce requirements to assess and measure the energy efficiency of all ships and set the required attainment values, with the goal of reducing the carbon intensity of international shipping. To achieve a 40% reduction in carbon emissions by 2023 compared to 2008, shipping companies are required to include: (i) a technical requirement to reduce carbon intensity based on a new Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (“EEXI”), and (ii) operational carbon intensity reduction requirements, based on a new operational carbon intensity indicator (“CII”). The EEXI is required to be calculated for ships of 400 gross tonnage and above. The IMO and MEPC will calculated “required” EEXI levels based on the vessel’s technical design, such as vessel type, date of creation, size and baseline. Additionally, an “attained” EEXI will be calculated to determine the actual energy efficiency of the vessel. A vessel’s attained EEXI must be less than the vessel’s required EEXI. Non-compliant vessels will have to upgrade their engine to continue to travel. With respect to the CII, the draft amendments would require ships of 5,000 gross tonnage to document and verify their actual annual operational CII achieved against a determined
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required annual operational CII. The vessel’s attained CII must be lower than its required CII. Vessels that continually receive subpar CII ratings will be required to submit corrective action plans to ensure compliance. MEPC also adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, Appendix IX to include the attained and required CII values, the CII rating and attained EEXI for existing ships in the required information to be submitted to the IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Database. The amendments will enter into force on May 1, 2024.
Additionally, MEPC proposed draft amendments requiring that, on or before January 1, 2023, all ships above 400 gross tonnage must have an approved Ship Energy Efficiency Plan (“SEEMP”) on board. For ships above 5,000 gross tonnage, the SEEMP would need to include certain mandatory content. MEPC also approved draft amendments to MARPOL Annex I to prohibit the use and carriage for use as fuel of heavy fuel oil by ships in Arctic waters on and after July 1, 2024. The draft amendments introduced at MEPC were adopted at the MEPC session held on June 2021, entered into force on November 1, 2022 and became effective on January 1, 2023.
The increased focus and activism related to ESG and similar matters may hinder access to capital, as investors and lenders may decide to reallocate capital or not to commit capital as a result of their assessment of a company’s ESG practices. Companies that do not adapt to or comply with investor, lender or other industry shareholder expectations and standards, which are evolving, or which are perceived to have not responded appropriately to the growing concern for ESG issues, regardless of whether there is a legal requirement to do so, may suffer from reputational damage and the business, financial condition or share price of such a company could be materially and adversely affected. Further, in recent years some in the investment community have promoted the divestment of fossil fuel equities and pressured lenders to cease or limit funding to companies engaged in the fossil fuel industry. Such initiatives aimed at limiting climate change and decarbonization could ultimately interfere with our business activities and operations and our access to capital. In addition to such initiatives, ESG matters more generally have been the subject of increased focus by investors, investment funds and other market and industry participants, as well as certain regulators, including in the U.S. and the EU.
We align our corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities around certain of the Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations. The SDGs cover a range of issues ranging from fulfilling basic human needs by eliminating poverty and hunger to responsible procurement and climate action. We publish an annual CSR Report. Our disclosures on ESG matters, a failure to meet goals we establish or evolving stakeholder expectations for ESG practices and reporting may potentially harm our reputation and impact access to capital, customer or investor relationships, and employee retention. For example, some investors may use third-party benchmarks or scores to measure a company’s ESG practices in making investment decisions and customers and suppliers may evaluate our ESG practices or require that we adopt certain ESG policies as a condition of awarding contracts. As ESG best-practices and reporting standards continue to develop, our costs related to ESG monitoring and reporting and complying with ESG initiatives may increase. In addition, it may be difficult or expensive for us to comply with any ESG-linked contracting policies adopted by customers and suppliers. Increased scrutiny from stakeholders and others regarding our ESG practices and reporting responsibilities could result in additional costs or risks and adversely impact our business and reputation.
In addition, commitments made by us, or our customers, to reduce emissions, or decarbonize, may require us to upgrade or retrofit our vessels. As a result, we may be required to take our vessels out of service for extended periods of time, with corresponding losses of revenues. Market conditions may not justify these expenditures or enable us to operate our vessels profitably.
Changes in the law and regulations relating to the use of, or a decrease in the demand for, single use plastics and increased concerns or restrictions relating to waste plastics could adversely impact our business.
There is growing public concern surrounding the accumulation of plastics in the environment and, as a result, concerning the use of single use plastics more generally. Plastics are derived or manufactured largely from the petrochemical gases that we transport. The growing public concern could reduce consumer demand for plastic
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products and result in laws and regulations restricting the use of plastics, which could limit or reduce the demand and need for petrochemical gases to be transported and could have a significant adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and operating results.
Marine transportation is inherently risky. An incident involving significant loss of product or environmental contamination by any of our vessels could adversely affect our reputation, business, financial condition and operating results.
The operation of an ocean-going vessel carries inherent risks. Our vessels and their cargoes and the LPG and petrochemical production and terminal facilities that we service are at risk of being damaged or lost because of events such as:
| • | marine disasters; |
| • | severe weather such as storms, flooding, and hurricanes; |
| • | business interruption caused by mechanical failures; |
| • | grounding, capsizing, fire, explosions, and collisions; |
| • | war, terrorism, piracy, cyber-attack; and |
| • | human error. |
An accident involving any of our vessels could result in any of the following:
| • | death or injury to persons, loss of property, or damage to the environment and natural resources; |
| • | higher than anticipated expenses, liabilities, or costs to recover any spilled cargo and to restore the ecosystem where the spill occurred; |
| • | governmental fines, penalties, or restrictions on conducting business; |
| • | higher insurance rates; |
| • | loss of revenues; and |
| • | damage to our reputation and customer relationships generally. |
Any of these results could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.
Competition from more technologically advanced liquefied gas carriers could reduce our charter hire income and the value of our vessels.
The charter rates and the value and operational life of a vessel are determined by several factors including the vessel’s efficiency, operational flexibility and physical life. Efficiency includes fuel consumption, speed and the ability to be loaded and discharged quickly. Flexibility includes the ability to enter ports, utilize related docking facilities and pass through canals and straits. The length of a vessel’s physical life is related to the original design and construction, maintenance and the impact of the stress of operations. If new liquefied gas carriers are built that are more energy and environmentally efficient or use alternative fuels for propulsion and, as a result, have greater speed, consume less fuel, thereby having lower greenhouse gas emissions, or more flexible or have longer physical lives than our vessels, competition from these more technologically advanced liquefied gas carriers could adversely affect demand for our vessels, the charter rates we receive for our vessels once their current charters are terminated and the resale value of our vessels. As a result, our business, financial condition and operating results could be adversely affected.
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Acts of piracy on any of our vessels or on ocean going vessels could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Acts of piracy have historically affected ocean-going vessels trading in regions of the world such as the South China Sea, the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia, and West Africa. If such piracy attacks result in regions in which our vessels are deployed being named on the Joint War Committee Listed Areas, war-risk insurance premiums payable for such coverage could increase significantly and such insurance coverage might become more difficult to obtain. In addition, crew costs, including costs that may be incurred to the extent we employ on-board security guards, could increase in such circumstances. We may not be adequately insured to cover losses from these incidents, which could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, detention or hijacking as a result of an act of piracy against our crew or vessels could require a significant amount of management time negotiating the release of crew members or the vessel and could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Terrorist attacks, increased hostilities, piracy, political change or war could lead to further economic instability, increased costs and disruption of business.
Terrorist attacks may adversely affect our business, operating results, financial condition, ability to raise capital and future growth. The continuing hostilities in Ukraine, the Middle East and elsewhere may spread and lead to additional armed conflicts or to further acts of terrorism and civil disturbance in the United States or elsewhere, which may contribute further to economic instability and disruption of production and distribution of LPG, petrochemical gases and ammonia, which could result in reduced demand for our services.
In addition, petrochemical production and terminal facilities and vessels that transport petrochemical products could be targets of future terrorist attacks. Any such attacks could lead to, among other things, bodily injury or loss of life, vessel or other property damage, increased vessel operational costs, including insurance costs, and the inability to transport gases to or from certain locations. Terrorist attacks, piracy, war or other events beyond our control that adversely affect the distribution, production or transportation of gases to be shipped by us could entitle customers to terminate our charters, which would harm our cash flow and business. In addition, the loss of a vessel as a result of terrorism or piracy would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations results in fluctuations in cash flows and operating results.
Substantially all of our cash receipts are in U.S. Dollars, although some are in Indonesian Rupiah. Certain disbursements, including some vessel operating expenses and general and administrative expenses, are in the foreign currencies invoiced by the supplier, principally the Euro, the Danish Kroner and the British Pound Sterling. We remit funds in the various currencies invoiced. We convert the non-U.S. Dollar invoices received and their subsequent payments into U.S. Dollars when the transactions occur. This mismatch between receipts and payments may result in fluctuations if the value of the U.S. Dollar changes relative to such other currencies.
Our insurance may be insufficient to cover losses that may occur to our vessels or result from our operations.
We carry insurance to protect us against most of the accident-related risks involved in the conduct of our business, including marine hull and machinery insurance, protection and indemnity insurance, which includes pollution risks, crew insurance and war risk insurance. We may not be able to adequately insure against all risks, and any particular claim may not be paid by insurance. None of our vessels are insured against loss of revenues resulting from vessel off-hire time. In addition, as a member of protection and indemnity associations, we may be required to make additional payments over and above budgeted premiums if members’ claims exceed association reserves.
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We may be unable to procure adequate insurance coverage at commercially reasonable rates in the future during adverse market conditions. Changes in the insurance markets attributable to war, terrorist attacks, or piracy may also make certain types of insurance more expensive or more difficult to obtain. In addition, the insurance may be voidable by the insurers as a result of certain actions, such as vessels failing to maintain certification with applicable maritime self-regulatory organizations. Any uninsured or underinsured loss could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Restrictive covenants in our secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities and in our unsecured bonds and our Terminal Facility impose, and any future debt facilities may impose, financial and other restrictions on us.
The secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities and unsecured bonds impose, and any future debt facility may impose, operating and financial restrictions on us. The restrictions in the existing secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities and the unsecured bonds may limit our ability to, among other things:
| • | pay dividends out of operating revenues generated by the vessels securing indebtedness under the facility, redeem any shares or make any other payment to our equity holders, if there is a default under any secured term loan facility, revolving credit facility or secured term loan and revolving credit facility; |
| • | incur additional indebtedness, including through the issuance of guarantees; |
| • | create liens on our assets; |
| • | sell our vessels; |
| • | merge or consolidate with, or transfer all or substantially all our assets to, another person; |
| • | change the flag, class or management of our vessels; and |
| • | enter into a new line of business. |
The secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities require us to maintain various financial ratios. These include requirements that we maintain minimum liquidity levels and maintain specified maximum ratios of net debt to total capitalization. Under our secured term loan facilities, if at any time the aggregate fair market value of (i) the vessels subject to a mortgage in favor of our lenders and (ii) the value of any additional collateral we grant to the lenders is less than 125% to 135%, as applicable, of the outstanding principal amount under the secured term loan facilities and any commitments to borrow additional funds, our lenders may require us to provide additional collateral. See “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Secured Term Loan Facilities and Revolving Credit Facilities”, and “2020 Senior Unsecured Bonds” The failure to comply with such covenants would cause an event of default that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
In addition, our wholly-owned subsidiary, Navigator Ethylene Terminals LLC is the borrower under our Terminal Facility (as defined in “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Terminal Facility”), can only pay dividends if it satisfies certain customary conditions to paying a dividend, including maintaining a debt service coverage ratio of not less than 1.20 to 1.00 and no default or event of default has occurred or is continuing. The Terminal Facility also limits our subsidiary, Navigator Ethylene Terminals LLC from, among other things, incurring indebtedness or entering into acquisitions and divestitures. The Terminal Facility also contains general covenants that will require Navigator Ethylene Terminals LLC to vote its interest in the Export Terminal Joint Venture to cause the Export Terminal Joint Venture to maintain adequate insurance coverage and maintain its property (but only to the extent Navigator Ethylene Terminals LLC has the power under the organizational documents of the Export Terminal Joint Venture to cause such actions). Further, the loans under the Terminal Facility are secured by first priority liens on the rights to Navigator Ethylene Terminals LLC’s distributions from the Export Terminal Joint Venture and our equity interests in the Marine Terminal Borrower.
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Certain of our secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities, bonds, and lease obligations prohibit a change of control (as defined in the agreements governing such facilities, bonds, and lease obligations) of the Company as well as require us to remain as a listed entity on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) or another recognized stock exchange. If we breach any of these restrictions, our obligations become immediately repayable, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Because of these covenants, we may need to seek permission from our lenders to engage in some corporate actions. Our lenders’ interests may be different from ours, and we may not be able to obtain our lenders’ permission when needed. This may limit our ability to finance our future operations and make acquisitions or pursue business opportunities. See “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Secured Term Loan Facilities and Revolving Credit Facility” and “Terminal Facility.”
The secured term loan facilities and the Terminal Facility are reducing facilities. The required repayments under the secured term loan facilities and the Terminal Facility may adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Loans under the secured term loan facilities and the Terminal Facility are subject to quarterly repayments. If at such time we have not generated sufficient cash flows, any such repayments and our declining borrowing availability could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Our consolidated variable interest entity may enter into different financing arrangements, which could adversely affect our financial results.
In October 2019, we entered into a sale and leaseback transaction with respect to one of our vessels, Navigator Aurora¸ with a lessor, OCY Aurora Ltd, which is a special purpose vehicle (“SPV”) and wholly owned subsidiary of Ocean Yield Malta Limited. The SPV was determined to be a variable interest entity (“VIE”). We are deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE, and, as a result, we are required by U.S. GAAP to consolidate the SPV into our results. Although consolidated into our results, we have no control over the funding arrangements negotiated by the SPV, such as interest rates, maturity and repayment profiles. In consolidating the SPV, we must make certain assumptions regarding the debt amortization profile and the interest rate to be applied against the SPV’s debt principal. For additional information, refer to Note 10—Variable Interest Entities to our consolidated financial statements. For a description of our current financing arrangements including those of the VIE, please read “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources.” The funding arrangements negotiated by the VIE could adversely affect our financial results.
Interest rate increases affect the interest rates under our credit facilities, which adversely affects our operating results.
Amounts borrowed under our existing credit facilities bear interest at an annual rate ranging from 1.90% to 2.60% above the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) or London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and loans under our Terminal Facility bear interest at an annual rate of 2.5% to 3.00% above LIBOR. Bank interest rates, including SOFR and LIBOR have increased dramatically during 2022 which has affected the amount of interest payable on amounts that we borrow under our credit facilities, and may increase further, which could have an adverse effect on our operating results.
At December 31, 2022, $464.7 million of our outstanding debt was subject to interest rate swaps and therefore is not exposed to changes in interest rate movements, whereas $397.3 million was subject to variable interest rates. A hypothetical variation in SOFR or U.S. LIBOR of 100 basis points would therefore increase the annual interest paid on our indebtedness outstanding as of December 31, 2022 by $4.0 million.
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During the year certain credit facilities were refinanced and renegotiated and the reference rates were amended from LIBOR to SOFR. The effects of switching our remaining indebtedness from LIBOR to SOFR could include an increase in the cost of our variable rate indebtedness and obligations, which could adversely affect our results of operations and ability to service our applicable indebtedness and financial lease obligations.
The derivative contracts we have or may enter into to hedge our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates could result in higher than market interest rates and reductions in our shareholders’ equity, as well as charges against our income.
We have entered into floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps and we may enter into further swaps for purposes of managing our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign exchange rates applicable to indebtedness under our secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facility which were advanced at floating rates based on SOFR or LIBOR. However, our hedging strategies may not be effective and we may incur substantial losses if interest rates move materially differently from our expectations.
To the extent our derivative contracts do not qualify for treatment as hedges for accounting purposes, we recognize fluctuations in the fair value of such contracts in our statements of operations. In addition, changes in the fair value of derivative contracts, even those that qualify for treatment as hedges, will be recognized as derivative assets or liabilities on our balance sheet and can affect compliance with the covenant requirements in our secured term loan facilities. In addition, we may have to cash collateralize unrealized losses on these derivatives, thus reducing our liquidity covenants’ headroom. The unrealized gains or losses relating to changes in the fair value of our derivative instruments do not impact our cash flows. However, our financial condition could also be materially adversely affected to the extent we do not hedge our exposure to interest rate fluctuations under our financing arrangements under which loans have been advanced at a floating rate based on SOFR or LIBOR.
Any hedging activities we engage in may not effectively manage our interest rate exposure or have the desired impact on our financial conditions or operating results.
Our business depends upon certain key employees.
Our future success depends to a significant extent upon certain members of our senior management team, who have substantial experience in the shipping industry and with the Company and are crucial to the development of our business strategy and to the growth and development of our business. In the event of the loss of any of these individuals, we may be unable to recruit replacement individuals with the equivalent talent and experience, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
We are a holding company, and we depend on the ability of our subsidiaries to distribute funds to us in order to satisfy our financial obligations.
We are a holding company and our subsidiaries conduct all of our operations and own all of our operating assets. We have no significant assets other than the equity interests in our subsidiaries. As a result, our ability to satisfy our financial obligations depends on our subsidiaries and their ability to distribute funds to us. The ability of a subsidiary to make these distributions could be affected by a claim or other action by a third-party, including a creditor, or by the Republic of the Marshall Islands law, which regulates the payment of dividends by companies formed thereunder.
In addition, under the secured term loan facilities, Navigator Gas L.L.C., our wholly-owned subsidiary, our vessel-owning subsidiaries that are parties to the secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities and our Navigator Greater Bay Joint Venture may not make distributions to us out of operating revenues from vessels securing indebtedness thereunder, redeem any shares or make any other payment to our shareholders if an event of default has occurred and is continuing. Please read “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—
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Liquidity and Capital Resources—Secured Term Loan Facilities and Revolving Credit Facilities.” Further, Navigator Ethylene Terminals LLC, our wholly-owned subsidiary and the borrower under our Terminal Facility, can only pay dividends if it satisfies certain customary conditions to paying a dividend, including maintaining a debt service coverage ratio (as defined) of not less than 1.20 to 1.00 and no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing.
The inability of our subsidiaries to make distributions to us would have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Risks Relating to Our Common Stock
We may issue additional equity securities without your approval, which would dilute your ownership interests.
We may issue additional shares of common stock or other equity or equity-linked securities without the approval of our shareholders, subject to certain limited approval requirements of the NYSE. In particular, we may finance all or a portion of the acquisition price of future vessels, including newbuildings, that we agree to purchase through the issuance of additional shares of common stock. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation, which became effective on November 5, 2013, authorize us to issue up to 400,000,000 shares of common stock, of which 76,804,474 shares were outstanding as of December 31, 2022. Pursuant to our share repurchase program, we repurchased 1,564,333 shares between December 31, 2022 and March 17, 2023, resulting in 75,240,141 shares outstanding as of March 17, 2023. The issuance by us of additional shares of common stock or other equity or equity-linked securities of equal or senior rank will have the following effects:
| • | our shareholders’ proportionate ownership interest in us will decrease; |
| • | the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding share may be diminished; and |
| • | the market price of the common stock may decline. |
Future sales of our common stock could cause the market price of our common stock to decline.
Sales of a substantial number of our shares of common stock in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, may depress the market price for our common stock. These sales could also impair our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of our equity securities in the future. BW Group and Ultranav International ApS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Naviera Ultranav Dos Limitada (“Ultranav”), our principal shareholders, owned 29.1% and 28.2% of our common stock respectively, as of March 17, 2023. In the future, BW Group or Ultranav may elect to sell large numbers of shares which may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
BW Group and an affiliate of Ultranav, collectively, own an aggregate of approximately 57.3% of our common stock. Each may exert considerable influence on, and together they could control, actions requiring a shareholder vote, including any proposed business combination, potentially in a manner at a time, at a price or on other terms and conditions that our other shareholders do not otherwise support or is undesirable, and they could acquire additional shares of our common stock, further reducing liquidity in the market for our common stock.
BW Group and Ultranav, collectively, own an aggregate of approximately 57.3% of our common stock (approximately 29.1% and 28.2%, respectively, as of March 17, 2023). Accordingly, individually, such shareholders may exert considerable influence on actions requiring a shareholder vote and, collectively, they could control all or nearly all such actions. The interests of these principal shareholders may be different from your interests. They may vote in favor of, for instance, a proposed business combination (or in favor of any corporate action requiring a shareholder vote) potentially in a manner, at a time, at a price, or on other terms and conditions that our other shareholders do not otherwise support or are undesirable. Further, while we are not aware of any agreement or intention of BW Group and Ultranav to vote together on the shares of our common
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stock owned by them on any matter on which our shareholders are entitled to vote, there is no assurance that such agreement or intention will not be reached in the future (in which case, their combined voting power would enable them to control all or nearly all such matters). We have entered into an investor rights agreement with each of BW Group and Ultranav, which provides, among other things, each of BW Group and Ultranav with the right to designate two members of the board of directors of Navigator (provided that they maintain certain ownership levels in us) and with certain registration rights and informational rights.
If either BW Group or Ultranav were to acquire additional shares of our common stock, it would further reduce liquidity in the market for our common stock, as well as further increase their respective influence and their collective control.
We currently do not pay dividends on our common stock. Consequently, your only opportunity to achieve a return on your investment is if the price of our common stock appreciates.
We currently do not pay dividends on our common stock. Consequently, your only opportunity to achieve a return on your investment in us will be if you sell your shares of common stock at a price greater than you paid for it. There is no guarantee that the market price of our common stock will ever exceed the price that you pay.
The obligations associated with being a public company require significant resources and management attention.
As a public company in the United States, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the “Exchange Act,” and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act,” the listing requirements of the NYSE and other applicable securities rules and regulations. The Exchange Act requires that we file annual and current reports with respect to our business, financial condition and operating results. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we establish and maintain effective internal controls and procedures for financial reporting. We have made, and will continue to make, changes to our internal controls and procedures for financial reporting and accounting systems to meet our reporting obligations as a public company. However, the measures we continue to take may not be sufficient to satisfy our obligations as a public company.
In addition, changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure are creating uncertainty for public companies, increasing legal and financial compliance costs and making some activities more time consuming. These laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. We intend to continue to invest resources to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards, and this investment may result in increased general and administrative costs and a diversion of management’s time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities. If our efforts to comply with new laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies due to ambiguities related to their application and practice, regulatory authorities may initiate legal proceedings against us and our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flow could be adversely affected.
If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, shareholders could lose confidence in our financial and other public reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our common stock.
Effective internal control over financial reporting is necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to prevent fraud. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could cause us
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to fail to meet our reporting obligations. In addition, any testing we conduct in connection with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or any testing conducted by our independent registered public accounting firm, may reveal deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses or that may require prospective or retroactive changes to our consolidated financial statements or identify other areas for further attention or improvement. Ineffective internal control could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, limit our ability to access capital markets or require us to incur additional costs to improve our internal control and disclosure control systems and procedures, which could harm our business and have a negative effect on the trading price of our securities.
We may lose our foreign private issuer status in the future, which could result in significant additional costs and expenses.
We are a “foreign private issuer,” as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and therefore, we are not required to comply with all the periodic disclosure and current reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and related rules and regulations. Under Rule 405, the determination of foreign private issuer status is made annually on the last business day of an issuer’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.
In the future, we would lose our foreign private issuer status if a majority of our shareholders, directors or management are U.S. citizens or residents and we fail to meet additional requirements necessary to avoid loss of foreign private issuer status. The regulatory and compliance costs to us under U.S. securities laws as a U.S. domestic issuer may be significantly higher. If we are not a foreign private issuer, we will be required to file periodic reports and registration statements on U.S. domestic issuer forms with the SEC which are more detailed and extensive than the forms available to a foreign private issuer. For example, the annual report on Form 10-K requires domestic issuers to disclose executive compensation information on an individual basis with specific disclosure regarding the domestic compensation philosophy, objectives, annual total compensation (base salary, bonus, equity compensation) and potential payments in connection with change in control, retirement, death or disability, while the annual report on Form 20-F, including this annual report, permits foreign private issuers to disclose compensation information on an aggregate basis. We would also have to mandatorily comply with U.S. federal proxy requirements, and our officers, directors and principal shareholders would become subject to the short-swing profit disclosure and recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. We may also be required to modify certain of our policies or lose our ability to rely upon exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements on U.S. stock exchanges that are available to foreign private issuers.
As a Marshall Islands corporation with principal executive offices in London and representative offices in Copenhagen, and also having subsidiaries in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and other offshore jurisdictions such as Liberia, our operations may be subject to economic substance requirements.
The Council of the European Union, or the Council, routinely publishes a list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, which includes countries that the Council believes need to improve their legal framework and to work towards compliance with international standards in taxation. On February 14, 2023, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, among others, was placed by the E.U. on the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for lacking in the enforcement of economic substance requirements. The Marshall Islands has stated that it is of the opinion that it has met its commitments to the Council’s code of conduct group thus far, and the Marshall Islands has confirmed it will continue to work closely with the E.U. and the Council’s code of conduct group to address any technical concerns of the E.U. member states. E.U. member states have agreed upon a set of measures that they can choose to apply against the listed countries, including, inter alia, increased monitoring and audits, withholding taxes and non-deductibility of costs, and although we are not currently aware of any such measures being adopted they can be adopted by one or more E.U. members states in the future. E.U. legislation prohibits E.U. funds from being channeled or transited through entities in non-cooperative jurisdictions.
We are a Marshall Islands corporation with principal executive offices in [London]. Several of our subsidiaries are organized in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Liberia. The Marshall Islands has enacted economic
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substance regulations with which we are obligated to comply. The Marshall Islands economic substance regulations require certain Marshall Islands entities that are not otherwise tax resident outside of the Marshall Islands that carry out particular activities to comply with a three-part economic substance test whereby each of those entities must show that it (i) is directed and managed in the Marshall Islands in relation to that relevant activity, (ii) carries out core income-generating activity in relation to that relevant activity in the Marshall Islands (although it is being understood and acknowledged by the regulators that income-generated activities for shipping companies will generally occur in international waters) and (iii) having regard to the level of relevant activity carried out in the Marshall Islands has (a) an adequate amount of expenditures in the Marshall Islands, (b) adequate physical presence in the Marshall Islands and (c) an adequate number of qualified employees in the Marshall Islands. If we fail to comply with our obligations under such legislation or any similar law applicable to us in any other jurisdictions, we could be subject to financial penalties and spontaneous disclosure of information to foreign tax officials, or could be struck from the register of companies, in related jurisdictions. Any of the foregoing could be disruptive to our business and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and operating results.
We do not know (i) how long the Marshall Islands will remain on the non-cooperative list and whether Liberia will be added to the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions, (ii) how quickly the E.U. would react to any changes in legislation of the relevant jurisdictions, or (iii) how E.U. member states, E.U. banks or other counterparties will react while we or any of our subsidiaries remain as entities organized and existing under the laws of listed countries. The effect of the E.U. list of non-cooperative jurisdictions, and any noncompliance by us with any legislation adopted by applicable countries to achieve removal from the list, including economic substance regulations, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and operating results.
We are incorporated in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which does not have a well-developed body of corporate law.
Our corporate affairs are governed by our articles of incorporation and bylaws and by the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act, or the “BCA.” The provisions of the BCA resemble provisions of the corporation laws of a number of states in the United States. However, there have been few judicial cases in the Republic of the Marshall Islands interpreting the BCA. The rights and fiduciary responsibilities of directors under the Republic of the Marshall Islands law are not as clearly established as the rights and fiduciary responsibilities of directors under statutes or judicial precedent in existence in certain U.S. jurisdictions. Shareholder rights may differ as well. While the BCA does specifically incorporate the non-statutory law, or judicial case law, of the State of Delaware and other states with substantially similar legislative provisions, our shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions by the management, directors or controlling shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a U.S. jurisdiction.
Because we are a Marshall Islands corporation, it may be difficult to serve us with legal process or enforce judgments against us, our directors or our management.
We are a Marshall Islands corporation, and a substantial portion of our assets and several of our executive offices are located outside of the United States. A majority of our directors and officers are non-residents of the United States, and all or a substantial portion of the assets of these non-residents are located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States if you believe that your rights have been infringed under securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and of other jurisdictions may prevent or restrict you from enforcing a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers.
There is substantial doubt that the courts of the Republic of the Marshall Islands would (1) enter judgments in original actions brought in those courts predicated on U.S. federal or state securities laws; or (2) recognize or
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enforce against us or any of our officers, directors or experts, judgments of courts of the United States predicated on U.S. federal or state securities laws. The Republic of the Marshall Islands does not have a bankruptcy statute or general statutory mechanism for insolvency proceedings.
Provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws may have anti-takeover effects.
Several provisions of our articles of incorporation, which are summarized below, may have anti-takeover effects. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, lessen our vulnerability to a hostile change of control and enhance the ability of our board of directors to maximize shareholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire our company. However, these anti-takeover provisions could also discourage, delay or prevent the merger or acquisition of our company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise that a shareholder may consider in its best interest and the removal of incumbent officers and directors.
Blank Check Preferred Stock. Under the terms of our articles of incorporation our board of directors has the authority, without any further vote or action by our shareholders, to issue up to 40,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock. Our board could authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could dilute the voting power or rights of the holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us or the removal of our management and may harm the market price of our common stock.
Election of Directors. Our articles of incorporation provide that the directors will be elected at each annual meeting of shareholders to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, except in the event of his or her death, resignation, removal or the earlier termination of his or her term of office. Our articles of incorporation do not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors. Our bylaws require shareholders to provide advance written notice of nominations for the election of directors. These provisions may discourage, delay or prevent the removal of incumbent officers and directors.
Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations. Our bylaws provide that, with a few exceptions, shareholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring business before an annual meeting of shareholders must provide timely notice of their proposal in writing to the corporate secretary. Generally, to be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive office not less than 90 days or more than 120 days before the first-anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of shareholders. Our bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a shareholder’s notice. These provisions may impede a shareholder’s ability to bring matters before an annual meeting of shareholders or make nominations for directors at an annual meeting of shareholders.
Limited Actions by Shareholders. Our bylaws provide that only the board of directors may call special meetings of our shareholders and the business transacted at the special meeting is limited to the purposes stated in the notice.
Tax Risks
In addition to the following risk factors, please read “Item 4—Information on the Company—Business Overview—Taxation of the Company” and “Item 10—Additional Information—Taxation” for a more complete discussion of the expected material U.S. federal and non-U.S. income tax considerations relating to us and the ownership and disposition of our common stock.
We may be subject to additional taxes, which could adversely impact our business and financial results.
We and our subsidiaries are subject to tax in the jurisdictions in which we or our subsidiaries are organized or operate. In computing our tax obligations in these jurisdictions, we are required to consider various tax
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accounting and reporting positions on matters that are not entirely free from doubt and for which we have not received rulings from the governing authorities. Upon review of these positions, the applicable authorities may disagree with our positions. A successful challenge by a tax authority could result in the additional tax imposed on us or our subsidiaries. In addition, changes in our operations or ownership could result in additional tax being imposed on us or our subsidiaries in jurisdictions in which operations are conducted, or deemed to be conducted, which could adversely impact our business and financial results.
Moreover, tax laws, regulations and administrative practices in the jurisdictions in which we or our subsidiaries are organized or operate may be subject to significant change. For example, the United States enacted the Inflation Reduction Act (the “IRA”) on August 16, 2022. The IRA imposes, among other things, a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax on the adjusted financial statement income of certain taxpayers and a 1% excise tax on certain corporate stock repurchases occurring after December 31, 2022. We believe the changes under the IRA have no immediate effect on us and do not expect them to have an adverse effect on our operations going forward, but we continue to analyze the IRA and will monitor guidance to be issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
U.S. tax authorities could treat us as a “passive foreign investment company,” which could have adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. shareholders.
A non-U.S. entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be treated as a “passive foreign investment company,” or “PFIC,” for U.S. federal income tax purposes if at least 75.0% of its gross income for any taxable year consists of “passive income” or at least 50.0% of the average value of its assets produce, or are held for the production of, “passive income.” For purposes of these tests, “passive income” includes dividends, interest, gains from the sale or exchange of investment property, and rents and royalties other than rents and royalties that are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business. For purposes of these tests, income derived from the performance of services does not constitute “passive income.” U.S. shareholders of a PFIC are subject to a disadvantageous U.S. federal income tax regime with respect to the income derived by the PFIC, the distributions they receive from the PFIC, and the gain, if any, they derive from the sale or other disposition of their interests in the PFIC.
Based on our current and projected method of operation we believe that we were not a PFIC for any prior taxable year, and we expect that we will not be treated as a PFIC for the current or any future taxable year. We believe that more than 25.0% of our gross income for each taxable year was or will be non-passive income, and more than 50.0% of the average value of our assets for each such year was or will be held for the production of such non-passive income. This belief is based on certain valuations and projections regarding our assets and income, and its validity is conditioned on the accuracy of such valuations and projections. While we believe such valuations and projections to be accurate, the shipping market is volatile and no assurances can be given that our assumptions and conclusions will continue to be accurate at any time in the future.
Moreover, there are legal uncertainties involved in determining whether the income derived from our time-chartering activities constitutes rental income or income derived from the performance of services. In Tidewater Inc. v. United States, 565 F.3d 299 (5th Cir. 2009), the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, or the “Fifth Circuit,” held that income derived from certain time-chartering activities should be treated as rental income rather than services income for purposes of a provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the “Code,” relating to foreign sales corporations. In that case, the Fifth Circuit did not address the definition of passive income or the PFIC rules; however, the reasoning of the case could have implications as to how the income from a time charter would be classified under such rules. If the reasoning of the case were extended to the PFIC context, the gross income we derive from our time-chartering activities may be treated as rental income, and we would likely be treated as a PFIC. In published guidance, the Internal Revenue Service, or “IRS,” stated that it disagreed with the holding in Tidewater and specified that time charters similar to those at issue in that case should be treated as service contracts. We have not sought, and we do not expect to seek, an IRS ruling on the treatment of income generated from our time-chartering activities. As a result, the IRS or a
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court could disagree with our position. No assurance can be given that this result will not occur. In addition, although we intend to conduct our affairs in a manner to avoid being classified as a PFIC with respect to each taxable year, we cannot assure shareholders that the nature of our operations will not change in the future and that we will not become a PFIC in the future. If the IRS were to determine that we are or have been a PFIC for any taxable year (and regardless of whether we remain a PFIC for subsequent taxable years), our U.S. shareholders would face adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences. Please read “Item 10—Additional Information—Taxation—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences—U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders—PFIC Status and Significant Tax Consequences” for a more detailed discussion of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. shareholders if we are treated as a PFIC.
We may have to pay tax on U.S. source income with respect to the operation of our vessels, and business conducted within the United States, which would reduce our cash flow.
Under the Code, “U.S. source gross transportation income” (as defined below) is subject to a 4.0% U.S. federal income tax without allowance for deductions, unless an exemption from tax applies under a tax treaty or Section 883 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. U.S. source gross transportation income consists of 50.0% of the gross shipping income of a vessel owning or chartering corporation, such as ourselves, that is attributable to transportation that either begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in the United States.
If a non-U.S. corporation satisfies the requirements of Section 883 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, it will not be subject to the 4.0% U.S. federal income tax referenced above on its U.S. source gross transportation income. The Section 883 exemption does not apply to income attributable to transportation that both begins and ends in the United States.
We believe that with respect to the operation of our vessels, we satisfied the requirements to qualify for an exemption from U.S. tax on our U.S. source gross transportation income imposed by Section 883 of the Code for 2022, we expect that we will be able to satisfy those requirements for 2023 and future taxable years, and we expect to take this position for U.S. federal income tax reporting purposes. However there are factual circumstances, some of which are beyond our control, that could cause us to lose the benefit of this exemption. As a result, there can be no assurance that we will qualify for this exemption for the current or any future year. If we fail to qualify for this exemption in any taxable year, U.S. source gross transportation income earned by us and our subsidiaries will generally be subject to a 4.0% U.S. federal income tax and would adversely impact our business and financial results. For a more detailed discussion of Section 883 of the Code, the rules relating to exemptions under Section 883 and our ability to qualify for an exemption, please read “Item 4—Information on the Company—Business Overview—Taxation of the Company—U.S. Taxation.”
In addition to our U.S. source gross transportation income, we expect to generate U.S. taxable income as a result of the operations of our Ethylene Export Terminal in the U.S. Gulf. Our U.S. subsidiary that owns our interest in the Ethylene Export Terminal generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax (generally at a rate of 21.0%) on its 50% share of any net income from the Ethylene Export Terminal, and U.S. withholding tax generally will apply to dividends paid by such U.S. subsidiary to its shareholder.
| Item 4. | Information on the Company |
| A. | History and Development of the Company |
General
Navigator Holdings Ltd. was formed in 1997 as an Isle of Man public limited company for the purpose of building and operating a fleet of five semi-refrigerated, ethylene-capable liquefied gas carriers. In March 2008, we redomiciled as a corporation in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and we maintain our principal executive
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offices at 10 Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DH. Our telephone number at that address is +44 20 7340 4850. Our agent for service of process in the United States is CT Corporation System and its address is 28 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10005.
In November 2013, we completed our initial public offering of 13,800,000 shares of our common stock, comprising 9,030,000 new shares of common stock and certain selling shareholders offered 4,770,000 shares of common stock.
In August 2021, we issued 21,202,671 shares of our common stock to Naviera Ultranav Limitada as consideration for the acquisition of the fleet and businesses of Ultragas ApS (“Ultragas” and such transaction, the “Ultragas Transaction”). As of December 31, 2022, we had 76,804,474 shares of our common stock outstanding. Please see “Item 7—Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.”
Our capital expenditures, comprising vessel acquisition, vessel drydockings and ballast water treatment systems (“BWTS”) for our vessels amounted to $63.3 million, $23.1 million and $12.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively. In addition, we had $410.4 million of expenditure relating to the Ultragas Transaction. Capital expenditures currently in progress include the expected acquisition of a 22,000 cbm, 2019 built ethylene capable liquefied gas carrier, Navigator Vega for approximately $49.0 million.
Our shares of common stock are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “NVGS.”
A copy of this Annual Report on Form 20-F can be obtained, free of charge, on our website at www.navigatorgas.com, or by writing to our principal executive office. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
| B. | Business Overview |
We are the owner and operator of 56 liquefied gas carriers, which includes the world’s largest fleet of handysize liquefied gas carriers. We also own a 50% share in an ethylene export marine terminal at Morgan’s Point, Texas on the Houston Ship Channel (the “Ethylene Export Terminal”) through a joint venture (the “Export Terminal Joint Venture”).
Our liquefied gas carrier fleet currently consists of 42 semi- or fully-refrigerated handysize liquefied gas carriers, which we define as those with capabilities between 15,000 and 24,999 cubic meters, or “cbm”. In addition, we have five larger 37,300 – 38,000 cbm midsize liquefied gas carriers; five 12,000 cbm ethylene carriers and four smaller 3,770 –9,000 cbm semi-refrigerated liquefied gas carriers. Of our total fleet of 56 liquefied gas carriers, 25 are also ethylene or ethane capable.
Our handysize liquefied gas carriers typically transport LPG on short or medium routes that may be uneconomical for smaller vessels and can call at ports that are unable to support larger vessels due to limited onshore capacity, absence of fully-refrigerated loading infrastructure and/or vessel size restrictions. These handysize liquefied gas carriers are amongst the largest semi-refrigerated vessels in the world, which also makes them capable of transporting petrochemicals on long routes, typically intercontinental.
We play a vital role in the liquefied gas supply chain for energy companies, industrial consumers and commodity traders, with our sophisticated vessels providing an efficient and reliable ‘floating pipeline’ between the parties. We carry LPG for major international energy companies, state-owned utilities and reputable commodities traders. LPG, which consists of propane and butane, is a relatively clean alternative energy source with more than 1,000 applications, including as a heating, cooking and transportation fuel and as a petrochemical and refinery feedstock. LPG is a by-product of oil refining and natural gas extraction, and shale gas, principally from the U.S.
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We also carry petrochemical gases for numerous industrial users. Petrochemical gases, including ethylene, propylene, butadiene and vinyl chloride monomer, are derived from the cracking of petroleum feedstocks such as ethane, LPG and naphtha and are primarily used as raw materials in various industrial processes, like the manufacture of plastics, vinyl and rubber, with a wide application of end uses. Our vessels also carry ammonia for the producers of fertilizers, a main use of ammonia for the agricultural industry, and for ammonia traders.
We own a 50% share in our Ethylene Export Terminal at Morgan’s Point, Texas on the Houston Ship Channel through our Export Terminal Joint Venture. Our Ethylene Export Terminal, which includes an ethylene cryogenic storage tank with a capacity of 30,000 tons, has the capacity to export approximately one million tons of ethylene per year and is capable of loading ethylene-capable gas carriers at rates of 1,000 tons per hour. The Ethylene Export Terminal has entered into several take or pay offtake agreements, which had initial minimum terms of five years with aggregate minimum throughput commitments of 938,000 tons of ethylene annually, or 94% of the terminal’s nameplate capacity. In November 2022, we announced our intention to participate in a capital project under our Export Terminal Joint Venture, together with our joint venture partner, to extend the Ethylene Export Terminal, under the existing joint venture agreement. When completed, the Expansion Project is expected to provide significant additional ethylene refrigeration capacity for the Export Terminal Joint Venture (expanding the export capacity from approximately one million tons per year to at least 1.5 million tons per year of ethylene). We expect construction of the expansion to commence in the second quarter of 2023 and to be completed in the second half of 2024, at which time the additional terminal capacity would be expected to begin commercial service. The total capital contributions required from us to the Export terminal Joint venture for the Expansion Project are expected to be approximately $120-$130 million, commencing in the first quarter of 2023 and ending in the fourth quarter of 2024, which we expect to finance from existing cash resources, distributions from the Export Terminal Joint Venture during the course of the expansion and additional debt financing.
On September 30, 2022, the Company entered into the Navigator Greater Bay Joint Venture with Greater Bay Gas for the purpose of acquiring a total of five ethylene vessels. The Navigator Greater Bay Joint Venture is owned 60% by the Company and 40% by Greater Bay Gas and is fully consolidated. The Navigator Greater Bay Joint Venture acquired two 17,000 cbm, 2018-built ethylene capable liquefied gas carriers, Navigator Luna on December 20, 2022 and Navigator Solar on January 17, 2023, and two 22,000 cbm, 2019-built ethylene capable liquefied gas carriers, Navigator Caster and Navigator Equator on March 24, 2023 and March 27, 2023, respectively. The joint venture expects to acquire a fifth vessel, a 22,000 cbm, 2019-built ethylene capable liquefied gas carrier, Navigator Vega, during the second quarter of 2023. All five vessels are currently commercially managed by the in-house Luna Pool and technically managed by the third party, PG Shipmanagement of Singapore.
Our Business Strategies
We have structured our business strategy around six core functional areas:
Safety and Crewing
Building on a solid track record for safety and operational excellence, we conducted a detailed safety culture assessment. The findings paved the way towards establishing a unified approach towards safety and crew management, post-merger and streamlining business systems and processes. This work is underpinned by our new safety culture program, ‘WeCare’, which is being launched across all vessels and shore locations.
Corporate Governance
The organization has changed shape over the last two years, and a focus will be placed on improving the degree of Board independence and diversifying our Board composition. This includes forming an ESG board sub-committee to provide overall oversight over the implementation of the Company’s ESG initiatives.
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Sustainability
Our materiality assessment identified three sustainability priorities for the business. The first is to implement technical and operational measures to reduce emissions in the short to mid-term and to establish a long-term emissions reduction pathway towards 2050. The second is positioning the business in the emerging supply chains of green and blue energy production alongside CO2 capture, transportation, utilization and storage. The third is establishing an increasingly diverse and inclusive workforce to promote innovation and creativity across the business.
Performance culture
As the organization continues to grow, our human resources team will support our people to grow and advance. This includes implementing an effective performance and reward program and creating opportunities for development and career progression.
Commercial
We intend to maintain our market-leading position in the transportation of LPG, petrochemicals and ammonia, and to work towards capturing growth in emerging supply chains and markets. Potential synergies exist in creating a closer link between our floating assets and our terminal, providing an integrated solution to our clients, and opening additional revenue streams. We will place ourselves firmly on the path towards decarbonizing our operations. By collaborating with our clients and partners, we aim to facilitate a green supply chain, positively impacting both the environment and society around us.
Financing
We seek to maintain a strong balance sheet by managing our current leverage and, in the future, by financing our growth with a balanced mix of cash, bank and bond financings, and equity.
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Our Fleet
The following table sets forth our vessels as of March 31, 2023:
| Operating Vessel |
Year Built |
Vessel Size (cbm) |
Employment |
Current Cargo |
Time Charter | |||||
| Ethylene/ethane capable semi-refrigerated midsize |
||||||||||
| Navigator Aurora |
2016 | 37,300 | Time Charter | Ethane | December 2026 | |||||
| Navigator Eclipse |
2016 | 37,300 | Time Charter | Ethane | March 2026 | |||||
| Navigator Nova |
2017 | 37,300 | Time Charter | Ethane | September 2026 | |||||
| Navigator Prominence |
2017 | 37,300 | Time Charter | Ethane | March 2025 | |||||
| Ethylene/ethane capable semi-refrigerated handysize |
||||||||||
| Navigator Orion* |
2000 | 22,085 | — |
— | — | |||||
| Navigator Pluto* |
2000 | 22,085 | Spot Market | Ethylene | — | |||||
| Navigator Saturn* |
2000 | 22,085 | — |
— |
— | |||||
| Navigator Venus* |
2000 | 22,085 | Spot Market | Ethylene | — | |||||
| Navigator Atlas* |
2014 | 21,000 | Spot Market | Ethylene | — | |||||
| Navigator Europa* |
2014 | 21,000 | Time Charter | Ethane | June 2023 | |||||
| Navigator Oberon* |
2014 | 21,000 | Spot Market |
Ethylene | — | |||||
| Navigator Triton* |
2015 | 21,000 | Spot Market |
Ethylene | — | |||||
| Navigator Umbrio* |
2015 | 21,000 | Time Charter | Ethylene | December 2023 | |||||
| Navigator Luna* |
2018 | 17,000 | Spot Market | Ethylene | — | |||||
| Navigator Solar* |
2018 | 17,000 | Spot Market | Ethylene | — | |||||
| Navigator Castor* |
2019 | 22,000 | Spot Market | Ethylene | — | |||||
| Navigator Equator* |
2019 | 22,000 | Spot Market | Ethylene | — | |||||
| Ethylene/ethane capable semi-refrigerated smaller size |
||||||||||
| Happy Condor** |
2008 | 9,000 | Unigas Pool | — | — | |||||
| Happy Pelican** |
2012 | 6,800 | Unigas Pool | — | — | |||||
| Happy Penguin** |
2013 | 6,800 | Unigas Pool | — | — | |||||
| Happy Kestrel** |
2013 | 12,000 | Unigas Pool | — | — | |||||
| Happy Osprey** |
2013 | 12,000 | Unigas Pool | — | — | |||||
| Happy Peregrine** |
2014 | 12,000 | Unigas Pool | — | — | |||||
| Happy Albatross** |
2015 | 12,000 | Unigas Pool | — | — | |||||
| Happy Avocet** |
2017 | 12,000 | Unigas Pool | — | — | |||||
| Semi-refrigerated handysize |
||||||||||
| Navigator Aries |
2008 | 20,750 | Time Charter | LPG | January 2024 | |||||
| Navigator Capricorn |
2008 | 20,750 | Time Charter | LPG | May 2023 | |||||
| Navigator Gemini |
2009 | 20,750 | Time Charter | LPG | April 2023 | |||||
| Navigator Pegasus |
2009 | 22,200 | Time Charter | Propylene | June 2023 | |||||
| Navigator Phoenix |
2009 | 22,200 | Time Charter | Ammonia | August 2023 | |||||
| Navigator Scorpio |
2009 | 20,750 | Time Charter | LPG | January 2024 | |||||
| Navigator Taurus |
2009 | 20,750 | Time Charter | Ammonia | July 2023 | |||||
| Navigator Virgo |
2009 | 20,750 | Time Charter | LPG | May 2023 | |||||
| Navigator Leo |
2011 | 20,600 | Time Charter | LPG | December 2023 | |||||
| Navigator Libra |
2012 | 20,600 | Time Charter | LPG | December 2023 | |||||
| Atlantic Gas |
2014 | 22,000 | — |
— |
— | |||||
| Adriatic Gas |
2015 | 22,000 | Time Charter | LPG | November 2023 | |||||
| Balearic Gas |
2015 | 22,000 | Drydock | — | — | |||||
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| Operating Vessel |
Year Built |
Vessel Size (cbm) |
Employment |
Current Cargo |
Time Charter | |||||
| Celtic Gas |
2015 | 22,000 | Time Charter | LPG | April 2023 | |||||
| Navigator Centauri |
2015 | 21,000 | Time Charter | LPG | May 2024 | |||||
| Navigator Ceres |
2015 | 21,000 | Time Charter | LPG | June 2024 | |||||
| Navigator Ceto |
2016 | 21,000 | Time Charter | LPG | May 2024 | |||||
| Navigator Copernico |
2016 | 21,000 | Time Charter | LPG | June 2024 | |||||
| Bering Gas |
2016 | 22,000 | Spot Market | LPG | — | |||||
| Navigator Luga |
2017 | 22,000 | Time Charter | LPG | July 2023 | |||||
| Navigator Yauza |
2017 | 22,000 | Time Charter | LPG | July 2023 | |||||
| Arctic Gas |
2017 | 22,000 | Time Charter | LPG | April 2023 | |||||
| Pacific Gas |
2017 | 22,000 | Time Charter | LPG | November 2023 | |||||
| Semi-refrigerated smaller size |
||||||||||
| Happy Falcon** |
2002 | 3,770 | Unigas Pool | — | — | |||||
| Fully-refrigerated |
||||||||||
| Navigator Glory |
2010 | 22,500 | Time Charter | Ammonia | June 2025 | |||||
| Navigator Grace |
2010 | 22,500 | Time Charter | Ammonia | January 2024 | |||||
| Navigator Galaxy |
2011 | 22,500 | Time Charter | Ammonia | December 2023 | |||||
| Navigator Genesis |
2011 | 22,500 | Time Charter | Ammonia | January 2024 | |||||
| Navigator Global |
2011 | 22,500 | Time Charter | LPG | April 2023 | |||||
| Navigator Gusto |
2011 | 22,500 | Time Charter | Ammonia | March 2024 | |||||
| Navigator Jorf |
2017 | 38,000 | Time Charter | Ammonia | August 2027 | |||||
* denotes our owned vessels that operate within the Luna Pool
** denotes our owned vessels that operate within the independently managed Unigas Pool
Navigator Aurora, is owned by OCY Aurora Ltd., a Maltese limited liability company as a result of a sale and leaseback transaction in October 2019. OCY Aurora Ltd., the “lessor entity”, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ocean Yield Malta Limited. We do not hold any shares or voting rights in the lessor entity which is accounted for as a fully consolidated VIE in our consolidated financial statements. Please read Note 10—Variable Interest Entities to our consolidated financial statements.
Navigator Aries and Navigator Global which are chartered to Pertamina, the Indonesian state-owned producer of hydrocarbons and these vessels, together with Navigator Pluto, are owned by PT Navigator Khatulistiwa, an Indonesian limited liability company, or “PTNK”. Operations in Indonesia are subject, among other things, to the Indonesian Shipping Act. That law generally provides that in order for certain vessels involved in Indonesian cabotage to obtain the requested licenses, the owners must either be wholly Indonesian owned or have a majority Indonesian shareholding. PTNK is a joint venture of which 49% of the voting and dividend rights are owned by our wholly owned subsidiary, and 51% of such rights are owned by Indonesian limited liability companies. The joint venture agreement for PTNK provides that certain actions relating to the joint venture or the vessels require the prior written approval of our subsidiary, which may be withheld only on reasonable grounds and in good faith. PTNK is accounted for as a fully consolidated VIE in our consolidated financial statements.
Navigator Luna, Navigator Solar, Navigator Caster and Navigator Equator are owned by the Navigator Greater Bay Joint Venture. The Joint Venture is owned 60% by us and 40% by Greater Bay Gas. The Navigator Greater Bay Joint Venture is accounted for as a consolidated subsidiary in our consolidated financial statements, with the 40% owned by Greater Bay Gas accounted for as a minority interest.
As of December 31, 2022, the average monthly time charter rate for the 34 vessels operating under time charters was approximately $757,800 per calendar month ($24,927 per day) (December 31, 2021: $742,363 per calendar month ($24,406 per day) for 26 vessels operating under time charter). Our current monthly charter rates range
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from approximately $539,000 to approximately $1,123,750. These time charter rates are the gross monthly charter rates before deduction of any address and brokerage commissions payable to charterers and shipbrokers respectively. Address and brokerage commissions typically range between 1.25% and 2.5% of the gross monthly charter rate. On average, we pay a 1.3% address and brokerage commission with respect to our current time charters.
Our Customers
We provide seaborne transportation and distribution services for LPG, ethane, ethylene, petrochemical gases and ammonia to:
| • | Major Oil and Gas Companies, such as ExxonMobil, ENI, BP, Shell and Phillips 66; as well as state affiliated companies such as Pertamina, the Indonesian state-owned producer of hydrocarbons and petrochemicals; Sonatrach, the national oil and gas company of Algeria and its shipping company Hyproc; and PETRONAS, the state-owned oil and gas company of Malaysia; |
| • | Chemical Companies, such as SABIC and Aramco, multi-national chemical manufacturing corporations based in Saudi Arabia; OCP, a world leading fertilizer producer and ammonia importer; BASF, INEOS and Borealis, all leading multi-national chemical corporations; Braskem, a Brazilian petrochemical manufacturer; Sibur, a Russian gas processing and petrochemicals company and Asia Chemical Trading Pte and Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical, both large Chinese chemical producers; and |
| • | Energy Trading Companies, such as Mitsubishi International Corporation, Marubeni and Mitsui, trading all major commodities, finance and investment conglomerates; Kolmar, Vinmar and BGN, international commodity trading companies; Geogas and Petredec, LPG trading companies; Trafigura Limited an international commodities trading and logistics company; Vitol Group, an independent energy trading company; and Trammo, a leading international merchandising and trading company. |
We have derived, and believe that we will continue to derive, a significant portion of our revenues from a limited number of customers. Our customers include major oil and gas companies, chemical companies, energy trading companies, state-owned oil companies, and various other entities that depend upon marine transportation. Our top three customers accounted for between 8% to 10% each, and in aggregate, 26.5% of our consolidated revenues during the year ended December 31, 2022, equivalent to $108.4 million of our total operating revenues. Two of our customers accounted for more than 10% each, and in aggregate, 20.7% of our operating revenues during the year ended December 31, 2021, equivalent to $73.2 million and two of our customers accounted for more than 10% each, and in aggregate, 25.1% of our operating revenues during the year ended December 31, 2020, equivalent to $80.6 million of our total revenues. During these periods, no other customer accounted for over 10% of our revenues. The loss of any significant customer or a substantial decline in the number of services requested by a significant customer, or the inability of a significant customer to pay for our services, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Vessel Employment
Our chartering strategy is to combine a base of both short and long-term time charters, and COAs with voyage charters, as well as employing our smaller vessels through the Unigas Pool. We currently own and operate a total of 56 vessels. As of December 31, 2022, we had 53 vessels, of which 34 were employed under time charters, nine were employed in the spot market, one was employed under a contract of affreightment and nine were independently commercially managed through the Unigas Pool.
Our voyage charters during 2022 remained focused on the seaborne transportation of petrochemicals, particularly ethylene and ethane. Our flexible, semi-refrigerated vessels are highly versatile in that they, unlike fully-refrigerated vessels, can accommodate petrochemicals, LPG and ammonia at ambient as well as fully-refrigerated temperatures.
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We have seen an increase in the amount of ethane and ethylene carried across spot and time charter tonnage, from to 943,035 metric tons in 2021 to 1.2 million metric tons in 2022. Ethylene and ethane are highly specialized gases, that require sophisticated ethylene/ethane-capable tonnage to transport. We currently own 25 ethane/ethylene capable gas carriers on the water, one of the largest fleets of such vessels.
A typical petrochemical voyage is categorized as long haul, or deep sea, and is typically much longer in duration compared to handysize LPG voyages, which tend to be regional based. Petrochemical voyages principally commence in the U.S., South America and the Middle East and sail to the Far East and Europe to discharge. However, these trade routes may change in the future, subject to fluctuating arbitrages between the various geographical regions.
Time Charter
A time charter is a contract under which a vessel is chartered for a defined period of time at a fixed daily or monthly rate. Under time charters, we are responsible for providing crewing and other vessel operating services, the cost of which is intended to be covered by the fixed rate, while the customer is responsible for substantially all of the voyage expenses, including any bunker fuel consumption, port expenses and canal tolls.
Initial Term. The initial term for a time charter commences upon the vessel’s delivery to the customer. Under the terms of our charters, the customer may redeliver the vessel to us up to 15 to 30 days earlier or up to 15 to 30 days later than the respective charter expiration dates, upon advance notice to us.
Hire Rate. The hire rate refers to the basic payment by the customer for the use of the vessel. Under our time charters, the hire rate is payable monthly in advance in U.S. Dollars, Euros or in case of the ships chartered to Pertamina, in Indonesian Rupiah, as specified in the charter.
Hire payments may be reduced if the vessel does not perform to certain of its specifications, such as if the average vessel speed falls below a guaranteed speed or the amount of fuel consumed to power the vessel under normal circumstances exceeds a guaranteed amount, or if the vessel breaks down.
Off-hire. Under our time charters, when the vessel is “off-hire” (or not available for service), the customer generally is not required to pay the charter hire, and the shipowner is responsible for all costs. Prolonged off-hire may lead to vessel substitution or termination of the time charter. A vessel generally will be deemed off-hire if there is a loss of time due to, among other things:
| • | technical breakdowns; drydocking for repairs, maintenance or inspections; equipment breakdowns; or delays due to accidents, strikes, certain vessel detentions or operational issues; or |
| • | our failure to maintain the vessel in compliance with its specifications and contractual standards or to provide the required crew. |
Management and Maintenance. Under our time charters, we are responsible for providing for the technical management of the vessel and for maintaining the vessel, periodic drydocking, cleaning and painting and performing work required by regulations. Currently, we work with third-party technical managers, Northern Marine Management (“NMM”), PG Shipmanagement (“PGS”) as well as our own in-house technical management function, to arrange for these services to be provided for all of our vessels. Please read “—Technical Management of the Fleet” for a description of the material terms of the technical management agreements.
Termination. Each of our time charters terminates automatically in the event of loss of the applicable vessel. In addition, we are generally entitled to suspend performance (but with the continuing accrual to our benefit of hire payments and default interest) under most of the time charters if the customer defaults in its
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payment obligations. Under most of the time charters, either party may also terminate the charter in the event of war in specified countries or in locations that would significantly disrupt the free trade of the vessel or if either party becomes a sanctioned entity.
Voyage Charter/ Contract of Affreightment (“COA”)
A voyage charter is a contract, typically for shorter intervals, for transportation of a specified cargo between two or more designated ports. A COA essentially constitutes a series of voyage charters to carry a specified quantity of cargo during a specified time period, or for a specified number of voyages. A voyage charter is priced on a current or “spot” market rate, typically on a price per ton of product carried rather than a daily or monthly rate. Under voyage charters, we are responsible for all of the voyage expenses in addition to providing the crewing and other vessel operating services.
Term. Our voyage charters are typically for periods ranging from 10 days to three months.
Freight Rate. The freight rate refers to the basic payment by the customer for the use of the vessel or movement of cargo. Under our voyage charters, the freight rate is payable upon discharge, in U.S. Dollars, as specified in the charter.
Management, Maintenance and Voyage Expenses. Under our voyage charters, we are responsible for providing for the technical management of the vessel in the same manner as for time charters referred to above.
We are also responsible for all expenses unique to a particular voyage, including any bunker fuel consumption, port expenses and canal tolls.
Termination. Each of our voyage charters terminates automatically upon the discharge of the cargo at the discharge port and a COA terminates when we have discharged the final cargo at its discharge port.
Classification and Inspections
Every seagoing vessel must be “classed” by a classification society. The classification society certifies that the vessel is “in class,” signifying that the vessel has been built and maintained in accordance with the rules of the classification society and complies with applicable rules and regulations of the vessel’s country of registry and the international conventions of which that country is a member. In addition, where surveys are required by international conventions and corresponding laws and ordinances of a flag state, the classification society will undertake them on an application or by official order, acting on behalf of the authorities concerned.
The classification society also undertakes on request other surveys and inspections that are required by the regulations and requirements of the flag state. These surveys are subject to agreements made in each case and/or to the regulations of the country concerned.
For maintenance of the class, regular and extraordinary surveys of hull and machinery, including the electrical plant, and any special equipment classed are required to be performed as follows:
Annual Surveys. For seagoing ships, annual surveys are conducted for the hull and machinery, including the electrical plant, and where applicable, on special equipment classed at intervals of 12 months from the date of commencement of the class period indicated in the certificate.
Intermediate Surveys. Extended annual surveys are referred to as intermediate surveys and typically are conducted two and a half years after commissioning and each class renewal.
Class Renewal Surveys. Class renewal surveys (also known as special surveys), which require the vessel to enter drydock, are carried out on the ship’s hull and machinery, including the electrical plant, and on any special
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equipment classed at the intervals indicated by the character of classification for the hull. During the special survey, the vessel is thoroughly examined, including audio-gauging to determine the thickness of the steel structures. Should the thickness be found to be less than class requirements, the classification society would prescribe steel renewals. On vessels that are over 15 years old, substantial amounts of funds may have to be spent for steel renewals to pass a special survey if the vessel experiences excessive wear and tear. In lieu of the special survey, a shipowner has the option of arranging with the classification society for the vessel’s hull or machinery to be on a continuous survey cycle, in which every part of the vessel would be surveyed within a five-year cycle. At an owner’s application, the surveys required for class renewal may be split according to an agreed schedule to extend over the entire period of class. This process is referred to as continuous class renewal.
Commercial Management of the Fleet
We perform commercial management of 41 of our vessels in-house through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Navigator Gas L.L.C., under the terms of individual management contracts between Navigator Gas L.L.C. and each of our vessel-owning subsidiaries. Commercial management includes all chartering services for our vessels and is provided by the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, NGT Services (UK) Limited, as agent for commercial services and Navigator Gas Denmark ApS.
In addition, Navigator Gas Denmark ApS, has entered into bareboat contracts for 16 of our vessels with our vessel-owning subsidiaries. We perform commercial management for seven of these vessels in-house and nine are independently commercially managed by the Unigas Pool.
In 2020, we formed the Luna Pool, which currently comprises 14 ethylene vessels of which nine are wholly owned by us and four are owned through the Navigator Greater Bay Joint Venture and one, the Navigator Vega, is expected to be acquired by the Navigator Greater Bay Joint Venture during the second quarter of 2023. The Pool focuses on the transportation of ethylene and ethane to meet the growing demands of our customers. Our wholly-owned subsidiary, NGT Services (UK) Limited, is the commercial and accounting manager of the Luna Pool.
Technical Management of the Fleet
General
We outsource the technical management for 20 vessels in our fleet to NMM and PGS, third-party technical management companies, under the terms of standard BIMCO ship management agreements, or the “technical management agreements.” We refer to NMM and PGS herein as our “technical managers.” We currently provide in-house technical management for 36 of our 56 vessels through our wholly owned subsidiaries, Navigator Gas Shipmanagement Ltd and Navigator Ship Management (Denmark) ApS. By managing some of our vessels in-house, we intend to seek opportunities to gain greater control over the management of our vessels and enhance safety, risk management, customer service, reliability and build strong relationships with our charterers. Please see “Item 3—Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business”.
Our wholly-owned technical manager subsidiaries are accredited with International Standards Organization (“ISO”) 14001 (Environmental Management System), ISO 9001 (Quality Management System) and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety) standards.
NMM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stena AB Gothenburg, formed in 1983 and located in Clydebank, Scotland and PGS is a Singapore based technical manager, part of Pacific Gas (Hong Kong) Holdings Limited. Our technical managers are very well established and respected within the ship management community. Our technical managers have fully-owned crew recruitment agencies in major crew recruitment centers around the world and can provide us with high quality, competent officers and crews, to meet our crewing requirements. We believe our technical managers manage our vessels safely and properly in accordance with owners’ requirements,
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design parameters, flag state and classification society requirements, charter party requirements and the international safety management (“ISM”) code. We and our technical managers are all accredited with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 standards.
We believe our vessels are operated in a manner intended to protect the safety and health of employees, the general public, and the environment. We actively manage the risks inherent in our business and are committed to eliminating incidents that threaten the Safety, Reliability, and Efficiency of the vessels, such as groundings, fires, collisions and spills. We are actively committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and any waste generated by our activities, as part of our ISO 14001 commitments and in line with the Regulation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions as set out by the IMO.
Technical Management Services
Under the terms of our ship management agreements with our technical managers, and under our own supervision, our technical managers are responsible for the day-to-day activities of our externally managed fleet and are required to, among other things:
| • | provide competent personnel to operate and supervise the maintenance and general efficiency of our vessels; |
| • | arrange and supervise the maintenance, drydockings, repairs, alterations and upkeep of our vessels to the standards required by us and in accordance with all requirements and recommendations of our vessels’ classification society, flag state and applicable national and international regulations; |
| • | ensure that our vessels comply with the law of their flag state; |
| • | arrange the supply of necessary stores, spares and lubricating oil for our vessels; |
| • | appoint such surveyors and technical consultants as they may consider from time to time necessary; |
| • | operate the vessels in accordance with the ISM Code and The International Ship and Port Facility Code(“ISPS Code”); |
| • | develop, implement and maintain a safety management system in accordance with the ISM Code; |
| • | arrange the sampling and testing of bunkers; |
| • | install planned maintenance system software on-board our vessels; |
| • | provide emergency response services and support to our vessels in case of an incident or accident; and |
| • | operate our vessels in accordance with the agreed budgets. |
In the event that our technical managers pay certain expenses attributable to us, we have agreed to indemnify our technical managers against such expenses. In the event that our technical managers (or any of their related companies) are sued as a result of a breach or alleged breach of an obligation of ours to a third-party, we have agreed to defend our technical managers (or their related companies) and indemnify our technical managers (and their related companies) against certain expenses incurred in their defense.
Fees and Expenses
As consideration for providing us with both technical and crewing management for our fleet, our third-party managers currently receive a management fee of approximately $0.2 million per vessel per year, payable in equal monthly installments in advance. We pay for any expenses incurred in connection with operating expenses for our vessels.
We carry insurance coverage consistent with industry standards for certain matters, but we cannot assure you that our insurance will be adequate to cover all extraordinary costs and expenses. Please read “—Insurance and Risk Management.”
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any costs and expenses are caused solely by our technical managers’ negligence or willful default, our technical managers will be responsible for them subject to certain limitations. Our technical managers are insured against claims of errors and omissions by third parties.
Term and Termination Rights
The ship management agreements automatically renew on their termination dates unless terminated by either party giving two or three months’ prior written notice. Our technical managers may also terminate any of the ship management agreements immediately upon written termination notice to us if:
| • | they do not receive amounts payable by us under the agreement within the time period specified for payment thereof, or if the vessels are repossessed by any vessel mortgagees; or |
| • | after notice to us of the default and a reasonable amount of time to remedy, we fail to: |
| • | comply with our obligation to indemnify them for any expenses attributable to us or defend them (and their related companies) against any third-party claims based on a breach or alleged breach of an obligation of ours to a third-party; or |
| • | cease the employment of our vessels in the transportation of contraband, blockage running, or in an unlawful trade, or on a voyage that in their reasonable opinion is unduly hazardous or improper. |
If, for any reason under our technical managers’ control, our technical managers fail to provide the services agreed upon under the terms of the management agreements or they fail to provide for the satisfaction of all requirements of the law of the vessels’ flag state or the ISM Code, or if PGS ceases to be a wholly owned subsidiary within the Pacific Gas group, we may terminate the agreements immediately upon written notice of termination to our technical managers, as applicable, if, after notice to our technical managers of the default and a reasonable amount of time to remedy, they fail to remedy the default to our satisfaction.
The technical management agreements will automatically terminate (i) if the vessels are sold, are requisitioned, become a total loss, or are declared as a constructive, compromised, or arranged total loss, (ii) in the event of our winding up, dissolution, bankruptcy or the appointment of a receiver, (iii) if we suspend payments, cease to carry on business or make any special arrangement with our creditors, or (iv) in the case of PGS, if our joint venture agreement with Greater Bay Gas is terminated in accordance with its terms.
Under the terms of the ship management agreements, in the event that the technical management agreement is terminated for any reason other than by reason of default by either the technical manager or the loss, sale or other disposition of the vessels, we are obligated to continue to pay the management fee for three calendar months from the termination date.
Crewing
We have entered into crew management agreements with our technical managers for 36 of our 56 vessels and we provide crew management services in-house for 20 of our vessels through our wholly owned subsidiary, Navigator Shipmanagement (Denmark) ApS. Under the terms of the crew management agreements, we or our technical managers are responsible for arranging crews for our fleet and are required to, among other things:
| • | select and supply a suitably qualified crew for each vessel in our fleet; |
| • | pay all crew wages and salaries; |
| • | ensure that the applicable requirements of the laws of our vessels’ flag states are satisfied in respect of the rank, qualification and certification of the crew; |
| • | pay the costs of obtaining all documentation necessary for the crew’s employment, such as vaccination certificates, passports, visas and licenses; and |
| • | pay all costs and expenses of transportation of the crews to and from the vessels while traveling. |
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Unless two months’ prior written notice of termination is given, the agreements are automatically extended. Crewing costs could be higher due to increased demand for qualified officers as the worldwide LNG and LPG carrier fleet continues to grow. Please read “Item 3—Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—A shortage of qualified officers makes it more difficult to crew our vessels and increases our operating costs. If a shortage were to develop, it could impair our ability to operate and have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.”
The crewing management fee is included with the technical management fee referred to above. For some of our in-house technically managed vessels, NMM provides separate crew management agreements costing approximately $0.06 million per vessel per year.
We believe that the crewing arrangements ensure that our vessels are crewed with qualified and competent seafarers that have the licenses required by international regulations and conventions. As of December 31, 2022, our vessels were crewed by approximately 1,800 seagoing staff.
Insurance and Risk Management
The operation of any oceangoing vessel carries an inherent risk of catastrophic marine disasters, death or injury of persons and property losses caused by adverse weather conditions, mechanical failures, human error, war, terrorism, piracy and other circumstances or events. The occurrence of any of these events may result in a loss of revenues or increased costs. While we believe that our present insurance coverage is adequate, not all risks can be insured, and there can be no guarantee that any specific claim will be paid, or that we will always be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage at reasonable rates.
Hull and Machinery
We carry “hull and machinery” insurance for each of our vessels, which insures against the risk of an actual or constructive total loss of our vessels. Hull and machinery insurance also cover damage to mechanical equipment on board and loss of, or damage to a vessel due to marine perils such as collisions, grounding, and weather. Each vessel in our existing fleet has insurance for a total amount greater than what we believe to be its fair market value, with a deductible of $0.15 million per incident or claim.
War Risks Insurance
We also carry insurance policies covering war risks. Each vessel in our existing fleet has insurance for a total amount greater than what we believe to be its fair market value, with no deductible. When our vessels travel into certain hostile regions, we are required to notify our war risk insurance carrier and may incur an additional premium. These additional premiums negotiated with insurers along with the annual premiums once a year and the cost is typically borne by the charterers, either by including it in the freight or by rebilling it to them accordingly.
Protection and Indemnity Insurance Associations
We purchase “protection and indemnity” insurance (“P&I”) for each of the vessels in our existing fleet to protect against most of the accident-related risks originating from the conduct of our business. Protection and indemnity insurance is provided by mutual protection and indemnity associations, or “P&I Clubs,” and covers our third-party liabilities in connection with our shipping activities. This includes third-party liability and other expenses related to injury or death of our crew, passengers and other third parties, loss of or damage to cargo, claims arising from collisions with other vessels, damage to other third-party property, pollution arising from oil or other substances, and salvage, towing and other related costs, including wreck removal. Each of the vessels in our fleet
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is entered in the Standard Steamship Owners’ Protection & Indemnity Association (Bermuda) Limited, (“The Standard Club”) or the Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association (Europe) Limited, (“Steamship Mutual”) both of which are members of The International Group of P&I Clubs, (“the IG”).
The Standard Club and Steamship Mutual each insure in excess of 100 million gross tons of shipping from all parts of the world and from most sectors of the shipping industry. Each IG Club retains the first $10 million and the IG then jointly shares all claims between $10 million and $100 million under a pooling agreement. Thereafter, the IG has structured a unique reinsurance placement in numerous layers, among others with the participation of the IG‘s own captive (Hydra), and up to a limit of $2.1 billion. Catastrophic oil spills carry a limit of $3.1 billion, while claims in excess of $3.1 billion are then returned to their respective P&I Clubs.
In P&I, insurance premiums are named “calls” because the P&I Clubs are mutuals who call “premium” into the club’s fund from which the P&I Club pays the claims. As a mutual, the P&I Clubs’ performance depends on the membership of shipowners as a whole and therefore the P&I Clubs charge “general premium increases” at each February 20th renewal, which in theory apply to all its members. In practice, a well performing shipowner (i.e. a shipowner with few claims) will however achieve better renewal terms than the general increase stated by the P&I Club.
Risk Management
To assess and mitigate risk we use computer based risk assessment tools, root cause analysis programs, planned and condition based maintenance programs, seafarers competence training programs, computer based training modules, seafarers workshops and seminars, as well as membership in emergency response organizations.
Environmental and Other Regulation
General
Governmental and international agencies extensively regulate the ownership and operation of our vessels. These regulations include international conventions and national, state and local laws and regulations in the countries where our vessels now or, in the future, will operate or where our vessels are registered. We cannot predict the ultimate cost of complying with these regulations or the impact that these regulations will have on the resale value or useful lives of our vessels. Various governmental and quasi-governmental agencies require us to obtain permits, licenses and certificates for the operation of our vessels.
Although we believe that we are in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and have all permits, licenses and certificates required for our vessels, future non-compliance or failure to maintain necessary permits or approvals could require us to incur substantial costs or temporarily suspend the operation of one or more of our vessels. A variety of governmental and private entities inspect our vessels on both a scheduled and unscheduled basis. These entities, each of which may have unique requirements and each of which conducts frequent inspections, include local and port state authorities, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, harbor master or equivalent, classification societies, flag state, or the administration of the country of registry and charterers. We expect that our vessels will continue to be subject to inspection by these governmental and private entities on both a scheduled and unscheduled basis.
We believe that the heightened levels of environmental and quality concerns among insurance underwriters, regulators and charterers have led to greater inspection and safety requirements on all vessels and may accelerate the scrapping of older vessels throughout the industry. Increasing environmental concerns have created a demand for tankers that conform to stricter environmental standards. We will be required to maintain operating standards for all of our vessels that emphasize operational safety, quality maintenance, continuous training of our officers and crews and compliance with applicable local, national and international environmental laws and regulations. We intend to assure that the operation of our vessels will be in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and that our vessels will have all material permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations necessary for the conduct of our operations. However, because such laws and regulations are
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frequently changed and may impose increasingly stricter requirements, we cannot predict the ultimate cost of complying with these requirements or the impact of these requirements on the resale value or useful lives of our vessels. In addition, a future serious marine incident that results in significant oil pollution or otherwise causes significant adverse environmental impact could result in additional legislation or regulation that could negatively affect our results of operations or financial condition.
Navigator Gas Shipmanagement Ltd., Navigator Gas Ship Management (Denmark) ApS, NMM and PGS have been certified to the ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System standard. NMM has also certified to the ISO 50001:2018 (energy efficiency) standard. In summary terms, ISO 14000 is a family of standards related to environmental management systems that exists to help organizations minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment; comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other environmentally oriented requirements; and continually improve environmental performance.
International Maritime Regulations
The IMO is the United Nations’ agency that provides international regulations governing shipping and international maritime trade. The requirements contained in the ISM Code, promulgated by the IMO, govern our operations. Among other requirements, the ISM Code requires the party with operational control of a vessel to develop an extensive safety management system that includes, among other things, the adoption of a policy for safety and environmental protection policy setting forth instructions and procedures for operating its vessels safely and also describing procedures for responding to emergencies. We and our ship managers each hold a Document of Compliance under the ISM Code for operation of Gas Carriers. In 2017, the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (“MSC”) adopted Resolution MSC.428(98), Maritime Cyber Risk Management in Safety Management Systems, embracing guidelines on maritime cyber risk management approved by the MSC. This resolution affirmed the MSC’s view that the ISM Code requires mitigation of cyber risk as part of the safety management system, and effectively requires that a vessel’s safety management system account for cyber risks in compliance with the ISM Code.
Vessels that transport gas, including our vessels, are also subject to regulation under the International Gas Carrier Code, or the “IGC Code,” published by the IMO. The IGC Code provides a standard for the safe carriage of liquid gases by prescribing the design and construction standards of vessels involved in such carriage. Compliance with the IGC Code must be evidenced by a Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk. Each of our vessels has a Certificate of Fitness evidencing compliance with the IGC Code. Non-compliance with the IGC Code or other applicable IMO regulations may subject a shipowner or a bareboat charterer to increased liability, may lead to decreases in available insurance coverage for affected vessels and may result in the denial of access to, or detention in, some ports.
The IMO also promulgates ongoing amendments to the international convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974 and its protocol of 1988, (“SOLAS.”) SOLAS provides rules for the construction of and equipment required for commercial vessels and includes regulations for safe operation and addresses maritime security. SOLAS requires the provision of lifeboats and other life-saving appliances, requires the use of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, which is an international radio equipment and watchkeeping standard, afloat and at shore stations, and relates to the International Convention on the Standards of Training and Certification of Watchkeeping Officers, or “STCW,” also promulgated by the IMO. The STCW establishes minimum training, certification, and watchkeeping standards for seafarers. Flag states that have ratified SOLAS and STCW generally employ the classification societies, which have incorporated SOLAS and STCW requirements into their class rules, to undertake surveys to confirm compliance.
SOLAS and other IMO regulations concerning safety, including those relating to treaties on the training of shipboard personnel, lifesaving appliances, radio equipment and the global maritime distress and safety system, apply to our operations. Non-compliance with these types of IMO regulations may subject us to increased liability or penalties, may lead to decreases in available insurance coverage for affected vessels and may result in
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the denial of access to or detention in some ports. For example, the U.S. Coast Guard and European Union authorities have indicated that vessels not in compliance with the ISM Code will be prohibited from trading in U.S. and European Union ports, respectively.
The ISPS Code provides a framework through which ships and port facilities can co-operate to detect and deter acts that pose a threat to maritime security. We have developed Security Plans, and appointed and trained Ship and Office Security Officers and all of our vessels have been certified to meet the ISPS Code. See “—Vessel Security Regulations” for a more detailed discussion about these requirements.
The IMO continues to review and introduce new regulations. It is impossible to predict what additional regulations, if any, may be passed by the IMO and what effect, if any, such regulation may have on our operations. We are, where practical possible, monitoring developments of International and National legislation related to our activities.
Air Emissions
The International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships, or “MARPOL,” is the principal international convention negotiated by the IMO governing marine pollution prevention and response. MARPOL imposes environmental standards on the shipping industry relating to oil spills, management of garbage, the handling and disposal of noxious liquids, sewage and air emissions. MARPOL 73/78 Annex VI “Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution,” or “Annex VI,” entered into force on May 19, 2005, and applies to all ships, fixed and floating drilling rigs and other floating platforms. Annex VI sets limits on sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from ship exhausts, emissions of volatile compounds from cargo tanks, incineration of specific substances, and prohibits deliberate emissions of ozone depleting substances. Annex VI also includes a global cap on sulfur content of fuel oil and allows for emission control areas (“ECAs”) to be established with more stringent controls on sulfur emissions. The certification requirements for Annex VI depend on size of the vessel and time of periodic classification survey. Ships with a displacement of more than 400 gross tons and engaged in international voyages involving countries that have ratified the conventions, or ships flying the flag of those countries, are required to have an International Air Pollution Certificate, or an “IAPP Certificate.” Annex VI came into force in the United States on January 8, 2009. As of December 31, 2021, all our ships have been issued IAPP Certificates.
Annex I to MARPOL, which applies to various ships delivered on or after August 1, 2010, includes requirements for the protected location of fuel tanks, performance standards for accidental oil fuel outflow, a tank capacity limit and certain other maintenance, inspection, and engineering standards. IMO regulations also require owners and operators of vessels to adopt Ship Oil Pollution Emergency Plans. Periodic training and drills for response personnel and for vessels and their crews are required.
Amendments to Annex VI that took effect in 2010 required progressively stricter reductions in sulfur emissions from ships. Beginning on January 1, 2012, fuel used to power ships in all seas could contain no more than 3.5% sulfur, and under the IMO’s sulfur emission limit reductions (“IMO 2020”), which commenced on January 1, 2020, no more than 0.5% sulfur, with stricter limits on fuels used in ECAs. For fuels used in ECAs, the cap settled at 0.1% in January 2015. The amendments also established tiers of more stringent nitrogen oxide emissions standards for new marine engines, depending on their date of installation. The European directive 2005/33/EU, effective from January 1, 2010, bans the use of fuel oils containing more than 0.1% sulfur by mass by any merchant’s vessel while berthed or anchored in any EU port and, as amended, aligns with IMO 2020 requirements. Our vessels have achieved compliance, where necessary, by purchasing and utilizing fuel that meets applicable low-sulfur requirements.
More stringent emission standards for sulfur and nitrogen oxide apply in the United States and Canadian coastal areas designated by the IMO’s MEPC, as discussed in the “—Clean Air Act” below. On March 26, 2010, the IMO designated waters off North American coasts as an ECA in which stringent emission standards would apply.
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The first-phase fuel standard for sulfur in the North American ECA went into effect in 2012, and the second phase began in 2015. Further, on July 15, 2011, the IMO designated waters around Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as an ECA. The first-phase fuel standard for sulfur in the U.S. Caribbean ECA went into effect in 2014, and the second phase began in 2015. Beginning in 2016, stringent engine standards for nitrogen oxide became effective in both the North American ECA and the U.S. Caribbean ECA. U.S. air emissions standards have incorporated these amended Annex VI requirements. China has designated three ECAs at the Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Delta, and Bohai Bay. Beginning January 1, 2019, vessels operating within these areas were required to use fuels with no more than 0.5% sulfur. Additional or new conventions, laws, and regulations may be adopted that could require the installation of expensive emission control systems. Finally, in December 2022, the IMO’s MEPC adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI establishing a Mediterranean ECA for sulfur the enters into force on May 1, 2024, with a 12-month grace period. As a result, effective May 1, 2025, the fuels of vessels in the Mediterranean ECA will need to meet the more stringent 0.1% sulfur limit.
Ballast Water Management Convention
The IMO adopted an International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, or the “BWM Convention,” in February 2004. The BWM Convention’s implementing regulations call for a phased introduction of mandatory ballast water exchange requirements, to be replaced in time with a requirement for mandatory ballast water treatment. The BWM Convention entered into force on September 8, 2017; however IMO later decided to postpone the compliance date for existing vessels by 2 years, i.e. until the first renewal survey following September 8, 2019. Although the United States has not ratified the BWM Convention, it has implemented ballast water management requirements. As referenced below, the U.S. Coast Guard issued ballast water management rules on March 23, 2012, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or “EPA,” issued a five year Vessel General Permit (VGP) in March 2013 that contains numeric technology-based ballast water effluent limitations. The VGP program is in the process of being phased out and replaced with National Standards of Performance (NSPs) to be developed by the EPA and implemented and enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard. The 2013 VGP remains in effect pending such transition to NSPs. Except for one vessel, for which the BWTS has been purchased, all vessels have fully approved BWTS installed and commissioned.
Bunker Convention/CLC State Certificate
The International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution 2001, or the “Bunker Convention,” entered into force in State Parties to the Convention on November 21, 2008. The Bunker Convention provides a liability, compensation and compulsory insurance system for the victims of oil pollution damage caused by spills of bunker oil. The Bunker Convention requires the ship owner liable to pay compensation for pollution damage (including the cost of preventive measures) caused in the territory, including the territorial sea of a State Party, as well as its economic zone or equivalent area. Registered owners of any sea going vessel and seaborne craft over 1,000 gross tonnage, of any type whatsoever, and registered in a State Party, or entering or leaving a port in the territory of a State Party, will be required to maintain insurance that meets the requirements of the Bunker Convention and to obtain a certificate issued by a State Party attesting that such insurance is in force. The State issued certificate must be carried on-board at all times.
Although the United States is not a party to these conventions, many countries have ratified and followed the liability plan adopted by the IMO and set out in the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969, as amended in 2000, or the “CLC.” Under this convention and depending on whether the country in which the damage results is a party to the 1992 Protocol to the CLC, a vessel’s registered owner is strictly liable for pollution damage caused in the territorial waters of a contracting state by a discharge of persistent oil, subject to certain complete defenses. The limited liability protections are forfeited under the CLC where the spill is caused by the owner’s actual fault and under the 1992 Protocol where the spill is caused by the owner’s intentional or reckless conduct. Vessels trading to states that are parties to these conventions must
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provide evidence of insurance covering the liability of the owner. In jurisdictions where the CLC has not been adopted, various legislative schemes or common law govern, and liability is imposed either on the basis of fault or on a strict-liability basis.
P&I Clubs in the International Group issue the required Bunkers Convention “Blue Cards” to provide evidence that there is in place insurance meeting the liability requirements. All of our vessels have received “Blue Cards” from their P&I Club and are in possession of a CLC State-issued certificate attesting that the required insurance coverage is in force.
Anti-Fouling Requirements
Anti-fouling systems, such as paint or surface treatment, are used to coat the bottom of vessels to prevent the attachment of molluscs and other sea life to the hulls of vessels. In 2001, the IMO adopted the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on ships, or the “Anti-fouling Convention.” The Anti-fouling Convention, which entered into force on September 17, 2008, prohibits the use of organotin compound coatings in anti-fouling systems after September 1, 2003. Vessels of over 400 gross tons engaged in international voyages must obtain an International Anti-fouling System Certificate and undergo a survey before the vessel is put into service or when the anti-fouling systems are altered or replaced. We have obtained Anti-fouling System Certificates for all of our vessels and we do not believe that maintaining such certificates will have an adverse financial impact on the operation of our vessels.
Compliance Enforcement
The flag state, as defined by the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea, has overall responsibility for the implementation and enforcement of international maritime regulations for all ships granted the right to fly its flag. The “Shipping Industry Guidelines on Flag State Performance” evaluates flag states based on factors such as sufficiency of infrastructure, ratification of international maritime treaties, implementation and enforcement of international maritime regulations, supervision of surveys, casualty investigations, and participation at IMO meetings. As of January 2016, auditing of flag states that are parties to the SOLAS convention is mandatory and are conducted under the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code), which guides the implementation and enforcement of IMO policies by flag states. These audits may lead the various flag states to be more aggressive in their enforcement, which may in turn lead us to incur additional costs.
Non-compliance with the ISM Code and other IMO regulations may subject the vessel owner or bareboat charterer to increased liability, may lead to decreases in available insurance coverage for affected vessels and may result in the denial of access to, or detention in, some ports. The U.S. Coast Guard and European Union authorities have indicated that vessels not in compliance with the ISM Code by the applicable deadlines will be prohibited from trading in U.S. and European Union ports, respectively.
The IMO continues to review and introduce new regulations. It is impossible to predict what additional regulations, if any, may be passed by the IMO and what effect, if any, such regulations might have on our operations.
U.S. Environmental Regulation of Our Vessels
Our vessels operating in U.S. waters now or in the future will be subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to protection of the environment. In some cases, these laws and regulations require us to obtain governmental permits and authorizations before we may conduct certain activities. These environmental laws and regulations may impose substantial penalties for noncompliance and substantial liabilities for pollution. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in substantial civil and criminal fines and penalties. As with the industry generally, our operations will entail risks in these areas, and compliance with these laws and regulations, which may be subject to frequent revisions and reinterpretation, increases our overall cost of business.
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Oil Pollution Act of 1990
The U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or “OPA 90,” established an extensive regulatory and liability regime for environmental protection and cleanup of oil spills. OPA 90 affects all owners and operators whose vessels trade with the United States or its territories or possessions, or whose vessels operate in the waters of the United States, which include the U.S. territorial waters and the two hundred nautical miles exclusive economic zone of the United States. OPA 90 may affect us because we carry oil as fuel and lubricants for our engines, and the discharge of these could cause an environmental hazard. Under OPA 90, vessel operators, including vessel owners, managers and bareboat or “demise” charterers, are “responsible parties” who are all liable regardless of fault, individually and as a group, for all containment and clean-up costs and other damages arising from oil spills from their vessels. These “responsible parties” would not be liable if the spill results solely from the act or omission of a third-party, an act of God, or an act of war. The other damages aside from clean-up and containment costs are defined broadly to include:
| • | natural resource damages and related assessment costs; |
| • | real and personal property damages; |
| • | net loss of taxes, royalties, rents, profits, or earnings capacity; |
| • | net cost of public services necessitated by a spill response, such as protection from fire, safety, or health hazards; and |
| • | loss of subsistence use of natural resources. |
Effective March 23, 2023, the U.S. Coast Guard adjusted the limits of OPA liability to the greater of $2,500 per gross ton or $21.5 million for any double-hull tanker that is over 3,000 gross tons (subject to possible adjustment for inflation) (relevant to the Alma Maritime carriers). These limits of liability do not apply, however, where the incident is caused by a violation of applicable U.S. federal safety, construction, or operating regulations, or by the responsible party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. These limits likewise do not apply if the responsible party fails or refuses to report the incident or to cooperate and assist in connection with the substance removal activities. This limit is subject to possible adjustment for inflation. OPA 90 specifically permits individual states to impose their own liability regimes with regard to oil pollution incidents occurring within their boundaries, and some states have enacted legislation providing for unlimited liability for the discharge of pollutants within their waters. In some cases, states, which have enacted their own legislation, have not yet issued implementing regulations defining shipowners’ responsibilities under these laws. We believe that we are in substantial compliance with OPA 90 and all applicable state regulations in the ports where our vessels call. OPA 90 requires owners and operators of vessels to establish and maintain with the U.S. Coast Guard evidence of financial responsibility sufficient to meet the limit of their potential strict liability under OPA 90. Under the regulations, evidence of financial responsibility may be demonstrated by insurance, surety bond, self-insurance, or guaranty. Under OPA 90 regulations, an owner or operator of more than one vessel is required to demonstrate evidence of financial responsibility for the entire fleet in an amount equal only to the financial responsibility requirement of the vessel having the greatest maximum liability under OPA 90. Each of our ship-owning subsidiaries that have vessels trading in U.S. waters has applied for and obtained from the U.S. Coast Guard National Pollution Funds Center, three-year certificates of financial responsibility, or “COFRs,” supported by guarantees which we purchased from an insurance based provider. We believe that we will be able to continue to obtain the requisite guarantees and that we will continue to be granted COFRs from the U.S. Coast Guard for each of our vessels that is required to have one.
Future spills could prompt the U.S. Congress to consider legislation to increase or even eliminate the limits of liability under OPA 90. Compliance with any new requirements of OPA 90 may substantially impact our cost of operations or require us to incur additional expenses to comply with any new regulatory initiatives or statutes. Any additional legislation or regulation applicable to the operation of our vessels that may be adopted in the future could adversely affect our business and ability to make distributions to our shareholders.
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Clean Water Act
The United States Clean Water Act, or “CWA,” prohibits the discharge of oil or hazardous substances in United States navigable waters unless authorized by a permit or exemption and imposes strict liability in the form of penalties for unauthorized discharges. The CWA also imposes substantial liability for the costs of removal, remediation and damages and complements the remedies available under OPA and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The EPA has enacted rules governing the regulation of ballast water discharges and other discharges incidental to the normal operation of vessels within U.S. waters. The rules have historically required commercial vessels 79 feet in length or longer (other than commercial fishing vessels), or “Regulated Vessels,” to obtain a CWA permit regulating and authorizing such normal discharges. This permit, which the EPA has designated as the Vessel General Permit for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of Vessels, or “VGP,” incorporates the current U.S. Coast Guard requirements for ballast water management as well as supplemental ballast water requirements, including limits applicable to 26 specific discharge streams, such as deck runoff, bilge water and gray water.
The VGP was updated in 2013 to incorporate numeric effluent limits for ballast water expressed as the maximum concentration of living organisms in ballast water, as opposed to the prior non-numeric requirements. These requirements correspond with the IMO’s requirements under the BWM Convention, as discussed above. The permit also contains maximum discharge limitations for biocides and residuals. All vessels calling on U.S. ports are now subject to the requirements of the VGP.
The 2013 VGP includes a tiered requirement for obtaining coverage based on the size of the vessel and the amount of ballast water carried. Vessels that are 300 gross tons or larger and have the capacity to carry more than eight cubic meters of ballast water must submit notices of intent (NOIs) to receive permit coverage between six and nine months after the permit’s issuance date. Vessels that do not need to submit NOIs are automatically authorized under the permit.
The VGP imposes additional requirements on certain Regulated Vessel types that emit discharges unique to those vessels. Administrative provisions, such as inspection, monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements, are also included for all Regulated Vessels.
In December 2018, the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) was signed into law and restructured the EPA and the U.S. Coast Guard programs for regulating incidental discharges from vessels. Rather than requiring CWA permits, the discharges will be regulated under a new CWA Section 312(p) establishing Uniform National Standards for Discharges Incidental to Normal Operation of Vessels. Under VIDA, VGP provisions and existing U.S. Coast Guard regulations will be phased out over approximately four years and replaced with National Standards of Performance (NSPs) to be developed by EPA and implemented and enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard. On October 26, 2020, EPA issued proposed regulations to establish NSPs, including general discharge standards of performance, covering general operation and maintenance, biofouling management, and oil management, and specific discharge standards applicable to specified pieces of equipment and systems. Final regulations are currently expected in 2023. The scheduled expiration date of the 2013 VGP was December 18, 2018, but under VIDA the provisions of the VGP will remain in place until the new regulations are in place.
In addition to the requirements in the VGP (to be replaced by the NSPs established under VIDA), vessel owners and operators must meet 25 sets of state-specific requirements under the CWA’s § 401 certification process. Because the CWA § 401 process allows tribes and states to impose their own requirements for vessels operating within their waters, vessels operating in multiple jurisdictions could face potentially conflicting conditions specific to each jurisdiction that they travel through.
National Invasive Species Act
In March 2012, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a final rule establishing standards for the allowable concentration of living organisms in ballast water discharged in U.S. waters and requiring the phase-in of Coast Guard approved
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BWM Systems. The rule went into effect in June 2012 and adopts ballast water discharge standards for vessels calling on U.S. ports and intending to discharge ballast water equivalent to those set in IMO’s BWM Convention. The final rule requires that ballast water discharge have fewer than 10 living organisms per milliliter for organisms between 10 and 50 micrometers in size. For organisms larger than 50 micrometers, the discharge must have fewer than 10 living organisms per cubic meter of discharge. In May 2016, the U.S. Coast Guard published a review of the practicability of implementing a more stringent ballast water discharge standard. The results concluded that the technology to achieve a significant improvement in ballast water treatment efficacy cannot be practically implemented. If Coast Guard type approved technologies are not available by a vessel’s compliance date, the vessel may request an extension to the deadline from the U.S. Coast Guard. While the 2012 rule imposes consistent numeric effluent limits for living organisms in ballast water discharges, it does not provide for compliance date extensions if Coast Guard-approved treatment technologies are not available.
In February 2016, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a rule amending the Coast Guard’s ballast water management recordkeeping requirements to require vessels with ballast tanks operating exclusively on voyages between ports or places within a single Captain of the Port zone to submit an annual report of their ballast water management practices. Further, under the amended requirements, vessels may submit their reports after arrival at the port of destination before arrival. As discussed above, under VIDA, existing U.S. Coast Guard ballast water management regulations will be phased out over approximately four years and replaced with National Standards of Performance (NSPs) to be developed by EPA and implemented and enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Clean Air Act
The U.S. Clean Air Act of 1970, as amended, or the “CAA,” requires the EPA to promulgate standards applicable to emissions of volatile organic compounds and other air contaminants. Our vessels are subject to vapor control and recovery requirements for certain cargoes when loading, unloading, ballasting, cleaning and conducting other operations in regulated port areas and emission standards for so-called “Category 3” marine diesel engines operating in U.S. waters. On April 30, 2010, the EPA promulgated final emission standards for Category 3 marine diesel engines equivalent to those adopted in the amendments to Annex VI to MARPOL. These emission standards require an 80% reduction in nitrogen dioxides for newly-built engines effective 2016. In February 2015, the EPA amended its marine diesel engine requirements to temporarily allow marine equipment manufacturers to use allowances if a compliant marine engine is not available. Compliance with these standards may cause us to incur costs to install control equipment on our vessels in the future.
European Union Regulations
The European Union has also adopted legislation that would: (1) ban manifestly sub-standard vessels (defined as those over 15 years old that have been detained by port authorities at least twice in six months) from European waters and create an obligation of port states to inspect vessels posing a high risk to maritime safety or the marine environment; and (2) provide the European Union with greater authority and control over classification societies, including the ability to seek to suspend or revoke the authority of negligent societies.
The European Union has implemented regulations requiring vessels to use reduced sulfur content fuel for their main and auxiliary engines. The EU Directive 2005/EC/33 (amending Directive 1999/32/EC) introduced parallel requirements in the European Union to those in MARPOL Annex VI in respect of the sulfur content of marine fuels. In addition, it introduced a 0.1% maximum sulfur requirement for fuel used by ships at berths in EU ports, effective January 1, 2010. The European Commission amended directive 2005/33/EU to align it with the provisions of IMO 2020 on the sulfur content of marine fuels.
In 2005, the European Union adopted a directive on ship-source pollution, imposing criminal sanctions for intentional, reckless or negligent pollution discharges by ships. The directive could result in criminal liability for pollution from vessels in waters of European countries that adopt implementing legislation. Criminal liability for pollution may result in substantial penalties or fines and increased civil liability claims. We cannot predict what regulations, if any, may be adopted by the European Union or any other country or authority.
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Regulation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Currently, the emissions of greenhouse gases from ships involved in international transport are not subject to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Kyoto Protocol, or its successor, the Paris Agreement, which entered into force in 2005 and 2016, respectively, have been relied on by countries to produce national plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, since the entry into force of the Paris Agreement, the IMO has subsequently reaffirmed its strong commitment to continue to work to address greenhouse gas emissions from ships engaged in international trade. The IMO is evaluating various mandatory measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping, which may include market-based instruments or a carbon tax. In June 2013, the European Commission developed a strategy to integrate maritime emissions into the overall European Union strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In accordance with this strategy, in April 2015 the European Parliament and Council adopted regulations requiring large vessels using European Union ports to monitor, report and verify their carbon dioxide emissions beginning in January 2018.
As of January 1, 2013, all new ships must comply with mandatory requirements adopted by the MEPC of IMO in July 2011 in part to address greenhouse gas emission. These requirements add energy efficiency standards through an Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI). IMO’s Greenhouse Gas Working Group agreed on these guidelines to require all ships to develop and implement a Ship Energy Efficiency Plan, or SEEMP. The regulations apply to all ships of 400 tonnes gross tonnage and above. The IMO also adopted a mandatory requirement in October 2016 that ships of 5000 gross tonnage and above record and report their fuel oil consumption. The requirement entered into force on March 1, 2018. These rules will likely affect the operations of vessels that are registered in countries that are signatories to MARPOL Annex VI or vessels that call upon ports located within such countries. In November 2020, the MEPC adopted further amendments to MARPOL Annex VI intended to significantly strengthen the EEDI “phase 3” requirements. These amendments accelerate the entry into effect date of phase 3 from 2025 to 2022 for several ship types, including gas carriers, general cargo ships and LNG carriers and require new ships built from that date to be significantly more energy efficient. The MEPC also is looking into the possible introduction of a phase 4 of EEDI requirements. The IMO is also considering the development of a market-based mechanism for greenhouse gas emissions from ships. At the October 2016 Marine Environmental Protection Committee session, the IMO adopted a roadmap for developing a comprehensive IMO strategy on reduction of GHG emissions. In April 2018, the MEPC adopted an initial strategy designed to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases from vessels, including short-term, mid-term and long-term candidate measures with a vision of reducing and phasing out greenhouse gas emissions from vessels as soon as possible in the 21st Century and to reduce the total annual GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008. The MEPC has indicated that it is targeting revising and strengthening its initial strategy in mid-2023. In June 2021, the MEPC adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI that entered into force November 1, 2022 and establish an enforceable regulatory framework to reduce GHG emissions from international shipping, consisting of technical and operational carbon reduction measures. These measures include use of an Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index, or EEXI, an operational Carbon Intensity Indicator, or CII and an enhanced SEEMP to drive carbon intensity reductions. A vessel’s attained EEXI will be calculated in accordance with values established based on type and size category, which compares the vessels’ energy efficiency to a baseline. A vessel will then be required to meet a specific EEXI based on a required reduction factor expressed as a percentage relative to the EEDI baseline. Under the MARPOL VI amendments, vessels with a gross tonnage of 5,000 or greater must determine their required annual operational CII and their annual carbon intensity reduction factor needed to ensure continuous improvement of the vessel’s CII. On an annual basis, the actual annual operational CII achieved must be documented and verified against the vessel’s required annual operational CII to determine the vessel’s operational carbon intensity rating on a performance level scale of A (major superior) to E (inferior). The performance level would be required to be recorded in the vessel’s SEEMP. A vessel with an E rating, or three consecutive years of a D (minor inferior) rating, will be required to submit a corrective action plan showing how the vessel would achieve a C (moderate) rating. The requirements for EEXI and CII certification included in the MARPOL Annex VI amendments took effect January 1, 2023, which means the first annual reporting will be completed in 2023 and the first rating given in
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2024. This regulatory approach is consistent with the IMO GHG Strategy target of a 40% carbon intensity reduction for international shipping by 2030, as compared to 2008. The relatively slow progress of the IMO in addressing emissions of greenhouse gases from vessels prompted the EU to proceed on a parallel path of regulation. On September 15, 2020, the European Parliament adopted measures to include maritime transport in the EU’s emissions trading system as of 2022 and to set binding requirements for at least a 40% reduction (compared to 2018 levels) in GHG emissions by shipping companies by 2030. In July 2021, the European Commission announced proposals that would put in place measures to address greenhouse gases from shipping, including the phased inclusion of GHG emissions from large vessels in the EU emissions trading system beginning in 2023 and the inclusion of methane emissions in monitoring, reporting and verification requirements applicable to vessels.
In the United States, the EPA issued a final finding that greenhouse gases threaten public health and safety and has promulgated regulations under the Clean Air Act that control the emission of greenhouse gases from mobile sources, but not from marine shipping vessels and their engines and fuels. The EPA may decide in the future to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from these sources. The Agency has already been petitioned by the California Attorney General to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from oceangoing vessels. Other federal and state regulations relating to the control of greenhouse gas emissions may follow, including climate change initiatives that have been considered by the U.S. Congress and by individual states.
Any passage of further climate control legislation or other regulatory initiatives by the IMO, the European Union, the United States, or other countries where we operate, or any treaty adopted at the international level, that restrict emissions of greenhouse gases could require us to make significant financial expenditures that we cannot predict with certainty at this time.
Safety Requirements
The IMO has adopted the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, or “SOLAS Convention,” and the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966, or “LL Convention,” which impose a variety of standards to regulate design and operational features of ships. SOLAS Convention and LL Convention standards are revised periodically. All of our vessels are in compliance with SOLAS Convention and LL Convention standards.
Chapter IX of SOLAS, the requirements contained in the ISM Code, promulgated by the IMO, also affects our operations. The ISM Code requires the party with operational control of a vessel to develop and maintain an extensive safety management system that includes, among other things, the adoption of a safety and environmental protection policy setting forth instructions and procedures for operating its vessels safely and describing procedures for responding to emergencies.
The ISM Code requires that vessel operators obtain a safety management certificate for each vessel they operate. This certificate evidences compliance by a vessel’s management with code requirements for a safety management system. No vessel can obtain a certificate unless its manager has been awarded a document of compliance, issued by each flag state, under the ISM Code. We have obtained documents of compliance and safety management certificates for all of our vessels for which certificates are required by the IMO.
The International Labour Organization, or “ILO,” is a specialized agency of the United Nations with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The ILO has adopted the Maritime Labor Convention 2006, or “MLC 2006,” to improve safety on-board merchant vessels. A Maritime Labor Certificate and a Declaration of Maritime Labor Compliance is required to ensure compliance with the MLC 2006 for all ships above 500 gross tons in international trade. On August 20, 2012, the required number of countries ratified the MCL 2006 and it came into force on August 20, 2013.
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Vessel Security Regulations
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, there have been a variety of initiatives intended to enhance vessel security. On November 25, 2002, the Maritime Transportation Act of 2002, or “MTSA,” came into effect. To implement certain portions of the MTSA, in July 2003, the U.S. Coast Guard issued regulations requiring the implementation of certain security requirements aboard vessels operating in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Similarly, in December 2002, amendments to SOLAS created a new chapter of the convention dealing specifically with maritime security. The new chapter became effective in July 2004 and imposes various detailed security obligations on vessels and port authorities, most of which are contained in the ISPS Code. The ISPS Code is designed to protect ports and international shipping against terrorism. After July 1, 2004, to trade internationally, a vessel must attain an International Ship Security Certificate from a recognized security organization approved by the vessel’s flag state.
Among the various requirements are:
| • | on-board installation of automatic identification systems to provide a means for the automatic transmission of safety-related information from among similarly equipped ships and shore stations, including information on a ship’s identity, position, course, speed and navigational status; |
| • | on-board installation of ship security alert systems, which do not sound on the vessel but only alert the authorities on shore; |
| • | the development of vessel security plans; |
| • | ship identification number to be permanently marked on a vessel’s hull; |
| • | a continuous synopsis record kept on-board showing a vessel’s history including, the name of the ship and of the state whose flag the ship is entitled to fly, the date on which the ship was registered with that state, the ship’s identification number, the port at which the ship is registered and the name of the registered owner(s) and their registered address; and |
| • | compliance with flag state security certification requirements. |
The U.S. Coast Guard regulations, intended to align with international maritime security standards, exempt non-U.S. vessels from obtaining U.S. Coast Guard-approved MTSA vessel security plans provided such vessels have on-board an International Ship Security Certificate, or “ISSC,” that attests to the vessel’s compliance with SOLAS security requirements and the ISPS Code.
Our vessels have Security Plans, appointed and trained Ship and Office Security Officers and each of our vessels in our fleet complies with the requirements of the ISPS Code and SOLAS.
Other Regulation
Our vessels may also become subject to the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, 1996 as amended by the Protocol to the HNS Convention, adopted in April 2010, or the “2010 HNS Protocol,” and collectively, the “2010 HNS Convention,” if it is entered into force. At least 12 states must ratify or accede to the 2010 HNS Protocol for it to enter into effect. In January 2022, Estonia became the sixth state to ratify the protocol. At least six more states must ratify or accede to the protocol for it to enter into effect. In 2020, EU Ministers signed a declaration highlighting the importance of ratifying the 2010 HNS Convention. A number of states have reported on significant progress toward implementation and ratification of the 2010 HNS Convention.
The Convention creates a regime of liability and compensation for damage from hazardous and noxious substances, or “HNS.” The 2010 HNS Convention sets up a two-tier system of compensation composed of compulsory insurance taken out by shipowners and an HNS Fund which comes into play when the insurance is
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insufficient to satisfy a claim or does not cover the incident. Under the 2010 HNS Convention, if damage is caused by bulk HNS, claims for compensation will first be sought from the shipowner up to a maximum of 100 million Special Drawing Rights, or “SDR,” which was equivalent to $138 million U.S. dollars as of January 31, 2016. SDRs are supplementary, foreign exchange reserve assets created and maintained by the International Monetary Fund, or “IMF,” based upon a basket of currencies (consisting of the euro, Chinese yuan, Japanese yen, pound sterling and U.S. dollar). The SDR basket is reviewed every five years, or earlier if warranted, to ensure that the basket reflects the relative importance of currencies in the world’s trading and financial systems. SDRs are not a currency, but instead represent a claim to currency held by IMF member countries for which SDRs may be exchanged. Monetary values and limits in many international maritime treaties are expressed in terms of SDRs. As of December 31, 2022, the exchange rate was 1 SDR equal to 1.34 U.S. dollars. If the damage is caused by packaged HNS or by both bulk and packaged HNS, the maximum liability is 115 million SDR (equivalent to approximately $154.1 million U.S. dollars as of December 31, 2022). Once the limit is reached, compensation will be paid from the HNS Fund up to a maximum of 250 million SDR (equivalent to approximately $335 million U.S. dollars as of December 31, 2022). The 2010 HNS Convention has not been ratified by a sufficient number of countries to enter into force, and we cannot estimate the costs that may be needed to comply with any such requirements that may be adopted with any certainty at this time.
In-House Inspections
We, NMM and PGS carry out inspections of the ships under management regularly; to verify conformity with managers’ reports on upkeep and maintenance. The result of these inspections, which are conducted both in port and underway, is a report containing action items and recommendations for improvements to the overall condition of the vessel, maintenance, safety and crew welfare. The vessels we manage in-house are inspected regularly to verify their condition and that upkeep, maintenance, crewing standards and welfare comply with the requirements of our Safety Management System.
Corporate and Social Responsibility
We firmly believe that ensuring a safe working environment at sea and on shore is the first priority in a sustainable and efficient business, ensuring the safety of our employees, contractors and assets in everything we do. To achieve this, we do not tolerate any form of bribery, corruption or labour and human rights breaches. We have defined clear policies and expect employees, contractors, suppliers and customers to ensure compliance with the highest ethical standards.
The health and safety of our crew is paramount as we continue our vital role in the supply of liquefied gases worldwide while meeting the needs of our customers, suppliers and other partners. We have introduced significantly enhanced procedures onboard all our vessels, for agents and other shoreside personnel coming on board, as well as other lockdown procedures in the event a crew member falling ill.
Competition
The process of obtaining new charters is highly competitive, generally involves an intensive screening process and competitive bids, and often extends for several months.
A significant proportion of our handysize liquefied gas carriers are contracted on 12 month or shorter time charters. There is competition for the employment of vessels when these charters expire and for the employment of those vessels which trade on the spot market. Competition for mid- or longer-term charters is based primarily on industry relationships, experience and reputation for customer service, reliability, quality operations and safety, the experience and technical capability of the crews, the vessel’s efficiency, operational flexibility and physical life, and the competitiveness of the bid in terms of overall price.
Our existing fleet had an average age of 10.4 years as of December 31, 2022. We believe that our relatively young fleet positions us well to compete in terms of our vessels meeting the strategic and operational needs of
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our charterers. We own and operate the largest fleet in the handysize segment, which, in our view, enhances our position relative to our competitors. While there are some barriers to entry for operating liquefied gas carriers, including the complexity of operating semi-refrigerated gas carriers that constantly require switching between a myriad of cargo types, crew expertise, and the availability of finance, new entrants have entered the market over the last number of years.
We believe that the market for obtaining new charters will continue to be highly competitive for the foreseeable future. However, we believe that our relationships, the reliability we strive to provide to our customers, the experience of the crews that service our vessels and the age and technical ability of our versatile fleet will provide us with a competitive advantage, both within the handysize segment and across the broader liquefied gas carrier industry.
Properties
Other than our vessels and our investment in the Ethylene Export Terminal, we do not own any material property. We lease office space for our representative offices in London, Copenhagen, Gdynia and Houston.
The lease term for our representative office in London commenced in January 2022 and is for a period of 10 years with a mutual break option in February 2027, which is the fifth anniversary of the lease commencement date. The gross rent per year for our office lease is approximately $1.1 million.
The lease term for our representative office in Copenhagen commenced in September 2021 and expires in December 2025. The gross rent per year for our office lease is approximately $0.2 million.
The lease term for our representative office in Gdynia, Poland was revised during 2021 for an amended period to May 31, 2025. The gross rent per year is approximately $64,000.
The lease term for our representative office in Houston, USA commenced on March 14, 2023 and is for an initial period of 2 years. The gross rent per year is approximately $60,000.
Employees
We had 155 shore based employees as of December 31, 2022, compared to 124 shore based employees at the end of December 31, 2021. We also had approximately 1,800 crew onboard our vessels. We consider our employee relations to be good.
Legal Proceedings
We expect that in the future we may be subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business, principally personal injury and property casualty claims. These claims, even if lacking merit, could result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources. We are not aware of any legal proceedings or claims that we believe will have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on us.
Exchange Controls
Under the Republic of the Marshall Islands law, there are currently no restrictions on the export or import of capital, including foreign exchange controls or restrictions that affect the remittance of distributions, interest or other payments to non-resident shareholders.
Taxation of the Company
Certain of our subsidiaries are subject to taxation in the jurisdictions in which they are organized, conduct business or own assets. We intend that our business and the business of our subsidiaries will be conducted and
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operated in a manner designed to minimize the tax imposed on us and our subsidiaries. However, we cannot assure this result as tax laws in these or other jurisdictions may change or we may enter into new business transactions relating to such jurisdictions, which could affect our tax liability. For example, diverted profits tax was introduced in the UK to counter arrangements where profits are diverted and fall outside of the charge to UK tax.
U.S. Taxation
The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to us. This discussion is based upon provisions of the Code, final and temporary Treasury Regulations thereunder, and administrative rulings and court decisions, all as in effect as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretation, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. The following discussion is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to us.
Status as a Corporation. We are treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, we are subject to U.S. federal income tax on our income to the extent it is from U.S. sources or is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States as discussed below unless such income is exempt from tax under Section 883 of the Code.
Taxation of Operating Income. Substantially all of our gross income for 2022 and a significant proportion of our future gross income is attributable to the transportation of LPGs and petrochemicals and related products. Gross income that is attributable to transportation that either begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in the United States, or “U.S. Source International Transportation Income,” is considered to be 50.0% derived from sources within the United States and may be subject to U.S. federal income tax as described below. Gross income attributable to transportation that both begins and ends in the United States, or “U.S. Source Domestic Transportation Income,” is considered to be 100.0% derived from sources within the United States and generally is subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis. Gross income attributable to transportation exclusively between non-U.S. destinations is considered to be 100.0% derived from sources outside the United States and generally is not subject to U.S. federal income tax. We are not permitted by law to engage in transportation that gives rise to U.S. Source Domestic Transportation Income. However, certain of our activities give rise to U.S. Source International Transportation Income, and we may in the future increase our operations in the United States, which would increase the amount of our U.S. Source International Transportation Income, all of which would be subject to U.S. federal income taxation unless the exemption from U.S. taxation under Section 883 of the Code, or the “Section 883 Exemption,” applies.
The Section 883 Exemption. In general, the Section 883 Exemption provides that if a non-U.S. corporation satisfies the requirements of Section 883 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, or the “Section 883 Regulations,” it will not be subject to the net basis and branch profits taxes or the 4.0% gross basis tax described below on its U.S. Source International Transportation Income. The Section 883 Exemption applies only to U.S. Source International Transportation Income and does not apply to U.S. Source Domestic Transportation Income.
We will qualify for the Section 883 Exemption if, among other things, we meet the following three requirements:
| • | we are organized in a jurisdiction outside the United States that grants an equivalent exemption from tax to corporations organized in the United States with respect to the types of U.S. Source International Transportation Income that we earn, or an “Equivalent Exemption”; |
| • | we satisfy the Publicly Traded Test (as described below); and |
| • | we meet certain substantiation, reporting, and other requirements (or the “Substantiation Requirement”). |
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In order for a non-U.S. corporation to meet the Publicly Traded Test, its equity interests must be “primarily traded” and “regularly traded” on an established securities market either in the United States or in a jurisdiction outside the United States that grants an Equivalent Exemption. The Section 883 Regulations provide, in pertinent part, that equity interests in a non-U.S. corporation will be considered to be “primarily traded” on an established securities market in a given country if, with respect to the class or classes of equity relied upon to meet the “regularly traded” requirement described below, the number of shares of each such class that are traded during any taxable year on all established securities markets in that country exceeds the number of shares in such class that is traded during that year on established securities markets in any other single country.
Equity interests in a non-U.S. corporation will be considered to be “regularly traded” on an established securities market under the Section 883 Regulations if one or more classes of such equity interests that, in the aggregate, represent more than 50.0% of the combined vote and value of all outstanding equity interests in the non-U.S. corporation satisfy certain listing and trading volume requirements. These listing and trading volume requirements will be satisfied with respect to a class of equity interests if trades in such class are effected, other than in de minimis quantities, on an established securities market on at least 60 days during the taxable year and the aggregate number of shares in such class that are traded on an established securities market during the taxable year is at least 10.0% of the average number of shares outstanding in that class during the taxable year (with special rules for short taxable years). In addition, a class of equity interests will be considered to satisfy these listing and trading volume requirements if the equity interests in such class are traded during the taxable year on an established securities market in the United States and are “regularly quoted by dealers making a market” in such class (within the meaning of the Section 883 Regulations).
Even if a class of equity satisfies the foregoing requirements, and thus generally would be treated as “regularly traded” on an established securities market, an exception may apply to cause the class to fail the regularly traded test if, for more than half of the number of days during the taxable year, one or more 5.0% shareholders (i.e., shareholders owning, actually or constructively, at least 5.0% of the vote and value of that class) own in the aggregate 50.0% or more of the vote and value of the class (which we refer to as the “Closely Held Block Exception”). For purposes of identifying its 5.0% shareholders, a corporation is entitled to rely on Schedule 13D and Schedule 13G filings made with the SEC. The Closely Held Block Exception does not apply, however, in the event the corporation can establish that a sufficient proportion of such 5.0% shareholders are Qualified Shareholders (as defined below) so as to preclude 5.0% shareholders who are not Qualified Shareholders from owning 50.0% or more of the value of that class for more than half the days during the taxable year. Qualified Shareholders include:
| • | individual residents of jurisdictions that grant an Equivalent Exemption; |
| • | non-U.S. corporations organized in jurisdictions that grant an Equivalent Exemption and that meet the Publicly Traded Test; and |
| • | certain other qualified persons described in the Section 883 Regulations. |
We are organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which is a jurisdiction that the U.S. Treasury Department has recognized as granting an Equivalent Exemption with respect to the type of U.S. Source International Transportation Income we earn. Provided we satisfy the Substantiation Requirement, which we believe we will be able to satisfy, our U.S. Source International Transportation Income (including for this purpose, any such income earned by our subsidiaries) will be exempt from U.S. federal income taxation provided we meet the Publicly Traded Test.
From the 2014 taxable year through the 2022 taxable year, we believe that we satisfied the requirements of the Section 883 exemption and therefore we were not subject to U.S. federal income taxation on our U.S. Source International Transportation Income. For the current and future taxable years, we believe we will be able to satisfy the Publicly Traded Test, provided we satisfy the listing and trading volume requirements described previously and the Closely Held Block Exception does not apply for such years. Our common stock, which is our only class of equity outstanding, represents more than 50.0% of the total combined voting power and value of all
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classes of our equity interests entitled to vote. In addition, because our common stock is traded only on the NYSE, which is considered to be an established securities market, our equity interests are “primarily traded” on an established securities market for purposes of the Publicly Traded Test. Further, we anticipate that our common stock will meet the “regularly traded” requirement of the Publicly Traded Test.
According to Schedule 13D and Schedule 13G filings with the SEC, 5.0% shareholders currently own, in the aggregate, more than 50.0% of the total vote and value of our common stock. Assuming such 5.0% shareholders continue to be 5.0% shareholders and continue to own 50% or more of our common stock for the foreseeable future, the Closely Held Block Exception generally will cause us to fail the regularly traded requirement of the Publicly Traded Test for the current and future taxable years. However, we intend to obtain ownership statements that we believe will establish that a sufficient proportion of our 5.0% shareholders are ultimately owned by Qualified Shareholders so as to cause the Closely Held Block Exception not to apply for the foreseeable future. Notwithstanding our current expectations, additional persons that are not Qualified Shareholders may become 5.0% shareholders at any time. If 50.0% or more of our common stock were held by 5.0% shareholders (other than Qualified Shareholders) for more than half of the days of the current or any future year, we would likely not qualify for an exemption under Section 883 for such taxable year, due to the Closely Held Block Exception. Because qualification for the Section 883 Exception depends upon factual matters that are subject to change and are outside of our control, there can be no assurance that we will be able to satisfy the Publicly Traded Test for the current or any future taxable year. Please see “—The Net Basis Tax and Branch Profits Tax” and “—The 4.0% Gross Basis Tax” below for a discussion of the consequences in the event we do not satisfy the Publicly Traded Test or otherwise fail to qualify for the Section 883 Exemption.
The Net Basis Tax and Branch Profits Tax. If we earn U.S. Source International Transportation Income and the Section 883 Exemption does not apply, then the U.S. source portion of such income may be treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, or “Effectively Connected Income,” if (1) we have a fixed place of business in the United States involved in the earning of such U.S. Source International Transportation Income and (2) substantially all of our U.S. Source International Transportation Income is attributable to regularly scheduled transportation or, in the case of vessel leasing income, is attributable to a fixed place of business in the United States. In addition, if we earn other types of income within the territorial seas of the United States, such income may be treated as Effectively Connected Income.
Based on our current and projected methods of operation, we do not believe that any of our U.S. Source International Transportation Income will be treated as Effectively Connected Income for any taxable year. However, there is no assurance that we will not earn substantial amounts of income from regularly scheduled transportation or bareboat charters attributable to a fixed place of business in the United States (or earn income from other activities within the territorial seas of the United States) in the future, which would result in such income being treated as Effectively Connected Income.
Any income we earn that is treated as Effectively Connected Income, net of applicable deductions, would be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax (generally at a rate of 21.0%). In addition, a 30.0% branch profits tax could be imposed on any income we earn that is treated as Effectively Connected Income, as determined after allowance for certain adjustments, and on certain interest paid or deemed paid by us in connection with the conduct of our U.S. trade or business.
On the sale of a vessel that has produced Effectively Connected Income, we could be subject to the net basis U.S. federal corporate income tax as well as branch profits tax with respect to the gain recognized up to the amount of certain prior deductions for the depreciation that reduced Effectively Connected Income. Otherwise, we would not be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to gain realized on the sale of a vessel, provided the sale is considered to occur outside of the United States under U.S. federal income tax principles. In general, the sale of a vessel will be considered to occur outside of the United States for this purpose if title to the vessel, and risk of loss with respect to the vessel, pass to the buyer outside the United States. It is expected that any sale of a vessel by us will be considered to occur outside the United States.
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As noted above, the Ethylene Export Terminal on the U.S. Gulf Coast, which initially became operational in 2019, generated a portion of our gross income for 2022 from its operations. Our U.S. subsidiary that owns our interest in the Ethylene Export Terminal will be subject to U.S. federal income tax (generally at a rate of 21.0%) on its 50% share of any net income from the Ethylene Export Terminal, and U.S. withholding tax generally will apply to dividends paid by such U.S. subsidiary to its shareholder.
The 4.0% Gross Basis Tax. If the Section 883 Exemption does not apply and the net basis tax does not apply, we will be subject to a 4.0% U.S. federal income tax on the U.S. source portion of our gross U.S. Source International Transportation Income, without the benefit of deductions. Under the sourcing rules described above under “—Taxation of Operating Income,” 50.0% of our U.S. Source International Transportation Income would be treated as being derived from U.S. sources.
Republic of the Marshall Islands Taxation
Certain of our vessel-owning subsidiaries are companies incorporated in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. We believe that because we and our controlled affiliates do not, and do not expect to, conduct business or operations in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, neither we nor our controlled affiliates will be subject to income, capital gains, profits, or other taxation under current Republic of the Marshall Islands law. As a result, distributions by our controlled affiliates to us will not be subject to Republic of the Marshall Islands taxation.
Panama Taxation
Certain of our vessel-owning subsidiaries are companies incorporated in the Republic of Panama. Companies that own vessels engaged in international transportation are not subject to taxes in Panama.
Denmark Taxation
A number of our subsidiaries are incorporated companies in Denmark. The vessels owned by these Danish companies are entered into Danish tonnage tax which results in taxation being incurred based on the size of the vessels, regardless of their operational results.
U.K. Taxation
A number of our subsidiaries are U.K. incorporated companies and are subject to U.K. corporation tax on all their profits wherever arising. If we and any of our controlled affiliates not incorporated in the United Kingdom ensure that our central management and control is exercised outside of the United Kingdom, and we do not otherwise create a U.K. permanent establishment by carrying on business in the United Kingdom, we should not become subject to U.K. corporation tax. Where a company’s central management and control is exercised is a question of fact to be decided in accordance with the particular circumstances of each company. Similarly, diverted profits tax, which was introduced in the UK to counter arrangements where profits are diverted and fall outside of the charge to UK tax, could become a future risk. However, any distributions paid to us by our U.K. subsidiaries will not be subject to U.K. taxation.
Singapore Taxation
Falcon Funding PTE Ltd is a Singaporean service company and is subject to Singaporean tax on all its profits wherever arising.
Indonesia Taxation
PT Navigator Khatulistiwa “PTNK” is a joint venture in which 49% of the voting and dividend rights are owned by a subsidiary though ultimately controlled at the shareholder level by our subsidiary, and 51% of such rights
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are owned by Indonesian limited liability companies. PTNK is subject to Indonesian freight tax on all of its gross shipping transportation revenue at a rate of 1.2% when a vessel is performing Indonesian cabotage and 2.64% in the event a vessel performs an international voyage. Dividends and other fees paid by PTNK are subject to a 10% Indonesian withholding tax.
Poland Taxation
NGT Services (Poland) Sp. Z O.O. is a Polish service company and is subject to Polish tax on all its profits wherever arising.
Maltese Taxation
OCY Aurora Ltd., the lessor VIE, is a Maltese special purpose company and is subject to Maltese tax on all its profits wherever arising. Please read Note 10—Variable Interest Entities to our consolidated financial statements.
| C. | Organizational Structure |
See Exhibit 8.1 to this Annual Report— Group Subsidiaries, which is incorporated by reference in this Item 4.C.
| D. | Property, Plant and Equipment |
Other than our vessels and our investment in the Ethylene Export Terminal mentioned above, we do not have any material properties.
| Item | 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments |
None
| Item | 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects |
| A. | Operating Results |
You should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report. Among other things, those consolidated financial statements include more detailed information regarding the basis of presentation for the following information. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or “U.S. GAAP,” and are presented in U.S. Dollars unless otherwise indicated. Any amounts converted from another non-U.S. currency to U.S. Dollars in this annual report were converted at the rate applicable at the relevant date, or the average rate during the applicable period.
Overview
We are the owner and operator of 56 liquefied gas carriers, which includes the world’s largest fleet of handysize liquefied gas carriers. We also own a 50% share in our Ethylene Export Terminal at Morgan’s Point, Texas on the Houston Ship Channel through our Export Terminal Joint Venture. We provide international and regional seaborne transportation services of petrochemical gases, LPG and ammonia for energy companies, industrial users and commodity traders. These gases are transported in liquefied form, by applying cooling and/or pressure, to reduce volume by up to 900 times depending on the cargo, making their transportation more efficient and economical.
We employ our vessels through a combination of time charters, voyage charters and COAs. Of our current 56 vessels, nine are commercially managed through an independent Pool, the Unigas Pool. We employ the other
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47 vessels under a combination of time charters, COA’s and voyage charters on the spot market 13 of which are operated through the Luna Pool. As of December 31, 2022, 34 vessels were employed under time charters (December 31, 2021: 26 vessels), one was employed under a contract of affreightment (December 31, 2021: two vessels) and nine were employed in the spot market (December 31, 2021: 17 vessels). Our operated vessels earned an average time charter equivalent rate of approximately $23,317 per vessel per day ($709,236 per vessel per calendar month) during the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to approximately $22,145 per day ($673,575 per vessel per calendar month) for the year ended December 31, 2021.
We own a 50% share in our Ethylene Export Terminal at Morgan’s Point, Texas on the Houston Ship Channel through our Export Terminal Joint Venture. Our Ethylene Export Terminal, which includes an ethylene cryogenic storage tank with a capacity of 30,000 tons, has the capacity to export approximately one million tons of ethylene per year and is capable of loading ethylene-capable gas carriers at rates of 1,000 tons per hour. The Ethylene Export Terminal has entered into several take or pay offtake agreements, which had initial minimum terms of five years with aggregate minimum throughput commitments of 938,000 tons of ethylene annually, or 94% of the terminal’s nameplate capacity. In November 2022, we announced our intention to participate in a capital project under our Export Terminal Joint Venture, together with our joint venture partner, to extend the Ethylene Export Terminal, under the existing joint venture agreement. When completed, the Expansion Project is expected to provide significant additional ethylene refrigeration capacity for the Export Terminal Joint Venture (expanding the export capacity from approximately one million tons per year to at least 1.5 million tons per year of ethylene). We expect construction of the expansion to commence in in the second quarter of 2023 and to be completed in the second half of 2024, at which time the additional terminal capacity would be expected to begin commercial service. The capital contributions required from us to the Export Terminal Joint Venture for the Expansion Project are expected to be approximately $120-$130 million, commencing in the first quarter of 2023 and ending in the fourth quarter of 2024, which we expect to fund from a combination of existing cash resources, distributions from the Export Terminal Joint Venture during the course of the expansion and additional debt financing.
Vessel Contracts
We generate revenue by providing seaborne transportation services to customers pursuant to the following five types of contractual relationships:
Time Charters. A time charter is a contract under which a vessel is chartered for a defined period of time at a fixed daily or monthly rate. Under time charters, we are responsible for providing crewing and other vessel operating services, the cost of which is intended to be covered by the fixed rate, while the customer is responsible for substantially all of the voyage expenses, including any bunker fuel consumption, port expenses and canal tolls. LPG is typically transported under a time charter arrangement, generally with a term of 12 months. However, 16 of our 34 time charters at December 31, 2022 are for long-term charters exceeding 12 months. For the year ended December 31, 2022, approximately 51.9% of our revenue was generated pursuant to time charters, compared to approximately 47.2% for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Voyage Charters. A voyage charter or spot charter is a contract, typically for shorter intervals, for transportation of a specified cargo between two or more designated ports. This type of charter is priced on a current or “spot” market rate, typically on a price per ton of product carried rather than a daily or monthly rate. Under voyage charters, we are responsible for all of the voyage expenses in addition to providing the crewing and other vessel operating services. Petrochemical gases have typically been transported pursuant to voyage charters, as the seaborne transportation requirements of petrochemical product traders have historically resulted from a particular product arbitrage at a point in time. For the year ended December 31, 2022, approximately 39.6% of our revenue was generated pursuant to voyage charters, compared to approximately 31.4% for the year ended December 31, 2021.
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Contracts of Affreightment. A COA is a contract to carry specified quantities of cargo, usually over prescribed shipping routes, at a fixed price per ton basis (often subject to fuel price or other adjustments) over a defined period of time. As such, a COA essentially consists of a number of voyage charters to carry a specified amount of cargo over a specified time period (i.e. the term of the COA), which can span for months to potentially years. Similar to a voyage charter, we are typically responsible for all voyage expenses in addition to providing all crewing and other vessel operating services when trading under a COA. For the year ended December 31, 2022, approximately 8.5% of our revenue was generated pursuant to COAs, compared to approximately 8.8% for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Operating Revenues—Luna Pool collaborative arrangements. Operating revenues – Luna Pool collaborative arrangements represent our share of pool net revenues generated by the other participant’s vessels in the pool. Luna Pool earnings are aggregated and then allocated (after deducting pool overheads and manager’s fees) to the pool participants in accordance with the pooling agreement. For the year ended December 31, 2022, Luna Pool operating revenues represented approximately 4.7% of our total operating revenues compared to approximately 6.5% for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Unigas Pool. – Revenue from the Unigas Pool represents our share of pool net revenues earned from our vessels operating within the independent commercially managed Unigas Pool, based on agreed pool points. For the year ended December 31, 2022, Unigas Pool revenues represented approximately 9.8% of our total operating revenues compared to approximately 6.6% for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Vessels operating on time charters and longer-term COAs provide more predictable cash flows but can potentially yield lower profit margins than vessels operating in the spot charter market during periods of favorable market conditions. Accordingly, as a result of a portion of our fleet being committed on time charters and COAs, we will be unable to take full advantage of improving charter rates to the same extent as we would if our liquefied gas carriers were employed only on spot charters. Conversely, vessels operating in the spot charter market generate revenue that is less predictable, but they may enable us to capture increased profit margins during periods of improving charter rates. However, operating in the spot charter market exposes us to the risks of declining liquefied gas carrier charter rates and relatively lower utilization rates as compared to time charters and certain COAs, which may have a materially adverse impact on our financial performance. Notwithstanding these risks, we believe that providing liquefied gas transportation services in the spot charter market is important to us, as it provides us with greater insight into market trends and opportunities.
We believe that the size and versatility of our fleet, which enables us to carry the broadest set of liquefied gases subject to seaborne transportation across a diverse range of conditions and geographies, together with our track record of operational excellence, positions us as the partner of choice for many companies requiring seaborne liquefied gas transportation and distribution solutions. In addition, we believe that the versatility of our fleet affords us with backhaul and triangulation opportunities not available to many of our competitors, thereby providing us with opportunities to increase utilization and profitability. We seek to enhance our returns through a flexible, customer-driven chartering strategy that combines a base of time charters and COAs with more opportunistic, higher-rate voyage charters.
Important Financial and Operational Terms and Concepts
We use a variety of financial and operational terms and concepts in the evaluation of our business and operations. These include the following:
Operating Revenues. Our operating revenues include revenue from time charters, spot or voyage charters, COA’s and Pool arrangements. Operating revenues are affected by the mix of business between time charters, voyage charters and pool arrangements, as well as charter rates and the number of days a vessel operates. Rates for voyage charters are more volatile as they are typically tied to prevailing market rates at the time of the voyage. Historically, voyage charters have usually represented a smaller proportion of our annual operating
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revenue, but this can change as we transport more petrochemicals, including ethylene, typically by voyage charters or COAs.
Operating Revenues—Unigas Pool. Operating revenues – Unigas Pool represent our share of pool net revenues earned from our vessels operating within the independent commercially managed Unigas Pool, based on agreed pool points.
Operating Revenues—Luna Pool collaborative arrangements. Operating revenues – Luna Pool collaborative arrangements represent our share of pool net revenues generated by the other participant’s vessels in the pool. Luna Pool earnings are aggregated and then allocated (after deducting pool overheads and manager’s fees) to the pool participants in accordance with the pooling agreement. The Luna Pool, which comprises 14 ethylene vessels, focuses on the transportation of ethylene and ethane to meet the growing demands of our customers.
Brokerage Commissions. Brokerage commissions are costs remitted to shipping brokers for arranging business between us and our customers for our vessels and are calculated as a percentage of chartering income.
Voyage Expenses. Voyage expenses are all expenses unique to a particular voyage, principally bunker fuel consumption, port expenses and canal tolls. Voyage expenses are paid by the shipowner under voyage charters and contracts of affreightment and by the charterer under time charters. The gross revenue received by the shipowner under voyage charters and COAs is higher than those received under comparable time charters so as to compensate the shipowner for bearing all voyage expenses. As a result, our operating revenues and voyage expenses may vary significantly depending on our mix of time charters, voyage charters and COAs.
Voyage Expenses—Luna Pool collaborative arrangements. Voyage expenses – Luna Pool collaborative arrangements represent the other participant’s share of pool net revenues generated by our vessels in the pool.
Vessel Operating Expenses. Vessel operating expenses are expenses that are not unique to a specific voyage in operating the vessel. Vessel operating expenses include crew wages and related costs, the cost of insurance, expenses relating to repairs and maintenance, the cost of spares and consumable stores, tonnage taxes and other miscellaneous expenses. Our vessel operating expenses will increase as the age of our fleet increases. Other factors that are beyond our control may also cause these expenses to increase, including developments relating to market prices for insurance and crewing costs.
In connection with providing us with technical management for our fleet, NMM and PGS currently receive crewing and technical management fees of approximately $0.2 million per vessel per year in the aggregate, which fees are considered to be vessel operating expenses. Certain vessels which are under in-house technical management have the crewing function managed by one of our third-party technical managers for a fee. Our technical and crew management agreements continue until terminated on at least three months’ notice by either party, subject to certain exceptions. As of December 31, 2022, we managed 36 of the vessels in our fleet in-house.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense consists of:
| • | charges related to the depreciation of the historical cost of our fleet (or the revalued amount), less the estimated residual value of our vessels, calculated on a straight-line basis over their useful life, which was estimated to be 25 years with effect from January 1, 2022 (previously their useful life was estimated to be between 25 and 30 years); and |
| • | charges related to the amortization of capitalized drydocking expenditures relating to our fleet over the period between drydockings. |
General and Administrative Costs. General and administrative costs principally consist of the costs incurred in operating our London, Copenhagen and Gdynia representative offices, which manage our chartering,
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operations, technical management, accounting and administrative functions; our advisors’ services, including ongoing internal and external audit costs, taxation, legal and corporate services; and certain costs and expenses attributable to our board of directors. Please read “Item 4—Information on the Company—Business Overview—Commercial Management of the Fleet.” We incur additional expenses as a result of being a publicly-traded corporation, including costs associated with maintaining internal controls, quarterly and annual reports to shareholders and SEC filings, investor relations and NYSE annual listing fees. We may also grant equity compensation that would result in an expense to us. Please read “Item 6—Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Compensation—Equity Compensation Plans—2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan.”
Other income. Other income consists of that portion of the management fees for commercial and administrative activities performed by us for the Luna Pool, relating to the other participant’s vessels. Under the Luna Pool pooling agreement, we, as the Commercial Manager, are responsible, as agent, for the marketing and chartering of the participating vessels, collection of revenues and paying voyage costs such as port call expenses, bunkers and brokers’ commissions in relation to charter contracts, but the vessel owners continue to be fully responsible for the financing, insurance, crewing and technical management of their respective vessels.
Interest expense and interest income. Interest expense depends on our level of borrowings and may also change with prevailing interest rates, although our interest rate swaps or other derivative instruments may reduce the effect of these changes. Interest income will depend on prevailing interest rates and the level of our cash deposits and restricted cash deposits. Interest expense may also depend on our consolidated lessor VIE entity’s overall level of borrowing, including costs associated with such borrowing. For additional detail refer to Note 10—Variable Interest Entities to our consolidated financial statements.
Drydocking. We must periodically drydock each of our vessels for any major repairs and maintenance, for inspection of the underwater parts of the vessel, that cannot be performed while the vessels are operating and for any modifications to comply with industry certification or regulatory requirements. We are required to drydock a vessel once every five years until it reaches 15 years of age, after which we are required to drydock the applicable vessel every two and a half to three years.
We capitalize costs associated with the drydockings as “built in overhauls” in accordance with U.S. GAAP and amortize these costs on a straight-line basis over the period to the next scheduled drydocking of the vessel. Costs incurred during the drydocking period which relate to routine repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. The number of drydockings undertaken in a given period and the nature of the work performed determine the level of drydocking expenditures.
Ownership Days. We define ownership days as the aggregate number of days in a period that each vessel in our fleet has been owned by us. Ownership days are an indicator of the size of our fleet over a period and the potential amount of revenue and expenses that we record during a period.
Available Days. We define available days as ownership days less aggregate off-hire days associated with major scheduled maintenance, which principally include drydockings, special or intermediate surveys, vessel upgrades or major repairs. We use available days to measure the number of days in a period that our operated vessels should be capable of generating revenues.
Earning Days. We define earning days as available days less the aggregate number of days that our operated vessels are not generating revenue, which includes idle days and off-hire days for any reason other than major scheduled maintenance. We use earning days to measure the aggregate number of days in a period that our operated vessels are servicing our customers.
Fleet Utilization. We define fleet utilization as the total number of earning days in a period divided by the total number of available days during that period.
Time Charter Equivalent Rate TCE rate is a measure of the average daily revenue performance of a vessel. TCE is not calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For all charters, we calculate TCE by dividing total
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operating revenues (excluding collaborative arrangements and revenues from the Unigas Pool), less any voyage expenses (excluding collaborative arrangements), by the number of earning days for the relevant period. TCE rates exclude the effects of the collaborative arrangements, as earning days and fleet utilization, on which TCE rates are based, are calculated for our owned vessels, and not the average of all pool vessels. Under a time charter, the charterer pays substantially all of the vessel voyage related expenses, whereas for voyage charters, also known as spot market charters, we pay all voyage expenses. TCE rate is a shipping industry performance measure used primarily to compare period-to-period changes in a company’s performance despite changes in the mix of charter types (i.e., spot charters, time charters and contracts of affreightment) under which the vessels may be employed between the periods
Daily Vessel Operating Expenses. Daily vessel operating expenses are calculated by dividing vessel operating expenses by ownership days for the relevant time period.
Results of Operations
Factors Affecting Comparability
You should consider the following factors when evaluating our historical financial performance and assessing our future prospects:
| • | Investment in Export Terminal Joint Venture. The Ethylene Export Terminal was fully operational from January 2021, although it had limited commercial operations prior to that time. There were 987,529 tons of ethylene throughput at the terminal during 2022, compared to 628,257 tons exported during 2021. The results from the Export Terminal Joint Venture are shown as “Share of results of equity method investments” on our consolidated statements of operations. |
| • | We have been significantly increasing the size of our fleet. In August 2021, the Company entered into the Ultragas Transaction with Ultranav to combine the Ultragas fleet and business activities with Navigator, by acquiring two entities, Othello Shipping Company S.A. with its then 18 wholly owned vessel owning entities and Ultragas, (renamed Navigator Gas Denmark Aps,), the vessels’ operator and with its subsidiary Ultraship, (renamed Navigator Shipmanagement Denmark ApS,), the in-house technical manager and associated entities UltraShip Crewing and Unigas Intl B.V. and the Unigas pool. The acquired fleet comprised: |
| • | seven modern 22,000cbm handysize semi-refrigerated vessels; |
| • | five smaller 12,000cbm ethylene vessels and six gas carriers in the 3,770-9,000 cbm range, two of which were subsequently sold, and three of which are ethylene capable. The existing nine vessels are commercially managed by the Unigas Pool. |
| • | We will have different financing arrangements. Our current financing arrangements may not be representative of our historical arrangements or the arrangements we will enter into in the future. We may amend our existing credit facilities or enter into other financing arrangements. |
| • | In August 2021, as part of the Ultragas Transaction, the Company assumed the loan facilities relating to the vessels acquired, consisting of five bank loans, secured on a total of 13 of the 18 vessels acquired. |
| • | In December 2022, the Company entered into a new $151.3 million term credit facility to finance the vessels acquired by the Navigator Greater Bay Joint Venture. As of December 31, 2022, we had drawn down $27.5 million with a further $91.8 million drawn in the first quarter of 2023, coinciding with the joint venture’s acquisition of the three Greater Bay vessels purchased so far in 2023. |
| • | In December 2022, the Company repaid in full the NOK 600 million senior secured bonds, (with an early redemption premium of 1.79%) the bonds incurred interest at NIBOR plus 6%. |
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| • | Our results are affected by fluctuations in the fair value of our derivative instruments. The change in the fair value of our derivative instruments is included in our net income, which has fluctuated significantly in 2022 as forward interest rates have increased significantly. Please read Note 4—Derivative Instruments Accounted for at Fair Value and Note 20—Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash to our consolidated financial statements. |
Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2022
The following table compares our operating results for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022:
| Year Ended December 31, 2021 |
Year Ended December 31, 2022 |
Percentage Change |
||||||||||
| (in thousands, except percentages) | ||||||||||||
| Operating revenues |
$ | 352,922 | $ | 405,346 | 14.9 | % | ||||||
| Operating revenues—Unigas Pool |
27,004 | 46,345 | 71.6 | % | ||||||||
| Operating revenues—Luna Pool collaborative arrangements |
26,555 | 22,101 | (16.8 | %) | ||||||||
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| Total operating revenues |
$ | 406,481 | $ | 473,792 | 16.6 | % | ||||||
| Operating expenses: |
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| Brokerage commissions |
4,802 | 5,900 | 22.9 | % | ||||||||
| Voyage expenses |
71,953 | 78,674 | 9.3 | % | ||||||||
| Voyage expenses—Luna Pool collaborative arrangements |
20,913 | 20,716 | (0.9 | %) | ||||||||
| Vessel operating expenses |
131,183 | 159,266 | 21.4 | % | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
88,486 | 126,220 | 42.6 | % | ||||||||
| Impairment losses on vessels |
63,581 | — | — | |||||||||
| Profit from sale of vessels |
— | (4,721 | ) | — | ||||||||
| General and administrative costs |
28,881 | 27,439 | (5.0 | %) | ||||||||
| Other income |
(367 | ) | (364 | ) | (0.8 | %) | ||||||
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| Total operating expenses |
$ | 409,432 | $ | 413,130 | 0.9 | % | ||||||
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| Operating income / (loss) |
$ | (2,951 | ) | $ | 60,662 | — | ||||||
| Other income/(expense) |
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| Foreign currency exchange gain on senior secured bonds |
2,146 | 6,589 | 207.0 | % | ||||||||
| Realized loss on cross currency interest rate swap |
— | (6,270 | ) | — | ||||||||
| Unrealized gain on non-designated derivative instruments |
791 | 25,124 | 3076.2 | % | ||||||||
| Interest expense |
(38,682 | ) | (50,840 | ) | 31.4 | % | ||||||
| Loss on repayment of senior bonds |
— | (1,102 | ) | — | ||||||||
| Write off of deferred financing costs |
— | (212 | ) | — | ||||||||
| Interest income |
302 | 1,082 | 258.3 | % | ||||||||
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| Income/(loss) before income taxes and share of result of equity method investments |
$ | (38,394 | ) | $ | 35,033 | — | ||||||
| Income taxes |
(1,969 | ) | (5,949 | ) | 202.1 | % | ||||||
| Share of results of equity method investments |
11,147 | 25,794 | 131.4 | % | ||||||||
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| Net income /(loss) |
$ | (29,216 | ) | $ | 54,878 | — | ||||||
| Net income attributable to non-controlling interests |
(1,748 | ) | (1,405 | ) | (19.6 | %) | ||||||
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| Net income/(loss) attributable to stockholders of Navigator Holdings Ltd. |
$ | (30,964 | ) | $ | 53,473 | — | ||||||
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Operating Revenues. Operating revenues, net of address commissions, increased by $52.4 million or 14.9% to $405.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $352.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily due to:
| • | an increase in operating revenues of approximately $23.5 million attributable to an increase in vessel available days of 1,216 days, or 8.4% for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase in available days is primarily as a result of seven additional acquired handysize vessels as part of the Ultragas Transaction being part of the fleet for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, compared to five months for the year ended December 31, 2021; |
| • | an increase in operating revenues of approximately $16.1 million attributable to an increase in average monthly time charter equivalent rates, which increased to an average of $23,317 per vessel per day ($709,236 per vessel per calendar month) for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to an average of approximately $22,145 per vessel per day ($673,575 per vessel per calendar month) for the year ended December 31, 2021; |
| • | an increase in operating revenues of approximately $6.1 million attributable to an increase in fleet utilization which rose to 89.0% for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to 87.4% for the year ended December 31, 2021; and |
| • | an increase in operating revenues of approximately $6.7 million primarily attributable to an increase in pass through voyage costs, associated with the additional vessels joining the fleet during the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. |
The following table presents selected operating data for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, which we believe are useful in understanding the basis for movements in operating revenues. It does not include our nine owned smaller vessels in the independent commercially managed Unigas Pool or the four vessels owned by Pacific Gas as of December 31, 2022 and operated within our Luna Pool:
| Fleet Data: | Year Ended December 31, 2021 |
Year Ended December 31, 2022 |
||||||
| Weighted average number of vessels |
40.9 | 43.9 | ||||||
| Ownership days |
14,941 | 16,047 | ||||||
| Available days |
14,525 | 15,741 | ||||||
| Earning days |
12,688 | 14,010 | ||||||
| Fleet utilization |
87.4 | % | 89.0 | % | ||||
| Average daily time charter equivalent rate* |
$ | 22,145 | $ | 23,317 | ||||
| * | Non-GAAP Financial Measure -Time charter equivalent: Time charter equivalent (“TCE”) rate is a measure of the average daily revenue performance of a vessel. TCE is not calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For all charters, we calculate TCE by dividing total operating revenues (excluding collaborative arrangements and revenues from the Unigas Pool), less any voyage expenses (excluding collaborative arrangements), by the number of earning days for the relevant period. TCE rates exclude the effects of the collaborative arrangements, as earning days and fleet utilization, on which TCE rates are based, are calculated for our owned vessels, and not the average of all pool vessels. Under a time charter, the charterer pays substantially all of the vessel voyage related expenses, whereas for voyage charters, also known as spot market charters, we pay all voyage expenses. TCE rate is a shipping industry performance measure used primarily to compare period-to-period changes in a company’s performance despite changes in the mix of charter types (i.e., spot charters, time charters and contracts of affreightment) under which the vessels may be employed between the periods. We include the average daily TCE rate, as we believe it provides additional meaningful information in conjunction with net operating revenues, because it assists our management in making decisions regarding the deployment and use of our vessels and in evaluating their financial performance. Our calculation of TCE rate may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. |
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Reconciliation of Operating Revenues to TCE rate
The following table presents a reconciliation of operating revenues to TCE rate. Operating revenues are the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP for the periods presented.
| Fleet Data: | Year Ended December 31, 2021 |
Year Ended December 31, 2022 |
||||||
| Operating revenues (excluding collaborative arrangements) (in thousands) |
$ | 352,922 | $ | 405,346 | ||||
| Voyage expenses (excluding collaborative arrangements) (in thousands) |
71,953 | 78,674 | ||||||
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| Operating revenues less Voyage expenses (in thousands) |
$ | 280,969 | $ | 326,672 | ||||
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| Earning days |
12,688 | 14,010 | ||||||
| Average daily time charter equivalent rate |
$ | 22,145 | $ | 23,317 | ||||
Operating Revenues—Unigas Pool. Operating revenues—Unigas Pool was $46.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, and represents our share of the revenue earned from our vessels operating within the Unigas Pool, based on agreed pool points, compared to $27.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily a result of these vessels being acquired as part of the Ultragas Transaction in August 2021 and therefore there were only approximately five months of operating revenue included for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Operating Revenues—Luna Pool Collaborative Arrangements. Operating revenues—Luna Pool collaborative arrangements was $22.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $26.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Operating revenues – Luna Pool collaborative arrangements represent our share of pool net revenues generated by the other participant’s vessels in the pool. The decrease was principally due to lower utilization and charter rates achieved by the other participant’s vessels for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021.
Brokerage Commissions. Brokerage commissions, which typically vary between 1.25% and 2.5% of revenue, increased by 22.9% to $5.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $4.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily due to an increase in operating revenues on which brokerage commissions are based.
Voyage Expenses. Voyage expenses increased by 9.3% to $78.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $72.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase is primarily due to additional voyage expenses for the increased number of vessels in the fleet for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. These voyage expenses are pass through costs, corresponding to an increase in operating revenues of the same amount.
Voyage Expenses—Luna Pool Collaborative Arrangements. Voyage expenses—Luna Pool collaborative arrangements were $20.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $20.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Voyage expenses—Luna Pool collaborative arrangements represent the other participant’s share of pool net revenues generated by our vessels in the pool. The net effect after deducting voyage expenses – Luna Pool collaborative arrangements from operating revenues – Luna Pool collaborative arrangements was that the other participant’s vessels contributed $1.4 million to our vessels in the Luna Pool for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to $5.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Vessel Operating Expenses. Vessel operating expenses increased by 21.4% to $159.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $131.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily as a result of
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additional vessels in the fleet. Average daily vessel operating expenses increased by $256 per vessel per day, or 3.2%, to $8,210 per vessel per day for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $7,954 per vessel per day for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization increased by $37.7 million or 42.6% to $126.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $88.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. $12.4 million of this increase was as a result of additional vessels in the fleet for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021 and $25.6 million was as a result of the change of estimated useful lives of the vessels from 30 years to 25 years on January 1, 2022. Depreciation and amortization included amortization of capitalized drydocking costs of $18.0 million and $11.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 respectively.
Impairment Losses on Vessels. There were no impairment losses on vessels for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $63.6 million for the year end December 31, 2021. The impairment losses for the year ended December 31, 2021, were due to an impairment review on which the estimated useful life of the vessels was reduced from 30 years to 25 years. These impairment losses related to a write down of the carrying values of eight vessels.
General and Administrative Costs. General and administrative costs decreased by $1.5 million or 5.0% to $27.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $28.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The decrease in general and administrative costs was primarily due to the non recurrence of costs associated with the closure of our New York office during the year ended December 31, 2022, severance costs and legal and other costs incurred relating to the Ultragas Transaction during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Other Income. Other income was $0.4 million for both the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, and consists of that portion of the management fees for commercial and administrative activities performed by the Company for the Luna Pool, relating to the other participant’s vessels.
Non-operating Results
Foreign Currency Exchange Gain on Senior Secured Bonds. Exchange gains relate to movements on our 2018 Bonds which are denominated in Norwegian Kroner. The foreign currency exchange gain on translation of $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, was a result of the Norwegian Kroner weakening against the U.S. Dollar, to NOK 9.76 to USD 1.0 as of December 23, 2022, when the bonds were fully redeemed, compared to NOK 8.80 to USD 1.0 as of December 31, 2021. This compares to a foreign currency exchange gain on translation of $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, as the Norwegian Kroner had again weakened against the U.S. Dollar, being NOK 8.80 to USD 1.0 as of December 31, 2021 compared to NOK 8.53 to USD 1.0 as of December 31, 2020.
Realized Loss on Cross Currency Interest Rate Swap. The realized loss of $6.3 million on cross currency interest rate swap related to the movement in the fair value of our cross-currency interest rate swap between December 31, 2021 and the actual value of the swap on December 23, 2022, when our 2018 Bonds, on which the swap was based, were redeemed. The loss is primarily due to the weakening of the Norwegian Kroner against the U.S. Dollar. The unrealized loss on our cross-currency interest rate swap for the year ended December 31, 2021, was $2.2 million.
Unrealized Gain on Non-designated Derivative Instruments. The unrealized gain of $25.1 million on non-designated derivative instruments relates to the fair value movement in our interest rate swaps for the year ended December 31, 2022 as a result of increases in U.S LIBOR forward rates, relative to fixed rates in our interest rate swaps. This compares to an unrealized gain on our interest rate swap for the year ended December 31, 2021 of $3.0 million.
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Interest Expense. Interest expense increased by $12.2 million, or 31.4%, to $50.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $38.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily due to significant increases in U.S. LIBOR and SOFR during the year ended December 2022 as well as interest expense for the additional $192.7 million of debt assumed as part of the Ultragas Transaction in August 2021.
Loss on repayment of senior bonds. In connection with the redemption of our 2018 Bonds, pursuant to which we redeemed all of the outstanding principal amount on December 23, 2022, there was $1.1 million in redemption premium charges.
Write off of Deferred Financing Costs. The write off of deferred financing costs of $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, related to the unamortized portion of the deferred financing costs at the time of the redemption of our 2018 Bonds.
Income Taxes. For the year ended December 31, 2022, we incurred taxes of $5.9 million, an increase of $3.9 million compared to taxes of $2.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Income taxes relate to taxes on our subsidiaries incorporated in the United States of America, for the earnings from the Ethylene Export Terminal; in the United Kingdom and Poland for management and other fees from affiliates; in Denmark, for Danish tonnage tax; in Singapore for interest earned from loans to our variable interest entity in Indonesia; and our consolidated VIE, incorporated in Malta. This increase in income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2022 is primarily as a result of deferred tax on our portion of the profits from the Ethylene Export Terminal.
Share of Result of Equity Method Investments. The share of result of the Company’s 50% ownership in the Export Terminal Joint Venture was income of $25.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $11.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase is primarily as a result of increased volumes exported through the Ethylene Export Terminal, which were 987,529 tons for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to 628,257 tons for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Non-Controlling Interest. We have entered into a sale and leaseback arrangement in November 2019 with the lessor SPV of a financial institution. Although we do not hold any equity investments in this lessor SPV, we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of this entity and accordingly, we are required to consolidate this VIE into our financial results. The net income attributable to the financial institution of $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 is presented as non-controlling interest in our financial results.
We own a 25% and 40% share respectively in the equity of Ultraship Crewing Philippines Inc. (“UCPI”, “UltraShip Crewing”) and Navigator Support Services (Philippines) Inc. (“NSSPI”). These companies are established primarily to provide marine services as principals or agent to ship owners engaged in international maritime business, and business support services, respectively. The Company has determined that it has a variable interest in UCPI and NSSPI as it is considered to be the primary beneficiary as a result of having a controlling financial interest in the entities and has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact UCPI’s and NSSPI’s economic performance. The net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in these entities of $0.1 million for both the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 is presented as non-controlling interest in our financial results.
Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2020 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2021
See “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Operating Results—Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2020 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2021” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 for a discussion of our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021 and other financial information related to the year ended December 31, 2020.
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| B. | Liquidity and Capital Resources |
Liquidity and Cash Needs
Our primary sources of funds are cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, cash from operations, undrawn bank borrowings and proceeds from bond issuances. As of December 31, 2022, we had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $153.2 million along with $20.0 million available to be drawn down on one of our secured revolving credit facilities and a $7.5 million unused letter of credit available to be drawn on the Terminal Facility to be used solely to make capital repayments on that facility.
Our secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities require that the borrowers have liquidity (including undrawn available lines of credit with a maturity exceeding 12 months) of no less than (i) $25.0 million, $35.0 million, or $50.0 million, or (ii) 5% of Net Debt or total debt which was $43.1 million as of December 31, 2022, as applicable, whichever is greater. Please see “—Secured Term Loan Facilities and Revolving Credit Facilities”, and “2020 Senior Unsecured Bonds” below.
On October 18, 2022, the Company announced the Board’s authorization for a share repurchase program of up to $50.0 million of its common stock, to be implemented via open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, or in accordance with an approved trading plan (under Rule 10b5-1). In December 2022, the Company commenced the share buyback program upon calling the NOK bonds. As of March 17, 2023, the Company had purchased and cancelled 2,023,998 common shares for a total amount of $25.4 million (an average price of $12.57 per share), leaving $24.6 million remaining from the initial $50.0 million authorization.
Our primary uses of funds are drydocking expenditures, voyage expenses, vessel operating expenses, general and administrative costs, expenditures incurred in connection with ensuring that our vessels comply with international and regulatory standards, capital contributions for the Expansion Project or any other expansion project at the Ethylene Export Terminal, capital contributions to our Navigator Greater Bay Joint Venture, financing expenses and repayment of bonds and bank loans and share repurchases under our share repurchase program. In addition to operating expenses, our medium-term and long-term liquidity needs relate to debt repayments, potential future newbuildings or acquisitions and the development of the Expansion Project at the Ethylene Export Terminal in our Export Terminal Joint Venture or other similar projects.
As of December 31, 2022, we had $866.6 million in outstanding obligations, which includes principal repayments on long-term debt, including our bonds, commitments in respect of the Navigator Aurora Facility and office lease commitments. Of the total outstanding obligations, $212.6 million matures during the year ending December 31, 2023, and $654.0 million matures after such date.
We believe, given our current cash balances, that our financial resources, including the cash expected to be generated within the year, will be sufficient to meet our liquidity and working capital needs for at least the next twelve months, taking into account our existing capital commitments and debt service requirements.
Capital Expenditures
Liquefied gas transportation is a capital-intensive business, requiring significant investment to maintain an efficient fleet and to stay in regulatory compliance.
We currently have no newbuildings on order. However, we may place newbuilding orders or acquire additional vessels as part of our growth strategy, or may invest further in terminal infrastructures, including the Expansion Project for our Ethylene Export Terminal, or other import or export terminals.
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Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash provided by (used in) operating, financing and investing activities for the periods presented:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 44,673 | $ | 97,941 | $ | 130,308 | ||||||
| Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities |
(16,151 | ) | 33,057 | 35,640 | ||||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities |
(35,381 | ) | (66,094 | ) | (134,140 | ) | ||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash* |
(206 | ) | 48 | (2,837 | ) | |||||||
| Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
(6,859 | ) | 64,952 | 28,971 | ||||||||
| * | We have reclassified $0.2 million for December 31, 2020 in relation to ‘Other unrealized foreign exchange loss/(gain) in the cash flow to align with the current years presentation. |
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2022, increased to $130.3 million, from $97.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, an increase of $32.4 million or 33.1%. This increase was primarily as a result of increased net income (after adding back depreciation and share of result of equity method investments) of $43.3 million; differences in changes in working capital movements of $10.6 million; offset by an increase in net gains on non-designated derivatives of $18.1 million.
Net cash flow from operating activities depends upon charter rates attainable, fleet utilization, fluctuations in working capital balances, repairs and maintenance activity, amount and duration of drydocks and changes in interest rates and foreign currency rates.
We are required to drydock each vessel once every five years until it reaches 15 years of age, after which we drydock vessels every two and a half to three years. Drydocking each vessel, including travelling to and from the drydock, takes approximately 30 days in total. Drydocking days generally include approximately 5-10 days of voyage time to and from the drydocking shipyard and approximately 15-20 days of actual drydocking time. Fourteen of our vessels undertook scheduled drydockings during 2022, the same number of vessels that underwent scheduled drydockings in 2021, which was an increase from the nine vessels in 2020.
We spend significant amounts of funds on scheduled drydocking (including the cost of classification society surveys) of each of our vessels. As our vessels age and our fleet expands, our drydocking expenses will increase. We estimate the current cost of the five-year drydocking of one of our vessels is approximately $1.0 million, the ten-year drydocking cost is approximately $1.3 million, and the 15 and 17 year drydocking costs are approximately $1.5 million each. Ongoing costs for compliance with environmental regulations are primarily included as part of our drydocking, such as the requirement to install ballast water treatment plants, and classification society survey costs, with a balance included as a component of our operating expenses. Please see “Item 3—Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Over the long-term, we will be required to make substantial capital expenditures to preserve the operating capacity of, and to grow, our fleet.”
Cash Provided by / (Used in) Investing Activities. Net cash provided by investing activities of $35.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily represents net proceeds from the sale of vessels of $38.8 million, distributions from our equity method investments of $27.5 million, insurance recoveries during the year of $9.3 million and capital contributions from non-controlling interests of $5.9 million; offset by expenditure on vessels and their equipment of $45.7 million.
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Net cash provided by investing activities of $33.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily represents distributions from our equity method investments of $16.2 million; cash acquired with the acquisition of Ultragas of $17.5 million and cash from sale of a vessel of $4.5 million, offset by capital contributions to the Export Terminal Joint Venture of $4.0 million and payments for ballast water treatment systems of $3.2 million.
Cash (Used in) / Provided by Financing Activities. Net cash used in financing activities of $134.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, principally relates to repayments of our secured term loan facilities of $186.4 million, the repayment of the NOK Bond and the settlement of the related cross currency swap of $72.9 million, the repurchase of the Company’s shares pursuant to the share repurchase program in the amount of $5.5 million, as well as an extemporaneous repayment of $6.7 million on the Navigator Aurora Facility held within our consolidated lessor VIE, offset by drawdowns on the new term loan facilities of $139.3 million.
Net cash used in financing activities of $66.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, principally relates to regular quarterly repayments on our secured term loan facilities of $77.7 million as well as an extemporaneous repayment of $6.3 million on the Navigator Aurora Facility held within our consolidated lessor VIE. We drew down $18.0 million from the Terminal Facility to finance the capital contributions to our Export Terminal Joint Venture.
Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2020 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2021. See “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Cash Flows” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 for a discussion of our cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021.
Terminal Facility
General. In March 2019, Navigator Ethylene Terminals LLC (“Marine Terminal Borrower”), our wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Terminal Facility”) with ING Capital LLC and SG Americas Securities, LLC for a maximum principal amount of $75.0 million, to be used for the payment of capital contributions to our Export Terminal Joint Venture for construction costs of our Ethylene Export Terminal.
Term and Facility Limits. The Terminal Facility converted from an initial construction loan to a term loan with a final maturity of December 31, 2025. Based on the committed throughput agreements for the Ethylene Export Terminal, a total of $69.0 million was drawn under the Terminal Facility of which $40.5 million was outstanding as of December 31, 2022.
On July 2, 2020, we entered into floating-to-fixed interest rate swap agreements with ING Capital Markets LLC (“ING”) and Societe Generale (“SocGen”), with a termination date of December 31, 2025, to run concurrently with the Terminal Facility. Under these agreements, the notional amounts of the swaps are 80% of the amounts drawn under the Terminal Facility. The interest rate receivable by the Marine Terminal Borrower under these interest rate swap agreements is 3-month U.S. LIBOR, calculated on a 360-day year basis, and the interest rate payable by the Marine Terminal Borrower under these interest rate swap agreements is 0.369% and 0.3615% per annum to ING and SocGen respectively, calculated on a 360-day year basis. Please read Note 4—Derivative Instruments Accounted for at Fair Value to our consolidated financial statements.
Fees and Interest. Interest is payable at a rate of U.S. LIBOR plus 250 to 300 basis points over the remaining term of the facility, for interest periods of three or six months.
Prepayments/Repayments. The Marine Terminal Borrower may voluntarily prepay indebtedness at any time, without premium or penalty, in whole or in part upon prior written notice to the facility agent.
The Marine Terminal Borrower must make mandatory prepayments of indebtedness upon specified amounts of excess cash flow, the receipt of performance liquidated damages pursuant to certain material contracts related to the Ethylene Export Terminal, the receipt of proceeds in connection with an event of loss (as defined in the Terminal Facility), the receipt of proceeds in connection with termination payments (as defined in the Terminal Facility), the receipt of proceeds in connection with certain dispositions by the Export Terminal Joint Venture, the incurrence of certain specified indebtedness, the inability to meet the conditions for paying a dividend for
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four or more consecutive quarters, dispositions of the Marine Terminal Borrower’s equity interests in the Export Terminal Joint Venture, the receipt of indemnity payments in excess of $500,000 and certain amounts of any loans outstanding upon the conversion date.
Financial Covenants. Under the Terminal Facility, the Marine Terminal Borrower must maintain a minimum debt service coverage ratio (as defined in the Terminal Facility) for the prior four calendar fiscal quarters of no less than 1.10 to 1.00.
Restrictive Covenants. Following completion of the Ethylene Export Terminal, the Marine Terminal Borrower can only pay dividends if the Marine Terminal Borrower satisfies certain customary conditions to paying a dividend, including maintaining a debt service coverage ratio for the immediately preceding four consecutive fiscal quarters and the projected immediately succeeding four consecutive fiscal quarters of not less than 1.20 to 1.00 and no default or event of default has occurred or is continuing. The Terminal Facility also limits the Marine Terminal Borrower from, among other things, incurring indebtedness or entering into mergers and divestitures. The Terminal Facility also contains general covenants that will require the Marine Terminal Borrower to vote its interest in the Export Terminal Joint Venture to cause the Export Terminal Joint Venture to maintain adequate insurance coverage and maintain its property (but only to the extent the Marine Terminal Borrower has the power under the organizational documents of the Export Terminal Joint Venture to cause such actions).
Security. The loans under the Terminal Facility are secured by first priority liens on the rights to the Marine Terminal Borrower’s distributions from the Export Terminal Joint Venture, the Export Terminal Borrower’s assets and properties and the company’s equity interests in the Marine Terminal Borrower.
Secured Term Loan Facilities and Revolving Credit Facilities
General. Navigator Gas L.L.C., our wholly-owned subsidiary, and certain of our vessel-owning subsidiaries have entered into various secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities, as summarized in the table below, beginning in October 2016, or the “October 2016 secured term loan and revolving credit facility” and in June 2017, or the “June 2017 secured term loan and revolving credit facility,” and in March 2019, or the “March 2019 secured term loan facility,” and in September 2020, or the “September 2020 secured revolving credit facility” and in December 2022, or the “December 2022 secured term loan and revolving credit facility”.
In August 2021, as part of the Ultragas Transaction, the Company became guarantor for a series of Senior Secured Term Loan Facilities, previously entered into by Othello Shipping Company S.A. or certain of its wholly owned vessel owning entities. These were an “August 2021 Amendment and Restatement Agreement” to a 2019 Senior Term Loan Facility with Danmarks Skibskredit A/S, an October 2013 Senior Secured Term Loan Facility with Deutsche Bank, or the “DB Credit Facility A”, an October 2013 Senior Secured Term Loan Facility with Banco Santander and Korea Finance Corporation, or the “Santander Credit Facility A” a July 2015 Senior Secured Term Loan Facility with Deutsche Bank, or the “DB Credit Facility B”, and a July 2015 Senior Secured Term Loan Facility with Banco Santander, or the “Santander Credit Facility B”.
In December 2022, the Navigator Greater Bay Joint Venture entered into a facility to finance an ethylene capable handysize vessel acquired from Pacific Gas, along with four other ethylene capable handysize vessels which were subsequently acquired from Pacific Gas, or the “Greater Bay JV secured term loan”.
Collectively, we refer to the debt thereunder as our “secured facilities.” Proceeds of the loans under our secured facilities are used to refinance existing secured facilities, to finance newbuildings, for acquisitions and for general corporate purposes. Please read Note 11—Secured Term Loan Facilities and Revolving Credit Facilities to our consolidated financial statements.
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The table below summarizes our secured term loan and revolving credit facilities as of December 31, 2022:
| Facility agreement date |
Original facility amount |
Principal amount outstanding |
Undrawn amount at December 31, 2022 |
Interest rate | Loan maturity date |
|||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| October 2016 |
220.0 | 62.2 | $ | 20.0 | U.S. LIBOR + 260 BPS | November 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| June 2017 |
160.8 | 70.0 | — | U.S. LIBOR + 230 BPS | June 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| March 2019 |
107.0 | 72.7 | — | U.S. LIBOR + 240 BPS | March 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| September 2020 |
210.0 | 173.0 | — | Comp. SOFR + 250 BPS | September 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| December 2022 |
111.8 | 108.7 | — | Term SOFR + 209 BPS | September 2028 | |||||||||||||||
| August 2021 Amendment and Restatement Agreement |
67.0 | 46.6 | — | U.S. LIBOR + 190 BPS | August 2026 | |||||||||||||||
| DB Credit Facility A |
57.7 | 20.4 | — | U.S. LIBOR + 205 BPS | October 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| Santander Credit Facility A |
81.0 | 30.4 | — | U.S. LIBOR + 205 BPS | October 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| DB Credit Facility B |
60.9 | 31.7 | — | U.S. LIBOR + 205 BPS | July 2027 | |||||||||||||||
| Santander Credit Facility B |
55.8 | 30.2 | — | U.S. LIBOR + 205 BPS | July 2027 | |||||||||||||||
| Greater Bay JV secured term loan |
151.3 | 27.5 | 123.8 | Term SOFR + 220 BPS | December 2029 | |||||||||||||||
| October 2019* |
69.1 | 48.1 | — | U.S. LIBOR + 250 BPS | October 2026 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total |
$ | 1,352.4 | $ | 721.5 | $ | 143.8 | ||||||||||||||
| * | The October 2019 loan facility relates to the Navigator Aurora Facility held within a lessor entity (for which legal ownership resides with financial institutions) that we are required to consolidate under U.S. GAAP into our financial statements as a variable interest entity (Please read Note 10—Variable Interest Entities to our consolidated financial statements). |
Fees and Interest. We paid arrangement and agency fees at the time of the closing of our secured term loan and revolving credit facilities. Agency fees are due annually. Interest on amounts drawn is payable at a rate of SOFR or U.S. LIBOR, in each case plus a bank margin, for interest periods of one, three or six months or longer if agreed by all lenders.
Term and Facility Limits
October 2016 Secured Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility. The October 2016 secured term loan and revolving credit facility has a term of seven years from the first utilization date with a maximum principal amount of up to $220.0 million of which $165.0 million was available as an amortizing secured term loan and $55.0 million is available as a revolving credit facility, of which $20.0 million currently remains undrawn. The aggregate fair market value of the collateral vessels must be no less than 125% of the aggregate outstanding borrowings under the facility. Interest on amounts drawn is payable at a rate of U.S. LIBOR plus 260 basis points per annum. The facility was repaid on March 28, 2023 from the proceeds of a new secured term loan.
June 2017 Secured Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility. The June 2017 secured term loan and revolving credit facility has a term of six years from the date of the agreement and expires in June 2023, with a maximum principal amount of $160.8 million and was entered into to re-finance a prior facility and for general corporate purposes. The facility has $100.0 million as a secured term loan and $60.8 million available as a revolving credit facility. The aggregate fair market value of the collateral vessels must be no less than 125% of the aggregate outstanding borrowing under the facility. Interest on amounts drawn is payable at a rate of U.S. LIBOR plus 230 basis points per annum. The facility was repaid on March 28, 2023 from the proceeds of a new secured term loan.
March 2019 Secured Term Loan Facility. The March 2019 secured term loan facility has a term of six years from the date of the agreement and expires in March 2025. It has a maximum principal amount of
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$107.0 million and was entered to re-finance four of our vessels that were secured within our January 2015 secured term loan facility and that were due to mature from June 2020. The full amount of this facility has been drawn. Under this agreement, the aggregate fair market value of the collateral vessels must be no less than 130% of the aggregate outstanding borrowing under the facility. Interest on amounts drawn is payable at a rate of U.S. LIBOR plus 240 basis points per annum.
September 2020 Secured Revolving Credit Facility. The September 2020 secured revolving credit facility initially had a term of four years, with an option, subject to Lenders consent to extend the maturity date of the facility by 12 months to September 2025. On November 28, 2022, the Company entered into a supplemental amendment agreement to extend the facility by the 12 month option period and at the same time converted the reference rate from U.S LIBOR to Term SOFR with effect from the subsequent loan rollover date, being December 31, 2022. Under the amended agreement, the aggregate fair market value of the collateral vessels must be no less than 130% of the aggregate outstanding borrowing under the facility. Interest on amounts drawn is payable at a rate of Term SOFR plus a credit adjustment spread of 0.26161% and 250 basis points per annum.
August 2021 Amendment and Restatement Agreement. In August 2021, as a result of the Ultragas Transaction, the Company entered into the August 2021 Amendment and Restatement Agreement relating to a previously issued 2019 Senior Term Loan Facility, with four vessel owning entities as borrowers for a maximum principal amount of $66.95 million. The facility has an expiration date of August 2026 and is fully drawn down. As of December 31, 2022, the amount outstanding was $46.6 million which is repayable in equal half yearly instalments of approximately $2.9 million followed by a payment of $26.2 million on the final repayment date of June 1, 2026. Interest on amounts drawn is payable at a rate of U.S. LIBOR plus 190 basis points per annum. Under amendment no.1 of the facility, dated June 2019, the U.S. LIBOR portion of the facility on each tranche was fixed at a rate between 1.873% and 1.88% for the remaining duration of the loan.
The facility is secured by first priority mortgages on each of Happy Osprey, Happy Peregrine, Happy Pelican and Happy Penguin, as well as assignment of earnings and insurances on these secured vessels. The financial covenants each as defined within the Senior Term Loan Facility are: a) the maintenance at all times of cash and cash equivalents in an amount equal to or greater than (i) $50.0 million and (ii) 5 per cent of the total indebtedness; and b) maintain a ratio of value adjusted total stockholders’ equity to value adjusted total assets of not less than 30%; and the aggregate fair market value of the collateral vessels must be no less than 135% of the aggregate outstanding borrowing under the facility. As of December 31, 2022, the Company was in compliance with all covenants contained in this credit facility.
In August 2021, as part of the Ultragas Transaction, the Company became guarantor for the following four Senior Secured Term Loan Facilities, previously entered into by Othello Shipping Company S.A. or certain of its wholly owned vessel owning entities.
DB Credit Facility A. On October 25, 2013, Atlanticgas Shipping Inc. and Balearicgas Shipping Inc. entered into the DB Credit Facility A for a maximum principal amount of $57.7 million, to finance two newbuild LPG carriers, Atlanticgas and Balearicgas. The facility had a term of twelve years from the date of the vessels’ deliveries, therefore expiring in April 2027. It is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2022, with an amount outstanding of $20.4 million which is repayable for each vessel tranche in half yearly installments of $1.2 million. Interest on amounts drawn is payable at a rate of U.S. LIBOR plus 205 basis points per annum. This loan facility is secured by first priority mortgages on each of the secured vessels as well as assignments of earnings and insurances on these vessels.
Santander Credit Facility A. On October 30, 2013, Adriaticgas Shipping Inc., Celticgas Shipping Inc. and Lalandia Shipping Company S.A entered into the Santander Credit Facility A for a maximum principal amount of $81.0 million, to finance three newbuild LPG carriers, Adriatic Gas, Celtic Gas and Happy Albatross. The facility has a term of twelve years from the date of the vessels’ deliveries, therefore expiring in May 2027. It is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2022, with an amount outstanding of $30.4 million which is repayable for
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each vessel tranche in half yearly installments of between $1.0 million and $1.2 million for twelve years from the date of each vessel drawdown. Interest on amounts drawn is payable at a rate of U.S. LIBOR plus 205 basis points per annum. This loan facility is secured by first priority mortgages on each of the secured vessels as well as assignments of earnings and insurances on these vessels.
DB Credit Facility B. On July 31, 2015, Beringgas Shipping Inc and Pacificgas Shipping Inc entered into the DB Credit Facility B for a maximum principal amount of $60.9 million, to finance two newbuild LPG carriers, Bering Gas and Pacific Gas. The facility had a term of twelve years from the date of the vessels’ deliveries, therefore expiring in December 2028. It is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2022, with an amount outstanding of $31.7 million which is repayable for each vessel tranche in half yearly installments of $1.3 million for twelve years from the date of each vessel drawdown. Interest on amounts drawn is payable at a rate of U.S. LIBOR plus 205 basis points per annum. This loan facility is secured by first priority mortgages on both of the secured vessels as well as assignments of earnings and insurances on these vessels.
Santander Credit Facility B. On July 31, 2015, Arcticgas Shipping Inc and Falstria Shipping Company S.A entered into the Santander Credit Facility B for a maximum principal amount of $55.8 million, to finance two newbuild LPG carriers, Arctic Gas and Happy Avocet. The facility has a term of twelve years from the date of the vessels’ deliveries, therefore expiring in January 2029. It is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2022 , with an amount outstanding of $30.2 million which is repayable for each vessel tranche in half yearly installments of $1.1 million and $1.3 million for twelve years from the date of each vessel drawdown. Interest on amounts drawn is payable at a rate of U.S. LIBOR plus 205 basis points per annum. This loan facility is secured by first priority mortgages on both of the secured vessels as well as assignments of earnings and insurances on these vessels.
December 2022 Secured Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility. The December 2022 secured term loan and revolving credit facility has a term of six years from the date of the agreement and expires in September 2028. It has a maximum principal amount of $111.8 million and was entered into to refinance five of our vessels that were secured within a prior facility, and for general corporate purposes. The facility is fully drawn. The aggregate fair market value of the collateral vessels must be no less than 135% of the aggregate outstanding borrowings under the facility. Interest on amounts drawn is payable at a rate of SOFR plus 209 basis points per annum.
Greater Bay JV Term Loan Facility. The Greater Bay JV term loan facility was entered into to finance the intended acquisition of five ethylene capable liquefied carriers from Pacific Gas. It has a term of six years with effect from the date of each vessel drawdown and has a maximum principal amount of $151.3 million. As of December 31, 2022, the facility was partially drawn down at an amount of $27.5 million. During the first quarter of 2023, $91.8 million was drawn down to partially finance the acquisition of three ethylene capable liquefied carriers from Pacific Gas. The aggregate fair market value of the collateral vessel(s) must be no less than 125% of the aggregate outstanding borrowings under the facility. Interest on amounts drawn is payable at a rate of SOFR plus 220 basis points per annum.
March 2023 Senior Secured Term Loan. On March 20, 2023, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan with Nordea Bank ABP, ABN AMRO Bank N.V. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (Publ), and BNP Paribas S.A. to refinance June 2017 Secured Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility and the October 2016 Secured Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility that were due to mature in June and October 2023, respectively. The facility has a term of six years, maturing in March 2029 and is for a maximum principal amount of $200.0 million. The available facility amount shall be reduced quarterly by an amount of $8.3 million followed by a final balloon payment in March 2029. Interest on amounts drawn is payable at a rate of SOFR plus 210 basis points.
Prepayments/Repayments. The borrowers may voluntarily prepay indebtedness under our secured term loan facilities at any time, without premium or penalty, in whole or in part upon prior written notice to the facility agent, subject to customary compensation for SOFR or LIBOR. For the revolving loans of the September 2020
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and December 2022 secured term loan and revolving credit facilities, the borrowers may re-borrow and prepay amounts. For all other secured term loan facilities referred to above, the borrowers may not re-borrow any amount that has been so prepaid.
The loans are subject to quarterly or half yearly amortization repayments typically beginning three months after the initial borrowing date or delivery dates of the delivered ships, as applicable. Any remaining outstanding principal amount must be repaid on the expiration date of the facilities.
Financial Covenants. The secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities contain financial covenants requiring the borrowers, among other things, to ensure that:
| • | the borrowers have liquidity (including undrawn available lines of credit with a maturity exceeding 12 months) of no less than (i) $25.0, $35.0 or $50.0 million, or (ii) 5% of Net Debt or total debt, as applicable, whichever is greater; and |
| • | the ratio of EBITDA to Interest Expense (each as defined in the applicable secured term loan facility and revolving credit facility, as amended), on a trailing four quarter basis, is no less than 2.50 to 1.00 or 3.00 to 1.00; and |
| • | the borrower must maintain a minimum ratio of shareholder equity or value adjusted shareholder equity to total assets or value adjusted total assets of 30%. |
Restrictive Covenants. The secured facilities provide that the borrowers may not declare or pay dividends to shareholders out of operating revenues generated by the vessels securing the indebtedness if an event of default has occurred and is continuing. The secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities also limit the borrowers from, among other things, incurring indebtedness or entering into mergers and divestitures. The secured facilities also contain general covenants that will require the borrowers to maintain adequate insurance coverage and to maintain their vessels. In addition, the secured term loan facilities include customary events of default, including those relating to a failure to pay principal or interest, a breach of covenant, representation and warranty, a cross-default to other indebtedness and non-compliance with security documents.
Other than as stated, our compliance with the financial covenants is measured as of the end of each fiscal quarter or each half year. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we were in compliance with all covenants under the secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities, including with respect to the aggregate fair market value of our collateral vessels.
The borrowers are also required to deliver semi-annual compliance certificates, which include valuations of the vessels securing the applicable facility from independent ship brokers. Upon delivery of the valuation, if the market value of the collateral vessels is less than 125% to 135% of the outstanding indebtedness under the facilities, as applicable, the borrowers must either provide additional collateral or repay any amount in excess of 125% to 135% of the market value of the collateral vessels, as applicable. This covenant is measured semi-annually on June 30 and December 31. As of December 31, 2022, we had an aggregate excess of $812.1 million above the levels required by these covenants, in addition to nine unencumbered vessels.
2018 Senior Secured Bonds
General. On November 2, 2018, we issued senior secured bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 600 million Norwegian Kroner (“NOK”) (approximately $71.7 million) with Nordic Trustee AS, as bond trustee and security agent (the “2018 Bonds”). The net proceeds were used to partially finance our portion of the capital cost for the construction of the Ethylene Export Terminal. On December 23, 2022, pursuant to a call option under the terms of the bond agreement governing the 2018 Bonds, we redeemed all of the 600 million NOK in outstanding principal amount of the 2018 Bonds at a price of 101.79% of par, plus accrued interest. As a result, we no longer have any outstanding balance on the 2018 Bonds. The redemption of the 2018 Bonds was funded from the Company’s available cash resources.
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Security. The 2018 Bonds were secured, prior to the sale of Navigator Neptune in January 2022, by four of the Company’s ethylene capable semi-refrigerated liquefied gas carriers. On repayment of the bonds in December 2022, the security over the remining three vessels was released.
2020 Senior Unsecured Bonds
General. On September 10, 2020, we issued senior unsecured bonds in an aggregate principal amount of $100.0 million with Nordic Trustee AS as the bond trustee (the “2020 Bonds”). The net proceeds of the issuance of the 2020 Bonds were used to redeem in full all of our previously outstanding 2017 Bonds. The 2020 Bonds are governed by Norwegian law and listed on the Nordic ABM which is operated and organized by Oslo Børs ASA.
Interest. Interest on the 2020 Bonds is payable at a fixed rate of 8.0% per annum, calculated on a 360-day year basis. Interest is payable semiannually in arrears on March 10 and September 10 of each year.
Maturity. The 2020 Bonds mature in full on September 10, 2025 and become repayable on that date.
Optional Redemption. We may redeem the 2020 Bonds, in whole or in part at any time. Any 2020 Bonds redeemed; up until September 9, 2023 will be priced at the aggregate of the net present value (based on the Norwegian government bond rate plus 50 basis points) of 103.2% of par and interest payable up to September 9, 2023; from September 10, 2023 up until September 9, 2024, are redeemable at 103.2% of par, from September 10, 2024 up until March 9, 2025, are redeemable at 101.6% of par, and from March 10, 2025 to the maturity date are redeemable at 100% of par, in each case, in cash plus accrued interest.
Additionally, upon the occurrence of a “Change of Control Event” (as defined in the bond agreement for the 2020 Bonds, (the “2020 Bond Agreement”)), the holders of 2020 Bonds have an option to require us to repay such holders’ outstanding principal amount of 2020 Bonds at 101% of par, plus accrued interest.
Financial Covenants. The 2020 Bond Agreement contains financial covenants requiring us, among other things, to ensure that:
| • | we and our subsidiaries maintain a minimum liquidity of no less than $35.0 million; and |
| • | we and our subsidiaries maintain an Equity Ratio (as defined in the 2020 Bond Agreement) of at least 30%. |
Our compliance with the covenants listed above is measured as of the end of each fiscal quarter. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we were in compliance with all covenants under the 2020 Bonds.
Restrictive Covenants. The 2020 Bonds provide that we may declare or pay dividends to shareholders provided the Company maintains a minimum liquidity of $60.0 million unless an event of default has occurred and is continuing. The 2020 Bond Agreement also limits us and our subsidiaries from, among other things, entering into mergers and divestitures, engaging in transactions with affiliates or incurring any additional liens which would have a material adverse effect. In addition, the 2020 Bond Agreement includes customary events of default, including those relating to a failure to pay principal or interest, a breach of covenant, false representation and warranty, a cross-default to other indebtedness, the occurrence of a material adverse effect, or our insolvency or dissolution.
Lessor VIE Debt
In October 2019, we entered into a sale and leaseback transaction to refinance one of our vessels, Navigator Aurora¸ with a lessor, OCY Aurora Ltd, a special purpose vehicle (“SPV”) and wholly owned subsidiary of Ocean Yield Malta Limited. The SPV was determined to be a variable interest entity (“VIE”). We are deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE, and as a result, we are required by U.S. GAAP to consolidate the SPV into our results. The loan described below under “—Navigator Aurora Facility” relates to the VIE. Although we have
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no control over the funding arrangements of this entity, we are required to consolidate this loan facility into our financial results. Please read Note 10—Variable Interest Entities to our consolidated financial statements for further information.
Upon the occurrence of a “Change of Control Event” (as defined in the sale and leaseback agreement), the lessor has the option to require us to repurchase Navigator Aurora at 103% of the outstanding lease amount, plus costs and expenses directly attributable to the termination of the lessor’s financing arrangements, such as break costs for swap arrangements.
Navigator Aurora Facility
In October 2019, the SPV, which owns Navigator Aurora, entered into secured financing agreements for $69.1 million consisting of a USD denominated loan facility, the “Navigator Aurora Facility”. The Navigator Aurora Facility is a seven year unsecured loan provided by OCY Malta Limited, the parent of OCY Aurora Ltd., The Navigator Aurora Facility is subordinated to a further bank loan where OCY Aurora Ltd is the guarantor and Navigator Aurora is pledged as security. Please read Note 11—Secured Term Loans Facilities and Revolving Credit Facilities to our consolidated financial statements for further information. The Navigator Aurora Facility bears interest at 3 month U.S. LIBOR plus a margin of 185 basis points and is repayable by the SPV with a balloon payment on maturity. As of December 31, 2022, there was $48.1 million in borrowings outstanding under the Navigator Aurora Facility (December 31, 2021, $55.1 million).
| C. | Research and Development Patents and Licenses etc. |
We do not undertake any significant expenditure on research and development and have no significant interests in patents or licenses.
| D. | Trend Information |
Share Repurchase Program
On October 18, 2022, the Company announced the Board’s authorization for a share repurchase program of up to $50.0 million of its common stock, to be implemented via open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, or in accordance with an approved trading plan (under Rule 10b5-1). In December 2022, the Company commenced the share buyback program upon calling the NOK bonds. As of March 17, 2023, the Company had purchased and cancelled 2,023,998 common shares for a total amount of $25.4 million (an average price of $12.57 per share), leaving $24.6 million remaining from the initial $50.0 million authorization.
Russian Invasion of Ukraine
In February 2022, the Russian attack on Ukraine started. The ongoing conflict may lead to further regional and international conflicts or armed action. The conflict could disrupt supply chains, as we have seen particularly in the availability of ammonia, which has resulted in ammonia being sourced further away from its consumers thus increasing the demand for our vessels carrying ammonia on longer voyages relative to prior to the invasion. The conflict could cause instability in the global economy and could result in the imposition of further economic sanctions by the United States and the European Union against Russia which could spread to other nations, including potentially China. While much uncertainty remains regarding the future global impact of the invasion, the tensions could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We currently have two charter parties with a Russian counterparty that were entered into in 2012 and which expire in December 2023. These charter parties cannot be prematurely terminated without the consent of both parties unless a counterparty was to become a sanctioned entity or our dealings with that counterparty were to be otherwise prohibited by sanctions, which would render the charters void. As of the date hereunder, the counterparty remains unsanctioned.
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We employ many Russian and Ukrainian officers on board our vessels, albeit at a reduced number compared to prior to the Ukrainian conflict, and many such officers are employed on board the same vessels. Although we have only experienced solidarity among our officers on board our vessels and we have not experienced any operational issues with such officers, we continue to monitor this situation closely, and there may be governmental restrictions, logistical challenges or an inability to employ either or both nationalities in the future.
Ethylene Export Terminal
The Ethylene Export Terminal commenced full operations in January 2021 with an export capability of one million tons of ethylene throughput through the terminal annually. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Ethylene Export Terminal had a throughput of 987,529 metric tons of ethylene, compared to 628,257 tons during 2021.We expect that throughput levels achieved in 2022 would continue into the future. We, together with our joint venture partner have agreed to the Expansion Project, increasing the export capacity from approximately one million tons per year to at least 1.5 million tons and up to three million tons per year. Long lead items have already been ordered and construction is expected to be completed in the second half of 2024. The total capital contributions required from us to the Export Terminal Joint Venture for the Expansion Project are expected to be approximately $120—$130 million, commencing in the first quarter of 2023 and ending in the fourth quarter of 2024, which the Company expects to fund using a combination of cash on hand, distributions from the Export Terminal Joint Venture during the course of the expansion and additional debt financing.
Shipping Trends
The Company’s vessel utilization through 2022 was in line with expectations with higher seasonal demand from the LPG segment at the beginning of 2022, combined with long haul, intercontinental ethylene voyages to Asia, from the U.S, keeping utilization relatively high during the first quarter of 2022, before the summer months during which there was less demand. Vessel utilization increased again in the fourth quarter of 2022 to approximately 94%, to average the full 2022 year at 89%.
According to broker reports, the handysized semi-refrigerated 12 month market assessment rose in 2022 by 9%, from $680,000 per calendar month (“pcm”) on January 1, 2022 to approximately $750 000 pcm at December 31, 2022. Throughout 2022, handysized fully refrigerated vessel rates rose by 18% from $620,000 pcm at the start of 2022 to $730,000 pcm at the end of 2022.
Throughput in the Ethylene Export Terminal achieved approximate nameplate capacity at 987,529 metric tons during 2022, averaging approximately 83,000 metric tons of ethylene throughput per month. The primary destination of the U.S. cargo was to Europe from February 2022 to September 2022, resulting in shorter voyages and less ton mile for much of the 2022 year, which had the effect of reduced demand for ethylene capable vessels, softening the market, particularly through the summer months of 2022, lower utilization and lower rates. However, the ethylene price arbitrage between the U.S. and Asia opened later in the 2022 year, resulting in the majority of the terminal output being transported on longer voyages to Asia. A roundtrip voyage between Houston and East Asia is typically approximately 75 to 80 days, compared to approximately 35 days for a roundtrip between Houston and Europe.
Vessel utilization also increased during 2022 as result of the geopolitical conflict around Ukraine. The port of Yuzhne (Yuzhnyy) in Ukraine is the provider of approximately 15% of global seaborne ammonia, and as a result of the conflict, this port was closed, resulting in that source of ammonia being removed from the market. In addition, because natural gas is the feedstock for ammonia production in Europe, natural gas prices have increased significantly, making ammonia production in Europe uncompetitive, which had the effect of increased imports from further distances, for example Southeast Asia, North Asia, Australia and the US Gulf. This had the effect of doubling the number of our vessels trading in ammonia during 2022, from five vessels at the beginning of the year, to ten vessels at the end of 2022.
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At December 31, 2022 the newbuild orderbook for handysize vessels stood at two vessels., which constitutes approximately 1.5% of the current global handysize fleet. Low incremental supply of vessels is beneficial to the market, potentially resulting in increased freight rates. Any new handysize vessel orders now would not be expected to be delivered until 2026, due to shipyard capacity, providing visibility into the anticipated supply of vessels over the coming years.
| E. | Critical Accounting Estimates |
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make estimates in the application of our accounting policies based on our best assumptions, judgments and opinions. On a regular basis, management reviews the accounting policies, assumptions, estimates and judgments to ensure that our consolidated financial statements are presented fairly and in accordance with U.S. GAAP. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from our assumptions and estimates, and such differences could be material. For a description of our material accounting policies, please read Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition. We employ our vessels under time charters, voyage charters or COAs and through pooling arrangements. With time charters, we receive a fixed charter rate per on-hire day and revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the charter. In the case of voyage charters, the vessel is contracted for a voyage between two or several ports, and we are paid for the cargo transported. Revenue from COAs is recognized on the same basis as revenue from voyage charters, as they are essentially a series of consecutive voyage charters.
In accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, our basis for revenue recognition for voyage charters and COAs is to recognize revenue on a load to discharge basis (i.e. from when a cargo commences loading at the load port to when it is discharged at the discharge port after the completion of the voyage). We determine the voyage revenue to be recognized based on policies that incorporate estimates, assumptions and judgements relative to percentage of completion and discharging times. Revenue is recognized on a pro-rata basis, relating to the estimated percentage of the voyage that has been completed. The revenue that we expect to receive also includes estimates associated with the loading or discharging times, which if exceeded will result in additional revenue, referred to as demurrage revenue. Demurrage revenue is not considered a separate deliverable in accordance with ASC 606 as it is part of the single performance obligation in a voyage charter.
Valuation of Vessels. As of December 31, 2022, the aggregate carrying value of our 53 vessels in operation, including drydocking costs, was $1,692.5 million. We review our vessels for impairment when events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the vessel and capitalized drydocking costs might not be recoverable. Considerations in making an impairment evaluation include comparison of current carrying values to anticipated future operating cash flows, expectations with respect to future operations and other relevant factors. The estimates and assumptions regarding expected cash flows require considerable judgment and are based upon historical experience, financial forecasts and industry trends and conditions and reflect management’s assumptions and judgements regarding (i) expected future charter rates; (ii) expected future utilization rates; (iii) the estimated remaining useful lives of the vessels and capitalized drydocking costs; and (iv) the discount rate applied to the estimated future cash flows.
We determined that there are no circumstances that indicate the carry amount of vessels and capitalized drydocking costs might not be recoverable for the year ended December 31, 2022. We have not recorded an impairment loss for the year ended December 31, 2022. Compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, where we determined the aggregate undiscounted expected future cash flows associated with those vessels to be $3,375.4 million. In 2021, following a change to the estimated useful lives of the vessels to reflect the impact of climate change and sustainability on utilization rates, from 30 years to 25 years, there were eight vessels that
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showed indications of impairment, as their individual carrying values were greater than their respective undiscounted cashflows. The total impairment loss recorded in 2021 was $58.2 million.
| Item | 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees |
| A. | Directors and Senior Management |
Directors
Set forth below are the names, ages and positions of our directors.
| Name |
Age | Position | ||
| Dag von Appen | 60 | Director and Non-executive Chairman of the Board | ||
| Dr. Heiko Fischer | 55 | Director | ||
| David Kenwright | 74 | Director | ||
| Anita Odedra | 52 | Director | ||
| Andreas Sohmen-Pao | 51 | Director | ||
| Peter Stokes | 72 | Director | ||
| Florian Weidinger | 42 | Director |
Our board of directors is elected annually. Each director holds office until their successor has been duly elected and qualified, except in the event of their death, resignation, removal or the earlier termination of their term of office. Officers are elected from time to time by vote of our board of directors and hold office until a successor is elected.
Biographical information with respect to each of our directors and our executive officers is set forth below.
Dag von Appen. Dag von Appen has been a member of the Board since August 4, 2021 as a designee of Naviera Ultranav Limitada following the merger of the fleet and business activities of Ultragas ApS with that of Navigator and became Non-Executive Chairman of Navigator in September 2021. Mr. von Appen has been Chairman of the Board of Ultranav Limitada since 2002 and a Board Member of Ultramar Ltda. since 1999, as well as other Chilean and international businesses. He holds a degree in Economics from the Universidad de Chile in Santiago and also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School of Boston. Mr. von Appen is a Chilean and German citizen and resides in Santiago, Chile.
Dr. Heiko Fischer. Dr. Heiko Fischer has been a member of the Board since December 2011. From May 2004 to June 2021, Dr. Fischer was Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Board of VTG Aktiengesellschaft, a German railroad freightcar lessor and logistics company which was traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange between 2007 and 2019. He was a member of the Supervisory Board of Hapag-Lloyd AG, a listed German container shipping company. He is the Chairman of the Advisory Board of TRANSWAGGON-Gruppe and a member of the Advisory Boards of Broad Peak Global LP, Brueckenhaus Grundstueckgesellschaft m.b.h. and Kommanditgesellschaft Brueckenhaus Grundstuecksgesellschaft m.b.H. & Co. as well as a member of the Administrative Boards of TRANSWAGGON AG and Waggon Holding AG. Dr. Fischer graduated from the University at Albany (SUNY) with an MBA in 1992, and from Julius-Maximilians University in Wuerzburg, Germany with a PhD in Economic Sciences in 1996.
David Kenwright. David Kenwright has been a member of the Board since March 2007. Mr. Kenwright is a managing director of Achater Offshore Ltd., the Aberdeen Business Centre, and Chairman of the U.K. Emergency Response and Rescue Vessel Association Ltd., is also a non-executive director of Oxford Electromagnetic Systems Limited and was previously a managing director of Gulf Offshore N.S. Ltd. for seven years. Mr. Kenwright is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology.
Dr. Anita Odedra. Dr. Anita Odedra has been a member of the Board since March 2022. Dr. Odedra is Senior Vice President, LNG Marketing and Trading at Tellurian Inc, where she has held senior positions since 2018 and has been a non-executive director at Euronav NV since May 2019. Dr. Odedra was formerly Executive
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Vice President at Angelicoussis Shipping Group Limited from July 2016 to July 2018 and Vice President, Shipping & Commercial Operations for Cheniere Marketing Limited from February 2016 to July 2016. Dr. Odedra spent 19 years at BG Group, where she worked across all aspects of BG’s business, including exploration, production, trading, marketing and business development. Dr. Odedra has a PhD in Rock Physics from University College London and the University of Tokyo and a BSC in Geology from Imperial College, University of London.
Andreas Sohmen-Pao. Andreas Sohmen-Pao has been a member of the Board since August 4, 2021, as a designee of BW Group. Mr. Sohmen-Pao has been Chairman of BW Group since 2014, and affiliated entities BW LPG since September 2013, BW Offshore since November 2014, Hafnia since May 2014, BW Epic Kosan since May 2019, BW Energy since November 2019 and Cadeler since April 2021. He has also been Chairman of the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation since July 2021, and a trustee of the Lloyd’s Register Foundation since June 2018. Mr. Sohmen-Pao was previously Chief Executive Officer of BW Group from September 2004 to March 2015. He served as Chairman of the Singapore Maritime Foundation and was a non-executive director of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd., The London P&I Club, Singapore Symphonia Company, National Parks Board Singapore, Sport Singapore and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore amongst others. Mr. Sohmen-Pao graduated from Oxford University in England with an honours degree in Oriental Studies and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Peter Stokes. Peter Stokes has been a member of the Board since August 4, 2021, as a designee of Naviera Ultranav Limitada. Through his work as a senior investment banker and boards of director positions, Mr. Stokes has long-standing experience in acting as advisor to many shipping companies. Mr. Stokes was the Chairman of the Global Maritime Forum from 2017 to 2022. Mr. Stokes was a director and subsequently senior adviser of Lazard Ltd. from 1998 to 2021. Prior to joining Lazard, Mr. Stokes was a founder and partner of Castalia Partners from 1992 to 1998. Due to his breadth of knowledge, Mr. Stokes is a frequent speaker at international shipping and finance conferences. Mr. Stokes is a British citizen and resides in England.
Florian Weidinger. Florian Weidinger has been a member of the Board since March 2007. Mr Weidinger has been the CEO of Santa Lucia Asset Management (SLAM), a Singapore-based investment firm since 2021. Prior to that role, he was the founder of Hansabay in 2011, which merged its business with SLAM in 2021. Before that, Mr. Weidinger was a vice president at Lehman Brothers where he last worked for the insolvency administration, after several years with the risk arbitrage, principal investing and investment banking divisions. He has held multiple board directorships across sectors. Mr. Weidinger holds a BSc from City University of London, an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and an MS in Environment and Resources from Stanford University’s School of Earth Sciences.
Ultranav and BW Group have the right under the terms of their respective Investor Rights Agreements to each designate two individuals to be nominated to our Board. Mr. von Appen and Mr. Stokes are designees of Ultranav and Mr. Sohmen-Pao is a designee of the BW Group. See “Item 7—Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Related Party Transactions—Investor Rights Agreements.”
Executive Officers
The following table provides information about our executive officers. Each of NGT Services (UK) Limited and Navigator Gas (Denmark) ApS, our wholly-owned subsidiaries and commercial managers, provides us with certain of our officers. All references in this annual report to “our officers” refer to those officers of NGT Services (UK) Limited and Navigator Gas (Denmark) ApS, who perform executive officer functions for our benefit.
| Name |
Age | Position | ||
| Mads Peter Zacho | 53 | Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Oeyvind Lindeman | 44 | Chief Commercial Officer | ||
| Niall Nolan | 59 | Chief Financial Officer | ||
| Michael Schroder | 59 | Chief Operations Officer |
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Mads Peter Zacho Mads Peter Zacho was appointed Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company in August 2022. Mr. Zacho has worked in shipping for almost 20 years, most recently as the Head of Industry Transition at the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, since November 2020. From November 2016 to August 2020, Mr Zacho was CEO for J. Lauritzen A/S and was also the chief financial officer for TORM plc from September 2013 to November 2016 and chief financial officer for Svitzer between 2010 and 2013. Mr. Zacho was Deputy Head of Treasury for A.P. Møller-Mærsk between 2004 and 2010. Mr Zacho spent the first 10 years of his career in the financial industry in Denmark and the United States and brings shipping experience from several shipping segments, namely the gas tanker, dry bulk, product tanker, container and towage segments. Mr Zacho has an MSc in Economics from the University of Copenhagen and an MBA from the International Institute for Management Development, Lausanne.
Oeyvind Lindeman. Oeyvind Lindeman was appointed Chartering Manager of the Company in November 2007, before being appointed Chief Commercial Officer in January 2014. Prior to this, Mr. Lindeman was employed for five years as a charterer within the gas division at A.P. Møller Maersk. Mr. Lindeman holds a BA with honors from the University of Strathclyde and an Executive MBA with distinction from Cass Business School.
Niall Nolan. Niall Nolan was appointed Chief Financial Officer of NGT Services (UK) Limited in August 2006. Mr. Nolan was appointed to the Members’ Representative Committee of Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Limited (“Britannia P&I”) in November 2017 and joined the board of Britannia P&I in May 2018. He resigned from both Britannia P&I positions in February 2022. Prior to his appointment as Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Nolan worked for Navigator Holdings Ltd. as a representative of the creditors committee during Navigator Holdings’ bankruptcy proceedings. Prior to that, Mr. Nolan was group finance director of Simon Group PLC, a U.K. public company. Mr. Nolan is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Michael Schroder. Michael Schroder joined Navigator following the merger with Ultragas ApS in August 2021, where he served as Chief Executive Officer. During his 32-year career, Mr. Schroder held several senior management positions within the Ultranav group in Chile and elsewhere. He has served on boards of shipping and logistic companies, as well as international shipping institutions and is currently a director of Unigas International B.V. Mr. Schroder graduated as Industrial Engineer from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and later obtained an MBA from the same university. He completed an Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Mr. Schroder is a German and Chilean citizen and resides in Denmark.
| B. | Compensation |
Compensation of Directors
The non-executive chairman receives an annual fee of $250,000, of which $125,000 is paid in cash and $125,000 in shares of restricted stock granted under the LTIP which vest on the first anniversary of the grant date. Each of the other non-employee directors who serves as a member of our Board receives an annual fee of $120,000, of which $60,000 is paid in cash and $60,000 in shares of restricted stock granted under the LTIP which vest on the first anniversary of the grant date. In addition, each chairperson of the board committees receives an additional amount of $5,000 per annum, with all members of each committee receiving a meeting fee of $1,500 for each committee meeting attended. Any officers who also serve as members of our Board or board committees do not receive additional compensation for their services as directors.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, we granted a total of 57,402 shares of restricted stock pursuant to awards under the LTIP to non-employee directors of the company as part of their compensation, which such awards vest and become free of restrictions on the first anniversary of the grant date.
Each director will be fully indemnified by us for actions associated with being a director to the extent permitted under Marshall Islands law.
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Compensation of Management
Our officers receive compensation for the services they provide to us. Two of our four officers (Messrs. Zacho and Schroder) are remunerated in Danish Kroner, while the other two officers (Messrs. Nolan and Lindeman) are remunerated in pounds sterling. For purposes of this annual report, all forms of compensation paid to our officers have been converted to U.S. dollars. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the aggregate cash compensation paid to all officers as a group was $2.3 million. The cash compensation for each officer is comprised of base salary, pension contributions or amounts in lieu of pension contributions and bonus. Our officers are eligible to receive a discretionary annual cash bonus based on certain performance criteria determined by the compensation committee of our Board, or the “Compensation Committee,” and approved by our Board. Regardless of performance, the annual cash bonuses are paid at the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee, subject to approval by our Board.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, we granted a total of 10,819 shares of restricted stock to officers of the company under the Navigator Holdings Ltd. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan, or the “LTIP” (as described in further detail below under “—2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan”), which vest and usually become free of restrictions on the third anniversary of the grant date.
Our officers are eligible to participate in certain welfare benefit programs we offer, including life insurance, permanent health insurance, and private medical insurance. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the cost of these benefits provided to our officers was in the aggregate approximately $50,000.
Equity Compensation Plans
2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan
In connection with our initial public offering, we adopted the Navigator Holdings Ltd. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan, or the “LTIP,” for our and our affiliates’ employees and directors as well as consultants who perform services for us. The LTIP provides for the award of restricted stock, stock options, performance awards, annual incentive awards, restricted stock units, bonus stock awards, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalents, and other share-based awards.
Administration. The LTIP is administered by the Compensation Committee, or the “Plan Administrator,” with certain decisions subject to approval of our Board. The Plan Administrator will have the authority to, among other things, designate participants under the LTIP, determine the type or types of awards to be granted to a participant, determine the number of shares of our common stock to be covered by awards, determine the terms and conditions applicable to awards and interpret and administer the LTIP. The Plan Administrator may terminate or amend the LTIP at any time with respect to any shares of our common stock for which a grant has not yet been made. The Plan Administrator also has the right to alter or amend the LTIP or any part of the plan from time to time, including increasing the number of shares of our common stock that may be granted, subject to shareholder approval as required by the exchange upon which our common stock is listed at that time. However, no change in any outstanding grant may be made that would materially reduce the benefits of the participant without the consent of the participant.
Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment in the event of any distribution, recapitalization, split, merger, consolidation or similar corporate event, the number of shares available for delivery pursuant to awards granted under the LTIP is 3,000,000 shares. There is no limit on the number of awards that may be granted and paid in cash. Shares subject to an award under the LTIP that are canceled, forfeited, exchanged, settled in cash or otherwise terminated, including withheld to satisfy exercise prices or tax withholding obligations, are available for delivery pursuant to other awards. The shares of our common stock to be delivered under the LTIP will be made available from authorized but unissued shares, shares held in treasury, or previously issued shares reacquired by us, including by purchase on the open market.
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Restricted Shares. A restricted share grant is an award of common stock that vests over a period of time and that during such time is subject to forfeiture. The Plan Administrator may determine to make grants of restricted shares under the plan to participants containing such terms as the Plan Administrator shall determine. The Plan Administrator will determine the period over which restricted shares granted to participants will vest. The Plan Administrator, in its discretion, may base its determination upon the achievement of specified financial objectives. Dividends made on restricted shares may or may not be subjected to the same vesting provisions as the restricted shares.
Share Options. A share option is a right to purchase shares at a specified price during specified time periods. The LTIP permits the grant of options covering our common stock. The Plan Administrator may make grants under the plan to participants containing such terms as the Plan Administrator shall determine. Share options will have an exercise price that may not be less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Share options granted under the LTIP can be either incentive share options (within the meaning of section 422 of the Code), which may have certain tax advantages for recipients, or non-qualified share options. Share options granted will become exercisable over a period determined by the Plan Administrator. No share option will have a term that exceeds ten years. The availability of share options is intended to furnish additional compensation to plan participants and to align their economic interests with those of common shareholders.
Performance Award. A performance award is a right to receive all or part of an award granted under the LTIP based upon performance criteria specified by the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator will determine the period over which certain specified company or individual goals, or objectives must be met. The performance award may be paid in cash, shares of our common stock or other awards or property, in the discretion of the Plan Administrator.
Annual Incentive Award. An annual incentive award is a conditional right to receive a cash payment, shares or other award unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator, after the end of a specified year. The amount potentially payable will be based upon the achievement of performance goals established by the Plan Administrator.
Restricted Share Unit. A restricted share unit is a notional share that entitles the grantee to receive a share of common stock upon the vesting of the restricted share unit or, in the discretion of the Plan Administrator, cash equivalent to the value of a share of common stock. The Plan Administrator may determine to make grants of restricted share units under the plan to participants containing such terms as the Plan Administrator shall determine. The Plan Administrator will determine the period over which restricted share units granted to participants will vest.
The Plan Administrator, in its discretion, may grant tandem dividend equivalent rights with respect to restricted share units that entitle the holder to receive cash equal to any cash dividends made on our common stock while the restricted share units are outstanding.
Bonus Shares. The Plan Administrator, in its discretion, may also grant to participants shares of common stock that are not subject to forfeiture. The Plan Administrator can grant bonus shares without requiring that the recipient pay any remuneration for the shares.
Share Appreciation Rights. The LTIP permits the grant of share appreciation rights. A share appreciation right is an award that, upon exercise, entitles participants to receive the excess of the fair market value of our common stock on the exercise date over the grant price established for the share appreciation right on the date of grant. Such excess will be paid in cash or common stock. The Plan Administrator may determine to make grants of share appreciation rights under the plan to participants containing such terms as the Plan Administrator shall determine. Share appreciation rights will have a grant price that may not be less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. In general, share appreciation rights granted will become exercisable over a period determined by the Plan Administrator.
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Other Share-Based Awards. The Plan Administrator, in its discretion, may also grant to participants an award denominated or payable in, referenced to, or otherwise based on or related to the value of our common stock.
Tax Withholding. At our discretion, and subject to conditions that the Plan Administrator may impose, a participant’s minimum statutory tax withholding with respect to an award may be satisfied by withholding from any payment related to an award or by the withholding of shares issuable pursuant to the award based on the fair market value of the shares.
Anti-Dilution Adjustments. If any “equity restructuring” event occurs that could result in an additional compensation expense under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or “FASB ASC Topic 718,” if adjustments to awards with respect to such event were discretionary, the Plan Administrator will equitably adjust the number and type of shares covered by each outstanding award and the terms and conditions of such award to equitably reflect the restructuring event, and the Plan Administrator will adjust the number and type of shares with respect to which future awards may be granted. With respect to a similar event that would not result in a FASB ASC Topic 718 accounting charge if adjustment to awards were discretionary, the Plan Administrator shall have complete discretion to adjust awards in the manner it deems appropriate. In the event the Plan Administrator makes any adjustment in accordance with the foregoing provisions, a corresponding and proportionate adjustment shall be made with respect to the maximum number of shares available under the LTIP and the kind of shares or other securities available for grant under the LTIP. Furthermore, in the case of (i) a subdivision or consolidation of the common stock (by reclassification, split or reverse split or otherwise), (ii) a recapitalization, reclassification, or other change in our capital structure or (iii) any other reorganization, merger, combination, exchange or other relevant change in capitalization of our equity, then a corresponding and proportionate adjustment shall be made in accordance with the terms of the LTIP, as appropriate, with respect to the maximum number of shares available under the LTIP, the number of shares that may be acquired with respect to an award, and, if applicable, the exercise price of an award, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of awards as a result of such events.
Change in Control. Upon a “change of control” (as defined in the LTIP), the Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, (i) remove any forfeiture restrictions applicable to an award, (ii) accelerate the time of exercisability or vesting of an award, (iii) require awards to be surrendered in exchange for a cash payment, (iv) cancel unvested awards without payment or (v) make adjustments to awards as the Plan Administrator deems appropriate to reflect the change of control.
Termination of Employment or Service. The consequences of the termination of a grantee’s employment, consulting arrangement, or membership on the board of directors will be determined by the Plan Administrator in the terms of the relevant award agreement.
As described above under “—Compensation of Management” and “—Compensation of Directors,” during the year ended December 31, 2022, we granted a total of (i) 10,819 shares of restricted stock under the LTIP to our officers and (ii) 57,402 shares of restricted stock under the LTIP to our non-employee directors. The restricted stock awards granted to our officers vest and become free of restrictions on the third anniversary of the date of grant while the restricted stock awards granted to our non-employee directors vest and become free of restrictions on the first anniversary of the date of grant.
Benefit Plans and Programs
We sponsor a money purchase defined contribution plan, which we refer to as a personal pension plan, for all employees. Each employee is eligible to contribute up to 100% of their annual salary to their personal pension plan and we will contribute, depending on an employee’s criteria, up to 12% of the employee’s annual salary. For the year ended December 31, 2022, we paid an aggregate of approximately $56,700 in contributions to the personal pension plan for our four officers (December 31, 2021: $10,992). For the year ended December 31, 2022, we paid an aggregate of $0.6 million in contributions to the personal pension plans for all other eligible employees (December 31, 2021: $0.4 million).
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| C. | Board Practices |
While we are not subject to a number of the NYSE’s corporate governance standards as a foreign private issuer, we intend to comply voluntarily with a number of those rules. For example, we have a board of directors that is comprised of a majority of independent directors.
Committees of the Board of Directors
We have an audit committee, a nomination committee, a compensation committee and an ESG committee. In addition, our board of directors may, from time to time, designate one or more additional committees, which shall have the duties and powers granted to it by our board of directors.
Audit Committee
Our audit committee consists of Mr. Weidinger, Dr. Fischer, Mr. Kenwright and Dr. Odedra, with Mr. Weidinger as chairperson. Our board of directors has determined that all members of the audit committee satisfy the independence standards established by the NYSE and that each qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined in Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC. The audit committee is responsible for, among other things, the hiring or termination of the independent registered public accounting firm; approving any non-audit work performed by such independent registered public accounting firm; and assisting the board in monitoring the integrity of our consolidated financial statements, the independent registered public accounting firms qualifications and independence, the performance of the independent registered public accounting firm and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
Nominations Committee
Our nominations committee consists of Messrs. Kenwright, Stokes and Weidinger with Mr. Kenwright as chairperson. The nominations committee is responsible for, among other things, the selection and recommendation to the board of prospective directors, officers and committee member candidates.
Compensation Committee
Our compensation committee consists of Messrs. Kenwright, Sohmen-Pao, and Dr. Fischer, with Mr. Kenwright as chairperson. The compensation committee is responsible for, among other things, developing and recommending to the board of directors compensation for board members; and overseeing compliance with any applicable compensation reporting requirements of the SEC and the NYSE.
ESG Committee
Our ESG committee consists of Dr. Odedra, Dr. Fischer and Mr. Weidinger. The ESG Committee is responsible for, among other things, identifying environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) priorities to integrate a more sustainable approach to business in the Company’s long-term strategy. The Committee will provide overall oversight in implementing the Company’s ESG initiatives whilst establishing and reinforcing a culture of open discussion and communication on ESG topics.
| D. | Employees |
We had 155 shore based employees as of December 31, 2022, compared to 124 employees as of December 31, 2021, and 80 as of December 31, 2020. We also had approximately 1,800 crew onboard our vessels, of which approximately 1,200 are provided by our crewing and technical managers under separate crew management agreements. We consider our employee relations to be good.
| E. | Share Ownership |
See “Item 7—Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Major Shareholders.”
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| F. | Disclosure of a Registrant’s Action to Recover Erroneously Awarded Compensation |
Not applicable.
| Item 7. | Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions |
| A. | Major Shareholders |
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 31, 2023:
| • | each person known by us to be a beneficial owner of more than 5.0% of our common stock; |
| • | each of our directors; |
| • | each of our named executive officers; and |
| • | all directors and executive officers as a group. |
The data set forth below is based on information filed with the SEC and information provided to us prior to March 31, 2023. Except as otherwise indicated, the person or entities listed below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all of our shares of common stock beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where applicable.
| Common Stock Beneficially Owned |
||||||||
| Name of Beneficial Owner |
Number of Shares(1) |
Percent | ||||||
| BW Group(2) |
21,886,254 | 29.1 | % | |||||
| Naviera Ultranav Dos Limitada (3) |
21,202,671 | 28.2 | % | |||||
| Neil Gagnon(4) |
3,816,409 | 5.1 | % | |||||
| Dr. Heiko Fischer |
77,994 | * | ||||||
| David Kenwright |
57,994 | * | ||||||
| Anita Odedra |
5,000 | * | ||||||
| Andreas Sohmen-Pao |
— | — | ||||||
| Peter Stokes |
5,769 | * | ||||||
| Dag von Appen(5) |
212,019 | * | ||||||
| Florian Weidinger |
55,894 | * | ||||||
| Oeyvind Lindeman |
18,850 | * | ||||||
| Niall Nolan |
148,856 | * | ||||||
| Michael Schroder |
25,000 | * | ||||||
| All executive officers and directors as a group (10 persons) |
607,376 | 0.8 | % | |||||
| * | Less than 1%. |
| (1) | Unless otherwise indicated, all shares of common stock are owned directly by the named holder and such holder has sole power to vote and dispose of such shares. Unless otherwise noted, the address for each beneficial owner named above is: 10 Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DH, United Kingdom. |
| (2) | Represents 21,886,254 shares of common stock held directly by BW Group. The address of entity and person identified in this note is c/o Inchona Services Limited, Washington Mall Phase 2, 4th Floor, Suite 400, 22 Church Street, HM 1189, Hamilton HMEX, Bermuda. Mr Sohmen-Pao is Chairman of BW Group. |
| (3) | Represents 21,202,671 shares of common stock held by Ultranav International ApS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Naviera Ultranav Dos Limitada. The address of Ultranav International ApS identified in this note is Smakkedalen 6, 2820 Gentofte, Denmark, the address of Naviera Ultranav Dos Limitada is Av. El Bosque Norte, 500, 20th Floor, 7550092 Las Condes, Santiago, Chile. Mr von Appen is the Chairman of Naviera Ultranav Dos Limitada. |
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| (4) | This information is based on the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on July 19, 2022. According to this Schedule 13G Neil Gagnon possessed shared voting power over 3,295,480 shares and shared dispositive power over 3,440,526 shares. |
| (5) | Includes 200,000 shares held by a family fund of which Mr von Appen is a director and a 0.5% beneficiary. |
| B. | Related Party Transactions |
From time to time we have entered into agreements and have consummated transactions with certain related parties. We may enter into related party transactions from time to time in the future. In connection with our initial public offering, we established an audit committee upon the closing of our initial public offering in order to, among other things, conduct an appropriate review of all related party transactions for potential conflict of interest situations on an ongoing basis and to approve all such transactions. See “Item 6—Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Board Practices—Committees of the Board of Directors.”
The related party transactions that we were party to between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022, are described in Note 21—Related Party Transactions to our consolidated financial statements.
Investor Rights Agreements
On December 22, 2020, we entered into an Investor Rights Agreement with BW Group, (the “BW Group Investor Rights Agreement”), which provides BW Group with the right to designate two members of the board of directors of Navigator (provided that BW Group maintains certain ownership levels) and with certain registration rights and informational rights.
On August 4, 2021, we entered into an Investor Rights Agreement with Ultranav International A.A. and Ultranav Denmark ApS (the “Ultranav Investor Rights Agreement”), which provides Ultranav with the right to designate two members of the board of directors of Navigator (provided that Ultranav maintains certain ownership levels) and with certain registration rights and informational rights. In connection with the Ultragas Transaction, the Company also amended and restated the BW Group Investor Rights Agreement to conform the terms of such agreement with the Ultranav Investor Rights Agreement.
| C. | Interests of Experts and Counsel |
Not applicable.
| Item 8. | Financial Information |
| A. | Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information |
Please see “Item 18—Financial Statements” below for additional information required to be disclosed under this item.
Legal Proceedings
We expect that in the future we may be subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business, principally personal injury and property casualty claims. These claims, even if lacking merit, could result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources. We are not aware of any legal proceedings or claims that we believe will have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements.
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Dividend Policy
We do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends to holders of our common stock in the near term. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the growth of our business. We may, however, adopt in the future a policy to make cash dividends. Our future dividend policy is within the discretion of our board of directors. Any determination to pay or not pay cash dividends will depend upon then-existing conditions, including our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements, investment opportunities, statutory and contractual restrictions on our ability to pay dividends and other factors our board of directors may deem relevant.
| B. | Significant Changes |
Not applicable.
| Item 9. | The Offer and Listing |
| A. | Offer and Listing Details |
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange “NYSE” under the symbol “NVGS”.
| B. | Plan of distribution |
Not applicable.
| C. | Markets |
Our common stock started trading on the NYSE on November 21, 2013.
| Item 10. | Additional Information |
| A. | Share Capital |
Not applicable.
| B. | Memorandum and Articles of Association |
The information required to be disclosed under this item is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 filed herein
| C. | Material Contracts |
The following is a summary of each material contract, other than material contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, to which we or any of our subsidiaries is a party, for the two years immediately preceding the date of this annual report, each of which is included in the list of exhibits in “Item 19—Exhibits”:
| (1) | Joint Venture Agreement, dated August 4, 2010, among PT Persona Sentra Utama, PT Mahameru Kencana Abadi, Navigator Gas Invest Limited and PT Navigator Khatulistiwa. On August 4, 2010, PT Persona Sentra Utama, PT Mahameru Kencana Abadi, Navigator Gas Invest Limited and PT Navigator Khatulistiwa, an Indonesian limited liability company, or “PTNK,” entered into a Joint Venture Agreement, or the “JV Agreement.” Our operations in Indonesia are subject, among other things, to the Indonesian Shipping Act. That law generally provides that in order for certain vessels involved in Indonesian cabotage to obtain the requested licenses, the owners must either be wholly Indonesian owned or have a majority Indonesian shareholding. Navigator Pluto and Navigator Aries, which are chartered to Pertamina, the Indonesian state-owned producer of hydrocarbons, are owned by PTNK. PTNK is a joint venture of which 49% of the voting and dividend rights are owned by a subsidiary |
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| though ultimately controlled at the shareholder level by a subsidiary of Navigator Holdings, and 51% of such rights are owned by Indonesian limited liability companies. The JV Agreement for PTNK provides that certain actions relating to the joint venture or the vessels require the prior written approval of Navigator Holdings’ subsidiary, which may be withheld only on reasonable grounds and in good faith. Pursuant to the JV Agreement, PTNK is managed by its board of directors under the supervision, in accordance with Indonesian law, of the board of commissioners. The board of directors is comprised of one director nominee from the Indonesian limited liability companies which collectively own 51% of the share capital of PTNK. The board of commissioners is comprised of one nominee from the Indonesian entities and one nominee from Navigator Gas Invest Limited, a subsidiary of Navigator Holdings. |
| (2) | Supplemental Deed, dated February 13, 2014, among PT Navigator Khatulistiwa, PT Persona Sentra Utama, PT Mahameru Kencana Abadi, Navigator Gas Invest Limited, Falcon Funding Ptd. Ltd. and Navigator Gas L.L.C. On February 13, 2014, PTNK, PT Persona Sentra Utama, PT Mahameru Kencana Abadi, Navigator Gas Invest Limited, Falcon Funding Pte. Ltd and Navigator Gas L.L.C. entered into a Supplemental Deed under which the JV Agreement was amended to include Navigator Global, which is currently chartered to Pertamina, along with Navigator Pluto and Navigator Aries. |
| (3) | $220.0 million Secured Facility Agreement, dated October 28, 2016, by and among Navigator Gas L.L.C. as borrower, Navigator Holdings Ltd., as guarantor, and the lenders named therein. See “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Secured Term Loan Facilities and Revolving Credit Facilities—Term and Facility Limits—October 2016 Secured Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility.” |
| (4) | $160.8 million Secured Facility Agreement dated June 30, 2017, by and among Navigator Gas L.L.C. as borrower, Navigator Holdings Ltd., as guarantor, and the lenders named therein. See “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Secured Term Loan Facilities and Revolving Credit Facilities—Term and Facility Limits—June 2017 Secured Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility.” |
| (5) | $107.0 million Secured Facility Agreement, dated March 25, 2019, by and among Navigator Atlas L.L.C., Navigator Europa L.L.C., Navigator Oberon L.L.C. and Navigator Triton L.L.C. as borrowers, Navigator Gas L.L.C. and Navigator Holdings Ltd. as guarantors, Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, ING Bank, a branch of ING—DIBA AG and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (Publ), as arrangers and Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, as agent. See “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Secured Term Loan Facilities and Revolving Credit Facilities—Term and Facility Limits—March 2019 Secured Term Loan Facility.” |
| (6) | $75.0 million Credit Agreement dated March 29, 2019, between Navigator Ethylene Terminals L.L.C. as borrower, and ING Capital L.L.C. and SG Americas Securities L.L.C. as arrangers. See “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Terminal Facility.” |
| (7) | $210.0 million Facility Agreement, by and among Navigator Gas L.L.C. as borrower and Nordea Bank AB, ABN Amro Bank N.V., BNP Paribas S.A., ING Bank N.V., London Branch; National Australia Bank Limited and Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank as lead arrangers and a group of financial institutions as lenders, dated as of September 17, 2020. See “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Secured Term Loan Facilities and Revolving Credit Facilities—Term and Facility Limits—September 2020 Secured Revolving Credit Facility.” |
| (8) | Bond Agreement between Navigator Holdings Ltd. and Nordic Trustee AS on behalf of the Bondholders in the bond issue of 8.0% Navigator Holdings Ltd. Senior Unsecured Callable Bonds dated September 9, 2020. See “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources—2020 Senior Unsecured Bonds.” |
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| (9) | Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement, dated August 4, 2021, among Navigator Holdings Ltd. and BW Group Limited. See “Item 7—Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Related Party Transactions—Investor Rights Agreements”. |
| (10) | Investor Rights Agreement, dated August 4, 2021, among Navigator Holdings Ltd. and Ultranav International S.A. and Ultranav Denmark ApS. See “Item 7—Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Related Party Transactions—Investor Rights Agreements”. |
| D. | Exchange Controls |
We are not aware of any governmental laws, decrees or regulations, including foreign exchange controls, in the Republic of the Marshall Islands that restrict the export or import of capital, or that affect the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to non-resident holders of our securities.
We are not aware of any limitations on the right of non-resident or foreign owners to hold or vote our securities imposed by the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands or our operating agreement.
| E. | Taxation |
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to our shareholders. This discussion is based upon provisions of the Code, Treasury Regulations, and administrative rulings and court decisions, all as in effect as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences of holding our common stock to vary substantially from the consequences described below. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to “we,” “our” or “us” are references to Navigator Holdings Ltd.
The following discussion applies only to beneficial owners of our common stock that own shares of common stock as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (i.e., generally for investment purposes) and is not intended to be applicable to all categories of investors, such as shareholders subject to special tax rules (e.g., financial institutions, insurance companies, broker-dealers, tax-exempt organizations, retirement plans or individual retirement accounts, or former citizens or long-term residents of the United States), to United States persons (within the meaning of the Code) that own, actually or constructively, 10.0% or more of our stock, to persons that hold the shares as part of a straddle, conversion, constructive sale or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to partnerships or their partners, or to persons that have a functional currency other than the U.S. Dollar, all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized below. If a partnership or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common stock, the tax treatment of its partners generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership holding our common stock, we encourage you to consult your own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences to you of the partnership’s ownership of our common stock.
No ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS regarding any matter affecting us or our shareholders. The statements made herein may be challenged by the IRS and, if so challenged, may not be sustained upon review in a court.
This discussion does not contain information regarding any U.S. state or local, estate, gift or alternative minimum tax considerations concerning the ownership or disposition of our common stock. This discussion does not comment on all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to particular shareholders in light of their individual circumstances, and each prospective shareholder is urged to consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local, and other tax consequences of the ownership or disposition of our common stock.
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Status as a Corporation
We are treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, U.S. Holders (as defined below) will not be directly subject to U.S. federal income tax on our income, but rather will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on distributions received from us and dispositions of shares as described below.
U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders
As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our common stock that is:
| • | an individual U.S. citizen or resident (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes); |
| • | a corporation (or other entity that is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized under the laws of the United States or its political subdivisions; |
| • | an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
| • | a trust if (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary jurisdiction over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) the trust has a valid election in effect to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
Distributions
Subject to the discussion below of the rules applicable to PFICs, any distributions to a U.S. Holder made by us with respect to our common stock generally will constitute dividends to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated first as a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its common stock and thereafter as capital gain. U.S. Holders that are corporations generally will not be entitled to claim a dividend received deduction with respect to distributions they receive from us. Dividends received with respect to our common stock generally will be treated as “passive category income” for purposes of computing allowable foreign tax credits for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Dividends received with respect to our common stock by a U.S. Holder that is an individual, trust or estate, or a “U.S. Individual Holder,” generally will be treated as “qualified dividend income,” which is taxable to such U.S. Individual Holder at preferential tax rates provided that: (i) our common stock is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States (such as the New York Stock Exchange on which our common stock is listed); (ii) we are not a PFIC for the taxable year during which the dividend is paid or the immediately preceding taxable year (which we do not believe we are, have been or will be, as discussed below under “PFIC Status and Significant Tax Consequences”); (iii) the U.S. Individual Holder has owned the common stock for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the date on which the common stock become ex-dividend (and has not entered into certain risk limiting transactions with respect to such common stock); and (iv) the U.S. Individual Holder is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Because of the uncertainty of these matters, including whether we are or will be a PFIC, there is no assurance that any dividends paid on our common stock will be eligible for these preferential rates in the hands of a U.S. Individual Holder, and any dividends paid on our common stock that are not eligible for these preferential rates will be taxed as ordinary income to a U.S. Individual Holder.
Special rules may apply to any amounts received in respect of our common stock that are treated as “extraordinary dividends.” In general, an extraordinary dividend is a dividend with respect to a share of our common stock that is equal to or in excess of 10.0% of a shareholder’s adjusted tax basis (or fair market value upon the shareholder’s election) in such share. In addition, extraordinary dividends include dividends received within a one-year period that, in the aggregate, equal or exceed 20.0% of a shareholder’s adjusted tax basis (or
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fair market value). If we pay an “extraordinary dividend” on shares of our common stock that is treated as “qualified dividend income,” then any loss recognized by a U.S. Individual Holder from the sale or exchange of such shares will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the amount of such dividend.
Sale, Exchange or other Disposition of Common Stock
Subject to the discussion of PFICs below, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of shares of our common stock in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized by the U.S. Holder from such sale, exchange or other disposition and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such shares. The U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis in its common stock generally will be the U.S. Holder’s purchase price for the shares of common stock and that tax basis will be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of any distributions on the shares that are treated as non-taxable returns of capital (as discussed above under “—Distributions”). Such gain or loss will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period is greater than one year at the time of the sale, exchange or other disposition. Certain U.S. Holders (including individuals) may be eligible for preferential rates of U.S. federal income tax in respect of long-term capital gains. A U.S. Holder’s ability to deduct capital losses is subject to limitations. Such capital gain or loss generally will be treated as U.S.-source income or loss, as applicable, for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes.
PFIC Status and Significant Tax Consequences
Adverse U.S. federal income tax rules apply to a U.S. Holder that owns an equity interest in a non-U.S. corporation that is classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In general, we will be treated as a PFIC with respect to a U.S. Holder if, for any taxable year in which the holder held our common stock, either:
| • | at least 75.0% of our gross income (including the gross income of our vessel-owning subsidiaries) for such taxable year consists of passive income (e.g., dividends, interest, capital gains from the sale or exchange of investment property and rents derived other than in the active conduct of a rental business), or |
| • | at least 50.0% of the average value of the assets held by us (including the assets of our vessel-owning subsidiaries) during such taxable year produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. |
Income earned or treated as earned (for U.S. federal income tax purposes) by us in connection with the performance of services should not constitute passive income for PFIC purposes. By contrast, rental income generally would constitute passive income unless we were treated as deriving our rental income in the active conduct of a trade or business under the applicable rules.
Based on our current and projected method of operation we believe that we were not a PFIC for any prior taxable year, and we expect that we will not be treated as a PFIC for the current or any future taxable year. We believe that more than 25.0% of our gross income for each taxable year was or will be non-passive income, and more than 50.0% of the average value of our assets for each such year was or will be held for the production of such non-passive income. This belief is based on certain valuations and projections regarding our assets, income and charters, and its validity is conditioned on the accuracy of such valuations and projections. While we believe such valuations and projections to be accurate, the shipping market is volatile and no assurance can be given that our assumptions and conclusions will continue to be accurate at any time in the future.
Moreover, there are legal uncertainties involved in determining whether the income derived from our time-chartering activities constitutes rental income or income derived from the performance of services. In Tidewater Inc. v. United States, 565 F.3d 299 (5th Cir. 2009), the Fifth Circuit held that income derived from certain time-chartering activities should be treated as rental income rather than services income for purposes of a provision of the Code relating to foreign sales corporations. In that case, the Fifth Circuit did not address the definition of passive income or the PFIC rules; however, the reasoning of the case could have implications as to how the
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income from a time charter would be classified under such rules. If the reasoning of the case were extended to the PFIC context, the gross income we derive from our time-chartering activities may be treated as rental income, and we would likely be treated as a PFIC. In published guidance, the IRS stated that it disagreed with the holding in Tidewater and specified that time charters similar to those at issue in this case should be treated as service contracts.
Distinguishing between arrangements treated as generating rental income and those treated as generating services income involves weighing and balancing competing factual considerations, and there is no legal authority under the PFIC rules addressing our specific method of operation. Conclusions in this area therefore remain matters of interpretation. We are not seeking a ruling from the IRS on the treatment of income generated by our time-chartering operations. It is possible that the IRS or a court could disagree with our position. In addition, although we intend to conduct our affairs in a manner to avoid being classified as a PFIC with respect to any taxable year, we cannot assure shareholders that the nature of our operations will not change in the future, notwithstanding our present expectations, and that we will not become a PFIC in any future taxable year.
As discussed more fully below, if we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year (and regardless of whether we remain a PFIC for subsequent taxable years), a U.S. Holder would be subject to different taxation rules depending on whether the U.S. Holder makes an election to treat us as a “Qualified Electing Fund,” which we refer to as a “QEF election.” As an alternative to making a QEF election, a U.S. Holder should be able to make a “mark-to-market” election with respect to our common stock, as discussed below. If we are a PFIC, a U.S. Holder will be subject to the PFIC rules described herein with respect to any of our subsidiaries that are PFICs. However, the mark-to-market election discussed below likely will not be available with respect to shares of a PFIC subsidiary. In addition, if a U.S. Holder owns our common stock during any taxable year that we are a PFIC, such holder must file an annual report with the IRS.
Taxation of U.S. Holders Making a Timely QEF Election
A U.S. Holder that makes a timely QEF election, or an “Electing Holder,” must report for U.S. federal income tax purposes its pro rata share of our ordinary earnings and net capital gain, if any, for our taxable years that end with or within its taxable year, regardless of whether or not the Electing Holder received distributions from us in that year. The Electing Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of our common stock will be increased to reflect taxed but undistributed earnings and profits. Distributions of earnings and profits that were previously taxed will result in a corresponding reduction in the Electing Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of common stock and will not be taxed again once distributed. An Electing Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common stock. A U.S. Holder makes a QEF election with respect to any year that we are a PFIC by filing IRS Form 8621 with their U.S. federal income tax return. If, contrary to our expectations, we determine that we are treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, we will provide each U.S. Holder with the information necessary to make the QEF election described above. Although the QEF election is available with respect to subsidiaries, in the event we acquire or own a subsidiary in the future that is treated as a PFIC, no assurances can be made that we will be able to provide U.S. Holders with the necessary information to make the QEF election with respect to such subsidiary.
Taxation of U.S. Holders Making a “Mark-to-Market” Election
If we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year and, as we anticipate, our common stock was treated as “marketable stock,” then, as an alternative to making a QEF election, a U.S. Holder would be allowed to make a mark-to-market election with respect to our common stock, provided the U.S. Holder completes and files IRS Form 8621 in accordance with the relevant instructions and related Treasury Regulations. If that election is made, the U.S. Holder generally would include as ordinary income in each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the U.S. Holder’s shares of common stock at the end of the taxable year over the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of common stock. The U.S. Holder also would be permitted an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares over the fair market value
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thereof at the end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its shares of common stock would be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss recognized. Gain recognized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common stock would be treated as ordinary income, and any loss recognized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the common stock would be treated as ordinary loss to the extent that such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included in income by the U.S. Holder. Because the mark-to-market election only applies to marketable stock, it would not apply to a U.S. Holder’s indirect interest in any of our subsidiaries that were determined to be PFICs.
Taxation of U.S. Holders Not Making a Timely QEF or Mark-to-Market Election
If we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder who does not make either a QEF election or a “mark-to-market” election for that year, or a “Non-Electing Holder,” would be subject to special rules resulting in increased liability with respect to (i) any excess distribution (i.e., the portion of any distributions received by the Non-Electing Holder on our common stock in a taxable year in excess of 125.0% of the average annual distributions received by the Non-Electing Holder in the three preceding taxable years, or, if shorter, the Non-Electing Holder’s holding period for the shares), and (ii) any gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the shares. Under these special rules:
| • | the excess distribution or gain would be allocated ratably over the Non-Electing Holder’s aggregate holding period for the common stock; |
| • | the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any taxable year prior to the taxable year we were first treated as a PFIC with respect to the Non-Electing Holder would be taxed as ordinary income; and |
| • | the amount allocated to each of the other taxable years would be subject to tax at the highest rate of tax in effect for the applicable class of taxpayers for that year, and an interest charge for the deemed deferral benefit would be imposed with respect to the resulting tax attributable to each such year. |
These penalties would not apply to a qualified pension, profit sharing or other retirement trust or other tax-exempt organization that did not borrow money or otherwise utilize leverage in connection with its acquisition of our common stock. If we were treated as a PFIC for any taxable year and a Non-Electing Holder who is an individual, dies while owning our common stock, such holder’s successor generally would not receive a step-up in tax basis with respect to the common stock.
Medicare Tax on Net Investment Income
Certain U.S. Holders, including individuals, estates and trusts, will be subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on, among other things, dividends and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of equity interests. For individuals, the additional Medicare tax applies to the lesser of (i) “net investment income” or (ii) the excess of “modified adjusted gross income” over $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly or $125,000 if married and filing separately). “Net investment income” generally equals the taxpayer’s gross investment income reduced by deductions that are allocable to such income. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the implications of the additional Medicare tax resulting from their ownership and disposition of our common stock.
U.S. Federal Income Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders
A beneficial owner of our common stock (other than a partnership or an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is not a U.S. Holder is referred to as a Non-U.S. Holder. If you are a partner in a partnership (or an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holding our common stock, you should consult your own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences to you of the partnership’s ownership of our common stock.
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Distributions
Distributions we pay to a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax or withholding tax if the Non-U.S. Holder is not engaged in a U.S. trade or business. If the Non-U.S. Holder is engaged in a U.S. trade or business, our distributions will be subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent they constitute income effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. trade or business. However, distributions paid to a Non-U.S. Holder that is engaged in a U.S. trade or business may be exempt from taxation under an income tax treaty if the income arising from the distribution is not attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder.
Disposition of Shares
In general, a Non-U.S. Holder is not subject to U.S. federal income tax or withholding tax on any gain resulting from the disposition of our common stock provided the Non-U.S. Holder is not engaged in a U.S. trade or business. A Non-U.S. Holder that is engaged in a U.S. trade or business will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the event the gain from the disposition of shares is effectively connected with the conduct of such U.S. trade or business (provided, in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder entitled to the benefits of an income tax treaty with the United States, such gain also is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder). However, even if not engaged in a U.S. trade or business, individual Non-U.S. Holders may be subject to tax on gain resulting from the disposition of our common stock if they are present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year in which those shares are disposed and meet certain other requirements.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
In general, payments to a non-corporate U.S. Holder of distributions or the proceeds of a disposition of common stock will be subject to information reporting. These payments to a non-corporate U.S. Holder also may be subject to backup withholding if the non-corporate U.S. Holder:
| • | fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number; |
| • | is notified by the IRS that he has failed to report all interest or corporate distributions required to be reported on their U.S. federal income tax returns; or |
| • | in certain circumstances, fails to comply with applicable certification requirements. |
Non-U.S. Holders may be required to establish their exemption from information reporting and backup withholding by certifying their status on IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, W-8ECI, W-8EXP or W-8IMY, as applicable.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, a shareholder generally may obtain a credit for any amount withheld against its liability for U.S. federal income tax (and obtain a refund of any amounts withheld in excess of such liability) by timely filing a U.S. federal income tax return with the IRS.
In addition, individual citizens or residents of the United States holding certain “foreign financial assets” (which generally includes stock and other securities issued by a foreign person unless held in an account maintained by certain financial institutions) that exceed certain thresholds (the lowest being holding foreign financial assets with an aggregate value in excess of: (1) $50,000 on the last day of the tax year or (2) $75,000 at any time during the tax year) are required to report information relating to such assets. Significant penalties may apply for failure to satisfy the reporting obligations described above. Our shareholders should consult their tax advisors regarding their reporting obligations, if any, that would result from their purchase, ownership or disposition of our common stock.
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Non-U.S. Tax Considerations
Republic of the Marshall Islands Tax Consequences
The following is applicable to persons who do not reside in, maintain offices in or engage in business in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Because we and our subsidiaries do not and do not expect to conduct business or operations in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, under current Republic of the Marshall Islands law you will not be subject to Republic of the Marshall Islands taxation or withholding on distributions we make to you as a shareholder. In addition, you will not be subject to Republic of the Marshall Islands stamp, capital gains or other taxes on the purchase, ownership or disposition of common stock, and you will not be required by the Republic of the Marshall Islands to file a tax return relating to your ownership of common stock.
EACH SHAREHOLDER IS URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX COUNSEL OR OTHER ADVISOR WITH REGARD TO THE LEGAL AND TAX CONSEQUENCES OF SHARE OWNERSHIP IN THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. FURTHER, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH SHAREHOLDER TO FILE ALL STATE, LOCAL AND NON-U.S., AS WELL AS U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURNS, WHICH THE SHAREHOLDER IS REQUIRED TO FILE.
| F. | Dividends and Paying Agents |
Not applicable.
| G. | Statements by Experts |
Not applicable.
| H. | Documents on Display |
Documents concerning us that are referred to herein may be inspected at our principal executive offices at 10 Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DH, United Kingdom, and may also be obtained from our website on the Internet at www.navigatorgas.com. Those documents electronically filed via the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (or EDGAR) system may be obtained from the SEC’s website on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov.
| I. | Subsidiary Information |
Not applicable.
| J. | Annual Report to Security Holders |
Not applicable.
| Item 11. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to the impact of interest rate changes through borrowings that require us to make interest payments based on either SOFR or LIBOR. Our wholly-owned subsidiaries and certain of our vessel-owning subsidiaries are parties to the secured term loan and revolving credit facilities that bear interest at an interest rate of SOFR or U.S. LIBOR plus 185 to 260 basis points. At December 31, 2022, $464.7 million of our outstanding debt was subject to interest rate swaps and therefore is not exposed to changes in interest rate movements,
107
whereas $397.3 million was subject to variable interest rates. Based on this, a hypothetical variation in SOFR or U.S. LIBOR of 100 basis points would result in an increase of $4.0 million in annual interest paid on our indebtedness outstanding as of December 31, 2022.
We use interest rate swaps to reduce our exposure to market risk from changes in interest rates. The principal objective of these contracts is to minimize the risks and costs associated with our floating-rate debt. The Company is exposed to the risk of credit loss in the event of non-performance by the counterparty to the interest rate swap agreements.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
Our primary economic environment is the international shipping market. This market utilizes the U.S. Dollar as its functional currency. Consequently, most of our revenues are in U.S. Dollars although some charter hires are paid in Indonesian Rupiah. Our expenses, however, are in the currency invoiced by each supplier, and we remit funds in the various currencies invoiced. We incur some vessel operating expenses and general and administrative costs in foreign currencies, primarily the Euro, Pound Sterling Danish Kroner and Polish Zloty and therefore there is a transactional risk that currency fluctuations could have a negative effect on our cashflows and financial condition. We believe these adverse effects would not be material and we have not entered into any derivative contracts to mitigate our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk during 2022. However, we may enter into derivative or forward contracts to cover our foreign currency exposure in the future.
Inflation
We are exposed to increases in operating costs arising from various vessel operations, including crewing, vessel repair costs, drydocking costs, insurance and fuel prices as well as from general inflation and are subject to fluctuations as a result of market forces. Increases in bunker costs could have a material effect on our future operations if the number and duration of our voyage charters or COAs increases. In the case of the 44 vessels owned and commercially managed by us as of December 31, 2022, 34 were employed on time charter and as such it is the charterers who pay for the fuel on those vessels. If our vessels are employed under voyage charters or COAs, freight rates are generally sensitive to the price of fuel. However, a sharp rise in bunker prices may have a temporary negative effect on our results since freight rates generally adjust only after prices settle at a higher level.
Credit Risk
We may be exposed to credit risks in relation to vessel employment and at times may have multiple vessels employed by one charterer. We consider and evaluate the concentration of credit risk continuously and perform ongoing evaluations of these charterers for credit risk. As of December 31, 2022, no more than four of our vessels were employed by the same charterer. We invest our surplus funds with reputable financial institutions, with original maturities of no more than three months, in order to provide the Company with flexibility to meet all requirements for working capital and capital investments.
| Item 12. | Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities |
Not applicable.
108
PART II
| Item 13. | Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies |
Neither Navigator Holdings nor any of its subsidiaries have been subject to a material default in the payment of principal, interest, a sinking fund or purchase fund installment or any other material delinquency that was not cured within 30 days.
| Item 14. | Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds |
None.
| Item 15. | Controls and Procedures |
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2022, have concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective and the material weakness previously raised has been remediated.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
In accordance with Rule 13a-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Management has performed an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on the provisions of Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based upon the evaluation, our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our internal control over financial reporting were effective as of December 31, 2022.
Management previously reported, in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021, a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the design and operation of our controls relating to a lack of sufficient accounting and financial reporting personnel with requisite knowledge and experience in the application of U.S. GAAP and SEC financial reporting requirements.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
109
Remediation Plan
As disclosed in the Company’s Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021, a material weakness was identified related to certain control deficiencies in the design and operation of our internal control over financial reporting in connection with the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. The control deficiencies resulted from a lack of sufficient number of competent financial reporting and accounting personnel to prepare and review our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with U.S. GAAP. While these control deficiencies that existed at December 31, 2021 did not result in any material misstatement of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company’s management concluded that these deficiencies represented a material weakness for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim consolidated financial statements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
During 2022, our management took measures to remediate the previously identified material weakness by increasing the number of technically qualified accounting personnel to strengthen the financial reporting function and to improve the financial and systems control framework. In addition, management (i) reassessed our internal control framework (ii) re-designed existing control procedures and implemented new control procedures in response to changes in personnel as well as our current business environment, (iii) enhanced the Company’s existing processes and controls documentation and (iv) enhanced monitoring over employee accountability and compliance for control design and operation. Management performed testing and concluded that, through this testing, the previously identified material weakness relating to certain control deficiencies in the design and operation of our internal control over financial reporting in connection with the preparation of our consolidated financial statements has been remediated as of December 31, 2022.
Attestation Report of the Independent Registered Accounting Firm
The Company’s internal control over financial reporting, as of December 31, 2022, has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, who also audited the Company’s consolidated financial statements for that year. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP audit report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting is presented on page F-2.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Other than the changes noted above, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this annual report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
| Item 16A. | Audit Committee Financial Expert |
Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Weidinger, Dr Fischer, Mr. Kenwright and Dr Odedra satisfy the independence standards established by the NYSE and that each qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined in Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.
| Item 16B. | Code of Ethics |
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all entities controlled by the Company and its employees, directors, officers and agents of the Company. We will provide any person, free of charge, a copy of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics upon written request to our principal executive office.
| Item 16C. | Principal Accountant Fees and Services |
Our principal accountant for 2022 and 2021 was PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Our principal accountant for 2020 was Ernst & Young LLP.
110
Audit Fees
Audit fees incurred in 2022 and 2021 were $1,220,000 and $1,150,000, respectively, relating to aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the Company and its subsidiaries’ annual financial statements. An additional fee of approximately $185,000 relates to the principal accountant’s quarterly reviews in 2022 and 2021.
Audit-Related Fees
There were no audit related fees incurred by the Company for services provided by our principal accountant in 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Tax Fees
There were no tax fees billed or tax services provided by our principal accountant in 2022 and 2021.
All Other Fees
There was approximately $13,700 billed for other fees in 2022 charged by our principal accountant and no fees were billed in 2021.
The audit committee has the authority to pre-approve permissible audit-related and non-audit services not prohibited by law to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm and associated fees. Engagements for proposed services either may be separately pre-approved by the audit committee or entered into pursuant to detailed pre-approval policies and procedures established by the audit committee, as long as the audit committee is informed on a timely basis of any engagement entered into on that basis. The audit committee separately pre-approved all engagements and fees paid to our principal accountant for all periods in 2022 and 2021.
| Item 16D. | Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees |
Not applicable.
| Item 16E. | Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers |
| Period(1) |
Total number of common shares purchased(2) |
Average price paid per common share |
Total number of common shares purchased as part of all publicly announced plans or programs(2) |
Approximate dollar value of common shares that may yet be purchased under such plans or programs |
||||||||||||
| December, 2022 |
459,665 | $ | 11.93 | 459,665 | $ | 44.5 million | ||||||||||
| (1) | No common shares were purchased by the issuer or affiliated purchasers during the period January 1, 2022 through November 30, 2022. |
| (2) | On October 18, 2022, we announced a share repurchase plan (the “Repurchase Plan”). Pursuant to the Repurchase Plan, we may purchase up to $50 million of our common shares, at times and prices that are considered by us to be appropriate. All purchases of common shares set forth in the table above were made pursuant to the Repurchase Program. We expect to repurchase shares under the plan in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, but we are not obligated under the terms of the plan to repurchase any shares, and, at any time, we may suspend, delay or discontinue the Repurchase Plan. |
111
| Item 16F. | Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant |
Not applicable.
| Item 16G. | Corporate Governance |
Overview
While we are not subject to a number of the NYSE’s corporate governance standards as a foreign private issuer, we intend to comply voluntarily with a number of those rules. For example, we have a board of directors that is comprised of a majority of independent directors. However, pursuant to Section 303.A.11 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, we are required to state any significant differences between our corporate governance practices and the practices required by the NYSE for U.S. companies. The significant differences between our corporate governance practices and the NYSE standards applicable to listed U.S. companies are set forth below.
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee
The NYSE requires that a listed U.S. company have a nominating/corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors and a committee charter specifying the purpose, duties and evaluation procedures of the committee. While we are not required under Marshall Islands law and our bylaws to have a nominating/corporate governance committee, we have a nominations committee. However, we do not publish our nominations committee charter on our website, as is required under the NYSE standards applicable to listed U.S. companies, nor do we have a corporate governance committee.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
The NYSE requires U.S. companies to adopt and disclose corporate governance guidelines. The guidelines must address, among other things: director qualification standards, director responsibilities, director access to management and independent advisers, director compensation, director orientation and continuing education, management succession and an annual performance evaluation. We are not required to adopt such guidelines under Marshall Islands law and we have not adopted such guidelines.
We believe that our established corporate governance practices satisfy the NYSE listing standards.
| Item 16H. | Mine Safety Disclosure |
Not applicable.
| Item 16I. | Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections |
Not applicable.
112
PART III
| Item 17. | Financial Statements |
See “Item 18-Financial Statements.”.
| Item 18. | Financial Statements |
The index to the Financial Statements is presented on page F-1.
| Item 19. | Exhibits |
The following exhibits are filed as part of this annual report:
113
114
| Exhibit Number |
Description | |
| 101. INS* | Inline XBRL Instance Document—the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document | |
| 101. SCH* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema | |
| 101. CAL* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Calculation Linkbase | |
| 101. DEF* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Definition Linkbase | |
| 101. LAB* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Label Linkbase | |
| 101. PRE* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Presentation Linkbase | |
| 104* | Cover Page Interactive Date File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) | |
| * | Filed herewith. |
115
SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this Annual Report on its behalf.
| NAVIGATOR HOLDINGS LTD. | ||||||
| Date: April 4, 2023 | By: | /s/ Niall Nolan | ||||
| Name: | Niall Nolan | |||||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |||||
116
| F-2 to F- 4 |
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| F- 5 |
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| F- 7 |
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| F- 8 |
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| F- 9 |
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| F- 10 |
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| F- 11 |
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| F- 12 |
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| F- 13 |
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| (in thousands, except share data) | ||||||||
Assets |
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Current assets |
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Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
$ | $ | ||||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses |
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Accrued income |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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Bunkers and lubricant oils |
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Insurance receivable |
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Amounts due from related parties |
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Total current assets |
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Non-current assets |
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Vessels, net |
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Assets held for sale |
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Property, plant and equipment, net |
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Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $ |
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Equity method investments |
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Derivative assets |
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Right-of-use asset for operating leases |
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Prepaid expenses and other non- current assets |
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Total non-current assets |
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Total assets |
$ | $ | ||||||
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
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Current liabilities |
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Current portion of secured term loan facilities, net of deferred financing costs |
$ | $ | ||||||
Current portion of operating lease liabilities |
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Accounts payable |
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Accrued expenses and other liabilities |
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Accrued interest |
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Deferred income |
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Amounts due to related parties |
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Total current liabilities |
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Non-current liabilities |
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Secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities, net of current portion and deferred financing costs |
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Senior secured bond, net of deferred financing costs |
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Senior unsecured bond, net of deferred financing costs |
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Derivative liabilities |
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Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion |
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Deferred tax liabilities |
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Amounts due to related parties |
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Total non-current liabilities |
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Total Liabilities |
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Commitments and contingencies |
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Stockholders’ equity |
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Common stock—$ |
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Additional paid-in capital |
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Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Retained earnings |
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Total Navigator Holdings Ltd. stockholders’ equity |
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Non-controlling interest |
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Total equity |
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Total liabilities and equity |
$ | $ | ||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2020 |
Year ended December 31, 2021 |
Year ended December 31, 2022 |
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| (in thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||
| Revenues |
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| Operating revenues |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Operating revenues—Unigas Pool |
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| Operating revenues—Luna Pool collaborative arrangements |
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| Total operating revenues |
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| Expenses |
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| Brokerage commissions |
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| Voyage expenses |
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| Voyage expenses—Luna Pool collaborative arrangements |
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| Vessel operating expenses |
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| Depreciation and amortization |
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| Impairment losses on vessels |
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| Profit from sale of vessels |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| General and administrative costs |
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| Other income |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
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| Total operating expenses |
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| |
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|
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| Operating income/(loss) |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| Other income/(expense) |
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| Foreign currency exchange gain/(loss) on senior secured bonds |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| Realized loss on cross currency interest rate swap |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| Unrealized gain on non-designated derivative instruments |
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| Interest expense |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Loss on repayment of senior bonds |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Write off of deferred financing costs |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Interest income |
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| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Income/(loss) before income taxes and share of result of equity method investments |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| Income taxes |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Share of results of equity method investments |
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| |
|
|
|
|
|
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| Net income/(loss) |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| Net income attributable to non-controlling interests |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| |
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|
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|
|
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| Net income/(loss) attributable to stockholders of Navigator Holdings Ltd. |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Gain/(loss) per share attributable to stockholders of Navigator Holdings Ltd.: |
||||||||||||
| Basic and Diluted: |
$ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
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| Weighted average number of shares outstanding: |
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| Basic |
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| Diluted: |
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| Year ended December 31, 2020 (in thousands) |
Year ended December 31, 2021 (in thousands) |
Year ended December 31, 2022 (in thousands) |
||||||||||
| Net (loss)/ income |
$ | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||
| Other comprehensive income/(loss): |
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| Foreign currency translation gain/(loss) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| |
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| Total comprehensive (loss)/income |
$ | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||
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| Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to: |
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| Stockholders of Navigator Holdings Ltd: |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Non-controlling interests: |
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| Total comprehensive (loss)/income |
$ | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||
| |
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| Common stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of shares |
Amount 0.01 par value |
Additional Paid-in Capital |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss |
Retained Earnings |
Non-controlling interest |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 1, 2020, |
$ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjustment to equity for the adoption of new credit losses standard |
— | — | — | — | ( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted shares issued March 19, 2020, |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted shares cancelled April 14, 2020, |
( |
) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted shares cancelled October 19, 2020, |
( |
) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) / income |
— | — | — | — | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation plan |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
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|
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| December 31, 2020, |
$ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock |
— | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted shares issued March 17, 2021, |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted shares issued October 31, 2021, |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted shares cancelled December 7, 2021, |
( |
) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss)/income |
— | — | — | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation |
— | — | — | ( |
) | — | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation plan |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
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|
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| December 31, 2021, |
$ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchase of common stock |
( |
) | ( |
) | — | — | ( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||
| Restricted shares issued March 17, 2022, |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted shares issued April 4, 2022, |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted shares cancelled May 26, 2021, |
( |
) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation |
— | — | — | ( |
) | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation plan |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment by non-controlling interest |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
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| December 31, 2022, |
$ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| |
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|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2020 (in thousands) |
Year ended December 31, 2021 (in thousands) |
Year ended December 31, 2022 (in thousands) |
||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities |
||||||||||||
Net (loss)/income |
$ | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income/(loss) to net cash provided by operating activities |
||||||||||||
Foreign exchange (gain)/loss on senior secured bonds |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Unrealized loss/(gain) on non-designated derivative instruments |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
Realized loss on cross currency interest rate swap |
||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
||||||||||||
Payment of drydocking costs |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
Share-based compensation expense |
||||||||||||
Amortization of deferred financing costs |
||||||||||||
Share of results of equity method investments |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
Call option premium on redemption of |
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Impairment losses on vessels |
||||||||||||
Profit from sale of vessel |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Other unrealized foreign exchange loss/(gain) |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities |
— | |||||||||||
Accounts receivable |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Insurance claim receivable |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
Bunkers and lubricant oils |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Accrued income, prepaid expenses and other current assets |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Accounts payable, accrued interest, accrued expenses and other liabilities |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Amounts due from related parties |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
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Cash flows from investing activities |
||||||||||||
Additions to vessels and equipment |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
Contributions to equity method investments |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Distributions from equity method investments |
||||||||||||
Purchase of other property, plant and equipment and intangibles |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
Cash acquired with investment in Ultragas |
||||||||||||
Cash received from non-controlling interest |
||||||||||||
Net proceeds from sale of vessel |
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Insurance recoveries |
||||||||||||
Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Cash flows from financing activities |
||||||||||||
Proceeds from secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities |
||||||||||||
Proceeds from revolving loan facility |
||||||||||||
Issuance of |
||||||||||||
Issuance cost of senior secured bonds |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Issuance cost of |
( |
) | — | — | ||||||||
Issuance cost of refinancing of vessel |
( |
) | — | |||||||||
Direct financing cost of secured term loan and revolving credit facilities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
Direct financing cost of terminal credit facility |
( |
) | — | |||||||||
Repayment of senior bonds |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Repurchase of share capital |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Settlement of derivatives |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Repayment of secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
Repayment of refinancing of vessel to related parties |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
Net cash used in financing activities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year |
||||||||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Supplemental Information |
||||||||||||
Total interest paid during the year, net of amounts capitalized |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Total tax paid during the year |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
• |
the current financial condition and liquidity sources, including current funds available and forecasted future cash flows; |
• |
any likely effects of global epidemics or other health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; |
• |
the effects of the conflict in Ukraine on the Company’s business, including potential escalations or wider implications on other countries as well as the possible effects of trade disruptions; and |
• |
environmental effect on vessels Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (“EEXI”) and related impact of these regulations on vessel impairment. |
| Amount (in thousands) |
||||
Consideration |
||||
Equity consideration |
$ | |||
Fair value of consideration transferred |
$ | |||
Net assets acquired: |
||||
Handysize vessels |
||||
Smaller vessels |
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
||||
Accounts receivable |
||||
Inventory |
||||
Other current assets |
||||
Equity method investments |
||||
Debt |
( |
) | ||
Accounts payable |
( |
) | ||
Accrued interest |
( |
) | ||
Other current liabilities |
( |
) | ||
Other long-term liabilities |
( |
) | ||
Net assets acquired |
$ | |||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||
| Fair Value Hierarchy Level |
Fair Value Hierarchy Level |
Fair Value Asset (Liability) |
Fair Value Asset (Liability) |
|||||||||
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||
| Cross-currency interest rate swap agreement |
Level 2 | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||
| Interest rate swap agreements liabilities |
Level 2 | ( |
) | |||||||||
| Interest rate swap agreements assets |
Level 2 | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fair Value Hierarchy Level |
Fair Value Hierarchy Level |
Carrying Amount Asset (Liability) |
Fair Value Asset (Liability) |
Carrying Amount Asset (Liability) |
Fair Value Asset (Liability) |
|||||||||||||||
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 Bonds (note 12) |
Level 2 | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||
| 2020 Bonds (note 13) |
Level 2 | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| Secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities (note 11) |
Level 2 | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | ||||||||||
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||
| Operating revenues: |
||||||||||||
| Time charters |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Voyage charters |
||||||||||||
| Time charters from Luna Pool collaborative arrangements |
||||||||||||
| Voyage charters from Luna Pool collaborative arrangements |
||||||||||||
| Operating revenues from Unigas Pool |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total operating revenues |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||
| 2023: |
$ | |||
| 2024: |
$ | |||
| 2025: |
$ | |||
| 2026: |
$ | |||
| 2027 onwards: |
$ | |||
| Vessel (in thousands) |
Drydocking (in thousands) |
Total (in thousands) |
||||||||||
| Cost |
||||||||||||
| January 1, 2021, |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Vessel additions on acquisition |
||||||||||||
| Additions |
||||||||||||
| Transfer to assets held for sale |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Disposals |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Write-offs of fully amortized assets |
— | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
| Vessel impairments |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| December 31, 2021, |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Additions to vessels and equipment’s |
||||||||||||
| Disposals |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Write-offs of fully amortized assets |
— | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| December 31, 2022, |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Accumulated Depreciation |
||||||||||||
| January 1, 2021, |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Charge for the period |
||||||||||||
| Transfer to assets held for sale |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Disposals |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Write-offs of fully amortized assets |
— | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| December 31, 2021, |
||||||||||||
| Charge for the period |
||||||||||||
| Disposals |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Write-offs of fully amortized assets |
— | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| December 31, 2022, |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net Book Value |
||||||||||||
| January 1, 2021, |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| December 31, 2021, |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| December 31, 2022, |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| 2021 | 2022 | |||||||
(in thousands) |
(in thousands) |
|||||||
| As of January 1, |
||||||||
| Reclassification from Vessels |
||||||||
| Vessels disposal |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| As of December 31 |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2021 | 2022 | |||||||
| Enterprise Navigator Ethylene Terminal L.L.C. (“Export Terminal Joint Venture”) |
% | % | ||||||
| Luna Pool Agency Limited. (“Pool Agency”) |
% | % | ||||||
| Unigas International B.V. (“Unigas”) |
% | % | ||||||
| Dan Unity CO2 A/S |
% | % | ||||||
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
||||||||||
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||
| Equity method investments at January 1 |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Contributions to equity method investments |
||||||||||||
| Equity method investments – additions |
— | |||||||||||
| Share of results |
||||||||||||
| Distributions received from equity method investments |
— | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
| Capitalized interest and deferred financing costs |
— | |||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total equity method investments at December 31 |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
December 31, |
December 31, |
|||||||
2021 |
2022 |
|||||||
(in thousands) |
||||||||
| Current assets |
$ | $ | ||||||
| Non-current assets |
||||||||
| Total assets |
||||||||
| Current liabilities |
||||||||
| Noncurrent liabilities |
||||||||
| Total liabilities |
||||||||
| Total Equity |
$ |
$ |
||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
Year ended December 31, |
||||||||
2021 |
2022 |
|||||||
(in thousands) |
||||||||
| Total Revenues |
||||||||
| Operating income |
||||||||
| Net income |
||||||||
| Net income attributable to the investees |
||||||||
December 31, |
December 31, |
|||||||
2021 |
2022 |
|||||||
(in thousands) |
||||||||
| Assets |
||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
$ | $ | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Liabilities |
||||||||
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities |
$ | — | $ | ( |
) | |||
| Amounts due to related parties, current |
$ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | ||
| Amounts due to related parties, non-current |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | |||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| December 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2022 |
|||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
Due within one year |
$ | $ | ||||||
Due in two years |
||||||||
Due in three years |
||||||||
Due in four years |
||||||||
Due in five years |
||||||||
Due in more than five years* |
||||||||
Total secured term loans and revolving credit facilities |
$ | $ | ||||||
Less: current portion** |
||||||||
Secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facility, non-current portion* |
$ | $ | ||||||
* |
Includes amounts relating to the Navigator Aurora Facility held within a lessor entity (for which legal ownership resides with financial institutions) that we are required to consolidate under U.S. GAAP into our financial statements as a variable interest entity (Please read Note 10—Variable Interest Entities to our consolidated financial statements) |
** |
Excludes amounts relating to the refinancing of the October 2016 Secured Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility June 2017 Secured Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility |
December 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2022 |
|||||||
(in thousands) |
||||||||
Current Liability |
||||||||
Current portion of secured term loan facilities |
$ | $ | ||||||
Less: current portion of deferred financing costs |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Current portion of secured term loan facilities, net of deferred financing costs |
$ | $ | ||||||
Non-Current Liability |
||||||||
Secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities net of current portion, excluding amount due to related parties |
$ | $ | ||||||
Amount due to related parties* |
||||||||
Less: non-current portion of deferred financing costs |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Non-current secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities, net of current portion and non-current deferred financing costs |
$ | $ | ||||||
| * | Amount due to related parties relates to the Navigator Aurora Facility held within a lessor entity (for which legal ownership resides with a financial institution) that we are required to consolidate under U.S. GAAP into our financial statements as a variable interest entity. |
December31, 2021 |
December 31, 2022 |
|||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
Senior Secured Bond |
||||||||
Total Bond |
$ | $ | ||||||
Less deferred financing costs |
( |
) | ||||||
Total Bond, net of deferred financing costs |
$ | $ | ||||||
December 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2022 |
|||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
Senior Unsecured Bonds |
||||||||
Total 2020 Bonds |
||||||||
Less deferred financing costs |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Total Bonds, net of deferred financing costs |
$ | $ | ||||||
| December 31, 2020 |
December 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2022 |
||||||||||
| Basic and diluted loss available to common stockholders of Navigator Holdings Ltd (in thousands) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Basic weighted average number of shares |
||||||||||||
| Effect of dilutive potential share options*: |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Diluted weighted average number of shares |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| * | Due to a loss for the years ended December 31, 2020, and 2021, |
Number of non-vested restricted shares |
Weighted average grant date fair value |
Weighted average remaining contractual term |
||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2020, |
$ | |||||||||||
| Granted |
||||||||||||
| Vested |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| Forfeited |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2021, |
$ | |||||||||||
| Granted |
||||||||||||
| Vested |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| Forfeited |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2022, |
$ | |||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Options |
Number of options outstanding |
Weighted average exercise price per share |
Aggregate intrinsic value |
|||||||||
| Balance as of January 1, 2021, |
$ | — | ||||||||||
| Post vesting cancellations during the year |
( |
) | — | |||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2021, |
$ | — | ||||||||||
| Issuance during the year |
$ | |||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2022, |
$ | — | ||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
Thereafter |
Total |
||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Secured term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 Bonds |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Office operating leases 1 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Navigator Aurora Facility 2 |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total contractual obligations |
$ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
1 |
The Company occupies office space in London with a new lease that commenced in January 2022 for a period of |
| commencement date. The annual gross rent under this lease is approximately $ |
| The lease term for our representative office in Gdynia, Poland was revised from January 2022 for an amended period to |
| The Company occupies office space in Copenhagen with a lease commenced in September 2021 that expires in 25. The gross rent per year is approximately $ |
| The weighted average remaining contractual lease term for the above four office leases on December 31, 2022, was |
2 |
The Navigator Aurora Facility is a loan facility held within a lessor entity (for which legal ownership resides with financial institutions) that we are required to consolidate under U.S. GAAP into our financial statements as a variable interest entity. Please read Note 10 Variable Interest Entities. |
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
One year |
$ | $ | ||||||
Two years |
||||||||
Three years |
||||||||
Four years |
||||||||
Five years |
||||||||
Six years and thereafter |
||||||||
Total undiscounted operating lease commitments |
$ | $ | ||||||
Less: Discount adjustment |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Total operating lease liabilities |
$ | $ | ||||||
Less: current portion |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Operating lease liabilities, non-current portion |
$ | $ | ||||||
| Year Ended December 31, 2020 |
Year Ended December 31, 2021 |
Year Ended December 31, 2022 |
||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||
Income/(loss) before income taxes and share of result of equity method investments |
$ | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||
Tax expense at statutory rate |
||||||||||||
Total statutory tax charge |
||||||||||||
Tax charge in U.S. subsidiaries |
||||||||||||
Tax charge in UK subsidiaries |
||||||||||||
Tax charge in Polish subsidiary |
||||||||||||
Tax charge in Singapore subsidiary |
||||||||||||
Tax charge in Danish subsidiary |
||||||||||||
Tax charge in Maltese VIE ( note 10 |
||||||||||||
Withholding taxes |
||||||||||||
Total tax charge |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Breakdown of current/deferred tax expense |
||||||||||||
Current tax expense |
||||||||||||
Deferred tax expense |
||||||||||||
Total corporate income tax |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| December 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2022 |
|||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
Deferred tax asset |
||||||||
Net operating losses carry forwards |
$ | $ | ||||||
Other temporary differences |
||||||||
Total deferred tax assets |
||||||||
Less valuation allowance |
||||||||
Deferred tax asset, net of valuation allowance |
||||||||
Deferred tax liabilities |
||||||||
Investment in joint venture |
||||||||
Other temporary differences |
||||||||
Total deferred tax liabilities |
$ | $ | ||||||
Net deferred tax asset/(liability) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
December 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2022 |
|||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | $ | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents held by VIE ( note 10 |
||||||||
Restricted cash |
||||||||
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
$ | $ | ||||||
Year ended December 31, 2021 |
Year ended December 31, 2022 |
|||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
Net income / (expenses) |
||||||||
Luna Pool Agency Limited |
$ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | ||
Ocean Yield Malta Limited |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Ultranav Business Support ApS |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Naviera Ultranav Limitada |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Norton Lilly International Inc |
( |
) | ||||||
Total |
$ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | ||
December 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2022 |
|||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
Due from Related Parties |
||||||||
Luna Pool Agency Limited |
$ | $ | ||||||
Unigas Pool |
||||||||
Dan Unity |
||||||||
Naviera Ultranav Limitada |
||||||||
Total |
$ | $ | ||||||
December 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2022 |
|||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
Due to Related Parties |
||||||||
Ocean Yield Malta Limited |
$ | $ | ||||||
Naviera Ultranav Limitada |
||||||||
Total |
$ | $ | ||||||
Exhibit 2.2
Description of Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Annual Report on Form 20-F to which this Exhibit is attached. References to we, our and us refer to Navigator Holdings Ltd., unless the context otherwise requires. References to shareholders refer to holders of our common stock, unless the context otherwise requires BW Group refers to BW Group Limited and Ultranav refers to Naviera Ultranav Dos Limitada.
As of December 31, 2022, we had one class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act): common stock, par value $0.01 per share (common stock). Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol NVGS.
The following contains a description of our common stock, as well as certain related additional information. The following summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of applicable law and to our Second Amended and Restated Bylaws and Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, which we refer to as our bylaws and our articles of incorporation, respectively, and to the other agreements described herein. Our corporate affairs are governed by our articles of incorporation and bylaws and by the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act, or the BCA. Our bylaws and articles of incorporation as they exist on the date of this Annual Report on Form 20-F, and any other agreements described herein, are incorporated by reference or filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 20-F of which this Exhibit is a part, and amendments or restatements of each will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) in future periodic or current reports in accordance with the rules of the SEC. You are encouraged to read these documents.
Authorized Capitalization
As of December 31, 2022, our authorized share capital consists of 400,000,000 shares of common stock, of which 76,804,474 shares were issued and outstanding and 40,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which no shares were issued and outstanding. All of our shares are in registered form.
Common Stock
Each outstanding share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably all dividends, if any, declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividends. We do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends to holders of our common stock in the near term. We may, however, adopt in the future a policy to make cash dividends. Our future dividend policy is within the discretion of our board of directors. Agreements governing our indebtedness impose restrictions on us, including, among other things, limiting our ability to pay dividends out of operating revenues generated by the vessels securing such indebtedness, redeem any shares or make any other payment to our equity holders, if there is a default under such agreements.
Upon our liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or other winding up, the holders of common stock are entitled to ratably receive the assets available for distribution to the shareholders after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preference of any of our outstanding shares of preferred stock. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.
Holders of common stock do not have conversion, redemption or preemptive rights to subscribe to any of our securities. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are subject to the rights of the holders of any preferred stock which we may issue in the future.
Anti-takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
Certain provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws, which are summarized in the following paragraphs, may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the common stock held by shareholders.
Election and Removal of Directors; Vacancies
Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred shares in us, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders by the shareholders entitled to vote in the election. Our articles of incorporation provide that, subject to any rights of holders of preferred shares, directors will be elected at each annual meeting of shareholders to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, except in the event of his or her death, resignation, removal or the earlier termination of his or her term of office. Our articles of incorporation provide that, subject to any rights of holders of preferred shares, no director may be removed except both for cause and with the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares entitled to vote in the election of directors.
Subject to the following sentence, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or from any other cause (other than vacancies and newly created directorships which the holders of any class or classes of shares or series thereof are expressly entitled by our by articles of incorporation to fill) shall be filled by, and only by, a vote of not less than the majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director. Any director appointed to fill a vacancy or a newly created directorship shall hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.
On December 22, 2020, we entered into an Investor Rights Agreement with BW Group, (the BW Group Investor Rights Agreement), which provides BW Group with the right to designate two members of the board of directors of Navigator (provided that BW Group maintains certain ownership levels) and with certain registration rights and informational rights.
On August 4, 2021, in connection with the acquisition of the fleet and businesses of Ultragas ApS (the Ultragas Transaction), we entered into an Investor Rights Agreement with Ultranav International S.A. and Ultranav Denmark ApS (the Ultranav Investor Rights Agreement), which provides Ultranav with the right to designate two members of the board of directors of Navigator (provided that Ultranav maintains certain ownership levels) and with certain registration rights and informational rights. In connection with the Ultragas Transaction, Navigator also amended and restated the BW Group Investor Rights Agreement to conform the terms of such agreement with the Ultranav Investor Rights Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the holders of any class or series of preferred shares shall be entitled, voting separately as a class, to elect any of our directors, then the number of directors that may be elected by such holders voting separately as a class shall be in addition to the number otherwise fixed pursuant to resolution of the our board of directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in the terms of such class or series, (i) the term of the directors elected by such holders voting separately as a class shall expire at the next annual meeting of shareholders and (ii) any director or directors elected by such holders voting separately as a class may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of us entitled to vote separately as a class in an election of such directors.
No Cumulative Voting
The BCA provides that shareholders are not entitled to the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless our articles of incorporation provides otherwise. Our articles of incorporation do not provide for cumulative voting.
Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations
Our bylaws provide that, with a few exceptions, shareholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring business before an annual meeting of shareholders must provide timely notice of their proposal in writing to the corporate secretary.
Generally, to be timely, a shareholders notice must be received at our principal executive office not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of shareholders. Our bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a shareholders notice. These provisions may impede shareholders ability to bring matters before an annual meeting of shareholders or make nominations for directors at an annual meeting of shareholders.
Calling of Special Meetings of Shareholders
Our bylaws provide that special meetings of our shareholders may be called only by our board of directors.
Amendments to Our Bylaws
Our articles of incorporation and bylaws grant our board of directors the authority to amend and repeal our bylaws without a shareholder vote in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Blank Check Preferred Stock
Under the terms of our articles of incorporation, our board of directors has authority, without any further vote or action by our shareholders, to issue preferred stock and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred stock, the terms and rights of that series. Our board of directors may issue preferred stock on terms calculated to discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or the removal of our management.
Dissenters Rights of Appraisal and Payment
Under the BCA, our shareholders have the right to dissent from various corporate actions, including certain mergers or consolidations or sales of all or substantially all of our assets not made in the usual course of our business, and receive payment of the fair value of their shares, subject to exceptions. For example, the right of a dissenting shareholder to receive payment of the fair value of his shares is not available if for the shares of any class or series of stock, which shares at the record date fixed to determine the shareholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the meeting of shareholders to act upon the agreement of merger or consolidation, were either (1) listed on a securities exchange or admitted for trading on an interdealer quotation system or (2) held of record by more than 2,000 holders. In the event of any further amendment of our articles of incorporation, a shareholder also has the right to dissent and receive payment for his or her shares if the amendment alters certain rights in respect of those shares. The dissenting shareholder must follow the procedures set forth in the BCA to receive payment. In the event that we and any dissenting shareholder fail to agree on a price for the shares, the BCA procedures involve, among other things, the institution of proceedings in the High Court of the Republic of the Marshall Islands or in any appropriate court in any jurisdiction in which the companys shares are primarily traded on a local or national securities exchange. The value of the shares of the dissenting shareholder is fixed by the court after reference, if the court so elects, to the recommendations of a court-appointed appraiser.
Shareholders Derivative Actions
Under the BCA, any of our shareholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the shareholder bringing the action is a holder of our
shares both at the time the derivative action is commenced and at the time of the transaction to which the action relates or that his shares devolved upon him by operation of law.
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
The BCA authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their shareholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors fiduciary duties, subject to certain exceptions. Our articles of incorporation include a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors and officers for monetary damages for actions taken as a director or officer to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Our articles of incorporation provide that we must indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by law. We are also expressly authorized to advance certain expenses (including attorneys fees) to our directors and officers and carry directors and officers insurance providing indemnification for our directors, officers and certain employees for some liabilities. We believe that these indemnification provisions and insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and executive officers.
The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our articles of incorporation may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors or officers for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our shareholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
Transfer Agent
The registrar and transfer agent for the common stock is the American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol NVGS.
Exhibit 4.11
Dated 28 November 2022
NAVIGATOR GAS L.L.C.
as Borrower
arranged by
NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE; ABN AMRO BANK N.V.; BNP PARIBAS S.A.; ING BANK N.V., LONDON BRANCH; NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK; and CREDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK
as Mandated Lead Arrangers
NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE
as Bookrunner
NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE
as Agent
NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE
as Security Agent
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
as Sustainability Agent
The banks and financial institutions named herein
as Hedging Providers
and
The banks and financial institutions named herein
as Lenders
guaranteed by
NAVIGATOR HOLDINGS LTD
as Parent
SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT
relating to a $210,000,000 Revolving Credit Facility
Contents
| Clause | Page | |||||
| 1 |
Definitions |
1 | ||||
| 2 |
Amendments to Principal Agreement |
2 | ||||
| 3 |
Representations and warranties |
3 | ||||
| 4 |
Conditions |
3 | ||||
| 5 |
Parents Confirmation |
3 | ||||
| 6 |
Fees and expenses |
3 | ||||
| 7 |
Miscellaneous and notices |
4 | ||||
| 8 |
Applicable law |
4 | ||||
| Schedule 1 Lenders and Hedging Providers |
6 | |||||
| Schedule 2 Documents and evidence required as conditions precedent |
7 | |||||
| Schedule 3 Form of Amended and Restated Loan Agreement |
9 | |||||
| Schedule 4 Effective Date Confirmation |
180 | |||||
THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT is dated 28 November 2022 and made BETWEEN:
| (1) | NAVIGATOR GAS L.L.C. as borrower (the Borrower); |
| (2) | NAVIGATOR HOLDINGS LTD as guarantor (the Parent); |
| (3) | NAVIGATOR ECLIPSE L.L.C., NAVIGATOR LUGA L.L.C., NAVIGATOR NOVA L.L.C., NAVIGATOR PROMINENCE L.L.C., and NAVIGATOR YAUZA L.L.C. each as an owner (the Owners); |
| (4) | NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE; ABN AMRO BANK N.V.; BNP PARIBAS S.A.; ING BANK N.V., LONDON BRANCH; NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK; and CREDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK as mandated lead arrangers (whether acting individually or together, the Arrangers); |
| (5) | THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Schedule 1 as lenders (the Lenders); |
| (6) | THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Schedule 1 as hedging providers (the Hedging Providers); |
| (7) | NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE as facility agent for the other Finance Parties (the Agent); |
| (8) | NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE as security agent for the other Finance Parties (the Security Agent); and |
| (9) | ABN AMRO BANK N.V., as sustainability agent for the other Finance Parties (the Sustainability Agent). |
WHEREAS:
| (A) | This Agreement is supplemental to a facility agreement dated 17 September 2020 (as amended from time to time, the Principal Agreement) made between, amongst others, the Borrower, the Parent, the Arrangers, the Agent, the Security Agent and the Lenders, pursuant to which the Lenders agreed to make available to the Borrower a revolving credit facility in a maximum amount of up to $210,000,000 for the purposes, and on the conditions, set out therein. |
| (B) | Pursuant to clause 6.2 of the Principal Agreement, the Borrower is entitled to request an extension to the Final Repayment Date by a further period of one year (the Facility Extension). The Lenders have, in accordance with clause 6.2(b) of the Principal Agreement, agreed to the Facility Extension on the basis set out in this Agreement. |
| (C) | In addition to the Facility Extension, and in anticipation of the expected cessation of LIBOR, the Borrower and the Lenders have agreed to make certain amendments to the Principal Agreement to replace LIBOR with the Compounded Reference Rate (as defined in the Amended and Restated Facility Agreement (as defined below)). |
NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:
| 1 | Definitions |
| 1.1 | Defined expressions |
Words and expressions defined in the Principal Agreement shall unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise defined herein, have the same meanings when used in this Agreement.
1
| 1.2 | Definitions |
In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement means the Principal Agreement as amended and restated by this Agreement.
Effective Date means the date on which the Agent confirms to the Borrower in writing (substantially in the form set out in Schedule 4) that all of the conditions referred to in clause 4.1 have been satisfied.
Mortgage Addendum means each addendum executed or (as the context may require) to be executed in respect of the Mortgage for each Mortgaged Ship by the relevant Owner in favour of the Security Agent and Mortgage Addenda means all of them.
Relevant Documents means this Agreement and the Mortgage Addenda.
Relevant Parties means the Borrower, the Parent and the Owners or, where the context so requires or permits, means any or all of them.
| 1.3 | Principal Agreement |
References in the Principal Agreement to this Agreement shall, with effect from the Effective Date and unless the context otherwise requires, be references to the Principal Agreement as amended by this Agreement and words such as herein, hereof, hereunder, hereafter, hereby and hereto, where they appear in the Principal Agreement, shall be construed accordingly.
| 1.4 | Headings |
Clause headings and the table of contents are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the interpretation of this Agreement.
| 1.5 | Construction of certain terms |
Clause 1.2 of the Principal Agreement shall apply to this agreement (mutatis mutandis) as if set out herein and as if references therein to this Agreement were references to this Agreement.
| 1.6 | Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 |
Clause 1.3 of the Principal Agreement shall apply to this Agreement (mutatis mutandis) as if set out herein and as if references therein to this Agreement were references to this Agreement.
| 2 | Amendments to Principal Agreement |
| 2.1 | Amendments |
The Principal Agreement shall, with effect on and from the Effective Date, be (and it is hereby) amended so as to read in accordance with the form of the amended and restated Loan Agreement set out in Schedule 3 and (as so amended) will continue to be binding upon each of the parties hereto in accordance with its terms as so amended and restated.
| 2.2 | Continued force and effect |
Save as amended by this Agreement, the provisions of the Principal Agreement shall continue in full force and effect and the Principal Agreement and this Agreement shall be read and construed as one instrument.
2
| 3 | Representations and warranties |
Each of the Repeating Representations contained in clause 18 of the Principal Agreement shall be deemed repeated by the Borrower and the Parent at the date of this Agreement and at the Effective Date, by reference to the facts and circumstances then pertaining, as if references therein to the Finance Documents included this Agreement and, on the Effective Date, the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement.
| 4 | Conditions |
| 4.1 | Documents and evidence |
The amendment and restatement of the Loan Agreement referred to in clause 2.1 shall be subject to the receipt by the Agent or its duly authorised representative of the documents and evidence specified in Schedule 2 in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent. Once such conditions are satisfied the Agent shall issue the Effective Date confirmation substantially in the form set out in Schedule 4.
| 4.2 | Waiver of conditions precedent |
The conditions specified in this clause 4 are inserted solely for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders and may be waived by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) in whole or in part with or without conditions.
| 5 | Parents Confirmation |
| 5.1 | Guarantee |
The Parent hereby confirms its consent to the amendments to the Principal Agreement contained in this Agreement and agrees that the guarantee and indemnity provided in clause 17 of the Principal Agreement, and the obligations of the Parent thereunder, shall remain and continue in full force and effect notwithstanding the said amendments to the Principal Agreement contained in this Agreement.
| 5.2 | Security Documents |
The Borrower, the Parent and the Owners each further acknowledge and agree that:
| 5.2. | 1 each of the Security Documents to which it is a party, and its obligations thereunder, shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the amendments made to the Principal Agreement by this Agreement and such obligations shall extend to any new obligations assumed by the Borrower under the Finance Documents as a result of this Agreement; and |
| 5.2.2 | with effect from the Effective Date, references to (a) the Facility Agreement in any of the Security Documents to which it is a party shall henceforth be reference to the Principal Agreement as amended and restated by this Agreement and as from time to time hereafter amended and (b) reference to a Mortgage in each Finance Document shall be reference to that Mortgage as supplemented by the Mortgage Addendum to that Mortgage. |
| 6 | Fees and expenses |
| 6.1 | Fee |
The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent (on behalf of the Lenders), on or before the Effective Date, the fee referred to in clause 11.2 of the Principal Agreement for application by the Agent in accordance with the said clause 11.2 of the Principal Agreement.
3
| 6.2 | Expenses |
The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent on a full indemnity basis within 5 Business Days of a demand all expenses (including legal and out-of-pocket expenses) reasonably incurred by the Finance Parties in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and, where relevant, registration of this Agreement and the other Relevant Documents and of any amendment or extension of or the granting of any waiver or consent under this Agreement or the other Relevant Documents.
| 6.3 | Value Added Tax |
All fees and expenses payable pursuant to this clause 6 shall be paid together with value added tax or any similar tax (if any) properly chargeable thereon.
| 6.4 | Stamp and other duties |
The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent within 3 Business Days of a demand all stamp, documentary, registration or other like duties or taxes (including any duties or taxes payable by the Finance Parties) imposed on or in connection with this Agreement, the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement and the other Relevant Documents and shall indemnify each Finance Party against any liability arising by reason of any delay or omission by the Borrower to pay such duties or taxes.
| 7 | Miscellaneous and notices |
| 7.1 | Notices |
The provisions of clause 39 of the Principal Agreement shall extend and apply to the giving or making of notices or demands hereunder as if the same were expressly stated herein.
| 7.2 | Counterparts |
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties on separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original but all counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
| 8 | Applicable law |
| 8.1 | Law |
This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations connected with it are governed by and shall be construed in accordance with English law.
| 8.2 | Submission to jurisdiction |
The Borrower and the Parent agree, for the benefit of the Finance Parties, that any legal action or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any non-contractual obligations connected with it against any of the Borrower, the Parent or the Owners or any of their respective assets may be brought in the English courts. Each of the Borrower, the Parent and the Owners irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers NGT Services (UK) Limited at present of 10 Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DH to receive for it and on its behalf, service of process issued out of the English courts in any such legal action or proceedings. The submission to such jurisdiction shall not (and shall not be construed so as to) limit the right of the Finance Parties to take proceedings against any of the Borrower or the Parent in the courts of any other competent jurisdiction nor shall the taking of proceedings in any one or more jurisdictions preclude the taking of proceedings in any other jurisdiction, whether concurrently or not. The parties further agree that only the Courts of England and not those of any other State shall have jurisdiction to determine any claim which any of the Borrower or the Parent may have against the Finance Parties arising out of or in connection with this Agreement.
4
IN WITNESS whereof the parties to this Agreement have caused this Agreement to be duly executed on the date first above written.
5
Schedule 1
Lenders and Hedging Providers
Lenders
NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK
BNP PARIBAS S.A.
ING BANK N.V., LONDON BRANCH
CREDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK
Hedging Providers
NORDEA BANK ABP
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK
BNP PARIBAS
6
Schedule 2
Documents and evidence required as conditions precedent
| 1 | Corporate authorisation |
In relation to each of the Relevant Parties:
| (a) | Constitutional documents |
copies certified by an officer of such Relevant Party, as a true, complete and up to date copy, of all documents which contain or establish or relate to the constitution of that party or a secretarys certificate confirming that there have been no changes or amendments to the constitutional documents certified copies of which were previously delivered to the Agent pursuant to the Principal Agreement;
| (b) | Resolutions |
copies of the resolutions of its board of directors approving the terms and conditions of the Relevant Documents to which it is or is to be a party and the terms and conditions hereof and authorising the signature, delivery and performance of each of its obligations thereunder, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than five Business Days prior to the Effective Date) by an officer of that Relevant Party as:
| (1) | being true and correct; |
| (2) | being duly passed at meetings of the directors of such Relevant Party duly convened and held; |
| (3) | not having been amended, modified or revoked; and |
| (4) | being in full force and effect |
together with a certified copy of any power of attorney issued by such Relevant Party pursuant to its resolutions; and
| (c) | Certificate of incumbency |
a list of directors and officers of that Relevant Party specifying the names and positions of such persons, certified (in a certificate dated no earlier than five Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement) by an officer of such Relevant Party to be true, complete and up to date.
| 2 | Mortgage Addendum |
Evidence that a Mortgage Addendum has been registered against each Mortgaged Ship through the Registry.
| 3 | Consents |
A certificate (dated no earlier than five Business Days prior to the Effective Date) from an officer of each of the Relevant Parties stating that no consents, authorisations, licences or approvals are necessary for such Relevant Party to authorise, or are required by each of the Relevant Parties or any other party (other than the Finance Parties) in connection with, the execution, delivery, and performance of the Relevant Documents to which they are or will be a party.
7
| 4 | Legal opinions |
Legal opinions in relation to the laws of England, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Liberia.
| 5 | Process agent |
A copy of a letter from the Borrowers and the Parents agent for receipt of service of proceedings accepting its appointment under this Agreement as the Borrowers and the Parents process agent.
| 6 | Fee |
Evidence that the fee referred to in clause 6.1 has been paid in full and that all costs and expenses referred to in clause 6.2 have been paid or will be paid promptly on being demanded.
8
Schedule 3
Form of Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
9
Confidential
Dated 17 September 2020
(as amended and restated by the first
supplemental agreement
dated 29 November 2022)
NAVIGATOR GAS L.L.C.
as Borrower
NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE; ABN AMRO BANK N.V.; BNP PARIBAS
S.A.; ING BANK N.V., LONDON BRANCH; NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK; and
CREDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK
as Mandated Lead Arrangers
with
NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE
as Bookrunner
NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE
as Agent
NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE
as Security Agent
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
as Sustainability Agent
and
The banks and financial institutions named herein
as Original Lenders
guaranteed by
NAVIGATOR HOLDINGS LTD
as Parent
FACILITY AGREEMENT
for a revolving credit facility of up to $210,000,000
Contents
| Clause | Page | |||||
| SECTION 1 - INTERPRETATION |
1 | |||||
| 1 |
Definitions and interpretation |
1 | ||||
| SECTION 2 - THE FACILITIES |
29 | |||||
| 2 |
The Facility |
29 | ||||
| 3 |
Purpose |
31 | ||||
| 4 |
Conditions of Utilisation |
31 | ||||
| SECTION 3 - UTILISATION |
33 | |||||
| 5 |
Utilisation |
33 | ||||
| SECTION 4 - REPAYMENT, PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION |
35 | |||||
| 6 |
Repayment and reduction |
35 | ||||
| 7 |
Illegality, prepayment and cancellation |
36 | ||||
| SECTION 5 - COSTS OF UTILISATION |
42 | |||||
| 8 |
Interest |
42 | ||||
| 9 |
Interest Periods |
44 | ||||
| 10 |
Changes to the calculation of interest |
45 | ||||
| 11 |
Fees |
47 | ||||
| SECTION 6 - ADDITIONAL PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS |
49 | |||||
| 12 |
Tax gross-up and indemnities |
49 | ||||
| 13 |
Increased Costs |
53 | ||||
| 14 |
Other indemnities |
54 | ||||
| 15 |
Mitigation by the Lenders |
57 | ||||
| 16 |
Costs and expenses |
58 | ||||
| SECTION 7 - GUARANTEE |
59 | |||||
| 17 |
Guarantee and indemnity |
59 | ||||
| SECTION 8 - REPRESENTATIONS, UNDERTAKINGS AND EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
62 | |||||
| 18 |
Representations |
62 | ||||
| 19 |
Information undertakings |
69 | ||||
| 20 |
Financial covenants |
73 | ||||
| 21 |
General undertakings |
74 | ||||
| 22 |
Dealings with Ship |
78 | ||||
| 23 |
Condition and operation of Ship |
83 | ||||
| 24 |
Insurance |
84 | ||||
| 25 |
Minimum security value |
89 | ||||
| 26 |
Chartering undertakings |
91 | ||||
| 27 |
Bank accounts |
92 | ||||
| 28 |
Business restrictions |
94 | ||||
| 29 |
Hedging Contracts |
97 | ||||
| 30 |
Events of Default | 99 | ||
| 31 |
Position of Hedging Provider | 103 | ||
| SECTION 9 - CHANGES TO PARTIES |
105 | |||
| 32 |
Changes to the Lenders | 105 | ||
| 33 |
Assignments and transfers by Obligors | 108 | ||
| SECTION 10 - THE FINANCE PARTIES |
109 | |||
| 34 |
Roles of Agent, Security Agent and Arrangers | 109 | ||
| 35 |
Conduct of business by the Finance Parties | 123 | ||
| 36 |
Sharing among the Finance Parties | 156 | ||
| SECTION 11 - ADMINISTRATION |
127 | |||
| 37 |
Payment mechanics | 127 | ||
| 38 |
Set-off | 130 | ||
| 39 |
Notices | 130 | ||
| 40 |
Calculations and certificates | 132 | ||
| 41 |
Partial invalidity | 132 | ||
| 42 |
Remedies and waivers | 132 | ||
| 43 |
Amendments and grant of waivers | 133 | ||
| 44 |
Counterparts | 138 | ||
| 45 |
Confidentiality | 138 | ||
| SECTION 12 - GOVERNING LAW AND ENFORCEMENT |
141 | |||
| 46 |
Governing law | 141 | ||
| 47 |
Enforcement | 141 | ||
| Schedule 1 The parties |
142 | |||
| Schedule 2 Ship information |
152 | |||
| Schedule 3 Conditions precedent |
154 | |||
| Schedule 4 Utilisation Request |
160 | |||
| Schedule 5 Form of Transfer Certificate |
161 | |||
| Schedule 6 Form of Compliance Certificate |
163 | |||
| Schedule 7 Form of Increase Confirmation |
164 | |||
| Schedule 8 Scheduled Reduction Amounts |
166 | |||
| Schedule 9 Sustainability Margin Adjustment |
167 | |||
| Schedule 10 Form of Sustainability Certificate |
169 | |||
| Schedule 11 Compounded Rate Terms |
170 | |||
| Schedule 12 Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate |
173 | |||
| Schedule 13 Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate |
175 | |||
THIS AGREEMENT is dated 17 September 2020 (as amended and restated by the first supplemental agreement dated 29 November 2022) and made between:
| (1) | NAVIGATOR GAS L.L.C. as borrower (the Borrower); |
| (2) | NAVIGATOR HOLDINGS LTD (the Parent); |
| (3) | NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE; ABN AMRO BANK N.V.; BNP PARIBAS S.A.; ING BANK N.V., LONDON BRANCH; NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK; and CREDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK as mandated lead arrangers (whether acting individually or together, the Arrangers); |
| (4) | NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE as bookrunner (the Bookrunner); |
| (5) | THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Part 1 of Schedule 1 as lenders (the Original Lenders); |
| (6) | NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE as facility agent for the other Finance Parties (the Agent); |
| (7) | NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE as security agent for the other Finance Parties (the Security Agent); |
| (8) | ABN AMRO BANK N.V., as sustainability agent for the other Finance Parties (the Sustainability Agent); and |
| (9) | from the date of the Deed of Accession and Adherence, the banks and financial institutions listed in Part 1 of Schedule 1 as Hedging Providers. |
IT IS AGREED as follows:
SECTION 1 - INTERPRETATION
| 1 | Definitions and interpretation |
| 1.1 | Definitions |
In this Agreement and (unless otherwise defined in the relevant Finance Document) the other Finance Documents:
Account Bank means, in relation to the Earnings Account:
| (a) | Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge; or |
| (b) | another bank or financial institution approved by all the Lenders at the request of the Borrower. |
Account Security means the deed, pledge or other instrument executed by the Borrower in favour of the Security Agent in the agreed form conferring a Security Interest over the Earnings Account.
Accounting Reference Date means 31 December or such other date as may be approved by the Lenders.
Additional Business Day means any day specified as such in the Compounded Rate Terms.
1
Affiliate means, in relation to any person, a Subsidiary of that person or a Holding Company of that person or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company.
Agent means Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge or any person who may be appointed as such under clause 34.1 (Appointment of the Agent).
Amendment Effective Date has the meaning given to the term Effective Date in the First Supplemental Agreement.
Applicable Fraction has the meaning given to it in clause 7.6(c).
Approved Valuer means any of Fearnleys, Braemar ACM, Poten & Partners, Grieg Shipbrokers, Clarksons Platou, STEEM 1960 and E.A. Gibson Shipbrokers Ltd. or such other independent reputable ship broker nominated by the Borrower and approved by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) from time to time.
Auditors means one of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, KPMG, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, BDO and Advisors or another firm approved by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) from time to time.
Availability Period means the period starting on the date of this Agreement to and including the date falling 30 days prior to the Final Repayment Date, provided that for this purpose if no Utilisation has occurred by 25 September 2020 the availability period shall end on that date and the Total Commitments shall be cancelled and shall immediately be reduced to zero.
Bail-In Action means the exercise of any Write-down and Conversion Powers.
Bail-In Legislation means in relation to an EEA Member Country which has implemented, or which at any time implements, Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms, the relevant implementing law or regulation as described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time.
Basel II Accord means the International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards, a Revised Framework published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in June 2004 as updated prior to, and in the form existing on, the date of this Agreement, excluding any amendment thereto arising out of the Basel III Accord.
Basel II Approach means, in relation to any Finance Party, either the Standardised Approach or the relevant Internal Ratings Based Approach (each as defined in the Basel II Regulations applicable to such Finance Party) adopted by that Finance Party (or any of its Affiliates) for the purposes of implementing or complying with the Basel II Accord.
Basel II Regulation means:
| (a) | any law or regulation in force as at the date hereof implementing the Basel II Accord, (including the relevant provisions of CRD IV and CRR) to the extent only that such law or regulation re-enacts and/or implements the requirements of the Basel II Accord but excluding any provision of such law or regulation implementing the Basel III Accord; and |
| (b) | any Basel II Approach adopted by a Finance Party or any of its Affiliates. |
Basel III Accord means, together:
| (a) | the agreements on capital requirements, a leverage ratio and liquidity standards contained in Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems, Basel III: International framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring and Guidance for national authorities operating the countercyclical capital buffer published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010, each as amended, supplemented or restated; |
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| (b) | the rules for global systemically important banks contained in Global systemically important banks: assessment methodology and the additional loss absorbency requirementRules text published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in November 2011, as amended, supplemented or restated; and |
| (c) | any further guidance or standards published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision relating to Basel III. |
Basel III Increased Cost means an Increased Cost which is attributable to the implementation or application of or compliance with any Basel III Regulation (whether such implementation, application or compliance is by a government, regulator, Finance Party or any of its Affiliates).
Basel III Regulation means any law or regulation implementing the Basel III Accord (including the relevant provisions of CRD IV and CRR) save to the extent that such law or regulations re-enacts a Basel II Regulation.
Break Costs means, in respect of a Term Rate Loan or Unpaid Sums arising prior to the Rate Switch Date, the amount (if any) by which:
| (a) | the interest (excluding the Margin) which a Lender should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in that Term Rate Loan or Unpaid Sum (arising prior to the Rate Switch Date) to the last day of the current Interest Period in respect of that Term Rate Loan or Unpaid Sum, had the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received been paid on the last day of that Interest Period; |
exceeds:
| (b) | the amount which that Lender would be able to obtain by placing an amount equal to the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received by it on deposit with a leading bank in the Interbank Market for a period starting on the Business Day following receipt or recovery and ending on the last day of the current Interest Period. |
Business Day means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for general business in London, Oslo and New York and in the case of clause 5.1(a) only, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for general business in London, Oslo, Paris, Amsterdam, Sydney and New York and, in relation to:
| (a) | any date for repayment of, or payment or purchase of an amount relating to, any Compounded Rate Loan (or any relevant part of it) or Unpaid Sum; or |
| (b) | the determination of the first day or the last day of an Interest Period for any Compounded Rate Loan (or any relevant part of it) or Unpaid Sum, or otherwise in relation to the determination of the length of such an Interest Period; or |
| (c) | the determination of a Utilisation Date of a Compounded Rate Loan, |
which is also an Additional Business Day relating to that Compounded Rate Loan (or any relevant part of it) or Unpaid Sum.
Central Bank Rate has the meaning given to that term in the Compounded Rate Terms.
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Central Bank Rate Adjustment has the meaning given to that term in the Compounded Rate Terms.
Change of Control occurs when:
| (a) | without the prior approval of the Lenders, two or more persons acting in concert or any individual person (other than the Permitted Holder) acquires legally and/or beneficially, and either directly or indirectly, in excess of 50% of the issued share capital or membership interests of the Parent; or |
| (b) | without the prior approval of the Lenders, two or more persons acting in concert or any individual person (other than the Permitted Holder) has the right or the ability to control, either directly or indirectly, the affairs or composition of the majority of the board or directors (or equivalent) of the Parent. |
Charged Property means all of the assets of the Obligors which from time to time are, or are expressed or intended to be, the subject of the Security Documents.
Charter means, in relation to a Ship, any time charter with a charter term (excluding any options to extend) exceeding 36 calendar months in respect of that Ship entered into between the relevant Owner and the relevant Charterer.
Charter Assignment means, in relation to a Ship and its Charter Documents, any assignment by the relevant Owner of its interest in such Charter Documents in favour of the Security Agent in the agreed form pursuant to clause 22.8 (Chartering).
Charter Documents means, in relation to a Ship, any Charter of that Ship, any documents supplementing it and any guarantee or security given by any person for the relevant Charterers obligations under it.
Charterer means, in relation to a Ship, a charterer of that Ship pursuant to a Charter.
Classification means, in relation to a Ship, the classification specified in respect of such Ship in Schedule 2 (Ship information) with the relevant Classification Society or another classification approved by the Majority Lenders as its classification, at the request of the relevant Owner.
Classification Society means, in relation to a Ship, the classification society specified in respect of such Ship in Schedule 2 (Ship information) or another classification society (being either ABS, DNVGL, BV, Lloyds or NK) or, if such association no longer exists, any similar association nominated by the Agent) approved by the Majority Lenders as its Classification Society, at the request of the relevant Owner.
Code means the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Commitments means:
| (a) | in relation to an Original Lender, the amount set in a column adjacent to its name under the table with the heading The Original Lenders and their Commitments in Part 1 of Schedule 1 (The original parties) and the amount of any other Commitment assigned to it under this Agreement; and |
| (b) | in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any Commitment assigned to it under this Agreement, |
to the extent not cancelled, reduced or assigned by it under clause 6.3 (Reduction of Facility), clause 7.8 (Automatic cancellation) or any other provision of this Agreement.
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Compliance Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 6 (Form of Compliance Certificate) or otherwise approved.
Compounded Rate Interest Payment means the aggregate amount of interest that:
| (a) | is, or is scheduled to become, payable under any Finance Document; and |
| (b) | relates to a Compounded Rate Loan. |
Compounded Rate Loan means any Loan made available to the Borrower on or after the Rate Switch Date or, if applicable, any Unpaid Sum which is, or becomes, a Compounded Rate Loan on or after the Rate Switch Date.
Compounded Rate Loan Prepayment Fee has the meaning given to it in clause 11.3 (Compounded Rate Loan Prepayment Fee).
Compounded Rate Supplement means a document which:
| (a) | is agreed in writing by the Borrower and the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders); |
| (b) | specifies the relevant terms which are expressed in this Agreement to be determined by reference to Compounded Rate Terms; and |
| (c) | has been made available to the Borrower and each Finance Party. |
Compounded Rate Terms means the terms set out in Schedule 11 (Compounded Rate Terms) or in any Compounded Rate Supplement.
Compounded Reference Rate means, in relation to any RFR Banking Day during the Interest Period of any Compounded Rate Loan (or any relevant part of it), the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of:
| (a) | the Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate for that RFR Banking Day; and |
| (b) | the applicable Credit Adjustment Spread. |
Compounding Methodology Supplement means, in relation to the Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate or the Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate, a document which:
| (a) | is agreed in writing by the Borrower, the Agent (in its own capacity) and the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders); |
| (b) | specifies a calculation methodology for that rate; and |
| (c) | has been made available to Borrower and each Finance Party. |
Confirmation shall have, in relation to any Hedging Transaction, the meaning given to it in the relevant Hedging Master Agreement.
Confidential Information means all information relating to an Obligor, the Group, the Finance Documents or the Facility of which a Finance Party becomes aware in its capacity as, or for the purpose of becoming, a Finance Party or which is received by a Finance Party in relation to, or for the purpose of becoming a Finance Party under, the Finance Documents or the Facility from either:
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| (a) | any member of the Group or any of its advisers; or |
| (b) | another Finance Party, if the information was obtained by that Finance Party directly or indirectly from any member of the Group or any of its advisers, |
in whatever form, and includes information given orally and any document, electronic file or any other way of representing or recording information which contains or is derived or copied from such information but excludes information that:
| (i) | is or becomes public information other than as a direct or indirect result of any breach by that Finance Party of clause 45 (Confidentiality); or |
| (ii) | is identified in writing at the time of delivery as non-confidential by any member of the Group or any of its advisers; or |
| (iii) | is known by that Finance Party before the date the information is disclosed to it in accordance with paragraphs (i) or (ii) above or is lawfully obtained by that Finance Party after that date, from a source which is, as far as that Finance Party is aware, unconnected with the Group and which, in either case, as far as that Finance Party is aware, has not been obtained in breach of, and is not otherwise subject to, any obligation of confidentiality. |
Constitutional Documents means, in respect of an Obligor, such Obligors articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement or other constitutional documents including as referred to in any certificate relating to an Obligor delivered pursuant to Schedule 3 (Conditions precedent).
CRD IV means the directive 2013/36/EU of the European Union on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms.
Credit Adjustment Spread means any rate which is either:
| (a) | specified as such in the Compounded Rate Terms; or |
| (b) | determined by the Agent (or by any other Finance Party which agrees to determine that rate in place of the Agent) in accordance with the methodology specified in the Compounded Rate Terms. |
CRR means regulation 575/2013 of the European Union on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms.
Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate means, in relation to an Interest Period for any Compounded Rate Loan (or any relevant part of it), the percentage rate per annum determined by the Agent (or by any other Finance Party which agrees to determine that rate in place of the Agent) in accordance with the methodology set out in Schedule 13 (Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate) or in any relevant Compounding Methodology Supplement.
Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate means, in relation to any RFR Banking Day during an Interest Period for any Compounded Rate Loan (or any relevant part of it), the percentage rate per annum determined by the Agent (or by any other Finance Party which agrees to determine that rate in place of the Agent) in accordance with the methodology set out in Schedule 12 (Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate) or in any relevant Compounding Methodology Supplement.
Daily Rate means the rate specified as such in the Compounded Rate Terms.
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Deed of Accession and Adherence means the accession deed dated 10 December 2021 entered into between, amongst others, the Borrower, the Agent and Nordea Bank Abp, ABN AMRO Bank N.V., National Australia Bank and BNP Paribas (as Hedging Providers), pursuant to which each such Hedging Provider acceded to this Agreement.
Default means an Event of Default or any event or circumstance specified in clause 30 (Events of Default) which would, with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination under the Finance Documents or any combination of the foregoing, be an Event of Default.
Defaulting Lender means any Lender:
| (a) | which has failed to make its participation in a Loan available or has notified the Agent that it will not make its participation in a Loan available by the Utilisation Date of that Loan in accordance with clause 5.4 (Lenders participation); |
| (b) | which has otherwise rescinded or repudiated a Finance Document; or |
| (c) | with respect to which an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing, |
unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above:
| (i) | its failure to pay is caused by: |
| (A) | administrative or technical error; or |
| (B) | a Payment Disruption Event; and, |
payment is made within five Business Days of its due date; or
| (d) | the Lender is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question. |
Disposal Repayment Date means in relation to:
| (a) | a Total Loss of a Mortgaged Ship, the applicable Total Loss Repayment Date; or |
| (b) | a sale of a Mortgaged Ship by the relevant Owner, the date upon which such sale is completed by the transfer of title to the purchaser in exchange for payment of all or part of the relevant purchase price. |
Earnings means, in relation to a Ship and a person, all money at any time payable to that person for or in relation to the use or operation of such Ship including freight, hire and passage moneys, money payable to that person for the provision of services by or from such Ship or under any charter or pool commitment, requisition for hire compensation, remuneration for salvage and towage services, demurrage and detention moneys and damages for breach and payments for termination or variation of any charter commitment.
Earnings Account means the bank account of the Borrower held with the Account Bank with account number 6040.04.42730, IBAN NO9660400442730 and any bank account, deposit or certificate of deposit opened, made or established in accordance with, and designated as an Earnings Account, under clause 27 (Bank accounts).
EEA Member Country means any member state of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
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Enforcement Costs means any costs, expenses, liabilities or other amounts in respect of which any amount is payable under clauses 14.4 (Indemnity concerning security) or 16.3 (Enforcement and preservation costs) or under any other Finance Document to which those provisions apply and any remuneration payable to a Receiver in connection with any Security Documents.
Environmental Claims means:
| (a) | enforcement, clean-up, removal or other governmental or regulatory action or orders or claims instituted or made pursuant to any Environmental Laws or resulting from a Spill; or |
| (b) | any claim made by any other person relating to a Spill. |
Environmental Incident means any Spill from any vessel in circumstances where:
| (a) | any Ship or its Owner may be liable for Environmental Claims arising from the Spill (other than Environmental Claims arising and fully satisfied before the date of this Agreement); and/or |
| (b) | any Ship may be arrested or attached in connection with any such Environmental Claim. |
Environmental Laws means all laws, regulations and conventions concerning pollution or protection of human health or the environment.
EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule means the document described as such and published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person) from time to time.
Event of Default means any event or circumstance specified as such in clause 30 (Events of Default).
Existing Credit Facility means the existing $290m credit facility dated 21 December 2015 (as amended or supplemented from time to time) made available to the Borrower in respect of the Ships.
Facility means the revolving credit facility made available under this Agreement as described in Clause 2 (the Facility) and as the same shall be reduced in accordance with clause 6.3 (Reduction of Facility).
Facility Extension has the meaning given to it in clause 6.2 (Extension of Facility).
Facility Office means the office or offices notified by a Lender or any other Finance Party to the Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender or, as the case may be, Finance Party (or, following that date, by not less than five Business Days written notice) as the office through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement.
Facility Period means the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and including the date on which the Total Commitments have reduced to zero and all indebtedness of the Obligors under the Finance Documents has been fully paid and discharged.
Fair Market Value means, as at any relevant date, the value of each Mortgaged Ship which has not become a Total Loss as at such date as most recently determined in accordance with clause 25 (Minimum Security Value).
FATCA means:
| (a) | sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code or any associated regulations; |
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| (b) | any treaty, law or regulation of any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the US and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of any law or regulation referred to in paragraph (a) above; or |
| (c) | any agreement pursuant to the implementation of any treaty, law or regulation referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) above with the US Internal Revenue Service, the US government or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction. |
FATCA Application Date means:
| (a) | in relation to a withholdable payment described in section 1473(1)(A)(i) of the Code (which relates to payments of interest and certain other payments from sources within the US), 1 July 2014; or |
| (b) | in relation to a passthru payment described in section 1471(d)(7) of the Code not falling within paragraph (a) above, the first date from which such payment may become subject to a deduction or withholding required by FACTA. |
FATCA Deduction means a deduction or withholding from a payment under a Finance Document required by FATCA.
FATCA Exempt Party means a party to a Finance Document that is entitled to receive payments free from any FATCA Deduction.
Fee Letter means any letter dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Agent and/or the Arrangers and the Borrower setting out certain fees payable by the Borrower in respect of any Facility.
Final Repayment Date means, subject to clause 37.7 (Business Days):
| (a) | the date which falls four (4) years after the date of this Agreement; or |
| (b) | where the Facility Extension applies in accordance with clause 6.2 (Extension of Facility) (and for this purposes having regard to clause 6.2(d) (Extension of Facility)), the date which falls five (5) years after the date of this Agreement. |
Finance Documents means this Agreement, any Fee Letter, the First Supplemental Agreement, the Security Documents, any Hedging Contract, any Hedging Master Agreement, any Transfer Certificate, any Compounded Rate Supplement, any Compounding Methodology Supplement and any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Borrower.
Finance Party means the Agent, the Security Agent, the Sustainability Agent, the Bookrunner, any Arranger, any Hedging Provider or a Lender.
Financial Indebtedness means any indebtedness for or in respect of:
| (a) | moneys borrowed and debit balances at banks or other financial institutions; |
| (b) | any amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit or bill discounting facility (or dematerialised equivalent); |
| (c) | any amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument; |
| (d) | the amount of any liability in relation to any lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance with GAAP be treated as a balance sheet liability (other than any liability in respect of a lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance with GAAP in force prior to 1 January 2019, have been treated as an operating lease); |
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| (e) | receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a non-recourse basis); |
| (f) | any Treasury Transaction (and, when calculating the value of that Treasury Transaction, only the marked to market value (or, if any actual amount is due as a result of the termination or close-out of that Treasury Transaction, that amount) shall be taken into account); |
| (g) | any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial institution; |
| (h) | any amount raised by the issue of redeemable shares which are redeemable (other than at the option of the issuer) before the Final Repayment Date or are otherwise classified as borrowings under GAAP or, as the case may be, IFRS; |
| (i) | any amount of any liability under an advance or deferred purchase agreement if (a) one of the primary reasons behind entering into the agreement is to raise finance or to finance the acquisition or construction of the asset or service in question (b) the agreement is in respect of the supply of assets or services and payment is due more than 180 days after the date of supply; |
| (j) | any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase, sale and sale back, sale and leaseback agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing or otherwise classified as borrowings under GAAP or, as the case may be, IFRS; and |
| (k) | the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (a) to (i) above, without double counting. |
First Supplemental Agreement means the first supplemental agreement dated [●] 2022 entered into between the parties to this Agreement, pursuant to which this Agreement was amended and restated in connection with, amongst other things, the Facility Extension and the use of the Compounded Reference Rate as the basis upon which interest shall accrue in respect of any Compounded Rate Loans.
Flag State means Liberia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Bahamas, Bermuda or the United Kingdom, or such other state or territory as may be approved by the Lenders, at the request of the relevant Owner, as being the Flag State of a Ship for the purposes of the Finance Documents.
Funding Rate means any individual rate notified by a Lender to the Agent pursuant to clause 10.7 (Market disruption Compounded Rate Loans).
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
General Assignment means, in relation to a Ship, a first assignment of its interest in the Ships Insurances and Earnings and Requisition Compensation by the relevant Owner in favour of the Security Agent in the agreed form.
Group means the Parent and its Subsidiaries for the time being and, for the purposes of clause 19.1 (Financial statements) and clause 20 (Financial covenants), any other entity required to be treated as a subsidiary in its consolidated accounts in accordance with GAAP or, as the case may be, IFRS, and/or any applicable law.
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Group Member means any Obligor and any other entity which is part of the Group.
Guarantors means the Parent and the companies described as such in Schedule 1 (Original Parties) and Guarantor means any one of them.
Hedging Contract means any Hedging Transaction between the Borrower and any Hedging Provider pursuant to any Hedging Master Agreement and includes any Hedging Master Agreement and any Confirmations from time to time exchanged under it and governed by its terms relating to that Hedging Transaction and any contract in relation to such a Hedging Transaction constituted and/or evidenced by them and Hedging Contracts means all of them.
Hedging Exposure means, as at any relevant date, the aggregate of the amount certified by each of the Hedging Providers to the Agent to be the net amount in dollars (a) in relation to all Hedging Contracts that have been closed out on or prior to the relevant date, that is due and owing by the Borrower to the Hedging Providers in respect of such Hedging Contracts on the relevant date and (b) in relation to all Hedging Contracts that are continuing on the relevant date, that would be payable by the Borrower to the Hedging Providers under (and calculated in accordance with) the early termination provisions of the Hedging Contracts as if an Early Termination Date (as defined in the relevant Hedging Master Agreement) had occurred on the relevant date in relation to all such continuing Hedging Contracts.
Hedging Master Agreements means the agreements made or (as the context may require) to be made between the Borrower and the Hedging Providers in relation to the purposes set out in clause 29.1, each comprising an ISDA 2002 Master Agreement and Schedule thereto in the agreed form and Hedging Master Agreement means any of them.
Hedging Providers means any bank or financial institution which is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender who may at any time enter into or provide a Hedging Transaction and who accedes to the terms of this Agreement pursuant to clause 31.1 (and including the Hedging Providers referred to in the Deed of Accession and Adherence) and includes their respective successors in title and Hedging Provider means any of them.
Hedging Transaction has, in relation to any Hedging Master Agreement, the meaning given to the term Transaction in that Hedging Master Agreement.
Holding Company means, in relation to a person, any other person in respect of which it is a Subsidiary.
IFRS means international accounting standards within the meaning of IAS Regulation 1606/2002.
Increase Confirmation means a confirmation substantially in the form set out in Schedule 7 (Increase Confirmation).
Increase Lender has the meaning given to it in clause 2.2 (Increase).
Increased Costs has the meaning given to it in clause 13.1(b) (Increase Costs).
Indemnified Person means:
| (a) | each Finance Party and each Receiver and any attorney, agent or other person appointed by them under the Finance Documents; |
| (b) | each Affiliate of each Finance Party and each Receiver; and |
| (c) | any officers, employees or agents of each Finance Party, each Receiver and any of the Affiliates of each Finance Party and each Receiver. |
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Insolvency Event in relation to a Finance Party means that the Finance Party:
| (a) | is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); |
| (b) | becomes insolvent or is unable to pay its debts or fails or admits in writing its inability generally to pay its debts as they become due; |
| (c) | makes a general assignment, arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors; |
| (d) | institutes or has instituted against it, by a regulator, supervisor or any similar official with primary insolvency, rehabilitative or regulatory jurisdiction over it in the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organisation or the jurisdiction of its head or home office, a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors rights, or a petition is presented for its winding up or liquidation by it or such regulator, supervisor or similar official, other than, in each case, any Undisclosed Administration; |
| (e) | has instituted against it a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors rights, or a petition is presented for its winding up or liquidation, and, in the case of any such proceeding or petition instituted or presented against it, such proceeding or petition is instituted or presented by a person or entity not described in paragraph (d) above and: |
| (i) | results in a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or the entry of an order for relief or the making of an order for its winding up or liquidation; or |
| (ii) | is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained in each case within 30 days of the institution or presentation thereof; |
| (f) | has a resolution passed for its winding up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); |
| (g) | seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or substantially all its assets, other than, in each case, any Undisclosed Administration; |
| (h) | has a secured party take possession of all or substantially all its assets or has a distress, execution, attachment, sequestration or other legal process levied, enforced or sued on or against all or substantially all its assets and such secured party maintains possession, or any such process is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained, in each case within 30 days thereafter; |
| (i) | causes or is subject to any event with respect to it which, under the applicable laws of any jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in paragraphs (a) to (i) above; or |
| (j) | takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the foregoing acts. |
Insurance Notice means, in relation to a Ship, a notice of assignment in the form scheduled to the General Assignment for that Ship or in another approved form.
Insurances means, in relation to a Ship:
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| (a) | all policies and contracts of insurance; and |
| (b) | all entries in a protection and indemnity or war risks or other mutual insurance association |
in the name of such Ships owner or the joint names of its owner and any other person in respect of or in connection with such Ship and includes all benefits thereof (including the right to receive claims and to return of premiums).
Interbank Market means the London interbank market
Interest Period means, in relation to a Loan, each period determined in accordance with clause 9 (Interest Periods) and, in relation to an Unpaid Sum, each period determined in accordance with clause 8.6 (Default interest).
Interpolated Screen Rate means, in relation to any Loan, the rate which results from interpolating on a linear basis between:
| (a) | the applicable Screen Rate for the longest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which is less than the Interest Period of that Loan; and |
| (b) | the applicable Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which exceeds the Interest Period of that Loan, |
each as of the Specified Time for dollars.
Legal Reservations means:
| (a) | the principle that equitable remedies may be granted or refused at the discretion of a court and the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to insolvency, reorganisation and other laws generally affecting the rights of creditors; |
| (b) | the time barring of claims under the Limitation Act 1980 and the Foreign Limitation Periods Act 1984, the possibility that an undertaking to assume liability for, or indemnify a person against, non-payment of UK stamp duty may be void and defences of set-off or counterclaim; and |
| (c) | similar principles, rights and defences under the laws of any Relevant Jurisdiction. |
Lender means:
| (a) | any Original Lender; and |
| (b) | any bank or financial institution which has become a Party in accordance with clause 2.2 (Increase) and clause 32 (Changes to the Lenders), |
which in each case has not ceased to be a Party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
LIBOR means, in relation to any Term Rate Loan or any Unpaid Sum:
| (a) | the applicable Screen Rate as of the Specified Time for the offering of deposits in dollars for a period comparable to the Interest Period for that Term Rate Loan or Unpaid Sum; or |
| (b) | as otherwise determined pursuant to clause 10.1 (Unavailability of Screen Rate), |
and if, in either case, that rate is less than zero, LIBOR shall be deemed to be zero.
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LLC Interests Security means the document constituting a first Security Interest by the Borrower in favour of the Security Agent in the agreed form in respect of all of the limited liability company interests in the Owners.
Loan means a loan made or to be made under the Facility or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that loan under the Facility.
Lookback Period means the number of days specified as such in the Compounded Rate Terms.
Losses means any costs, expenses, payments, charges, losses, demands, liabilities, claims, actions, proceedings, penalties, fines, damages, judgments, orders or other sanctions.
Loss Payable Clauses means, in relation to a Ship, the provisions concerning payment of claims under the Ships Insurances in the form scheduled to the General Assignment in respect of that Ship or in another approved form.
Major Casualty means any casualty to a vessel for which the total insurance claim, inclusive of any deductible, exceeds or may exceed the Major Casualty Amount.
Major Casualty Amount means, in relation to a Ship, the amount specified as such against the name of that Ship in Schedule 2 (Ship information) or the equivalent in any other currency.
Majority Lenders means (if no part of the Loans is then outstanding), a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than 66 2/3% of the Total Commitments (or, if the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, aggregated more than 66 2/3% of the Total Commitments immediately prior to the reduction) or (at any other time), a Lender or Lenders whose participations in the Loans aggregate more than 66 2/3% of the Loans.
Manager means, in relation to a Ship, a technical or commercial or crewing manager of that Ship acceptable to the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) pursuant to the provisions of clause 22.4 (Manager) and/or clause 26.8 (Charterers manager).
Managers Undertaking means, in relation to a Ship, an undertaking by any manager of the Ship to the Security Agent in the agreed form.
Margin means:
| (a) | two point five per cent (2.50%) per annum; and |
| (b) | such other amount as may be determined from time to time in accordance with clause 8.4 (Sustainability margin adjustment). |
Market Disruption Rate means the rate (if any) specified as such in the Compounded Rate Terms.
Material Adverse Effect means, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, a material adverse effect on:
| (a) | the business, operations, property, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Group taken as a whole; or |
| (b) | the ability of an Obligor to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents; or |
| (c) | the validity or enforceability of, or the effectiveness or ranking of any Security Interest granted or purporting to be granted pursuant to any of, the Finance Documents or the rights or remedies of any Finance Party under any of the Finance Documents. |
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Minimum Value means, at any time, the amount in dollars which is at that time 125% of the Total Commitments at such time but, where any Mortgaged Ship has become a Total Loss but the Disposal Repayment Date for that Mortgaged Ship has not then occurred, minus such proportion of the aggregate Loans for the Mortgaged Ships as the Fair Market Value of such Mortgaged Ship bore to the aggregate Fair Market Value of all the Mortgaged Ships (including the relevant Mortgaged Ship) immediately before its Total Loss.
Mortgage means, in relation to a Ship, a first mortgage of that Ship in the agreed form by the relevant Owner in favour of the Security Agent (and, in relation to each Mortgage existing on the Amendment Effective Date, as amended by the relevant Mortgage Addendum).
Mortgage Addendum means, in relation to each Mortgage existing on the Amendment Effective Date, the first mortgage addendum entered into by the Owner in respect of the relevant Mortgaged Ship pursuant to which the Mortgage over that Mortgaged Ship was amended to secure this Agreement.
Mortgage Period means, in relation to a Mortgaged Ship, the period from the date the Mortgage over that Ship is executed and registered until the date such Mortgage is released and discharged or, if earlier, its Total Loss Date.
Mortgaged Ship means, at any relevant time, any Ship which is subject to a Mortgage and/or whose Earnings, Insurances and Requisition Compensation are subject to a Security Interest under the Finance Documents.
New Loan has the meaning given to it in clause 5.4 (Automatic Utilisation).
Obligors means the parties to the Finance Documents (other than Finance Parties and a Manager that is not a member of the Group) and Obligor means any one of them.
Original Financial Statements means the audited consolidated financial statements of the Group for its financial year ended 31 December 2019.
Original Jurisdiction means, in relation to an original Obligor, the jurisdiction under whose laws that Obligor is incorporated or formed as at the date of this Agreement or, in the case of any other Obligor, as at the date on which that Obligor becomes an Obligor.
Owner means, in relation to a Ship, the person specified against the name of that Ship in Schedule 2 (Ship information) and Owners means all of them.
Parent means the company described as such in Part 1 of Schedule 1 (The original parties).
Party means a party to this Agreement.
Payment Disruption Event means either or both of:
| (a) | a material disruption to those payment or communications systems or to those financial markets which are, in each case, required to operate in order for payments to be made in connection with the Facility (or otherwise in order for the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents to be carried out) which disruption is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, any of the Parties; or |
| (b) | the occurrence of any other event which results in a disruption (of a technical or systems-related nature) to the treasury or payments operations of a Party preventing that, or any other Party: |
| (i) | from performing its payment obligations under the Finance Documents; or |
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| (ii) | from communicating with other Parties in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents, |
(and which (in either such case)) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the Party whose operations are disrupted.
Permitted Holder means W.L. Ross & Co. L.L.C. (or its successor in title), any investment funds or other entities wholly owned and/or operated by W.L. Ross & Co L.L.C. (or its successor in title), and their respective Affiliates.
Permitted Liens means, in relation to a Ship:
| (a) | unless a Default is continuing, any ship repairers or outfitters possessory lien in respect of such Ship for an amount not exceeding $2,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies); |
| (b) | any lien on such Ship for masters, officers or crews wages outstanding in the ordinary course of its trading; |
| (c) | any lien on such Ship for salvage; |
| (d) | any lien arising by operation of law for not more than two months prepaid hire under any charter in relation to a Ship not prohibited by this Agreement; |
| (e) | liens for masters 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 a Ship, provided such liens do not secure amounts more than 30 days overdue (unless the overdue amount is being contested by the Owners in good faith by appropriate steps) and subject, in the case of liens for repair or maintenance, to clause 23.15 (Repairers liens); |
| (f) | any Security Interest created in favour of a plaintiff or defendant in any proceedings or arbitration as security for costs and expenses while the Owners are actively prosecuting or defending such proceedings or arbitration in good faith so long as any such proceedings or the continued existence of such Security Interest shall not and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of, the Ship or any interest in the Ship; and |
| (g) | any Security Interest 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 so long as any such proceedings or the continued existence of such Security Interest shall not and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of, the Ship or any interest in the Ship. |
Permitted Security Interests means, in relation to any Mortgaged Ship, any Security Interest over it which is:
| (a) | granted by the Finance Documents; or |
| (b) | a Permitted Lien; or |
| (c) | is approved by the Majority Lenders. |
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Pollutant means and includes crude oil and its products, any other polluting, toxic or hazardous substance and any other substance whose release into the environment is regulated or penalised by Environmental Laws.
Quarter Date means 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December.
Quotation Day means, in relation to any period for which LIBOR is to be determined under this Agreement, the date on which quotations would customarily be provided by leading banks in the Interbank Market for deposits in the relevant currency for delivery on the first day of that period.
Quoted Tenor means, in relation to the Screen Rate, any period for which that Screen Rate is customarily displayed on the relevant page or screen of an information service.
Rate Switch Date means 30 December 2022.
Receiver means a receiver or a receiver and manager or an administrative receiver appointed in relation to the whole or any part of any Charged Property under any relevant Security Document.
Reference Bank Rate means the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to four decimal places) as supplied to the Agent at its request by the Reference Banks as the rate at which the relevant Reference Banks could borrow funds in the Interbank Market, in the relevant currency and for the relevant period, were it to do so by asking for and then accepting interbank offers for deposits in reasonable market size in that currency and for that period.
Reference Banks means in relation to LIBOR the principal London offices of Nordea Bank AB, London Branch and/or such other banks as may be appointed by the Agent in consultation with the Borrower.
Registry means, in relation to each Ship, such registrar, commissioner or representative of the relevant Flag State who is duly authorised and empowered to register the relevant Ship, the relevant Owners title to such Ship and the relevant Mortgage under the laws of its Flag State.
Relevant Jurisdiction means, in relation to an Obligor:
| (a) | its Original Jurisdiction; |
| (b) | any jurisdiction where any Charged Property owned by it is situated; |
| (c) | any jurisdiction where it conducts its business; and |
| (d) | any jurisdiction whose laws govern the perfection of any of the Security Documents entered into by it. |
Relevant Nominating Body means any applicable central bank, regulator or other supervisory authority or a group of them, or any working group or committee sponsored or chaired by, or constituted at the request of, any of them or the Financial Stability Board.
Repeating Representations means each of the representations and warranties set out in clauses 18.1 (Status) to 18.10 (Ranking and effectiveness of security) (except for clauses 18.7 (Information) and 18.8 (Original Financial Statements)).
Replacement Benchmark means a benchmark rate which is:
| (a) | formally designated, nominated or recommended as the replacement for a Screen Rate by: |
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| (i) | the administrator of that Screen Rate (provided that the market or economic reality that such benchmark rate measures is the same as that measured by that Screen Rate); or |
| (ii) | any Relevant Nominating Body, |
and if replacements have, at the relevant time, been formally designated, nominated or recommended under both paragraphs, the Replacement Benchmark will be the replacement under paragraph (ii) above;
| (b) | in the opinion of the Majority Lenders and the Borrower, generally accepted in the international or any relevant domestic syndicated loan markets as the appropriate successor to a Screen Rate; or |
| (c) | in the opinion of the Majority Lenders and the Borrower, an appropriate successor to a Screen Rate. |
Reporting Day means the day (if any) specified as such in the Compounded Rate Terms.
Reporting Time means the relevant time (if any) specified as such in the Compounded Rate Terms.
Representative means any delegate, agent, manager, administrator, nominee, attorney, trustee or custodian.
RFR has the meaning given to it in the Compounded Rate Terms.
RFR Banking Day has the meaning given to it in the Compounded Rate Terms.
Requisition Compensation means, in relation to a Ship, any compensation paid or payable by a government entity for the requisition for title, confiscation or compulsory acquisition of such Ship.
Resolution Authority means any body which has authority to exercise any Write-down and Conversion Powers.
Restricted Party means a person:
| (a) | that is listed on any Sanctions List (whether designated by name or by reason of being included in a class of person); |
| (b) | that is domiciled, registered as located or has its main place of business in, or is incorporated under the laws of, a country or territory which is subject to country-wide or, as the case may be, territory-wide, Sanctions Laws which attach legal effect to being domiciled, registered as located or having its main place of business in such country or, as the case may be, territory; |
| (c) | that is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by or acting on behalf of a person referred to in (a) and/or (b) above; or |
| (d) | with which any Obligor is prohibited from dealing or otherwise engaging in a transaction with by any Sanctions Laws. |
Sanctions Authority means:
| (a) | the Norwegian State; |
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| (b) | the United Kingdom; |
| (c) | the United Nations; |
| (d) | the European Union; |
| (e) | where the Facility Office of any Lender is in the European Union, each member state of the European Union where each such Facility Office is located; |
| (f) | the relevant authority in any country where an Obligor is incorporated or has its principal place of business; and |
| (g) | the United States of America, |
and any governmental institutions, agencies or other authority acting on behalf of any of the foregoing in connection with Sanctions Laws (including but not limited to the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of Treasury (OFAC), the United States Department of State, and Her Majestys Treasury (HMT)).
Sanctions Laws means any trade, economic or financial sanctions laws and/or regulations, embargoes or other restrictive measures imposed, administered, enacted and/or enforced by any Sanctions Authority.
Sanctions List means any list of persons or entities issued or maintained or published in connection with Sanctions Laws by or on behalf of any Sanctions Authority (including but not limited to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list issued by OFAC and the Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets and Investment Ban List issued by HMT).
Screen Rate means the London interbank offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for dollars and the relevant period displayed (before any correction, recalculation or republication by the administrator) on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate) or the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Thomson Reuters. If such page or service ceases to be available, the Agent may specify another page or service displaying the relevant rate after consultation with the Borrower and the Lenders.
Security Agent means Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge or any person who may be appointed as such under clause 34.11 (Resignation of the Agent), having regard to clause 34.18 (Application of certain clauses to Security Agent).
Security Documents means:
| (a) | the Mortgages over the Ships; |
| (b) | the General Assignments in relation to the Ships; |
| (c) | the Shipowner Guarantees from each of the Owners; |
| (d) | the LLC Interests Security; |
| (e) | any Charter Assignment; |
| (f) | the Account Security; |
| (g) | any Subordination Agreement; |
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| (h) | any Managers Undertakings; and |
| (i) | any other document as may be executed to guarantee and/or secure any amounts owing to the Finance Parties under this Agreement or any other Finance Document. |
Security Interest means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, assignment, trust, hypothecation or other security interest of any kind securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect
Security Value means, at any time, the amount in dollars which, at that time, is the aggregate of (a) the aggregate Fair Market Value of all of the Mortgaged Ships which have not then become a Total Loss and (b) the value of any additional security then held by the Security Agent provided under clause 25 (Minimum security value), in each case as most recently determined in accordance with this Agreement.
Semi-annual Date means 30 June and 31 December.
Semi-annual Reduction Date means, each Semi-annual Date falling during the period between the first Utilisation Date of the Facility and the Final Repayment Date.
Ships means each of the ships as described in Schedule 2 (Ship information) and Ship means any of them.
Ship Representations means each of the representations and warranties set out in clauses 18.17 (Environmental matters), 18.28 (Ship status) and 18.29 (Ships employment).
Shipowner Guarantee means, in relation to an Owner, a guarantee by that Owner in favour of the Security Agent in the agreed form.
Specified Time means 11.00 am (London time) on the Quotation Day.
Spill means any actual or threatened spill, release or discharge of a Pollutant into the environment.
Subordination Agreement means an agreement in the agreed form fully subordinating the Borrowers and the Parents rights and interest in and to all Financial Indebtedness incurred by an Obligor (except for the Parent) to the Borrower or the Parent to the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents.
Subsidiary of a person means any other person:
| (a) | directly or indirectly controlled by such person; or |
| (b) | of whose dividends or distributions on ordinary voting share capital or membership interests such person is entitled to receive more than 50 per cent. |
Tax means any tax, levy, impost, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar nature (including any penalty or interest payable in connection with any failure to pay or any delay in paying any of the same).
Tax Credit means a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of any Tax.
Term Rate Loan means any Loan (or any relevant part of it) or, if applicable, Unpaid Sum which is not a Compounded Rate Loan.
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Total Commitments means the lower of the aggregate of the Commitments (being $210,000,000 at the original date of this Agreement) and 65% of the fair market value of the Ships as determined on or around (but before) the date of this Agreement by reference to the market valuations of the Ships obtained in accordance with clause 25 (Minimum Security Value) and which are dated not more than 30 days prior to the date of this Agreement (or such earlier date approved by the Agent).
Total Loss means, in relation to a Ship, its:
| (a) | actual, constructive, compromised or arranged total loss; or |
| (b) | requisition for title, confiscation or other compulsory acquisition by a government entity; or |
| (c) | hijacking, theft, condemnation, capture, seizure, arrest or detention for more than 60 days or, where there has been a hijacking, theft, capture, seizure or detention of the Ship as a result of an act of piracy, 365 days or, if earlier, the date on which the insurance proceeds are paid by the insurers in respect of such hijack, theft, capture, seizure or detention as a result of privacy. |
Total Loss Date means, in relation to the Total Loss of a Ship:
| (a) | in the case of an actual total loss, the date it happened or, if such date is not known, the date on which that Ship was last reported; |
| (b) | in the case of a constructive, compromised, agreed or arranged total loss, the earliest of: |
| (i) | the date notice of abandonment of that Ship is given to its insurers; or |
| (ii) | if the insurers do not admit such a claim, the date later determined by a competent court of law to have been the date on which the total loss happened; or |
| (iii) | the date upon which a binding agreement as to such compromised or arranged total loss has been entered into by the vessels insurers; |
| (c) | in the case of a requisition for title, confiscation or compulsory acquisition, the date it happened; and |
| (d) | in the case of hijacking, theft, condemnation, capture, seizure, arrest or detention, the date 60 days or, in respect of any hijacking, theft, capture, seizure or detention of the Ship as a result of an act of piracy, 365 days after the date upon which it happened or, if earlier, the date on which the insurance proceeds are paid by the insurers in respect of such hijack, theft, capture, seizure or detention as a result of privacy. |
Total Loss Repayment Date means where a Mortgaged Ship has become a Total Loss the earlier of:
| (a) | the date 120 days after its Total Loss Date; and |
| (b) | the date upon which insurance proceeds or Requisition Compensation for such Total Loss are paid by insurers or the relevant government entity. |
Transfer Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 5 (Form of Transfer Certificate) or any other form agreed between the Agent and the Borrower.
Transfer Date means, in relation to a transfer, the later of:
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| (a) | the proposed Transfer Date specified in the Transfer Certificate; and |
| (b) | the date on which the Agent executes the Transfer Certificate. |
Treasury Transaction means any derivative transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price.
Trust Property means, collectively:
| (a) | all moneys duly received by the Security Agent under or in respect of the Finance Documents; |
| (b) | any portion of the balance on the Earnings Account held by or charged to the Security Agent at any time; |
| (c) | the Security Interests, guarantees, security, powers and rights given to the Security Agent under and pursuant to the Finance Documents including, without limitation, the covenants given to the Security Agent in respect of all obligations of any Obligor; |
| (d) | all assets paid or transferred to or vested in the Security Agent or its agent or received or recovered by the Security Agent or its agent in connection with any of the Finance Documents whether from any Obligor or any other person; and |
| (e) | all or any part of any rights, benefits, interests and other assets at any time representing or deriving from any of the above, including all income and other sums at any time received or receivable by the Security Agent or its agent in respect of the same (or any part thereof). |
Undisclosed Administration means, in relation to a Lender, the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official by a supervisory authority or regulator under or based on the laws of the country where that Lender is subject to home jurisdiction supervision and/or regulation, if applicable law requires that such appointment is not to be publicly disclosed.
Unpaid Sum means any sum due and payable but unpaid by an Obligor under the Finance Documents.
Utilisation means a utilisation of the Facility by the borrowing of a Loan.
Utilisation Date means the date on which a Utilisation is made.
Utilisation Request means a notice substantially in the form set out in Schedule 4 (Utilisation Request).
VAT means:
| (a) | any tax imposed in compliance with the Council Directive of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax (EC Directive 2006/112); and |
| (b) | any other tax of a similar nature, whether imposed in a member state of the European Union in substitution for, or levied in addition to, such tax referred to in paragraph (a) above, or imposed elsewhere. |
Write-down and Conversion Powers means:
| (a) | in relation to any Bail-In Legislation described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time, the powers described as such in relation to that Bail-In Legislation in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule; and |
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| (b) | in relation to any other applicable Bail-In Legislation: |
| (i) | any powers under that Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial institution or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and |
| (c) | any similar or analogous powers under that Bail-In Legislation. |
| 1.2 | Construction |
| (a) | Unless a contrary indication appears, any reference in any of the Finance Documents to: |
| (i) | Sections, clauses and Schedules are to be construed as references to the Sections and clauses of, and the Schedules to, the relevant Finance Document and references to a Finance Document include its Schedules; |
| (ii) | a Finance Document or any other agreement or instrument is a reference to that Finance Document or other agreement or instrument as it may from time to time be amended, restated, novated or replaced, however fundamentally; |
| (iii) | words importing the plural shall include the singular and vice versa; |
| (iv) | a time of day are to London time; |
| (v) | any person includes its successors in title, permitted assignees or transferees; |
| (vi) | the knowledge, awareness and/or beliefs (and similar expressions) of any Obligor shall be construed so as to mean the knowledge, awareness and beliefs of the director and officers of such Obligor, having made due and careful enquiry; |
| (vii) | agreed form means: |
| (A) | where a Finance Document has already been executed by all of the relevant parties, such Finance Document in its executed form; |
| (B) | prior to the execution of a Finance Document, the form of such Finance Document separately agreed in writing between the Agent and the Borrower as the form in which that Finance Document is to be executed or another form approved at the request of the Borrower or, if not so agreed or approved, is in the form specified by the Agent; |
| (viii) | approved by the Majority Lenders or approved by the Lenders means approved in writing by the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders or, as the case may be, all of the Lenders (on such conditions as they may respectively impose) and otherwise approved means approved in writing by the Agent (on such conditions as the Agent may impose) and approval and approve shall be construed accordingly; |
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| (ix) | assets includes present and future properties, revenues and rights of every description; |
| (x) | an authorisation means any authorisation, consent, concession, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration; |
| (xi) | charter commitment means, in relation to a vessel, any charter or contract for the use, employment or operation of that vessel or the carriage of people and/or cargo or the provision of services by or from it and includes any agreement for pooling or sharing income derived from any such charter or contract; |
| (xii) | control of an entity means: |
| (A) | the power (whether by way of ownership of shares, membership interests, proxy, contract, agency or otherwise) to: |
| (1) | cast, or control the casting of, more than 30% of the maximum number of votes that might be cast at a general meeting of that entity; or |
| (2) | appoint or remove all, or the majority, of the directors or other equivalent officers of that entity; or |
| (3) | give directions with respect to the operating and financial policies of that entity with which the directors or other equivalent officers of that entity are obliged to comply; and/or |
| (xiii) | the holding beneficially of more than 30% of the issued share capital or membership interests of that entity (excluding any part of that issued share capital or membership interests that carries no right to participate beyond a specified amount in a distribution of either profits or capital) (and, for this purpose, any Security Interest over share capital or membership interests shall be disregarded in determining the beneficial ownership of such share capital or membership interests); |
and controlled shall be construed accordingly;
| (xiv) | the term disposal or dispose means a sale, transfer or other disposal (including by way of lease or loan but not including by way of loan of money) by a person of all or part of its assets, whether by one transaction or a series of transactions and whether at the same time or over a period of time, but not the creation of a Security Interest; |
| (xv) | dollars/$ means the lawful currency of the United States of America; |
| (xvi) | the equivalent of an amount specified in a particular currency (the specified currency amount) shall be construed as a reference to the amount of the other relevant currency which can be purchased with the specified currency amount in the London foreign exchange market at or about 11 a.m. on the date the calculation falls to be made for spot delivery, as conclusively determined by the Agent (with the relevant exchange rate of any such purchase being the Agents spot rate of exchange); |
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| (xvii) | a government entity means any government, state or agency of a state; |
| (xviii) | a guarantee means any guarantee, letter of credit, bond, indemnity or similar assurance against loss, or any obligation, direct or indirect, actual or contingent, to purchase or assume any indebtedness of any person or to make an investment in or loan to any person or to purchase assets of any person where, in each case, such obligation is assumed in order to maintain or assist the ability of such person to meet its indebtedness; |
| (xix) | indebtedness includes any obligation (whether incurred as principal or as surety) for the payment or repayment of money, whether present or future, actual or contingent; |
| (xx) | month means a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month, except that: |
| (A) |
| (1) | (subject to paragraph (3) below) if the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day, that period shall end on the next Business Day in the calendar month in which that period is to end (if there is one) or on the immediately preceding Business Day (if there is not); |
| (2) | if there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month in which that period is to end, that period shall end on the last Business Day in that calendar month; and |
| (3) | if an Interest Period begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month, that Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day in the calendar month in which that Interest Period is to end; and |
| (B) | in relation to an Interest Period for a Compounded Rate Loan (or any other period for the accrual of commission or fees) or a period at the end of which a repayment date falls, a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month, subject to adjustment in accordance with the rules specified as Business Day Conventions in the Compounded Rate Terms, |
and the above rules will only apply to the last month of any period;
| (xxi) | an obligation means any duty, obligation or liability of any kind; |
| (xxii) | something being in the ordinary course of business of a person means something that is in the ordinary course of that persons current day-to-day operational business (and not merely anything which that person is entitled to do under its Constitutional Documents); |
| (xxiii) | in clause 28 (Business restrictions) includes by way of set-off, combination of accounts or otherwise; |
| (xxiv) | a person includes any individual, firm, company, corporation, government entity or any association, trust, joint venture, consortium, partnership or other entity (whether or not having separate legal personality); |
| (xxv) | a 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 and includes (without limitation) any Basel II Regulation or Basel III Regulation; |
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| (xxvi) | right means any right, privilege, power or remedy, any proprietary interest in any asset and any other interest or remedy of any kind, whether actual or contingent, present or future, arising under contract or law, or in equity; |
| (xxvii) | trustee, fiduciary and fiduciary duty has in each case the meaning given to such term under applicable law; |
| (xxviii) | the winding up, dissolution, or administration of person or (ii) a receiver or administrative receiver or administrator in the context of insolvency proceedings or security enforcement actions in respect of a person shall be construed so as to include any equivalent or analogous proceedings or any equivalent and analogous person or appointee (respectively) under the law of the jurisdiction in which such person is established or incorporated or any jurisdiction in which such person carries on business including (in respect of proceedings) the seeking or occurrences of liquidation, winding-up, reorganisation, dissolution, administration, arrangement, adjustment, protection or relief of debtors; |
| (xxix) | a provision of law is a reference to that provision as amended or re-enacted; |
| (xxx) | a reference to costs in the context of enforcement in a Finance Document shall include fees, costs and expenses of legal advisers, financial advisers and insurance and other consultants, brokers, surveyors and advisers; and |
| (xxxi) | a Lenders cost of funds in relation to its participation in any Loan is a reference to the average cost (determined either on an actual or a notional basis) which that Lender would incur if it were to fund, from whatever source(s) it may reasonably select, an amount equal to the amount of that participation in that Loan for a period equal in length to the Interest Period for that Loan. |
| (xxxii) | Where in this Agreement a provision includes a monetary reference level in one currency, unless a contrary indication appears, such reference level is intended to apply equally to its equivalent in other currencies as of the relevant time for the purposes of applying such reference level to any other currencies. |
| (xxxiii) | Section, clause and Schedule headings are for ease of reference only. |
| (xxxiv) | Unless a contrary indication appears, a term used in any other Finance Document or in any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document has the same meaning in that Finance Document or notice as in this Agreement. |
| (xxxv) | A Default (other than an Event of Default) is continuing if it has not been remedied or waived and an Event of Default is continuing if it has not been waived or, if in the opinion of the Agent such Event of Default is capable of being remedied, remedied to the satisfaction of the Agent. |
| (xxxvi) | Unless a contrary indication appears, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any other Finance Document when dealing with the same or similar subject matter, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail. |
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| (b) | A reference in this Agreement to a page or screen of an information service displaying a rate shall include: |
| (i) | any replacement page of that information service which displays that rate; and |
| (ii) | the appropriate page of such other information service which displays that rate from time to time in place of that information service, |
and, if such page or service ceases to be available, shall include any other page or service displaying that rate specified by the Agent after consultation with the Borrower.
| (c) | A reference in this Agreement to a Central Bank Rate shall include any successor rate to, or replacement rate for, that rate. |
| (d) | Any Compounded Rate Supplement overrides anything in: |
| (i) | Schedule 11 (Compounded Rate Terms); or |
| (ii) | any earlier Compounded Rate Supplement. |
| (e) | A Compounding Methodology Supplement relating to the Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate or the Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate overrides anything relating to that rate in: |
| (i) | Schedule 12 (Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate) or Schedule 13 (Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate), as the case may be; or |
| (ii) | any earlier Compounding Methodology Supplement. |
| 1.3 | Third party rights |
| (a) | Unless expressly provided to the contrary in a Finance Document for the benefit of a Finance Party or another Indemnified Person, a person who is not a party to a Finance Document has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (the Third Parties Act) to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of the relevant Finance Document. |
| (b) | Any Finance Document may be rescinded or varied by the parties to it without the consent of any person who is not a party to it (unless otherwise provided by this Agreement). |
| (c) | An Indemnified Person who is not a party to a Finance Document may only enforce its rights under that Finance Document through a Finance Party and if and to the extent and in such manner as the Finance Party may determine. |
| 1.4 | Finance Documents |
Where any other Finance Document provides that this clause 1.4 shall apply to that Finance Document, any other provision of this Agreement which, by its terms, purports to apply to all or any of the Finance Documents and/or any Obligor shall apply to that Finance Document as if set out in it but with all necessary changes.
| 1.5 | Conflict of documents |
The terms of the Finance Documents other than as relates to the creation and/or perfection of security) are subject to the terms of this Agreement and, in the event of any conflict between any provision of this Agreement and any provision of any Finance Document (other than in relation to the creation and/or perfection of security) the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail.
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SECTION 2 - THE FACILITIES
| 2 | The Facility |
| 2.1 | The Revolving Credit Facility |
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Borrower a revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to the Total Commitments.
| 2.2 | Increase |
| (a) | The Borrower may by giving prior notice to the Agent by no later than the date falling five Business Days after the effective date of a cancellation of: |
| (i) | the undrawn Commitments of a Defaulting Lender in accordance with clause 7.5(g); or |
| (ii) | the Commitments of a Lender in accordance with clause 7.1 (Illegality), |
request that the Total Commitments be increased (and the Commitments under the Facility shall be so increased rateably) in an aggregate amount of up to the amount of the Commitment so cancelled as follows:
| (i) | the increased Commitments will be assumed by one or more Lenders or other banks or financial institutions (each an Increase Lender) selected by the Borrower (each of which shall not be a member of the Group and which is further acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably)) and each of which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of a Lender corresponding to that part of the increased Commitments which it is to assume, as if it had been an Original Lender; |
| (iii) | each of the Obligors and any Increase Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another as the Obligors and the Increase Lender would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender; |
| (iv) | each Increase Lender shall become a Party as a Lender and any Increase Lender and each of the other Finance Parties shall assume obligations towards one another and acquire rights against one another as that Increase Lender and those Finance Parties would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender; |
| (v) | the Commitments of the other Lenders shall continue in full force and effect; and |
| (vi) | any increase in the Total Commitments shall take effect on the date specified by the Borrower in the notice referred to above or any later date on which the conditions set out in clause 2.2(b) are satisfied. |
| (b) | An increase in the Total Commitments will only be effective on: |
| (i) | the execution by the Agent of an Increase Confirmation from the relevant Increase Lender; |
| (ii) | in relation to an Increase Lender which is not a Lender immediately prior to the relevant increase the performance by the Agent of all necessary know |
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| your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the assumption of the increased Commitments by that Increase Lender, the completion of which the Agent shall promptly notify to the Borrower and the Increase Lender. |
| (c) | Each of the other Finance Parties hereby appoint the Agent as its agent to execute on its behalf any Increase Confirmation delivered to the Agent in accordance with this clause 2.2. |
| (d) | Each Increase Lender, by executing the Increase Confirmation, confirms (for the avoidance of doubt) that the Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the date on which the increase becomes effective. |
| (e) | Unless the Agent otherwise agrees or the increased Commitments are assumed by an existing Lender, the Borrower shall, on the date upon which the increase takes effect, pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee of $5,000 and the Borrower shall promptly on demand pay the Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by it in connection with any increase in Commitments under this clause 2.2. |
| (f) | The Borrower may pay to the Increase Lender a fee in the amount and at the times agreed between the Borrower and the Increase Lender in a letter between the Borrower and the Increase Lender setting out that fee. A reference in this Agreement to a Fee Letter shall include any letter referred to in this clause 2.2(f). |
| (g) | Clause 32.4 (Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders) shall apply mutatis mutandis in this clause 2.2(g) in relation to an Increase Lender as if references in that clause to: |
| (i) | an Existing Lender were references to all the Lenders immediately prior to the relevant increase; |
| (ii) | the New Lender were references to that Increase Lender; and |
| (iii) | a re-assignment were references to an assignment. |
| 2.3 | Finance Parties rights and obligations |
| (a) | The obligations of each Finance Party under the Finance Documents are several. Failure by a Finance Party to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents does not affect the obligations of any other Party under the Finance Documents. No Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Finance Party under the Finance Documents. |
| (b) | The rights of each Finance Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents are separate and independent rights and any debt arising under the Finance Documents to a Finance Party from an Obligor shall be a separate and independent debt in respect of which a Finance Party shall be entitled to enforce its rights (subject to clause 34.22 (All enforcement action through the Agent)) in accordance with paragraph (c) below. The rights of each Finance Party include any debt owing to that Finance Party under the Finance Documents and, for the avoidance of doubt, any part of a Loan or any other amount owed by an Obligor which relates to a Finance Partys participation in the Facility or its role under a Finance Document (including any such amount payable to the Agent on its behalf) is a debt owing to that Finance Party by that Obligor. |
| (c) | A Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents (including clauses 34.22 (All enforcement action through the Agent)) and 35.2 (Finance Parties acting together), separately enforce its rights under the Finance Documents. |
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| 3 | Purpose |
| 3.1 | Purpose |
| (a) | The Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed under the Facility in accordance with this clause 3 (Purpose). |
| (b) | The Facility shall be made available to the Borrower for the purposes of refinancing the Existing Credit Facility and for its general corporate and working capital purposes. |
| 3.2 | Monitoring |
No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any amount borrowed pursuant to this Agreement.
| 4 | Conditions of Utilisation |
| 4.1 | Initial conditions precedent |
The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with clause 5.4 (Lenders participation) in relation to any Utilisation if on or before the date that the Borrower delivers the first Utilisation Request under this Agreement, all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part 1 of Schedule 3 (Conditions precedent to any Utilisation) in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.
| 4.2 | Ship and security conditions precedent |
The Total Commitments shall only become available for borrowing under this Agreement if the Agent, or its duly authorised representative, has received all of the documents and evidence listed in Part 2 of Schedule 3 (Ship and security conditions precedent) in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.
| 4.3 | Notice to Lenders |
The Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders promptly upon receiving and being satisfied with all of the documents and evidence referred to in this clause 4 in form and substance satisfactory to it. Other than to the extent that the Majority Lenders notify the Agent in writing to the contrary before the Agent gives any such notification, the Lenders authorise (but do not require) the Agent to give that notification. The Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever as a result of giving any such notification.
| 4.4 | Further conditions precedent |
The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with clause 5.4 (Lenders participation) if:
| (a) | in respect of any Utilisation, on the date of the Utilisation Request and on the proposed Utilisation Date no Event of Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Utilisation; |
| (b) | on the date of any Utilisation Request and on the proposed Utilisation Date the Repeating Representations are true and, in relation to the first Utilisation, all of the other representations set out in clause 18 (Representations), are true; and |
| (c) | in the case of the first Utilisation, the Ship Representations for the Ships are true on the proposed Utilisation Date. |
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| 4.5 | Waiver of conditions precedent |
The conditions in this clause 4 are inserted solely for the benefit of the Finance Parties and may be waived on their behalf in whole or in part and with or without conditions by the Agent acting:
| (a) | in respect of the conditions in clause 4.1 (Initial conditions precedent) and 4.2 (Ship and security conditions precedent) on the instructions of all the Lenders; or |
| (b) | in respect of the conditions in clause 4.4 (Further conditions precedent) on the instructions of the Majority Lenders. |
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SECTION 3 - UTILISATION
| 5 | Utilisation |
| 5.1 | Delivery of a Utilisation Request |
| (a) | The Borrower may utilise the Facility by delivery to the Agent of a duly completed Utilisation Request: |
| (i) | in respect of the first Utilisation, not later than 11:00 a.m. three Business Days before the proposed Utilisation Date; and |
| (ii) | in respect of each subsequent Utilisation, not later than 11:00 a.m. three Business Days before the proposed Utilisation Date. |
| (b) | The Borrower may, subject to clauses 5.1(c) and 5.4 (Automatic Utilisation), borrow a Loan by giving to the Agent a duly completed Utilisation Request. |
| (c) | The Borrower may not deliver a Utilisation Request if as a result of the proposed amount of the Utilisation, more than five Loans would be outstanding or if as a result of the proposed Utilisation, the Borrower would not be in compliance with its obligations under clause 25 (Minimum security value) on the proposed Utilisation Date. |
| 5.2 | Completion of a Utilisation Request |
A Utilisation Request is irrevocable and will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless:
| (a) | the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day falling within the Availability Period; |
| (b) | the currency and amount of the Utilisation comply with clause 5.3 (Currency and amount); and |
| (c) | the proposed Interest Period complies with clause 9 (Interest Periods). |
| 5.3 | Currency and amount |
| (a) | The currency specified in a Utilisation Request must be dollars. |
| (b) | On each relevant Utilisation Date under the Facility the amount of the proposed Loan must be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 or, if less, the amount of the Total Commitments and must not exceed (when aggregated with all outstanding Loans at such time) the Total Commitments. |
| (c) | If the amount requested in a Utilisation Request is greater than the amount capable of being advanced as a result of compliance with the requirements of clause 5.3(b), then only the lower amount shall be available to be advanced (and the Utilisation Request shall be construed by reference to this lower amount). |
| 5.4 | Automatic Utilisation |
| (a) | If, not later than 11:00 am three Business Days before the last day of an Interest Period for a maturing Loan (the Maturing Loan), the Agent has not received either: |
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| (i) | a Utilisation Request pursuant to clause 5.1(a) indicating that the Borrower wishes to rollover the Maturing Loan pursuant to clause 6.2(b) but on different terms to those on which the Maturing Loan is currently borrowed; or |
| (ii) | notice in writing from the Borrower that the Borrower wishes to repay the Maturing Loan at the end of that Interest Period, |
then the Borrower shall automatically be deemed to have delivered an irrevocable Utilisation Request to the Agent requesting that a new Loan (the New Loan) be made available under the same Facility as the Maturing Loan on the following terms:
| (A) | the amount of the New Loan shall, subject to clauses 6.2 (Reduction of Credit Facility) and 25.12 (Security Shortfall) (having regard to any reduction in the Commitments arising as a result of such clauses) be equal to the Maturing Loan and if clauses 6.2 and/or 25.12 apply then the New Loan shall be reduced to reflect the application of such clauses and clause 6.1(b)(ii)(C) shall apply with respect to the resulting difference between the New Loan and the Maturing Loan; |
| (B) | the proposed Utilisation Date shall be the last day of an Interest Period for the Maturing Loan; and |
| (C) | the Interest Period for the New Loan shall be the same period as the then current Interest Period applicable to the Maturing Loan unless that would cause the Interest Period to extend longer than the Final Repayment Date in which case the Interest Period shall be a period which would expire on the Final Repayment Date of the New Loan. |
| (b) | On the Utilisation Date of the New Loan, the Agent shall refinance the Maturing Loan with the New Loan and the provisions of clause 6.2(a) shall otherwise apply. |
| 5.5 | Lenders participation |
| (a) | If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, each Lender shall make its participation in a Loan available by the Utilisation Date through its Facility Office. |
| (b) | The amount of each Lenders participation in a Loan will be equal to the proportion borne by its undrawn Commitment to the undrawn Commitments under the Facility immediately prior to making the Loan. |
| (c) | The Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of a Loan and the amount of its participation in the Loan, in each case by 11:00 a.m. on the Quotation Day. |
| (d) | The Agent shall pay all amounts received by it in respect of each Loan (and its own participation in it, if any) to the Borrower or for its account in accordance with the instructions contained in the Utilisation Request. |
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SECTION 4 - REPAYMENT, PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION
| 6 | Repayment and reduction |
| 6.1 | Repayment of Loans |
| (a) | The Borrower shall repay each Loan on the last day of its Interest Period. |
| (b) | Without prejudice to the Borrowers obligation under clause 6.1(a) above, if: |
| (i) | a new Loan is to be made available to the Borrower under the Facility: |
| (A) | on the same day that a maturing Loan is due to be repaid by the Borrower; and |
| (B) | in whole or in part for the purpose of refinancing the maturing Loan; and |
| (ii) | the proportion borne by each Lenders participation in the maturing Loan to the amount of that maturing Loan is the same as the proportion borne by that Lenders participation in the new Loan to the aggregate amount of the new Loan, |
the aggregate amount of the new Loan shall, unless the Borrower notifies the Agent to the contrary in the relevant Utilisation Request, be treated as if applied in or towards repayment of the maturing Loan so that:
| (C) | if the amount of the maturing Loan exceeds the amount of the new Loan: |
| (1) | the Borrower will only be required to make a payment under clause 37.1 (Payments to the Agent) in an amount equal to that excess; and |
| (2) | each Lenders participation in the new Loan shall be treated as having been made available and applied by the Borrower in or towards repayment of that Lenders participation in the maturing Loan and that Lender will not be required to make a payment under clause 37.1 (Payments to the Agent) in respect of its participation in the new Loan; and |
| (D) | if the amount of the maturing Loan is equal to or less than the new Loan: |
| (1) | the Borrower will not be required to make a payment under clause 37.1 (Payments to the Agent); and |
| (2) | each Lender will be required to make a payment under clause 37.1 (Payments to the Agent) in respect of its participation in the new Loan only to the extent that its participation in the new Loan exceeds that Lenders participation in the maturing Loan and the remainder of that Lenders participation in the new Loan shall be treated as having been made available and applied by the Borrower in or towards repayment of that Lenders participation in the maturing Loan. |
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| 6.2 | Extension of Facility |
| (a) | At any time during the period falling between 12 and 36 months after the date of this Agreement the Borrower may by written notice to the Agent request that the Final Repayment Date be extended by a further period of one year (the Facility Extension). The Final Repayment Date shall in no event extend beyond the date falling five years from the date of this Agreement. |
| (b) | Where a request is made by the Borrower pursuant to (a) above the Lenders shall determine in their sole discretion whether to consent to the Facility Extension request and the Agent shall advise the Borrower of the decision of the Lenders in writing no later than 30 days following receipt of the Borrowers request. If the Lenders agree to the Facility Extension request paragraph (b) of the definition of Final Repayment Date shall apply and this Agreement and any of the other Finance Documents shall be construed accordingly. |
| (c) | The Borrower agrees to execute (or procure the execution of) any documentation supplemental to this Agreement and any other Finance Document as the Agent or any Lender may reasonably require for the purposes of reflecting the Facility Extension and the amendment to the Final Repayment Date. |
| (d) | It is acknowledged and agreed that, as at the Amendment Effective Date, the Facility Extension had been requested by the Borrower and approved by the Lenders in accordance with clause 6.2(b) above, and the provisions of this Agreement and the other Finance Documents shall be construed accordingly. |
| 6.3 | Reduction of Facility |
The Facility and the Commitments shall be reduced on each Semi-annual Reduction Date by an amount equal to the scheduled reduction amounts set out in Schedule 8 (Scheduled Reduction Amounts). If (a) the amount of the available facility is less than $210,000,000 due to a reduction in the Total Commitments at the signing date of this Agreement or from time to time thereafter or (b) where the Facility Extension applies in accordance with clause 6.2 (Extension of Facility), then Schedule 8 (Scheduled Reduction Amounts) shall be updated at such time to reflect the revised scheduled reduction amounts. If at the time of any reduction in the Commitments the amount of any outstanding Loan exceeds the Total Commitments at the time of that reduction, the Borrower shall at such time prepay such Loan in an amount equal to the relevant excess and any reduction in the Commitments shall reduce rateably the Commitment of each Lender at such time.
| 6.4 | Final Repayment Date |
On the Final Repayment Date (without prejudice to any other provision of this Agreement), all outstanding amounts under this Agreement and the Security Documents (including, but not limited to the outstanding amount of the Loans) shall be repaid in full and the Total Commitments shall be reduced to zero.
| 7 | Illegality, prepayment and cancellation |
| 7.1 | Illegality |
If, in any applicable jurisdiction, it becomes unlawful and/or contrary to Sanctions Laws (or declared by any Sanctions Authority to be contrary to Sanctions Laws or sanctionable by any Sanctions Authority) applicable to the relevant Lender or otherwise impossible for any Lender to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement or any of the other Finance Documents, or for any Lender to fund or maintain its participation in the Facility and in the Loans:
| (a) | that Lender shall promptly notify the Agent upon becoming aware of that event; |
| (b) | upon the Agent notifying the Borrower (which notice shall be given as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt by the Agent of the notice referred to in paragraph (a) above), the Commitment of that Lender will be immediately cancelled and the remaining Total Commitments shall each be reduced rateably; and |
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| (c) | the Borrower shall repay that Lenders participation in the Loans on the last day of the Interest Period for each Loan occurring after the Agent has notified the Borrower or, if earlier, the date specified by the Lender in the notice delivered to the Agent (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law). |
| 7.2 | Change of control |
| (a) | The Borrower shall promptly notify the Agent upon any Obligor becoming aware of a Change of Control. |
| (b) | If a Change of Control occurs and unless the Agent has previously approved the Change of Control (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders, whose consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) the Total Commitments shall be cancelled with effect from the date such Change of Control occurs and the Loans shall be prepaid in full on or before the date falling 60 days after the date on which such Change of Control occurs (together with all other outstanding amounts under this Agreement and any of the Security Documents then due and payable at such time). |
| 7.3 | Voluntary cancellation |
The Borrower may, if it gives the Agent not less than three Business Days (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior written notice, cancel the whole or any part (being a minimum amount of $1,000,000 and a multiple of $1,000,000) of a Commitment. Upon any such cancellation, the Total Commitments shall be reduced by the same amount. Any cancellation under this clause 7.3 shall reduce the Commitments of the Lenders rateably.
The Borrower shall only be entitled to cancel the whole or any part of the Total Commitments which is then drawn if the Borrower prepays such amount of a Loan as may be necessary to ensure that the outstanding Loans after the date of such cancellation will not exceed the Total Commitments (as reduced by this clause 7.3).
| 7.4 | Voluntary prepayment of Loans |
For the purpose of clause 25.12(b) (Security shortfall) the Borrower may, if it gives the Agent not less than three Business Days (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior written notice, prepay either the whole or any part of any Loan (but if in part, being an amount that reduces the Loan by a minimum amount of $1,000,000 and which is a multiple of $1,000,000 or such other amount as is acceptable to the Agent).
| 7.5 | Right of replacement or cancellation and prepayment in relation to a single Lender |
| (a) | If: |
| (i) | any Lender notifies the Agent pursuant to clause 7.1; |
| (ii) | any sum payable to any Lender by an Obligor is required to be increased under clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up); |
| (iii) | any Lender claims indemnification from the Borrower under clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity) or clause 13.1 (Increased Costs); |
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| (iv) | any Lender refuses to consent to any amendments or waivers requested by the Borrower pursuant to any provision of this Agreement where such provision is expressed to require the consent of such Lender; or |
| (v) | during a Market Disruption Event, any Lender notifies the Agent of a sum under clause 10.3(ii) and that sum is materially greater than the equivalent sums notified by the other Lenders to the Agent under the same clause 10.3(ii), |
the Borrower may, whilst the circumstance giving rise to the requirement for that increase or indemnification continues, give the Agent notice of cancellation of the Commitment of that Lender and its intention to procure the repayment of that Lenders participation in the Loans or give the Agent notice of its intention to replace that Lender in accordance with clause 7.5(d).
| (b) | On receipt of a notice referred to in clause 7.5(a) above, the Commitment of that Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero and (unless the Commitment of the relevant Lender is replaced in accordance with clause 7.5(d)) the remaining Total Commitments shall each be reduced rateably. |
| (c) | On the last day of each Interest Period which ends after the Borrower has given notice under clause 7.5(a) above in relation to a Lender (or, if earlier, the date specified by the Borrower in that notice), the Borrower shall repay that Lenders participation in the Loans. |
| (d) | The Borrower may, in the circumstances set out in clause 7.5(a), with 10 Business Days prior notice to the Agent and that Lender, replace that Lender by requiring that Lender to transfer (and, to the extent permitted by law, that Lender shall transfer) pursuant to clause 32 (Changes to the Lenders) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a Lender or other bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity selected by the Borrower which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of the transferring Lender in accordance with clause 32 (Changes to the Lenders) for a purchase price in cash or other cash payment payable at the time of the transfer equal to the aggregate of: |
| (i) | the outstanding principal amount of such Lenders participation in the Loans; |
| (ii) | all accrued interest owing to such Lender; |
| (iii) | the Break Costs (if any) which would have been payable to such Lender pursuant to clause 10.6 (Break Costs) had the Borrower prepaid in full that Lenders participation in the Loans on the date of the transfer; and |
| (iv) | all other amounts payable to that Lender under the Finance Documents on the date of the transfer. |
| (e) | The replacement of a Lender pursuant to clause 7.5(d) shall be subject to the following conditions: |
| (i) | the Borrower shall have no right to replace the Agent; |
| (ii) | neither the Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to find a replacement Lender; |
| (iii) | in no event shall the Lender replaced under clause 7.5(d) be required to pay or surrender any of the fees received by such Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents; and |
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| (iv) | the Lender shall only be obliged to assign its rights pursuant to clause 7.5(d) above once it is satisfied that it has complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to that assignment and the Agent has approved such know your customer or other similar checks. |
| (f) | A Lender shall perform the checks described in clause 7.5(e)(iv) above as soon as reasonably practicable following delivery of a notice referred to in clause 7.5(d) above and shall notify the Agent and the Borrower when it is satisfied that it has complied with those checks. |
| (g) | If any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower may, at any time whilst the Lender continues to be a Defaulting Lender, give the Agent 5 Business Days notice of cancellation of the undrawn Commitments of that Lender. |
| (h) | On such notice becoming effective: |
| (i) | the undrawn Commitments of the Defaulting Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero; |
| (ii) | the undrawn Total Commitments shall then be reduced by a corresponding amount pro rata; and |
| (iii) | the Agent shall as soon as practicable after receipt of such notice, notify all the Lenders. |
| 7.6 | Sale or Total Loss |
| (a) | If a Ship becomes a Total Loss before the Total Commitments have become available for borrowing under this Agreement, the Total Commitments shall be reduced by the Applicable Fraction of the Total Commitments respectively immediately prior to the Total Loss. |
| (b) | On a Mortgaged Ships Disposal Repayment Date: |
| (i) | the Total Commitments shall be permanently reduced by the Applicable Fraction of the Total Commitments immediately prior to the Mortgaged Ships Disposal Repayment Date; and |
| (ii) | the Borrower shall also prepay such amount of any Loans as is necessary to ensure that the Borrower shall be in compliance with its obligations under clause 25 (Minimum security value) on the Mortgaged Ships Disposal Repayment Date. |
| (c) | For the purposes of this clause, Applicable Fraction means a fraction having a numerator equal to the Fair Market Value of the Mortgaged Ship or, for the purpose of clause 7.6(a), the Ship which was the subject of the sale or total loss and a denominator equal to the aggregate Fair Market Value of all the Mortgaged Ships or, for the purpose of clause 7.6(a), all the Ships. |
| 7.7 | Release of Mortgaged Ship Security |
Once the Agent has confirmed that it has received or will receive to its satisfaction all amounts payable pursuant to clause 7.6(b), the Borrower may request the consent of the Security Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders) to release, discharge and/or, as appropriate, reassign the Security Documents (and the Security Interests assigned or charged thereunder) executed in
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respect of such Mortgaged Ship. In addition, the Borrower shall also be entitled to make a request for a release of security in respect of a Mortgage Ship where it has made a cancellation of the Commitments under clause 7.3 (Voluntary cancellation) for the purpose of removing that Mortgage Ship from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Agreement provided that the Borrower shall be in compliance with its obligations under clause 25 (Minimum security value) following such release or discharge. When any consent to the release of security is so given, any release arrangements of the type referred to in this clause shall be at the cost and expense of the Borrower. It is agreed that the consent to release the Security Documents under this clause 7.7 shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed in circumstances where all amounts required to be paid under clause 7.6 and/or clause 25 have been received by the Agent.
| 7.8 | Automatic cancellation |
Unless otherwise agreed, in relation to the first Loan to be utilised under this Agreement, the proposed Utilisation Date must be a date which is no later than 15 September 2020 and if the first Loan is not utilised by such date, the Availability Period (as contemplated by the definition of Availability Period) shall come to an end on 15 September 2020 and the Commitments for the Facility shall be cancelled and shall immediately be reduced to zero.
| 7.9 | Restrictions |
| (a) | Any notice of cancellation or prepayment given by any Party under this clause 7 shall be irrevocable and, unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, shall specify the date or dates upon which the relevant cancellation or prepayment is to be made and the amount of that cancellation or prepayment. |
| (b) | Any prepayment under this Agreement shall be made together with accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, subject to any Break Costs and any Compounded Rate Loan Prepayment Fee, without premium or penalty. Any cancellation of any part of the Total Commitments pursuant to clause 7.3 (Voluntary Cancellation) under this Agreement shall be without premium or penalty. |
| (c) | Unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, any part of the Facility which is prepaid or repaid may be reborrowed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
| (d) | The Borrower shall not repay or prepay all or any part of a Loan or cancel all or any part of the Commitments except at the times and in the manner expressly provided for in this Agreement. |
| (e) | Subject to clause 2.2 (Increase) no amount of the Total Commitments cancelled under this Agreement may be subsequently reinstated. |
| (f) | If the Agent receives a notice under this clause 7 it shall promptly forward a copy of that notice to either the Borrower or the affected Lender, as appropriate. |
| (g) | If the Total Commitments are partially reduced and as a result a Loan is partially prepaid under this Agreement (other than under clause 7.1 (Illegality), clause 7.5 (Right of replacement or cancellation and prepayment in relation to a single Lender) or clause 7.6 (Sale or Total Loss)): |
| (i) | the Commitments of the Lenders shall be reduced rateably for the Facility; |
| (ii) | in the case of a prepayment in respect of the Facility, such prepayment shall be applied pro rata in prepaying the principal outstanding amount of a Loan (and a permanent reduction by the same amount in the Total Commitments); and |
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| (iii) | if following any reduction of the Commitments the amount of the Loan exceeds the relevant Commitments at the time of that reduction, the Borrower shall prepay such Loan in an amount equal to the relevant excess. |
| (h) | Any cancellation of the Commitments and/or prepayment under this Agreement shall be made together with payment to any Hedging Provider of any amount falling due to the relevant Hedging Provider under a Hedging Contract as a result of the termination or close out of that Hedging Contract or any Hedging Transaction under it in accordance with clause 29.2 (Unwinding of Hedging Contracts) in relation to that prepayment. |
| 7.10 | Partial prepayment |
Any partial prepayment of the Loans and/or reduction of the Facility made pursuant to clause 25.12(c) (Security shortfall) shall be applied in prepaying each Loan and reducing the Total Commitments by reference to the portion borne by that Loan and, as the case may be, the Total Commitments to the aggregate of those Loans and the Total Commitments. Where at the time of any reduction of the Total Commitments the aggregate amount of the Loans exceeds the Total Commitments (as reduced), the Borrower shall be obliged to prepay the amount of the excess at the same time as the relevant reduction takes place.
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SECTION 5 - COSTS OF UTILISATION
| 8 | Interest |
| 8.1 | Switch to Compounded Reference Rate |
On and from the Rate Switch Date:
| (a) | use of the Compounded Reference Rate will replace LIBOR for the calculation of interest for any Loan (or any relevant part of it) to be made available to the Borrower after such date; and |
| (b) | any Loan made available to the Borrower, or any Unpaid Sum arising, after the Rate Switch Date will be a Compounded Rate Loan and clause 8.3 (Calculation of interest Compounded Rate Loans) will apply to each such Loan or Unpaid Sum. |
| 8.2 | Calculation of interest - Term Rate Loans |
The rate of interest on each Term Rate Loan for each Interest Period is the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of the applicable:
| (a) | Margin; and |
| (b) | LIBOR. |
| 8.3 | Calculation of interest - Compounded Rate Loans |
The rate of interest on a Compounded Rate Loan for any day during an Interest Period for that Compounded Rate Loan is the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of the applicable:
| (a) | Margin; and |
| (b) | the Compounded Reference Rate for that day. |
If any day during an Interest Period for a Compounded Rate Loan is not an RFR Banking Day, the rate of interest on that Compounded Rate Loan for that day will be the rate applicable to the immediately preceding RFR Banking Day.
| 8.4 | Sustainability margin adjustment |
| (a) | Subject to the other provisions of this clause, upon the written request of the Borrower at any time during the period falling between 12 and 36 months after the date of this Agreement (which shall be accompanied with a Sustainability Certificate for the calendar year immediately prior to the date of such request) and with the prior written consent of all Lenders the provisions of Schedule 9 (Sustainability Margin Adjustment), as such Schedule 9 shall be finalised by the Borrower and the Sustainability Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders), shall enter into force on the date agreed between the Borrower and the Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders) (the Sustainability Margin Date). From the Sustainability Margin Date, the Margin (as specified in paragraph (a) of its definition in clause 1.1 (Definitions)) for each subsequent calendar year during the Facility Period will be determined and adjusted in accordance with the terms set out in Schedule 9 (Sustainability Margin Adjustment) (as amended) and references to Margin in this Agreement shall be construed accordingly. |
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| (b) | Subject to the provisions of clause 8.4(a), the Sustainability Margin Adjustment may not apply earlier than the calendar year immediately following the Sustainability Margin Date. |
| (c) | The Borrower undertakes to execute (or procure the execution of) any documentation supplemental to this Agreement and any other Finance Document as the Agent may in its sole discretion require for the purposes of adjusting Schedule 9 (Sustainability Margin Adjustment) consequent to an agreement with the Agent in accordance with clause 8.4(a) and/or reflecting an amendment to the rate of Margin. |
| (d) | Unless otherwise defined in this Agreement, expressions used in this clause 8.4 shall have the meaning given to them in Schedule 9 (Sustainability Margin Adjustment). |
| 8.5 | Payment of interest |
The Borrower shall pay accrued interest on each Loan on the last day of each Interest Period.
| 8.6 | Default interest |
| (a) | If an Obligor fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document (other than a Hedging Contract) on its due date, interest shall accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which, subject to clause 8.6(b) below, is two point zero per cent (2.0%) higher than the rate of interest most recently calculated (prior to the due date of the overdue amount) pursuant to clause 8.2 (Calculation of interest Term Rate Loans) or clause 8.3 (Calculation of interest Compounded Rate Loans) (as applicable), for successive Interest Periods, each of a duration selected by the Agent (acting reasonably). Any interest accruing in accordance with this clause 8.6 shall be immediately payable by the Obligor on demand by the Agent. |
| (b) | If any overdue amount consists of all or part of a Term Rate Loan which became due on a day which was not the last day of an Interest Period relating to that Term Rate Loan or the relevant part of it: |
| (i) | the first Interest Period for that overdue amount shall have a duration equal to the unexpired portion of the current Interest Period relating to the relevant Loan; and |
| (ii) | the rate of interest applying to the overdue amount during that first Interest Period shall be two point zero per cent (2.0%) per annum higher than the rate which would have applied if the overdue amount had not become due. |
| (c) | Default interest (if unpaid) arising on an overdue amount will be compounded with the overdue amount at the end of each Interest Period applicable to that overdue amount but will remain immediately due and payable. |
| 8.7 | Notification of rates of interest |
| (a) | The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders and the Borrower of the determination of a rate of interest under this Agreement. |
| (b) | The Agent shall, promptly upon a Compounded Rate Interest Payment being determinable relating to a Compounded Rate Loan, notify: |
| (i) | the Borrower of that Compounded Rate Interest Payment; |
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| (ii) | each Lender of the proportion of that Compounded Rate Interest Payment which relates to that Lenders participation in that Compounded Rate Loan; and |
| (iii) | the Lenders and the Borrower of: |
| (A) | each applicable rate of interest relating to the determination of that Compounded Rate Interest Payment; and |
| (B) | to the extent it is then determinable, the Market Disruption Rate (if any) relating to any Compounded Rate Loan. |
This paragraph (b) shall not apply to any Compounded Rate Interest Payment determined pursuant to clause 10.8 (Cost of funds Compounded Rate Loans).
| (c) | The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower of each Funding Rate relating to any Compounded Rate Loan. |
| (d) | The Agent shall promptly notify the relevant Lenders and the Borrower of the determination of a rate of interest relating to any Compounded Rate Loan to which clause 10.8 (Cost of funds Compounded Rate Loans). |
| (e) | This clause shall not require the Agent to make any notification to any Party on a day which is not a Business Day. |
| 9 | Interest Periods |
| 9.1 | Selection of Interest Periods |
| (a) | The Borrower may select an Interest Period for a Loan in the Utilisation Request for that Loan. |
| (b) | If the Borrower does not issue a Utilisation Request, the relevant Interest Period for such Loan shall be three months. |
| (c) | Subject to this clause 9, the Borrower may select an Interest Period of three months or, on no more than three occasions in any calendar year, one month, or any other period agreed between the Borrower and the Agent on the instructions of all the Lenders. |
| (d) | No Interest Period shall extend beyond the Final Repayment Date and no Interest Period in respect of a Term Rate Loan shall extend beyond 30 December 2022. |
| 9.2 | Start date of Interest Periods |
The Interest Period for a Loan shall start on its Utilisation Date.
| 9.3 | Non-Business Days |
| (a) | Other than where paragraph (b) below applies, if an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest Period will instead end on the next Business Day in that calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not). |
| (b) | In respect of any Compounded Rate Loan, any rules specified as Business Day Conventions in Schedule 11 (Compounded Rate Terms) for a Compounded Rate Loan or Unpaid Sum shall apply to each Interest Period for that Compounded Rate Loan or Unpaid Sum (as applicable). |
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| 10 | Changes to the calculation of interest |
| 10.1 | Unavailability of Screen Rate in respect of Term Rate Loans |
| (a) | If no Screen Rate is available for LIBOR for the Interest Period of a Term Rate Loan, the applicable LIBOR shall be the Interpolated Screen Rate for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of that Loan. |
| (b) | If no Screen Rate is available for LIBOR for: |
| (i) | dollars; or |
| (ii) | the Interest Period of the relevant Term Rate Loan and it is not possible to calculate the Interpolated Screen Rate, |
the applicable LIBOR in respect of that Term Rate Loan shall be the Reference Bank Rate as of the Specified Time and for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of the relevant Term Rate Loan.
| 10.2 | Calculation of Reference Bank Rate |
Subject to clause 10.4 (Market Disruption Event), if LIBOR is to be determined by reference to the Reference Banks but a Reference Bank does not supply a quotation the Specified Time, the applicable LIBOR shall be determined on the basis of the quotations of the remaining Reference Banks.
| 10.3 | Interest calculation if no RFR or Central Bank Rate |
If there is no RFR or Central Bank Rate for the purposes of calculating the Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate for an RFR Banking Day during an Interest Period for any Compounded Rate Loan (or any relevant part of it), clause 10.8 (Cost of funds Compounded Rate Loans) shall apply to that Compounded Rate Loan (or any relevant part of it) for that Interest Period.
| 10.4 | Market Disruption Event Term Rate Loans |
| (a) | In the case of a Term Rate Loan, if a Market Disruption Event occurs in relation to that Term Rate Loan for any Interest Period, then the rate of interest on each Lenders share of that Term Rate Loan for the Interest Period shall be the rate per annum which is the sum of: |
| (i) | the Margin; and |
| (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 the relevant Term Rate Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select. |
| (b) | If a Market Disruption Event occurs, the Agent shall, as soon as practicable, notify the Borrower. |
| (c) | In this Agreement Market Disruption Event means that: |
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| (i) | at or about noon on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period the Screen Rate is not available, it is not possible to calculate the Interpolated Screen Rate and none or only one of the Reference Banks supplies a rate to the Agent to determine LIBOR for the relevant Interest Period; or |
| (ii) | before close of business in London on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period, the Agent receives notifications from a Lender or Lenders (whose participations in a Loan are equal to or exceed 50% of that Term Rate Loan) that the cost to it of funding its participation in that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select would be in excess of LIBOR. |
| 10.5 | Alternative basis of interest or funding |
| (a) | If a Market Disruption Event occurs and the Agent or the Borrower so requires, the Agent and the Borrower shall enter into negotiations (for a period of not more than 30 days) with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest. |
| (b) | Any alternative basis agreed pursuant to clause 10.5(a) above shall, with the prior consent of all the Lenders be binding on all Parties. |
| 10.6 | Break Costs |
| (a) | The Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand by a Finance Party, pay to that Finance Party its Break Costs attributable to all or any part of a Term Rate Loan or Unpaid Sum being paid by the Borrower on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for that Term Rate Loan or Unpaid Sum or relevant part of it. |
| (b) | Each Lender shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Break Costs for any Interest Period in which they accrue. |
| (c) | It is acknowledged and agreed that no Break Costs shall be payable in connection with the repayment or prepayment (as applicable) of a Compounded Rate Loan. |
| 10.7 | Market disruption Compounded Rate Loans |
In the case of a Compounded Rate Loan, if before the Reporting Time the Agent receives notifications from a Lender or Lenders (whose participations in the relevant Compounded Rate Loan (or any relevant part of it) is equal to or exceeds 50% of that Compounded Rate Loan (or any relevant part of it)) that its cost of funds relating to its participation in that Compounded Rate Loan (or any relevant part of it) would be in excess of the Market Disruption Rate, then clause 10.7 (Cost of funds Compounded Rate Loans) shall apply to of that Compounded Rate Loan (or any relevant part of it) for the relevant Interest Period.
| 10.8 | Cost of Funds Compounded Rate Loans |
| (a) | If this clause 10.7 applies to a Compounded Rate Loan for an Interest Period, clause 8.3 (Calculation of interest Compounded Rate Loans) shall not apply to that Compounded Rate Loan (or any relevant part of it) for that Interest Period and instead the rate of interest on each Lenders share of that Compounded Rate Loan (or any relevant part of it) for that Interest Period shall be the percentage rate per annum which is the sum of: |
| (i) | the Margin; and |
| (ii) | the rate notified to the Agent by that Lender as soon as practicable and in any event by the Reporting Time for that Compounded Rate Loan to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum its cost of funds relating to its participation in that Compounded Rate Loan (or relevant part of it) from whatever source it may reasonably select. |
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| (b) | If this clause 10.7 applies and the Agent or the Borrower so requires, the Agent and the Borrower shall enter into negotiations (for a period of not more than (30) days) with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest. |
| (c) | Any alternative basis agreed pursuant to clause 10.8(b) above shall, with the prior consent of all the Lenders and the Borrower, be binding on all Parties. |
| 11 | Fees |
| 11.1 | Commitment commission |
| (a) | The Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for the account of each Lender) a fee in dollars computed at the rate of 35% per cent of the Margin on the undrawn and uncancelled portion of that Lenders Commitment calculated on a daily basis from the date of this Agreement (the start date). |
| (b) | The Borrower shall pay the accrued commitment commission on each Quarter Date commencing on the first Quarter Date following the start date of this Agreement up to and including the Final Repayment Date on the relevant Lenders Commitment in respect of the Total Commitments and, if cancelled in full, on the cancelled amount of the relevant Lenders Commitment in respect of the Total Commitments at the time the cancellation is effective. |
| (c) | No commitment fee is payable to the Agent (for the account of a Lender) on any undrawn Commitment of that Lender for any day on which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender. |
| 11.2 | Facility Extension |
| (a) | Where the Facility Extension is granted pursuant to clause 6.2 (Extension of Facility), the Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for the account of each Lender) a fee in dollars computed at the rate of 0.1875% of the amount of the Facility as at the date on which the Facility Extension is so granted, with such fee to be payable within five (5) Business Days of the date that the Borrower is notified by the Agent that the Facility Extension has been granted. |
| (b) | It is acknowledged and agreed that the payment of the fee referred to in paragraph (a) above was a condition to the occurrence of the Amendment Effective Date and that such fee was paid by the Borrower, and received by the Lenders, on or prior to that date. |
| 11.3 | Compounded Rate Loan Prepayment Fee |
If, in any 12 month period, the Borrower makes more than one voluntary prepayment of any Compounded Rate Loan pursuant to clause 7.4 (Voluntary prepayment of Loans), the Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for its own account) at the same time as the making of each such additional voluntary prepayment, a prepayment fee in an amount equal to $3,500 (each such amount being a Compounded Rate Loan Prepayment Fee) unless the relevant prepayment is made at the end of an Interest Period relating to the Loan.
| 11.4 | Additional Fees |
The Borrower shall also pay to the Agent the fees in the amount and at the times agreed in any Fee Letter.
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SECTION 6 - ADDITIONAL PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS
| 12 | Tax gross-up and indemnities |
| 12.1 | Definitions |
| (a) | In this Agreement: |
Protected Party means a Finance Party or, in relation to clause 14.4 (Indemnity concerning security) and clause 14.7 (Interest) insofar as it relates to interest on any amount demanded by that Indemnified Person under clause 14.4 (Indemnity concerning security), any Indemnified Person, which is or will be subject to any liability, or required to make any payment, for or on account of Tax in relation to a sum received or receivable (or any sum deemed for the purposes of Tax to be received or receivable) under a Finance Document.
Tax Deduction means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under a Finance Document (other than a Hedging Contract) other than a FATCA Deduction.
Tax Payment means either the increase in a payment made by an Obligor to a Finance Party under clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up) or a payment under clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity).
| (b) | Unless a contrary indication appears, in this clause 12 a reference to determines or determined means a determination made in the absolute discretion of the person making the determination. |
| 12.2 | Tax gross-up |
| (a) | Each Obligor shall make all payments to be made by it under any Finance Document without any Tax Deduction, unless a Tax Deduction is required by law. |
| (b) | The Borrower shall, promptly upon becoming aware that an Obligor must make a Tax Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction), notify the Agent accordingly. Similarly, a Lender shall notify the Agent on becoming so aware in respect of a payment payable to that Lender. If the Agent receives such notification from a Lender it shall notify the Borrower and that Obligor. |
| (c) | If a Tax Deduction is required by law to be made by an Obligor, the amount of the payment due from that Obligor under the relevant Finance Document shall be increased to an amount which (after making any Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been required. |
| (d) | If an Obligor is required to make a Tax Deduction, that Obligor shall make that Tax Deduction and any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction within the time allowed and in the minimum amount required by law. |
| (e) | Within 30 days of making either a Tax Deduction or any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction, the Obligor making that Tax Deduction shall deliver to the Agent for the Finance Party entitled to the payment evidence reasonably satisfactory to that Finance Party that the Tax Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment paid to the relevant taxing authority. |
| (f) | This clause 12.2 shall not apply in respect of any payments under any Hedging Contract, where the gross-up provisions of the relevant Hedging Master Agreement itself shall apply. |
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| 12.3 | Tax indemnity |
| (a) | The Borrower shall (within three Business Days of demand by the Agent) pay to a Protected Party an amount equal to the loss, liability or cost which that Protected Party determines will be or has been (directly or indirectly) suffered for or on account of Tax by that Protected Party in respect of a Finance Document. |
| (b) | Clause 12.3(a) above shall not apply: |
| (i) | with respect to any Tax assessed on a Finance Party: |
| (A) | under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party is incorporated or, if different, the jurisdiction (or jurisdictions) in which that Finance Party is treated as resident for tax purposes; or |
| (B) | under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Partys Facility Office is located in respect of amounts received or receivable in that jurisdiction, |
if that Tax is imposed on or calculated by reference to the net income received or receivable (but not any sum deemed to be received or receivable) by that Finance Party;
| (ii) | to the extent a loss, liability or cost: |
| (A) | is compensated for by an increased payment under clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up); |
| (B) | is compensated for by a payment under clause 12.5 (Indemnities on an after Tax basis); or |
| (C) | relates to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party. |
| (c) | A Protected Party making, or intending to make a claim under clause 12.3(a) above shall promptly notify the Agent of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall notify the Borrower. |
| (d) | A Protected Party shall, on receiving a payment from an Obligor under this clause 12.3, notify the Agent. |
| 12.4 | Tax Credit |
If an Obligor makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines that:
| (a) | a Tax Credit is attributable (i) to an increased payment of which that Tax Payment forms part, (ii) to that Tax Payment or (iii) to a Tax Deduction in consequence of which that Tax Payment was required; and |
| (b) | that Finance Party has obtained and utilised that Tax Credit, |
the Finance Party shall pay an amount to the Obligor which that Finance Party determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in had the Tax Payment not been required to be made by the Obligor.
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| 12.5 | Indemnities on after Tax basis |
| (a) | If and to the extent that any sum payable to any Protected Party by the Borrower under any Finance Document by way of indemnity or reimbursement proves to be insufficient, by reason of any Tax suffered thereon, for that Protected Party to discharge the corresponding liability to a third party, or to reimburse that Protected Party for the cost incurred by it in discharging the corresponding liability to a third party, the Borrower shall pay that Protected Party such additional sum as (after taking into account any Tax suffered by that Protected Party on such additional sum) shall be required to make up the relevant deficit. |
| (b) | If and to the extent that any sum (the Indemnity Sum) constituting (directly or indirectly) an indemnity to any Protected Party but paid by the Borrower to any person other than that Protected Party, shall be treated as taxable in the hands of the Protected Party, the Borrower shall pay to that Protected Party such sum (the Compensating Sum) as (after taking into account any Tax suffered by that Protected Party on the Compensating Sum) shall reimburse that Protected Party for any Tax suffered by it in respect of the Indemnity Sum. |
| (c) | For the purposes of this clause 12.5 a sum shall be deemed to be taxable in the hands of a Protected Party if it falls to be taken into account in computing the profits or gains of that Protected Party for the purposes of Tax and, if so, that Protected Party shall be deemed to have suffered Tax on the relevant sum at the rate of Tax applicable to that Protected Partys profits or gains for the period in which the payment of the relevant sum falls to be taken into account for the purposes of such Tax. |
| (d) | There shall be taken into account, in determining whether any amount referred to in clause 12.5(a) is insufficient, the amount of any deduction or other relief, allowance or credit available to the Protected Party in respect of the Protected Partys corresponding liability to a third party or the cost incurred by the Protected Party in discharging the corresponding liability to a third party. |
| 12.6 | Stamp taxes |
| (a) | The Borrower shall pay and, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability that Finance Party incurs in relation to all stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes payable in respect of any Finance Document. |
| (b) | Paragraph (a) above shall not apply in respect of any stamp duty, registration or other similar Taxes which are payable in respect of an assignment or transfer of any kind by a Finance Party of any of its rights and/or obligations under a Finance Document other than at the request of the Borrower or Parent or following an Event of Default which is continuing. |
| 12.7 | Value added tax |
| (a) | All amounts expressed in a Finance Document to be payable by any party to a Finance Party which (in whole or in part) constitute the consideration for any supply for VAT purposes are deemed to be exclusive of any VAT which is chargeable on that supply, and accordingly, subject to clause 12.7(b) below, if VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party to any party under a Finance Document, and such Finance Party is required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT, that party must pay to such Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying any other consideration for such supply) an amount equal to the amount of the VAT (and such Finance Party must promptly provide an appropriate VAT invoice to that party). |
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| (b) | If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party (the Supplier) to any other Finance Party (the Recipient) under a Finance Document, and any party to a Finance Document other than the Recipient (the Subject Party) is required by the terms of any Finance Document to pay an amount equal to the consideration for such supply to the Supplier (rather than being required to reimburse or indemnify the Recipient in respect of that consideration): |
| (i) | (where the Supplier is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT) the Subject Party must also pay to the Supplier (at the same time as paying that amount) an additional amount equal to the amount of the VAT. The Recipient must (where this paragraph (a) applies) promptly pay to the Subject Party an amount equal to any credit or repayment the Recipient receives from the relevant tax authority which the Recipient reasonably determines relates to the VAT chargeable on that supply; and |
| (ii) | (where the Recipient is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT) the Subject Party must promptly, following demand from the Recipient, pay to the Recipient an amount equal to the VAT chargeable on that supply but only to the extent that the Recipient reasonably determines that it is not entitled to credit or repayment from the relevant tax authority in respect of that VAT. |
| (c) | Where a Finance Document requires any party to it to reimburse or indemnify a Finance Party for any cost or expense, that party shall reimburse or indemnify (as the case may be) such Finance Party for the full amount of such cost or expense, including such part thereof as represents VAT save to the extent that such Finance Party reasonably determines that it is entitled to credit or repayment of in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority. |
| (d) | Any reference in this clause 12.7 (Value Added Tax) to any party shall, at any time when such party is treated as a member of a group for VAT purposes, include (where appropriate and unless the context otherwise requires) a reference to any member of such group at such time. |
| (e) | In relation to any supply made by a Finance Party to any party under a Finance Document, if reasonably requested by such Finance Party, that party must promptly provide such Finance Party with details of that partys VAT registration and such other information as is reasonably requested in connection with such Finance Partys VAT reporting requirements in relation to such supply. |
| 12.8 | FATCA Information |
| (a) | Subject to clause 12.8(c) below, each Party shall, within ten Business Days of a reasonable request by another Party: |
| (i) | confirm to that other Party whether it is: |
| (A) | a FATCA Exempt Party; or |
| (B) | not a FATCA Exempt Party; |
| (ii) | supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Partys compliance with FATCA; and |
| (iii) | supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Partys compliance with any other law, regulation, or exchange of information regime. |
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| (b) | If a Party confirms to another Party pursuant to clause 12.8(a)(i) above that it is a FATCA Exempt Party and it subsequently becomes aware that it is not or has ceased to be a FATCA Exempt Party, that Party shall notify that other Party reasonably promptly. |
| (c) | Clause 12.8(a) above shall not oblige any Finance Party to do anything, and paragraph (a)(iii) above shall not oblige any other Party to do anything, which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of: |
| (i) | any law or regulation; |
| (ii) | any fiduciary duty; or |
| (iii) | any duty of confidentiality. |
| (d) | If a party to any Finance Document fails to confirm its status or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with clause 12.8(a)(i) or clause 12.8(a)(ii) above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where 12.8(c) applies), then such Party shall be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents (and payments under them) as if it is not a FATCA Exempt Party until such time as the Party in question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information. |
| 12.9 | FATCA Deduction |
| (a) | Each Party may make any FATCA Deduction it is required to make by FATCA, and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, and no Party shall be required to increase any payment in respect of which it makes such a FATCA Deduction or otherwise compensate the recipient of the payment for that FATCA Deduction. |
| (b) | Each Party shall promptly, upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such FATCA Deduction), notify the Party to whom it is making the payment and, in addition, shall notify the Company and the Agent and the Agent shall notify the other Finance Parties. |
| 13 | Increased Costs |
| 13.1 | Increased Costs |
| (a) | Subject to clause 13.3 (Exceptions), the Borrower shall, within three Business Days of a demand by the Agent, pay for the account of a Finance Party the amount of any Increased Costs incurred by that Finance Party or any of its Affiliates which: |
| (i) | arises as a result of (i) the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation or (ii) compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement; and/or |
| (ii) | is a Basel III Increased Cost. |
| (b) | In this Agreement Increased Costs means: |
| (i) | a reduction in the rate of return from the Facility or on a Finance Partys (or its Affiliates) overall capital; |
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| (ii) | an additional or increased cost; or |
| (iii) | a reduction of any amount due and payable under any Finance Document, |
which is incurred or suffered by a Finance Party or any of its Affiliates to the extent that it is attributable to that Finance Party having entered into its Commitment or funding or performing its obligations under any Finance Document.
| 13.2 | Increased Cost claims |
| (a) | A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to clause 13.1 (Increased Costs) shall notify the Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower. |
| (b) | Each Finance Party shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Increased Costs. |
| 13.3 | Exceptions |
| (a) | Clause 13.1 (Increased Costs) does not apply to the extent any Increased Cost is: |
| (i) | attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by an Obligor; |
| (ii) | attributable to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party; |
| (iii) | compensated for by clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity) (or would have been compensated for under clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity) but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in clause 12.3(b) applied); or |
| (iv) | attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Finance Party or its Affiliates of any law or regulation. |
| (b) | In this clause 13.3, a reference to a Tax Deduction has the same meaning given to the term in clause 12.1 (Definitions). |
| (c) | Any claim for an Increased Cost made pursuant to clause 13.1 above that arises from or is related to a Basel III Increased Cost incurred by any Finance Party shall be recoverable only to the extent that such Basel III Increased Cost is attributable to the implementation or application of or compliance with any Basel III Regulation which has come into force after the date of this Agreement. |
| 14 | Other indemnities |
| 14.1 | Currency indemnity |
| (a) | If any sum due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (a Sum), or any order, judgment or award given or made in relation to a Sum, has to be converted from the currency (the First Currency) in which that Sum is payable into another currency (the Second Currency) for the purpose of: |
| (i) | making or filing a claim or proof against that Obligor; and/or |
| (ii) | obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any litigation or arbitration proceedings, |
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that Obligor shall, as an independent obligation, within three Business Days of demand by a Finance Party, indemnify each Finance Party to whom that Sum is due against any Losses arising out of or as a result of the conversion including any discrepancy between (i) the rate of exchange used to convert that Sum from the First Currency into the Second Currency and (ii) the rate or rates of exchange available to that person at the time of its receipt of that Sum.
| (b) | Each Obligor waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency or currency unit other than that in which it is expressed to be payable. |
| 14.2 | Other indemnities |
The Borrower shall (or shall procure that another Obligor will), within three Business Days of demand by a Finance Party, indemnify each Finance Party against any and all Losses incurred by that Finance Party as a result of:
| (a) | the occurrence of any Event of Default; |
| (b) | a failure by an Obligor to pay any amount due under a Finance Document on its due date, including without limitation, any and all Losses arising as a result of clause 36 (Sharing among the Finance Parties); |
| (c) | funding, or making arrangements to fund, its participation in a Loan requested by the Borrower in a Utilisation Request but not made by reason of the operation of any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement (other than by reason of default or negligence by that Finance Party alone); |
| (d) | the Loans (or part of a Loan) not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of prepayment given by the Borrower; |
| (e) | arising or asserted under or in connection with any law relating to safety at sea, the ISM Code, any Environmental Law or any Sanctions Laws (including, without limitation, any Losses incurred by that Finance Party in investigating any possible breach of such laws but excluding any Losses incurred by that Finance Party solely by reason of that Finance Partys own breach of such laws); or |
| (f) | incurred by it as a result of any claim, action, civil penalty or fine against, any settlement, and any other kind of loss or liability, and all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements) incurred by the Agent, the Security Agent or any Lender as a result of conduct of any Obligor or any of their partners, directors, officers, employees, agents or advisors, that violates any Sanctions Laws. |
| 14.3 | Indemnity to the Agent |
The Borrower shall promptly indemnify the Agent and the Security Agent against:
| (a) | any and all Losses incurred by the Agent or the Security Agent (acting reasonably) as a result of: |
| (i) | investigating any event which it reasonably believes is a Default; |
| (ii) | acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; |
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| (iii) | instructing lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, or other professional advisers or experts as permitted under this Agreement; or |
| (iv) | any action taken by the Agent or the Security Agent or any of their representatives, agents or contractors in connection with any powers conferred by any Security Document to remedy any breach of any Obligors obligations under the Finance Documents; and |
| (b) | any cost, loss or liability (including, without limitation, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) incurred by the Agent or the Security Agent in the course of acting as Agent or, as the case may be, Security Agent under the Finance Documents (otherwise than by reason of the Agents or the Security Agents gross negligence or wilful misconduct) (or, in the case of any cost, loss or liability pursuant to clause 37.11 (Disruption to payment systems etc.) notwithstanding the Agents or the Security Agents negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent or the Security Agent in acting as Agent or, as the case may be, the Security Agent under the Finance Documents. |
| 14.4 | Indemnity concerning security |
| (a) | The Borrower shall (or shall procure that another Obligor will) promptly indemnify each Indemnified Person against any and all Losses incurred by it in connection with: |
| (i) | any failure by the Borrower to comply with clause 16 (Costs and expenses); |
| (ii) | acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction received in respect of the Finance Documents which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; |
| (iii) | the taking, holding, protection or enforcement of the Security Documents; |
| (iv) | the exercise or purported exercise of any of the rights, powers, discretions, authorities and remedies vested in the Security Agent and/or any other Finance Party and each Receiver by the Finance Documents or by law unless and to the extent that it was caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct; |
| (v) | any claim (whether relating to the environment or otherwise) made or asserted against the Indemnified Person which would not have arisen but for the execution or enforcement of one or more Finance Documents (unless and to the extent it is caused by the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of that Indemnified Person); or |
| (vi) | any breach by any Obligor of the Finance Documents. |
| (b) | The Security Agent may, in priority to any payment to the other Finance Parties, indemnify itself out of the Trust Property in respect of, and pay and retain, all sums necessary to give effect to the indemnity in this clause 14.4 and shall have a lien on the Security Documents and the proceeds of the enforcement of those Security Documents for all moneys payable to it. |
| 14.5 | Continuation of indemnities |
The indemnities by the Borrower in favour of the Indemnified Persons contained in this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any breach by any Finance Party or the Borrower of the terms of this Agreement, the repayment or prepayment of a Loan, the cancellation of the Total Commitments or the repudiation by the Agent or the Borrower of this Agreement.
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| 14.6 | Third Parties Act |
Each Indemnified Person may rely on the terms of clause 14.4 (Indemnity concerning security) and clauses 12 (Tax gross-up and indemnities) and 14.7 (Interest) insofar as it relates to interest on any amount demanded by that Indemnified Person under clause 14.4 (Indemnity concerning security), subject to clause 1.3 (Third party rights) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act.
| 14.7 | Interest |
Moneys becoming due by the Borrower to any Indemnified Person under the indemnities contained in this clause 14 (Other indemnities) or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be paid on demand made by such Indemnified Person and shall be paid together with interest on the sum demanded from the date of demand therefor to the date of reimbursement by the Borrower to such Indemnified Person (both before and after judgment) at the rate referred to in clause 8.6 (Default interest).
| 14.8 | Exclusion of liability |
No Indemnified Person will be in any way liable or responsible to any Obligor (whether as mortgagee in possession or otherwise) who is a Party or is a party to a Finance Document to which this clause applies for any loss or liability arising from any act, default, omission or misconduct of that Indemnified Person, except to the extent caused by its own gross negligence or wilful misconduct. Any Indemnified Person may rely on this clause 14.8 subject to clause 1.3 (Third party rights) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act.
| 15 | Mitigation by the Lenders |
| 15.1 | Mitigation |
| (a) | Each Finance Party shall, in consultation with the Borrower, take all reasonable steps to mitigate any circumstances which arise and which would result in any amount becoming payable under or pursuant to, or cancelled pursuant to, any of clause 7.1 (Illegality), clause 12 (Tax gross-up and indemnities) or clause 13 (Increased Costs) including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents to another Affiliate or Facility Office. |
| (b) | Clause 15.1(a) does not in any way limit the obligations of any Obligor under the Finance Documents. |
| 15.2 | Limitation of liability |
| (a) | The Borrower shall promptly indemnify each Finance Party for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by that Finance Party as a result of steps taken by it under clause 15.1 (Mitigation). |
| (b) | A Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under clause 15.1 (Mitigation) if, in the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it. |
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| 16 | Costs and expenses |
| 16.1 | Transaction expenses |
The Borrower shall promptly within five Business Days of demand pay the Agent, the Security Agent, the Bookrunner and the Arrangers the amount of all documented costs and expenses (including all fees, costs and expenses of legal advisers and insurance and other consultants and advisers) reasonably incurred by any of them (and by any Receiver) in connection with the negotiation, preparation, printing, execution, syndication, registration and perfection and any release, discharge or reassignment of:
| (a) | this Agreement, any Hedging Master Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement and the Security Documents; |
| (b) | any other Finance Documents executed or proposed to be executed after the date of this Agreement including any executed to provide additional security under clause 25 (Minimum security value);or |
| (c) | any Security Interest expressed or intended to be granted by a Finance Document. |
| 16.2 | Amendment costs |
If an Obligor requests an amendment, waiver or consent, the Borrower shall, within five Business Days of demand by the Agent, reimburse the Agent for the amount of all documented costs and expenses (including fees, costs and expenses of legal advisers and insurance and other consultants and advisers) reasonably incurred by the Agent and the Security Agent (and by any Receiver) in responding to, evaluating, negotiating or complying with that request or requirement.
| 16.3 | Enforcement, preservation and other costs |
The Borrower shall on demand by a Finance Party, pay to each Finance Party the amount of all costs and expenses (including fees, costs and expenses of legal advisers and insurance and other consultants, brokers, surveyors and advisers) incurred by that Finance Party in connection with:
| (a) | the enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under, any Finance Document and any proceedings initiated by or against any Indemnified Person and as a consequence of holding the Charged Property or enforcing those rights and any proceedings instituted by or against any Indemnified Person as a consequence of taking or holding the Security Documents or enforcing those rights; |
| (b) | any valuation carried out under clause 25 (Minimum security value); or |
| (c) | any inspection carried out under clause 23.8 (Inspection and notice of dry-dockings). |
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SECTION 7 - GUARANTEE
| 17 | Guarantee and indemnity |
| 17.1 | Guarantee and indemnity |
The Parent irrevocably and unconditionally:
| (a) | guarantees to the Security Agent (as trustee for the Finance Parties) and the other Finance Parties punctual performance by each other Obligor of all such Obligors obligations under the Finance Documents; |
| (b) | undertakes with the Security Agent (as trustee for the Finance Parties) and the other Finance Parties that whenever another Obligor does not pay any amount when due under or in connection with any Finance Document, it shall immediately on demand pay that amount as if it was the principal obligor; and |
| (c) | agrees with the Security Agent (as trustee for the Finance Parties) and the other Finance Parties that if any obligation guaranteed by it is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal, it will, as an independent and primary obligation indemnify that Finance Party immediately on demand against any cost, loss or liability it incurs as a result of the Borrower not paying any amount which would, but for such unenforceability, invalidity or illegality, have been payable by the Borrower under any Finance Document on the date when it would have been due. The amount payable by the Parent under this indemnity will not exceed the amount it would have had to pay under this clause 17.1 if the amount claimed had been recoverable on the basis of a guarantee. |
| 17.2 | Continuing guarantee |
This guarantee is a continuing guarantee and will extend to the ultimate balance of sums payable by any Obligor under the Finance Documents, regardless of any intermediate payment or discharge in whole or in part.
| 17.3 | Reinstatement |
If any discharge, release or arrangement (whether in respect of the obligations of any Obligor or any security for those obligations or otherwise) is made by a Finance Party in whole or in part on the basis of any payment, security or other disposition which is avoided or must be restored in insolvency, liquidation, administration or otherwise, without limitation, then the liability of the Parent under this clause 17 will continue or be reinstated as if the discharge, release or arrangement had not occurred.
| 17.4 | Waiver of defences |
The obligations of the Parent under this clause 17 will not be affected by an act, omission, matter or thing (whether or not known to it or any Finance Party) which, but for this clause, would reduce, release or prejudice any of its obligations under this clause 17 including (without limitation):
| (a) | any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, any Obligor or other person; |
| (b) | the release of any other Obligor or any other person under the terms of any composition or arrangement with any creditor of any other Obligor; |
| (c) | the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce, any rights against, or security over assets of, any Obligor or other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any security; |
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| (d) | any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the members or status of an Obligor or any other person; |
| (e) | any amendment, novation, supplement, extension, restatement (however fundamental and whether or not more onerous) or replacement of any Finance Document or any other document or security including without limitation any change in the purpose of, any extension of or any increase in any facility or the addition of any new facility under any Finance Document or other document or security; |
| (f) | any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under any Finance Document or any other document or security; or |
| (g) | any insolvency or similar proceedings. |
| 17.5 | Immediate recourse |
The Parent waives any right it may have of first requiring any Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) to proceed against or enforce any other rights or security or claim payment from any person before claiming from the Parent under this clause 17. This waiver applies irrespective of any law or any provision of a Finance Document to the contrary.
| 17.6 | Appropriations |
Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full, each Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) may:
| (a) | refrain from applying or enforcing any other moneys, security or rights held or received by that Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) in respect of those amounts, or apply and enforce the same in such manner and order as it sees fit (whether against those amounts or otherwise) and the Parent shall not be entitled to the benefit of the same; and |
| (b) | hold in an interest-bearing suspense account any moneys received from the Parent or on account of the Parents liability under this clause 17. |
| 17.7 | Deferral of Parents rights |
Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full and unless the Agent otherwise directs, the Parent will not exercise any rights which it may have by reason of performance by it of its obligations under the Finance Documents or by reason of any amount being payable, or liability arising, under this clause 17:
| (a) | to be indemnified by another Obligor; |
| (b) | to claim any contribution from any other guarantor of any Obligors obligations under the Finance Documents; |
| (c) | to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents or of any other guarantee or security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, the Finance Documents by any Finance Party; |
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| (d) | to bring legal or other proceedings for an order requiring any Obligor to make any payment, or perform any obligation, in respect of which the Parent has given a guarantee, undertaking or indemnity under clause 17 (Guarantee and Indemnity); |
| (e) | to exercise any right of set-off against any other Obligor; and/or |
| (f) | to claim or prove as a creditor of any other Obligor in competition with any Finance Party. |
If the Parent receives any benefit, payment or distribution in relation to such rights it will promptly pay an equal amount to the Agent for application in accordance with clause 37 (Payment mechanics). This only applies until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full.
| 17.8 | Additional security |
This guarantee is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other guarantee or security now or subsequently held by any Finance Party.
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SECTION 8 - REPRESENTATIONS, UNDERTAKINGS AND EVENTS OF DEFAULT
| 18 | Representations |
The Borrower makes and repeats the representations and warranties set out in this clause 18 to each Finance Party at the times specified in clause 18.35 (Times when representations are made).
| 18.1 | Status |
| (a) | The Parent is domesticated and validly existing in good standing under the laws of its Original Jurisdiction as a corporation, and the Borrower and each Owner is duly formed or, as applicable, domesticated and validly existing in good standing under the laws of its Original Jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation as a limited liability company, and each Obligor has no registered place of business outside its Original Jurisdiction. |
| (b) | Each Obligor has power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to own its property and other assets. |
| 18.2 | Binding obligations |
Subject to the Legal Reservations, the obligations expressed to be assumed by each Obligor in each Finance Document and any Charter Document to which it is, or is to be, a party are or, when entered into by it, will be legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations and each Security Document to which an Obligor is, or will be, a party, creates or will create the Security Interests which that Security Document purports to create and those Security Interests are or will be valid and effective.
| 18.3 | Power and authority |
| (a) | Each Obligor has power to enter into, perform and deliver and comply with its obligations under, and has taken all necessary action to authorise its entry into, each Finance Document and any Charter Document to which it is or is to be a party. |
| (b) | No limitation on any Obligors powers to borrow, create security or give guarantees will be exceeded as a result of any transaction under, or the entry into of, any Finance Document or any Charter Document to which such Obligor is, or is to be, a party. |
| 18.4 | Non-conflict |
The entry into and performance by each Obligor of, and the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents and the Charter Documents to which it is a party and the granting of the Security Interests purported to be created by the Security Documents do not and will not conflict with:
| (a) | any law or regulation applicable to that Obligor; |
| (b) | the Constitutional Documents of that Obligor; or |
| (c) | any agreement or other instrument binding upon that Obligor or its assets, |
or constitute a default or termination event (however described) under any such agreement or instrument or result in the creation of any Security Interest (save for a Permitted Lien or under a Security Document) on that Obligors assets, rights or revenues.
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| 18.5 | Validity and admissibility in evidence |
| (a) | All authorisations required or desirable: |
| (i) | to enable each Obligor lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights and comply with its obligations under each Finance Document and any Charter Document to which it is a party; |
| (ii) | to make each Finance Document and any Charter Document to which it is a party admissible in evidence in its Relevant Jurisdiction; and |
| (iii) | to ensure that each of the Security Interests created under the Security Documents has the priority and ranking contemplated by them, |
have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect except any authorisation or filing referred to in clause 18.12 (No filing or stamp taxes), which authorisation or filing will be promptly obtained or effected within any applicable period.
| (b) | All authorisations necessary for the conduct of the business, trade and ordinary activities of each Obligor have been obtained or effected (subject to the Legal Reservations) and are in full force and effect if failure to obtain or effect those authorisations might have a Material Adverse Effect. |
| 18.6 | Governing law and enforcement |
Save as otherwise identified in any legal opinion delivered to the Agent under clause 4.1 (Initial conditions precedent) and subject to any Legal Reservations:
| (a) | the choice of English law or any other applicable law as the governing law of any Finance Document and any Charter Document will be recognised and enforced in each Obligors Relevant Jurisdiction; and |
| (b) | any judgment obtained in England in relation to an Obligor will be recognised and enforced in each Obligors Relevant Jurisdictions. |
| 18.7 | Information |
| (a) | Any Information is true and accurate in all material respects at the time it was given or made. |
| (b) | There are no facts or circumstances or any other information which could make the Information incomplete, untrue, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect. |
| (c) | The Information does not omit anything which could make the Information incomplete, untrue, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect. |
| (d) | All opinions, projections, forecasts or expressions of intention contained in the Information and the assumptions on which they are based have been arrived at after due and careful enquiry and consideration and were believed to be reasonable by the person who provided that Information as at the date it was given or made. |
| (e) | For the purposes of this clause 18.7, Information means: any information provided by any Obligor to any of the Finance Parties in connection with the Finance Documents, the Charter Documents or the transactions referred to in them. |
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| 18.8 | Original Financial Statements |
| (a) | The Original Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP or, as the case may be, IFRS consistently applied. |
| (b) | The audited Original Financial Statements give a true and fair view of the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Group during the relevant financial year. |
| (c) | There has been no material adverse change in its assets, business or financial conditions (or the assets, business or consolidated financial condition of the Group) since the date of the Original Financial Statements. |
| 18.9 | Pari passu ranking |
Each Obligors payment obligations under the Finance Documents to which it is, or is to be, a party rank at least pari passu with all its other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated payment obligations, except for obligations mandatorily preferred by law applying to companies generally.
| 18.10 | Ranking and effectiveness of security |
Subject to the Legal Reservations and any filing, registration or notice requirements which is referred to in any legal opinion delivered to the Agent under clause 4.1 (Initial conditions precedent), the security created by the Security Documents has (or will have when the Security Documents have been executed) the priority which it is expressed to have in the Security Documents, the Charged Property is not subject to any Security Interest other than Permitted Security Interests and such security will constitute perfected security on the assets described in the Security Documents.
| 18.11 | No insolvency |
No corporate action, legal proceeding or other procedure or step described in clause 30.10 (Insolvency proceedings) or creditors process described in clause 30.11 (Creditors process) has been taken or, to the knowledge of any Obligor, threatened in relation to a Group Member and none of the circumstances described in clause 30.9 (Insolvency) applies to any Group Member.
| 18.12 | No filing or stamp taxes |
Under the laws of each Obligors Relevant Jurisdictions it is not necessary that any Finance Document or any Charter Document to which it is, or is to be, party be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in that jurisdiction or that any stamp, registration, notarial or similar Taxes or fees be paid on or in relation to any such Finance Document or any Charter Document or the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents except any filing, recording or enrolling or any tax or fee payable in relation to any Finance Document which is referred to in any legal opinion delivered to the Agent under clause 4.1 (Initial conditions precedent) and which will be made or paid promptly after the date of the relevant Finance Document.
| 18.13 | Tax |
| (a) | No Obligor is required to make any Tax Deduction from any payment it may make under any Finance Document to which it is, or is to be, a party and no other party is required to make any such deduction from any payment it may make under any Charter Document. |
| (b) | The execution or delivery or performance by any Party of the Finance Documents will not result in any Finance Party: |
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| (i) | having any liability in respect of Tax in any Flag State; |
| (ii) | having or being deemed to have a place of business in any Flag State or any Relevant Jurisdiction of any Obligor. |
| 18.14 | No Default |
| (a) | No Default is continuing or is reasonably likely to result from the making of any Utilisation or the entry into, the performance of, or any transaction contemplated by, any Finance Document or any Charter Document. |
| (b) | No other event or circumstance is outstanding which constitutes (or, with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination or any combination of any of the foregoing, would constitute) a default or termination event (however described) under any other agreement or instrument which is binding on any Obligor or to which any Obligors assets are subject which might have a Material Adverse Effect. |
| 18.15 | No proceedings pending or threatened |
No litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings or investigations of, or before, any court, arbitral body or agency which, if adversely determined, might be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, have (to the best of any Obligors knowledge and belief) been started or threatened against any Obligor or any other Group Member.
| 18.16 | No breach of laws |
| (a) | No Obligor has breached any law or regulation which breach might have a Material Adverse Effect. |
| (b) | No labour dispute is current or, to the best of any Obligors knowledge and belief (having made due and careful enquiry), threatened against any Obligor which may have a Material Adverse Effect. |
| 18.17 | Environmental matters |
| (a) | No Environmental Law applicable to any Ship and/or any Obligor has been violated in a manner or circumstances which might have, a Material Adverse Effect. |
| (b) | All consents, licences and approvals required under such Environmental Laws have been obtained and are currently in force. |
| (c) | No Environmental Claim has been made or threatened or is pending against any Obligor or any Ship where that claim might have a Material Adverse Effect and there has been no Environmental Incident which has given, or might give, rise to such a claim. |
| 18.18 | Tax Compliance |
| (a) | No Obligor is materially overdue in the filing of any Tax returns or overdue in the payment of any material amount in respect of Tax. |
| (b) | No claims or investigations are being, or are reasonably likely to be, made or conducted against any Obligor with respect to Taxes such that a liability of, or claim against, any Obligor is reasonably likely to arise for an amount for which adequate reserves have not been provided in the Original Financial Statements and which might have a Material Adverse Effect. |
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| 18.19 | Anti- corruption law |
Each Obligor has conducted its businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and has instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.
| 18.20 | Security and Financial Indebtedness |
| (a) | Prior to the first Utilisation Date and except for any Security Interests granted by the Obligors in accordance with the terms of the Existing Credit Facility and any Financial Indebtedness outstanding under the Existing Credit Facility: |
| (i) | no Security Interest exists over all or any of the present or future assets of any Obligor in breach of this Agreement; and |
| (ii) | no Obligor has any Financial Indebtedness outstanding in breach of this Agreement (including but not limited any Financial Indebtedness referred to in clause 28.2 (Financial Indebtedness)). |
| (b) | On and following the first Utilisation Date: |
| (i) | no Security Interest shall exist over all or any of the present or future assets of any Obligor in breach of this Agreement; and |
| (ii) | no Obligor shall have any Financial Indebtedness outstanding in breach of this Agreement (including but not limited any Financial Indebtedness referred to in clause 28.2 (Financial Indebtedness)). |
| 18.21 | Legal and beneficial ownership |
Each Obligor is or, on the date the Security Documents to which it is a party are entered into, will be the sole legal and beneficial owner of the respective assets over which it purports to grant a Security Interest under the Security Documents to which it is a party.
| 18.22 | Membership interests |
The membership interests of each Owner are fully paid and not subject to any option to purchase or similar rights. The Constitutional Documents of each Owner do not and could not restrict or inhibit any transfer of those membership interests on creation or enforcement of the Security Documents. There are no agreements in force which provide for the issue or allotment of, or grant any person the right to call for the issue or allotment of, any membership interest or loan capital of each Owner (including any option or right of pre-emption or conversion).
| 18.23 | Accounting Reference Date |
The financial year-end of each Obligor is the Accounting Reference Date.
| 18.24 | Material Adverse Effect |
There has been no Material Adverse Effect which has affected the ability of the Borrower to make all the required payments under this Agreement or the validity or enforceability of this Agreement since the date of the Original Financial Statements.
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| 18.25 | No adverse consequences |
Save as otherwise identified in any legal opinion delivered to the Agent under clause 4.1 (Initial conditions precedent):
| (a) | it is not necessary under the laws of the Relevant Jurisdictions of any Obligor: |
| (i) | in order to enable any Finance Party to enforce its rights under any Finance Document to which it is, or is to be, a party; or |
| (ii) | by reason of the execution of any Finance Document or the performance by any Obligor of its obligations under any Finance Document to which it is, or is to be, a party, |
that any Finance Party should be licensed, qualified or otherwise entitled to carry on business in any of such Relevant Jurisdictions; and
| (b) | no Finance Party is or will be deemed to be resident, domiciled or carrying on business in any Relevant Jurisdiction by reason only of the execution, performance and/or enforcement of any Finance Document. |
| 18.26 | Copies of documents |
The copies of any Charter Documents and the Constitutional Documents of the Obligors delivered to the Agent under clause 4 (Conditions of Utilisation) will be true, complete and accurate copies of such documents and include all amendments and supplements to them as at the time of such delivery and no other agreements or arrangements exist between any of the parties to any Charter Document which would materially affect the transactions or arrangements contemplated by any Charter Document or modify or release the obligations of any party under that Charter Document.
| 18.27 | No immunity |
No Obligor or any of its assets is immune to any legal action or proceeding.
| 18.28 | Ship status |
Each Ship will on the first day of the relevant Mortgage Period be:
| (a) | registered permanently in the name of the relevant Owner through the relevant Registry as a ship under the laws and flag of the relevant Flag State; |
| (b) | operationally seaworthy and in every way fit for service; |
| (c) | classed with the relevant Classification free of all requirements and recommendations of the relevant Classification Society; and |
| (d) | insured in the manner required by the Finance Documents. |
| 18.29 | Ships employment |
Each Ship shall on the first day of the relevant Mortgage Period be free of any charter commitment (other than any Charter if any Charter has been entered into by an Owner) which, if entered into after that date, would require approval under the Finance Documents.
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| 18.30 | Ownership of the Obligors |
Each of the Owners and the Borrower is a wholly, legally and beneficially owned direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Parent.
| 18.31 | Address commission |
There are no rebates, commissions or other payments in connection with any Charter other than those referred to in it.
| 18.32 | No money laundering |
None of the Obligors are in contravention of any anti-money laundering law, official requirement or other regulatory measure or procedure implemented to combat money laundering.
| 18.33 | No corrupt practices |
None of the Obligors are engaged in any practice which would be deemed corrupt in any Relevant Jurisdiction.
| 18.34 | Sanctions |
| (a) | Each Obligor, each Subsidiary, their joint ventures, and their respective directors, officers, employees and, to the best of their knowledge, their agents and representatives have been and are in compliance with Sanctions Laws applicable to it. |
| (b) | No Obligor, nor any Subsidiary, their joint ventures, and their respective directors, officers, employees and, to the best of their knowledge (after due and careful enquiry), their agents and representatives: |
| (i) | are a Restricted Party or, in relation to a member of the Group only, is involved in any transaction through which it is likely to become a Restricted Party; or |
| (ii) | are subject to or involved in any inquiry, claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation against it with respect to Sanctions Laws. |
| 18.35 | Times when representations are made |
| (a) | All of the representations and warranties set out in this clause 18 (other than Ship Representations relating to Ships which are not Mortgaged Ships at such time) are deemed to be made on the dates of: |
| (i) | this Agreement; |
| (ii) | the Utilisation Request for each Loan; and |
| (iii) | the issuing of any Compliance Certificate. |
| (b) | The Repeating Representations are deemed to be made on the dates of each subsequent Utilisation Request and the first day of each Interest Period. |
| (c) | All of the Ship Representations are deemed to be made on the first day of the Mortgage Period for the relevant Ship. |
| (d) | Each representation or warranty deemed to be made after the date of this Agreement shall be deemed to be made by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing at the date the representation or warranty is deemed to be made. |
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| 19 | Information undertakings |
The Borrower undertakes that this clause 19 will be complied with throughout the Facility Period.
In this clause 19:
Annual Financial Statements means the financial statements for a financial year of the Group delivered pursuant to clause 19.1(a).
Quarterly Financial Statements means the financial statements for a financial quarter of the Group delivered pursuant to clause 19.1(b).
| 19.1 | Financial statements |
| (a) | The Borrower shall supply to the Agent as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 120 days after the end of each financial year, the audited consolidated financial statements of the Group for that financial year. |
| (b) | The Borrower shall supply to the Agent as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each financial quarter (other than the last financial quarter) of each of its financial years the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Group for that financial quarter. |
| (c) | The Borrower shall supply to the Agent as soon as the same becomes available, but in any event within 90 days of the end of each financial year, financial projections for the Group on an annual basis in a form acceptable to the Agent. |
| 19.2 | Provision and contents of Compliance Certificate |
| (a) | The Borrower shall supply a Compliance Certificate to the Agent, with each set of Quarterly Financial Statements and Annual Financial Statements for the Group. |
| (b) | Each Compliance Certificate shall, amongst other things, including supporting schedules setting out (in reasonable detail) computations as to compliance with clause 20 (Financial covenants). |
| (c) | Each Compliance Certificate shall be signed by a director or the chief financial officer of the Parent. |
| 19.3 | Requirements as to financial statements |
| (a) | The Borrower shall procure that each set of Annual Financial Statements includes a profit and loss account, a balance sheet and a cashflow statement and each set of Quarterly Financial Statements includes an income statement, a cashflow statement and a balance sheet and that, in addition, each set of Annual Financial Statements shall be audited by the Auditors. |
| (b) | Each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to clause 19.1 (Financial statements) shall: |
| (i) | be prepared in accordance with GAAP, or as the case may be, IFRS; |
| (ii) | give a true and fair view of (in the case of Annual Financial Statements for any financial year), or fairly represent (in other cases), the financial condition and operations of the Group as at the date as at which those financial statements were drawn up; and |
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| (iii) | in the case of annual audited financial statements, not be the subject of any qualification in the Auditors opinion. |
| (c) | The Borrower shall procure that each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to clause 19.1 (Financial statements) shall be prepared using GAAP or IFRS, accounting practices and financial reference periods consistent with those applied in the preparation of the Original Financial Statements, unless, in relation to any set of financial statements, the Borrower notifies the Agent that there has been a change in GAAP or, as the case may be, IFRS or the accounting practices and the Auditors deliver to the Agent: |
| (i) | a description of any change necessary for those financial statements to reflect the GAAP or, as the case may be, IFRS or accounting practices and reference periods upon which corresponding Original Financial Statements were prepared; and |
| (ii) | sufficient information, in form and substance as may be reasonably required by the Agent, to enable the Lenders to determine whether clause 20 (Financial covenants) has been complied with and to make an accurate comparison between the financial position indicated in those financial statements and the Original Financial Statements. |
Any reference in this Agreement to any financial statements shall be construed as a reference to those financial statements as adjusted to reflect the basis upon which the Original Financial Statements were prepared.
| 19.4 | Year-end |
The Borrower shall procure that each financial year-end of each Obligor falls on the Accounting Reference Date.
| 19.5 | Information: miscellaneous |
The Borrower shall supply to the Agent:
| (a) | at the same time as they are dispatched, copies of all financial statements, financial forecasts, reports, proxy statements and other material communications provided to the shareholders or members of the Borrower and copies of all material documents dispatched by the Parent or any Obligors to its creditors generally (or any class of them); |
| (b) | promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or pending against any Obligor, and which, if adversely determined, might have a Material Adverse Effect or which would involve a liability, or a potential or alleged liability, exceeding $5,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies); |
| (c) | promptly, such information as the Agent may reasonably require about the Charged Property and compliance of the Obligors with the terms of any Security Documents; |
| (d) | promptly on request, such further information regarding the financial condition, assets and operations of the Group and/or any Group Member as any Finance Party through the Agent may reasonably request; and |
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| (e) | such information which a lender, acting reasonably, may request for it to comply with its obligations under the Poseidon Principles (as such term is defined in clause 23.18 (Poseidon Principles)); |
| 19.6 | Notification of Default |
The Borrower shall notify the Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon any Obligor becoming aware of its occurrence (unless that Obligor is aware that a notification has already been provided by another Obligor).
| 19.7 | Sanctions information |
The Obligors shall supply to the Agent:
| (a) | promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any inquiry, claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation pursuant to Sanctions Laws against it, any of its direct or indirect owners, Subsidiaries, any of their joint ventures or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives, as well as information on what steps are being taken with regards to answer or oppose such; and |
| (b) | promptly upon becoming aware that it, any of its direct or indirect owners, Subsidiaries, any of their joint ventures or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives has become or is likely to become a Restricted Party. |
| 19.8 | Sufficient copies |
The Borrower, if so requested by the Agent, shall deliver sufficient copies of each document to be supplied under the Finance Documents to the Agent to distribute to each of the Lenders and the Hedging Providers.
| 19.9 | Use of websites |
| (a) | The Borrower may satisfy its obligation under this Agreement to deliver any information in relation to those Lenders (the Website Lenders) who accept this method of communication by posting this information onto an electronic website designated by the Borrower and the Agent (the Designated Website) if: |
| (i) | the Agent expressly agrees (after consultation with each of the Lenders) that it will accept communication of the information by this method; |
| (ii) | both the Borrower and the Agent are aware of the address of and any relevant password specifications for the Designated Website; and |
| (iii) | the information is in a format previously agreed between the Borrower and the Agent. |
If any Lender (a Paper Form Lender) does not agree to the delivery of information electronically then the Agent shall notify the Borrower accordingly and the Borrower shall supply the information to the Agent (in sufficient copies for each Paper Form Lender) in paper form. In any event the Borrower shall supply the Agent with at least one copy in paper form of any information required to be provided by it.
| (b) | The Agent shall supply each Website Lender with the address of and any relevant password specifications for the Designated Website following designation of that website by the Borrower and the Agent. |
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| (c) | The Borrower shall promptly upon any of them becoming aware of its occurrence notify the Agent if: |
| (i) | the Designated Website cannot be accessed due to technical failure; |
| (ii) | the password specifications for the Designated Website change; |
| (iii) | any new information which is required to be provided under this Agreement is posted onto the Designated Website; |
| (iv) | any existing information which has been provided under this Agreement and posted onto the Designated Website is amended; or |
| (v) | the Borrower becomes aware that the Designated Website or any information posted onto the Designated Website is or has been infected by any electronic virus or similar software. |
If the Borrower notifies the Agent under paragraphs (i) or (v) above, all information to be provided by the Borrower under this Agreement after the date of that notice shall be supplied in paper form unless and until the Agent and each Website Lender is satisfied that the circumstances giving rise to the notification are no longer continuing.
| (d) | Any Website Lender may request, through the Agent, one paper copy of any information required to be provided under this Agreement which is posted onto the Designated Website. The Borrower shall comply with any such request within ten Business Days. |
| 19.10 | Know your customer checks |
| (a) | If: |
| (i) | 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; |
| (ii) | any change in the status of an Obligor or the composition of the shareholders or members of an Obligor after the date of this Agreement; |
| (iii) | a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender or any Hedging Provider of any of its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement or any Hedging Contract to a party that is not a Lender or a Hedging Provider prior to such assignment or transfer; or |
| (iv) | the introduction of any change in a Finance Partys internal policies or compliance procedures, |
obliges the Agent, the relevant Hedging Provider or any Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (iii) above, 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, each Obligor shall promptly upon the request of the Agent or any Lender or any Hedging Provider 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 any Hedging Provider) or any Lender (for itself or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent, such Lender or the relevant Hedging Provider or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied with the results of all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.
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| (b) | Each Finance Party shall promptly upon the request of the Agent or the Security Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent or the Security Agent (for itself) in order for it to carry out and be satisfied with the results of all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents. |
| 20 | Financial covenants |
The Borrower undertakes that this clause 20 will be complied with throughout the Facility Period as tested on a quarterly basis in accordance with clause 20.3 (Financial testing).
| 20.1 | Financial definitions |
In this clause 20:
Cash Equivalents shall mean the following (all of which shall be valued at market value and freely disposable and for the avoidance of doubt none of the following shall be deemed disqualified from being freely disposable by reason of being included in minimum liquidity calculations under this Agreement or other agreements respecting Indebtedness, or being subject to a lien):
| (a) | securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed or insured by the United States Government or any agency thereof; |
| (b) | certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition and overnight bank deposits of any Lender and certificates of deposit with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition and overnight bank deposits of any other commercial bank whose principal place of business is organized under the laws of any country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development or has concluded special lending arrangements with the International Monetary Fund associated with its General Arrangements to Borrow, or a political subdivision of any such country, and having capital and surplus in excess of $200,000,000; |
| (c) | commercial paper of any issuer rated at least A-2 by Standard & Poors Ratings Group or P-2 by Moodys investors Service, Inc. with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition; and |
| (d) | additional money market investments with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition rated at least A-1 or AA by Standard & Poors Ratings Group or P-1 or Aa by Moodys Investors Service, Inc. |
Indebtedness means, with respect to any Group Member, at any date of determination (without duplication) (a) all indebtedness of such Group Member for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Group Member evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Group Member in respect of letters of credit or other similar instruments (including reimbursement obligations with respect thereto), (d) all obligations of such Group Member to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property or services, which purchase price is due more than six months after the date of placing such property in service or taking delivery thereof or the completion of such services, except trade payables, (e) all obligations on account of principal of such Group Member as lessee under capitalised leases, (f) all indebtedness of other persons secured by a lien on any asset of such Group Member, whether or not such indebtedness is assumed by such Group Member; provided that the amount of such indebtedness shall be the lesser of (i) the fair market value of such asset at such date of determination and (ii) the amount of such indebtedness, and (g) all indebtedness of other persons guaranteed by such Group Member to the extent guaranteed and the amount of Indebtedness of
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any Group Member at any date shall be the outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above and, with respect to contingent obligations, the maximum liability upon the occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation, provided that the amount outstanding at any time of any indebtedness issued with an original issue discount is the face amount of such indebtedness less the remaining unamortised portion of the original issue discount of such indebtedness at such time as determined in accordance with GAAP or, as the case may require, IFRS; and provided further that Indebtedness shall not include any liability for current or deferred Taxes, or any trade payable.
Total Assets means, at any time, the total assets of the Group (as shown in the most recent Quarterly Financial Statements, and calculated in accordance with, the then most recent Annual Financial Statements).
Total Indebtedness means, at any time, the aggregate sum of all Indebtedness of the Group as reflected in the consolidated balance sheet of the Group (as shown in the most recent Quarterly Financial Statements, and calculated in accordance with the then most recent Annual Financial Statements).
Total Stockholders Equity means, at any time, the shareholders or members equity for the Group (as shown in the most recent Quarterly Financial Statements and calculated in accordance with the then most recent Annual Financial Statements).
| 20.2 | Financial condition |
At all times during the Facility Period, the Borrower shall procure that the Group:
| (a) | maintains at all times, cash and Cash Equivalents in an amount not less than the greater of (i) $35,000,000 and (ii) five per cent (5%) of the Total Indebtedness; and |
| (b) | maintains a ratio of Total Stockholders Equity to Total Assets of not less than 30%. |
| 20.3 | Financial testing |
The financial covenants set out in clause 20.2 (Financial condition) shall be calculated in accordance with GAAP or, as the case may require, IFRS and tested by reference to each of the financial statements and/or each Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to clause 19.2 (Provision and contents of Compliance Certificate).
| 21 | General undertakings |
The Borrower undertakes that this clause 21 will be complied with throughout the Facility Period.
| 21.1 | Authorisations |
Each Obligor will promptly:
| (a) | obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect; and |
| (b) | supply certified copies to the Agent of, |
any authorisation required under any law or regulation of a Relevant Jurisdiction to:
| (i) | enable it to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents and any Charter Documents in each case to which it is a party; |
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| (ii) | ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any Finance Document or Charter Document in each case to which it is a party; and |
| (iii) | carry on its business where failure to do so has, or is reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect. |
| 21.2 | Compliance with laws |
| (a) | Each Obligor will comply in all respects with all laws and regulations (including Environmental Laws) to which it may be subject if failure to comply has or reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
| (b) | No Obligor will directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Facility for any purpose which would breach the Bribery Act 2010, the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or other similar legislation in other jurisdictions. |
| (c) | Each Obligor shall: |
| (i) | conduct its businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws; and |
| (ii) | maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws. |
| 21.3 | Tax compliance |
| (a) | Each Obligor shall pay and discharge all Taxes imposed upon it or its assets as and when they fall due for payment and in any event within such time period as may be allowed by law without incurring penalties unless and only to the extent that: |
| (i) | such payment is being contested in good faith; |
| (ii) | adequate reserves are being maintained for those Taxes and the costs required to contest them which have been disclosed in its latest financial statements delivered to the Agent under clause 19.1 (Financial statements); and |
| (iii) | such payment can be lawfully withheld. |
| (b) | Except as approved by the Majority Lenders, each Obligor shall ensure that it is not resident for Tax purposes in any jurisdiction other than in the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated or, as the case may be, formed. |
| 21.4 | Change of business |
Except as approved by the Majority Lenders, no substantial change will be made to the general nature of the business of the Parent or the other Obligors or the Group taken as a whole from that carried on at the date of this Agreement.
| 21.5 | Merger |
Except as approved by the Majority Lenders, no Obligor will enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger, consolidation, re-domiciliation, legal migration or corporate reconstruction, it being agreed for this purpose that the Parent may enter into such arrangements as long as they do not result in a breach of clause 7.2 (Change of Control) or a change to the liability and obligations of the Parent under this Agreement.
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| 21.6 | Further assurance |
| (a) | Each Obligor shall promptly do all such acts or execute all such documents (including assignments, transfers, mortgages, charges, notices and instructions) as the Agent may reasonably specify (and in such form as the Agent may reasonably require): |
| (i) | to perfect the Security Interests created or intended to be created by that Obligor under or evidenced by the Security Documents (which may include the execution of a mortgage, charge, assignment or other security over all or any of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of the Security Documents) or for the exercise of any rights, powers and remedies of the Security Agent provided by or pursuant to the Finance Documents or by law; |
| (ii) | to confer on the Security Agent Security Interests over any property and assets of that Obligor located in any jurisdiction equivalent or similar to the Security Interest intended to be conferred by or pursuant to the Security Documents; |
| (iii) | to facilitate the realisation of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of the Security Documents; and/or |
| (iv) | to facilitate either the accession by a New Lender to any Security Document following an assignment in accordance with clause 32.1 (Assignments and Transfers by the Lenders) or the accession by a Hedging Provider to this Agreement in accordance with clause 31.1 (Hedging Providers) and the conferring on such Hedging Provider of the rights contemplated in clause 31.2 (Rights of Hedging Provider). |
| (b) | Each Obligor shall take all such action as is available to it (including making all filings and registrations) as may be necessary for the purpose of the creation, perfection, protection or maintenance of any Security Interest conferred or intended to be conferred on the Security Agent by or pursuant to the Finance Documents. |
| 21.7 | Negative pledge in respect of Charged Property |
Except (a) as approved by the Majority Lenders, (b) for Permitted Liens and (c) prior to the first Utilisation Date, any Security Interest granted by an Obligor in accordance with the terms of the Existing Credit Facility, no Obligor will grant or allow to exist any Security Interest over any Charged Property.
| 21.8 | Environmental matters |
| (a) | The Agent will be notified as soon as reasonably practicable of any Environmental Claim being made against any Obligor or any Ship which, if successful to any extent, might have a Material Adverse Effect and of any Environmental Incident which may give rise to such an Environmental Claim and will be kept regularly and promptly informed in reasonable detail of the nature of, and response to, any such Environmental Incident and the defence to any such claim. |
| (b) | Environmental Laws (and any consents, licences or approvals obtained under them) applicable to any Ship will not be violated in a way which might have a Material Adverse Effect. |
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| (c) | The Obligors shall ensure that any Ship which is sold to an intermediary with an intention that such Ship will be scrapped, is recycled at a recycling yard in a socially and environmentally responsible manner in accordance with the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 (whether or not it is in force) and/or EU Ship Recycling Regulation, 2013 (as applicable). |
| 21.9 | Inspection of records |
Upon reasonable notice from the Agent, allow any representative of the Agent, subject to applicable laws and regulations, to visit and inspect the Borrowers properties and, on request, to examine the Borrowers books of account, records, reports, agreements and other papers and to discuss the Borrowers affairs, finances and accounts with its offices, in each case at such times and as often as the Agent reasonably requests.
| 21.10 | Ownership of Obligors |
At all times (unless the Lenders have provided their written consent):
| (a) | the Parent shall own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the membership interests in the Borrower and each Owner; |
| (b) | the managing member of an Owner shall be the Borrower; and |
| (c) | the managing member of the Borrower shall be the Parent. |
| 21.11 | No change of name etc |
During the Facility Period, no Obligor will change:
| (a) | its name; |
| (b) | the type of legal entity which it exists as; or |
| (c) | its Original Jurisdiction. |
| 21.12 | Year end |
The Borrower may not change its financial year end.
| 21.13 | Sanctions |
| (a) | Each Obligor shall ensure that it will comply with all Sanction Laws applicable to it. |
| (b) | No Obligor nor any of their respective directors, officers or employees will, directly or (to the Obligors knowledge) indirectly: |
| (i) | make any part of the proceeds of the Loan available to or for the benefit of a Restricted Party, or permit or authorise any such proceeds to be applied in a manner or for a purpose prohibited by any Sanctions Laws applicable to it; or |
| (ii) | fund all or part of any repayment under the Facility out of proceeds derived from transactions which would be prohibited by any Sanctions Laws applicable to it or would otherwise cause it to be in breach of Sanctions Laws or to become a Restricted Party. |
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| 21.14 | Listing |
The Parent shall maintain its listing on The New York Stock Exchange.
| 21.15 | Contractual recognition of bail-in |
Notwithstanding any other term of any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding between the Finance Parties and the Obligors, each Finance Party and each Obligor acknowledges and accepts that any liability of any party to any other party under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be subject to Bail-In Action by the relevant Resolution Authority and acknowledges and accepts to be bound by the effect of:
| (a) | any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability, including (without limitation): |
| (i) | a reduction, in full or in part, in the principal amount, or outstanding amount due (including any accrued but unpaid interest) in respect of any such liability; |
| (ii) | a conversion of all, or part of, any such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership that may be issued to, or conferred on, it; and |
| (iii) | a cancellation of any such liability; and |
| (b) | a variation of any term of any Finance Document to the extent necessary to give effect to any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability. |
| 21.16 | Blocking Law |
Any provision of clauses 18.34 (Sanctions), 21.13 (Sanctions) or 23.6(c) (Maintenance of class; compliance with laws and codes) shall, if specified in writing by a Finance Party to the Agent, not apply to or operate in favour of any Finance Party if and to the extent that it would result in a breach, by or in respect of that Finance Party, of any applicable Blocking Law. An affected Finance Party shall be obliged to notify the Agent whether such provisions shall not be deemed to apply promptly after a potential breach by or in respect of such Finance Party comes to the attention of such Finance Party.
For the purposes of this clause 21.16, Blocking Law means:
| (a) | any provision of Council Regulation (EC) No 2271/1996 of 22 November 1996 (or any law or regulation implementing such Regulation in any member state of the European Union or the United Kingdom); or |
| (b) | any similar blocking or anti-boycott law applicable to that Finance Party. |
| 22 | Dealings with Ship |
The Borrower undertakes that this clause 22 will be complied with in relation to each Mortgaged Ship throughout the relevant Ships Mortgage Period.
| 22.1 | Ships name and registration |
| (a) | The Ships name shall only be changed after prior notice to the Agent. |
| (b) | The Ship shall be permanently registered in the name of the relevant Owner with the relevant Registry within 90 days of the date of the Mortgage of the Ship and registered in the name of the relevant Owner with the relevant Registry under the laws of its Flag State. |
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| Except with approval, the Ship shall not be registered under any other flag or at any other port or fly any other flag (other than that of its Flag State). If that registration is for a limited period, it shall be renewed at least 45 days before the date it is due to expire and the Agent shall be notified of that renewal at least 30 days before that date. |
| (c) | Nothing will be done and no action will be omitted if that might result in such registration being forfeited or imperilled or the Ship being required to be registered under the laws of another state of registry. |
| 22.2 | Notification of certain events |
The Borrower shall notify the Agent immediately if the Ship becomes a Total Loss or partial loss or is materially damaged.
| 22.3 | Sale or other disposal of Ship |
Save where the net sale proceeds will enable the relevant Owner to comply with its mandatory prepayment obligations under clause 7.6 (Sale or Total Loss) and, if no Default is then continuing, for a sale to a buyer who is not an Affiliate of the Borrower for a cash price payable on completion of the sale which is no less than the Applicable Fraction of the Total Commitments for that Ship, the relevant Owner will not sell, or agree to, transfer, abandon or otherwise dispose of the relevant Ship or any share or interest in it.
| 22.4 | Manager |
Each Ship shall be technically managed by Northern Marine Management Limited, Navigator Gas Shipmanagement Limited, Thome Ship Management or another first class technical manager approved by the Agent and commercially managed by NGT Services (UK) Limited or another first class commercial manager approved by the Agent.
| 22.5 | Copy of Mortgage on board |
A properly certified copy of the relevant Mortgage shall be kept on board the Ship with its papers and shown to anyone having business with the Ship which might create or imply any commitment or Security Interest over or in respect of the Ship (other than a lien for crews wages and salvage) and to any representative of the Security Agent.
| 22.6 | Notice of Mortgage |
A framed printed notice of the Ships Mortgage shall be prominently displayed in the navigation room and in the Masters cabin of the Ship. The notice must be in plain type and read as follows:
NOTICE OF MORTGAGE
This Ship is subject to a First Preferred Mortgage to NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE with offices at Essendrops gate 7, 0368 Oslo, Norway, acting in its capacity as security agent and as trustee, under authority of Title 21 of the Liberian Code of Laws of 1956 as amended. Under the terms of the said Mortgage and related documents neither the Owner nor any charterer nor the Master of this Vessel nor any other person has any right, power or authority to create, incur or permit to be imposed upon this Vessel any lien, commitments or encumbrances whatsoever other than for crews wages and salvage.
No-one will have any right, power or authority to create, incur or permit to be imposed upon the Ship any lien whatsoever other than for crews wages and salvage.
| 22.7 | Conveyance on default |
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Where the Ship is (or is to be) sold in exercise of any power conferred by the Security Documents, the relevant Owner shall, upon the Agents request, immediately execute such form of transfer of title to the Ship as the Agent may require.
| 22.8 | Chartering |
Except with approval, the relevant Owner shall not enter into any charter commitment for the Ship, which is:
| (a) | a bareboat or demise charter or passes possession and operational control of the Ship to another person; or |
| (b) | a Charter, unless the relevant Owner executes a Charter Assignment in respect of such Charter prior to delivery of the relevant Ship under such Charter to the extent that such a Charter Assignment can be obtained by the Borrower using its commercially reasonable efforts to do so. |
If a Charterer requires the Lenders to enter into a letter of quiet enjoyment, such letter will be on terms acceptable to the Lenders acting reasonably.
| 22.9 | Lay up |
Except with approval, the Ship shall not be laid up or deactivated.
| 22.10 | Sharing of Earnings |
Except with approval, the relevant Owner shall not enter into any arrangement under which its Earnings from the Ship may be shared with anyone else.
| 22.11 | Payment of Earnings |
The relevant Owners Earnings from the Ship shall be paid in accordance with clause 27.1 (Earnings Account) unless required to be paid to the Security Agent pursuant to the General Assignment for that Ship. If any Earnings are held by brokers or other agents, they shall be paid to the Agent, if it requires this after the Earnings have become payable to it under the Ships General Assignment for that Ship.
| 23 | Condition and operation of Ship |
The Borrower undertakes that this clause 23 will be complied with in relation to each Mortgaged Ship throughout the relevant Ships Mortgage Period.
| 23.1 | Defined terms |
In this clause 23 and in Schedule 3 (Conditions precedent):
applicable code means any code or prescribed procedures required to be observed by the Ship or the persons responsible for its operation under any applicable law (including but not limited to those currently known as the ISM Code and the ISPS Code);
applicable law means all laws and regulations applicable to vessels registered in the Ships Flag State or which for any other reason apply to the Ship or to its condition or operation at any relevant time; and
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applicable operating certificate means any certificates or other document relating to the Ship or its condition or operation required to be in force under any applicable law or any applicable code.
| 23.2 | Repair |
The Ship shall be kept in a good, safe and efficient state of repair. The quality of workmanship and materials used to repair the Ship or replace any materially damaged, worn or lost parts or equipment shall be sufficient to ensure that the Ships value is not materially reduced.
| 23.3 | Modification |
Except with approval, the structure, type or performance characteristics of the Ship shall not be modified in a way which could or might materially alter the Ship or materially reduce its value.
| 23.4 | Removal of parts |
Except with approval, no material part of the Ship or any equipment shall be removed from the Ship if to do so would materially reduce its value (unless at the same time it is replaced with equivalent parts or equipment owned by the relevant Owner free of any Security Interest except under the Security Documents).
| 23.5 | Third party owned equipment |
Except with approval, equipment owned by a third party shall not be installed on the Ship if it cannot be removed without risk of causing damage to the structure or fabric of the Ship or incurring significant expense.
| 23.6 | Maintenance of class; compliance with laws and codes |
| (a) | The Ships class shall be the relevant Classification. |
| (b) | The relevant Owner shall ensure that: |
| (i) | the Ship shall comply in all material aspects with all laws or regulations applicable to it; and |
| (ii) | it will comply in all material aspects with all laws applicable to its business and applicable to the Ship, its ownership, employment, operation, management and registration, including the ISM Code, the ISPS Code, all Environmental Laws and the laws of the Flag State; and |
| (iii) | it shall obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect any approvals required by any Environmental Law, |
and without limiting paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above, the Owner shall not employ Ship nor allow its employment, operation or management in any manner contrary to any law or regulation including but not limited to the ISM Code, the ISPS Code and all Environmental Laws.
| (c) | The relevant Owner shall ensure that the Owner shall not employ Ship nor allow its employment, operation or management in any manner contrary to Sanctions Laws. |
| (d) | There shall be kept in force and on board the Ship or in such persons custody any applicable operating certificates which are required by applicable laws or applicable codes to be carried on board the Ship or to be in such persons custody. |
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| 23.7 | Surveys |
The Ship shall be submitted to continuous surveys and any other surveys which are required for it to maintain the Classification as its class. Copies of reports of those surveys shall be provided promptly to the Agent if it so requests which request shall not exceed more than one in each calendar year.
| 23.8 | Inspection and notice of dry-dockings |
The Agent and/or surveyors or other persons appointed by it for such purpose shall be allowed to board the Ship to inspect it once per annum if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or as frequently as may be required by the Agent following the occurrence of an Event of Default, or a Major Casualty (whereupon the Agent and/or surveyors or other persons appointed by it for such purpose shall be entitled to board the Ship to inspect it during the period falling shortly after completion of the repair works in respect of that Major Casualty), provided advance written notice is provided to the Obligors and such inspection does not interfere with the normal commercial operation of the Ship. The Agent shall be given all proper facilities needed for the purposes of any such inspection and the reasonable costs of such inspection shall be borne by the Borrower.
| 23.9 | Prevention of arrest |
All debts, damages, liabilities and outgoings which have given, or may give, rise to maritime, statutory or possessory liens on, or claims enforceable against, the Ship, its Earnings or Insurances shall be promptly paid and discharged unless such payment is being contested in good faith and adequate reserves are being maintained for such payment.
| 23.10 | Release from arrest |
The Ship, its Earnings and Insurances shall promptly be released from any arrest, detention, attachment or levy, and any legal process against the Ship shall be promptly discharged, by whatever action is required to achieve that release or discharge.
| 23.11 | Information about Ship |
The Agent shall promptly be given any information which it may reasonably require about the Ship or its employment, position, use or operation, including details of towages and salvages, and copies of all its charter commitments entered into by or on behalf of any Obligor and copies of any applicable operating certificates.
| 23.12 | Notification of certain events |
The Agent shall promptly be notified of:
| (a) | any damage to the Ship where the cost of the resulting repairs may exceed the Major Casualty Amount for such Ship; |
| (b) | any occurrence which may result in the Ship becoming a Total Loss; |
| (c) | any requisition of the Ship for hire; |
| (d) | any material Environmental Incident involving the Ship and Environmental Claim being made in relation to such an incident; |
| (e) | any withdrawal or threat to withdraw any applicable operating certificate; |
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| (f) | the issue of any operating certificate required under any applicable code; |
| (g) | the receipt of notification that any application for such a certificate has been refused; |
| (h) | any requirement made in relation to the Ship by any insurer or the Ships Classification Society or by any competent authority which is not, or cannot be, complied with in the manner or time required; and |
| (i) | any arrest or detention of the Ship or any exercise or purported exercise of a lien or other claim on the Ship or its Earnings or Insurances. |
| 23.13 | Payment of outgoings |
All tolls, dues and other outgoings whatsoever in respect of the Ship and its Earnings and Insurances shall be paid promptly. Proper accounting records shall be kept of the Ship and its Earnings.
| 23.14 | Evidence of payments |
The Agent shall be allowed proper and reasonable access to those accounting records when it requests it and, when it requires it, shall be given satisfactory evidence that:
| (a) | the wages and allotments and the insurance and pension contributions of the Ships crew are being promptly and regularly paid; |
| (b) | all deductions from its crews wages in respect of any applicable Tax liability are being properly accounted for; and |
| (c) | the Ships master has no claim for disbursements other than those incurred by him in the ordinary course of trading on the voyage then in progress. |
| 23.15 | Repairers liens |
Except with approval, the Ship shall not be put into any other persons possession for work to be done on the Ship if the cost of that work will exceed or is likely to exceed $2,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies) unless that person gives the Security Agent a written undertaking in approved terms not to exercise any lien on the Ship or its Earnings for any of the cost of such work.
| 23.16 | Lawful use |
The Ship shall not be employed:
| (a) | in any way or activity which would be unlawful under international law or other law applicable to an Obligor or the trading of a Ship; |
| (b) | to the extent that such activity or employment would be unlawful under international law or other law applicable to an Obligor or the trading of a Ship, in carrying illicit, contraband or prohibited goods; or |
| (c) | in a way which may make it liable to be condemned by a prize court or destroyed, seized or confiscated, |
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and the persons responsible for the operation of a Ship shall take all necessary and proper precautions to ensure that this does not happen, including participation in industry or other voluntary schemes available to the Ship and in which leading operators of ships operating under the same flag or engaged in similar trades generally participate at the relevant time.
| 23.17 | Copy of Green Passport on board |
Promptly upon becoming available and in any event no later than 31 December 2020, a copy of the inventory of hazardous materials or equivalent document acceptable to the Agent shall be maintained on board the Ship.
| 23.18 | Poseidon Principles |
| (a) | The Borrower shall, upon the request of any Lender and at the cost of the Borrower, on or before 31 July in each calendar year, supply or procure the supply to such Lender all such information necessary in order for it to comply with its obligations under the Poseidon Principles in respect of the preceding year, including, without limitation, all ship fuel oil consumption data required to be collected and reported in accordance with Regulation 22A of Annex VI and any Statement of Compliance relating to each Ship. No Lender shall publicly disclose such information with the identity of the Ship without the prior written consent of the Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt, such information shall be Confidential Information for the purposes of clause 45 (Confidentiality) but the Borrower acknowledges that, in accordance with the Poseidon Principles, such information will form part of the information published (at the cost of the relevant Lender) regarding the relevant Lenders portfolio climate alignment, provided that such information published by a Lender shall be in generic form that does not identify any Ship, any Manager or any member of the Group. |
| (b) | For the purposes of this clause: |
Annex VI means Annex VI of the Protocol of 1997 (as subsequently amended from time to time) to amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Marpol), as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto.
Poseidon Principles means the financial industry framework for assessing and disclosing the climate alignment of ship finance portfolios published on 18 June 2019 as the same may be amended or replaced to reflect changes in applicable law or regulation or the introduction of or changes to mandatory requirements of the International Maritime Organisation from time to time.
Statement of Compliance means a Statement of Compliance related to fuel oil consumption pursuant to regulations 6.6 and 6.7 of Annex VI.
| 24 | Insurance |
The Borrower undertakes that this clause 24 shall be complied with in relation to each Mortgaged Ship and its Insurances throughout the relevant Ships Mortgage Period.
| 24.1 | Insurance terms |
In this clause 24:
excess risks means the proportion (if any) of claims for general average, salvage and salvage charges not recoverable under the hull and machinery insurances of a vessel in consequence of the value at which the vessel is assessed for the purpose of such claims exceeding its insured value;
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excess war risk P&I cover means cover for claims only in excess of amounts recoverable under the usual war risk cover including (but not limited to) hull and machinery, crew and protection and indemnity risks;
hull cover means insurance cover against the risks identified in clause 24.2(a)(i);
minimum hull cover means, in relation to a Mortgaged Ship, an amount equal to or greater than its market value and which, when taken together with the minimum hull values of the other Mortgaged Ships, is at the relevant time 120% of the aggregate of the Total Commitments for the Mortgaged Ships at such time; and
P&I risks means the usual risks (including liability for oil pollution, excess war risk P&I cover) covered by a protection and indemnity association which is a member of the International Group of protection and indemnity associations (or, if the International Group ceases to exist, any other leading protection and indemnity association or other leading provider of protection and indemnity insurance) (including, without limitation, the proportion (if any) of any collision liability not covered under the terms of the hull cover).
| 24.2 | Coverage required |
| (a) | The Ship shall at all times be insured: |
| (i) | against (A) fire and usual marine risks (including excess risks) and (B) war risks (including war protection and indemnity risks and terrorism, piracy and confiscation risks) on an agreed value basis, in each case for at least its minimum hull cover and in the case of sub-section (A), provided that the hull and machinery insurances for the Ship shall at all times cover 80% of its market value and the remaining minimum hull cover may be insured by way of excess risks cover; |
| (ii) | against P&I risks for the highest amount then available in the insurance market for vessels of similar age, size and type as the Ship (but, in relation to liability for oil pollution, for an amount of not less than $1,000,000,000); |
| (iii) | against such other risks and matters which the Agent notifies it that it considers reasonable for a prudent shipowner or operator to insure against at the time of that notice; and |
| (iv) | on terms which comply with the other provisions of this clause 24. |
| (b) | The Ship shall not enter or remain in any zone which has been declared a war, conditional or excluded zone by any government entity or the Ships insurers for war risks and/or allied perils (including piracy) unless: |
| (i) | appropriate insurances have been taken out by the relevant Owner; and |
| (ii) | any requirements of the Agent and/or the Ships insurers necessary to ensure that the Ship remains properly insured in accordance with the Finance Documents (including any requirement for the payment of extra insurance premiums) have been complied with. |
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| 24.3 | Placing of cover |
The insurance coverage required by clause 24.2 (Coverage required) shall be:
| (a) | in the name of the Ships Owner and (in the case of the Ships hull cover) no other person (other than the Security Agent if required by it) (unless such other person, if so required by the Agent, has duly executed and delivered a first priority assignment of its interest in the Ships Insurances to the Security Agent in an approved form and provided such supporting documents and opinions in relation to that assignment as the Agent requires); |
| (b) | if the Agent so requests, in the joint names of the Ships Owner and the Security Agent (and, to the extent reasonably practicable in the insurance market, without liability on the part of the Security Agent for premiums or calls); |
| (c) | in dollars or another approved currency; |
| (d) | arranged through approved brokers or direct with approved insurers or protection and indemnity or war risks associations; and |
| (e) | on approved terms and with approved insurers or associations. |
| 24.4 | Deductibles |
The aggregate amount of any excess or deductible under the Ships hull cover shall not exceed an approved amount.
| 24.5 | Mortgagees insurance |
The Borrower shall promptly reimburse to the Agent the cost (as conclusively certified by the Agent) of taking out and keeping in force in respect of the Ship and the other Mortgaged Ships on approved terms, or in considering or making claims under:
| (a) | a mortgagees interest insurance and a mortgagees additional perils (pollution risks cover) for the benefit of the Finance Parties for an aggregate amount up to 110% of the aggregate of the Total Commitments at such time in respect of mortgagees interest insurance and 110% of the aggregate of the Total Commitments at such time in respect of mortgagees interest additional perils insurance; and |
| (b) | any other insurance cover which the Agent reasonably requires in respect of any Finance Partys interests and potential liabilities (whether as mortgagee of the Ship or beneficiary of the Security Documents). |
| 24.6 | Fleet liens, set off and cancellations |
If the Ships hull cover also insures other vessels, the Security Agent shall either be given an undertaking in approved terms by the brokers or (if such cover is not placed through brokers or the brokers do not, under any applicable laws or insurance terms, have such rights of set off and cancellation) the relevant insurers that the brokers or (if relevant) the insurers will not:
| (a) | set off against any claims in respect of the Ship any premiums due in respect of any of such other vessels insured (other than other Mortgaged Ships); or |
| (b) | cancel that cover because of non-payment of premiums in respect of such other vessels, |
or the Borrower shall ensure that hull cover for the Ship and any other Mortgaged Ships is provided under a separate policy from any other vessels.
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| 24.7 | Payment of premiums |
All premiums, calls, contributions or other sums payable in respect of the Insurances shall be paid punctually and the Agent shall be provided with all relevant receipts or other evidence of payment upon request.
| 24.8 | Details of proposed renewal of Insurances |
At least 14 days before any of the Ships Insurances are due to expire, the Agent shall be notified of the names of the brokers, insurers and associations proposed to be used for the renewal of such Insurances and the amounts, risks and terms in, against and on which the Insurances are proposed to be renewed.
| 24.9 | Instructions for renewal |
At least seven days before any of the Ships Insurances are due to expire, instructions shall be given to brokers, insurers and associations for them to be renewed or replaced on or before their expiry.
| 24.10 | Confirmation of renewal |
The Ships Insurances shall be renewed upon their expiry in a manner and on terms which comply with this clause 24 and confirmation of such renewal given by approved brokers or insurers to the Agent at least seven days (or such shorter period as may be approved) before such expiry.
| 24.11 | P&I guarantees |
Any guarantee or undertaking required by any protection and indemnity or war risks association in relation to the Ship shall be provided when required by the association.
| 24.12 | Insurance documents |
The Agent shall be provided with pro forma copies of all insurance policies and other documentation issued by brokers, insurers and associations in connection with the Ships Insurances as soon as they are available after they have been placed or renewed and all insurance policies and other documents relating to the Ships Insurances shall be deposited with any approved brokers or (if not deposited with approved brokers) the Agent or some other approved person.
| 24.13 | Letters of undertaking |
Unless otherwise approved where the Agent is satisfied that equivalent protection is afforded by the terms of the relevant Insurances and/or any applicable law and/or a letter of undertaking provided by another person, on each placing or renewal of the Insurances, the Agent shall be provided promptly with letters of undertaking in an approved form (having regard to general insurance market practice and law at the time of issue of such letter of undertaking) from the relevant brokers, insurers and associations.
| 24.14 | Insurance Notices and Loss Payable Clauses |
The interest of the Security Agent as assignee of the Insurances shall be endorsed on all insurance policies and other documents by the incorporation of a Loss Payable Clause and an Insurance Notice in respect of the Ship and its Insurances signed by its Owner and, unless otherwise approved, each other person assured under the relevant cover (other than the Security Agent if it is itself an assured).
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| 24.15 | Insurance correspondence |
If so required by the Agent, the Agent shall promptly be provided with copies of all written communications between the assureds and brokers, insurers and associations relating to any of the Ships Insurances as soon as they are available.
| 24.16 | Qualifications and exclusions |
All requirements applicable to the Ships Insurances shall be complied with and the Ships Insurances shall only be subject to approved exclusions or qualifications.
| 24.17 | Independent report |
If the Agent asks the Borrower for a detailed report from an approved independent firm of marine insurance brokers giving their opinion on the adequacy of the Ships Insurances then the Agent shall be provided promptly with such a report at no cost to the Agent or (if the Agent obtains such a report itself) the Borrower shall reimburse the Agent for the cost of obtaining that report.
| 24.18 | Collection of claims |
All documents and other information and all assistance required by the Agent to assist it and/or the Security Agent in trying to collect or recover any claims under the Ships Insurances shall be provided promptly.
| 24.19 | Employment of Ship |
The Ship shall only be employed or operated in conformity with the terms of the Ships Insurances (including any express or implied warranties) and not in any other way (unless the insurers have consented and any additional requirements of the insurers have been satisfied).
| 24.20 | Declarations and returns |
If any of the Ships Insurances are on terms that require a declaration, certificate or other document to be made or filed before the Ship sails to, or operates within, an area, those terms shall be complied with within the time and in the manner required by those Insurances.
| 24.21 | Application of recoveries |
All sums paid under the Ships Insurances to anyone other than the Security Agent shall be applied in repairing the damage and/or in discharging the liability in respect of which they have been paid except to the extent that the repairs have already been paid for and/or the liability already discharged.
| 24.22 | Settlement of claims |
Any claim under the Ships Insurances for a Total Loss or Major Casualty shall only be settled, compromised or abandoned with prior approval.
| 24.23 | Change in insurance requirements |
If the Agent gives notice to the Borrower to change the terms and requirements of this clause 24 (which the Agent may only do, in such manner as it considers appropriate (acting reasonably having consideration to market conditions at the relevant time), as a result in changes of circumstances or practice after the date of this Agreement), this clause 24 shall be modified in the manner so notified by the Agent on the date 14 days after such notice from the Agent is received.
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| 25 | Minimum security value |
The Borrower undertakes that this clause 25 will be complied with throughout any Mortgage Period.
| 25.1 | Valuation of assets |
For the purpose of the Finance Documents, the value at any time of any Mortgaged Ship or any other asset over which additional security is provided under this clause 25 will be its value as most recently determined in accordance with this clause 25.
| 25.2 | Valuation frequency |
Valuations of each Mortgaged Ship shall be carried out semi-annually, such valuations to be provided to the Agent at the same time that a Compliance Certificate is provided to the Agent at the end of the Groups second and fourth financial quarter of the Groups financial year pursuant to clause 19.2(a) and each valuation shall be dated no earlier than 30 days prior to delivery of that valuation to the Agent. In addition valuations of the relevant Mortgaged Ship (if, at the relevant time a valuation is required, the most recently provided valuation for the Mortgaged Ship is more than 30 days old) and each such other asset in accordance with this clause 25 as may be further required by the Agent at any other time if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or if a mandatory prepayment event occurs under clause 7.6 (Sale or Total Loss). In addition, no more than once a year, the Majority Lenders shall also have the right to request that the Agent nominate and appoint two Approved Brokers to provide valuations for the purposes of this clause 25.
| 25.3 | Expenses of valuation |
The Borrower shall bear, and reimburse to the Agent where incurred by the Agent, all reasonable costs and expenses of providing such a valuation.
| 25.4 | Valuations procedure |
The value of any Mortgaged Ship shall be determined in accordance with, and by Approved Valuers appointed in accordance with, this clause 25. Additional security provided under this clause 25 shall be valued in such a way, on such a basis and by such persons (including the Agent itself) as may be approved by the Majority Lenders or as may be agreed in writing by the Borrower and the Agent (on the instructions of the Majority Lenders).
| 25.5 | Currency of valuation |
Valuations shall be provided by Approved Valuers in dollars or, if an Approved Valuer is of the view that the relevant type of vessel is generally bought and sold in another currency, in that other currency. If a valuation is provided in another currency, for the purposes of this Agreement it shall be converted into dollars at the Agents spot rate of exchange for the purchase of dollars with that other currency as at the date to which the valuation relates.
| 25.6 | Basis of valuation |
Each valuation will be addressed to the Agent in its capacity as such and made:
| (a) | without physical inspection (unless required by the Agent); |
| (b) | on the basis of a sale for prompt delivery for a price payable in full in cash on delivery at arms length on normal commercial terms between a willing buyer and a willing seller; and |
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| (c) | without taking into account the benefit (but taking into account the burden) of any charter commitment. |
| 25.7 | Information required for valuation |
The Borrower shall promptly provide to the Agent and any such valuer any information which they reasonably require for the purposes of providing such a valuation.
| 25.8 | Approval of valuers |
All valuers must be Approved Valuers. The Agent shall respond promptly to any request by the Borrower, and the Borrower shall respond promptly to any request by the Agent, for approval of a broker nominated by the Borrower or, as the case may be, the Agent to become an Approved Valuer. The Agent may, acting reasonably, at any time by notice to the Borrower withdraw any Approved Valuer or previous approval of a valuer for the purposes of future valuations. That valuer may not then be appointed to provide valuations unless it is once more approved.
| 25.9 | Appointment of valuers |
When valuations of a Mortgaged Ship are required for the purposes of this clause 25, the Agent and the Borrower shall promptly each nominate an Approved Valuer to provide such valuations and the Borrower shall be responsible for appointing such nominated Approved Valuers and obtaining the required valuations of the Mortgaged Ship. If the Borrower fails to do so promptly, the Agent may appoint both Approved Valuers to provide the required valuations.
| 25.10 | Number of valuers |
Each valuation shall be carried out by the two Approved Valuers selected pursuant to clause 25.9 (Appointment of valuers).
| 25.11 | Differences in valuations |
If valuations provided by individual valuers differ, the value of the relevant Ship for the purposes of the Finance Documents will be the arithmetic mean average of those valuations. If the higher of the two valuations obtained pursuant to clause 25.10 is more than 110 per cent of the lower of the two valuations then a third valuation shall be obtained from a third Approved Valuer (nominated by the Agent and appointed by the Borrower) and the value of the relevant Mortgaged Ship for the purposes of the Finance Documents will be the arithmetic mean average of those three valuations.
| 25.12 | Security shortfall |
If at any time the Security Value is less than the Minimum Value, the Agent may, and shall, if so directed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower require that such deficiency be remedied. The Borrower shall then within 30 days of receipt of such notice ensure that the Security Value equals or exceeds the Minimum Value. For this purpose, the Borrower may:
| (a) | provide additional security over other assets approved by the Majority Lenders in accordance with this clause 25; and/or |
| (b) | direct the Agent that it is suspending its right to utilise part of the Facility sufficient to remedy such deficiency pending the Borrower being in compliance with clause 25.1 and, if applicable, prepay under clause 7.4 (Voluntary prepayment of Loans) a corresponding amount of the outstanding Loans; and/or |
| (c) | cancel the Total Commitments under clause 7.3 (Voluntary cancellation). |
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Where as a result of this clause the Security Value at any time is less than the Minimum Value, then the Total Commitments during such time shall be deemed to be reduced by an amount equal to such difference save that for the purpose of clause 5 (Utilisation) the Total Commitments at any time will in no circumstances exceed the Security Value at such time. Where this provision applies and, as a result, the amount of a New Loan is reduced pursuant to clause 5.4 prior to the discharge by the Borrower of its obligation to prepay the Loans or provide additional security, the amount of that reduction shall reduce, pro tanto, the prepayment or additional security obligations of the Borrower under this clause.
| 25.13 | Creation of additional security |
The value of any additional security which the Borrower offers to provide to remedy all or part of a shortfall in the amount of the Security Value will only be taken into account for the purposes of determining the Security Value if and when:
| (a) | that additional security, its value and the method of its valuation have been approved by the Majority Lenders, it being agreed that cash collateral provided in dollars or in the form of letters of credit denominated in dollars shall always be acceptable to the Lenders, and shall be valued at par; |
| (b) | a Security Interest over that security has been constituted in favour of the Security Agent or (if appropriate) the Finance Parties in an approved form and manner; |
| (c) | this Agreement has been unconditionally amended in such manner as the Agent requires in consequence of that additional security being provided; and |
| (d) | the Agent, or its duly authorised representative, has received such documents and evidence it may require in relation to that amendment and additional security including documents and evidence of the type referred to in Schedule 3 in relation to that amendment and additional security and its execution and (if applicable) registration, |
| 26 | Chartering undertakings |
The Borrower undertakes that this clause 26 will be complied with in relation to each Mortgaged Ship and its Charter Documents and, if a Charterer is a Group Member, by the relevant Charterer at any time during the relevant Ships Mortgage Period that the Ship is subject to a Charter.
| 26.1 | Variations |
Except with approval (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), the Charter Documents shall not be materially varied.
| 26.2 | Releases and waivers |
Except with approval (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), there shall be no release by the relevant Owner of any obligation of any other person under the Charter Documents (including by way of novation), no waiver of any breach of any such obligation and no consent to anything which would otherwise be such a breach.
| 26.3 | Charter performance |
The relevant Owner shall perform its obligations under the Charter Documents and use its reasonable endeavours to ensure that each other party to them performs their obligations under the Charter Documents.
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| 26.4 | Notice of assignment |
In respect of any Charter, the relevant Owner shall give notice of assignment of the Charter Documents to the other parties to them in the form specified by the Charter Assignment for that Ship promptly following the execution of the Charter Assignment and shall use its reasonable endeavours to ensure that the Agent receives a copy of that notice acknowledged by each addressee in the form specified therein.
| 26.5 | Payment of Charter Earnings |
All Earnings which the relevant Owner is entitled to receive under the Charter Documents shall be paid in the manner required by the Security Documents (and, if the Charterer is a Group Member, without any set-off or counter-claim and free and clear of any deductions or withholdings).
| 26.6 | Enforcement of charter assignment |
The Charterer shall allow the Security Agent to enforce the rights of the relevant Owner under the Charter as assignee of those rights under the relevant Charter Assignment.
| 26.7 | Sub-chartering |
Except with approval (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), the Owner shall use all reasonable endeavours to procure that the Charterer shall not enter into any charter commitment for the Ship which, if entered into by the relevant Owner would require approval under clause 22.8 (Chartering) and if the Security Agent is at any time entitled to enforce its rights as mortgagee of the Ship under the terms of any Mortgage, the Charterer will exercise its rights under any sub-charter of the Ship in such manner as the Agent may direct.
| 26.8 | Charterers manager |
A manager of the Ship shall not be appointed by the Charterer unless in accordance with clause 22.4 or that manager and the terms of its employment are approved by the Agent acting reasonably.
| 26.9 | Security Interests by Charterer |
Except as approved by the Majority Lenders (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), the Owner shall use all reasonable endeavours to procure that the Charterer shall not grant or allow to exist any Security Interest over any asset of the Charterer over which a Security Interest is granted or expressed to be granted by its Charterers Assignment.
| 27 | Bank accounts |
The Borrower undertakes that this clause 27 will be complied with throughout the Facility Period.
| 27.1 | Earnings Account |
| (a) | The Borrower shall be the holder of an account with an Account Bank which is designated as the Earnings Account for the purposes of the Finance Documents. |
| (b) | The Earnings of the Mortgaged Ships and all moneys payable to the relevant Owner under the Ships Insurances and any net amount payable to the Borrower under any Hedging Contract shall be paid by the persons from whom they are due or, if applicable, paid by the Owner receiving the same to the Earnings Account unless required to be paid to the Security Agent under the relevant Finance Documents. |
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| (c) | The Borrower shall not withdraw amounts standing to the credit of the Earnings Account except as permitted by clause 27.1(d) and 27.1(e). |
| (d) | As long as no Default has occurred and is continuing and (as a result of that Default) the Agent has not given a notice to the Borrower notifying the Borrower that the amounts may not be withdrawn, then the Borrower may withdraw amounts from the Earnings Account. |
| (e) | If a Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower may only withdraw the following amounts from the Earnings Account, in each case with the Agents prior approval: |
| (i) | payments then due to Finance Parties under the Finance Documents (other than payments due in respect of a prepayment); |
| (ii) | payments then due under Hedging Contracts or other Treasury Transactions entered into to protect against the fluctuation in the rate of interest payable under the Finance Documents or the price of goods or services purchased by the relevant Owner for the purpose of operating a Ship; |
| (iii) | payments of the proper costs and expenses of insuring, repairing, operating and maintaining any Mortgaged Ship; and |
| (iv) | payments to purchase other currencies in amounts and at times required to make payments referred to above in the currency in which they are due. |
| 27.2 | Other provisions |
| (a) | The Earnings Account may only be designated for the purposes described in this clause 27 if: |
| (i) | such designation is made in writing by the Agent and acknowledged by the Borrower and specifies the names and addresses of the Account Bank and the Borrower and the number and any designation or other reference attributed to the Earnings Account; |
| (ii) | an Account Security has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower in favour of the Security Agent; |
| (iii) | any notice required by the Account Security to be given to an Account Bank has been given to, and acknowledged by, the Account Bank in the form required by the relevant Account Security; and |
| (iv) | the Agent, or its duly authorised representative, has received such documents and evidence it may require in relation to the Earnings Account and the Account Security including documents and evidence of the type referred to in Schedule 3 in relation to the Earnings Account and the Account Security. |
| (b) | The rates of payment of interest and other terms regulating the Earnings Account will be a matter of separate agreement between the Borrower and Account Bank. If the Earnings Account is a fixed term deposit account, the Borrower may select the terms of deposits until the Account Security has become enforceable and the Security Agent directs otherwise. |
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| (c) | The Borrower shall not close the Earnings Account or alter the terms of the Earnings Account from those in force at the time it is designated for the purposes of this clause 27 or waive any of its rights in relation to the Earnings Account except with approval. |
| (d) | The Borrower shall deposit with the Security Agent all certificates of deposit, receipts or other instruments or securities relating to the Earnings Account, notify the Security Agent of any claim or notice relating to the Earnings Account from any other party and provide the Agent with any other information it may request concerning the Earnings Account. |
| (e) | Each of the Agent and the Security Agent agrees that if it is an Account Bank in respect of the Earnings Account then there will be no restrictions on creating a Security Interest over the Earnings Account as contemplated by this Agreement and it shall not (except with the approval of the Majority Lenders) exercise any right of combination, consolidation or set-off which it may have in respect of the Earnings Account in a manner adverse to the rights of the other Finance Parties. |
| 28 | Business restrictions |
Except as otherwise approved by the Majority Lenders (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld in the case of clause 28.12 (Distributions and other payments)) the Borrower undertakes that this clause 28 will be complied with by and in respect of the Borrower or, as the case may be, each Owner or the Parent, throughout the Facility Period.
| 28.1 | General negative pledge |
In this 28.1, Quasi-Security means an arrangement or transaction described in clause 28.1(b):
| (a) | No Owner shall permit any Security Interest to exist, arise or be created or extended over all or any part of its assets. |
| (b) | (Without prejudice to clauses 28.2 (Financial Indebtedness) and 28.6 (Disposals)), no Owner shall: |
| (i) | sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets on terms whereby that asset is or may be leased to, or re-acquired by, any other Group Member other than pursuant to disposals permitted under clause 28.6 (Disposals); |
| (ii) | sell, transfer, factor or otherwise dispose of any of its receivables on recourse terms (except for the discounting of bills or notes in the ordinary course of business); |
| (iii) | enter into any arrangement under which money or the benefit of a bank or other account may be applied, set-off or made subject to a combination of accounts; or |
| (iv) | enter into any other preferential arrangement having a similar effect, |
in circumstances where the arrangement or transaction is entered into primarily as a method of raising Financial Indebtedness or of financing the acquisition of an asset.
| (c) | The Parent shall not permit any Security Interest to be granted or created in respect of the share capital or membership interests of the Borrower. |
| (d) | Clauses 28.1(a) and 28.1(b) above do not apply to any Security Interest or (as the case may be) Quasi-Security, listed below: |
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| (i) | those in respect of the Existing Credit Facility that will be fully repaid on the first Utilisation Date; |
| (ii) | those granted or expressed to be granted by any of the Security Documents; and |
| (iii) | in relation to a Mortgaged Ship, Permitted Liens. |
| 28.2 | Financial Indebtedness |
No Owner shall incur or permit to exist, any Financial Indebtedness owed by it to anyone else except:
| (a) | any Financial Indebtedness outstanding under the Existing Credit Facility that will be fully repaid on the first Utilisation Date; |
| (b) | Financial Indebtedness incurred under the Finance Documents; |
| (c) | Financial Indebtedness owed to another Group Member which is fully subordinated to all amounts payable by the Borrower under the Finance Documents on terms approved by the Agent pursuant to a Subordination Agreement entered into between the relevant Owner and the Security Agent; |
| (d) | Financial Indebtedness permitted under clause 28.3 (Guarantees); and |
| (e) | Financial Indebtedness permitted under clause 28.4 (Loans and credit), |
and the Borrower shall not incur or permit to exist any Financial Indebtedness or Indebtedness (as defined in clause 20.1 (Financial definitions)), that would cause the Borrower to be in default of clause 20 (Financial covenants).
| 28.3 | Guarantees |
No Owner shall give or permit to exist, any guarantee by it in respect of indebtedness of any person or allow any of its indebtedness to be guaranteed by anyone else except:
| (a) | any Financial Indebtedness outstanding under the Existing Credit Facility that will be fully repaid on the first Utilisation Date; |
| (b) | guarantees of obligations of another Owner that are not Financial Indebtedness or obligations prohibited by any Finance Document; |
| (c) | guarantees in favour of trade creditors of the Group given in the ordinary course of its business; and |
| (d) | guarantees which are Financial Indebtedness permitted under clause 28.2 (Financial Indebtedness). |
| 28.4 | Loans and credit |
No Owner shall make, grant or permit to exist any loans or any credit by it to anyone else other than:
| (a) | loans or credit to another Owner permitted under clause 28.2 (Financial Indebtedness); and |
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| (b) | trade credit granted by it to its customers on normal commercial terms in the ordinary course of its trading activities. |
| 28.5 | Bank accounts and other financial transactions |
Other than in relation to the Existing Credit Facility that will be fully repaid on the first Utilisation Date, no Owner shall:
| (a) | maintain any current or deposit account with a bank or financial institution except for the deposit of money, operation of current accounts and the conduct of electronic banking operations with Lenders; |
| (b) | hold cash in any account (other than with a Lender) over or in respect of which any set-off, combination of accounts, netting or Security Interest exists except as permitted by clause 28.1 (General negative pledge); or |
| (c) | be party to any banking or financial transaction, whether on or off balance sheet, that is not expressly permitted under this clause 28 (Business restrictions). |
| 28.6 | Disposals |
No Owner shall enter into a single transaction or a series of transactions, whether related or not and whether voluntarily or involuntarily, to dispose of any asset except for any of the following disposals so long as they are not prohibited by any other provision of the Finance Documents:
| (a) | disposals of assets made in (and on terms reflecting) the ordinary course of trading of the disposing entity; |
| (b) | disposals of assets made by one Group Member to another Group Member; |
| (c) | disposals of obsolete assets, or assets which are no longer required for the purpose of the business of the relevant Group Member, in each case for cash on normal commercial terms and on an arms length basis; |
| (d) | any disposal of receivables on a non-recourse basis on arms length terms (including at fair market value) for non-deferred cash consideration in the ordinary course of its business; |
| (e) | disposals permitted by clauses 28.1 (General negative pledge) or 28.2 (Financial Indebtedness); |
| (f) | dealings with trade creditors with respect to book debts in the ordinary course of trading; and |
| (g) | the application of cash or cash equivalents in the acquisition of assets or services in the ordinary course of its business. |
| 28.7 | Contracts and arrangements with Affiliates |
No Owner shall be party to any arrangement or contract with any of its Affiliates unless such arrangement or contract is on an arms length basis.
| 28.8 | Subsidiaries |
No Owner shall establish or acquire a company or other entity which would be or become a Group Member or reactivate any dormant Group Member.
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| 28.9 | Acquisitions and investments |
No Owner shall acquire any person, business, assets or liabilities or make any investment in any person or business or enter into any joint-venture arrangement except:
| (a) | capital expenditures or investments related to maintenance of a Ship in the ordinary course of its business; |
| (b) | acquisitions of assets in the ordinary course of business (not being new businesses or vessels); |
| (c) | the incurrence of liabilities in the ordinary course of its business; |
| (d) | any loan or credit not otherwise prohibited under this Agreement; |
| (e) | pursuant to any Finance Documents or any Charter Documents to which it is party; or |
| (f) | any acquisition pursuant to a disposal permitted under clause 28.6 (Disposals). |
| 28.10 | Reduction of capital |
Neither the Borrower nor any Owner shall redeem or purchase or otherwise reduce any of its equity or any other share capital or membership interests or any warrants or any uncalled or unpaid liability in respect of any of them or reduce the amount (if any) for the time being standing to the credit of its share premium account or capital redemption or other undistributable reserve in any manner.
| 28.11 | Increase in capital |
Neither the Borrower nor any Owner shall issue membership interests or other equity interests to anyone except for, in the case of the Owners, the Borrower and, in the case of the Borrower, the Parent.
| 28.12 | Distributions and other payments |
A dividend may be paid on a quarterly basis on or after 31 December 2020 provided that, at such time:
| (a) | the Group is on a consolidated basis in compliance or, where applicable, pro forma compliance with clause 20 (Financial Covenants) after giving effect to such dividend so paid or declared; and |
| (b) | no Default has occurred or will occur following such dividend so paid or declared. |
| 29 | Hedging Contracts |
The Borrower undertakes that this clause 29 will be complied with throughout the Facility Period in respect of any Treasury Transaction it enters into with a Hedging Provider or a third party so as to hedge all or any part of its exposure under this Agreement to interest rate fluctuations and currency risk.
| 29.1 | Hedging |
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| (a) | If, at any time during the Facility Period, the Borrower has entered into any Treasury Transaction with a Hedging Provider or a third party so as to hedge all or any part of its exposure under this Agreement to interest rate fluctuations and currency risk, it shall notify the Agent in writing promptly following the occurrence of the same. Any Treasury Transaction must comply with the provisions of clauses 29.1(b) and 29.1(c). |
| (b) | The Borrower agrees that it shall not enter into a speculative hedging transaction (which would include hedging transactions which are: (i) not entered into to hedge a real risk or exposure which the Borrower has or (ii) which are entered into by the Borrower for the main purpose of financial losses or gains, except for any forward foreign exchange, synthetic deposit or similar transaction entered into the Borrower in the ordinary course of its interest investment arrangements) under any Treasury Transaction with a Hedging Provider or a third party. |
| (c) | Any Treasury Transaction which is concluded with a Hedging Provider so as to hedge all or any part of the Borrowers exposure under this Agreement to interest rate fluctuations and currency risk shall be on the terms of the Hedging Master Agreement with that Hedging Provider but, unless otherwise approved by the relevant Hedging Provider, no Hedging Transaction or Hedging Exposure shall be outstanding at the end of the Facility Period. The Borrower may also enter into Treasury Transactions with third party providers other than the Hedging Providers so long as the provisions of clauses 21.7 (Charged Property) and 28.1 (General negative pledge) are complied with. |
| (d) | If and when any such Treasury Transaction has been concluded with a Hedging Provider, it shall constitute a Hedging Contract for the purposes of the Finance Documents. |
| 29.2 | Unwinding of Hedging Contracts |
If, at any time, and whether as a result of any cancellation (in whole or in part) of any Commitment or otherwise, the aggregate notional principal amount under all Hedging Transactions in respect of a Loan entered into by the Borrower exceeds or will exceed the amount of such Loan outstanding at that time after such cancellation, then (unless otherwise approved by the Majority Lenders) the Borrower shall immediately close out and terminate sufficient Hedging Transactions as are necessary to ensure that the aggregate notional principal amount under the remaining continuing Hedging Transactions in respect of the relevant Loan equals, and will in the future be equal to, the amount of such Loan at that time and as scheduled to be repaid from time to time thereafter pursuant to clauses 6.2 (Reduction of Facility) or 7 (Illegality, prepayment and cancellation).
| 29.3 | Releases and waivers |
Except with approval, there shall be no release by the Borrower of any obligation of any other person under the Hedging Contracts (including by way of novation), no waiver of any breach of any such obligation and no consent to anything which would otherwise be such a breach.
| 29.4 | Assignment of Hedging Contracts by the Borrower |
Except with approval of the relevant Hedging Provider, the Borrower shall not assign or otherwise dispose of its rights under any Hedging Contract.
| 29.5 | Performance of Hedging Contracts by the Borrower |
The Borrower shall perform its obligations under the Hedging Contracts.
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| 29.6 | Information concerning Hedging Contracts |
The Borrower shall provide the Agent with any information it may request concerning any Hedging Contract, including all reasonable information, accounts and records that may be necessary or of assistance to enable the Agent to verify the amounts of all payments and any other amounts payable under the Hedging Contracts.
| 30 | Events of Default |
Each of the events or circumstances set out in clauses 30.1 to 30.21 is an Event of Default.
| 30.1 | Non-payment |
An Obligor does not pay on the due date any amount payable pursuant to a Finance Document at the place at and in the currency in which it is expressed to be payable unless:
| (a) | its failure to pay is caused by administrative or technical error or by a Payment Disruption Event; and |
| (b) | payment is made within two Business Days of its due date. |
| 30.2 | Hedging Contracts |
| (a) | An Event of Default (as defined in any Hedging Master Agreement) has occurred and is continuing under any Hedging Contract. |
| (b) | An Early Termination Date (as defined in any Hedging Master Agreement) has occurred or been or become capable of being effectively designated under any Hedging Contract. |
| 30.3 | Financial covenants |
The Borrower does not comply with clause 20 (Financial covenants).
| 30.4 | Value of security |
The Borrower does not comply with clause 25.12 (Security shortfall).
| 30.5 | Insurance |
| (a) | The Insurances of a Mortgaged Ship are not placed and kept in force in the manner required by clauses 24.2 (Coverage required) and 24.3 (Placing of cover). |
| (b) | Any insurer either: |
| (i) | cancels any such Insurances; or |
| (ii) | disclaims liability under them by reason of any misstatement or failure or default by any person. |
| 30.6 | Other obligations |
| (a) | An Obligor does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents (other than those referred to in clauses 30.1 (Non-payment), 30.2 (Hedging Contracts), 30.3 (Financial Covenants) 30.4 (Value of security), 30.5 (Insurance) and 30.21 (Sanctions undertakings)). |
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| (b) | No Event of Default under clause 30.6(a) above will occur if the Agent considers (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) that the failure to comply is capable of remedy and the failure is remedied within seven (7) days (and in the case of clause 23.10 (Release from arrest) thirty (30) days) of the Agent giving notice to the Borrower. |
| 30.7 | Misrepresentation |
Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by an Obligor in the Finance Documents or any other document delivered by or on behalf of any Obligor under or in connection with any Finance Document is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to be made.
| 30.8 | Cross default |
| (a) | Any Financial Indebtedness of any Group Member exceeding $500,000 is not paid when due nor within any originally applicable grace period. |
| (b) | Any Financial Indebtedness of any Group Member exceeding $500,000 is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described). |
| (c) | Any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of any Group Member exceeding $500,000 is cancelled or suspended by a creditor of that Group Member exceeding $500,000 as a result of an event of default (however described). |
| (d) | The counterparty to a Treasury Transaction exceeding $500,000 entered into by any Group Member becomes entitled to terminate that Treasury Transaction early by reason of an event of default (however described). |
| (e) | Any creditor of any Group Member becomes entitled to declare any Financial Indebtedness of that Group Member exceeding $500,000 due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described). |
| (f) | No Event of Default will occur under this clause 30.8 if the aggregate amount of Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness falling within clauses 30.8(a) to 30.8(e) above is less than $20,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies). |
| (g) | No Event of Default under this clause 30.8 will occur if the Agent (acting on behalf of the Majority Lenders) considers that the failure to comply is capable of remedy and the failure is remedied within five Business Days of the Agent giving notice to the Borrower. |
| 30.9 | Insolvency |
| (a) | A Group Member is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due, suspends making payments on any of its debts or, by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness. |
| (b) | The value of the assets of any Group Member is less than its liabilities (taking into account contingent and prospective liabilities). |
| (c) | A moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of any Group Member. If a moratorium occurs, the ending of the moratorium will not remedy any Event of Default caused by that moratorium. |
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| 30.10 | Insolvency proceedings |
| (a) | Any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in relation to: |
| (i) | the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of any Group Member other than a solvent liquidation or reorganisation of any Group Member which is not an Obligor; |
| (ii) | a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of any Group Member; |
| (iii) | the appointment of a liquidator (other than in respect of a solvent liquidation of a Group Member which is not an Obligor), receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of any Group Member or any of its assets (including the directors of any Group Member requesting a person to appoint any such officer in relation to it or any of its assets); or |
| (iv) | enforcement of any Security Interest over any assets of any Group Member, |
or any analogous procedure or step is taken in any jurisdiction.
| (b) | Clause 30.10(a) shall not apply to any winding-up petition (or analogous procedure or step) which is frivolous or vexatious and is discharged, stayed or dismissed within 28 days of commencement or, if earlier, the date on which it is advertised. |
| 30.11 | Creditors process |
| (a) | Any expropriation, attachment, sequestration, distress, execution or analogous process affects any asset or assets of any Group Member, which would in aggregate exceed $500,000 or, when aggregated with the value of any assets of the other Group Members affected by any process mentioned in this clause 30.11(a), would exceed $20,000,000, and is not discharged within 28 days. |
| (b) | Any judgment or order for an amount in excess of $500,000 in respect of the Borrower or $20,000,000 in respect of the Guarantors, is made against any Group Member and is not stayed or complied with within 28 days. |
| 30.12 | Unlawfulness and invalidity |
| (a) | It is or becomes unlawful for an Obligor to perform any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or any Security Interest created or expressed to be created or evidenced by the Security Documents ceases to be effective. |
| (b) | Any obligation or obligations of any Obligor under any Finance Documents are not (subject to the Legal Reservations) or cease to be legal, valid, binding or enforceable and the cessation individually or cumulatively materially and adversely affects the interests of the Lenders under the Finance Documents. |
| (c) | Any Finance Document or any Security Interest created or expressed to be created or evidenced by the Security Documents ceases to be in full force and effect or is alleged by a party to it (other than a Finance Party) to be ineffective for any reason. |
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| (d) | Any Security Document does not create legal, valid, binding and enforceable security over the assets charged under that Security Document or the ranking or priority of such security is adversely affected. |
| 30.13 | Cessation of business |
Any Obligor suspends or ceases to carry on (or threatens to suspend or cease to carry on) all or a material part of its business.
| 30.14 | Expropriation |
The authority or ability of any Obligor to conduct its business is limited or wholly or substantially curtailed by any seizure, expropriation, nationalisation, intervention, restriction or other action by or on behalf of any governmental, regulatory or other authority or other person in relation to any Obligor or any of its assets.
| 30.15 | Repudiation and rescission of Finance Documents |
An Obligor (or any other relevant party) repudiates or purports to repudiate a Finance Document or evidences an intention to rescind or purports to rescind a Finance Document.
| 30.16 | Litigation |
Any litigation, alternative dispute resolution, arbitration or administrative proceeding is taking place, or threatened against any Group Member or any of its assets, rights or revenues exceeding $10,000,000 which, if adversely determined, might have a Material Adverse Effect.
| 30.17 | Material Adverse Effect |
Any Environmental Incident or other event or circumstance or series of events (including any change of law) occurs which the Majority Lenders reasonably believe has, or is reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
| 30.18 | Security enforceable |
Any Security Interest (other than a Permitted Lien) in respect of Charged Property becomes enforceable.
| 30.19 | Arrest of Ship |
Any Mortgaged Ship is arrested, confiscated, seized, taken in execution, impounded, forfeited, detained in exercise or purported exercise of any possessory lien or other claim and the relevant Owner fails to procure the release of such Ship within a period of 28 days thereafter (or such longer period as may be approved) or, in the case of any seizure or detention of such Ship as a result of piracy, within a period of 365 days thereafter.
| 30.20 | Ship registration |
Except with approval, the registration of any Mortgaged Ship under the laws and flag of its Flag State is cancelled or terminated or, where applicable, not renewed or, if such Ship is only provisionally registered on the date of its Mortgage, such Ship is not permanently registered under such laws within 90 days of such date.
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| 30.21 | Sanctions undertakings |
An Obligor does not comply with any provision of clause 19.7 (Sanctions information), 21.13 (Sanctions) or 23.6(c) (Maintenance of class; compliance with laws and codes).
| 30.22 | Acceleration |
On and at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing the Agent may, and shall if so directed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower:
| (a) | cancel the Total Commitments at which time they shall immediately be cancelled; and/or |
| (b) | declare that all or part of the Loans, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents be immediately due and payable, at which time they shall become immediately due and payable; and/or |
| (c) | declare that all or part of the Loans be payable on demand, at which time it shall immediately become payable on demand by the Agent on the instructions of the Majority Lenders; and/or |
| (d) | declare that no withdrawals be made from the Earnings Account; and/or |
| (e) | exercise or direct the Security Agent and/or any other beneficiary of the Security Documents to exercise any or all of its rights, remedies, powers or discretions under the Finance Documents. |
| 31 | Position of Hedging Provider |
| 31.1 | Hedging Providers |
| (a) | At the time any Hedging Contract is entered into any Hedging Provider who is party to such Hedging Contract shall accede to, and become a party to, this Agreement by entering into a deed of adherence in a form to be agreed by the parties and upon the execution of such deed of adherence the relevant Hedging Provider shall have the rights and obligations on the part of the Hedging Providers contained in this Agreement and the other Finance Documents. |
| (b) | It is acknowledged and agreed that, as at the Amendment Effective Date, the Hedging Providers for the purposes of this Agreement are those entities listed as such in Schedule 1 and that such Hedging Providers acceded to this Agreement in the manner contemplated under paragraph (a) above pursuant to the Deed of Accession and Adherence. |
| 31.2 | Rights of Hedging Provider |
Each Hedging Provider is a Finance Party and as such, will be entitled to share in the security constituted by the Security Documents in respect of any liabilities of the Borrower under the Hedging Contracts with such Hedging Provider in the manner and to the extent contemplated by the Finance Documents.
| 31.3 | No voting rights |
No Hedging Provider shall be entitled to vote on any matter where a decision of the Lenders alone is required under this Agreement, whether before or after the termination or close out of the Hedging Contracts with such Hedging Provider, provided that each Hedging Provider shall be entitled to vote on any matter where a decision of all the Finance Parties is expressly required.
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| 31.4 | Acceleration and enforcement of security |
Neither the Agent nor the Security Agent or any other beneficiary of the Security Documents shall be obliged, in connection with any action taken or proposed to be taken under or pursuant to clause 30 (Events of Default) or pursuant to the other Finance Documents, to have any regard to the requirements of the Hedging Provider except to the extent that the relevant Hedging Provider is also a Lender.
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SECTION 9 - CHANGES TO PARTIES
| 32 | Changes to the Lenders |
| 32.1 | Assignments and transfers by the Lenders |
Subject to this clause 32, a Lender (the Existing Lender) may assign any of its rights to another bank, financial institution which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (excluding a hedge fund), unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which case the Existing Lender may assign its right to any person (in each case, the new assignee being the New Lender).
| 32.2 | Conditions of assignment |
| (a) | The consent of the Borrower is required for an assignment by a Lender, unless the assignment is to another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Event of Default is continuing. The Agent will immediately advise the Borrower of the assignment. |
| (b) | The Borrowers consent may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and will be deemed to have been given fifteen Business Days after the Lender has requested consent unless consent is expressly refused within that time. |
| (c) | An assignment will only be effective: |
| (i) | on receipt by the Agent of written confirmation from the New Lender (in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent) that the New Lender will assume the same obligations to the Borrower and the other Finance Parties as it would have been under if it was an Original Lender; |
| (ii) | on the New Lender entering into any documentation required for it to accede as a party to any Security Document to which the Original Lender is a party in its capacity as a Lender and, in relation to such Security Documents, completing any filing, registration or notice requirements; |
| (iii) | if an assignment takes effect after there has been a Utilisation, the assignment of an Existing Lenders participation in the Utilisations (if any) under the Facility shall take effect in respect of the same fraction of each such Utilisation; |
| (iv) | on the performance by the Agent of all know your customer or other checks relating to any person that it is required to carry out in relation to such assignment to a New Lender, the completion of which the Agent shall promptly notify to the Lender and the New Lender; |
| (v) | if that Existing Lender assigns equal fractions of its Commitment and participation in the Facility and each Utilisation (if any) under the Facility; and |
| (vi) | if it is for a minimum amount of $20,000,000 (unless the assignment is of all an Existing Lenders Commitment and all of its participation in the Loans). |
| (d) | Each New Lender, by executing the relevant Transfer Certificate, confirms, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with the Finance Documents on or prior to the date on which the assignment becomes effective in accordance with the Finance Documents and that it is bound by that decision to the same extent as the Existing Lender would have been had it remained a Lender. |
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| 32.3 | Fee |
The New Lender shall, on the date upon which an assignment takes effect, pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee of $5,000 per assignment.
| 32.4 | No increased costs |
| (a) | If: |
| (i) | (i) a Lender assigns or transfers any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents or changes its Facility Office; and |
| (ii) | (ii) as a result of circumstances existing at the date the assignment, transfer or change occurs, an Obligor would be obliged to make a payment to the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office under clause 12 (Tax gross up and indemnities) or clause 13 (Increased costs), |
then the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office is only entitled to receive payment under those clauses to the same extent as the Existing Lender or Lender acting through its previous Facility Office would have been if the assignment, transfer or change had not occurred.
| 32.5 | Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders |
| (a) | Unless expressly agreed to the contrary, an Existing Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility to a New Lender for: |
| (i) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the Finance Documents or any other documents; |
| (ii) | the financial condition of any Obligor; |
| (iii) | the performance and observance by any Obligor or any other person of its obligations under the Finance Documents or any other documents; or |
| (iv) | the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Finance Document or any other document, |
and any representations or warranties implied by law are excluded.
| (b) | Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender and the other Finance Parties that it: |
| (c) | has made (and shall continue to make) its own independent investigation and assessment of: |
| (i) | the financial condition and affairs of the Obligors and their related entities in connection with its participation in this Agreement; and |
| (ii) | the application of any Basel II Regulation or Basel III Regulation to the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents; |
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| (d) | and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender or any other Finance Party in connection with any Finance Document; |
| (e) | will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the application of any Basel II Regulation or Basel III Regulation to the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents; and |
| (f) | will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and its related entities whilst any amount is or may be outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force. |
| (g) | Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to: |
| (i) | accept a re-assignment from a New Lender of any of the rights assigned under this clause 32 (Changes to the Lenders); or |
| (ii) | support any losses directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Finance Documents or by reason of the application of any Basel II Regulation or Basel III Regulation to the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or otherwise. |
| 32.6 | Procedure for transfer |
| (a) | Subject to the conditions set out in clause 32.2 (Conditions of assignment) an assignment may be effected in accordance with clause 32.6(c) below when (a) the Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Transfer Certificate and (b) the Agent executes any document required under clause 32.2(c) which it may be necessary for it to execute in each case delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender duly executed by them and, in the case of any such other document, any other relevant person. The Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a Transfer Certificate and any such other document each duly completed, appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Transfer Certificate and such other document. |
| (b) | The Obligors and the other Finance Parties irrevocably authorise the Agent to execute any Transfer Certificate on their behalf without any consultations with them. |
| (c) | On the Transfer Date: |
| (i) | to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to be released from its obligations under the Finance Documents, the Existing Lender shall be released from further obligations towards the Obligors and the other Finance Parties under the Finance Documents and the rights of the Obligors and the other Finance Parties against the Existing Lender under the Finance Documents shall be cancelled (being the Discharged Rights and Obligations) (but the obligations owed by the Obligors under the Finance Documents shall not be released); |
| (ii) | the New Lender shall assume obligations towards each of the Obligors who are a Party and/or the Obligors and the other Finance Parties shall acquire rights against the New Lender which differ from the Discharged Rights and Obligations only insofar as the New Lender has assumed and/or the Obligors and the other Finance Parties have acquired the same in place of the Existing Lender; |
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| (iii) | the other Finance Parties and the New Lender shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves as they would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original Lender with the rights and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the transfer and to that extent the Existing Lender and the other Finance Parties shall each be released from further obligations to each other under the Finance Documents; and |
| (iv) | the New Lender shall become a Party to the Finance Documents as a Lender for the purposes of all the Finance Documents. |
| 32.7 | Copy of Transfer Certificate or Increase Confirmation to Borrower |
The Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after it has executed a Transfer Certificate or Increase Confirmation and any other document required under clause 32.2(c), send a copy of that Transfer Certificate or Increase Confirmation and such documents to the Borrower.
| 32.8 | Security over Lenders Rights |
In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this clause 32, each Lender may without consulting with or obtaining consent from an Obligor, at any time charge, assign or otherwise create a Security Interest in or over (whether by way of collateral or otherwise) all or any of its rights under any Finance Document to secure obligations of that Lender including, without limitation any charge, assignment or other Security Interest to secure obligations to a federal reserve or central bank except that no such charge, assignment or Security Interest shall:
| (a) | release a Lender from any obligations under the Finance Documents or substitute the beneficiary of the relevant charge, assignment or Security Interest for the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or |
| (b) | require any payments to be made by an Obligor other than or in excess of, or grant to any person any more extensive rights than, those required to be made or granted to the relevant Lender under the Finance Documents. |
| 33 | Assignments and transfers by Obligors |
No Obligor may assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents without the prior written consent of the Lenders.
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SECTION 10 - THE FINANCE PARTIES
| 34 | Roles of Agent, Security Agent and Arrangers |
| 34.1 | Appointment of the Agent |
| (a) | Each other Finance Party (other than the Security Agent) appoints the Agent to act as its agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents. |
| (b) | Each such other Finance Party authorises the Agent: |
| (i) | to perform the duties, obligations and responsibilities and to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions; and |
| (ii) | to execute each of the Security Documents, and all other documents that may be approved by the Majority Lenders for execution by it. |
| (c) | The Agent accepts its appointment under clause 34.1(a) as trustee of the Trust Property with effect from the date of this Agreement and declares that it holds the Trust Property on trust for itself and the other Finance Parties (for so long as they are Finance Parties) on and subject to the terms of this clause 34 and the Security Documents to which it is a party. |
| 34.2 | Duties of the Agent |
| (a) | The Agent shall promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Agent for that Party by any other Party. |
| (b) | Without prejudice to clause 32.7 (Copy of Transfer Certificate or Increase Confirmation to Borrower), clause 34.2(a) shall not apply to any Transfer Certificate or Increase Confirmation. |
| (c) | Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, the Agent is not obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party. |
| (d) | If the Agent receives notice from a Party referring to this Agreement, describing a Default and stating that the circumstance described is a Default, it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties. |
| (e) | If the Agent is aware of the non-payment of any principal, interest, commitment fee or other fee payable to a Finance Party (other than the Agent or an Arranger for their own account) under this Agreement it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties. |
| (f) | Except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, the Agent has no obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents. The Agents duties under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature. |
| 34.3 | Role of the Arrangers, the Bookrunner and the Sustainability Agent |
Except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, the Arrangers, the Bookrunner and the Sustainability Agent have no obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance Document or the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents.
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| 34.4 | No fiduciary duties |
| (a) | Nothing in this Agreement constitutes an Arranger as a trustee or fiduciary of any other person except to the extent that the Agent holds the benefit of the Security Documents in trust for the other Finance Parties pursuant to clause 34. |
| (b) | Neither the Agent, Sustainability Agent nor any of the Arrangers shall be bound to account to any Lender or any Hedging Provider for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account or have any obligations to the other Finance Parties beyond those expressly stated in the Finance Documents. |
| 34.5 | Business with the Group |
The Agent and any Arranger may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with any Obligor or other Group Member or their Affiliates.
| 34.6 | Rights and discretions of the Agent |
| (a) | The Agent may rely on: |
| (i) | any representation, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; and |
| (ii) | any statement made by a director, authorised signatory or employee of any person regarding any matters which may reasonably be assumed to be within his or her knowledge or within his or her power to verify. |
| (b) | The Agent may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as agent for the other Finance Parties) that: |
| (i) | no Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of a Default arising under clause 30.1 (Non-payment)); |
| (ii) | any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or the Majority Lenders has not been exercised; |
| (iii) | any notice or request made by the Borrower (other than a Utilisation Request) is made on behalf of and with the consent and knowledge of all the Obligors; and |
| (iv) | any instructions received by it from the Majority Lenders, any Lenders or any group of Lenders are duly given in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents (unless it has received written notice that those instructions have been revoked). |
| (c) | The Agent may engage, pay for and rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, surveyors or other experts in the conduct of its obligations and responsibilities under the Finance Documents. |
| (d) | The Agent may act in relation to the Finance Documents through its personnel and agents. |
| (e) | The Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has received as agent under this Agreement. |
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| (f) | Without prejudice to the generality of clause 34.6(e) above, the Agent may disclose the identity of a Defaulting Lender to the other Finance Parties and the Borrower and shall disclose the same upon the written request of the Borrower or the Majority Lenders. |
| (g) | Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Agent nor any Arranger is obliged to do or omit to do anything if it would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality. The Agent and any Arranger may do anything which in its opinion, is necessary or desirable to comply with any law or regulation of any jurisdiction. |
| (h) | Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, the Agent is not obliged to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties, obligations or responsibilities or the exercise of any right, power, authority or discretion if it has grounds for believing the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against, or security for, such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. |
| 34.7 | Majority Lenders instructions |
| (a) | Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, the Agent shall: |
| (i) | exercise any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent in accordance with any instructions given to it by the Majority Lenders (or, if so instructed by the Majority Lenders, refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent); and |
| (ii) | not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from taking any action) in accordance with an instruction of the Majority Lenders. |
| (b) | Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given by the Majority Lenders to the Agent (in relation to any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent) shall be binding on all the Finance Parties. |
| (c) | The Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with the instructions of the Majority Lenders (or, if appropriate, the Lenders) until it has received such security as it may require for any cost, loss or liability (together with any associated VAT) which it may incur in complying with the instructions. |
| (d) | In the absence of, or while awaiting, instructions from the Majority Lenders (or, if appropriate, the Lenders), the Agent may act (or refrain from taking action) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Finance Parties. |
| (e) | The Agent is not authorised to act on behalf of a Lender (without first obtaining that Lenders consent) or any Hedging Provider in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document. This clause 34.7(e) shall not apply to any legal or arbitration proceeding relating to the perfection, preservation or protection of rights under the Security Documents or enforcement of the Security Documents. |
| (f) | Neither the Agent nor any Arranger shall be obliged to request any certificate, opinion or other information under clause 19 (Information undertakings) unless so required in writing by a Lender or any Hedging Provider, in which case the Agent shall promptly make the appropriate request of the Borrower if such request would be in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
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| 34.8 | Responsibility for documentation and other matters |
Neither the Agent nor the Arrangers:
| (a) | is responsible for the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by the Agent, any Arranger, an Obligor or any other person given in or in connection with any Finance Document or the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents or of any representations in any Finance Document or of any copy of any document delivered under any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; |
| (b) | is responsible for the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document or any Charter Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of or in connection with any Finance Document or any Charter Document or any determination as to whether any information provided or to be provided to any Finance Party is non-public information the use of which may be regulated or prohibited by applicable law or regulation relating to insider dealing or otherwise; |
| (c) | is responsible for the application of any Basel II Regulation or Basel III Regulation to the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents; |
| (d) | is responsible for any loss to the Trust Property arising in consequence of the failure, depreciation or loss of any Charged Property or any investments made or retained in good faith or by reason of any other matter or thing; |
| (e) | is obliged to account to any person for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account; |
| (f) | is responsible for the failure of any Obligor or any other party to perform its obligations under any Finance Document or any Charter Document or the financial condition of any such person; |
| (g) | is responsible for ascertaining whether all deeds and documents which should have been deposited with it under or pursuant to any of the Security Documents have been so deposited; |
| (h) | is responsible for investigating or making any enquiry into the title of any Obligor to any of the Charged Property or any of its other property or assets; |
| (i) | is responsible for the failure to register any of the Security Documents with the Registrar of Companies or any other public office; |
| (j) | is responsible for the failure to register any of the Security Documents in accordance with the provisions of the documents of title of any Obligor to any of the Charged Property; |
| (k) | is responsible for the failure to take or require any Obligor to take any steps to render any of the Security Documents effective as regards property or assets outside England or Wales or to secure the creation of any ancillary charge under the laws of the jurisdiction concerned; or |
| (l) | is responsible (save as otherwise provided in this clause 34) for taking or omitting to take any other action under or in relation to the Security Documents; |
| (m) | is responsible on account of the failure of any other beneficiary of a Security Document to perform or discharge any of its duties or obligations under the Security Documents; or |
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| (n) | is (unless it is the same entity as the Agent) responsible on account of the failure of the Agent and/or any other beneficiary of a Security Document to perform or discharge any of its duties or obligations under the Security Documents; or |
| (o) | for any determination as to whether any information provided or to be provided to any Finance Party is non-public information the use of which may be regulated or prohibited by any applicable law relating to insider dealing or otherwise. |
| 34.9 | Exclusion of liability |
| (a) | Without limiting clause 34.9(b) the Agent will not be liable for : |
| (i) | any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value, or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of taking or not taking any action taken by it under or in connection with any Finance Document, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct; |
| (ii) | exercising, or not exercising, any right, power, authority or discretion given to it by, or in connection with, any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with, any Finance Document; or |
| (iii) | without prejudice to the generality of paragraphs (i) and (ii) above, any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of: |
| (A) | any act, event or circumstance not reasonably within its control; or |
| (B) | the general risks of investment in, or the holding of assets in, any jurisdiction including (in each case and without limitation) such damages, costs, losses, diminution in value or liability arising as a result of: nationalisation, expropriation or other governmental actions; any regulation, currency, restriction, devaluation or fluctuation; market conditions affecting the execution or settlement of transactions or the value of assets (including any Disruption Event); breakdown, failure or malfunction of any third party transport, telecommunications, computer services or systems; natural disasters or acts of God; war, terrorism, insurrection or revolution; or strikes or industrial action. |
| (b) | No Party (other than the Agent) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of the Agent in respect of any claim it might have against the Agent or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document any officer, employee or agent of the Agent may rely on this clause subject to clause 1.3 and the provisions of the Third Parties Act. |
| (c) | The Agent will not be liable for any delay (or any related consequences) in crediting an account with an amount required under the Finance Documents to be paid by the Agent if the Agent has taken all necessary steps as soon as reasonably practicable to comply with the regulations or operating procedures of any recognised clearing or settlement system used by the Agent for that purpose. |
| (d) | Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Agent or any Arranger to carry out any know your customer or other checks in relation to any person on behalf of any Lender or any Hedging Provider and each Lender and each Hedging Provider confirms to the Agent and the Arrangers that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Agent or any Arranger. |
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| (e) | Without prejudice to any provision of any Finance Document excluding or limiting the Agents liability, any liability of the Agent arising under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security shall be limited to the amount of actual loss which has been finally judicially determined to have been suffered (as determined by reference to the date of default of the Agent or, if later, the date on which the loss arises as a result of such default) but without reference to any special conditions or circumstances known to the Agent at any time which increase the amount of that loss. |
| (f) | In no event shall the Agent be liable for any loss of profits, goodwill, reputation, business opportunity or anticipated saving, or for special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages, whether or not the Agent has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damages |
| 34.10 | Lenders indemnity to the Agent |
Each Lender shall (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately prior to their reduction to zero) indemnify the Agent, within three Business Days of demand, against:
| (a) | any Losses for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever incurred by such Lenders Representative in the circumstances contemplated pursuant to clause 37.11 (Disruption to payment systems etc) notwithstanding the Agents negligence, gross negligence, or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent); and |
| (b) | any other Losses (otherwise than by reason of the Agents gross negligence or wilful misconduct) including the costs of any person engaged in accordance with clause 34.6(c) (Rights and discretions of the Agent) and any Receiver in acting as its agent under the Finance Documents |
in each case incurred by the Agent in acting as such under the Finance Documents (unless the Agent has been reimbursed by an Obligor pursuant to a Finance Document or out of the Trust Property). The Borrower shall immediately on demand reimburse any Lender for any payment that Lender makes to the Agent pursuant to paragraph (a) above.
| 34.11 | Resignation of the Agent |
| (a) | The Agent may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates as successor by giving notice to the Lenders, the Hedging Providers and the Borrower. |
| (b) | Alternatively the Agent may resign by giving notice to the other Finance Parties and the Borrower, in which case the Majority Lenders (after consultation with the Borrower) may appoint a successor Agent. |
| (c) | If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Agent in accordance with clause 34.11(b) above within 30 days after notice of resignation was given, the Agent (after consultation with the Borrower) may appoint a successor Agent. |
| (d) | If the Agent wishes to resign because (acting reasonably) it has concluded that it is no longer appropriate for it to remain as agent and the Agent is entitled to appoint a successor Agent under paragraph (c) above, the Agent may, if it concludes (acting reasonably) that it is necessary to do so in order to persuade the proposed successor Agent to become a party to this Agreement as Agent, agree with the proposed successor Agent (subject to the |
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| Borrowers approval in respect of any matters that would materially change the Borrowers liability under this Agreement) amendments to this clause 34 and any other term of this Agreement dealing with the rights or obligations of the Agent consistent with then current market practice for the appointment and protection of corporate trustees, together with any reasonable amendments to the agency fee payable under this Agreement (subject to the Borrowers approval (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld)) which are consistent with the successor Agents normal fee rates and those amendments will bind the Parties. |
| (e) | The retiring Agent shall, either at the Lenders expense if it has been required to resign pursuant to clause 34.11(h) or otherwise at its own cost, make available to the successor Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent under the Finance Documents. |
| (f) | The Agents resignation notice shall only take effect upon the appointment of a successor. |
| (g) | Upon the appointment of a successor, the retiring Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents but shall remain entitled to the benefit of clause 14.3 (Indemnity to the Agent) and this clause 34 (and any agency fees for the account of the retiring Agent shall cease to accrue from (and shall be payable on) that date). Its successor and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party. |
| (h) | After consultation with the Borrower, the Majority Lenders may, by notice to the Agent, require it to resign in accordance with clause 34.11(a). In this event, the Agent shall resign in accordance with clause 34.11(a). |
| (i) | At any time after the appointment of a successor, the retiring Agent shall execute all acts, deeds and documents reasonably required by its successor to transfer to it (or its nominee, as it may direct) any property, assets and rights previously vested in the retiring Agent pursuant to the Security Documents and which shall not have vested in its successor by operation of law. All such acts, deeds and documents shall be done or, as the case may be, executed at the cost of the retiring Agent (except where the Agent is retiring pursuant to clause 34.11(h) in which case such costs shall be borne by the Lenders (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately prior to their reduction to zero). |
| (j) | The Agent shall resign in accordance with clause 34.11(b) above (and, to the extent applicable, shall use reasonable endeavours to appoint a successor Agent pursuant to paragraph 34.11(c) above) if on or after the date which is three months before the earliest FATCA Application Date relating to any payment to the Agent under the Finance Documents, either: |
| (i) | the Agent fails to respond to a request under clause 12.8 (FATCA Information) and the Borrower or a Lender reasonably believes that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; |
| (ii) | the information supplied by the Agent pursuant to clause 12.8 (FATCA Information) indicates that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; or |
| (iii) | the Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; |
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and (in each case) the Borrower or a Lender reasonably believes that a Party will be required to make a FATCA Deduction that would not be required if the Agent were a FATCA Exempt Party, and the Borrower or that Lender, by notice to the Agent, requires it to resign.
| 34.12 | Confidentiality |
| (a) | In acting as agent for the Finance Parties, the Agent shall be regarded as acting through its department, division or team directly responsible for the management of the Finance Documents which shall be treated as a separate entity from any other of its divisions, departments or teams. |
| (b) | If information is received by another division or department of the Agent, it may be treated as confidential to that division or department and the Agent shall not be deemed to have notice of it. |
| (c) | Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Agent, nor any Arranger is obliged to disclose to any other person (i) any confidential information or (ii) any other information if the disclosure would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or a breach of a fiduciary duty. |
| 34.13 | Relationship with the Lenders and Hedging Provider |
| (a) | The Agent may treat the person shown in its records as Lender or each Hedging Provider at the opening of business (in the place of its principal office as notified to the Finance Parties from time to time) as the Lender or (as the case may be) a Hedging Provider acting through its Facility Office: |
| (i) | entitled to or liable for any payment due under any Finance Document on that day; and |
| (ii) | entitled to receive and act upon any notice, request, document or communication or make any decision or determination under any Finance Document made or delivered on that day, |
unless it has received not less than five Business Days prior notice from that Lender (or as the case may be a Hedging Provider) to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
| (b) | Each Lender and each Hedging Provider shall supply the Agent with any information that the Agent may reasonably specify as being necessary or desirable to enable the Agent to perform its functions as Agent, including, but not limited to, any information which the Agent may require to comply with know your customer checks or similar identification procedures. |
| 34.14 | Credit appraisal by the Lenders and Hedging Providers |
Without affecting the responsibility of any Obligor for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender and each Hedging Provider confirms to each other Finance Party that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with any Finance Document including but not limited to:
| (a) | the financial condition, status and nature of each Obligor and other Group Member; |
| (b) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document or any Charter Document and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or any Charter Document; |
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| (c) | the application of any Basel II Regulation or Basel III Regulation to the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents; |
| (d) | whether any Finance Party has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; |
| (e) | the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information provided by the Agent, any Party or by any other person under or in connection with any Finance Document or, any Charter Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or any Charter Document; and |
| (f) | the right of title of any person to, or the value or sufficiency of, any part of the Charged Property, the priority of the Security Documents or the existence of any Security Interest affecting the Charged Property. |
| 34.15 | Reference Banks |
If a Reference Bank (or, if a Reference Bank is not a Lender, the Lender of which it is an Affiliate) ceases to be a Lender, the Agent shall (in consultation with the Borrower) appoint another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender to replace that Reference Bank.
| 34.16 | Deduction from amounts payable by the Agent |
If any Party owes an amount to the Agent under the Finance Documents the Agent may, after giving notice to that Party, deduct an amount not exceeding that amount from any payment to that Party which the Agent would otherwise be obliged to make under the Finance Documents and apply the amount deducted in or towards satisfaction of the amount owed. For the purposes of the Finance Documents that Party shall be regarded as having received any amount so deducted.
| 34.17 | Security Agent |
| (a) | Each other Finance Party appoints the Security Agent to act as its agent and (to the extent permitted under any applicable law) trustee under and in connection with the Security Documents and confirms that the Security Agent shall have a lien on the Security Documents and the proceeds of the enforcement of those Security Documents for all moneys payable to the beneficiaries of those Security Documents. |
| (b) | Each other Finance Party authorises the Security Agent: |
| (i) | to perform the duties, obligations and responsibilities and to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Security Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions; and |
| (ii) | to execute each of the Security Documents and all other documents that may be approved by the Agent and/or the Majority Lenders for execution by it. |
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| (c) | The Security Agent accepts its appointment under this clause 34.17 (Security Agent) as trustee of the Trust Property with effect from the date of this Agreement and declares that it holds the Trust Property on trust for itself, the other Finance Parties (for so long as they are Finance Parties) on and subject to the terms set out in clauses 34.17 - 34.25 (inclusive) and the Security Documents to which it is a party. |
| 34.18 | Application of certain clauses to Security Agent |
| (a) | Clauses 34.6 (Rights and discretions of the Agent), 34.8 (Responsibility for documentation and other matters), 34.9 (Exclusion of liability), 34.10 (Lenders indemnity to the Agent), 34.11 (Resignation of the Agent), 45 (Confidentiality), 34.13 (Relationship with the Lenders and Hedging Providers), 34.14 (Credit appraisal by the Lenders and Hedging Providers) and 34.16 (Deduction from amounts payable by the Agent) shall each extend so as to apply to the Security Agent in its capacity as such and for that purpose each reference to the Agent in these clauses shall extend to include in addition a reference to the Security Agent in its capacity as such and, in clause 34.6 (Rights and discretions of the Agent), references to the Lenders and a group of Lenders shall refer to the Agent. |
| (b) | In addition, clause 34.11 (Resignation of the Agent) shall, for the purposes of its application to the Security Agent pursuant to clause 34.18(a), have the following additional sub-clause: |
At any time after the appointment of a successor, the retiring Security Agent shall do and execute all acts, deeds and documents reasonably required by its successor to transfer to it (or its nominee, as it may direct) any property, assets and rights previously vested in the retiring Security Agent pursuant to the Security Documents and which shall not have vested in its successor by operation of law. All such acts, deeds and documents shall be done or, as the case may be, executed at the cost of the retiring Security Agent (except where the Security Agent is retiring under clause 34.11 (Resignation of the Agent) as extended to it by clause 34.18(a), in which case such costs shall be borne by the Lenders (in proportion (if no part of the Loan is then outstanding) to their shares of the Total Commitments or (at any other time) to their participations in the Loan).
| 34.19 | Instructions to Security Agent |
| (a) | The Security Agent shall: |
| (i) | unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Security Agent in accordance with any instructions given to it by the Agent; and |
| (ii) | not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from acting) in accordance with paragraph (i) above. |
| (b) | The Security Agent shall be entitled to request instructions, or clarification of any instruction, from the Agent as to whether, and in what manner, it should exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion and the Security Agent may refrain from acting unless and until it receives those instructions or that clarification. |
| (c) | Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given to the Security Agent by the Agent shall override any conflicting instructions given by any other Parties and will be binding on all Finance Parties. |
| (d) | The Security Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with any instructions of the Agent until it has received any indemnification and/or security that it may in its discretion require (which may be greater in extent than that contained in the Finance Documents and which may include payment in advance) for any cost, loss or liability which it may incur in complying with those instructions. |
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| (e) | In the absence of instructions, the Security Agent may act (or refrain from acting) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Lenders. |
| (f) | The Security Agent is not authorised to act on behalf of a Lender or any Hedging Provider (without first obtaining that Lenders or the relevant Hedging Providers consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document. This clause 34.19(f) shall not apply to any legal or arbitration proceeding relating to the perfection, preservation or protection of rights under the Security Documents or enforcement of the Security Documents. |
| 34.20 | Order of application |
| (a) | The Security Agent agrees to apply the Trust Property and each other beneficiary of the Security Documents agrees to apply all moneys received by it in the exercise of its rights under the Security Documents in accordance with the following respective claims: |
| (i) | first, as to a sum equivalent to the amounts payable to the Security Agent under the Finance Documents (excluding any amounts received by the Security Agent pursuant to clause 34.10 (Lenders indemnity to the Agent) as extended to the Security Agent pursuant to clause 34.18 (Application of certain clauses to Security Agent), for the Security Agent absolutely; |
| (ii) | secondly, as to a sum equivalent to the aggregate amount then due and owing to the other Finance Parties (except the Hedging Providers) under the Finance Documents (except any Hedging Contracts), for those Finance Parties (except the Hedging Providers) absolutely, and pro-rata to the amounts owing to them under the Finance Documents (except any Hedging Contracts); |
| (iii) | thirdly, until such time as the Security Agent is satisfied that all obligations owed to the Finance Parties (except the Hedging Providers) have been irrevocably and unconditionally discharged in full, any sum held by the Security Agent on a suspense account for payment of any further amounts owing to the Finance Parties (except the Hedging Providers) under the Finance Documents (except any Hedging Contracts) and further application in accordance with this clause 34.20(a) as and when any such amounts later fall due; |
| (iv) | fourthly, as to a sum equivalent to the aggregate net amount then due to the Hedging Providers but unpaid under any Hedging Contracts, for the Hedging Providers absolutely, and pro rata to the net amounts owing to them under those Hedging Contracts; |
| (v) | fifthly, to such other persons (if any) as are legally entitled thereto in priority to the Obligors; and |
| (vi) | sixthly, as to the balance (if any), for the Obligors by or from whom or from whose assets the relevant amounts were paid, received or recovered or other person entitled to them. |
| (b) | The Security Agent and each other beneficiary of the Security Documents shall make each application as soon as is practicable after the relevant moneys are received by, or otherwise become available to, it save that (without prejudice to any other provision contained in any of the Security Documents) the Security Agent (acting on the instructions of the Agent), any other beneficiary of the Security Documents or any receiver or administrator may credit any moneys received by it to a suspense account for so long and in such manner as the Security Agent, such other beneficiary of the Security Documents or such receiver or administrator may from time to time determine with a view to preserving the rights of the Finance Parties or any of them to prove for the whole of their respective claims against the Borrower or any other person liable. |
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| (c) | The Security Agent and/or any other beneficiary of the Security Documents shall obtain a good discharge in respect of the amounts expressed to be due to the other Finance Parties as referred to in this clause 34.17 by distributing the same in accordance with clause 37 (Payment mechanics). |
| 34.21 | Powers and duties of the Security Agent as trustee of the security |
In its capacity as trustee in relation to the Trust Property, the Agent:
| (a) | shall, without prejudice to any of the powers, discretions and immunities conferred upon trustees by law (and to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement or any of the Security Documents), have all the same powers and discretions as a natural person acting as the beneficial owner of such property and/or as are conferred upon the Security Agent by this Agreement and/or any Security Document but so that the Security Agent may only exercise such powers and discretions to the extent that it is authorised to do so by the provisions of this Agreement; |
| (b) | shall (subject to clause 34.17 (Order of application)) be entitled (in its own name or in the names of nominees) to invest moneys from time to time forming part of the Trust Property or otherwise held by it as a consequence of any enforcement of the security constituted by any Finance Document which, in the reasonable opinion of the Security Agent, it would not be practicable to distribute immediately, by placing the same on deposit in the name or under the control of the Security Agent as the Security Agent may think fit without being under any duty to diversify the same and the Security Agent shall not be responsible for any loss due to interest rate or exchange rate fluctuations except for any loss arising from the Security Agents gross negligence or wilful misconduct; |
| (c) | may, in the conduct of its obligations under and in respect of the Security Documents (otherwise than in relation to its right to make any declaration, determination or decision), instead of acting personally, employ and pay any agent (whether being a lawyer or any other person) to transact or concur in transacting any business and to do or concur in doing any acts required to be done by the Security Agent (including the receipt and payment of money) and on the basis that (i) any such agent engaged in any profession or business shall be entitled to be paid all usual professional and other charges for business transacted and acts done by him or any partner or employee of his or her in connection with such employment and (ii) the Security Agent shall not be bound to supervise, or be responsible for any loss incurred by reason of any act or omission of, any such agent if the Security Agent shall have exercised reasonable care in the selection of such agent; and |
| (d) | may place all deeds and other documents relating to the Trust Property which are from time to time deposited with it pursuant to the Security Documents in any safe deposit, safe or receptacle selected by the Security Agent exercising reasonable care or with any firm of solicitors or company whose business includes undertaking the safe custody of documents selected by the Security Agent exercising reasonable care and may make any such arrangements as it thinks fit for allowing Obligors access to, or its solicitors or auditors possession of, such documents when necessary or convenient and the Security Agent shall not be responsible for any loss incurred in connection with any such deposit, access or possession if it has exercised reasonable care in the selection of a safe deposit, safe, receptacle or firm of solicitors or company (save that it shall take reasonable steps to pursue any person who may be liable to it in connection with such loss). |
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| 34.22 | All enforcement action through the Security Agent |
| (a) | None of the other Finance Parties shall have any independent power to enforce any of those Security Documents which are executed in favour of the Security Agent only or to exercise any rights, discretions or powers or to grant any consents or releases under or pursuant to such Security Documents or otherwise have direct recourse to the security and/or guarantees constituted by such Security Documents except through the Security Agent. |
| (b) | None of the other Finance Parties shall have any independent power to enforce any of those Security Documents which are executed in their favour or to exercise any rights, discretions or powers or to grant any consents or releases under or pursuant to such Security Documents or otherwise have direct recourse to the security and/or guarantees constituted by such Security Documents except through the Security Agent. If any Finance Party (other than the Security Agent) is a party to any Security Document it shall promptly upon being requested by the Agent to do so grant a power of attorney or other sufficient authority to the Security Agent to enable the Security Agent to exercise any rights, discretions or powers or to grant any consents or releases under such Security Document. |
| 34.23 | Co-operation to achieve agreed priorities of application |
The other Finance Parties shall co-operate with each other and with the Security Agent and any receiver or administrator under the Security Documents in realising the property and assets subject to the Security Documents and in ensuring that the net proceeds realised under the Security Documents after deduction of the expenses of realisation are applied in accordance with clause 34.20 (Order of application).
| 34.24 | Indemnity from Trust Property |
| (a) | In respect of all liabilities, costs or expenses for which the Obligors are liable under this Agreement, the Security Agent and each Affiliate of the Security Agent and each officer or employee of the Agent or its Affiliate (each a Relevant Person) shall be entitled to be indemnified out of the Trust Property in respect of all liabilities, damages, costs, claims, charges or expenses whatsoever properly incurred or suffered by such Relevant Person: |
| (i) | in the execution or exercise or bona fide purported execution or exercise of the trusts, rights, powers, authorities, discretions and duties created or conferred by or pursuant to the Finance Documents; |
| (ii) | as a result of any breach by an Obligor of any of its obligations under any Finance Document; |
| (iii) | in respect of any Environmental Claim made or asserted against a Relevant Person which would not have arisen if the Finance Documents had not been executed; and |
| (iv) | in respect of any matter or thing done or omitted in any way in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents relating to the Trust Property or the provisions of any of the Finance Documents. |
| (b) | The rights conferred by this clause 34.24 are without prejudice to any right to indemnity by law given to trustees generally and to any provision of the Finance Documents entitling the Security Agent or any other person to an indemnity in respect of, and/or reimbursement of, any liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or suffered by it in connection with any of the Finance Documents or the performance of any duties under any of the Finance Documents. Nothing contained in this clause 34.24 shall entitle the Security Agent or any other person to be indemnified in respect of any liabilities, damages, costs, claims, charges or expenses to the extent that the same arise from such persons own gross negligence or wilful misconduct. |
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| 34.25 | Finance Parties to provide information |
The other Finance Parties shall provide the Security Agent with such written information as it may reasonably require for the purposes of carrying out its duties and obligations under the Security Documents and, in particular, with such necessary directions in writing so as to enable the Security Agent to make the calculations and applications contemplated by clause 34.17 (Order of application) above and to apply amounts received under, and the proceeds of realisation of, the Security Documents as contemplated by the Security Documents, clause 37.5 (Partial payments) and clause 34.17 (Order of application).
| 34.26 | Release to facilitate enforcement and realisation |
Each Finance Party acknowledges that pursuant to any enforcement action by the Security Agent (or a Receiver) carried out on the instructions of the Agent it may be desirable for the purpose of such enforcement and/or maximising the realisation of the Charged Property being enforced against, that any rights or claims of or by the Security Agent (for the benefit of the Finance Parties) and/or any Finance Parties against any Obligor and/or any Security Interest over any assets of any Obligor (in each case) as contained in or created by any Finance Document, other than such rights or claims or security being enforced, be released in order to facilitate such enforcement action and/or realisation and, notwithstanding any other provision of the Finance Documents, each Finance Party hereby irrevocably authorises the Security Agent (acting on the instructions of the Agent) to grant any such releases to the extent necessary to fully effect such enforcement action and realisation including, without limitation, to the extent necessary for such purposes to execute release documents in the name of and on behalf of the Finance Parties. Where the relevant enforcement is by way of disposal of membership interests in an Owner, the requisite release shall include releases of all claims (including under guarantees) of the Finance Parties and/or the Security Agent against such Owner and of all Security Interests over the assets of such Owner.
| 34.27 | Undertaking to pay |
Each Obligor which is a Party undertakes with the Security Agent on behalf of the Finance Parties that it will, on demand by the Security Agent, pay to the Security Agent all money from time to time owing, and discharge all other obligations from time to time incurred, by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents.
| 34.28 | Additional trustees |
The Security Agent shall have power by notice in writing to the other Finance Parties and the Borrower to appoint any person approved by the Borrower (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) either to act as separate trustee or as co-trustee jointly with the Security Agent:
| (a) | if the Security Agent reasonably considers such appointment to be in the best interests of the Finance Parties; |
| (b) | for the purpose of conforming with any legal requirement, restriction or condition in any jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be performed; or |
| (c) | for the purpose of obtaining a judgment in any jurisdiction or the enforcement in any jurisdiction against any person of a judgment already obtained, |
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and any person so appointed shall (subject to the provisions of this Agreement) have such rights (including as to reasonable remuneration), powers, duties and obligations as shall be conferred or imposed by the instrument of appointment. The Security Agent shall have power to remove any person so appointed. At the request of the Security Agent, the other parties to this Agreement shall forthwith execute all such documents and do all such things as may be required to perfect such appointment or removal and each such party irrevocably authorises the Security Agent in its name and on its behalf to do the same. Such a person shall accede to this Agreement as a Security Agent to the extent necessary to carry out their role on terms satisfactory to the Security Agent and (subject always to the provisions of this Agreement) have such trusts, powers, authorities, liabilities and discretions (not exceeding those conferred on the Security Agent by this Agreement and the other Finance Documents) and such duties and obligations as shall be conferred or imposed by the instrument of appointment (being no less onerous than would have applied to the Security Agent but for the appointment). The Security Agent shall not be bound to supervise, or be responsible for any loss incurred by reason of any act or omission of, any such person if the Security Agent shall have exercised reasonable care in the selection of such person.
| 34.29 | Non-recognition of trust |
It is agreed by all the parties to this Agreement that:
| (a) | in relation to any jurisdiction the courts of which would not recognise or give effect to the trusts expressed to be constituted by this clause 34, the relationship of the Security Agent and the other Finance Parties shall be construed as one of principal and agent, but to the extent permissible under the laws of such jurisdiction, all the other provisions of this Agreement shall have full force and effect between the parties to this Agreement; and |
| (b) | the provisions of this clause 34 insofar as they relate to the Security Agent in its capacity as trustee for the Finance Parties and the relationship between themselves and the Security Agent as their trustee may be amended by agreement between the other Finance Parties and the Security Agent. The Security Agent may amend all documents necessary to effect the alteration of the relationship between the Security Agent and the other Finance Parties and each such other party irrevocably authorises the Security Agent in its name and on its behalf to execute all documents necessary to effect such amendments. |
| 35 | Conduct of business by the Finance Parties |
| 35.1 | Finance Parties tax affairs |
No provision of this Agreement will:
| (a) | interfere with the right of any Finance Party to arrange its affairs (tax or otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit; |
| (b) | oblige any Finance Party to investigate or claim any credit, relief, remission or repayment available to it or the extent, order and manner of any claim; or |
| (c) | oblige any Finance Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs (tax or otherwise) or any computations in respect of Tax. |
| 35.2 | Finance Parties acting together |
Notwithstanding clause 2.3 (Finance Parties rights and obligations), if the Agent makes a declaration under clause 30.22 (Acceleration) the Agent shall, in the names of all the Finance Parties, take such action on behalf of the Finance Parties and conduct such negotiations with the Borrower and any Group Members and generally administer the Facility in accordance with the wishes of the Majority Lenders. All the Finance Parties shall be bound by the provisions of this clause and no Finance Party shall be entitled to take action independently against any Obligor or any of its assets without the prior consent of the Majority Lenders.
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This clause shall not override clause 34 (Roles of Agent, Security Agent and Arrangers) as it applies to the Security Agent.
| 35.3 | Majority Lenders |
| (a) | Where any Finance Document provides for any matter to be determined by reference to the opinion of, or to be subject to the consent, approval or request of, the Majority Lenders or for any action to be taken on the instructions of the Majority Lenders (a majority decision), such majority decision shall (as between the Lenders) only be regarded as having been validly given or issued by the Majority Lenders if all the Lenders shall have received prior notice of the matter on which such majority decision is required and the relevant majority of Lenders shall have given or issued such majority decision. However (as between any Obligor and the Finance Parties) the relevant Obligor shall be entitled (and bound) to assume that such notice shall have been duly received by each Lender and that the relevant majority shall have been obtained to constitute Majority Lenders when notified to this effect by the Agent whether or not this is the case. |
| (b) | If, within ten Business Days of the Agent despatching to each Lender a notice requesting instructions (or confirmation of instructions) from the Lenders or the agreement of the Lenders to any amendment, modification, waiver, variation or excuse of performance for the purposes of, or in relation to, any of the Finance Documents, the Agent has not received a reply specifically giving or confirming or refusing to give or confirm the relevant instructions or, as the case may be, approving or refusing to approve the proposed amendment, modification, waiver, variation or excuse of performance, then (irrespective of whether such Lender responds at a later date) the Agent shall treat any Lender which has not so responded as having indicated a desire to be bound by the wishes of 60 per cent. of those Lenders (measured in terms of the total Commitments of those Lenders) which have so responded. |
| (c) | For the purposes of clause 35.3(b), any Lender which notifies the Agent of a wish or intention to abstain on any particular issue shall be treated as if it had not responded. |
| (d) | Clauses 35.3(b) and 35.3(c) shall not apply in relation to those matters referred to in, or the subject of, clause 43.2 (Exceptions). |
| 35.4 | Conflicts |
| (a) | The Borrower acknowledges that any Arranger and its parent undertaking, subsidiary undertakings and fellow subsidiary undertakings (together an Arranger Group) may be providing debt finance, equity capital or other services (including financial advisory services) to other persons with which the Borrower may have conflicting interests in respect of the Facility or otherwise. |
| (b) | No member of an Arranger Group shall use confidential information gained from any Obligor by virtue of the Facility or its relationships with any Obligor in connection with their performance of services for other persons. This shall not, however, affect any obligations that any member of an Arranger Group has as Agent in respect of the Finance Documents. The Borrower also acknowledges that no member of an Arranger Group has any obligation to use or furnish to any Obligor information obtained from other persons for their benefit. |
| (c) | The terms parent undertaking, subsidiary undertaking and fellow subsidiary undertaking when used in this clause have the meaning given to them in sections 1161 and 1162 of the Companies Act 2006. |
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| 36 | Sharing among the Finance Parties |
| 36.1 | Payments to Finance Parties |
If a Finance Party (a Recovering Finance Party) receives or recovers any amount from an Obligor other than in accordance with clause 37 (Payment mechanics) (a Recovered Amount) and applies that amount to a payment due under the Finance Documents then:
| (a) | the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days, notify details of the receipt or recovery, to the Agent; |
| (b) | the Agent shall determine whether the receipt or recovery is in excess of the amount the Recovering Finance Party would have been paid had the receipt or recovery been received or made by the Agent and distributed in accordance with clause 37 (Payment mechanics), without taking account of any Tax which would be imposed on the Agent in relation to the receipt, recovery or distribution; and |
| (c) | the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days of demand by the Agent, pay to the Agent an amount (the Sharing Payment) equal to such receipt or recovery less any amount which the Agent determines may be retained by the Recovering Finance Party as its share of any payment to be made, in accordance with clause 37.5 (Partial payments). |
| 36.2 | Redistribution of payments |
The Agent shall treat the Sharing Payment as if it had been paid by the relevant Obligor and distribute it between the Finance Parties (other than the Recovering Finance Party) (the Sharing Finance Parties) in accordance with clause 37.5 (Partial payments) towards the obligations of that Obligor to the Sharing Finance Parties.
| 36.3 | Recovering Finance Partys rights |
On a distribution by the Agent under clause 36.2 (Redistribution of payments) of a payment received by a Recovering Finance Party from an Obligor, as between the relevant Obligor and the Recovering Finance Party, an amount of the Recovered Amount equal to the Sharing Payment will be treated as not having been paid by that Obligor.
| 36.4 | Reversal of redistribution |
If any part of the Sharing Payment received or recovered by a Recovering Finance Party becomes repayable and is repaid by that Recovering Finance Party, then:
| (a) | each Sharing Finance Party shall, upon request of the Agent, pay to the Agent for the account of that Recovering Finance Party an amount equal to the appropriate part of its share of the Sharing Payment (together with an amount as is necessary to reimburse that Recovering Finance Party for its proportion of any interest on the Sharing Payment which that Recovering Finance Party is required to pay) (the Redistributed Amount); and |
| (b) | as between the relevant Obligor and each relevant Sharing Finance Party, an amount equal to the relevant Redistributed Amount will be treated as not having been paid by that Obligor. |
| 36.5 | Exceptions |
| (a) | This clause 36 shall not apply to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party would not, after making any payment pursuant to this clause, have a valid and enforceable claim against the relevant Obligor. |
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| (b) | A Recovering Finance Party is not obliged to share with any other Finance Party any amount which the Recovering Finance Party has received or recovered as a result of taking legal or arbitration proceedings in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, if: |
| (i) | it notified that other Finance Party of the legal or arbitration proceedings; and |
| (ii) | that other Finance Party had an opportunity to participate in those legal or arbitration proceedings but did not do so as soon as reasonably practicable having received notice and did not take separate legal or arbitration proceedings. |
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SECTION 11 - ADMINISTRATION
| 37 | Payment mechanics |
| 37.1 | Payments to the Agent |
| (a) | On each date on which an Obligor or a Lender is required to make a payment under a Finance Document (other than a Hedging Contract), that Obligor or Lender shall make the same available to the Agent (unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document) for value on the due date at the time and in such funds specified by the Agent as being customary at the time for settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place of payment. |
| (b) | Payment shall be made to such account in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency with such bank as the Agent specifies. |
| 37.2 | Distributions by the Agent |
Each payment received by the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party shall, subject to clause 37.3 (Distributions to an Obligor) and clause 37.4 (Clawback) be made available by the Agent as soon as practicable after receipt to the Party entitled to receive payment in accordance with this Agreement (in the case of a Lender, for the account of its Facility Office), to such account as that Party may notify to the Agent by not less than five Business Days notice with a bank specified by that Party in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency.
| 37.3 | Distributions to an Obligor |
The Agent may (with the consent of the Obligor or in accordance with clause 38 (Set-off)) apply any amount received by it for that Obligor in or towards payment (on the date and in the currency and funds of receipt) of any amount due from that Obligor under the Finance Documents or in or towards purchase of any amount of any currency to be so applied.
| 37.4 | Clawback |
| (a) | Where a sum is to be paid to the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party, the Agent is not obliged to pay that sum to that other Party (or to enter into or perform any related exchange contract) until it has been able to establish to its satisfaction that it has actually received that sum. |
| (b) | If the Agent pays an amount to another Party and it proves to be the case that the Agent had not actually received that amount, then the Party to whom that amount (or the proceeds of any related exchange contract) was paid by the Agent shall on demand refund the same to the Agent together with interest on that amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt by the Agent, calculated by the Agent to reflect its cost of funds. |
| 37.5 | Partial payments |
| (a) | If the Agent receives a payment for application against amounts due under the Finance Documents that is insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due and payable by an Obligor under those Finance Documents, the Agent shall apply that payment towards the obligations of that Obligor under those Finance Documents in the following order: |
| (i) | first, in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses (ignoring any fees payable under clause 11 (Fees)) of the Agent, the Security Agent or the Arrangers under those Finance Documents; |
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| (ii) | secondly, pro rata in or towards payment to the Lenders pro rata of any amount owing to the Lenders under clause 34.10 (Lenders indemnity to the Agent) (including but not limited to any amount resulting from the indemnity to the Security Agent under clause 34.18 (Application of certain clauses to the Security Agent); |
| (iii) | thirdly, pro-rata in or towards payment to the Lenders pro rata of any accrued interest, fee or commission or other amounts due to them but unpaid under the Finance Documents; |
| (iv) | fourthly, in or towards payment to the Lenders pro rata of any principal which is due but unpaid under the Finance Documents; |
| (v) | fifthly, in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under the Finance Documents (except any Hedging Contracts); and |
| (vi) | sixthly, pro-rata in or towards payment to the Hedging Providers of any net amounts due to them but unpaid under any Hedging Contracts; |
| (b) | The Agent shall, if so directed by all the Lenders and the Hedging Providers, vary the order set out in paragraphs (ii) to (v) of clause 37.5(a). |
| (c) | Clauses 37.5(a) and 37.5(b) above will override any appropriation made by an Obligor. |
| 37.6 | No set-off by Obligors |
All payments to be made by an Obligor under the Finance Documents shall be calculated and be made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or counterclaim.
| 37.7 | Business Days |
| (a) | Any payment which is due to be made on a day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not). |
| (b) | During any extension of the due date for payment of any principal or Unpaid Sum under this Agreement interest is payable on the principal or Unpaid Sum at the rate payable on the original due date. |
| 37.8 | Payments on demand |
For the purposes of clause 30.1 and subject to the Agents right to demand interest under clause 8.6 (Default interest), payments on demand shall be treated as paid when due if paid within three Business Days of demand.
| 37.9 | Currency of account |
| (a) | Subject to clauses 37.9(b) to 37.9(c), dollars is the currency of account and payment for any sum due from an Obligor under any Finance Document. |
| (b) | A repayment of all or part of a Loan or an Unpaid Sum and each payment of interest shall be made in dollars on its due date. |
| (c) | Each payment in respect of the amount of any costs, expenses or Taxes or other losses shall be made in dollars and, if they were incurred in a currency other than dollars, the amount payable under the Finance Documents shall be the equivalent in dollars of the relevant amount in such other currency on the date on which it was incurred. |
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| (d) | All moneys received or held by the Security Agent or by a Receiver under a Security Document in a currency other than dollars may be sold for dollars and the Obligor which executed that Security Document shall indemnify the Security Agent against the full cost in relation to the sale. Neither the Security Agent nor such Receiver will have any liability to that Obligor in respect of any loss resulting from any fluctuation in exchange rates after the sale. |
| 37.10 | Change of currency |
| (a) | Unless otherwise prohibited by law, if more than one currency or currency unit are at the same time recognised by the central bank of any country as the lawful currency of that country, then: |
| (i) | any reference in the Finance Documents to, and any obligations arising under the Finance Documents in, the currency of that country shall be translated into, or paid in, the currency or currency unit of that country designated by the Agent (after consultation with the Borrower); and |
| (ii) | any translation from one currency or currency unit to another shall be at the official rate of exchange recognised by the central bank for the conversion of that currency or currency unit into the other, rounded up or down by the Agent (acting reasonably). |
| (b) | If a change in any currency of a country occurs, this Agreement will, to the extent the Agent (acting reasonably and after consultation with the Borrower) specifies to be necessary, be amended to comply with any generally accepted conventions and market practice in the London interbank market and otherwise to reflect the change in currency. |
| 37.11 | Disruption to Payment Systems etc. |
If either the Agent determines (in its discretion) that a Payment Disruption Event has occurred or the Agent is notified by the Borrower that a Payment Disruption Event has occurred:
| (a) | the Agent may, and shall if requested to do so by the Borrower, consult with the Borrower with a view to agreeing with the Borrower such changes to the operation or administration of the Facility as the Agent may deem necessary in the circumstances; |
| (b) | the Agent shall not be obliged to consult with the Borrower in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (a) above if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances and, in any event, shall have no obligation to agree to such changes; |
| (c) | the Agent may consult with the Finance Parties in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (a) above but shall not be obliged to do so if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances; |
| (d) | any such changes agreed upon by the Agent and the Borrower shall (whether or not it is finally determined that a Payment Disruption Event has occurred) be binding upon the Parties as an amendment to (or, as the case may be, waiver of) the terms of the Finance Documents notwithstanding the provisions of clause 43 (Amendments and grant of waivers); |
| (e) | the Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever (including, without limitation for negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent) arising as a result of its taking, or failing to take, any actions pursuant to or in connection with this clause 37.11; and |
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| (f) | the Agent shall notify the Finance Parties of all changes agreed pursuant to paragraph (d) above. |
| 38 | Set-off |
A Finance Party may set off any matured obligation due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (to the extent beneficially owned by that Finance Party) against any matured obligation owed by that Finance Party to that Obligor, regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation. If the obligations are in different currencies, the Finance Party may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in its usual course of business for the purpose of the set-off.
| 39 | Notices |
| 39.1 | 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.
| 39.2 | Addresses |
The address, and fax number (and the department or officer, if any, for whose attention the communication is to be made) of each Obligor or Finance Party for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents is:
| (a) | in the case of any Obligor which is a Party, that identified with its name in Part 1 of Schedule 1 (The original parties); |
| (b) | in the case of any Obligor which is not a Party, that identified in any Finance Document to which it is a party; |
| (c) | in the case of the Agent, the Security Agent and any other original Finance Party that identified with its name in Part 1 of Schedule 1 (The original parties); |
| (d) | in the case of the Hedging Providers as at the Amendment Effective Date, that identified with its name in Part 1 of Schedule 1 (The original parties); and |
| (e) | in the case of each Lender or other Finance Party, that notified in writing to the Agent on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Party in the relevant capacity, |
or, in each case, any substitute address, fax number, or department or officer as an Obligor or Finance Party may notify to the Agent (or the Agent may notify to the other Parties, if a change is made by the Agent) by not less than five Business Days notice.
| 39.3 | 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 |
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| (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; |
and, if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address details provided under clause 39.2 (Addresses), if addressed to that department or officer.
| (b) | Any communication or document to be made or delivered to the Agent or the Security Agent will be effective only when actually received by the Agent or the Security Agent and then only if it is expressly marked for the attention of the department or officer identified in Part 1 of Schedule 1 (The original parties) (or any substitute department or officer as the Agent or the Security Agent shall specify for this purpose). |
| (c) | All notices from or to an Obligor 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 of the Obligors. |
| 39.4 | Notification of address and fax number |
Promptly upon receipt of notification of an address and fax number or change of address or fax number pursuant to clause 39.2 (Addresses) or changing its own address or fax number, the Agent shall notify the other Parties.
| 39.5 | Electronic communication |
| (a) | Any communication or document to be made or delivered by one Party to another under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made or delivered by electronic mail or other electronic means (including, without limitation, by way of posting to a secure website) if those two Parties: |
| (i) | notify each other in writing of their electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the transmission of information by that means; and |
| (ii) | notify each other of any change to their address or any other such information supplied by them by not less than five Business Days notice. |
| (b) | Any such electronic communication or document as specified in paragraph (a) above to be made between an Obligor and a Finance Party may only be made in that way to the extent that those two Parties agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication or delivery. |
| (c) | Any such electronic communication or document as specified in paragraph (a) above made or delivered by one Party to another will be effective only when actually received (or made available) in readable form and, in the case of any electronic communication or document made or delivered by a Party to the Agent or the Security Agent, only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Agent or the Security Agent shall specify for this purpose. |
| (d) | Any electronic communication or document which becomes effective, in accordance with paragraph (c) above, after 5:00 p. m. in the place in which the Party to whom the relevant communication or document is sent or made available has its address for the purpose of this Agreement or any other Finance Document shall be deemed only to become effective on the following day. |
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| (e) | Any reference in a Finance Document to a communication being sent or received or a document being delivered shall be construed to include that communication or document being made available in accordance with this clause 39.5. |
| 39.6 | English language |
| (a) | Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document shall be in English. |
| (b) | All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document shall 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. |
| 40 | Calculations and certificates |
| 40.1 | Accounts |
In any litigation or arbitration proceedings arising out of or in connection with a Finance Document, the entries made in the accounts maintained by a Finance Party are prima facie evidence of the matters to which they relate.
| 40.2 | Certificates and determinations |
Any certification or determination by the Agent of a rate or amount under any Finance Document is, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive evidence of the matters to which it relates.
| 40.3 | Day count convention |
| (a) | Any interest, commission or fee accruing under a Finance Document will accrue from day to day and the amount of any such interest, commission or fee is calculated: |
| (i) | on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360 days or, in any case where the practice in the Interbank Market or as the case may be, the Relevant Market differs, in accordance with that market practice; and |
| (ii) | subject to paragraph (b) below, without rounding. |
| (b) | The aggregate amount of any accrued interest, commission or fee which is, or becomes, payable by an Obligor under a Finance Document shall be rounded to 2 decimal places. |
| 41 | Partial invalidity |
If, at any time, any provision of the Finance Documents is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions nor the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction will in any way be affected or impaired.
| 42 | Remedies and waivers |
No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Finance Party, any right or remedy under a Finance Document shall operate as a waiver of any such right or remedy or constitute an election to affirm any of the Finance Documents. No election to affirm any of the Finance Documents on the part of any Finance Party shall be effective unless it is in writing. No single or partial exercise of any right or remedy shall prevent any further or other exercise or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided in the Finance Documents are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
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| 43 | Amendments and grant of waivers |
| 43.1 | Required consents |
| (a) | Subject to clause 43.2 (Exceptions) and clause 43.4 (Changes to Reference Rates), any term of the Finance Documents may be amended or waived with the written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and, if it affects the rights and obligations of the Agent or the Security Agent, the consent of the Agent or the Security Agent) and any such amendment or waiver agreed or given by the Agent will be binding on the other Finance Parties. |
| (b) | The Agent may (or in the case of the Security Documents, instruct the Security Agent to) effect, on behalf of any Finance Party, any amendment or waiver permitted by this clause. |
| 43.2 | Exceptions |
| (a) | An amendment, waiver or discharge or release that has the effect of changing or which relates to: |
| (i) | the definition of Majority Lenders in clause 1 (Definitions); |
| (ii) | the definition of Availability Period in clause 1 (Definitions); |
| (iii) | the definition of Flag State in clause 1 (Definitions); |
| (iv) | the definition of Restricted Party, Sanctions Authority, Sanctions Laws, or Sanctions List in clause 1 (Definitions); |
| (v) | an extension to the date of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents; |
| (vi) | a reduction in the Margin or a reduction in the amount of any payment of principal, interest, fees or commission payable or the rate at which they are calculated; |
| (vii) | an increase in, or an extension of, any Commitment; |
| (viii) | a change to the Borrower or any other Obligor; |
| (ix) | any provision which expressly requires the consent or approval of all the Lenders; |
| (x) | clause 2.3 (Finance Parties rights and obligations), clause 18.34 (Sanctions), clause 19.7 (Sanctions information), clause 21.13 (Sanctions), clause 23.6(c) (Maintenance of class; compliance with laws and codes), clause 32 (Changes to the Lenders), clause 36.1 (Payments to Finance Parties) or this clause 43; |
| (xi) | the approval of the Facility Extension pursuant to clause 6.2 (Extension of Facility); |
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| (xii) | the order of distribution under clause 37.5 (Partial payments); |
| (xiii) | the order of distribution under clause 34.17 (Order of application); |
| (xiv) | this clause 43.2(a); |
| (xv) | the currency in which any amount is payable under any Finance Document; |
| (xvi) | the nature or scope of the Charged Property or the manner in which the proceeds of enforcement of the Security Documents are distributed; |
| (xvii) | the nature or scope of the guarantee and indemnity granted under clause 17 (Guarantee and Indemnity); or |
| (xviii) | the circumstances in which the security constituted by the Security Documents are permitted or required to be released under any of the Finance Documents, |
shall not be made without the prior consent of all the Lenders.
| (b) | Amendments to or waivers in respect of the Hedging Contracts may only be agreed by the relevant Hedging Provider. |
| (c) | An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Agent, the Security Agent or the Arrangers in their respective capacities as such (and not just as a Lender) may not be effected without the consent of the Agent, the Security Agent or the Arrangers (as the case may be). |
| (d) | Notwithstanding clauses 43.1 and 43.2(a) to 43.2(c) (inclusive), the Agent may make technical amendments to the Finance Documents arising out of manifest errors on the face of the Finance Documents, where such amendments would not prejudice or otherwise be adverse to the interests of any Finance Party without any reference or consent of the Finance Parties. |
| 43.3 | Releases |
Except with the approval of all of the Lenders or as is expressly permitted or required by the Finance Documents, the Agent shall not have authority to authorise the Security Agent to release:
| (a) | any Charged Property from the security constituted by any Security Document; or |
| (b) | any Obligor from any of its guarantee or other obligations under any Finance Document. |
| 43.4 | Changes to Reference Rates |
| (a) | Subject to clauses 43.2(b) and 43.2 (c) (Exceptions), if a Published Rate Replacement Event has occurred in relation to any Published Rate for dollars, any amendment or waiver which relates to: |
| (i) | providing for the use of a Replacement Reference Rate; and |
| (ii) |
| (A) | aligning any provision of any Finance Document to the use of that Replacement Reference Rate; |
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| (B) | enabling that Replacement Reference Rate to be used for the calculation of interest under this Agreement (including, without limitation, any consequential changes required to enable that Replacement Reference Rate to be used for the purposes of this Agreement); |
| (C) | implementing market conventions applicable to that Replacement Reference Rate; |
| (D) | providing for appropriate fallback (and market disruption) provisions for that Replacement Reference Rate; or |
| (E) | adjusting the pricing to reduce or eliminate, to the extent reasonably practicable, any transfer of economic value from one Party to another as a result of the application of that Replacement Reference Rate (and if any adjustment or method for calculating any adjustment has been formally designated, nominated or recommended by the Relevant Nominating Body, the adjustment shall be determined on the basis of that designation, nomination or recommendation), |
may be made with the consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and the Borrower.
| (b) | If any Lender fails to respond to a request for an amendment or waiver described in, or for any other vote of Lenders in relation to, paragraph (a) above within ten Business Days (or such longer time period in relation to any request which the Borrower and the Agent may agree) of that request being made: |
| (i) | its Commitment or its participation in the Loan (as the case may be) shall not be included for the purpose of calculating the Total Commitments or the amount of the Loan (as applicable) when ascertaining whether any relevant percentage of Total Commitments or the aggregate of participations in the Loan (as applicable) has been obtained to approve that request; and |
| (ii) | its status as a Lender shall be disregarded for the purpose of ascertaining whether the agreement of any specified group of Lenders has been obtained to approve that request. |
| (c) | In this clause 43.4: |
Published Rate means:
| (a) | the Screen Rate for any Quoted Tenor; or |
| (b) | an RFR. |
Published Rate Replacement Event means, in relation to a Published Rate:
| (a) | the methodology, formula or other means of determining that Published Rate has, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders and the Borrower, materially changed; |
| (b) |
| (i) |
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| (A) | the administrator of that Published Rate or its supervisor publicly announces that such administrator is insolvent; or |
| (B) | information is published in any order, decree, notice, petition or filing, however described, of or filed with a court, tribunal, exchange, regulatory authority or similar administrative, regulatory or judicial body which reasonably confirms that the administrator of that Published Rate is insolvent, |
provided that, in each case, at that time, there is no successor administrator to continue to provide that Published Rate;
| (C) | the administrator of that Published Rate publicly announces that it has ceased or will cease, to provide that Published Rate permanently or indefinitely and, at that time, there is no successor administrator to continue to provide that Published Rate; |
| (D) | the supervisor of the administrator of that Published Rate publicly announces that such Published Rate has been or will be permanently or indefinitely discontinued; or |
| (E) | the administrator of that Published Rate or its supervisor announces that that Published Rate may no longer be used; |
| (c) | the administrator of that Published Rate (or the administrator of an interest rate which is a constituent element of that Published Rate) determines that that Published Rate should be calculated in accordance with its reduced submissions or other contingency or fallback policies or arrangements and either: |
| (i) | the circumstance(s) or event(s) leading to such determination are not (in the opinion of the Majority Lenders and the Borrower) temporary; or |
| (ii) | that Published Rate is calculated in accordance with any such policy or arrangement for a period no less than the period specified as the Published Rate Contingency Period in the Compounded Rate Terms relating to that Published Rate; or |
| (d) | in the opinion of the Majority Lenders and the Borrower, that Published Rate is otherwise no longer appropriate for the purposes of calculating interest under this Agreement. |
Relevant Nominating Body means any applicable central bank, regulator or other supervisory authority or a group of them, or any working group or committee sponsored or chaired by, or constituted at the request of, any of them or the Financial Stability Board.
Replacement Reference Rate means a reference rate which is:
| (a) | formally designated, nominated or recommended as the replacement for a Published Rate by: |
| (i) | the administrator of that Published Rate; or |
| (ii) | any Relevant Nominating Body, |
and if replacements have, at the relevant time, been formally designated, nominated or recommended under both paragraphs, the Replacement Reference Rate will be the replacement under paragraph (ii) above;
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| (b) | in the opinion of the Majority Lenders and the Borrower, generally accepted in the international or any relevant domestic syndicated loan markets as the appropriate successor to a Published Rate; or |
| (c) | in the opinion of the Majority Lenders and the Borrower, an appropriate successor to a Published Rate. |
| 43.5 | Releases |
Except with the approval of all of the Lenders or as is expressly permitted or required by the Finance Documents, the Agent shall not have authority to authorise the Security Agent to release:
| (a) | any Charged Property from the security constituted by any Security Document; or |
| (b) | any Obligor from any of its guarantee or other obligations under any Finance Document. |
| 43.6 | Disenfranchisement of Defaulting Lenders |
| (a) | For so long as a Defaulting Lender has any undrawn Commitments, in ascertaining the Majority Lenders or whether any given percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of the Total Commitments has been obtained to approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote under the Finance Documents, that Defaulting Lenders Commitments will be reduced by the amount of its undrawn Commitments. |
| (b) | For the purposes of this clause 43.6, the Agent may assume that the following Lenders are Defaulting Lenders: |
| (c) | any Lender which has notified the Agent that it has become a Defaulting Lender; and |
| (d) | any Lender in relation to which it is aware that any of the events or circumstances referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of the definition of Defaulting Lender has occurred, |
unless it has received notice to the contrary from the Lender concerned (together with any supporting evidence reasonably requested by the Agent) or the Agent is otherwise aware that the Lender has ceased to be a Defaulting Lender.
| 43.7 | Replacement of a Defaulting Lender |
| (a) | The Borrower may, at any time a Lender has become and continues to be a Defaulting Lender, by giving 20 Business Days prior written notice to the Agent and such Lender replace such Lender by requiring such Lender to (and to the extent permitted by law such Lender shall) assign pursuant to clause 32 (Changes to the Lenders) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a Lender or other bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity (a Replacement Lender) selected by the Borrower, and which is acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably) and which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations or all the relevant obligations of the transferring Lender (including the assumption of the transferring Lenders participations or unfunded participations (as the case may be) on the same basis as the transferring Lender) for a purchase price in cash payable at the time of transfer equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lenders participation in the outstanding Loans and all accrued interest, Break Costs and other amounts payable in relation thereto under the Finance Documents. |
| (b) | Any assignment by a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause shall be subject to the following conditions: |
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| (i) | the Borrower shall have no right to replace the Agent; |
| (ii) | neither the Agent nor the Defaulting Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrower to find a Replacement Lender; |
| (iii) | the transfer must take place no later than 14 days after the notice referred to in clause 43.7(a) above; and |
| (iv) | in no event shall the Defaulting Lender be required to pay or surrender to the Replacement Lender any of the fees received by the Defaulting Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents. |
| 44 | Counterparts |
Each Finance Document 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 the Finance Document.
| 45 | Confidentiality |
| 45.1 | Confidential Information |
Each Finance Party agrees to keep all Confidential Information confidential and not to disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by clause 45.2 (Disclosure of Confidential Information), and to ensure that all Confidential Information is protected with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to its own confidential information.
| 45.2 | Disclosure of Confidential Information |
Any Finance Party may disclose:
| (a) | to any of its Affiliates and any of its or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, insurance and reinsurance advisors, insurance and reinsurance brokers, insurers and reinsurers, auditors, partners and Representatives such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if any person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given pursuant to this clause 45.2(a) is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no such requirement to so inform if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the information or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information; |
| (b) | to any person: |
| (i) | to (or through) whom it assigns or transfers (or may potentially assign or transfer) all or any of its rights and/or obligations under one or more Finance Documents or which succeeds (or which may potentially succeed) it as Agent or Security Agent, and, in each case, to any of that persons Affiliates, Representatives and professional advisers; |
| (ii) | with (or through) whom it enters into (or may potentially enter into), whether directly or indirectly, any sub-participation or risk mitigation in relation to, or any other transaction under which payments are to be made or may be made by reference to, one or more Finance Documents and/or one or more Obligors and to any of that persons Affiliates, Representatives and professional advisers; |
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| (iii) | appointed by any Finance Party or by a person to whom clause 45.2(b)(i) or 45.2(b)(ii) applies to receive communications, notices, information or documents delivered pursuant to the Finance Documents on its behalf (including, without limitation, any person appointed under clause 34.13 (Relationship with the Lenders and Hedging Providers)); |
| (iv) | who invests in or otherwise finances (or may potentially invest in or otherwise finance), directly or indirectly, any transaction referred to in clause 45.2(b)(i) or 45.2(b)(ii); |
| (v) | to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation; |
| (vi) | to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes; |
| (vii) | to whom or for whose benefit that Finance Party charges, assigns or otherwise creates security (or may do so) pursuant to clause 32.8 (Security over Lenders rights); |
| (viii) | who is a Party; or |
| (ix) | with the consent of the Borrower, |
in each case, such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate; and
| (c) | to any person appointed by that Finance Party or by a person to whom clauses 45.2(b)(i) or 45.2(b)(ii) applies to provide administration or settlement services in respect of one or more of the Finance Documents including without limitation, in relation to the trading of participations in respect of the Finance Documents, such Confidential Information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such service provider to provide any of the services referred to in this clause 45.2(c) if the service provider to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of the LMA Master Confidentiality Undertaking for Use With Administration/Settlement Service Providers or such other form of confidentiality undertaking agreed between the Borrower and the relevant Finance Party; |
| 45.3 | Entire agreement |
This clause 45 (Confidentiality) constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties in relation to the obligations of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents regarding Confidential Information and supersedes any previous agreement, whether express or implied, regarding Confidential Information.
| 45.4 | Inside information |
Each of the Finance Parties acknowledges that some or all of the Confidential Information is or may be price-sensitive information and that the use of such information may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse and each of the Finance Parties undertakes not to use any Confidential Information for any unlawful purpose.
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| 45.5 | Notification of disclosure |
Each of the Finance Parties agrees (to the extent permitted by applicable law) to inform the Borrower:
| (a) | of the circumstances of any disclosure of Confidential Information made pursuant to clause 45.2(v) (Disclosure of Confidential Information) except where such disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in that clause during the ordinary course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and |
| (b) | upon becoming aware that Confidential Information has been disclosed in breach of this clause 45 (Confidentiality). |
| 45.6 | Continuing obligations |
The obligations in this clause 45 (Confidentiality) are continuing and, in particular, shall survive and remain binding on each Finance Party for a period of twelve months from the earlier of:
| (a) | the date on which all amounts payable by the Obligors under or in connection with this Agreement have been paid in full and all Commitments have been cancelled or otherwise cease to be available; and |
| (b) | the date on which such Finance Party otherwise ceases to be a Finance Party. |
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SECTION 12 - GOVERNING LAW AND ENFORCEMENT
| 46 | Governing law |
This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations connected with it are governed by English law.
| 47 | Enforcement |
| 47.1 | Jurisdiction of English courts |
| (a) | The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any non-contractual obligations connected with it (including a dispute regarding the existence, validity or termination of this Agreement) (a Dispute). |
| (b) | The Parties agree that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle Disputes and accordingly no Party will argue to the contrary. |
| (c) | This clause 47.1 is for the benefit of the Finance Parties only. As a result, no Finance Party shall be prevented from taking proceedings relating to a Dispute in any other courts with jurisdiction. To the extent allowed by law, the Finance Parties may take concurrent proceedings in any number of jurisdictions. |
| 47.2 | Service of process |
Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, each Obligor which is a Party:
| (a) | irrevocably appoints the person named in Part 1 of Schedule 1 (The original parties) as that Obligors English process agent as its agent for service of process in relation to any proceedings before the English courts in connection with any Finance Document; |
| (b) | agrees that failure by a process agent to notify the relevant Obligor of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned; and |
| (c) | if any person appointed as process agent for an Obligor is unable for any reason to act as agent for service of process, that Obligor must immediately (and in any event within ten days of such event taking place) appoint another agent on terms acceptable to the Agent. Failing this, the Agent may appoint another agent for this purpose. |
This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
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Schedule 1
The parties
Part 1 The original parties
Borrower
| Name: | Navigator Gas L.L.C. | |
| Jurisdiction of formation | Republic of the Marshall Islands | |
| Registration number (or equivalent, if any) | 961263 | |
| English process agent | NGT Services (UK) Limited | |
| Registered office | Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands | |
| Address for service of notices | NGT Services (UK) Limited 10 Bressenden Place London SW1E 5DH England Attention: Niall Nolan Fax Number: 020 7340 4858 | |
The Parent
| Name of Parent | Navigator Holdings Ltd | |
| Jurisdiction of incorporation | Republic of the Marshall Islands | |
| Registration number (or equivalent, if any) | 29140 | |
| English process agent | NGT Services (UK) Limited | |
| Registered office | Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands | |
| Address for service of notices | NGT Services (UK) Limited 10 Bressenden Place London SW1E 5DH England Attention: Niall Nolan Fax Number: 020 7340 4858 | |
142
The Original Lenders and their Commitments
| Name |
Address and fax number / email |
Total Commitments ($) | ||
| Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge | Address:
Essendrops gate 7 0368 Oslo Norway
Credit Matters: Magnus Løvstad (magnus.lovstad@nordea.com)
Didrik Wahl (didrik.b.wahl@nordea.com)
Agency Matters
agency.soosid@nordea.com
Administration / Operation Matters: Email: sls.norway@nordea.com Attn: Structured Loan & Collateral Services |
60,000,000 | ||
| ABN AMRO Bank N.V. | Address: Coolsingel 93, 3012 AE Rotterdam Attention: Dien Quan E-mail: loket.leningenadministratie.ccs@nl.abnamro.com |
46,250,000 | ||
143
| Name |
Address and fax number / email |
Total Commitments ($) |
||||
| BNP Paribas S.A. | Address: 35 rue de la Gare 75019, Paris, France Attention: BOCI CFI 2 TEAM; CTM Shipping; Melissa Doucoure; Michael Neel E-mail: paris.cib.boci.cfi.2@bnpparibas.com; melissa.doucoure@bnpparibas.com; michael.neel@bnpparibas.com |
26,250,000 | ||||
| ING Bank N.V., London Branch | Address: 8-10 Moorgate, London, EC2R 6DA Attention: Deal Execution Team E-mail: execution@ing.com |
26,250,000 | ||||
| National Australia Bank | Address: Level 21, 500 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 Attention: Specialised Transaction Management E-mail: Wholesale.Banking.Transaction.Management.Group@nab.com.au |
26,250,000 | ||||
| Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank | Address: 12, place des Etats-Unis, 92547 Montrouge Cedex, France Attention: Clémentine COSTIL / Cyprien FOULFOIN E-mail: clementine.costil@ca-cib.com; cyprien.foulfoin@cacib.com |
25,000,000 | ||||
| Total |
210,000,000 | |||||
144
The Agent
| Name |
Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge | |||
| Facility Office, address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments | Address: |
Essendrops gate 7, 0368 Oslo, Norway | ||
| Attention: | Loan Agency Team Norway | |||
| Email: | agency.soosid@nordea.com | |||
| Account details for payments: | ||||
| Pay to: | Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge | |||
| Swift No: | NDEANOKK | |||
| For Account of: | Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge, Structured Loan & Collateral Services | |||
| Swift No: | BOFAUS3N | |||
| Account: | 6550168948 | |||
145
The Security Agent
| Name |
Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge | |||
| Facility Office, address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments | Address: |
Essendrops gate 7, 0368 Oslo, Norway | ||
| Attention: | Loan Agency Team Norway | |||
| Email: | agency.soosid@nordea.com | |||
| Account details for payments: | ||||
| Pay to: | Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge | |||
| Swift No: | NDEANOKK | |||
| For Account of: | Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge, Structured Loan & Collateral Services | |||
| Swift No: | BOFAUS3N | |||
| Account: | 6550168948 | |||
The Sustainability Agent
| Name |
ABN AMRO Bank N.V. | |||
| Facility Office, address, fax number and attention details for notices | Address: |
Coolsingel 93, 3012 AE Rotterdam | ||
| Attention: | Dien Quan | |||
| Tel: | +31 (0)10 40156 39 | |||
| E-mail: | loket.leningenadministratie.ccs@nl.abnamro.com | |||
146
The Hedging Providers as at the Amendment Effective Date
| Name |
Nordea Bank Abp | |
| Address, email and attention details for notices | Address: C/o Nordea Danmark, Filial af Nordea Bank Abp, Finland; 7288 Derivatives Services, Postbox 850, DK-0900 Copenhagen C, Denmark
Attention: Nordea Danmark, Filial af Nordea Abp, Finland
Email: otc@nordea.com |
| Name |
ABN AMRO Bank N.V. | |
| Address, email and attention details for notices | Address: Gustav Mahlerlaan 10, 1082 PP, Amsterdam
Attention: Bart van Mourik / Wouter Kuipers
Email: mdu@nl.abnamro.com; wouter.kuipers@nl.abnamro.com |
| Name |
National Australia Bank | |
| Address, email and attention details for notices | Address:
Level 6, 2 Carrington Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Attention: Corporate & Institutional Banking
Email: Jemima.barr@nab.com.au; david.x.hackett@nabasia.com; geir.bakkelund@nabasia.com |
147
| Name |
BNP Paribas | |
| Address, email and attention details for notices | Address: 37 avenue de lOpéra, 75002 Paris
Attention: CIB Legal Global Markets, Structuring Hedging ACI CAL06A1
Email: dl.cib.legal.paris.itt@bnpparibas.com
Mandatory copy to:
Address: BNP Paribas, London Branch, 10 Harewood Avenue, London NW1 6AA, England
Attention: CIB Legal - Master Agreement Team
Facsimile No: +(44) 207 595 2555, Tel. No: +(44) 207 595 20 |
148
Part 2 The Owners and, together with the Parent, the Guarantors
| Name of Owner |
Navigator Eclipse L.L.C. | |
| Jurisdiction of formation | Republic of the Marshall Islands | |
| Registration number (or equivalent, if any) | 963494 | |
| Ship | Navigator Eclipse | |
| English process agent | NGT Services (UK) Limited | |
| Registered office | Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands | |
| Address for service of notices | NGT Services (UK) Limited 10 Bressenden Place London SW1E 5DH England Attention: Niall Nolan Fax Number: 020 7340 4858 | |
| Name of Owner |
Navigator Nova L.L.C. | |
| Jurisdiction of formation | Republic of the Marshall Islands | |
| Registration number (or equivalent, if any) | 963491 | |
| Ship | Navigator Nova | |
| English process agent | NGT Services (UK) Limited | |
| Registered office | Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands | |
| Address for service of notices | C/O NGT Services (UK) Limited 10 Bressenden Place London SW1E 5DH England Attention: Niall Nolan Fax Number: 020 7340 4858 | |
149
| Name of Owner |
Navigator Prominence L.L.C. | |
| Jurisdiction of formation | Republic of the Marshall Islands | |
| Registration number (or equivalent, if any) | 963490 | |
| Ship | Navigator Prominence | |
| English process agent | NGT Services (UK) Limited | |
| Registered office | Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands | |
| Address for service of notices | NGT Services (UK) Limited 10 Bressenden Place London SW1E 5DH England Attention: Niall Nolan Fax Number: 020 7340 4858 | |
| Name of Owner |
Navigator Yauza L.L.C. | |
| Jurisdiction of formation | Republic of the Marshall Islands | |
| Registration number (or equivalent, if any) | 963493 | |
| Ship | Navigator Yauza | |
| English process agent | NGT Services (UK) Limited | |
| Registered office | Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands | |
| Address for service of notices | C/O NGT Services (UK) Limited 10 Bressenden Place London SW1E 5DH England Attention: Niall Nolan Fax Number: 020 7340 4858 | |
| Name of Owner |
Navigator Luga L.L.C. | |
| Jurisdiction of formation | Republic of the Marshall Islands | |
| Registration number (or equivalent, if any) | 963495 | |
| Ship | Navigator Luga | |
| English process agent | NGT Services (UK) Limited | |
150
| Registered office | Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands | |
| Address for service of notices | NGT Services (UK) Limited 10 Bressenden Place London SW1E 5DH England Attention: Niall Nolan Fax Number: 020 7340 4858 | |
151
Schedule 2
Ship information
| Owner: |
Navigator Eclipse L.L.C. | |
| Ship Name: | Navigator Eclipse | |
| Official Number | 17410 | |
| Flag State: | Liberia | |
| Port of Registry | Monrovia | |
| Classification: | +A1, Liquefied Gas Carrier, (E),+AMS, +ACCU, SH, SHCM, RELIQ, TCM, RRDA, UWILD, BWE | |
| Classification Society: | American Bureau of Shipping | |
| Major Casualty Amount | $2,000,000 | |
| Owner: |
Navigator Nova L.L.C. | |
| Ship Name: | Navigator Nova | |
| Official Number | 17411 | |
| Flag State: | Liberia | |
| Port of Registry | Monrovia | |
| Classification: | +A1, Liquefied Gas Carrier, (E),+AMS, +ACCU, SH, SHCM, RELIQ, TCM, RRDA, UWILD, BWE | |
| Classification Society: | American Bureau of Shipping | |
| Major Casualty Amount | $2,000,000 | |
| Owner: |
Navigator Prominence L.L.C. | |
| Ship Name: | Navigator Prominence | |
| Official Number | 17412 | |
| Flag State: | Liberia | |
| Port of Registry | Monrovia | |
| Classification: | +A1, Liquefied Gas Carrier, (E),+AMS, +ACCU, SH, SHCM, RELIQ, TCM, RRDA, UWILD, BWE | |
| Classification Society: | American Bureau of Shipping | |
| Major Casualty Amount | $2,000,000 | |
152
| Owner: |
Navigator Yauza L.L.C. | |
| Ship Name: | Navigator Yauza | |
| Official Number | 17416 | |
| Flag State: | Liberia | |
| Port of Registry | Monrovia | |
| Classification: | +100A1, Liquefied Gas Carrier, Ship Type 2G, +LMC, UMS, +Lloyds RMC (LG), *IWS, Ice-Class 1B FS, LI, Shipright(CM,SDA,ACS(B)) Shipright(SCM, IHM) | |
| Classification Society: | Lloyds Register of Shipping | |
| Major Casualty Amount | $2,000,000 | |
| Owner: |
Navigator Luga L.L.C. | |
| Ship Name: | Navigator Luga | |
| Official Number | 17417 | |
| Flag State: | Liberia | |
| Port of Registry | Monrovia | |
| Classification: | +100A1, Liquefied Gas Carrier, Ship Type 2G, +LMC, UMS, +Lloyds RMC (LG), *IWS, Ice-Class 1B FS, LI, Shipright(CM,SDA,ACS(B)) Shipright(SCM, IHM) | |
| Classification Society: | Lloyds Register of Shipping | |
| Major Casualty Amount | $2,000,000 | |
153
Schedule 3
Conditions precedent
Part 1
Conditions precedent to the first Utilisation Request
| 1 | Obligors corporate documents |
| (a) | A copy of the Constitutional Documents of each Obligor. |
| (b) | A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of each Obligor (or any committee of such board empowered to approve and authorise the following matters) and, if applicable, a copy of a resolution of the shareholders and/or members of each Obligor: |
| (i) | approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents or any Charter (Relevant Documents) to which it is a party and resolving that it execute the Relevant Documents; |
| (ii) | authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Relevant Documents on its behalf; and |
| (iii) | authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all documents and notices (including, if relevant, any Utilisation Request) to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with the Relevant Documents to which it is a party. |
| (c) | If applicable, a copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the relevant company, establishing any committee referred to in paragraph (b) above and conferring authority on that committee. |
| (d) | A copy of the passport of each person authorised by the resolution referred to in paragraph (b) above. |
| (e) | A certificate of the Parent (signed by a director) confirming that borrowing or guaranteeing or securing, as appropriate, the Total Commitments would not cause any borrowing, guaranteeing or similar limit binding on any Obligor to be exceeded. |
| (f) | A copy of any power of attorney under which any person is to execute any of the Relevant Documents on behalf of any Obligor. |
| (g) | A certificate of an authorised signatory of the Parent certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this Part of this Schedule is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement and that any such resolutions or power of attorney have not been revoked. |
| (h) | For each Obligor, a certificate of goodstanding from the registrar of corporations in the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organisation. |
| 2 | Legal opinions |
| (a) | A legal opinion of Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, London addressed to the Arrangers and the Agent on matters of English law, substantially in the form approved by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) prior to signing this Agreement. |
| (b) | A legal opinion of the legal advisers to the Arrangers and the Agent in each jurisdiction in which an Obligor is incorporated or, as the case may be, formed and/or which is or is to be the Flag State of a Mortgaged Ship, each substantially in the form approved by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) prior to the first Loan to be made for the Facility under this Agreement. |
154
| 3 | Other documents and evidence |
| (a) | Evidence that any process agent referred to in clause 47.2 (Service of process) or any equivalent provision of any other Finance Document entered into on or before the first Utilisation Date has accepted its appointment. |
| (b) | A copy of any other authorisation or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary or desirable (if it has notified the Borrower accordingly) in connection with the entry into and performance of the transactions contemplated by any Finance Document or for the validity and enforceability of any Finance Document. |
| (c) | The Original Financial Statements. |
| (d) | Evidence that the fees, commissions, costs and expenses then due from the Borrower pursuant to clause 11 (Fees) and clause 16 (Costs and expenses) have been paid or will be paid by the first Utilisation Date. |
| 4 | Earnings Account |
Evidence that the Earnings Account has been opened and established, that the Account Security in respect of the Earnings Account has been executed and delivered by the Borrower in favour of the Security Agent and that any notice required to be given to an Account Bank under that Account Security has been given to it and acknowledged by it in the manner required by that Account Security and that an amount has been credited to it.
| 5 | Know your customer information |
Such documentation and information as any Finance Party may reasonably request through the Agent to comply with know your customer or similar identification procedures under all laws and regulations applicable to that Finance Party.
| 6 | Subordination Agreement |
If applicable, a Subordination Agreement, duly executed by the relevant Group Members.
| 7 | Structure of the Borrower and Owners |
Evidence in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent of the Borrowers and the Owners ownership and financial structure.
| 8 | Material Adverse Effect |
Confirmation in a form and substance satisfactory to the Agent that:
| (a) | since 31 December 2019 nothing has occurred in relation to any Obligor which had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect; and |
| (b) | there is no litigation pending or threatened against any Obligor which has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect. |
155
| 9 | No Conflict |
Confirmation, in a form and substance satisfactory to the Agent that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated in connection with it do not and will not cause any conflict with, or any default under, any material agreement to which the Obligors are party to.
| 10 | Consents and Approvals |
| (a) | A certificate from an officer of the Borrower that no consents, authorisations, licences or approvals are necessary for the Borrower to authorise or are required by the Borrower in connection with the borrowing by the Borrower of the Loans pursuant to this Agreement or the execution, delivery and performance of the Borrowers Security Documents; and |
| (b) | a certificate from an officer of each Obligor (other than the Borrower) that no consents, authorisations, licences or approvals are necessary for such Obligor to guarantee and/or grant security for the borrowing by the Borrower of the Commitment pursuant to this Agreement and execute, deliver and perform the Security Documents insofar as such Obligor is a party thereto. |
156
Part 2
Ship and security conditions precedent
| 1 | Corporate documents |
| (a) | A certificate of an authorised signatory of the Borrower and the relevant Owner certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in Part 1 of this Schedule remains correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than a date approved for this purpose and that any resolutions or power of attorney referred to in Part 1 of this Schedule in relation to it have not been revoked or amended. |
| (b) | A certificate of an authorised signatory of each other Obligor which is party to any of the Security Documents required to be executed at or before Delivery of the relevant Ship certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in Part 1 of this Schedule remains correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than a date approved for this purpose and that any resolutions or power of attorney referred to in Part 1 of this Schedule in relation to it have not been revoked or amended. |
| (c) | For the Borrower, a certificate of goodstanding from: |
| (i) | the registrar of corporations in the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organisation; and |
| (ii) | the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Republic of Liberia certifying the Borrower as a Liberian Foreign Maritime Entity or such equivalent certification (to extent available) from the appropriate government entity of the Flag State of the relevant Ship. |
| 2 | Existing Credit Facility |
Evidence that at the time of the first Utilisation the proceeds of the Loan will be used to prepay the Existing Credit Facility in full and that the security granted in respect of the Ships will be discharged, release and/or reassigned (as applicable).
| 3 | Guarantees |
The Shipowner Guarantees duly executed by each Owner.
| 4 | Security |
| (a) | The Mortgage and the General Assignment in respect of each Ship. |
| (b) | Any Charter Assignment then required in respect of the relevant Ship pursuant to the Finance Documents duly executed by the relevant Owner. |
| (c) | Managers Undertakings in respect of each Ship duly executed by the relevant manager. |
| (d) | Duly executed notices of assignment and acknowledgements of those notices as required by any of the above Security Documents. |
| (e) | The LLC Interests Security in respect of each of the Owners duly executed by the Borrower together with all letters, transfers, certificates and other documents required to be delivered under the LLC Interests Security. |
157
| 5 | Delivery and registration of Ship |
| (a) | Evidence that each Ship: |
| (i) | is legally and beneficially owned by the relevant Owner and permanently registered in the name of the relevant Owner through the relevant Registry as a ship under the laws and flag of the relevant Flag State; |
| (ii) | is operationally seaworthy and in every way fit for service; |
| (iii) | is classed with the relevant Classification free of all requirements and recommendations of the relevant Classification Society; |
| (iv) | is insured in the manner required by the Finance Documents; |
| (v) | has been delivered, and accepted for service, under its Charter (if any); |
| (vi) | is free of any other charter commitment which would require approval under the Finance Documents; and |
| (vii) | is free from registered liens and encumbrances other than the relevant Mortgage. |
| 6 | Mortgage registration |
Evidence that the Mortgage in respect of the relevant Ship has been provisionally registered with first preferred status against the relevant Ship through the relevant Registry under the laws and flag of the relevant Flag State.
| 7 | Insurance |
In relation to the relevant Ships Insurances:
| (a) | an opinion from insurance consultants appointed by the Agent on such Insurances; |
| (b) | evidence that such Insurances have been placed in accordance with clause 24 (Insurance); and |
| (c) | evidence that approved brokers, insurers and/or associations have issued or will issue letters of undertaking in favour of the Security Agent in an approved form in relation to the Insurances. |
| 8 | ISM and ISPS Code |
Copies of:
| (a) | the document of compliance issued in accordance with the ISM Code to the person who is the operator of the relevant Ship for the purposes of that code; |
| (b) | the safety management certificate in respect of such Ship issued in accordance with the ISM Code; |
| (c) | the international ship security certificate in respect of such Ship issued under the ISPS Code; and |
158
| (d) | if so requested by the Agent, any other certificates issued under any applicable code required to be observed by such Ship or in relation to its operation under any applicable law. |
| 9 | Charter |
| (a) | A copy, certified by an approved person to be a true and complete copy, of any Charter in relation to the relevant Ship. |
| (b) | If a Charter Assignment is then required in relation to the relevant Ship pursuant to the Finance Documents the Borrower shall procure (using reasonable commercial efforts) such evidence as the Agent may require as to the due incorporation of the relevant Charterer and any other party to the Charter Documents (other than an Obligor). |
| 10 | Fees and expenses |
Evidence that the fees, commissions, costs and expenses that are due from the Borrower pursuant to clause 11 (Fees) and clause 16 (Costs and expenses) have been paid or will be paid by the relevant Utilisation Date.
| 11 | Environmental matters |
If and when the Ship is to trade to the United States after its Delivery, evidence that the relevant Ship has the required certificate to trade in the United States as required under United States law in respect of the relevant Ship from an approved person.
| 12 | Management Agreement |
Where any Managers (other than any internal Manager) have been approved in accordance with clause 22.4 (Manager), a copy, certified by an approved person to be a true and complete copy, of the agreement between the relevant Owner and the relevant Manager relating to the appointment of the Manager.
| 13 | Value of Security |
Valuations (dated not more than 30 days before the relevant Utilisation Date (or such earlier date approved by the Agent)) of all the Ships, prepared by two (2) Approved Brokers, made on the basis of, and in accordance with clause 25 (Minimum security value), in each case made at the cost and expense of the Borrower showing the Borrower is in compliance with 25.12 (Security shortfall).
| 14 | Legal Opinions |
| (a) | To the extent not previously provided pursuant to Schedule 3, Part 1, a legal opinion of Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, London addressed to the Arrangers and the Agent on matters of English law, substantially in the form approved by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) prior to signing this Agreement. |
| (b) | To the extent not previously provided pursuant to Schedule 3, Part 1, a legal opinion of the legal advisers to the Arrangers and the Agent in each jurisdiction in which an Obligor is incorporated or formed and/or which is or is to be the Flag State of a Mortgaged Ship, each substantially in the form approved by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) prior to first Loan to be made for the Facility under this Agreement. |
159
Schedule 4
Utilisation Request
| From: | Navigator Gas L.L.C. | |
| To: | [name of Agent] as Agent (for and on behalf of the Finance Parties) | |
| Dated: | [●] | |
Dear Sirs
$210,000,000
Facility Agreement dated [●] (the Agreement)
| 2 | We refer to the Agreement. This is a Utilisation Request. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Utilisation Request unless given a different meaning in this Utilisation Request. |
| 3 | We wish to borrow a Loan on the following terms: |
| Proposed Utilisation Date: | [●] (or, if that is not a Business Day, the next Business Day) | |
| Amount: | $ [●] | |
| Interest Period: | [one][three][six] months | |
| 4 | We confirm that each condition specified in clause 4.4 (Further conditions precedent) is satisfied on the date of this Utilisation Request. |
| 5 | The purpose of this Loan is [specify purpose complying with clause 3 of the Agreement] and its proceeds] [The proceeds of the Loan] should be credited to [●] [specify account]. |
| 6 | This Utilisation Request is irrevocable. |
| 7 | [First Utilisation of facility: All of the representations and warranties set out in clause 18 (Representations) are correct at the date of this Utilisation Request] / [Subsequent Utilisation of facility: The Repeating Representations, (being each of the representations and warranties set out in the Agreement at clauses 18.1 (Status) to 18.10 (Ranking and effectiveness of Security Documents) (except for clauses 18.7 (Information) and 18.8 (Original Financial Statements)) are correct at the date of this Utilisation Request.] |
Yours faithfully
authorised signatory for
Navigator Gas L.L.C.
160
Schedule 5
Form of Transfer Certificate
| To: | [●] as Agent (for and on behalf of the Finance Parties) |
| From: | [single Existing Lender: [The Existing Lender] (the Existing Lender)] [multiple Existing Lenders: [Existing Lender] [and/,] [Existing Lender] [and [Existing Lender]] (together, the Existing Lenders)] and [The New Lender] (the New Lender) |
Dated:
$210,000,000 Facility Agreement dated [●] (the Agreement)
| 8 | 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. |
| 9 | We refer to clause 32.6 (Procedure for transfer): |
| (a) | [multiple Existing Lenders: Each of the] [single Existing Lender: The] Existing Lender[multiple Existing Lenders: s] and the New Lender agree to the Existing Lender[multiple Existing Lenders: s] assigning to the New Lender all or part of the Existing [single Existing Lender: Lenders] [multiple Existing Lenders: Lenders respective] Commitment rights and assuming the Existing [single Existing Lender: Lenders] [multiple Existing Lenders: Lenders respective] obligations referred to in the Schedule in accordance with clause 32.6 (Procedure for transfer) and [multiple Existing Lenders: each of the] [single Existing Lender: the] Existing Lender[multiple Existing Lenders: s] assigns and agrees to assign such rights to the New Lender with effect from the Transfer Date. |
| (b) | The proposed Transfer Date is []. |
| (c) | The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices of the New Lender for the purposes of clause 39.2 (Addresses) are set out in the Schedule. |
| 10 | The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on [multiple Existing Lenders: each of] the Existing [single Existing Lender: Lenders] [multiple Existing Lenders: Lenders respective] obligations set out in clause 32.5(c). |
| 11 | 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. |
| 12 | This Transfer Certificate and any non-contractual obligations connected with it are governed by English law. |
161
The Schedule
Commitment/rights to be assigned and obligations to be assumed
[insert relevant details for each Existing Lender, in particular (having regard to clause 32.2(c))]
Facility Office address, fax number
and attention details for notices and account details for payments
[insert relevant details]
| [Existing Lender] | [[Existing Lender] | [[Existing Lender] | [New Lender] | |||
| By: | By:] | By:] | By: | |||
This Transfer Certificate is accepted by the Agent and the Transfer Date is confirmed to be as stated above.
[Agent]
By:
162
Schedule 6
Form of Compliance Certificate
| To: | [●] as Agent (for and on behalf of the Finance Parties) | |
| From: | Navigator Holdings Ltd | |
| Dated: | [●] | |
Dear Sirs
$210,000,000
Facility Agreement dated [●] (the Agreement)
| 13 | [I/We] refer to the Agreement. This is a Compliance Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning when used in this Compliance Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Compliance Certificate. |
| 14 | [I/We] confirm that with respect to the latest financial quarter of the Group ending on []: |
| (a) | Cash and cash equivalents was at all times, including the ending balance of $[], not less than the minimum required amount of the greater of (i) $35,000,000 and (ii) 5% of the Total Indebtedness, calculated as shown in Appendix B; and |
| (b) | the ratio of Total Stockholders Equity to Total Assets was []%, calculated as shown in Appendix B, versus the minimum required level of not less than 30%. |
| 15 | [I/We] confirm that Security Value is $[], calculated pursuant to the attached valuations dated [ and such date not older than 30 days from the date of this Compliance Certificate], versus the required Minimum Value of $[], as shown in Appendix C. |
| 16 | [I/We confirm that no Default is continuing.] [If this statement cannot be made, the certificate should identify any Default that is continuing and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it.] |
| 17 | All the representations and warranties set out in clause 18 (Representations) are correct at the date of this Certificate. |
| Signed by: |
|
|
[Chief Financial Officer] of Navigator Holdings Ltd
163
Schedule 7
Form of Increase Confirmation
| To: | [name of Agent] as Agent (for and on behalf of the Finance Parties) | |
| and | ||
| Navigator Gas L.L.C. | ||
| From: | [the Increase Lender] (the Increase Lender) | |
| Dated: | [] | |
$210,000,000
Facility Agreement dated [●] (the Agreement)
| 18 | We refer to the Agreement. This is an Increase Confirmation. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Increase Confirmation unless given a different meaning in this Increase Confirmation. |
| 19 | We refer to clause 2.2 (Increase). |
| 20 | The Increase Lender agrees to assume and will assume all of the obligations corresponding to the Commitment specified in the Schedule (the Relevant Commitment) as if it was an Original Lender under the Agreement. |
| 21 | The proposed date on which the increase in relation to the Increase Lender and the Relevant Commitment is to take effect (the Increase Date) is []. |
| 22 | On the Increase Date, the Increase Lender becomes party to the Finance Documents as a Lender. |
| 23 | The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices to the Increase Lender for the purposes of clause 39.2 (Addresses) are set out in the Schedule. |
| 24 | The Increase Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Lenders obligations referred to in clause 2.2(g). |
| 25 | This Increase Confirmation 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 Increase Confirmation. |
| 26 | This Increase Confirmation and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law. |
This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
164
The Schedule
Relevant Commitment/rights and obligations to be assumed by the Increase Lender
[insert relevant details]
[Facility office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments]
[Increase Lender]
By:
This Increase Confirmation is accepted as an Increase Confirmation for the purposes of the Agreement by the Agent and the Increase Date is confirmed as [].
Agent (on behalf of itself and the other Finance Parties)
By:
Navigator Gas L.L.C.
By:
Navigator Holdings Ltd
By:
165
Schedule 8
Scheduled Reduction Amounts
| Repayment Date |
Reduction Amount |
Reduced Facility Amount |
||||||
| $ | 210,000 000.00 | |||||||
| 31 December 2020 |
$ | 7,397,506.18 | $ | 202,602,493.82 | ||||
| 30 June 2021 |
$ | 7,397,506.18 | $ | 195,204,987.65 | ||||
| 31 December 2021 |
$ | 7,397,506.18 | $ | 187,807,481.47 | ||||
| 30 June 2022 |
$ | 7,397,506.18 | $ | 180,409,975.29 | ||||
| 31 December 2022 |
$ | 7,397,506.18 | $ | 173,012,469.12 | ||||
| 30 June 2023 |
$ | 7,397,506.18 | $ | 165,614,962.94 | ||||
| 31 December 2023 |
$ | 7,397,506.18 | $ | 158,217,456.76 | ||||
| 30 June 2024 |
$ | 7,397,506.18 | $ | 150,819,950.59 | ||||
| 31 December 2024 |
$ | 7,397,506.18 | $ | 143,422,444.41 | ||||
| 30 June 2025 |
$ | 7,397,506.18 | $ | 136,024,938.23 | ||||
| $ | 136,024,938.23 | |||||||
166
Schedule 9
Sustainability Margin Adjustment
| 1 | In this Schedule 9: |
| AER: | Shall mean the average efficiency ratio as calculated per the Poseidon Principles as follows:
Where Ci is the carbon emissions for voyage i computed using the fuel consumption and carbon factor of each type of fuel, DWT is the design deadweight of a vessel, and Di is the distance travelled on voyage i. The AER is computed for all voyages performed over a calendar year. | |
| Annex VI: | Shall mean Annex VI of the Protocol of 1997 (as subsequently amended from time to time) to amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (Marpol), as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto. | |
| Fleet: | Shall mean all vessels owned, whether directly or indirectly, by the Parent. | |
| Fleet Carbon Intensity Certificate(s): | Shall mean the certificate(s) from a Recognised Organisation (or such other person approved by the Sustainability Agent) relating to each vessel in the Fleet and a calendar year setting out the AER of a Vessel for all voyages performed by it over that calendar year using ship fuel oil consumption data required to be collected and reported in accordance with Regulation 22A of Annex VI in respect of that calendar year. | |
| Fleet Sustainability Score: | Shall mean the weighted average of all Vessel Sustainability Scores based on Vessel Weighting. | |
| Owned Days: | Shall mean, for a given Vessel in the Fleet, the number of days in a calendar year that such Vessel is owned, whether directly or indirectly, by the Parent. | |
| Poseidon Principles: | Shall mean the financial industry framework for assessing and disclosing the climate alignment of ship finance portfolios published on 18 June 2019, as the same may be amended or replaced from time to time. | |
| Sustainability Certificate | Shall mean a certificate signed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower substantially in the form set out in Schedule 10 (Form of Sustainability Certificate) or any other form satisfactory to the Sustainability Agent, that shows to the satisfaction of the Sustainability Agent the calculation of the Fleet Sustainability Score and sets forth the Sustainability Margin Adjustment. | |
| Trajectory Value: | The median climate alignment score of a vessel type and size in a given year per Schedule I, as set out in the Poseidon Principles. | |
| Vessel: | Shall mean any vessel in the Fleet. | |
| Vessel Sustainability Score: | Shall mean, for a given Vessel in the Fleet, calculated as:
As evidenced by the relevant Fleet Carbon Intensity Certificate(s). | |
167
| Vessel Weighting: | Shall mean, for a given Vessel in the Fleet, the product of Owned Days and the respective Vessel DWT. |
| 2 | The Borrower shall furnish to the Agent, within [90] days after the end of each calendar year, a Sustainability Certificate for the prior calendar year. |
| 3 | Each calendar year, the Margin shall increase or decrease subject to achievement against the Fleet Sustainability Score targets (defined in the table below) (rounded to two decimal places) and provided in the Sustainability Certificate for the prior calendar year (the Sustainability Margin Adjustment). The Sustainability Margin Adjustment will take place on the date falling 10 Business Days following the delivery on the applicable Sustainability Certificate. The Sustainability Margin Adjustment will apply as follows: |
| Fleet Sustainability Score Target 202[[1]/[2]] |
Fleet Sustainability Score Target 202[[2]/[3]] |
Fleet Sustainability Score Target 202[[3]/[4]] |
Sustainability Margin Adjustment in following calendar year | |||
| Fleet Sust. Score ≥ [TBD]1 |
Fleet Sust. Score ≥ [TBD] | Fleet Sust. Score ≥ [TBD] | Margin + 0.05% | |||
| [TBD] ≤ Fleet Sust. Score < [TBD] |
[TBD] ≤ Fleet Sust. Score < [TBD] | [TBD] ≤ Fleet Sust. Score < [TBD] | Margin +/- nil | |||
| [TBD] ≤ Fleet Sust. Score < [TBD] |
[TBD] ≤ Fleet Sust. Score < [TBD] | [TBD] ≤ Fleet Sust. Score < [TBD] | Margin 0.05% | |||
| 4 | The Sustainability Margin Adjustment shall at no time exceed 0.05% as a decrease or an increase from the Margin. |
| 5 | If the Borrower fails to furnish a Sustainability Certificate, the Sustainability Margin Adjustment shall increase by 0.05%. For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower may elect not to furnish a Sustainability Certificate and such election will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default. |
| 1 | Specific targets and figures to be finalised between the Sustainability Agent and the Borrower. |
168
Schedule 10
Form of Sustainability Certificate
| To: | [●] as Agent (for and on behalf of the Finance Parties) | |
| From: | Navigator Gas L.L.C. | |
| Dated: | [●] | |
Dear Sirs
$210,000,000
Facility Agreement dated [●] (the Agreement)
| 1 | We refer to the Agreement. This is a Sustainability Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning when used in this Sustainability Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Sustainability Certificate. |
| 2 | We confirm that, as at the date hereof: |
| (a) | the calculation of the Fleet Sustainability Score for the present calendar year ending [31 December 202][] as evidenced by the Fleet Carbon Intensity Certificates, is as follows: |
[]
| (b) | the calculation of the Fleet Sustainability Score for the prior calendar year ending [31 December 202[], as evidenced by the Fleet Carbon Intensity Certificates, was as follows: |
[]
| (c) | accordingly the Sustainability Margin Adjustment is as follows: [] |
| 3 | We confirm that no Default is continuing. |
Signed by:
Chief Financial Officer of Navigator Gas L.L.C.
169
Schedule 11
Compounded Rate Terms
| Cost of funds as a fallback | Cost of funds will apply as a fallback. | |
| Definitions | ||
| Additional Business Days: | An RFR Banking Day. | |
| Break Costs: | None specified | |
| Business Day Conventions (definition of Month and Clause 9.3 (Non-Business Days)): | (a) If any period is expressed to accrue by reference to a Month or any number of Months then, in respect of the last Month of that period: | |
| (i) subject to paragraph (iii) below, if the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day, that period shall end on the next Business Day in that calendar month in which that period is to end if there is one, or if there is not, on the immediately preceding Business Day; | ||
| (ii) if there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month in which that period is to end, that period shall end on the last Business Day in that calendar month; and | ||
| (iii) if an Interest Period begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month, that Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day in the calendar month in which that Interest Period is to end. | ||
| (b) If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest Period will instead end on the next Business Day in that calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not). | ||
| Central Bank Rate: | (a) The short-term interest rate target set by the US Federal Open Market Committee as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from time to time; or | |
| (b) if that target is not a single figure, the arithmetic mean of: | ||
| (i) the upper bound of the short-term interest rate target range set by the US Federal Open Market Committee and published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; and | ||
| (ii) the lower bound of that target range. | ||
170
| Central Bank Rate Adjustment: | The 20% trimmed arithmetic mean of the Central Bank Rate Spread (calculated by the Agent (or by any other Finance Party which agrees to do so in place of the Agent)) for the 5 most immediately preceding RFR Banking Days for which the RFR is available. | |
| Central Bank Rate Spread: | In relation to any RFR Banking Day, the difference (expressed as a percentage rate per annum) calculated by the Agent (or by any other Finance Party which agrees to do so in place of the Agent) between (a) the RFR for that RFR Banking Day and (b) the Central Bank Rate prevailing at close of business on that RFR Banking Day | |
| Credit Adjustment Spread: | In respect of Interest Periods of < = 1 Month: 0.11448% per annum.
In respect of Interest Periods of > 1 Month and < = 3 Months: 0.26161 per annum. | |
| Daily Rate: | The Daily Rate for any RFR Banking Day is: | |
| (a) the RFR for that RFR Banking Day; or | ||
| (b) if the RFR is not available for that RFR Banking Day, the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of: | ||
| (i) the Central Bank Rate for that RFR Banking Day; and | ||
| (ii) the applicable Central Bank Rate Adjustment, or | ||
| (c) if paragraph (b) above applies but the Central Bank Rate for that RFR Banking Day is not available, the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of: | ||
| (i) the most recent Central Bank Rate for a day which is no more than five RFR Banking Days before that RFR Banking Day; and (ii) the applicable Central Bank Rate Adjustment, | ||
| rounded, in either case, to four decimal places and if, in either case, the aggregate of that rate and the Credit Adjustment Spread is less than zero, the Daily Rate shall be deemed to be such a rate that the aggregate of the Daily Rate and the Credit Adjustment Spread is zero. | ||
| Lookback Period: | Five RFR Banking Days. | |
171
| Market Disruption Rate: | The percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of: | |
| (a) the Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate for the Interest Period of the relevant Loan; and | ||
| (b) the applicable Credit Adjustment Spread. | ||
| Relevant Market: | The market for overnight cash borrowing collateralised by US Government securities. | |
| Reporting Day: | The Business Day which follows the day which is the Lookback Period prior to the last day of the Interest Period. | |
| RFR: | The secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or any other person which takes over the publication of that rate). | |
| RFR Banking Day: | Any day other than: | |
| (a) a Saturday or Sunday; and | ||
| (b) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (or any successor organisation) recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in US Government securities. | ||
| Reporting Times | ||
| Deadline for Lenders to report market disruption in accordance with Clause 10.7 (Market disruption Compounded Rate Loans) | Close of business in London on the Reporting Day for the relevant Loan. | |
| Deadline for Lenders to report their cost of funds in accordance with Clause 10.6 (Cost of funds Compounded Rate Loans) | Close of business on the date falling [2] Business Days after the Reporting Day for the relevant Loan (or, if earlier, on the date falling [5] Business Days before the date on which interest is due to be paid in respect of the Interest Period for that Loan). | |
| Published Rate Contingency Period: | 10 Business Days | |
172
Schedule 12
Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate
The Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate for any US Government Securities Business Day i during an Interest Period for the Loan (or any part thereof) is the percentage rate per annum (without rounding, to the extent reasonably practicable for the Finance Party performing the calculation, taking into account the capabilities of any software used for that purpose) calculated as set out below:
where:
UCCDRi means the Unannualised Cumulative Compounded Daily Rate for that US Government Securities Business Day i;
UCCDRi-1 means, in relation to that US Government Securities Business Day i, the Unannualised Cumulative Compounded Daily Rate for the immediately preceding US Government Securities Business Day (if any) during that Interest Period;
dcc means 360 or, in any case where market practice in the Relevant Market is to use a different number for quoting the number of days in a year, that number;
ni means the number of calendar days from, and including, that US Government Securities Business Day i up to, but excluding, the following US Government Securities Business Day; and
the Unannualised Cumulative Compounded Daily Rate for any US Government Securities Business Day (the Cumulated US Government Securities Business Day) during that Interest Period is the result of the below calculation (without rounding, to the extent reasonably practicable for the Finance Party performing the calculation, taking into account the capabilities of any software used for that purpose):
where:
ACCDR means the Annualised Cumulative Compounded Daily Rate for that Cumulated US Government Securities Business Day;
tni means the number of calendar days from, and including, the first day of the Cumulation Period to, but excluding, the US Government Securities Business Day which immediately follows the last day of the Cumulation Period;
Cumulation Period means the period from, and including, the first US Government Securities Business Day of that Interest Period to, and including, that Cumulated US Government Securities Business Day;
dcc has the meaning given to that term above; and
the Annualised Cumulative Compounded Daily Rate for that Cumulated US Government Securities Business Day is the percentage rate per annum (rounded to 5 decimal places) calculated as set out below:
173
where:
d0 means the number of US Government Securities Business Days in the Cumulation Period;
Cumulation Period has the meaning given to that term above;
i means a series of whole numbers from one to d0, each representing the relevant US Government Securities Business Day in chronological order in the Cumulation Period;
DailyRatei-LP means, for any US Government Securities Business Day i in the Cumulation Period, the Daily Rate for the US Government Securities Business Day which is the Lookback Period prior to that US Government Securities Business Day i;
ni means, for any US Government Securities Business Day i in the Cumulation Period, the number of calendar days from, and including, that US Government Securities Business Day i up to, but excluding, the following US Government Securities Business Day;
dcc has the meaning given to that term above; and
tni has the meaning given to that term above.
174
Schedule 13
Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate
The Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate for any Interest Period for a Compounded Rate Loan is the percentage rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as is specified in the definition of Annualised Cumulative Compounded Daily Rate in Schedule 12 (Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate)) calculated as set out below
where:
d0 means the number of RFR Banking Days during the Interest Period;
i means a series of whole numbers from one to d0, each representing the relevant RFR Banking Day in chronological order during the Interest Period;
DailyRatei-LP means for any RFR Banking Day i during the Interest Period, the Daily Rate for the RFR Banking Day which is the applicable Lookback Period prior to that RFR Banking Day i;
ni means, for any RFR Banking Day i, the number of calendar days from, and including, that RFR Banking Day i up to, but excluding, the following RFR Banking Day;
dcc means 360 or, in any case where market practice in the Relevant Market is to use a different number for quoting the number of days in a year, that number; and
d means the number of calendar days during that Interest Period.
175
SIGNATURES
| THE BORROWER | ||
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| NAVIGATOR GAS L.L.C. | ) | |
| pursuant to a power of attorney | ) | |
| dated | ) | |
| Attorney-in-Fact | ||
| THE PARENT | ||
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| NAVIGATOR HOLDINGS LTD | ) | |
| pursuant to a power of attorney | ) | |
| dated | ) | |
| Attorney-in-Fact | ||
176
| THE MANDATED LEAD ARRANGERS | ||
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE | ) | |
| Authorised signatory | ||
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| ABN AMRO BANK N.V. | ) | |
| Authorised signatory | ||
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK | ) | |
| Authorised signatory | ||
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| BNP PARIBAS S.A. | ) | |
| Authorised signatory | ||
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| ING BANK N.V., LONDON BRANCH | ) | |
| Authorised signatory | ||
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| CREDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK | ) | |
| Authorised signatory | ||
177
| THE BOOKRUNNER | ||
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE | ) | |
| Authorised signatory | ||
| THE LENDERS | ||
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE | ) | |
| Authorised signatory | ||
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| ABN AMRO BANK N.V. | ) | |
| Authorised signatory | ||
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK | ) | |
| Authorised signatory | ||
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| BNP PARIBAS S.A. | ) | |
| Authorised signatory | ||
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| ING BANK N.V., LONDON BRANCH | ) | |
| Authorised signatory | ||
178
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| CREDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK | ) | |
| Authorised signatory | ||
| THE AGENT | ||
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE | ) | |
| Authorised signatory | ||
| THE SECURITY AGENT | ||
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE | ) | |
| Authorised signatory | ||
| THE SUSTAINABILITY AGENT | ||
| SIGNED by | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| ABN AMRO BANK N.V. | ) | |
| Authorised signatory | ||
179
Schedule 4
Effective Date Confirmation
| To: | NAVIGATOR GAS L.L.C. (the Borrower) |
We, NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE, refer to the supplemental agreement dated [●] 2022 (the Supplemental Agreement) relating to a facility agreement dated 17 September 2020 (as amended from time to time, the Facility Agreement) made between, amongst others the Borrower, us as agent and the banks listed therein as the lenders and ourselves as the agent in respect of a revolving credit facility of up to $210,000,000.
We hereby confirm that all conditions precedent referred to in clause 4.1 of Supplemental Agreement have been satisfied and accordingly the Effective Date for the purpose of the Supplemental Agreement is the date of this confirmation (and the amendment and restatement of the Facility Agreement is now effective).
Dated [●] 2022
Signed:__________________________________
For and on behalf of
NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE
180
EXECUTION PAGES
| THE BORROWER | ||||
| SIGNED by Mia Langston | ) | |||
| for and on behalf of | ) | |||
| NAVIGATOR GAS L.L.C. | ) | |||
| pursuant to a power of attorney | ) | |||
| dated | ) | |||
| /s/ Mia Langston | ||||
| Attorney-in-Fact | ||||
| THE PARENT | ||||
| SIGNED by Mia Langston | ) | |||
| for and on behalf of | ) | |||
| NAVIGATOR HOLDINGS LTD | ) | |||
| pursuant to a power of attorney | ) | |||
| dated | ) | |||
| /s/ Mia Langston | ||||
| Attorney-in-Fact | ||||
| THE OWNERS | ||||
| SIGNED by Mia Langston | ) | |||
| for and on behalf of | ) | |||
| NAVIGATOR ECLIPSE L.L.C. | ) | |||
| pursuant to a power of attorney | ) | |||
| dated | ) | |||
| /s/ Mia Langston | ||||
| Attorney-in-Fact | ||||
| SIGNED by Mia Langston | ) | |||
| for and on behalf of | ) | |||
| NAVIGATOR LUGA L.L.C. | ) | |||
| pursuant to a power of attorney | ) | |||
| dated | ) | |||
| /s/ Mia Langston | ||||
| Attorney-in-Fact | ||||
| SIGNED by Mia Langston | ) | |||
| for and on behalf of | ) | |||
| NAVIGATOR NOVA L.L.C. | ) | |||
| pursuant to a power of attorney | ) | |||
| dated | ) | |||
| /s/ Mia Langston | ||||
| Attorney-in-Fact | ||||
181
| SIGNED by Mia Langston | ) | |||
| for and on behalf of | ) | |||
| NAVIGATOR PROMINENCE L.L.C. | ) | |||
| pursuant to a power of attorney | ) | |||
| dated | ) | |||
| /s/ Mia Langston | ||||
| Attorney-in-Fact | ||||
| SIGNED by Mia Langston | ) | |||
| for and on behalf of | ) | |||
| NAVIGATOR YAUZA L.L.C. | ) | |||
| pursuant to a power of attorney | ) | |||
| dated | ) | |||
| /s/ Mia Langston | ||||
| Attorney-in-Fact | ||||
| THE MANDATED LEAD ARRANGERS | ||||
| SIGNED by Magnus Lovstad | ) | |||
| for and on behalf of | ) | |||
| NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE | ) | /s/ Magnus Lovstad | ||
| Magnus Lovstad | ||||
| Director | ||||
| SIGNED by P. R. Vogelzang | ) | |||
| for and on behalf of | ) | |||
| ABN AMRO BANK N.V. | ) | P. R. Vogelzang | ||
| Authorised signatory | ||||
| SIGNED by Geir Bakkelund | ) | |||
| for and on behalf of | ) | |||
| NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK | ) | /s/ Geir Bakkelund | ||
| Geir Bakkelund | ||||
| Asset Finance + Leasing | ||||
| SIGNED by Jean Philippe Poirier | ) | |||
| for and on behalf of | ) | |||
| BNP PARIBAS S.A. | ) | |||
| /s/ Jean Philippe Poirier | ||||
| Jean Philippe Poirier | ||||
| Managing Director | ||||
182
| SIGNED by D. Grant | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| ING BANK N.V., LONDON BRANCH | ) | |
| /s/ D. Grant | ||
| Authorised signatory | ||
| SIGNED by Gabriela Menager | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| CREDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK | ) | |
| /s/ Gabriela Menager | ||
| Authorised signatory | ||
| THE BOOKRUNNER | ||
| SIGNED by Magnus Lovstad | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE | ) | |
| /s/ Magnus Lovstad | ||
| Magnus Lovstad Director | ||
| THE LENDERS | ||
| SIGNED by Magnus Lovstad | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE | ) | |
| /s/ Magnus Lovstad | ||
| Magnus Lovstad Director | ||
| SIGNED by P. R. Vogelzang | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| ABN AMRO BANK N.V. | ) | |
| /s/ P. R. Vogelzang | ||
| Authorised signatory | ||
| SIGNED by Geir Bakkelund | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK | ) | |
| /s/ Geir Bakkelund | ||
| Geir Bakkelund Asset Finance Leasing. | ||
183
| SIGNED by Jean Philippe Poirier | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| BNP PARIBAS S.A. | ) | |
| /s/ Jean Philippe Poirier | ||
| Jean Philippe Poirier | ||
| SIGNED by D. Grant | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| ING BANK N.V., LONDON BRANCH | ) | |
| /s/ D. Grant | ||
| Authorised signatory | ||
| SIGNED by Gabriela Ménager | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| CREDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT | ) | |
| BANK | ||
| /s/ Gabriela Ménager | ||
| Authorised signatory | ||
| THE AGENT | ||
| SIGNED by Oliver Webber | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE | ) | |
| /s/ Oliver Webber | ||
| Attorney-in-Fact | ||
| THE SECURITY AGENT | ||
| SIGNED by Oliver Webber | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| NORDEA BANK ABP, FILIAL I NORGE | ) | |
| /s/ Oliver Webber | ||
| Attorney-in-Fact | ||
| THE SUSTAINABILITY AGENT | ||
| SIGNED by P. R. Vogelzang | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| ABN AMRO BANK N.V. | ) | |
| /s/ P. R. Vogelzang | ||
| Authorised signatory | ||
184
| THE HEDGING PROVIDERS | ||
| SIGNED by Magnus Lovstad | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| NORDEA BANK ABP | ) | |
| /s/ Magnus Lovstad | ||
| Magnus Lovstad Director | ||
| SIGNED by P. R. Vogelzang | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| ABN AMRO BANK N.V. | ) | |
| /s/ P. R. Vogelzang | ||
| Authorised signatory | ||
| SIGNED by Geir Bakkelund | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK | ) | |
| /s/ Geir Bakkelund | ||
| Geir Bakkelund Asset Finance + Leasing | ||
| SIGNED by Jean Philippe Poirier | ) | |
| for and on behalf of | ) | |
| BNP PARIBAS | ) | |
| /s/ Jean Philippe Poirier | ||
| Jean Philippe Poirier Managing Director |
185
Exhibit 8.1
Subsidiaries and equity method investments of Navigator Holdings Ltd.
| Corporation Name |
Percentage Ownership as of December 31, |
Country of Incorporation |
Subsidiary of Limited Liability Company | |||||
| 2021 | 2022 | |||||||
| - Navigator Gas US, L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Delaware (USA) | Service company | ||||
| - Navigator Gas L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Holding company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Aries L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Atlas L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Aurora L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Centauri L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Ceres L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Ceto L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Copernico L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Capricorn L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Eclipse L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Europa L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Galaxy L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Gemini L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Genesis L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Glory L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Grace L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Gusto L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Jorf L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Leo L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Libra L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Luga L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Magellan L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Mars L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Neptune L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Nova L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Oberon L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Pegasus L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Phoenix L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Prominence L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Saturn L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Scorpio L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Taurus L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Triton L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Umbrio L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Venus L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Virgo L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Yauza L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ NGT Services (UK) Ltd |
100% | 100% | England | Service company | ||||
| ~ NGT Services (Poland) Sp. z o.o. |
100% | 100% | Poland | Service company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Gas Ship Management Ltd. |
100% | 100% | England | Service company | ||||
| ~ Falcon Funding PTE Ltd. |
100% | 100% | Singapore | Service company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Gas Invest Ltd. |
100% | 100% | England | Investment company | ||||
| - PT. Navigator Khatulistiwa |
49% | 49% | Indonesia | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Greater Bay Gas Corporation |
| 60% | Liberia | Investment company | ||||
| - Pacific Jupiter L.L.C. |
| 100% | Liberia | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| - Pacific Mars L.L.C. |
| 100% | Liberia | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| Corporation Name |
Percentage Ownership as of December 31, |
Country of Incorporation |
Subsidiary of Limited Liability Company | |||||
| 2021 | 2022 | |||||||
| - Pacific Mercury L.L.C. |
| 100% | Liberia | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| - Pacific Saturn L.L.C. |
| 100% | Liberia | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| - Pacific Venus L.L.C. |
| 100% | Liberia | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| - Navigator Terminals L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Marshall Islands | Investment company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Terminal Invest Ltd |
100% | 100% | England | Investment company | ||||
| - Navigator Ethylene Terminals L.L.C. |
100% | 100% | Delaware (USA) | Investment company | ||||
| - Othello Shipping Company S.A. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Holding company | ||||
| ~ Adela Shipping & Finance Inc. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Adriaticgas Shipping Inc. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Alameda Shipping Inc. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Arcticgas Shipping Inc. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Atlantic Shipping Inc. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Balearicgas Shipping Inc. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Beringgas Shipping Inc. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Celticgas Shipping Inc. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Falstria Shipping Company S.A. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Fionia Shipping Company S.A. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Highland Shipping Company S.A. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Lalandia Shipping Company S.A. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Langelandia Shipping Company S.A. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Mona Shipping Company S.A. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Pacificgas Shipping Inc. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Pentland Shipping Company S.A. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Zeeland Shipping Company S.A. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| ~ Zelandia Shipping Company S.A. |
100% | 100% | Panama | Vessel-owning company | ||||
| - Navigator Gas (Denmark) ApS (Ultragas ApS) |
100% | 100% | Denmark | Service company | ||||
| ~ Navigator Gas Ship Management (Denmark) ApS (Ultraship ApS) |
100% | 100% | Denmark | Service company | ||||
| - Ultraship Crewing Philippines Inc. |
25% | 25% | Philippines | Service company | ||||
| - Navigator Support Services (Philippines) Inc. |
40% | 40% | Philippines | Service company | ||||
| - Dan-Unity CO2 A/S |
50% | 50% | Denmark | Investment company | ||||
| - Unigas International B.V. |
33% | 33% | Netherlands | Service company | ||||
| - Unigas Trading B.V. |
100% | 100% | Netherlands | Service company | ||||
| - Unigas International Inc. |
100% | 100% | Texas (USA) | Service company | ||||
| - Unigas International Limited |
100% | 100% | Hong Kong | Service company | ||||
Exhibit 12.1
Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Mads Peter Zacho, Chief Executive Officer, certify that:
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Navigator Holdings Ltd. (the company);
| 1. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
| 3. | The companys other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have: |
| a. | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| b. | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| c. | Evaluated the effectiveness of the companys disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
| d. | Disclosed in this report any change in the companys internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the companys internal control over financial reporting; and |
| 4. | The companys other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the companys auditors and the audit committee of the companys board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
| a. | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the companys ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
| b. | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the companys internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: April 4, 2023
| By: | /s/ Mads Peter Zacho | |
| Name: | Mads Peter Zacho | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 12.2
Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Niall Nolan, Chief Financial Officer, certify that:
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Navigator Holdings Ltd. (the company);
| 1. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
| 3. | The companys other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have: |
| a. | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| b. | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| c. | Evaluated the effectiveness of the companys disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
| d. | Disclosed in this report any change in the companys internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the companys internal control over financial reporting; and |
| 4. | The companys other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the companys auditors and the audit committee of the companys board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
| a. | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the companys ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
| b. | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the companys internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: April 4, 2023
| By: | /s/ Niall Nolan | |
| Name: | Niall Nolan | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
Exhibit 13.1
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code), the undersigned officer of Navigator Holdings Ltd., a Marshall Islands company (the Company), hereby certifies that:
The Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the Report) of the Company fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Dated: April 4, 2023
| By: | /s/ Mads Peter Zacho | |
| Name: | Mads Peter Zacho | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 13.2
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code), the undersigned officer of Navigator Holdings Ltd., a Marshall Islands company (the Company), hereby certifies that:
The Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the Report) of the Company fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Dated: April 4, 2023
| By: | /s/ Niall Nolan | |
| Name: | Niall Nolan | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 15.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-197321) of Navigator Holdings Ltd. of our report dated April 4, 2023, relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in this Form 20-F.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Watford, United Kingdom
April 4, 2023
Exhibit 15.2
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement (Form S-8 No. 333-197321) of Navigator Holdings Ltd. of our report dated May 17, 2021, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Navigator Holdings Ltd. for the year ended December 31, 2020 included in this Annual Report (Form 20-F) of Navigator Holdings Ltd. for the year ended December 31, 2022
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
London, United Kingdom
April 4, 2023
Exhibit 15.3
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 333- 197321 on Form S-8 of our report dated February 14, 2023, relating to the 2022, 2021 and 2020 financial statements of Enterprise Navigator Ethylene Terminal LLC appearing in this Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Houston, Texas
April 4, 2023