d778657_6-k.htm
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
6-K
REPORT
OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the
month of June 2007
Commission
File Number 000-50859
TOP
TANKERS INC.
|
(Translation
of registrant’s name into English)
|
|
1,
Vassilissis Sofias Meg. Alexandrou Str.
151
24 Maroussi
Greece
|
(Address
of principal executive office)
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under
cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form
20-F
[ X] Form 40-F [_]
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted
by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ___
Note:
Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form
6-K
if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security
holders.
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted
by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)7: ___
Note:
Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form
6-K
if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign
private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction
in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the
registrant's “home country”), or under the rules of the home country exchange on
which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the report or other
document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been
distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a material
event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission
filing on EDGAR.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained
in
this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant
to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes
[_] No [ X ]
If
“Yes”
is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): ________.
INFORMATION
CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT
Included
in this report on Form 6-K as Exhibit 1 is the Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Position and Performance Operating and Financial Review
and Prospects of TOP Tankers (the “Company”) for the Three Months Ended March
31, 2007.
We
have
entered into a sales agreement with Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. as sales
agent
pursuant to which we may, from time to time, sell shares in at the market and
negotiated transactions with a total market price of up to $30,000,000. The
commissions will be between 2.75% and 4.0%. The
sales
agreement is attached to this report as Exhibit 2.
This
Form 6-K is hereby incorporated by reference to
the Company’s registration statement on Form F-3 filed on August 1, 2005
(Registration No. 333-127086).
Exhibit
1
MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND PERFORMANCE OPERATING AND
FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
The
following is a discussion of our financial condition and results of operations
for the quarters ended March 31, 2007 and 2006. You should read this section
together with the condensed financial information for the periods mentioned
below.
We
are a
provider of international seaborne transportation services, carrying refined
petroleum products and crude oil. As of March 31, 2007, our fleet
size was 24 vessels, or 2.5 million dwt (including 18 vessels sold and leased
back for a period of 5 to 7 years) as compared to 27 vessels, or 2.6 million
dwt
on March 31, 2006.
We
actively manage the deployment of our fleet between spot market voyage charters,
which generally last from several days to several weeks, and time charters,
which can last up to several years. A spot market voyage charter is generally
a
contract to carry a specific cargo from a load port to a discharge port for
an
agreed upon total amount. Under spot market voyage charters, we pay voyage
expenses such as port, canal and fuel costs. A time charter is generally a
contract to charter a vessel for a fixed period of time at a specified daily
rate. Under time charters, the charterer pays voyage expenses such as port,
canal and fuel costs. Under both types of charters, we pay for vessel operating
expenses, which include crew costs, provisions, deck and engine stores,
lubricating oil, insurance, maintenance and repairs, as well as for commissions
on gross charter rates. We are also responsible for the vessel's intermediate
and special survey costs.
Vessels
operating on time charters provide more predictable cash flows, but can yield
lower profit margins than vessels operating in the spot market during periods
characterized by favorable market conditions. Vessels operating in the spot
market generate revenues that are less predictable but may enable us to capture
increased profit margins during periods of improvements in vessel rates although
we are exposed to the risk of declining vessel rates, which may have a
materially adverse impact on our financial performance. We are constantly
evaluating opportunities to increase the number of our vessels deployed on
time
charters, but only expect to enter into additional time charters if we can
obtain contract terms that satisfy our charter rate criteria.
Operating
Results
For
discussion and analysis purposes only, we evaluate performance using time
charter equivalent, or TCE1, revenues.
TCE revenues are voyage revenues minus voyage expenses. Voyage expenses
primarily consist of port, canal and fuel costs that are unique to a particular
voyage, which would otherwise be paid by a charterer under a time charter,
as
well as commissions. We believe that presenting voyage revenues net of voyage
expenses neutralizes the variability created by unique costs associated with
particular voyages or the deployment of vessels on the spot market and presents
a more accurate representation of the revenues generated by our
vessels.
We calculate daily TCE rates by dividing TCE revenues by voyage days for
the
relevant time period. TCE revenues include demurrage revenue, which represents
fees charged to charterers associated with our spot market voyages when
the
charterer exceeds the agreed upon time required to load or discharge a
cargo. We
calculate daily direct vessel operating expenses and daily general and
administrative expenses for the relevant period by dividing the total expenses
by the aggregate number of calendar days that we owned each tanker for
the
period.
1
Consistent with
general practice in the tanker shipping industry, time charter equivalent,
or
TCE, is a measure of the average daily revenue performance of a vessel
on a per
voyage basis. Our method of calculating TCE is consistent with industry
standards and is determined by dividing net voyage revenue by voyage days
for
the relevant time period. Net voyage revenues are voyage revenues minus
voyage
expenses. Voyage expenses primarily consist of port, canal and fuel costs
that
are unique to a particular voyage, which would otherwise be paid by the
charterer under a time charter contract, as well as third party charter
commissions.
The
following table reflects calculation of the TCE (all amounts are expressed
in
thousands of U.S. dollars, except for Average Daily Time Charter Equivalent
amounts and Total Voyage Days):
|
|
Three
months ended March 31, 2006
|
|
|
Three
months ended March 31, 2007
|
|
Dollars
in thousands
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Voyage
revenues
|
|
$ |
101,746
|
|
|
$ |
73,988
|
|
Less
Voyage expenses
|
|
|
(16,234 |
) |
|
|
(14,942 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Time
charter equivalent revenue
|
|
$ |
85,512
|
|
|
$ |
59,046
|
|
Total
voyage days
|
|
|
2,348
|
|
|
|
1,995
|
|
Average
Daily Time Charter Equivalent
|
|
$ |
36,419
|
|
|
$ |
29,597
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We
depreciate our tankers on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful
lives determined to be 25 years from the date of their initial delivery
from the shipyard. Depreciation is based on cost less the estimated residual
value. We capitalize the total costs associated with a dry-docking, as deferred
charges, and amortize these costs on a straight-line basis over the period
when
the next dry-docking becomes due, which is typically 30 months. Regulations
and/or incidents may change the estimated dates of next dry
dockings.
In
March
2006, we sold the M/T Faithful, M/T Spotless, M/T Vanguard, M/T Doubtless,
M/T Flawless, M/T Timeless, M/T Priceless and M/T Stopless and
entered into bareboat charter agreements to leaseback the vessels, for a period
of five years.
The
charter back agreements are accounted for as operating leases and the gains
on
each sale were deferred and are being amortized to income over the lease
periods; lease payments relating to the bareboat charters of the vessels are
separately reflected in the consolidated statements of income. According to
the
terms of the 2006 sale and leaseback transactions, 10% of the gross aggregate
sales price, $55.0 million, has been withheld by the purchaser and will be
paid
to us not later than three months after the end of bareboat charter period
or
upon the resale of the vessels by the purchaser, if earlier. Consequently,
we
recognized this receivable from the purchaser at a discounted amount upon the
sale of the vessels, classified as a non-current asset, and will accrete the
balance of the receivable to the full $55.0 million, through deferred gain
on
sale and leaseback of vessels over the period of the bareboat charter or upon
the resale of the vessels by the purchaser, if earlier. The purpose of the
hold-back is to serve as security for the due and punctual performance and
observance of all the terms and conditions from our behalf under the
agreements.
The
purpose of the sale and leaseback transactions that were completed in 2006
was
to take advantage of the high asset price environment prevailing in the market
at the time while maintaining commercial and operational control of the vessels
for a period of five to seven years. The majority of the net proceeds of the
transaction, after debt repayment, were distributed as a special dividend to
the
Company’s shareholders.
Adjusted
EBITDA2, decreased by
$44.8 million, or 80.6%, to $10.8 million for the first quarter of
2007 compared to $55.6 million for the first quarter of 2006. This decrease
is due to the decrease of voyage revenues to $74 million in 2007 from $101.7
million in 2006 and an increase in charter hire expense to $29.5 million in
2007
from $7.6 million in 2006, as a result of the 13 sale and leaseback transactions
concluded in 2006. Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation is presented in Appendix
A.
Fleet
Employment Profile
As
of
March 31, 2007, the Company’s fleet size was 24 vessels, or 2.5 million dwt
(including 18 vessels sold and leased back for a period of 5 to 7 years) as
compared to 27 vessels, or 2.6 million dwt on March 31, 2006.
2Adjusted
EBITDA
represents earnings before interest and finance costs, interest income, taxes,
depreciation and amortization. Interest and finance costs, net includes interest
expense, interest income, amortization of deferred financing fees, other
financial costs, gain or loss from termination of swaps and swap fair value
changes. Adjusted EBITDA is included in this report because we believe it
provides investors with an understanding of operating performance over
comparative periods. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute
for operating income or net income (all as determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles) for the purpose of analyzing our
operating performance, as Adjusted EBITDA is not defined by generally accepted
accounting principles. We presented Adjusted EBITDA, however, because it is
commonly used by certain investors and analysts to analyze and compare companies
on the basis of operating performance.
In
April
2007, the Company sold the Suezmax tanker M/T Errorless for $52.5 million,
resulting in a book gain of $2.0 million, which will be recognized in the second
quarter of 2007. The vessel was delivered to its new owners on April 30,
2007.
The
following key indicators serve to highlight changes in the financial performance
of the Company’s fleet during the first quarters ended March 31, 2006 and
2007:
|
|
Suezmax
Fleet
|
|
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
|
|
(In
U.S. Dollars unless otherwise stated)
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Change
|
|
Total
available ship days
|
|
|
1,170
|
|
|
|
1,170
|
|
|
|
0.0 |
% |
Total
operating days
|
|
|
1,112
|
|
|
|
1,084
|
|
|
|
-2.5 |
% |
Utilization
|
|
|
95.0 |
% |
|
|
92.6 |
% |
|
|
-2.5 |
% |
TCE
per ship per day under spot voyage charter
|
|
$ |
61,802
|
|
|
$ |
38,565
|
|
|
|
-37.6 |
% |
TCE
per ship per day under time charter
|
|
$ |
39,108
|
|
|
$ |
35,123
|
|
|
|
-10.2 |
% |
Average
TCE
|
|
$ |
52,741
|
|
|
$ |
37,428
|
|
|
|
-29.0 |
% |
Other
vessel operating expenses per ship per day
|
|
$ |
7,634
|
|
|
$ |
8,231 |
* |
|
|
7.8 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Handymax
Fleet
|
|
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
|
|
(In
U.S. Dollars unless otherwise stated)
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Change
|
|
Total
available ship days
|
|
|
1,260
|
|
|
|
990
|
|
|
|
-21.4 |
% |
Total
operating days
|
|
|
1,236
|
|
|
|
911
|
|
|
|
-26.3 |
% |
Utilization
|
|
|
98.1 |
% |
|
|
92.0 |
% |
|
|
-6.2 |
% |
TCE
per ship per day under spot voyage charter
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
TCE
per ship per day under time charter
|
|
$ |
21,735
|
|
|
$ |
20,279
|
|
|
|
-6.7 |
% |
Average
TCE
|
|
$ |
21,735
|
|
|
$ |
20,279
|
|
|
|
-6.7 |
% |
Other
vessel operating expenses per ship per day
|
|
$ |
5,397
|
|
|
$ |
6,576
|
|
|
|
21.9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Fleet
|
|
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
|
|
(In
U.S. Dollars unless otherwise stated)
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Change
|
|
Total
available ship days
|
|
|
2,430
|
|
|
|
2,160
|
|
|
|
-11.1 |
% |
Total
operating days
|
|
|
2,348
|
|
|
|
1,995
|
|
|
|
-15.0 |
% |
Utilization
|
|
|
96.6 |
% |
|
|
92.4 |
% |
|
|
-4.4 |
% |
TCE
per ship per day under spot voyage charter
|
|
$ |
61,802
|
|
|
$ |
38,565
|
|
|
|
-37.6 |
% |
TCE
per ship per day under time charter
|
|
$ |
26,326
|
|
|
$ |
24,467
|
|
|
|
-7.1 |
% |
Average
TCE
|
|
$ |
36,419
|
|
|
$ |
29,597
|
|
|
|
-18.7 |
% |
Other
vessel operating expenses per ship per day
|
|
$ |
6,474
|
|
|
$ |
7,473 |
* |
|
|
15.4 |
% |
General
and administrative expenses per ship per day**
|
|
$ |
3,024
|
|
|
$ |
2,406
|
|
|
|
-20.4 |
% |
*
The daily Other vessel operating expenses for the Suezmax Fleet and
Total Fleet include approximately $332 and $180, respectively for the ballast
tank cleaning process of the M/T Faultless, that are not expected to be covered
by the insurance underwriters.
**
The
daily General and Administrative expenses include approximately $1,630 and
$218
for the first quarter of 2006 and 2007, respectively, of non-cash restricted
stock expense, general compensation provision, specific legal and auditing
fees
and depreciation for other fixed assets.
During
the first quarter of 2007, the Company had approximately 64% of the fleet’s
operating days on long-term employment contracts. Fifteen of the Company’s 24
tankers were on time charter contracts with an average term of over three years
with all but three of the time charters including profit sharing
agreements.
On
May
16, 2007, the Company announced a new time charter contract with a major South
American oil company for its Suezmax M/T Flawless. The vessel is expected to
earn approximately $44,500 per day, on a TCE basis, for one year and charterers
have the option to extend the contract for an additional one year.
The
Company has secured approximately 63% of the estimated operating days for 2007
under time charter contracts. At the same time, the seven Suezmaxes that will
operate in the spot market, together with the profit sharing component of the
time charter contracts, expose approximately 55% of the Company's estimated
operating days for 2007 to spot rates, which may be potentially
higher.
Suezmax
Fleet:
During
the first quarter of 2007, nine of the Company’s Suezmax tankers operated in the
spot market, earning on average $38,565 per vessel per day on a time charter
equivalent (TCE) basis.
During
the first quarter of 2007, four of the Company’s Suezmax tankers operated under
time charter contracts, earning on average $35,123 per vessel per day on a
time
charter equivalent (TCE) basis.
As
of the
date of this filing, the Company’s Suezmax fleet for the second quarter of 2007
has been fixed for employment as follows:
Spot:
52%
of operating days at average daily TCE of $45,000
Total
(Spot and time charter, including profit sharing): 67% of operating days at
average daily TCE of $41,000.
Handymax
Fleet:
All
of
the Company’s Handymax tankers operate under long term employment agreements
that provide for a base rate and additional profit-sharing.
During
the first quarter of 2007, including the profit-sharing allocated to the Company
the Handymax fleet earned on average $20,279 per vessel per day on a time
charter equivalent (TCE) basis.
As
of the
date of this filing, the Company’s Handymax fleet for the second quarter of 2007
has been fixed for 66% of its operating days at average daily TCE of
$21,000.
The
following table presents the Company’s expected fleet list and
employment:
|
|
Dwt
|
Year
Built
|
Charter
Type
|
Expiry
|
Daily
Base Rate
|
Profit
Sharing
Above
Base Rate (2007)
|
Daily
Charter Hire Expense
|
|
12
Suezmax Tankers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TimelessC
|
154,970
|
1991
|
Spot
|
|
|
|
$25,000
|
|
FlawlessC
|
154,970
|
1991
|
Time
Charter
|
Q3/2008
A
|
$44,500
|
None
|
$25,000
|
|
StoplessC
|
154,970
|
1991
|
Spot
|
|
|
|
$25,000
|
|
PricelessC
|
154,970
|
1991
|
Time
Charter
|
Q3/2008
|
$35,000
|
50%
thereafter
|
$25,000
|
|
FaultlessD
|
154,970
|
1992
|
Spot
|
|
|
|
$23,450
|
|
NoiselessD
|
149,554
|
1992
|
Time
Charter
|
Q2/2010
|
$36,000
1
|
None
|
$23,450
|
|
StainlessD
|
149,599
|
1992
|
Spot
|
|
|
|
$23,450
|
|
EndlessD
|
135,915
|
1992
|
Time
Charter
|
Q4/2008
E
|
$36,500
|
None
|
$23,450
|
|
LimitlessD
|
136,055
|
1993
|
Spot
|
|
|
|
$23,450
|
|
StormlessF
|
150,038
|
1993
|
Time
Charter
|
Q4/2009
|
$36,900
|
None
|
|
|
Ellen
PF
|
146,286
|
1996
|
Spot
|
|
|
|
|
|
EdgelessF
|
147,048
|
1994
|
Spot
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11
Handymax Tankers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VictoriousB
|
47,084
|
1991
|
Time
Charter
|
Q3/2009
|
$14,000
|
50%
thereafter
|
$11,500
|
|
SovereignB
|
47,084
|
1992
|
Time
Charter
|
Q3/2009
|
$14,000
|
50%
thereafter
|
$11,600
|
|
InvincibleB
|
47,084
|
1992
|
Time
Charter
|
Q3/2009
|
$14,000
|
50%
thereafter
|
$11,500
|
|
RelentlessB
|
47,084
|
1992
|
Time
Charter
|
Q3/2009
|
$14,000
|
50%
thereafter
|
$11,500
|
|
VanguardC
|
47,084
|
1992
|
Time
Charter
|
Q1/2010
|
$15,250
|
50%
thereafter
|
$13,200
|
|
RestlessB
|
47,084
|
1991
|
Time
Charter
|
Q4/2009
|
$15,250
|
50%
thereafter
|
$11,600
|
|
SpotlessC
|
47,094
|
1991
|
Time
Charter
|
Q1/2010
|
$15,250
|
50%
thereafter
|
$13,200
|
|
DoubtlessC
|
47,076
|
1991
|
Time
Charter
|
Q1/2010
|
$15,250
|
50%
thereafter
|
$13,200
|
|
FaithfulC
|
45,720
|
1992
|
Time
Charter
|
Q2/2010
|
$14,500
|
100%
first $500 + 50% thereafter
|
$13,200
|
|
DauntlessF
|
46,168
|
1999
|
Time
Charter
|
Q1/2010
|
$16,250
|
100%
first $1,000 + 50% thereafter
|
|
|
Ioannis
PF
|
46,346
|
2003
|
Time
Charter
|
Q4/2010
|
$18,000
|
100%
first $1,000 + 50% thereafter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Tanker DWT
|
2,304,253
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A.
Charterers have option to extend contract for an additional one-year
period
|
|
B.
Vessels sold and leased back in August and September 2005 for a period
of
7 years
|
|
C.
Vessels sold and leased back in March 2006 for a period of 5
years
|
|
D.
Vessels sold and leased back in April 2006 for a period of 7
years
|
|
E.
Charterers have option to extend contract for an additional four-year
period
|
|
F.
Owned vessels
|
|
|
|
1.
Base rate will change to $35,000 in Q2 2008 until
expiration.
|
|
Credit
Facility
As
of
March 31, 2007, TOP Tankers had total indebtedness under senior secured credit
facilities of $225.7 million with its lenders, the Royal Bank of Scotland
(“RBS”) and HSH Nordbank (“HSH”), maturing in 2015 and 2013
respectively.
As
of
March 31, 2007, the Company has three interest rate swap agreements with RBS
for
the notional amounts of $31.7 million, $10 million and $10 million for a period
of four, seven and seven years, respectively. Under these agreements the
interest rate is fixed at an effective annual rate of 4.66% (in addition to
the
applicable margin), 4.23% and 4.11%, respectively. The Company also has one
interest rate swap agreement with HSH for the notional amount of $40.2 million
for a period of five years, at a fixed interest rate of 4.80% in addition to
the
applicable margin. In addition, the Company has two interest rate swap
agreements with Deutsche Bank and Egnatia Bank for the notional amounts of
$50
million and $10 million for a period of seven and seven years, respectively.
Under these agreements the interest rate is fixed at an effective annual rate
of
4.45% and 4.76%, respectively. The two swaps with RBS for notional amounts
of
$10 million and $10 million, the swap with Deutsche Bank for a notional amount
of $50 million and the swap with Egnatia Bank for a notional amount of $10
million, include steepening terms based on the 2 and 10 year swap difference,
which is calculated quarterly in arrears. The interest rate for the remaining
balance of the loans is LIBOR, plus the margin. On March 31, 2007,
the Company’s ratio of indebtedness to total capital was approximately
53.0%.
Quarter
ended March 31, 2007 compared to the quarter ended March 31,
2006
VOYAGE
REVENUES--Voyage revenues decreased by $27.7 million, or 27.2%, to
$74.0 million for 2007 compared to $101.7 million for 2006. This
decrease is due to the decrease of operating days to 1,995 days in 2007 from
2,348 days in 2006 as a result of the decrease in the average number of vessels
and the decrease in the utilization rate of vessels as a result of the
dry-dockings of M/T Stopless and M/T Vanguard and the ballast tanks cleaning
process of M/T Faultless. Specifically, during the first quarter of 2007 the
average number of vessels operating was 24.0, down from 27.0 for the respective
period in 2006. Also, during the first quarter of 2007 the average TCE rate
was
lower by 18.7% or $29,597 from $36,419 in the respective period in
2006.
VOYAGE
EXPENSES--Voyage expenses primarily consist of port charges, including canal
dues, bunkers (fuel costs) and commissions that are unique to a particular
voyage. These expenses, which are paid by the charterer under a time charter
contract, as well as commissions, decreased by $1.3 million, or 8.0%, to
$14.9 million for 2007 compared to $16.2 million for the respective
period in 2006. This decrease is primarily due to the decrease of our average
number of vessels to 24.0 from 27.0 in the first quarter of 2006, as well as
a
decrease in the average market price for bunkers from the respective period
in
2006.
NET
VOYAGE REVENUES--Net voyage revenues, which are voyage revenues minus voyage
expenses, decreased by $26.5 million, or 31.0%, to $59.0 million for
the first quarter of 2007 compared to $85.5 million the first quarter of
the prior year. This decrease is the result of the decrease of our total voyage
days for the fleet to 1,995 days in the first quarter of 2007 from 2,348 days
in
the respective period of 2006, due to the decrease of our average number of
vessels to 24.0 in 2007 from 27.0 in 2006 as well as the lower charter rates
realized on our vessels during the first quarter of 2007.
|
|
Three
months ended March 31, 2006
|
|
|
Three
months ended March 31, 2007
|
|
Dollars
in thousands
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Voyage
revenues
|
|
$ |
101,746
|
|
|
$ |
73,988
|
|
Less
Voyage expenses
|
|
|
(16,234 |
) |
|
|
(14,942 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
voyage revenues
|
|
$ |
85,512
|
|
|
$ |
59,046
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
following provides a further analysis of our net voyage revenues for the first
quarter of 2007 as compared to the first quarter of the prior year:
Spot
Charter Revenues:
·
|
Our
tankers operated an aggregate of 726 days, or 36.4%, in the spot
market during the first quarter of 2007, compared to 668 days, or
28.4%, in the spot market during the respective period of the prior
year.
|
·
|
The
average daily spot rate was $38,565 for the first quarter of 2007
compared
to the average daily spot rate of $61,802 for the respective period
in
2006.
|
·
|
Revenues
from our vessels’ spot trading decreased by 32.2% to $28.0 million,
compared to $41.3 million in 2006. Spot market revenues were 47.4%
of net
voyage revenue in the first quarter of 2007, compared to 48.3% of
net
voyage revenue generated in the spot market during the prior
year.
|
Time
Charter Revenues:
·
|
Our
tankers operated an aggregate of 1,269 days, or 63.6%, on time
charter contracts during the first quarter of 2007, compared to 1,680
days, or 71.6%, on time charter contracts during the prior
year.
|
·
|
The
average daily time charter rate was $24,467 for the first quarter
of 2007
compared to average daily time charter rate of $26,326 for the respective
period in the prior year.
|
·
|
Revenues
from our time charter contracts decreased by 29.9% for the first
quarter
of 2007 to $31.0 million, compared to $44.2 million in the respective
period of 2006. Time charter revenues were 52.6%, of net voyage revenue
in
the first quarter of 2007, compared to 51.7% during the respective
period
of 2006.
|
·
|
CHARTER
HIRE EXPENSE--Charter hire expense, which refers to lease payments
for the
18 vessels sold and leased back, which are treated as operating leases,
increased by $21.9 million, or 288.1%, to $29.5 million for the
first quarter of 2007 compared to $7.6 million for the respective
period of the prior year. This increase is due to the 3 sale and
leaseback
transactions for a total of 13 vessels which were concluded in mid
March
(8 vessels) and April (5 vessels)
2006.
|
OTHER
VESSEL OPERATING EXPENSES--Other vessel operating expenses, which include crew
costs, insurance, repairs and maintenance, spares, consumable stores and taxes
increased by $0.4 million, or 2.6%, to $16.1 million for the first quarter
of 2007 compared to $15.7 million for the respective period of the prior
year. The increase is attributed mainly to repairs and maintenance expenses
of
approximately $1.1 million incurred in the first quarter of 2007 during the
dry-docking of two vessels. This increase was partly set off by the decrease
in
the number of calendar days to 2,160 in the first quarter of 2007 from 2,430
days in the respective period in 2006.
GENERAL
AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES-- General and administrative expenses, which include
all of our onshore expenses and sub-managers’ fees, decreased by
$2.1 million, or 28.8%, to $5.2 million for the first quarter of 2007
compared to $7.3 million for the respective period in the prior year. This
decrease is mainly due to the bonus compensation provision of $2.5 million
recorded in the first quarter of 2006. No similar bonus provision was made
in
the first quarter of 2007.
FOREIGN
CURRENCY GAINS OR LOSSES--We incurred a $29,000 foreign currency gain in the
first quarter of 2007 compared to a loss of $62,000 for the respective period
in
the prior year.
DEPRECIATION
AND AMORTIZATION--Depreciation and amortization, which include depreciation
of
tankers and amortization of dry dockings, decreased by $8.3 million, or
47.2%, to $9.3 million for the first quarter of 2007 compared to
$17.6 million for the prior year due to a lower number of owned vessels in
the first quarter of 2007 versus the similar period in 2006.
|
|
Three
months ended March 31, 2006
|
|
|
Three
months ended March 31, 2007
|
|
Dollars
in thousands
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vessels
depreciation expense
|
|
$ |
15,185
|
|
|
$ |
5,239
|
|
Amortization
of dry dockings
|
|
|
2,390
|
|
|
|
4,036
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
17,575
|
|
|
$ |
9,275
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This
decrease was due to the 13 sale and leaseback deals concluded during 2006 and
the sale of 3 vessels during the fourth quarter of 2006 which resulted in a
decrease in depreciation expense of $9.9 million. The sale and leasebacks were
treated as operating leases for financial reporting purposes. As a result the
vessels are not recorded as assets and therefore there is no depreciation
expense. The decrease was partially offset by an increase of $1.6 million in
the
amortization of dry dockings, due to the fact that 11 vessels were dry-docked
between March 31, 2006 and March 31, 2007.
AMORTIZATION
OF DEFERRED GAIN ON SALE AND LEASEBACK OF VESSELS--Amortization of deferred
gain
on sale and leaseback of vessels increased by $1.6 million, or 200.0%, to $2.4
million for the first quarter of 2007 compared to $0.8 million for the
respective period in 2006. This increase is due to the 13 sale and leaseback
transactions concluded in 2006.
OPERATING
INCOME--Operating income decreased by $36.6 million, or 96.3%, to $1.4 million
for the first quarter of 2007 compared to $38.0 million for the respective
period in 2006. This decrease is mainly due to:
1.
|
The
decrease in voyage revenues which decreased by $27.7 million, or
27.2%, to $74.0 million for 2007 compared to $101.7 million for
2006. This decrease is due to the decrease of operating days to 1,995
days
in 2007 from 2,348 days in 2006 as a result of the decrease in the
average
number of vessels as well as the lower charter rates realized by
our
vessels during the first quarter of
2007.
|
2.
|
The
13 sale and leaseback transactions concluded in 2006, which resulted
in
the increase of charter hire expense by $21.9 million, or 288.1%, to
$29.5 million for the first quarter of 2007 compared to
$7.6 million for the respective period of the prior year. This
increase was partly set off by the decrease in the depreciation
expense.
|
3.
|
INTEREST
AND FINANCE COSTS--Interest and finance costs decreased by $6.7 million,
or 83.7%, to $1.3 million for the first quarter of 2007 compared
to
$8.0 million for the prior year. This decrease is mainly due to the
repayment of $170.7 million in secured debt associated with five
vessels
sold and leased back in April 2006 and three vessels sold in the
fourth
quarter of 2006.
|
INTEREST
INCOME--Interest income increased by $0.6 million, or 216.1%, to $0.8 million
for the first quarter of 2007 compared to $0.3 million for the prior year.
This
increase is due to the increase in cash and cash equivalents, associated mainly
with the proceeds from the sale of vessels in 2006.
OTHER
NET--We recognized an expense of $0.01 million for the first quarter of 2007
versus an expense of $0.004 million during 2006.
NET
INCOME--Net income was $0.9 million for the first quarter of 2007 compared
to
net income of $30.2 million for the respective period in the prior
year.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Cash
flows provided by operating activities decreased 88.9% for the three months
ended March 31, 2007 to $4.9 million compared to $44.1 million for the same
period in 2006. This decrease was attributed to a decrease in net income of
$29.3 million down to $0.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 from
$30.2 million for the respective period in 2006 as well as an increase in
dry-docking payments of $6.8 million, up from $0 for the respective period
in
2006. The decrease in net income was attributed to a decrease in
voyage revenues by $27.7 million, or 27.2%, to $74.0 million for 2007
compared to $101.7 million for 2006. This decrease is due to the decrease
of operating days to 1,995 days in 2007 from 2,348 days in 2006 as a result
of
the decrease in the average number of vessels. Additionally, operating expenses
increased mainly due to the 13 sale and leaseback transactions concluded in
2006, which resulted in the increase of charter hire expense by
$21.9 million, or 288.1%, to $29.5 million for the first quarter of
2007 compared to $7.6 million for the respective period of the prior year.
This increase was partly set off by the decrease in the depreciation
expense.
Cash
flows used by investing activities were $16.0 million for the three months
ended
March 31, 2007, which mainly represents the first installment for two out of
six
new-buildings ordered by the Company in 2006. For the same period of 2006,
the
Company had generated cash from investing activities of $251.3 million mainly
as
a result of the sale and leaseback of eight vessels completed in March
2006.
For
the
three months ended March 31, 2007, the Company had net cash inflows from
financing activities of $5.8 million as a result of the drawdown of $10.0
million from the existing revolving credit facility, to partially finance the
installment for the 2 new-buildings, and a principal repayment of $4.3 million
for outstanding debt obligations. For the same period of 2006, the Company
had
net cash outflows from financing activities of $288.0 million as a result of
a
debt repayment of $141.0 million and a dividend payment of $147.0
million.
At
March
31, 2007, the Company had a revolving credit facility outstanding of $93.0
million and a loan outstanding of $132.7 million:
a)
Revolving Credit Facility: In January 2007, $10.0 million was drawn down from
the revolving credit facility to partially finance the construction of two
new-buildings. The outstanding amount will be fully repaid in 2015. As of March
31, 2007, the undrawn amount amounted to $65.0 million. The revolving credit
facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin.
b)
Loan:
The loan of $132.7 million outstanding as at March 31, 2007, was drawn down
in
2005 and originally amounted to $154.0 million. It was obtained to partially
finance the acquisitions of the vessels Stormless, Ellen P., Errorless and
Edgeless. The loan consisted of 2 tranches of $130.0 million (Tranche A) and
$24.0 million (Tranche B).
TOP
TANKERS INC.
|
|
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
|
|
|
|
DECEMBER
31, 2006 AND MARCH 31, 2007 (UNAUDITED)
|
|
|
|
(Expressed
in thousands of U.S. Dollars - except share and per share
data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December
31, 2006
|
|
|
March
31, 2007
|
|
ASSETS: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT
ASSETS:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
|
29,992
|
|
|
|
24,617
|
|
Accounts
receivable trade, net
|
|
|
27,187
|
|
|
|
19,057
|
|
Insurance
claims
|
|
|
247
|
|
|
|
1,613
|
|
Inventories
(Note 4)
|
|
|
6,460
|
|
|
|
6,540
|
|
Advances
to various creditors
|
|
|
3,707
|
|
|
|
4,657
|
|
Prepayments
and other
|
|
|
5,206
|
|
|
|
5,275
|
|
Vessel
held for sale
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
50,013
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
72,799
|
|
|
|
111,772
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FIXED
ASSETS:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advances
for vessels under construction (Note 5)
|
|
|
28,683
|
|
|
|
43,461
|
|
Vessels,
net (Note 6)
|
|
|
306,418
|
|
|
|
251,166
|
|
Other
fixed assets, net (Note 3)
|
|
|
3,195
|
|
|
|
4,226
|
|
Total fixed assets
|
|
|
338,296
|
|
|
|
298,853
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER
NON CURRENT ASSETS:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred
charges, net (Note 7)
|
|
|
31,850
|
|
|
|
34,605
|
|
Long-term
receivables (Note 11)
|
|
|
29,790
|
|
|
|
30,685
|
|
Restricted
cash (Notes 8 and 11)
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
Total
assets
|
|
|
522,735
|
|
|
|
525,915
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT
LIABILITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
portion of long-term debt (Note 8)
|
|
|
16,588
|
|
|
|
32,440
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
|
14,991
|
|
|
|
12,043
|
|
Accrued
liabilities (Note 9)
|
|
|
7,354
|
|
|
|
8,372
|
|
Unearned
revenue
|
|
|
1,676
|
|
|
|
3,105
|
|
Total
current liabilities
|
|
|
40,609
|
|
|
|
55,960
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTEREST
RATE SWAPS (Note 8)
|
|
|
3,384
|
|
|
|
1,673
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LONG-TERM
DEBT, net of current portion (Note 8)
|
|
|
201,464
|
|
|
|
191,444
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DEFERRED
GAIN ON SALE AND LEASEBACK OF VESSELS (Note 11)
|
|
|
79,423
|
|
|
|
77,885
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 10)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
STOCKHOLDERS
EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred
stock, $0,01 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; none
issued
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Common
stock, $0,01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized;
32,429,105
shares
issued and outstanding at December 31, 2006 and March 31,
2007
|
|
|
324
|
|
|
|
324
|
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
116,755
|
|
|
|
116,906
|
|
Accumulated
other comprehensive loss (Notes 8 and 12)
|
|
|
(6 |
) |
|
|
(6 |
) |
Retained
earnings
|
|
|
80,782
|
|
|
|
81,729
|
|
Total stockholders equity
|
|
|
197,855
|
|
|
|
198,953
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
liabilities And stockholders' equity
|
|
|
522,735
|
|
|
|
525,915
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed
financial statements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOP
TANKERS INC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
|
|
|
|
|
|
FOR
THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006 AND 2007
(UNAUDITED)
|
|
|
|
(Expressed
in thousands of U.S. Dollars - except share and per share
data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
REVENUES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Voyage
revenues (Note 1)
|
|
|
101,746
|
|
|
|
73,988
|
|
EXPENSES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Voyage
expenses (Note 14)
|
|
|
16,234
|
|
|
|
14,942
|
|
Charter
hire expense (Note 11)
|
|
|
7,638
|
|
|
|
29,498
|
|
Amortization
of deferred gain on sale and leaseback of vessels (Note
11)
|
|
|
(812 |
) |
|
|
(2,433 |
) |
Other
vessel operating expenses (Note 14)
|
|
|
15,731
|
|
|
|
16,141
|
|
Depreciation
(Note 6)
|
|
|
15,185
|
|
|
|
5,239
|
|
Amortization
of dry-docking costs (Note 7)
|
|
|
2,390
|
|
|
|
4,036
|
|
Sub-Manager
fees
|
|
|
641
|
|
|
|
606
|
|
Other
general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
6,707
|
|
|
|
4,592
|
|
Foreign
currency (gains) / losses, net
|
|
|
62
|
|
|
|
(29 |
) |
Operating
income
|
|
|
37,970
|
|
|
|
1,396
|
|
OTHER
INCOME (EXPENSES):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
and finance costs (Notes 8 and 16)
|
|
|
(8,066 |
) |
|
|
(1,262 |
) |
Interest
income
|
|
|
261
|
|
|
|
825
|
|
Other,
net
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
(12 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
other income (expenses), net
|
|
|
(7,809 |
) |
|
|
(449 |
) |
Net
Income
|
|
|
30,161
|
|
|
|
947
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings
per share, basic and diluted (Note 13)
|
|
|
1.05
|
|
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average common shares outstanding, basic
|
|
|
28,099,212
|
|
|
|
32,331,129
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average common shares outstanding, diluted
|
|
|
28,140,381
|
|
|
|
32,357,064
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed
financial statements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOP
TANKERS INC.
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|
FOR
THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006 AND 2007
(UNADUITED)
|
|
(Expressed
in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
Flows from (used in) Operating Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income
|
|
|
30,161
|
|
|
|
947
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
provided
by operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
15,251
|
|
|
|
5,366
|
|
Amortisation
of dry-docking costs
|
|
|
2,390
|
|
|
|
4,036
|
|
Amortisation
of deferred financing costs
|
|
|
1,588
|
|
|
|
81
|
|
Stock-based
compensation expense
|
|
|
1,396
|
|
|
|
151
|
|
Change
in fair value of interest rate swaps
|
|
|
(248 |
) |
|
|
(1,711 |
) |
Amortisation
of deferred gain on sale and leaseback of vessels
|
|
|
(812 |
) |
|
|
(2,433 |
) |
Loss
on sale of other fixed assets
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
61
|
|
Gain
on sale of vessels
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payments
for dry-docking
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(6,791 |
) |
(Increase)
Decrease in:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable
|
|
|
5,493
|
|
|
|
8,130
|
|
Insurance
claims
|
|
|
55
|
|
|
|
(1,366 |
) |
Inventories
|
|
|
(678 |
) |
|
|
(80 |
) |
Advances
to creditors
|
|
|
(2,091 |
) |
|
|
(950 |
) |
Prepayments
and other
|
|
|
(3,208 |
) |
|
|
(69 |
) |
Increase
(Decrease) in:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
|
(3,413 |
) |
|
|
(2,948 |
) |
Accrued
liabilities
|
|
|
(1,132 |
) |
|
|
1,018
|
|
Unearned
revenue
|
|
|
(684 |
) |
|
|
1,430
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Cash from Operating Activities
|
|
|
44,068
|
|
|
|
4,872
|
|
Cash
Flows from (used in) Investing Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advances
for vessels under construction
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(14,778 |
) |
Vessel
acquisitions and improvements
|
|
|
(18 |
) |
|
|
-
|
|
Net
proceeds from sale of vessels
|
|
|
251,502
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Net
proceeds from sale of other fixed assets
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
28
|
|
Acquisition
of other fixed assets
|
|
|
(147 |
) |
|
|
(1,247 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Cash from (used in) Investing Activities
|
|
|
251,337
|
|
|
|
(15,997 |
) |
Cash
Flows from (used in) Financing Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds
from long-term debt
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
Principal
payments of long-term debt
|
|
|
(6,369 |
) |
|
|
(4,250 |
) |
Repayment
of long-term debt
|
|
|
(134,627 |
) |
|
|
-
|
|
Payment
of financing costs
|
|
|
(63 |
) |
|
|
-
|
|
Dividends
paid
|
|
|
(146,951 |
) |
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Cash from (used in) Financing Activities
|
|
|
(288,010 |
) |
|
|
5,750
|
|
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
7,395
|
|
|
|
(5,375 |
) |
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
|
17,462
|
|
|
|
29,992
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
|
24,857
|
|
|
|
24,617
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL
CASH FLOW INFORMATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
paid
|
|
|
6,644
|
|
|
1,443
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed
financial statements.
|
|
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed
in thousands of United States Dollars – except share and per share data, unless
otherwise stated)
1.
Basis of Presentation and General Information:
The
accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements include the accounts
of
TOP Tankers Inc. (formerly Ocean Holdings Inc.) (“TOP”) and its wholly owned
subsidiaries (collectively the “Company”) and have been prepared in accordance
with U.S generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim
financial information. They also have been prepared in accordance with rules
and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and should be read in
conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended
December 31, 2006. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information
and
notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.
These
consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared on the same
basis
as the financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F
for the year ended December 31, 2006 and, in the opinion of the management,
reflect all adjustments (consisting solely of adjustments of a normal recurring
nature) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position,
results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The operating
results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007 are not necessarily
indicative of the results that might be expected for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2007.
As
of
March 31, 2007, the Company operated twenty four vessels, of which five were
owned, eighteen were leased pursuant to sales and leaseback arrangements
discussed in Note 11 and one was held for sale as discussed in Note 6. As of
March 31, 2007, fourteen of the vessels were operating under long-term time
charters, nine vessels were operating under voyage charters and one of the
vessels was undergoing her scheduled dry-docking.
2.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements:
FASB
Interpretation No. 48: In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No.
48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (FIN 48), which supplements
SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”, by defining the confidence level
that a tax position must meet in order to be recognized in the financial
statements. The Interpretation requires that the tax effects of a position
be
recognized only if it is “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained based solely on
its technical merits as of the reporting date. The more-likely-than-not
threshold represents a positive assertion by management that a company is
entitled to the economic benefits of a tax position. If a tax position is not
considered more-likely-than-not to be sustained based solely on its technical
merits, no benefits of the position are to be recognized. Moreover, the
more-likely-than-not threshold must continue to be met in each reporting period
to support continued recognition of a benefit. At adoption, companies must
adjust their financial statements to reflect only those tax positions that
are
more-likely-than-not to be sustained as of the adoption date. Any necessary
adjustment would be recorded directly to retained earnings in the period of
adoption and reported as a change in accounting principle. This Interpretation
is effective as of the beginning of the first fiscal year beginning after
December 15, 2006. In 2007, the adoption of FIN 48 did not have a material
impact on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the
Company.
2.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements –
(continued):
FSP
No. AUG AIR-1: In September 2006, the FASB Staff issued FSP No. AUG
AIR-1, “Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities,” (“FSP No. AUG
AIR-1”). FSP No. AUG AIR-1 prohibits the use of the accrue-in-advance method of
accounting for planned major maintenance activities in annual and interim
financial reporting periods, if no liability is required to be recorded for
an
asset retirement obligation based on a legal obligation for which the event
obligating the entity has occurred. FSP No. AUG AIR-1 also requires disclosures
regarding the method of accounting for planned major maintenance activities
and
the effects of implementing the FSP. The guidance in FSP No. AUG AIR-1 is
effective for the Company as of January 1, 2007. In
2007, the adoption of FSP No. AUG AIR-1 did not have a material impact on the
financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the
Company.
3. Transactions
with Related Parties:
|
(a)
|
Pyramis
Technical Co. S.A.: On July 9, 2004, the Company entered
into an agreement to lease office space in Athens, Greece from Pyramis
Technical Co. SA, which is wholly owned by the father of the Company’s
Chief Executive Officer. The agreement was for duration of six years
beginning July 2004 with a lessee’s option for an extension of four years.
The monthly rental was Euro 39,000 and effective January 1, 2006
was
adjusted for inflation to Euro 40,365. Other general and administrative
expenses for the three months period ended March 31, 2006 include
$ 144 of
rentals paid to Pyramis Technical Co. S.A. In January 2006 the Company
entered into an agreement to lease office space in Athens, Greece,
with an
unrelated party. The change in office location, due to necessary
refurbishments, took place in October 2006; therefore, the Company
paid to
Pyramis Technical Co. S.A the October rent plus four rentals as
termination compensation. In April and August 2006, the Company entered
into an agreement with Pyramis Technical Co. S.A. for the renovation
of
the new premises. The total contracted cost totaled Euro 1,844,360,
of
which Euro 1,935,680.52 ($2,496) were paid up to March 31, 2007.
The
amount of $2,699 related to renovation works, discussed above, is
included
in Other fixed assets, net, in the accompanying 2007 consolidated
balance
sheet and is depreciated over the lease period, which is 12
years.
|
4.
Inventories:
Inventories
at December 31, 2006 and at March 31, 2007 are as follows:
|
|
December
31, 2006
|
|
|
March
31, 2007
|
|
Bunkers
|
|
$ |
4,624
|
|
|
$ |
4,719
|
|
Lubricants
|
|
|
1,319
|
|
|
|
1,330
|
|
Consumable
stores
|
|
|
517
|
|
|
|
491
|
|
|
|
$ |
6,460
|
|
|
$ |
6,540
|
|
5.
Advances for Vessels under Construction:
In
October 2006, the Company entered into an agreement for the construction of
six
handymax Product / Chemical tankers. The total contract price is $285,380 and
is
payable in five installments as follows: 15% is payable upon arrangement of
the
Refund Guarantee, 15% is payable upon commencement of steel cutting, 20% is
payable upon keel laying, 20% is payable upon launching and 30% upon delivery
of
the vessel. The vessels’ construction will be partially financed from long-term
bank financing discussed in Note 8. The first installment for four of the six
vessels of $28,638 was paid in December 2006. In January 2007, the first
installment for the remaining two vessels of $14,169 was paid and is also
included in Advances for Vessels under Construction, in the accompanying
consolidated balance sheets. The Advances for Vessels under Construction as
of
December 31, 2006 and March 31, 2007 are analyzed as follows:
|
|
December
31, 2006
|
|
|
March
31, 2007
|
|
Construction
installments
|
|
$ |
28,638
|
|
|
$ |
42,807
|
|
Capitalized
interest
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
|
591
|
|
Capitalized
expenses
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
$ |
28,683
|
|
|
$ |
43,461
|
|
The
vessels are expected
to be delivered during the first six months of 2009.
6.
Vessels, net:
The
movement in vessels cost and accumulated depreciation during the three-months
ended March 31, 2007 is as follows:
|
|
Vessel
Cost
|
|
|
Accumulated
Depreciation
|
|
|
Vessels,
net
|
|
Balance,
January 1, 2007
|
|
$ |
331,324
|
|
|
$ |
(24,906 |
) |
|
$ |
306,418
|
|
-
Vessel held for sale
|
|
|
(55,638 |
) |
|
|
5,625
|
|
|
|
(50,013 |
) |
-
Depreciation
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(5,239 |
) |
|
|
(5,239 |
) |
Balance,
March 31, 2007
|
|
$ |
275,686
|
|
|
$ |
(24,520 |
) |
|
$ |
251,166
|
|
On
March
30, 2007, the Company entered into an agreement to sell the vessel Errorless
to
an unrelated party for a consideration of $52,500. The gain from the sale of
approximately $2,000 was recognized upon the delivery of the vessel to the
buyer, on April 30, 2007.
7. Deferred
Charges:
The
movement during the three-month period ended March 31, 2007 is as
follows:
|
|
Dry-Docking
|
|
Balance,
January 1, 2007
|
|
$ |
31,850
|
|
-
Additions
|
|
|
6,791
|
|
-
Amortization
|
|
|
(4,036 |
) |
Balance,
March 31, 2007
|
|
$ |
34,605
|
|
8.
Long-term Debt:
The
amounts in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets are analyzed as
follows:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
March
31,
|
|
Borrower(s)
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
The
Company
|
|
$ |
218,052
|
|
|
$ |
223,884
|
|
Less-
current portion
|
|
|
(16,588 |
) |
|
|
(32,440 |
) |
Long-term
portion
|
|
$ |
201,464
|
|
|
$ |
191,444
|
|
The Company:
At
December 31, 2006, the Company had a revolving credit facility outstanding
of
$83,000 and a loan outstanding of $137,000. At March 31, 2007, the Company
had a
revolving credit facility outstanding of $93,000 and a loan outstanding of
$132,750.
Revolving
Credit Facility: In January 2007, $10,000 was drawn down from the
revolving credit facility to partially finance the construction of two vessels
(Note 5). The outstanding amount under the revolving credit facility of $93,000
is payable in 10 semi-annual installments of approximately $6,045 starting
on
April 30, 2011 plus a balloon payment of $32,550 payable together with the
final
installment, if no further amounts are drawn. As of March 31, 2007, the undrawn
amount amounted to $65,000. The revolving credit facility bears interest at
LIBOR plus a margin.
Loan:
The loan of $132,750 was drawn down in 2005 and originally amounted to $154,000.
It was obtained to partially finance the acquisitions of the vessels Stormless,
Ellen P., Errorless and Edgeless (Note 6). The loan consisted of 2 tranches
of
$130,000 (Tranche A) and $24,000 (Tranche B). Tranche A was payable in 32
consecutive quarterly installments of $2,750 each, starting on March 13, 2006
plus a balloon payment of $42,000 payable together with the final installment.
Tranche B was payable in 16 consecutive quarterly installments of $1,500 each,
starting on March 13, 2006. The Company paid a fee of 1% upon signing of the
agreement, or $1,540.
In
April
2007, following the sale of Errorless (Note 6), $22,000 was prepaid ($5,500
against Tranche A and $16,500 as a full prepayment of Tranche B). As a result
of
the prepayment, Tranche A is payable in 27 consecutive quarterly installments
of
$2,610, starting on June 13, 2007 plus a balloon payment of $40,280 payable
together with the final installment. The loan bears interest at LIBOR plus
a
margin (as of March 31, 2007 0.8% for Tranche A and 1.35% for Tranche
B).
The
loans
are secured as follows:
●
|
First
priority mortgages over the Company’s owned vessels; |
●
|
Assignments
of insurance and earnings of the owned mortgaged
vessels; |
●
|
Corporate
guarantee of TOP Tankers Inc; |
●
|
Pledge
over the earnings accounts of the owned
vessels. |
Debt
Covenants: The loans contain financial covenants, calculated on a
consolidated basis, requiring the Company to ensure that the aggregate market
value of the mortgaged vessels at all times exceed 140% of the aggregate
outstanding principal amounts under the loans, to ensure that total assets
minus
total debt will not at any time be less than $250,000 and to maintain liquid
funds which at any time be not less than the higher of $10,000 or $500 per
vessel. As a result, the minimum liquid funds required under the loan covenants
of $12,000 on a consolidated basis, as of December 31, 2006 and March 31,
2007,
are included in restricted cash in the accompanying consolidated balance
sheets.
The Company is permitted to pay dividends under the loans so long as they
are
not in default of a loan covenant or if such dividend payment would not result
in a default of a loan covenant. The Company’s management believes that as of
March 31, 2007 the Company is in compliance with all loan
covenants.
Interest
Expense: Interest expense for the three-month periods ended March
31, 2006 and 2007, amounted to $7,433 and $2,684 respectively and is included
in
interest and finance costs in the accompanying consolidated statements of income
(Note 16).
Scheduled
Principal
Repayments: The principal payments required to be made after March
31, 2007, are as follows:
Period
|
|
Amount
|
|
April
1, 2007 – March 31, 2008
|
|
$ |
32,440
|
|
April
1, 2008 – March 31, 2009
|
|
|
10,440
|
|
April
1, 2009 – March 31, 2010
|
|
|
10,440
|
|
April
1, 2010 – March 31, 2011
|
|
|
10,440
|
|
April
1, 2011 and thereafter
|
|
|
161,990
|
|
|
|
|
225,750
|
|
Less
unamortized financing fees
|
|
|
(1,866 |
) |
|
|
$ |
223,884
|
|
|
Interest
Rate Swaps: The fair value of the interest rate swaps in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheets are analyzed as
follows:
|
SWAP
|
|
Notional
Amount
|
|
Period
|
Effective
Date
|
|
Interest
Rate Payable
|
|
|
Fair
Value - Asset
(Liability)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December
31, 2006
|
|
|
March
31, 2007
|
|
(i)
|
|
$ |
31,753
|
|
4
years
|
June
30, 2005
|
|
|
4.66 |
% |
|
$ |
283
|
|
|
$ |
228
|
|
(ii)
|
|
$ |
40,241
|
|
5
years
|
January
30, 2006
|
|
|
4.80 |
% |
|
$ |
273
|
|
|
$ |
131
|
|
(iii)
|
|
$ |
10,000
|
|
7
years
|
September
30, 2006
|
|
|
4.23 |
% |
|
$ |
(569 |
) |
|
$ |
(225 |
) |
(iv)
|
|
$ |
10,000
|
|
7
years
|
September
30, 2006
|
|
|
4.11 |
% |
|
$ |
(514 |
) |
|
$ |
(167 |
) |
(v)
|
|
$ |
50,000
|
|
7
years
|
September
29, 2006
|
|
|
4.45 |
% |
|
$ |
(2,383 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,363 |
) |
(vi)
|
|
$ |
10,000
|
|
7
years
|
July
3, 2006
|
|
|
4.76 |
% |
|
$ |
(474 |
) |
|
$ |
(277 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(3,384 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,673 |
) |
|
As
of December 31, 2006 and March 31, 2007, the swaps’ fair values, based on
third party valuations, are a net liability of $3,384 and $1,673,
respectively. The change in fair value of the swap agreements was
recorded
in interest and finance costs (Note
16).
|
9.
Accrued Liabilities:
The
account consisted
of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
on long-term debt
|
|
$ |
630
|
|
|
$ |
1,871
|
|
Vessel
operating and voyage expenses
|
|
|
5,455
|
|
|
|
5,715
|
|
General
and administrative expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
10. Commitments
and Contingencies:
As
at
March 31, 2007 the Company had under construction six handymax Product /
Chemical tankers scheduled for delivery between January and June 2009, at a
total cost of $285,380. The remaining expected payments as of March 31, 2007
are
$128,321 in 2008 and $114,252 in 2009.
In
March
and April 2006, the Company entered into Sale and Leaseback agreements for
13
vessels for a period of five to seven years. According to the terms of the
transactions, 10% of the gross aggregate sales price, $55,000, has been withheld
by the purchaser to serve as security for the due and punctual performance
and
observance of all the terms and conditions by the Company under the agreements.
Not later than three months after the end of bareboat charter period or upon
the
resale of the vessels by the purchaser, if earlier, $47,000 out of the $55,000
will become payable to the Company. According to the agreement with one of
the
owners-lessors for four vessels, the owner-lessor may forfeit a payment of
up to
$8,000, or may be required to pay up to $16,000, based on the residual value
of
these four vessels.
During
December 2006, the Company was named defendant in various putative class action
securities law suits brought in the United States District Court, Southern
District of New York. The Company maintains a directors and officers liability
insurance which covers the Company and its indemnified directors for up to
$20,000. The deductible of this policy of $250 was expensed during 2006.
Management believes any additional litigation costs or settlement to be covered
by the insurance policy.
11.
|
Sale
and Leaseback of Vessels:
|
The
Company entered into sales and leaseback transactions in 2005 and 2006 as
follows:
|
(a)
|
In
August and September 2005, the Company sold the vessels Restless,
Sovereign, Relentless, Invincible and Victorious and realized a total
gain
of $17,159. The Company entered into bareboat charter agreements
to
leaseback the same five vessels for a period of seven years. The
charter
back agreements are accounted for as operating leases and the gain
on the
sale was deferred and is being amortized to income over the seven-year
lease period with the amortization of $613 and $613 included in
Amortization of deferred gain on sale and leaseback of vessels in
the
accompanying 2006 and 2007 consolidated statements of income,
respectively. During the three months periods ended March 31, 2006
and
2007, lease payments relating to the bareboat charters of the vessels
were
$5,193 and $5,193, respectively and are included in Charter hire
expense
in the 2006 and 2007 accompanying consolidated statements of
income.
|
|
(b)
|
In
March 2006, the Company sold the vessels Flawless, Timeless, Priceless,
Stopless, Doubtless, Vanguard, Faithful and Spotless to two unrelated
parties (buyers/lessors) for $292,000; of which 90% or $262,800 was
received upon closing of the sale. Simultaneous with the sale of
the eight
vessels, the Company entered into bareboat charter agreements to
leaseback
the same eight vessels for a period of five years with no lease renewal
option. Another unrelated party assumed in June 2006 the rights and
obligations of one of the buyers/lessors through a novation agreement
with
no other changes to the terms and conditions of the
agreements.
|
The
obligations of the Company under the respective bareboat charter agreements
were
secured by the unpaid sales price representing 10% of the total sales price
or
$29,200. The unpaid sales price is payable to the Company within three months
after the expiry of the individual bareboat charter agreements or termination
of
the said agreements, if earlier. The collection of the unpaid sales price is
secured by a second priority mortgage on the corresponding vessels with the
Company having no recourse to the owners or investors of the
buyers/lessors.
In
addition, the agreements allow the buyers/lessors to sell the vessels covered
by
the bareboat charter agreements. In respect of the agreements with
one of the buyers/lessors, in the event of the sale of the vessels prior to
the
termination of the bareboat charter agreements corresponding to four vessels,
the corresponding unpaid sales price, up to a maximum amount of $2,000 for
each
vessel, shall be used to cover any shortfall between the net sales proceeds
and
the sum of the: (i) outstanding amount under financing obtained by the buyer
in
connection with the acquisition of the vessel, and (ii) the principal amount
of
the investment made by the investors of the buyer/lessor.
|
The
bareboat charter agreements are accounted for as operating leases
and the
gain on the sale of $23,840 was deferred and is being amortized to
income
over the five-year lease period. The deferred gain was calculated
by
deducting from the sales price the carrying amount of the vessels,
the
expenses related to the sale and the unpaid sales price (which is
treated
as a residual value guarantee and will be recognized in income upon
collection). The amortization of the deferred gain amounted to $199
and
$1,192 for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2006 and 2007,
respectively, and is included in Amortization of deferred gain on
sale and
leaseback of vessels in the accompanying consolidated statements
of
income. The total lease payments for the three-month periods ended
March
31, 2006 and 2007 related to the foregoing leases were $2,445 and
$13,752,
respectively and are included in Charter Hire Expense in the accompanying
consolidated statements of income.
|
|
(c)
|
In
April 2006, the Company sold the vessels Limitless, Endless, Stainless,
Faultless and Noiseless to an unrelated party (buyer/lessor) for
$258,000;
of which 90% or $232,200 was received upon closing of the sale.
Simultaneous
with the sale of the five vessels, the Company entered into bareboat
charter agreements to leaseback the five vessels for a period of
seven
years with no lease renewal option.
|
The
obligations of the Company under the respective bareboat charter agreements
were
secured by the unpaid sales price representing 10% of the total sales price
or
$25,800. The unpaid sales price is payable to the Company within three months
after the expiry of the individual bareboat charter agreements or upon
termination of the said agreements, if earlier. The collection of the unpaid
sales price is secured by a second priority mortgage on the corresponding
vessels with the Company having no recourse to the shareholders (owners) of
the
buyer/lessor.
The
bareboat charter agreements are accounted for as operating leases and the gain
on the sale of $17,580 was deferred and is being amortized to income over the
seven-year lease period. The deferred gain was calculated by deducting from
the
sales price the carrying amount of the vessels, the expenses related to the
sale
and the unpaid sales price (which is treated as a residual value guarantee
and
will be recognized in income upon collection). The amortization of the deferred
gain amounted to $628 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007 and is
included in Amortization of deferred gain on sale and leaseback of vessels
in
the accompanying consolidated statements of income. The total lease payments
for
the three-month period ended March 31, 2007 related to the foregoing leases
were
$10,553 and are included in Charter Hire Expense in the accompanying
consolidated statements of income.
The
Company’s future minimum lease payments required to be made after March 31,
2007, related to the foregoing bareboat charter agreements, are as
follows:
Period
|
|
Amount
|
|
April
1, 2007 – December 31, 2007
|
|
$ |
89,367
|
|
Year
ending December 31, 2008
|
|
|
118,982
|
|
Year
ending December 31, 2009
|
|
|
118,865
|
|
Year
ending December 31, 2010
|
|
|
118,865
|
|
Year
ending December 31, 2011 and thereafter
|
|
|
142,952
|
|
|
|
$ |
589,031
|
|
The
sale
and leaseback transactions entered into in 2006 contain financial covenants,
calculated on a consolidated basis, requiring the Company to ensure that the
net
assets value of the Company’s vessels (owned and those covered by bareboat
charter agreements) at all times exceed $125,000 and book equity at all times
exceed $75,000. Furthermore, a minimum amount of $20,000 through December 15,
2006 and $25,000 thereafter and until the final date of the bareboat charters,
shall be maintained on deposit by the Company. The Company during the bareboat
charter period will maintain consolidated cash balances of at least $50,000,
including the $20,000 / $25,000, mentioned above. The $50,000 required to be
maintained is presented separately as restricted cash.
As
disclosed above, a portion of the sales price (representing 10% of the gross
aggregate sales price) in the amount of $55,000 has been withheld by the
buyers/lessors and will be paid to the Company not later than three months
after
the end of bareboat charter period or upon the resale of the vessels, if
earlier. Consequently, such unpaid sales price was recorded as a receivable
at
its discounted amount. The discount will be accreted through deferred gain
on
sale and leaseback of vessels over the period of the bareboat charter agreements
or through the date of the resale of the vessels, if earlier. As of March 31,
2007 the present value of the unpaid sales price was $30,685.
Furthermore,
the Company has agreed with the lessors through a separate performance guarantee
deeds that it irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees the prompt and punctual
payment of all sums payable by the Company to the lessors under or pursuant
to
the agreements. The term of the performance guarantees covers the period of
the
leases.
12.
|
Stock
Incentive Plan:
|
On
July
1, 2005, January 3, 2006 and July 6, 2006 (the “grant dates”) the Company
granted restricted shares pursuant to the Company’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan
(“the Plan”), which was adopted in April 2005 to provide certain key persons
(the “Participants”), on whose initiatives and efforts the successful conduct of
the Company’s business depends, and who are responsible for the management,
growth and protection of the Company’s business, with incentives to: (a) enter
into and remain in the service of the Company, a Company’s subsidiary, or
Company’s joint venture, (b) acquire a proprietary interest in the success of
the Company, (c) maximize their performance, and (d) enhance the long-term
performance of the Company (whether directly or indirectly) through enhancing
the long-term performance of a Company subsidiary or Company joint venture.
A
total of 1,000,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under
the
Plan, which is administered by the Company’s Board of Directors. The granted
shares have no exercise price and constitute a bonus in nature.
The
Company’s Board of Directors administers the Plan and, on July 1, 2005,
identified 45 key persons (including the Company’s CEO and other 8 officers and
independent members of the Board) to whom shares of restricted common stock
of
the Company (the “Shares”) were granted. For this purpose 249,850 new shares
were granted, out of which 190,000 shares were granted to the Company’s CEO,
48,300 shares to 8 officers and independent members of the Board and the
remaining 11,550 shares were granted to 36 employees. From the total of 59,850
shares granted to officers, independent members of the Board and employees,
1,250 shares were forfeited prior to the vesting date.
On
January 3, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors identified 29 key persons
(including the Company’s CEO and other 8 officers and independent members of the
Board) to whom shares of restricted common stock of the Company (the “Shares”)
were granted. For this purpose 125,000 new shares were granted, out of which
80,000 shares were granted to the Company’s CEO, 38,000 shares to 8 officers and
independent members of the Board and the remaining 7,000 shares were
granted to 20 employees. From the total of 45,000 shares granted to officers,
independent members of the Board and employees, 1,100 shares were forfeited
prior to the vesting date.
On
July
6, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors identified 60 key persons (including
the Company’s CEO and other 8 officers and independent members of the Board) to
whom shares of restricted common stock of the Company (the “Shares”) were
granted. For this purpose 320,000 new shares were granted, out of which 221,250
shares were granted to the Company’s CEO, 68,000 shares to 8 officers and
independent members of the Board and the remaining 30,750 shares were
granted to 51 employees. From the total of 98,750 shares granted to officers,
independent members of the Board and employees, 1,750 shares were forfeited
up
to December 31, 2006. There were no forfeitures during the first quarter of
2007.
The
“Restricted Stock Agreements” were signed between the Company and the
Participants on the respective grant dates. Under these agreements, the
Participants have the right to receive dividends and the right to vote the
Shares, subject to the following restrictions:
|
i.
|
Grants
to Company’s CEO. The Company’s CEO shall not sell, assign, exchange,
transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of or encumber
any of
the Shares other than to a company, which
is wholly owned by the Company’s CEO. The restrictions lapse on the
earlier of (i) one year from the grant date or (ii) termination of
the
Company’s CEO employment with the Company for any
reason.
|
ii.
|
Grants
to Other Participants. The Participants (officers, independent members
of
the Board and Company’s employees) shall not sell, assign, exchange,
transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of or encumber
any of
the Shares. The restrictions lapse on one year from the grant date
conditioned upon the Participant’s continued employment with the Company
from the date of the agreement (i.e. July 1, 2005, January 3, 2006,
or
July 6, 2006) until the date the restrictions lapse (the “restricted
period”).
|
As
the
shares granted to the Company’s CEO do not contain any future service vesting
conditions, all such shares are considered vested shares on the grant
date.
On
the
other hand, in the event another Participant’s employment with the Company
terminates for any reason before the end of the restricted period, that
Participant shall forfeit all rights to all Shares that have not yet vested
as
of such date of termination. Dividends earned during the restricted period
will
not be returned to the Company, even if the unvested shares are ultimately
forfeited. As these Shares granted to other Participants contain a time-based
service vesting condition, such shares are considered non-vested shares on
the
grant date.
A
summary
of the status of the Company’s vested and non-vested shares as of March 31, 2007
and movement during the three months ended March 31, 2007, is presented
below:
|
|
Number
of non-vested shares
|
|
|
Weighted
average grant date fair value per non-vested
share
|
|
As
at January 1, 2007
|
|
|
140,900
|
|
|
$ |
8.25
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
(43,900 |
) |
|
$ |
12.71
|
|
As
at March 31, 2007
|
|
|
97,000
|
|
|
$ |
6.23
|
|
|
|
Number
of vested shares
|
|
As
at January 1, 2007
|
|
|
549,850
|
|
Non-vested
shares granted in 2006, vested during 2007
|
|
|
43,900
|
|
As
at March 31, 2007
|
|
|
593,750
|
|
Effective
January 1, 2005, the Company adopted FASB Statement 123(R) to account for
share-based payments. As the Company did not have share-based compensation
arrangements prior to the date of adoption, all share-based compensation
provided to employees (and those provided to non-employee directors for their
services as directors) is recognized in accordance with the provisions of
Statement 123(R) and classified as Other general and administrative expenses
in
the consolidated income statement.
The
fair
value of each share granted on July 1, 2005, January 3, 2006 and July 6, 2006
were $15.82, $12.71 and $6.23, respectively, which are equal to the market
value
of the Company’s common stock on those dates. The grant date fair values of the
vested shares granted to the CEO amounted to $3,006, $1,017 and $1,378,
respectively and were recognized in full as compensation in the third quarter
of
2005, in the first quarter of 2006 and in the third quarter of 2006,
respectively, on the grant dates. The grant date fair values of the non-vested
shares granted to the remaining Participants, net of forfeitures, amounted
to
$927, $558 and $604, respectively and are being recognized ratably as
compensation in the consolidated income statements over the one-year vesting
period, of which $379 and $151 was recognized in the three-month periods ended
March 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively.
As
of
March 31, 2007, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested
share awards is $151, which is expected to be recognized by June 30,
2007.
The
dividends declared on shares granted under the Plan are recognized in the
financial statements as a charge to retained earnings, except for the dividends
declared on non-vested shares that are forfeited or expected to be forfeited
before the end of the vesting period. In that case, dividends declared on such
shares are recognized as additional compensation in the consolidated income
statement.
Due
to
the low historical employee turnover, the Company’s management assumes that none
of the non-vested shares will be forfeited before the end of the vesting
period.
The
amount of dividends on the granted shares, recognized as a charge to retained
earnings, is presented in the following table:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Dividends
|
|
Type
of Shares granted
|
|
Quarterly
Dividend per share
|
|
|
Special
Dividend per share
|
|
|
Paid
in Q1 2006
|
|
Vested
|
|
$ |
0.21
|
|
|
$ |
5.00
|
|
|
$ |
1,407
|
|
Non-vested
|
|
$ |
0.21
|
|
|
$ |
5.00
|
|
|
$ |
545
|
|
13. Earnings
Per Common Share:
All
shares issued (including non-vested shares issued under the Company's Incentive
Plan) are the Company’s common stock and have equal rights to vote and
participate in dividends. However, for the purposes of calculating basic
earnings per share, such non-vested shares are not considered outstanding until
the time-based vesting restriction has lapsed. Furthermore, dividends declared
during the year for non-vested shares are deducted from net income for purposes
of calculating net income available to common shareholders in computing basic
earnings per share.
For
purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share, dividends declared during
the year for non-vested shares are not deducted from net income since such
calculation assumes that non-vested shares were fully vested from the grant
date. However, the denominator of the diluted earnings per share calculation
includes the incremental shares assumed issued under the treasury stock method
weighted for the period the non-vested shares were outstanding.
We
have
excluded the dilutive impact of all 104,650 and 97,000 non-vested shares
outstanding as of March 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively, for purposes of
calculating diluted earnings per share for those periods because the effect
of
the application of the treasury stock method to such securities would be
anti-dilutive to basic earnings per share.
The
components of the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the
three month periods ended March 31, 2006 and 2007 are as follows:
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income as reported:
|
|
$ |
30,161
|
|
|
$ |
947
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less:
dividends declared during the period for non-vested shares
|
|
|
(545 |
) |
|
|
-
|
|
Net
income available to common shareholders
|
|
$ |
29,616
|
|
|
$ |
947
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average common shares outstanding, basic
|
|
|
28,099,212
|
|
|
|
32,331,129
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Add:
dilutive effect of non-vested shares
|
|
|
41,169
|
|
|
|
25,935
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average common shares outstanding, diluted
|
|
|
28,140,381
|
|
|
|
32,357,064
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings
per share, basic and diluted
|
|
$ |
1.05
|
|
|
$ |
0.03
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14. Voyage
and Other Vessel Operating Expenses:
The
amounts in the accompanying consolidated statements of income are as
follows:
Voyage
Expenses
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2006
|
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2007
|
|
Port
charges
|
|
$ |
3,797
|
|
|
$ |
4,292
|
|
Bunkers
|
|
|
8,962
|
|
|
|
8,562
|
|
Commissions
|
|
|
3,475
|
|
|
|
2,088
|
|
Total
|
|
$ |
16,234
|
|
|
$ |
14,942
|
|
Vessel
Operating Expenses
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2006
|
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2007
|
|
Crew
wages and related costs
|
|
$ |
6,688
|
|
|
$ |
6,374
|
|
Insurance
|
|
|
1,783
|
|
|
|
1,672
|
|
Repairs
and maintenance
|
|
|
3,773
|
|
|
|
4,303
|
|
Spares
and consumable stores
|
|
|
3,440
|
|
|
|
3,785
|
|
Taxes
|
|
|
47
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
Total
|
|
$ |
15,731
|
|
|
$ |
16,141
|
|
In
February 2007, a ballast tanks cleaning process was effected on the M/T
Faultless. The vessel resumed operations in March 2007. The Company incurred
approximately $1,857 in expenses associated with the cleaning process, which
are
included in repairs and maintenance expense for the three months ended March
31,
2007. These expenses have been partially offset by $1,469 of probable insurance
recoveries, which are expected to be received under our insurance policies
during the second quarter of 2007. We have recorded a receivable due from the
insurance company and is included in the balance sheet at March 31, 2007. The
Company is in the process of seeking additional insurance related recoveries
for
loss of hire during the repairs period, however, due to the uncertainty
regarding the claims no additional amounts have been recorded.
15. Leases:
In
January 2006, the Manager entered into an agreement to lease office space in
Athens, Greece, with an unrelated party. The office is located at 1, Vasilisis
Sofias & Megalou Alexandrou Street, 151 24 Maroussi, Athens, Greece. The
agreement is for duration of twelve years beginning May 2006 with a lessee’s
option for an extension of ten years. The monthly rental is Euro 120,000
adjusted annually for inflation increase plus 1%. Other general and
administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2007,
include $491 of office rentals. The annual minimum rentals payable under
non-cancelable operating leases after March 31, 2007 through May 1, 2018 before
any adjustment for inflation (approximately 3% annually) and annual increase
(1%), translated using the exchange rate of $/Euro at March 31, 2007
are:
Year
|
|
Amount
|
2007
|
|
$1,440
|
2008
|
|
1,921
|
2009
|
|
1,921
|
2010
|
|
1,921
|
2011
and thereafter
|
|
14,084
|
|
|
$21,287
|
In
February 2007, Top Tankers (U.K.) Limited entered into a lease agreement for
office space in London. The agreement is for duration of 9 months ending
November 2007. The monthly lease is GBP 5,300, payable monthly in
advance.
16. Interest
and Finance Costs:
The
amounts in the accompanying consolidated statements of income are as
follows:
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2006
|
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2007
|
|
Interest
on long-term debt
|
|
$ |
7,433
|
|
|
$ |
3,241
|
|
Less:
capitalized interest (Note 5)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(557 |
) |
Bank
charges
|
|
|
269
|
|
|
|
208
|
|
Non-qualifying
swaps’ fair value change
|
|
|
(1,224 |
) |
|
|
(1,711 |
) |
Amortization
and write-off of financing fees
|
|
|
1,588
|
|
|
|
81
|
|
Total
|
|
$ |
8,066
|
|
|
$ |
1,262
|
|
17. Subsequent
events:
a)
|
Bareboat
charter termination: Based on the Memorandum of Agreement
dated April 24, 2007, the owner and lessor of M/T Invincible agreed
to
sell the vessel to a third party. The Company and the lessor mutually
agreed to terminate the bareboat charter. The termination of the
bareboat
charter will become effective upon the vessel’s delivery to her new
owners, expected to take place in June
2007.
|
b)
|
Re-acquisition
of four vessels and bareboat charters termination: Based on
the Memoranda of Agreement dated May 23, 2007, the Company agreed
to
re-acquire four Suezmax tankers that it sold in 2006 in a sale and
lease-back transaction, and to terminate the respective bareboat
charters.
The four Suezmax tankers are Limitless (DWT 136,055 built 1993),
Endless (DWT 135,915 built 1992), Noiseless (DWT 149,554
built 1992) and Stainless (DWT 149,599 built 1992). The
re-acquisition price is $208,000 and will be financed by bank debt,
by the
early redemption of the seller’s credit associated with the 2006 sales and
lease back transactions and by existing cash balances. The
vessels were delivered on May 31,
2007.
|
c)
|
New
Credit Facility: On May 29 2007, the Company entered into a
credit facility agreement for the amount of $147,500 to partially
finance
the re-acquisition of four vessels mentioned above. The facility
has a
term of five years and will be repaid in twenty quarterly installments
starting August
31, 2007 as follows: i) eight installments of $7,437.5; ii) eight
installments of $5,000; iii) three installments of $4,500; and iv)
a
balloon payment of $34,500. The credit facility is subject to a 1%
arrangement fee paid on drawdown. The credit facility bears interest
at
LIBOR plus a margin.
|
CAPITALIZATION
TABLE
The
following table sets forth our
consolidated capitalization at March 31, 2007 and pro-forma as at March, 31
2007. There have been no significant adjustments to our
capitalization since March 31, 2007, as so adjusted.
(Expressed
in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
|
|
As
at March 31, 2007
|
|
|
As
at March 31, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Pro-forma)*
|
|
Debt:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
portion of long term debt
|
|
$ |
32,440
|
|
|
$ |
40,190
|
|
Total
long term debt, net of current portion
|
|
|
191,444
|
|
|
|
309,194
|
|
Total
debt
|
|
|
223,884
|
|
|
|
349,384
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’
equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
stock, $.01 par value; 100,000,000 million shares authorized;
32,429,105
issued and outstanding
|
|
|
324
|
|
|
|
324
|
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
116,906
|
|
|
|
116,906
|
|
Accumulated
other comprehensive loss loss
|
|
|
(6 |
) |
|
|
(6 |
) |
Retained
earnings
|
|
|
81,729
|
|
|
|
81,729
|
|
Total
stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
198,953
|
|
|
|
198,953
|
|
Total
capitalization
|
|
$ |
422,837
|
|
|
$ |
548,337
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
As of
March 31, 2007, taking into account the new credit facility of $147,500 for
the
re-acquisition of four Suezmax tankers and repayment of loan of $22,000 as
a
result of the sale of Errorless.
APPENDIX
A –RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA
ADJUSTED
EBITDA RECONCILIATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Expressed
in Thousands of U.S Dollars)
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
NET
INCOME
|
|
$ |
30,161
|
|
|
$ |
947
|
|
DEPRECIATION
AND AMORTIZATION*
|
|
|
17,641
|
|
|
|
9,403
|
|
INTEREST
AND FINANCE COSTS, NET
|
|
|
7,805
|
|
|
|
437
|
|
ADJUSTED
EBITDA
|
|
$ |
55,607
|
|
|
$ |
10,787
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
The first quarter of 2006 and 2007 includes $66 and $128,
respectively, of depreciation of other fixed assets, classified in
general
and administrative expenses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forward-Looking
Statements
Matters
discussed in this release may constitute forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future
events and financial performance and may include statements concerning plans,
objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying
assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical
facts.
The
forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions,
many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without
limitation, management's examination of historical operating trends, data
contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although
TOP Tankers believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because
these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and
contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our
control, TOP Tankers cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these
expectations, beliefs or projections.
Important
factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially
from
those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world
economies and currencies, general market conditions, including changes in
charter hire rates and vessel values, failure of a seller to deliver one or
more
vessels, failure of a buyer to accept delivery of a vessel, inability to procure
acquisition financing, changes in demand for oil and petroleum products, the
effect of changes in OPEC’s petroleum production levels and worldwide oil
consumption and storage, changes in demand that may affect attitudes of time
charterers, scheduled and unscheduled dry-docking, changes in our voyage and
operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry- docking and insurance costs,
changes in governmental rules and regulations including requirements for
double-hull tankers or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential
liability from pending or future litigation, domestic and international
political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents
and political events or acts by terrorists.
Risks
and
uncertainties are further described in reports filed by TOP Tankers with the
US
Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available in the SEC’s “EDGAR”
database on its website, www.sec.gov.
Exhibit
2
SALES
AGREEMENT
June
13,
2007
Deutsche
Bank Securities Inc.
60
Wall
Street
New
York,
New York 10005
Ladies
& Gentlemen:
TOP
Tankers Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation (the “Company”), wishes to confirm
its agreement with Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. as follows:
1. Issuance
and Sale of Shares. On the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement, the Company may issue and sell through you, as agent or principal,
such number of shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par
value per share (the “Common Stock”) as the Company and you may agree from time
to time.
2. Sales.
Each time that the Company wishes to issue and sell Shares hereunder (each,
a
“Sale”), it will so notify you and propose the terms on which it wishes to make
such Sales. If you agree to those terms or, after discussions with the Company,
to revised terms (which you may decline to do in your absolute discretion),
you
will issue to the Company a written notice (a “Sales Notice”) substantially in
the form attached as Schedule 1, setting forth the terms under which you
are
willing to sell Shares, including, without limitation, the maximum number
of
Shares to be sold, the manner or manners in which Sales are to be made, the
date
or dates on which such Sales are anticipated to be made, any minimum price
below
which Sales may not be made, and the capacity in which you may act in selling
Shares hereunder (as principal, agent or both). The amount of compensation
to be
paid by the Company to you with respect to each Sale of Shares (i) made in
an
at-the-market transaction shall be two and three quarters percent (2.75%),
and
(ii) in each Sale of Shares effected in negotiated transaction shall be four
percent (4%), of the gross proceeds thereof The terms set forth in a Sales
Notice will not be binding on the Company or you, as applicable, unless and
until the Company delivers written notice of its acceptance of all of the
terms
of set forth in the Sales Notice (an “Acceptance”); provided, however, that
neither the Company nor you will be bound by the terms of a Sales Notice
unless
the Company delivers to you an Acceptance with respect thereto prior to 4:30
p.m. (New York time) on the Business Day (as defined below) following the
Business Day on which the Sales Notice is delivered to the Company. In the
event
of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Sales
Notice, the terms of the Sales Notice will control.
3. Sales
of Shares by you. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and
the
applicable Sales Notice, upon the Acceptance of a Sales Notice, and unless
the
sale of the Shares described therein has been suspended or otherwise terminated
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, you will use your commercially
reasonable efforts consistent with your normal trading and sales practices
to
sell on behalf of the Company, as agent or principal, such Shares up to the
amount specified, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of the applicable
Sales Notice. You will provide written confirmation to the Company no later
than
the opening of the Trading Day (New York time) next following the Trading
Day on
which you have made a Sale of Shares hereunder setting forth the number of
Shares sold on such day, the compensation payable by the Company to you with
respect to such Sale, and the Net Proceeds (as defined below) payable to
the
Company. You may sell Shares (i) by any method permitted by law including
in an
“at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the Securities Act”), including, without limitation sales made
directly on the Nasdaq Global Market (the “Nasdaq”), on any other existing
trading market for the Common Stock or to or through a market maker, or (b)
in
negotiated transactions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
in
this Agreement or a Sales Notice, the Company acknowledges and agrees that
(i)
there can be no assurance that you will be successful in selling any Shares
or
as to the price at which any Shares are sold, if at all, and (ii) you will
incur
no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if
you
do not sell any Shares for any reason other than your failure use your
commercially reasonable efforts consistent with your normal trading and sales
practices to sell Shares as provided under this Section 3. For the purposes
hereof, “Trading Day” means any day on which Common Stock is purchased and sold
on the principal market on which the Common Stock is listed or
quoted.
4. Suspension
of Sales. The Company or you may, upon notice to the other in writing or
by
telephone (confirmed immediately by verifiable facsimile
transmission), suspend any Sale of Shares; provided, however, that such
suspension shall not affect or impair either party’s obligations with respect to
any Shares sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice. The Company
agrees that no such notice shall be effective against you unless it is made
to
one of the individuals named on Schedule 2 hereto, as such Schedule may be
amended from time to time.
5. Settlement.
(a) Settlement
of Sales of Shares. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Sales Notice,
settlement for a Sale of Shares will occur on the third (3rd) Business Day
(or
such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading) following
the
date on which such Sale is made (each a “Settlement Date”). The amount of
proceeds to be delivered to the Company on a Settlement Date against the
receipt
of the Shares sold (“Net Proceeds”) will be equal to the aggregate sales price
at which such Shares were sold, after deduction for (i) the commission or
other
compensation for such sales payable by the Company to you, as the case may
be,
pursuant to Section 2 or Section 3 hereof, as the case may be, (ii) any other
amounts due and payable by the Company to you hereunder pursuant to Section
7(h)
hereof, and (iii) any transaction fees or taxes imposed by any governmental
or
self-regulatory organization in respect of such Sale.
(b) Delivery
of Shares. On each Settlement Date, the Company will, or will cause its transfer
agent to, electronically transfer the Shares being sold by crediting your
accounts or your designee’s account at The Depository Trust Company through its
Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission System or by such other means of delivery
as
may be mutually agreed upon by the Company and you and, upon receipt of such
Shares, which in all cases shall be freely tradeable, transferable, registered
shares in good deliverable form, you will, on each Settlement Date, deliver
the
related Net Proceeds in same day funds delivered to an account designated
by the
Company prior to the Settlement Date. If the Company defaults in its obligation
to deliver Shares on a Settlement Date, the Company agrees that in addition
to
and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 10
hereto, it will (i) hold you harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or
expense (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising
out
of or in connection with such default by the Company and (ii) pay to you
any
commission, discount, or other compensation to which it would otherwise have
been entitled absent such default.
6. Representations
and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to, and
agrees with, you that:
(a) Registration
Statement and Prospectus. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section
12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”),
and the Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other
documents required to be filed by it with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “Commission Documents”) since the Company has been subject to
the requirements of Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and all of such filings
have
been made on a timely basis. The Common Stock is currently quoted on the
Nasdaq
Global Market under the trading symbol “TOPT.” The Company meets the
requirements for use of Form F-3 under the Securities Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder (“Rules and Regulations”), including but not limited to
the transactions requirements for a primary offering made by the issuer set
forth in Instruction I.B.1 to Form F-3. The Company has prepared and filed
with
the Commission a registration statement on Form F-3 (Registration Statement
No.
333-127086) with respect to common stock, preferred shares, debt securities,
warrants, purchase contracts and units to be offered and sold by the Company,
which was declared effective by the Commission on August 18, 2005. Such
registration statement, as amended, including any information deemed to be
a
part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the
Securities Act is referred to as the “Registration Statement.” The Registration
Statement, including the base
prospectus contained therein (the “Base Prospectus”)
was
prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities
Act and all applicable Rules and Regulations. One or more prospectus supplements
(the “Prospectus Supplements”, and together with the Base Prospectus and any
amendment thereto and all documents incorporated therein by reference, the
“Prospectus”) will be prepared by the Company in conformity with the
requirements of the Securities Act and all applicable Rules and Regulations
and
will be filed with the Commission in the manner and time frame required by
the
Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. Any amendment or supplement
to the
Registration Statement or Prospectus required by this Agreement will be so
prepared and filed by the Company and, as applicable, the Company will use
its
reasonable best efforts to cause it to become effective as soon as reasonably
practicable. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose has been
instituted or threatened by the Commission. Copies of all filings made by
the
Company under the Securities Act and all Commission Documents that were filed
with the Commission have either been delivered to you or made available to
you
on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system
(“EDGAR”). Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus,
or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include
the documents incorporated (or deemed to be incorporated) by reference therein
pursuant to Item 6 of Form F-3 under the Securities Act, and any reference
herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the
Registration Statement or Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include
the
filing after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission deemed
to
be incorporated by reference therein.
(b) No
Misstatement or Omission. Each part of the Registration Statement, when such
part became or becomes effective, and the Prospectus, on the date of filing
thereof with the Commission and at each Settlement Date, conformed or will
conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities
Act and
the Rules and Regulations; each part of the Registration Statement, when
such
part became or becomes effective, did not or will not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
and
the Prospectus, on the date of filing thereof with the Commission and at
each
Settlement Date, did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
except
that the foregoing shall not apply to statements or omissions in any such
document made in reliance on information furnished in writing to the Company
by
you expressly stating that such information is intended for use in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
thereto.
(c) Conformity
with Securities Act and Exchange Act. The documents incorporated by reference
in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, when they became effective under the Securities Act or were filed
with
the Commission under the Exchange Act, as the case may be, conformed in all
material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder,
and none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact
or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to
make the statements therein not misleading; and any further documents so
filed
and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
or
any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become
effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform
to
the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable,
and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain
an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
except that the foregoing will not apply to statements or omissions in any
such
document made in reliance on information furnished in writing to the Company
by
you expressly stating that such information is intended for use in any such
document.
(d) Financial
Information. The consolidated financial statements and financial schedules
of
the Company and the subsidiaries of the Company listed on Schedule 3 hereto
(collectively, the “Subsidiaries”, and each, individually, a “Subsidiary”)
included in the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 20-F and in
any subsequently filed Report on Form 6-K together with the related notes
set
forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and Prospectus
(collectively the “Company Financial Statements”), have been and will be
prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and with
United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied
at
the times and during the periods involved (except (i) as may be otherwise
indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto, or (ii) in the
case
of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may exclude footnotes
or may
be condensed or summary statements) and fairly present and will fairly present
the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof and the results
of
its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the
case
of unaudited statements, to normal year-end adjustments).
(e) Organization.
(1) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall
Islands with full corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate
its
properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign
entity
to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
such
qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing
of
property or the conduct of business, except where the failure, individually
or
in the aggregate, to be so qualified and be in good standing would not have
a
material adverse effect on (i) the consolidated business, operations, assets,
properties, financial condition, reputation, prospects or results of operations
of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) the transactions
contemplated hereby or (iii) the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under this Agreement (collectively, a “Material Adverse
Effect”).
(2) Each
Subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing
as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, has full corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate
its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to
transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such
qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing
of
property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to be so qualified
would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Subsidiaries.
Except as described in the Prospectus, all of the vessels described in the
Prospectus as owned by the Company or by a Subsidiary of the Company are
owned
directly by Subsidiaries of the Company. The Subsidiaries listed on Schedule
3
hereto are the only subsidiaries of the Company and except for the Subsidiaries
and as otherwise listed on Schedule 3 hereto, the Company owns no beneficial
interest, directly or indirectly, in any corporation, partnership, joint
venture, limited liability company or other entity.
(g) Encumbrances.
Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has (i) good and marketable title
to
all of the properties and assets owned by it, free and clear of all liens,
charges, claims, security interests or encumbrances (collectively,
“Encumbrances”), other than Encumbrances that are reflected in the Company
Financial Statements and that would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and
(ii)
possession of all assets and rights under all material leases to which it
is
party as lessee. All leases and charters to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party are valid and binding and no material default has
occurred and is continuing thereunder, and no event or circumstance that,
with
the passage of time or giving of notice, or both, would constitute such a
material default has occurred and is continuing, and, to the best knowledge
of
the Company, no defaults by the counterparties exist under any such leases
or
charters.
(h) No
Improper Practices. (i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries,
nor to
the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other
person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, has, in the past five years, used any corporate funds for any
unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating
to
political activity; made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign
or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds, violated
or is
in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977;
or
made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful
payment; (ii) no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among
the
Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Subsidiary or any affiliate of any
of them, on the one hand, and the directors, officers and stockholders of
the
Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Subsidiary, on the other hand, that
is required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus that is not so described; (iii) no relationship, direct
or
indirect, exists between or among the Company or any Subsidiary or any affiliate
of them, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders or directors
of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Subsidiary, on the other
hand, that is required by the rules of the National Association of Securities
Dealers (“NASD”) to be described in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus that is not so described; (iv) neither the Company nor, to the
Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the
Company is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office
of
Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company
will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of this offering or lend,
contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint
venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the
activities of any person currently subject to U.S. sanctions administered
by
OFAC; (v) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has made any
contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any U.S.
federal, state or foreign office in violation of any law which violation
is
required to be disclosed in the Prospectus; and (vi) except as described
in the
Prospectus, there are no material outstanding loans or advances or material
guarantees of indebtedness by the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any
Subsidiary to or for the benefit of any of their respective officers or
directors or any of the members of the families of any of them.
(i) Investment Company
Act. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries, after giving
effect to the offering and sale of the Shares, will be an “investment company”
or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company”, as such terms are defined
in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company
Act”).
(j) Capitalization. The
Company has authorized and outstanding
capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization”
as of the dates indicated in the Prospectus, and all of the issued shares
of
capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued
and are fully paid and non-assessable and have been issued in compliance
with
all applicable United States federal and state and all applicable foreign
securities laws; and all of the issued shares of capital stock of each
Subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued
and
are fully paid and non-assessable and the shares of such Subsidiary are owned
directly or indirectly by the Company, are held free and clear of all
Encumbrances
(k) The
Shares. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued, delivered
and
paid for pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued and fully paid
and
non-assessable, free and clear of all Encumbrances and will be issued in
compliance with all applicable United States federal and state and all
applicable foreign securities laws; the capital stock of the Company, including
the Common Stock, conforms in all material respects to the description thereof
contained in or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and
the
Common Stock, including the Shares, will conform to the description thereof
contained in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented. Neither the stockholders
of the Company, nor any other person or entity have any preemptive rights
or
rights of first refusal with respect to the Shares or other rights to purchase
or receive any of the Shares or
any
other
securities or assets of the Company, and no person has the right, contractual
or
otherwise, to cause the Company to issue to it, or register pursuant to the
Securities Act, any shares of capital stock or other securities or assets
of the
Company upon the issuance or sale of the Shares.
(l) No
Material Changes. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has sustained
since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
any
material loss or interference with the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, including, without limitation, from fire,
explosion, flood or other calamity or damage to any vessel, whether or not
covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental
action,
order or decree; subsequent to the respective dates as of which information
is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) there has not
been
any change, development, or event that has caused, or could reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect
and (ii) since the date of the latest audited financial statements included
or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
there
has not been any material change, on a consolidated basis, in the authorized
capital stock of the Company and its Subsidiaries, any material increase
in the
short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries, on
a
consolidated basis, or any Material Adverse Effect, or any
development reasonably likely to cause or result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(m) Legal
Proceedings. (1) Except as set forth in the Prospectus, there is no legal,
governmental, administrative or other claim, proceeding, investigation, action,
suit or inquiry pending, or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against or
affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
properties or to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be
a
party or to which any property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
is or
may be the subject, or against any officer, director or employee of the Company
or any such Subsidiary in connection with such person’s employment therewith
that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
such
officer, director or employee, could individually or in the aggregate have,
or
reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on the general
affairs, business, prospects, management, consolidated financial position,
stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
is a party to or subject to the provisions of, any order, writ, injunction,
judgment or decree of any court or government agency or instrumentality which
could have a Material Adverse Effect.
(2)
There
are no legal, governmental or administrative proceedings, investigations,
actions, suits or inquiries or contracts or documents of the Company or any
of
its Subsidiaries that are required to be described in or filed as exhibits
to
the Commission Documents, Registration Statement or any of the documents
incorporated by reference therein by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act
or
by the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder that have not been
so
described or filed as required by the Securities Act and the Rules and
Regulations thereunder.
(n) Authorization;
Enforceability. (1) All necessary action has been duly and validly taken
by the
Company to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered
by
the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except
as
rights to indemnification and contribution hereunder may be limited by
applicable law and except as enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles
(whether applied in a proceeding in law or equity).
(2) Executing and delivering this Agreement and the issuance and sale of
the Shares and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of
this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will
not
result in (i) a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of,
or
constitute a default under, any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition
contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement
or
other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
is
a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of the property
of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, (ii) a violation of the Company’s
articles of incorporation or bylaws, or any statute or any order, rule or
regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction
over
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its properties or (iii)
the
creation of any material Encumbrance upon any assets of the Company or of
any of
its Subsidiaries or the triggering, solely as a result of the Company’s
execution and delivery of this Agreement, of any preemptive or anti-dilution
rights or rights of first refusal or first offer, or any similar rights (whether
pursuant to a “poison pill” provision or otherwise), on the part of holders of
the Company’s securities or any other person. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries or affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf,
has
issued or sold any shares of Common Stock or securities or instruments
convertible into, exchangeable for and or otherwise entitling the holder
thereof
to acquire shares of Common Stock which would be integrated with the offer
and
sale of the Shares hereunder.
(o) Enforceability
of Agreements. To the knowledge of the Company, all agreements between the
Company and third parties expressly referenced in the Prospectus are legal,
valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with
their respective terms, except to the extent that (i) enforceability may
be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable
principles and (ii) the indemnification provisions of certain
agreements may be limited be federal or state securities laws or public policy
considerations in respect thereof and except for any unenforceability that,
individually or in the aggregate, would not unreasonably be expected to have
a
Material Adverse Effect.
(p) No
Violations or Default. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is
in
violation of any provisions of its articles of incorporation, bylaws or any
other governing document as amended and in effect on and as of the date hereof
or in default (and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time
or
both, would constitute a default) under any indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust,
loan or credit agreement or any provision of any instrument or contract to
which
it is a party or by which it is bound that, individually or in the aggregate,
could have a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) Compliance
with Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries have not violated and are in
compliance with all laws, statutes, ordinances, regulations, rules and orders
of
each foreign, federal, state or local government and any other governmental
department or agency having jurisdiction over the Company and any Subsidiary,
and any judgment, decision, decree or order of any court or governmental
agency,
department or authority having jurisdiction over the Company and any Subsidiary,
except for such violations or noncompliance which, individually or in the
aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(r) Consents
and Permits. The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all such licenses,
permits, consents, orders, certificates, authorizations, approvals, franchises
and rights issued by and have obtained or made all such registrations with
the
appropriate federal, state, foreign or local regulatory agencies or judicial
or
governmental bodies that are necessary to conduct their business as described
in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus except for licenses, permits,
consents, orders, certificates, authorizations, approvals, franchises, rights
or
registrations, the absence of which, individually or in the aggregate, would
not
have a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and its Subsidiaries have not
received any notice of proceedings or investigations relating to the revocation
or modification of any such licenses, permits, consents, orders,
certificates, authorizations,
approvals,
franchises, rights or registrations which, singly or in the aggregate, if
the
subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material
Adverse Effect. No consent, approval, authorization, permit, or order of,
or
filing or registration with, any court or governmental or self regulatory
agency
or body is required for the issue and sale of the Shares and the consummation
by
the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except the
filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including the
Prospectus) and amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement
and
Prospectus related to the issue and sale of the Shares and such consents,
approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as have already
been
obtained or made or as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky
laws;
(s) Insurance.
On the date hereof, and after the date hereof other than as set forth in
the
Prospectus, the Company and its Subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance
in such amounts and covering such risks as is prudent, reasonable and customary
for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries; neither
the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received notice from any insurer
or
agent of such insurer that substantial capital improvements or other
expenditures will have to be made in order to continue such insurance; all
such
insurance is outstanding and in full force and effect and neither the Company
nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of cancellation or proposed
cancellation relating to such insurance.
(t) Environmental
Laws. (1) On the date hereof, and after the date hereof other than as set
forth
in the Prospectus, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have obtained
all
environmental permits, licenses and other authorizations required by United
States federal, state, foreign and local law, and any applicable regulations
and
standards adopted by the International Maritime Organization, relating to
the
protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic
substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), in
order to conduct their businesses as described in the Prospectus except where
the failure to obtain a particular environmental permit, license, or
authorization, has not or could not reasonably be expected to, either
individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; the
Company and each of its Subsidiaries are conducting their businesses in
compliance with such permits, licenses and authorizations and with applicable
environmental laws, except where the failure to be in compliance would not
have
a Material Adverse Effect; and, except as described in the Prospectus, the
Company is not in violation of any federal, state, foreign or local law or
regulation relating to the storage, handling, disposal, release or
transportation of hazardous or toxic materials except for such violations
or
noncompliance which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(2)
In
the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a periodic review
of
the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties
of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and
evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation,
any
capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up or compliance with
Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints
on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties).
On the
basis of such review, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated
costs and liabilities which, individually or in the aggregate, would not
have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(u) Independent
Public Accountant. Each of Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors
Accountants S.A., which has audited the consolidated financial
statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the years ended December
31,
2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and Deloitte, Hadjipavlou, Sofianos
& Cambanis S.A. which has audited the consolidated financial statements of
the Company and its Subsidiaries for the year ended December 31,
2006,
is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the
Securities Act, the Rules and Regulations and the Exchange Act.
(v) Forward-Looking
Statements. No forward looking statement within the meaning of Section 27A
of
the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act contained in the
Commission Documents, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus has been
made
or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than
in
good faith.
(w) Intellectual
Property. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries own or possess sufficient
legal rights to all patents, trademarks, service marks, tradenames, copyrights,
trade secrets, licenses, information and proprietary rights and processes
necessary for their respective businesses as now conducted (collectively,
the
“Company Intellectual Property Rights”) without any conflict with, or
infringement of, the rights of others, except where the failure to own or
possess such Company Intellectual Property Rights, individually or in the
aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company
nor any
of its Subsidiaries has received any written communications alleging that
the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries has violated or, by conducting its business,
would violate any of the patents, trademarks, service marks, service marks,
tradenames, copyrights, trade secrets or other proprietary rights or processes
of any other person or entity. All Company Intellectual Property Rights are
enforceable and there is no existing infringement by any person of such Company
Intellectual Property Rights. All patent applications that have been filed
by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with the Patent and Trademark Office
have
been duly filed by the Company or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has taken
all
actions reasonably necessary to maintain the prosecution of such patent
applications.
(x) Taxes.
(1) The Company was not, for the immediately preceding taxable year, treated
as,
will not, for the current taxable year, be treated as, and does not anticipate
that, for any subsequent taxable year, it will be treated as a “passive foreign
investment company,” a “foreign investment company” or a “foreign personal
holding company” for United States federal income tax purposes.
(2)
The
Company has filed all United States federal and state and all applicable
local
and foreign income tax returns which have been required to be filed, except
in
any case in which the failure to so file would not have a Material Adverse
Effect. All tax liabilities have been adequately provided for in the financial
statements of the Company, and the Company does not know of any actual or
proposed additional material tax assessments.
(3)
The
Company has paid all United States federal, state and local and foreign taxes
required to be paid and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against
it,
to the extent that any of the foregoing would otherwise be delinquent, except,
in all cases, for any such tax, assessment, fine or penalty that is being
contested in good faith and except in any case in which the failure to so
pay
would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(4)
No
stamp or other issuance or transfer taxes or duties and no capital gains,
income, withholding or other taxes are payable by you or on your behalf to
Greece or the Marshall Islands or any political subdivision or taxing authority
thereof or therein in connection with the sale and delivery by the Company
of
the Shares to or for the account of you or the sale and delivery by you of
the
Shares to the purchasers thereof.
(y) No
Reliance. The Company has not relied upon you or legal counsel for you for
any
legal, tax or accounting advice in connection with the offering and sale
of the
Shares.
(z) Underwriter
Agreements. The Company is not now a party to any agreement with an agent
or
underwriter for any other “at the market” or continuous equity transaction or
negotiated or underwritten public offering.
(aa) Disclosure
Controls. (1) The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls
and
procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act),
which (i) are designed to ensure that material information relating to the
Company, including its consolidated Subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s
principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others
within
those entities, particularly during the preparation of the Registration
Statement; (ii) have been evaluated for effectiveness as of the date of the
filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission; and (iii) are
effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they
were
established.
(2)
The
Company (i) makes and keeps accurate books and records and (ii) maintains
internal accounting controls which provide reasonable assurance that
(A) transactions are executed
in accordance with management’s authorization,
(B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of its
financial statements and to maintain accountability for its assets, (C) access
to its assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization
and (D) the reported accountability for its assets is compared with existing
assets at reasonable intervals.
(bb) Accounting
Controls. Based on the evaluation of its internal controls over financial
reporting, the Company is not aware of (i) any significant deficiency or
material weakness in the design or operation of internal controls over financial
reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the
Company’s ability to record, process, summarize
and report financial information; or (ii) any fraud, whether or not
material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant
role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
(cc) Sarbanes-Oxley
Compliance. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and
any
of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply
with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and
regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including Section 404 related
to internal controls.
(dd) Certain
Market Activities. The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any
action
designed to, or that might be reasonably expected to, cause or result in
stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock.
(ee) Broker
Dealer Relationships. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries or
any
related entities (i) is required to register as a “broker” or “dealer” in
accordance with the provisions of the Exchange Act or (ii) directly or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is a “person
associated with a NASD member” or “associated person of a NASD member” (within
the meaning of Article I of the Bylaws of the NASD).
(ff) Finder’s
Fees. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has incurred any liability
for any finder’s fees or similar payments in connection with the transactions
herein contemplated, except as may otherwise exist with respect to you pursuant
to this Agreement.
(gg) No
Guarantees. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has, or guarantees
any securities accorded a rating by any “nationally recognized statistical
rating organization,” as such term is defined in Rule 436(g)(2) under the
Securities Act.
(hh) Labor
Disputes. There are no existing or, to the best knowledge of the Company,
threatened labor disputes with the employees of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries which are likely to have a material adverse effect on the financial
condition and operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole.
(ii) Disclosure
of Related Party Transactions. There are no relationships or related-party
transactions involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any other
person required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been described
as required.
7. Covenants
of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with you that:
(a) Registration
Statement Amendments. After the date of this Agreement and during the period
in
which a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered by
you
under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement
may
be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company
will
notify you promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the
Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission and has become
effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and
of
any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; it will
prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon your request, any amendments
or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in your
reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the
distribution of the Shares by you (provided, however your failure to make
such
request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder,
or affect your right to rely on the representations and warranties made by
the
Company in this Agreement); the Company will submit to you a copy of any
amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus relating
to
the Common Stock of the Company or a security convertible into the Common
Stock
of the Company a reasonable period of time before the filing; and it will
furnish to you at the time of filing thereof a copy of any document that
upon
filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
or Prospectus; and the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to
the
Prospectus to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the
applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations or, in the
case
of any document to be incorporated therein by reference, to be filed with
the
Commission as required pursuant to the Exchange Act, within the time period
prescribed.
(b) Notice
of Commission Stop Orders. The Company will advise you, promptly after it
receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the
Registration Statement, of the suspension of the
qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or
of the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose; and it
will
promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance
of any
stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such a stop order should be
issued.
(c) Delivery
of Prospectus; Subsequent Changes. Within the time during which a prospectus
relating to the Shares is required to be delivered by you under the Securities
Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant
to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company will comply with all
requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act and by the Rules and
Regulations, as from time to time in force, and will file on or before their
respective due dates all reports required to be filed by the Company with
the
Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 15(d), if applicable, or any
other
provision of or under the Exchange Act. If during such period any event occurs
as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
then
existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary to amend
or
supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to comply with
the Securities Act, the Company will immediately notify you to suspend the
offering of Shares during such period and the Company will promptly amend
or
supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus (at the expense of the
Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such
compliance.
(d) Listing
of Shares. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause
the
Shares to be quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market and to qualify the Shares
for
sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as you designate and
to
continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution
of the Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required in connection
therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent
to
service of process in any jurisdiction.
(e) Delivery
of Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company will furnish to you
and
your counsel (at the expense of the Company) copies of the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference
therein) and all amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement
or
Prospectus that are filed with the Commission during the period in which
a
prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act (including all documents filed with the Commission during
such
period that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein), in each
case as
soon as reasonably practicable and in such quantities as you may from time
to
time reasonably request and your request, will also furnish copies of the
Prospectus to each exchange or market on which sales of Shares may be
made.
(f) Company
Information. The Company will furnish to you for a period of three (3) years
from the date of this Agreement such information as reasonably requested
by you
regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(g) Earnings
Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders
as
soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the
end of
the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement covering a 12-month
period that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act
and
Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations.
(h) Expenses.
The Company, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are
consummated or this Agreement is terminated, will pay all expenses incident
to
the performance of its obligations hereunder, including but not limited to
(i)
the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement and each
amendment and supplement thereto, of each Prospectus and of each amendment
and
supplement thereto and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined in
Section 8 of this Agreement), (ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery
of the
Shares, (iii) all fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel, accountants
and other advisors, (iv) the listing of the Shares on the Nasdaq Global Market
and the qualification of the Shares under securities laws in accordance with
the
provisions of Section 7(d) of this Agreement, including filing fees in
connection therewith, (v) the printing and delivery to you of copies of the
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and of this Agreement,
(vi) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing or
qualification of the Shares for trading on the Exchange, or (vii) filing
fees
and expenses, if any, of the Commission and the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Corporate Finance Department or (viii) the cost
of
publication of a tombstone ad in The Wall Street Journal.
(i) Use
of Proceeds. The Company will use the Net Proceeds as described in the
Prospectus.
(j) Sales.
Without your written consent, the Company will not, directly or indirectly,
offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise
dispose of any shares of Common Stock (other than the Shares offered pursuant
to
the provisions of this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable
for Common Stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire, Common Stock
during the period beginning on the fifth (5th) Trading Day immediately prior
to
the date on which any Acceptance of a Sales
Notice
is
delivered to you hereunder and ending on the fifth (5th) Trading Day immediately
following the final Settlement Date with respect to Shares sold pursuant
to such
Sales Notice; and without your written consent, the Company will not directly
or
indirectly in any other “at the market” or continuous equity transaction offer
to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose
of any shares of Common Stock (other than the Shares offered pursuant to
the
provisions of this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable
for
Common Stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire, Common Stock
prior
to the later of the termination of this Agreement and the sixtieth (60th)
day
immediately following the final Settlement Date with respect to Shares sold
pursuant to such Sales Notice; provided, however, that such restrictions
will
not be applicable to the Company’s issuance or sale of (i) Common Stock, options
to purchase shares of Common Stock or Common Stock issuable upon the exercise
of
options, pursuant to any employee or director (x) stock option or benefits
plan,
(y) stock ownership plan or (z) dividend reinvestment plan (but not shares
subject to a waiver to exceed plan limits in its dividend reinvestment plan)
of
the Company whether now in effect or hereafter implemented, and (ii) Common
Stock issuable upon conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants,
options or other rights in effect or outstanding on the date hereof, and
disclosed in writing to you.
(k) Change
of Circumstances. The Company will, at any time during the term of this
Agreement, as supplemented from time to time, advise you immediately after
it
shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information
or
fact that would alter or affect any opinion, certificate, letter or other
document provided to you pursuant to this Agreement.
(l) Due
Diligence Cooperation. The Company will cooperate with any due diligence
review
conducted by you or its agents, including, without limitation, providing
information and making available documents and senior corporate officers,
as you
may reasonably request; provided, however, that the Company shall be required
to
make available senior corporate officers only (i) by telephone or at the
Company’s principal offices and (ii) during the Company’s ordinary business
hours.
(m) Required
Filings Relating to Sales of Shares. The Company agrees that on such dates
as
the Securities Act shall require, the Company will (i) file a prospectus
supplement with the Commission under the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b)
under the Securities Act (each and every filing under Rule 424(b), a “Filing
Date”), which prospectus supplement will set forth, within the relevant period,
the amount of Shares sold through you, the Net Proceeds to the Company and
the
compensation payable by the Company to you with respect to such Shares, and
(ii)
deliver such number of copies of each such prospectus supplement to each
exchange or market on which such sales were effected as may be required by
the
rules or regulations of such exchange or market.
(n) Certificates.
On the first Settlement Date hereunder, on each Filing Date and each time
that
the Registration Statement shall be amended or the Prospectus supplemented
(other than a supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities
Act
that contains solely the information confirmed to the Company by you pursuant
to
Section 7(m) above), the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to
you
forthwith a certificate dated the date of filing with the Commission of such
supplement, or other document, or the date of any such amendment to the
Registration Statement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A to the effect
that the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement
are true and correct on such date as though made at and as of such date (except
that such statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement
or
the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such time) and that the Company
has complied with all of the agreements to be performed by it at or prior
to
such date.
(o) Legal
Opinions. (1) On such date as you shall request, including, without limitation,
on the first Settlement Date hereunder, on each Filing Date, each time that
the
Registration Statement shall be amended or the Prospectus supplemented (other
than a supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act
that
contains solely the information confirmed to the Company by you pursuant
to
Section 7(m) above) and within five (5) Business Days after the Company files
an
Annual Report on Form 20-F with the Commission, the Company shall furnish
or
cause to be furnished to you a written opinion of Seward & Kissel LLP,
United States counsel for the Company, or other counsel satisfactory to you,
in
form and substance satisfactory to you. Such opinion shall be rendered to
you at
the request of the Company and shall state so therein. Notwithstanding the
foregoing and except for the initial opinion to be delivered hereunder, in
lieu
of such opinion to be delivered, counsel may furnish you with a letter to
the
effect that you may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this Section
7(o)(1)
to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter.
(2)
On
such date as you shall request, including, without limitation, on the first
Settlement Date hereunder, on each Filing Date, each time that the Registration
Statement shall be amended or the Prospectus supplemented (other than a
supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act that contains
solely the information confirmed to the Company by you pursuant to Section
7(m)
above) and within five (5) Business Days after the Company files an Annual
Report on Form 20-F with the Commission, the Company shall furnish or cause
to
be furnished to you a written opinion of Seward & Kissel LLP, Marshall
Islands counsel for the Company, or other counsel satisfactory to you, in
form
and substance satisfactory to you. Such opinion shall be rendered to you
at the
request of the Company and shall state so therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing
and except for the initial opinion to be delivered hereunder, in lieu of
such
opinion to be delivered, counsel may furnish you with a letter to the effect
that you may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this Section 7(o)(2)
to the
same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter.
(3)
On
such date as you shall request, including, without limitation, on the first
Settlement Date hereunder, on each Filing Date, each time that the Registration
Statement shall be amended or the Prospectus supplemented (other than a
supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act that contains
solely the information confirmed to the Company by you pursuant to Section
7(m)
above) and within five (5) Business Days after the Company files an Annual
Report on Form 20-F with the Commission, the Company shall furnish or cause
to
be furnished to you a written opinion of Economou & Associates, Greek
counsel to the Company, or other counsel satisfactory to you, in form and
substance satisfactory to you. Such opinion shall be rendered to you at the
request of the Company and shall state so therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing
and except for the initial opinion to be delivered hereunder, in lieu of
such
opinion to be delivered, counsel may furnish you with a letter to the effect
that you may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this Section 7(o)(3)
to the
same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter.
(4)
On
such date as you shall request, including, without limitation, on the first
Settlement Date hereunder, on each Filing Date, each time that the Registration
Statement shall be amended or the Prospectus supplemented (other than a
supplement filed pursuant to Rule to 424(b) under the Securities Act that
contains solely the information confirmed to the Company by you pursuant
to
Section 7(m) above) and within five (5) Business Days after the Company files
an
Annual Report on Form 20-F with the Commission, the Company shall furnish
or
cause to be furnished to you a written opinion of Chrysses Demetriades, Cypriot
counsel to the Company, or other counsel satisfactory to you, in form and
substance satisfactory to you. Such opinion shall be rendered to you at the
request of the Company and shall state so therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing
and except for the initial opinion to be delivered hereunder, in lieu of
such
opinion to be delivered, counsel may furnish you with a letter to the effect
that you may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this Section 7(o)(4)
to the
same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter.
(5)
On
such date as you shall request, including, without limitation, on the first
Settlement Date hereunder, on each Filing Date, each time that the Registration
Statement shall be amended or the Prospectus supplemented (other than a
supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act that contains
solely the information confirmed to the Company by you pursuant to Section
7(m)
above) and within five (5) Business Days after the Company files an Annual
Report on Form 20-F with the Commission, the Company shall furnish or cause
to
be furnished to you a written opinion of Seward & Kissel LLP, Liberian
counsel to the Company, or other counsel satisfactory to you, in form and
substance satisfactory to you. Such opinion shall be rendered to you at the
request of the Company and shall state so therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing
and except for the initial opinion to be delivered hereunder, in lieu of
such
opinion to be delivered, counsel may furnish you with a letter to the effect
that you may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this Section 7(o)(5)
to the
same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter.
(p) Comfort
Letters. On such date as you shall request, including, without limitation,
on
the first Settlement Date hereunder, each time that the Registration Statement
shall be amended or the Prospectus supplemented to include additional amended
financial information or there is filed with the Commission any
document incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or
Prospectus which contains additional amended financial information and within
five (5) business days after last day of each fiscal quarter of the Company,
the
Company shall cause its independent registered accountants reasonably
satisfactory to you, to furnish you letters (the “Comfort Letters”), dated the
date of filing of such amendment to the Registration Statement or Prospectus
supplement or other document with the Commission, as the case may be, in
form
and substance satisfactory to you, (i) confirming that they are registered
independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and
are
in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification
of
accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, (ii)
stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with
respect
to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by
accountants’ “comfort letters” to you in connection with registered public
offerings (the first such letter, the “Initial Comfort Letter”) and (iii)
updating the Initial Comfort Letter with any information which would have
been
included in the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and
modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter.
(q) Market
Activities. The Company will not, directly or indirectly, (i) take any action
designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or might reasonably be
expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of
any
security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or
(ii)
sell, bid for, or purchase the Shares, or pay anyone any compensation for
soliciting purchases of the Shares other than you.
(r)
Insurance. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall maintain, or cause to be
maintained, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is reasonable
and customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar
industries.
(s) Compliance
with Laws. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall maintain, or cause
to
be maintained, all material environmental permits, licenses and other
authorizations required by federal, state and local law in order to conduct
their businesses as described in the Prospectus, and the Company and each
of its
Subsidiaries shall conduct their businesses, or cause their businesses to
be
conducted, in substantial compliance with such permits, licenses and
authorizations and with applicable environmental laws, except where the failure
to maintain or be in compliance with such permits, licenses and authorizations
could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
8. Additional
Representations
and Covenants of the Company.
(a) Issuer
Free Writing Prospectuses. (1) The Company represents that it has not made,
and
covenants that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of you, it will
not
make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing
prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) (an “Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus”) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or
retained by the Company under Rule 433 of the Securities Act; except as set
forth in a Sales Notice, no use of any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has
been
consented to by you. The Company agrees that it will comply with the
requirements of Rules 164 and 433 of the Securities Act applicable to any
Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission or
retention where required and legending.
(2)
The
Company agrees that no Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if any, will include
any
information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration
Statement, including any document incorporated by reference therein that
has not
been superseded or modified, or the Prospectus. In addition, no Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus, if any, will include an untrue statement of a material
fact
or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided
however, the foregoing shall not apply to any statements or omissions in
any
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance on information furnished
in
writing to the Company by you expressly stating that such information is
intended for use therein.
(3)
The
Company agrees that if at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Issuer
Free
Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information in the Registration
Statement, including any document incorporated by reference therein that
has not
been superseded or modified, or the Prospectus or would include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, the Company will give prompt notice thereof to you
and, if
requested by you, will prepare and furnish without charge to you an Issuer
Free
Writing Prospectus or other document which will correct such conflict, statement
or omission; provided, however, the foregoing shall not apply to any statements
or omissions in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance on
information furnished in writing to the Company by you expressly stating
that
such information is intended for use therein.
(b) Non-Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus. The Company consents to your use of a free writing
prospectus that (a) is not an “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in
Rule 433 under the Securities Act, and (b) contains only (i) information
describing the preliminary terms of the Shares or their offering, or (ii)
information permitted under Rule 134 under the Securities Act; provided that
you
covenant with the Company not to take any action that would result in the
Company being required to file with the Commission under Rule 433(d) under
the
Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of you
that
otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but
for
the action of you.
(c) Distribution
of Offering Materials. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute,
during the term of this Agreement, any offering materials in connection with
the
offering and sale of the Shares other than the Registration Statement,
Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to
by
you and included in a Sales Notice (as described in clause (a)(i)
above).
9. Conditions
to your Obligations. Your obligations hereunder with respect to any Sales
will
be subject to the continuing accuracy and completeness of the representations
and warranties made by the Company herein and in the applicable Sales Notices,
to the due performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, to your
completion of a due diligence review satisfactory to you in your reasonable
judgment, and to the continuing satisfaction (or waiver by you in your sole
discretion) of the following additional conditions:
(a) Registration
Statement Effective. The Registration Statement shall have become effective
and
shall be available for the resale of (i) all Shares issued pursuant to all
prior
Sales Notices and not yet sold by you and (ii) all Shares contemplated to
be
issued by the Sales Notice relating to such Sales.
(b) No
Material Notices. None of the following events shall have occurred and be
continuing: (i) receipt by the Company of any request for additional information
from the Commission or any other federal or state governmental, administrative
or self regulatory authority during the period of effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, the response to which would require any amendments
or
supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (ii) the issuance
by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of
any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or
the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt by the Company
of
any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or
exemption from qualification of any of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction
or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; (iv)
the
occurrence of any event that makes any statement made in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that
requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, related
prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement,
it
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
and (v) the Company’s reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment
to the Registration Statement would be appropriate.
(c) No
Misstatement or Material Omission. You shall not have advised the Company
that
the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact that in your opinion is material,
or omits to state a fact that in your opinion is material and is required
to be
stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.
(d)
Material Changes. Except as contemplated and appropriately disclosed in the
Prospectus, or disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission, in
each case at the time the applicable Sales Notice is delivered, there shall
not
have been any material change, on a consolidated basis, in the authorized
capital stock of the Company and its Subsidiaries, or any Material Adverse
Effect, or any development that may reasonably be expected to cause a Material
Adverse Effect, or a downgrading in or withdrawal of the rating assigned
to any
of the Company’s securities by any rating organization or a public announcement
by any rating organization that it has under surveillance or review its rating
of any of the Company’s securities, the effect of which, in your sole judgment
(without relieving the Company of any obligation or liability it may otherwise
have), is so material as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed
with
the offering of the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in
the
Prospectus or in any Sales Notices.
(e)
Certificate. You shall have received the certificate required to be delivered
pursuant to Section 7(n) on or before the date on which delivery of such
certificate is required pursuant to Section 7(n).
(f)
Legal Opinions you shall have received the opinions of counsel required to
be
delivered pursuant Sections 7(o)(1), 7(o)(2), 7(o)(3), 7(o)(4) and 7(o)(5)
on or
before the date on which such delivery of such opinion is required pursuant
to
Sections 7(o)(1), 7(o)(2), 7(o)(3), 7(o)(4) and 7(o)(5).
(g) Comfort
Letters. You shall have received the Comfort Letter required to be delivered
pursuant Section 7(p) on or before the date on which such delivery of such
letter is required pursuant to Section 7(p).
(h) Approval
for Listing; No Suspension. The Shares shall have been duly listed, subject
to
notice of issuance, on the Nasdaq Global Market, and trading in the Common
Stock
shall not have been suspended on such market.
(i) Other
Materials. On each date on which the Company is required to deliver a
certificate pursuant to Section 7(n), the Company shall have furnished to
you
such appropriate further information, certificates, opinions and
documents as you may reasonably request. All such opinions, certificates,
letters and other documents will be in compliance with the provisions hereof.
The Company will furnish you with such conformed copies of such opinions,
certificates, letters and other documents as you shall reasonably
request.
(j) Securities
Act Filings Made. All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under
the
Securities Act to have been filed prior to the issuance of any Sales Notice
hereunder shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed
for
such filing by Rule 424.
(k) No
Termination Event. There shall not have occurred any event that would permit
you
to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 12(a).
10.
Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The
Company agrees: (1) to indemnify and hold harmless you and each person, if
any,
who controls you within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities
Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities to which you or any such controlling person may become subject
under
the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages
or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or
are
based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material
fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer
Free
Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed
pursuant to Rule 443(d) under the Securities Act, or any amendment or supplement
to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any
application or other document executed by or on behalf of the Company or
based
on written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in
any
jurisdiction in order to qualify the Shares under the securities laws thereof
or
filed with the Commission, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state
in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
or
any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 443(d)
under the Securities Act, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus, or in any application or other document executed
by
or on behalf of the Company or based on written information furnished by
or on
behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Shares
under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, a material
fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not
misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or
(iii)
any breach by the Company of any of its representations, warranties and
agreements contained in this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company
will
not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage
or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer
information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 443(d) under the
Securities Act, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement
or
the Prospectus, or in any application or other document executed by or on
behalf
of the Company or based on written information furnished by or on behalf
of the
Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Shares under the
securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission,
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to
the
Company by or through you specifically for use therein.
(2)
to
reimburse you and each such controlling person upon demand for any legal
or
other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by you or such controlling
person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
damage or liability, action or proceeding or in responding to a subpoena
or
governmental inquiry related to the sale of the Shares, whether or not you
or
such controlling person is a party to any action or proceeding. In the event
that it is finally judicially determined that you were not entitled to receive
payments for legal and other expenses pursuant to this subparagraph, you
will
promptly return all sums that had been advanced pursuant hereto.
(b) You
will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each
of its
officers who have signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if
any,
who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, against
any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company or any such
director, officer, or controlling person may become subject under the Securities
Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities
(or
actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon
(i)
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained
in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to
Rule 443(d) under the Securities Act, or any amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any application or
other document executed by or on behalf of the Company or based on written
information furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction
in order to qualify the Shares under the securities laws thereof or filed
with
the Commission, or (ii) the omission or the alleged omission to state therein
a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they
were
made; and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by the
Company or any such director, officer, or controlling person in connection
with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action
or
proceeding; provided, however, that you will be liable in each case to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission has been made in the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer
information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 443(d) under the
Securities Act, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement
or
the Prospectus, or in any application or other document executed by or on
behalf
of the Company or based on written information furnished by the Company filed
in
any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Shares under the securities laws
thereof or filed with the Commission reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by or through you specifically
for
use therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability
which
you may otherwise have.
(c) In
case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be
instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought
pursuant to this Section 10, such person (the “indemnified party”) shall
promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the
“indemnifying party”) in writing. No indemnification provided for in Section
10(a) or (b) shall be available to any party who shall fail to give notice
as
provided in this Section 10(c) if the party to whom notice was not given
was
unaware of the proceeding to which such notice would have related and was
materially prejudiced by the failure to give such notice, but the failure
to
give such notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party or parties from
any
liability which it or they may have to the indemnified party for contribution
or
otherwise than on account of the provisions of Section 10(a) or (b). In case
any
such proceeding shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it
shall
wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party
and
shall pay as incurred the fees and disbursements of such counsel related
to such
proceeding. In any such
proceeding, any
indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel at its own
expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnifying party shall pay
as
incurred (or within 30 days of presentation) the fees and expenses of the
counsel retained by the indemnified party in the event (i) the indemnifying
party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention
of
such counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party
and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate
due to actual or potential differing interests between them or (iii) the
indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense and employ counsel
acceptable to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time after
notice of commencement of the action. It is understood that the indemnifying
party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings
in the
same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more
than
one separate firm for all such indemnified parties. Such firm shall be
designated in writing by you in the case of parties indemnified pursuant
to
Section 10(b) and by the Company in the case of parties indemnified pursuant
to
Section 10(a). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement
of
any proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled with such
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying
party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss
or
liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. In addition, the
indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment
in any pending or threatened claim, action
or proceeding of which indemnification may be sought
hereunder (whether or not any indemnified party is an actual or potential
party
to such claim, action or proceeding) unless such settlement, compromise or
consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from
all
liability arising out of such claim, action or proceeding.
(d) To
the extent the indemnification provided for in this Section 10 is unavailable
to
or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 10(a)
or (b)
above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
or
proceedings in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying
party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party
as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or
proceedings in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and you on
the
other from the sale of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by
the
immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only
such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand
and
you on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted
in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings
in
respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The
relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and you on the
other
shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from
the
offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the
total
compensation received by you from the sale of Shares on behalf of the Company.
The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company on the one hand or you on the other and the parties’
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct
or
prevent such statement or omission.
The
Company, and you agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions
pursuant to this Section 10(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or
by any
other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to above in this Section 10(d). The amount paid or
payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages
or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to above
in
this Section 10(d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of
this
subsection (d), (i) you shall not be required to contribute any amount in
excess
of the compensation received by you from the sale of Shares on behalf of
the Company, and (ii) no person guilty
of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f)
of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was
not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(e) In
any proceeding relating to the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” filed
or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 443(d) under the Securities Act,
or any
amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
or in
any application or other document executed by or on behalf of the Company
or
based on written information furnished by the Company filed in any jurisdiction
in order to qualify the Shares under the securities laws thereof or filed
with
the Commission, each party against whom contribution may be sought under
this
Section 10 hereby consents to the jurisdiction of any court having jurisdiction
over any other contributing party, agrees that process issuing from such
court
may be served upon it by any other contributing party and consents to the
service of such process and agrees that any other contributing party may
join it
as an additional defendant in any such proceeding in which such other
contributing party is a party. The agent for service of process to the Company
is Seward & Kissel LLP, New York, New York (the “Authorized
Agent”).
(f) Any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for which an indemnified
party
is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Section 10 shall
be
paid by the indemnifying party to the indemnified party as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred. The indemnity and contribution
agreements contained in this Section 10 and the representations and warranties
of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in
full
force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on
behalf of you or any person controlling you, the Company, its directors or
officers or any persons controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of any Shares
and payment therefor hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement.
A
successor to you, or any person controlling you, or to the Company, its
directors or officers, or any person controlling the Company, shall be entitled
to the benefits of the indemnity, contribution and reimbursement agreements
contained in this Section 10.
11. Representations
and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations and warranties of
the
Company herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation
made
by you or on your behalf, any controlling persons, or the Company (or any
of
their respective officers, directors or controlling persons), (ii) delivery
and
acceptance of the Shares and payment therefor, or (iii) any termination of
this
Agreement.
12. Termination.
(a) You
have the right by giving notice as hereinafter specified at any time to
terminate this Agreement if any of the following has occurred: (i) any Material
Adverse Effect has occurred, or any development that is reasonably expected
to
cause a Material Adverse Effect has occurred which, in the reasonable judgment
of you, may materially impair the investment quality of the Shares; (ii)
any
outbreak or escalation of hostilities or declaration of war or national
emergency or other national or international calamity or crisis or change
in
economic or political conditions if the effect of such outbreak, escalation,
declaration, emergency, calamity, crisis or change on the financial markets
of
the United States would, in your judgment, make it impracticable or inadvisable
to market the Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares;
(iii)
suspension of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange,
the American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National Stock Market or limitation
on
prices (other than limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading) for
securities on either the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange;
(iv) the enactment, publication, decree or other promulgation of any statute,
regulation, rule or order of any court or other governmental authority which
in
your opinion materially and adversely affects or may materially and adversely
affect the business
or
operations of the Company; (v) the declaration of a banking moratorium by
United
States or New York State authorities; (vi) any downgrading, or placement
on any
watch list for possible downgrading, in the rating of any of the Company’s debt
securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as
defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Exchange Act); (vii) the
suspension of trading of the Shares by the Nasdaq Global Market, the Commission,
or any other governmental authority or; (viii) the taking of any action by
any
governmental body or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs
which
in your reasonable opinion has a material adverse effect on the securities
markets in the United States. The provisions of Section 7(h), Section 10,
Section 11, Section 17 and Section 18 hereof shall remain in full force and
effect notwithstanding such termination of the Agreement pursuant to this
Section 12(a).
(b) If
any of the covenants provided for in Sections 7 and 8 shall not have been
fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled by the Company,
you may terminate your obligations hereunder by giving notice to the Company
as
hereinafter specified. The provisions of Section 7(h), Section 10, Section
11,
Section 17 and Section 18 hereof shall remain in full force and effect
notwithstanding such termination of the Agreement pursuant to this Section
12(b).
(c) The
Company shall have the right, by giving twenty (20) days’ notice to you as
hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion
at any
time following the period of six (6) months after the date of this Agreement.
Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other
party
except that the provisions of Section 7(h), Section 10, Section 11, Section
17
and Section 18 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding
such
termination.
(d) In
addition to, and without limiting your rights under Section 12(a), you shall
have the right, by giving twenty (20) days’ notice to the Company as hereinafter
specified to terminate this Agreement in your sole discretion at any time
following the 30th day after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination
shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the
provisions of Section 7(h), Section 10, Section 11, Section 17 and Section
18
hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such
termination.
(e)
This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant
to Sections 12(a), 12(b), 12(c) or 12(d) above or otherwise by mutual agreement
of the parties; provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall
in
all cases be deemed to provide that Section 7(h), Section 10, Section 11,
Section 17 and Section 18 shall remain in full force and effect.
(f) If
either of the parties elect to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Sections
12(a), 12(b), 12(c) or 12 (d) above, the terminating party shall provide
the
other party the required notice as specified in Section 13 (Notices). Any
termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in
such
notice of termination; provided that such termination shall not be effective
until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by you
or the
Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the
Settlement Date for any Sale of Shares, such Shares shall settle in accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement.
13.
Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted to be
given
by any party to any other party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall
be
in writing and if sent to you, shall be delivered to Deutsche Bank Securities
Inc., 60 Wall Street, 44th Floor, New York, New York 10005 (telefax:
212-797-9344) Attention: Syndicate Manager with a copy to Morgan, Lewis &
Bockius LLP, 101 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10178, fax no. (212) 309-6001,
Attention: Stephen P. Farrell, Esq.; or if sent to the Company, shall be
delivered to 1 Vas. Sofias & Meg. Alexandrou str., Maroussi 151 24, Athens,
Greece (telefax: 011 30 210 6141 203); Attention: Chief Executive Officer,
with
a copy to Seward & Kissel LLP, One Battery Park Plaza, New York, New York
10004, fax no. (212) 480-8421, Attention: Gary J. Wolfe, Esq. Each party
to this
Agreement may change such
address
for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of
a new
address for such purpose. Each such notice or other communication shall be
deemed given (i) when delivered personally or by verifiable facsimile
transmission (with an original to follow) on or before 4:30 p.m., eastern
time,
on a Business Day or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding
Business Day, (ii) on the next Business Day after timely delivery to a
nationally-recognized overnight courier and (iii) on the Business Day actually
received if deposited in the U.S. mail (certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid). For purposes of this Agreement,
“Business Day” shall mean any day on which the Nasdaq Stock Market and
commercial banks in The City of New York are open for business.
14. Successors
and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon
the Company and you and their respective successors and the affiliates,
controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Section 10 hereof.
References to any of the parties contained in this Agreement shall be deemed
to
include the successors and permitted assigns of such party. Nothing in this
Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other
than
the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns any
rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this
Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. Neither party
may
assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written
consent of the other party, provided, however, that you may assign your rights
and obligations hereunder to an affiliate of yours without obtaining the
Company’s consent.
15. Adjustments
for Stock Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all share related
numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account
any
stock split, stock dividend or similar event effected with respect to the
Shares.
16. Entire
Agreement; Amendment; Severability. This Agreement (including all schedules
and
exhibits attached hereto and Sales notices issued pursuant hereto) constitutes
the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous
agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto
with regard to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any
term
hereof may be amended except pursuant to a written instrument executed by
the
Company and you. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained
herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is
held invalid, illegal
or unenforceable, the validity, legality
and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the
remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired
thereby.
17. Applicable
Law; Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed
in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York without regard
to
the principles of conflicts of laws. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably
(i)
agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based
upon
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted
in any
state or federal court located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New
York, New York (each a “New York Court”), (ii) waives, to the fullest extent it
may effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to
the
laying of venue of any such proceeding and (iii) submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. The Company
has appointed the Authorized Agent upon whom process may be served in any
such
action arising out of or based on this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby which may be instituted in any New York Court by you
or by
any person who controls you, expressly consents to the jurisdiction of any
such
court in respect of any such action, and waives any other requirements of
or
objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto. Such appointment
shall
be irrevocable. The Company represents and warrants that the Authorized Agent
has agreed to act as such agent for service of process and agrees to take
any
and all action, including the filing of any and all documents and instruments
that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force and effect
as
aforesaid. Service of process upon the Authorized Agent and written
notice of such service to the Company shall be deemed, in every respect,
effective service of process upon the Company.
18. Waiver
of Jury Trial. The Company and you hereby irrevocably waive any right either
may
have to a trial by jury in respect of any claim based upon or arising out
of
this agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby.
19. Absence
of Fiduciary Duties. The parties acknowledge that they are sophisticated
in
business and financial matters and that each of them is solely responsible
for
making its own independent investigation and analysis of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The Company acknowledges that you are an
independent contractor and have not been engaged by the Company to provide,
and
have not provided, financial advisory services in connection with the terms
of
the offering and sale of the Shares nor have you assumed at any time a fiduciary
relationship or any other position of higher trust with respect to the Company
in connection with such offering and sale. The parties also acknowledge that
the
provisions of this Agreement fairly allocate the risks of the transactions
contemplated hereby among them in light of their respective knowledge of
the
Company and their respective abilities to investigate its affairs and business
in order to assure that full and adequate disclosure has been made in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements
thereto). The Company hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
any
claims it may have against you for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach
of
fiduciary duty and agrees you shall have no liability (whether direct or
indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to
any
person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company,
including stockholders, employees or creditors of Company.
20. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall
be
deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the
same
instrument. Delivery of an executed Agreement by one party to the other may
be
made by facsimile transmission.
[Remainder
of Page Intentionally Blank]
If
the
foregoing accurately reflects your understanding and agreement with respect
to
the matters described herein please indicate your agreement by countersigning
this Sales Agreement in the space provided below.
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Very
truly yours, |
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TOP
TANKERS INC. |
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By:
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Stamatis
N. Tsantanis
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Chief
Financial Officer
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ACCEPTED
as of the date first-above written:
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DEUTSCHE
BANK SECURITIES INC.
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
Managing Director
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[Signature
page to the Sales Agreement]
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized.
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TOP
TANKERS INC.
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Dated:
June 13, 2007
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By:
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/s/
Stamatis
N. Tsantanis
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Name:
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Stamatis N. Tsantanis
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Title:
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Chief Financial Officer
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SK
23116 0001
778657