As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 18, 2009
Registration Statement No. 333 -160784
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
OCEANFREIGHT INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Republic of the Marshall Islands (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | N/A (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
OceanFreight Inc. 80 Kifissias Avenue GR – 151 25 Amaroussion Athens, Greece +(30) 210 614 0283 (Address and telephone number of Registrant's principal executive offices) | Seward & Kissel LLP Attention: Gary J. Wolfe, Esq. One Battery Park Plaza New York, New York 10004 (212) 574-1200 (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service) |
Copies to:
Gary J. Wolfe, Esq. Seward & Kissel LLP One Battery Park Plaza New York, New York 10004 (212) 574-1200 | |||
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective as determined by market conditions and other factors.
If only securities being registered on the Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. o
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. x
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
| Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered | Amount to be Registered (1) | Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (1)(2) | Amount of Registration Fee (3) |
| Primary Offering | |||
| Common Shares, par value $0.01 per share | |||
| Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share | |||
| Preferred Share Purchase Rights(4) | |||
Debt Securities (5) | |||
Guarantees (6) | |||
Warrants (7) | |||
Purchase Contracts (8) | |||
Units (9) | |||
| Primary Offering Total | $200,000,000 | $11,160 | |
| Secondary Offering | |||
| Common Shares, par value $0.01 per share, to be offered by the selling shareholder | 335,820,895 (10) | $450,000,000 | $25,110 |
| Secondary Offering Total | $450,000,000 | $25,110 | |
| Total | $650,000,000 | $36,270 * | |
| * | Previously paid. |
| (1) | Such amount in U.S. dollars or the equivalent thereof in foreign currencies as shall result in an aggregate initial public offering price for all securities of $200,000,000. Also includes such indeterminate amount of debt securities and common shares and preferred shares as may be issued upon conversion or exchange for any other debt securities or preferred shares that provide for conversion or exchange into other securities. |
| (2) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933. Pursuant to General Instruction II(C) of Form F-3, the table does not specify by each class information as to the proposed maximum aggregate offering price. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. In no event will the aggregate offering price of all securities sold by OceanFreight Inc. pursuant to this registration statement exceed $200,000,000, nor shall the offering price of shares sold by the selling shareholder exceed $450,000,000. |
| (3) | Calculated in accordance with Rule 457 (r) under the Securities Act of 1933. The Registrant is, pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act of 1933, applying $1,473 of the total registration fee paid in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-150579 covering $200,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of securities, which became effective on June 6, 2008, relating to $37,500,000 worth of unsold securities thereunder, to this Registration Statement. |
| (4) | Preferred share purchase rights are not currently separable from the common shares and are not currently exercisable. The value attributable to the preferred share purchase rights, if any, will be reflected in the market price of the common shares. |
| (5) | If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering may be in such greater principal amount as shall result in a maximum aggregate offering price not to exceed $200,000,000. |
| (6) | The debt securities may be guaranteed pursuant to guarantees by the subsidiaries of OceanFreight Inc. No separate compensation will be received for the guarantees. Pursuant to Rule 457(n), no separate fees for the guarantees are payable. |
| (7) | There is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of warrants as may from time to time be sold at indeterminate prices. |
| (8) | There is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of purchase contracts as may from time to time be sold at indeterminate prices. |
| (9) | There is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of units as may from time to time be sold at indeterminate prices. Units may consist of any combination of the securities registered hereunder. |
| (10) | Estimated based on the maximum aggregate offering price of our shares that may be sold by the selling shareholder pursuant to this registration statement divided by the average of the high and low price of our common shares on the Nasdaq Global Market on July 23, 2009 ($1.34), calculated in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933. |
| The Registrants hereby amend this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrants shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine. |
TABLE OF ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS
| Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter | Country of Incorporation | IRS Employer I.D. No. | Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code No. |
| Oceanship Owners Limited | Marshall Islands | 98-0619764 | 4412 |
| Oceanwealth Owners Limited | Marshall Islands | 98-0619770 | 4412 |
| Oceanventure Owners Limited | Marshall Islands | 98-0619769 | 4412 |
| Oceanresources Owners Limited | Marshall Islands | 98-0619762 | 4412 |
| Oceanstrength Owners Limited | Marshall Islands | 98-0619767 | 4412 |
| Oceanenergy Owners Limited | Marshall Islands | 98-0619755 | 4412 |
| Oceantrade Owners Limited | Marshall Islands | 98-0619768 | 4412 |
| Oceanprime Owners Limited | Marshall Islands | 98-0619753 | 4412 |
| Oceanclarity Owners Limited | Marshall Islands | 98-0619679 | 4412 |
| Kifissia Star Owners Inc. | Marshall Islands | 98-0619673 | 4412 |
| Oceanfighter Owners Inc. | Marshall Islands | 98-0619757 | 4412 |
| Ocean Faith Owners Inc. | Marshall Islands | 98-0619678 | 4412 |
| Ocean Blue Spirit Owners Inc. | Marshall Islands | 98-0619669 | 4412 |
| Oceanpower Owners Inc. | Marshall Islands | N/A | 4412 |
| Oceanwave Owners Limited | Marshall Islands | N/A | 4412 |
| Oceanrunner Owners Limited | Marshall Islands | N/A | 4412 |
| Oceanfire Owners Inc. | Marshall Islands | N/A | 4412 |
| Freightwise Investment Ltd. | Marshall Islands | N/A | 4412 |
PROSPECTUS
| The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted. |
Subject to completion, dated September 18, 2009
$200,000,000
Common Shares, Preferred Share Purchase Rights, Preferred Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants, Purchase Contracts and Units
And
335,820,895 of our Common Shares Offered by the Selling Shareholder
Through this prospectus, we may periodically offer:
(1) our common shares, including related preferred share purchase rights,
(2) our preferred shares,
(3) our debt securities, which may be guaranteed by one or more of our subsidiaries,
(4) our warrants,
(5) our purchase contracts, and
(6) our units.
The aggregate offering price of all securities issued under this prospectus may not exceed $200 million. The securities issued under this prospectus may be offered directly or through underwriters, agents or dealers. The names of any underwriters, agents or dealers will be included in a supplement to this prospectus.
In addition, the selling shareholder named in the section "Selling Shareholder," YA Global Master SPV Ltd., or YA Global, may sell in one or more offerings pursuant to this registration statement up to 335,820,895 of our common shares. The selling shareholder is, and any other broker-dealer or agent that are involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be, an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. The selling shareholder may sell shares from time to time on or off the Nasdaq Global Market in regular brokerage transactions, in transactions directly with market makers or in privately negotiated transactions. None of the proceeds from the sale of stock by the selling shareholder will be placed in escrow, trust or any similar account. For additional information on the methods of sale that may be used by the selling shareholder, see the section entitled "Plan of Distribution" on page 21. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of these shares. However, we will receive proceeds from the selling shareholder from the initial sale to such shareholder of these shares in a private transaction. We have and will continue to bear the costs relating to the registration of these shares.
Our common shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "OCNF".
An investment in these securities involves risks. See the section entitled "Risk Factors" beginning on page 11 of this prospectus, and other risk factors contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| PROSPECTUS SUMMARY | 3 |
| RECENT DEVELOPMENTS | 7 |
| RISK FACTORS | 11 |
| CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS | 13 |
| PERSHARE MARKET PRICE INFORMATION | 14 |
| RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES | 15 |
| USE OF PROCEEDS | 16 |
| CAPITALIZATION | 17 |
| ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES | 18 |
| SELLING SHAREHOLDER | 19 |
| PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION | 21 |
| DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK | 23 |
| DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SHARES | 30 |
| DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES | 31 |
| DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS | 39 |
| DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS | 40 |
| DESCRIPTION OF UNITS | 41 |
| EXPENSES | 42 |
| TAX CONSIDERATIONS | 42 |
| LEGAL MATTERS | 48 |
| EXPERTS | 48 |
| WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 49 |
Unless otherwise indicated, all dollar references in this prospectus are to U.S. dollars and financial information presented in this prospectus that is derived from financial statements incorporated by reference is prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commission, using a shelf registration process. Under the shelf registration process, we may sell the common shares, preferred shares, debt securities and related guarantees, warrants, purchase contracts and units described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $200 million. In addition, the selling shareholder may sell in one or more offerings pursuant to this registration statement up to 335,820,895 of our common shares. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we or the selling shareholder may offer. We will provide updated information if required whenever we or the selling shareholder offer securities pursuant to this prospectus. This may include a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the offered securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus. You should read carefully both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described below.
This prospectus does not contain all the information provided in the registration statement we filed with the Commission. For further information about us or the securities offered hereby, you should refer to that registration statement, which you can obtain from the Commission as described below under "Where You Can Find More Information."
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This section summarizes some of the information that is contained later in this prospectus or in other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. As an investor or prospective investor, you should review carefully the risk factors and the more detailed information that appears later in this prospectus or is contained in the documents that we incorporate by reference into this prospectus.
Unless the context otherwise requires, as used in this prospectus, the terms "Company," "we," "us," and "our" refer to OceanFreight Inc. and all of its subsidiaries. "OceanFreight Inc." refers only to OceanFreight Inc. and not its subsidiaries.
We use the term deadweight, or dwt, in describing the size of vessels. Dwt expressed in metric tons each of which is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms refers to the maximum weight of cargo and supplies that a vessel can carry.
Our Company
We are a Marshall Islands company with our principal executive offices located in Athens, Greece. As of September 18, 2009, we own and operate, through our subsidiaries, a fleet of 15 vessels, including two vessels that we have agreed to acquire and two vessels that we have contracted to sell, consisting of seven Panamax drybulk carriers, four Capesize drybulk carriers, three Aframax tankers and one Suezmax tanker, with a total carrying capacity of 1.6 million dwt. As of September 18, 2009, the vessels in our fleet have an average age of approximately 12.5 years and, with the exception of the M/T Olinda, are all chartered under long term contracts expiring at various dates, the latest through 2012. We refer you to the table on the next page for information regarding the current employment of our fleet.
We operate a diversified fleet in order to capitalize on opportunities for upside potential in both the drybulk and tanker markets. As of September 18, 2009, our fleet is comprised of the following vessels:
| Vessel Name | Vessel Type | Year Built | Deadweight |
| (in metric tons) | |||
| Drybulk Carriers | |||
| Trenton | Panamax | 1995 | 75,229 |
| Pierre | Panamax | 1996 | 70,316 |
| Austin | Panamax | 1995 | 75,229 |
| Helena | Panamax | 1999 | 73,744 |
| Topeka | Panamax | 2000 | 74,710 |
| Augusta | Panamax | 1996 | 69,053 |
| Partagas (1) | Capesize | 2004 | 173,880 |
| Tanker Vessels | |||
| Pink Sands | Aframax | 1993 | 93,723 |
| Olinda | Suezmax | 1996 | 149,085 |
| Tigani | Aframax | 1991 | 95,951 |
| Tamara | Aframax | 1990 | 95,793 |
| Drybulk Carriers to be Sold | |||
| Juneau(2) | Capesize | 1990 | 149,495 |
| Richmond(3) | Panamax | 1995 | 75,265 |
| Drybulk Carriers to be Acquired | |||
| M/V Robusto (ex Mineral London) (4) | Capesize | 2006 | 173,949 |
| M/V Cohiba (ex Mineral Hong Kong) (4) | Capesize | 2006 | 174,333 |
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| (1) | In June 2009, we agreed to acquire the M/V Partagas (ex Jin Tai) for a purchase price of $56 million. The vessel was delivered to us on July 30, 2009. Upon its delivery the vessel commenced its three-year time charter at a gross daily rate of $27,500. |
| (2) | In July 2009 we agreed to sell the M/V Juneau to a third party for a gross sale price of $19.9 million and expect to deliver the vessel to the new owners no later than November 30, 2009. |
| (3) | In August 2009 we agreed to sell the M/V Richmond to a third party for a gross sale price of $20.6 million and expect to deliver the vessel to the new owners no later than October 30, 2009. |
| (4) | We agreed in July 2009 to acquire the M/V Robusto (ex Mineral London) and M/V Cohiba (ex Mineral Hong Kong) for a purchase price of $61.25 million each and they are scheduled to be delivered to us before November 30, 2009 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Upon delivery to the Company, each of the vessels is scheduled to commence time charter employment for a minimum period of five years and a maximum period of eight years for M/V Robusto and nine years for M/V Cohiba at a gross rate of $26,000 per day and $26,250 per day, respectively. |
We have contracted the day-to-day vessel management of our fleet, which includes performing the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the vessels to one management company, which we refer to as our Fleet Manager, who is engaged under separate vessel management agreements directly by our respective wholly-owned subsidiaries. In 2008, our eight Panamax drybulk carriers were managed by Wallem Ship Management Ltd., or Wallem, an unrelated third party technical and commercial management company and our five remaining vessels were managed by Cardiff Marine Inc., or Cardiff, a related party. During the period from January 2009 to June 2009, the management of our drybulk vessels (previously under Wallem) was progressively assumed by Cardiff. We believe that our Fleet Manager maintains high standards of operation, vessel technical condition, safety and environmental protection and control operating expenses through comprehensive planned maintenance systems, preventive maintenance programs and by retaining and training qualified crew members. As a result, we believe our Fleet Manager has established a reputation as an efficient and dependable vessel operator. We further believe the scale and scope of our Fleet Manager enables it to achieve significant economies of scale when procuring supplies and insurance. These economies of scale, as well as our Fleet Manager's ability to spread its operating costs over a larger number of vessels in conjunction with its cost containment programs, are expected to result in cost savings to us. We intend to rely on our Fleet Manager's established operations to help us manage our growth without having to integrate additional resources since we will rely on its resources to manage additional vessels we may acquire in the future.
We are responsible for all commercial management decisions for our fleet. We use the global network of chartering brokers and industry contacts to provide us with information on charter markets and possible employment opportunities for our vessels. With the exception of the M/T Olinda, which is currently employed in a spot market pool, our remaining vessels are presently operating under long term time charter agreements as follows:
| Vessel Name | Estimated Expiration of Charter | Gross Daily Rate | ||||
| Drybulk Carriers | ||||||
| Trenton | April 2010 to August 2010 | $ | 26,000 | |||
| Pierre | June 2010 to October 2010 | $ | 23,000 | |||
| Austin | April 2010 to August 2010 | $ | 26,000 | |||
| Juneau(1) | September 2009 to November 2009 | $ | 48,700 | |||
| Helena | May 2012 to January 2013 | $ | 32,000 | |||
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| Topeka(2) | January 2011 to March 2011 | $ | 18,000 | |||
| Richmond(3) | July 2010 to October 2010 | $ | 18,100 | |||
| Augusta(4) | November 2011 to March 2012 | $ | 16,000 | |||
| Partagas | July 2012 to December 2012 | $ | 27,500 | |||
| Tanker Vessels | ||||||
| Pink Sands | October 2010 to January 2011 | $ | 27,450 | |||
| Olinda(5) | Spot Pool – October 2009 | |||||
| Tigani | September 2009 to November 2009 | $ | 29,800 | |||
| Tamara (6) | November 2010 to March 2011 | $ | 27,000 | |||
| Drybulk Carriers to be Acquired | ||||||
| M/V Robusto | September 2014 to January 2015 | $ | 26,000 | |||
| M/V Cohiba | October 2014 to February 2015 | $ | 26,250 |
| (1) | We have contracted to sell the Juneau for a gross sale price of $19.9 million and expect to deliver the vessel to the new owners no later than November 30, 2009. The charter rate is fixed at $48,700 through September 2009 and thereafter floats at 20% less than the daily average of the Capesize time charter rates published by the Baltic Exchange. |
| (2) | In July 2009 the charterers of the M/V Topeka declared their inability to continue the chartering of the vessel. Following this we agreed with the subcharterers to continue the chartering of the vessel for 18 months at a gross daily charter rate of $18,000. |
| (3) | We have entered into a time charter for M/V Richmond that commenced on August 1, 2009, at a gross rate of $18,100 per day for a minimum period of 11.5 months and a maximum of 14.5 months. This vessel became available following an early redelivery by the vessel's previous charterers. As agreed compensation for the early delivery, we will receive a lump sum payment of $200,000. |
| (4) | On November 18, 2008, the M/V Augusta was delivered from its previous charterer to its new charterer. As a result of the significant decline in the drybulk market, we agreed to renegotiate the contracted time charter rate with the new charterer from $42,100 per day to $16,000 per day, and to amend the period of the time charter from a minimum of 34 months and a maximum of 37 months to a minimum of 35.5 months and a maximum of 40 months. |
| (5) | On October 11, 2008, the charter of the M/T Olinda at a gross daily charter rate of $41,025 per day was terminated by mutual agreement between the Company and the charterer as a result of the charterer's insolvency. In this connection, the Company received non-refundable cash compensation of approximately $1.2 million and ownership of all bunkers on board the M/T Olinda. On October 17, 2008, the M/T Olinda entered into a charter agreement with Blue Fin Tankers Inc., which is a spot pool managed by Heidmar Inc., for a minimum period of 12 months. The vessel's earnings are derived from the pool's total net earnings. Heidmar Inc. is 49% owned by a company associated with Mr. George Economou who is also the chairman of the Board of Directors of Heidmar Inc., and Mr. Antonis Kandylidis, our Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer, is a member of the Board of Directors of Heidmar Inc. |
| (6) | The M/T Tamara is chartered to Tri-Ocean Heidmar Tankers LLC, which is controlled by Heidmar Inc. |
We believe these charters will provide us with stable cash flow and high vessel utilization rates and also limit our exposure to freight rate volatility. In addition, renewing our period charters at different times enables us to reduce our exposure to market conditions prevailing at any one time.
OceanFreight's strategy and business model.
Our strategy is to be a reliable and responsible provider of seaborne transportation services and to manage and expand our company in a manner that we believe will enable us to enhance shareholder value by increasing long term cash flow. We intend to realize these objectives by adhering to the following:
Strategic Fleet Expansion. We intend to grow our fleet using our management's knowledge of the seaborne transportation industry to make accretive, timely and selective acquisitions of vessels in different sectors based on a number of financial and operational criteria. We will consider and analyze our expectation of fundamental developments in the particular industry sector, the level of liquidity in the resale and charter market, the cash flow earned by the vessel in relation to its value, its condition and technical specifications, expected remaining useful life, the credit quality of the charterer and duration and terms of charter contracts for vessels acquired with charters attached, as well as the overall diversification of our fleet and customers. We believe that secondhand vessels approximately in the middle of their useful economic life when operated in a cost efficient manner often provide better value to our shareholders and return on capital as compared with more expensive newer vessels.
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Tailored Fleet Composition. Our fleet currently consists of nine drybulk carriers and four tankers. We primarily focus on the drybulk and tanker segments because the acquisition and employment contracts of these vessels satisfy our financial and operating criteria. As we grow our fleet over time, we intend to explore acquisitions in other seaborne transportation sectors, as opportunities arise, that also meet our financial and operating criteria. We believe that monitoring developments in multiple sectors will position us to opportunistically select vessels in different sectors for acquisition and vessel employment opportunities as conditions in those sectors dictate. We also believe that this outlook enables us to lower our dependence on any one shipping sector as we seek to generate revenues and find attractive acquisition opportunities.
Fixed Rate Charters. With the exception of the M/T Olinda, which is employed in a tanker pool, we have entered into fixed rate period charters for all of our drybulk carriers and tanker vessels with an average remaining term of approximately 14 months as of September 18, 2009. We believe these charters will provide us with stable cash flow and high vessel utilization rates and also limit our exposure to charter rate volatility. In the future we will continue to seek fixed rate period charter contracts for our vessels, which include time and bareboat charters, pursuant to which the charterer pays a fixed daily charter rate over a specified period of time. Period charter contracts may include profit sharing arrangements whereby we receive additional charter hire when spot charter rates exceed the fixed daily rate under the period charter. We may also enter into period charters that afford some exposure to the spot market through floating rate period charters where the daily charter rate fluctuates in line with spot rates but cannot fluctuate below a minimum rate, or floor, or above a maximum rate, or ceiling. We may enter into short-term spot charters or place additional vessels in pools which enable participating vessels to combine revenues.
Staggered Charter Renewals. We seek employment for our vessels based on our analysis and assessment of fundamental developments in each particular sector of the industry and the difference in rates for short-, medium- and long-term charters. Renewing our period charters at different times enables us to reduce our exposure to market conditions prevailing at any one time.
Diversified Charter Counterparties. Our nine drybulk carriers, excluding the two drybulk carriers to be acquired, are chartered to seven different charterers operating in the drybulk carrier sector and our tankers (other than M/T Olinda) are employed on fixed-rate charters. We believe that chartering our vessels to a number of well established and reputable charterers reduces counterparty risk. As we grow our fleet over time, we may invest in other seaborne transportation sectors and seek to further diversify the end-users of our vessels, thereby enhancing the overall credit quality of our charter portfolio. The Company's Management closely monitors developments in the market and takes necessary measures designed to protect the Company from exposure to counterparties facing going concern problems. Please see "Risk Factors - The failure of our counterparties to meet their obligations under our time charter agreements could cause us to suffer losses or otherwise adversely affect our business" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008 for a discussion of the risks associated with our charter agreement counterparties.
Quality Fleet Manager. Our Fleet Manager has established a reputation in the international shipping industry for high standards of performance, reliability and safety. We believe that contracting fleet managers that have achieved this reputation will create greater opportunities for us to seek employment contracts with well established charterers, many of whom consider the reputation of the fleet manager when entering into charters. We believe we will derive important benefits from our Fleet Manager's experience, which enables it to achieve significant economies of scale and scalability in areas such as crewing, supply procurement, and insurance which in addition to other benefits, are passed to us as the vessel owner. We intend to maintain the quality of our fleet through our Fleet Manager's rigorous maintenance programs. We believe that owning a fleet of well-maintained vessels will enable us to operate our vessels with lower operating costs, maintain their resale value and secure employment for our vessels with high quality charterers.
Corporate Structure
OceanFreight Inc. was incorporated on September 11, 2006 under the laws of the Marshall Islands. Our principal executive offices are at 80 Kifissias Avenue, GR – 151 25 Amaroussion, Athens, Greece. Our telephone number at that address is +30 210 614 0283. Our website is www.oceanfreightinc.com. The information on our website shall not be deemed a part of this prospectus. On September 26, 2006, we issued 1,000 common shares, par value $0.01 per share, to Basset Holdings Inc., or Basset, a company controlled by Mr. Antonis Kandylidis, in exchange for a capital contribution of $500,000. Under our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, these shares were converted into 1,000 subordinated shares. Also, on April 3, 2007, our board of directors declared, effective April 5, 2007, a stock split, in the form of a share dividend, in the ratio of 1,999:1 on our subordinated shares, leaving Basset with ownership of 2,000,000 subordinated shares. These shares converted on August 15, 2008, leaving Basset with 2,000,000 common shares representing approximately 2.2% of our outstanding capital stock as of September 18, 2009.
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On April 30, 2007 we completed our initial public offering in the United States under the United States Securities Act of 1993, as amended, the net proceeds of which amounted to $216.8 million. The Company's common shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "OCNF".
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
On May 21, 2009, we terminated the Standby Equity Purchase Agreement or the SEPA that we had entered into with YA Global Master SPV Ltd., an affiliate of Yorkville Advisors LLC, pursuant to which we had the option to issue and sell shares worth up to approximately $147.9 million. At termination, we had raised approximately $111.6 million of gross proceeds and the total number of shares outstanding then and through the date of this prospectus is 90,394,493 common shares. For further details about the SEPA, please see our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference herein.
On May 21, 2009 we signed a Memorandum of Agreement to sell the Lansing to a third party for a gross sale price of $21.95 million resulting in a loss of approximately $14.78 million. The vessel was delivered to its new owner on July 1, 2009.
On May 29, 2009, we entered into various agreements with third parties to purchase a 2001-built, 75,000 dwt Panamax drybulk carrier for an aggregate price of $25 million. The transaction has been terminated due to Sellers' financiers not lifting their conditions to the sale.
In May 2009, we engaged in Forward Freight Agreement, or FFA, trading activities with the objective to use them as economic hedging instruments in order to reduce our exposure to market price fluctuations with respect to our fleet. .
On June 26, 2009, we agreed to acquire the M/V Partagas (ex Jin Tai) for a purchase price of $56 million. The vessel was delivered on July 30, 2009 and commenced a three-year time charter at a gross daily rate of $27,500.
On July 8, 2009, we agreed to acquire the M/V Robusto (ex Mineral London) for a purchase price of $61.25 million and it is scheduled to be delivered to us before November 30, 2009. Upon delivery to the Company, the vessel is scheduled to commence time charter employment for a period of approximately five years at a gross rate of $26,000 per day.
On July 10, 2009, the Company entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with a third party for the sale of the M/V Juneau at a price of $19.9 million resulting in a loss of approximately $16.49 million. The vessel is scheduled to be delivered to its new owners not later than November 30, 2009.
On July 13, 2009, during our annual general meeting of shareholders, our shareholders approved an amendment to our articles of incorporation to increase our authorized common shares from ninety-five million (95,000,000) common shares to one billion (1,000,000,000) common shares.
On July 15, 2009, we entered into a time charter for the M/V Richmond that commenced on August 1, 2009, at a gross rate of $18,100 per day for a minimum period of 11.5 months and a maximum of 14.5 months. This vessel became available following an early redelivery by the vessel's previous charterer. Due to the early termination of the charter, we will receive a lump sum payment of $200,000.
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On July 18, 2009, we agreed to acquire the M/V Cohiba (ex Mineral Hong Kong) for a purchase price of $61.25 million and it is scheduled to be delivered to us before December 31, 2009. Upon delivery to the Company, the vessel is scheduled to commence time charter employment for a period of approximately five years at a gross rate of $26,250 per day.
On July 22, 2009, the charterers of the M/V Topeka declared their inability to continue the chartering of the vessel. The Company has agreed with the sub-charterers to continue the chartering of the vessel for 18 months at a gross daily charter rate of $18,000. As a result of the early termination of the charter party the unamortized balance of the imputed revenue that was initially recognized upon the vessel's acquisition of approximately $6.7 million will be credited to income in the third quarter of 2009.
On July 24, 2009, we entered into a Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, or the SEDA, with YA Global, pursuant to which we may offer and sell up to $450,000,000 of our common shares to YA Global. For further information concerning the SEDA, please see "Selling Shareholder" herein.
On August 14, 2009 we agreed to sell the M/V Richmond to a third party for a gross sale price of $20.6 million resulting in a loss of approximately $19.8 million The vessel is scheduled to be delivered to its new owners no later than October 30, 2009.
The International Drybulk Shipping Industry.
We currently employ each of our nine drybulk carriers, excluding the two drybulk carriers we have agreed to acquire, under time charter agreements with an average remaining duration of approximately 18 months as of September 18, 2009.
The Baltic Dry Index (BDI), a daily average of charter rates in 26 shipping routes measured on a time charter and voyage basis covering Supramax, Panamax and Capesize drybulk carriers, has recovered significantly during the first seven months of 2009 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. The BDI averaged 3,823 during the month of June 2009 which is about 430% higher than the November 2008 average of 715. However, this is still below the BDI's high of 11,793 reached in May 2008.
The decline in the drybulk market has resulted in lower charter rates for vessels exposed to the spot market and time charters linked to the BDI. Our drybulk carriers are presently employed under time charters and are not directly linked to the BDI. However, the charter rate for our Capesize drybulk carrier, the M/V Juneau, will be linked to the BDI for the last two months of its time charter during the third quarter of 2009. Please see fleet employment data above under "Our Fleet".
Drybulk vessel values have also rebounded since last year's steep decline. Charter rates and vessel values were affected last year in part by the lack of availability of credit to finance both vessel purchases and purchases of commodities carried by sea, resulting in a decline in cargo shipments, and the excess supply of iron ore in China which resulted in falling iron ore prices and increased stockpiles in Chinese ports. The rebound we have seen during the first seven months in 2009 has resulted primarily from cheaper prices for raw materials from producing countries like Brazil and Australia compared to raw materials produced domestically in Asia; consequently China has increased its imports of raw materials. There can be no assurance as to how long charter rates and vessel values will remain at their current levels or whether they will move to any significant degree in either direction.
Capesize rates have significantly rebounded in 2009 and as of July 21, 2009 average rates are approximately $60,000 per day. Capesize rates averaged as low as $6,499 per day during the month of December 2008. We believe that the root cause of this increase is linked to the purchase by Chinese steel mills of imported iron ore, which is cheaper than that produced domestically in China.
The global drybulk carrier fleet may be divided into four categories based on a vessel's carrying capacity. These categories consist of:
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| ● | Capesize vessels, which have carrying capacities of more than 85,000 dwt. These vessels generally operate along long haul iron ore and coal trade routes. There are relatively few ports around the world with the infrastructure to accommodate vessels of this size. |
| ● | Panamax vessels have a carrying capacity of between 60,000 and 85,000 dwt. These vessels carry coal, grains, and, to a lesser extent, minor bulks, including steel products, forest products and fertilizers. Panamax vessels are able to pass through the Panama Canal making them more versatile than larger vessels. |
| ● | Handymax vessels have a carrying capacity of between 35,000 and 60,000 dwt. These vessels operate along a large number of geographically dispersed global trade routes mainly carrying grains and minor bulks. Vessels below 60,000 dwt are sometimes built with on-board cranes enabling them to load and discharge cargo in countries and ports with limited infrastructure. |
| ● | Handysize vessels have a carrying capacity of up to 35,000 dwt. These vessels carry exclusively minor bulk cargo. Increasingly, these vessels have operated along regional trading routes. Handysize vessels are well suited for small ports with length and draft restrictions that may lack the infrastructure for cargo loading and unloading. |
As of May 2009, total newbuilding orders had been placed for an aggregate of about 68% of the existing global drybulk fleet, with deliveries expected during the next 36 months. According to market sources about 50% of the drybulk fleet is contracted at established yards, while the other 50% is contracted at yards that are less established and whose viability may be uncertain. Due to lack of financing many analysts expect significant cancellations and/ or slippage of newbuilding orders. The supply of drybulk carriers is dependent on the delivery of new vessels and the removal of vessels from the global fleet, either through scrapping or accidental losses. The level of scrapping activity is generally a function of scrapping prices in relation to current and prospective charter market conditions, as well as operating repair and survey costs. Scrapping in 2009 has been significant. As of June 2009, 6.5 million dwt has been removed from the global fleet representing 60% of the carrying capacity of the total fleet delivered in the first six months of 2009. In addition, total drybulk scrapping during the first five months of 2009 is higher than in 2008 (5 million dwt) and in 2007 (2.1 million dwt). As of the end of June 2009, about 16.6% of the total dry bulk fleet is 25 years or older. Many analysts expect scrapping to continue to be a significant factor in offsetting the total supply of the drybulk fleet.
The International Tanker Industry.
Our fleet includes four double-hull crude oil tanker vessels (three Aframaxes and one Suezmax). Our three Aframaxes are employed on time charter agreements and the Suezmax is employed in a spot market pooling arrangement. The tanker industry has an inherent volatility caused by seasonal demand fluctuations. During the fall, refineries typically build stockpiles to cover demand for heating distillates during the winter. Early in the spring the refineries move into a maintenance period in order to switch production to gasoline instead of heavy distillates. This results in the reduction of required seaborne transportation of oil. As a general pattern, demand for petroleum products during the summer is less than demand during the winter. This seasonality is reflected in the time charter equivalent rate for Suezmax tanker route loading in West Africa and discharging in the U.S. Atlantic Coast. This rate averaged $11,759 per day during July 2009, whereas during the fourth quarter of 2008, the same rate averaged $58,604 per day.
According to industry sources, in the second half of 2008 and beginning of 2009, a slowdown in global economic growth has led to a significant decline in oil prices from a high of $145 per barrel in July 2008 to $55 per barrel in the beginning of 2009, after reaching a low of $34 per barrel in December 2008. OPEC has responded by significantly reducing oil supply. During the last OPEC meeting held in Vienna in May 2009, the OPEC ministers agreed to leave existing output targets in order to help economic recovery by avoiding further increases of oil prices during the economic recession. The decline in oil supply had an adverse effect on the demand for tankers and tanker charter rates. Consistent with this trend, the value of the tankers in our fleet has declined. However, we believe that the potential phase out by 2010 of single hull tankers, which constitute approximately 17% in terms of dwt of the global tanker fleet, may reduce tanker supply and may therefore mitigate the adverse effect on demand for tankers resulting from any potential future oil supply reduction.
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For the first half of 2009, newbuilding deliveries for Suezmax vessels amounted to about 2.2 million dwt tons or 9% of the total Suezmax orderbook of 24.2 million dwt tons. During the same period the newbuilding deliveries for Aframax vessels amounted to 5.3 million dwt tons or 23.3% of the total Aframax orderbook of 22.7 million dwt tons. As of June 30, 2009 the total tanker newbuilding orderbook stood at about 151 million dwt. It is expected that 40 million dwt of tankers in excess of 10,000 dwt will be delivered in 2009, while the current fleet of tankers in excess of 10,000 dwt amounts to approximately 422 million dwt.
The Securities We May Offer
We may use this prospectus to offer up to $200 million of:
| ● | common shares, including related preferred share purchase rights, |
| ● | preferred shares, |
| ● | debt securities, which may be guaranteed by one or more of our subsidiaries, |
| ● | warrants. |
| ● | purchase contracts, and |
| ● | units. |
We may also offer securities of the types listed above that are convertible or exchangeable into one or more of the securities listed above.
In addition, the selling shareholder named in this prospectus or in a prospectus supplement to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part may sell in one or more offerings pursuant to this registration statement up to 335,820,895 of our common shares. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of these shares. However, we will receive proceeds from the selling shareholder from the initial sale to such shareholder of these shares in a private transaction.
A prospectus supplement will describe the specific types, amounts, prices, and detailed terms of any of these offered securities and may describe certain risks in addition to those set forth below associated with an investment in the securities. Terms used in the prospectus supplement will have the meanings described in this prospectus, unless otherwise specified.
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk set forth below and the risks and discussion of risks under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008, in the reports on Form 6-K filed on June 16, 2009 and August 10, 2009, and the other documents we have incorporated by reference in this prospectus that summarize the risks that may materially affect our business before making an investment in our securities. Please see "Where You Can Find Additional Information – Information Incorporated by Reference." In addition, you should also consider carefully the risks set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in any prospectus supplement before investing in any securities offered by this prospectus. The occurrence of one or more of those risk factors could adversely impact our results of operations or financial condition.
Industry Specific Risk Factors
Compliance with safety and other vessel requirements imposed by classification societies may be very costly and may adversely affect our business.
The hull and machinery of every commercial vessel must be classed by a classification society authorized by its country of registry. The classification society certifies that a vessel is safe and seaworthy in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the country of registry of the vessel and the Safety of Life at Sea Convention.
A vessel must undergo annual surveys, intermediate surveys and special surveys. In lieu of a special survey, a vessel's machinery may be placed on a continuous survey cycle, under which the machinery would be surveyed periodically over a five-year period. Our vessels are on special survey cycles for hull inspection and continuous survey cycles for machinery inspection. Every vessel is also required to be dry docked every two to three years for inspection of the underwater parts of such vessel.
If a vessel does not maintain its class and/or fails any annual survey, intermediate survey or special survey, the vessel will be unable to trade between ports and will be unemployable, which will negatively impact our revenues and results from operations.
Company Specific Risk Factors
A drop in spot charter rates may provide an incentive for some charterers to default on their charters.
When we enter into a time or bareboat charter, charter rates under that charter are fixed for the term of the charter. If the spot charter rates in the tanker or drybulk shipping industry, as applicable, become significantly lower than the time charter equivalent rates that some of our charterers are obligated to pay us under our existing charters, the charterers may have incentive to default under that charter or attempt to renegotiate the charter. If our charterers fail to pay their obligations, we would have to attempt to re-charter our vessels at lower charter rates, which would affect our ability to comply with our loan covenants and operate our vessels profitably. If we are not able to comply with our loan covenants and our lenders choose to accelerate our indebtedness and foreclose their liens, we could be required to sell vessels in our fleet and our ability to continue to conduct our business would be impaired.
The market price of our common shares has fluctuated widely and the market price of our common shares may fluctuate in the future.
The market price of our common shares has fluctuated widely since our initial public offering in April 2007 and may continue to do so as a result of many factors, including our actual results of operations and perceived prospects, the prospects of our competition and of the shipping industry in general and in particular the drybulk and tanker sectors, differences between our actual financial and operating results and those expected by investors and analysts, changes in analysts' recommendations or projections, changes in general valuations for companies in the shipping industry, particularly the drybulk and tanker sectors, changes in general economic or market conditions and broad market fluctuations.
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The market price of our common shares has recently dropped below $5.00 per share, and the last reported sale price on The Nasdaq Global Market on September 17, 2009 was $1.57 per share. If the market price of our common shares remains below $5.00 per share, under stock exchange rules, our shareholders will not be able to use such shares as collateral for borrowing in margin accounts. This inability to continue to use our common shares as collateral may lead to sales of such shares creating downward pressure on and increased volatility in the market price of our common shares.
In addition, under the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market, listed companies are required to maintain a share price of at least $1.00 per share and if the share price declines below $1.00 for a period of 30 consecutive business days, then the listed company would have a cure period of at least 180 days to regain compliance with the $1.00 per share minimum. In the event that our share price declines below $1.00 for a period of 30 consecutive business days, we may be required to take action, such as a reverse stock split, in order to comply with Nasdaq rules that may be in effect at the time.
United States tax authorities could treat the Company as a “passive foreign investment company,” which could have adverse United States federal income tax consequences to United States holders
A foreign corporation will be treated as a “passive foreign investment company,” or PFIC, for United States federal income tax purposes if either (1) at least 75% of its gross income for any taxable year consists of certain types of “passive income” or (2) at least 50% of the average value of the corporation's assets produce or are held for the production of those types of “passive income.” For purposes of these tests, “passive income” includes dividends, interest, and gains from the sale or exchange of investment property and rents and royalties other than rents and royalties which are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business. For purposes of these tests, income derived from the performance of services does not constitute “passive income.” United States shareholders of a PFIC are subject to a disadvantageous United States federal income tax regime with respect to the income derived by the PFIC, the distributions they receive from the PFIC and the gain, if any, they derive from the sale or other disposition of their shares in the PFIC.
The Company should not be a PFIC with respect to any taxable year. In the opinion of Seward & Kissel LLP, based upon the Company’s operations as described herein, its income from time charters should not be treated as passive income for purposes of determining whether it is a passive foreign investment company. Accordingly, the Company’s income from its time chartering activities should not constitute “passive income,” and the assets that the Company owns and operates in connection with the production of that income should not constitute passive assets.
There is substantial legal authority supporting this position consisting of case law and United States Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, pronouncements concerning the characterization of income derived from time charters and voyage charters as services income for other tax purposes. However, it should be noted that there is also authority which characterizes time charter income as rental income rather than services income for other tax purposes. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the IRS or a court of law will accept this position, and there is a risk that the IRS or a court of law could determine that the Company is a PFIC. Moreover, no assurance can be given that the Company would not constitute a PFIC for any future taxable year if the nature and extent of the Company’s operations changed.
If the IRS were to find that the Company is or has been a PFIC for any taxable year, United States shareholders of the Company would face adverse United States federal income tax consequences. Under the PFIC rules, unless those shareholders make an election available under the Code (which election could itself have adverse consequences for such shareholders, as discussed below under “Tax Considerations – United States Federal Income Taxation – United States Federal Income Taxation of United States Holders”), such shareholders would be liable to pay United States federal income tax at the then prevailing income tax rates on ordinary income plus interest upon excess distributions and upon any gain from the disposition of their common shares, as if the excess distribution or gain had been recognized ratably over the shareholder's holding period of the common shares. See “Tax Considerations – United States Federal Income Taxation – United States Federal Income Taxation of United States Holders” for a more comprehensive discussion of the United States federal income tax consequences to United States shareholders if the Company is treated as a PFIC.
The Company may have to pay tax on United States source income, which would reduce its earnings
Under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Code, 50% of the gross shipping income of a vessel owning or chartering corporation, such as the Company and its subsidiaries, that is attributable to transportation that begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in the United States may be subject to a 4% United States federal income tax without allowance for deduction, unless that corporation qualifies for exemption from tax under section 883 of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations recently promulgated thereunder.
Both before and after this offering, in the opinion of Seward & Kissel LLP, the Company and its subsidiaries should qualify for this statutory tax exemption. The Company will take this position for United States federal income tax return reporting purposes. However, there are factual circumstances beyond the Company’s control that could cause it to lose the benefit of this tax exemption after the offering and thereby become subject to United States federal income tax on its United States source income. For example, the Company would no longer qualify for exemption under Code section 883 for a particular taxable year if shareholders with a five percent or greater interest in the Company’s stock owned, in the aggregate, 50% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock for more than half the days during the taxable year. Due to the factual nature of the issues involved, there can be no assurances on the tax-exempt status of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
If the Company or its subsidiaries were not entitled to exemption under Section 883 for any taxable year, they could be subject for those years to an effective 2% United States federal income tax on the shipping income these companies derive during the year which is attributable to the transport or cargoes to or from the United States. The imposition of this taxation would have a negative effect on the Company’s business and would result in decreased earnings available for distribution to the Company’s shareholders.
Offering Specific Risk Factors
Investors may experience significant dilution as a result of our sale of shares to YA Global pursuant to the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement and future offerings.
If we sell all 335,820,895 common shares to YA Global that we have registered for resale based on the estimated number of shares that may be issued to YA Global pursuant to the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, it will result in an increase of 371.5% in our issued and outstanding common shares as of September 18, 2009. The sale of shares to YA Global will be at prices that are based upon market prices and therefore the prices at which we sell shares to YA Global will vary and these variations may be significant. Existing shareholders will experience significant dilution if we sell shares to YA Global at prices significantly below the price at which the existing shareholders invested. YA Global is expected to resell all of the shares that it purchases from us pursuant to the Distribution Agreement. In addition, we may offer additional common shares in the future, which may result in additional significant dilution.
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Matters discussed in this document may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.
We desire to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. This document and any other written or oral statements made by us or on our behalf may include forward-looking statements which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. The words "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "forecast", "project", "plan", "potential", "may", "should", "expect" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements in this document 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 we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.
In addition to these important factors and matters discussed elsewhere in this prospectus, and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, 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 fluctuations in charterhire rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the drybulk carrier and tanker markets, changes in the company's operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities including those that may limit the commercial useful lives of drybulk carriers and tankers, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, and other important factors described from time to time in the reports we file with the Commission and the NASDAQ Global Market. We caution readers of this prospectus and any prospectus supplement not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements are not guarantees of our future performance, and actual results and future developments may vary materially from those projected in the forward looking statements.
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PER SHARE MARKET PRICE INFORMATION
Our common shares have traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "OCNF" since April 30, 2007.
The table below sets forth the high and low closing prices for each of the periods indicated for our common shares.
| 2007 | High | Low |
| April 30, 2007 to June 30, 2007 | 20.70 | 19.14 |
| 3rd Quarter ended September 30, 2007 | 24.40 | 18.80 |
| 4th Quarter ended December 31, 2007 | 30.45 | 16.88 |
| 2007 Annual | 30.45 | 16.88 |
| 2008 | High | Low |
| 1st Quarter ended March 31, 2008 | 24.65 | 15.30 |
| 2nd Quarter ended June 30, 2008 | 26.70 | 21.48 |
| 3rd Quarter ended September 30, 2008 | 22.76 | 12.29 |
| 4th Quarter ended December 31, 2008 | 13.60 | 1.87 |
| 2008 Annual | 26.70 | 1.87 |
| Most Recent Six Months | High | Low |
| March 2009 | 1.57 | 0.82 |
| April 2009 | 1.60 | 1.04 |
| May 2009 | 1.88 | 1.37 |
| June 2009 | 1.82 | 1.26 |
| July 2009 | 1.56 | 1.24 |
| August 2009 | 1.79 | 1.30 |
| September 1 – 17, 2009 | 1.63 | 1.30 |
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(In thousands of U.S. dollars)
The following table sets forth our unaudited ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008 and for the six month period ended June 30, 2009(1).
Years ended December 31, | Six-month period ended June 30, | |||||||||||
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||||||||||
| In thousands of U.S. dollars | ||||||||||||
| Earnings | ||||||||||||
| Net Income (loss) | $ | 8,155 | $ | 27,722 | $ | (30,245 | ) | |||||
| Add: Fixed charges | 5,409 | 16,364 | 10,535 | |||||||||
| Total Earnings (Losses) | $ | 13,564 | $ | 44,086 | $ | (19,710 | ) | |||||
| Fixed Charges | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense, including loan commitment fees | $ | 4,250 | $ | 15,889 | $ | 9,585 | ||||||
| Amortization and write-off of capitalized expenses relating to indebtedness | 1,159 | 475 | 950 | |||||||||
| Total Fixed Charges | $ | 5,409 | $ | 16,364 | $ | 10,535 | ||||||
| Ratio of Earnings (Losses) to Fixed Charges | 2.51 | x | 2.69 | x | (1.87 | )x (2) | ||||||
(1) We have not issued any preferred stock as of the date of this prospectus.
| (2) | The Company incurred losses for the six month period ended June 30, 2009 and, accordingly, the ratio coverage was negative and less that 1:1. The Company would have needed to generate additional earnings of $30,245 to achieve coverage of 1:1 in the six month period ended June 30, 2009. |
For purposes of computing the consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of net income plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense on long term indebtedness and amortization and write-off of capitalized expenses relating to indebtedness.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless we specify otherwise in any prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of securities that we may offer by this prospectus for capital expenditures; working capital; to make vessel acquisitions if market conditions warrant; for general corporate purposes and, if needed, to enhance our liquidity and to assist us in complying with our loan covenants.
We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling shareholder pursuant to this prospectus. However, we will receive proceeds from the selling shareholder from the initial sale to such shareholder of these shares in a private transaction.
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CAPITALIZATION
A prospectus supplement or report on Form 6-K incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement of which this prospectus is a part will include information on the Company's consolidated capitalization.
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ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
OceanFreight Inc. is a Marshall Islands company and our executive offices are located outside of the U.S. in Athens, Greece. A majority of our directors, officers and the experts named in the prospectus reside outside the U.S. In addition, a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of our directors, officers and experts are located outside of the U.S. As a result, you may have difficulty serving legal process within the U.S. upon us or any of these persons. You may also have difficulty enforcing, both in and outside the U.S., judgments you may obtain in U.S. courts against us or these persons in any action, including actions based upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. federal or state securities laws.
Furthermore, there is substantial doubt that the courts of the Marshall Islands or Greece would enter judgments in original actions brought in those courts predicated on U.S. federal or state securities laws.
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SELLING SHAREHOLDER
The following information contains a description of YA Global Master SPV LTD., or YA Global, or the "Selling Shareholder," and its relationship to the Company and how the Selling Shareholder acquired (or shall acquire) the shares to be sold in this offering. Shares may also be sold through the Selling Shareholder's pledgees, assignees or successors-in-interest . Capitalized terms used but not defined in this section shall have the meanings given to them in the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement dated as of July 24, 2009, or the SEDA, by and between OceanFreight Inc. and the Selling Shareholder. The Selling Shareholder has not held a position or office, or had any other material relationship, with the Company, except as follows:
YA Global Master SPV LTD. (YA Global). YA Global is the investor under the SEDA. All investment decisions of, and control of, YA Global are held by its investment manager, Yorkville Advisors, LLC, or Yorkville Advisors. Mr. Mark Angelo, the portfolio manager of Yorkville Advisors, makes the investment decisions on behalf of and controls Yorkville Advisors. YA Global acquired, or will acquire, all shares being registered in this offering in financing transactions with the Company.
On July 24, 2009, the Company and YA Global entered into what is sometimes termed an equity line of credit arrangement. The Company entered into the SEDA pursuant to which the Company has the opportunity, for a three-year period beginning on the date on which the Commission first declares effective a registration statement registering the resale of our shares by YA Global, to sell our common shares to YA Global for a total purchase price of up to $450 million, at our sole discretion. YA Global intends to resell up to an estimated amount of 335,820,895 of these shares of our common stock.
For each share of common stock purchased under the SEDA, YA Global will pay 98.5% of the VWAP (as defined below) of our common shares on the advance pricing date as set forth in the SEDA. Once presented with an advance notice, YA Global is required to purchase the number of shares specified in the advance notice. Delivery of the shares against payment therefor in respect of each advance notice shall be settled on the third trading day following each sale pursuant to the SEDA, or on such earlier date as we and YA Global may mutually agree. Each such notice may be for an amount of common shares not to exceed $25,000,000 divided by the VWAP of our common shares on the relevant trading day. "VWAP" means, as of any date, the daily dollar volume-weighted average price for such security as reported by Bloomberg, LP. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement. In connection with any advance notice, if any portion of an advance would cause the beneficial ownership of our then outstanding common shares by YA Global to exceed 9.99% or to exceed the aggregate offering price or number of common shares available for issuance pursuant to this prospectus, then such portion shall automatically be deemed to be withdrawn by us with no further action required by us.
We have paid $25,000 to YA Global as a structuring fee. We may terminate the SEDA at any time upon prior notice to YA Global, as long as there are no advances outstanding and we have paid to YA Global all amounts then due. A copy of the SEDA is attached as Exhibit 1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 6-K as filed with the Commission on July 24, 2009.
The below table and the accompanying footnotes assume that the Selling Shareholder will sell all of such shares, including all shares issuable under the SEDA which have not yet been issued as of the date of this prospectus. However, because the Selling Shareholder may sell all or some of its shares under this prospectus from time to time, or in another permitted manner, we cannot assure you as to the actual number of shares that will be sold by the Selling Shareholder or that will be held by the Selling Shareholder after completion of any sales. We do not know how long the Selling Shareholder will hold the shares before selling them. Information concerning the Selling Shareholder may change from time to time and changed information will be presented in a supplement to this prospectus if and when necessary or required.
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| Selling Shareholder | Common Shares Owned Prior to the Offering | Percentage of Class Prior to the Offering | Total Common Shares Offered Hereby | Percentage of the class following the offering(1) |
| YA Global Master SPV LTD. | 0 (2) | 0% (2) | 335,820,895 (3) | 0% |
| (1) | Assumes the sale of all shares being offered in this prospectus. |
| (2) | The Selling Shareholder does not own any of our shares as of the date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part but is eligible to, and is, registering for resale the estimated maximum number of shares that it expects it may acquire pursuant to the SEDA. Please see note (3) below for further information. |
| (3) | The total number of shares that may be issued and sold to the Selling Shareholder under the SEDA depends on the prevailing market price at the time of such sales and is not currently determinable, but is limited to $450 million and subject to the other terms and conditions of the SEDA. The number of shares sold under the SEDA to the Selling Shareholder may be greater than 335,820,895, which is the total number of shares that the Selling Shareholder may sell from time to time under this prospectus. |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We, or the Selling Shareholder, including its pledgees, assignees or successors-in-interest, of the common stock may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares of common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. We or the Selling Shareholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling shares:
| ● | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker dealer solicits purchasers; |
| ● | block trades in which the broker dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| ● | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker dealer for its account; |
| ● | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; |
| ● | privately negotiated transactions; |
| ● | broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Shareholder to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share; |
| ● | through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; |
| ● | a combination of any such methods of sale; or |
| ● | any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
The Selling Shareholder may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.
Broker-dealers engaged by us or the Selling Shareholder may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Shareholder (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with NASDR Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with NASDR IM-2440.
In connection with the sale of the common stock or interests therein, we or the Selling Shareholder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. We or the Selling Shareholder may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
YA Global is, and any broker-dealer or agent that is involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be, an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. The Selling Shareholder has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the common stock. In no event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and markups which, in the aggregate, would exceed eight percent (8%).
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The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the shares. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling Shareholder against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Because YA Global is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act, it will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act including Rule 172 thereunder. In addition, any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus. There is no coordinating broker and, other than the Selling Shareholder, no underwriter, acting in connection with the proposed sale of the resale shares by the Selling Shareholder.
We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which the shares may be resold by the Selling Shareholder without registration and without regard to any volume limitations by reason of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all of the shares have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect. The resale shares will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale shares may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the Selling Shareholder will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of shares of the common stock by the Selling Shareholder or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling Shareholder and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).
We will bear costs relating to all of the securities being registered under the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following is a description of the material terms of our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-laws. We refer you to our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 hereto, and By-laws, which was filed as Exhibit 3.2 to our registration statement filed in connection with our initial public offering and incorporated by reference herein.
For purposes of the description of the Company's capital stock below, references to "us," "we" and "our" refer only to OceanFreight Inc. and not any of our subsidiaries.
Purpose
Our purpose, as stated in our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may now or hereafter be organized under the Business Corporations Act of the Marshall Islands, or the BCA. Our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-laws do not impose any limitations on the ownership rights of our shareholders.
Authorized Capitalization
Under our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, our authorized capital stock consists of 1,000,000,000 shares of Class A common stock (referred to in our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation as the Common Shares), par value $0.01 per share, of which 90,394,493 shares are issued and outstanding; 10,000,000 shares of Class B common stock (referred to in our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation as the Subordinated Shares), par value $0.01 per share, of which no shares are issued and outstanding, and 5,000,000 preferred shares (referred to in our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation as the Preferred Shares), par value $0.01 per share, of which no shares are issued and outstanding.
Common Shares
Following the conversion of all of our subordinated shares on August 15, 2008, we now have only common shares issued and outstanding. As of September 18, 2009, we have 90,394,493 common shares issued and outstanding. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred shares, holders of common shares are entitled to receive ratably all dividends, if any, declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available for dividends. Holders of common shares do not have conversion, redemption or preemptive rights to subscribe to any of our securities. All outstanding common shares are fully paid and non-assessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common shares are subject to the rights of the holders of any preferred shares which we may issue in the future. Our common shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "OCNF".
Share History
On September 26, 2006, we issued 1,000 common shares to Basset Holdings Inc., a company controlled by Mr. Antonis Kandylidis, our Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer. Under our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, these shares were converted into 1,000 subordinated shares. On April 3, 2007, we declared with effect on April 5, 2007, a stock split in the form of a share dividend, in the ratio of 1,999:1 on our subordinated shares, resulting in Basset Holdings Inc. owning 2,000,000 restricted subordinated shares.
On April 30, 2007, we completed our initial public offering of 12,362,500 common shares, including shares sold pursuant to the exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option, the net proceeds of which amounted to $216.8 million.
In May 2007, in connection with employment agreements entered into with two former executive officers, we issued, subject to applicable vesting periods, 31,579 restricted common shares and 63,158 restricted subordinated shares to our former Chief Financial Officer and former Chief Executive Officer, respectively. On November 30, 2007, following the departure of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer from the Company, the Company's Board of Directors compensated the former Chief Executive Officer with 21,053 restricted subordinated shares that had already been vested and the former Chief Financial Officer with 23,685 restricted common shares of which 15,790 vested on January 2, 2008 and 7,895 which vested on April 30, 2008. The remaining 42,105 restricted subordinated shares and 7,894 common restricted shares, initially granted to the former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, were cancelled on January 30, 2008. In April, 2008, we issued to the former Chief Executive Officer 21,053 common shares in exchange for 21,053 restricted subordinated shares, plus an additional 52,105 common shares pursuant to settlement agreement dated April 7, 2008.
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In March 2008, we issued 5,150 restricted subordinated shares to a company controlled by our former Chief Operating Officer. In March 2008, we also issued 80,000 restricted subordinated shares to a company controlled by our Chief Executive Officer/Interim Chief Financial Officer, subject to contractual restrictions including applicable vesting periods.
On June 6, 2008, our registration statement on Form F-3 (Registration No. 333-150579), or the Registration Statement, was declared effective. On June 19, 2008 we entered into a controlled equity offering sales agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. pursuant to which we appointed Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. as our agent for the offer and sale of common shares, from time to time, under our Registration Statement. On June 19, 2008, we filed a prospectus supplement under Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of up to 4,000,000 common shares. We paid to Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., as our agent, a commission of up to 2.5% on the gross sale proceeds for sales made in "at the market" offerings. We began issuances and sales under the controlled equity offering on July 1, 2008. The controlled equity offering was completed on November 10, 2008. The net proceeds from the issuance of the 4,000,000 shares amounted to $50.9 million.
On August 14, 2008, we paid a dividend in the amount of $0.77 per share in respect of the second quarter of 2008. This dividend payment satisfied the test under our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation for early conversion of all of our subordinated shares into common shares on a one-for-one basis. As a result, all 2,085,150 subordinated shares were converted into 2,085,150 common shares on August 15, 2008.
On January 30, 2009, we entered into a Standby Equity Purchase Agreement, or the SEPA, with YA Global Master SPV Ltd., or YA Global, for the offer and sale of up to $147.9 million of our common shares, par value $0.01 per share. In accordance with the terms of the SEPA, the Company offered and sold common shares from time to time to YA Global; however, it was under no obligation to sell any shares pursuant to the SEPA. The Company was advised by YA Global that the resale of any common shares by YA Global, if any, would be made by means of ordinary brokers' transactions on The Nasdaq Global Market or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to the prevailing market prices. YA Global purchased the shares from the Company based upon a daily dollar volume weighted averaged price for its common shares on The Nasdaq Global Market. YA Global received a discount equal to 1.5% of the daily dollar volume weighted averaged price on each day that the Company sold shares to YA Global. The SEPA agreement was terminated on May 21, 2009 and the total number of shares issued under the SEPA is 71,850,000 with net proceeds amounting to $110 million.
On July 13, 2009, at our annual general meeting of shareholders, our shareholders approved an amendment to our articles of incorporation to increase our authorized common shares from ninety-five million (95,000,000) common shares to one billion (1,000,000,000) common shares.
On July 24, 2009, we entered into a Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, or the SEDA, with YA Global for the offer and sale of up to $450 million of our common shares, par value $0.01 per share. In accordance with the terms of the SEDA, the Company may offer and sell common shares at any time and from time to time to YA Global; however, it is under no obligation to sell any shares pursuant to the SEDA. The Company has been advised by YA Global that the resale of any common shares by YA Global, if any, will be made by means of ordinary brokers' transactions on The Nasdaq Global Market or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to the prevailing market prices. YA Global will purchase the shares from the Company based upon a daily dollar volume weighted averaged price for its common shares on The Nasdaq Global Market. YA Global will receive a discount equal to 1.5% of the daily dollar volume weighted averaged price on the day the Company sells shares to YA Global.
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Stockholders Rights Agreement
We entered into a Stockholders Rights Agreement with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent, as of April 30, 2008. Under this Agreement, we declared a dividend payable of one preferred share purchase right, or Right, to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of the Company's Series A Participating Preferred Stock for each outstanding share of OceanFreight Inc. common stock, par value U.S.$0.01 per share. The Rights will separate from the common stock and become exercisable after (1) the 10th day after public announcement that a person or group acquires ownership of 20% or more of the company's common stock or (2) the 10th business day (or such later date as determined by the company's board of directors) after a person or group announces a tender or exchange offer which would result in that person or group holding 20% or more of the company's common stock. On the distribution date, each holder of a Right will be entitled to purchase for $100 (the "Exercise Price") a fraction (1/1000th) of one share of the company's preferred stock which has similar economic terms as one share of common stock. If an acquiring person (an "Acquiring Person") acquires more than 20% of the company's common stock then each holder of a Right (except that Acquiring Person) will be entitled to buy at the exercise price, a number of shares of the company's common stock which has a market value of twice the exercise price. Any time after the date an Acquiring Person obtains more than 20% of the company's common stock and before that Acquiring Person acquires more than 50% of the company's outstanding common stock, the company may exchange each Right owned by all other rights holders, in whole or in part, for one share of the company's common stock. The Rights expire on the earliest of (1) May 12, 2018 or (2) the exchange or redemption of the Rights as described above. The company can redeem the Rights at any time on or prior to the earlier of a public announcement that a person has acquired ownership of 20% or more of the company's common stock, or the expiration date. The terms of the Rights and the Stockholders Rights Agreement may be amended without the consent of the Rights holders at any time on or prior to the Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, the terms of the Rights and the Stockholders Rights Agreement may be amended to make changes that do not adversely affect the rights of the rights holders (other than the Acquiring Person). The Rights do not have any voting rights. The rights have the benefit of certain customary anti-dilution protections.
Dividends
On December 12, 2008, our board of directors determined, after careful consideration of various factors, including the recent sharp decline in charter rates and vessel values in the drybulk sector, to suspend the payment of cash dividends until such time as the board of directors shall determine in its discretion, in order to preserve capital.
In addition, under the January 9, 2009 amendatory agreement to our Nordea credit facility, which matures in October 2015, we are prohibited from paying dividends during the term of such credit facility. In the event that we are permitted to pay cash dividends under our Nordea credit facility, our DVB loan agreement contains additional restrictions. Under our DVB loan, we will be permitted, without our lender's consent, to pay dividends of up to 50% of quarterly net profits if our Company has been profitable for the preceding four quarters and if we comply with all covenants. Dividend payments that would require use of the remaining 50% of our quarterly net profits would be subject to our lender's consent.
Historically, our policy was to declare and pay regular cash dividends on a quarterly basis from our operating surplus, in amounts substantially equal to our available cash from operations in the previous quarter, less any cash reserves for dry-dockings and working capital, as our board of directors may determine. Our target dividend is $0.77 per common share, although the Board of Directors may change this amount in its sole discretion. However, we may have to make provisions for vessel acquisitions and other liabilities that would reduce or eliminate the cash available for distribution as dividends. We paid a partial dividend in the amount of $0.39 per share to shareholders in August 2007 in respect of the second quarter of 2007, a dividend in the amount of $0.5125 per share to shareholders in November 2007 in respect of the third quarter of 2007 and a dividend in the amount of $0.77 per share to shareholders in February 2008 in respect of the fourth quarter of 2007. In May 2008, we paid a dividend in the amount of $0.77 per share in respect of the first quarter of 2008, and in August 2008, we paid a dividend in the amount of $0.77 per share in respect of the second quarter of 2008. In November 2008, we paid a dividend of $0.77 per share in respect of the third quarter of 2008.
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Declaration and payment of any dividend is subject to the discretion of our board of directors. The timing and amount of dividend payments will be dependent upon our earnings, financial condition, cash requirements and availability, restrictions in our credit agreements, the provisions of Marshall Islands law affecting the payment of distributions to shareholders and other factors. The payment of dividends is not guaranteed or assured, and may be discontinued at any time at the discretion of our Board of Directors. Because we are a holding company with no material assets other than the stock of our subsidiaries, our ability to pay dividends will depend on the earnings and cash flow of our subsidiaries and their ability to pay dividends to us. If there is a substantial decline in the charter market, our earnings would be negatively affected thus limiting our ability to pay dividends. Marshall Islands law generally prohibits the payment of dividends other than from our operating surplus or while a company is insolvent or would be rendered insolvent upon the payment thereof; but in case there is no such surplus, dividends may be declared or paid out of net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and for the preceding fiscal year.
Our board of directors will treat all dividends as coming from operating surplus until the sum of all dividends paid since the closing of our initial public offering equals the amount of operating surplus as of the most recent date of determination. Our undistributed operating surplus at any point in time will be our operating surplus accumulated since the closing of our initial public offering less all dividends from operating surplus paid since the closing of our initial public offering. We will treat dividends paid from any amount in excess of our operating surplus as liquidating dividends.
Operating Surplus
Operating surplus means the greater of zero and the amount equal to:
| ● | $5.0 million (which may be increased to $10.0 million as described below); plus |
| ● | all of our cash receipts after the completion of our initial public offering, excluding cash receipts from (1) borrowings, (2) sales of equity and debt securities, (3) capital contributions, (4) corporate reorganizations or restructurings, (5) the termination of interest rate swap agreements, (6) sales or other dispositions of vessels (except to the extent the proceeds from such dispositions exceed the initial purchase price or contributed value of the vessel subject to the disposition, which excess amount shall be treated as operating surplus) and (7) sales or other dispositions of other assets other than in the normal course of business; plus |
| ● | interest paid on debt incurred and cash dividends paid on equity securities issued by us, in each case, to finance all or any portion of the construction, renewal or improvement of a capital asset such as vessels (other than the contracted fleet at the time of the initial public offering) that would be capitalized for accounting purposes during the period from such financing until the earlier to occur of the date the capital asset is put into service or the date that it is abandoned or disposed of; plus |
| ● | interest paid on debt incurred and cash dividends paid on our equity securities issued by us, in each case, to pay the construction period interest on debt incurred, or to pay construction period dividends on our equity issued, to finance the construction projects described in the immediately preceding bullet; less |
| ● | all of our cash expenditures after the completion of our initial public offering, including, but not limited to operating expenses, interest payments and taxes, but excluding (1) the repayment of borrowings, (2) the repurchase of debt and equity securities, (3) interest rate swap termination costs, (4) expenses and taxes related to borrowings, sales of equity and debt securities, capital contributions, corporate reorganizations or restructurings, the termination of interest rate swap agreements, sales or other dispositions of vessels (except to the extent the proceeds from such dispositions exceed the initial purchase price or contracted value of the vessel subject to the disposition, which excess amount shall be treated as operating surplus), and sales or other dispositions of other assets other than in the normal course of business, (5) capital expenditures and (6) payment of dividends, such expenditures are hereinafter referred to as Operating Expenditures; less |
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| ● | cash capital expenditures incurred after the completion of our initial public offering to maintain our vessels and other assets including dry-docking, replacement of equipment on the vessels, repairs and similar expenditures, but excluding capital expenditures for or related to the acquisition of additional vessels, and including capital expenditures for replacement of a vessel as a result of damage or loss prior to normal retirement, net of any insurance proceeds, warranty payments or similar property not treated as cash receipts for this purpose, such capital expenditures are hereinafter referred to as Maintenance Capital Expenditures; less |
| ● | the amount of cash reserves established by our board of directors for future (1) Operating Expenditures and (2) Maintenance Capital Expenditures. |
The $5.0 million amount in the first bullet point above may be increased by our board of directors to $10.0 million only if our board determines such increase is necessary to allow it to pay all or part of the base dividend on our common shares, provided that the $5.0 million amount cannot be increased in any period in which a dividend on subordinated shares is paid.
As described above, our operating surplus, for determining whether we are paying ordinary dividends or liquidating dividends, does not reflect only cash on hand that is generated from our operations. For example, it includes a provision that will enable us to pay, under circumstances described above, a dividend from our operating surplus of up to $10.0 million of cash we receive from non-operating sources, such as asset sales, issuances of securities and borrowings. In addition, the effect of including, as described above, certain dividends on equity securities or interest payments on debt, related to the construction, replacement or improvement of an asset in operating surplus would be to increase our operating surplus by the amount of any such dividends or interest payments. As a result, we may also pay dividends from our operating surplus up to the amount of any such dividends or interest payments from cash we receive from non-operating sources.
Our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation provide that the construction or application of the definition of operating surplus may be adjusted in the case of any particular transaction or matter or type of transaction or matter if our board of directors, with the concurrence of our audit committee, is of the opinion that the adjustment is necessary or appropriate to further the overall purpose and intent of the definition of operating surplus.
Liquidating Dividends
In general, liquidating dividends will only be generated from:
| ● | borrowings; |
| ● | sales of debt and equity securities; |
| ● | sales or other dispositions of vessels (except to the extent the proceeds from such dispositions are treated as "maintenance capital expenditures," defined as any cash capital expenditures incurred after the completion of the initial public offering to maintain vessels and other assets, including drydocking, replacement of equipment on the vessels, repairs and similar expenditures, but excluding capital expenditures for or related to the acquisition of additional vessels, and including capital expenditures for replacement of a vessel as a result of damage or loss prior to normal retirement, net of any insurance proceeds, warranty payments or similar property not treated as cash receipts for purposes of calculating operating surplus; and |
| ● | sales or other dispositions of other assets, other than assets sold in the ordinary course of business. |
We do not expect to pay liquidating dividends.
Adjustment of Base Dividend
The base dividend is subject to downward adjustment in the case of liquidating dividends. The base dividend amount will be reduced in the same proportion that the liquidating dividend had to the fair market value of the common shares prior to the payment of the liquidating dividend. So long as the common shares are publicly traded on a national securities exchange, that price will be the average closing sale price on each of the five trading days before the dividend date. If the shares are not publicly traded, the price will be determined by our board of directors.
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In addition to the adjustment for liquidating dividends, if we combine our shares into fewer shares or subdivide our shares into a greater number of shares, we will proportionately adjust the base dividend level.
Voting Rights
The holders of the common shares are entitled to one vote per share on each matter requiring the approval of the holders of our common shares, whether pursuant to our Articles, our Bylaws, the Marshall Islands Business Corporation Act or otherwise. Our directors shall be elected by a plurality vote of the common shares. A majority of the common shares in the aggregate shall constitute a quorum. Any preferred shares shall have whatever voting rights are provided on their issuance.
Upon our dissolution or liquidation or the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to any holders of preferred shares having liquidation preferences, the holders of all classes of our common shares will be entitled to receive pro rata our remaining assets available for distribution. Holders of our common shares do not have conversion, redemption or pre-emptive rights to subscribe to any of our securities. The powers, preferences and rights of holders of all classes of our common shares are subject to the rights of the holders of any preferred shares that we may issue in the future.
Blank Check Preferred Stock
Our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation authorizes our board of directors to establish one or more series of preferred stock and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred stock, the terms and rights of that series, including:
| ● | the designation of the series; |
| ● | the number of shares of the series; |
| ● | the preferences and relative, participating, option or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such series; and |
| ● | the voting rights, if any, of the holders of the series. |
Other Matters
Our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-laws. Our purpose is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may now or hereafter be organized under the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act, or BCA. Our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-laws do not impose any limitations on the ownership rights of our shareholders.
Under our Amended and Restated By-laws, annual shareholder meetings will be held at a time and place selected by our board of directors. The meetings may be held in or outside of the Marshall Islands. Special meetings may be called by the Board of Directors, or by the Chairman, or by our President. Our board of directors may set a record date between 15 and 60 days before the date of any meeting to determine the shareholders that will be eligible to receive notice and vote at the meeting.
Directors. Our directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of the shareholders by the holders of shares entitled to vote in the election. There is no provision for cumulative voting.
The board of directors may change the number of directors only by a vote of at least 66 2/3% of the entire board. Each director shall be elected to serve until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, except in the event of his death, resignation, removal, or the earlier termination of his term of office. The board of directors has the authority to fix the amounts which shall be payable to the members of our board of directors for attendance at any meeting or for services rendered to us.
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Dissenters' Rights of Appraisal and Payment. Under the BCA, our shareholders have the right to dissent from various corporate actions, including any merger or sale of all or substantially all of our assets not made in the usual course of our business, and receive payment of the fair value of their shares. In the event of any further amendment of the articles, a shareholder also has the right to dissent and receive payment for his or her shares if the amendment alters certain rights in respect of those shares. The dissenting shareholder must follow the procedures set forth in the BCA to receive payment. In the event that we and any dissenting shareholder fail to agree on a price for the shares, the BCA procedures involve, among other things, the institution of proceedings in the circuit court in the judicial circuit in the Marshall Islands in which our Marshall Islands office is situated. The value of the shares of the dissenting shareholder is fixed by the court after reference, if the court so elects, to the recommendations of a court-appointed appraiser.
Shareholders' Derivative Actions. Under the BCA, any of our shareholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the shareholder bringing the action is a holder of common shares both at the time the derivative action is commenced and at the time of the transaction to which the action relates.
Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Charter Documents. Several provisions of our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-laws may have anti-takeover effects. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, lessen our vulnerability to a hostile change of control and enhance the ability of our board of directors to maximize shareholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire us. However, these anti-takeover provisions, which are summarized below, could also discourage, delay or prevent (1) the merger or acquisition of our company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise, that a shareholder may consider in its best interest and (2) the removal of incumbent officers and directors.
Blank Check Preferred Stock
As discussed above, under the terms of our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, our board of directors has authority, without any further vote or action by our shareholders, to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of blank check preferred stock. Our board of directors may issue shares of preferred stock on terms calculated to discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or the removal of our management.
Classified Board of Directors
Our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation provide for a board of directors serving staggered, three-year terms. Approximately one-third of our board of directors will be elected each year. This classified board provision could discourage a third party from making a tender offer for our shares or attempting to obtain control of our company. It could also delay shareholders who do not agree with the policies of the board of directors from removing a majority of the board of directors for two years.
Election and Removal of Directors
Our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-laws prohibit cumulative voting in the election of directors. Our By-laws require parties other than the board of directors to give advance written notice of nominations for the election of directors. Our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-laws also provide that our directors may be removed only for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote for those directors. These provisions may discourage, delay or prevent the removal of incumbent officers and directors.
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Limited Actions by Shareholders
Our By-laws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by our shareholders must be effected at an annual or special meeting of shareholders or by the unanimous written consent of our shareholders. Our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and our By-laws provide that only our Board of Directors, or our Chairman, or our President may call special meetings of our shareholders and the business transacted at the special meeting is limited to the purposes stated in the notice.
Stockholders Rights Agreement
We have entered into a Stockholders Rights Agreement with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent. See "Stockholders Rights Agreement" above.
Business Combinations
Although the BCA does not contain specific provisions regarding "business combinations" between corporations organized under the laws of the Republic of Marshall Islands and "interested shareholders," we have included these provisions in our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation. Our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation contain provisions which prohibit us from engaging in a business combination with an interested shareholder for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested shareholder, unless:
| ● | prior to the date of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, our board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder; |
| ● | upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced; |
| ● | at or subsequent to the date of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of shareholders by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested shareholder; and |
| ● | the shareholder became an interested shareholder prior to the consummation of the initial public offering. |
For purposes of these provisions, a "business combination" includes mergers, consolidations, exchanges, asset sales, leases and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested shareholder and an "interested shareholder" is any person or entity that beneficially owns 20% or more of our outstanding voting stock and any person or entity affiliated with or controlling or controlled by that person or entity.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SHARES
Under the terms of our articles of incorporation, our board of directors has authority, without any further vote or action by our shareholders, to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of blank check preferred stock. Our board of directors may issue shares of preferred stock on terms calculated to discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or the removal of our management. Our board of directors is authorized to provide for the issuance of preferred shares in one or more series with designations as may be stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such preferred shares. At the time that any series of our preferred shares are authorized, our board of directors will fix the dividend rights, any conversion rights, any voting rights, redemption provisions, liquidation preferences and any other rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of that series, as well as the number of shares constituting that series and their designation. Our board of directors could, without shareholder approval, cause us to issue preferred stock which has voting, conversion and other rights that could adversely affect the holders of our ordinary shares or make it more difficult to effect a change in control. Our preferred shares could be used to dilute the share ownership of persons seeking to obtain control of us and thereby hinder a possible takeover attempt which, if our shareholders were offered a premium over the market value of their shares, might be viewed as being beneficial to our shareholders. In addition, our preferred shares could be issued with voting, conversion and other rights and preferences which would adversely affect the voting power and other rights of holders of our ordinary shares. The material terms of any series of preferred shares that we offer, together with any material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to such preferred shares, will be described in a prospectus supplement.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series, under one or more indentures, each dated as of a date on or prior to the issuance of the debt securities to which it relates. We may issue senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities pursuant to separate indentures, a senior indenture and a subordinated indenture, respectively, in each case between us and the trustee named in the indenture. These indentures will be filed either as exhibits to an amendment to this Registration Statement, or as an exhibit to a Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or Exchange Act, report that will be incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement or a prospectus supplement. We will refer to any or all of these reports as "subsequent filings." The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, are sometimes referred to individually as an "indenture" and collectively as the "indentures." Each indenture will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act. The aggregate principal amount of debt securities which may be issued under each indenture will be unlimited and each indenture will contain the specific terms of any series of debt securities or provide that those terms must be set forth in or determined pursuant to, an authorizing resolution, as defined in the applicable prospectus supplement, and/or a supplemental indenture, if any, relating to such series.
Certain of our subsidiaries may guarantee the debt securities we offer. Those guarantees may or may not be secured by liens, mortgages, and security interests in the assets of those subsidiaries. The terms and conditions of any such subsidiary guarantees, and a description of any such liens, mortgages or security interests, will be set forth in the prospectus supplement that will accompany this prospectus.
The following description of the terms of the debt securities sets forth certain general terms and provisions. The statements below are not complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the applicable indenture. The specific terms of any debt securities that we may offer, including any modifications of, or additions to, the general terms described below as well as any applicable material U.S. federal income tax considerations concerning the ownership of such debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or supplemental indenture. Accordingly, for a complete description of the terms of a particular issue of debt securities, the general description of the debt securities set forth below should be read in conjunction with the applicable prospectus supplement and indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
General
Neither indenture limits the amount of debt securities which may be issued, and each indenture provides that debt securities may be issued up to the aggregate principal amount from time to time. The debt securities may be issued in one or more series. The senior debt securities will be unsecured and will rank on parity with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. Each series of subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and subordinated to all present and future senior indebtedness of debt securities will be described in an accompanying prospectus supplement.
You should read the subsequent filings relating to the particular series of debt securities for the following terms of the offered debt securities:
| ● | the designation, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations; |
| ● | the issue price, expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount; |
| ● | the maturity date; |
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| ● | the interest rate per annum, if any; |
| ● | if the offered debt securities provide for interest payments, the date from which interest will accrue, the dates on which interest will be payable, the date on which payment of interest will commence and the regular record dates for interest payment dates; |
| ● | any optional or mandatory sinking fund provisions or conversion or exchangeability provisions; |
| ● | the date, if any, after which and the price or prices at which the offered debt securities may be optionally redeemed or must be mandatorily redeemed and any other terms and provisions of optional or mandatory redemptions; |
| ● | if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which offered debt securities of the series will be issuable; |
| ● | if other than the full principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of offered debt securities of the series which will be payable upon acceleration or provable in bankruptcy; |
| ● | any events of default not set forth in this prospectus; |
| ● | the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which principal, premium and interest will be payable, if other than the currency of the United States of America; |
| ● | if principal, premium or interest is payable, at our election or at the election of any holder, in a currency other than that in which the offered debt securities of the series are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, the election may be made; |
| ● | whether interest will be payable in cash or additional securities at our or the holder's option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made; |
| ● | if denominated in a currency or currencies other than the currency of the United States of America, the equivalent price in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of determining the voting rights of holders of those debt securities under the applicable indenture; |
| ● | if the amount of payments of principal, premium or interest may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method based on a coin or currency other than that in which the offered debt securities of the series are stated to be payable, the manner in which the amounts will be determined; |
| ● | any restrictive covenants or other material terms relating to the offered debt securities, which may not be inconsistent with the applicable indenture; |
| ● | whether the offered debt securities will be issued in the form of global securities or certificates in registered form; |
| ● | any terms with respect to subordination; |
| ● | any listing on any securities exchange or quotation system; |
| ● | additional provisions, if any, related to defeasance and discharge of the offered debt securities; and |
| ● | the applicability of any guarantees. |
Unless otherwise indicated in subsequent filings with the Commission relating to the indenture, principal, premium and interest will be payable and the debt securities will be transferable at the corporate trust office of the applicable trustee. Unless other arrangements are made or set forth in subsequent filings or a supplemental indenture, principal, premium and interest will be paid by checks mailed to the holders at their registered addresses.
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Unless otherwise indicated in subsequent filings with the Commission, the debt securities will be issued only in fully registered form without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with these debt securities.
Some or all of the debt securities may be issued as discounted debt securities, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates, to be sold at a substantial discount below the stated principal amount. United States federal income consequences and other special considerations applicable to any discounted securities will be described in subsequent filings with the Commission relating to those securities.
We refer you to applicable subsequent filings with respect to any deletions or additions or modifications from the description contained in this prospectus.
Senior Debt
We may issue senior debt securities under a senior debt indenture. These senior debt securities would rank on an equal basis with all our other unsecured debt except subordinated debt.
Subordinated Debt
We may issue subordinated debt securities under a subordinated debt indenture. Subordinated debt would rank subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent set forth in the subordinated debt indenture, to all our senior debt (both secured and unsecured).
In general, the holders of all senior debt are first entitled to receive payment of the full amount unpaid on senior debt before the holders of any of the subordinated debt securities are entitled to receive a payment on account of the principal or interest on the indebtedness evidenced by the subordinated debt securities in certain events.
If we default in the payment of any principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any senior debt when it becomes due and payable after any applicable grace period, then, unless and until the default is cured or waived or ceases to exist, we cannot make a payment on account of or redeem or otherwise acquire the subordinated debt securities.
If there is any insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation or other similar proceeding relating to us or our property, then all senior debt must be paid in full before any payment may be made to any holders of subordinated debt securities.
Furthermore, if we default in the payment of the principal of and accrued interest on any subordinated debt securities that is declared due and payable upon an event of default under the subordinated debt indenture, holders of all our senior debt will first be entitled to receive payment in full in cash before holders of such subordinated debt can receive any payments.
Senior debt means:
| ● | the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other amounts owing in respect of our indebtedness for money borrowed and indebtedness evidenced by securities, notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments issued by us, including the senior debt securities or letters of credit; |
| ● | all capitalized lease obligations; |
| ● | all hedging obligations; |
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| ● | all obligations representing the deferred purchase price of property; and |
| ● | all deferrals, renewals, extensions and refundings of obligations of the type referred to above; |
| ● | but senior debt does not include: |
| ● | subordinated debt securities; and |
| ● | any indebtedness that by its terms is subordinated to, or ranks on an equal basis with, our subordinated debt securities. |
Covenants
Any series of offered debt securities may have covenants in addition to or differing from those included in the applicable indenture which will be described in subsequent filings prepared in connection with the offering of such securities, limiting or restricting, among other things:
| ● | the ability of us or our subsidiaries to incur either secured or unsecured debt, or both; |
| ● | the ability to make certain payments, dividends, redemptions or repurchases; |
| ● | our ability to create dividend and other payment restrictions affecting our subsidiaries; |
| ● | our ability to make investments; |
| ● | mergers and consolidations by us or our subsidiaries; |
| ● | sales of assets by us; |
| ● | our ability to enter into transactions with affiliates; |
| ● | our ability to incur liens; and |
| ● | sale and leaseback transactions. |
Modification of the Indentures
Each indenture and the rights of the respective holders may be modified by us only with the consent of holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series under the respective indenture affected by the modification, taken together as a class. But no modification that:
(1) changes the amount of securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(2) reduces the rate of or changes the interest payment time on any security or alters its redemption provisions (other than any alteration to any such section which would not materially adversely affect the legal rights of any holder under the indenture) or the price at which we are required to offer to purchase the securities;
(3) reduces the principal or changes the maturity of any security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;
(4) waives a default or event of default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any security (except a rescission of acceleration of the securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
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(5) makes the principal of or interest, if any, on any security payable in any currency other than that stated in the security;
(6) makes any change with respect to holders' rights to receive principal and interest, the terms pursuant to which defaults can be waived, certain modifications affecting shareholders or certain currency-related issues; or
(7) waives a redemption payment with respect to any security or change any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of any securities;
will be effective against any holder without his consent. Other terms as specified in subsequent filings may be modified without the consent of the holders.
Events of Default
Each indenture defines an event of default for the debt securities of any series as being any one of the following events:
| ● | default in any payment of interest when due which continues for 30 days; |
| ● | default in any payment of principal or premium when due; |
| ● | default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due; |
| ● | default in the performance of any covenant in the debt securities or the applicable indenture which continues for 60 days after we receive notice of the default; |
| ● | default under a bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for borrowed money by us or our subsidiaries (to the extent we are directly responsible or liable therefor) having a principal amount in excess of a minimum amount set forth in the applicable subsequent filing, whether such indebtedness now exists or is hereafter created, which default shall have resulted in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, without such acceleration having been rescinded or annulled or cured within 30 days after we receive notice of the default; and |
| ● | events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization. |
An event of default of one series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities.
There may be such other or different events of default as described in an applicable subsequent filing with respect to any class or series of offered debt securities.
In case an event of default occurs and continues for the debt securities of any series, the applicable trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities then outstanding of that series may declare the principal and accrued but unpaid interest of the debt securities of that series to be due and payable. Any event of default for the debt securities of any series which has been cured may be waived by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding.
Each indenture requires us to file annually after debt securities are issued under that indenture with the applicable trustee a written statement signed by two of our officers as to the absence of material defaults under the terms of that indenture. Each indenture provides that the applicable trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any default if it considers it in the interest of the holders to do so, except notice of a default in payment of principal, premium or interest.
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Subject to the duties of the trustee in case an event of default occurs and continues, each indenture provides that the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under that indenture at the request, order or direction of holders unless the holders have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to these provisions for indemnification and the rights of the trustee, each indenture provides that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any series then outstanding have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee as long as the exercise of that right does not conflict with any law or the indenture.
Defeasance and Discharge
The terms of each indenture provide us with the option to be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities issued thereunder upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money or U.S. government obligations, or both, which through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay any installment of principal, premium and interest on, and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of, the debt securities on the stated maturity of the payments in accordance with the terms of the debt securities and the indenture governing the debt securities. This right may only be exercised if, among other things, we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling to the effect that such a discharge will not be deemed, or result in, a taxable event with respect to holders. This discharge would not apply to our obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities, to maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust.
Defeasance of Certain Covenants
The terms of the debt securities provide us with the right to omit complying with specified covenants and that specified events of default described in a subsequent filing will not apply. In order to exercise this right, we will be required to deposit with the trustee money or U.S. government obligations, or both, which through the payment of interest and principal will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on, and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of, the debt securities on the stated maturity of such payments in accordance with the terms of the debt securities and the indenture governing such debt securities. We will also be required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that we have received from, or there has been published by, the IRS a ruling to the effect that the deposit and related covenant defeasance will not cause the holders of such series to recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes.
A subsequent filing may further describe the provisions, if any, of any particular series of offered debt securities permitting a discharge defeasance.
Subsidiary Guarantees
Certain of our subsidiaries may guarantee the debt securities we offer. In that case, the terms and conditions of the subsidiary guarantees will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we indicate differently in the applicable prospectus supplement, if any of our subsidiaries guarantee any of our debt securities that are subordinated to any of our senior indebtedness, then the subsidiary guarantees will be subordinated to the senior indebtedness of such subsidiary to the same extent as our debt securities are subordinated to our senior indebtedness.
Global Securities
The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depository identified in an applicable subsequent filing and registered in the name of the depository or a nominee for the depository. In such a case, one or more global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of the series to be represented by the global security or securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive certificated form, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depository for the global security to a nominee of the depository or by a nominee of the depository to the depository or another nominee of the depository or by the depository or any nominee to a successor depository for that series or a nominee of the successor depository and except in the circumstances described in an applicable subsequent filing.
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We expect that the following provisions will apply to depository arrangements for any portion of a series of debt securities to be represented by a global security. Any additional or different terms of the depository arrangement will be described in an applicable subsequent filing.
Upon the issuance of any global security, and the deposit of that global security with or on behalf of the depository for the global security, the depository will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the principal amounts of the debt securities represented by that global security to the accounts of institutions that have accounts with the depository or its nominee. The accounts to be credited will be designated by the underwriters or agents engaging in the distribution of the debt securities or by us, if the debt securities are offered and sold directly by us. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to participating institutions or persons that may hold interest through such participating institutions. Ownership of beneficial interests by participating institutions in the global security will be shown on, and the transfer of the beneficial interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depository for the global security or by its nominee. Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security by persons that hold through participating institutions will be shown on, and the transfer of the beneficial interests within the participating institutions will be effected only through, records maintained by those participating institutions. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in certificated form. The foregoing limitations and such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in the global securities.
So long as the depository for a global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of that global security, the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable subsequent filing and except as specified below, owners of beneficial interests in the global security will not be entitled to have debt securities of the series represented by the global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities of the series in certificated form and will not be considered the holders thereof for any purposes under the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in the global security must rely on the procedures of the depository and, if such person is not a participating institution, on the procedures of the participating institution through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture.
The depository may grant proxies and otherwise authorize participating institutions to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture. We understand that, under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or any owner of a beneficial interest in the global security desires to give any notice or take any action a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture, the depository would authorize the participating institutions to give the notice or take the action, and participating institutions would authorize beneficial owners owning through such participating institutions to give the notice or take the action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.
Unless otherwise specified in applicable subsequent filings, payments of principal, premium and interest on debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depository or its nominee will be made by us to the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the global security.
We expect that the depository for any debt securities represented by a global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest, will credit participating institutions' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global security as shown on the records of the depository. We also expect that payments by participating institutions to owners of beneficial interests in the global security held through those participating institutions will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in street names, and will be the responsibility of those participating institutions. None of us, the trustees or any agent of ours or the trustees will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial interests in a global security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial interests.
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Unless otherwise specified in the applicable subsequent filings, a global security of any series will be exchangeable for certificated debt securities of the same series only if:
| ● | the depository for such global securities notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository or such depository ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor depository is not appointed by us within 90 days after we receive the notice or become aware of the ineligibility; |
| ● | we in our sole discretion determine that the global securities shall be exchangeable for certificated debt securities; or |
| ● | there shall have occurred and be continuing an event of default under the applicable indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series. |
Upon any exchange, owners of beneficial interests in the global security or securities will be entitled to physical delivery of individual debt securities in certificated form of like tenor and terms equal in principal amount to their beneficial interests, and to have the debt securities in certificated form registered in the names of the beneficial owners, which names are expected to be provided by the depository's relevant participating institutions to the applicable trustee.
In the event that the Depository Trust Company, or DTC, acts as depository for the global securities of any series, the global securities will be issued as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTC's partnership nominee.
The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") is a member of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, a limited-purpose trust company under New York State banking law and a registered clearing agency with the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission. Established in 1973, DTC was created to reduce costs and provide clearing and settlement efficiencies by immobilizing securities and making "book-entry" changes to ownership of the securities. DTC provides securities movements for the net settlements of the National Securities Clearing Corporation's ("NSCC"), and settlement for institutional trades (which typically involve money and securities transfers between custodian banks and broker/dealers), as well as money market instruments.
DTCis a subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Company ("DTCC"). DTCC is a holding company established in 1999 to combine DTC and NSCC. DTCC, through its subsidiaries, provides clearing, settlement and information services for equities, corporate and municipal bonds, government and mortgage backed securities, money market instruments and over the-counter derivatives. In addition, DTCC is a leading processor of mutual funds and insurance transactions, linking funds and carriers with their distribution networks. DTCC's customer base extends to thousands of companies within the global financial services industry. DTCC serves brokers, dealers, institutional investors, banks, trust companies, mutual fund companies, insurance carriers, hedge funds and other financial intermediaries – either directly or through correspondent relationships.
DTCC is industry-owned by its customers who are members of the financial community, such as banks, broker/dealers, mutual funds and other financial institutions. DTCC operates on an at-cost basis, returning excess revenue from transaction fees to its member firms. All services provided by DTC are regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The 2009 DTCC Board of Directors is composed of 18 directors serving one-year terms. Fourteen directors are representatives of clearing agency participants, including international broker/dealers, custodian and clearing banks, and investment institutions. Two directors are designated by DTCC's preferred shareholders, which are NYSE Euronext and FINRA, and the remaining two are the chairman and chief executive officer and the president and chief operating officer of DTCC. All of the Board members except those designated by the preferred shareholders are elected annually.
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To facilitate subsequent transfers, the debt securities may be registered in the name of DTC's nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit of the debt securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. will effect no change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the debt securities. DTC's records reflect only the identity of the direct participating institutions to whose accounts debt securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participating institutions remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Delivery of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participating institutions, by direct participating institutions to indirect participating institutions, and by direct participating institutions and indirect participating institutions to beneficial owners of debt securities are governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. consents or votes with respect to the debt securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails a proxy to the issuer as soon as possible after the record date. The proxy assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those direct participating institution to whose accounts the debt securities are credited on the record date.
If applicable, redemption notices shall be sent to Cede & Co. If less than all of the debt securities of a series represented by global securities are being redeemed, DTC's practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participating institutions in that issue to be redeemed.
To the extent that any debt securities provide for repayment or repurchase at the option of the holders thereof, a beneficial owner shall give notice of any option to elect to have its interest in the global security repaid by us, through its participating institution, to the applicable trustee, and shall effect delivery of the interest in a global security by causing the direct participating institution to transfer the direct participating institution's interest in the global security or securities representing the interest, on DTC's records, to the applicable trustee. The requirement for physical delivery of debt securities in connection with a demand for repayment or repurchase will be deemed satisfied when the ownership rights in the global security or securities representing the debt securities are transferred by direct participating institutions on DTC's records.
DTCmay discontinue providing its services as securities depository for the debt securities at any time. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depository is not appointed, debt security certificates are required to be printed and delivered as described above.
We may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through the securities depository. In that event, debt security certificates will be printed and delivered as described above.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for its accuracy.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We may issue warrants to purchase our debt or equity securities or securities of third parties or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any other securities and may be attached to, or separate from, such securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The terms of any warrants to be issued and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of any warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
| ● | the title of such warrants; |
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| ● | the aggregate number of such warrants; |
| ● | the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued; |
| ● | the currency or currencies, in which the price of such warrants will be payable; |
| ● | the securities or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing, purchasable upon exercise of such warrants; |
| ● | the price at which and the currency or currencies, in which the securities or other rights purchasable upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased; |
| ● | the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire; |
| ● | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time; |
| ● | if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such security; |
| ● | if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable; |
| ● | information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| ● | if applicable, a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and |
| ● | any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants. |
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS
We may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of:
| ● | debt or equity securities issued by us or securities of third parties, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities or any combination of the above as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement; |
| ● | currencies; or |
| ● | commodities. |
Each purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, such securities, currencies or commodities at a specified purchase price, which may be based on a formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may, however, satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract by delivering the cash value of such purchase contract or the cash value of the property otherwise deliverable or, in the case of purchase contracts on underlying currencies, by delivering the underlying currencies, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell such securities, currencies or commodities and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions, provisions relating to U.S. federal income tax considerations, if any, or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract.
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The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders thereof or vice versa, which payments may be deferred to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and those payments may be unsecured or pre-funded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require the holders thereof to secure their obligations in a specified manner to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Alternatively, purchase contracts may require holders to satisfy their obligations thereunder when the purchase contracts are issued. Our obligation to settle such pre-paid purchase contracts on the relevant settlement date may constitute indebtedness. Accordingly, pre-paid purchase contracts will be issued under either the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture.
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units consisting of one or more purchase contracts, warrants, debt securities, preferred shares, common shares or any combination of such securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe:
| ● | the terms of the units and of the purchase contracts, warrants, debt securities, preferred shares and common shares comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be traded separately; |
| ● | a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units; |
| ● | if applicable, a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and |
| ● | a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units. |
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EXPENSES
The following are the estimated expenses of the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, all of which will be paid by us.
| Commission registration fee | $ | 36,270 | ||
| FINRA Fees | $________ | * | ||
| Blue sky fees and expenses | $________ | * | ||
| Printing and engraving expenses | $________ | * | ||
| Legal fees and expenses | $________ | * | ||
| Rating agency fees | $________ | * | ||
| Accounting fees and expenses | $________ | * | ||
| Indenture trustee fees and experts | $________ | * | ||
| Transfer agent and registrar | $________ | * | ||
| Miscellaneous | $________ | * | ||
| Total | $________ | |||
* To be provided by a prospectus supplement or as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a discussion of the material Marshall Islands and United States federal income tax considerations relevant to an investment decision by a United States Holder and a Non-United States Holder, each as defined below, with respect to the common stock. This discussion does not purport to deal with the tax consequences of owning common stock to all categories of investors, some of which, such as dealers in securities, investors whose functional currency is not the United States dollar and investors that own, actually or under applicable constructive ownership rules, 10% or more of the Company’s common stock, may be subject to special rules. This discussion deals only with holders who purchase common stock in connection with this offering and hold the common stock as a capital asset. You are encouraged to consult your own tax advisors concerning the overall tax consequences arising in your own particular situation under United States federal, state, local or foreign law of the ownership of common stock.
Any material tax considerations relevant to an investment decision by a United States Holder or Non-United States Holder, each as defined below, with respect to securities registered under this registration statement other than the common stock, will be described in a prospectus supplement issued in connection with the offering of such securities.
Marshall Islands Tax Considerations
In the opinion of Seward & Kissel LLP, the following are the material Marshall Islands tax consequences of the Company’s activities to the Company and its shareholders of the common stock. The Company is incorporated in the Marshall Islands. Under current Marshall Islands law, the Company is not subject to tax on income or capital gains, and no Marshall Islands withholding tax will be imposed upon payments of dividends by the Company to its shareholders.
United States Federal Income Tax Considerations
In the opinion of Seward & Kissel LLP, the Company’s United States counsel, the following are the material United States federal income tax consequences to the Company of its activities and to United States. Holders and Non-United States Holders, each as defined below, of the common stock. The following discussion of United States federal income tax matters is based on the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Code, judicial decisions, administrative pronouncements, and existing and proposed regulations issued by the United States Department of the Treasury, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. The discussion below is based, in part, on the description of the Company’s business as described in its annual report and assumes that the Company conducts its business as described therein. References in the following discussion to the “Company” are to OceanFreight Inc. and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
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United States Federal Income Taxation of the Company
Taxation of Operating Income: In General
The Company currently earns, and anticipates that it will continue to earn, substantially all its income from the hiring or leasing of vessels for use on a time charter basis or from the performance of services directly related to those uses, all of which we refer to as ‘‘shipping income.’’
Unless exempt from United States federal income taxation under the rules of Section 883 of the Code, or Section 883, as discussed below, a foreign corporation such as the Company will be subject to United States federal income taxation on its ‘‘shipping income’’ that is treated as derived from sources within the United States, to which we refer as ‘‘United States source shipping income.’’ For tax purposes, ‘‘United States source shipping income’’ includes 50% of shipping income that is attributable to transportation that begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in the United States.
Shipping income attributable to transportation exclusively between non-United States ports will be considered to be 100% derived from sources outside the United States. Shipping income derived from sources outside the United States will not be subject to any United States federal income tax.
Shipping income attributable to transportation exclusively between United States ports is considered to be 100% derived from United States sources. However, the Company is not permitted by United States law to engage in the transportation of cargoes that produces 100% United States source income.
Unless exempt from tax under Section 883, the Company’s gross United States source shipping income would be subject to a 4% tax imposed without allowance for deductions as described below.
Exemption of Operating Income from United States Federal Income Taxation
Under Section 883 and the regulations thereunder, a foreign corporation will be exempt from United States federal income taxation on its United States source shipping income if:
| (1) | it is organized in a qualified foreign country, which is one that grants an ‘‘equivalent exemption’’ from tax to corporations organized in the United States in respect of each category of shipping income for which exemption is being claimed under Section 883 and to which we refer as the ‘‘Country of Organization Test’’; and | |||
| (2) | one of the following tests is met: | |||
| (A) | more than 50% of the value of its shares is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by qualified shareholders, which as defined includes individuals who are ‘‘residents’’ of a qualified foreign country, to which we refer as the ‘‘50% Ownership Test;’ or | |||
| (B) | its shares are ‘‘primarily and regularly traded on an established securities market’’ in a qualified foreign country or in the United States, to which we refer as the ‘‘Publicly-Traded Test’’. | |||
The Republic of the Marshall Islands, the jurisdiction where the Company and its ship-owning subsidiaries are incorporated, has been officially recognized by the IRS as a qualified foreign country that grants the requisite ‘‘equivalent exemption’’ from tax in respect of each category of shipping income the Company earns and currently expects to earn in the future. Therefore, the Company will be exempt from United States federal income taxation with respect to its United States source shipping income if it satisfies either the 50% Ownership Test or the Publicly-Traded Test.
Both before and after this offering, the Company should satisfy the Publicly-Traded Test, as discussed below. The Company does not currently anticipate a circumstance under which it would be able to satisfy the 50% Ownership Test before or after this offering.
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Publicly-Traded Test
The regulations under Section 883 provide, in pertinent part, that shares of a foreign corporation will be considered to be ‘‘primarily traded’’ on an established securities market in a country if the number of shares of each class of shares that are traded during any taxable year on all established securities markets in that country exceeds the number of shares in each such class that are traded during that year on established securities markets in any other single country. The Company’s common stock, which is its sole class of issued and outstanding shares, is, and will continue to be after this offering, ‘‘primarily traded’’ on the Nasdaq Global Market.
Under the regulations, the Company’s common stock will be considered to be ‘‘regularly traded’’ on an established securities market if one or more classes of its shares representing more than 50% of its outstanding shares, by both total combined voting power of all classes of shares entitled to vote and total value, are listed on such market, to which we refer as the ‘‘listing threshold.’’ Since all the Company’s common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, the Company should satisfy the listing threshold.
It is further required that with respect to each class of shares relied upon to meet the listing threshold, (i) such class of shares is traded on the market, other than in minimal quantities, on at least 60 days during the taxable year or one-sixth of the days in a short taxable year; and (ii) the aggregate number of shares of such class of shares traded on such market during the taxable year is at least 10% of the average number of shares of such class of shares outstanding during such year or as appropriately adjusted in the case of a short taxable year. The Company has satisfied and anticipates that it will continue to satisfy the trading frequency and trading volume tests. Even if this were not the case, the regulations provide that the trading frequency and trading volume tests will be deemed satisfied if, as is the case with the Company’s common stock, such class of shares is traded on an established market in the United States and such shares are regularly quoted by dealers making a market in such shares.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the regulations provide, in pertinent part, that a class of shares will not be considered to be ‘‘regularly traded’’ on an established securities market for any taxable year in which 50% or more of the vote and value of the outstanding shares of such class are owned, actually or constructively under specified share attribution rules, on more than half the days during the taxable year by persons who each own 5% or more of the vote and value of such class of outstanding shares, to which we refer as the ‘‘5 Percent Override Rule.’’
For purposes of being able to determine the persons who actually or constructively own 5% or more of the vote and value of the Company’s common stock, or ‘‘5% Shareholders,’’ the regulations permit the Company to rely on those persons that are identified on Schedule 13G and Schedule 13D filings with the Commission, as owning 5% or more of the Company’s common stock. The regulations further provide that an investment company which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, will not be treated as a 5% Shareholder for such purposes.
In the event the 5 Percent Override Rule is triggered, the regulations provide that the 5 Percent Override Rule will nevertheless not apply if the Company can establish that within the group of 5% Shareholders, there are sufficient qualified shareholders for purposes of Section 883 to preclude non-qualified shareholders in such group from owning 50% or more of the Company’s common stock for more than half the number of days during the taxable year.
Based upon filings made with the Commission, the Company is not currently subject to the 5 Percent Override Rule. Therefore, in the opinion of Seward & Kissel LLP, the Company should qualify for the Publicly-Traded Test and therefore be exempt from United States federal income tax on its United States source shipping income. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will continue to satisfy the Publicly-Traded Test. For example, the Company’s shareholders could change in the future, and thus the Company could become subject to the 5 Percent Override Rule.
Taxation In Absence of Section 883 Exemption
If the benefits of Section 883 are unavailable, the Company’s United States source shipping income would be subject to a 4% tax imposed by Section 887 of the Code on a gross basis, without the benefit of deductions, to the extent that such income is not considered to be ‘‘effectively connected’’ with the conduct of a United States trade or business, as described below. Since under the sourcing rules described above, no more than 50% of the Company’s shipping income would be treated as being United States source shipping income, the maximum effective rate of United States federal income tax on the Company’s shipping income would never exceed 2% under the 4% gross basis tax regime.
To the extent the Company’s United States source shipping income is considered to be ‘‘effectively connected’’ with the conduct of a United States trade or business, as described below, any such ‘‘effectively connected’’ United States source shipping income, net of applicable deductions, would be subject to United States federal income tax, currently imposed at rates of up to 35%. In addition, the Company may be subject to the 30% ‘‘branch profits’’ tax on earnings effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business, as determined after allowance for certain adjustments, and on certain interest paid or deemed paid attributable to the conduct of the Company’s United States trade or business.
The Company’s United States source shipping income would be considered ‘‘effectively connected’’ with the conduct of a United States trade or business only if:
| ● | the Company has, or is considered to have, a fixed place of business in the United States involved in the earning of United States source shipping income; and | |
| ● | substantially all of the Company’s United States source shipping income is attributable to regularly scheduled transportation, such as the operation of a vessel that follows a published schedule with repeated sailings at regular intervals between the same points for voyages that begin or end in the United States. | |
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The Company does not intend to have, or permit circumstances that would result in having, any vessel sailing to or from the United States on a regularly scheduled basis. Based on the foregoing and on the expected mode of the Company’s shipping operations and other activities, it is anticipated that none of the Company’s United States source shipping income will be ‘‘effectively connected’’ with the conduct of a United States trade or business.
United States Taxation of Gain on Sale of Vessels
If the Company qualifies for exemption from tax under Section 883 in respect of the shipping income derived from the international operation of its vessels, then gain from the sale of any such vessel should likewise be exempt from tax under Section 883. If, however, the Company’s shipping income from such vessels does not for whatever reason qualify for exemption under Section 883, then any gain on the sale of a vessel will be subject to United States federal income tax if such sale occurs in the United States. To the extent possible, the Company intends to structure the sales of its vessels so that the gain therefrom is not subject to United States federal income tax. However, there is no assurance the Company will be able to do so.
United States Federal Income Taxation of United States Holders
As used herein, the term ‘‘United States Holder’’ means a beneficial owner of common stock that is an individual United States citizen or resident, a United States corporation or other United States entity taxable as a corporation, an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source, or a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary jurisdiction over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.
If a partnership holds the common stock, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership holding the common stock, you are encouraged to consult your tax advisor.
Distributions
Subject to the discussion of passive foreign investment companies below, any distributions made by the Company with respect to its common stock to a United States Holder will generally constitute dividends to the extent of the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of such earnings and profits will be treated first as a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of the United States Holder’s tax basis in his common stock on a dollar-for-dollar basis and thereafter as capital gain. Because the Company is not a United States corporation, United States Holders that are corporations will not be entitled to claim a dividends received deduction with respect to any distributions they receive from the Company. Dividends paid with respect to the Company’s common stock will generally be treated as ‘‘passive category income’’ for purposes of computing allowable foreign tax credits for United States foreign tax credit purposes.
Dividends paid on the Company’s common stock to a United States Holder who is an individual, trust or estate (a ‘‘United States Non-Corporate Holder’’) will generally be treated as ‘‘qualified dividend income’’ that is taxable to such United States Non-Corporate Holder at preferential tax rates (through 2010) provided that (1) the common stock is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States (such as the Nasdaq Global Market on which the Company’s common stock is traded); (2) the Company is not a passive foreign investment company for the taxable year during which the dividend is paid or the immediately preceding taxable year (which, as discussed below, the Company has not been, is not and does not anticipate being in the future); (3) the United States Non-Corporate Holder has owned the common stock for more than 60 days in the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the date on which the common stock becomes ex-dividend; and (4) the United States Non-Corporate Holder is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property.
There is no assurance that any dividends paid on the Company’s common stock will be eligible for these preferential rates in the hands of a United States Non-Corporate Holder, although, as described above, they should be so eligible. Legislation has been previously introduced in the United States Congress which, if enacted in its present form, would preclude the Company’s dividends from qualifying for such preferential rates prospectively from the date of enactment. Any dividends out of earnings and profits the Company pays which are not eligible for these preferential rates will be taxed as ordinary income to a United States Non-Corporate Holder.
Special rules may apply to any ‘‘extraordinary dividend’’—generally, a dividend in an amount which is equal to or in excess of 10% of a shareholder’s adjusted basis in a common share—paid by the Company. If the Company pays an ‘‘extraordinary dividend’’ on its common stock that is treated as ‘‘qualified dividend income,’’ then any loss derived by a United States Non-Corporate Holder from the sale or exchange of such common stock will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of such dividend.
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Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of Common Stock
Assuming the Company does not constitute a passive foreign investment company for any taxable year, a United States Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of the Company’s common stock in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized by the United States Holder from such sale, exchange or other disposition and the United States Holder’s tax basis in such stock. Such gain or loss will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the United States Holder’s holding period is greater than one year at the time of the sale, exchange or other disposition. Such capital gain or loss will generally be treated as United States source income or loss, as applicable, for United States foreign tax credit purposes. Long-term capital gains of United States Non-Corporate Holders are currently eligible for reduced rates of taxation. A United States Holder’s ability to deduct capital losses is subject to certain limitations.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Status and Significant Tax Consequences
Special United States federal income tax rules apply to a United States Holder that holds shares in a foreign corporation classified as a ‘‘passive foreign investment company’’ for United States federal income tax purposes. In general, the Company will be treated as a passive foreign investment company with respect to a United States Holder if, for any taxable year in which such holder holds the Company’s common stock, either
| ● | at least 75% of the Company’s gross income for such taxable year consists of passive income (e.g., dividends, interest, capital gains and rents derived other than in the active conduct of a rental business); or | |
| ● | at least 50% of the average value of the Company’s assets during such taxable year produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. | |
For purposes of determining whether the Company is a passive foreign investment company, the Company will be treated as earning and owning its proportionate share of the income and assets, respectively, of any of its subsidiary corporations in which the Company owns at least 25% of the value of the subsidiary's stock. Income earned, or deemed earned, by the Company in connection with the performance of services would not constitute passive income. By contrast, rental income would generally constitute ‘‘passive income’’ unless the Company was treated under specific rules as deriving its rental income in the active conduct of a trade or business.
In the opinion of Seward & Kissel LLP, based upon the Company’s operations as described herein, its income from time charters should not be treated as passive income for purposes of determining whether it is a passive foreign investment company. Although there is no legal authority directly on point, this opinion is based principally on the position that the gross income the Company derives from its time chartering activities should constitute services income, rather than rental income. Accordingly, such income should not constitute passive income, and the assets that the Company owns and operates in connection with the production of such income, in particular, the vessels, should not constitute passive assets for purposes of determining whether the Company is a passive foreign investment company. There is substantial legal authority supporting this position consisting of case law and IRS pronouncements concerning the characterization of income derived from time charters as services income for other tax purposes. However, there is also authority which characterizes time charter income as rental income rather than services income for other tax purposes. It should be noted that in the absence of any legal authority specifically relating to the statutory provisions governing passive foreign investment companies, the IRS or a court could disagree with this position. Therefore, based on the Company’s current operations and future projections, the Company should not be treated as a passive foreign investment company with respect to any taxable year after the offering. However, although the Company intends to conduct its affairs in a manner to avoid being classified as a passive foreign investment company with respect to any taxable year, the Company cannot assure you that the nature of its operations will not change in the future.
As discussed more fully below, if the Company were to be treated as a passive foreign investment company for any taxable year, a United States Holder would be subject to different taxation rules depending on whether the United States Holder makes an election to treat the Company as a ‘‘Qualified Electing Fund,’’ which election we refer to as a ‘‘QEF election.’’ As an alternative to making a QEF election, a United States Holder should be able to make a ‘‘mark-to-market’’ election with respect to the Company’s common stock, as discussed below.
Taxation of United States Holders Making a Timely QEF Election
If a United States Holder makes a timely QEF election, which United States Holder we refer to as an ‘‘Electing Holder,’’ the Electing Holder must report for United States federal income tax purposes its pro rata share of the Company’s ordinary earnings and net capital gain, if any, for each taxable year of the Company for which it is a passive foreign investment company that ends with or within the taxable year of the Electing Holder, regardless of whether or not distributions were received from the Company by the Electing Holder. No portion of any such inclusions of ordinary earnings will be treated as ‘‘qualified dividend income.’’ Net capital gain inclusions of United States Non-Corporate Holders would be eligible for preferential capital gains tax rates. The Electing Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common stock will be increased to reflect taxed but undistributed earnings and profits. Distributions of earnings and profits that had been previously taxed will result in a corresponding reduction in the adjusted tax basis in the common stock and will not be taxed again once distributed. An Electing Holder would not, however, be entitled to a deduction for its pro rata share of any losses that the Company incurs with respect to any year. An Electing Holder would generally recognize capital gain or loss on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the Company’s common stock. A United States Holder would make a timely QEF election for shares of the Company by filing one copy of IRS Form 8621 with his United States federal income tax return for the first year in which he held such shares when the Company was a passive foreign investment company. If the Company were to be treated as a passive foreign investment company for any taxable year, the Company would provide each United States Holder with all necessary information in order to make the QEF election described above.
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Taxation of United States Holders Making a ‘‘Mark-to-Market’’ Election
Alternatively, if the Company were to be treated as a passive foreign investment company for any taxable year and, as is currently the case, its shares are treated as ‘‘marketable stock,’’ a United States Holder would be allowed to make a ‘‘mark-to-market’’ election with respect to the Company’s common stock, provided the United States Holder completes and files IRS Form 8621 in accordance with the relevant instructions and related Treasury regulations. If that election is made, the United States Holder generally would include as ordinary income in each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the common stock at the end of the taxable year over such holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common stock. The United States Holder would also be permitted an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the United States Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common stock over its fair market value at the end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. A United States Holder’s tax basis in his common stock would be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amount. Gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the Company’s common stock would be treated as ordinary income, and any loss realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the common would be treated as ordinary loss to the extent that such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included by the United States Holder.
Taxation of United States Holders Not Making a Timely QEF or Mark-to-Market Election
Finally, if the Company were to be treated as a passive foreign investment company for any taxable year, a United States Holder who does not make either a QEF election or a ‘‘mark-to-market’’ election for that year, whom we refer to as a ‘‘Non-Electing Holder,’’ would be subject to special rules with respect to (1) any excess distribution (i.e., the portion of any distributions received by the Non-Electing Holder on the common stock in a taxable year in excess of 125% of the average annual distributions received by the Non-Electing Holder in the three preceding taxable years, or, if shorter, the Non-Electing Holder’s holding period for the common stock), and (2) any gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the Company’s common stock. Under these special rules:
| ● | the excess distribution or gain would be allocated ratably over the Non-Electing Holder’s aggregate holding period for the common stock; | |
| ● | the amount allocated to the current taxable year, and any taxable year prior to the first taxable year in which the Company was a passive foreign investment company, would be taxed as ordinary income and would not be ‘‘qualified dividend income’’; and | |
| ● | the amount allocated to each of the other taxable years would be subject to tax at the highest rate of tax in effect for the applicable class of taxpayer for that year, and an interest charge for the deemed deferral benefit would be imposed with respect to the resulting tax attributable to each such other taxable year. | |
These special rules would not apply to a qualified pension, profit sharing or other retirement trust or other tax-exempt organization that did not borrow money or otherwise utilize leverage in connection with its acquisition of the Company’s common stock. If the Company is a passive foreign investment company and a Non-Electing Holder who is an individual dies while owning the Company’s common stock, such holder’s successor generally would not receive a step-up in tax basis with respect to such shares.
United States Federal Income Taxation of ‘‘Non-United States Holders’’
A beneficial owner of common stock (other than a partnership) that is not a United States Holder is referred to herein as a ‘‘Non-United States Holder.’’
If a partnership holds the common stock, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership holding the common stock, you are encouraged to consult your tax advisor.
Dividends on Common Stock
Non-United States Holders generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax or withholding tax on dividends received from the Company with respect to its common stock, unless that income is effectively connected with the Non-United States Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States. If the Non-United States Holder is entitled to the benefits of a United States income tax treaty with respect to those dividends, that income is taxable only if it is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-United States Holder in the United States.
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Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of Common Stock
Non-United States Holders generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax or withholding tax on any gain realized upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of the Company’s common stock, unless:
| ● | the gain is effectively connected with the Non-United States Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if the Non-United States Holder is entitled to the benefits of an income tax treaty with respect to that gain, that gain is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-United States Holder in the United States); or | |
| ● | the Non-United States Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of disposition and other conditions are met. | |
If the Non-United States Holder is engaged in a United States trade or business for United States federal income tax purposes, the income from the common stock, including dividends and the gain from the sale, exchange or other disposition of the shares, that is effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business will generally be subject to regular United States federal income tax in the same manner as discussed in the previous section relating to the taxation of United States Holders. In addition, if you are a corporate Non-United States Holder, your earnings and profits that are attributable to the effectively connected income, which are subject to certain adjustments, may be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a rate of 30%, or at a lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
In general, dividend payments, or other taxable distributions, made within the United States to you will be subject to information reporting requirements if you are a non-corporate United States Holder. Such payments or distributions may also be subject to backup withholding tax if you are a non-corporate United States Holder and you:
| ● | fail to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number; | |
| ● | are notified by the IRS that you have failed to report all interest or dividends required to be shown on your federal income tax returns; or | |
| ● | in certain circumstances, fail to comply with applicable certification requirements. | |
Non-United States Holders may be required to establish their exemption from information reporting and backup withholding by certifying their status on IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8ECI or W-8IMY, as applicable.
If you are a Non-United States Holder and you sell your common stock to or through a United States office of a broker, the payment of the proceeds is subject to both United States backup withholding and information reporting unless you certify that you are a non-United States person, under penalties of perjury, or you otherwise establish an exemption. If you sell your common stock through a non-United States office of a non-United States broker and the sales proceeds are paid to you outside the United States, then information reporting and backup withholding generally will not apply to that payment. However, United States information reporting requirements, but not backup withholding, will apply to a payment of sales proceeds, even if that payment is made to you outside the United States, if you sell your common stock through a non-United States office of a broker that is a United States person or has some other contacts with the United States. Such information reporting requirements will not apply, however, if the broker has documentary evidence in its records that you are a non-United States person and certain other conditions are met, or you otherwise establish an exemption.
Backup withholding tax is not an additional tax. Rather, you generally may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld under backup withholding rules that exceed your income tax liability by filing a refund claim with the IRS.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus with respect to Marshall Islands law and certain other legal matters relating to United States and Marshall Islands law will be passed upon for us by Seward & Kissel LLP, New York, New York.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of OceanFreight Inc. appearing in OceanFreight Inc.'s Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2008 and the effectiveness of OceanFreight's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, have been audited by Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A., independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
As required by the Securities Act of 1933, we filed a registration statement relating to the securities offered by this prospectus with the Commission. This prospectus is a part of that registration statement, which includes additional information.
Government Filings
We file annual and special reports with the Commission. You may read and copy any document that we file and obtain copies at prescribed rates from the Commission's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling 1 (800) SEC-0330. The Commission maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the Commission. Further information about our company is available on our website at http://www.oceanfreightinc.com. The information on our website is not a part of this prospectus.
Information Incorporated by Reference
The Commission allows us to "incorporate by reference" information that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those filed documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the Commission prior to the termination of this offering will also be considered to be part of this prospectus and will automatically update and supersede previously filed information, including information contained in this document.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the Commission under Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
| ● | Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the Commission on March 23, 2009, which contains audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal year for which those statements have been filed. |
| ● | The description of our securities contained in our Registration Statement on Form F-1, (File No. 333- 141958) as amended, filed with the Commission on April 18, 2007 and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating that description. |
| ● | Registration Statement on Form 8-A12B filed with the Commission on April 30, 2008. |
| ● | Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, filed with the Commission on June 16, 2009. |
| ● | Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, filed with the Commission on July 24, 2009. |
| ● | Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, filed with the Commission on August 10, 2009. |
We are also incorporating by reference all subsequent annual reports on Form 20-F that we file with the Commission and certain Reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the Commission after the date of this prospectus (if they state that they are incorporated by reference into this prospectus) until we file a post-effective amendment indicating that the offering of the securities made by this prospectus has been terminated. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus or the prospectus supplement.
49
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not, and any underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement as well as the information we previously filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the dates on the front cover of those documents only. Our business, financial condition and results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
You may request a free copy of the above mentioned filing or any subsequent filing we incorporated by reference to this prospectus by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
| OceanFreight Inc. | |
| Attn: Antonis Kandylidis | |
| 80 Kifissias Avenue | |
| Amaroussion GR 151 25 | |
| + (30) 210 614 0283 |
Information Provided by the Company
We will furnish holders of our common stock with annual reports containing audited financial statements and a report by our independent registered public accounting firm. The audited financial statements will be prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. As a "foreign private issuer," we are exempt from the rules under the Securities Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements to shareholders. While we furnish proxy statements to shareholders in accordance with the rules of the Nasdaq Global Market, those proxy statements do not conform to Schedule 14A of the proxy rules promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act. In addition, as a "foreign private issuer," our officers and directors are exempt from the rules under the Securities Exchange Act relating to short swing profit reporting and liability.
Commission Position on Indemnification for Securities Act Liabilities
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
(1) The Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant provide as follows:
(a) The Corporation shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to be the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(b) The Corporation shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was properly brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court having proper jurisdiction shall deem proper.
(c) To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in sections (a) or (b) above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith.
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(d) Any indemnification under sections (a) or (b) above (unless ordered by a court having proper jurisdiction) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such section. Such determination shall be made:
(i) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding; or
(ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or
(iii) by the shareholders.
(e) Expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this section.
(f) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article M shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
(g) The Corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this section.
(h) For purposes of this section, references to the "Corporation" shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(i) For purposes of this section, references to "other enterprises" shall include employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to "serving at the request of the Corporation" shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation" as referred to in this section.
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(j) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any Bylaw of the Corporation, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
Section 60 of the Associations Law of the Republic of the Marshall Islands provides as follows:
Indemnification of directors and officers.
(1) Actions not by or in right of the corporation. A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of no contest, or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the bests interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceedings, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(2) Actions by or in right of the corporation. A corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claims, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.
(3) When director or officer successful. To the extent that a director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (1) or (2) of this section, or in the defense of a claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
(4) Payment of expenses in advance. Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the board of directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section.
(5) Indemnification pursuant to other rights. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
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(6) Continuation of indemnification. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
(7) Insurance. A corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in such capacity whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this section.
Item 9. Exhibits
A list of exhibits included as part of this registration statement is set forth in the Exhibit Index which immediately precedes such exhibits and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 10. Undertakings.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(a) Under Rule 415 of the Securities Act,
| (1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement unless the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement; |
| (i) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; |
| (ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement. |
| (iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. |
| (2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
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| (4) | To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act need not be furnished, provided, that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to registration statements on Form F-3, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 3-19 under the Securities Act of 1933 if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Form F-3. |
| (5) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to any purchaser; |
| (i) | Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in this Registration Statement; and |
| (ii) | Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date. |
| (6) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to any purchasers in initial distribution of securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this Registration Statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
| (i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
| (ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
| (iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
| (iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
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| (b) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (c) – (d) Not applicable |
| (e) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to deliver or cause to be delivered with the prospectus, to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest annual report, to security holders that is incorporated by reference in the prospectus and furnished pursuant to and meeting the requirements of Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and, where interim financial information required to be presented by Article 3 of Regulation S-X is not set forth in the prospectus, to deliver, or cause to be delivered to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest quarterly report that is specifically incorporated by reference in the prospectus to provide such interim financial information. |
| (f) – (g) Not applicable |
| (h) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
| (i) | Not applicable |
| (j) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act. |
| (k) – (l) Not applicable |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Athens, Country of Greece, on September 18, 2009.
| OCEANFREIGHT INC. | ||||
| /s/ Antonis Kandylidis | ||||
| Name: Antonis Kandylidis | ||||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer/interim Chief Financial Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||
| /s/Antonis Kandylidis | Director, President, Chief | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Antonis Kandylidis | Executive Officer and interim Chief Financial Officer | |||
| (Principal Executive Officer and | ||||
| Principal Financial Officer) | ||||
| /s/ John Liveris | Chairman and Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| John Liveris | ||||
| /s/ Konstandinos Kandylidis | Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Konstandinos Kandylidis | ||||
| /s/ Panagiotis Korakas | Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Panagiotis Korakas | ||||
| /s/ Stephen Souras | Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Stephen Souras | ||||
| /s/ Solon Dracoulis | Chief Accounting Officer | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Solon Dracoulis | and Treasurer | |||
| (Principal Accounting Officer) |
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES | ||||||
| By: | /s/ DONALD J. PUGLISI Name: Donald J. Puglisi Title: Managing Director | |||||
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| OCEANSHIP OWNERS LIMITED |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| OCEANWEALTH OWNERS LIMITED |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| OCEANVENTURE OWNERS LIMITED |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| OCEANRESOURCES OWNERS LIMITED |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| OCEANSTRENGTH OWNERS LIMITED |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| OCEANENERGY OWNERS LIMITED |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| OCEANTRADE OWNERS LIMITED |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| OCEANPRIME OWNERS LIMITED |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| OCEANCLARITY OWNERS LIMITED |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| KIFISSIA STAR OWNERS INC. |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| OCEANFIGHTER OWNERS INC. |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| OCEAN FAITH OWNERS INC. |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| OCEAN BLUE SPIRIT OWNERS INC |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| OCEANPOWER OWNERS INC. |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| OCEANWAVE OWNERS LIMITED |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| OCEANRUNNER OWNERS LIMITED |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| OCEANFIRE OWNERS INC. |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nicosia, Country of Cyprus, on September 18, 2009.
| FREIGHTWISE INVESTMENT LTD. |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Name: Ioannis Cleanthous |
| Title: Sole Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Antonis Kandylidis, Demetris Nenes, Gary J. Wolfe and Robert E. Lustrin his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on September 18, 2009 in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date |
| /s/ Ioannis Cleanthous | Sole Director | September 18, 2009 | ||
| Ioannis Cleanthous | ||||
AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Amendment to the Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on September 18, 2009.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES |
| /s/ Donald J. Puglisi |
| Donald J. Puglisi |
Managing Director Authorized Representative in the United States |
Exhibit Index
| Exhibit Number | Description |
| 1.1 | Underwriting Agreement for Common Stock* |
| 1.2 | Underwriting Agreement (for debt securities)* |
| 3.1 | Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (1) |
| 3.2 | Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company (2) |
| 4.1 | Form of Common Share Certificate (3) |
| 4.2 | Preferred Share Certificate * |
| 4.3 | Form of Debt Securities Indenture (4) |
| 4.4 | Form of Warrant Agreement * |
| 4.5 | Form of Purchase Contract* |
| 4.6 | Form of Unit Agreement* |
| 4.7 | Stockholder Rights Agreement dated as of April 30, 2008, between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent (5) |
| 5.1 | Opinion of Seward & Kissel LLP, United States and Marshall Islands counsel to the Company (6) |
| 8.1 | Opinion of Seward & Kissel LLP, with respect to certain tax matters |
| 23.1 | Consent of Seward & Kissel LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1) |
| 23.2 | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
| 24.1 | Power of Attorney (contained in signature page) |
| 25.1 | T-1 Statement of Eligibility (senior indenture)* |
| 25.2 | T-1 Statement of Eligibility (subordinated indenture)* |
| * | To be filed either as an amendment or as an exhibit to a report filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the Registrant and incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. |
| (1) | Incorporated herein by reference to the Exhibit of the same number to the Registration Statement of OceanFreight Inc. on Form F-3, Registration No. 333-160784 filed with the SEC on July 24, 2009. |
| (2) | Incorporated by reference as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's report on Form 6-K filed on June 19, 2008. |
| (3) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-1/A, Registration No. 333-141958 filed with the Commission on April 18, 2007. |
| (4) | Incorporated herein by reference to the Exhibit of the same number to the Registration Statement of OceanFreight Inc. on Form F-3, Registration No. 333-150579 filed with the SEC on May 1, 2008. |
| (5) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A12B, Registration No. 001-33416 filed with the Commission on April 30, 2008. |
| (6) | Incorporated herein by reference to the Exhibit of the same number to the Registration Statement of OceanFreight Inc. on Form F-3/A, Registration No. 333-160784 filed with the SEC on August 27, 2009. |
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