We (the "Representatives") understand that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., a Liberian corporation (the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell $550,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Senior Notes due 2013 (the "Underwritten Securities"). Subject to the terms and conditions set forth or incorporated by reference herein, the underwriters named below (the "Underwriters") offer to purchase, severally and not jointly, the respective amounts of Underwritten Securities set forth below opposite their respective names, to the extent any are purchased, at the purchase price set forth below.
The Underwritten Securities shall have the following terms:
Title of Securities: Senior Notes
Currency: United States Dollars
Principal amount to be issued: $550,000,000
Issuer’s Current ratings: Moody's Investors Service Ba1; Standard & Poor's Corporation BBB-
Interest rate or formula: 7.0%
Interest payment dates: December 15 and June 15 beginning December 15, 2006
Record Dates: December 1 and June 1
Stated maturity date: June 15, 2013
Redemption or repayment provisions: None, except as provided by Section 1108, of the indenture dated as of July 15, 1994, as supplemented by the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 12, 2006, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as successor to NationsBank of Georgia, National Association, as Trustee (the “Indenture”)
Sinking fund requirements: None
Principal Amount of Option Securities, if any, that may be purchased by the Underwriters: None
Delayed Delivery Contracts: not authorized
Initial public offering price: 99.509% plus accrued interest, if any, or amortized original issue discount, if any from June 12, 2006.
Purchase price: 98.884%, plus accrued interest, if any, or amortized original issue discount, if any, from June 12, 2006 (payable in same day funds).
Conversion provisions: None
Defeasance provisions: The provisions of Sections 403 and 1004 of the Indenture relating to defeasance shall apply to the Underwritten Securities
Other terms: The covenants set forth in the Prospectus Supplement and the Indenture shall apply to the Underwritten Securities
Applicable Time: 5:15 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement.
Closing Time and location: 10:00 a.m., June 12, 2006 at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, One New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004.
Closing Time and location for Option Securities, if applicable: None
Lock-up period: None
Exchange Listing: None
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (referred to in Section 1(a)(iii) of the Underwriting Agreement): None
Free Writing Prospectus (other than the final term sheet): None
All the provisions contained in the document attached as Annex A hereto entitled "Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.-Debt or Convertible Debt Securities-Underwriting Agreement" are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety herein and shall be deemed to be a part of
A-2
this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein, provided that each reference therein to (1) Prospectus shall be to the Prospectus Supplement, dated June 7, 2006, together with the Prospectus, dated May 23, 2005, (2) Preliminary Prospectus shall be to the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, dated June 7, 2006, together with the Prospectus, dated May 23, 2005, (3) Pricing Prospectus shall be to the Prospectus, dated May 23, 2005 and the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, dated June 7, 2006, as amended and supplemented immediately prior to the Applicable Time, and (4) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall be to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus specifically referred to in this Terms Agreement. Terms defined in such document are used herein as therein defined. All of the Company's direct and indirect Significant Subsidiaries are set forth on Schedule A hereto.
The Securities will be issued only in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (the “Depository”). Delivery of the Securities will be made through the book-entry facilities of the Depository.
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Please accept this offer by signing a copy of this Terms Agreement in the space set forth below and returning the signed copy to us.
Very truly yours, |
| |
Goldman, Sachs & Co. Barclays Capital Inc. BNP Paribas Securities Corp. Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc. Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated DnB NOR Markets, Inc. J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. |
| |
By: | GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. |
| |
By: | |
|
|
| (Goldman, Sachs & Co.) |
| |
| |
By: | BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC. |
| |
By: | |
|
|
| Name: |
| Title: |
| |
| |
By: | BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP. |
| |
By: | |
|
|
| Name: |
| Title: |
| |
| |
By: | GREENWICH CAPITAL MARKETS, INC. |
| |
By: | |
|
|
| Name: |
| Title: |
| |
| |
| |
A-4
By: | MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED |
| |
By: | |
|
|
| Name: |
| Title: |
| |
Acting on behalf of itself and the other named Underwriters |
Accepted: |
| |
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD. |
| |
By: | |
|
|
| Name: |
| Title: |
| |
|
A-5
Schedule B(i)
None.
A-6
Exhibit A-2
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
(a Liberian corporation)
7.25% Senior Notes due 2016
TERMS AGREEMENT
Dated: June 7, 2006
To: | Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. |
| 1050 Caribbean Way |
| Miami, Florida 33132 |
Attention:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We (the "Representatives") understand that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., a Liberian corporation (the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Senior Notes due 2016 (the "Underwritten Securities"). Subject to the terms and conditions set forth or incorporated by reference herein, the underwriters named below (the "Underwriters") offer to purchase, severally and not jointly, the respective amounts of Underwritten Securities set forth below opposite their respective names, to the extent any are purchased, at the purchase price set forth below.
| | Principal Amount |
| | Of |
Underwriter | | Underwritten Securities |
Goldman, Sachs & Co. | | $175,000,000 |
Barclays Capital Inc. | | $35,000,000 |
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. | | $35,000,000 |
Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc. | | $35,000,000 |
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated | | $35,000,000 |
DnB NOR Markets, Inc. | | $8,750,000 |
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. | | $8,750,000 |
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. | | $8,750,000 |
Scotia Bank (USA) Inc. | | $8,750,000 |
| | |
Total | | $350,000,000 |
A-7
The Underwritten Securities shall have the following terms:
Title of Securities: Senior Notes
Currency: United States Dollars
Principal amount to be issued: $350,000,000
Issuer’s Current ratings: Moody's Investors Service Ba1; Standard & Poor's Corporation BBB-
Interest rate or formula: 7.25%
Interest payment dates: December 15 and June 15 beginning December 15, 2006
Record Dates: December 1 and June 1
Stated maturity date: June 15, 2016
Redemption or repayment provisions: None, except as provided by Section 1108, of the indenture dated as of July 15, 1994, as supplemented by the Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 12, 2006, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as successor to NationsBank of Georgia, National Association, as Trustee (the “Indenture”)
Sinking fund requirements: None
Principal Amount of Option Securities, if any, that may be purchased by the Underwriters: None
Delayed Delivery Contracts: not authorized
Initial public offering price: 99.690% plus accrued interest, if any, or amortized original issue discount, if any from June 12, 2006.
Purchase price: 99.040%, plus accrued interest, if any, or amortized original issue discount, if any, from June 12, 2006 (payable in same day funds).
Conversion provisions: NoneDefeasance provisions: The provisions of Sections 403 and 1004 of the Indenture relating to defeasance shall apply to the Underwritten Securities
Other terms: The covenants set forth in the Prospectus Supplement and the Indenture shall apply to the Underwritten Securities
Applicable Time: 5:15 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement.
Closing Time and location: 10:00 a.m., June 12, 2006 at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, One New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004.
Closing Time and location for Option Securities, if applicable: None
Lock-up period: None
Exchange Listing: None
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (referred to in Section 1(a)(iii) of the Underwriting Agreement): None
Free Writing Prospectus (other than the final term sheet): None
All the provisions contained in the document attached as Annex A hereto entitled "Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.-Debt or Convertible Debt Securities-Underwriting Agreement" are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety herein and shall be deemed to be a part of
A-8
this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein, provided that each reference therein to (1) Prospectus shall be to the Prospectus Supplement, dated June 7, 2006, together with the Prospectus, dated May 23, 2005, (2) Preliminary Prospectus shall be to the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, dated June 7, 2006, together with the Prospectus, dated May 23, 2005, (3) Pricing Prospectus shall be to the Prospectus, dated May 23, 2005 and the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, dated June 7, 2006, as amended and supplemented immediately prior to the Applicable Time, and (4) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall be to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus specifically referred to in this Terms Agreement. Terms defined in such document are used herein as therein defined. All of the Company's direct and indirect Significant Subsidiaries are set forth on Schedule A hereto.
The Securities will be issued only in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (the “Depository”). Delivery of the Securities will be made through the book-entry facilities of the Depository.
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Please accept this offer by signing a copy of this Terms Agreement in the space set forth below and returning the signed copy to us.
Very truly yours, |
| |
Goldman, Sachs & Co. Barclays Capital Inc. BNP Paribas Securities Corp. Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc. Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated DnB NOR Markets, Inc. J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. |
| |
By: | GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. |
| |
By: | |
|
|
| (Goldman, Sachs & Co.) |
| |
| |
By: | BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC. |
| |
By: | |
|
|
| Name: |
| Title: |
| |
| |
By: | BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP. |
| |
By: | |
|
|
| Name: |
| Title: |
| |
| |
By: | GREENWICH CAPITAL MARKETS, INC. |
| |
By: | |
|
|
| Name: |
| Title: |
| |
| |
| |
A-10
By: | MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED |
| |
By: | |
|
|
| Name: |
| Title: |
| |
Acting on behalf of itself and the other named Underwriters |
Accepted: |
| |
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD. |
| |
By: | |
|
|
| Name: |
| Title: |
| |
|
A-11
Schedule B(i)
None.
A-12
Exhibit B
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
(a Liberian Corporation)
[Title of Securities]
DELAYED DELIVERY CONTRACT
, 2006
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
1050 Caribbean Way
Miami, Florida 33132Attention:Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby agrees to purchase from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (the "Company"), and the Company agrees to sell to the undersigned on ______, 20___ (the "Delivery Date"), principal amount of the Company's [insert title of security] (the "Securities"), offered by the Company's Prospectus dated ________, 20___, as supplemented by its Prospectus Supplement dated _______, 20___, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged at a purchase price of [___% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest from _______, 20___,] to the Delivery Date, and on the further terms and conditions set forth in this contract.
Payment for the Securities which the undersigned has agreed to purchase on the Delivery Date shall be made to the Company or its order by certified or official bank check or wire transfer in immediately available (same day) Clearing House funds at the office of
, on the Delivery Date, upon delivery to the undersigned of the Securities to be purchased by the undersigned in definitive form and in such denominations and registered in such names as the undersigned may designate by written or telegraphic communication addressed to the Company not less than five full business days prior to the Delivery Date.
The obligation of the undersigned to take delivery of and make payment for Securities on the Delivery Date shall be subject only to the conditions that (1) the purchase of Securities to be made by the undersigned shall not on the Delivery Date be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which the undersigned is subject and (2) the Company, on or before __________, 20___, shall have sold to the Underwriters of the Securities (the "Underwriters") such principal amount of the Securities as is to be sold to them pursuant to the Terms Agreement dated _________, 20___ among the Company and the Underwriters. The obligation of the undersigned to take delivery of and make payment for Securities shall not be affected by the
B -1
failure of any purchaser to take delivery of and make payments for Securities pursuant to other contracts similar to this contract. The undersigned represents and warrants to you that its investment in the Securities is not, as of the date hereof, prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction to which the undersigned is subject and which govern such investment.
Promptly after completion of the sale to the Underwriters, the Company will mail or deliver to the undersigned at its address set forth below notice to such effect, accompanied by a copy of the opinion of counsel for the Company delivered to the Underwriters in connection therewith.
By the execution hereof, the undersigned represents and warrants to the Company that all necessary corporate action for the due execution and delivery of this contract and the payment for and purchase of the Securities has been taken by it and no further authorization or approval of any governmental or other regulatory authority is required for such execution, delivery, payment or purchase, and that, upon acceptance hereof by the Company and mailing or delivery of a copy as provided below, this contract will constitute a valid and binding agreement to the undersigned in accordance with its terms.
The contract will inure to the benefit of and binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, but will not be assignable by either party hereto without the written consent of the other.
It is understood that the Company will not accept Delayed Delivery Contracts for an aggregate principal amount of Securities in excess of $_______ and that the acceptance of any Delayed Delivery Contract is in the Company's sole discretion and, without limiting the foregoing, need not be on a first-come, first-served basis. If this contract is acceptable to the Company, it is requested that the Company sign the form of acceptance on a copy hereof and mail or deliver a signed copy hereof to the undersigned at its address set forth below. This will become a binding contract between the Company and the undersigned when such copy is so mailed or delivered.
B -2
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Yours very truly, | |
| | |
| | |
| |
(Name of Purchaser) | |
| | |
By: | | |
|
| |
(Title) | |
| |
| |
| |
(Address) | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Accepted as of the date first above written.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD. | |
| | |
By: | | |
|
| |
| (Title) | |
| | |
PURCHASER--PLEASE COMPLETE AT THE TIME OF SIGNING
The name and telephone number of the representative of the Purchaser with whom details of delivery on the Delivery Date may be discussed are as follows: (Please print.)
| | Telephone No. |
| | (including Area |
Name | | Code) |
| |
|
| | |
| | |
| | |
B - 3
SCHEDULE A
Significant Subsidiaries:
Celebrity Cruises Holdings Inc.
Celebrity Cruises Inc.
Cruise Mar Investments Inc.
Celebrity Cruise Lines Inc.
Cruise Mar Shipping Holdings Ltd.
- 1 -
ANNEX I
Pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement, Davis Polk & Wardwell, outside counsel to the Company, shall furnish an opinion to the Underwriters to the effect that:
(i) The statements set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of Senior Notes” and “Description of Debt Securities” insofar as such statements purport to constitute summaries of the terms of the Underwritten Securities, constitute accurate and fair summaries thereof.
(ii) Each of this Agreement, the applicable Terms Agreements and the Delayed Delivery Contracts, if any, has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(iii) The Indenture and the Underwritten Securities constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by equitable principles of general applicability. The Indenture conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(iv) The Indenture complies in all material respects with the 1939 Act and has been duly qualified under the 1939 Act.
(v) No authorization, approval, consent or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the due authorization, execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the applicable Terms Agreements, the Delayed Delivery Contracts, if any, or the Indenture, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, except (A) such as may be required by the securities or blue sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of the Underwritten Securities and (B) for such consents that are required and have been received and are in full force and effect at the applicable Time of Delivery (including such consents required by the New York Stock Exchange and the Oslo Stock Exchange).
(vi) The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the applicable Terms Agreements, the Delayed Delivery Contracts, if any, and the Indenture by the Company, the issuance, sale and delivery of the Underwritten Securities and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and compliance by the Company with the terms hereunder and thereunder do not and will not result in any violation of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or of the Subsidiaries listed in Schedule A to this Agreement under (A) any indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, or any other agreement or instrument filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances that would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets, business, results of operations or business prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
- 1 -
considered as one enterprise), (B) any existing applicable law, rule or regulation (other than the securities or blue sky laws of the various states as to which such counsel need express no opinion), or (C) any judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree known to such counsel of any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or operations.
(vii) The Registration Statement is effective under the 1933 Act; any required filing of the Prospectus or any supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); the final term sheet and any other material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the 1933 Act has been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; to such counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or have been threatened by the Commission under the 1933 Act and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the 1933 Act shall have been received; to such counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending or preventing the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission.
(viii) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents or legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or to which any of their respective properties is subject against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that are required to be described in the Prospectus that are not described as required.
(ix) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the Offering and the sale of the Underwritten Securities and application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus will not be required to register as, an "investment company" as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
In addition, such opinion shall state that such counsel has generally reviewed and discussed with certain officers and employees of the Company, its independent public accountants and its representatives the information furnished with respect to other matters in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or Prospectus, whether or not subject to the check and verification of such counsel. On the basis of such consideration, review and discussion, but without independent check or verification, except as stated in paragraph (i) above, nothing has come to such counsel’s attention that causes such counsel to believe that (i) the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus (except for the financial statements and financial schedules and other financial data included therein, as to which such counsel need not express any belief) do not comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) each part of the Registration Statement (except for the financial statements and financial schedules and other financial data included therein, as to which such counsel need not express any belief and except for the part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Form T-1) at the time such part became effective contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
-2 -
statements therein not misleading, (iii) the Pricing Disclosure Package (except for the financial statements and financial schedules and other financial data included therein, as to which such counsel need not express any belief), as of the Applicable Time, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (iv) the Prospectus (except for the financial statements and financial schedules and other financial data included therein, as to which such counsel need not express any belief) as of its date or as of the date hereof contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Such opinion shall be to such further effect with respect to other legal matters relating to the Indenture, this Agreement, the applicable Terms Agreements or the Delayed Delivery Contracts, if any, and the sale of the Underwritten Securities pursuant to this Agreement or the applicable Terms Agreements as counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably request. In giving such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to all matters governed by laws of jurisdictions other than the federal law of the United States or the laws of the State of New York, upon opinions of other local counsel in such jurisdictions, who shall be counsel satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, (B) as to matters of maritime or admiralty law and Liberian law, upon the opinion of, special maritime and admiralty and Liberian counsel satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters and (C) as to all tax matters, upon the opinion of special tax counsel for the Company satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters; provided that in each case the opinion shall state that such counsel is entitled to so rely. Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinions involve factual matters, they have relied, to the extent such counsel deems proper, upon certificates of officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.
-3 -
ANNEX II
Pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement, Watson, Farley & Williams (New York) LLP, outside counsel to the Company, shall furnish an opinion to the Underwriters to the effect that:
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the Republic of Liberia, and has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus.
(ii) Each Subsidiary which is organized under the laws of the Republic of Liberia and that is set forth on Exhibit 1 to such counsel's opinion (collectively, the "Liberian Subsidiaries") has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the Republic of Liberia and has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(iii) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company as set forth in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in the documents incorporated by reference have been duly authorized and validly issued and, assuming issuance against payment therefor, are fully paid and non-assessable. Except as described in the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, to such counsel's knowledge, all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Liberian Subsidiary are owned by the Company or a wholly owned Liberian Subsidiary free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, charge, claim, equity or encumbrance of any kind, except as described in the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus.
(iv) Insofar as any matter of Liberian law or U.S. maritime law is addressed therein the statements made in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including any incorporated by reference into the Prospectus from the Company's Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005) under “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities,” "Taxation of the company,” “Risk Factors – We are controlled by principal shareholders that have the power to determine our policies, management and actions requiring shareholder approval,” “Exchange Controls,” "Dividends,"”Risk Factors – We are not a United States corporation and our shareholders may be subject to the uncertainties of a foreign legal system in protecting their interests” and "Description of Debt Securities," if any, to the extent that they constitute matters of law or legal conclusions, are accurate in all material respects and fairly present the information disclosed therein.
(v) There is no tax, levy, impost, deduction, charge or withholding imposed by the Republic of Liberia or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein either (A) on or by virtue of the execution or delivery or performance or continued validity of this Agreement, the applicable Terms Agreements, any Delayed Delivery Contract, the Indenture, or any other document referred to in this Agreement to be furnished hereunder or thereunder (including, without limitation, the Underwritten Securities), (B) the issuance of the Underwritten Securities or (C) on any payment to be made by the Company or any Liberian Subsidiary pursuant to this Agreement, the applicable Terms Agreements, the Delayed Delivery Contracts, if any, the Indenture
- 1 -
(including the payment of principal and interest) or in connection with the issuance or sale of the Underwritten Securities. The opinions stated in the preceding sentence may be based on the assumption that (1) the Company is and intends to maintain its status as a "non-resident domestic corporation" under the Business Corporation Act of Liberia; (2) the Company's vessels are not now engaged, and are not in the future expected to engage in voyages exclusively within the territorial waters of the Republic of Liberia; (3) the Underwritten Securities and all related documentation will be executed outside of the Republic of Liberia; and (4) the holders of the Underwritten Securities will neither reside in, maintain an office in nor engage in business in the Republic of Liberia. All filing, registration and recording fees required under the laws of the Republic of Liberia in connection with this Agreement, the applicable Terms Agreements, the Delayed Delivery Contracts, if any, the Indenture and the Underwritten Securities to such counsel's knowledge have been paid.
(vi) None of the Company, any Liberian Subsidiary or any of their respective properties has any immunity from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) under the laws of the Republic of Liberia.
(vii) Under the laws of the Republic of Liberia, the Company and the Liberian Subsidiaries may validly and effectively agree that the validity, construction and performance of this Agreement, the applicable Terms Agreements, the Delayed Delivery Contracts, if any, and the Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. Such choice of law is a valid choice of law respecting this Agreement, the applicable Terms Agreements, the Delayed Delivery Contracts, if any, and the Indenture and the submission by the Company and the Liberian Subsidiaries to the jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in New York City and any appellate court from any thereof, in connection with all transactions arising out of this Agreement, the applicable Terms Agreements, the Delayed Delivery Contracts, if any, and the Indenture is a valid submission to the jurisdiction of such courts. In the event a judgment of such courts against the Company or any of the Liberian Subsidiaries were obtained after service of process in the manner specified in this Agreement the same would be enforced by the courts of the Republic of Liberia without a further review on the merits unless: (A) the judgment was obtained by fraud; (B) the judgment was given in a manner contrary to natural justice, or the judgment was given in a manner contrary to the public policy of the Republic of Liberia; (C) the judgment was in a case in which the defendant did not appear or in which an authorized person did not appear in such defendant's behalf; (D) the judgment was not for a specific, ascertained sum of money; or (E) the judgment was not final and conclusive in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the judgment was obtained.
(viii) The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the applicable Terms Agreements, the Delayed Delivery Contracts, if any, and the Indenture by the Company, the issuance and delivery of the Underwritten Securities, the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and compliance by the Company with the terms hereunder and thereunder will not result in any violation of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of the Liberian Subsidiaries and will not conflict with, or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance
- 2 -
upon any property or assets of the Company or any of the Liberian Subsidiaries under any existing applicable Liberian law, rule or regulation.
(ix) The Underwritten Securities have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered by the Company.
(x) The shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Securities, if any, have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon such conversion or redemption, and such shares, when issued upon such conversion or redemption, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The issuance of such shares will not be subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any shareholder of the Company arising by operation of law, under the charter or by-laws of the Company or under any agreement to which the Company or any of the Liberian Subsidiaries is a party.
(xi) Assuming that the Underwritten Securities have been duly executed and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the applicable Terms Agreement or by institutional investors in accordance with the terms of the Delayed Delivery Contracts, such Underwritten Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture and enforceable in accordance with their terms except as (a) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors; right generally, and (b) rights of acceleration, if any, and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability.
(xii) Each of this Agreement, the applicable Terms Agreements and the Delayed Delivery Contracts, if any, has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(xiii) The Indenture has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
Such opinion shall be to such further effect with respect to other legal matters relating to the Indenture, this Agreement, the applicable Terms Agreements or the Delayed Delivery Contracts, if any, and the sale of the Underwritten Securities pursuant to this Agreement or the applicable Terms Agreements as counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably request. In giving such opinion, such counsel may rely as to all matters governed by laws of jurisdictions other than the federal law of the United States (including maritime law and admiralty law), the laws of the State of New York, or Liberian law, upon opinions of other local counsel in such jurisdictions, who shall be counsel satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters. Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinions involve factual matters, they have relied, to the extent such counsel deems proper, upon certificates of officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.
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ANNEX III
Pursuant to Section 6(k) of this Agreement, Drinker, Biddle & Reath LLP, special tax counsel to the Company shall furnish an opinion to the Underwriters to the effect that:
(i) The statements contained in Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 under the caption “Business—Taxation of the company” and in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption "Risk Factors – A change in our tax status under the United States Internal Revenue Code may have adverse effects on our income" insofar as such statements purport to summarize matters of United States federal income tax law or legal conclusions with respect thereto, fairly and accurately summarize the matters set forth therein; and the opinion of such firm set forth therein is confirmed.
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ANNEX IV
Pursuant to Section 6(c) of this Agreement, Bradley Stein, Acting General Counsel to the Company, shall furnish an opinion to the Underwriters to the effect that:
(i) The issuance of the Underwritten Securities, including any Common Stock or Preferred Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Securities, if any, will not be subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any shareholder of the Company nor will there be any restriction upon the voting or transfer of any such shares arising by operation of law, under the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or under any agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party which is known to such counsel.
(ii) Except as disclosed in or specifically contemplated by the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and except for the amendment to and restatement of the Company’s 2000 Stock Option Plan effected in December 2005, to such counsel's knowledge, there are no outstanding options, warrants or other rights calling for the issuance of, and no commitments, obligations, plans or arrangements to issue, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any security convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock of the Company.
(iii) To such counsel's knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries is in violation of its Articles of Incorporation or By-laws and there is no existing default by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage or loan agreement, or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party and that is described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus (except for such defaults that would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets, business, results of operation or business prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise).
(iv) The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the applicable Terms Agreements, the Delayed Delivery Contracts, if any, and the Indenture by the Company, the issuance, sale and delivery of the Underwritten Securities, the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus and compliance by the Company with the terms hereunder and thereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and do not and will not result in any violation of the Articles of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, and do not and will not conflict with, or constitute a breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries under (A) any indenture, mortgage, loan agreement or any other agreement or instrument in each case known to such counsel to which the Company or its Subsidiaries is a party or by which they may be bound or to which any of their respective properties may be subject (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances that would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets, business, results of operations or
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business prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise), (B) any existing applicable law, rule or regulation of the State of Florida (excluding the securities or blue sky laws of the various states as to which such counsel need express no opinion), or (C) any judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree known to such counsel of any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or operations.
(v) To such counsel's knowledge, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, no holders of the Company's securities have rights to the registration of securities as a result of the offering contemplated by this Agreement. Except for rights granted to parties under the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 1, 1993, as amended, among the Company, A. Wilhelmsen AS., Cruise Associates, Monument Capital Corporation, Archinav Holdings, Ltd. and Overseas Cruiseship, Inc., no holders of the Company's securities have rights to the registration of securities as the result of any registration statement filed by the Company or the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person.
(vi) To such counsel's knowledge, except as described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, there is not pending or threatened any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or to which the property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, which is required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus and is not so described therein or which might reasonably be expected to result in any material adverse change in condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business affairs or business prospects, of the Company and its Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, or which might adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Pricing Prospectus and Prospectus.
(vii) The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or Prospectus (excluding the financial statements, supporting schedules and other statistical and financial data as to which such counsel need express no opinion), at the time they were filed with the Commission, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and such counsel has no reason to believe that any of such documents (excluding the financial statements, supporting schedules and other statistical and financial data as to which such counsel need express no opinion), when they were so filed, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such documents were so filed, not misleading.
In addition, such opinion shall state that such counsel has participated to a limited extent in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus and in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company, and your
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representatives and your counsel at which the contents of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus and related matters were discussed and, although such counsel need not pass upon or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, and has not made any independent check or verification thereof, no facts have come to the attention of such counsel to lead such counsel to believe that (A) (excluding the financial statements, schedules or other statistical or financial data as to which such counsel need express no opinion), the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto as of the date the Registration Statement or any such amendment became effective, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (B) (excluding financial statements, schedules and other statistical and financial data as to which such counsel need express no opinion), the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (C) (excluding financial statements, schedules and other statistical and financial data as to which such counsel need express no opinion), the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto as of the date of the Prospectus and at the applicable Time of Delivery, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
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