As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 4, 2007
Registration Statement No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
NAVIOS MARITIME HOLDINGS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Republic of Marshall Islands
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
4412
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
98-0384348
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Nr.) |
||||
Navios Maritime Holdings Inc.
85 Akti Miaouli Street\Piraeus, Greece 185 38
(011) +30-210-4595000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Trust Company of the Marshall Islands, Inc.
Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Island
P.O. Box 1405
Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With a copy to:
Todd E. Mason, Esq.
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
The Chrysler Center
666 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10017
(212) 935-3000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.
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, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.
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.
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) 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.
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. 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.
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the company 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 Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), shall determine.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of each Class of Securities to be Registered(1) | Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(2)(3) |
Amount of Registration Fee(4) |
||||||||||
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share |
(5)
|
(5)
|
||||||||||
Preferred Stock |
(5)
|
(5)
|
||||||||||
Warrants |
(5)
|
(5)
|
||||||||||
Debt Securities |
(5)
|
(5)
|
||||||||||
Total | $ | 500,000,000 |
|
$ | 15,350.00 |
|
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(1) | There are being registered hereunder such indeterminate number of shares of common stock, such indeterminate number of shares of preferred stock, such indeterminate number of warrants to purchase common stock, and such indeterminate number of debt securities as shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $500,000,000. If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering price of such debt securities shall be in such greater principal amount as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $500,000,000, less the aggregate dollar amount of all securities previously issued hereunder. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. The securities registered also inclu de such indeterminate amounts and numbers of common stock as may be issued upon conversion of preferred stock or pursuant to the antidilution provisions of any such securities. The securities registered also include such indeterminate amounts and numbers of common stock as may be issued upon exercise of warrants or pursuant to the antidilution provisions of any such securities. The securities registered also include such indeterminate amounts and numbers of common stock and debt securities as may be issued upon conversion of or exchange for debt securities that provide for conversion or exchange, upon exercise of warrants or pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of any such securities. |
(2) | In United States dollars or the equivalent thereof in any other currency, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies. |
(3) | The proposed maximum per unit and aggregate offering prices per class of security will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder. |
(4) | Estimated solely for purposes of determining the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(5) | Not required to be included in accordance with General Instruction II.F of Form F-3. |
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED April 4, 2007
PROSPECTUS
NAVIOS MARITIME HOLDINGS INC.
$500,000,000
COMMON STOCK
PREFERRED STOCK
WARRANTS
DEBT SECURITIES
We may, from time to time, issue up to $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of common stock, preferred stock, warrants and/or debt securities. We will specify in an accompanying prospectus supplement the terms of the securities. We may sell these securities to or through underwriters and also to other purchasers or through agents. We will set forth the names of any underwriters or agents in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
Our common stock is quoted on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘‘NM.’’ On April 3, 2007, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $7.91 per share. Our warrants are quoted on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘‘NM WS’’. On April 3, 2007, the last reported sale price of our warrants was $2.88 per share. As of February 22, 2007, our common stock and warrants no longer trade as a unit. Prior to February 22, 2007, our common stock and warrants, as well as our units were trading on the Nasdaq Global Market. Unit holders must break the unit into its constituent parts in order to trade the common stock and/or warrants on the NYSE.
Investing in our securities involves risks.
See ‘‘Risk Factors’’ on page 3.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS , 2007.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, utilizing a ‘‘shelf’’ registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of U.S.$500,000,000. We have provided to you in this prospectus a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. In any applicable prospectus supplements, we may add to, update or change any of the information contained in this prospectus.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following is only a summary. We urge you to read the entire prospectus, including the more detailed financial statements, notes to the financial statements and other information incorporated by reference from our other filings with the SEC. An investment in our securities involves risks. Therefore, carefully consider the information provided under the heading ‘‘Risk Factors’’ beginning on page 3.
Our Business
Overview
We are a large, global, vertically integrated seaborne shipping company transporting a wide range of drybulk commodities, including iron ore, coal, grain and fertilizer. We technically and commercially manage our owned fleet and commercially manage our chartered-in fleet. We charter our vessels to a diversified group of companies, including strong counterparties, such as BHP Billiton, Cargill International, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and COSCO Bulk Carrier Co. The Navios business was established by the United States Steel Corporation in 1954, and we believe that we have built strong brand equity through over 50 years of experience working with raw materials producers, agricultural traders and exporters, and industrial end-users.
We have a modern fleet of 37 active vessels aggregating approximately 2.9 million deadweight tons, or dwt, and have contracted to take delivery of eight additional vessels bringing our total controlled fleet to 45 vessels aggregating approximately 3.6 million dwt. Our fleet consists of Capesize, Panamax, Ultra-Handymax and Handysize vessels which are known to be highly flexible, capable of carrying a wide range of drybulk and wet commodities and of being accommodated in most major discharge ports. We have a balanced strategy of owning and chartering-in vessels. Of the 37 active vessels in our fleet, we own and operate 21 vessels, including one Capesize (over 100,000 dwt), nine Panamax (70,000-83,000 dwt), ten Ultra-Handymax (50, 000-55,000 dwt) vessels and one Handysize (10,000 - 30,000 dwt) Product tanker. In addition, we currently charter-in and commercially manage 16 vessels under long-term time charters, including four Capesize, nine Panamax, two Ultra-Handymax, and one Handysize vessel. Historically, we have been able to charter-out vessels at attractive rates relative to our charter-in costs.
We believe our reputation and commercial relationships enable us to obtain favorable long-term time charters, enter into the freight market and increase our short-term tonnage capacity to complement the capacity of our core fleet, as well as, obtain access to cargo freight opportunities through Contracts of Affreightment (‘‘COA’’) arrangements not readily available to other industry participants. This reputation has also enabled us to obtain favorable vessel acquisition terms, as reflected in the purchase options contained in many of our long-term chartered-in vessels, which are superior to the prevailing purchase prices in the open vessel sale and purchase market.
The vessels in our fleet are significantly younger than the world drybulk fleet and have an average age of approximately 4.5 years compared to an industry average of 16 years. We believe our large, modern fleet, coupled with the long Navios operating history, allows us to charter-out our vessels for longer periods of time and to higher quality counterparties. All of our 37 active vessels are either chartered out or employed in COA business. We have currently fixed 86.2%, 52.8%, and 14.5% of our 2007, 2008 and 2009 available days, respectively, of our fleet, excluding vessels of our subsidiary Kleimar, which are primarily utilized to fulfill COAs.
We have grown our owned fleet over the last 18 months from six vessels to 21 vessels, an increase of 250%, of which five vessels were acquired in 2005, six in 2006 and four in 2007, three of which were acquired through our acquisition of Kleimar. As of March 2007, we had purchase options on ten of our 24 chartered-in vessels, including purchase options on four of the eight vessels to be delivered, and many of these purchase options are at purchase prices below the current market value for the vessels. We regularly investigate the acquisition of additional vessels and shipping businesses and are currently in discussions regarding several of such acquisitions, any of which could be material.
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We are able to operate our owned fleet at low costs through our in-house technical management and the efficiencies derived from our modern fleet. We believe our operating costs are approximately 17% below the industry average for vessels of a similar age. Further, through the strategic commercial management of our fleet, we fix the employment for our vessels in the following ways: long-term charters, short-term charters, spot charters, and the use of COAs. This integrated management approach maximizes the utilization of our vessels and provides for contracted revenues and operating visibility. Through our contracted revenues and low operating expenses we believe we are able to improve the stability and predictability of our cash f lows.
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RISK FACTORS
The following factors should be considered carefully in evaluating whether to purchase our securities. These factors should be considered in conjunction with any other information included or incorporated by reference herein, or which may be provided supplementally with this prospectus, including in conjunction with forward-looking statements made herein. See ‘‘Where You Can Find Additional Information’’ on page 32.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS
Risks Relating to Our Debt
We have substantial debt and may incur substantial additional debt, which could adversely affect our financial health and our ability to obtain financing in the future, react to changes in our business and make payments on the notes.
As of December 31, 2006, we had $570.1 million in aggregate principal amount of debt outstanding. We may also increase the amount of our indebtedness in the future. We also have $120.0 million of credit available to us under our existing secured credit facility.
Our substantial debt could have important consequences to holders of our common stock. Because of our substantial debt:
• | our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements, vessel or other acquisitions or general corporate purposes and our ability to satisfy our obligations with respect to our debt may be impaired in the future; |
• | a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations must be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the funds available to us for other purposes; |
• | we will be exposed to the risk of increased interest rates because our borrowings under our senior secured credit facility will be at variable rates of interest; |
• | it may be more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations to our lenders, resulting in possible defaults on and acceleration of such indebtedness; |
• | we may be more vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions; |
• | we may be at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors with less debt or comparable debt at more favorable interest rates and that, as a result, we may be better positioned to withstand economic downturns; |
• | our ability to refinance indebtedness may be limited or the associated costs may increase; and |
• | our flexibility to adjust to changing market conditions and ability to withstand competitive pressures could be limited, or we may be prevented from carrying out capital spending that is necessary or important to our growth strategy and efforts to improve operating margins or our business. |
Despite our current indebtedness levels, we and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantially more debt, including secured debt. This could further exacerbate the risks associated with our substantial indebtedness.
We and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. The terms of the indenture governing our 9.5% senior notes due 2014, or the senior notes do not fully prohibit us or our subsidiaries from doing so. As of December 31, 2006, we had $570.1 million in aggregate principal amount of debt outstanding, of which $270.1 was secured. We also may incur new indebtedness in connection with our exercise of purchase options on vessels. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face would increase and we may not be able to meet all our debt obligations, including the repayment of the notes.
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The agreements and instruments governing our debt will contain restrictions and limitations that could significantly impact our ability to operate our business.
Our secured credit facility and our indenture impose certain operating and financial restrictions on us. These restrictions may limit our ability to:
• | incur additional indebtedness; |
• | create liens on our assets; |
• | make investments; |
• | engage in mergers and acquisitions; |
• | pay dividends or redeem capital stock; |
• | make capital expenditures; |
• | engage in certain FFA trading activities; |
• | change the management of our vessels or terminate the management agreements we have, relating to each vessel; |
• | enter into long-term charter arrangements without the consent of the lender; and |
• | sell any of our vessels. |
Therefore, we will need to seek permission from our lenders in order to engage in some corporate and commercial actions that we believe would be in the best interest of our business, and a denial of permission may make it difficult for us to successfully execute our business strategy or effectively compete with companies that are not similarly restricted. Our lenders’ interests may be different from our interests or those of our holders of common stock, and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain our lenders’ permission when needed. This may prevent us from taking actions that are in our or our stockholders best interests. Any future credit agreements may include similar or more restrictive restrictions.
Our ability to generate the significant amount of cash needed to pay interest and principal and otherwise service our debt and our ability to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness or obtain additional financing depends on many factors beyond our control.
Our ability to make scheduled payments on, or to refinance our obligations under, our debt, will depend on our financial and operating performance, which, in turn, will be subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to the financial and business factors, many of which may be beyond our control.
We will use cash to pay the principal and interest on our debt. These payments limit funds otherwise available for working capital, capital expenditures, vessel acquisitions and other purposes. As a result of these obligations, our current liabilities may exceed our current assets. We may need to take on additional debt as we expand our fleet, which could increase our ratio of debt to equity. The need to service our debt may limit funds available for other purposes and our inability to service debt in the future could lead to acceleration of our debt and foreclosure on our owned vessels.
We may be unable to raise funds necessary to finance the change of control repurchase offer required by the indenture governing our outstanding notes.
The indenture governing our senior notes and our senior secured credit facility contain certain change of control provisions. If we experience specified changes of control under our senior notes, we would be required to make an offer to repurchase all of our outstanding notes (unless otherwise redeemed) at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the repurchase date. The occurrence of specified events that would constitute a change of control will constitute a default under our senior secured credit facility. In the event of a change of control, we cannot assure you that we would have sufficient assets to satisfy all of our obligations under our senior credit facility and t he senior notes, including but limited, to repay all indebtedness
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outstanding under our senior secured credit facility and any of our other indebtedness that contains similar provisions in order to repurchase the senior notes.
An increase in interest rates would increase the cost of servicing our debt and could reduce our profitability.
Our debt under our secured credit facility bears interest at variable rates. We may also incur indebtedness in the future with variable interest rates. As a result, an increase in market interest rates would increase the cost of servicing our debt and could materially reduce our profitability and cash flows. The impact of such an increase would be more significant for us than it would be for some other companies because of our substantial debt.
Risks Associated with the Shipping Industry and Our Operations
The cyclical nature of the international dry bulk shipping industry may lead to decreases in charter rates, which may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
The shipping business, including the dry cargo market, is cyclical in varying degrees, experiencing severe fluctuations in charter rates, profitability and, consequently, vessel values. At various times from 2004 to date, charter rates for the international dry bulk shipping industry reached historic highs but may not be as high in the future. For example during the period from January 4, 2005 to December 31, 2006, the Baltic Exchange’s Panamax time charter average daily rates experienced a low of $10,162 and a high of $40,842. Navios anticipates that the future demand for its drybulk carriers and drybulk charter rates will be dependent upon continued demand for imported commodities, economic growth in the emerging marke ts, including the Asia Pacific region, India, Brazil and Russia and the rest of the world, seasonal and regional changes in demand, and changes to the capacity of the world fleet. The capacity of the world fleet seems likely to increase, and there can be no assurance that economic growth will continue. Adverse economic, political, social or other developments could decrease demand and growth in the shipping industry and thereby reduce revenue significantly. A decline in demand for commodities transported in drybulk carriers or an increase in supply of drybulk vessels could cause a significant decline in charter rates, which could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. The demand for vessels, in general, has been influenced by, among other factors:
• | global and regional economic conditions; |
• | developments in international trade; |
• | changes in seaborne and other transportation patterns, such as port congestion and canal closures; |
• | weather and crop yields; |
• | armed conflicts and terrorist activities; |
• | political developments; and |
• | embargoes and strikes. |
In addition, when our time charters expire we may not be able to replace them promptly or with profitable charters or at all. Failure to obtain replacement charters could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
An economic slowdown in the Asia Pacific region could reduce demand for shipping services and decrease shipping rates, which would adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Currently, China, Japan, other Pacific Asian economies and India are the main driving force behind the increase in seaborne dry bulk trades and the demand for dry bulk carriers. Demand from such economies has driven increased rates and vessel values. Conversely, a negative change in
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economic conditions in any Asian Pacific country, but particularly in China or Japan, as well as India, may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as our future prospects, by reducing demand and the resultant charter rates. In particular, in recent years, China has been one of the world’s fastest growing economies in terms of gross domestic product. We cannot assure that such growth will be sustained or that the Chinese economy will not experience a material decline from current levels in the future. Our financial condition and results of operations, as well as our future prospects, would likely be adversely affected by an economic downturn in any of these countries as such downturn would likely translate into reduced demand for shipping services and lower shipping rates industry wide. As a result, our operating results would be materially affected.
The market values of our vessels, which are at historically high levels, may decrease, which could cause us to breach covenants in our credit facilities and result in the foreclosure on our mortgaged vessels.
Factors that influence vessel values include:
• | number of newbuilding deliveries; |
• | changes in environmental and other regulations that may limit the useful life of vessels; |
• | changes in global dry bulk commodity supply; |
• | types and sizes of vessels; |
• | development of and increase in use of other modes of transportation; |
• | cost of vessel newbuildings; |
• | governmental or other regulations; and |
• | prevailing level of charter rates. |
If the market values of our owned vessels decrease, we may breach covenants contained in the financing agreements relating to our indebtedness, including the minimum net worth, solvency and current ratio covenants in our senior secured credit facility. If we breach such covenants and are unable to remedy any relevant breach, our lenders could accelerate our debt and foreclose on the collateral, including our vessels. Any loss of vessels would significantly decrease our ability to generate positive cash flow from operations and therefore service our debt. In addition, if the book value of a vessel is impaired due to unfavorable market conditions, or a vessel is sold at a price below its book value, we would incur a loss.
We may employ vessels on the spot market and thus expose ourselves to risk of losses based on short-term decreases in shipping rates.
We periodically employ our vessels on a spot basis. The spot charter market is highly competitive and freight rates within this market are highly volatile, while longer-term time charters provide income at pre-determined rates over more extended periods of time. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in keeping our vessels fully employed in these short-term markets, or that future spot rates will be sufficient to enable such vessels to be operated profitably. A significant decrease in spot market charter rates or our inability to fully employ our vessels by taking advantage of the spot market would result in a reduction of the incremental revenue received from spot chartering and adversely affect results of operations, in cluding our profitability and cash flows, with the result that our ability to pay debt service and dividends could be impaired.
Trading and complementary hedging activities in freight, tonnage and Forward Freight Agreements (FFAs) subject us to trading risks and we may suffer trading losses which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Due to dry bulk shipping market volatility, success in this shipping industry requires constant adjustment of the balance between chartering-out vessels for long periods of time and trading them on a spot basis. A long-term contract to charter a vessel might lock us into a profitable or unprofitable
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situation depending on the direction of freight rates over the term of the contract. We seek to manage and mitigate that risk through trading and complementary hedging activities in freight, tonnage and forward freight agreements, or FFAs. We are exposed to market risk in relation to our FFAs and could suffer substantial losses from these activities in the event that our expectations are incorrect. We trade FFAs with an objective of both economically hedging the risk on the fleet, specific vessels or freight commitments and taking advantage of short term fluctuations in market prices. There can be no assurance that we will be able at all times to successfully protect ourselves from volatility in the shipping market. We may not successfully mitigate our risks, leaving us exposed to unprofitable contracts and may suffer trading losses resulting from these hedging activities.
In our hedging and trading activities, we focus on short-term trading opportunities where there is adequate liquidity in order to seek to limit the risk we are taking. There can be no assurance we will be successful in limiting our risk, that significant price spikes will not result in significant losses, even on short-term trades, that liquidity will be available for our positions, or that all trades will be done within our risk management policies. Any such risk could be significant. In addition, the performance of our trading activities can significantly increase the variability of our operating performance in any given period and could materially adversely affect our financial condition. The FFA market has experienced signific ant volatility in the past few years and, accordingly, recognition of the changes in the fair value of FFAs has, and can, cause significant volatility in earnings.
We are subject to certain credit risks with respect to our counterparties on contracts and failure of such counterparties to meet their obligations could cause us to suffer losses on such contracts decreasing revenues.
We charter-out our vessels to other parties, who pay us a daily rate of hire. We also enter into Contracts of Affreightment (COAs) pursuant to which we agree to carry cargoes, typically for industrial customers, who export or import dry bulk cargoes. Additionally, we enter into FFAs, which are traded over the counter. We also enter into spot market voyage contracts, where we are paid a rate per ton to carry a specified cargo on a specified route. The FFAs and these contracts and arrangements subject us to counterparty credit risks at various levels. If the counterparties fail to meet their obligations, we could suffer losses on such contracts which could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations . In addition, after a charterer defaults on a time charter, we would have to enter into charters at lower rates. It is also possible that we would be unable to secure a charter at all. If we re-charter the vessel at lower rates, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
On November 30, 2006, we received notification that one of our FFA trading counterparties filed for bankruptcy in Canada. Our exposure to such counterparty as of December 31, 2006, was approximately $7.7 million. While the recovery we may obtain in any liquidation proceeding can not be presently estimated, based on management’s current expectations and assumptions we have provided for $5.4 million in our 2006 financial statements. However, we do not believe this will have a material impact on our liquidity, or on our ability to make payments for principal and interest or otherwise service our debt.
We are subject to certain operating risks, including vessel breakdowns or accidents that could result in a loss of revenue from the affected vessels, which in turn could have an adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
Our exposure to operating risks of vessel breakdown and accidents mainly arises in the context of our owned vessels. The rest of our core fleet is chartered-in under time charters and, as a result, most operating risks relating to these time chartered vessels remain with their owners. If we pay hire on a chartered-in vessel at a lower rate than the rate of hire it receives from a sub-charterer to whom we have chartered out the vessel, a breakdown or loss of the vessel due to an operating risk suffered by the owner will, in all likelihood, result in our loss of the positive spread between the two rates of hire. Although we maintain insurance policies (subject to deductibles and exclusions) to cover us against the loss of such sprea d through the sinking or other loss of a chartered-in vessel, we cannot assure you that we will be covered under all circumstances or that such policies will be available in the future on commercially reasonable terms. Breakdowns or accidents involving our vessels and losses relating to
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chartered vessels which are not covered by insurance would result in a loss of revenue from the affected vessels adversely affecting our financial condition and results of operations.
Although we have longstanding relationships with certain Japanese shipowners who provide us access to very competitive contracts, we cannot assure you that we will always be able to maintain such relationships or that such contracts will continue to be available in the future.
We have long-standing relationships with certain Japanese shipowners that give us access to time charters that are currently at favorable rates and which, in some cases, include options to purchase the vessels at favorable prices relative to the current market. We cannot assure you that we will have such relationships indefinitely. In addition, there is no assurance that Japanese shipowners will generally make contracts available on the same or substantially similar terms in the future.
Our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer holds approximately 26% of our common stock and will be able to exert considerable influence over our actions; her failure to own a significant amount of our common stock or to be our Chief Executive Officer would constitute a default under our senior secured credit facility.
Ms. Angeliki Frangou owns approximately 26% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, and has filed a Schedule 13D indicating that she intends, subject to market conditions, to purchase $20 million of common stock (as of April 3, 2007, she has purchased approximately $10 million in value of common stock). As the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and significant stockholder she has the power to exert considerable influence over our actions and the outcome of matters on which our stockholders are entitled to vote including the election of directors and other significant corporate actions. The interests of Ms. Frangou may be different from your interest. Furthermore, if Ms. Frangou ceases to hold a minimum of 20% of our c ommon stock, she does not remain actively involved in the business or ceases to be our Chief Executive Officer then we will be in default under our senior credit facility.
The loss of key members of our senior management team could disrupt the management of our business.
We believe that our success depends on the continued contributions of the members of our senior management team, including Ms. Angeliki Frangou, our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and principal stockholder. The loss of the services of Ms. Frangou or one of our other executive officers or senior management members could impair our ability to identify and secure new charter contracts, to maintain good customer relations and to otherwise manage our business, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial performance and our ability to compete.
A failure to pass inspection by classification societies could result in one or more vessels being unemployable unless and until they pass inspection, resulting in a loss of revenues from such vessels for that period and a corresponding decrease in operating cash flows.
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 United Nations Safety of Life at Sea Convention. Navios’ owned fleet is currently enrolled with Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, Nippon Kaiji Kiokai and Bereau Veritas.
A vessel must undergo an annual survey, or Annual Survey, an intermediate survey, or Intermediate Survey and a special survey, or Special Survey. In lieu of a Special Survey, a vessel’s machinery may be on a continuous survey cycle, under which the machinery would be surveyed periodically over a five-year period. Navios’ vessels are on Special Survey cycles for hull inspection and continuous survey cycles for machinery inspection. Every vessel is also required to be drydocked every two to three years for inspection of the underwater parts of such vessel.
If any vessel fails any Annual Survey, Intermediate Survey, or Special Survey, the vessel may be unable to trade between ports and, therefore, would be unemployable, potentially causing a negative impact on Navios’ revenues due to the loss of revenues from such vessel until it was able to trade again.
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Capital expenditures and other costs necessary to operate and maintain our vessels may increase due to changes in governmental regulations, safety or other equipment standards.
Changes in governmental regulations, safety or other equipment standards, as well as compliance with standards imposed by maritime self-regulatory organizations and customer requirements or competition, may require us to make capital and other expenditures. For example, if governmental authorities or independent classification societies that inspect the hull and machinery of commercial ships to assess compliance with minimum criteria as set by national and international regulations enact new standards; we may be required to make significant expenditures for alterations of the addition of new equipment. In order to satisfy any such requirements we may be required to take our vessels out of service for extended periods of time, with corresponding losses of revenues. In the future, market conditions may not justify these expenditures or enable us to operate our vessels profitably, particularly older vessels, during the remainder of their economic lives. This could lead to significant asset write-downs.
The risks and costs associated with vessels increase as the vessels age.
The costs to operate and maintain a vessel in operation increase with the age of the vessel. As of March 31, 2007, the average age of the vessels in our fleet is 4.5 years, and most drybulk vessels have an expected life of approximately 25 years. In some instances charterers prefer newer vessels that are more fuel efficient than older vessels. Cargo insurance rates also increase with the age of a vessel, making older vessels less desirable to charterers as well. Governmental regulations, safety or other equipment standards related to the age of the vessels may require expenditures for alterations or the addition of new equipment, to our vessels and may restrict the type of activities in which these vessels may engage. We cannot as sure you that as our vessels age, market conditions will justify those expenditures or enable us to operate our vessels profitably during the remainder of their useful lives. If we sell vessels, we may have to sell them at a loss, and if charterers no longer charter out vessels due to their age, it could materially adversely affect our earnings.
We are subject to various laws, regulations and conventions, including environmental laws, that could require significant expenditures both to maintain compliance with such laws and to pay for any uninsured environmental liabilities resulting from a spill or other environmental disaster.
The shipping business and vessel operation are materially affected by government regulation in the form of international conventions, national, state, and local laws, and regulations in force in the jurisdictions in which vessels operate, as well as in the country or countries of their registration. Because such conventions, laws, and regulations are often revised, we cannot predict the ultimate cost of complying with such conventions, laws, and regulations, or the impact thereof on the resale price or useful life of our vessels. Additional conventions, laws, and regulations may be adopted which could limit our ability to do business or increase the cost of us doing business, which may materially adversely affect our operations, a s well as the shipping industry generally. We are required by various governmental and quasi-governmental agencies to obtain certain permits, licenses, and certificates with respect to our operations.
The operation of vessels is also affected by the requirements set forth in the International Safety Management, or ISM Code. The ISM Code requires shipowners and bareboat charterers to develop and maintain an extensive ‘‘Safety Management System’’ that includes the adoption of a safety and environmental protection policy setting forth instructions and procedures for safe vessel operation and describing procedures for dealing with emergencies. The failure of a shipowner or bareboat charterer to comply with the ISM Code may subject such party to increased liability, may decrease available insurance coverage for the affected vessels, and may result in a denial of access to, or detention in, certain ports. Curr ently, each of the vessels in our owned fleet is ISM Code-certified. However, there can be no assurance that such certification will be maintained indefinitely.
For drybulk vessels, such as those operated under our fleet, at present, there is no international oil pollution regime in force that comprehensively governs liability for oil pollution from ship’s bunkers. In 2001, the International Maritime Organization, or IMO, adopted the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, or the Bunker Convention, which
9
imposes strict liability on shipowners for pollution damage in contracting states caused by discharges of bunker oil from drybulk vessels. The Bunker Convention also requires registered owners of ships over a certain size to maintain insurance to cover their liability for pollution damage in an amount equal to the limits of liability under the applicable national or international limitation regime (but not exceeding the amount calculated in accordance with the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976, as amended, or the 1976 Convention). The Bunker Convention has not yet received sufficient ratifications to come into force. In the meantime, liability for such bunker oil pollution typically is determined by the national or other domestic laws in the jurisdiction where the spillage occurs.
Apart from the dry bulk vessels in its fleet, Navios also currently operates a product tanker which in certain circumstances may be subject to national and international laws governing pollution from tankers. When such a product tanker is carrying a cargo of ‘‘persistent oil’’ as defined by the Civil Liability Convention 1992 (CLC) her owner bears strict liability for any pollution damage caused in a contracting state by an escape or discharge from her cargo or from her bunker tanks. This liability is subject to a financial limit calculated by reference to the tonnage of the ship, and the right to limit liability may be lost if the spill is caused by the shipowner’s intentional or reckless conduct. Li ability may also be incurred under CLC for a bunker spill from the vessel even when she is not carrying such a cargo, but is in ballast.
When a product tanker is carrying clean oil products which do not constitute ‘‘persistent oil’’ for the purposes of CLC, liability for any pollution damage will generally fall outside the Convention and will depend on national or other domestic laws in the jurisdiction where the spillage occurs. The same applies to any pollution from the vessel in a jurisdiction which is not a party to the Convention. The Convention applies in nearly 100 states around the world, but it does not apply in the United States of America, where the corresponding liability laws are noted for being particularly stringent.
In the United States, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or the OPA, establishes an extensive regulatory and liability regime for the protection and cleanup of the environment from oil spills, including bunker oil spills from drybulk vessels as well as cargo or bunker oil spills from tankers. The OPA affects all owners and operators whose vessels trade in the United States, its territories and possessions or whose vessels operate in United States waters, which includes the United States’ territorial sea and its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone. Under the OPA, vessel owners, operators and bareboat charterers are ‘‘responsible parties’’ and are jointly, severally and strictly liable (unless the spi ll results solely from the act or omission of a third party, an act of God or an act of war) for all containment and clean-up costs and other damages arising from discharges or substantial threats of discharges, of oil from their vessels. In addition to potential liability under OPA as the relevant federal legislation, vessel owners may in some instances incur liability on an even more stringent basis under state law in the particular state where the spillage occurred.
Outside of the United States, other national laws generally provide for the owner to bear strict liability for pollution, subject to a right to limit liability under applicable national or international regimes for limitation of liability. The most widely applicable international regime limiting maritime pollution liability is the 1976 Convention. Rights to limit liability under the 1976 Convention are forfeited where a spill is caused by a shipowners’ international or reckless conduct. Certain jurisdictions have ratified the IMO’s Protocol of 1996, which substantially increases the liability limits set forth in the 1976 London Convention. Finally, some jurisdictions are not a party to either the 1976 Convention or the Protocol of 1996, and, therefore, shipowners’ rights to limit liability for maritime pollution in such jurisdictions may be uncertain.
In 2005, the European Union adopted a directive on ship-source pollution, imposing criminal sanctions for international, reckless or seriously negligent pollution discharges by ships. The directive could result in criminal liability being incurred in circumstances where it would not be incurred under international law as set out in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). Criminal liability for an oil pollution incident could not only result in us incurring substantial penalties or fines but may also, in some jurisdictions, facilitate civil liability claims for greater compensation than would otherwise have been payable.
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We currently maintain, for each of our owned vessels, insurance coverage against pollution liability risks in the amount of $1.0 billion per incident. The insured risks include penalties and fines as well as civil liabilities and expenses resulting from accidental pollution. However, this insurance coverage is subject to exclusions, deductibles and other terms and conditions. If any liabilities or expenses fall with an exclusion from coverage, or if damages from a catastrophic incident exceed the $1.0 billion limitation of coverage per incident, our cash flow, profitability and financial position could be adversely impacted.
We are subject to vessel security regulations and will incur costs to comply with recently adopted regulations and may be subject to costs to comply with similar regulations which may be adopted in the future in response to terrorism.
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, there have been a variety of initiatives intended to enhance vessel security. On November 25, 2002, the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, or MTSA, came into effect. To implement certain portions of the MTSA, in July 2003, the U.S. Coast Guard issued regulations requiring the implementation of certain security requirements aboard vessels operating in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Similarly, in December 2002, amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, or SOLAS, created a new chapter of the convention dealing specifically with maritime security. The new chapter went into effect in July 2004, and imposes vari ous detailed security obligations on vessels and port authorities, most of which are contained in the newly created International Ship and Port Facilities Security, or ISPS Code. Among the various requirements are:
• | on-board installation of automatic information systems, or AIS, to enhance vessel-to-vessel and vessel-to-shore communications; |
• | on-board installation of ship security alert systems; |
• | the development of vessel security plans; and |
• | compliance with flag state security certification requirements. |
The US Coast Guard regulations, intended to be aligned with international maritime security standards, exempt non-U.S. vessels from MTSA vessel security measures, provided such vessels have on board, by July 1, 2004, a valid International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC) that attests to the vessel’s compliance with SOLAS security requirements and the ISPS Code. Navios will implement the various security measures addressed by the MTSA, SOLAS and the ISPS Code and take measures for the vessels to attain compliance with all applicable security requirements within the prescribed time periods. Although management does not believe these additional requirements will have a material financial impact on Navios’ operations, th ere can be no assurance that there will not be an interruption in operations to bring vessels into compliance with the applicable requirements and any such interruption could cause a decrease in charter revenues. Furthermore, additional security measures could be required in the future which could have significant financial impact on Navios.
The operation of ocean-going vessels entails the possibility of marine disasters including damage or destruction of the vessel due to accident, the loss of a vessel due to piracy or terrorism, damage or destruction of cargo and similar events that may cause a loss of revenue from affected vessels and damage our business reputation, which may in turn lead to loss of business.
The operation of ocean-going vessels entails certain inherent risks that may adversely affect our business and reputation, including:
• | damage or destruction of vessel due to marine disaster such as a collision; |
• | the loss of a vessel due to piracy and terrorism; |
• | cargo and property losses or damage as a result of the foregoing or less drastic causes such as human error, mechanical failure and bad weather; |
• | environmental accidents as a result of the foregoing; and |
• | business interruptions and delivery delays caused by mechanical failure, human error, war, terrorism, political action in various countries, labor strikes or adverse weather conditions. |
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Any of these circumstances or events could substantially increase our costs. For example, the costs of replacing a vessel or cleaning up a spill could substantially lower its revenues by taking vessels out of operation permanently or for periods of time. The involvement of our vessels in a disaster or delays in delivery or damages or loss of cargo may harm our reputation as a safe and reliable vessel operator and cause us to lose business.
Certain of our directors, officers, and principal stockholders are affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those conducted by us which may compete directly with us causing such persons to have conflicts of interest.
Some of our directors, officers and principal stockholders have an affiliation with entities that have similar business activities to those conducted by us. Certain of our directors are also directors of other shipping companies and they may enter similar business in the future. These other affiliations and business activities may give rise to certain conflicts of interest in the course of such individuals’ affiliation with us. Although we do not prevent our directors, officers and principal stockholders from having such affiliations, we use our best efforts to cause such individuals to comply with all applicable laws and regulations in addressing such conflicts of interest. Our officers and employee directors devote their f ull time and attention to our ongoing operations and our non-employee directors devote such time as is necessary and required to satisfy their duties as a director of a public company.
We may require additional financing to acquire vessels or business or to exercise vessel purchase options and such financing may not be available.
In the future, we may be required to make substantial cash outlays to exercise options to acquire vessels or business and it will need additional financing to cover all or a portion of the purchase prices. We intend to cover the cost of such items with new debt collateralized by the vessels to be acquired, if applicable, but there can be no assurance that we will generate sufficient cash or that debt financing will be available. Moreover, the covenants in our senior secured credit facility, the indenture or other debt may make it more difficult to obtain such financing by imposing restrictions on what we can offer as collateral.
As we expand our business, we may have difficulty managing our growth, which could increase expenses.
We have significantly grown our fleet and business since August 2005. We intend to continue to seek to grow our fleet, either through purchases, the increase of the number of chartered vessels or through the acquisitions of business. The addition of vessels to our fleet or the acquisition of new business will impose significant additional responsibilities on our management and staff, and may require us to increase the number of our personnel. We will also have to increase our customer base to provide continued employment for the new vessels. Our growth will depend on:
• | locating and acquiring suitable vessels; |
• | identifying and consummating acquisitions or joint ventures; |
• | integrating any acquired business successfully with our existing operations; |
• | enhancing our customer base; |
• | managing our expansion; and |
• | obtaining required financing. |
Growing any business by acquisition presents numerous risks such as undisclosed liabilities and obligations, difficulty in obtaining additional qualified personnel, and managing relationships with customers and suppliers and integrating newly acquired operations into existing infrastructures. We cannot give any assurance that we will be successful in executing our growth plans or that we will not incur significant expenses and losses in connection therewith or that our acquisitions will perform as expected, which would adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
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As we expand our business, we will need to improve our operations and financial systems, staff, and crew; if we cannot improve these systems or recruit suitable employees, we may not effectively control our operations.
Our initial operating and financial systems may not be adequate as we implement our plan to expand, and our attempts to improve these systems may be ineffective. If we are unable to operate our financial and operations systems effectively or to recruit suitable employees as we expand our operations, we may be unable to effectively control and manage the substantially larger operation. Although it is impossible to predict what errors might occur as the result of inadequate controls, it is the case that it is harder to oversee a sizable operation than a small one and, accordingly, more likely that errors will occur as operations grow and that additional management infrastructure and systems will be required to attempt to avoid such errors.
Vessels may suffer damage and we may face unexpected drydocking costs, which could affect our cash flow and financial condition.
If our owned vessels suffer damage, they may need to be repaired at a drydocking facility. The costs of drydock repairs are unpredictable and can be substantial. We may have to pay drydocking costs that insurance does not cover. The loss of earnings while these vessels are being repaired and repositioned, as well as the actual cost of these repairs, could decrease our revenues and earnings substantially, particularly if a number of vessels are damaged or drydocked at the same time.
The shipping industry has inherent operational risks that may not be adequately covered by our insurance.
We have insurance for our fleet against risks commonly insured against by vessel owners and operators, including hull and machinery insurance, war risks insurance and protection and indemnity insurance (which include environmental damage and pollution insurance). We can give no assurance that we will be adequately insured against all risks or that our insurers will pay a particular claim. Even if our insurance coverage is adequate to cover our losses, we may not be able to timely obtain a replacement vessel in the event of a loss. Furthermore, in the future, we may not be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage at reasonable rates for our fleet. Our insurance policies also contain deductibles, limitations and exclusions which i n increased overall costs to us.
Because we obtain some of our insurance through protection and indemnity associations, we may also be subject to calls, or premiums, in amounts based not only on our own claim records, but also the claim records of all other members of the protection and indemnity associations.
We may be subject to calls, or premiums, in amounts based not only on our claim records but also the claim records of all other members of the protection and indemnity associations through which we receive insurance coverage for tort liability, including pollution-related liability. Our payment of these calls could result in significant expenses to us, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and our ability to pay interest on, or the principal of, the senior notes.
Because we generate all of our revenues in U.S. dollars but incur a portion of our expenses in other currencies, exchange rate fluctuations could cause us to suffer exchange rate losses thereby increasing expenses and reducing income.
We engage in worldwide commerce with a variety of entities. Although, our operations may expose us to certain levels of foreign currency risk, our transactions are at present predominantly U.S. dollar denominated. Additionally, our wholly-owned Uruguayan subsidiary transacts a nominal amount of its operations in Uruguayan pesos, whereas our wholly-owned vessel subsidiaries and the vessel management subsidiary transact a nominal amount of their operations in Euros; however, all of the subsidiaries’ primary cash flows are US dollar denominated. In 2006 approximately 11.2% of our expenses were incurred in currencies other than US dollars. Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency are translated at the exchan ge rate in effect at the date of each transaction. Expenses incurred in foreign currencies against which the U.S. dollar falls in value can increase,
13
decreasing our income. For example, for the year ended December 31, 2006, the value of the US dollar declined by approximately 9.5% as compared to the Euro. A greater percentage of our transactions and expenses in the future may be denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollar. As part of our overall risk management policy, we attempt to hedge these risks in exchange rate fluctuations from time to time. We may not always be successful in such hedging activities and, as a result, our operating results could suffer as a result of un-hedged losses incurred as a result of exchange rate fluctuations.
Our operations expose us to global political risks, such as wars and political instability that may interfere with the operation of our vessels causing a decrease in revenues from such vessels.
We are an international company and primarily conduct our operations outside the United States. Changing economic, political and governmental conditions in the countries where we are engaged in business or where our vessels are registered will affect us. In the past, political conflicts, particularly in the Persian Gulf, resulted in attacks on vessels, mining of waterways and other efforts to disrupt shipping in the area. For example, in October 2002, the vessel Limburg, which was not affiliated with us, was attacked by terrorists in Yemen. Acts of terrorism and piracy have also affected vessels trading in regions such as the South China Sea. Following the terrorist attack in New York City on September 11, 2001, and the militar y response of the United States, the likelihood of future acts of terrorism may increase, and our vessels may face higher risks of being attacked in the Middle East region and interruption of operations causing a decrease in revenues. In addition, future hostilities or other political instability in regions where our vessels trade could affect our trade patterns and adversely affect our operations by causing delays in shipping on certain routes or making shipping impossible on such routes, thereby causing a decrease in revenues.
A government could requisition title or seize our vessels during a war or national emergency. Requisition of title occurs when a government takes a vessel and becomes the owner. A government could also requisition our vessels for hire, which would result in the government’s taking control of a vessel and effectively becoming the charterer at a dictated charter rate. Requisition of one or more of our vessels would have a substantial negative effect on us as we would potentially lose all revenues and earnings from the requisitioned vessels and permanently lose the vessels. Such losses might be partially offset if the requisitioning government compensated us for the requisition.
Maritime claimants could arrest our vessels, which could interrupt our cash flow.
Crew members, suppliers of goods and services to a vessel, shippers of cargo, and other parties may be entitled to a maritime lien against a vessel for unsatisfied debts, claims or damages against such vessel. In many jurisdictions, a maritime lien holder may enforce its lien by arresting a vessel through foreclosure proceedings. The arrest or attachment of one or more of our vessels could interrupt our cash flow and require us to pay large sums of funds to have the arrest lifted. We are not currently aware of the existence of any such maritime lien on our vessels.
In addition, in some jurisdictions, such as South Africa, under the ‘‘sister ship’’ theory of liability, a claimant may arrest both the vessel which is subject to the claimant’s maritime lien and any ‘‘associated’’ vessel, which is any vessel owned or controlled by the same owner. Claimants could try to assert ‘‘sister ship’’ liability against one vessel in our fleet for claims relating to another ship in the fleet.
We are incorporated in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which does not have a well-developed body of corporate law.
Our corporate affairs are governed by our amended and restated articles of incorporation and by-laws and by the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act, or BCA. The provisions of the BCA are intended to resemble provisions of the corporation laws of a number of states in the United States. However, there have been few judicial cases in the Republic of the Marshall Islands interpreting the BCA. The rights and fiduciary responsibilities of directors under the law of the Republic of the Marshall Islands are not as clearly established as the rights and fiduciary
14
responsibilities of directors under statutes or judicial precedent in existence in certain United States jurisdictions. Shareholder rights may differ as well. The BCA does specifically incorporate the non-statutory law, or judicial case law, of the State of Delaware and other states with substantially similar legislative provisions. Accordingly, you may have more difficulty protecting your interests in the face of actions by management, directors or controlling stockholders than you would in the case of a corporation incorporated in the State of Delaware or other U.S. jurisdictions.
We, and certain of our officers and directors, may be difficult to serve with process as we are incorporated in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and such persons may reside outside of the United States.
We are a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Several of our directors and officers are residents of Greece or other non-US jurisdictions. Substantial portions of the assets of these persons are located in Greece or other non-U.S. jurisdictions. Thus, it may not be possible for investors to affect service of process upon us, or our non-US directors or officers or to enforce any judgment obtained against these persons in U.S. courts. Also, it may not be possible to enforce U.S. securities laws or judgments obtained in U.S. courts against these persons in a non-US jurisdiction.
Being a foreign private issuer exempts us from certain Securities and Exchange Commission requirements.
We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of rules promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act. As such, we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to United States public companies including:
• | the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K; |
• | the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; |
• | the provisions of Regulation FD aimed at preventing issuers from making selective disclosures of material information; and |
• | the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and establishing insider liability for profits realized from any ‘‘short-swing’’ trading transaction (i.e., a purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of the issuer’s equity securities within less than six months). |
Because of these exemptions, investors are not afforded the same protections or information generally available to investors holding shares in public companies organized in the United States.
We may earn United States source income that is subject to tax, thereby adversely affecting our results of operations and cash flows.
Under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Code, 50% of gross income attributable to shipping transportation that begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in the United States is characterized as U.S. source shipping income. Such income generally will be subject to a 4% U.S. federal income tax without allowance for deduction, unless we qualify for an exemption from such tax under section 883 of the Code. Based on our current plans, we expect that our income from sources within the United States will be international shipping income that qualifies for exemption from United States federal income taxation under section 883 of the Code, and that we will have no other income that will be taxed in the United State s. Our ability to qualify for the exemption at any given time will depend upon circumstances related to the ownership of our common stock at such time and thus are beyond our control. Accordingly, we can give no assurance that we would qualify for the exemption under Section 883 with respect to any such income we earn. If Navios’ vessel-owning subsidiaries were not entitled to the benefit of section 883 of the Code, they would be subject to United States taxation on a portion of their income. As a result, depending on the trading patterns of our vessels, we could become liable for tax, and our net income and cash flow could be adversely affected.
15
We may be taxed as a United States corporation.
The purchase by International Shipping Enterprises Inc. (‘‘ISE’’), of all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Navios, and the subsequent downstream merger of ISE with and into Navios took place on August 25, 2005. Navios is incorporated under the laws of the Marshall Islands. ISE received an opinion from its counsel for the merger transaction that, while there is no direct authority that governs the tax treatment of the transaction, it was more likely than not that Navios would be taxed by the United States as a foreign corporation. Accordingly, we take the position that we will be taxed as a foreign corporation by the United States. If Navios were taxed as a U.S. corporation, its taxes would be significantly higher.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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’’, ‘‘expect’’, ‘‘anticipate’’, ‘‘intends’’, ‘‘estimate’’, ‘‘forecast’’, ‘‘project’’, ‘‘plan’’, ‘‘ potential’’, ‘‘will’’, ‘‘may’’, ‘‘should’’, ‘‘expect’’ and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
Please note in this prospectus, ‘‘we’’, ‘‘us’’, ‘‘our’’, ‘‘the Company’’, all refer to Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries.
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 herein, 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, fluctuations in currencies and interest rates, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the dry-bulk shipping industry, 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, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international p olitical conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
December 31, 2006* | ||||||
(amounts in thousands of US Dollars) |
||||||
Debt: |
|
|||||
Current portion of long-term debt | $ | 8,250 |
|
|||
Total long-term debt, net of current portion | 261,856 |
|
||||
Senior Notes | 300,000 |
|
||||
Total debt | 570,106 |
|
||||
Stockholders’ equity: |
|
|||||
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, authorized 1,000,000 shares. None issued. |
|
|||||
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, authorized 120,000,000* shares. 62,088,127 issued and outstanding | 6 |
|
||||
Additional paid-in capital | 276,178 |
|
||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | (9,816 |
)
|
||||
Retained earnings | 7,848 |
|
||||
Total Stockholders’ equity | 274,216 |
|
||||
Total capitalization | $ | 842,278 |
|
|||
* | The amounts shown in this table do not reflect (i) the new secured loan facility entered into in February 2007 with HSH Nordbank and Commerzbank AG, which is composed of a $280 million term loan facility and a $120 million revolver credit facility; and (ii) the issuance in January 2007 |
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of 19,925,527 shares of common stock issued in connection with the tender offer of outstanding warrants. This table also does not reflect the amendment to the charter documents to increase the authorized common stock from 120,000,000 to 250,000,000 filed in January 2007. |
PRICE RANGE OF OUR SECURITIES
Currently, the principal trading market for our securities, which includes our common stock and warrants, is the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols NM and NM WS, respectively. As of February 22, 2007, when our common stock and warrants commenced trading on the NYSE, our units were no longer trading and in order to trade its underlying constituent parts (one share of common stock and two warrants) the unit would be required to be broken up. Prior to February 22, 2007 our common stock, warrants and units all traded on the Nasdaq Global Market.
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the reported high and low quoted closing prices of our common stock and warrants on the NYSE and our units on the Nasdaq Global Market (prior to February 22, 2007).
On April 3, 2007, the closing price of our common stock and warrants was $7.91 and $2.88, respectively. The quotations listed below reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail markup, markdown or commission, and may not necessarily represent actual transactions:
Common Stock | Warrants | Units | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended | High | Low | Average Daily Trading Volume |
High | Low | Average Daily Trading Volume |
High | Low | Average Daily Trading Volume |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2006 | $ | 5.56 |
|
$ | 5.18 |
|
1,380,500 |
|
$ | 1.12 |
|
$ | 0.29 |
|
83,527 |
|
$ | 13.59 |
|
$ | 4.35 |
|
27,276 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2005 | $ | 4.83 |
|
$ | 4.51 |
|
56,700 |
|
$ | 1.25 |
|
$ | 0.58 |
|
69,453 |
|
$ | 5.96 |
|
$ | 5.57 |
|
109,900 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Warrants | Units | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Quarter Ended | High | Low | Average Daily Trading Volume |
High | Low | Average Daily Trading Volume |
High | Low | Average Daily Trading Volume |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2005 | $ | 7.04 |
|
$ | 5.25 |
|
175,441 |
|
$ | 1.96 |
|
$ | 0.86 |
|
478,750 |
|
$ | 10.75 |
|
$ | 6.50 |
|
118,375 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
June 30, 2005 | $ | 6.15 |
|
$ | 5.46 |
|
116,303 |
|
$ | 1.74 |
|
$ | 0.67 |
|
167,063 |
|
$ | 9.60 |
|
$ | 6.55 |
|
145,760 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2005 | $ | 6.07 |
|
$ | 5.66 |
|
71,806 |
|
$ | 1.35 |
|
$ | 0.84 |
|
142,815 |
|
$ | 8.73 |
|
$ | 7.25 |
|
67,140 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2005 | $ | 4.83 |
|
$ | 4.51 |
|
56,700 |
|
$ | 1.25 |
|
$ | 0.58 |
|
69,453 |
|
$ | 5.96 |
|
$ | 5.57 |
|
109,900 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2006 | $ | 5.12 |
|
$ | 4.34 |
|
97,772 |
|
$ | 0.63 |
|
$ | 0.42 |
|
96,333 |
|
$ | 6.90 |
|
$ | 5.26 |
|
51,159 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
June 30, 2006 | $ | 4.59 |
|
$ | 4.37 |
|
29,700 |
|
$ | 0.58 |
|
$ | 0.29 |
|
62,614 |
|
$ | 6.00 |
|
$ | 4.35 |
|
32,369 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2006 | $ | 4.85 |
|
$ | 4.77 |
|
84,600 |
|
$ | 0.66 |
|
$ | 0.32 |
|
62,135 |
|
$ | 7.57 |
|
$ | 6.50 |
|
10,496 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2006 | $ | 5.56 |
|
$ | 5.18 |
|
1,380,500 |
|
$ | 1.12 |
|
$ | 0.48 |
|
113,028 |
|
$ | 7.57 |
|
$ | 5.66 |
|
15,082 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2007 | $ | 8.36 |
|
$ | 5.21 |
|
674,036 |
|
$ | 3.40 |
|
$ | 0.94 |
|
132,961 |
|
$ | 13.59 |
|
$ | 7.14 |
|
17,363 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Warrants | Units | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Month Ended | High | Low | Average Daily Trading Volume |
High | Low | Average Daily Trading Volume |
High | Low | Average Daily Trading Volume |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 2007 | $ | 8.36 |
|
$ | 7.25 |
|
495,527 |
|
$ | 3.40 |
|
$ | 2.30 |
|
71,786 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
February 2007 | $ | 8.25 |
|
$ | 5.30 |
|
1,015,315 |
|
$ | 3.15 |
|
$ | 1.25 |
|
211,095 |
|
$ | 13.59 |
|
$ | 7.45 |
|
27,120 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January 2007 | $ | 5.35 |
|
$ | 5.21 |
|
340,575 |
|
$ | 1.13 |
|
$ | 0.94 |
|
126,027 |
|
$ | 7.60 |
|
$ | 7.14 |
|
8,826 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 2006 | $ | 5.64 |
|
$ | 5.00 |
|
453,740 |
|
$ | 1.12 |
|
$ | 0.70 |
|
153,052 |
|
$ | 7.57 |
|
$ | 6.50 |
|
23,812 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
November 2006 | $ | 5.57 |
|
$ | 5.20 |
|
173,452 |
|
$ | 0.81 |
|
$ | 0.73 |
|
67,853 |
|
$ | 7.15 |
|
$ | 6.70 |
|
12,724 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
October 2006 | $ | 5.65 |
|
$ | 4.61 |
|
136,928 |
|
$ | 0.89 |
|
$ | 0.48 |
|
119,763 |
|
$ | 7.30 |
|
$ | 5.66 |
|
8,711 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
Authorized and Outstanding Capital Stock
As of April 3, 2007, under our articles of incorporation, as amended, our authorized capital stock consists of 250,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of which 82,013,654 were issued and outstanding, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of which no shares were issued and outstanding.
Common Stock
As of April 3, 2007, we had 82,013,654 shares outstanding and 17,431,592 warrants outstanding. Each outstanding share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of shares of common stock are entitled to receive ratably all dividends, if any, declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available for dividends. Holders of stock do not have conversion, redemption or preemptive rights to subscribe to any or our securities. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are subj ect to the rights of the holders of any shares of preferred stock which we may issue in the future.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘‘NM’’.
Units
Each unit consists of one share of common stock and two warrants, which warrants started trading separately as of the opening of trading on January 5, 2005. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $5.00 per share. As of February 22, 2007, our units are no longer publicly traded. A unit holder must break the unit into its constituent parts in order to trade the common stock and/or warrants on the NYSE.
Warrants
On June 6, 2006, Navios announced the exercise of 15,978,280 of its 65,550,000 outstanding warrants resulting in the issuance of 15,978,280 shares of unregistered common stock. Under the agreement with certain qualifying shareholders the exercise price of the previously outstanding warrants was reduced from $5.00 to $4.10 per share. The gross proceeds from the exercise of warrants were approximately $65.5 million.
On December 28, 2006, Navios made an offer to the holders of its 49,571,720 outstanding warrants to acquire shares of common stock by either (1) exercising warrants for 1.16 shares in consideration of $5.00 or (2) receiving one share in exchange of every 5.25 warrants surrendered.
Under this tender offer, which expired on January 26, 2007, 32,140,128 warrants were exercised, of which 14,237,557 warrants were exercised by payment of the $5.00 exercise price and 17,902,571 warrants were exercised by exchange of warrants. As a result $71.2 million of cash proceeds were raised and 19,925,527 new shares of common stock were issued.
Navios currently has warrants outstanding to purchase 17,431,592 shares of Navios common stock. Each warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of Navios’ common stock at a price of $5.00 per share, subject to adjustment, at any time commencing on December 10, 2005.
The warrants will expire on December 9, 2008, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time. Navios may call the warrants for redemption in whole and not in part, at a price of $0.01 per warrant upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder, if, and only if, the last reported sale price of the common stock equals or exceeds $8.50 per share, for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period ending on the third business day prior to the notice of redemption to warrant holders and the weekly trading volume of Navios’ common stock has been at least 800,000 shares for each of the two calendar weeks prior to the notice of redemption.
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The warrants are issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and Navios.
The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable on exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, or Navios’ recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation or Navios may undertake a transaction as described above concerning a reduction in the exercise price. However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of common stock at a price below their respective exercise prices.
The warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price, by certified check payable to Navios, for the number of warrants being exercised. The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of common stock or any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of common stock. After the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.
No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the warrants. If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, Navios will, upon exercise, round up to the nearest whole number the number of shares of common stock to be issued to the warrant holder.
9½% Senior Notes
In December 2006, the Company issued $300.0 million fixed rate senior notes of 9.5% due December 15, 2014. Part of the net proceeds of approximately $290.0 million, from the issuance of these senior notes was used to repay in full the remaining principal amounts under three tranches of approximately $241.1 million and the remaining proceeds were applied pro-rata among the remaining tranches under the Senior Secured Credit Facility of December 21, 2005. The senior notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally and on an unsecured senior basis, by all of the Company’s subsidiaries, other than the Uruguayan subsidiary, Corporacion Navios Sociedad Anonima. At any time before December 15, 2009, the Co mpany may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes with the net proceeds of a public equity offering at 109.5% of the principal amount of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, so long as at least 65% of the originally issued aggregate principal amount of the notes remains outstanding after such redemption. In addition the Company has the option to redeem the notes in whole or in part, at any time (1) before December 15, 2010, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus a make whole price which is based on a formula calculated using a discount rate of treasury bonds plus 50 basis points, and (2) on or after December 15, 2010, at redemption prices as defined in the agreement. Furthermore, upon occurrence of certain change of control events, the holders of the notes may require the Company to repurchase some or all of the notes at 101% of their face amount. The senior notes contain covenants which, among other things, limit t he incurrence of additional indebtedness, issuance of certain preferred stock, the payment of dividends, redemption or repurchase of capital stock or making restricted payments and investments, creation of certain liens, transfer or sale of assets, entering in transactions with affiliates, merging or consolidating or selling all or substantially all of Company’s properties and assets and creation or designation of restricted subsidiaries. Pursuant to the covenant regarding asset sales, the Company has to repay the senior notes at par plus interest with the proceeds of certain asset sales if the proceeds from such asset sales are not reused in the business within a specified period or used to pay secured debt. In addition, in connection with the issuance of the senior notes, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the holders of such notes. Under the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts to: file a registration statement not la ter than June 29, 2007 enabling holders of notes to exchange the privately placed notes for publicly registered notes with identical terms; cause the registration statement to become effective not later than October 1, 2007; complete the exchange offer not later than November 1, 2007; and file a shelf registration
20
statement for the resale of the notes if the Company cannot effect an exchange offer within the time periods listed above and in other circumstances.
Preferred Stock
Navios’ certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of 1,000,000 shares of blank check preferred stock with such designation, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by Navios’ board of directors. Accordingly, Navios’ board of directors is empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights which could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of common stock. There are no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent
The transfer agent for Navios’ securities and warrant agent for Navios’ warrants is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 17 Battery Place, New York, New York 10004.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate and working capital purposes.
We have not determined the amounts we plan to spend on any of the areas listed above or the timing of these expenditures. As a result, our management will have broad discretion to allocate the net proceeds from this offering. Pending application of the net proceeds as described above, we intend to invest the net proceeds of the offering in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.
We may set forth additional information on the use of net proceeds from the sale of securities we offer under this prospectus in a prospectus supplement relating to the specific offering.
THE SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
The descriptions of the securities contained in this prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplements, summarize all the material terms and provisions of the various types of securities that we may offer. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any securities the particular terms of the securities offered by that prospectus supplement. If we indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, the terms of the securities may differ from the terms we have summarized below. We will also include information in the prospectus supplement, where applicable, about material United States federal income tax considerations, if any, relating to the securities, and the securities exchange, if any, on w hich the securities will be listed.
We may sell from time to time, in one or more offerings:
• | common stock; |
• | preferred stock; |
• | warrants to purchase common stock; and/or |
• | debt securities. |
This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
COMMON STOCK
Each share of common stock would entitle the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of shares of common stock would be entitled to receive ratably all dividends, if any, declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available for dividends. Holders of common stock would not have conversion, redemption or preemptive rights to subscribe to any of our securities. All outstanding shares of common stock, when issued, will be fully paid and non-assessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock will be subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of preferred stock which we may issue in the future.
21
PREFERRED STOCK
The board of directors has the right, without the consent of holders of common stock, to designate and issue one or more series of preferred stock, which may be convertible into common stock at a ratio determined by the board. A series of preferred stock may bear rights superior to common stock as to voting, dividends, redemption, distributions in liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, and other relative rights and preferences. The board may set the following terms of any series preferred stock, and a prospectus supplement will specify these terms for each series offered:
• | the number of shares constituting the series and the distinctive designation of the series; |
• | dividend rates, whether dividends are cumulative, and, if so, from what date; and the relative rights of priority of payment of dividends; |
• | voting rights and the terms of the voting rights; |
• | conversion privileges and the terms and conditions of conversion, including provision for adjustment of the conversion rate; |
• | redemption rights and the terms and conditions of redemption, including the date or dates upon or after which shares may be redeemable, and the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which may vary under different conditions and at different redemption dates; |
• | sinking fund provisions for the redemption or purchase of shares; |
• | rights in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, and the relative rights of priority of payment; and |
• | any other relative powers, preferences, rights, privileges, qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the series. |
If, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company, the assets available for distribution to holders of preferred stock are insufficient to pay the full preferential amount to which the holders are entitled, then the available assets will be distributed ratably among the shares of all series of preferred stock in accordance with the respective preferential amounts (including unpaid cumulative dividends, if any) payable with respect to each series.
Holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any shares of any class of capital stock of the corporation. The preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable. The rights of the holders of preferred stock will be subordinate to those of our general creditors.
WARRANTS
The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and the related warrant agreements and warrant certificates. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we so indicate in the prospectus supplement, the terms of any warrants offered under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.
General
We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock and/or debt securities in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with common stock and/or debt securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities.
We will evidence each series of warrants by warrant certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into the warrant agreement with a warrant agent. Each warrant agent will be a bank that we select which has its principal office in the United States and a combined capital and surplus in an amount as required by applicable law. We will indicate the name and address of the warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants.
22
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants, including:
• | the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered; |
• | the currency for which the warrants may be purchased; |
• | if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number if warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security; |
• | if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable; |
• | in the case of warrants to purchase common stock, the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise; |
• | in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at, and currency in which, this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise; |
• | the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreement and the warrants; |
• | the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants; |
• | any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; |
• | the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire; |
• | the manner in which the warrant agreement and warrants may be modified; |
• | federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants; |
• | the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; and |
• | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants. |
Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including:
• | in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture; or |
• | in the case of warrants to purchase common stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any. |
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to 5:00 P.M. EST on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.
Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to the warrant agent in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent upon exercise of the warrants.
23
Upon receipt of the required payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, then we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining amount of warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for warrants.
Enforceability of Rights By Holders of Warrants
Each warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasab le upon exercise of, its warrants.
DEBT SECURITIES
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. Any issuance of debt securities will need to take into account the terms and provisions of our 9½% senior notes and our Loan Facility, or any other debt, if such debt is outstanding at the time of issuance of any debt securities we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any future debt securities we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement . If we so indicate in a prospectus supplement, the terms of any debt securities we offer under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below.
We will issue the senior notes under the senior indenture, which we will enter into with a trustee to be named in the senior indenture. We will issue the subordinated notes under the subordinated indenture, which we will enter into with a trustee to be named in the subordinated indenture. We use the term ‘‘indentures’’ to refer to both the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture. The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. We use the term ‘‘debenture trustee’’ to refer to either the senior trustee or the subordinated trustee, as applicable.
The following summaries of material provisions of the senior notes, the subordinated notes and the indentures are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. Except as we may otherwise indicate, the terms of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are identical.
General
We will describe in each prospectus supplement the following terms relating to a series of notes:
• | the title; |
• | any limit on the amount that may be issued; |
• | whether or not we will issue the series of notes in global form, the terms and who the depository will be; |
• | the maturity date; |
• | the annual interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates; |
• | whether or not the notes will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt; |
• | the terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt; |
24
• | the place where payments will be made; |
• | our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period; |
• | the date, if any, after which, and the price at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of notes pursuant to any optional redemption provisions; |
• | the date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of notes; |
• | whether the indenture will restrict our ability to pay dividends, or will require us to maintain any asset ratios or reserves; |
• | whether we will be restricted from incurring any additional indebtedness; |
• | a discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the notes; |
• | the denominations in which we will issue the series of notes, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; and |
• | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities. |
Conversion or Exchange Rights
We will set forth in the prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of notes may be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or other securities of ours. We will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of common stock or other securities of ours that the holders of the series of notes receive would be subject to adjustment.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
The indentures do not contain any covenant which restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets must assume all of our obligations under the indentures or the notes, as appropriate.
Events of Default Under the Indenture
The following are events of default under the indentures with respect to any series of notes that we may issue:
• | if we fail to pay interest when due and our failure continues for 90 days and the time for payment has not been extended or deferred; |
• | if we fail to pay the principal, or premium, if any, when due and the time for payment has not been extended or delayed; |
• | if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the notes or the indentures, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of notes, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive notice from the debenture trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of the applicable series; and |
• | if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur as to us. |
25
If an event of default with respect to notes of any series occurs and is continuing, the debenture trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the debenture trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any such waiver shall cure the default or event of default.
Subject to the terms of the indentures, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the debenture trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of notes, unless such holders have offered the debenture trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the debenture trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the debenture trustee, with respect to the notes of that series, provided that:
• | the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and |
• | subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the debenture trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding. |
A holder of the notes of any series will only have the right to institute a proceeding under the indentures or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies if:
• | the holder has given written notice to the debenture trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series; |
• | the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of that series have made written request, and such holders have offered reasonable indemnity, to the debenture trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee; and |
• | the debenture trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of that series other conflicting directions within 60 days after the notice, request and offer. |
These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of notes if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the notes.
We will periodically file statements with the debenture trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indentures.
Modification of Indenture; Waiver
We and the debenture trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters, including:
• | to fix any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture; and |
• | to change anything that does not materially adversely affect the interests of any holder of notes of any series. |
In addition, under the indentures, the rights of holders of a series of notes may be changed by us and the debenture trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of each series that is affected. However, we and the debenture trustee may only make the following changes with the consent of each holder of any outstanding notes affected:
26
• | extending the fixed maturity of the series of notes; |
• | reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or any premium payable upon the redemption of any notes; or |
• | reducing the percentage of notes, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment. |
Discharge
Each indenture provides that we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for obligations to:
• | register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series; |
• | replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series; |
• | maintain paying agencies; |
• | hold monies for payment in trust; |
• | compensate and indemnify the trustee; and |
• | appoint any successor trustee. |
In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, any premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.
Form, Exchange and Transfer
We will issue the notes of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indentures provide that we may issue notes of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company or another depository named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement with respect to that series. See ‘‘Legal Ownership of Securities’’ for a further description of the terms relating to any book-entry securities.
At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the notes of any series can exchange the notes for other notes of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
Subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the notes may present the notes for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the notes that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will make no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.
We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any notes. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the notes of each series.
If we elect to redeem the notes of any series, we will not be required to:
• | issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any notes of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any notes that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or |
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• | register the transfer of or exchange any notes so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any notes we are redeeming in part. |
Information Concerning the Debenture Trustee
The debenture trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the debenture trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the debenture trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indentures at the request of any holder of notes unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any notes on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the notes, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.
We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the notes of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check which we will mail to the holder. Unless we otherwise indicate in a prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the debenture trustee in the City of New York as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to notes of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the notes of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the notes of a particular series.
All money we pay to a paying agent or the debenture trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any notes which remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
Governing Law
The indentures and the notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Marshall Islands, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.
Subordination of Subordinated Notes
The subordinated notes will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement. The subordinated indenture does not limit the amount of subordinated notes which we may issue. It also does not limit us from issuing any other secured or unsecured debt.
LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
We can issue securities in registered form or in the form of one or more global securities. We describe global securities in greater detail below. We refer to those persons who have securities registered in their own names on the books that we or any applicable trustee maintain for this purpose as the ‘‘holders’’ of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those persons who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names, as ‘‘indirect holders’’ of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect holders.
Book-Entry Holders
We may issue securities in book-entry form only, as we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means securities may be represented by one or more global securities registered in
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the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, which are referred to as participants, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.
Only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Securities issued in global form will be registered in the name of the depositary or its participants. Consequently, for securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities, and we will make all payments on the securities to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities. p>
As a result, investors in a book-entry security will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not holders, of the securities.
Street Name Holders
We may terminate a global security or issue securities in non-global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in ‘‘street name.’’ Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.
For securities held in street name, we will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities, and we will make all payments on those securities to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect holders, not holders, of those securities.
Legal Holders
Our obligations, as well as the obligations of any applicable trustee and of any third parties employed by us or a trustee, run only to the legal holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.
For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass the payment or notice along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, we may want to obtain the approval of the holders to amend an indenture, to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of the indenture or for other purposes. In such an event, we would seek approval only from the holders, and not the indirect holders, of the securities. Whether and how the holders contact the indirect holders is the responsibility of the holders.
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Special Considerations for Indirect Holders
If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:
• | how it handles securities payments and notices; |
• | whether it imposes fees or charges; |
• | how it would handle a request for the holders’ consent, if ever required; |
• | whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the future; |
• | how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and |
• | if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters. |
Global Securities
A global security is a security held by a depositary which represents one or any other number of individual securities. Generally, all securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms.
Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, will be the depositary for all securities issued in book-entry form.
A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary, its nominee or a successor depositary, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under ‘‘Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated.’’ As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with ano ther institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a holder of the security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.
If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued in global form only, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.
Special Considerations for Global Securities
As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize an indirect holder as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.
If securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:
• | An investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations we describe below; |
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• | An investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the securities, as we describe under ‘‘Legal Ownership of Securities’’ above; |
• | An investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and to other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form; |
• | An investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective; |
• | The depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in a global security. We and any applicable trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in a global security. We and the trustee also do not supervise the depositary in any way; |
• | The depositary may, and we understand that DTC will, require that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds, and your broker or bank may require you to do so as well; and |
• | Financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in a global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the securities. There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries. |
Special Situations When a Global Security Will be Terminated
In a few special situations described below, the global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing those interests. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in securities transferred to their own name, so that they will be direct holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above.
The global security will terminate when the following special situations occur:
• | if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days; |
• | if we notify any applicable trustee that we wish to terminate that global security; or |
• | if an event of default has occurred with regard to securities represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived. |
The prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary, and not we or any applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities being offered hereby in one or more of the following ways from time to time:
• | through dealers or agents to the public or to investors; |
• | to underwriters for resale to the public or to investors; |
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• | directly to investors; or |
• | through a combination of such methods. |
We will set forth in a prospectus supplement the terms of the offering of securities, including:
• | the name or names of any agents, dealers or underwriters; |
• | the purchase price of the securities being offered and the proceeds we will receive from the sale; |
• | any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; |
• | any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation; |
• | any initial public offering price; |
• | any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
• | any securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed. |
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
We will identify in the applicable prospectus supplement any underwriters, dealers or agents and will describe their compensation. We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against specified civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their businesses.
Certain persons that participate in the distribution of the securities may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities, including over-allotment, stabilizing and short-covering transactions in such securities, and the imposition of penalty bids, in connection with an offering. Certain persons may also engage in passive market making transactions as permitted by Rule 103 of Regulation M. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered be low the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded.
LEGAL MATTERS
Reeder & Simpson P.C., Marshall Islands counsel, will provide us with an opinion as to the legal matters in connection with the securities we are offering.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2006, have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers S.A., an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Government Filings
As required by the securities Act of 1933, we filed a registration statement on Form F-3 relating to the securities offered by this prospectus with the Commission. This prospectus is a part of that
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registration statement, which includes additional information. You should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits for additional information. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are not necessarily complete and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, agreements or other document.
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act, applicable to foreign private issuers. We, as a ‘‘foreign private issuer’’, are exempt from the rules under the Securities Exchange Act prescribing certain disclosure and procedural requirements for proxy solicitations, and our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and ‘‘short-swing’’ profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act, with respect to their purchases and sales of shares. In addition, we are not required to file annual, quarterly and current reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U nited States companies whose securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act. However, we anticipate filing with the SEC, within 180 days after the end of each fiscal year, an annual report on Form 20-F containing financial statements audited by an independent accounting firm. We also anticipate furnishing quarterly reports on Form 6-K containing unaudited interim financial information for the first three quarters of each fiscal year, within 75 days after the end of such quarter.
You may read and copy any document we file or furnish with the SEC at reference facilities at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. You may also obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference facilities. You can review our SEC filings and the registration statement by accessing the SEC’s internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
Documents may also be inspected at the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20006.
Information provided by the Company
We will furnish holders of our common shares with annual reports containing audited financial statements and corresponding reports by our independent registered public accounting firm, and intend to furnish quarterly reports containing selected unaudited financial data for the three first quarter of each fiscal year. The audited financial statements will be prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles and those reports will include a ‘‘Operating and Financial Review and Prospects’’ section for the relevant periods. As a ‘‘foreign private issuer’’, we were exempt from the rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prescribing the furnishing a nd content of proxy statements to shareholders. While we intend to furnish proxy statements to any shareholder in accordance with the rule of the NYSE, those proxy statements are not expected to conform to Schedule 14A of the proxy rules promulgated under the Exchange Act. In addition as a ‘‘foreign issuer’’, we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act relating to short swing profit reporting and liability.
This prospectus is only part of a Registration Statement on Form F-3 that we have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and therefore omits certain information contained in the Registration Statement. We have also filed exhibits and schedules with the Registration Statement that are excluded from this prospectus, and you should refer to the applicable exhibit or schedule for a complete description of any statement referring to any contract or other document. You may:
• | inspect a copy of the Registration Statement, including the exhibits and schedules, |
• | without charge at the public reference room, |
• | obtain a copy from the SEC upon payment of the fees prescribed by the SEC, or |
• | obtain a copy from the SEC’s web site or our web site. |
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to ‘‘incorporate by reference’’ the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The
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information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and information we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. The documents we are incorporating by reference as of their respective dates of filing are:
• | Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2006, filed on March 27, 2007; and |
• | The description of our common stock contained in our Form 8-A filed on February 14, 2007. |
• | All subsequent reports on Form 20-F shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be a part hereof after the date of this prospectus but before the termination of the offering by this prospectus. |
• | Our reports on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC after the date of this prospectus only to the extent that the forms expressly state that we incorporate them by reference in this prospectus. |
Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for all purposes to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in any other subsequently filed document which is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
You may request, orally or in writing, a copy of these documents, which will be provided to you at no cost, by contacting:
Vasiliki (Villy) Papaefthymiou
Secretary
Navios Maritime Holdings Inc.
85 Akti Miaouli Street
Piraeus, Greece 185 38
Telephone: (011) +30-210-4595000
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES AND
INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES
We are incorporated under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. A majority of the directors, officers and the experts named in the prospectus reside outside the United States. In addition, a substantial portion of the assets and the assets of the directors, officers and experts are located outside the United States. As a result, you may have difficulty serving legal process within the United States upon Navios or any of these persons. You may also have difficulty enforcing, both in and outside the United States, judgments you may obtain in United States courts against Navios or these persons in any action, including actions based upon the civil liability provisions of United States federal or state securities laws. Fur thermore, there is substantial doubt that the courts of the Marshall Islands would enter judgments in original actions brought in those courts predicated on United States federal or state securities laws.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
We have obtained directors’ and officers’ liability insurance against any liability asserted against such person incurred in the capacity of director or officer or arising out of such status, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify such person.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 8. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Under the Articles of Incorporation, our Bylaws and under Section 60 of the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act (‘‘BCA’’), we may indemnify anyone who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, 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.
A limitation on the foregoing is the statutory proviso (also found in our Bylaws) that, 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 that his conduct was unlawful.
Further, under Section 60 of the BCA and our Bylaws, the termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of no contest, or its equivalent, does 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 best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
In addition, under Section 60 of the BCA and under our Bylaws, a corporation may 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 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 as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. Such indemnification may be made against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred such person 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. Again, this is provided that no indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, 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.
Further, and as provided by both our Bylaws and Section 60 of the BCA, when 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 the foregoing instances, or in the defense of a related claim, issue or matter, he will be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such matter.
Likewise, pursuant to our Bylaws and Section 60 of the BCA, expenses (our Bylaws specifically includes attorneys’ fees in expenses) incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding by an officer or director may be paid in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification. The Bylaws further provide that with respect to other employees, such expenses may be paid on the terms and conditions, if any, as the Board may deem appropriate.
Both Section 60 of the BCA and our Bylaws further provided that the foregoing indemnification and advancement of expenses are not exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking
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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/or as to action in another capacity while holding office.
Under both Section 60 of the BCA and our Bylaws, we also 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 regardless of whether the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the foregoing.
Under Section 60 of the BCA (and as provided in our Bylaws), the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted under the foregoing continue with regard to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified. Additionally, under Section 60 of the BCA and our Bylaws, the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted under the foregoing continue with regard to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators unless otherwise provided  ;when authorized or ratified.
In addition to the above, our Bylaws provide that references to us includes constituent corporations, and defines ‘other enterprises’ to include employee benefit plans, ‘‘fines’’ to include excise taxes imposed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan, and further defines the term ‘serving at the request of the corporation.’
Our Articles of Incorporation set out a much abbreviated version of the foregoing and make reference to the provisions of the Bylaws.
Such limitation of liability and indemnification does not affect the availability of equitable remedies. In addition, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
ITEM 9. EXHIBITS
(a) Exhibits.
Exhibit Number |
Description of Document | ||
5.1 | Opinion of Reeder & Simpson P.C regarding legality of the shares being registered (to be filed by amendment) | ||
23.1 | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers S.A. (Filed herewith) | ||
23.2 | Consent of Reeder & Simpson P.C. (to be included in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement on Form F-3). | ||
24.1 | Power of Attorney (Included on signature page). | ||
ITEM 10. UNDERTAKINGS
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(a)
1. | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
i. | To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
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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 20% 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; |
Provided, however, That paragraphs (a)1(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is 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 registration statement.
Provided however, That:
A. | Paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8, and 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; and |
B. | Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and 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 prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement. |
2. | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, 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. |
4. | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser: |
i. | If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B: |
A. | Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and |
B. | 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 |
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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 int o 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; or |
ii. | If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. 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 first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or p rospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use. |
(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant, 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 Act 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 regis tered, 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(c) 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 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.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirement 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 registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in Piraeus, Greece on April 4, 2007.
NAVIOS MARITIME HOLDINGS INC. | |||
By: /s/ Angeliki Frangou | |||
Name: Angeliki Frangou Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
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By: /s/ Michael McClure | |||
Name: Michael McClure Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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POWER OF ATTORNEY
The registrant and each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Angeliki Frangou and Vasiliki Papaefthymiou and each of them singly, his, her or its true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him, her or it and in his, her or its name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign and file any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he, she, or it might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by each of the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 4, 2007.
Signature | Title(s) | Date | ||
/s/ Angeliki Frangou | Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) |
April 4, 2007 | ||
Angeliki Frangou | ||||
/s/ Michael McClure | Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer) |
April 4, 2007 | ||
Michael McClure | ||||
/s/ Angeliki Frangou | Chairman of the Board | April 4, 2007 | ||
Angeliki Frangou | ||||
/s/ Robert Shaw | Director | April 4, 2007 | ||
Robert Shaw | ||||
/s/ Vasiliki Papaefthymiou | Director | April 4, 2007 | ||
Vasiliki Papaefthymiou | ||||
/s/ Spyridon Magoulas | Director | April 4, 2007 | ||
Spyridon Magoulas | ||||
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Signature | Title(s) | Date | ||
/s/ John Stratakis | Director | April 4, 2007 | ||
John Stratakis | ||||
/s/ Rex Harrington | Director | April 4, 2007 | ||
Rex Harrington | ||||
/s/ Allan Shaw | Director | April 4, 2007 | ||
Allan Shaw | ||||
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Exhibit 23.1
[LETTERHEAD OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS]
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-3 of our reports dated March 8, 2007 and March 22, 2006 relating to the financial statements, which appear in Navios Maritime Holdings Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2006. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading ‘‘Experts’’ in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCooper S.A.
PricewaterhouseCoopers S.A.
Athens, Greece
April 4, 2007