Filed Pursuant to Rule
424(b)(5)
Registration No.
333-234281
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated November 4, 2019)
158,640,000 Common Shares
We are offering an aggregate of 158,640,000 of our common shares pursuant
to a Securities Purchase Agreement, dated July 6, 2020, between us
and the institutional investors identified therein (who we refer to
herein as the Investors).
Our common shares are traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or
Nasdaq, under the symbol “TOPS.” On July 6, 2020, the last
reported sale price of our common shares on Nasdaq was $0.13 per
share.
Sales of common shares and associated preferred stock purchase
rights, if any, sold under this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus, may be made by means of ordinary brokers’
transactions on the Nasdaq, in negotiated transactions or
transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” offerings as
defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
including sales made to or through a market maker other than on an
exchange, at prices related to the prevailing market prices or at
negotiated prices.
Investing in our common shares involves a high degree of risk and
uncertainty. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 of this
prospectus supplement, and in the accompanying prospectus and the
documents we have filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or the Commission, that are incorporated by reference
herein for more information, before you make any investment in our
common shares.
We have retained Maxim Group LLC (who we refer to herein as the
Placement Agent or Maxim) as our exclusive placement agent to use
its reasonable best efforts to solicit offers to purchase our
common shares in this offering, and we have agreed to pay the
Placement Agent a cash fee of 6.25% of the aggregate gross proceeds
in this offering. The Placement Agent is not selling any of
our common shares pursuant to this prospectus supplement or the
accompanying prospectus. We expect that delivery of our common
shares being offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement will be
made to the Investors on or about July 9, 2020.
|
|
Per Share
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Public offering price
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
$
|
15,864,000
|
|
Placement agent fees
|
|
$
|
0.0063
|
|
|
$
|
$991,500
|
|
Proceeds to the Company before expense
|
|
$
|
0.0938
|
|
|
$
|
$14,872,500
|
|
None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commission,
any state securities commission, or any other regulatory body has
approved or disapproved of these securities or passed on the
adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement or the
accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
Maxim Group LLC
The date of this prospectus supplement is July 6, 2020.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
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S-ii
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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S-iii
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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
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S-1
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THE OFFERING
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S-5
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RISK FACTORS
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S-6
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USE OF PROCEEDS
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S-14
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CAPITALIZATION
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S-15
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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF OUR COMMON SHARES
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S-18
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
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S-19
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TAX CONSIDERATIONS
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S-28
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
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S-29
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EXPENSES
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S-31
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LEGAL MATTERS
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EXPERTS
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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SUMMARY
|
1
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RISK FACTORS
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5
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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6
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USE OF PROCEEDS
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7
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CAPITALIZATION
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8
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
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9
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
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11
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
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21
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
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27
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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS
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28
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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS
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29
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
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30
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
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31
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EXPENSES
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32
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LEGAL MATTERS
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32
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EXPERTS
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32
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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32
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This prospectus supplement
and the accompanying prospectus are part of a registration
statement that we filed with the Commission, utilizing a “shelf”
registration process.
This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus
supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering
described herein and the securities offered hereby, and also adds
to and updates information contained in the accompanying base
prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this
prospectus supplement and the base prospectus.
The second part, the base prospectus, gives more general
information about securities we may offer from time to time, some
of which does not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer
only to the prospectus, we are referring to both parts combined,
and when we refer to the accompanying prospectus, we are referring
to the base prospectus.
If the description of this offering varies between this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the
information contained in this prospectus supplement. This
prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the
documents incorporated into each by reference include important
information about us, our common shares being offered and other
information you should know before investing. You should read
this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus
together with the additional information described under the
heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information” before
investing in our common shares.
We have authorized only the information contained or incorporated
by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying
prospectus, and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on
behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We have not, and the
placement agent has not, authorized anyone to provide you with
information that is different. We and the placement agent
take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the
reliability of, any information that others may give you. If anyone
provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should
not rely on it. We are offering to sell our common shares
only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The
information contained in or incorporated by reference in the
prospectus is accurate only as of the date such information was
issued, regardless of the time of delivery of the prospectus or the
date of any sale of our common shares.
Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “dollars” and “$” in
this prospectus supplement are to, and amounts presented in, United
States dollars and financial information presented in this
prospectus supplement that is derived from financial statements
incorporated by reference is prepared in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Matters discussed in this prospectus supplement may constitute
forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, or the PSLRA, provides safe harbor protections
for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to
provide prospective information about their business.
Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans,
objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and
underlying assumptions and other statements, which are statements
other than statements of historical facts.
TOP Ships Inc. desires to take advantage of the safe harbor
provisions of the PSLRA and is including this cautionary statement
in connection with this safe harbor legislation. This prospectus
supplement 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. When used in this prospectus supplement, statements
that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future
events or conditions, or that include words such as “anticipate,”
“believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,”
“plan,” “potential,” “continue,” “possible,” “likely,” “may,”
“should,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking
statements.
The forward-looking statements in this prospectus supplement 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 that 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 assumptions and matters discussed elsewhere
herein and in the documents incorporated by reference herein,
important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to
differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking
statements include the following:
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• |
our ability to
maintain or develop new and existing customer relationships with
major refined product importers and exporters, major crude oil
companies and major commodity traders, including our ability to
enter into long-term charters for our vessels;
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• |
our future
operating and financial results;
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• |
our future vessel acquisitions, our
business strategy and expected capital spending or
operating expenses, including any dry-docking
and insurance costs;
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• |
our financial
condition and liquidity, including our ability to obtain financing
in the future to fund capital expenditures, acquisitions and other
general corporate activities;
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• |
oil and
chemical tanker industry trends, including charter rates and vessel
values and factors affecting vessel supply and demand;
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• |
our ability to
take delivery of, integrate into our fleet, and employ any new
vessels we have ordered or may order in the future and the ability
of shipyards to deliver vessels on a timely basis;
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• |
the aging of
our vessels and resultant increases in operation and dry-docking
costs;
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• |
the ability of
our vessels to pass classification inspections and vetting
inspections by oil majors and big chemical corporations;
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• |
significant
changes in vessel performance, including increased vessel
breakdowns;
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• |
the
creditworthiness of our charterers and the ability of our contract
counterparties to fulfill their obligations to us;
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• |
our ability to
repay outstanding indebtedness, to obtain additional financing and
to obtain replacement charters for our vessels, in each case, at
commercially acceptable rates or at all;
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• |
changes to
governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory
authorities and the expected costs thereof;
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• |
potential
liability from litigation and our vessel operations, including
discharge of pollutants;
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• |
changes in
general economic and business conditions;
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• |
general
domestic and international political conditions, potential
disruption of shipping routes due to accidents, political events
(including “trade wars”), piracy, acts by terrorists or major
disease outbreaks such as the recent worldwide coronavirus
outbreak;
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• |
changes in
production of or demand for oil and petroleum products and
chemicals, either globally or in particular regions;
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• |
the strength of
world economies and currencies, including fluctuations in charter
hire rates and vessel values;
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• |
potential
liability from future litigation and potential costs due to any
environmental damage and vessel collisions;
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• |
the length and
severity of the recent coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) and its
impact on the demand for commercial seaborne transportation and the
condition to the financial markets; and
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• |
other
important factors described from time to time in
the reports filed by us with the Commission.
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You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements
contained in this prospectus supplement because they are statements
about events that are not certain to occur as described or at all.
All forward-looking statements in this prospectus supplement are
qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained
in this prospectus supplement.
Any forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of
the date of this prospectus supplement, and except to the
extent required by applicable law or regulation we undertake no
obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to
reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such
statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not
possible for us to predict all or any of these factors. Further, we
cannot assess the impact of each such factor on our business or the
extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause
actual results to be materially different from those contained in
any forward-looking statement.
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
This summary highlights information that appears elsewhere in this
prospectus supplement or in the documents incorporated by reference
herein and is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information, including the financial statements that appear in the
documents incorporated by reference. This summary may not contain
all of the information that may be important to you. As an investor
or prospective investor, you should review carefully the entire
prospectus supplement, including the risk factors, and the more
detailed information that is included herein and in the documents
incorporated by reference herein.
Unless the context otherwise requires, as used in this prospectus
supplement, the terms “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to TOP
Ships Inc. and all of its subsidiaries. We use the term deadweight
ton, or dwt, in describing the size of vessels. Dwt, expressed in
metric tons each of which is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms, refers
to the maximum weight of cargo and supplies that a vessel can
carry. Our reporting currency is in the U.S. dollar and all
references in this prospectus supplement to “$” or “dollars” are to
U.S. dollars. Further, unless otherwise indicated, the information
presented in this prospectus supplement gives effect to the
following reverse stock splits of our issued and outstanding common
shares: a one-for-ten reverse stock split effected on February 22,
2016, a one-for-twenty reverse stock split effected on May 11,
2017, a one-for-fifteen reverse stock split effected on June 23,
2017, a one-for-thirty reverse stock split effected on August 3,
2017, a one-for-two reverse stock split effected on October 6,
2017, a one-for-ten reverse stock split effected on March 26,
2018 and a one-for-twenty reverse stock split of our issued
and outstanding common shares effective on August 22, 2019.
Our Company
We are an international owner and operator of modern, fuel
efficient eco vessels focusing on the transportation of crude oil,
petroleum products (clean and dirty) and bulk liquid chemicals. Our
operating fleet has a total capacity of 814,000 deadweight tonnes
(“dwt”). As of the date of this prospectus supplement, our
fleet consists of eight 50,000 dwt product/chemical tankers,
the M/T Stenaweco Energy, M/T Stenaweco Evolution, M/T Nord
Valiant, M/T Stenaweco Excellence, the M/T Eco California, the M/T
Eco Marina Del Ray, The M/T Eco Los Angeles and the M/T Eco City of
Angels and two 157,000 dwt Suezmax tankers, the M/T Eco Bel Air and
M/T Eco Beverly Hills and we also own 50% interests in two 50,000
dwt product/chemical tankers, M/T Eco Yosemite Park and the M/T Eco
Joshua Park. We also have three newbuilding contracts for
three 50,000 dwt product/chemical tankers, the M/T Eco Van Nuys,
the M/T Eco Santa Monica and the M/T Eco Venice Beach, and two
newbuilding contracts for two scrubber-fitted suezmax tankers, the
M/T Eco West Coast and the M/T Eco Malibu. All of our vessels
are IMO certified and are capable of carrying a wide variety of oil
products including chemical cargos which we believe make our
vessels attractive to a wide base of charterers. All of the
operating vessels in our fleet are financed under sale and
leaseback agreements.
Our Fleet in the Water
The following tables present our fleet list as of the date of this
prospectus supplement:
MR Tanker vessels on Sale and Leaseback (“SLBs”) (treated as
financings):
Name
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Deadweight
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Charterer
|
End of firm period
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Charterer’s Optional Periods
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Gross Rate fixed period/ options
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M/T Stenaweco Energy
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50,000
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Stena Weco A/S
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February 2021
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1+1 years
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$15,616 / $17,350 / $18,100
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M/T Stenaweco Evolution
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50,000
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Stena Weco A/S
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October 2021
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1+1 years
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$15,516 / $17,200 / $18,000
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M/T Stenaweco Excellence
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50,000
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Stena Weco A/S
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November 2020
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1+1 years
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$16,200 / $17,200 / $18,000
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M/T Nord Valiant
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50,000
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DS Norden A/S
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August 2021
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1+1 years
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$16,800 / $17,600 / $18,400
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M/T Eco California
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50,000
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Shell Tankers Singapore Private Limited
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January 2021
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1 year
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$13,750 plus 50% profit share/ $13,950 plus 50% profit share
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M/T Eco Marina Del Ray
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50,000
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Cargill
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March 2024
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-
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$15,100
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M/T Eco Los Angeles
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50,000
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Trafigura
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February 2023
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1+1 years
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$17,500 / $18,750 / $20,000
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M/T Eco City of Angels
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50,000
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Trafigura
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February 2023
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1+1 years
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$17,500 / $18,750 / $20,000
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Suezmax Vessels on SLBs (treated as financings):
Name
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Deadweight
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Charterer
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End of firm period
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Charterer’s Optional Periods
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Gross Rate fixed period/ options
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M/T Eco Bel Air
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157,000
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BP Shipping Limited
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April 2022
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1+1 years
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$24,500 / $27,500 / $29,000
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M/T Eco Beverly Hills
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157,000
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BP Shipping Limited
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May 2022
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1+1 years
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$24,500 / $27,500 / $29,000
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Joint Venture MR Tanker fleet (50% owned):
Name
|
Deadweight
|
Charterer
|
End of firm period
|
Charterer’s Optional Periods
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Gross Rate fixed period/ options
|
M/T Eco Yosemite Park
|
50,000
|
Clearlake Shipping Pte Ltd
|
March 2025
|
1+1 years
|
$17,400 / $18,650 / $19,900
|
M/T Eco Joshua Park
|
50,000
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Clearlake Shipping Pte Ltd
|
March 2025
|
1+1 years
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$17,400 / $18,650 / $19,900
|
Newbuildings (MR and Suezmax Tankers):
Name
|
|
Deadweight
|
|
Charterer
|
End of firm period
|
Charterer’s
Optional Periods
|
|
Gross Rate
fixed period/ options
|
Delivery date
|
Shipyard
|
M/T Eco Van Nuys (Hull No 2789)
|
|
50,000
|
|
Central Tankers Chartering Inc
|
January 2026
|
1+1 years
|
|
$16,200 / $17,200 / $18,200
|
January 2021
|
Hyundai Mipo S. Korea
|
M/T Eco Santa Monica (Hull No 2790)
|
|
50,000
|
|
Central Tankers Chartering Inc
|
February 2026
|
1+1 years
|
|
$16,200 / $17,200 / $18,200
|
February 2021
|
Hyundai Mipo S. Korea
|
M/T Eco Venice Beach (Hull No 2791)
|
|
50,000
|
|
Central Tankers Chartering Inc
|
March 2026
|
1+1 years
|
|
$16,200 / $17,200 / $18,200
|
March 2021
|
Hyundai Mipo S. Korea
|
M/T Eco West Coast (Hull No 865)
|
|
157,000
|
|
Clearlake Shipping Pte Ltd
|
February 2024
|
1+1 years
|
|
$33,950 / $34,750 / $36,750
|
February 2021
|
HHI S. Korea
|
M/T Eco Malibu (Hull No 866)
|
|
157,000
|
|
Clearlake Shipping Pte Ltd
|
May 2024
|
1+1 years
|
|
$33,950 / $34,750 / $36,750
|
May 2021
|
HHI S. Korea
|
All the vessels in our fleet, including our newbuildings, are and
will be equipped with engines of modern design and with
improvements in the hull, propellers and other parts of the vessel
to decrease fuel consumption and reduce emissions. Vessels with
this combination of technologies, introduced from certain
shipyards, are commonly referred to as eco vessels. We believe that
recent advances in shipbuilding design and technology should make
these latest generation vessels more fuel-efficient than older
vessels in the global fleet that compete with our vessels for
charters, providing us with a competitive
advantage. Furthermore, all of our vessels are fitted with
ballast water treatment equipment and seven of our operating
vessels have scrubbers installed, as well as all of our
newbuildings.
We believe we have established a reputation in the international
ocean transport industry for operating and maintaining vessels with
high standards of performance, reliability and safety. We have
assembled a management team comprised of executives who have
extensive experience operating large and diversified fleets of
tankers and who have strong ties to a number of national, regional
and international oil companies, charterers and traders
Recent Developments
We and certain of our current executive officers were defendants in
purported class-action lawsuits pending in the U.S. District Court
for the Eastern District of New York, brought on behalf of our
shareholders. On August 3, 2019 the Eastern District Court of
New York dismissed the case with prejudice. On August 26,
2019, plaintiffs appealed the dismissal to the United States Court
of Appeals for the Second Circuit. We filed our response briefs on
November 26 and November 27, 2019, and plaintiffs filed their reply
brief on December 11, 2019. The Court of Appeals held oral argument
on March 10, 2020 and took the matter under advisement. On April 2,
2020, the Court of Appeals issued a summary order affirming the
District Court’s decision dismissing plaintiffs’ claims and denying
leave to amend. Due to issues relating to COVID-19, the
Second Circuit has extended all deadlines by 21 days and
plaintiffs’ deadline to file a motion for reargument with the
Second Circuit was May 7, 2020. The plaintiffs did not file a
motion for reargument and the Second Circuit issued its mandate on
May 14, 2020 upholding the decision of the Eastern District of New
York. Furthermore, the United States Supreme Court has
extended the deadline for parties to file cert petitions asking the
Court to hear an appeal to 150 days from the date of the lower
court judgment. As a result, the deadline for plaintiffs to
file a petition with the Supreme Court is now August 30,
2020.
On April 17, 2020 our 50% subsidiary, Eco Nine Pte., concluded the
previously announced sale of its 100% owned vessel, M/T Palm
Springs. The net cash release to the Company amounted to $9.7
million.
On April 24, 2020 we acquired from a company affiliated with the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer, or the MR Seller, a 50% interest
in two vessel owning companies that owned two ultra-high
specification scrubber-fitted 50,000 dwt eco MR product tankers,
M/T Eco Yosemite Park and M/T Eco Joshua Park for $27.0 million,
which was paid with cash on hand, representing the Company’s share
of interest in the fair value of the net assets acquired. Both
vessels were delivered in March 2020 to the MR Seller from Hyundai
Mipo shipyard of South Korea. The acquisitions were approved
by a special committee composed of independent members of the
Company’s board of directors, or the MR Transaction Committee. The
MR Transaction Committee obtained a fairness opinion relating to
the consideration paid in this transaction from an independent
financial advisor. The MR Seller had already entered into two
joint venture agreements, for the two vessels, each with an equal
ownership interest of 50%, with Just-C Limited, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Gunvor Group Ltd (the other 50% owner). Each of the
two product tankers have time charters with Clearlake Shipping Pte
Ltd, a subsidiary of Gunvor Group Ltd for a firm term of five years
plus two additional optional years.
On May 8, 2020, we
announced that we acquired for $18.0 million from a company
affiliated with our Chief Executive Officer, a 100% ownership
interest in three Marshall Island companies that each have a
newbuilding contract for the construction of one ultra-high
specification scrubber-fitted 50,000 dwt eco MR product/chemical
tanker, all currently under construction in Hyundai Mipo shipyard
in South Korea, with attached time charters. The
consideration will be paid in installments through the vessels’
delivery dates. As per the shipbuilding contracts, yard
installments are payable in accordance with key milestones, that as
of the date of this prospectus supplement amount to $99.6
million. The three tankers are scheduled to be delivered in
the first quarter of 2021. The Company also anticipates it will
enter into financing arrangements for the vessels prior to their
delivery from the shipyard. The acquisitions were
approved by a special committee composed of independent members of
the Company’s board of directors, or the NB Transaction
Committee. The NB
Transaction Committee obtained a fairness opinion relating to the
consideration paid in this transaction from an independent
financial advisor.
Each of the three product
tankers have time charters with Central Tankers Chartering Inc, a
company affiliated with our Chief Executive Officer, for a firm
term of five years plus two additional optional years. The total
potential gross revenue backlog from these contracts is about
$127.5 million.
On May 29, 2020, we announced that we acquired for $22.0 million
from a company affiliated with the Company’s Chief Executive
Officer, or the Suezmax Seller, a 50% ownership interest in two
Marshall Island companies (the “SPVs”) that each have a newbuilding
contract for the construction of one ultra-high specification`
scrubber-fitted 157,000 dwt eco Suezmax tanker, both currently
under construction in Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in South
Korea, with attached time charters. The purchase price of $22.0
million was settled from proceeds from some of the Registered
Direct Offerings, as defined below. In addition, the Company
had the option to acquire the other 50% ownership interest in both
vessels from the Seller at the same price until July 15, 2020. We
exercised both purchase options and the consideration due under the
options of $22.0 million was also settled from some of the proceeds
of the Registered Direct Offerings. The two tankers are scheduled
to be delivered in February and May 2021 respectively. As per
the shipbuilding contracts, yard installments are payable in
accordance with key milestones, that as of the date of this
prospectus supplement, amount to $110.2 million. The Company
anticipates that the shipowning companies will enter into financing
arrangements for the vessels prior to the delivery from the
shipyard. Upon their delivery, both vessels will enter into time
charters with a major oil trader, for a firm term of three years
plus two additional optional years. The total potential gross
revenue backlog from these contracts is about $126.5 million.
The acquisitions were approved by a special committee composed of
independent members of the Company's board of directors, or the
Suezmax Transaction Committee. The Suezmax Transaction Committee
obtained a fairness opinion relating to the purchase price of the
SPVs from an independent financial advisor.
On May 29, 2020, we held our Annual Meeting of Shareholders, or the
Annual Meeting. At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders of the
Company approved and adopted the following three proposals:
1. the
election of Evangelos J. Pistiolis and Stavros Emmanuel as Class I
Directors to serve until the 2023 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders;
2. the
ratification of Deloitte Certified Public Accountants S.A. as the
Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December
31, 2020; and
3. the
approval of one or more amendments to the Company’s Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation to effect one or more reverse
stock splits of the Company’s issued common shares at a ratio of
not less than one-for-two and not more than one-for-25 and in the
aggregate at a ratio of not more than one-for-25, inclusive, with
the exact ratio to be set at a whole number within this range to be
determined by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), or
any duly constituted committee thereof, at any time after approval
of each amendment in its discretion, and to authorize the Board to
implement any such reverse stock split by filing any such amendment
with the Registrar of Corporations of the Republic of the Marshall
Islands.
On March 30, April 15, April 27, April 28, May 14, May 19, June 7,
June 10, June 14 and June 23 2020, we entered into registered
offerings for the sale of an aggregate of 759,454,167 common shares
for gross proceeds of $103.8 million with the same investors
participating in this offering, or together the Registered Direct
Offerings. We may conduct further offerings with a similar
structure to the current offering and the previous Registered
Direct Offerings.
Corporate Information
Our predecessor, Ocean Holdings Inc., was formed as a corporation
in January 2000 under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall
Islands and renamed Top Tankers Inc. in May 2004. In December 2007,
Top Tankers Inc. was renamed TOP Ships Inc.
Our common shares are currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market
under the symbol “TOPS.” The current address of our principal
executive office is 1 Vasilisis Sofias and Megalou Alexandrou Str,
15124 Maroussi, Greece. The telephone number of our registered
office is +30 210 812 8000. Our corporate website address is
www.topships.org. The information contained on our website does not
constitute part of this prospectus supplement.
THE OFFERING
Issuer
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TOP Ships Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation
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Common shares outstanding as of July 6, 2020
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837,159,322 common shares
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Common shares offered by us
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158,640,000 common shares.
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Common shares outstanding immediately after the offering
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995,799,322 common shares
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Preferred share purchase rights
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Our common shares include preferred share purchase rights, as
described in the section of this prospectus supplement entitled
“Description of Capital Stock—Stockholders Rights Agreement.”
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Use of proceeds
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The net proceeds of this offering, after deducting the
placement agent’s commissions and our estimated offering expenses,
will be for general corporate purposes. See “Use of
Proceeds.”
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Risk factors
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Investing in
our common shares involves a high degree of risk and
uncertainty. You should carefully consider all the
information in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying
prospectus and the documents incorporated into each by reference
prior to investing in our common shares. In particular, we urge you
to consider carefully the factors set forth in the section entitled
“Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement,
and in the accompanying prospectus and the documents we have filed
with the Commission that are incorporated by reference herein for
more information, before you make any investment in our common
shares.
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Listing
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Our common shares are traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the
symbol “TOPS.”
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common shares involves a high degree of risk
and uncertainty. We
have identified a number of risk factors which you should consider
before investing in our common shares. You should consider
carefully the risks set forth below, those risk factors set forth
under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F
for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the Commission on
April 10, 2020 and incorporated by reference in this prospectus
supplement, and in any other documents we have incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement, as well as those under the
heading “Risk Factors” in the accompanying prospectus before
investing in our common shares. The occurrence of one or more of
these risk factors could adversely affect our results of operations
or financial condition.
Risks Related to Our Common Shares and this Offering
There is no guarantee of a continuing public market for you to
resell our common shares.
Our common shares currently trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market. We
cannot assure you that an active and liquid public market for our
common shares will continue and you may not be able to sell your
common shares in the future at the price that you paid for them or
at all. The price of our common shares may be volatile and may
fluctuate due to factors such as:
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actual or
anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly and annual results and
those of other public companies in our industry;
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mergers and
strategic alliances in the shipping industry;
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market
conditions in the shipping industry and the general state of the
securities markets;
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changes in
government regulation;
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shortfalls in
our operating results from levels forecast by securities analysts;
and
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announcements
concerning us or our competitors.
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Further, a lack of trading volume in our stock may affect
investors’ ability to sell their shares. Our common shares have
been experiencing low daily trading volumes in the market. As a
result, investors may be unable to sell all or any of their shares
in the desired time period, or may only be able to sell such shares
at a significant discount to the previous closing price.
Nasdaq may delist our
common shares from its exchange which could limit your ability to
make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional
trading restrictions.
On December 26, 2019, we received a written notification from
Nasdaq indicating that because the closing bid price of our common
shares for the last 30 consecutive business days was below $1.00
per share, we no longer met the minimum bid price requirement under
Nasdaq rules. Pursuant to the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the applicable
grace period to regain compliance is 180 days. However, due
to the extraordinary market conditions caused by COVID-19, Nasdaq
announced the tolling of all compliance periods related to a bid
price deficiency and our grace period is extended to September 7,
2020. We intend to monitor the closing bid price of our
common shares between now and September 7, 2020 and are considering
our options, including a reverse stock split, in order to regain
compliance with the Nasdaq Capital Market minimum bid price
requirement. We can cure this deficiency if the closing bid
price of our common shares is $1.00 per share or higher for at
least ten consecutive business days during the grace period.
On May 29, 2020 our shareholders approved the authorization of one
or more amendments to our Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation to effect one or more reverse stock splits of our
issued common shares at a ratio of not less than one-for-two and
not more than one-for-25 and in the aggregate at a ratio of not
more than one-for-25, inclusive, with the exact ratio to be set at
a whole number within this range to be determined by our board of
directors. We expect that we will likely effectuate a reverse
stock split in order to regain compliance with the Nasdaq minimum
bid price requirement in the near future.
On July 27, 2016, we transferred our Nasdaq listing from the Nasdaq
Global Select Market to the Nasdaq Capital Market. Our common
shares continue to trade on Nasdaq under the symbol “TOPS”. The
Nasdaq Capital Market is a continuous trading market that operates
in substantially the same manner as the Nasdaq Global Select
Market. We then fulfilled the listing requirements of the Nasdaq
Capital Market and the approval of the transfer cured our
deficiency under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b)(1)(C).
On June 27, 2017, we received written notification from Nasdaq,
indicating that because the closing bid price of our common shares
for the last 30 consecutive business days was below $1.00 per
share, we no longer met the minimum bid price requirement for the
Nasdaq Capital Market, set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1).
Pursuant to the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the applicable grace period
to regain compliance was 180 days, or until December 26, 2017. We
regained compliance on August 17, 2017.
On October 10, 2017, we received written notification from Nasdaq
indicating that because the closing bid price of our common shares
for the last 30 consecutive business days was below $1.00 per
share, we no longer meet the minimum bid price requirement for the
Nasdaq Capital Market, set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1).
Pursuant to the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the applicable grace period
to regain compliance is 180 days, or until April 9, 2018. After
requesting a grace period from Nasdaq, we regained compliance on
April 11, 2018.
On March 11, 2019, we received written notification from Nasdaq,
indicating that because the closing bid price of our common shares
for the last 30 consecutive business days was below $1.00 per
share, we no longer met the minimum bid price requirement for the
Nasdaq Capital Market, set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1).
Pursuant to the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the applicable grace period
to regain compliance is 180 days, or until September 9, 2019.
On August 22, 2019 we effectuated a 20 to 1 reverse stock split in
order to regain compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1). As
a result, we regained compliance on September 5, 2019.
A continued decline in the closing price of our common shares on
Nasdaq could result in suspension or delisting procedures in
respect of our common shares. The commencement of suspension or
delisting procedures by an exchange remains, at all times, at the
discretion of such exchange and would be publicly announced by the
exchange. If a suspension or delisting were to occur, there would
be significantly less liquidity in the suspended or delisted
securities. In addition, our ability to raise additional necessary
capital through equity or debt financing would be greatly impaired.
Furthermore, with respect to any suspended or delisted common
shares, we would expect decreases in institutional and other
investor demand, analyst coverage, market making activity and
information available concerning trading prices and volume, and
fewer broker-dealers would be willing to execute trades with
respect to such common shares. A suspension or delisting would
likely decrease the attractiveness of our common shares to
investors and constitutes a breach under certain of our credit
agreements as well as constitutes an event of default under certain
classes of our preferred stock and would cause the trading volume
of our common shares to decline, which could result in a further
decline in the market price of our common shares.
Finally, if the volatility
in the market continues or worsens, it could have a further adverse
effect on the market price of our common shares, regardless of our
operating performance.
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is dynamic and expanding
and has negatively affected the shipping and energy industries,
including oil prices. The continuation of this outbreak likely
would have, and the emergence of other epidemic or pandemic crises
could have, material adverse effects on our business, results of
operations, or financial condition.
The novel coronavirus pandemic is dynamic and expanding, and its
ultimate scope, duration and effects are uncertain. This pandemic
has had and is expected to continue to have direct and indirect
adverse effects on our industry and customers, which in turn impact
our business, results of operations and financial condition, as
could any future epidemic or pandemic health crisis. Effects of the
current COVID-19 pandemic include, or may include, among
others:
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deterioration
of worldwide, regional or national economic conditions and
activity, which is expected to result in a global recession, the
duration and severity of which is uncertain, and could further
reduce or prolong the recent significant declines in energy prices,
or adversely affect global demand for crude oil or petroleum
products, demand for our services;
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disruptions to
our operations as a result of the potential health impact on our
employees and crew, and on the workforces of our customers and
business partners;
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disruptions to
our business from, or additional costs related to, new regulations,
directives or practices implemented in response to the pandemic,
such as travel restrictions (including for any of our onshore
personnel or any of our crew members to timely embark or disembark
from our vessels), increased inspection regimes, hygiene measures
(such as quarantining and physical distancing) or increased
implementation of remote working arrangements;
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potential
shortages or a lack of access to required spare parts for our
vessels, or potential delays in any repairs to, or scheduled or
unscheduled maintenance or modifications or dry docking of, our
vessels, as a result of a lack of berths available by shipyards
from a shortage in labor or due to other business
disruptions;
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delays in
vessel inspections and related certifications by class societies
customers or government agencies;
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potential
reduced cash flows and financial condition including potential
liquidity constraints;
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reduced access
to capital, including the ability to refinance any existing
obligations, as a result of any credit tightening generally or due
to continued declines in global financial markets, including to the
prices of publicly-traded securities of us, our peers and of listed
companies generally;
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a reduced
ability to opportunistically sell any of our vessels on the
second-hand market, either as a result of a lack of buyers or a
general decline in the value of second-hand vessels;
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a decline in
the market value of our vessels, which may cause us to (a) incur
impairment charges or (b) breach certain covenants under our
financing agreements;
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disruptions,
delays or cancellations in connection with among others, vessel
special surveys, installation of ballast water systems and scrubber
installations, which could increase our off-hire time and decrease
revenues; and
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potential
deterioration in the financial condition and prospects of our
customers or partners, which could adversely impact their ability
or willingness to fulfill their obligations to us, or attempts by
customers or third parties to renegotiate existing agreement or
invoke force majeure contractual clauses as a result delays or
other disruptions, such as the renegotiation of lease terms,
including charter rates.
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Given the dynamic nature of the circumstances surrounding the
COVID-19 pandemic and the worldwide nature of our business and
operations, the duration of any business disruption and the related
financial impact to us cannot be reasonably estimated at this time,
but any prolonged slowdown in the global economy would be likely to
continue to negatively impact worldwide demand for seaborne
transportation of goods and commodities, as well as for oil and
drilling units, and could materially affect our business, results
of operations and financial condition.
Our management team will have broad discretion over the use of the
net proceeds from this offering.
Our management will use its discretion to direct the net proceeds
from this offering. The net proceeds of this
offering, after deducting the placement agent’s commissions
and our estimated offering expenses, will be used for general
corporate purposes. Our management’s judgments may not result
in positive returns on your investment and you will not have an
opportunity to evaluate the economic, financial or other
information upon which our management bases its decisions.
We issued 7,544,475 and 828,463,975 common
shares during 2019 and 2020, respectively, through
various transactions. Shareholders may experience significant
dilution as a result of our offerings.
We have already sold large quantities of our common shares pursuant
to previous public and private offerings of our equity and
equity-linked securities. We currently have an effective
registration statement on Form F-3 (333-234281), for the sale of
$200,000,000 of which we have sold $113.8 million. We also have
11,264 Series E Preferred Shares outstanding, which are convertible
into approximately 18,773,333 common shares as of the date of this
prospectus supplement and the Class B Warrants, discussed under the
section entitled Description of Capital Stock—2019 Class A Warrants
and Class B Warrants below, exercisable into 4,200,000 common
shares. All of the Series E Preferred Shares are held by
Family Trading.
Purchasers of the common shares we sell, as well as our existing
shareholders, will experience significant dilution if we sell
shares at prices significantly below the price at which they
invested. In addition, we may issue additional common shares or
other equity securities of equal or senior rank in the future in
connection with, among other things, debt prepayments, future
vessel acquisitions, redemptions of our Series E Preferred Shares,
or our equity incentive plan, without shareholder approval, in a
number of circumstances. Our existing shareholders may experience
significant dilution if we issue shares in the future at prices
below the price at which previous shareholders invested. Our
issuance of additional shares of common shares or other equity
securities of equal or senior rank would have the following
effects:
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our existing
shareholders’ proportionate ownership interest in us will
decrease;
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the amount of
cash available for dividends payable on the shares of our common
shares may decrease;
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the relative
voting strength of each previously outstanding common share may be
diminished; and
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the market
price of the shares of our common shares may decline.
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Investors may experience significant dilution as
a result of this offering and future offerings.
We are selling 158,640,000 common shares which is approximately
18.9% of our issued and outstanding common shares through this
offering pursuant to this prospectus supplement to the
Investors. The Investors may resell some or all of the shares
of our common shares we issue to them and such sales could cause
the market price of our common shares to decline. Under these
circumstances, our existing shareholders would experience greater
dilution.
Purchasers of the common shares we sell, as well as our existing
shareholders, will experience significant dilution if we sell
shares at prices significantly below the price at which they
invested. In addition, we may offer additional common shares in the
future, which may result in additional significant dilution.
Future issuances or sales,
or the potential for future issuances or sales, of our
common shares may cause the trading price of our securities to
decline and could impair our ability to raise capital through
subsequent equity offerings.
We have issued a significant number of our common shares and we may
do so in the future. Shares to be issued in future equity offerings
could cause the market price of our common shares to decline, and
could have an adverse effect on our earnings per share if and when
we become profitable. In addition, future sales of our common
shares or other securities in the public markets, or the perception
that these sales may occur, could cause the market price of our
common shares to decline, and could materially impair our ability
to raise capital through the sale of additional securities.
The market price of our common shares could decline due to sales,
or the announcements of proposed sales, of a large number of common
shares in the market, including sales of common shares by our large
shareholders, or the perception that these sales could occur. These
sales or the perception that these sales could occur could also
depress the market price of our common shares and impair our
ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity
securities or make it more difficult or impossible for us to sell
equity securities in the future at a time and price that we deem
appropriate. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of
common shares or other equity-related securities would have on the
market price of our common shares.
Our Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as
amended, authorizes our Board of Directors to, among other things,
issue additional shares of common or preferred stock or securities
convertible or exchangeable into equity securities, without
shareholder approval. We may issue such additional equity or
convertible securities to raise additional capital. The issuance of
any additional shares of common or preferred stock or convertible
securities could be substantially dilutive to our shareholders.
Moreover, to the extent that we issue restricted stock units, stock
appreciation rights, options or warrants to purchase our common
shares in the future and those stock appreciation rights, options
or warrants are exercised or as the restricted stock units vest,
our shareholders may experience further dilution. Holders of shares
of our common shares have no preemptive rights that entitle such
holders to purchase their pro rata share of any offering of shares
of any class or series and, therefore, such sales or offerings
could result in increased dilution to our shareholders.
Future issuance of common shares may trigger anti-dilution
provisions in our Series E Preferred Shares and affect the
interests of our common shareholders.
The Series E Preferred Shares contain anti-dilution provisions that
could be triggered by the issuance of common shares in a future
offering, depending on their offering price. For instance, the
issuance by us of common shares for less than $20.00 per common
share, which is the current fixed conversion price of the Series E
Preferred Shares, could result in an adjustment downward of the
Series E Preferred Shares conversion price and an increase in the
number of common shares each Series E Preferred Share is converted
into. These adjustments could affect the interests of our common
shareholders and the trading price for our common shares.
Furthermore the Series E Preferred Shares holders have the option
to replace the fixed conversion price with a variable exercise
price, namely 80% of the lowest daily Volume-Weighted Average Price
(“VWAP”) of our common shares over the 20 consecutive trading days
expiring on the trading day immediately prior to the date of
delivery of an exercise notice (but in no event can this variable
conversion price be less than $0.60) and purchase such
proportionate number of shares based on the variable conversion
price in effect on the date of conversion. If using the variable
conversion price of the Series E Preferred Shares, as of July 6,
2020, the Series E Preferred Shares have a conversion price of
$0.60 and are converted into 18,773,333 common shares, as may be
further adjusted. Moreover, future issuance of other equity or debt
convertible into or issuable or exchangeable for common shares at a
price per share less than the then current conversion price of the
Series E Preferred Shares would result in similar
adjustments.
Anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents as well as
our stockholders rights agreement could make it difficult for our
shareholders to replace `or remove our current Board of
Directors or have the effect of discouraging, delaying or
preventing a merger or acquisition, which could adversely affect
the market price of our common shares.
Several provisions of our Third Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated By-laws (as
amended, our “By-laws”) could make it difficult for our
shareholders to change the composition of our board of directors in
any one year, preventing them from changing the composition of
management. In addition, the same provisions may discourage, delay
or prevent a merger or acquisition that shareholders may consider
favorable.
These provisions include:
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authorizing our
Board of Directors to issue “blank check” preferred stock without
stockholder approval;
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providing for a
classified Board of Directors with staggered, three-year
terms;
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prohibiting
cumulative voting in the election of directors;
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authorizing the
removal of directors only for cause and only upon the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least 80% of the outstanding shares of
our capital stock entitled to vote for the directors;
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prohibiting
shareholder action by written consent unless the written consent is
signed by all shareholders entitled to vote on the action;
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limiting the
persons who may call special meetings of shareholders;
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establishing
advance notice requirements for nominations for election to our
Board of Directors or for proposing matters that can be acted on by
shareholders at shareholder meetings; and
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restricting
business combinations with interested shareholders.
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In addition, we have entered into a stockholders rights agreement
that makes it more difficult for a third party to acquire a
significant stake in the Company without the support of our Board
of Directors.
The above anti-takeover provisions and the provisions of our
stockholders rights agreement could substantially impede the
ability of public shareholders to benefit from a change in control
and, as a result, may adversely affect the market price of our
common shares and your ability to realize any potential change of
control premium.
We are incorporated in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which
does not have a well-developed body of corporate law, and as a
result, shareholders may have fewer rights and protections under
Marshall Islands law than under a typical jurisdiction in the
United States.
Our corporate affairs are governed by our Third Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, our By-laws, and by
the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act, or the BCA. The
provisions of the BCA resemble provisions of the corporation laws
of a number of states in the United States. However, there have
been few judicial cases in the Republic of the Marshall Islands
interpreting the BCA. The rights and fiduciary responsibilities of
directors under the law of the Republic of the Marshall Islands are
not as clearly established as the rights and fiduciary
responsibilities of directors under statutes or judicial precedent
in existence in certain United States jurisdictions. Shareholder
rights may differ as well. While the BCA does specifically
incorporate the non-statutory law, or judicial case law, of the
State of Delaware and other states with substantially similar
legislative provisions, our public shareholders may have more
difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions by
management, directors or controlling shareholders than would
shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a United States
jurisdiction.
Our By-laws provide that the High Court of the Republic of Marshall
Islands shall be the sole and exclusive forum for certain disputes
between us and our shareholders, which could limit our
shareholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for
disputes with us or our directors, officers, or employees.
Our By-laws provide that, unless the Company consents in writing to
the selection of an alternative forum, the High Court of the
Republic of Marshall Islands, shall be the sole and exclusive forum
for (i) any shareholders’ derivative action or proceeding brought
on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of
breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other
employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s
shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant
to any provision of the Business Corporations Act of the Republic
of the Marshall Islands, or (iv) any action asserting a claim
governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This forum
selection provision may limit a shareholder’s ability to bring a
claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with
us or our directors, officers, or other employees, which may
discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims.
We may not achieve the intended benefits of having a
forum selection provision if it is found to be
unenforceable.
Our By-laws include a forum selection provision as under the
section herein entitled “Description of Share Capital –
Shareholders’ Derivative Actions”. However, the enforceability of
similar forum selection provisions in other companies’ governing
documents has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is
possible that in connection with any action a court could find the
forum selection provision contained in our By-laws to be
inapplicable or unenforceable in such action. If a court were to
find the forum selection provision to be inapplicable to, or
unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of
actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated
with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could
adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
We are a “foreign private issuer,” which could make our
common shares less attractive to some investors or otherwise
harm our stock price.
We are a “foreign private issuer,” as such term is defined in Rule
405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities
Act. As a “foreign private issuer” the rules governing the
information that we disclose differ from those governing U.S.
corporations pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or the Exchange Act. We are not required to file quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q or provide current reports on Form 8-K
disclosing significant events within four days of their occurrence.
In addition, our officers and directors are exempt from the
reporting and “short-swing” profit recovery provisions of Section
16 of the Exchange Act and related rules with respect to their
purchase and sales of our securities. Our exemption from the rules
of Section 16 of the Exchange Act regarding sales of common shares
by insiders means that you will have less data in this regard than
shareholders of U.S. companies that are subject to the Exchange
Act. Moreover, we are exempt from the proxy rules, and proxy
statements that we distribute will not be subject to review by the
Commission. Accordingly there may be less publicly available
information concerning us than there is for other U.S. public
companies. These factors could make our common shares less
attractive to some investors or otherwise harm our stock
price.
Our President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, who may
be deemed to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 100% of our
Series D Preferred Shares, has significant influence over us.
As of July 6, 2020, Lax Trust, which is an irrevocable trust
established for the benefit of certain family members of our
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Mr. Pistiolis, may
be deemed to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, all of the
100,000 outstanding shares of our Series D Preferred
Shares. Each Series D Preferred Share carries 1,000
votes. By its ownership of 100% of our Series D Preferred
Shares, Lax Trust has significant influence to matters put before
our shareholders.
Delays or defaults by the shipyards in
the construction of our newbuildings could increase our
expenses and diminish our net income and cash flows.
As of July 6, 2020, we had contracts for five newbuilding vessels.
These tankers are expected to be delivered during the first and
second quarters of 2021. Vessel construction projects are generally
subject to risks of delay that are inherent in any large
construction project, which may be caused by numerous factors,
including shortages of equipment, materials or skilled labor,
unscheduled delays in the delivery of ordered materials and
equipment or shipyard construction, failure of equipment to meet
quality and/or performance standards, financial or operating
difficulties experienced by equipment vendors or the shipyard,
unanticipated actual or purported change orders, inability to
obtain required permits or approvals, design or engineering changes
and work stoppages and other labor disputes, adverse weather
conditions or any other events of force majeure. Significant delays
could adversely affect our financial position, results of
operations and cash flows. Additionally, failure to complete a
project on time may result in the delay of revenue from that
vessel, and we will continue to incur costs and expenses related to
delayed vessels, such as supervision expense.
The current state of the global financial markets and current
economic conditions may adversely impact our results of operation,
financial condition, cash flows and ability to obtain financing or
refinance our existing and future credit facilities on acceptable
terms, which may negatively impact our business.
Global financial markets and economic conditions have been, and
continue to be, volatile. Beginning in February 2020, due in part
to fears associated with the spread of COVID-19, global financial
markets and starting in late February, financial markets in the
U.S. experienced even greater relative volatility and a steep and
abrupt downturn, which has since rebounded but such volatility and
downturns may return if COVID-19 continues to spread. Credit
markets and the debt and equity capital markets have been
distressed and the uncertainty surrounding the future of the global
credit markets has resulted in reduced access to credit worldwide,
particularly for the shipping industry. These issues, along with
significant write-offs in the financial services sector, the
re-pricing of credit risk and the current weak economic conditions,
have made, and will likely continue to make, it difficult to obtain
additional financing. The current state of global financial markets
and current economic conditions might adversely impact our ability
to issue additional equity at prices that will not be dilutive to
our existing shareholders or preclude us from issuing equity at
all. Economic conditions and the economic slow-down resulting from
COVID-19 and the intentional governmental responses to the virus
may also adversely affect the market price of our common
shares.
Also, as a result of concerns about the stability of financial
markets generally, and the solvency of counterparties specifically,
the availability and cost of obtaining money from the public and
private equity and debt markets has become more difficult.
Many lenders have increased interest rates, enacted tighter lending
standards, refused to refinance existing debt at all or on terms
similar to current debt, and reduced, and in some cases ceased, to
provide funding to borrowers and other market participants,
including equity and debt investors, and some have been unwilling
to invest on attractive terms or even at all. Due to these factors,
we cannot be certain that financing will be available if needed and
to the extent required, or that we will be able to refinance our
existing and future credit facilities, on acceptable terms or at
all. As of the date of this prospectus supplement we have
capital commitments for the newbuildings of $209.8 million.
If financing or refinancing is not available when needed, or is
available only on unfavorable terms, we may be unable to meet our
obligations as they come due or we may be unable to enhance our
existing business, complete additional vessel acquisitions or
otherwise take advantage of business opportunities as they arise.
The recent COVID-19 outbreak has negatively impacted, and may
continue to negatively impact, global economic activity, demand for
energy, and funds flows and sentiment in the global financial
markets. Continued economic disruption caused by the continued
failure to control the spread of the virus could significantly
impact our ability to obtain additional debt financing.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds of this offering, after deducting the
placement agent’s commissions and our estimated offering expenses,
will be used for general corporate purposes.
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our consolidated capitalization as
of December 31, 2019:
|
2. |
on an as adjusted basis to give effect to the
following transactions which occurred between December 31, 2019 and
July 6, 2020:
|
|
• |
The
issuance of 16,004 Series E Preferred Shares to Family Trading Inc
with a redemption premium of $2.9 million, as settlement of $16.0
million of consideration outstanding for the purchase of the M/T
Eco City of Angels and M/T Eco Los Angeles from Mr. Pistiolis and
for Series E Shares dividends payable to Family Trading Inc.
|
|
• |
The
issuance of 900 Series E Preferred Shares to Family Trading Inc
with a redemption premium of $0.2 million for Series E Shares
dividends payable to Family Trading Inc.
|
|
• |
the
cashless exercise of 4,200,000 of Class A Warrants into 1,680,000
of our common shares;
|
|
• |
the
redemption of 21,364 Series E Preferred Shares for $24.6
million;
|
|
• |
the
issuance of 14,637,118 common shares pursuant to the Equity
Distribution Agreement we entered into with Maxim Group LLC on
February 12, 2020, with aggregate net proceeds of $4.9
million;
|
|
• |
the
issuance of 52,692,690 common shares pursuant to the Equity
Distribution Agreement we entered into with Maxim Group LLC on
March 11, 2020, with aggregate net proceeds of $4.9 million;
|
|
• |
the
drawdown of $30.1 million and $30.1 million from the sale and
leaseback of M/T Eco Los Angeles and M/T Eco City of Angels
respectively from Avic International Leasing Co., Ltd (“AVIC”) (the
sale and leaseback will be accounted as a financing
transaction);
|
|
• |
the
prepayment of $29.5 million of the outstanding loan under the ABN
Facility due to the sale of the M/T Eco Revolution and the M/T Eco
Fleet;
|
|
• |
the
prepayment of $19.9 million of the outstanding loan under the Alpha
Bank Facility and the Alpha Bank Top-Up Facility due to the sale of
the M/T Stenaweco Elegance. The sale of the M/T Stenaweco Elegance
resulted in gains of $2.0 million;
|
|
• |
the
prepayment of $21.9 million of the AT Bank Senior Facility and the
prepayment of $10.5 million of the AT Bank Bridge Note due to the
sale of the M/T Palm Desert. The sale of the M/T Palm Desert
resulted in gains of $3.2 million;
|
|
• |
The sale
on April 1, 2020 of 40,000,000 of the Company’s common shares via a
registered direct offering at a public offering price of $0.20 per
share resulting in aggregate net proceeds of $7.4 million;
|
|
• |
The sale
on April 17, 2020 of 33,333,333 of the Company’s common shares via
a registered direct offering at a public offering price of $0.18
per share resulting in aggregate net proceeds of $5.5
million;
|
|
• |
The sale
on April 29, 2020 of 35,000,000 of the Company’s common shares via
a registered direct offering at a public offering price of $0.186
per share resulting in aggregate net proceeds of $6.0
million;
|
|
• |
The sale
on April 30, 2020 of 29,500,000 of the Company’s common shares via
a registered direct offering at a public offering price of $0.186
per share resulting in aggregate net proceeds of $5.0
million;
|
|
• |
The sale
on May 18, 2020 of 59,400,000 of the Company’s common shares via a
registered direct offering at a public offering price of $0.135 per
share resulting in aggregate net proceeds of $7.4 million;
|
|
• |
The sale
on May 21, 2020 of 51,700,000 of the Company’s common shares via a
registered direct offering at a public offering price of $0.135 per
share resulting in aggregate net proceeds of $6.5 million;
|
|
• |
The sale
on June 10, 2020 of 166,666,667 of the Company’s common shares via
a registered direct offering at a public offering price of $0.12
per share resulting in aggregate net proceeds of $18.7
million;
|
|
• |
The sale
on June 12, 2020 of 117,187,500 of the Company’s common shares via
a registered direct offering at a public offering price of $0.128
per share resulting in aggregate net proceeds of $14.0
million;
|
|
• |
The sale
on June 17, 2020 of 60,000,000 of the Company’s common shares via a
registered direct offering at a public offering price of $0.13 per
share resulting in aggregate net proceeds of $7.2 million;
|
|
• |
The sale
on June 26, 2020 of 166,666,667 of the Company’s common shares via
a registered direct offering at a public offering price of $0.12
per share resulting in aggregate net proceeds of $18.7
million;
|
|
• |
$18.0
million excess consideration over the carrying amount of acquired
assets relating to the acquisitions of M/T Eco Van Nuys (Hull No
2789), M/T Eco Santa Monica (Hull No 2790) and M/T Eco Venice Beach
(Hull No 2791), accounted for as a transfer of assets between
entities under common control;
|
|
• |
$44.0
million excess consideration over the carrying amount of acquired
assets relating to the acquisitions of 100% of the M/T Eco West
Coast (Hull No 865) and of 100% of M/T Eco Malibu (Hull No 866),
accounted for as a transfer of assets between entities under common
control; and
|
|
• |
$11.0
million of scheduled debt repayments under the ABN Amro, the AT
Bank, the BoComm Leasing, the Cargill, the CMBFL, the OFI, the AVIC
and the Alpha Bank facilities.
|
|
3. |
on an as
further adjusted basis, assuming our issuance and sale of
158,640,000 common shares at an assumed offering price of $0.10 per
share resulting in proceeds of $14.8 million, net of estimated
expenses of $1.1 million:
|
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars, except number of shares
and per share data)
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
As Adjusted
|
|
|
As Further Adjusted
|
|
Debt:(1) (2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current portion of long term debt
|
|
$ |
16,908
|
|
|
$ |
16,806
|
|
|
$ |
16,806
|
|
Non-current portion of long term debt
|
|
|
262,122
|
|
|
|
259,941
|
|
|
|
259,941
|
|
Debt related to vessels held for sale
|
|
|
29,977
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total debt
|
|
|
309,007
|
|
|
|
276,747
|
|
|
|
276,747
|
|
Mezzanine equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock Series E, $0.01 par value; 15,724 shares issued and
outstanding at December 31, 2019, 11,264 shares issued and
outstanding at December 31, 2019, as adjusted and as further
adjusted
|
|
|
18,083
|
|
|
|
13,517
|
|
|
|
13,517
|
|
Shareholders’ equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, $0.01 par value,
1,000,000,000 shares authorized; 8,695,348 shares issued and
outstanding at December 31, 2019, 837,159,322 shares issued and
outstanding at December 31, 2019 as adjusted and
995,799,322 shares issued and
outstanding at December 31, 2019 as further adjusted
|
|
|
87
|
|
|
|
8,372
|
|
|
|
9,958
|
|
Preferred stock Series D, $0.01 par value; 100,000 shares issued
and outstanding at December 31, 2019 as adjusted and as
further adjusted
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
411,499
|
|
|
|
443,475
|
|
|
|
456,686
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
|
|
|
(1,361
|
)
|
|
|
(1,361
|
)
|
|
|
(1,361
|
)
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
(322,552
|
)
|
|
|
(317,311
|
)
|
|
|
(317,311
|
)
|
Total Shareholders’ and Mezzanine equity
|
|
|
105,757
|
|
|
|
146,693
|
|
|
|
161,490
|
|
Total capitalization
|
|
$ |
414,764
|
|
|
$ |
423,440
|
|
|
$ |
438,237
|
|
(1) |
The
capitalization table does not take into account any loan fees for
the new loans and sale and leaseback financings or any amortization
of deferred finance fees incurred after December 31, 2019 or any
write -offs of deferred fees in respect of loans fully
repaid.
|
(2) |
Our
indebtedness (both current and non-current portions), is secured by
titles on our vessels and is guaranteed by us.
|
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF OUR COMMON SHARES
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of our
common shares, as of July 6, 2020, held by: (i) each person or
entity that we know beneficially owns 5% or more of our common
shares and (ii) all our executive officers, directors and key
employees as a group. Beneficial ownership is determined in
accordance with the SEC’s rules. In computing percentage ownership
of each person, common shares subject to options held by that
person that are currently exercisable or convertible, or
exercisable or convertible within 60 days are deemed to be
beneficially owned by that person. These shares, however, are not
deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage
ownership of any other person. All of the shareholders, including
the shareholders listed in this table, are entitled to one vote for
each common share held.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Number of Shares Owned
|
|
|
Percent of Class(1)
|
|
Lax Trust (2)
|
|
|
18,773,333
|
|
|
|
2.2
|
%
|
Executive officers, directors and key employees
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
%
|
(1) |
Based upon
837,159,322 common shares outstanding as of July 6, 2020.
|
(2) |
The above
information is derived, in part, from the Schedule 13D/A filed with
the SEC on June 15, 2020. The Lax Trust is an irrevocable trust
established for the benefit of certain family members of
Evangelos J. Pistiolis, our President, Chief Executive
Officer and Director. The business address of the Lax Trust is
Level 3, 18 Stanley Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand. The above
percentage ownership is based on 855,932,655 common shares
outstanding, which is calculated for this Schedule 13D/A purposes
by taking the sum of (i) 837,159,322 common shares outstanding, and
(ii) 18,773,333 common shares issuable upon the conversion of
11,264 Series E Preferred Shares held by Family Trading, all
figures being as of July 6, 2020. The Lax Trust may also be deemed
to hold all of the 100,000 outstanding shares of our Series D
Preferred Stock. Each Series D Preferred Share carries 1,000
votes. By its ownership of 100% of our Series D Preferred
Shares, Lax Trust has significant influence to matters put before
our shareholders.
|
As of July 6, 2020, we had one
shareholder of record, which was located in the United States and
held an aggregate of 837,159,322 our common shares, representing 100% of our
outstanding common shares. However, the U.S. shareholder of record
is Cede & Co., which held our common shares. We believe that
the shares held by Cede & Co. include common shares
beneficially owned by both holders in the United States and
non-U.S. beneficial owners. We are not aware of any arrangements
the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in our
change of control.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following is a summary of the description of our capital stock
and the material terms of our Third Amended and Restated Articles
of Incorporation and By-laws, as further amended. Because the
following is a summary, it does not contain all of the information
that you may find useful. For more complete information, you should
read the description of capital stock and the material terms of our
Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-laws,
as further amended, contained in our Annual Report on Form 20-F,
filed with the Commission on April 10, 2020 and incorporated by
reference herein, as updated by annual and other reports and
documents we file with the Commission after the date of this
prospectus supplement and that are incorporated by reference
herein, together with our Third Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation and By-laws, including all amendments thereto, copies
of which have been filed as exhibits to our Annual Report. Please
see the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Where You
Can Find Additional Information.”
Purpose
Our purpose is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which
corporations may now or hereafter be organized under the BCA. Our
Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-laws,
as further amended, do not impose any limitations on the ownership
rights of our shareholders.
Authorized Capitalization
Our authorized capital stock consists of 1,000,000,000 common
shares, par value $0.01 per share, of which 837,159,322 shares were
issued and outstanding as of July 6, 2020 and 20,000,000 preferred
shares with par value of $0.01 and 100,000 Series D Preferred
Shares and 11,264 Series E Preferred Shares are issued and
outstanding as of July 6, 2020. Our Board of Directors has the
authority to establish such series of preferred stock and with such
designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or
special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions as
shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the
issue of such preferred stock.
On September 14, 2016, we declared a dividend of one preferred
share purchase right for each outstanding common share and adopted
a shareholder rights plan, as set forth in a Stockholders Rights
Agreement dated as of September 22, 2016, by and between us and
Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as rights agent (now taken over
by our new transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company, LLC, or AST), described below under the section entitled
“—Stockholders Rights Agreement”. In connection with the
Stockholders Rights Agreement, we designated 1,000,000 shares as
Series A Participating Preferred Stock, none of which are
outstanding as of the date of this prospectus supplement.
Description of Common Shares
Each outstanding common
share entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a
vote of shareholders. Subject to preferences that may be applicable
to any outstanding preferred shares, holders of common shares are
entitled to receive ratably all dividends, if any, declared by our
Board of Directors out of funds legally available for dividends.
Upon our dissolution or liquidation or the sale of all or
substantially all of our assets, after payment in full of all
amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of our
preferred shares having liquidation preferences, if any, the
holders of our common shares will be entitled to receive pro rata
our remaining assets available for distribution. Holders of our
common shares do not have conversion, redemption or preemptive
rights to subscribe to any of our securities. The rights,
preferences and privileges of holders of our common shares are
subject to the rights of the holders of any preferred shares that
we may issue in the future.
Description of Preferred Shares
Our Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation authorize
our Board of Directors to establish one or more series of preferred
shares and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred
shares, the terms and rights of that series, including the
designation of the series, the number of shares of the series, the
preferences and relative, participating, option or other special
rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions
of such series, and the voting rights, if any, of the holders of
the series.
Description of Series B Convertible Preferred
Shares
On November 22, 2016, we completed a private placement of up to
3,160 Series B Convertible Preferred Shares for an aggregate
principal amount of up to $3.0 million. The investor purchased
1,579 Series B Convertible Preferred Shares at the initial closing
of the Transaction and 527 Series B Convertible Preferred Shares on
November 28, 2016 for a total of $2.0 million. The investor waived
the right to purchase any additional Series B Preferred Shares. The
description of the Series B Preferred Shares is incorporated by
reference from our registration statement on Form F-3 (333-215577).
The description of the Series B Convertible Preferred Shares is
subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the
Securities Purchase Agreement, Certificate of Designation of the
Series B Convertible Preferred Shares and Registration Rights
Agreement entered into in connection with the private placement.
Copies of the Securities Purchase Agreement, Certificate of
Designation of the Series B Convertible Preferred Shares and
Registration Rights Agreement have been filed as exhibits to our
Report on Form 6-K filed with the Commission on November 23, 2016.
The waiver agreement was filed as an exhibit to our Report on Form
6-K filed with the Commission on January 10, 2017. We issued 901
common shares in connection with the conversions of all of our
Series B Convertible Preferred Shares, and there are currently no
Series B Convertible Preferred Shares outstanding. Convertible
Preferred Shares, and there are currently no Series B Convertible
Preferred Shares outstanding.
Description of Series C Convertible Preferred
Shares
On February 17, 2017, we closed a private placement with a non-U.S.
institutional investor for the sale of 7,500 newly issued Series C
Convertible Preferred Shares, which are convertible into our common
shares, for $5.0 million pursuant to a securities purchase
agreement, or the Series C Transaction. The description of
the Series C Preferred Shares is incorporated by reference from our
registration statement on Form F-3 (333-215577). The description of
the Series C Convertible Preferred Shares is subject to and
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Securities Purchase
Agreement and Statement of Designations, Preferences and Rights of
the Series C Convertible Preferred Shares entered into in
connection with the private placement. Copies of the Securities
Purchase Agreement and Statement of Designations, Preferences and
Rights of the Series C Convertible Preferred Shares have been filed
as exhibits to our Report on Form 6-K filed with the Commission on
February 21, 2017. We issued 45,232 common shares in connection
with the conversions of all our Series C Convertible Preferred
Shares, and there are currently no Series C Convertible Preferred
Shares outstanding.
Description of Series D Preferred Shares
On May 8, 2017, we issued 100,000 shares of Series D Preferred
Shares to Tankers Family Inc., a company controlled by Lax Trust,
which is an irrevocable trust established for the benefit of
certain family members of Evangelos Pistiolis, for $1,000 pursuant
to a stock purchase agreement. Each Series D Preferred Share has
the voting power of one thousand (1,000) common shares.
On April 21, 2017, we were informed by ABN Amro Bank that we were
in breach of a loan covenant that requires that any member of the
family of Mr. Pistiolis, maintain an ownership interest (either
directly and/or indirectly through companies beneficially owned by
any member of the Pistiolis family and/or trusts or foundations of
which any member of the Pistiolis family are beneficiaries) of 30%
of our outstanding Common Shares. ABN Amro Bank requested that
either the family of Mr. Pistiolis maintain an ownership interest
of at least 30% of the outstanding common shares or maintain a
voting rights interest of above 50% in us. In order to regain
compliance with the loan covenant, we issued the Series D Preferred
Shares. Currently the Sale and Leaseback agreements with Bank
of Communications Financial Leasing Company, Oriental Fleet
International Company Limited and China Merchants Bank Financial
Leasing have similar provisions that are satisfied via the
existence of the Series D Preferred Shares.
The Series D Preferred Shares has the following
characteristics:
Conversion. The
Series D Preferred Shares are not convertible into common
shares.
Voting. Each
Series D Preferred Share has the voting power of 1,000 common
shares.
Distributions. The
Series D Preferred Shares shall have no dividend or distribution
rights.
Maturity. The
Series D Preferred Shares shall expire and all outstanding Series D
Preferred Shares shall be redeemed by us for par value on the date
that any loan with any other financial institution, which contain
covenants that require that any member of the family of Mr.
Pistiolis maintain a specific minimum ownership or voting interest
(either directly and/or indirectly through companies or other
entities beneficially owned by any member of the Pistiolis family
and/or trusts or foundations of which any member of the Pistiolis
family are beneficiaries) of the Company’s issued and outstanding
common shares, respectively, are fully repaid or reach their
maturity date. The Series D Preferred Shares shall not be otherwise
redeemable.
Liquidation,
Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of our Company, the Series D Preferred
Shares shall have a liquidation preference of $0.01 per
share.
Description of Series E Convertible Preferred Shares
On April 1, 2019, we announced the sale of 27,129 newly issued
Series E Preferred Shares at a price of $1,000 per share to Family
Trading in exchange for the full and final settlement of the loan
facility between our Company and Family Trading dated December 23,
2015, as amended.
From July 25, 2019 to March 19, 2020, we redeemed 33,798 of Series
E Preferred Shares for $38.9 million. We also announced the
issuance of 16,004 Series E Preferred Shares to Family Trading, as
settlement of the purchase price of $14.35 million for the purchase
of the M/T Eco City of Angels and M/T Eco Los Angeles from Mr.
Pistiolis and for dividends payable to Family Trading Inc. under
already outstanding Series E Preferred Shares. On June 30,
2020, we issued 900 additional Series E Preferred Shares to Family
Trading in lieu of a cash dividend owed to Family Trading pursuant
to the Statement of Designations of the Series E Preferred Shares.
As of July 6, 2020, there were 11,264 shares of Series E Preferred
Shares outstanding.
The Series E Preferred Shares have the following
characteristics:
Conversion. Each
holder of Series E Shares, at any time and from time to time, has
the right, subject to certain conditions, to convert all or any
portion of the Series E Preferred Shares then held by such holder
into our common shares at the conversion rate then in effect. Each
Series E Share is convertible into the number of our common shares
equal to the quotient of $1,000 plus any accrued and unpaid
dividends divided by the lesser of the following four prices: (i)
$20.00, (ii) 80% of the lowest daily VWAP of our common shares over
the twenty consecutive trading days expiring on the trading day
immediately prior to the date of delivery of a conversion notice,
(iii) the conversion price or exercise price per share of any of
our then outstanding convertible shares or warrants, (iv) the
lowest issuance price of our common shares in any transaction from
the date of the issuance the Series E Preferred Shares onwards, but
in no event will the conversion price be less than $0.60.
Limitations of
Conversion. Holders of the shares of Series
E Preferred Shares shall be entitled to convert the Series E
Preferred Shares in full, regardless of the beneficial ownership
percentage of the holder after giving effect to such
conversion.
Voting. The
holders of Series E Preferred Shares are entitled to the voting
power of one thousand (1,000) of our common shares. The
holders of Series E Preferred Shares and the holders of our common
shares shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to
a vote of our shareholders. The holders of Series E Preferred
Shares have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be
required for taking any corporate action.
Distributions. Upon
any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our Company, the
holders of Series E Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive
the net assets of our Company pari passu with the Common
Shares.
Redemption. We
at our option shall have the right to redeem a portion or all of
the outstanding Series E Preferred Shares. We shall pay an amount
equal to one thousand dollars ($1,000) per each Series E Share, or
the Liquidation Amount, plus a redemption premium equal to fifteen
percent (15%) of the Liquidation Amount being redeemed if that
redemption takes place up to and including March 29, 2020 and
twenty percent (20%) of the Liquidation Amount being redeemed if
that redemption takes place after March 29, 2020, plus an amount
equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends on such Preferred Shares
(collectively referred to as the “Redemption Amount”). In order to
make a redemption, we shall first provide one business day advanced
written notice to the holders of our intention to make a
redemption, or the Redemption Notice, setting forth the amount it
desires to redeem. After receipt of the Redemption Notice, the
holders shall have the right to elect to convert all or any portion
of its Series E Preferred Shares. Upon the expiration of the one
business day period, we shall deliver to each holder the Redemption
Amount with respect to the amount redeemed after giving effect to
conversions effected during the notice period.
The Series E Preferred Shares shall not be subject to redemption in
cash at the option of the holders thereof under any
circumstance.
Dividends. The
holders of outstanding Series E Preferred Shares shall be entitled
to receive out of funds legally available for the purpose,
semi-annual dividends payable in cash on the last day of June and
December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a
“Semi Annual Dividend Payment Date”), commencing on the first Semi
Annual Dividend Payment Date in an amount per share (rounded to the
nearest cent) equal to fifteen percent (15%) per year of the
Liquidation Amount of the then outstanding Series E Preferred
Shares computed on the basis of a 365-day year and the actual days
elapsed.
Accrued but unpaid dividends shall bear interest at fifteen percent
(15%). Dividends paid on the Series E Preferred Shares in an amount
less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued
and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a
share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.
Our Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination
of holders of Series E Preferred Shares entitled to receive payment
of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date
shall be no more than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the
payment thereof.
Ranking. All shares
of Series E Preferred Shares shall rank pari passu with all classes
of our common shares.
Shareholder Meetings
Under our By-laws, annual shareholder meetings will be held at a
time and place selected by our Board of Directors. The meetings may
be held in or outside of the Marshall Islands. Special meetings of
the shareholders, unless otherwise prescribed by law, may be called
for any purpose or purposes at any time exclusively by our Board of
Directors. Notice of every annual and special meeting of
shareholders shall be given at least 15 but not more than 60 days
before such meeting to each shareholder of record entitled to vote
thereat.
Directors
Our directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at a
meeting of the shareholders by the holders of shares entitled to
vote in the election. Our Third Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation and By-laws, as further amended, prohibit cumulative
voting in the election of directors.
Our Board of Directors must consist of at least one member and not
more than twelve, as fixed from time to time by the vote of not
less than 66 2/3% of the entire board. Each director shall be
elected to serve until the third succeeding annual meeting of
shareholders and until his successor shall have been duly elected
and qualified, except in the event of his death, resignation,
removal, or the earlier termination of his term of office. Our
Board of Directors has the authority to fix the amounts which shall
be payable to the members of our Board of Directors, and to members
of any committee, for attendance at any meeting or for services
rendered to us.
Our Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation provide
for the division of our Board of Directors into three classes of
directors, with each class as nearly equal in number as possible,
serving staggered, three-year terms. Approximately one-third of our
Board of Directors will be elected each year. This classified board
provision could discourage a third party from making a tender offer
for our shares or attempting to obtain control of our company. It
could also delay shareholders who do not agree with the policies of
our Board of Directors from removing a majority of our Board of
Directors for two years.
Our Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and
By-laws require parties other than our Board of Directors to give
advance written notice of nominations for the election of
directors. Our Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
provide that our directors may be removed only for cause and only
upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the
outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote for those
directors. These provisions may discourage, delay or prevent the
removal of incumbent officers and directors.
Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal and Payment
Under the BCA, our
shareholders have the right to dissent from various corporate
actions, including certain mergers or consolidations or sales of
all or substantially all of our assets not made in the usual course
of our business, and receive payment of the fair value of their
shares, subject to exceptions. For example, the right
of a dissenting shareholder to receive payment of the fair value of
his shares is not available if for the shares of any class or
series of shares, which shares at the record date fixed to
determine the shareholders entitled to receive notice of and vote
at the meeting of shareholders to act upon the agreement of merger
or consolidation, were either (1) listed on a securities exchange
or admitted for trading on an interdealer quotation system or (2)
held of record by more than 2,000 holders. In the event of any further amendment
of the articles, a shareholder also has the right to dissent and
receive payment for his or her shares if the amendment alters
certain rights in respect of those shares. The dissenting
shareholder must follow the procedures set forth in the BCA to
receive payment. In the event that we and any
dissenting shareholder fail to agree on a price for the shares, the
BCA procedures involve, among other things, the institution of
proceedings in the High Court of the Republic of the Marshall
Islands or in any appropriate court in any jurisdiction in which
our shares are primarily traded on a local or national securities
exchange. The value of the shares of the dissenting shareholder is
fixed by the court after reference, if the court so elects, to the
recommendations of a court-appointed appraiser.
Shareholders’ Derivative Actions
Under the BCA, any of our shareholders may bring an action in our
name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative
action, provided that the shareholder bringing the action is a
holder of common shares both at the time the derivative action is
commenced and at the time of the transaction to which the action
relates. On November 20, 2014, we amended our By-laws to provide
that unless we consent in writing to the selection of alternative
forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any shareholders’
derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of us, (ii) any
action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any
director, officer or other of our employees or our shareholders,
(iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any
provision of the BCA, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed
by the internal affairs doctrine shall be the High Court of the
Republic of the Marshall Islands, in all cases subject to the
court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties
named as defendants. This provision of our By-laws does not apply
to actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws.
Anti-takeover Provisions of our Charter Documents
Several provisions of our Third Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation and By-laws may have anti-takeover effects. These
provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, lessen
our vulnerability to a hostile change of control and enhance the
ability of our Board of Directors to maximize shareholder value in
connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire us. However, these
anti-takeover provisions, which are summarized below, could also
discourage, delay or prevent (1) the merger or acquisition of our
company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise,
that a shareholder may consider in its best interest and (2) the
removal of incumbent officers and directors.
Our Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation include
provisions which prohibit us from engaging in a business
combination with an interested shareholder for a period of three
years after the date of the transaction in which the person became
an interested shareholder, unless:
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prior to the
date of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming
an interested shareholder, the Board approved either the business
combination or the transaction that resulted in the shareholder
becoming an interested shareholder;
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upon
consummation of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder
becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder
owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation
outstanding at the time the transaction commenced;
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at or
subsequent to the date of the transaction that resulted in the
shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the business
combination is approved by the Board and authorized at an annual or
special meeting of shareholders by the affirmative vote of at least
66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the
interested shareholder; and
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the shareholder
became an interested shareholder prior to the consummation of the
initial public offering.
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Limited Actions by Shareholders
Our Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and our
By-laws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken
by our shareholders must be effected at an annual or special
meeting of shareholders or by the unanimous written consent of our
shareholders.
Our Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and our
By-laws provide that only our Board of Directors may call special
meetings of our shareholders and the business transacted at the
special meeting is limited to the purposes stated in the notice.
Accordingly, a shareholder may be prevented from calling a special
meeting for shareholder consideration of a proposal over the
opposition of our Board of Directors and shareholder consideration
of a proposal may be delayed until the next annual meeting.
Blank Check Preferred Stock
Under the terms of our Third Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation, our Board of Directors has authority, without any
further vote or action by our shareholders, to issue up to
20,000,000 shares of blank check preferred stock. Our Board of
Directors may issue shares of preferred stock on terms calculated
to discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company
or the removal of our management.
Super-majority Required for Certain Amendments to Our By-Laws
On February 28, 2007, we amended our by-laws to require that
amendments to certain provisions of our by-laws may be made when
approved by a vote of not less than 66 2/3% of the entire Board of
Directors. These provisions that require not less than 66 2/3% vote
of our Board of Directors to be amended are provisions governing:
the nature of business to be transacted at our annual meetings of
shareholders, the calling of special meetings by our Board of
Directors, any amendment to change the number of directors
constituting our Board of Directors, the method by which our Board
of Directors is elected, the nomination procedures of our Board of
Directors, removal of our Board of Directors and the filling of
vacancies on our Board of Directors.
Stockholders Rights Agreement
On September 14, 2016, our Board of Directors declared a dividend
of one preferred share purchase right, or a Right, for each
outstanding common share and adopted a shareholder rights plan, as
set forth in the Stockholders Rights Agreement dated as of
September 22, 2016, or the Rights Agreement, by and between us and
Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (now taken over by our new
transfer agent, AST), as rights agent.
The Board adopted the Rights Agreement to protect shareholders from
coercive or otherwise unfair takeover tactics. In general terms, it
works by imposing a significant penalty upon any person or group
that acquires 15% or more of our outstanding common shares without
the approval of our Board of Directors. If a shareholder’s
beneficial ownership of our common shares as of the time of the
public announcement of the rights plan and associated dividend
declaration is at or above the applicable threshold, that
shareholder’s then-existing ownership percentage would be
grandfathered, but the rights would become exercisable if at any
time after such announcement, the shareholder increases its
ownership percentage by 1% or more.
The Rights may have anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause
substantial dilution to any person or group that attempts to
acquire us without the approval of our Board of Directors. As a
result, the overall effect of the Rights may be to render more
difficult or discourage any attempt to acquire us. Because our
Board of Directors can approve a redemption of the Rights for a
permitted offer, the Rights should not interfere with a merger or
other business combination approved by our Board.
For those interested in the specific terms of the Rights Agreement,
we provide the following summary description. Please note, however,
that this description is only a summary, and is not complete, and
should be read together with the entire Rights Agreement, which is
an exhibit to the Form 8-A filed by us on September 22, 2016 and
incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the
Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
exhibit.
The Rights. The Rights
trade with, and are inseparable from, our common shares. The Rights
are evidenced only by certificates that represent our common
shares. New Rights will accompany any of our new common shares
issued after October 5, 2016 until the Distribution Date described
below.
Exercise Price. Each Right
allows its holder to purchase from us one one-thousandth of a share
of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, or a Series A Preferred
Share, for $50.00, or the Exercise Price, once the Rights become
exercisable. This portion of a Series A Preferred Share will give
the shareholder approximately the same dividend, voting and
liquidation rights as would one common share. Prior to exercise,
the Right does not give its holder any dividend, voting, or
liquidation rights.
Exercisability. The Rights
are not exercisable until ten days after the public announcement
that a person or group has become an “Acquiring Person” by
obtaining beneficial ownership of 15% or more of our outstanding
common shares.
Certain synthetic interests in securities created by derivative
positions—whether or not such interests are considered to be
ownership of the underlying common shares or are reportable for
purposes of Regulation 13D of the Exchange Act—are treated as
beneficial ownership of the number of our common shares equivalent
to the economic exposure created by the derivative position, to the
extent our actual common shares are directly or indirectly held by
counterparties to the derivatives contracts. Swaps dealers
unassociated with any control intent or intent to evade the
purposes of the Rights Agreement are excepted from such imputed
beneficial ownership.
For persons who, prior to the time of public announcement of the
Rights Agreement, beneficially own 15% or more of our outstanding
common shares, the Rights Agreement “grandfathers” their current
level of ownership, so long as they do not purchase additional
shares in excess of certain limitations.
The date when the Rights become exercisable is the “Distribution Date.” Until that
date, our common share certificates (or, in the case of
uncertificated shares, by notations in the book-entry account
system) will also evidence the Rights, and any transfer of our
common shares will constitute a transfer of Rights. After that
date, the Rights will separate from our common shares and will be
evidenced by book-entry credits or by Rights certificates that we
will mail to all eligible holders of our common shares. Any Rights
held by an Acquiring Person are null and void and may not be
exercised.
Series A Preferred Share Provisions
Each one one-thousandth of a Series A Preferred Share, if issued,
will, among other things:
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entitle holders
to quarterly dividend payments in an amount per share equal to the
aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and the aggregate
per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or
other distributions other than a dividend payable in our common
shares or a subdivision of our outstanding common shares (by
reclassification or otherwise), declared on our common shares since
the immediately preceding quarterly dividend payment date;
and
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entitle holders
to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of our
shareholders.
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The value of one one-thousandth interest in a Series A Preferred
Share should approximate the value of one common share.
Consequences of a Person or Group Becoming an Acquiring
Person.
Flip In. If an
Acquiring Person obtains beneficial ownership of 15% or more of our
common shares, then each Right will entitle the holder thereof to
purchase, for the Exercise Price, a number of our common shares
(or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other of our
securities) having a then-current market value of twice the
Exercise Price. However, the Rights are not exercisable following
the occurrence of the foregoing event until such time as the Rights
are no longer redeemable by us, as further described below.
Following the occurrence of an event set forth in preceding
paragraph, all Rights that are or, under certain circumstances
specified in the Rights Agreement, were beneficially owned by an
Acquiring Person or certain of its transferees will be null and
void.
Flip
Over. If,
after an Acquiring Person obtains 15% or more of our common shares,
(i) we merge into another entity; (ii) an acquiring entity merges
into us; or (iii) we sell or transfer 50% or more of its assets,
cash flow or earning power, then each Right (except for
Rights that have previously been voided as set forth above) will
entitle the holder thereof to purchase, for the Exercise Price, a
number of our common shares of the person engaging in the
transaction having a then-current market value of twice the
Exercise Price.
Notional
Shares. Shares held
by affiliates and associates of an Acquiring Person, including
certain entities in which the Acquiring Person beneficially owns a
majority of the equity securities, and Notional Common Shares (as
defined in the Rights Agreement) held by counterparties to a
Derivatives Contract (as defined in the Rights Agreement) with an
Acquiring Person, will be deemed to be beneficially owned by the
Acquiring Person.
Redemption. Our Board of
Directors may redeem the
Rights for $0.01 per Right at any time before any person or group
becomes an Acquiring Person. If our Board of Directors redeems any
Rights, it must redeem all of the Rights. Once the Rights are
redeemed, the only right of the holders of the Rights will be to
receive the redemption price of $0.01 per Right. The redemption
price will be adjusted if we have a stock dividend or a stock
split.
Exchange. After a
person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, but before an
Acquiring Person owns 50% or more of our outstanding common shares,
the Board may extinguish the Rights by exchanging one common share
or an equivalent security for each Right, other than Rights held by
the Acquiring Person. In
certain circumstances, we may elect to exchange the Rights for cash
or other of our securities having a value approximately equal to
one common share.
Expiration. The Rights expire on the earliest of
(i) September 22, 2026; or (ii) the redemption or exchange of the
Rights as described above.
Anti-Dilution Provisions.
The Board may adjust the purchase price of the Series A Preferred
Shares, the number of Series A Preferred Shares issuable and the
number of outstanding Rights to prevent dilution that may occur
from a stock dividend, a stock split, or a reclassification of the
Series A Preferred Shares or our common shares. No adjustments to
the Exercise Price of less than 1% will be made.
Amendments. The terms of the Rights and the Rights
Agreement may be amended in any respect without the consent of the
holders of the Rights on or prior to the Distribution Date.
Thereafter, the terms of the Rights and the Rights Agreement may be
amended without the consent of the holders of Rights, with certain
exceptions, in order to (i) cure any ambiguities; (ii) correct or
supplement any provision contained in the Rights Agreement that may
be defective or inconsistent with any other provision therein;
(iii) shorten or lengthen any time period pursuant to the Rights
Agreement; or (iv) make changes that do not adversely affect the
interests of holders of the Rights (other than an Acquiring Person
or an affiliate or associate of an Acquiring Person).
Taxes. The
distribution of Rights should not be taxable for federal income tax
purposes. However, following an event that renders the Rights
exercisable or upon redemption of the Rights, shareholders may
recognize taxable income.
On October 26, 2018, we priced a public offering of 100,000 common
shares, and warrants to purchase 175,000 common shares, or the 2018
Warrants, at $30.00 per common share and $0.0002 per warrant. The
2018 Warrants had an exercise price of $30.00 per share and expired
four months from the date of issuance. Each warrant granted the
warrant holder the option to purchase one of our common shares at
any time within the abovementioned term. By February 25, 2019, all
of the 2018 Warrants were exercised for 175,000 common shares and
gross proceeds of $3.8 million.
2019 Class A Warrants and Class B Warrants
On November 6, 2019, concurrently with the November 2019 Registered
Direct Offering described above, we commenced a private placement
whereby we issued and sold warrants to purchase up to 8,400,000 of
our common shares. One-half of the warrants would have expired on
the eight-month anniversary of the date of issuance of the common
shares sold under the November 2019 Registered Direct Offering (the
Class A Warrants) and one-half of the warrants will expire on the
eighteen-month anniversary of the date of issuance of the common
shares sold under the November 2019 Registered Direct Offering (the
Class B Warrants). Each Class A Warrant was immediately exercisable
as of the date of issuance of the common shares sold under the
November 2019 Registered Direct Offering (the “Exercise Date”) at
an exercise price of $2.00 per share, subject to adjustment. In
addition, the Class A Warrants could be exercised on a cashless
basis beginning on the earlier of (i) 30 days from the closing date
and (ii) the trading day on which the aggregate trading volume of
our common shares November 6, 2019 is equal to more than three
times the number of common shares offered pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement (the “Cashless Date”) if the VWAP of the common shares on
any Trading Day on or after the Cashless Date fails to exceed $3.20
on such date (as may be subject to adjustment). The number of
common shares issuable in such cashless exercise were 0.4 of a
common share that would be issuable upon exercise of the Class A
Warrant in accordance with its terms if such exercise were by means
of a cash exercise. No fractional common shares would have been
issued in connection with the exercise of a Class A Warrant. In
lieu of fractional shares, we would have paid the holder an amount
in cash equal to the fractional amount multiplied by the exercise
price. Each Class B Warrant will be immediately exercisable as of
the Exercise Date at an exercise price of $2.00 per share, subject
to adjustment. The foregoing adjustment to the exercise price of
the Class B Warrant is subject to a floor price of $1.00. Between
January 22 and February 22, 2020, all of the 4,200,000 Class A
Warrants were exercised on a cashless basis into 1,680,000 of our
common shares. As of the date of this prospectus supplement,
we have 4,200,000 Class B Warrants outstanding.
Transfer Agent
The registrar and transfer agent for our common shares is
AST.
Listing
Our common shares are traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the
symbol “TOPS.”
TAX CONSIDERATIONS
You should carefully read
the discussion of the material Marshall Islands and U.S. federal
income tax considerations associated with our operations and the
acquisition, ownership and disposition of our
common shares set forth in the section entitled
“Taxation” of our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended
December 31, 2019, filed with the Commission on April 10, 2020 and
incorporated by reference herein.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Pursuant to a placement agency agreement, dated July 6, 2020,
between us and the Placement Agent, we have engaged the Placement
Agent to act as the exclusive placement agent in connection with
this offering. The Placement Agent is not purchasing or selling any
of the common shares we are offering by this prospectus supplement,
and are not required to arrange the purchase or sale of any
specific number of shares or dollar amount, but the placement agent
has agreed to use “reasonable best efforts” to arrange for the sale
of the shares offered hereby.
Our agreement with the Placement Agent provides that the
obligations of the Placement Agent are subject to certain
conditions precedent, including, among other things, the absence of
any material adverse change in our business and the receipt of
customary opinions and closing certificates.
The Placement Agent shall arrange for the sale of the shares we are
offering pursuant to this prospectus supplement to one or more
Investors through a Securities Purchase Agreement, dated July 6,
2020, directly between the Investors (acting severally and not
jointly) and us. All of the shares offered hereby will be
sold at the same price and, we expect, at a single closing.
We established the price following negotiations with prospective
Investors and with reference to the prevailing market price of our
common shares, recent trends in such price and other factors.
It is possible that not all of the shares we are offering pursuant
to this prospectus supplement will be sold at the closing, in which
case our net proceeds would be reduced. We expect that the sale of
the shares will be completed on or around the date indicated on the
cover page of this prospectus supplement.
Under the Securities Purchase Agreement, we have agreed not to
contract to issue or announce the issuance or proposed issuance of
any common shares or common share equivalents for eighteen trading
days following the closing of this offering. In addition, we
have also agreed that for a period of eighteen trading days
following the closing of this offering, we will not effect or
contract to effect a “Variable Rate Transaction” as defined in the
Securities Purchase Agreement.
Commissions and Expenses
We will pay the Placement Agent a placement agent fee equal to
6.25% of the gross proceeds of this offering. The following
table shows the per share and total placement agent fee we will pay
to the Placement Agent in connection with the sale of the common
shares offered hereby, assuming the purchase of all of the shares
we are offering.
Per Share
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$
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0.0063
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Total
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$
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$991,500
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In addition, we have agreed to reimburse the placement agent at the
closing for its out-of-pocket expenses, including fees of counsel
to the placement agent, up to a maximum of $15,000. We
estimate the total expenses of this offering, which will be payable
by us, excluding the placement agent fee and placement agent
counsel fee, will be approximately $75,000. After deducting
the placement agent fee due to the placement agent and our
estimated offering expenses, we expect the net proceeds from this
offering to be approximately $14.8 million.
We have agreed to indemnify the placement agent against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of
1933. We have also agreed to contribute to payments the
placement agent may be required to make in respect to such
liabilities.
Listing
Our common shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the
symbol “TOPS.”
Electronic Distribution
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be
made available in electronic format on websites or through other
online services maintained by the Placement Agent, or by its
respective affiliates. Other than this prospectus supplement and
the accompanying prospectus in electronic format, the information
on the Placement Agent’s websites and any information contained in
any other websites maintained by the Placement Agent is not part of
this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or the
registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or
endorsed by us or the Placement Agent, and should not be relied
upon by investors.
Regulation M Restrictions
The Placement Agent may be deemed to be an underwriter within the
meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, and any
commissions received by it and any profit realized on the resale of
the securities sold by it while acting as principal might be deemed
to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities
Act. As an underwriter, the Placement Agent would be required to
comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act, including, without limitation, Rule 415(a)(4) under the
Securities Act and Rule 10b-5 and Regulation M under the Exchange
Act. These rules and regulations may limit the timing of purchases
and sales of securities by the Placement Agent acting as a
principal. Under these rules and regulations, the Placement
Agent:
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must not engage
in any stabilization activity in connection with our securities;
and
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must not bid
for or purchase any of our securities or attempt to induce any
person to purchase any of our securities, other than as permitted
under the Exchange Act, until it has completed their participation
in the distribution.
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EXPENSES
The following are the estimated expenses of the issuance and
distribution of the securities offered by this prospectus
supplement, all of which will be paid by us.
Legal Fees and Expenses
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$
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54,000
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Accountants’ Fees and Expenses
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$
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20,000
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Miscellaneous Costs
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$
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1,000
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Total
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$
|
75,000
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LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the common shares offered hereby and other matters
relating to Marshall Islands and United States law will be passed
upon for us by Seward & Kissel LLP, One Battery Park Plaza, New
York, New York 10004. Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, New York,
New York, is representing the placement agent in this
offering.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this
prospectus supplement by reference from TOP Ships Inc.’s annual
report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019, have been
audited by Deloitte Certified Public Accountants S.A., an
independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their
report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such
consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in
reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as
experts in accounting and auditing. The offices of Deloitte
Certified Public Accountants S.A. are located at Fragoklissias 3a
& Granikou Str., 15125 Maroussi, Athens, Greece.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
As required by the Securities Act, we filed a registration
statement relating to the securities offered by this prospectus
supplement with the Commission. This prospectus supplement is a
part of that registration statement, which includes additional
information.
Government Filings
We file annual and special reports within the Commission. The
Commission maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains
reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission.
Our filings are also available on our website at
http://www.tops.org. The information on our website, however, is
not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus
supplement. Further, other than as described below, the information
contained in or accessible from the Commission’s website is not
part of this prospectus supplement.
Information Incorporated by Reference
The Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” information
that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important
information to you by referring you to those filed documents. The
information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of
this prospectus supplement, and information that we file later with
the Commission prior to the termination of this offering will also
be considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and will
automatically update and supersede previously filed information,
including information contained in this document.
This prospectus supplement incorporates by reference the following
documents:
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Report
on Form
20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019,
filed with the Commission on April 10, 2020, which contains our
audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent
fiscal year for which those statements have been filed.
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Report
on Form
6-K furnished to the Commission on April 17,
2020, which contains the announcement of the Company’s entrance
into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain institutional
investors and Placement Agency Agreement with Maxim Group LLC,
under which the Company sold 33,333,333 of its common shares at a
public offering price of $0.18 per share.
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Report
on Form
6-K to the Commission on April 20, 2020, which
contained an announcement of the Company’s completion of the sale
of M/T Palm Springs.
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Report
on Form
6-K to the Commission on April 24, 2020, which
contained an announcement of the joint venture with Gunvor
Group.
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Report
on Form
6-K furnished to the Commission on April 29,
2020, which contains the announcement of the Company’s entrance
into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain institutional
investors and Placement Agency Agreement with Maxim Group LLC,
under which the Company sold 35,000,000 of its common shares at a
public offering price of $0.186 per share.
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Report
on Form
6-K furnished to the Commission on April 30,
2020, which contains the announcement of the Company’s entrance
into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain institutional
investors and Placement Agency Agreement with Maxim Group LLC,
under which the Company sold 29,500,000 of its common shares at a
public offering price of $0.186 per share.
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Report
on Form
6-K furnished to the Commission on May 8, 2020,
which contained an announcement of the Company’s acquisition of
three newbuilding vessels form an entity related to our Chief
Executive Officer.
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Report
on Form
6-K furnished to the Commission on May 18,
2020, which contains the announcement of the Company’s entrance
into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain institutional
investors and Placement Agency Agreement with Maxim Group LLC,
under which the Company sold 59,400,000 of its common shares at a
public offering price of $0.135 per share.
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Report
on Form
6-K furnished to the Commission on May 27,
2020, which contains the announcement of the Company’s entrance
into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain institutional
investors and Placement Agency Agreement with Maxim Group LLC,
under which the Company sold 51,700,000 of its common shares at a
public offering price of $0.135 per share.
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Report
on Form
6-K furnished to the Commission on May 29,
2020, which contains an announcement about the results of the
Company’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and the Company’s
acquisitions of 50% interests in two shipowning companies that each
owned a newbuilding contract for one ultra-high specification`
scrubber-fitted eco Suezmax tanker form an entity related to our
Chief Executive Officer.
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Report
on Form
6-K furnished to the Commission on June 10,
2020, which contains the announcement of the Company’s entrance
into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain institutional
investors and Placement Agency Agreement with Maxim Group LLC,
under which the Company sold 166,666,667 of its common shares at a
public offering price of $0.12 per share.
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Report
on Form
6-K furnished to the Commission on June 11,
2020, which contains the announcement of the Company’s entrance
into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain institutional
investors and Placement Agency Agreement with Maxim Group LLC,
under which the Company sold 117,187,500 of its common shares at a
public offering price of $0.128 per share.
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Report
on Form
6-K furnished to the Commission on June 16,
2020, which contains the announcement of the Company’s entrance
into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain institutional
investors and Placement Agency Agreement with Maxim Group LLC,
under which the Company sold 60,000,000 of its common shares at a
public offering price of $0.13 per share.
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Report
on Form
6-K furnished to the Commission on June 26,
2020, which contains the announcement of the Company’s entrance
into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain institutional
investors and Placement Agency Agreement with Maxim Group LLC,
under which the Company sold 166,666,667 of its common shares at a
public offering price of $0.12 per share.
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We are also incorporating by reference all subsequent annual
reports on Form 20-F that we file with the Commission and certain
reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the Commission after the
date of this prospectus supplement (if they state that they are
incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which
this prospectus supplement is a part) until we file a
post-effective amendment indicating that the offering of the
securities made by this prospectus supplement has been terminated.
In all cases, you should rely on the later information over
different information included in this prospectus supplement or the
accompanying prospectus.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated
by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus. We have not, and the placement agent has not,
authorized any other person to provide you with different
information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent
information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the
placement agent is not, making an offer to sell these securities in
any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You
should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus as well as the
information we previously filed with the Commission and
incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the dates on the front
cover of those documents only. Our business, financial condition
and results of operations and prospects may have changed since
those dates.
You may request a paper copy of our Commission filings, at no cost,
by writing to or telephoning us at the following address:
TOP Ships Inc.
1 Vas. Sofias and Meg. Alexandrou Str,
15124 Maroussi, Greece
(011) 30 210 812-8180 (telephone number)
These reports may also be obtained on our website at
www.topships.org. None of the information on our website is a part
of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.
Information Provided by the Company
We will furnish holders of our common shares with annual reports
containing audited financial statements and a report by our
independent registered public accounting firm. The audited
financial statements will be prepared in accordance with U.S.
generally accepted accounting principles. As a “foreign private
issuer,” we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act
prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements to
shareholders. While we furnish proxy statements to shareholders in
accordance with the rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market, those proxy
statements do not conform to Schedule 14A of the proxy rules
promulgated under the Exchange Act. In addition, as a “foreign
private issuer,” our officers and directors are exempt from the
rules under the Exchange Act relating to short swing profit
reporting and liability.