[sheet: Cover]
Field | Value
Document Title | Closing Checklist — RSA Transactions
Matter | Thalassa Shipping & Logistics SA / Thalassa Americas Inc.
Matter Number | 1044-00003
Prepared By | Amy Chesterton, Lead Associate; Nathan Ikeda, Associate
Firm | Calderwood & Harkness LLP
Date Prepared | June 28, 2023
Closing Date | June 30, 2023
RSA Execution Date | March 14, 2023
RSA Outside Date | June 30, 2023
Reviewed By | Nathaniel Bower, Responsible Partner
Client Contacts | Georgios Andreadis (CEO, TSL); Marcus Hale (President, TAI); Irini Dalakoura (CFO, TSL); Diana Restrepo (VP Finance, TAI)
Firm Address | 780 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Classification | Attorney-Client Privileged / Work Product
[sheet: 1 - Senior Secured Amendment]
Item No. | Description | Document / Action | Parties | Responsible Party | Target Delivery Date | Actual Delivery Date | Status | Notes
1.01 | Execution of Amendment No. 1 to Senior Secured Credit Agreement dated June 15, 2019 | Amendment No. 1 to Senior Secured Credit Agreement | TSL (Borrower), TAI (Co-Borrower, U.S. Tranche), Nordbank International AG (Administrative Agent & Collateral Agent), and all Consenting Senior Secured Lenders | C&H / Nordbank | June 30, 2023 | May 15, 2023 | Complete | Extends maturity from June 15, 2024 to June 15, 2027; $75M TLA principal converted to PIK; Revolver commitment reduced from $200M to $150M
1.02 | Financial covenant resets incorporated in Amendment No. 1 | Amendment No. 1 — Covenant Reset Schedule | Same as 1.01 | C&H | May 15, 2023 | May 15, 2023 | Complete | Max Net Leverage reset to 7.00x stepping down to 5.50x by Q4 2025; Minimum Liquidity reduced to $30M (from $40M); Interest Coverage Ratio waived through Q4 2023
1.03 | Amendment fee confirmation — 1.00% of $540M outstanding = $5.4M payable in kind | Amendment Fee Side Letter / Confirmation within Amendment No. 1 | TSL, TAI, Nordbank (as Agent) | C&H / KHP | June 30, 2023 | May 15, 2023 | Complete | Fee of $5,400,000 capitalized as PIK; no cash movement at closing
1.04 | Retroactive waiver of default interest (SOFR + 575 bps) accrued since covenant breach | Waiver provision in Amendment No. 1 | Nordbank (as Agent), Lender Syndicate | C&H / WCB | June 30, 2023 | May 15, 2023 | Complete | Default rate of +200 bps over contractual SOFR + 375 bps waived retroactively from September 15, 2022
1.05 | Lender consents — Required Lenders threshold met (majority in principal amount) | Individual lender consent signatures to Amendment No. 1 | All 9 syndicate lenders: Nordbank ($137M), Aegean Capital Bank ($110M), Harborstone Bank ($95M), Pacifica Trade Finance ($82M), Continental Maritime Lending ($72M), Triton Credit Partners ($68M), Laurentian Shipping Fund II ($55M), Caspian Asset Management ($40M), Pelagos Institutional Credit Fund ($26M) | C&H / WCB / Nordbank | June 28, 2023 | June 27, 2023 | Complete | Total facility commitment $685M; all 9 lenders consented; outstanding balance $540M (TLA $270M + Revolver $185M + TLB $85M)
1.06 | Confirmation of revolver reduction mechanics — commitment reduced from $200M to $150M | Schedule to Amendment No. 1 | TSL, TAI, Nordbank | C&H | June 30, 2023 | May 15, 2023 | Complete | Drawn amount as of Sept. 30, 2022 was $185M; to be addressed through paydown schedule
1.07 | PIK conversion mechanics — $75M of TLA principal reclassified to PIK | Annex to Amendment No. 1 | TSL, TAI, Nordbank | C&H / KHP | June 30, 2023 | May 15, 2023 | Complete | Reduces quarterly cash amortization on $75M portion; TLA original $400M, outstanding $270M after 13 quarterly payments of $10M
1.08 | Side Letter Agreement: Vessel Disposition Undertaking (6 older dry-bulk carriers) | Vessel Disposition Side Letter dated March 14, 2023 | TSL, Nordbank (as Agent) | C&H | March 14, 2023 | March 14, 2023 | Complete | TSL to sell 6 vessels (avg. age 18 yrs) within 12 months for est. aggregate proceeds of $72M; net proceeds to prepay TLA; minimum price floors apply
1.09 | Confirmation of collateral package — first-priority liens on 38 dry-bulk carriers, 12 container vessels, Houston terminal lease, all accounts receivable, equity interests in TAI and 14 vessel-owning SPVs | Officer's confirmation / no change in collateral | TSL, TAI | C&H | June 30, 2023 | June 30, 2023 | Complete | Fleet appraised at $623M by Drakos Maritime Valuations Ltd. as of November 1, 2022 (down from $891M in January 2022)
1.10 | Updated SOFR benchmark provisions — transition from LIBOR to Term SOFR + CSA incorporated into Amendment No. 1 | SOFR Transition Provisions within Amendment No. 1 | TSL, TAI, Nordbank (as Agent), Lender Syndicate | C&H / WCB | May 15, 2023 | May 15, 2023 | Complete | Term SOFR + 26.161 bps CSA for 3-month tenor; consistent with ARRC recommended spread adjustments
1.11 | Delivery of updated Compliance Certificate pro forma reflecting post-Amendment covenant levels | Pro Forma Compliance Certificate | TSL (Irini Dalakoura, CFO) | KHP / C&H | June 30, 2023 | June 29, 2023 | Complete | Pro forma Net Leverage 6.72x (vs. 7.00x new maximum); Minimum Liquidity $42M (vs. $30M minimum); Interest Coverage Ratio waived through Q4 2023
1.12 | Confirmation of no Material Adverse Effect since December 31, 2022 | Officer's Certificate / bring-down representation | TSL (Georgios Andreadis, CEO), TAI (Marcus Hale, President) | C&H | June 30, 2023 | June 30, 2023 | Complete | MAE definition per Section 1.01 of Credit Agreement; no material litigation, environmental or regulatory events since December 31, 2022
[sheet: 2 - Mezzanine Exchange]
Item No. | Description | Document / Action | Parties | Responsible Party | Target Delivery Date | Actual Delivery Date | Status | Notes
2.01 | Execution of New Second-Lien Note Purchase Agreement | New Second-Lien Note Purchase Agreement | TSL (Issuer), Dralvecen Mezzanine Capital LLC (Purchaser/Exchanging Holder) | C&H / K&F (Theodore Kellner) | June 30, 2023 | May 18, 2023 | Complete | Exchange of $112.3M mezzanine notes for $60M new second-lien notes; 46.6% haircut on debt component = ($112.3M – $60M) / $112.3M
2.02 | Execution of New Second-Lien Notes Indenture | New Second-Lien Notes Indenture | TSL (Issuer), Garrison Trust Company (Indenture Trustee) | C&H / K&F | June 30, 2023 | May 18, 2023 | Complete | $60M new second-lien notes; 10.0% PIK; maturity June 2028; Garrison Trust at 100 Wall Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10005
2.03 | Surrender and cancellation of existing $112.3M mezzanine notes (original $100M + $12.3M PIK capitalized) | Cancellation letter / surrendered note certificates | BMC (Rebecca Marsh, Senior Partner) | K&F / C&H | June 30, 2023 | June 30, 2023 | Complete | Original mezzanine notes dated June 15, 2019; 11.5% PIK toggle; all PIK since Q2 2022; second-priority lien on same collateral as senior facility
2.04 | Issuance of 15% equity in TSL to BMC | Share certificates / equity issuance documentation | TSL, BMC | C&H / V&D (Alexandros Vassiliou) | June 30, 2023 | June 30, 2023 | Complete | Post-issuance equity: Kostandinos family diluted from 80% to 68% (80% × 85%); non-family holders from 20% to 17% (20% × 85%); BMC receives 15%
2.05 | Lock-Up Agreement — BMC agrees not to transfer mezzanine notes or new equity during RSA implementation | Lock-Up Agreement dated March 14, 2023 | TSL, BMC (Rebecca Marsh) | C&H / K&F | March 14, 2023 | March 14, 2023 | Complete | Remains in effect through closing
2.06 | BMC confirmation of receipt and acceptance of new second-lien notes and equity | Acknowledgment letter from BMC | BMC | K&F | June 30, 2023 | June 30, 2023 | Complete
2.07 | Registration of new second-lien notes with Garrison Trust Company as indenture trustee | Registration instructions / DTC eligibility confirmation | TSL, Garrison Trust Company | C&H / K&F | June 30, 2023 | June 30, 2023 | Complete | New notes issued in book-entry form; held through DTC; CUSIP to be assigned post-closing
2.08 | Confirmation of release of existing mezzanine security interests upon cancellation of old notes | UCC-3 termination statements / release letters | TSL, BMC, Nordbank (as Collateral Agent) | C&H / K&F | June 30, 2023 | June 30, 2023 | Complete | Old mezzanine security interests released; replaced by new second-lien security interests under A&R Intercreditor Agreement
[sheet: 3 - KFO Equity Contribution]
Item No. | Description | Document / Action | Parties | Responsible Party | Target Delivery Date | Actual Delivery Date | Status | Notes
3.01 | Execution of Equity Subscription Agreement — KFO Holdings SA | Equity Subscription Agreement | TSL, KFO Holdings SA (Dimitrios Kostandinos, Chairman; Elena Kostandinos-Pavlou, Vice Chairwoman) | C&H / V&D | June 30, 2023 | May 22, 2023 | Complete | KFO subscribes for new equity in TSL in the amount of €35,000,000 (~$38,200,000 at €1 = $1.0914 exchange rate as of March 14, 2023)
3.02 | Wire transfer of €35M equity contribution from KFO to TSL designated account | Wire confirmation | KFO Holdings SA | KFO / Irini Dalakoura (CFO, TSL) | June 30, 2023 | June 30, 2023 | Complete | Proceeds used for liquidity and transaction costs; KFO and TSL share same address: 42 Akti Miaouli, Piraeus 18538, Greece
3.03 | Greek regulatory filings / Athens General Commercial Registry filings for equity issuance | Filing confirmations | TSL | V&D (Alexandros Vassiliou) | June 30, 2023 | June 29, 2023 | Complete | Confirmed no filing triggers Greek insolvency obligations under Law 4738/2020
3.04 | Representations and warranties from KFO re source of funds and authority | Within Equity Subscription Agreement | KFO | V&D / C&H | May 22, 2023 | May 22, 2023 | Complete | KFO is a Greek SA; family holding company; Dimitrios 62% + Elena 18% = 80% pre-RSA family equity
3.05 | Board resolution of TSL authorizing issuance of new equity to KFO and BMC | TSL Board Resolutions | TSL Board (Dimitrios Kostandinos, Elena Kostandinos-Pavlou, Georgios Andreadis) | V&D / Stavros Papageorgiou (General Counsel, Greece) | June 28, 2023 | June 27, 2023 | Complete | Authorizes both the KFO subscription and the 15% equity issuance to BMC
3.06 | Anti-money laundering / KYC documentation for KFO equity subscription | KYC package submitted to Nordbank | KFO Holdings SA | V&D / Nordbank Compliance | June 15, 2023 | June 12, 2023 | Complete | Nordbank compliance cleared KFO; no sanctions or PEP flags; beneficial ownership confirmed
[sheet: 4 - Intercompany Note Amendment]
Item No. | Description | Document / Action | Parties | Responsible Party | Target Delivery Date | Actual Delivery Date | Status | Notes
4.01 | Execution of Amended and Restated Intercompany Promissory Note | Amended and Restated Intercompany Promissory Note | Thalassa Americas Inc. (Maker), Thalassa Shipping & Logistics SA (Holder) | C&H | June 30, 2023 | May 25, 2023 | Complete | $76,400,000 subordinated intercompany note; maturity extended to December 2028; interest rate reduced from 5.0% to 2.0%
4.02 | Confirmation of subordination to all senior and second-lien indebtedness | Subordination provisions within A&R Intercompany Note | TAI, TSL | C&H | May 25, 2023 | May 25, 2023 | Complete | Note remains subordinate to $540M senior secured and $60M new second-lien notes
4.03 | TAI board resolution authorizing execution of A&R Intercompany Note | TAI Board Resolution | TAI (Marcus Hale, President) | C&H | June 28, 2023 | June 25, 2023 | Complete | TAI is a Delaware C-Corporation; registered agent: Capitol Registered Agents LLC, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
4.04 | Confirmation from Nordbank (as Agent) that intercompany note amendment is consistent with Amendment No. 1 covenants | Agent confirmation letter | Nordbank (Henrik Lüdemann) | WCB / C&H | June 30, 2023 | June 28, 2023 | Complete
4.05 | Transfer pricing analysis confirming arm's-length terms of amended intercompany note | Transfer pricing memorandum | TSL, TAI | C&H (Sylvia Hartwell) / KHP | June 30, 2023 | June 20, 2023 | Complete | 2.0% interest rate benchmarked against comparable intercompany lending arrangements; documented for IRS and Greek tax authority purposes
[sheet: 5 - Intercreditor Amendment]
Item No. | Description | Document / Action | Parties | Responsible Party | Target Delivery Date | Actual Delivery Date | Status | Notes
5.01 | Execution of Amended and Restated Intercreditor Agreement | Amended and Restated Intercreditor Agreement | Nordbank International AG (First-Lien Agent), Dralvecen Mezzanine Capital LLC (Second-Lien Holder of new $60M notes) | C&H / K&F / WCB | June 30, 2023 | May 15, 2023 | Complete | Amends and restates original Intercreditor Agreement dated June 15, 2019; reflects mezzanine exchange and new second-lien notes structure
5.02 | Confirmation that A&R Intercreditor Agreement is referenced in New Second-Lien Notes Indenture | Cross-reference check | C&H | C&H (Nathan Ikeda) | May 18, 2023 | May 18, 2023 | Complete | Indenture covenants and events of default reference intercreditor provisions
5.03 | Acknowledgment by Garrison Trust Company (as indenture trustee under new second-lien indenture) of intercreditor terms | Trustee acknowledgment | Garrison Trust Company | C&H / K&F | June 30, 2023 | June 28, 2023 | Complete | Garrison Trust at 100 Wall Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10005
5.04 | Confirmation that A&R Intercreditor Agreement is referenced in Amendment No. 1 to Senior Secured Credit Agreement | Cross-reference check | C&H | C&H (Amy Chesterton) | May 15, 2023 | May 15, 2023 | Complete | Amendment No. 1 Section 6.02 references intercreditor terms; confirmed consistent with A&R Intercreditor Agreement