UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of November 2014
Commission File Number: 000-51672
FREESEAS INC.
(Name of Registrant)
10, Eleftheriou Venizelou Street (Panepistimiou
Ave.), 106 71, Athens, Greece
(Address of principal
executive office)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F x
Form 40-F ¨
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ¨
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ¨
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
FreeSeas Inc. (the
“Company”) has announced that its annual meeting of shareholders will be held on December 18, 2014 (the “Annual
Meeting”). In that regard, attached hereto as Exhibits 99.1, 99.2 and 99.3 are copies of (i) the Notice of Annual Meeting,
(ii) Proxy Statement, and (iii) Form of Proxy Card, respectively.
The Company’s
Annual Report on Form 20-F (the “Annual Report”), which contains the Company’s audited financial statements for
the year ended December 31, 2013, is being mailed to the Company’s shareholders and also posted on the Company’s website,
www.freeseas.gr. Shareholders should go to the link “2014 Annual Meeting Materials” on the Investor Relations page
of the Company’s website for a copy of the Annual Report, as well as copies of the Proxy Statement and form of Proxy Card
for the Annual Meeting. Please note that the form of Proxy Card on the website is for information purposes only and cannot be used
to vote.
SUBMITTED HEREWITH:
Exhibit Number |
|
Description of Exhibit |
|
|
|
99.1 |
|
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders |
|
|
|
99.2 |
|
Proxy Statement |
|
|
|
99.3 |
|
Form of Proxy Card |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
FREESEAS INC.
Date: November 17, 2014 |
By: |
/s/ DIMITRIS PAPADOPOULOS |
|
Dimitris Papadopoulos |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 99.1
FREESEAS INC.
10, Eleftheriou Venizelou Street (Panepistimiou
Ave.)
106 71, Athens, Greece
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 18, 2014
To the Shareholders of FreeSeas Inc.:
The 2014 Annual Meeting
of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of FreeSeas Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of
the Marshall Islands (the “Company” or “FreeSeas”) will be held on December 18, 2014 at the principal executive
offices of FreeSeas Inc. at 10, Eleftheriou Venizelou Street (Panepistimiou Ave.) 106 71, Athens, Greece, at 17:00 Greek time/10:00
am Eastern Standard Time. The purposes of the Annual Meeting are as follows:
|
1. |
To elect 2 directors of the Company to serve until the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; |
|
2. |
To consider and vote upon a proposal to ratify the appointment of RBSM LLP, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014; |
|
3. |
To grant discretionary authority to the Company’s board of directors to (A) amend the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company to effect one or more consolidations of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, pursuant to which the shares of common stock would be combined and reclassified into one share of common stock ratios within the range from 1-for-2 up to 1-for-10 (the “Reverse Stock Split”) and (B) determine whether to arrange for the disposition of fractional interests by shareholder entitled thereto, to pay in cash the fair value of fractions of a share of common stock as of the time when those entitled to receive such fractions are determined, or to entitle shareholder to receive from the Company’s transfer agent, in lieu of any fractional share, the number of shares of common stock rounded up to the next whole number, provided that, (X) that the Company shall not effect Reverse Stock Splits that, in the aggregate, exceeds 1-for-15, and (Y) any Reverse Stock Split is completed no later than the first anniversary of the date of the Annual Meeting; |
|
4. |
To approve an amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company to increase the Company’s authorized shares of common stock from 250,000,000 to 750,000,000; and |
|
5. |
To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
Our Board of Directors
has fixed the close of business on November 14, 2014 as the record date for determining those shareholders entitled to notice of,
and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Whether or not you
expect to be present, please sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the pre-addressed envelope provided for that purpose
as promptly as possible. No postage is required if mailed in the United States.
|
By Order of the Board of Directors, |
|
|
|
/s/ Maria Badekas |
|
Maria Badekas |
|
Secretary |
Athens, Greece
November 17, 2014
All shareholders are invited to attend
the Annual Meeting in person. Those shareholders who are unable to attend are respectfully urged to execute and return the proxy
card enclosed with this Proxy Statement as promptly as possible. Shareholders who execute a proxy card may nevertheless attend
the Annual Meeting, revoke their proxy and vote their shares in person. “Street name” shareholders who wish to vote
their shares in person will need to obtain a voting instruction form from the brokers or nominees in whose name their shares are
registered.
Exhibit 99.2
FREESEAS INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 18, 2014
PROXY STATEMENT
TIME, DATE AND PLACE OF ANNUAL MEETING
This Proxy Statement
is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of FreeSeas Inc., a corporation organized under the
laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the “Company” or “FreeSeas”), of proxies from the holders
of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, for use at our Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”)
to be held at the principal executive offices of FreeSeas Inc. at 10, Eleftheriou Venizelou Street (Panepistimiou Ave.) 106 71,
Athens, Greece, at 17:00 Greek time/10:00 am Eastern Standard Time, on December 18, 2014, and at any adjournments or postponements
thereof, pursuant to the enclosed Notice of Annual Meeting.
The approximate date
this Proxy Statement is being sent to shareholders is November 21, 2014. Shareholders should review the information provided herein
in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2013, which accompanies this Proxy Statement.
Our principal executive offices are located at 10, Eleftheriou Venizelou Street (Panepistimiou Ave.) 106 71, Athens, Greece, and
our telephone number is 011-30-210-452-8770.
INFORMATION CONCERNING PROXY
The enclosed proxy
is solicited on behalf of our Board of Directors. The giving of a proxy does not preclude the right to vote in person should any
shareholder giving the proxy so desire. Shareholders have an unconditional right to revoke their proxy at any time prior to the
exercise thereof, either in person at the Annual Meeting or by filing with our Secretary at our headquarters a written revocation
or duly executed proxy bearing a later date; no such revocation will be effective, however, until written notice of the revocation
is received by us at or prior to the Annual Meeting.
The cost of preparing,
assembling and mailing this Proxy Statement, the Notice of Annual Meeting and the enclosed proxy is to be borne by us. In addition
to the use of mail, our employees may solicit proxies personally and by telephone. Our employees will receive no compensation for
soliciting proxies other than their regular salaries. We may request banks, brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries
to forward copies of the proxy materials to their principals and to request authority for the execution of proxies. We will reimburse
such persons for their expenses in doing so. In addition, we have engaged Morrow & Co., LLC, 470 West Avenue, Stamford, CT
06902 as our proxy solicitor to help us solicit proxies from brokers, banks or other nominees. We will pay Morrow & Co., LLC
a fee of approximately $6,000, plus $3,000 in costs and expenses, relating to the solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting.
PURPOSES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING
At the Annual Meeting, our shareholders
will consider and vote upon the following matters:
|
1. |
To elect 2 directors of the Company to serve until the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; |
|
2. |
To consider and vote upon a proposal to ratify the appointment of RBSM LLP, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014; |
|
3. |
To consider and vote upon a proposal to grant discretionary authority to the Company’s board of directors to (A) amend the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company to effect one or more consolidations of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, pursuant to which the shares of common stock would be combined and reclassified into one share of common stock at ratios within the range from 1-for-2 up to 1-for-10 (the “Reverse Stock Split”) and (B) determine whether to arrange for the disposition of fractional interests by shareholder entitled thereto, to pay in cash the fair value of fractions of a share of common stock as of the time when those entitled to receive such fractions are determined, or to entitle shareholder to receive from the Company’s transfer agent, in lieu of any fractional share, the number of shares of common stock rounded up to the next whole number, provided that, (X) that the Company shall not effect Reverse Stock Splits that, in the aggregate, exceeds 1-for-15, and (Y) any Reverse Stock Split is completed no later than the first anniversary of the date of the Annual Meeting; |
|
4. |
To approve an amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company to increase the Company’s authorized shares of common stock from 250,000,000 to 750,000,000; and |
|
5. |
To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
Unless contrary instructions
are indicated on your proxy, all shares of common stock represented by valid proxies received pursuant to this solicitation (and
which have not been revoked in accordance with the procedures set forth herein) will be voted (a) for the election of the nominee
for director named below and (b) in favor of all other proposals described in the Notice of Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors
knows of no other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting; however, if other matters properly come before the
Annual Meeting, it is intended that the persons named in the proxy will vote thereon in accordance with their best judgment. In
the event a shareholder specifies a different choice by means of the shareholder's proxy, the shareholder’s shares will be
voted in accordance with the specification so made.
OUTSTANDING VOTING SECURITIES AND VOTING
RIGHTS
Our Board of Directors
previously set the close of business on November 14, 2014 as the record date for determining which of our shareholders are entitled
to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of the record date, there were 105,470,692 shares of our common stock that are
entitled to be voted at the Annual Meeting. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to shareholders
for approval at the Annual Meeting.
The attendance, in
person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting
is necessary to constitute a quorum.
Directors will be
elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares of common stock represented in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting
will be required to approve (i) the ratification of our auditors for the year ended December 31, 2014, (ii) the granting of discretionary
authority to the Company’s board of directors to (A) amend the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company
to effect one or more consolidations of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, pursuant to which the shares of common
stock would be combined and reclassified into one share of common stock at ratios within the range from 1-for-2 up to 1-for-10
(the “Reverse Stock Split”) and (B) determine whether to arrange for the disposition of fractional interests by shareholder
entitled thereto, to pay in cash the fair value of fractions of a share of common stock as of the time when those entitled to receive
such fractions are determined, or to entitle shareholder to receive from the Company’s transfer agent, in lieu of any fractional
share, the number of shares of common stock rounded up to the next whole number, provided that, (X) that the Company shall not
effect Reverse Stock Splits that, in the aggregate, exceeds 1-for-15, and (Y) any Reverse Stock Split is completed no later than
the first anniversary of the date of the Annual Meeting, and for any other proposals that may come before the Annual Meeting. If
less than a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote is represented at the Annual Meeting, a majority of the shares
so represented may adjourn the Annual Meeting to another date, time or place, and notice need not be given of the new date, time
or place if the new date, time or place is announced at the meeting before an adjournment is taken.
Prior to the Annual
Meeting, we will select one or more inspectors of election for the meeting. Such inspector(s) shall determine the number of shares
of common stock represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum and the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive,
count and tabulate ballots and votes and determine the results thereof. Abstentions will be considered as shares present and entitled
to vote at the Annual Meeting and will be counted as votes cast at the Annual Meeting, but will not be counted as votes cast for
or against any given matter.
If your shares are
held in street name through a bank or broker, your bank or broker may vote your shares under certain circumstances if you do not
provide voting instructions before the Annual Meeting, in accordance with New York Stock Exchange rules that govern the banks and
brokers. These circumstances include “routine matters,” such as the ratification of the appointment of our independent
registered public accounting firm described in this Proxy Statement. Thus, if you do not vote your shares with respect to this
matter, your bank or broker may vote your shares on your behalf or leave your shares unvoted.
The election of directors
and the approval of granting discretionary authority for the Reverse Stock Split are not considered “routine matters.”
Thus, if you do not vote your shares with respect to these matters, your bank or broker may not vote the shares, and your shares
will be left unvoted on the matter.
“Broker
non-votes” occur when shares represented by proxies received from a bank or broker are not voted on a matter because the
bank or broker did not receive voting instructions from the bank or broker’s customer. Broker non-votes will be treated the
same as abstentions, which means the shares will be deemed to be present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining whether
a quorum exists provided that the shares have been voted on at least one matter. In tabulating the votes for any particular proposal,
shares that constitute broker non-votes or abstentions are not considered shares present and entitled to vote with respect to the
matter on which the broker has not voted or the abstention has been received. Thus, abstentions and broker non-votes will not have
an effect on any of the proposals at this meeting because they will not be counted as votes cast.
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation provide that the Board of Directors be divided into three classes. Each class of directors serves a staggered
three-year term. Dimitris Panagiotopoulos and Ion G. Varouxakis hold office until the 2014 Annual Meeting and have been nominated
for reelection as described below. Xenophon Galinas holds office until the 2015 Annual Meeting and Focko Nauta and Keith Bloomfield
hold office until the 2016 Annual Meeting.
At the Annual Meeting,
two directors will be elected by the shareholders to serve until the 2017 Annual Meeting or until the director’s successor
is duly elected and qualified. The accompanying form of proxy, when properly executed and returned to the Company, will be voted
FOR the election as director of the persons named below, unless the proxy contains contrary instructions. Proxies cannot be voted
for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named in this Proxy Statement. Management has no reason to believe
that either nominee is unable or unwilling to serve if elected. If either nominee should become unable or unwilling to serve as
a director, however, the proxy will be voted for the election of such other person as shall be designated by the Board of Directors.
Nominees
The persons nominated
as directors are as follows:
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position with the
Company |
|
Term
Expires |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ion G. Varouxakis |
|
43 |
|
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President |
|
2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dimitrios Panagiotopoulos |
|
53 |
|
Director |
|
2014 |
Ion G. Varouxakis
is one of our founders and is the Chairman of our Board of Directors. He also serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer.
In 2003, Mr. Varouxakis founded Free Bulkers, the beginning of a single-vessel, self-financed entrepreneurial venture that
led to FreeSeas’ founding and NASDAQ listing in 2005. Prior to founding Free Bulkers, Mr. Varouxakis held since 1997
management positions in private shipping companies operating in the drybulk sector. Mr. Varouxakis holds a candidature degree
in law from the Catholic University of Saint Louis in Brussels and a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the London School
of Economics and Political Science. Mr. Varouxakis is a member of the Hellenic Committee of the Korean Register of Shipping,
a member of the Hellenic and Black Sea Committee of Bureau Veritas and an officer of the reserves of the Hellenic Army.
Dimitris Panagiotopoulos joined
our Board of Directors in 2007. Since March 2014, he has been the Manager at the Non-Performing Loan Division of Eurobank, a Greek
private Bank. From April 2004 to February 2014, he was the head of shipping and corporate banking of Proton Bank, a Greek private
bank, where he has served since April 2004. From January 1997 to March 2004, he served as deputy head of the Greek shipping desk
of BNP Paribas and before that for four years as senior officer of the shipping department of Credit Lyonnais Greece. From 1990
to 1993, he worked as chief accountant in Ionia Management, a Greek shipping company. He holds a degree in economics from Athens
University and a master’s of science in shipping, trade and finance from City University of London. He was an officer of
the Greek Special Forces and today is a captain of the reserves of Hellenic Army.
Board Recommendation
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE
FOR APPROVAL OF THE NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTORS.
Management
Set forth below is certain information
concerning our continuing directors who are not currently standing for election and our other executive officers who are not directors:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term |
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
|
Expires |
Dimitris Papadopoulos |
|
69 |
|
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
|
— |
Dimitris Filippas |
|
37 |
|
Deputy Chief Financial Officer |
|
— |
Keith Bloomfield |
|
43 |
|
Director |
|
2016 |
Xenophon Galinas |
|
57 |
|
Director |
|
2015 |
Focko Nauta |
|
56 |
|
Director |
|
2016 |
Maria Badekas |
|
42 |
|
Secretary |
|
— |
Dimitris D. Papadopoulos became
our chief financial officer in November 2013. Mr. Papadopoulos started his career with Citigroup in New York from 1968
to 1970, in the European credit division, and was later posted in Athens from 1970 to 1975, where he left as general manager of
corporate finance to join Archirodon Group Inc. There he served as financial and administration vice president from 1975 to 1991,
which included the financial supervision of the Group's shipping division, the Konkar Group. He served as chairman and chief executive
officer of the group's U.S. arm, Delphinance Development Corp. from 1984 to 1991. In addition to its real estate development, oil
and gas development and venture capital investments, Delphinance owned several U.S. contracting companies engaged in both the public
and private sectors, with special expertise in harbor and marine works. In 1991, he assumed the position of managing director of
Dorian Bank, a full-charter commercial and investment bank in Greece, where he served until 1996. From 1996 until 1998 and from
2000 until 2001, he was a freelance business consultant. From 1998 to 1999, he served as managing director of Porto Carras S.A.,
a resort hotel in Northern Greece. Later, as executive vice president at the Hellenic Investment Bank, from 1999 to 2000, he was
responsible for developing the bank's new banking charter formation, obtaining charter approval, and organizing, staffing and commencing
banking operations. From 2004 until April 2007, Mr. Papadopoulos served as president of Waterfront Developments S.A.
As a Fullbright grantee, Mr. Papadopoulos studied economics at Austin College, Texas (B.A. and "Who's Who amongst Students
in American Colleges and Universities" — 1968) and did graduate studies at the University of Delaware. In 1974, he received
an executive business diploma from Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
Dimitris
K. Filippas became Deputy Chief Financial Officer in April 2014. Mr. Filippas has been the finance manager for Free Bulkers
S.A. since 2007. Mr. Filippas has substantial experience in the ship finance field. He holds a BSc in Banking and International
Finance from Cass Business School and a Master’s Degree in Shipping Business with Distinction from LGU.
Keith Bloomfield joined
our Board of Directors in 2010. He has over 13 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, and wealth management.
He is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Forbes Family Trust, a private wealth management firm which he founded
in September 2009. From October 2006 to September 2009, he was a Senior Managing Director and Corporate Counsel at Third Avenue
Management, a global asset management firm with approximately $16 billion in assets under management. At Third Avenue, he was responsible
for mergers and acquisitions, corporate transactions and business development. Prior to joining Third Avenue, he was a corporate
attorney with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. Mr. Bloomfield earned an LL.M. (Master of Law) in Taxation from New
York University School of Law and a J.D. with honors from Hofstra University School of Law, and graduated summa cum laude with
a B.A. in History from Tulane University.
Xenophon Galinas joined
our Board of Directors in 2012. From July 2011 to July 2012, Mr. Galinas served as a managing director of Rodman & Renshaw
LLC, an investment banking firm. Prior to joining Rodman & Renshaw, Mr. Galinas was a Managing Director and Head of Shipping
at the investment banking firm of Morgan Joseph TriArtisan LLC, from September 2009 to June 2011. From February 2007 to August
2009, he served as a non-Executive Chairman of Manhattan Group Partners LLC, a New York-based merchant banking firm focused exclusively
on shipping and transportation. From November 1986 to December 1998, he served as President of Olympic Tower Associates, Executive
Vice President of Central American Steamship, Inc., and was a member of the Board of Directors of Williston S.A., all of which
were management and business operating arms of the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation. Mr. Galinas served for 12 years
as head of the Onassis Group’s business activities in the U.S. Mr. Galinas received a M.S. in Marine Engineering from the
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and an MBA in finance from New York University.
Focko
H. Nauta joined our Board of Directors in 2005. Since September 2000, he has also been a director of FinShip SA, a ship
financing company. From 1997 through 1999, Mr. Nauta served as a managing director of Van Ommeren Shipbroking, a London-based
ship brokering company. Prior to 1997, he was a general manager of a Fortis Bank branch. Mr. Nauta holds a degree in law from
Leiden University in the Netherlands.
Maria
Badekas holds a Master of Law from University of Cambridge (UK) and a Bachelor in English and European Laws from Essex
University (UK). From 2001 to 2003 she was a political expert to the European Commission, DG Development. From 2003 to 2005, she
was a special advisor to the Mayor of Athens and participated in the preparation of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games (international
affairs and public relations). Between 2005 and 2006, she was a special advisor to the Minister of the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, and from 2006 to 2009, she was a special advisor to the General Secretary for European Affairs of the Hellenic Ministry
of Foreign Affairs.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Board Responsibilities, Structure and Requirements
Our Board of Directors
oversees, counsels and directs management in our long-term interests and those of our shareholders. The Board’s responsibilities
include:
|
· |
Evaluating the performance of, and selecting, our President and Chief Executive Officer and our other executive officers; |
|
· |
Reviewing and approving our major financial objectives and strategic and operating plans, business risks and actions; |
|
· |
Overseeing the conduct of our business to evaluate whether the business is being effectively managed; and |
|
· |
Overseeing the processes for maintaining the integrity of our financial statements and other publicly disclosed information in compliance with law. |
Ion G. Varouxakis
serves as both Chairman of the Board and as our President and Chief Executive Officer. The Board believes that the combined role
of Chairman of the Board and President and Chief Executive Officer is the appropriate leadership structure for us at this time.
This leadership model provides efficient and effective leadership of our business, and the Board believes Mr. Varouxakis is the
appropriate person to lead both our Board and the management of our business.
We encourage our directors
to attend formal training programs in areas relevant to the discharge of their duties as directors. We reimburse directors for
all expenses they incur in attending such programs.
All of our directors
are expected to comply with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and our Insider Trading Policy.
Meetings and Committees of the Board
of Directors
The Board and its
committees meet throughout the year generally on a quarterly schedule, and hold special meetings and act by written consent from
time to time as appropriate. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, our Board of Directors held 19 meetings and also approved
certain actions by unanimous written consent. All of our directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors
and applicable committees on which they served. We strongly encourage all directors to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders,
but we have no specific policy requiring attendance by directors at such meetings.
The Board delegates
various responsibilities and authority to different Board committees. Committees regularly report on their activities and actions
to the full Board. The committees of the Board of Directors are the audit committee, the compensation committee, the corporate
governance committee, and the nominating committee. The Board has determined that each member of the audit committee, compensation
committee, corporate governance committee and nominating committee is an independent director in accordance with the standards
adopted by the NASDAQ Stock Market. Our Board or the applicable committee has adopted written charters for the audit, compensation,
nominating and corporate governance committees and has adopted corporate governance guidelines that address the composition and
duties of the Board and its committees. The charters for the audit, compensation, corporate governance and nominating committees
and corporate governance guidelines are posted in the “Corporate Governance” section of our website at www.freeseas.gr,
and each is available in print, without charge, to any shareholder. Each of the committees has the authority to retain independent
advisors and consultants, with all fees and expenses to be paid by us.
Audit Committee
Our
audit committee consists of Messrs. Nauta, Panagiotopoulos and Galinas, each of whom is an independent director. Mr. Nauta
has been designated the “Audit Committee Financial Expert” under the SEC rules and the current listing standards of
the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules.
The
audit committee has powers and performs the functions customarily performed by such a committee (including those required of such
a committee under the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules and the SEC). The audit committee is responsible for selecting and meeting with
our independent registered public accounting firm regarding, among other matters, audits and the adequacy of our accounting and
control systems.
Compensation Committee
Our compensation committee
consists of Messrs. Panagiotopoulos and Bloomfield, each of whom is an independent director. The compensation committee reviews
and approves the equity compensation of our executive officers. Currently, we do not pay cash compensation to our executive officers.
We have entered into services agreements with Free Bulkers, S.A. and OpenSeas Maritime S.A., (the “Managers”), which
are entities controlled by Mr. Varouxakis, pursuant to which they provide us services related to accounting, financial reporting,
implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley internal control over financial reporting procedures and general administrative and management
services.
Nominating Committee
Our nominating committee
consists of Messrs. Galinas and Bloomfield, each of whom is an independent director. The nominating committee is responsible
for overseeing the selection of persons to be nominated to serve on our board of directors.
In connection with
the selection and nomination process, the nominating committee, along with the full Board of Directors, shall consider and determine
the desired experience, mix of skills and other qualities necessary to assure appropriate Board composition, taking into account
the current Board members and the specific needs of the Company and the Board. The criteria for selecting directors includes such
factors as (i) the candidate’s ability to comprehend the Company’s strategic goals and to help guide the Company towards
the accomplishment of those goals; (ii) the history of the candidate in conducting his/her personal and professional affairs with
the utmost integrity and observing the highest standards of values, character and ethics; (iii) the candidate's time availability
for in-person participation at Board and committee meetings; (iv) the candidate’s judgment and business experience with related
businesses or other organizations of comparable size; (v) the knowledge and skills the candidate would add to the Board and its
committees, including the candidate's knowledge of the rules and regulations of the SEC and the NASDAQ Stock Market, and accounting
and financial reporting requirements; (vi) the candidate's ability to satisfy the criteria for independence established by the
SEC and the NASDAQ Stock Market; and (vii) the interplay of the candidate's experience with the experience of other Board members.
Although the Company
does not have a formal procedure, the nominating committee will consider all candidates recommended by the Company’s shareholders.
The Company is relatively small and our shares of common stock are not widely held. As a result, the Company does not believe the
adoption of a formal policy for consideration of shareholder nominees is appropriate at this time.
Corporate Governance Committee
Our corporate governance
committee consists of Messrs. Bloomfield and Nauta, each of whom is an independent director. The corporate governance committee
ensures that we have and follow appropriate governance standards.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and
Insider Participation
None of the members
of our compensation committee (i) has ever been an officer or employee of us, (ii) had any relationship requiring disclosure by
us under SEC rules, or (iii) is an executive officer of another entity where one of our executive officers serves on the Board
of Directors.
Director Independence
Our securities are
listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market and we are exempt from certain NASDAQ listing requirements including the requirement that our
board be composed of a majority of independent directors. The Board of Directors has evaluated whether each of Messrs. Nauta, Panagiotopoulos,
Bloomfield and Galinas is an “independent director” within the meaning of the listing requirements of NASDAQ. The NASDAQ
independence definition includes a series of objective tests, such as that the director is not our employee and has not engaged
in various types of business dealings with us. In addition, as further required by the NASDAQ requirements, the Board of Directors
made a subjective determination as to each of Messrs. Nauta, Panagiotopoulos, Bloomfield and Galinas that no relationships exist
which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, would interfere with the exercise of his independent judgment in carrying out
the responsibilities of a director. In making this determination, the Board of Directors reviewed and discussed information provided
by each of Messrs. Nauta, Panagiotopoulos, Bloomfield and Galinas with regard to his business and personal activities as they may
relate to us and our management. After reviewing the information presented to it, our Board of Directors has determined that each
of Messrs. Nauta, Panagiotopoulos, Bloomfield and Galinas is “independent” within the meaning of such rules. Our independent
directors will meet in executive session as often as necessary to fulfill their duties, but no less frequently than annually.
Shareholder Communication with the Board
of Directors
Although our Board
of Directors has not adopted a formal procedure for shareholders to communicate in writing with members of the Board of Directors,
any such communications received by the Company will be forwarded to our Board of Directors. Because our Board of Directors is
relatively small, and our shares of common stock are not widely held, the Company has not deemed it necessary to adopt a formal
communication procedure at this time.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
The Board has adopted
Corporate Governance Guidelines. The corporate governance committee is responsible for overseeing these guidelines and making recommendations
to the Board concerning corporate governance matters. Among other matters, the guidelines address the following items concerning
the Board and its committees:
|
· |
Director qualifications generally and guidelines on the composition of the Board and its committees; |
|
· |
Director responsibilities and the standards for carrying out such responsibilities; |
|
· |
Board committee requirements; |
|
· |
Director access to management and independent advisors; |
|
· |
Director orientation and continuing education requirements; and |
|
· |
CEO evaluation, management succession and CEO compensation. |
Role of Board in Risk Oversight
We have a risk management
process in which management is responsible for managing our risks and the Board and its committees provide review and oversight
in connection with these efforts. Risks are identified, assessed and managed on an ongoing basis by management and addressed during
periodic senior management meetings, resulting in both Board and committee discussions and public disclosure, as appropriate. The
Board is responsible for overseeing management in the execution of its risk management responsibilities and for reviewing our approach
to risk management. The Board administers this risk oversight function either through the full Board or through one of its standing
committees, each of which examines various components of our enterprise risks as part of its responsibilities. An overall review
of risk is inherent in the Board’s consideration of our long and short term strategies, acquisitions and significant financial
matters. The audit committee oversees financial risks (including risks associated with accounting, financial reporting, enterprise
resource planning, and collectability of receivables), legal and compliance risks and other risk management functions. The other
Board committees are involved in the risk assessment process as needed.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Our Board of Directors
is responsible for the review and approval of “related party transactions” between us and our executive officers, directors
or other related persons. Under SEC rules, a related person is a director, officer, nominee for director or 5% or greater shareholder
of us since the beginning of our last fiscal year and their immediate family members. Our policies require that each of our directors
and executive officers bring any related party transactions to our attention before we enter into the transaction. Upon full disclosure
of the details of the proposed transaction to the full Board, the full Board, with the interested director abstaining, considers
and votes on the proposed transaction.
Manager
All
vessels owned by the Company receive management services from the Managers pursuant to ship management agreements between each
of the ship-owning companies and one of the Managers.
In June 2011, each
of the ship-owning subsidiaries entered into an amended and restated management agreement and the Company entered into a services
agreement with a Manager pursuant to which the monthly technical management fee increased from $16,500 to $18,975 and the monthly
services fee increased from $118,500 to $136,275, effective June 1, 2011. In addition, in connection with the relocation of
the Company’s offices in June 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with a Manager pursuant to which the Company agreed
to pay the Manager 65% of the rental due for the office space, commencing June 2011, and 65% of the apportioned common expenses
and maintenance expenses.
In addition, based
on the amended services agreement, the Company reimbursed the Manager with the lump sum of $144 (equivalent of Euro 100) for the
expenses incurred in relation to the relocation of the Manager’s offices and early termination cost for previous lease agreement.
This compensation is included in “General and Administrative Expenses” in the accompanying consolidated statement of
operations.
Each of the Company’s
ship-owning subsidiaries pays, as per its management agreement with a Manager, a monthly technical management fee of $18,975 (on
the basis that the $/Euro exchange rate is 1.30 or lower; if on the first business day of each month the $/Euro exchange rate exceeds
1.30 then the management fee payable will be increased for the month in question, so that the amount payable in $ will be the equivalent
in Euro based on 1.30 $/Euro exchange rate) plus a fee of $400 per day for superintendent attendance and other direct expenses.
The Company also pays
a Manager a fee equal to 1.25% of the gross freight or hire from the employment of FreeSeas’ vessels. In addition, the Company
pays a 1% commission on the gross purchase price of any new vessel acquired or the gross sale price of any vessel sold by the Company
with the assistance of the Manager. During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, there were no vessel disposals. In
addition, the Company has incurred commission expenses relating to its commercial agreement with a Manager amounting to $104, $174
and $371 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 respectively, included in “Commissions” in the accompanying
consolidated statements of operations.
The Company also pays,
as per its services agreements with the Managers, a monthly fee of $136,275, (on the basis that the $/Euro exchange rate is 1.35
or lower; if on the last business day of each month the $/Euro exchange rate exceeds 1.35 then the service fee payable will be
adjusted for the following month in question, so that the amount payable in dollars will be the equivalent in Euro based on 1.35
$/Euro exchange rate) as compensation for services related to accounting, financial reporting, implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley
internal control over financial reporting procedures and general administrative and management services plus expenses. The Managers
are entitled to a termination fee if the agreements are terminated upon a “change of control” as defined in its services
agreements with the Managers. The termination fee as of December 31, 2013 would be approximately $91,314. In connection with
the shares issued to a Manager in payment of unpaid management and services fees, described below, the Manager has waived its right
to terminate the services agreement and receive such termination fee.
On April 23, 2012,
the Company’s Board of Directors approved the issuance of 33,214 shares of the Company's common stock to a Manager in payment
of the $926 in unpaid fees due to the Manager for the first quarter of 2012 under the management and services agreements with the
Company. The number of shares issued to the Manager was based on the closing prices of the Company's common stock on the first
day of each month during the quarter, which are the dates the management and services fees were due and payable. The Board also
approved the issuance of an aggregate of 3,993 shares of the Company's common stock to the non-executive members of its Board of
Directors in payment of $31 per person in unpaid Board fees for the last three quarters of 2011. The aggregate number of shares
issued to the directors was based on the closing prices of the Company's common stock on the last day of each of the last three
quarters of 2011, which are the dates that the Board fees were due and payable. On August 10, 2012, pursuant to the above approval
of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Company issued 33,214 shares of its common stock to a Manager in payment of the
$926 in unpaid fees due to the Manager for the first quarter of 2012 and 3,993 shares of its common stock to its non-executive
directors in payment of $155 in unpaid Board fees for the last three quarters of 2011. All of the foregoing shares will be restricted
shares under applicable U.S. securities laws.
On October 3, 2012,
the Company’s Board of Directors approved the issuance of 43,930 shares of the Company's common stock to a Manager in payment
of the $807 in unpaid fees due to the Manager for the third quarter of 2012 under the management and services agreements with the
Company. The number of shares issued to the Manager was based on the closing prices of the Company’s common stock on the
first day of each month during the quarter, which are the dates the management and services fees were due and payable. The Board
also approved the issuance of an aggregate of 6,536 shares of the Company’s common stock to the non-executive members of
its Board of Directors in payment of $152 in unpaid Board fees for the first, second and third quarter of 2012. The aggregate number
of shares issued to the directors was based on the closing prices of the Company's common stock on the last day of each of the
three quarters of 2012, which are the dates that the Board fees were due and payable. On October 11, 2012, pursuant to the above
approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Company issued 43,930 shares of its common stock to a Manager in payment
of the $807 in unpaid fees due to the Manager for the third quarter of 2012 and 6,536 shares of its common stock to its non-executive
directors in payment of $152 in unpaid Board fees for the first, second and third quarter of 2012. All of the foregoing shares
will be restricted shares under applicable U.S. securities laws.
On January 18, 2013,
the Company’s’ Board of Directors approved the issuance of an additional 128,328 shares of the Company’s common
stock to a Manager in payment of $809 in unpaid fees due to the Manager for November and December 2012 and January 2013 under the
management and services agreements with the Company. The number of shares issued to the Manager was based on the closing prices
of the Company's common stock on the first day of each month, which are the dates the management and services fees were due and
payable. The Board also approved the issuance of an aggregate of 10,604 shares of the Company’s common stock to its non-executive
directors in payment of $48 in unpaid Board fees for the fourth quarter of 2012. The aggregate number of shares issued to the directors
was based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the last day of the fourth quarter of 2012, which is the
date that the Board fees were due and payable.
On February 28, 2013,
pursuant to the above approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Company issued 128,328 shares of its common stock
to a Manager in payment of $809 in unpaid fees due to the Manager for November and December 2012 and January 2013 and 8,382 shares
of its common stock to its non-executive directors in payment of $48 in unpaid Board fees for the fourth quarter of 2012. All of
the foregoing shares will be restricted shares under applicable U.S. securities laws.
On
October 14, 2013, the Company issued 991,658 shares of its common stock to a Manager in payment of $2,168 in unpaid fees due to
the Manager for the months of February – September 2013 under the management and services agreements with the Company. The
number of shares issued to the Manager was based on the closing prices of the Company's common stock on the first day of each month,
which is the date the management and services fees were due and payable. In addition, the Company also issued an aggregate of 34,326
shares of the Company’s common stock to its non-executive members of its Board of Directors in payment of $120 in unpaid
Board fees for the first, second and third quarters of 2013.
Fees
and expenses charged by the Managers are included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements in “Management and
other fees to a related party,” “General and administrative expenses,” “Operating expenses,” “Gain
on sale of vessel”, “Vessel impairment loss”, “Advances for vessels under construction” and “Write-off
of advances for vessels under construction”. The total amounts charged for the year ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and
2011 amounted to $3,133 ($1,490 of management fees, $1,499 of services fees, $131 of superintendent fees and $13 for other expenses),
$4,560 ($2,404 of management fees, $1,985 of services fees, $134 of superintendent fees and $37 for other expenses), and $4,451
($1,900 of management fees, $1,609 of services fees, $146 of superintendent fees, $144 for compensation of relocation expenses,
$179 for other expenses and $473 for management fees and supervision expenses for vessels under construction), respectively.
The
“Management and other fees to a related party” and the “General and administrative expenses” for the year
ended December 31, 2013 include the amount of $474 recognized as stock-based compensation expense for the issuance of 67,754 shares
of the Company’s common stock to a Manager in payment of $271 in unpaid fees due to the Manager for January 2013 under the
management and services agreements with the Company. In addition, the “Management and other fees to a related party”
and the “General and administrative expenses” for the year ended December 31, 2013 include the amount of $954 recognized
as gain for the issuance of 991,658 shares of the Company’s common stock to the Manager in payment of $2,168 in unpaid fees
due to the Manager for the months of February, March, April, May, June, July, August and September 2013 and the issuance of 34,326
shares of the Company’s common stock to the non-executive members of its Board of Directors, in payment of $120 in unpaid
Board fees for the first, second and third quarter of 2013.
The
balance due from the Manager as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $1,167 and $346 respectively. The amount
paid to the Manager for office space during the year ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $147, $143 and $178, respectively
and is included in “General and administrative expenses” in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
National Bank of Greece (NBG)
Effective May 13, 2013,
First Bank Business (“FBB”) ceased to be a related party according to the requirements of ASC 850 (“Related Party
Disclosures”), since the bank’s deposits and loans other than the loans in definite delay and the bank’s network
of nineteen branches were transferred to the NBG. The license of FBB was revoked and the bank was placed under special liquidation.
The Company’s loan facility and deposits have been transferred to NBG.
Other Related Parties
The Company, through
the Managers, uses from time to time a ship-brokering firm associated with family members of the Company’s Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer and President for certain of the charters of the Company’s fleet. During the years ended December 31,
2013, 2012 and 2011, such ship-brokering firm charged the Company commissions of $19, $43 and $56, respectively, which are included
in “Commissions” in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The balance due to the ship-brokering firm
as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $nil and $94, respectively.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table
sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the record date by each of our executive
officers and directors, all of our executive officers and directors as a group, and each person or group of affiliated persons
who was known to us to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of the shares of our common stock as of the record date.
Unless otherwise
indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of beneficially
owned by them. As beneficial owners of shares of common stock, the persons named in the table do not have different voting rights
than any other holder of common stock.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1) | |
Number of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned | | |
Percentage of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned (2) | |
Ion G. Varouxakis (3) | |
| 10,693,864 | | |
| 10.14 | % |
Dimitris Papadopoulos | |
| 100,000 | | |
| * | |
Xenophon Galinas (4) | |
| 375,000 | | |
| * | |
Focko Nauta (4) | |
| 452,457 | | |
| * | |
Dimitris Panagiotopoulos (4) | |
| 450,330 | | |
| * | |
Keith Bloomfield (4) | |
| 452,316 | | |
| * | |
Maria Badekas | |
| 100,000 | | |
| * | |
Dimitris Filippas | |
| 118,669 | | |
| * | |
| |
| - | | |
| * | |
All directors and executive officers as a group (eight persons) (5) | |
| 12,742,636 | | |
| 12.08 | % |
| |
| | | |
| * | |
Crede GG III Ltd, Crede Capital Group LLC, Acuitas Financial Group LLC and Terren S. Peizer (6) | |
| 11,588,899 | | |
| 9.9 | % |
* Less than 1%.
(1) |
Except as otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner is c/o FreeSeas Inc., 10, Eleftheriou Venizelou Street (Panepistimiou Ave.) 106 71, Athens, Greece. |
| (2) | For
purposes of computing the percentage of outstanding shares of common stock held by each person named above, any shares that the
named person has the right to acquire within 60 days under warrants or options are deemed to be outstanding for that person, but
are not deemed to be outstanding when computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Percentages shown are based on 105,470,692
shares of common stock outstanding as of the record date. |
| (3) | Includes
3,613,821 shares held directly by Mr. Varouxakis, 10,059 shares owned by The Mida's Touch S.A., a Marshall Islands corporation
wholly-owned by Mr. Varouxakis and 1,119,984 shares owned by Free Bulkers S.A. which Mr. Varouxakis has voting and dispositive
power for shares owned by that entity. Also includes 5,950,000 shares of unvested restricted stock granted on November 11, 2014,
which vests 50% on each of the first and second anniversaries of issuance, subject to Mr. Varouxakis remaining employed with the
Company on such dates. Does not include 160 shares owned of record by V Estates S.A., which is controlled by his father,
or 123 shares owned of record by his mother, as to which shares he disclaims beneficial ownership. |
(4) |
Includes 275,000 shares of unvested restricted stock granted on November 11, 2014, which vests 100% six months from the date of issuance, subject to such person remaining a director with the Company on such date. |
(5) |
Includes an aggregate of 7,050,000 shares of unvested restricted stock granted on November 11, 2014, which are subject to future vesting, subject to such person remaining employed or a director with the Company on such vesting date. |
(6) |
As disclosed on Form SC 13G/A, filed with the SEC on February 14, 2014. |
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING
COMPLIANCE
As a foreign private
issuer, Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), does not apply to our
executive officers, directors or holders of 10% or more of our common stock.
COMPENSATION OF MANAGEMENT AND DIRECTORS
Director Compensation
The total gross cash
compensation paid for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013 to our directors was $nil and $40,000, respectively. We have
agreed to pay each of our non-executive directors a fee of $40,000 per year, except that if the U.S. Dollar/Euro exchange rate
exceeds 1.35 on the last business day of each quarter, then the amount of the directors’ fees payable for that quarter will
be increased so that the amount payable in U.S. Dollars will be the equivalent in Euros based on a 1.35 U.S. Dollar/Euro exchange
rate. Our directors have received shares of common stock in lieu of cash for directors’ fees for 2012 and in addition to
directors’ fees in 2013.
Management Compensation
The Company currently
does not pay any cash compensation to the Company’s executive officers, including our President and Chief Executive Officer
and our Chief Financial Officer. Instead, the Company has entered into amended and restated services agreements with the Managers,
pursuant to which the Company pays the Managers a monthly fee of $136,275 for services related to accounting, financial reporting,
implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley internal controls procedures, and general administrative and management services, including the
services of the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, plus expenses.
In August and October
2012 and in January and September 2013, we issued 33,214, 43,930, 128,328 and 991,658 shares of the Company’s common stock,
respectively, to the Manager in payment of unpaid fees due to the Manager, under the management and services agreements with us.
The number of shares to be issued to the Manager was based on the closing prices of the Company’s common stock on the first
day of each month during the quarter, which are the dates the management and services fees were due and payable. All of the foregoing
shares are restricted shares under applicable U.S. securities laws.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
As described above,
we do not directly retain the services of our President and Chief Executive Officer or our Chief Financial Officer. Instead, their
services are provided pursuant to the terms of amended and restated services agreements with the Managers. Pursuant to the terms
of these services agreements, we pay the Managers a monthly fee of $136,275 (on the basis that the dollar/Euro exchange rate is
1.35 or lower; if on the last business day of each month the dollar/Euro exchange rate exceeds 1.35 then the service fee payable
will be adjusted for the following month in question, so that the amount payable in dollars will be the equivalent in Euro based
on 1.35 dollar/Euro exchange rate) as compensation for services related to accounting, financial reporting, implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley
internal controls procedures, and general administrative and management services, plus expenses. The Managers are also entitled
to a termination fee if the agreements are terminated upon a “change of control” as defined in the services agreements.
See “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Manager.”
In determining the
amount to be paid to the Managers under the services agreement, our Board of Directors considers the costs incurred and expected
to be incurred by the Managers in providing the services within industry standards.
From time to time,
the compensation committee also considers the appropriateness of granting to our directors, executive officers and
certain key employees of the Managers restricted shares of our common stock, subject to vesting requirements, in order to align
the interest of our directors, executive officers and such key employees with those of our shareholders. In determining the amount
of these grants, the compensation committee considers the then-current market price of our common stock, the aggregate share holdings
of our directors, management and key employees of the Managers, the results of the Company’s operations for the year, and
the contribution of the Board, management and the Managers to the Company’s results. On July 9, 2013 and September 20, 2013,
pursuant to the approval of the Company’s Compensation Committee, the Company issued an aggregate of 360,935 and 1,005,509
shares of its common stock, respectively, to officers and employees of the Manager as bonuses for their commitment and hard work
during adverse market conditions.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
Our compensation
committee has reviewed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and approved its inclusion in this Proxy Statement.
|
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE |
|
/s/ Dimitris Panagiotopoulos |
|
/s/ Keith Bloomfield |
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The audit
committee hereby reports as follows:
|
1. |
The audit committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with our management. |
|
2. |
The audit committee has discussed with RBSM LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 114 (The Auditor’s Communication With Those Charged With Governance), as may be amended or modified. |
|
3. |
The audit committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from RBSM, LLP, required by PCAOB Ethics and Independence Rule 3526 (Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence), as may be modified or supplemented, and has discussed with RBSM LLP their independence. |
|
4. |
Based on the review and discussions referred to in paragraphs (1) through (3) above, the audit committee recommended to our Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 20-F (Amendment No. 1) for the year ended December 31, 2013, for filing with the SEC. |
|
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE |
|
/s/ Focko Nauta |
|
/s/ Xenophon Galinas |
|
/s/ Dimitris Panagiotopoulos |
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The aggregate fees
billed for the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by RBSM LLP, our auditor, were as follows:
| |
2012 | | |
2013 | |
Audit fees (1) | |
$ | 193,000 | | |
$ | 135,000 | |
Audit-related fees | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Tax fees | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Other fees | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Total | |
$ | 193,000 | | |
$ | 135,000 | |
|
(1) |
Audit fees represent fees for professional services related to the audit of our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013. |
Our audit committee
pre-approves all audit, audit-related and non-audit services not prohibited by law to be performed by our independent auditors
and associated fees prior to the engagement of the independent auditor with respect to such services.
PROPOSAL 2: TO RATIFY THE SELECTION
OF OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
The audit committee
of the Company’s Board of Directors has selected RBSM LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014. RBSM LLP audited the Company’s consolidated balance sheets
as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows
for each of the three years ended December 31, 2013.
Shareholder approval
is not required for the appointment of RBSM LLP, because the audit committee is responsible for selecting the Company’s auditors.
Nevertheless, the appointment is being submitted for ratification by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting. No determination has
been made, however, as to what action the Board of Directors or the audit committee would take if the shareholders do not ratify
this appointment.
Board Recommendation
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE
IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE SELECTION OF OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING
DECEMBER 31, 2014.
PROPOSAL 3: REVERSE SPLIT OF THE COMMON
STOCK OF THE COMPANY
Our board of directors
has adopted resolutions (1) declaring that submitting an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to
effect the Reverse Stock Split of our issued and outstanding Common Stock, as described below, was advisable and (2) directing
that a proposal to approve the Reverse Stock Split be submitted to the holders of our Common Stock for their approval.
The form of the proposed
amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to effect reverse stock splits of our issued and outstanding Common
Stock will be substantial as set forth on Appendix A (subject to any changes required by applicable law), provided that, if both
Proposal No. 3 and Proposal No. 4 are approved, the Company may file a single amendment with the appropriate authorities in the
Marshall Islands to effect both actions. Approval of the proposal would permit (but not require) our Board of Directors
to effect multiple reverse stock splits of our issued and outstanding common stock by a ratio of not less than one-for-two and
not more than one-for-ten, with the exact ratio to be set at a whole number within this range as determined by our Board of Directors
in its sole discretion, provided that the Board of Directors determines to effect the Reverse Stock Split and such amendment is
filed with the appropriate authorities in the Marshall Islands no later than one year after the date of our Annual Meeting. The
Company shall not effect Reverse Stock Splits that, in the aggregate, exceeds one-for-fifteen. We believe that enabling our Board
of Directors to set the ratio within the stated range will provide us with the flexibility to implement the Reverse Stock Split
in a manner designed to maximize the anticipated benefits for our shareholders. In determining a ratio, if any, following
the receipt of shareholder approval, our Board of Directors may consider, among other things, factors such as:
|
· |
the continuing listing requirements of various stock exchanges; |
|
· |
the historical trading price and trading volume of our Common Stock; |
|
· |
the number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding; |
|
· |
the then-prevailing trading price and trading volume of our Common Stock and the anticipated impact of the Reverse Stock Split on the trading market for our Common Stock; |
|
· |
the anticipated impact of a particular ratio on our ability to reduce administrative and transactional costs; and |
|
· |
prevailing general market and economic conditions. |
Our board of directors
reserves the right to elect to abandon the Reverse Stock Split, including any or all proposed reverse stock split ratios, if it
determines, in its sole discretion, that the Reverse Stock Split is no longer in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Depending on the ratio
for the Reverse Stock Split determined by our board of directors, no less than two and no more than ten shares of existing Common
Stock, as determined by our board of directors, will be combined into one share of Common Stock. The Company shall not effect
Reverse Stock Splits that, in the aggregate, exceed one-for-fifteen. Our Board of Directors will have the discretionary authority
to determine whether to arrange for the disposition of fractional interests by holder entitled thereto, to pay in cash the fair
value of fractions of a share as of the time when those entitled to receive such fractions are determined, or to entitle holders
to receive from the Company transfer agent, in lieu of any fractional share, the number of shares rounded up to the next whole
number. The amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to effect a Reverse Stock Split, if any, will include only the reverse
split ratio determined by our Board of Directors to be in the best interests of our shareholders and all of the other proposed
amendments at different ratios will be abandoned.
Background and Reasons for the Reverse
Stock Split; Potential Consequences of the Reverse Stock Split
Our board of directors
is submitting multiple Reverse Stock Splits to our stockholders for approval with the primary intent of increasing the market price
of our Common Stock to enhance our ability to meet the continuing listing requirements of the NASDAQ Capital Market and to make
our Common Stock more attractive to a broader range of institutional and other investors. The Company currently does not have
any plans, arrangements or understandings, written or oral, to issue any of the authorized but unissued shares that would become
available as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. In addition to increasing the market price of our Common Stock, the Reverse
Stock Split would also reduce certain of our costs, as discussed below. Accordingly, for these and other reasons discussed
below, we believe that effecting the Reverse Stock Splits is in the Company’s and our stockholders’ best interests.
We believe that the
Reverse Stock Split will enhance our ability to maintain the necessary price for continued listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market. The
NASDAQ Capital Market requires, among other items, an initial bid price of least $4.00 per share and following initial listing,
maintenance of a continued price of at least $1.00 per share. Reducing the number of outstanding shares of our Common
Stock should, absent other factors, increase the per share market price of our Common Stock, although we cannot provide
any assurance that our minimum bid price would remain following the Reverse Stock Split over the minimum bid price requirement
of any such stock exchange.
On July 15, 2014, we
received a letter from The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC stating that, for the previous 30 consecutive business days, the bid price of
our common stock closed below the minimum $1.00 per share, the minimum closing bid price required by the continued listing requirements
of NASDAQ set forth in Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). We have 180 calendar days, which expires on January 12, 2015 (the “Compliance
Period”), to regain compliance with the “Minimum Bid Price Rule”, by maintaining a closing bid price of at least
$1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days during the Compliance Period. If we do not regain compliance
by January 12, 2015, NASDAQ will provide written notification to us that our common stock may be delisted. We may, however, be
eligible for an additional grace period of 180 calendar days if we satisfy the continued listing requirement for market value of
publicly held shares and all other initial listing standards (with the exception of the Minimum Bid Price Rule) for listing on
The NASDAQ Capital Market, and submits a timely notification to NASDAQ of our intention to cure the deficiency during the second
compliance period, by effecting a reverse stock split of our common stock, if necessary. Currently, we meet the requirements for
the additional 180 day grace period and we anticipate that we will continue to meet the requirements on January 12, 2015, and we
intend to utilize the second compliance period to achieve compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule. Only during the second compliance
period, if we are unable to achieve compliance, will we effectuate the Reverse Stock Split. In addition, to the extent necessary
under any agreements with third parties, we will effectuate a Reverse Stock Split to ensure compliance with our obligations thereunder.
Additionally, we believe
that the Reverse Stock Split will make our Common Stock more attractive to a broader range of institutional and other investors,
as we have been advised that the current market price of our Common Stock may affect its acceptability to certain institutional
investors, professional investors and other members of the investing public. Many brokerage houses and institutional
investors have internal policies and practices that either prohibit them from investing in low-priced stocks or tend to discourage
individual brokers from recommending low-priced stocks to their customers. In addition, some of those policies and practices
may function to make the processing of trades in low-priced stocks economically unattractive to brokers. Moreover, because
brokers’ commissions on low-priced stocks generally represent a higher percentage of the stock price than commissions on
higher-priced stocks, the current average price per share of common stock can result in individual stockholders paying transaction
costs representing a higher percentage of their total share value than would be the case if the share price were substantially
higher. We believe that the Reverse Stock Split will make our Common Stock a more attractive and cost effective investment
for many investors, which will enhance the liquidity of the holders of our Common Stock.
Reducing the number
of outstanding shares of our Common Stock through the Reverse Stock Split is intended, absent other factors, to increase the per
share market price of our Common Stock. However, other factors, such as our financial results, market conditions and
the market perception of our business may adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock. As a result, there
can be no assurance that the Reverse Stock Splits, if completed, will result in the intended benefits described above, that the
market price of our Common Stock will increase following the Reverse Stock Splits or that the market price of our Common Stock
will not decrease in the future. Additionally, we cannot assure you that the market price per share of our Common Stock
after the Reverse Stock Split will increase in proportion to the reduction in the number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding
before the Reverse Stock Split. Accordingly, the total market capitalization of our Common Stock after the Reverse Stock
Split may be lower than the total market capitalization before the Reverse Stock Split.
Procedure for Implementing the Reverse
Stock Split
The Reverse Stock Split,
if approved by our stockholders, would become effective upon the filing (the “Effective Time”) of a certificate of
amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation with the Registrar of Corporation of the Marshall Islands. The exact timing
of the filing of the certificate of amendment that will effect the Reverse Stock Split will be determined by our board of directors
based on its evaluation as to when such action will be the most advantageous to the Company and our stockholders. In
addition, our board of directors reserves the right, notwithstanding stockholder approval and without further action by the stockholders,
to elect not to proceed with the Reverse Stock Split if, at any time prior to filing the amendment to the Company’s Certificate
of Incorporation, our board of directors, in its sole discretion, determines that it is no longer in our best interest and the
best interests of our stockholders to proceed with the Reverse Stock Split. If a certificate of amendment effecting
the Reverse Stock Split has not been filed with the Registrar of Corporations of the Marshall Islands within one year from the
Annual Meeting, our board of directors will abandon the Reverse Stock Split.
Effect of the Reverse
Stock Split on Holders of Outstanding Common Stock
Depending on the ratio
for the Reverse Stock Split determined by our Board of Directors, a minimum of two and a maximum of ten shares in aggregate of
existing common stock will be combined into one new share of common stock. Based on 105,470,692 shares of common stock
issued and outstanding as of the Record Date, immediately following the reverse split the Company would have approximately 52,735,346
shares of common stock issued and outstanding (without giving effect to rounding for fractional shares) if the ratio for the reverse
split is 1-for-2, approximately 10,547,070 shares of common stock issued and outstanding (without giving effect to rounding for
fractional shares) if the ratio for the reverse split is 1-for-10, and approximately 7,031,380 shares of common stock issued and
outstanding (without giving effect to rounding for fractional shares) if the ratio for the reverse split is 1-for-15, which is
the aggregate ratio allowed under this proposal. Any other ratios selected within such range would result in a number of shares
of common stock issued and outstanding following the transaction between 7,031,380 and 52,735,346 shares.
The actual number of
shares issued after giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split, if implemented, will depend on the reverse stock split ratio and
the number of reverse stock splits, if any, that are ultimately determined by our board of directors.
The Reverse Stock Split
will affect all holders of our Common Stock uniformly and will not affect any stockholder’s percentage ownership interest
in the Company, except that as described below in “— Fractional Shares,” record holders of Common Stock otherwise
entitled to a fractional share as a result of the Reverse Stock Split will be rounded up to the next whole number. In
addition, the Reverse Stock Split will not affect any stockholder’s proportionate voting power (subject to the treatment
of fractional shares).
The Reverse Stock Split
may result in some stockholders owning “odd lots” of less than 100 shares of Common Stock. Odd lot shares
may be more difficult to sell, and brokerage commissions and other costs of transactions in odd lots are generally somewhat higher
than the costs of transactions in “round lots” of even multiples of 100 shares.
After the Effective
Time, our Common Stock will have new Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures (CUSIP) numbers, which is a number
used to identify our equity securities, and stock certificates with the older CUSIP numbers will need to be exchanged for stock
certificates with the new CUSIP numbers by following the procedures described below. After the Reverse Stock Split,
we will continue to be subject to the periodic reporting and other requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Our
Common Stock will continue to be listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “FREE”, subject to any decision
of our Board of Directors to list our securities on another stock exchange. The Reverse Stock Split is not intended as, and will
not have the effect of, a “going private transaction” as described by Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act.
After the effective
time of the Reverse Stock Split, the post-split market price of our common stock may be less than the pre-split price multiplied
by the Reverse Stock Split ratio. In addition, a reduction in number of shares outstanding may impair the liquidity for our common
stock, which may reduce the value of our common stock.
Authorized Shares of Common Stock
The Reverse Stock Split
will not change the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation.
A separate proposal to be voted upon at the 2014 Annual Meeting, however, would approve an amendment to our Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation to increase our authorized shares of common stock from 250,000,000 to 750,000,000 (See Proposal No. 4).
Because the number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock will decrease, the number of shares of common stock remaining
available for issuance will increase. Under our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, our authorized capital stock consists of
250,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001. Except for the
conversion of outstanding convertible securities (which conversion would be at the option of the respective holders), the Company
does not currently have any plans, proposal or arrangement to issue any of its authorized but unissued shares of common stock.
By increasing the number
of authorized but unissued shares of common stock, the Reverse Stock Split could, under certain circumstances, have an anti-takeover
effect, although this is not the intent of the Board of Directors. For example, it may be possible for the Board of Directors to
delay or impede a takeover or transfer of control of the Company by causing such additional authorized but unissued shares to be
issued to holders who might side with the Board of Directors in opposing a takeover bid that the Board of Directors determines
is not in the best interests of the Company or its shareholders. The Reverse Stock Split therefore may have the effect of discouraging
unsolicited takeover attempts. By potentially discouraging initiation of any such unsolicited takeover attempts the reverse split
may limit the opportunity for the Company’s shareholders to dispose of their shares at the higher price generally available
in takeover attempts or that may be available under a merger proposal. The Reverse Stock Split may have the effect of permitting
the Company’s current management, including the current Board of Directors, to retain its position, and place it in a better
position to resist changes that shareholders may wish to make if they are dissatisfied with the conduct of the Company’s
business. However, the Board of Directors is not aware of any attempt to take control of the Company and the Board of Directors
has not approved the Reverse Stock Split with the intent that it be utilized as a type of anti-takeover device.
Beneficial Holders of Common Stock (i.e.
stockholders who hold in street name)
Upon the implementation
of the Reverse Stock Split, we intend to treat shares held by stockholders through a bank, broker, custodian or other nominee in
the same manner as registered stockholders whose shares are registered in their names. Banks, brokers, custodians or
other nominees will be instructed to effect the Reverse Stock Split for their beneficial holders holding our Common Stock in street
name. However, these banks, brokers, custodians or other nominees may have different procedures than registered stockholders
for processing the Reverse Stock Split. Stockholders who hold shares of our Common Stock with a bank, broker, custodian
or other nominee and who have any questions in this regard are encouraged to contact their banks, brokers, custodians or other
nominees.
Registered “Book-Entry”
Holders of Common Stock (i.e. stockholders that are registered on the transfer agent’s books and records but do not hold
stock certificates)
Certain of our registered
holders of Common Stock may hold some or all of their shares electronically in book-entry form with the transfer agent. These
stockholders do not have stock certificates evidencing their ownership of the Common Stock. They are, however, provided
with a statement reflecting the number of shares registered in their accounts.
Stockholders who hold
shares electronically in book-entry form with the transfer agent will not need to take action (the exchange will be automatic)
to receive whole shares of post-Reverse Stock Split Common Stock, subject to adjustment for treatment of fractional shares.
Holders of Certificated Shares of Common
Stock
Stockholders holding
shares of our Common Stock in certificated form will be sent a transmittal letter by our transfer agent after the Effective Time. The
letter of transmittal will contain instructions on how a stockholder should surrender his, her or its certificate(s) representing
shares of our Common Stock (the “Old Certificates”) to the transfer agent in exchange for certificates representing
the appropriate number of whole shares of post-Reverse Stock Split Common Stock (the “New Certificates”). No
New Certificates will be issued to a stockholder until such stockholder has surrendered all Old Certificates, together with a properly
completed and executed letter of transmittal, to the transfer agent. No stockholder will be required to pay a transfer
or other fee to exchange his, her or its Old Certificates. Stockholders will then receive a New Certificate(s) representing
the number of whole shares of Common Stock that they are entitled as a result of the Reverse Stock Split, subject to the treatment
of fractional shares described below. Until surrendered, we will deem outstanding Old Certificates held by stockholders
to be cancelled and only to represent the number of whole shares of post-Reverse Stock Split Common Stock to which these stockholders
are entitled, subject to the treatment of fractional shares. Any Old Certificates submitted for exchange, whether because
of a sale, transfer or other disposition of stock, will automatically be exchanged for New Certificates. If an Old Certificate
has a restrictive legend on the back of the Old Certificate(s), the New Certificate will be issued with the same restrictive legends
that are on the back of the Old Certificate(s).
The Company expects
that our transfer agent will act as exchange agent for purposes of implementing the exchange of stock certificates. No service
charges will be payable by holders of shares of Common Stock in connection with the exchange of certificates. All of such
expenses will be borne by the Company.
STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD NOT DESTROY ANY
STOCK CERTIFICATE(S) AND SHOULD NOT SUBMIT ANY STOCK CERTIFICATE(S) UNTIL REQUESTED TO DO SO.
Fractional Shares
The Company does not
currently intend to issue fractional shares in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Therefore, the Company does not expect
to issue certificates representing fractional shares. The Board of Directors will have the discretionary authority to determine
whether to arrange for the disposition of fractional interests by shareholders entitled thereto, to pay in cash the fair value
of fractions of a share as of the time when those entitled to receive such fractions are determined, or to entitle shareholders
to receive from the Company’s transfer agent, in lieu of any fractional share, the number of shares rounded up to the next
whole number.
If the Board of Directors
determines to arrange for the disposition of fractional interests by shareholders entitled thereto or to pay in cash the fair value
of fractions of a share as of the time when those entitled to receive such fractions are determined, shareholders who would otherwise
hold fractional shares because the number of shares of common stock they hold before the Reverse Stock Split is not evenly divisible
by the ratio ultimately selected by the Board of Directors will be entitled to receive cash (without interest or deduction) in
lieu of such fractional shares from either: (i) the Company, upon receipt by the transfer agent of a properly completed and duly
executed transmittal letter and, where shares are held in certificated form, upon due surrender of any certificate previously representing
a fractional share, in an amount equal to such holder's fractional share based upon the volume weighted average price of the common
stock as reported on The NASDAQ Capital Market, or other principal market of the common stock, as applicable, as of the date the
Reverse Stock Split is effected; or (ii) the transfer agent, upon receipt by the transfer agent of a properly completed and duly
executed transmittal letter and, where shares are held in certificated form, the surrender of all old certificate(s), in an amount
equal to the proceeds attributable to the sale of such fractional shares following the aggregation and sale by the transfer agent
of all fractional shares otherwise issuable. If the Board of Directors determines to dispose of fractional interests pursuant to
clause (ii) above, the Company expects that the transfer agent would conduct the sale in an orderly fashion at a reasonable pace
and that it may take several days to sell all of the aggregated fractional shares of common stock. In this event, such holders
would be entitled to an amount equal to their pro rata share of the proceeds of such sale. The Company will be responsible for
any brokerage fees or commissions related to the transfer agent's open market sales of shares that would otherwise be fractional
shares.
The ownership of a
fractional share interest following the Reverse Stock Split will not give the holder any voting, dividend or other rights, except
to receive the cash payment, or, if the Board of Directors so determines, to receive the number of shares rounded up to the next
whole number, as described above.
Shareholders should
be aware that, under the escheat laws of various jurisdictions, sums due for fractional interests that are not timely claimed after
the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split may be required to be paid to the designated agent for each such jurisdiction, unless
correspondence has been received by the Company or the transfer agent concerning ownership of such funds within the time permitted
in such jurisdiction. Thereafter, if applicable, shareholders otherwise entitled to receive such funds, but who do not receive
them due to, for example, their failure to timely comply with the transfer agent's instructions, will have to seek to obtain such
funds directly from the state to which they were paid.
Effect of the Reverse Stock Split on
Employee Plans, Options, Restricted Stock Awards and Units, Warrants, and Convertible or Exchangeable Securities
Based upon the reverse
stock split ratio determined by the board of directors, proportionate adjustments are generally required to be made to the per
share exercise price and the number of shares issuable upon the exercise or conversion of all outstanding options, warrants, convertible
or exchangeable securities entitling the holders to purchase, exchange for, or convert into, shares of Common Stock. This
would result in approximately the same aggregate price being required to be paid under such options, warrants, convertible or exchangeable
securities upon exercise, and approximately the same value of shares of Common Stock being delivered upon such exercise, exchange
or conversion, immediately following the Reverse Stock Split as was the case immediately preceding the Reverse Stock Split. The
number of shares deliverable upon settlement or vesting of restricted stock awards will be similarly adjusted, subject to our treatment
of fractional shares. The number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to these securities will be proportionately
based upon the reverse stock split ratio determined by the board of directors, subject to our treatment of fractional shares.
Accounting Matters
The proposed amendment
to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation will not affect the par value of our Common Stock per share, which will remain
$0.001 par value per share. As a result, as of the Effective Time, the stated capital attributable to Common Stock and
the additional paid-in capital account on our balance sheet will not change due to the Reverse Stock Split. Reported
per share net income or loss will be higher because there will be fewer shares of Common Stock outstanding.
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences
of the Reverse Stock Split
The following summary
describes certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split to holders of our Common Stock
Unless otherwise specifically
indicated herein, this summary addresses the tax consequences only to a beneficial owner of our Common Stock that is a citizen
or individual resident of the United States, a corporation organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof
or the District of Columbia or otherwise subject to U.S. federal income taxation on a net income basis in respect of our Common
Stock (a “U.S. holder”). A trust may also be a U.S. holder if (1) a U.S. court is able to exercise
primary supervision over administration of such trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial
decisions of the trust or (2) it has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person. An estate whose
income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source may also be a U.S. holder. This summary does
not address all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to any particular investor, including tax considerations that arise
from rules of general application to all taxpayers or to certain classes of taxpayers or that are generally assumed to be
known by investors. This summary also does not address the tax consequences to (i) persons that may be subject
to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law, such as banks, insurance companies, thrift institutions, regulated investment
companies, real estate investment trusts, tax-exempt organizations, U.S. expatriates, persons subject to the alternative minimum
tax, traders in securities that elect to mark to market and dealers in securities or currencies, (ii) persons that hold our
Common Stock as part of a position in a “straddle” or as part of a “hedging,” “conversion”
or other integrated investment transaction for federal income tax purposes, or (iii) persons that do not hold our Common Stock
as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment).
If a partnership (or
other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of our Common Stock, the
U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities
of the partnership. Partnerships that hold our Common Stock, and partners in such partnerships, should consult their
own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split.
This summary is based
on the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, U.S. Treasury regulations, administrative rulings and judicial
authority, all as in effect as of the date of this proxy statement. Subsequent developments in U.S. federal income tax
law, including changes in law or differing interpretations, which may be applied retroactively, could have a material effect
on the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split.
PLEASE CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING
THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND FOREIGN INCOME AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT IN YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES
UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION.
U.S. Holders
The Reverse Stock Split
should be treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Therefore, a stockholder generally will
not recognize gain or loss on the Reverse Stock Split, except to the extent of cash, if any, received in lieu of a fractional share
interest in the post-Reverse Stock Split shares. The aggregate tax basis of the post-split shares received will be equal to the
aggregate tax basis of the pre-split shares exchanged therefore (excluding any portion of the holder’s basis allocated to
fractional shares), and the holding period of the post-split shares received will include the holding period of the pre-split shares
exchanged. A holder of the pre-split shares who receives cash will generally recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between
the portion of the tax basis of the pre-split shares allocated to the fractional share interest and the cash received. Such gain
or loss will be a capital gain or loss and will be short term if the pre-split shares were held for one year or less and long term
if held more than one year. No gain or loss will be recognized by us as a result of the Reverse Stock Split.
No Appraisal Rights
Under Marshall Islands
law and our charter documents, holders of our Common Stock will not be entitled to dissenter’s rights or appraisal rights
with respect to the Reverse Stock Split.
Board Recommendation
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO AUTHORIZE A REVERSE
STOCK SPLIT OF OUR ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK.
PROPOSAL 4: APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
TO INCREASE OUR AUTHORIZED SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK FROM 250,000,000 TO 750,000,000
Our Board of Directors
has approved, subject to shareholder approval, an amendment to our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase our
authorized shares of common stock from 250,000,000 to 750,000,000. The increase in our authorized shares of common stock will become
effective upon the filing of the amendment to our Amended and Restated Articles of Amendment with the appropriate authorities in
the Marshall Islands. If the amendment to increase our authorized shares of common stock is approved by shareholders at the 2014
Annual Meeting, we intend to file the amendment to our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation as soon as practicable following
the Annual Meeting.
The form of Certificate
of Amendment to be filed with the appropriate authorities in the Marshall Islands is set forth as Appendix B to this proxy statement,
provided that, if both Proposal No. 3 and Proposal No. 4 are approved, the Company may file a single amendment with the appropriate
authorities in the Marshall Islands to effect both actions.
Outstanding Shares and Purpose of the
Proposal
Our Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation currently authorizes us to issue a maximum of 250,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per
share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share. Our issued and outstanding securities, as of November
14, 2014, on a fully diluted basis, are as follows:
|
· |
105,470,692 shares of common stock; |
|
· |
8,160 shares of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock, convertible into approximately 748,624 shares of common stock; |
|
· |
Series A Warrants to purchase 5,000,000 shares of common stock, which the Company may, pursuant to the terms of the warrants, elect to issue approximately 57 million shares of common stock in respect thereof pursuant to the cashless exercise formula set forth therein; |
|
· |
Series B Warrants to purchase 990,813 shares of common stock, which the Company may, pursuant to the terms of the warrants, elect to issue approximately 11 million shares of common stock in respect thereof pursuant to the cashless exercise formula set forth therein; and |
|
· |
Series C Warrants to purchase 36,827,600 shares of common stock, which the Company may, pursuant to the terms of the warrants, elect to issue approximately 254 million shares of common stock in respect thereof pursuant to the cashless exercise formula set forth therein. |
Pursuant to the terms
of our outstanding warrants, the number of shares of common stock that we elect to issue in respect thereof pursuant to the cashless
exercise formula set forth therein is subject to change based upon our market price. Thus, this increase may be necessary to allow
for the exercise of our outstanding warrants. In addition, the Board of Directors believes that the increase in authorized common
shares will provide the Company greater flexibility with respect to the Company’s capital structure for purposes including
additional equity financings and stock based acquisitions.
Effects of the Increase in Authorized
Common Stock
The additional shares
of common stock will have the same rights as the presently authorized shares, including the right to cast one vote per share of
common stock. Although the authorization of additional shares will not, in itself, have any effect on the rights of any holder
of our common stock, the future issuance of additional shares of common stock (other than by way of a stock split or dividend)
would have the effect of diluting the voting rights and could have the effect of diluting earnings per share and book value per
share of existing shareholders.
At present, other than
in connection with the conversion of outstanding convertible securities (which conversions would be at the option of the respective
holders), the Board of Directors has no plans to issue the additional shares of common stock authorized by the proposed amendment.
However, it is possible that some of these additional shares could be used in the future for various other purposes without further
shareholder approval, except as such approval may be required in particular cases by our charter documents, applicable law or the
rules of any stock exchange or other system on which our securities may then be listed. These purposes may include: raising
capital, providing equity incentives to employees, officers or directors, establishing strategic relationships with other companies,
and expanding the Company’s business or service lines through the acquisition of other businesses or services.
Possible Anti-Takeover Effects of Increase
in Authorized Common Stock
We could also use the
additional shares of common stock that will become available for issuance to oppose a hostile takeover attempt or to delay or prevent
changes in control or management of the Company. For example, it may be possible for the Board of Directors to delay or impede
a takeover or transfer of control of the Company by causing such additional authorized shares to be issued to holders who might
side with the Board of Directors in opposing a takeover bid that the Board of Directors determines is not in the best interests
of the Company or its stockholders. The proposed increase in authorized shares of common stock therefore may have the effect of
discouraging unsolicited takeover attempts. By potentially discouraging initiation of any such unsolicited takeover attempts, the
proposed increase in authorized shares of common stock may limit the opportunity for the Company’s stockholders to dispose
of their shares at the higher price generally available in takeover attempts or that may be available under a merger proposal. The
proposed increase in authorized shares of common stock may have the effect of permitting the Company’s current management,
including the current Board of Directors, to retain its position, and place it in a better position to resist changes that stockholders
may wish to make if they are dissatisfied with the conduct of the Company’s business. However, the Board of Directors
is not aware of any attempt to take control of the Company and the Board of Directors has not approved the proposed increase in
authorized shares of common stock with the intent that it be utilized as a type of anti-takeover device.
Board Recommendation
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO OUR ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE OUR AUTHORIZED SHARES
OF COMMON STOCK FROM 250,000,000 TO 750,000,000.
HOUSEHOLDING OF ANNUAL DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS
Shareholders sharing
an address who are receiving multiple copies of our proxy materials, including this the Proxy Statement, proxy card and Annual
Report, may contact their broker, bank or other nominee if in the future they would like only a single copy of each document be
mailed to all shareholders at the shared address. In addition, if you are the beneficial owner, but not the record holder, of shares
of common stock, your broker, bank or other nominee may deliver only one copy of the proxy materials to multiple shareholders who
share an address unless that nominee has received contrary instructions from one or more of the shareholders. We will deliver promptly,
upon written or oral request, separate copies of the proxy materials to a shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy
of the document was delivered. Shareholders who wish to receive separate copies of the proxy materials, now or in the future, should
submit their request to us by phone at 011-30-210-452-8770 or by mail at 10, Eleftheriou Venizelou Street (Panepistimiou Ave.)
106 71, Athens, Greece.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Board of Directors
knows of no other business to be brought before the Annual Meeting. If, however, any other business should properly come before
the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote proxies as in their discretion they may deem appropriate,
unless they are directed by a proxy to do otherwise.
INFORMATION CONCERNING SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Pursuant to the Company’s
Amended and Restated Bylaws and Rule 14a-8(e) promulgated by the SEC, a shareholder intending to present a proposal to be included
in our Proxy Statement for our 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must deliver a proposal in writing to our principal executive
offices no earlier than May 22, 2015 and no later than July 21, 2015.
|
By Order of the Board of Directors, |
|
|
|
/s/ Maria Badekas |
|
Maria Badekas, Secretary |
Athens, Greece
November 17, 2014
APPENDIX A
AMENDMENT
TO
AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
FREESEAS INC. (THE “CORPORATION”)
PURSUANT TO SECTION 90 OF
THE MARSHALL ISLANDS BUSINESS CORPORATION
ACT
I, Ion G. Varouxakis,
the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, for the purpose of amending the Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation of the Corporation, hereby certify:
| 1. | The name of the Corporation is: FreeSeas Inc. |
| 2. | The Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Registrar of Corporations as of April 23, 2004
and were amended and restated in their entirety as of April 26, 2005 and were further amended on September 17, 2009, September
30, 2010, February 12, 2013 and November 26, 2013. |
| 3. | The following shall be inserted immediately following the last sub-paragraph of Paragraph D of
the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, effecting a combination of the outstanding shares of Common Stock: |
“Effective as of 1:00
a.m., Marshall Islands time on _______ __, 201_ (8:00 a.m., New York time on _______ __, 201_), every _____ (__) shares of common
stock of the Corporation then issued and outstanding shall, automatically and without any action on the part of the respective
holders thereof, be combined, converted and changed into one (1) share of common stock of the Corporation (the “Reverse Stock
Split”); provided, however, that the number of shares of common stock and the number of shares of preferred stock authorized
pursuant to this Paragraph D shall not be altered. No fractional shares shall be issued upon the Reverse Stock Split. All shares
of common stock (including fractions thereof) issuable upon the Reverse Stock Split to a given holder shall be aggregated for purposes
of determining whether the Reverse Stock Split would result in the issuance of any fractional share. If, after the aforementioned
aggregation, the Reverse Stock Split would result in the issuance of a fraction of a share of common stock, the Corporation shall,
in lieu of issuing any such fractional share, ________________________.”
| 4. | All of the other provisions of the Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation shall remain unchanged. |
| 5. | This Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation was approved by a majority
of the shareholders of the Corporation at an annual meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation held on December 18, 2014. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
I have executed this Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation on behalf of the Corporation on this ____
day of ______________, _____.
|
|
|
Ion G. Varouxakis |
|
President and Chief Executive Officer |
SS.:
On this _____ day of _________, _______, before me personally
came Ion G. Varouxakis known to me to be the individual described in and who executed the foregoing instrument and he duly acknowledged
to me that the execution thereof was his act and deed.
|
|
|
|
|
Notary Public |
|
|
|
(Seal) |
|
|
|
|
Print Name of Notary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Serial Number, if any |
|
|
|
My Commission Expires: |
|
|
|
|
|
APPENDIX B
AMENDMENT
TO
AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
FREESEAS INC. (THE “CORPORATION”)
PURSUANT TO SECTION 90 OF
THE MARSHALL ISLANDS BUSINESS CORPORATION
ACT
I, Ion G. Varouxakis,
the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, for the purpose of amending the Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation of the Corporation, hereby certify:
| 1. | The name of the Corporation is: FreeSeas Inc. |
| 2. | The Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Registrar of Corporations as of April 23, 2004
and were amended and restated in their entirety as of April 26, 2005 and were further amended on September 17, 2009, September
30, 2010, February 12, 2013 and November 26, 2013. |
| 3. | The Paragraph D of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation is deleted in its entirety
and replaced with the following: |
| “D. | The aggregate number of shares of capital stock that the Corporation shall have the authority to
issue is seven hundred fifty-five million (755,000,000), consisting of the following: |
| (1) | The Corporation is authorized to issue seven hundred fifty million (750,000,000) registered shares
of common stock, with a par value of US $0.001 per share. |
| (2) | The Corporation is authorized, without further vote or action by the shareholders, to issue five
million (5,000,000) registered shares of preferred stock with a par value of US $0.001 per share. The Board of Directors of the
Corporation shall have 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 resolutions
providing for the issue of such shares of preferred stock.” |
| 4. | All of the other provisions of the Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation shall remain unchanged. |
| 5. | This Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation was approved by a majority
of the shareholders of the Corporation at an annual meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation held on December 18, 2014. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
I have executed this Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation on behalf of the Corporation on this ____
day of ______________, _____.
|
|
|
Ion G. Varouxakis |
|
President and Chief Executive Officer |
SS.:
On this _____ day of _________, _______, before me personally
came Ion G. Varouxakis known to me to be the individual described in and who executed the foregoing instrument and he duly acknowledged
to me that the execution thereof was his act and deed.
|
|
|
|
|
Notary Public |
|
|
|
(Seal) |
|
|
|
|
Print Name of Notary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Serial Number, if any |
|
|
|
My Commission Expires: |
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 99.3
FreeSeas (CE) (USOTC:FREEF)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
FreeSeas (CE) (USOTC:FREEF)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024